Eduviges is the group representative and leader of the group. Eduviges has a lot on the line because she has 6 children that she has to take care of. She told me that those children are the reason she wants to be successful. She wants to be able to provide a different life for them and show them that they can be successful as well.
Eduviges has a very small business selling shoes and Avon products. She plans to expand using this loan and dreams of success. The whole group is ready for this new challenge and are on the road to bettering their lives. On behalf of Eduviges, the group, and Esperanza International--------- Thank you for your support!!!!",F,1225,partner,Retail,0 Dominican Republic,"""Caminemos Hacia Adelante"" or ""Walking Forward"" is a group of ten entrepreneurs seeking their second loan from Esperanza International. The groups past loan has been successfully repaid and the group hopes to use additional loan funds for further business expansion. Estella is one of the coordinators for this group in Santiago. Estella sells undergarments to her community and neighboring communities. Estella used her first loan, which has now been completely repaid, to buy additional products and Estela was able to increase the return on her business by adding inventory. Estella wants to use her second loan to buy more undergarments to sell to her customers. Estella lives with her mother and sister and dreams of improving the house they live in and plans to use her business profits to do so. Other members of Estellas microfinance bank run similar entrepreneurial activities including arts, juice, ice-cream, fried food, and cake sales. On behalf of Esperanza and this group of business entrepreneurs, we would like to thank you for your support!",F,1975,lender,Clothing,0 Dominican Republic,"""Creciendo Por La Union"" is a group of 10 people hoping to start their own businesses. This group is looking to receive loans to either start a small business or to try and increase their business. Everyone in this group is living in extreme poverty, and they see this as a chance to improve their lives and the lives of their families. ""Dalina"" is the group representative and was chosen because she is a very hardworking women. She is a young mother of two children, and she realized that she wanted a better life for her and her family. She is hoping to start a small business of selling clothes to people in her barrio. She hopes to someday have a thriving business and be able to provide for her family. On behalf of Dalina, the rest of the group, and Esperanza International: Thank you for you support!!!",F,2175,partner,Clothing,0 Dominican Republic,"""Cristo Vive"" (""Christ lives"" is a group of 10 women who are looking to receive their first loans. This is a very young group of women, and they all want to start changing their lives right away. Riquena is the group representative and leader of this group, and she is only 18 years old. She is also married, but has no children. She told me that once she has kids she wants to be able to provide them with a good life, and that is the main reason she is trying to start her own business. She plans on selling used clothes in her area, and hopes to one day have a big clothing store, and also design clothes. She is a very motivated person, and you can see it when you speak with her. She speaks Spanish and Creole fluently, and is studying English. This whole group is ready for this next step, and excited about the opportunity. On behalf of Riquena, the group, and Esperanza International----- Thank you for your support!!!",F,1425,partner,Clothing,0 Dominican Republic,"""Cristo Vive"" is a large group of 35 people, 20 of which are hoping to take out a loan. For many of them this is their second loan, and a loan they hope to use to increase their business. The business range from clothing sales to salons. Miline is the chosen group representative due to her hard work and dedication. Miline is a hardworking mother of 5 very young children, the oldest being only 10 years old. She took her first loan and started a small business of selling chicken and other types of food. With this next loan she feels like she can increase her business greatly and start making money to support her family. Her dream is to have her own store someday, and be able to provide her family with comfortable life. On behalf of Miline, the group, and Esperanza International, thank you for your support!!!",F,4025,partner,Food,0 Dominican Republic,"""Dios con nosotros"" is a large group of Esperanza borrowers. In this group, ten members are hoping to receive a loan. This group has all been very successful and some are receiving their sixth loan!
Lorenza is the group representative and chosen leader, and for good reason. Lorenza is a very hard worker and a very responsible person. She is the mother of two young children and does everything with her children in mind. She owns a small store and hopes to keep increasing business. She is a great success story because she went from having no income to owning her own small store. She really feels like her future is very bright and is excited that she can provide for her children. This new loan is going to increase the size of her business and should help her a lot.
The whole group is excited about this new loan and the opportunity they are receiving!
On behalf of Lorenza, the group, and Esperanza International, thank you for your help!!!!!",F,2700,partner,Food,0 Dominican Republic,"""Dios Nuestro Ayudador"" is a group of 10 Haitian women. At this point in their lives, they are all living in extreme poverty in the Dominican Republic. None of them have a steady income and so they are living day to day, and meal to meal.
Macula is the group representative and leader. She was chosen because she is very diligent and excited about this opportunity. You can see it in her eyes: she is ready to better her life. She is the mother of 3 children, and more than anything she want to better their lives. She plans on starting a small beauty salon in her house and dreams of having a thriving business. She wants to provide her kids with a comfortable life.
The whole group is ready to take the first step to bettering their lives! On behalf of Macula, the group, and Esperanza International: thank you for your support!",F,1425,partner,Services,0 Dominican Republic,"""El Amor"" is a large group of 25 borrowers. In this loan, 5 members of this group are hoping to receive their third loan. The first two loans helped each of these members start a small business, and all members started to experience a little bit of success.
Martina Ramirez is the group representative, and a perfect example of the power of micro credit. Martina took her first two loans and started a small business selling used clothing. She has really increased her business, and is finally starting to feel able to take care of her family. Martina is the mother to 4 children, and would love to send all her children to college someday. She is very excited about the things that are starting to happen in her life, and ready for the challenges ahead.
On behalf of Martina, the group, and Esperanza International, thank you for your support.",M,1025,partner,Clothing,0 Dominican Republic,"""Emmanuel"" is a group of 15 people, 13 women and 2 men. The people in this group are very excited about starting their own businesses and about being in control of their own future. Right now, they are all living in extreme poverty in the Dominican Republic, and don't have any means of income. They are all looking to start small businesses and change that fact. Wilma is the group representative and she was chosen among her peers to be the group leader. She is a very faithful and humble person, and the type of person who will make a great leader. She is the mother of three children, and wants something better for their future. She plans on starting a small business selling food in her area. She hopes to continue receiving loans and to someday have her own restaurant. She also hopes to open a small store as well. She is very ambitious and realizes this is her chance to change her life! On behalf of Wilma, the group, and Esperanza International---- We thank you for your support!!!",M,2700,partner,Food,0 Dominican Republic,"""Esfuerzate y Sed Valiente"" is a group of 10 women coming from an extremely poor area. All the women in this group have to fight to get through each day. That is why they came together as a group and are seeking a loan to try and better their lives. They all want to take this loan and start their very own small business, and start generating income. They know this is the first step to bettering their situation. Elsa Garcia is the representative of this group of 10, and is excited at the chance to lead all her friends into a better life. She is a very hardworking mother and wants nothing more than to better the lives of her children. She plans on starting a small business making and selling food in her area. She hopes to one day expand and have her own restaurant, and make enough money to provide her children with a comfortable life. She and the rest of the group are ready to take the first step to a better life! On behalf of Elsa, the group, and Esperanza International----- Thank you for your support!!",F,1450,partner,Food,0 Dominican Republic,"""Fe en Marcha"" is a group of 20 very excited people. All 20 members of this group are ready to start their own businesses, and begin the process of bettering their lives. ""Elena"" is the group representative, and hopes to start her own cosmetics business. She is a hard working mother of one, and feels that this loan could be the start of a new life for her and her son. Her dream is to one day have her own thriving salon, and be able to provide a comfortable life for her family. This whole group is ready for this loan, and eager to start bettering their lives! On behalf of Elena, the group, and Esperanza International---we thank you for your support!!",F,5000,partner,Services,0 Dominican Republic,"""Fuente de Paz"" is a group of 5 all hoping to receive their 5th loan. This group has been one of the more successful groups, due to the fact that they are all extremely hard workers--and great friends as well. Francisca Batista is the representative of this group and was excited to tell us about her life. She has had a very hard life and has been living in extreme poverty her whole life as well. Francisca is the mother of 3 very young children, all being under the age of 6 years old. She even has a child who is 1 month old. A few years back, Francisca came to Esperanza International because she knew she wanted her children to live a better life than she had had. She received her first loan, and started a small business selling clothing. She experienced success with her very first loan and her business has been growing ever since! She finally is able to provide her children with all the basic needs and put them in school. She is very excited to keep growing her business, and she hopes to have a big clothing store someday. She wants nothing more than to send her children to college and provide them with a good life. She is ready for this next loan and also very grateful! Thanks for your support!",F,1375,partner,Clothing,0 Dominican Republic,"""Fuerza Divina"" is a very large group of entrepreneurs all trying to start their own businesses. This particular loan is going to four members of the group who are trying to increase the size of their businesses. This will be the third loan cycle for these entrepreneurs. Rosa Navarro is the representative of this small group, and is really excited about receiving her third loan. She is the mother of three young children, and is saving so they can all go to high school and hopefully college someday. She has a small business right now selling clothing in her area. She hopes to expand the range of her business, and her dream is to someday own her own colmado (small store). She said she is on the right track and excited about what the future will bring for her and her family. The whole group feels the same way. On behalf of Rosa, the group, and Esperanza International, thank you for your support!",M,1025,partner,Clothing,0 Dominican Republic,"""Jesus Nuestra Esperanza"" is group of 15 entrepreneurs looking for their second small loan. The first loan was a success for this group, and each member was able to start a small business and experience a little bit of success. This second loan is going to go to expanding their businesses and, hopefully, to push this group out of the extreme poverty they live in.
MIledy was chosen to be the group representative because she has great leadership qualities. She is extremely hard working, and she is the type of person who gets things down when they need to be done. She is the mother of 4 children, and they are the main reason she wants to have her own business. She dreams of having her own restaurant and having her own vehicle some day. The whole group is ready to change their future and the future of their children. This is just the first step! On behalf of Miledy, the rest of the group, and Esperanza International--- Thank you for your support!!!!",F,3275,partner,Food,0 Dominican Republic,"""La Amistad"" is a large group of men and women receiving loans. This particular loan is going to 15 of the group members. This group is a great example of the success that microcredit can bring. The members of this group are looking for their seventh or eighth loans, and all have had a taste of success. Each member started out with virtually nothing, but now each has a small business and great hope for the future. Inocencia is the group representative, and she has a small clothing business. She is an extremely hardworking mother of four children, and is really excited about the way her business is going. She feels like she can provide for her family, and that is a feeling she has never had before. She dreams of all her children attending universities, and she is on her way to fulfilling that dream. This whole group is all moving up in life, and want to continue expanding and growing their businesses. Everyone is excited about the future and what it will bring for this hardworking group. On behalf of Inocencia, the group, and Esperanza International, thank you for your support!",F,4700,partner,Clothing,0 Dominican Republic,"""Las Maria"" is one of the prime examples of the good affects of microcredit loans. Every member of this group of 15 is applying for their 7th loan! Each member took out their first loan from Esperanza International having virtually nothing. Now, going on their 7th loan, each member has had success with their very own business. Antonia Acosta is the chosen group representative and has proven to be a great leader and a blessing to the group. She is a very hardworking woman who is very diligent in everything she does. She is the mother of 5 children, and they were the reason she took out her first loan. She has always wanted to provide a good life for her family, and for the first time in her life she is starting to be able to provide for them. She looks for this next loan to increase her business and to continue to grow. She dreams of being able to travel and having her own thriving food market someday. On behalf of Antonia, the rest of the group, and Esperanza International: Thank you for your support!!",F,5000,partner,Food,0 Dominican Republic,"""Las Vecinas"" is a group of 15 people hoping to receive a loan. For many members of this group it will be the first loan they are taking out. Many don't have a form of income and are living in extreme poverty. Martina Espino is the representative of this group and is one of the members who has received a loan in the past. She is the leader of the group because she has been very successful in her small business and someone the others can come to for advice. Martina has two young children and is dedicated to send them to college. She is on her 6th loan cycle and excited to keep on increasing the size of her business. She has a business selling jewelry and specializes in wedding rings and other promise-type jewelry. She finally feels able to provide for her two children, and for the first time in her life, feels like she can get out of her situation. She dreams of traveling and owning her own thriving jewelry business. Her main goal is preparing her children to get out of their poverty and giving them all the necessary education. Everyone is the group is excited for this next step and ready to change his or her life!",F,2350,partner,Arts,0 Dominican Republic,"""Los Lirios"" is a Bank of Hope located about five minutes from the Esperanza office in Los Alcarrizos. The bank's newest group (Group 4) have just finished their training with Esperanza International and have submitted their first loan applications. Gloria, Christofer, Marta, Andrea, and Evelyn will be using their loans to expand or begin the following businesses a small hair salon, wristwatch sales, a convenience store, and clothing sales. All members of this group will be investing their money directly in merchandise purchases.
In the future, these micro-entrepreneurs state that they'd love to see better lives for their childrengood health-care and education, they'd like to grow their business ventures further, and some would like to continue their own studies (at the secondary and university level).
The picture provided shows these group members gathered at Marta's convenience store.
Thank you for supporting these entrepreneurs!",F,750,partner,Retail,0 Dominican Republic,"""Luz Divina"" is a group made up of 10 hopeful entrepreneurs. They are all hoping to take out their first loan, and start to change their situations. Every member of the group is currently living in extreme poverty. None have a steady income. They are all looking to make a change, and want a better life. Diana is the group leader and representative, and says she feels ready to lead her friends in this new challenge. She is a hardworking mother, and wants to better not only her life but the life of her loved ones. She plans on opening a small food stand, and hopes to one day have her own thriving business, and possibly even her own restaurant. The whole group is ready to take this step, and better their lives. On behalf of Diana, the group, and Esperanza International----- Thank you for your support!!!",F,1450,partner,Food,0 Dominican Republic,"""Luz y Esperanza"" is a group of borrowers who are all living in extreme poverty, but are on the path to changing that fact. Each member of this group has already started their very own business and is on the path to changing their future. Some members in this group are hoping for their 7th loan and continuing to increase their businesses in size. The businesses in the group range from clothing sales, restaurant, colmado (small grocery store), to a beauty salon. This whole group includes very diligent workers and is excited about this next loan! Martha Trinidad is the representative of this group and also a very outspoken leader. She is a hardworking mother to three children all under the age of 23. She said that her children are her motivation to work hard and all she wants is a better future for them. She started a small business selling clothing in her area. She goes to another city to buy clothes at a good price, then returns to her area and sells them for a profit. She has experienced success, and has for the first time started saving money for the future and for her children. She is able to do this saving while also feeding her children and providing them the basic necessities they need. She is excited about her business and finally feels like a proper provider and a person with purpose. She is very excited to see what the future holds for her family, her business, and for her! This next loan is just going to help her business grow!",F,3200,partner,Clothing,0 Dominican Republic,"""Maranatha"" is a large group of 35 people. Right now, 20 of its members are seeking loans, all excited about the chance to improve their situation and life, and hoping this loan will be the start of that change. Maribel, the chosen leader of this group, is a hardworking mother of four young children, all under the age of 10. She realized some time ago that she needed to do something to help her young children have a good life, and this loan will present her with the opportunity to start a small business selling food. Mirabel dreams of having a thriving business that will support both her and her children. The whole group is ready for this loan and ready to make a major change in their lives. On behalf of Maribel, the group, and Esperanza International---- Thank you for your support!!!",F,4175,partner,Food,0 Dominican Republic,"""Merci Seigneur"" is a group of very excited people, all feeling that things are about to change in their lives. The members of this group live in extreme poverty and are hoping to receive a loan to try to better their lives. Marie Pierre, a very dedicated mother of one child, is the representative of this group, chosen for her personality and hard work. Her plan is to use her loan to start a small business selling flowers, hoping to someday expand it into a flourishing business. Her dream is to have a nice clean house for her family and maybe even a car.
On behalf of Marie, the group, and Esperanza International---- Thank you for your support!!!",F,1425,partner,Agriculture,0 Dominican Republic,"""Mujeres Activos,"" as the name suggests, is a group of 10 proactive women, each trying to take a step to better their lives. Ramona, the chosen group leader, is a hardworking mother of one child and is requesting a loan to start a small business selling food. Ramona is ready to start changing her life, and feels like this loan could be the start of something great! The whole group realizes this as well, and is excited about this new opportunity and has great hopes for the future!
On Behalf of Ramona, the group, and Esperanza International------- Thank you for your support!!",F,1200,partner,Food,0 Dominican Republic,"""Mujeres con fe y esperanza"" is the name of a group which is looking to receive their first loan. Each member is living in extreme poverty and does not have a source of consistent income. Fortunately, the group members learned about Kiva and the assistance being provided through Kiva to aspiring entrepreneurs. Accordingly, each member took part in many meetings and workshops to develop their respective business plans.
Casilda is the representative of this group. She plans on operating a small business in her neighborhood where she will sell clothing, but she hopes to have her own store someday. She notes that she has always been a good seamstress, and that she has made clothing for her children. As a result, she will utilize these skills to create a successful business because she feels that she can truly excel in this field. She is a very hard-working woman, and she is extremely excited about this opportunity. She dreams of sending her children to college, and she wants nothing more than to give her children a chance to break out of poverty. Indeed, she wants to give her children every opportunity possible: this is the first step in reaching that dream, and she is ready to take the step!",F,1150,lender,Clothing,0 Dominican Republic,"""Mujeres con Proposito"" is a group of 15 women looking to receive their first loans. All members of this group are living in extreme poverty, and decided to try and do something about it. This loan they receive is going to go towards starting their own small businesses which they hope to grow. Romona is the chosen group representative, and she was chosen by this group because they felt she was ready for this role, and is a person of great diligence and leadership. She is the mother of four children, and sees this as a chance to provide for those children. She plans on opening a small clothing store and someday dreams of having a large store and her own vehicle. On behalf of Romona, the group, and Esperanza International------ Thank you for your support!!!",F,2150,partner,Clothing,0 Dominican Republic,"""Mujeres Confiadas,"" as the name suggests, is a group of 10 confident women. Each one of these women is ready to change her life and start her own small business. Mirtha Jose was chosen as the representative of this group. Mirtha is a hardworking mother of 6 children. She feels that starting her own business is a way she can improve her life and the life of her big family. She plans on starting a small business selling clothes, and hopes to someday turn it into a thriving business. Her dream is to provide her family a comfortable life and improve their situation. This whole group realizes that this is their chance to change their situation, and they are all ready for this loan and this opportunity. On behalf of Mirtha, the group, and Esperanza International, thank you for your support!",F,1425,partner,Clothing,0 Dominican Republic,"""Mujeres de Batalla"" is a large group of men and women from an extremely poor area in the Dominican Republic. Each member of this group is hoping to receive a loan to increase the size of their business. Each member in this group has received a previous loan and some are on their 3rd or 4th while others are hoping for their 2nd. This group has businesses ranging from clothing stores to small grocery stores.
Maria Vilorio Bois is the representative of this group and and also a hardworking mother to 4 children, all under the age of 17. She has a lot to work for, and is a perfect example of this group. She was having a hard time providing for her children before she started her own business, and had no steady income. She took out her first loan and started a small business making clothing. She was always a great seamstress and thought it would work well if she could use her skill in her business. She did very well with her first loan and has continued to increase her business. She said for the first time she feels like a provider and knows that she can take care of her children. She dreams of being a designer and have other people create her designs. She loves what she is doing and is excited to have something of her own for once. She is also praying that one day her children will all be able to go to college and enjoy a better life than she had. She is excited about what the future hold for her, her family, and her business!",F,2550,partner,Services,0 Dominican Republic,"""Mujeres De Fe"" (Women of Faith) is a new group of 10 women who are all living in extreme poverty and don't have steady incomes. Maxima Mendez, the representative of this group, is the mother of 3 children, who are her main concern. She wants a better life for her children more than anything else in the world.
Maxima plans on taking her loan and starting a small business selling used clothing. She also loves to paint and wants to try and sell her paintings as well. Her goal is to have a thriving business, and she dreams of being able to travel. This group is all excited about this new challenge and opportunity! On behalf of Maxima, the group, and Esperanza International------- Thank you for your support!!!!",F,1425,partner,Clothing,0 Dominican Republic,"""Mujeres Decisivas"" is a group of 10 women trying to receive a loan. This is a new group to Esperanza International and they are hoping to receive their first loan. At this point in all the members' lives, they are all living in extreme poverty. None of the current members have a steady income, and are living day to day.
Tomasa is the chosen group representative and is very excited about the opportunity she is getting. She has one child and wants to better the life of her child more than anything else. She plans on starting a small business selling clothing in her area and hopes to have her own clothing store someday. She is really excited to have something she can call her own and believes this is the thing that will help her change her life and her future! On behalf of Tomasa, the group, and Esperanza International - thank you for your support!!!!",F,1450,partner,Clothing,0 Dominican Republic,"""Mujeres en Desarrollo"" is a large group of 17 people who are hoping to receive their sixth loan. Each member has started to experience success and started to improve her situation. Each member is from a very poor area in the Dominican Republic. They all have businesses ranging from food stores (called colmado) to beauty salons and clothing stores. This has been a very successful group, and a group that has been very faithful in all its repayments! Magalis Aneska is the group representative and a great group leader. She is the mother to three children and works as hard as anyone. She was having a hard time before she received her first loan because she and her husband could barely afford to feed their children. Magalis did not have steady work and was barely getting by each day. One day she heard about Esperanza International, which gives out small loans to help start businesses, and she knew that is what she wanted to do. She took out her first loan and started a small stand selling all types of small items such as candy, bread, and rice. She worked hard and kept increasing her business with each loan, and now she has her own colmado! She rents out the store building, and hopes to own the store herself someday. She also is dreaming with her husband about owning their own house someday. She is getting closer and closer to reaching those dreams and is excited about the future. She is ready for this next loan and feels like is only going to continue to increase in size!",F,4350,partner,Food,0 Dominican Republic,"""Mujeres en Victoria 2"" is a group comprised of 5 women who are hoping to receive their first loan. Each member comes from an extremely poor area in Santo Domingo, and most have no form of real income. Each member sees this as a chance to change their future and provide their families with a better life. With these loans the members hope to start their own small business, or for some, to enhance the small business they have. If these members can start a small business and pay back their loans on time they can receive a second larger loan, and hopefully continue to raise their incomes. Daleni Petida is the representative of this group, and a great worker. Daleni received a high school education which is more than most people in her situation. She started a small stand a while back, but does not have the resources to really make her business grow. She hopes to take this loan and invest it into her business, and create a bigger store with a variety of products. She has one child, and wants to be able to provide her child with everything he will need to break out of poverty. She knows that education is the key and wants to send him to a university someday. She has always dreamed of having college-educated children, and she says she is going to make that dream a reality. She is ready to break out of her poverty, and is ready to work hard. She knows she has a bright future, and her children an even brighter one! Thank you for your support!",F,1125,partner,Food,0 Dominican Republic,"""Mujeres En Victoria"" is the name of a group of 5 women hoping to receive a loan. Marie is the representative of this group, and she plans on starting a business where she will sell different types of food. Initially, Marie will sell things such as rice, beans, and salt, but she hopes that the business will continue to grow in such a way that she can someday have her own colmado (small grocery store).
She states that she needs to change things for the better in her life because she has three young kids to feed. Unfortunately, she and her family have been living in extreme poverty in recent years. She and her husband have been working hard to be able to send all of their children to school, but at times the children need to help make money to ensure that there is food on the family's table. She feels that starting her own business will enable all of her children to attend school and to thereby better their future. Marie is a very hard-working person, and she is confident that she will make this business work! This is just the first step for her to better her life!",F,875,partner,Food,0 Dominican Republic,"""Mujeres Rompiendo Obstaculo"" is a group of 20 women, of whom 5 are applying for their first loan. Crucita Sencion is the group representative. She is an older woman with two older children. When you look at her you can tell she has been through a lot in her life. She has lived in the same community for many years, and for her entire life she has been living day to day without a steady income. She is excited to do something different with her life and is ready to make a change and start to better her life. She hopes to help her children out of their poverty some day as well. Crucita plans on opening a small cafe and dreams of having a big coffee shop some day. She and the rest of the group are all ready for the first step towards bettering their lives! On behalf of Crucita, the rest of the group, and Esperanza International----- Thank you for your support!!!",F,725,partner,Food,0 Dominican Republic,"""Mujeres Rompiendo Obstaculos"" (""Women Beating Obstacles"") is a group of 14 women and 1 man. All members are excited about receiving their first loan, and are ready to start changing their lives and futures. This first loan they are requesting is around $150 US for each person and they plan to start businesses ranging from clothing stores to small restaurants. Germania is the chosen representative of this group, and she was chosen due to her hard-work ethic and diligence. She has been single for 22 years now, and has three children she has to take care of. She wants to start her own business to take care of her kids and loved ones more than for herself. She says she is excited about this opportunity and ready to take this step, and so is the rest of the group! On behalf of Germania, the group, and Esperanza International------ Thank you for your support!!!",F,2325,partner,Food,0 Dominican Republic,"""Mujeres Trabajadoras group 2"" is a group of five people who are looking to receive loans. This is the second loan for this group, and all of them will be trying to increase the size of their small businesses. Melania is the representative of this group; she has a small barber shop. She hopes to use her loan to increase her inventory and her clientele. She is a very hard-working mother, and feels that this is the way to change not only her life, but also the lives of her family and loved ones. She dreams of education for her children, and hopes to have her very own thriving business some day. She and the rest of the group are hoping to get many loans in the future, and are on the right path to success and a better life. On behalf of Melania, the group, and Esperanza International, thank you for your support!",F,1300,partner,Services,0 Dominican Republic,"""Mujeres Unidas por la Paz"" (""Women United for Peace) is a group made up of 10 women looking to receive their first loans. All members want to start their own small business and start generating income. All members come from a very poor area in Puerta Plata, Domincan Republic. Geraldina is the chosen group representative and is excited about the task she faces. She says she like to take leadership roles, and her group was glad to make her the representative. She is a hardworking mother of three children, and wants to start her own business for the sake of her children. She plans on selling clothing in her area, and hopes to expand it over time with new loans. She dreams of having her own thriving business and being able to provide a good life for her loved ones. This whole group is ready to change their future! On behalf of Geraldina, the rest of the group, and Esperanza International-------- We thank you for your support!!!",F,1775,partner,Clothing,0 Dominican Republic,"""Mujeres Unidas"" is a group of 15 women, all looking to receive a loan. Half of this group will be receiving their second loan, and trying to expand their small businesses. The other half are hoping to receive their first loans. All members of this group come from a very poor pueblo in Puerto Plata and are looking to change their life.
Bellamy Germaine is the group leader and representative of this group, and I had a chance to talk with her for a short period. After speaking with her, I could instantly tell why she was the group leader, and it's because she is a very talkative and intelligent women. She is receiving her second loan and is having good success selling used clothing.
With this loan, she says, she wants to expand and start selling her clothing in other areas. She is the mother of 2 very young children and says her dream is help them have a good life. She wants them both to attend college someday. This whole group is excited about taking this step towards a better life and are committed to making it happen!
On behalf of Bellamy, the group, and Esperanza International----- Thank you for your support!!!",F,2825,partner,Clothing,0 Dominican Republic,"""Mujeres Valientes"" is an Esperanza Bank of Hope based in Puerto Plata. The newest members of this bank have joined ""Mujeres Valientes"" as the 7th group. Group coordinator Vonice Joseph is a mother of 3 (children ages 8, 5, and 3), who will invest her loan in clothing sales. She has been selling clothes for ten years now, ever since she arrived in the Dominican Republic from Haiti.
Vonice purchases her inventory in nearby Santiago and sells locally. She will receive 5,000 pesos (about 140 USD) during this first loan rotation and expects to make about a 2,000 (almost $60) peso net profit from her merchandise investment. With her profits, Vonice looks to better her children's lives and pay school fees.
Other members of Vonice's group will also be investing in clothing and accessories for re-sale. This entire group is comprised of Haitian immigrants, a demographic that faces many extra day-to-day challenges in the Dominican Republic.",F,725,lender,Clothing,0 Dominican Republic,"""Nini"" has been working at her general food store for over 2 years. She explains how she started working here: my party [meaning political] lost power and I lost my job. She had a job as an employee in the Food Price Stabilization Institute, which was given to her as a political favor.
With four kids to feed, and no husband in her life, she has to sell what she can at her store, including fish, meat, etc. I sell a lot of beer too! As well as chicken, coffee and cigarettes, she explains. When I was visiting her, suddenly a strong smell of Codfish engulfed me. I asked what it was and she replied, ""That's the best!"" Nini would like the loan to stock her general store.",F,400,partner,Food,0 Dominican Republic,"""Nueva Esperanza"" is a group of 20 women from an extremely poor area in the Dominican Republic. In this particular loan, there are 11 women hoping to receive a loan to either start a business or increase the size of their existing small business. The businesses in this group range from clothing stands and beauty salons to small food stands. The one thing that all the women have in common is they are all striving to change their lives and break loose from their poverty.
Teodora De los Santos is the representative of this group, and is a hardworking mother of four children. She has a very small business selling clothing in her neighborhood. She takes a bus each month to a city called Santiago which is a few hours away, and there she buys all her used clothing for her business. Santiago has the cheapest clothing but it is far away and difficult for her to make the trip. She has been profitable with her first couple loans and is finally at the point where she can save a little money for the future. She is hoping to take this next loan and increase her inventory and hopefully increase her income. She is saving to try and send her children to a university one day and knows that education is something that might help her children break out of this poverty. She is so happy with the way her business is going and hopes to keep on increasing in size. For once she feels like a provider and a person with purpose! She is going to continue working hard to reach her dreams!",M,2600,partner,Clothing,0 Dominican Republic,"""Nueva Iluminacion"" is a large group of Esperanza borrowers, now with 18 new borrowers applying for a loan. Lourdes is the group representative and has a small business selling fruit and vegetables. She has two teenage children that she must care for while also running her business. She has had some success after taking out her first loan and believes the next loan will help her increase the size of her business. Before her first loan, she was having a hard time providing food for her family, and her kids were having to work instead of attending school. Now she is able to provide for her children and they are able to attend school. She dreams of sending them to college someday and having her own grocery store. She feels like she is on track to reach these dreams and find a better life for her and her family. This whole group has similar stories, and for the first time in their lives they are starting to see success and hope for the future. They see this next loan as the next step towards a better life!",F,3225,partner,Food,0 Dominican Republic,"""Nuevo Progreso"" is a large group of borrowers from Esperanza International. Right now there are 13 hopefuls looking for another loan. Priseida is the representative of this group and also one of the group leaders. She was chosen because she is an extremely faithful and trustworthy person. She is the mother of four children and runs a small beauty salon. Before her first loan she was barely able to take care of her children, but now can provide food each day and even save for the future, such as her children's education. Priseida hopes she can make enough to send them all to college. She has been increasing her business at a steady pace, and feels like this next loan will take her to a new level. She is excited about her business and excited to have something to call her own. She feels like she is on the path to a better life and wants nothing more than a better future for her loved ones. The whole group is excited about this loan and ready for the challenge!",F,3275,partner,Services,0 Dominican Republic,"""Rosa De Saron"" is a group of 15 women ready to change their lives. Each is looking to take out a small loan to start her very own business and begin generating income. Annelouse, the chosen representative of this group, is a very hardworking lady ready to be responsible for this groups success. The mother of four very young children all under the age of 12 years old, she has always been a good cook and wants to start a small business selling food. She knows that her childrens futures are dependent on this opportunity, and she is ready to act now. The rest of the group feels the same way, and is ready to take the next step!
On behalf of Annelouse, the rest of the group, and Esperanza International----- We thank you for your support!!!",F,2125,partner,Food,0 Dominican Republic,"""Trabajadoras Sociales"" is a group that is trying to receive loans to start the process to a better life. Each member in this group is looking to try and expand their small businesses and start increasing their incomes. Andrea is the group representative and has a small business selling food. She took her first loan and bought food products and now makes empanadas and sells them in her area. With this next loan she wants to sell a bigger variety of food, and wants to start selling food in other neighborhoods as well. She has two very young children, and wants nothing more than a better life for her kids. She told me that she dreams of having enough money to send them to college and to allow them to have a better life. Her dream for her business is to have her own restaurant someday. This whole group is excited about the new possibilities that are arising, and are ready to take advantage of this loan and this opportunity to better their lives. On behalf of Andrea, the group, and Esperanza International----- Thank you for your support!!!",F,2200,partner,Food,0 Dominican Republic,"""Trabajando para el futuro"" or ""Working for the future"" is a large group of 20 hopeful people trying to receive a loan. This group is a great example of the power of micro-credit, and the effects it can have on the poor. This group is all hoping to receive their 6th or 7th loans. All the previous loans have all been paid back in full and on time, and now they hope to receive an even larger loan. This group of 20 hardworking people have all started to realize that they have the ability to change their future, and have all started to experience some success. Receiving a 7th loan is not something that all borrowers end up getting to, and that is in it self a great testament to the character and hard work of this group.
Ynes Jimenez is the group representative, and a perfect example to represent this group. Ynes is a very outgoing, hardworking mother to 3 children. She is an extremely loving mother and has done everything in her power to provide her children with everything she never had. Ynes has lived in extreme poverty her whole life, and decided a few years back that she wanted to change her future and the future of her family. She received her first loan from Esperanza International and started a small salon from her house. From there she kept working hard and kept increasing the services and products of her salon, and today she has a very successful business. She can finally afford to pay for all of life's basic necessities, and even some luxuries. She has never been happier than she is now, and feels like she can beat poverty. The best part is that she is a testament to her children that they don't have to accept poverty as part of their lives, and can create a better life. Ynes is very excited about the future and is happy with the changes SHE made in her life! She is on the right path, and ready to keep increasing her business.
Thank you for your support of Ynes, and the group.",F,3675,partner,Services,0 Dominican Republic,"(28845) Yanette is an experienced entrepreneur who tries hard to make a living. She has a three-year-old son. She sells used clothing in the Media Blanca community of Nizao. Yanette explains that most of the people in her neighborhood are jobless and the working people are not well paid. For that reason, she decided that used garments sold at fair prices would attract customers.
Each day, Yanette visits her friends, neighbors, and people in the surrounding areas to increase her customer base. She says that business is the main source of income for her family. With her loan, Yanette will increase her inventory so as to satisfy her customers needs. Yanette would like to have her own house someday.",F,400,partner,Clothing,1 Dominican Republic,"Unidos para Triunfar (United to Triumph) is a group of ten entrepreneurs seeking their second microfinance loan from Esperanza International. The groups past loan has been successfully completed and the group hopes to use additional funds to continuously increase the prosperity of their existing businesses in the city of Santiago.
Wendy, mother of three children, ages 18, 14 and 11, has been selling Dominican-style cooked meals from her home for the past two or three years. Wendy plans to use her loan to purchase additional ingredients including rice, beans, oil and plantains, to continue to serving lunchtime food to her customer base: around 25 customers daily. Wendy is committed to the repayment of her loan as she desires to provide for the physical needs of her children and dreams of one day opening her own restaurant.
Other members of Wendys microfinance bank run similar entrepreneurial activities including clothing, perfume, desert and juice sales as well as a beauty salon.
On behalf of Esperanza and this group of business entrepreneurs, we would like to thank you for your support!",F,2075,lender,Food,0 Dominican Republic,"
About the Group Leader
Maria is 28 years old and has two children (a girl who is three and a boy who is five). Her mother and her brother both help out working in her small store, which is next door to her house. The name of her small grocery store is Colmado Yahira after her nickname, Yahira. She sells bread, rice, bottled water, cooking oil, milk, candies for the kids, sugar and soda. Maria started her small business with her first loan from Esperanza.
She uses the profits from her shop to continue stocking her shelves. She is also able to tuck a little away each month to save for the future. She has been able to store up voluntary savings in addition to the obligatory savings that Esperanza requires. She hopes to be able to save enough money from her business to finish building her house out of concrete.
About the Group
During training sessions with Esperanza, their loan officer, Marcelina Marte, leads group discussions about the importance of solidarity and discipline in taking out a loan. The group talks about the true meaning of solidarity and the need to truly stand by each other in the event one of the group members doesnt fare well in her business ventures. She points out the difference between choosing neighbors and friends who you like as business partners versus choosing ones who you know will pay back their loans.
Maria is the coordinator for her group of six women within the larger Bank of Hope. Together with the coordinators from the other four groups, they form a leadership council, whose responsibilities include involvement in community activities such as mothers' clubs and the local health clinics.",F,1450,partner,Food,0 Dominican Republic,"
Gervasia Perez has been the leader of this group for six months now, and they are currently applying for their second loan with Esperanza International. Her plans for the future are to continue expanding her sewing business and to buy a new sewing machine. Gervasia's parents passed away when she was four years old and she has had a very hard life, but she thanks God that she is still alive and now can provide a better life for her children. When she is not working she enjoys reading and watching television, and her favorite foods are beans and meat.
Thank you for supporting this group!",F,2375,partner,Clothing,0 Dominican Republic,"
""Mujeres Solidarias"" is a big group of 37 people. Right now 15 members of this group would like a loan. For some members, this is their first loan. They hope it is their first step towards a better life. For other members, this is their 3rd or 4th loan, which they will use to continue growing their businesses.
Yoselin is the group representative and group leader. She is a very hard working mother of 3 young children who are all under the age of 10. She has a small business selling under garments. Yoselin said she is excited about continuing to grow her business.
Yoselin has dreams of being able to have her own house where she can provide her children a comfortable life. She hopes to have enough money to send her children to college and allow them to have a different life.
This whole group has stories of how hard life has been, but they are all ready to do something about it, They are very excited about this opportunity.
On behalf of Yoselin, the group, and Esperanza International----- Thank you for your support!!!
",M,3600,partner,Clothing,0 Dominican Republic,"Estani has paid off her first loan and is requesting a second loan to expand her growing business. Estani supports two daughters and a son thanks to the income of her clothing store, which she operates out of their home. She will also use this loan to purchase various household products that patrons of her clothing store are in the market for as well.
NOTE: Estani is one of four micro-entrepreneurs in her Bank of Hope solidarity group, which have all gone through Esperanza's business training courses and will be accountable to each other for repaying their shares of this $750 loan together. If a member is unable to pay in full on time, the group is responsible for making up the deficit before a payment can be made. Investors in this loan will receive an update on Estani's situation as well as that of the entire group.
",F,750,partner,Clothing,0 Dominican Republic,"Aida is 58 years old and has ten children and 22 grandchildren. She is married, and five of her children still live in her house. She buys fruits and vegetables in bulk from the surrounding local farms and sells them in the nearby city markets, such as in La Romana and El Seybo. Right now it is avocado season and that is currently her main product.
Aida took out her first loan with Esperanza 2 years ago for 3000 pesos (US$ 90). This is the 4th loan that she is going to take out from Esperanza, and she has successfully paid back the other three. Esperanza typically offers smaller loans initially and as a group of women successfully pay back their loans and get a credit history, they can take out larger and larger amounts. Aida is pictured at her biweekly repayment meeting.
With her profits from her small business, Aida says that she can help provide for her family, buying food and medicine for her children and grandchildren. Her goal with this loan is to keep moving forward with her business, increasing her sales little by little as she eventually is able to sell more and more produce at local markets.
",F,375,partner,Wholesale,0 Dominican Republic,"Albert sells fried Dominican foods such as tostones (fried plantain chips), chicharron (fried pork skin), and other fritters from the side of the road. He has been doing this for 14 years he said, but only with the help of this loan will he finally be able to sell enough that he can begin to save some of his money as well. He lives by himself, and has no wife or children.
His dream is to have a better life, so that before he dies he can own his own house and sleep peacefully each night. Albert is very thankful to everyone who is helping him; although he is old, he knows it's never too late to change.
",M,450,partner,Food,0 Dominican Republic,"Altagracia Cotorrela has four boys and two girls. After one of her daughters passed away, Altagracia raised her five children that were left behind as well. Her husband passed away some years ago, but she has three great grandchildren that live with her.
She sells seafood such as clams, shrimp and crabs to the large resort hotels in Puerto Plata. She buys the seafood from the fisherman in her village and then each Saturday rides public transportation with the food packaged in her cooler to Puerto Plata, which is about 5 hours away. She is requesting this loan to purchase more seafood so she can focus on saving money for her grandsons tuition to law school.
NOTE: This $750 loan will fund Altagracia's business plus four others in her community. She and four additional entrepreneurs have formed a solidarity group that received business training from Esperanza and will be responsible for paying back this loan together as they develop their respective businesses. This group-lending methodology fosters accountability among the members because they all must pay in full and on time.
",F,750,partner,Food,0 Dominican Republic,"Altagracia is 27 years old, single, and supports her 5 children, aged 8, 6, 4, 2, and 3 months. She lives with her children in one of the Batey community houses in the province of El Seibo. In addition to her children, she shares the barracks with 8 other people. This is her first group loan from Esperanza; there are four other women in her group.
Altagracia hopes to use her portion of her group's loan to sell clothing items and shoes to her community. She is going to name her small business Mercanca de Altagracia (Altagracias Merchandise). Eventually she has dreams of buying her own house, and not having to live in the company barracks. She spoke of wanting to save her money so she will have the opportunity to do this.
NOTE: This $600 loan will fund Altagracia's business as well as four other businesses in her solidarity group. She and four other women micro-entrepreneurs came to Esperanza and formed their group. They have all gone through Esperanza business training program and will receive equal shares of the loan to invest in their respective businesses and pay back the loan together. The entire group must pay in full and on time, otherwise group members must make up the deficit before any payment can be made. This creates accountability among the group members because each one shares in the struggles and successes of the other members in their group.
",F,600,partner,Clothing,0 Dominican Republic,"Altagracia Perez is a 54 year old mother of two and wife to Pedro Leonaldo. She is hoping to expand her business with this loan and to be able to buy a new refrigerator/freezer in order to store more products. She currently sells purified water in individual pouches and in larger containers, ice, ice cream, and frozen juice popsicles. She would like to eventually be able to move her business into an actual market type setting and out of her home.
NOTE: Altagracia is one of five microentrepreneurs in her Bank of Hope solidarity group, all of whom have gone through Esperanza's business training courses. Each of the five members will receive a share of this $875 loan for their respective businesses and will be accountable to each other for repaying their share of this loan together. This group-lending method strengthens social needs in a community and ensures that members cooperate to help one another repay their loans and invest wisely in their businesses and families.
",F,875,partner,Food,0 Dominican Republic,"Ana has a hard life; her husband lives and works in the capital, Santo Domingo, nearly six hours away. She runs a small colmado (grocery store) by herself, and tries to always offer her community members fresh fruits and vegetables of good quality.
She is asking for this small loan so that she can buy small snacks such as chips, mints and small candies to sell in addition to her agricultural products.
She says her biggest challenge in life is staying happy and on top of her business by herself. She says she gets very lonely since her husband is gone, but that hopefully in the future they can save enough money so they can both work and live together again.
Ana is very thankful to everyone who is helping her with this loan, and knows that it will help bring her one step closer to living with her husband again.
NOTE: This $750 loan will fund Ana's business as well as four other businesses in her solidarity group. She and four other micro-entrepreneurs came to Esperanza and formed their group. They have all gone through Esperanza business training program and will receive equal shares of the loan to invest in their respective business and pay back the loan together. The entire group must pay in full and on time, otherwise group members must make up the deficit before any payment can be made. This creates accountability among the group members because each one shares in the struggles and successes of the other members in their group.
",M,750,partner,Food,0 Dominican Republic,"Ana is 37 years old and has three children (ages: 11, 10, 8). She is married and the whole family of five live in her house. She runs her business out of her house, selling fabrics, primarily bedding (i.e., sheets, pillow cases, curtains, etc.) Ana has already successfully paid back one loan from Esperanza for 5000 pesos (150 USD). She is requesting this second loan to buy a sewing machine, so she can make her own products out of cloth.
Ana was born crippled. Her legs are badly deformed, but she still walks on them and is able to work to provide for her family.
NOTE: This is a group loan, there are four other women in her group. This $900 loan will fund Ana's business as well as four other businesses in her solidarity group. She and four other women micro-entrepreneurs came to Esperanza and formed their group. They have all gone through Esperanza's business training program and will receive equal shares of the loan to invest in their respective business and will pay back the loan together. The entire group must pay in full and on time, otherwise group members must make up the deficit before any payment can be made. This creates accountability among the group members because each one shares in the struggles and successes of the other members in their group.
",F,900,partner,Retail,0 Dominican Republic,"Ana is 50 years old and has a 24-year-old daughter and four grandchildren. Her husbands name is Benjamin and he works in the food stand with her.
The name of her business is Comedor Mariquitin. She has owned a food stand for three years and sells such goodies as empanadas, fried chicken, fried fish, rice and beans, salad, friend plantains, juice and coffee.
This is the first loan she is going to take out from Esperanza, and she plans to use it to restock her cooking supplies. Before Esperanza, she had tried to take out a loan from a local moneylender, but the interest rate was so high that she ended up actually losing money on the transaction. She looks forward to the more flexible structure of Esperanzas repayment system.
",F,600,partner,Food,0 Dominican Republic,"Ana runs a very popular store, which sells new childrens clothing as well as arts and crafts supplies. Parents come to purchase new childrens apparel while their children come for the colorful accessories and tiny toys lining the shelves and hanging from the ceiling. Ana is a perfect fit for the atmosphere. She is constantly smiling and quick to laugh. This loan would allow her to supply the demand in her village adding some extra joy to the impoverished community. The income generated by her new investment will improve her ability to provide a job for her sister working in the shop as well as care for the needs of her four young children ages 5, 8, 12 and 14.
NOTE: Ana is a member of the ""Las Empresarias"" group, along with four other entrepreneurs. They will be accountable to one another for paying back this loan of $750. This group lending method requires group members to help one another throughout the loan repayment process. Loans are paid back as a group. If one person is deficient on their loan, the group must make up the difference. Everyone in Anas group has gone through Esperanza's training and proven to be responsible and determined to invest in their business and care for their children.
",F,750,partner,Arts,0 Dominican Republic,"Argelia is 49 years old and has 10 children and six grandchildren. She is not married and supports her family herself. Six of her children still live in her home.
Argelia sells prepared meals and snacks from her home. In addition, she sells breakfasts to the students in nearby schools. In different seasons she sells different meals. For instance, right now she sells a lot of salads with avocados, but in the summer she sells a lot of mango juice.
She took out her first loan with Esperanza 2 years ago for 3000 pesos (US$ 90). This is the 6th loan that she is going to take out from Esperanza, and she has successfully paid back the other 5. Esperanza typically offers smaller loans initially and as a group of women successfully pay back their loans and get a credit history, they can borrow larger and larger amounts. Argelia is pictured at her biweekly repayment meeting.
Argelia reports that she can pay back her loan with the profits that she makes from her small store and is also able to put a little bit aside in her savings account (also with Esperanza) in case of an emergency. She wants to be able to keep expanding her business and be able to cater to more and more families in her community.
",F,375,partner,Food,0 Dominican Republic,"Audilia is 40 years old and has 9 children and 4 grandchildren. Eight of her children/grandchildren still live with her in her home. She is not married, so she is the sole supporter of her family . All her children go to school, and one goes to the university in the nearby town of La Romana. Audilia is Haitian by origin, but was born in the Dominican Republic.
Audilia's small house is located on the side of the highway that goes from El Seybo to La Romana. This way she is able to cater to passersby who drop by her little store. She sells different products depending on the season. Right now she is selling avocados and plantains. She says that the market for her produce picks up once the sugarcane season starts because there are more people moving through the area, so she has more customers.
With her loans from Esperanza Audilia was able to buy the plot of land surrounding her house, which she uses as a small farm to grow her produce. She has built a little hut next to her produce stand and wants to stock it with other foods and convenience items, such as a rice, sugar, and charcoal. That is what she is going to concentrate this next loan on.
",F,375,partner,Food,0 Dominican Republic,"Belkis Santana de la Cruz lives with her husband Victor. She owns her own beauty parlor and boutique. She started with a small loan of just $60. Belkis Santana has taken various loans since then and is now requesting this loan to restock and expand her current product line. She has successfully paid off her previous loans and has demonstrated that her business can benefit from a larger loan. She says her goal is to continue growing her business.
NOTE: Belkin is a member of a Bank of Hope solidarity group consisting of five microentrepreneurs. They have gone through Esperanza's training program and have created their own businesses. They will receive their share of this $750 loan to expand their respective businesses and will be responsible for making each payment together. They are accountable to one another for paying in full and on time.
",F,750,partner,Services,0 Dominican Republic,"Bernadette Pierre raises lives with Joseph Sedeo. Together they raise their four children, Yesica Brasa (15), Junior Pierret (14), Miguel Andap (12) and Alexi Martino (3).
Bernadette has run her own general store and is currently working to expand her business ventures to include a clothing shop. She has gone through Esperanzas business training and has successfully participated in Esperanzas program. Bernadette has requested this loan of $200 to expand her inventory of women and mens clothing.
",F,150,partner,Clothing,0 Dominican Republic,"Carmela Charles Juan is the mother of two children and the owner of a small food stand in her rural neighborhood. Carmela travels to the Dominican capital to purchase products at resale value and sells them to the residents of her community. Her respected reputation among her neighbors and the essential products that she supplies have established her business as a mainstay in the small community market. Carmela is asking for this loan to expand her inventory from mainly household products and nonpreishable food items, to include fresh produce and poultry from, which she can purchase from the same markets that she currently buys from for her other items.
NOTE: Carmela is a member of a Bank of Hope solidarity group - made up of five micro-entrepreneurs who have gone through Esperanza's business training program and have proven to be in need of a loan as well as able to pay it back. Each member will receive a share of this $750 loan to develop their respective businesses and are responsible for making each loan repayment together, which fosters accountability as well as social support.
",F,750,partner,Food,0 Dominican Republic,"Cecilia Calixto Habrahan owns a sandwich store in Ulloa, where she also sells commodities ranging from salt to straws. She will use her loan to buy stock for her store, which offers necessities like bread, matches, and eggs as well as little luxuries like candy and chips. Two of Cecilia's ten children still live with her: Elsa (25) and Louis (14) help their mother with the store when not studying. Elsa is studying to become a teacher.
Note: Cecilia is one of five microentrepreneurs in her Bank of Hope solidarity group, all of whom have gone through Esperanza's business training courses. Each of the five members will receive a share of this $1125 loan for their respective businesses and will be accountable to each other for repaying their share of this loan together. This group-lending method strengthens social needs in the community and helps ensure that members cooperate to help one another repay their loans and invest wisely in their businesses and families. As soon as Cecilia pays off her current loan with Esperanza, this loan will become active.",F,1125,partner,Retail,0 Dominican Republic,"
Celanda has earned and paid back three loans in our program. She started out making and buying cheese to sell. Her customer base and business skills have grown to the point where she is able to run her neighborhood grocery store. This loan will give Celanda the capital to purchase the store and goods where she works.
This typical Dominican store, which you can find in every neighborhood throughout the country, is a vital resource for families who cannot afford to travel to the large grocery stores in town. Celanda can sell fruit and vegetables, meat, refrigerated goods, canned food, beverages, daily hygiene products, and her specialty cheeses at inexpensive prices and in small quantities.
Celanda would be in charge of providing for families in her village in Los Alcarrizos, Santo Domingo as well as caring for her 1-year-old granddaughter. Celanda has paid off her previous three loans with her solidarity group called ""Las Empresarias"" and can now receive this large individual loan thanks to her proven ability and dedication.
",F,1200,partner,Food,0 Dominican Republic,"Celida Espino Calcano and her husband Victor have eight children and 14 grandchildren. Her small grocery store, named ""Colmado Anaceli after her second daughter, sells food staples, household items and cooking ingredients to her neighborhood of La Pacuala in the northern peninsula of Samana. She would like this loan to continue to restock her store with rice, salt, sugar, filtered water packets, etc. She puts everything that she saves back into the store and she hopes to expand with this loan to increase profits and therefore savings to provide better for her family.
NOTE: Celida is one of five microentrepreneurs in her Bank of Hope solidarity group, which have all gone through Esperanza's business training courses. Each of the five members will receive a share of this $750 loan for their respective businesses and will be accountable to each other for repaying their share of this loan together. This group-lending method strengthens social needs in a community and ensures that members cooperate to help one another repay their loans and invest wisely in their business and family.
",F,750,partner,Food,0 Dominican Republic,"Chabela lives with her three children and husband in the Seaside town of Saman. She is the only one who consistently provides an income for her family, so she is always working hard to advance her colmado - local grocery store offering daily provisions such as rice, beans, canned foods, breads, and vegetables - and make a better life for her children and husband.
She hopes to use this loan to diversify the products that she is able to offer her neighbors. With the extra savings she expects to make, she hopes to one day build a home out of concrete blocks, on top of her colmado. She says this would be ideal because she could allow her store to stay open longer, and she would also feel that her products were better protected from burglars. Lastly, it is very important to her to have a home built out of concrete block. Because they live right on the coast, and often face strong tropical storms, concrete homes offer much more security, safety, and endurance.
She says that thankfully she has not had to overcome any significant challenges in her life, but that like every other poor person in the DR, she wants to improve the lives of her family members. Chabela is very thankful for your support in helping to make her dreams come true, and make her life more peaceful, happy, and healthful.
NOTE: This $1200 loan will fund Chabela's business as well as five other businesses in her solidarity group. She and five other women micro-entrepreneurs came to Esperanza and formed their group. They have all gone through Esperanza business training program and will receive equal shares of the loan to invest in their respective business and pay back the loan together. The entire group must pay in full and on time, otherwise group members must make up the deficit before any payment can be made. This creates accountability among the group members because each one shares in the struggles and successes of the other members in their group.
",F,1200,partner,Food,0 Dominican Republic,"Ciprian Ramirez Castro owns the Cafeteria Puro Robles, a sandwich store in Quisqueya where he sells food products like chips, bread, and natural juice drinks, as well as essentials like cups, napkins, ice, and lamp oil for when the power goes out during the night. He will use this loan to stock his store and pay for his freezer. Ciprian says that since he's opened his store, life has improved for him and his wife, Milagros Montilla, and their two children Yendri (8) and Yender (7). With another loan, he can grow his store into a successful small business.
Note: Ciprian is one of five microentrepreneurs in his Bank of Hope solidarity group, all of whom have gone through Esperanza's business training courses. Each of the five members will receive a share of this $1200 loan for their respective businesses and will be accountable to each other for repaying their share of this loan together. This group-lending method strengthens social needs in the community and helps ensure that members cooperate to help one another repay their loans and invest wisely in their businesses and families. As soon as Cipirian pays off his current loan with Esperanza, this loan will become active.
",M,1200,partner,Food,0 Dominican Republic,"Claudia Green runs a restaurant out of her home in the small town of La Pacuala. This loan of $450 allows her to purchase a freezer so she can store meat and other perishable foods as well as keep desserts and beverages cold. This will help Claudia save money by purchasing in bulk now that she can store food over a longer period of time and she wont have to travel to the markets as freqently to restock her kitchen.
She is a single mother of three: Francisco (24), Jazmn (22) and Antonio (19). Claudia has received three previous loans from Esperanza to start up her restaurant, purchase supplies and receive business training.
Claudia says her life is different now that she has opened up her own business because she can stay at her store now rather than having to walk the streets looking for money. An average of eight to ten people eat at her store for lunch every day.
",F,450,partner,Food,0 Dominican Republic,"Cristina Snchez is raising her only son. She has been a successful entrepreneur since 1998, when she applied for her first loan of $150. She used that loan to buy bread, which she sold in the street. Today she has three businesses selling clothing, bedding, and general household items.
Cristina has appied for this loan of $600, her fourth loan overall, to start her general store and increase her investment in her other businesses. She is very dedicated to her work and to teaching her son good values. She has become an example for other entrepreneurs in her community to follow.
",F,600,partner,Retail,0 Dominican Republic,"Dalys, 33 years old, is the prototype of the hard-working and multi-tasking woman. Her four children go to the public school of the zone, and her husband has a liquor store. She sells jeans, blouses, slippers and other items of clothing. She also prepares and sells sandwiches, hamburgers and cheeseburgers in her house. She is an independent saleswoman affiliated with Europiel, a shoe company. That way, she buys her products at very low prices and can get big profits from her business. Dalys cleverly used the first loan she got from our organization and repaid it at the appropriate time.
Dalys is now requesting a loan to purchase some new styles of slippers and blouses to sell during the Christmas period. The entrepreneur hopes shell increase her sales volumes and her income. That way, shell better contribute to the improvement of her familys living condition.
",F,325,partner,Retail,0 Dominican Republic,"Damiana is a single mom who works hard and fights hard to raise four children in a small home outside of Santo Domingo. She started a candle-making business several years ago, and it has undoubtedly been a huge success. In her neighborhood, the power goes out several times a day, so small, affordable candles sell very well.
As her reputation started to grow, people began to ask her if she made or sold specialized types of candles. She realized she could make more profit if she was able to meet this demand. She is asking for her first loan so that she can buy a few different dyes and fragrances to put into her waxes. She plans to add this scented and colored wax to new molds. As we visited with her, she showed us the prototype of a star-shaped votive that smelled of fresh lemons.
She says that her family members' lives have started to improve as her business began to grow. She knows that, with this loan and hard work, they will continue to work towards a brighter future.
",F,250,partner,Manufacturing,0 Dominican Republic,"David is 33 years old and has 4 children: a girl and three boys. Their ages are 6, 4, 2, and a newborn baby boy who is 16 days old. His wife, Julieta, is taking classes at the university to become a high school teacher. David has a high school education, but he wants his children to go to the university.
David has had his woodshop for three years, and therefore, was able to secure an individual loan from Esperanza. In his woodshop, he takes orders from the community for items such as doors, tables, chairs, and bed frames. He is going to use his next loan from Esperanza to buy more machinery, such as an additional saw and drills to be able to expand the kind of furniture he can produce. He has one employee, and he also lets two neighborhood boys (ages 9 and 13) help out around the shop so they can learn the trade.
",M,1200,partner,Manufacturing,0 Dominican Republic,"Delfina Caiser owns a colorful shop in Quisqueya where she sells such commodities as colored candles, bread, chips, sweets, cherries, gum, spices, matches, and chocolate cake by the slice. Delfina's husband ran his own business selling lottery tickets, but after he died, Delfina was left without a source of income. A friend told her about microfinance, and Delfina opened her shop with her first loan from Esperanza. With this loan, Delfina will grow her business, stocking her store and buying a freezer. She has no children, but lives with her younger sister Ana and brother Rafael. Delfina's niece Francia (27) and her two daughters Angela Maria (11) and Carla (6) live with Delfina as well.
Note: Delfina is one of five microentrepreneurs in her Bank of Hope solidarity group, all of whom have gone through Esperanza's business training courses. Each of the five members will receive a share of this $1200 loan for their respective businesses and will be accountable to each other for repaying their share of this loan together. This group-lending method strengthens social needs in the community and helps ensure that members cooperate to help one another repay their loans and invest wisely in their businesses and families.
",F,1200,partner,Retail,0 Dominican Republic,"Diehna Miguel Calcano is married to Jovani and together they raise their three-year-old daughter, Araceli. She is able to take care of and provide for her family by running her business from home. This loan will allow her to purchase kitchenware and curtains, which will then go to benefit other families in her neighborhood of La Pacuala.
Diehna has a very interesting and unique business. She uses her Esperanza loan to buy products such as pots and pans, which she then sells to other people. They pay her back in incremental payments while she then pays back Esperanza as she receives payments from her customers. Diehna keeps a detailed accounting book of all her clients and how much they owe -- a record-keeping tool reflecting the method used by Esperanza for tracking payments of associates.
NOTE: Diehna is one of five micro-entrepreneurs in her Bank of Hope solidarity group, which have all gone through Esperanza's business training courses and will be accountable to each other for repaying their shares of this $750 loan together. If a member is unable to pay in full and on time, the group is responsible for making up the deficit before a payment can be made. This group-lending method strengthens social needs in a community and ensures that members cooperate to help one another repay their loans and invest wisely in their businesses and families.
",F,750,partner,Retail,0 Dominican Republic,"Dionorat is the leader of the group La Fortaleza 2, which translates as ""The Strength."" This group is seeking a loan to help them grow their small businesses in the town of Hato Mayor on the eastern sector of the Dominican Republic. This is a group made up of friends and family that has successfully taken out three loans in the past and has supported one another in their entrepreneurial ventures.
Diornat owns a clothing store that she started two years ago. With this loan, she will buy more pants and blouses to sell in her store. She hopes to increase her profits so that she can continue to support her two children, aged 13 and 16, and be able to send them to college.
Diornat and the entire La Fortaleza 2 group have greatly appreciated the opportunities that their microloans have given them and they hope to continue in their success.
",F,1525,lender,Clothing,0 Dominican Republic,"Dolores lives in a tiny rural village in Los Alcarrizos yet business at her small store is very busy. Her store supplies the day-to-day necessities for everyone in her village since traditional grocery stores are too far away and too expensive for many people in her community. Her store, called a colmadito, is an 8-square-foot wooden building on the side of the road that sells household items, non-perishable food, and refrigerated products. This new loan will help her to purchase more merchandise in high-demand to adequately provide for her growing customer base. The increase in profits will help Dolores improve the standard of living for her two children, ages 10 and 18.
NOTE: Dolores is a member of the group called ""La Fe"" (Faith), along with four other entrepreneurs. They will be accountable to one another for paying back this loan of $750. This group-lending method requires group members to help one another throughout the loan repayment process. Loans are paid back as a group. If one person is deficient on their loan, the group must make up the difference. Everyone in Dolores group has gone through Esperanza's training and shown themselves to be responsible and committed to paying back their loan in order to provide for their families.
",F,750,partner,Food,0 Dominican Republic,"Elba is 59 years old. She has seven children and five grandchildren. This is her second loan from Esperanza. She successfully paid back her first loan which was for 5000 pesos (150 USD). She used her first loan to build her Colmado (convenience store) and buy some products to sell, such as cooking oil, sugar, and soft drinks. She is going to use this next loan to buy an additional storage unit for her goods, so she can keep more products and continue expanding her small business.
Elba has been living with her father who is 80, her younger children, and two of her grandchildren since her husband died. Before she got the loan from Esperanza she was selling small items by the side of the road. She eventually wants to use the profits from her Colmado to make repairs on her house. Her son and his wife also have a loan out with Esperanza.
NOTE: This is a group loan; there are four other women in Elba's group. This $1200 loan will fund Elba's business as well as four other businesses in her solidarity group. She and four other women micro-entrepreneurs came to Esperanza and formed their group. They have all gone through Esperanza's business training program and will receive equal shares of the loan to invest in their respective businesses and pay back the loan together. The entire group must pay in full and on time, otherwise group members must make up the deficit before any payment can be made. This creates accountability among the group members because each one shares in the struggles and successes of the other members in their group.
",F,1200,partner,Retail,0 Dominican Republic,"Eliete came with her husband to the Dominican Republic from Haiti 5 years ago looking for work. Because she does not yet know how to read or write and her Spanish is limited, she largely depends on bilingual members of the Haitian community to help her navigate life in Hato Mayor. The couple has three children, each of whom is in school back in Haiti and living with family. With what they have been earning in Hato Mayor, they have been able to send money back home on a regular basis. Rony, her husband, works in whatever construction jobs he can find, while Eliete spends the day selling merchandise.
Note: Eliete is one of five microentrepreneurs in her Bank of Hope solidarity group, all of whom have gone through Esperanza's business training courses. Each of the five members will receive a share of this $750 loan for his or her respective business and will be accountable to each other for repaying his or her share of this loan together. This group-lending methodology ensures that members cooperate to help one another repay their loans and invest wisely in their businesses and families.
",F,750,partner,Clothing,0 Dominican Republic,"Elizabeth Frncico Johnson is a single mother who raises her daughter Elizabeth (7) and provides for her by selling traditional Dominican snacks from her store in Teson, Samana. She sells popular items like empanadas, sandwiches, fried plantains, juices and soda. Elizabeth Frncicos store is right next to a discoteca one of many typical dancing clubs throughout the Dominican Republic that feature cultural music like Merengue and Bachata. Weekend nights are her peak hours for sales as locals flood the discoteca next door. With this loan she will be able to buy bread, meats, cheese, flour and fruit. Elizabeth has named her store Cafeteria de Amistad but is saving up for the paint and wood for a sign to make it official.
NOTE: Elizabeth is a member of an Esperanza solidarity group. She and her business represent four other microentrepreneurs who are members of the same solidarity group who will all receive a share of this $750 loan to develop their respective businesses. Elizabeth and the other members are accountable to each other to repay this loan together.
",F,750,partner,Food,0 Dominican Republic,"Emilia Liviano is the mother of Miguel 20, Francisco (23) pictured at left, and Ereli (25). She also has four grandchildren who she is helping to raise not only as a grandmother but also through her business. She runs a motor taxi service, which employs her two sons who drive fares around their hometown of Sanchez and outlying communities. Emilia is the one who takes care of the finances. This is her first loan with Esperanza and it will allow her to buy another motor taxi so that both her sons could drive at the same time, thereby increasing profits dramatically.
Motor taxis are an essential element to every town in the Dominican Republic and the public transportation system. For the equivalent of less than $1-$2 in most cases, Dominicans can be transported on these motorcycle taxis that the locals have deemed motoconchos to any address in their city. Motoconchos are particularly beneficial for commuting to and from rural communities where most cars and buses do not go. Emilia says that most of the time her business is pretty good, but it is difficult during the rainy season because people do not want to ride as much in the rain.
NOTE: Emilia is one of five microentrepreneurs in her Bank of Hope solidarity group, which have all gone through Esperanza's business training courses. Each of the five members will receive a share of this $750 loan for their respective businesses and will be accountable to each other for repaying their share of this loan together. This group-lending method strengthens social needs in a community and ensures that members cooperate to help one another repay their loans and invest wisely in their business and family.
",F,750,partner,Transportation,0 Dominican Republic,"Enersida is 32 years old. She has three children, ages 17, 14, and 13 (this means she had her first child at 15!). Two of them are still in school. Her three children and her husband all live with her in her home.
Enersida buys fruit (such as mangos, guavas, plantains, and bananas) in bulk from the surrounding local farms and sells them in the nearby city markets, such as in La Romana and El Seybo. With her loans she is able to pay for her produce upfront, which allows her to have larger profits. Before she received a loan, she had to buy smaller quantities and wait to sell that before she could, with those earnings, buy additional fruit to sell.
Enersida took out her first loan with Esperanza 2 years ago for 3000 pesos (US$ 90). This is the 4th loan that she is going to take out from Esperanza, and she has successfully paid back the other 3. Esperanza typically offers smaller loans initially and as a group of women successfully pay back their loans and get a credit history, they can borrow larger and larger amounts. She is pictured at her biweekly repayment meeting.
With this loan, Enersida wants to keep investing in her business, buying her produce in ever greater quantities to be able to sell in the markets for increased profit.
",F,350,partner,Wholesale,0 Dominican Republic,"Esthela is an experienced entrepreneur who has been selling women's clothing and jewelry for years in her community. She happily says that her goods are sold just as rapidly as she can stock them. Esthela is a very confident person and says that she's a silver-tongued vendor who easily persuades people to buy her goods.
This entrepreneur has requested a loan to add a greater variety of clothing to her inventory. She's looking forward to increasing significantly her income in order to keep supporting the education of her children and to provide her family with a better lifestyle.
",F,350,partner,Clothing,1 Dominican Republic,"Evelyn owns one of the larger clothing and shoe shops in her community. She offers her neighbors the latest fashions in new and used clothes and shoes, and at reasonable prices. She has participated in group-level loans before, and is asking for this individual loan now so that she can really improve and advance her store.
She plans to use the money to buy a wider range of womens clothing, particularly tank tops, jeans, and skirts. She says that this is the perfect time for her to take out this loan because in November, when the tourism industry picks up, people have more money to spend and will want to buy more of her clothes. By offering a better selection, she knows she will be able to capitalize on this opportunity.
Her goal is to continue expanding and improving her business every day, and to more importantly, always ensure that her two children, ages 7 and 9 years old, will always be able to attend a good school.
Evelyn is very grateful to everyone who is helping her to achieve her dreams with this loan.
",F,1200,partner,Clothing,0 Dominican Republic,"Felicia Carrera has raised seven children, who then gave her 20 grandchildren who in turn have given her 17 great-grandchildren. She carries on her experience with children by selling empanadas (baked or fried pastries wrapped around fruit or meat and cheese) outside the local school yard every day. She buys the empanadas pre-made from the city of Nagua, about a 30 minute trip. This is her first time running her own business but she has plenty of experience with her target clientle.
NOTE: Felicia is one of five micro-entrepreneurs in her Bank of Hope solidarity group, which have all gone through Esperanza's business training courses and will be accountable to each other for repaying their shares of this $750 loan together. If a member is unable to pay in full and on time, the group is responsible for making up the deficit before a payment can be made. This group-lending method strengthens social needs in a community and ensures that members cooperate to help one another repay their loans and invest wisely in their businesses and families.
",F,750,partner,Food,0 Dominican Republic,"Felipe Nasis Habaan bottles gasoline and oil at his open-air shop in Ulloa. A mechanic by trade, he will use his loan to expand his wares to include headlights, cables, and spark plugs, odds and ends essential to the art of motorcycle maintenance. Felipe lives with his wife Juli and their five children: Ulysseys (10), Elisa (7), Juli (3), Caterin (2), and Cali (1). Felipe has a bashful smile and says his family is too humble for big dreams. But, he says, he's been impressed by what Esperanza's program has done for entrepreneurs in the community. With a new loan from Esperanza, Felipe says he can grow his own small business to better provide for his family.
Note: Felipe is one of five microentrepreneurs in his Bank of Hope solidarity group, all of whom have gone through Esperanza's business training courses. Each of the five members will receive a share of this $800 loan for their respective businesses and will be accountable to each other for repaying their share of this loan together. This group-lending method strengthens social needs in the community and helps ensure that members cooperate to help one another repay their loans and invest wisely in their businesses and families. As soon as Felipe pays off his current loan with Esperanza, this loan will become active.
",M,800,partner,Retail,0 Dominican Republic,"Fiordaliza Abreu Espinal lives with her husband, Fabio Cruz, and their three children in a house attached to the back of her store. She sells fresh fruit and vegetables that she has brought in from larger outdoor markets outside of her town. Along with produce, Fiordaliza sells beverages, canned food and even some cleaning supplies such as soap and detergent. She has requested this new loan to purchase basic cooking ingredients and essential food staples from salt and sugar to rice and beans as well as replenish her inventory.
A large portion of her sales come from miniature orders such as one green pepper, a cookie, four slices of bread or a few grams of salt. Selling staples consumed in larger quantities such as rice and beans will increase her profit and round out her inventory so she can cater to individual purchases as well as family-sized orders.
NOTE: As with most Esperanza loan recipients, Fiordaliza is a member of a solidarity group, which receives and pays back equal shares of one loan. This $750 loan will benefit four other entrepreneurs and their businesses along with Fiordalizas. They formed their ""Banco de Esperanza"" (Bank of Hope), went through business training and will repay their loan together. If one person is struggling to pay on time in full, their group will help to make up the difference.
",F,750,partner,Food,0 Dominican Republic,"Francia, 40 years old, is a very successful business woman. She started the grocery store fifteen years ago. Her husband is a taxi driver and is working in the capital. Her only-begotten daughter is fourteen and goes to public school in their home town.
In Francias grocery, people buy rice, salt, flour, oil, spices, milk, chocolate and other foodstuffs. Currently, supplies are running low in the store. Francia needs a loan in order to buy some sacks of rice, flour and wheat. She will also buy new items to introduce into the business so that she can better attend to her customers needs and attract new ones.
",F,375,partner,Food,0 Dominican Republic,"Georgina lives with her husband, three children, and grandson in their small home on the outskirts of Santo Domingo. From her home, she sells used and new clothes, undergarments, shoes, and occasionally cuts hair. She is asking for her first loan from Esperanza International so that she can buy new products to offer her community; specifically, she is thinking of buying clothes that are more fashionable, new hair products, and a few beauty products.
Georgina says it is her goal to keep growing her business, expanding it, and advancing. She says that it is important to have an objective in life and to keep fighting, and it is for that reason that she has always worked so hard and will continue to work hard.
Her dream is to one day be able to not only help her children become educated and comfortable, but to also help the poor in Africa. She says she has read about the poverty and disease there and says there is much to be done in the world. Georgina says that although she cannot help much, what she can do, she does. She says that most importantly, she thanks God everyday for the gifts that she has been blessed with. She is most thankful to everyone who is interested in helping her grow her business.
",F,250,partner,Clothing,0 Dominican Republic,"Gertrudis Hernndez and her husband Juan Fulgencio live with their four children in San Pedro de Macors. Gertrudis used her first loan of $300 to start her own clothing store, and she used her profits to send her sons to private school. Gertrudis has paid off her first loan and has developed a business plan to expand her inventory to include cosmetics. This new loan will give her the capital to purchase cosmetics and personal care products.
A high-quality education is something she and her husband value greatly, and they are focused on giving their children the opportunity to attend schools that offer much more than the public schools do. Her goal is to increase her profits so that she can send her oldest son to college soon, as well as her younger children once they finish secondary school.
",F,750,partner,Retail,0 Dominican Republic,"Gloria was born in the Dominican Republic to Haitian parents and so is fluent in Spanish and Creole. Being bilingual, she often helps translate for members of the Haitian community who do not yet speak Spanish well. She has been living in Hato Mayor for 11 years with her family and hopes to eventually build a house of her own. When shes not working selling clothing, Gloria likes to stay active in her community and chat with neighbors.
Note: Gloria is one of five microentrepreneurs in her Bank of Hope solidarity group, all of whom have gone through Esperanza's business training courses. Each of the five members will receive a share of this $750 loan for his or her respective business and will be accountable to each other for repaying his or her share of this loan together. This group-lending methodology ensures that members cooperate to help one another repay their loans and invest wisely in their businesses and families.
",F,750,partner,Clothing,0 Dominican Republic,"Group 10 from the Unidos Podemos Bank of Hope is asking for their 2nd loan from Esperanza International. This group from El Seybo consists of men only.
Eusebio del Rosario is their group coordinator. His small business consists of raising pigs. He has a nine-year-old child and is a single parent. He will use this loan to buy a few piglets, as well as vitamins, food, and serum to feed them and help them grow bigger. Some of the other group members also raise pigs, and others sell fruits or vegetables. Eusebio hopes his business will be profitable enough one day to allow him to repair his house. He works very hard and takes excellent care of the pigs he raises. He believes this loan will help him achieve his goal of making sure his family is healthy and living a good life.
On behalf of Esperanza International, thank you for supporting this group of hard working men!
",M,1875,partner,Agriculture,0 Dominican Republic,"Henry De Jeanne is the mother of 11-year-old Maria. They live together in San Pedro de Macoris near the southern coast of the Dominican Republic. Dejeanne owns her own store selling household supplies, but she wants to expand to selling fruits and vegetables. So she has applied for a loan with Esperanza to purchase items essential to many of the homes of her customers from potatoes and yucca to bananas and plantains. Dejanne says her goal is to improve her store and, in doing so, change the living situation of her family and community.
NOTE: This $750 loan will go to fund Henry's business, as well as four other businesses within her solidarity group. She and four other micro-entrepreneurs in her community came to Esperanza and formed their own group. They have all gone through Esperanza's business training program and will receive shares of this $750 loan to invest in their respective businesses and pay back the loan together. The entire group must pay in full and on time, otherwise group members must make up the deficit before any payment can be made. This creates accountability among the group members because each one shares in the success and struggles of the other members in their group.
",F,750,partner,Food,0 Dominican Republic,"Janet (pictured in the center with her solidarity group) is applying for her first loan from Esperanza to finance her retail business that consists of selling undergarments as well as cooking ingredients such as oil and salsa, which she sells to people along the street. Janet is married to Jose Antonio, a construction worker. Together they are raising their four children: Hector Antionio (7), Alvine (6), Favian (3) Yafresi (13 months).
NOTE: Janet is one of five microentrepreneurs in her Amor y Paz (Love and Peace) Bank of Hope solidarity group. They have all gone through Esperanza's business training courses and will be accountable to each other for repaying $150 each of this $750 loan together. This group-lending method strengthens social needs in a community and ensures that members cooperate to help one another repay their loans and invest wisely in their business and family.
Janet looks forward to growing her business and being able to provide more adequately for her children. She desires an opportunity to become a professional and to improve her skills and education level.
She feels strongly that her participation in the Amor y Paz Bank of Hope is a new beginning for her entire family. To Janet, Esperanza is a chance to develop strong community relationships and to create a financial safety net for her family, which will allow her children to continue their schooling past primary school.
",F,750,partner,Retail,0 Dominican Republic,"Joanna Maria Acosta is married to Secundario de Jess and together they raise their three children, Jose Julian (2), Jose Enaro (5) and Joanni Maria (8). She sells womens clothing, inexpensive jewelry, and beer from her house and along the roads in her town of Sanchez. She has always sold clothing and this loan will help her buy more clothing to add to her inventory. She says her goal is to continue to grow her business for the wellbeing of her family.
NOTE: Joanna is one of five micro-entrepreneurs in her Bank of Hope solidarity group, which have all gone through Esperanza's business training courses and will be accountable to each other for repaying their shares of this $750 loan together. If a member is unable to pay in full and on time, the group is responsible for making up the deficit before a payment can be made. This group-lending method strengthens social needs in a community and ensures that members cooperate to help one another repay their loans and invest wisely in their businesses and families.
",F,750,partner,Clothing,0 Dominican Republic,"Joaqun de Los Santos is a single father with two children. He provides for his family by running a small business in car parts. He sells spare parts and repairs and replaces motors in the city of San Pedro de Macors.
Joaqun has requested this special loan of $750 to replenish and expand his inventory of equipment most requested by his clients. The parts are expensive, but the profit margin is large. His long-term goal is to save enough money to send his two children to college.
",M,750,partner,Services,0 Dominican Republic,"Juan Tomas supports his family by making bread, pastry dishes, salads and a variety of other dishes, which he either cooks and sells to families in his neighborhood or sells in bulk to local restaurants. His small business is run out of his kitchen at home. This loan will allow him to purchase better supplies for preparing, cooking and restoring food as well as giving him more capital to increase the amount of food he can buy and sell. He currently has to make due using an empty bottle to shape tortillas on a wide ironing board and the families' supplies are used to support the business.
His wife Esther Maria and their three children - Jeraldine, Jehova and Jeremias - live a two-room home in the community of Juan Pablo Duarte. The semi-rural community lies close to the southern coast of the country in the eastern province of San Pedro.
NOTE: Juan Tomas is the president of his Bank of Hope - a group of Esperanza microentrepreneurs in a given community who help each other through the business management and loan repayment process. Juan Tomas and four other members of his solidarity group will be responsible for utilizing and paying back this loan of $750 together. There respective businesses will each receive an equal $150 share of the loan to expand their family businesses.
",M,750,partner,Food,0 Dominican Republic,"Juana is 33 years old and has two biological children, aged 16 and 17. She also has an adopted child as well as looking after two of her husbands nieces. Juana's husbands name is Radame de la Cruz.
Juana only has a middle school education, but all her children are going to school and she hopes they will continue to do so. She has been an Esperanza client for one year and has already successfully paid back two loans (one for 150 USD and one for 240 USD). Now she is applying for a third loan.
With each loan Juana started a new application of her business. She began by using her first loan to sell ice cream at the local school. With her second loan she began to include other products in her sales, such as corn, pork, and empanadas and started selling from her home. With this third loan, she wants to include natural medicinal products, which she can buy from the pharmacy in El Seybo and bring to her community. She plans on putting her profits back into her business in order to keep expanding. Right now Juana lives in a house owned by her mother, but eventually she wants to be able to buy her own house for her family.",F,350,partner,Retail,0 Dominican Republic,"
Juana, 53 years old, is a very successful and hard-working woman who believes in the value of persistence. Last year she started her business, a small grocery store where she sells basic foodstuffs to the people. Juanas husband is a taxi driver and works in Santo Domingo, the capital. The couple has 6 grown up children.
Bi-weekly, Juana goes to the capital to purchase products to supply her business. Currently, she is short of some goods such as oats, chocolate, milk, rice and flour. She is requesting a loan to purchase those products so that she can correctly satisfy her clienteles needs.
",F,300,partner,Food,0 Dominican Republic,"Karina Altagracia and her husband raise their three young children, Jesibel, Alexia and Wilber; ages 5, 3 and 2, respectively. In order to provide for their children, Karina opened up her own beauty salon out of their home in a rural town called Los Guayacanes in the province of San Pedro de Macoris.
This loan will allow her to purchase a new hair styling machine as well as additional materials for her new business. Karina currently has only one machine for many clients and would like to hire an employee to run the extra chair and styling station that she will be able to purchase with this capital.
NOTE: Karina is a member of a Bank of Hope - a group of Esperanza micro-entrepreneurs in her community who help each other through the business management and loan repayment process. Karina and four other members of his solidarity group will be responsible for utilizing and paying back this loan of $1,000 together. Their respective businesses will each receive a share of the loan.
",F,1000,partner,Services,0 Dominican Republic,"Laudovina is 54 years old and has 9 children and 11 grandchildren 7 of whom still live with her in her house. Her husband is a truck driver transporting produce through the nearby cities.
Laudovina's business is selling gasoline from her home, which is near the large road connecting the two major cities of El Seybo and La Romana. The nearest gas station is in a large town about 40 minutes away, so the people in her community appreciate being able to go directly to her. The majority of her clients are passing motoconchos (motorcycle taxis) and agricultural delivery trucks.
Laudovina took out her first loan with Esperanza 2 years ago for 3000 pesos (US$ 90). This is the 4th loan that she is going to take out from Esperanza, and she has successfully paid back the other 3. Esperanza typically offers smaller loans initially and as a group of women successfully pay back their loans and get a credit history, they can borrow increasingly larger amounts. Laudovina is pictured at her biweekly repayment meeting.
With her first loan from Esperanza, Laudovina started her business from the ground up, and she has been able to progressively build up her small business to serve more and more people. With the profits she makes from her small gas station, she is able to buy food for her family and help provide for her children and grandchildren.
",F,375,partner,Retail,0 Dominican Republic,"Lita is 70 years old. She is married and has 10 surviving children and 22 grandchildren. Her husband, Alfredo, used to be an agricultural worker, but cannot work anymore because his vision is fading. Lita has a fifth grade education and is illiterate, but she was able to put her children through high school. She lives in a small concrete house next door to her restaurant with her husband and two of her grandchildren.
Lita has owned a small restaurant for over 40 years; it is located on the main road outside of Samana and most of her customers are her neighbors and people she has grown up with. She also sells plantains, which grow on plantain trees she has behind her house. Now that her husband can no longer work, her restaurant has become her familys primary source of income. She is seeking to take out her first loan from Esperanza to restock her shelves and increase her profits.
",F,600,partner,Food,0 Dominican Republic,"Living only 300 feet from the Carribean Sea in the beautiful costal village of Chorrera, Rosa Maria has decided that opening up a fried-fish stand is the perfect way to provide for her family. Rosa and her husband Jose Antonio are blessed with three sons: Jose Rodolfo (7), Jose Rodrigo (5) and Jose Daniel (3). Rosa buys her fish early in the morning from the fisherman near her home and marinates them in the morning so that she will have plenty of seasoned fish to fry by lunchtime. Specifically, her loan will allow her to buy a scale to weigh the fish, a cooler to keep them fresh and, of course, more fish.
NOTE: Rosa Maria is a member of an Esperanza solidarity group -- part of their Bank of Hope they have named ""El Liberacin"". She and her business represent four other microentrepreneurs who are members of the same solidarity group who will all receive a share of this $900 loan to develop their respective businesses. Rosa and the other members are accountable to each other for making loan repayments together.
",F,900,partner,Food,0 Dominican Republic,"Lourden Presina buys coconuts from her neighbors and sells them to the large trucks that come to her house twice per week. The trucks then take the coconuts into the capital city of Samana for distribution. Her business supports her four children: Yoham (17), Carolina (15), Yani (14), and Chicho (13). Lourden has repaid her first loan and is applying for this loan to purchase a larger quantity of coconuts to meet the high demand that the trucking shipments provide, and save up to fix the electricity in her home. She lives in the community near Playa Rincon on the north coast of the Dominican Republic, about 800 miles from Miami.
NOTE: Lourden is one of five microentrepreneurs in her Bank of Hope solidarity group, who have all gone through Esperanza's business training courses. Each of the five members will receive a share of this $800 loan for their respective businesses and will be accountable to each other for repaying their share of this loan together. This group-lending method strengthens social needs in a community and ensures that members cooperate to help one another repay their loans and invest wisely in their business and family.
",F,800,partner,Food,0 Dominican Republic,"Luisa's store sits on top of a hill overlooking her barrio of El Progreso. Community members take a short trek from their homes below to buy day-to-day necessities from Luisa's shop such as canned food, beverages, fresh vegetables and bread. She is prepared to expand her business that not only supports her neighbors, but provides income to care for her three children, ages 11, 9 and 8, whom she raises with her husband, Gregorio. Luisa's request for a loan is to add poultry and dairy products to her menu.
Geographic isolation and poor transportation options make Luisa's a convenient and necessary part of this impoverished community in the Los Alcarrizos region of this Caribbean country. Luisa has vocational training in commerce and continual support by her loan officer, Rebeca Almanzar Rosa. Her son and two daughters are able to go attend school rather than taking odd-jobs to help the family make a living. Their mother has the means to take care of them and with this new loan, their income will increase as she work her way out of poverty.
NOTE: Luisa is a member of the ""La Triunfadora"" group, along with four other entrepreneurs. They will be accountable to one another for paying back their loan of $750. This group lending method requires group members to help one another throughout the loan repayment process. Loans are paid back as a group. If one person is deficient on their loan, the group must make up the difference. Everyone in Luisa's group has gone through Esperanza's training and demonstrated to be responsible and determined.
",F,750,partner,Food,0 Dominican Republic,"Marcia Rodriguez Dilone is the group coordinator for Group 7 of the Nuevo Renacer Bank of Hope. The five members of this group live in La Barquita, a large community in the northern outskirts of Santo Domingo. This is the first loan they have requested, and they are very excited because they believe it will bring new life to their small businesses.
Marcia has 4 children, ages 22, 19, 17, and 11. She sells all kinds of clothing. She will use this loan to purchase the items she sells more frequently and are in big demand: undergarments, T-shirts, and bedding. She is usually very busy with her business and her housework. When she has some spare time, she likes to read the Bible, talk to her children, and help them with their homework.
She hopes this loan will take her one step closer to fulfilling her dream: owning a department store where she not only sells clothes, but all kinds of merchandise. On behalf of Esperanza International and this group of micro entrepreneurs, thank you for your support!
",F,1075,partner,Clothing,0 Dominican Republic,"Margarita owns and operates a small grocery store which she started about five years ago. Her store offers a large variety of goods such as rice, beans, sugar, milk, bread, fruits, vegetables, and other basic foodstuffs. Currently, this business is the main source of revenue for her family. Her husband is a retired police officer, and the funds he's receiving can barely help in supporting the family.
Margarita is requesting a loan to buy more goods to restock her small grocery store. She hopes that her business will help her to support the university studies of her two eldest sons.
",F,350,partner,Food,1 Dominican Republic,"Marguerita Martes Surez runs her own hardware and crafts store called Ferretera Rosario to support her four children: Maximo, Tobias, Adaela and Miria. They live in a small village called La Pacuala in the province of Samana on the north peninsula of the Dominican Republic. She is applying for this loan to buy more paint, cement and tools. Due to all the construction nearby, Marguerita has found that paint and cement are in high demand. This loan will allow her to replenish her supply to meet that demand.
Marguerita has already received and successfully repaid a loan from Esperanza. She has also gone through Esperanza's business training program where she learned accounting, budgeting marketing and developed a business plan with her loan advisor. Marguerita's advisor meets with her and other microentrepreneurs in her community where they make loan payments and receive ongoing support. ",F,300,partner,Retail,0 Dominican Republic,"Maria Alvarez lives with Manuel Hidalgo in the community of Munoz and runs a small grocery store that she calls Cafateria Artile. This $150 loan will go to purchase refrigerated goods such as meat, dairy products and beverages. She has already paid off a previous loan with Esperanza and has gone through business training courses to help her develop her microenterprise.
Maria is a member of an Esperanza Bank of Hope in Puerto Plata on the north coast of the Dominican Republic. Though living in an impoverished community, Marias group of women forms a strong bond to hold one another accountable to repay their loan and develop their business while offering social support.
",F,150,partner,Food,0 Dominican Republic,"Maria Calcano runs a small store in a tiny coastal village. This store helps provide for her husband Cornelio and her two young daughters Emily (4) and Melissa (3). Most of the people in Maria's village do not have a way to get into the main town to buy the staples of life such as flour, diapers, or filtered water, so her small stand is a great asset to her community. Maria's store sells a little bit of everything from rice to razors. With this loan, Maria will be able to better stock her store adding items such as condensed milk, spices, and sweets to her inventory.
NOTE: This $900 loan will fund Maria's business plus four others in her community. She and four additional entrepreneurs have formed a solidarity group, part of a Bank of Hope they call ""Llamada de Amor"" that received business training from Esperanza and will be responsible for paying back this loan together as they develop their respective businesses. This group-lending methodology fosters accountability among the members because they all must pay in full and on time.
",F,900,partner,Food,0 Dominican Republic,"Maria is a member of the Luz y Esperanza groupmeaning light and hope. She is asking for this loan so that she can continue to buy shampoos, conditioners, and other hair treatment supplies for her beauty shop. She says that this loan will help ensure that she always has enough supplies for her customers, and will also help her to offer higher quality products to attract new customers.
Maria says that her dream is to one day build her own beauty shop where she can serve her clients. Right now she rents both her beauty shop and her house from someone else, and its hard to keep up with rent and savings. Maria is also very involved with her Catholic church.
She and her husband are both very thankful to everyone supporting them, they are very excited to take advantage of the opportunities this loan will give them to improve their lives, and their business.
NOTE: This $1000 loan will fund Maria's business as well as four other businesses in her solidarity group. She and four other women micro-entrepreneurs came to Esperanza and formed their group. They have all gone through Esperanza business training and will receive equal shares of the loan to invest in their respective business and pay back the loan together. The entire group must pay in full and on time, otherwise group members must make up the deficit before any payment can be made. This creates accountability among the group members because each one shares in the struggles and successes of the other members in their group.
",F,1000,partner,Services,0 Dominican Republic,"Maria Victoria Bautista has 3 children, whom she raises along with her spouse, Roberto Ovidio Snchez. Maria runs her own dressmaking business at her workshop in San Pedro de Macors. She has been working hard to expand her business to support her family.
She received and successfully paid off a previous loan from Esperanza and is now eligible for this new loan of $600. She will use this loan to purchase more material as well as sewing equipment and spare parts to increase productivity. Maria says her goal is to make the clothing that she sells better every time.
",F,600,partner,Services,0 Dominican Republic,"Maria Vilorio del Vois is a single mother with five children - the oldest is 15 and the youngest is 7. They live in a barrio called La 41 in the municipality of Consuelo, about two hours northeast of the Dominican capital, Santo Domingo. She payed off her first loan from Esperanza after opening up a small grocery store that sold food and various household necessities.
This loan she is requesting will allow her to expand her business and increase her capital investments to become more self sustainable. Rosisert Reyes, Maria's loan adviser, says Maria had very little before she started her business. With this loan, her business will be more prosperous.
NOTE: This $850 loan will go to fund Maria's business, as well as four other businesses within her solidarity group. They have gone through Esperanza's business training program and will receive shares of this $850 loan to invest in their respective businesses and pay back the loan together. The entire group must pay in full and on time, otherwise group members must make up the deficit before any payment can be made. This creates accountability among the group members because each one shares in the success and struggles of the other members in their group.
",F,850,partner,Retail,0 Dominican Republic,"Maria, pictured second from right, is 65 years old and only has an elementary school education. She has two children and 11 grandchildren. Marias husband, Ramon, used to work as a butcher, but had to undergo several operations in the hospital and now is no longer able to work. Because of this, Maria is the sole supporter of her family.
Maria runs a small business selling clothing from her house. Because there are no big clothing stores in Sanchez, Maria goes to the nearby larger cities, such as Santiago and San Francisco, to buy her wares. Most of her clients are her friends and neighbors. She is able to make enough of a profit to support herself and her husband.
Marias group meets in her house to repay their loans. Other businesses in her loan group include fishing supplies sales and a seamstress. Also pictured: Ana Garcia, their loan officer, who makes the 40 minute trip out to Sanchez to be at their biweekly repayment meetings.
NOTE: This is a group loan. Maria is one of five microentrepreneurs in her Bank of Hope solidarity group, all of whom have gone through Esperanza's business training courses. Each of the five members will receive a share of this $750 loan for their respective businesses and will be accountable to each other for repaying their share of the loan together. This group-lending methodology ensures that members cooperate to help one another repay their loans and invest wisely in their businesses and families.
",F,750,partner,Clothing,0 Dominican Republic,"Maritza Regalado represents this group of five micro entrepreneurs. They live in an area called Brisas del Ozama, by the Ozama River shore. The river divides Santo Domingo in two halves. Maritza and her friends live on the eastern side. Maritza has 5 children, ages 24, 22, 19, 18 and 16. Only the two youngest ones still live with her.
Maritza mostly sells children's clothing, which she buys in bundles (she told us there are tons of children in her area). However, with this loan she will buy a bundle that includes sheets and curtains (at her clientele's request) and a bundle of jeans. There are many men who do handwork that wear jeans everyday. They have asked her to buy men's jeans, so they can buy them from her. Her male clients say she sells good clothing at a fair price. One of the challenges Maritza faces as a businesswoman is to recognize trustworthy customers. ''You might encounter unreliable people that won't pay you.""
Maritza would like to set up all her merchandise at a store and add more variety to her sales. For example, she might like to add shoes to her merchandise in the near future. On behalf of this group of entrepreneurs, we would like to thank you for supporting this Kiva loan!
",F,1400,lender,Clothing,0 Dominican Republic,"Marleni is 26 years old. She is married and has four children, all girls (the youngest is pictured with her). This is the first loan she is taking out with Esperanza, a collective loan with four other women in her community.
Marleni used to sell chicken in her community, but she got sick and was not able to keep up her business. Now she is starting over by selling small convenience items out of her little store (which is the front room of her house). She sells such items as gum, snacks, and diapers. She eventually wants to make enough profits so she can start selling chicken again. She is able to stock her small store from a delivery truck that comes from the nearby city of El Seybo three times a week. With her loan, she will be able to increase the number of products that she sells.
She was able to buy her own house with the profits from her previous business, but there is a lot of work that she still hopes to do on it. For instance, she hopes that with the profits of her new business she will be able to buy a refrigerator.
NOTE: This $750 loan will fund Marleni's business as well as four other businesses in her solidarity group. She and four other women micro-entrepreneurs came to Esperanza and formed their group. They have all gone through Esperanza's business training program and will receive equal shares of the loan to invest in their respective businesses and will pay back the loan together. The entire group must pay in full and on time, otherwise group members must make up the deficit before any payment can be made. This creates accountability among the group members because each one shares in the struggles and successes of the other members in their group.
",F,750,partner,Food,0 Dominican Republic,"Martina is a lively 30-year-old woman who lives with her husband (Luis Manuel) and her three children (ages 11, 9 and 4) in the community of Los Dominquez. With the money from this loan, she will start a business selling undergarments for women. She will start by selling them from her home, but eventually its her dream to sell them from a store. Martina has lived in Los Dominquez for 10 years but still is only able to afford to rent a very small home. Her dreams for the future are to buy her own house, and to have her kids go to university.
Thank you for your support!",F,1400,partner,Clothing,0 Dominican Republic,"
Mercedes sells about 4 chickens a day, and a 4 lb. chicken usually sells for 100 pesos (about US$ 3). She has three children, but only supports two as one has already married and left the house. She lives with her husband, two children, and her husband's mother. Her mother-in-law is blind, and that has made things difficult because she is unable to help out with much around the house.
Mercedes is also the group coordinator; she works hard to make sure that her partners are doing okay with their businesses, and that everyone repays on time. She is a warm, friendly, and hard-working woman who tries each day to sell a little more, and do a little better.
NOTE: This $750 loan will fund Mercedes' business as well as four other businesses in her solidarity group. She and four other women micro-entrepreneurs came to Esperanza and formed their group, Paz de Esperanza (Peace of Hope). They have all gone through Esperanza's business training program and will receive equal shares of the loan to invest in their respective businesses and will pay back the loan together. The entire group must pay in full and on time, otherwise group members must make up the deficit before any payment can be made. This creates accountability among the group members because each one shares in the struggles and successes of the other members in their group.
",F,750,partner,Agriculture,0 Dominican Republic,"Meris is 41 years old and has 10 children, but no grandchildren yet. She is illiterate, but she is sending her children to school. She is not married and is the sole supporter of her children.
She works in collaboration with Ramona del Rosario, who also sells pork, but they sell to different local communities. She is able to buy a pig every week and a half and can make about US$ 60 90 profit on each pig she sells.
Meris took out her first loan with Esperanza 2 years ago for 3000 pesos (US$ 90). This is the 4th loan that she is going to take out from Esperanza, and she has successfully paid back the other 3. Esperanza typically offers smaller loans initially and as a group of women successfully pay back their loans and get a credit history, they can borrow increasingly larger amounts. She is pictured at her biweekly repayment meeting.
Meris is going to use the next loan from Esperanza to start including fruit to sell in her small shop.
",F,375,partner,Food,0 Dominican Republic,"Miguelina Jague has opened a small store out of her home in San Pedro de Macoris. She uses her profits to care for her four young children: Anehicio Jague (13), Ramonita Jague (9), Gravier Jague (8), Maria Jague (5). Ramonita and Maria are pictured with their mother next to her small store, where she currently sells a variety of household items. Miguelina wants to expand her inventory to include shirts and pants, which is why she has requested this loan. She hopes to save up enough money to purchase a proper store.
NOTE: Miguelina is one of five microentrepreneurs in her Bank of Hope solidarity group, which have all gone through Esperanza's business training courses and will be accountable to each other for repaying $150 each of this $750 loan together. This group-lending method strengthens social needs in a community and ensures that members cooperate to help one another repay their loans and invest wisely in their businesses and families.
",F,750,partner,Clothing,0 Dominican Republic,"Mina is 43 years old and is a single mother of four children, three boys and a girl (ages 26, 23, 18, 16); she also helps raise her three grandchildren.
The name of her food stand is Cafeteria Linaury. It is located on the main road outside of the town of Samana, and most of her customers are passersby or her neighbors. She sells fresh fruit juice, sandwiches, fruit, baked goods, and typical Dominican food like habichuela (pinto bean soup) and tostones (fried plantains). Her sister also works at the food stand with her.
Mina already had her small food stand when she took out her first loan from Esperanza, so she was able to secure an individual loan. With her first loan she re-stocked the shelves, as well as bought new blenders to make her fruit smoothies. With this next loan, she hopes to continue to invest in her food stand, and hopefully be able to turn it into a full-fledged restaurant.
",F,600,partner,Food,0 Dominican Republic,"Nieve Rondon Sanchez is a 44 year old mother of 3 (son pictured) and wife to Francisco. She currently owns a small general store from which she sells different types of food and beverages to the people in her neighborhood. With this loan she is hoping to be able to expand her business to carry more types of food including vegetables and fresh fruit. She wishes to expand in order to improve the quality of life for her family and to be able to better serve those in her neighborhood.
NOTE: Nieve is one of five microentrepreneurs in her Bank of Hope solidarity group, all of whom have gone through Esperanza's business training courses. Each of the five members will receive a share of this $875 loan for their respective businesses and will be accountable to each other for repaying their share of this loan together. This group-lending method strengthens social needs in a community and ensures that members cooperate to help one another repay their loans and invest wisely in their businesses and families.
",F,875,partner,Food,0 Dominican Republic,"Nivia is 54 years old and has four children and five grandchildren. She is married, and five of her children/grandchildren live with her at home. Her husband is an agricultural worker at a local farm.
Nivia runs a small chicken farm. She raises some to sell for their meat and others to sell their eggs. With the earnings from her small business, she is able to supplement her familys income.
Nivia took out her first loan with Esperanza 2 years ago for 3000 pesos (US$ 90). This is the 5th loan that she is going to take out from Esperanza, and she has successfully paid back the other 4. Esperanza typically offers smaller loans initially and as a group of women successfully pay back their loans and get a credit history, they can borrow increasingly larger amounts. Nivia is pictured at her biweekly repayment meeting.
With her new loan she wants to increase the number of chickens she can raise to sell.
",F,375,partner,Agriculture,0 Dominican Republic,"Octavia de la Cruz is a single mother with two children. She is requesting her first loan to start a business manufacturing bedspreads. She already has a sewing machine, and she will use this loan to purchase materials and supplies to get her business underway. She says her goal is to develop her business for personal growth and to give her children a good education.
NOTE: Octavia is a member of the Jehov Suple solidarity group along with four other microentrepreneurs in her community. They have gone through Esperanza's training program and developed a business plan with the guidance of their loan advisor, Cristina Moreno. They will be responsible for repaying their share of this loan and covering for one another should a member be late or short on a payment. This group-lending methodolgy is a proven way to increase social support and accountability among group members.
",F,450,partner,Arts,0 Dominican Republic,"Oferlina, pictured first from left, is 29 years old and has a middle school education. She is not married and raises her three children by herself - two girls (ages 8 and 6) and a one-year old boy (pictured with her).
Her business is selling fishing supplies to fishermen at the nearby beach, El Valle. She sells nets, lines and bait, which she buys at the nearby city of Samana. Oferlina speaks of wanting to provide a better life for her children. She uses the profits from her small business to buy food for her family, and to keep reinvesting in her business. She will use the next loan from Esperanza to invest in more fishing supplies.
The other businesses in her group include gasoline sales and a small convenience store. Oferlina lives in a very rural community, and her group meets in an open area next to her house (where they are pictured). Their loan officers name is Yacueline Jones, a kindhearted young woman who has been working with Esperanza ever since the Samana branch opened five years ago. Members of his group have been Esperanza loan associates for 2 years, and they have collectively paid back 3 previous group loans.
NOTE: This is a group loan. Oferlina is one of five microentrepreneurs in her Bank of Hope solidarity group, all of whom have gone through Esperanza's business training courses. Each of the five members will receive a share of this loan for their respective businesses and will be accountable to each other for repaying their share of the loan together. This group-lending methodology ensures that members cooperate to help one another repay their loans and invest wisely in their businesses and families.
",F,950,partner,Retail,0 Dominican Republic,"Olga is a lively, funny, community-oriented woman. She is 41 years old and has three children (ages: 16, 19, 21). She has two grandsons, one who is 4 and one grandson who just turned nine months old. All her children and grandchildren live in her house with her and her husband.
Olga is pictured here with her handicrafts, including the stand, which she makes and sells to her community. She makes most of her goods out of clay. She has been an Esperanza client for one year and has already successfully paid back two loans (both for 120 USD). Now she is applying for a third loan. She is going to use the third loan to buy more materials from which to make her crafts. She wants to use the profits from her sales to make improvements on her home.
NOTE: This $600 loan will fund Olga's business as well as four other businesses in her solidarity group. She and four other women micro-entrepreneurs came to Esperanza and formed their group. They have all gone through Esperanza business training program and will receive equal shares of the loan to invest in their respective businesses and pay back the loan together. The entire group must pay in full and on time, otherwise group members must make up the deficit before any payment can be made. This creates accountability among the group members because each one shares in the struggles and successes of the other members in their group.
",F,600,partner,Arts,0 Dominican Republic,"Patria Daz is a single mother raising her three children: Evelina Rosario (26), Mabel (23), and Patricia (20). Her best-selling products are womens shoes, but she also sells clothing, wallets and purses. Through word of mouth and a loyal client base, Patria runs the store out of her home but occasionally sells her merchandise on the street to reach new customers. She is requesting this loan to expand her inventory and give her customers a wider selection so that her sales will increase. Patria and her children live in the town of Sanchez on the western part of Samana.
NOTE: Patria is one of five microentrepreneurs in in Sanchez who have come together to form a solidarity group. They have all gone through Esperanza's business training courses and will be accountable to each other for repaying $150 each of this $750 loan together. This group-lending method strengthens social needs in a community and ensures that members cooperate to help one another repay their loans and invest wisely in their business and family.
",F,750,partner,Retail,0 Dominican Republic,"Paulina Rosario is the leader of a group of five women seeking to take out a loan. She is unmarried but lives with the father of her children, who are ages 4, 14, 15, and 17. Her business is selling shoes and bedspreads, something she has been doing for over a year and a half.
Paulina has taken out several loans in the past, and says that being an Esperanza associate has given her hope to keep moving forward in life. She plans to invest the money from this loan by starting her own store and expanding her business to include a confectionery.
",F,1025,lender,Retail,0 Dominican Republic,"Pedro Jimnez has 2 children, whom he raises wih his wife Dania Rosario. Pedro sells baseball caps in an outdoor street market in the city. His goal is to keep expanding his business. This loan will allow Pedro to purchase more hats and clothing to meet the growing demand for his products in the market. The many fans of the local baseball team, the Estrellas Orientales, as well as fans of baseball in general, represent a large niche market, but Pedro plans to expand his client base by offering clothing as well.
NOTE: Pedro is a member of an Esperanza solidarity group consisting of 5 microentrepreneurs. The group has gone through Esperanza's training program, developed a business plan, and will be responsible for repaying their share of this $750 loan together. They are accountable to one another for making full, timely payments. If someone is short or late on a payment, the other group members must make up the difference.
",M,750,partner,Clothing,0 Dominican Republic,"Raisa is about to reach one of her great dreams: to contribute to the entertainment of the young people of her sector. She always has felt pain for the boys of Haina; she sees them without any activity to enjoy themselves. For more than two years she has been saving money to open a video game center. She has already acquired a TV, 2 computers, many CD games, joysticks and a Super Nintendo. Currently, she is selling clothes, shoes, and cosmetics products. She makes a weekly profit of $130 USD. Raisa is requesting a loan to transform a room of her house into the gaming room or amusement arcade. She has already made contact with some technicians responsible for laying out the space so as to install the computers, TV and other materials in a handy way so that the customers can play easily.
Raisa thinks that this activity will have a very positive impact on the young people. It will help to elevate their self-esteem, since they will be more self-confident when they win a game or when in a competition with other friends, they can do their best to obtain victory.
",F,350,partner,Services,0 Dominican Republic,"Ramona is 45 years old and has 10 children and 8 grandchildren. She has a husband, but they are not married through the church.
The name of her small business is Carniceria Ramona and she sells mainly pork and beef. She is able to buy a pig every week to sell and a cow about every month. She can make about US$ 60 90 profit on each pig she sells.
Ramona took out her first loan with Esperanza 2 years ago for 3000 pesos (US$ 90). This is the 4th loan that she is going to take out from Esperanza, and she has successfully paid back the other 3. Esperanza typically offers smaller loans initially and as a group of women successfully pay back their loans and get a credit history, they can borrow increasingly larger amounts. Ramona is pictured at her biweekly repayment meeting.
",F,375,partner,Food,0 Dominican Republic,"Ramonita sells gasoline to her community members, and says that thankfully there is only one other person in Sanchez who gives her competition, but he lives on the other side of town. She is asking for this loan so that she can buy a larger amount of gasoline, and consequently, allow her business to better meet the needs of her community members.
Her dream is to be able to finish building her house; she currently has a cement floor and a few layers of concrete block on the ground level. She says she hopes to finish it within the next two years with the help of the earnings she will generate with this loan. She also wants to send her three children, ages 20, 18, and 16 to the local university so that they can become professionals and have a better life than she has had.
Ramonita is incredibly thankful that she is being given the opportunity to take out this loan, and wants to say thank you to everyone who is helping her finish her house, and send her children to a university.
NOTE: This $1050 loan will fund Ramonita's business as well as five other businesses in her solidarity group. She and five other micro-entrepreneurs came to Esperanza and formed their group. They have all gone through Esperanza business training and will receive equal shares of the loan to invest in their respective business and pay back the loan together. The entire group must pay in full and on time, otherwise group members must make up the deficit before any payment can be made. This creates accountability among the group members because each one shares in the struggles and successes of the other members in their group.
",F,1050,partner,Retail,0 Dominican Republic,"Roberta Dominguez lives with her three daughters, Maria Esther, Bartola and Carolina in there home in a small town called Juan Pablo Duarte. Roberta has established her business in this community as having delicious dishes including Yaniqueque (johnnycake) which is a popular and inexpensive Dominican dish, which consists of meat and cheese wrapped in bread and cooked on a griddle. This loan will allow Roberta to go from serving a small number of families in her community, to being able to cook for and sell to the growing number of patrons.
All that Roberta manages to save is going towards a $2,000 operation for her 19-year-old daughter, Maria Esther (pictured center) who has been diagnosed with cancer. Roberta has been managing her small business for more than 10 years and with this loan she will be able to expand and provide better the basic needs of her family.
NOTE: Roberta is one of five microentrepreneurs in her Bank of Hope solidarity group, which have all gone through Esperanza's business training courses and will be accountable to each other for repaying $150 each of this $750 loan together. This group-lending method strengthens social needs in a community and ensures that members cooperate to help one another repay their loans and invest wisely in their business and family.
",F,750,partner,Food,0 Dominican Republic,"Sandra Castillo lives with her 6-year-old child, Francini Garcia, in a rural community outside San Pedro de Macoris, located east of the national capital on the southern coast of the Dominican Republic. She travels to the city to purchase jewellery, which she then sells to specific clients which are growing by word of mouth among her many friends and satisfied customers. The high value of her wares make it unwise to display her merchandise openly on a street corner, so she operates based on referals and makes house calls.
This loan will allow her to purchase more of the jewellery she sells, specifically rings, pendants, bracelets and earrings made of silver, pearls and particularly the native Dominican stones of Ambar - shaded in dark orange and brown tint - and Larimar, named after its hues that look like the blue waters of the Caribbean Sea.
NOTE: Sandra is the leader of her solidarity group called 'Mujeres en Desarollo' or ""Women in Development."" She and her business represent the four other members of her group, who each will receive a share of this $1,000 loan to fund their respective businesses. As members of a solidarity group, Sandra and the other four micro-entrepreneurs have gone through Esperanzas business training courses and have proven to be committed to their businesses to provide for their families. If a member of the group is unable to make a payment, the other members are responsible for making up the difference and helping the person to improve. This group-lending method creates a social support network within the community as well as an accountability system to ensure that not only are loans paid back on time, but that the loan capital is invested in developing their business and providing for the basic necessities of their families.
",F,1000,partner,Services,0 Dominican Republic,"Sara Mendoza Martinez is a single mother raising her three children, Antonio Medoza, age 17, Mariella, age 15, and Jonatan, age 4. Sara sells household supplies and groceries from her own general store in her community of Munoz, located near the north coast of the Dominican Republic. This loan of $150 will be used to purchase grocery items such as rice, beverages, and other basic supplies.
Sara has owned her home-based store, Colmado Sara, for more than two years now and has gone through Esperanza's business training courses with other microentrepreneurs in her community. She is optimistic that the business, as her sole source of income, will continue to be a blessing to her family.
",F,150,partner,Retail,0 Dominican Republic,"-She is 45 years old and has three children who are 26, 20, and 18 years old. -She and her husband are separated, but she does not have the resources to move out of his house with her two children -All her children went to school -This is the second loan that she is taking out from Esperanza. She successfully paid back the first loan, which was for 4000 pesos (120 USD) -Her business involves buying household items (i.e. shampoo, clothes, and small electronic items) from Santo Domingo and delivering them to people in her community and the nearby communities. When someone makes an order for something from Santo Domingo she can get it for them and sell it at a small profit for delivery service. -With her loans, she eventually wants to be able to have her own house from which she can sell her wares.
",F,300,partner,Retail,0 Dominican Republic,"Silaime Mateo has opened up his own barber shop in his hometown of Chavn. The business provides the income necessary to take care of his 2-year-old son. Silaime will use this loan to purchase materials for his barber shop including a second chair for a second barber he wishes to employ. This loan would increase productivity and the quality of his service, while providing the capacity to employ another person in Silaimes community. He enjoys serving and talking with his customers and is talented at both. His reputation in the community and track-record with Esperanza has made him eligible for this new loan. Silaime is prepared and ready to expand his barber shop.
NOTE: As a leader in the ""Sol Naciente"" (Rising Sun) lending group, Silaime represents four other micro-entrepreneurs. Each one will receive an equal $150 share of this $750 loan to develop their businesses as well. They are responsible for repaying the loan together and helping one another should one person be short on a payment.
",M,750,partner,Services,0 Dominican Republic,"Sonia Bautista is a single mother who has raised her son, Dario Antonio (28), in their home of Teson in the northern peninsula of the Dominican Republic. To make a living, Sonia started her own business selling shoes, jeans, and china out of her house. She is requesting a loan to purchase new sandals and shoes to expand her business. Sonia says her goal is to one day rent out a space so she can have her own store separate from her house.
NOTE: Sonia is one of five microentrepreneurs in her Bank of Hope solidarity group, who have all gone through Esperanza's business training courses and will be accountable to each other for repaying $150 each of this $750 loan together. This group-lending method strengthens social needs in a community and ensures that members cooperate to help one another repay their loans and invest wisely in their business and family.
",F,750,partner,Retail,0 Dominican Republic,"Soraida lives in a rural community outside Consuelo with her husband and their five children. She runs her own small grocery store, known in the Dominican Republic as a colmadito. She used her first loan from Esperanza to start the business, which is now ready to expand.
Now that she has successfully paid off her first loan, Soraida is elligible for a second, larger loan that will help her to take the next step out of poverty. With five growing children to feed, clothe and put through school, Soraida is in need of expanding her business to increase profits so she can provide adequately for her family and save for their future.
Her plan is to invest in fresh produce and dairy products to round out the products that she offers, which currently are prepackaged household items, canned food and beverages. Soraida is determined to work hard and has recruited her husband to expand their family business to its full potential. With this loan of $300, she will have the funds to move forward in her business plan.
",F,300,partner,Food,0 Dominican Republic,"Teresa is asking for this loan so she can buy large sacks of sugar and sacks of rice. She says that by being able to buy sugar and rice (two common staples) at wholesale prices, she will be able to both save and earn more money.
She works hard because she wants nothing more than to be able to send her three children to the local university so that they can one day become professionals in whatever field they choose. She plans to use half of her income to continue improving her store, and half for tuition expenses for her children.
She says that she knows her life will be able to advance more with this loan, and she will be able to save a larger amount towards sending her children to the university here in Saman. Teresa also wants to say thank you to everyone who is helping her make her dream come true and giving her children a brighter future.
NOTE: This $1500 loan will fund Teresa's business as well as five other businesses in her solidarity group. She and five other women micro-entrepreneurs came to Esperanza and formed their group. They have all gone through the Esperanza business training program and will receive equal shares of the loan to invest in their respective business and pay back together. The entire group must pay in full and on time, otherwise group members must make up the deficit before any payment can be made. This creates accountability among the group members because each one shares in the struggles and successes of the other members in their group.
",F,1500,partner,Food,0 Dominican Republic,"Teresa, 6th from left in picture, is 53 years old. She has 10 children and 10 grandchildren. She is single and although all her children are out of her house, most of them still live in Sanchez and she helps support them and helps raise her grandchildren. She only has an elementary school education.
Teresa began her small business as a seamstress with her first loan from Esperanza. She takes orders from the people in the community and sews such items as bedding, curtains and clothes. Teresa is the coordinator for her group of five Esperanza associates in the larger Bank of Hope. Together with the coordinators from the other groups they form a leadership council, whose responsibilities include involvement in community activities. In her opening prayer, Teresa gave thanks for the success of her business and for their continued growth, as well as for the health of her community
Members of these groups have been Esperanza loan associates for 7 months, and they have collectively paid back their first group loan. Ana Garcia is their loan officer; she makes the 40 minute trip out to Sanchez to be at their biweekly repayment meetings. The group meets in Teresas living room/balcony in the small fishing town of Sanchez on the Samana peninsula. Other businesses in her group include clothes and shoes sales, and fishing supplies sales.
Julia Cordero, Rosario Espino and Joaquina Espino were not present when this photo was takenNOTE: This is a group loan. Teresa is one of 15 microentrepreneurs in her Bank of Hope solidarity group, all of whom have gone through Esperanza's business training courses. Each of the 15 members will receive a share of this loan for their respective businesses and will be accountable to each other for repaying their share of the loan together. This group-lending methodology ensures that members cooperate to help one another repay their loans and invest wisely in their businesses and families.
",F,2700,partner,Services,0 Dominican Republic,"The members of Group 1 of the Amigos Unidos (United Friends) Bank of Hope have already been clients of Esperanza International for a year. They have experienced success in their businesses and most of them are expanding the activities with which they first started. The group members have businesses in prepared food sales, breakfast sales, and water distribution.
Serge Desir is the group representative and he owns a souvenir shop in San Pedro de Macoris. His souvenir shop mostly caters to tourists. He sells crafts made of materials like clay, thatch, and wood. With this loan, he will purchase some paintings (Haitian art has an especially high demand in souvenir shops in Dominican Republic), along with some beach apparel like towels, bathing suits, and sunscreen. He would like to see his shop become a reference for souvenir shops in San Pedro de Macoris, and to be a better Christian each day.
Please help us support these entrepreneurs through this Kiva loan. Thank you!
",F,1050,lender,Retail,0 Dominican Republic,"The members of Group 3 from the Nuevo Progreso Bank of Hope are requesting their sixth loan with Esperanza International. This group formed in 2006. The businesses in this group are extremely varied: some sell clothes and accessories, some sell fried pastries, and Rodolfo, the only male member, is a fisherman.
Robertina Trinidad is the group representative and her business is making and selling juices. Her specialty is orange juice, which is why she will use this loan to buy oranges to make her very refreshing juice. She is also going to purchase foam cups so her customers can get their juice ""to go."" When she has some spare time, Robertina likes to relax by watching TV. She has a 13 year old son, which is an advantage for her business because she doesn't need to be with him all the time. She would like to have a larger space for her business so she can set up a cafeteria, and maybe make some sandwiches to sell with her orange juice at breakfast time!
Please help us support Robertina and her group through this Kiva microloan. Thank you!
",M,1350,lender,Food,0 Dominican Republic,"The Nuevo Progreso Bank of Hope has been a part of Esperanza International for three years. This group within the bank is requesting their sixth loan. Many of this group's members sell clothing and accessories. They've been able to develop a faithful clientele who purchase enough to enable the group members to pay their loans and make some profits.
Reina Perez is the group coordinator and she runs a small grocery store. She will use this loan to buy three items with a large demand: rice, beans, and sugar. Rice and beans are essential to the Dominican diet because they are the main ingredients of the typical Dominican lunch. Sugar also plays an important part in the Dominican diet as it is used to make several sweets (especially with coconut, which is very abundant in the Samana Peninsula) and to sweeten coffee, which Dominicans drink especially strong. Reina wants to see her grocery store become a ""super colmado,"" complete with sitting area, cold cuts area, and everything a customer could possibly imagine.
Please help us support these strong-willed entrepreneurs through this micro loan. Thank you!
",F,1075,lender,Food,0 Dominican Republic,"These five young women are getting their first loan. All but one are starting their businesses with these funds. We had the chance of talking to them all about the activities they plan to do with this loan. Only Anecia had her business set up before and will restock with this loan.
Belkis Amador is the group representative. She will sell hair products. She will use her loan to buy shampoo, conditioner, a special strengthening treatment called Penetrait, anti-frizz serum (which sells specially well because the Dominican Republic weather is very humid and hair frizzes fast), and hair wax for durable hair styles. Belkis knows that Dominican women are very conscious about their hair and take very special care of it. This is why she is committed to offering good quality hair products at a good price.
Nikaury Espinal and Alexandre Marjorie will both sell clothes. Mostly pants, blouses, underwear and sandals. They will go to the flea market or to the Villa Consuelo commercial district to get their merchandise. At these two market places, they can purchase at better prices than most retail stores, which will allow them to realize larger profit margins for each sale.
Yoselin will sell bedding, bedspreads, curtains and sheets. She buys them by the dozen and sells them by the piece.
Last but not least, Anecia has a fried food stand that opens at 3pm. While she was at our office in central Santo Domingo, her husband was attending the stand. ''But my customers say I do it better'' she says with a laugh. Her group mates agreed. She mostly sells fried chicken, crackling pork, fried sweet potatoes and tostones (crunchy fried plantains).
Please help us support this group of entrepreneurs with this Kiva loan. Thank you!
",F,1125,lender,Retail,0 Dominican Republic,"This group is the latest one to join the Comunidad Unida (United Community) Bank of Hope from La Barquita, in northern Santo Domingo.
Reyna Espinal is the group coordinator. She is single and has 2 teenage children, ages 16 and 19. The 16-year-old is still in high school.
Reyna sells silver jewelry, and will use this loan to purchase merchandise for her business. During her interview, Reyna explained that the items that sell best are earrings, rings, chains, and lockets. She mostly sells in her neighborhood, which includes her family, friends, and neighbors. In her spare time, Reyna likes to read, watch some TV, and listen to good music. She wants to take her business to the top, and in the future she would like to set up a boutique and beauty salon. On behalf of Esperanza International and this group of micro entrepreneurs, thank you for your support!
",F,975,partner,Retail,0 Dominican Republic,"This group of five is part of the Union Cristiana (Christian Union) Bank of Hope, which is joining Esperanza International, so they can fund businesses with micro loans.
Elta Milon is the group coordinator. She speaks almost no Spanish, so a Creole translator was needed during her interview (luckily, one of the bank members speaks Creole and translated for her). She is expecting her first baby.
Elta needs to generate income more than ever, because now she is responsible for taking care of her child. Elta is in the business of selling clothes. She would like to purchase more clothing to sell with this loan, especially jeans and tennis shoes, which sell really well.
She is committed to working hard to make her business grow and to make sure that her baby is safe and has everything he or she needs (she still doesnt know if the baby will be a boy or a girl). Please help this young mother-to-be and her fellow micro entrepreneurs in their ventures to make their way out of poverty. Thank you for your support!
",F,1125,partner,Clothing,0 Dominican Republic,"This is Antonia's first group loan from Esperanza; her group consists of herself and four other women. She is 18 years old and has one son, Anthony, who is two years old and is also in the picture.
Antonia lives with her husband and son in Batey, the migrant camps which house immigrant Haitian sugar-cane workers and their families. They live with five other people in one of the Batey company houses, barracks owned by the nationalized sugar-cane industry. Antonia and her husband are married, but not through the church.
Antonia hopes to use her portion of her group's loan to sell small convenience items to her community wares like shampoo, soap, and little candies. She also dreams of moving out of the Batey camp and buying her own house. She stated that she wants to be able to have a small garden around her house.
NOTE: This $600 loan will fund Antonia's business as well as four other businesses in her solidarity group. She and four other women micro-entrepreneurs came to Esperanza and formed their group. They have all gone through Esperanza's business training program and will receive equal shares of the loan to invest in their respective businesses and pay back the loan together. The entire group must pay in full and on time, otherwise group members must make up the deficit before any payment can be made. This creates accountability among the group members because each one shares in the struggles and successes of the other members in their group.
",F,600,partner,Retail,0 Dominican Republic,"This is Maria's first loan with Esperanza, which she is taking out collectively with four other women in her community. She is 32 years old and has six children. She now also has a granddaughter, the daughter of her 15-year-old daughter, whom she also looks after.
Maria is going to use her first loan to stock her little store with products such as rice, cooking oil, sugar, coffee, beans, soap, and charcoal. She is going to sell these products to her community, whose residents often dont have the ability to make it to the town to buy food and household products.
NOTE: This $750 loan will fund Maria's business as well as four other businesses in her solidarity group. She and four other women micro-entrepreneurs came to Esperanza and formed their group. They have all gone through Esperanza's business training program and will receive equal shares of the loan to invest in their respective businesses and will pay back the loan together. The entire group must pay in full and on time, otherwise group members must make up the deficit before any payment can be made. This creates accountability among the group members because each one shares in the struggles and successes of the other members in their group.
",F,750,partner,Food,0 Dominican Republic,"Valentina is 49 years old and has a grandson who she looks after and who is also pictured here. His name is Carlos Manuel and he is 5 years old. The name of her small store is Colmadito Marzia. There she sells rice, cornmeal, sugar, juice, and soda.
She took out her first loan with Esperanza a year and half ago for 5000 pesos (US$ 150). Now she's on her 4th loan from Esperanza, and she has successfully paid back the other three. The way Esperanza works is that initially small loans are given out and as a group of women successfully pay back their loans and get a credit history, they can borrow larger and larger amounts. She is pictured at her biweekly repayment meeting.
With this loan, Valentina hopes to buy more products for her small store, including meat, such as chicken and pork.
",F,300,partner,Food,0 Dominican Republic,"Violeta opened a small store out of her home with the first loan she received from Esperanza. She sells miscellaneous personal care products and kitchen ware. This loan will allow her to start selling children's clothing for which there is a good market in her semi-rural neighbourhood outside the capital city of the San Pedro de Macoris province.
NOTE: Violeta belongs to a Bank of Hope which is a community of five micro-entrepreneurs who receive shares of a communal loan to expand their businesses. Each member of Violeta's group has already received and paid back a loan, demonstrating responsibility and business aptitude. This $750 loan will fund these businesses to expand their new business to increase capital, investment opportunities and savings.
",F,750,partner,Clothing,0 Dominican Republic,"Wendy is 27 years old and is a single mother. Her 8-year-old only-begotten son goes to a private school in Santo Domingo, the capital. Wendy is finishing the last semester of Basic Education at the university. Six months ago, Wendy started her business with a loan that she had taken from our organization. She used her loan wisely and repaid it in the agreed time.
Wendy sells shoes, clothes, spreads (for beds), earrings and bracelets. She has a well established clientele in her university. Wendy is requesting a loan to invest in the purchase of more products to sell during the Christmas season. That way, shell increase her income and continue taking care of her son.
",F,325,partner,Clothing,0 Dominican Republic,"Without the backing of a working husband, Teresa has worked hard to support her 6 children. From what she has earned with her small business she has slowly been able to improve the family home, eventually adding a well, an outhouse and wall partitions that now permanently separate rooms. She has been impressively able to pay for her childrens uniforms and school supplies and now is pleased to have a son enrolling at the local university. Teresa hopes to expand her business and next save enough to lay a cement floor in her house
Note: Teresa is one of five microentrepreneurs in her Bank of Hope solidarity group, all of whom have gone through Esperanza's business training courses. Each of the five members will receive a share of this $750 loan for his or her respective business and will be accountable to each other for repaying his or her share of this loan together. This group-lending methodology ensures that members cooperate to help one another repay their loans and invest wisely in their businesses and families.
",F,750,partner,Clothing,0 Dominican Republic,"Yisela is a bright 29-year-old woman who lives with her husband, Eliberto, and her two children (ages seven and one) in the small community of La Cienaga. With this loan she will begin selling shoes on the street, walking from place to place for almost 10 hours a day. She is excited for the extra income her new business will generate because it is very difficult to depend only on her husband. When she is not working or taking care of her children she enjoys relaxing and watching TV at a local grocery store. In the future Yisela wants to buy a house for her family to live in and wants to send her kids to a good school.
Thank you for your support!",F,2225,partner,Retail,0 Dominican Republic,"
Yojanes business caters to the women of her community, selling clothing and cosmetics from the front porch of her home in the town of Chavn. The loan will pay for shoes, purses, and cosmetics to round out her inventory. This will make Yojanes business a one-stop shop for all the main types of accessories her customers are in the market for.
Yojane did not receive formal education beyond elementary school, but is now able to manage her own business thanks to business training provided by Esperanza, along with her hard work and ability. She also receives good feedback, support, and connections to a large demographic from her three daughters, ages 21, 19, and 17. All three attend school; the two oldest were accepted to college and are studying marketing and accounting. With the help from this loan, Yojane can better support and care for her children.
NOTE: Yojane has established her business with regular clientele in the community and is a leader of her solidarity group, called 'Las Empresarias'(The Entrepreneurs). She represents four other small business owners, who will each receive an equal $150 share of this $750 loan to invest in their respective businesses. Each member has passed Esperanza's training program and demonstrated the ability and motivation to support their families and pay back their loan.
",F,750,partner,Retail,0 Dominican Republic,"Ysidora is 46 years old and has five children. All her children go to school in nearby El Seybo. She is married and her husband is an agricultural worker in the surrounding farms.
She plans to use her loan to build a little structure, adding on to her house for a small beauty salon. She currently runs her business out of her house, offering services such as doing hair and nails for local women. The name of her salon is Salon Liza, after her oldest daughter, who is 17.
Ysidora belongs to a group of four other women, who are taking out the loan collectively. The name of her womens collective (composed of 5 loan groups) is Esperanza y Fe Hope and Faith. She is pictured at her biweekly repayment meeting.
This is Ysidora's fifth loan from Esperanza, each loan being for 5000 pesos, so she can progressively build her beauty salon adjacent to her house. Esperanza typically offers smaller loans initially and as a group of women successfully pay back their loans and get a credit history, they can borrow increasingly larger amounts.
NOTE: As stated above, this $750 loan will fund Ysidora's business as well as four other businesses in her solidarity group. She and four other women micro-entrepreneurs came to Esperanza and formed their group. They have all gone through Esperanza business training program and will receive equal shares of the loan to invest in their respective businesses and will pay back the loan together. The entire group must pay in full and on time, otherwise group members must make up the deficit before any payment can be made. This creates accountability among the group members because each one shares in the struggles and successes of the other members in their group.
",F,750,partner,Services,0 Dominican Republic,"Adargisa Gonzalez is a very hard working mother of four children. She and her husband live in extreme poverty. They don't have sufficient income to provide for all their children.Adargisa applied for an Esperanza International loan. She has attended many meetings and workshops to prepare to start her own business. She plans on starting a very small bakery where she will sell bread. She hopes and plans to grow the business into a thriving bakery where she sells all types of baked goods.
Adargisa said her children are what drive her to succeed. She wants to earn enough money to support their education. She believes that requesting this loan is the right step for her, and hopes that having her own business is what will pull her and her loved ones out of poverty.
Adargisa and her fellow group members are ready for their first loans. They are excited about this opportunity and starting their very own businesses!",F,650,partner,Food,0 Dominican Republic,"Adinord is a beautiful young 22 year old single mom with a one year old boy. Adinords parents died when she was a child and she grew up as an orphan in her native country of Haiti. She has never had anyone to take care of her and it has been very hard.
She currently sells dishes and other household items from her house and in the nearby market. Her two main goals are to expand her business and buy her own house either in the Dominican Republic or Haiti. She plans on using this loan to buy more merchandise for her small business so that she can raise her son and give him a good life.
On behalf of Adinord, and everyone here at Esperanza International, we sincerely thank you for your support!",F,600,partner,Retail,0 Dominican Republic,"Adriana is a very successful businesswoman of San Cristobal. She dedicates herself to the preparation and sales of pizzas, pies and cakes. Early in the morning she prepares the food and sells them to the cafeterias of the colleges in the community. She also sells pieces of cake and pizza in a public school. The entrepreneur explains that she could sell more if she had the appropriate materials to prepare the food. With the loan requested, she will purchase a secondhand oven to prepare the pizzas. In doing so, she will easily increase the volume of pizzas made every day. Adriana has long-term dream for the business. She plans in the future to have a local store where she can run the business, and she plans to introduce tasty sandwiches to the business.",F,375,partner,Food,0 Dominican Republic,"After eight years of operation, Maximinas cafeteria has become one of the most popular gathering places of the community. At the beginning, things were not easy and it was almost impossible get capital to maintain the cafeteria. Now, her business success outweighs all the pains shes endured to make her dream come true.
Maximina says she has to keep working as hard as before to improve things and move her business forward. With her loan, she will purchase raw materials to prepare her delicious meals. She will also buy napkins, disposable plates for food to go services, and new plates and tablecloth so as to give a new face to her cafeteria. Given this loan, this twenty-year-old mother of four children will maintain a comfortable lifestyle for her family.
",F,375,partner,Food,0 Dominican Republic,"Agueda has lived in Samana her entire life. She has two children, ages 6 and 11, and a husband whom she looks after and supports. She already has a small business selling clothing, but she hopes to increase her profits with this loan. She hopes it will provide the capital to purchase a larger selection of clothes. She will use this loan to buy pants, skirts, blouses, and other clothing that she knows are in high demand. When Agueda is not working, she attends church services or her weekly bible study. One day she hopes to own a large successful clothing store, and she wants to start making repairs to her home as soon as she makes more money.This is a group loan. The loan will go to support the business of each person in the group. The members help to guarantee the loan for one another.
Thank you for supporting this group!",F,925,partner,Clothing,0 Dominican Republic,"Aida Argentina is an elderly woman responsible for supporting her husband and two unemployed children. Shes a very active and many-sided businesswoman. Currently, Aida is operating a general store where people can get products such as sugar, boiled beans, ground corn, and some juices and alcoholic drinks.
Aida explains that her age cant be a barrier for her to do business. She explains that with her loan, shell buy many products that are running low in the store in order to keep satisfying her customers needs. Aida wants to maintain a comfortable life for her family.",F,550,partner,Food,0 Dominican Republic,"Aida Estela is young entrepreneur and a proud mom raising her three children through hard work and sacrifices. She had been running a clothing store, but she had to stop as she didnt have enough capital to move the business forward. Aidas husband is working but his wages are very low, so he can hardly support her family.
To supplement her familys income, Aida wants restart her store. She explains that a good education is all she can give to her children, and she swears that shell do her utmost to support the kids education. With her loan, shell purchase an assortment of exclusive blouses and pants to offer friends, neighbors, and other people in the community. Aida Estela hopes that her business will allow her to buy her own house someday.
Aida Estela will receive the loan together with these women:
Ramona Vicioso Guzman, a fruits and vegetables retailer,
Sabina De Leon, who sells pork meat,
Teresa Castro De La Rosa, who runs a mini-market, and
Josefina Martinez Sanchez,who will invest in clothing for a small business.",F,1300,partner,Clothing,1 Dominican Republic,"Aida has been making curtains in her home for the past fifteen years. She has a small shop in the front of her house which is located on a bustling corner of Santiago. Her business has served as supplementary income and has helped put her three children through school. She is seeking now to expand her business by offering various housewares and women's fashion accessories (such as shoes, handbags, etc.), in addition to her custom curtains. The loan will serve as capital for her to expand her product line. The income from Aida's business goes to help support her family.",F,2400,lender,Retail,0 Dominican Republic,"Aida is twenty-two years old and a proud mother of three children. She sells ripe fruits in her neighborhood in order to take care of her children and provide a good education for them. Aida sadly explains that she didn't have the chance to go to school, and she's doing her best to help her kids to become good professionals in life so that they can enjoy a better lifestyle.
Aida is requesting a loan to buy more fruits in order that she can increase her sales volume and, consequently, her revenue. The entrepreneur hopes that her business will allow her to change her family's living conditions.",F,350,partner,Food,1 Dominican Republic,"Aida lives with her husband and three children, ages 8, 7 and 2, in a rural area outside of the city of El Seibo, along the road to La Romana. She has a small business selling clothes and gasoline from home. Neighbors can buy clothes from her easily without having to travel into the city. Because she lives along a main road, there are many travelers who stop at her house for gasoline. She enjoys being able to work from home because she can spend time taking care of her kids, cooking and cleaning the house.
This will be Aidas first loan with Esperanza. She plans to use the loan money to buy more clothes and gasoline to grow her business and make more money. She wants her children to be able to continue their studies and graduate with a good degree so they can have a better life. One day, she would love to be able to have her own house, since right now they are just renting.
Note: This is a group loan for Aida and four of her neighbors. This group has recently been added to the Bank of Hope called Bienestar en Dios II ( Contentment in God), a larger collective of groups of five that work in solidarity to be able to pay off their loans.",F,725,partner,Clothing,0 Dominican Republic,"Alba Garcia is the representative of this group of five named ""La Puerta De La Esperanza."" This is a group of women who want to improve their lives, and all want to start their own small business. Alba is a dedicated mother of four older children, and has many hopes and dreams. One of Alba's dreams is to do well enough in her business to remodel her house. She plans to start a small business selling various small items, and hopes to have her very own store someday. On behalf of Alba, the group, and Esperanza International--- Thank you for your support!!!",F,1175,partner,Arts,0 Dominican Republic,"Alba Marina defines herself as an experienced woman in spite of the fact that she just is eighteen years old. Actually, two years ago, her parents allowed her get married, but shortly afterward she had to come back to her parents home as she broke up with her husband. Now, Alba runs a small cafeteria that she just started last month. She sells sandwiches, hamburgers, spaghetti, natural juices and the like. Alba explains that after making the first investment, she doesnt have enough capital to keep running her caf suitably. So, shes requesting a loan to buy raw materials and other goods for her cafeteria. Alba hopes that her business can generate sufficient money so that she can put aside some money for her upcoming university studies.",F,475,partner,Food,0 Dominican Republic,"Alba, 30 years old, has been separated from her husband for two years, and on her own she is taking care of her well-loved son. Since then, she started a small business, selling gold filled jewelery. She also sells hand and body lotion and deodorants. She has a well established clientele. In fact she sells her products to teachers of the schools and also to the personnel of the town council. She is requesting a loan to purchase a larger amount of products in order to sell the jewels at special prices for the holiday season. That way, she will increase her sales volume and her income. This loan will help this young single mother continue taking care of her son and improve their life.",F,375,partner,Retail,0 Dominican Republic,"Alba, an elderly lady, used to work in a duty free zone for seven years. Lately, shes been working (for three years) selling beans to the neighbors in her community, Palma Real. The fact is that many would rather buy the cooked beans instead of burning the otherwise costly amount of energy (usually natural gas) needed for cooking them. She works on the beans from 9-12 A.M. and sells clothing in the afternoon. With this loan Alba intends to buy more beans and natural gas to increase her production and income.
She has to support 6 people who live with her: 4 of her own children, 1 grandchild, and her husband. He is the doorman in a construction company warehouse, and without Albas help his income would not be sufficient to feed the family.",F,250,partner,Food,0 Dominican Republic,"Alcy Elise is the coordinator of group 5, in the Bank of Hope Paz y Amor, which has 30 borrowers divided among 6 groups of 5 people. The five people in her group are involved in various businesses and will share the loan. Alcy Elise is 40 years old. She is married; her husband is 38. They have two girls, 17 and 19 years old. Elise works as a street vendor, selling clothes, shoes, and also food. She works in the district of Sosua. She previously received a loan from Esperanza. This will be her second loan. The first loan made it possible for her to expand her business and increase her monthly sales. With her new loan she hopes to increase her sales even further. Alcy Elise hopes that one day will be able to buy a nice house for her family. She is also concerned about the future of her children. Her oldest child has completed a year of medical school, and Alcy Elise hopes to see her daughter become a doctor.",F,825,partner,Clothing,0 Dominican Republic,"Aleircina is an active and very positive woman who is striving to make a living. She is married with four children. Two of them, the eldest, attend the public school of the town. Her husband is a taxi driver. Aleircina is a clever businesswoman and her entrepreneurial spirit has helped her be successful in her business activities. Six months ago, she took a loan from our organization and started to sell clothes for children. She operates her business in a public place and could obtain a lot of customers. She says that with this activity she better supports her family and now she can save money for emergency issues. Currently, the entrepreneur needs more credit to make her business larger. She wants to buy larger quantities of garments in Santo Domingo, the capital, in order to augment her sales and income. As such, Aleircina will have more facilities to help her husband financially support the family.",F,375,partner,Clothing,0 Dominican Republic,"Alejandra sells womens clothing in her hometown, the Casabe community of Santo Domingo. The entrepreneur is twenty-seven years old and the mother of four daughters ranging from six to twelve years old, all of whom attend school. Alejandra has been selling her goods for three years. Recently, she took from FSMA a loan which she invested in the purchase of a collection of fashionable clothing. She managed to repay successfully the loan, and this could increase significantly her income. Now, the entrepreneur is requesting a second loan to buy more goods since her products are in high demand at the moment. Alejandra wants to have money enough to keep supporting her daughters educations.",F,600,partner,Clothing,0 Dominican Republic,"Alejandrina lives in Sabana Grande de Boya in the province of Monte Plata where she operates a mini-market. Alejandrina started her business about two years ago with her husband's help, and currently the mini-market is in the black. The entrepreneur has four children, all of whom attend school. She's looking forward to enlarging the variety of products she offers to her customers in order to increase her sales volume and her income. Alejandrina explains that there's a hard competition in the community, however she's always managed to get past that.
This successful entrepreneur will receive her loan together with the following women:
Lourdes Eugenia Rosario Serrano, who retails jewelry in her community,
Juana De Los Santos, who sells clothing within her house,
Leticia Garcia Garcia, who will invest in the purchase of beauty products, and
Milagros Esperanza Santana Mejia, who sells fruits and vegetables.
The photo shows from left to right: Lourdes Eugenia, Alejandrina, Juana, Leticia and Milagros.",F,1100,partner,Food,1 Dominican Republic,"Alejandrina sells empanadas, pts, sandwiches and juices in the public square in her community. She is a 36-year-old single mother of five children, two of them girls. They all attend school. This business activity is the principal source of income of the entrepreneur. She says she learned the meaning of working hard to make a living and care for a large family.
Alejandrina doesnt plan on having her own locale yet. She says she cant afford it for now. She will keep on selling at the public square and attracting new customers by offering new and varied types of empanadas.
With her loan, Alejandrina will buy raw materials to keep on running her business activity with the aim of reaching a comfortable lifestyle for her family.",F,450,partner,Food,0 Dominican Republic,"Alexandra Gautier started selling fish eleven years ago. She lives in the coastal town of Sabana de la Mar in the eastern province of the Dominican Republic and travels an hour and a half on public transportation to sell her fish in the nearest large town of Hato Mayor. She has been selling so much that recently she has been running out of supplies, so she is seeking a loan to increase her inventory so she can sell more. Right now she sells her fish in the streets and it is her dream to run her business from her very own store. Help make her dream a reality!",F,625,lender,Food,0 Dominican Republic,"Alexandra is 24 years old. She lives with her partner and her two children. Her partner is a farmer. Shortly after becoming pregnant, Alexandra left her parents' house to go to live with her partner. She says that they have difficulty making ends meet. Her partners income is not enough to bear all the expenses of a young couple with two children.
Alexandra decided to make a change in her familys life. She has requested credit to start a small business. She plans to sells natural juices and sandwiches. She will operate the business in a public place and will sell in the morning when people go to school and to work.
That activity will most certainly be successful because people who work in the community get up early in the morning to go to their job and dont have time to prepare food, and it is usual to eat sandwiches in the morning and at lunch.
Alexandra hopes she will get the loan before long so she will be able to face her economic issues and improve her familys living condition.",F,300,partner,Food,0 Dominican Republic,"Alexandra is twenty-six years old and a single mom raising her five-year-old son alone. Alexandra owns and operates a salon in her parents home. Every afternoon, the familys living room is overtaken by the neighborhood women and their chatter, laughter, and hair rollers. With her loan Alexandra plans to buy a new hairdryer, more rollers, and new hair care and styling products. In the future, Alexandra hopes not only to move into her own salon space, but also to hire a full-time staff.",F,600,partner,Services,0 Dominican Republic,"Alexandra lives in the community of Cacique, in the province of Monte Plata, with her husband and seven children. Her husband works for a construction company, but his wages are insufficient to support the whole family. Alexandra says that fortunately the children go to the public school in the community, so she just has to pay for uniforms and some school supplies. To supplement the familys income, Alexandra sells used pants and shoes to people in her community. Alexandras activity is still limited, but she hopes that her business will grow as time goes by. Shes requesting a loan to buy a new collection of pants so that she can keep operating her business and increase her income.",F,175,partner,Clothing,1 Dominican Republic,"Alexandra Peralta is a young and ambitious female entrepreneur from Puerto Plata, Dominican Republic. She first learned the practice of selling clothes at the age of ten in her mothers small restaurant. When her mother passed away a year later, it became her livelihood and her only means of survival. Now, Alexandra primarily sells men's pants, t-shirts, and shoes in the streets and offices of the nearby community, Villa Progreso. It is her dream to someday own her own boutique mens clothing store.
Alexandra is one of the coordinators of the 10-person micro-bank, Villa Progresivo, which means Progressive Village. Each of these unique Dominican entrepreneurs unite in solidarity, allowing them to access funding that they would otherwise never be able to receive on their own. The concept of this group bank paying their loan together is to reduce the risk of one person defaulting, as the others members gladly help cover one anothers payments in order to receive their next loan together. Some of the other women in this particular bank make a living selling clothing, running small salons, and selling sweets on the street. This Kiva loan will go towards the entire group and be divided among the members to pay back.
On behalf of Alexandra, the Villa Progresivo group, and the entire team here at Esperanza International, we thank you for your support and awareness of the global issue of poverty, in which your efforts are helping to make a difference.",F,1600,partner,Clothing,0 Dominican Republic,"Alexis is a hard-working and responsible woman, mother of four children (three girls and a boy). A few months ago, she took a loan from FSMA with which she started a small business of selling fresh cut-up chicken parts within a small locale she had bought beforehand.
Every day, hundreds of people visit her business to make the purchase of chicken. In fact, rice with beans and chicken is one of most popular meals among Dominican traditional foods. Currently, Alexis makes an average monthly profit of US$ 200. With her loan, the entrepreneur will purchase more live chickens to butcher and retail to people of her community.",F,450,partner,Food,0 Dominican Republic,"Alexis Luvinkis, originally from Haiti, is a single man who lives in a rented home without electricity or running water. With this initial loan, he will establish a clothing store by investing in a varied selection of essential clothing to sell to his community of La Union, in the northern province of Puerto Plata in the Dominican Republic
Note: Alexis is one of five microentrepreneurs in his Bank of Hope solidarity group, all of whom have gone through Esperanza's business training courses. Each of the five members will receive a share of this $700 loan for their respective businesses and will be accountable to each other for repaying their share of this loan together. This group-lending methodology ensures that members cooperate to help one another repay their loans and invest wisely in their businesses and families.",M,700,partner,Clothing,0 Dominican Republic,"Alicia became a client of FSMA six months ago, when she took her first loan which she invested to enlarge a small business she had started seven months before that. She sells longaniza (spicy sausage), fried bananas, potatoes and some pts and natural juice.
Alicia is 32 years old and is a single mother of five children. On her own, she has to provide food and educate them; she also has to pay the rent for her house and be prepared for any emergency situation. At this time, her fried food business is her only source of income.
Alicia hopes her business can keep growing and she can have her own locale where she can run her business. With the loan requested, she will purchase raw materials in order to keep producing food and preparing and selling juice. That way, she will continue saving money and improve her large familys living conditions. Alicia will also be closer to achieving her goal which is to have a cafeteria one of these days.",F,600,partner,Food,0 Dominican Republic,"Alicia Francisco sells chilled beverages out of a cooler to her neighbors in the Haitian community of Magdalena in the eastern part of the Dominican Republic. Her offerings include purified water in bottles and single-serving bags, soft drinks, and fruit juices. With this loan, Alicia will buy a another cooler to expand the amount of her stock she can keep chilled to sell. Alicia's entrepreneurship supports her three children: Angela (17), Alfredo (13), and Alana Iris (11). Alicia hopes that as her business grows she will be able to buy a refrigerator and maybe even build a permanent store-front near her home.
Note: Alicia is one of five microentrepreneurs in her Bank of Hope solidarity group, all of whom have gone through Esperanza's business training courses. Each of the five members will receive a share of this $800 loan for their respective businesses and will be accountable to each other for repaying their share of this loan together. This group-lending method strengthens social needs in the community and helps ensure that members cooperate to help one another repay their loans and invest wisely in their businesses and families.",F,800,partner,Food,0 Dominican Republic,"Alicia Garcia (fourth from left) lives in Mata de Palma, a neighborhood just outside of San Pedro de Macors in the Dominican Republic. Mata de Palma is a developing town; there is some running water but still no electricity. Alicia requested her first loan with Esperanza two years ago and began selling fried goods on the streets. Her business has since expanded beyond fried food to include selling a variety of chips, candy, and everyday hygiene products, such as shampoo and soap. Alicia is now on her seventh loan with Esperanza, and with this loan she hopes to restock her inventory with her usual products and bring in new products to keep her clientele and attract new customers. Just like the name of their bank states ""below the wings of the highest,"" Alicia states that she hopes she will always put herself and her business in line according to Gods plan. Please consider loaning to Alicia and her group! Esperanza thanks you for your support.",M,2125,lender,Food,0 Dominican Republic,"Alicia is a 34-year-old mother of three who sells homemade pastries, specializing in birthday and wedding cakes. Her husband owns and operates a small general store within walking distance of their home. Alicias youngest child, a two-year-old girl, is still at home with Mom, while her two elder children, a girl and boy ten and five years old, respectively, attend school.
Currently, Alicia sells her cakes from inside the familys home but is planning on building a small luncheon counter next to her husbands store, where she can display her pastries but also serve an assortment of food. She explains that her pastry sales are quite profitable but the quantity of cakes Alicia sells in a given month varies with the number of special events celebrated in her community.
With her loan Alicia hopes to invest in more of the ingredients she uses in her cakes, but also to begin purchasing the construction materials for her businesss storefront.",F,900,partner,Food,0 Dominican Republic,"Alina is fifty-three-years old and an experienced and clever entrepreneur. She makes homemade deep-fried chicken, highly spiced sausage pork, and natural juices, which she sells in the Mata Los Indios community of Santo Domingo. Alina has been running her business for twelve years, and now her delicious fried food is very famous and much loved in the community. Alina is a trustworthy person. A few months she obtained a loan from FSMA that she invested in her business. She needed funds to buy raw materials to keep preparing her food. The entrepreneur made a prudent use of the loan, and she can repay on time. Now, Alina is asking for a second loan to buy meat, fresh fruits, spices, plates and other goods to continue offering tasty food to her customers.",F,475,partner,Food,0 Dominican Republic,"Alina Sosa Sosa is a single mother of four: Emiar de Sanchez (15), Adyes (14), Roselin de Sanchez (13), Samira de Sanchez (11). With this loan she is hoping to open up a chicken farm and restaurant. However, she does not feel that it would be beneficial to her to sell the food in her town and so she is hoping to expand her market to a larger nearby town. She is hoping that in the future she will be able to have her own small restaurant and be able to provide a better life for her four children, because at the current time she is struggling to provide basic care for all of them.
NOTE: Alina is one of five microentrepreneurs in her Bank of Hope solidarity group, all of whom have gone through Esperanza's business training courses. Each of the five members will receive a share of this $800 loan for their respective businesses and will be accountable to each other for repaying their share of this loan together. This group-lending method strengthens social needs in a community and ensures that members cooperate to help one another repay their loans and invest wisely in their businesses and families.",F,800,partner,Food,0 Dominican Republic,"Alina, 68 years old, is living with her five children and her husbands two sons. She has been selling shoes, tennis shoes, boots and pants for more than 20 years. Her husband works as a watchman at a golf camp. In spite of her age, she continues selling her products. She can no longer walk into the streets to sell the goods; however, she operates business in her house. Alina had already taken a loan from our organization. She used it wisely and repaid it. Now, Alina is requesting a loan to purchase more shoes and jeans in order to satisfy her customers needs. That way, Alina will help her husband attend to the needs of their very large and needy family.",F,325,partner,Retail,0 Dominican Republic,"Alina, in her late sixties, is an entrepreneur with a great deal of experience. Shes been selling shoes, boots, and pants for more than twenty years. Six months ago, Alina received her second loan from FSMA, and she used it to increase her inventory. My efforts and sacrifices were not in vain. My business is very profitable, so I feel like a million dollars,"" she says smiling.
Alina says shell never stop thanking the Kiva community for giving her the opportunity to make that slow but sure change in her life.
With this third loan, Alina will buy more clothing and add new items to her stock so that she can satisfy her customers needs and attract more people to her business. Alina wants to have enough money to enjoy her last days in comfort and security.",F,450,partner,Clothing,0 Dominican Republic,"Aloida is 23 years old and a promising entrepreneur. She's a dressmaker and has started a small shop to offer her services to people in her community.
Aloida is single and lives with her six brothers and sisters. Aloida predominantly sews dresses according to specific requirements of her customers, but she also produces some nice shirts and pants which she offers to people in the neighborhood.
This loan is to buy cloth, clothing thread, and various materials that the dressmaker needs to operate her business. Aloida wants to attract more people to her small shop so that she can increase her earnings. This will help her to keep supporting her Computer Science studies at the university in Santo Domingo.",F,525,partner,Services,1 Dominican Republic,"Altagracia Acevedo is a very promising businesswoman and a proud mother of a family, who works hard to raise her children. She runs a small cafeteria in a small establishment that she bought several years ago. She also sells beer and other alcoholic beverages. Altagracia says that she has a large clientele who are very satisfied with the quality of her services. The business of selling drinks works very well and, each night, people and friends turn her space into a gathering place, and they seize the opportunity to play dominoes or billiards. Altagracia is thinking about remodeling the space so that it can be more comfortable for her customers, so she can attract new clients. With her loan,she'll buy more drinks and raw materials to keep producing tasty food for her customers.",F,600,partner,Food,1 Dominican Republic,"Altagracia and her husband live in a very poor community called Mancorneta, which is on the outskirts of Hato Mayor in the Dominican Republic. Altagracia operates her own `fritura, a small business that makes homemade snacks such as empanadas and minced meat. She is requesting a loan so that she can buy more flour, oil, pork and chicken so that she can meet the demands of her customers. After preparing the food in her house, she goes out into the community to sell. In the Dominican Republic, it is very common for people to buy a snack on the street corners as they walk to work, their homes, or simply when they are out and about. Altagracia has continued to grow since her first loan of $100. Her loan amounts and ability to repay have increased over the years and she is now on her 7th loan in the amount of $900. She hopes that her business will continue to grow and become more stable with the help of this loan. In her free time, Altagracia enjoys spending time with her 8 grandchildren. On behalf of everyone here at Esperanza International, and from Altagracia herself, we thank you for your support with this micro loan!",F,2000,lender,Food,0 Dominican Republic,"Altagracia Belen defines herself as a lover of life, and she's a dynamic young woman who tries hard to make a living. Altagracia sells fresh chicken parts in her community. She started her small business about eight years ago with a loan she took from FSMA.
Altagracia has her stall close to her house, and people visit her each day to get legs, wings, or other chicken parts. Altagracia would like to have a small establishment to operate her business out of, and she's working hard to reach this goal.
The entrepreneur is currently pregnant, and she wants to increase her income in order to save money to take care of her baby who'll be born in a couple of months. This loan will allow Altagracia go to the poultry shop and get a considerable quantity of live chickens to keep operating her business.",F,300,partner,Food,1 Dominican Republic,"Altagracia Bienvenida Tejeda has a diner called Bienvenidas. She cooks daily for a few drop-ins, but also contracts cooking with rather large businesses that surround her restaurant. There were some customers present during the interview and they explained: She really cooks well!
She lives with her two daughters (seventeen and ten), but she spends most of her day in the kitchen, working. She plans to buy an electric fan and a small stand where she can display what she wants to sell that day (now she can only bring it out as it is called for). Food generally consists of rice and beans with some other protein providing food, such as chicken, fish, and (rarely) red meat.",F,500,partner,Food,0 Dominican Republic,"Altagracia Bienvenida, a forty-six year old woman, is the owner and operator of a small restaurant in Altagracia community of Santo Domingo. She has been running the restaurant for four years, and now she has a well established clientel. The customers are very satisfied with the tasteful meals and juices the cook prepares, and they love her for her sympathy and hearty laugh. Altagracias restaurant has a very effective take-out service. Every day, she serves more than seventy plates to take to her customers' houses, and a lot of people visit her restaurant to get her delicious food. This businesswoman, mother of three children, is requesting a loan of $400 to buy raw materials, disposable plates and plastic cups to keep business running smoothly.",F,450,partner,Food,0 Dominican Republic,"Altagracia coordinates the activities of this group of five women, all of whom live and operate small businesses in the Guerra community of Santo Domingo. Altagracia is 48 years old and has three grown children who live with their families. Altagracia lives alone, as she's been separated from her husband for about five years. To earn a living, she operates a small grocery store in her home. Every day, people visit her store to purchase goods such as beans, cooking oil, rice, sausage, and other basic foodstuffs. Altagracia also sells beer which is one of the most requested products. This loan is to replenish the store since turnover in this kind of business is very quick. Altagracia hopes that her business will allow her to maintain a comfortable lifestyle. The members of Altagracia's group are: Australia Cueva Sena, who operates a cafeteria, Daniela Reyes Liriano, who sells clothing, Sencion Guzman Liriano, who sells clothing, Carmen Elisa Castillo, who sells footwear.",F,1275,partner,Food,1 Dominican Republic,"Altagracia has lived in the town two years now, but has lived nearby for over 35 years. The family consists of 6 members, which includes her husband and 4 children, who all live together.
Pero...don't worry, there's no problem if you have ""falta de sueo"" (lack of sleep) as she helps her husband with rather unusual ease! Very talkative and articulate, she explains how she's going to buy different types of clothing as she expands her business. She has common markets where she buys her clothing. These markets are all some 20 kms. away from where her business activity takes place. Based on the information she gave us, continuing her clothing sales will benefit Altagracia and her family.",F,275,partner,Clothing,0 Dominican Republic,"Altagracia is 43 years old and is the mother of two boys. Her husband works with dustcarts picking up rubbish.
Altagracia dedicates herself to the sale of womens underwear. She has been doing this kind of business for more than ten years. She has a well-established clientele; many of them live in other provinces. She gets the goods from Elas Pia, a city on the border of Haiti. Sometimes she buys the products in Haiti.
This entrepreneur wants to enlarge her business. She has applied for a loan to acquire large amounts of underwear so she can noticeably augment her sales volume and increase profits. Extra money will help Altagracia better provide education and food for her two sons.",F,125,partner,Clothing,0 Dominican Republic,"Altagracia is 47 years old and she has four grown up daughters. They go to the university, and one of them works in Santo Domingo, the capital. Altagracia owns a small cafeteria which she started five years ago. She prepares food within her house early in the morning and she has a stall near a bus stop where people can enjoy her delicious dishes. Altagracia would like to have a location where people can easily get the food. She thinks her own location would offer services in better hygienic conditions. She wants to execute those plans in a few years. With her loan, Altagracia will purchase more disposable plastic plates, spoons and folks to serve the food. Shell also get raw materials to continue doing her business. With additional income, Altagracia will help better support her childrens studies.",F,500,partner,Food,0 Dominican Republic,"Altagracia is 60 years old, single, and the mother of three children: two boys and a girl. They have all grown up and have made their own homes. She is living alone and selling fried bananas, potatoes, and fried chicken to earn a living. She says that she cant count on her childrens help to survive. In fact, she receives money from her children, but not regularly, and its not enough to bear all her expenses. The fried goods are her principal source of income.
Altagracia hopes she can increase her income and improve her stock of necessary items. She is asking for funds to buy a large amount of raw materials in order to prepare more food and, as a result, get more clients. Given the loan, the entrepreneur will have sufficient money to meet her needs and improve her quality of life.",F,375,partner,Food,0 Dominican Republic,"Altagracia is a young and promising entrepreneur who sells beauty products in the Barrancones community of Ban. Altagracia operates her business predominantly from her childhood home, but she also visits regular customers and potential clients in the neighborhood to sell her goods. With this loan, the young entrepreneur wants to expand her business and add an assortment of fashionable pants and shoes to her inventory. She explains that most of her clientele have been asking for such goods, so shell take advantage of this opportunity so as to move her business forward. Altagracia hopes that her business will allow her to earn enough money to start her university studies next year.",F,200,partner,Retail,1 Dominican Republic,"Altagracia is an optimistic and assiduous entrepreneur. She sells an assortment of beauty soaps, deodorants, shampoos, tablecloths and decorative window curtains in her community. Altagracia has three children, all of whom are in their twenties and jobless. Her husband is a fisherman.
Altagracia has requested a loan to buy more of these goods since these are in high demand in this period and she doesn't have sufficient products in her inventory. The entrepreneur hopes that her business' continuous growth will help her in repaying her loan and improving her children's lives.",F,300,partner,Retail,1 Dominican Republic,"Altagracia is in her late thirties and has four children, three of them girls, all of whom attend school. Altagracia initiated her relationship with us a couple of months ago, when she took from our organization a loan which she invested in clothing to resell in her community. The entrepreneur used her loan wisely, and managed to make her business successful. Altagracia is still running the business from her home, but she plans on renting a small local space before long so customers can make their purchases easier. The entrepreneur wants to increase her sales volume and her income.
Together with four other women, Altagracia is requesting a loan to buy a high volume of clothing in bulk to sell in the Caf Community of Santo Domingo. The entrepreneurs will receive the loan funds together, but each will carry on her business from her own local space. They will use the loan to buy clothing in bulk.
NOTE: The members of the group warrant one anothers loans. If one of the women fails in repaying the loan, the other members have to take the responsibility.",F,1175,partner,Clothing,0 Dominican Republic,"Altagracia is in her late twenties, and she and her husband have five school-going children. Her husband is a mechanic and he has his own shop. Altagracia, the entrepreneur, lives in Chcaro, in the community of Yamas.
Altagracia dedicates herself to the selling of an assortment of natural and silk flowers. She started this business six months ago with a loan she obtained from FSMA. The natural flowers Altagracia offers to the customers are carefully picked from healthy bushes of Santo Domingo, the capital.
After wholesale purchasing them, Altagracia has to dedicate a lot of time to prepare the bouquets within her house. After, she visits other women in the neighborhood to sell her products.
Altagracia would like to rent a small locale where she can run the business. Meanwhile, she will keep walking the streets to sells the flowers. With her loan, Altagracia will buy more artificial and natural flowers in order to increase her sales volume and thus her income.
",F,600,partner,Retail,0 Dominican Republic,"Altagracia is the owner and operator of a small cafeteria in the Casabe community of Santo Domingo. She has three daughters, ranging from twelve to fifteen, all of whom go to school. Altagracia explains that satisfying the customers needs is sometimes challenging, for each day thousands of people invade the cafeteria in order to purchase the appetizing dishes I prepare she adds, bursting out laughing. With her loan, Altagracia will buy a large quantity of many goods to keep preparing her food and improving her service, which will provide a better lifestyle with her family.",F,400,partner,Food,0 Dominican Republic,"Altagracia Olmo supports her four daughters and one son by selling new clothing and shoes in her community. Most of her profit comes from selling dress shoes and shirts but her client base is larger because she also sells miscellaneous items that appeal to a broader demographic - including cosmetics, accessories, toys and personal care products. This $400 loan will finance the expansion of her business - specifically purchasing more new clothing and shoes to increase sales. Plus, she will be able to afford better quality garments that can sell for a higher profit margin, which will give her more money to invest in savings and the needs of her children, on top of putting money back into her business. Altagracia is one of Esperanza's special individual borrowers. She is still part of her Bank of Hope, which her group has named 'La Simpata', but because of the success and size of her business, as well as her payment of previous loans, she is now eligible for larger, individual loan sizes.",F,400,partner,Clothing,0 Dominican Republic,"Altagracia Ramirez is 29 years old and lives in the sugarcane-cutting community (called a batey) of Peligro, which lies in the countryside outside of El Seybo, Dominican Republic. She is the group coordinator for the Bank of Hope called Mujeres Unidas de Peligro (United Women of Peligro), Group 2. Altagracia's story is illustrative of the experiences of her fellow borrowers in Mujeres Unidas de Peligro. Today, Altagracia is taking out her seventh loan with Kiva and Esperanza International in order to buy more food products, such as beef, pork, juice, and other provisions, to sell in the small grocery store she runs out of her home. Altagracia has been managing her store for 8 years, and she reports that business has grown significantly since she became a client of Kiva and Esperanza three and a half years ago. With small loans from Kiva and Esperanza, Altagracia has been able to purchase new appliances, such as a food processor and a juicer, to expand her store's offerings and increase sales. Today, Altagracia can afford to borrow almost three times the amount of her very first Kiva loan. She also says that, although she had some savings before, with Kiva loans she can now mobilize her savings more effectively to support the needs of herself and her family. Altagracia lives with her four children (ages 9, 8, 6, and 4) and her husband. Altagracia's income, along with what her spouse earns working as a mechanic for the large Central Romana corporation, helps support herself and her family members. She is pictured on the far right of the attached photo.",F,1025,lender,Food,0 Dominican Republic,"Altagracia sells fried vegetables, spicy sausage pork and empanadas in the Mulo community of Yamas. That activity is the main source of income of the family. Altagracia is twenty-five years old and mother of two boys and two girls, all of whom go to school. Altagracias dream is to have a cafeteria where people in the close-by neighborhood can comfortably consume the tasty typical Dominican dishes shell prepare. That way, the entrepreneur could increase her income and improve the standard of living of her family and lift out of poverty. With her loan, Altagracia will buy raw materials to keep producing food for her cafeteria.",F,300,partner,Food,1 Dominican Republic,"Altagracia, 42, is a single mother of six children (3 girls and 3 boys). Her children attend public school, except the two youngest, who are only four and two. She didn't earn enough money working as cleaning woman to make ends meet, and she was obliged to find a way to earn more money so that she could take care of her large family. She took out a loan, which she repaid even before the due date. She used the loan to buy beauty products to resell in her community. She sells hand and body lotions, beauty soaps, hair treatments, and so forth. She runs the business from home and has a lot of loyal customers. Her monthly profit is USD 75. Altagracia thinks that getting a new loan will be a huge opportunity to expand the business. She plans to purchase the same products she currently sells, but in bulk. That way, shell increase her sales margins and improve her family's standard of living.",F,375,partner,Retail,0 Dominican Republic,"Aluade Jospeh is from Haiti and now lives with Santilis Silvestre in Munoz, Puerto Plata. Despite not knowing how to read or write, she has owned and operated her own business - a small grocery store based next to her home. She is requesting this loan so she will have the capital to purchase stores of her best-selling products: rice, sugar and cooking oil. Alaude has gone through Esperanza's business training program and is a member of a group of women who run their own micro-businesses in the same community. The meet every two weeks to pay off a portion of their loan together, exchange business advice as well as offer social support.",F,150,partner,Food,0 Dominican Republic,"Amada is a 50-year-old woman who lives in a secluded village called La 5 Casitas in the eastern province of Hato Mayor, Dominican Republic. Two years ago, Amada started a small business selling arepas (a sweet bread), corn and other snacks. Since her first loan, she has expanded her business to include other needs of the community, such as shoes and slippers. Amada is requesting this loan to buy larger amounts of flour, oil, sugar and other ingredients to meet customer demand.She hopes that her business will continue to grow and become more stable in order to provide her and her family with a sustainable income. On behalf of everyone here at Esperanza International and from Amada herself, we thank you for your support with this micro loan!
",F,1600,partner,Food,0 Dominican Republic,"Amancia Eduardo lives with her husband. Her children, who range in age from 23 to 40, no longer live with her or support her financially. She started selling clothes in her area in order to generate some income. She will start her sixth loan cycle with Esperanza International. The other group members not only appointed her to be the group coordinator because she is the eldest, but also because she is an example of hard work and diligence.
Amancia will use her loan to purchase some new, fresh summer clothing to sell, including women's apparel, in anticipation of Mother's Day. She hopes her business will continue succeeding as it has thanks to her five previous loans. She would also like to set up a space in her house or in a market where she can sell her merchandise without becoming exhausted.
Please help us to continue supporting Amancia and her friends with this Kiva loan. Thank you!
",M,1225,lender,Clothing,0 Dominican Republic,"Amancia Galva acts as the group coordinator for ten women from Los Nunez, a neighborhood on the outskirts of Puerta Plata. She, like many of the women in her group, is unhappy with the poverty which her family lives in. A few years ago Amancias husband died leaving her struggling to support herself and her three kids. Although she has recently remarried, she remembers the hardships she experienced as a single mother and wishes to secure a future for her family. After Amancias first husband passed away she provided for her children by selling clothing in Puerto Plata. Amancia says that she used to buy clothes at a discount from a warehouse in Santiago and then sell individual items of clothing in her neighborhood. Now, she hopes to use Esperanza to help her to start selling clothes again. Amancia believes that with the help of Esperanza she will be able to make her business a success. She says that Esperanzas loan will allow her to obtain an additional discount from the warehouse because she will be able to buy in bulk. Amancias hope is to spend the income from her clothing sales to provide her children with a good education. She says that she wants to help her children to learn English and dreams that she will be able to send them all to college. Amancia is particularly interested in helping her youngest son Rafael to pursue an artistic career. Although he is only ten, Rafael has demonstrated musical talent.",F,1775,partner,Clothing,0 Dominican Republic,"Amanda is a single mother that lives with three children aged of eight, five and three years old, in the Mulo community of Yamas. To earn a living and provide food and education with her children, Amanda sells homemade pastelitos (Dominican pasties filled with chicken meat or cheese) to people in her community. She operates her business from her house, and sometimes she sells her goods in a public school located in the neighborhood. Amanda hopes that her business can grow so much that she can expand it and offer a large variety of pastelitos to her customers. Shell use her loan to buy raw materials to keep preparing her goods. Amanda wants to provide a comfortable lifestyle for her children.",F,375,partner,Food,1 Dominican Republic,"Amarili lives with her husband and two children in San Cristobal. She sells womens clothing to supplement her familys income, because her husbands salary as a policeman cant meet the familys expenses. Amarili plans on using her loan to rent a small location for her business.Amarili hopes that her business will allow her to keep supporting her childrens education and improve her familys standard of living.
",F,450,partner,Clothing,1 Dominican Republic,"Amarilis is young, budding entrepreneur that lives in the Hato Castillo community of Cotu, located in the central part of the country. She is single and lives at her parents' house. In order to pay her university studies, Amarilis operates a small beauty salon which she started about one year ago. She has rented a small establishment to run the salon. Amarilis also sells an assortment of cosmetics and hair products to her customers. She explains that there's a lot to be said of operating her salon. In fact, by means of her business she can support her studies. Her parents are people of modest means, so they can't afford supporting her education. Amarilis wants to keep working hard so that she can finish her studies and get a better lifestyle. With her loan, she'll buy more products for her salon to sell to her clients. Amarilis will be given the loan together with the following women: Natividad De Jesus Custodia, who'll start selling footwear, Yulis Rondon, who retails used clothing, Maritza Mendoza, who sells beauty products, Beatriz Jimenez, a clothing retailer. The photo shows from left to right, Natividad, Yulis, Amarilis, Maritza and Beatriz.",F,850,partner,Services,1 Dominican Republic,"Ambrosina is in her early thirties, and she and her husband have six children, four of whom are boys, all who attend school. Her husband is a farmer.For quite some time, Ambrosina had planned to start selling men and womens clothing but didnt have access to any start-up capital. Fortunately, six months ago, she obtained a loan with which she managed to purchase some clothing from outside her neighborhood. As a good entrepreneur, she has managed to make her business successful and she repaid her loan on time.
Ambrosina hopes that with the profits she makes from her used clothes sales business, she can buy a washing machine for her family. She is now requesting a new loan to buy clothing in bulk in order to keep meeting her customers demands.",F,275,partner,Clothing,0 Dominican Republic,"Amelia Caraballo, mother of three and leader of the Bank of Hope Shalom, lives in Hato Mayor and works with fabric. She hopes this loan will help her grow her business and be able to upgrade locations where she would be able to manufacture and hire workers to help her.
Thanks for your interest in this group!",F,1400,partner,Arts,0 Dominican Republic,"Amelia is a sixty-six-year-old untiring businesswoman who strives for a better life in spite of difficulty and frustration. She lost her husband a couple of years ago and was left with five children for whom she is the sole support. Currently, Amelia runs a grocery store for the people in her community, who purchase different kinds of products such as detergent, bath soap, chocolate candy bars, instant powdered drink and foodstuffs such as rice, flour and vegetables. Amelia explains that her dream is to have a Big Store with millions of products and millions of loyal customers to visit it daily. I know that I have to work much more than now to achieve this goal, she says, but I am optimistic and persistent.
Amelia will use her loan to buy more products to replenish her store and keep building her business.",F,300,partner,Food,0 Dominican Republic,"Amelia is a skilled and energetic businesswoman who owns a grocery store that she started five years ago. She is 42 years old, married and has three children, all of whom are in school. The store is well known in her community, and people love to go there because the quality is high and she is a very kind person. Amelia would like to expand her business and make it even more-frequently visited and profitable. She has requested a loan to buy more goods to sell in her store. She is especially eager to acquire her new inventory now because she needs the income to pay her childrens tuition and provide food and other items for her family.",F,1200,partner,Food,0 Dominican Republic,Amelia is a woman who has been working in salons for most of her life. She wants this loan to increase her income and expand the business. She plans on buying larger amounts of product for her to be able to sell more on a single trip. Her son helps her by buying the products for her in the city. She sells to her neighbors and the people in her community called La Cola. Amelia is married and has 8 children.,F,375,partner,Retail,0 Dominican Republic,"Amor y Paz (""Love and Peace"") is a group of 5 women hoping to receive their 5th loan. The members of this group come from a very poor area in San Pedro, Dominican Republic. Cecilia Antuan is the representative of this group and a great leader. She has always been a hard worker, but never had access to credit before Esperanza International. She knew she could run a small business successfully, but she never had an opportunity. Cecilia is the mother of five young children, and she was having a hard time feeding and providing for all those children. A couple of years ago, she came to Esperanza and received her first small loan. With that small loan, she started a small business selling used clothing in her area. Through hard work and dedication, she started to increase the size of her business. Today she is hoping to receive her 5th loan, and she continues to increase the size of her business. She finally is able to provide all her children with the basic necessities. She dreams of sending all her children to a university, and giving them a better life than she had. She is very excited about the future of her business and of her family. She is happy that she finally has something of her own, and is ready to continue increasing its size! Thank you for all of your support!!",M,1400,partner,Clothing,0 Dominican Republic,"Amparo is a forty-five-year-old woman who is working hard to earn a living and support her five children. Amparo lives in the Batey of Palav community of San Cristobal where she sells fresh chicken meat. Every day, lots of people visit Amparos stall to get meat in order to prepare lunch. Rice with chicken is one of the most popular dishes of the Dominican Republic. So, the entrepreneur sells a lot, and she has to always be purchasing more and more chickens in the poultry shop. She is requesting a loan to have sufficient capital to carry on her business.",F,225,partner,Food,0 Dominican Republic,"Amparo lives with her husband and three teenage children in the province of El Seibo. She owns and runs a small mini-market commonly called a colmado. Colmados are just like grocery stores but everything is sold in small portions so that the poor only have to buy what they need. This will be Amparos first loan with Esperanza. With the loan money, Amparo plans to buy more products for her colmado so that she can offer more to her community.
Amparo has great plans for the future, although she is content with her life. More than anything, she wants to grow closer to God. But she also wants to be able to provide better for her three children so that they will always have good food and be healthy. She already owns her own little house, which she is very thankful for. One day in the far-off future, she would love to be able to buy a truck, a great luxury here where most everyone has horses or motorcycles. But she blushes to mention this because she feels so blessed already and so thankful to be able to keep progressing.
Note: This is a group loan for 5 people. All 5 associates are new to Esperanza and live in the same community as Amparo. They will be joining a group five of the already established Bank of Hope called Africa Romano. They have known each other for over 10 years and are more than willing to vouch for one another to be able to receive the loan together. In a group loan, if one person is not able to pay, the other members of the group are responsible to make up the difference.",F,750,partner,Food,0 Dominican Republic,"Ana Adela is 40 years old and the proud mother of 5 children, all of whom attend school. Together, with her husband, Ana Adela runs a small upholstery business. Shes been running the business for about 5 years and says its been successful. In her area, there are few similar businesses, so the neighbors go to her when they need their furniture covered. Her husband does the physical labor while Ana Adela is responsible for managing the business. Ana Adela explains that Christmas is the period when she receives the most clients. Shes requested a loan to buy materials in order to operate the business and satisfy her client base. She's in need of foam for sofas, leatherette and similar materials. The entrepreneur hopes that her business will allow her to support her childrens education.. Ana Adela is joined in her group by the following women: Rossy Bonilla, who sells used clothing; Martha Maria Santana Correa, who sells fried dishes; Gladys Mercedes Herrera, who sells pants and slippers; Idalina Fortunato Adon, who operates a butcher shop; (In the picture, Ana Adela is the first from the left.)",F,725,lender,Services,1 Dominican Republic,"Ana Beatro is a gracious 44-year-old woman who lives with her husband (36 years old) and her five children (ages: 25, 24, 22, 18, 6). She currently runs a small business out of her home selling clothes and shoes. During her free time she loves to go to her church or read her Bible. Her favorite foods are soup and beans, and her dream for the future is that she would one day have a large, beautiful store to sell her merchandise from.
This will be the first loan that this community of Maimon, Puerto Plata has applied for with Esperanza. For many of these women, credit has been a foreign concept and this is the first opportunity they have had to receive a loan. Maimon is located on the north coast of the Dominican Republic, where beautiful all-inclusive hotels and slums sit only minutes apart. It is our hope in Esperanza that this community will grow together throughout the next six months towards a better and sustainable future. On behalf of Esperanza and the women of Maimon, thank you for your support and generosity!",F,1500,partner,Clothing,0 Dominican Republic,"Ana Belkis Peguero is the group coordinator for Group 6 of the ""Fuerza Divina"" (Divine Force) Bank of Hope, in El Seybo, in northeast Dominican Republic. This group has 5 members.
Ana has 2 small businesses; in one she sells clothes, especially undergarments for all ages and sleepwear. Her other business is selling fried meat-filled pastries and fried plantains. She has 4 children at present; ages 16, 11, 8 and 6. She had a 5th son who passed away some time ago. She says overcoming the death of her child has been one of her biggest trials in life.
Ana is striving to stabilize both of her businesses in order to help her children get ahead in life and study. She believes her businesses will allow her to accomplish her dreams and acquire a higher sense of realization with her remaining children that will ease the pain of the loss of her son.
This is a struggling mother who is an example of everyday courage to all her community and her group peers. Thank you for supporting these entrepreneurs!",F,1150,lender,Clothing,0 Dominican Republic,"Ana Belkis, a dynamic, optimistic, and assiduous young mother of a three-year-old girl, is fighting tooth and nail to improve her family's lifestyle and move ahead. She's been selling fresh vegetables in her community for two years. Her business is quite profitable as the country people love to consume fruits and vegetables in the morning. Ana Belkis thinks that the time has come to diversify her offerings and attract more clustomers to her business. With her loan, she'll add fresh meat, especially chicken to her present inventory. The entrepreneur also is thinking about renting a small establishment as a venue for her activity.
Ana Belkis wants to have enough money to provide her daughter with the best education so she can become a great professional in life.",F,300,partner,Food,1 Dominican Republic,"Ana Daisy is an entrepreneur who works extremely hard to support her two daughters, who are 8 and 13 years old, respectively. Ana recently started a small business where she sells jewels, and she operates this business from her home. Ideally, she would like to operate her business out of a separate location, but she will accomplish that goal down the road. She is hereby seeking a loan to buy a collection of new items to add to her stock in order to hopefully increase her sales volume and to thereby generate greater revenue. In turn, she believes that she will be able to improve her family's standard of living.",F,225,partner,Retail,0 Dominican Republic,"Ana Daisy owns and operates a beauty salon in the Libertador community of Santo Domingo. Her husband is jobless, so he cant support the family. Consequently, Ana Daisy has to work hard to support her two childrens educations. She says that her profits are still low, and she would like to attend to more customers every day so that she can increase her revenue.
Ana Daisys salon offers a range of services including: hair cut, hair dying, manicure, and pedicure.
With her loan, Ana Daisy plans to buy a small generator, which will allow her to keep working despite frequent power cuts in the zone where her salon is located. The generator will propel her salon to a very competitive position by attracting new women to her business. Ana Daisy hopes that her small business will help her lift her family out of poverty.",F,300,partner,Services,1 Dominican Republic,"Ana Delia is the coordinator of this group comprised of five women, all of whom operate small businesses in Hato Castillo, a low-income community of Cotu. Ana is a single mother who endeavors to support her two children and improve the quality of their lives. She sells plastic containers to mini-markets and pastry shops owners in her neighborhood. She also sells her products to women that produce food to order. This business is the sole source of income of the entrepreneur, and she'd like to strengthen it so that she could have a better income. Ana Delia will invest her loan to purchase more containers and lids so that she can keep satisfying her clients' needs. She hopes that her business will allow her to have a better lifestyle. The members of Ana Delia's group are: Ana Mercedes Florentino, a beauty products retailer, Juana Antonia Rosario, who sells clothing and accessories, Isabel Portalatin, a clothing retailer, Danis Marinelly Soto, who operates a cafeteria. The photo shows from left to right, Ana Delia, Ana Mercedes, Juana Antonia, Isabel and Danis Marinelly.",F,875,partner,Retail,1 Dominican Republic,"Ana Fermin is the representative of a group named ""Liberacion."" The five people in this group are hoping to receive a loan so that they can each start their own small business and better their lives. Ana is a hard working mother of two children. She is hoping to start a small business selling cookes, candies, and other small goods. Her dream is to increase her business! On behalf of Ana, the group, and Esperanza International-- Thank you for your support!!",F,725,partner,Food,0 Dominican Republic,"Ana Francisca is a hard working and ambitious entrepreneur who struggles to provide a better life for her family. She has a nineteen-year-old son wholl start his university studies in a couple of months.
Soon after her husband passed away five years ago, Ana Francisca had to face the hard reality of raising a child on her own. She started a small business of selling arepas (unleavened corn-flour flatbread) from her home. Currently, this entrepreneurs business is successful and her clientele keeps growing.
Ana is requesting a loan to buy corn flour, sugar, milk, cocoa and other ingredients in bulk to keep producing her tasty arepas and satisfy her customers needs. Ana Francisca hopes that her business will help allow her improve her familys lifestyle.
",F,450,partner,Food,0 Dominican Republic,"Ana Iris is a young and budding entrepreneur who started her path to success two years ago when she established a small shoe store with a loan she received from FSMA. Since then, the entrepreneur has been moving her business forward and diversifying her inventory.Currently, she sells pants, shirts, and underwear, as well as shoes. Ana Iris explains that theres a lot to be said for running this kind of business. Actually, she has been able to support her two-year-old child and pay the rent on her house, in addition to successfully repaying the past loans she had received from our organization.
Ana Iris is requesting a new loan to boost her inventory and to buy some new fashionable shoes to offer to her customers.
The 22-year-old entrepreneur wants to have enough money to start her university studies next year.",F,200,partner,Retail,1 Dominican Republic,"Ana is 50 years old and the proud mother of four sons and one daughter, all of whom are in their twenties. Ana makes curtains and decorative window dressings, and sells these products to customers in her community. Ana explains that maintaining cash flow is sometimes challenging, but she expects her new curtain patterns and styles will help to repay her loan, which would be used to buy additional fabrics for her curtains and window dressings. Anas husband is disabled, so she hopes that the income generated from her business will allow her and her husband to enjoy their golden years.",F,250,partner,Retail,0 Dominican Republic,"Ana is a 34-year-old single mother of two: Salandre (10) and Davis (14). She works out of her small house, making bags and clothes with a sewing machine that she bought with her first loan. She also knits and crochets different types of clothes as well. With this loan Ana will buy more materials and possibly a different sewing machine, which will enable her to make more complex things and hopefully in turn earn more money. With this increase in profit she hopes to expand her business and possibly have her own store someday that is separate from her house. She would like to be able to provide more for her family.
Note: Ana is one of five microentrepreneurs in her Bank of Hope solidarity group, all of whom have gone through Esperanza's business training courses. Each of the five members will receive a share of this $975 loan for their respective businesses and will be accountable to each other for repaying their share of this loan together. This group-lending method strengthens social ties in the community and helps ensure that members cooperate to help one another repay their loans and invest wisely in their businesses and families. This money will go towards the next loan received by this Bank of Hope; once they finish paying back their current loan it will be activated.",F,975,partner,Clothing,0 Dominican Republic,"Ana is a 53 year old woman who lives on the outskirts of the capital in a suburb called Los Alcarizzos. She lives with her two children, a boy and a girl. She and her husband divorced several years ago and since then she has been left to support the three of them on her own.
Right now she has a small little store that sells earrings, trinkets, beauty supplies and sandals. She is asking for this loan so that she can expand her supply and expand her business. She believes that with better and more inventory, she will be able to sell more and retain her customers.
In the little free time that she can find, Ana Josefa loves to go to her church, watch the local news, and maybe even catch one of the famously dramatic telenovelas that air every night.
From Ana Josefa, and from all of us here at Esperanza, we thank you for your interest and support in helping Ana achieve all of her dreams!",F,750,partner,Retail,0 Dominican Republic,"Ana is a persistent and visionary businesswoman. Two years ago, she left her hometown and moved to Palav, a community of San Cristobal to open a wholesale sandwiches store with her husband. Id been visiting many places until I came here, and I knew that Ive reached my target market. Then, my husband and I, we decided to set up the business here, she explains. Naturally, for our sons, it was difficult the adjustment to that new life,"" she continues saying.
Fortunately, the children gradually got used to the new atmosphere, and Anas business has been very dynamic and profitable. Currently, her customers visit the store every day to purchase sandwiches in order to retail in the surroundings. Ana would like to add new goods to diversify her offering and attract new clients. She has requested a loan to purchase raw materials to keep producing her delicious sandwiches and make a good income. That way, the entrepreneur will maintain a comfortable lifestyle for herself and her family.",F,400,partner,Food,0 Dominican Republic,"Ana is a young businesswoman from Yamas. She has three children that attend school. With her husbands help, she started a grocery last year. She remodeled a locale and fitted out the space so that she could show the goods. People go to her general store to obtain different kinds of products such as vegetables, spaghetti, a box of matches, toilet paper, rice, milk and other foodstuffs.
Ana wants to supply her business with products which are running low. She is requesting a loan to purchase drinks such as beer, juice, and energy drinks like Cyclon, Monster, and Toro which are much demanded by the customers. Ana will also acquire some sacks of rice and beans, and vegetable oil. She wants to obtain the products at the wholesale market in order to have them at very low cost. That way, the businesswoman will increase her sales volume and her income.
This will be the second loan Ana will take from our FSMA. Her first loan was used wisely and repaid on time.",F,600,partner,Food,0 Dominican Republic,"Ana is an outstanding example of the opportunity that microloans provide to people all over the world. Ana is 38 years old and is part of a group called La Fortaleza, or The Strength, that takes out loans as a group and supports each other in business ventures. Ana has been running a retail store for 8 years and she sells goods such as purses, perfumes, clothes and shoes. However, she her dream is to work in the capital, Santo Domingo, as a nurse. She is now on her third loan cycle, trying to increase her profits so that she can work her way through college to earn her nursing degree. She already has one child, aged 18, in college and she hopes that with a career in nursing she can afford to provide her other three children (aged 13, 11, and 9) with college education as well. With this loan she will buy more sneakers and high heeled shoes as those products sell the most. Ana and the entire La Fortaleza group are excited to receive another loan and come one step closer to achieving their dreams.",F,1400,lender,Retail,0 Dominican Republic,"Ana is taking out her first loan with Esperanza, along with the other nine members in her group. She has asked for this loan to improve and expand her business, the manufacture of curtains and linens.
Ana lives in the city of Santiago, the second-largest city in the Dominican Republic, with her husband and two small children. Her goal is to expand her business. Within the next two years, she hopes to have a factory and not just a small business that she runs by herself. She dreams of providing a safe and healthy upbringing to her children. She wants to teach them to become hardworking individuals and help them go to college. For herself, Ana dreams of becoming a successful and strong businesswoman, and improving her family's economic status.
On behalf of everyone here at Esperanza International, and Ana herself, we thank you for your support with this micro loan!",F,1575,partner,Retail,0 Dominican Republic,"Ana Josefa is a single mother living in San Cristobal whose four children, two boys and two girls, range from eleven to twenty-three years old. Ana Josefa sells new and used womens clothing to support her family. Most entrepreneurial clothing vendors in Anas area purchase clothing from outside of the community for resale locally. Ana obtains some of her merchandise the same way, but also pays a nominal fee for the used clothing of her friends and family members and resells these items. She also plans to use her loan to buy more new clothing at less expensive bulk rates to improve her profit margin.",F,150,partner,Clothing,0 Dominican Republic,"Ana lives with her husband on the Eastern peninsula of Samana, DR. She has raised three children (ages: 24, 25, 26) and now focuses on her small business. She sells new clothing from a small store, and with the money from this loan she wants to buy a fresh supply of clothes to add to her store. In her free time she enjoys reading, and her favorite food is fish. She hopes that in the future she will see the Dominican economy get stronger and stronger.
This will be the 4th loan that Ilusion has applied for with Esperanza, and they all appreciate the support of Kiva lenders that has made this possible. On behalf of Esperanza, thank you for investing in the lives of these borrowers. The impact will be sustained far into the future!",F,575,partner,Clothing,0 Dominican Republic,"Ana Luisa resides in Quita Sueos, a small community located in Cotu. She and her husband have 5 school-aged children. Her husband works in a company that fabricates blocks. Ana Luisa sells a variety of clothing and footwear in the community. Ana says that she and her husband really struggle to make ends meets. She explains that to get the items to sell, she goes to Dajabn, which is next to the border with Haiti. She has to take a bus which leaves the city at about 2:00 a.m.; otherwise, she wont be able to get back from Dajabn the same day. Its really an arduous way to earn a living, but the entrepreneur says that shed sacrifice anything as long as her familys well-being is the result. Ana Luisa, who leads this group of entrepreneurs, has requested a loan to buy more items so that she can keep operating her business, especially during the Christmas period. The entrepreneur plans to buy her own house, but she says thats down the road. Ana Luisa is joined in her group by: Yoselin Acosta, who will invest her loan to buy clothing; Ana Altagracia Otaez Otaez, who sells womens garments; Dominga Aria Lora, a footwear retailer; Maria Magdalena Santos, who operates a fruit stand. The photo shows, from left to right, Yoselin, Ana Altagracia, Dominga, Ana Luisa and Maria.",F,1025,lender,Clothing,1 Dominican Republic,"Ana Mara is a young entrepreneur that dedicates herself to selling mens and womens clothing. She has been running her business for five years. Ana Mara has a 5-year-old son that attends school. Her husband is butcher.
Ana Mara confides that all the efforts she is making are to provide necessary care to her unique son. She also is thinking about begin a university career. She had left school for a while, as she had to find the way to take care of her son. Now that he is older, she has more time to herself and she wants to finish secondary school so that she can go to the university next year.
Ana Mara is requesting a loan to buy clothing in bulk in Santo Domingo, the capital, to resell in her community. She wants to reduce the frequent trips she makes outside her town to get the merchandise. Ana Mara, in the past, has proved to be a very responsible person. She had already taken a loan from FSMA and she repaid it on time.",F,450,partner,Clothing,0 Dominican Republic,"Ana Maria is from the densely populated community of San Pedro, Barrio Blanco. Barrio Blanco has a weekly trash pick up, has electricity for a few hours in the afternoon, and even though they have running water it sometimes fails for days at a time. When you first arrive to Barrio Blanco there will be brightly painted houses in rows to welcome you. These homes are not just a shelter but rather serve for multiple purposes. To name a few, these homes are family-run businesses, places where prayer groups gather, and places where microfinance meetings take place. Ana Maria operates her business from her home. After she heard about micro-finance from her neighbors, she participated and took out a loan to start her own natural medicine business. She is now requesting her third loan with Esperanza to meet the high demand for medicine in Barrio Blanco. Ana Maria began her business last year with a loan of 5,000 Dominican Pesos, then increased to 7,000, and now is requesting 10,000 Dominican pesos (approximately $280). With this new loan, she plans to expand her selection and restock her inventory. She will purchase natural vitamins, teas, ointments, and clay spreads. Ana Maria says that her business has changed her life; she is now able to provide a little more for her three children. She hopes to continue being successful and aspires to continue growing her business. Ana Maria will appreciate it if you consider funding her and her groups businesses. Esperanza thanks you for your support!",F,1075,lender,Health,0 Dominican Republic,"Ana Maria is twenty six years old, and she lives with her husband and two sons. The husband works for a construction company. To contribute to the familys budget and improve her modest living conditions, Ana Maria plans on starting a small business of selling underwear to women in her community.
Once she gets her loan, Ana Maria will travel outside her community to purchase the underwear. Shell be visiting friends and people in nearby neighborhood to sell her goods.
Ana Maria says that this loan will be very useful as it will allow her to fight better in order to lift her family out of poverty.",F,150,partner,Clothing,1 Dominican Republic,"Ana Maria Redman has four grown children and 5 grandchildren. She lives with her husband, Thomas Ismael, in the small town of Rincon located along the beach on the north coast of the Dominican Republic. She sells shoes, childrens clothing, womens clothing and hair accessories like barrettes, combs, clips, and brushes. She has received and successfully paid back three loans. This loan of $450 will allow her to buy sheets wholesale from the capital of the Samana Province. Ana Maria looks forward to adding bedding to her inventory.",F,450,partner,Retail,0 Dominican Republic,"Ana Mercedes is a lovely young woman who lives with her four children and husband in the town of Los Alcarrizzos, a suburb of the capital of Santo Domingo. She has started a small business providing public transportation to her community members. Ana is requesting this loan so that she can improve the service she provides to her clients, making her car safer, more comfortable, and more fuel efficient. With the profits from her business, she hopes to begin saving more money, working towards realizing her dream of one day returning to school so that she can become college-educated; as well, she hopes to be able to help send her children to college. She says that it is often difficult to advance economically in Los Alcarrizzos, but with hard work and this loan, she believes she can improve her life and business, one day at a time.
On behalf of everyone here at Esperanza International, and from Ana Mercedes herself, we thank you for your support with this micro loan!",F,2525,partner,Transportation,0 Dominican Republic,"Ana Mercedes is a many-sided businesswoman who is looking for the best market opportunities to do business. She is a teacher in a primary school in the Caf community of Santo Domingo. She also sells silver jewelry to women and other teachers in the school and the community.
Ana Mercedes says that she wants to start selling calling cards too, because these products are always in high demand, and she thinks she could earn a lot of money selling them.
Ana is requesting a loan to invest in the purchase of more jewelry in order to increase her income. The entrepreneur wants to improve her familys living conditions and keep supporting her three children's studies.",F,300,partner,Retail,0 Dominican Republic,"Ana operates a variety store. In her store she is able to offer a wide variety of products including meats, vegetables, coffee, sugar, stove-top gas for cooking, and mens and womens clothing. Aided by Esperanza International, Ana has been able purchase materials in greater bulk to gain savings advantages and offer wider product variety to her customers. Ana has encountered some setbacks over the life of her business, including the death of loved ones, but her ambition remains to own her own home and to encourage the prosperity of her children (ages: 32, 30, 27, 24, 22, 20).
Ana is not alone in her quest to succeed through entrepreneurial activities. Ana is a member of the micro-finance bank Pasos Firme. Along with four other women, Ana is seeking additional loan funds from Esperanza to encourage growth in her business. Other members of Anas micro-finance bank run similar entrepreneurial ventures including selling fried food and ice cream, and used clothing sales.
On behalf of Esperanza and this group of business entrepreneurs, we would like to thank you for your support!",F,1375,lender,Retail,0 Dominican Republic,"Ana Reyes is 57-year-old woman living in Puerto Plata, Dominican Republic. She lives with her husband, and she has three sons who are all married. Ana wants to start her own cafeteria, and she will use this loan to purchase sugar, coffee, tea, bread, butter, mayonnaise, ham, cheese, etc to run her business. She hopes to one day own a house and a motor vehicle to expand her business options.
Ana Reyes is part of a 15-person micro-bank, Mujeres Pensando en el Futuro, which means ""Women Thinking in the Future.. Each woman has their own personal business but they unite to pay their loan as a group. The purpose of the group loan is to assist each other in case someone defaults. The Kiva loans will be divided among the group to pay back.
We thank you for your support on behalf of Ana, Mujeres Pensando en el Futuro group, and the entire team at Esperanza International.",F,150,partner,Food,0 Dominican Republic,"Ana Reyes Recio is a coordinator for the group Mujeres Pensando en el Futuro (Women Thinking of the Future). Her group has five members. Ana is 58 years old, and her husband is 56 years old. They do not have any children together, but she is the mother of two, and he is a father of three. All of the children are adults. Ana has a small cafeteria. In the cafeteria, it is possibly to buy coffee and drinks, such as orange juice and soft drinks. She also sells snacks. Ana is about to receive her second loan. The first loan made it possibly for her to expand her business. With her new loan, she hopes and believes she can increase her business even more. She has two dreams. The first dream is that she one day will be able to buy a nice house. The second dream is to travel as a tourist to the USA and Mexico.",F,1850,partner,Food,0 Dominican Republic,"Ana Rosa is a very skilled hair stylist who owns and operates a hair salon in her community. This business, which shes been operating for three years, is her familys means of support. Ana Rosa has four children that go to school, and she explains that shes nervous when she thinks about paying the school tuitions for the forthcoming school year. Ana has requested a loan to buy various hair products to add to her inventory so that she can keep operating her business. She says that from now on shell put money aside so that she can better support the kids educations.",F,175,partner,Services,1 Dominican Republic,"Ana Rosa, 37, is a very active woman and passionate about business. She has three children (two boys and a girl) that attend a secondary school of the township. Her husband is a doctor and has a pharmacy. The couple also has a grocery store which has been run for more than two years. The store was managed by two of Anas relatives. Four months ago, she decided to assume direction of the business. There are a lot of changes she wants to make in the grocery store. First, she wants to remodel where she runs the store. In order to reduce inventory costs, she wants to buy in bulk the goods she offers to the customers. She will be looking for another provider in the same township instead of getting the products from Santo Domingo, the capital. She is very determined to make the business grow and radically improve the sales volume. The entrepreneur is very positive and trusts that she will get the funds she is requesting so that she can achieve her goals for the grocery store and be able to keep on improving her familys condition.",F,375,partner,Food,0 Dominican Republic,"Ana Thomas is 63 years old. However, her age has not stopped her from being a multi-tasking entrepreneur. She and her friends in the Dios Todo lo Puede Group are in their 6th loan cycle with Esperanza and continue going strong. Ana has used the small education she got from elementary school to start several businesses: a cafeteria, a fruit/vegetable stand, and a clothing sales business.
Ana will invest the proceeds from the current loan in her fruit and vegetable stand. She will buy more fruits and vegetables in season (like mangoes) to sell in her small shop. She will invest this loan in her fruit and vegetable stand because food sales generate daily income. Clothing sales are more sporadic, and since clothing is often sold on credit, it can take months for her to collect all the payments.
Ana intends to remodel her house to add space for her three businesses so she won't have to move around so much. She thinks she has a responsibility as group coordinator to be a positive inspirational example, and she certainly is. Thank you for supporting this Kiva loan!
(The photo shows her loan group in session with their loan officer, Elizabeth Soto.)
",F,1550,lender,Food,0 Dominican Republic,"Ana, 37 years old, married with no children, is a very persistent and diligent woman. Her husband works in a construction firm in Santo Domingo. Ana owns a drinks store. She operates the business from 6 pm to midnight, and during the week-ends, she closes the store after 2 am. She sells different kinds of drinks, beers being the most sold beverages in the store. The atmosphere is very pleasant. Customers can dance while they drink.Ana has a refrigerator to keep the drinks cold and a generator for the frequent power cuts in her area. The entrepreneur is requesting a loan to increase her inventory and introduce new kinds of drinks so that she can attract new customers. Given this loan, Ana will continue improving her familys standard of living.",F,375,partner,Food,0 Dominican Republic,"Anadilia is a single woman with 3 children. She lives in a small community called ""Los Casabe"" in the city of Santo Domingo.
She started working in her business 5 years ago; before that it was her mother's. She works in an establishment where she sells chicken, drinks and other foodstuff to the people in her neighborhood. She is also a teacher and works for the ""Secretaria de Educacion"" part-time.",F,375,partner,Food,0 Dominican Republic,"Anadina,45, lives with her husband (who works for a construction company) and her three children who attend primary school. She's been operating one of the most successful businesses in her community for six years. Anadina operates a small mini-market whose principal products are rice and beers. She says that people living in the rural zones generally are poor; but nonetheless they spend a lot of money on alcoholic drinks. Anadina adds that she's not a marketing expert, but she knows that if she wants to keep the business in the black, she has to invest more and more money in beers and other alcoholic beverages. Anadina wants to increase drastically her sales volume. So she has requested a loan to purchase a large amount of the most requested products so that she can continue satisfying her customers' needs and increase her revenue. Anadina believes that before long, she'll be one of the most well established suppliers of these goods in her community. Anadina will receive her loan together with the following women: Mercedes Robles, who owns and operates a small grocery store. Inocencia Marte Lazala, who sells basic foodstuffs within her house. Enma Liriano, who has a small mini-market. Sixta Isabel Moreno, who sells silver-plated jewelry in the community. Photo shows from left to right: Anadina, Mercedes, Inocencia, Enma and Sixta.",F,1450,partner,Food,1 Dominican Republic,"Anajaira is on her way to being a successful person in life: shes smart, dynamic, hard-working and optimistic. Two years ago, an unexpected pregnancy and the consequent need to care for her child forced her to stop university studies. As her partner was then unemployed, Anajaira had to find a way to make sure shed be able to fend for the baby. So she started selling underwear to women in her hometown, the Libertador community of Santo Domingo. Her goal was to meet the needs of the people, and she attracted lots of clients and potential clients. Now, shes a well-established supplier of underwear in the sector.
Anajaira is requesting a loan (her second from FSMA) to buy a larger variety of goods to offer to her customers. She hopes that her business will allow her finish her studies, which she resumed a couple of months ago.",F,200,partner,Clothing,1 Dominican Republic,"Analini is a young mother of three children (two of them girls), who attend school in the community of Los Alcarrizos, Santo Domingo. Two years ago, Analini began selling beauty products and clothing for women. In those days, she was facing big financial issues and didnt have access to capital to invest in her business. Therefore, she started off selling her products in the streets and visiting the neighbor door-to-door. A few months ago, Analini took a loan from FSMA with which she purchased more goods to offer to her clientele. She also invested a part of the money remodeling the living room of her house, where she now runs the business. Analini explains that her big dream is to have a big store with millions of people visiting every year, she says, bursting out laughing. For the moment, she is directing her attention to offer better services to the customers and attracting new clients. With this loan, she will purchase new goods and offer greater variety. She hopes this will increase her income and allow her to maintain a comfortable lifestyle for her family.",F,600,partner,Clothing,0 Dominican Republic,"Anastacia (pictured in the middle) is a 54-year-old woman who lives in a small, secluded village in the eastern province of Hato Mayor, Dominican Republic. Anastacia came to Esperanza two years ago, looking for a loan to support her small business making and selling arepas (a sweet bread) to little grocery stores in her community. Anastacia is requesting this loan in order to buy a larger amount of flour, oil, sugar, coconut and other ingredients to meet the demand of her customers. She works incredibly hard so that her business will continue to grow and become more stable in order to provide her family with a sustainable income. On behalf of everyone here at Esperanza International, and from Anastacia herself, we thank you for your support with this micro loan!",F,1300,partner,Food,0 Dominican Republic,"Anastasia de la Rosa is the group coordinator for this group of entrepreneurs. She has had a rough time since she first became a client of Esperanza International about eighteen months ago (this is her third loan cycle). She's had to change her business activity several times, going from a fried food stand to selling undergarments. Unfortunately, her undergarments sales did not go as expected; so for this new loan she has decided to try a new business. She will take orders for small appliances, purchase them with the loan money, and then collect payments from her customers. The one thing that has not varied is her clientele. They have continued to purchase from her in every business activity she has tried.
Anastasia is very concerned about having a successful business because she has seven children. She not only has to provide for them every day, but she hopes to be there for them until they can go to college and start their own careers.
Please help us support Anastasia and the rest of these entrepreneurs with this Kiva loan. Thank you!",F,1025,lender,Retail,0 Dominican Republic,"Anatalia is forty-six years old and the proud single mother of three daughters and one son, all of whom attend school. To make a living and sustain her family, she sells homemade food. Anatalia defines herself as a great cook, and she says that she prepares delicious dishes. Anatalia has been running her business for almost one year, and currently she has a lot of customers that visit her house every day to purchase her succulent dishes. With her loan, Anatalia will buy a wide variety of goods to keep preparing her food and increase her income.",F,200,partner,Food,0 Dominican Republic,"Andina is a forty-two year old mother of three school-going children (two girls and a boy). Her husband is an electrician and works for a construction company installing wires for electrical systems. A few months ago, Andina started a business of running a small grocery store. As she didnt have access to capital, she was obliged to use a room of her house to operate the store. She is still running the grocery store within her house but hopes that before long she will have a big and comfortable space where people can go to make purchases easily. Andina explains that the competition in her community is very strong. Nevertheless, she believes she can attract a lot of customers and her store keeps on growing. With this loan (the second she will take from FSMA), she plans on adding new goods to her inventory in order to better satisfy her customers needs. Andinas business supports her children's school tuition and helps to pay for the rental of the house.",F,600,partner,Food,0 Dominican Republic,"Andrea (pictured on the far left wearing blue) has five children and lives in a small town in Consuelo named Barrio 15. It can get quite confusing, really fast, when you travel within Consuelo. The dirt roads are very narrow and not named, but are just the perfect size for motoconchos (taxi motorcycles) to ride in. The motoconcho drivers have to make sure they accurately dodge the kids and animals playing outside. If you are lost, you can usually easily find your way by asking the friendly community members, everyone knows each other and can direct you without a problem. Andrea has requested a loan to purchase new womens clothes, sheets, and comforters. She particularly states that she wants to buy womens intimate apparel as she is currently running low. She has been doing this business for 12 years and is very experienced with it. This is her third consecutive loan with Esperanza but she says that she used to borrow from Esperanza eight years ago. Andre says that her life has changed dramatically after she became an Esperanza client. Now she has a lot of material goods that she never dreamed she could purchase. She proudly confesses, life keeps on getting better. Andrea hopes to always manage a successful business and aspires to see her children succeed in life. Support Andrea and her team of entrepreneurs achieve their goals. Thank you.",F,1075,lender,Clothing,0 Dominican Republic,"Andrea Avelina is forty years old. She and her husband have three children, two of them girls, all of whom go to school. Andrea has been selling clothes and shoes in the Don Gregorio community of San Cristobal for nine years. She operates her business from her home, but she plans on having her own establishment. She says that she and her husband have already bought a small piece of land to construct a shop, but money is an issue. Nonetheless, she expects that in a few years the shop will be a reality. With her loan, Andrea will add a greater variety of shoes to her inventory in order to increase her sales volume and her income.",F,400,partner,Retail,1 Dominican Republic,"Andrea Cabrera is the coordinator for the group called Mujeres Habiles which in English means ""Able Women."" Andrea is the owner of a store that sells clothing and other items and is excited to get her first loan from Esperanza. She has two children ages 13 and 19, the youngest is enrolled at a nearby school, and the other is studying medicine at a nearby university.
A dream Andrea has is to continue progressing in her business and life and be able to help people through her business. She would also like to have her own storefront in which to do business. In addition to the storefront, Andrea hopes to be able to afford to finish building the addition on her house that was started a while back. She hopes her children grow up to be professionals.
On behalf of Andrea Cabrera, Mujeres Habiles, and all of us here at Esperanza International, thank you for your interest in these entrepreneurs and effort to fight the global issue of poverty!",F,700,partner,Retail,0 Dominican Republic,"Andrea Dolvil is raising her three young daughters and started cooking and selling food to pay expenses and be able to save. She sells bread and particularly a popular indigenous Dominican dish called 'casabe' made of boiled yucca or cassava roots. She sells her food in her community in public places like parks or local schools during lunchtime. This loan will go towards buying more ingredients to prepare and cook her meals along with materials to store, cook and carry her food. NOTE: Andrea is a leader of her solidarity group, which the members call 'Unin de la Caridad'. She represents four other micro-entrepreneurs, who will each receive an equal $150 share of this $750 loan to invest in their respective businesses.",F,750,partner,Food,0 Dominican Republic,"Andrea Guillermina is in her late twenties and she has two sons, aged six and eleven years old, both of whom go to school. Andrea explains that, as a single mother, she has to do her utmost in order to support the childrens education and face all the familys expenses.
Currently, shes operating a small cafeteria and she serves breakfast and dinner to people in her neighborhood. Andrea modestly explains that her locale is very small, and that she just has the basic materials to operate her business. Shes requesting a loan to purchase a new blender and various kitchen items, as well as products such as ketchup, cheese, ham and other raw materials to keep producing her delicious dishes.
Andrea Guillermina hopes that her business can generate a better income so that she can provide her family with a more comfortable lifestyle.",F,200,partner,Food,1 Dominican Republic,"Andrea is 19 years old and she sells silver-plated jewelry in order to earn a living. The young entrepreneur explains that she doesn't have easy access to capital, so her stock is still limited, but she plans on using her loan to buy more goods--bracelets, necklaces, earrings and the like--to add to her inventory. Andrea wants to have enough money to start her university studies next year. She hopes that her business will allow her to reach this goal.",F,100,partner,Retail,1 Dominican Republic,"Andrea is a woman with the huge responsibility of supporting a very large family. Actually, Andrea and her husband have nine children, three of them girls, and all of whom attend school. Andrea attributes this 'excess' to the poor education she received and her lack of knowledge of any family planning method. Her husband, a watchman, doesn't have enough money to bear all the expenses of the family.
Andrea sells clothing in a small establishment she has rented. She also sells fried vegetables and meat early in the morning. The entrepreneur says that it's really hard to keep up with the kids and maintain the cash flow. Nonetheless she hopes that this new loan will allow her make the business stronger and increase her income. Andrea believes that her small business is a stepping stone to a biggest and more comfortable one.",F,450,partner,Clothing,1 Dominican Republic,"Andrea is in her late thirties, and shes a proud mother who has devoted herself to hard work in order to take care of her three school-going daughters, who range in age from 10 to 19. Andrea is a well known woman in her community and she leads a group of five entrepreneurs who live in the neighborhood.
Andrea had been cooking for many years, but she had to stop for a while because it had become difficult to have access of capital to run her business. This loan will help her resume her activity. She plans to buy a lot of ingredients for her delicious fried dishes. Andrea hopes that her business will be successful so that she can keep taking care of her daughters and supporting her educations.
Andrea will share her loan with these women:
Andrea explains that her business is her life and that she enjoys sharing the venture with her children. Her store supplies many cooking products Andrea purchases from other communities or has delivered by vendors. Andreas store stocks rice, a variety of locally purchased vegetables, snacks, and a few soft drinks. Andrea intends to uses her loan to purchase some new products she believes will be well-received by her customers, including more popular snack products and a wider variety of cooking ingredients, such as sugar and bread.",F,300,partner,Food,0 Dominican Republic,"Andrea lives in San Cristobal where she owns and operates a small store. She sells a collection of chic products such as perfumes, beauty products, pants and shoes. Andrea has received from FSMA a loan with which she made the purchase of a lot of products to add to her stock. As an experienced entrepreneur, Andrea managed to sell off the products and increase significantly her income. She repaid the loan successfully. Currently, Andrea wants to replenish her store because many products are running out there. She is requesting a loan to invest in the purchase of those products. That will allow her satisfy her customers needs and increase her revenue. Andrea hopes that her businesss continuous success will help her buy her own house.",F,375,partner,Retail,0 Dominican Republic,"Andrea, 50, is a disciplined, assiduous and persistent single mother. Her husband died fifteen years ago and left her with nine children to support. She says that she could hardly make ends meet. Shortly after her husbands death, she opened a very small grocery store and had to close it two years later. In 1997, she started over the business which still exists in spite of everything.
Her grocery store offers various types of products such as rice, beans, flour, milk, rum and sugar. She says she makes a weekly profit of USD 120.00.
The entrepreneur has applied for a loan (her second one with our organization) to purchase more goods to supply her business. She will also remodel her locale in order to improve the hygienic conditions of the space where she runs the business.",F,475,partner,Food,0 Dominican Republic,"Andrea, 50, is a disciplined, assiduous and persistent single mother. Her husband died fifteen years ago and left her with nine children to support. She says that she had to struggle to make a living. Shortly after her husbands death, she opened a very small grocery store and had to close it two years later. In 1997, she started over, and the business still exists in spite of everything.
Her grocery store offers various types of products, such as rice, beans, flour, milk, rum and sugar. She says she makes a weekly profit of $120.
The entrepreneur has applied for a loan (her second loan with this microcredit organization) to purchase more goods to supply her business. She will also remodel the store in order to improve the hygienic conditions of the space where she runs the business.",F,500,partner,Food,0 Dominican Republic,"Andrea, 56, is an assiduous and optimistic entrepreneur who tries hard to maintain her children, all of whom are in their twenties. She owns and operates a mini-market which she started about six years ago. Her store is very popular, and lots of people in the neighborhood visit it each day to get products such as milk, sugar, flour, detergent, rice and other basic foodstuffs.
Andrea is looking forward to enlarging her business and adding new goods to the store. Unfortunately, the lack of money had impeded her doing so. She decided to ask for a loan so that she can start working concretely to reach her business goals. The entrepreneur says that it's important for her that her business can grow since that will represent a steady way to keep supporting her children's educations. Andrea expects that someday she'll get enough money to buy her own house.
The entrepreneur will receive her loan along with these women: Carmen Javier Pascual, a clothing retailer, Ursula Castro Jimenez, who owns and operates a small grocery store, Silvia Mejia Pascual, who sells women's clothing, Amparo De La Rosa De La Cruz, who sells clothing items.
The photo shows from left to right, Andrea, Amparo, Carmen, Ursula and Silvia.",F,1025,lender,Food,1 Dominican Republic,"Andres Nena is the group coordinator for Genesis Group 5, which is based in the La Higuera settlement outside El Seybo, Dominican Republic. Andres is 55 years old and married with four children, ages 25, 23, 21, and 16. His wife is also a client of Kiva and Esperanza and, together, they run a small general store out of their home selling men's and women's clothing, vegetables, chicken, and other provisions to their neighbors in the rural sugarcane community (called a batey) of La Higuera. Today, Andres is looking to take out his 5th loan from Kiva and Esperanza so he can buy more clothing items, such as pants, shirts, and skirts, and food supplies for his retail store. Andres' story is illustrative of his fellow group members' experiences with Kiva and Esperanza International. He reports that his life has improved considerably since becoming a microfinance client, and he hopes to sustain and grow his business in the future. Thank you for supporting Andres and the other members of Genesis Group 5 with your loan!",F,600,lender,Retail,0 Dominican Republic,"Andriani is a young woman working in a small school in her small community, called Hato Nuevo. She manages the cafeteria selling various fruit juices, water and food like sandwiches or hot dogs. The school she works in is called ""Colegio Mundo de Alegria"" (World of Happiness School). It is very small and only has a few classrooms in which the children can attend school.",F,375,partner,Food,0 Dominican Republic,"Angela Encarnacion is the group leader of the Mujeres Luchadores sin Limites group. Business runs in Angelas blood. Both of her parents had small business and taught her business skills since she was a girl. Angela now has three businesses of her own. Her main business is a clothing business, where she takes orders for clothing in the community and buys her inventory on a per-order basis. In addition, she also runs a small store out of her house that sells candy, snacks and other staple food items. Her businesses have suffered from the current recession, as she notes: There is less money on the street these days. Angela will use the loan to restock her inventory. Angela is the single mother of three boys, ages 18, 13 and 10. Since her husband left her, she has become the breadwinner of the home, and has had to support her sons with the income from her businesses. Angela has big dreams for her businesses. She hopes to be very successful, to expand her businesses and to be able continue to provide for her family.",F,2075,lender,Clothing,0 Dominican Republic,"Angela is an active woman and the mother of five children. Shes been sustaining her family by selling fresh chicken meat in addition to operating a small grocery store in Juanita, a small community located in Santo Domingo. With the aim of satisfying more customers and increasing her sales, Angela has requested a loan to buy more live chickens for her business. Every week, she has to make the purchase in a nearby poultry shop. Angela is a responsible woman. She has had two previous loans from FSMA and she repaid them on time.",F,300,lender,Food,1 Dominican Republic,"Angela is businesswoman with wide experience. Shes been in turn a cafeteria owner, clothing retailer, and vegetable vendor. Currently, Angela owns and operates a small beauty salon where she offers hair cuts, hair straightening, manicure, hair styling, and other services. Her business allows her to improve her financial situation.
This loan is to buy materials that she needs for her salon. Angela is still single and has no children. But she says that once she has a comfortable lifestyle, shell think about starting a family.",F,300,partner,Services,1 Dominican Republic,"Angela Leonardo is the bank coordinator for Group 3 in the Sabanalamarino Unido Bank of Hope in Hato Mayor. Her group has five members. She has two small children, ages 4 and 8. She has a clothing business where she sells both new and used items. Her business is in her own house and most of her customers live in her neighborhood. She has already received five loans from Esperanza and is about to receive her sixth loan.
With these loans she has been able to invest in refurbishing her business. Her immediate purpose with this loan is to expand her business to selling snacks such as juice and cupcakes. She thinks this has good potential in her neighborhood. On a longer term, she would like to have her business in a location separate from her home, where she can have a clothing store and a bakery. She hopes that her business profits will help her to keep providing for her two children and achieve her dream to have a house of her own. On behalf of Esperanza and this Bank of Hope, thank you for your support!",F,1425,partner,Clothing,0 Dominican Republic,"Angela Mara is in her late fifties, and she lives in the area of Alcaviejo, Los Alcarrizos in the city of Santo Domingo. She has one twenty-year-old son. I am married to the Lord, she says to explain that she separated from her husband a couple of years ago, and that she had to raise her son on her own.
Angela owns and operates a clothing store which people visit every day to purchase new and used shirts, skirts, pants, shoes and other goods. Shes been running her store for three years in a small rented locale. She explains that shed like to have a more spacious locale and more funds to invest in her business in order to move her business forward and increase her revenue.
Angela stresses the importance of good education, and says shell keep working hard to cover her educational expenses (shes finishing last year of college) and support her sons university studies.",F,450,partner,Clothing,0 Dominican Republic,"Angela Maria has been member of our microcredit program for more than two years, and she started her small business selling clothing with the first loan she received from FSMA. Currently Angela's business is in the black, and she wants to boost her earnings.
The entrepreneur also explains that turn-over at her small store is very rapid, so she constantly needs money to acquire new garments in order to meet her customers' needs. With her loan, the successful entrepreneur will buy an assortment of stylish shirts and pants to add to her inventory. Angela Maria hopes that her business will allow her to get enough money together to enjoy her golden years.",F,450,partner,Clothing,1 Dominican Republic,"Angela Maria Reynoso and her sister, Ricarda, were born in the town of Nagua, about 80 miles north of Santo Domingo, the capital of the Dominican Republic. They ran a beauty parlor there for several months before relocating to Santo Domingo with their families. Their shop has been in its new location for 8 months and is doing very well. Angela Maria has four children and Ricarda has one child (seen here in photo). They all live together in the same house with their mother, and the salon is located in an extension of the house. Even though the shop is small, they can work on at least two customers at the same time.
Angela and Ricarda have applied for a loan in part to buy a small power generator so that their shop can continue to operate during the eight to ten hours a day when the electricity is out in their neighborhood.
They are also interested in opening up a new business with their partner, Jocelyn Baez, to sell natural and herbal remedies produced by a company called Natura International. To make this possible, Angela and Ricarda have applied for loans of $350 each, and Jocelyn for a loan of $200, for a total of $900.
Sale of natural and herbal remedies is a recent development in this area, but the activity sounds very promising. Until this business has proved itself, however, securing loans will be difficult. But we believe the fact that these three women are working together to make it happen is a good sign that bodes well for repayment of the loan. Also, the beauty parlor is profitable and can help them withstand early losses from the newer herbal business. That's one reason why, for purposes of this loan, we are considering these women as part of one team.",F,900,partner,Health,0 Dominican Republic,"Angela Yudelka is a hard-working woman who owns and operates a small cafeteria in her community. Angela humbly says that it's very hard to take care of John (pictured), her 1-year-old only son. She's been separated from her husband, and now she has to bear lots of expenses on her own.
Her cafeteria is the sole means of support for the family, so she would like to increase her sales volume and her revenue in order that she can better face all her financial responsibilities.
With her loan, she'll buy lots of ingredients to keep producing her delicious food for her customers.",F,150,partner,Food,1 Dominican Republic,"Angelina Trinidad lives in a small community on the outskirts of Samana, Dominican Republic with her one son Noberto. A seamstress by trade, she sells a combination of clothes that she has made herself as well as pre-manufactured clothing to the people in her community. With this loan, she plans to increase her clothing inventory of shirts, pants, skirts, and dresses. Every Thursday, Angelina takes a bus to Santiago, one of the largest cities in the Dominican Republic, where she is able to purchase clothes in bulk for a very good price. When she is not selling clothes, Angelina said that she is usually sewing and enjoying her favorite meal, fish and rice.
Angelina Trinidad is just one member of the 10 person micro-bank, Oasis. These Dominican entrepreneurs unite in solidarity, allowing them to access to funding that they would otherwise never be able to receive on their own. The concept of this group bank paying their loan together is to reduce the risk of one person defaulting, as the other members gladly help cover one anothers payments in order to receive their next loan together.
On behalf of Angelina, the Oasis group, and the entire team here at Esperanza International, we thank you for your support and awareness of the global issue of poverty in which your efforts are helping to make a difference.",F,2675,partner,Clothing,0 Dominican Republic,"Angelina, a thirty-year-old housekeeper and mother of four children who sells various products ranging from sheets metal, iron, and other aluminum products. She started her business a few months ago with a loan she took from FSMA. The entrepreneur used her loan wisely and managed to make her business successful. She explains that she needs money to support her childrens education. Her housekeepers salary is not enough to cover all her familys expenses. Angelina wants to boost her business. Shes requesting a loan of $500 to buy more metals in order to increase her sales volume and her income.",F,500,partner,Retail,1 Dominican Republic,"Angelita has many apparent reasons to complain and feel shes been treated unfairly in life. Her four children passed away, and shes now too old to think about giving birth to another child. Angela compares her life with Jobs, the man in the Bible who lost everything and found no more reason to stay alive. Nonetheless, this woman is courageous, and despite her adversities she tries to see the positive side and go ahead.
Angelita is also an excellent businesswoman in the small Canela community of Santo Domingo. Shes been operating a small beauty salon which offers various services such as hair dying, hair straightening, maanicures and the like. With her loan, Angelita plans to buy more rollers, and new hair care and styling products. She says that the business is all that she has now, and that shell push hard to make it successful.
Angelita will take the loan together with four other entrepreneurs living in the neighborhood. They are:
Angela Guzman, an owner and operator of a small cafeteria.
Wanda Esther Vicioso Guzman, who sells womens garments in the community.
Victoria Mercedes Ramirez, to replenish a small clothing store.
Marcia Candelario Mercedes, to invest in beauty products for her small salon.",F,1125,partner,Services,1 Dominican Republic,"Anicia lives with her husband and three children who attend school. For the past three years she has been selling cosmetics to women in her neighborhood. While she hopes to open a store next year, the entrepreneur currently visits neighbors and friends to sell her products.
Anicia is requesting a loan in order to introduce jewelry and some fashionable pants to her inventory, additions that she believes will allow her to attract more customers and boost her revenue. With a higher income, Anicia will provide her family with a more comfortable lifestyle.",F,300,partner,Retail,1 Dominican Republic,"Anita Hilton is a kind lady who is very enthusiastic about managing her business. She has been receiving loans from Esperanza for two years. She operates a shop where she sells items such as homemade bread and a variety of refreshments. She uses her loans to purchase the items that she sells and the bread ingredients.
Ms. Hilton is a mother of five children, ages 5, 10, 11, 13, and 19. The eldest lives with her sister. She is also a devoted member of her church, which is where she spends much of her free time. Her favorite foods are those that have coconut in them. Therefore, she enjoys making coconut specialty items to sell. Ms. Hilton hopes to see her business grow and provide a better life and further education for her children.
Ms. Anita Hilton is a member of a 5 person group (Group 3) that is part of a 30 person micro-bank called Luz en el Camino, which translates to Light in the Road in English. In the picture, Ms. Hilton is second from the right. She is with members of her group and other borrowers. Anita's story is just one of a list of men and women who are improving their quality of life through the help of Esperanza's micro-credit loans. This group has united with a common vision of a better life with faith and hope in their hearts and an unbreakable spirit. Each associate in this bank has a similar business, whether it is selling bread or operating a hair salon. Thank you for your support.",F,1100,partner,Retail,0 Dominican Republic,"Anita, 23 years old, is married, with three children. Her husband works as driver of heavy trucks. The children go to the public school of the township, except the youngest that is just one year old. To help her husband face the familys needs, Mara plans to sell clothes. She thinks that the holiday season is the suitable moment to begin the business. With the loan requested, shell wholesale purchase clothes in Santo Domingo and Dajabn, a frontier city with Haiti where garments are very cheap. She also plans o buy a stall so that she can easily show the clothes to the customers. The entrepreneur hopes shell get quickly the loan to begin the activity which will change her family life.",F,325,partner,Clothing,0 Dominican Republic,"Anna Rosanny is the coordinator of a group of five women, all of whom carry on businesses in San Cristobal.
Anna Rosanny is 32 years old and is a well-educated woman. She attends to an English course because Speaking a global language opens the gate to prosperity, she says. Anna Rosanny owns and operates clothing store which she started seven years ago. Her store offers a collection of fashionable clothing to women, men and children of the community. Anna hopes that her business can grow enough so she can start a branch office in another area of San Cristobal. Together with other four entrepreneurs, Anna is requesting a loan to boost her business. The loan funds will be distributed among the group, and each entrepreneur will invest in her own business.
The other members of the group are:
Denny Margarita Figuereo Nova, a young entrepreneur which sells an assortment of pants in the same community.
Adriana Nova, an experienced businesswoman that has been selling fresh meat for ten years.
Luca Esperanza Ramirez Arias, a young and budding entrepreneur. She sells silver jewelry and is finishing a small location to run her business.
Gaudy Nereyda Corneliur Alcntara also sells silver jewelry.
NOTE: Members of the group warrant one anothers loans. If one member fails in repaying the loan, the other members will have to take the responsibility.",F,1525,partner,Retail,0 Dominican Republic,"Anny Altagracia is the mother of two sons, aged 6 and 10. For the past two years, shed been able to maintain her family by selling footwear and underwear in her neighborhood. Her husband works as a truck driver for a company.
Anny explains that theres a lot to be said for operating this business. In fact, with the small profits obtained, shed been able to buy uniforms and other school materials for her sons. Also, she was able to help her husband with the household expenses. Naturally, the entrepreneur is looking forward to augmenting her profits.
With the loan requested, Anny will add new and exclusive items, which she believes may generate a higher income to the business. Anny promises that shell repay the loan quickly so that she can receive a larger one in the future.",F,350,partner,Clothing,1 Dominican Republic,"Anny Belkys Terrero, 35, is married and the mother of three--aged 11, 9, and 5. She is currently in her 6th loan cycle with her Esperanza Bank of Hope Creciendo Hacia el Futuro (""Growing Towards the Future""), of which she is a group leader. With her future loans she hopes to move her salon into a bigger shop and to one day be able to have paid employees. Anny's primary goal is, however, to be able to improve the quality of life of her three children.",F,3750,partner,Retail,0 Dominican Republic,"Anolie has been living in the San Luis community of Santo Domingo for more than ten years. Her story is similar to the women of the group that she represents. They all are brave and hard-working women and mothers who have left their country (Haiti) to move to direction of Dominican Republic to make a living and raise their kids.
Anolie sells a wide variety of stuffs, ranging from sweets and cakes to ice cream and natural juices. Anolie explains that shed like to be in her country with her people, but the reality is that Haiti is still economically and politically unstable, and shes afraid of getting there and becoming victim of an act of violence. In the meantime, shell keep selling her goods in order to support her family.
With this loan, Anolie will buy more goods to add to her stock.
These are the other women with whom Anolie will receive the funds:
Silvia Cuevas, a clothing vendor,
Yenny Mendez, who retails womens clothing,
Carmen Mercedes De La Cruz Bautista, for a small shoe store, and
Luisa Batista, to buy clothing in bulk to resell in her community.",F,1775,partner,Food,1 Dominican Republic,"Antigua Altagracia is a proud mother of two boys, aged 25 and 17, both studying at the university. Her husband works as an independent taxi driver. To supplement the family revenue and support her boys studies, Antigua sells clothing to men and women in the Libertador community of Santo Domingo. In order to expand her business, she is requesting a loan, together with four other women who know each other and have been executing small projects jointly. With her loan, Antigua will buy more clothing in bulk to keep satisfying her customers needs and improve her familys lifestyle.
Antigua Altagracias group members are: Claudia Perdomo Medrano, a fellow entrepreneur who sells silver jewelry; Valentina Echavarria Feliz, who wishes to expand her business of selling mens clothing; Mara Del Rosario Montero, who operates a small silver jewelry business, and Socorro Trinidad Antonio, who will purchase beauty products to resell in the community.",F,1300,partner,Clothing,0 Dominican Republic,"Antoinne is a 40 year old Haitian woman who lives in a small village on the northern coast of the Dominican Republic. She moved to the Dominican Republic about 10 years ago and left her two oldest children in Haiti. She had to leave all of her things in Haiti when she left. Her 25 year old son lives in the Dominican Republic now and she is able to see him frequently.
Antoinne currently sells second-hand clothing from her home, at the markets, and by walking along the streets. It is a struggle for her to pay rent every month. She hopes to use this loan in order to expand her inventory and increase her profit margin. Right now she is focusing on covering basic expenses but in the future she wants to buy her own home.
On behalf of Antoinne, and everyone here at Esperanza International, we sincerely thank you for your support!",F,450,partner,Clothing,0 Dominican Republic,"Antoli is 44 years old and owns a small fried-foods store. She is well-known for her stuffing, kippers, donuts, yaniqueque (Johnny cake) and other foods. She has been in this business for a long time, and it has allowed her to provide her five children with a good education and also help her husband, who is temporarily unemployed. Their children all go to the local public school, where they also practice different kinds of sports.
Antoli feels this is a good time to expand her business and acquire new customers. She has come to us for a loan of $250 to give a brand-new face to her store and buy the new materials she needs to prepare a wider range of fried foods for her customers. She will repay the loan in 6 months.",F,250,partner,Food,0 Dominican Republic,"Antonia and her husband live in the small eastern town of Samana, where they raised five children (ages: 20, 21, 30, 32, 34). This will be her 6th loan with Esperanza, and over the past 3 years her business has grown significantly. She now runs a good sized grocery store in her community, and plans to buy more beans, pasta, salsa, and laundry detergent to increase her selection and stock. In her free time, Antonia enjoys spending time with her husband, praying, fishing, and watching her grandchildren grow up.
Esperanza wants to thank you for your continued support, and we hope that you will enjoy watching this group continue to grow. God Bless!",F,5000,partner,Food,0 Dominican Republic,"Antonia has been living in this house for over 14 years. She still lives here with her husband and 4 kids. For the past few years, she has had to take become the mainstay of the family's economic survival, as her husband hasn't had a steady job for quite some time! Occasionally he works as a hired hand in agricultural duties (the area has a lot of cocoa farming, and there's a need for laborers at the time of hand-picking of this precious fruit! He now works assisting her in her clothing sales, by delivering the goods and doing some collections himself! The clothing Antonia sells comes from pacas (or packs of pressed new and used clothing which Dominicans can buy from donations to the poor on the Haitian side of the island, which the people bring over to the Dominican Republic in order to sell them and thus, be able buy food and groceries). Pacas come in at least three types: Type A, B and C. Type A packs are mostly of premium goods, as they contain new items, often from signature brands, and which command a premium price, for obvious reasons. On type As (worth between USD$300 to $400) there is more income to be made, as they can be sold to a higher income bracket customer. However, Antonia tells us thus far she has only been able to buy type B pacas (worth some USD$250 to $300 mainly dependent upon the composition and proportion of the new/used portions of clothing to be found on them) which is obviously of a lower quality from those on the type A group. Finally the type C pacas (costing anywhere from USD$100 to $250, each) are the cheapest, obviously consisting of used clothing or new of lower quality. Paca buyers must trust their intermediaries, as the insides are not able to be seen until the packs are opened. Normally the pacas are opened and sold on a piece by piece fashion, which will bring the largest return on the sales. However, those go to the Haiti-Dominican Rep. border in order to buy the pacas, as Antonia does, can buy them at lower prices than those that might be found in or near the cities, such as Santo Domingo. The trip to the border costs somewhere in the neighborhood of USD$25-30 each way, expensive, but theres no other way Of course, both the sacrifice as well as the cost is recuperated a few times over, once the paca buyer has been able to do the purchasing and transportation to the end markets territory. The unopened pacas can command up to three times the value over their original cost once brought into the final market areas, as the owner/buyer is able to maintain the quality standards customary to their customers. But most prefer to have the larger income product, which may be brought in selling them piecemeal! Antonia wishes to be able to have her kids grow, become good citizens and show their love for the country! This she plans making via sufficient income in order to be able to pay for their transportation, and daily needs with school. Shes never had a type A pack, as shes only been able to pay for a maximum of the Bs value. Eventually, shell be able to buy the As type, as shell receive more good and larger loans.",F,375,partner,Clothing,0 Dominican Republic,"Antonia has been member of our microcredit program for more than a year, and she's now taking out her third loan. Antonia sells a collection of women's clothing in her hometown, the Piedra Blanca community of San Cristobal. She and her husband have school-age children, so she constantly has to spend a lot of money on books and other school materials. Antonia would like to have her own house. She explains that she pays more than 3,000 Dominican pesos (1 USD = 34 pesos) for the rental of the small house she lives in. With her loan, she will buy new and exclusive clothing which can generate a greater profit for her. She hopes that her business will allow her to reach her goals. Antonia will receive her loan together with these women: Ana Lidia Peguero Mateo, who operates a small 'ventorillo' (sales of fruits and vegetables). Juana Ivelisse De Los Santos, who sells clothing. Justina Carrasco Cuevas, who owns and operates a butcher shop. Maria Cristina Mateo Pimentel, who sells jewelry. Picture shows from left to right: Ana Lidia, Juana Ivelisse, Justina, Maria Cristina, and Antonia.",F,2000,partner,Clothing,1 Dominican Republic,"Antonia is 38 years old and has four children (ages of 20, 18, 13 and 12). They all attend school. Antonia sells vegetables and ripe fruits, a business that has been her principal source of income for the past four years. She is requesting a loan of $225 to purchase more stock of vegetables and fruits. This will enable her to supply more customers, earn more income, and better support her family.",F,225,partner,Food,0 Dominican Republic,"Antonia is 43 years old, married, with three children. Her husband has a small hardware store which he runs in the same township. Antonia operates her business very differently from other businesswomen. She sells almost all her clothes upon request. The first two weeks of the month are dedicated to gathering up the orders of her well-established clientele. Afterward, she takes the clothes to every customer's house. She gets the products wholesale from a merchant ship, since Haina has a wharf which is frequently visited by merchant fleets. A bale of clothing costs approximately US $300. Antonio earns about US $230 from a bale. The entrepreneur is requesting a loan so that she can satisfy her customers' needs for the present month. Given this loan, she will increase her income. That way, she'll contribute better to help her husband deal with family needs.",F,325,partner,Clothing,0 Dominican Republic,"Antonia is a single mother of five children and she lives in the Felicita community of Yamas. To support her children, Antonia sells vegetables, ripe fruit, and fresh chicken. Antonia explains that supporting her children and herself is sometimes challenging, but she expects her business achievement will help in increasing her income and allow for putting money aside for any urgent situation.
Antonia wants to keep working hard for her familys well-being.",F,300,partner,Food,0 Dominican Republic,"Antonia is married and lives in the community of ""Los Casabe"" with her husband who works at a construction site. She is the mother of 7 children, 3 of girls and 4 boys.
Antonia sells various kinds of meat to her customers. She sells it on the street to houses and other establishments. On Tuesdays and Saturdays she goes out to sell, and on the other days she prepares the food for sale. She has been in this business for over 10 years.",F,375,partner,Food,0 Dominican Republic,"Antonia is thirty years old and she lives with her four children (three girls and one boy) in the Mulo community of Yamas. To supply the familys needs, Antonia sells clothing to men, women and children of the community. Shortly after starting her business, Antonia got a loan with which she made the purchase of a wide variety of clothing she needed to have a well-supplied stock. The entrepreneur wisely used her loan, and she managed to move her business forward and she repaid successfully the loan. Antonia hopes that shed like to see her children become professionals, and she says she'd move heaven and earth to help them achieve this goal. In the meantime, shes supporting their primary school studies. Antonia is requesting a loan to buy a new collection of shirts and pants to add to boost her business. The entrepreneur is working hard to improve her life and her childrens.",F,225,partner,Clothing,0 Dominican Republic,"Antonia Maria is 30 years old and the humble mother of five school-going children. Antonia lives in the needy community of Sambrana where most of the people are unemployed and undereducated. The feeble purchasing power of the population makes the success of small businesses more difficult in the community. Despite this somber panorama, Antonia Maria runs a small business of producing fried food and natural juices in her neighborhood. The entrepreneur explains that maintaining the cash flow is sometimes challenging, and it's hard to help her kids with her wages. Nonetheless, Antonia is very optimistic, and she believes that she'll be able to move her business forward, thanks to the loan she has requested. The businesswoman hopes that her business will help her to lift her family out of poverty. The following women are members of Antonia's group: Ramona Bautista, a small entrepreneur who sells fresh chicken parts; Angela Frias Belen, who sells clothing; Lilia Bautista Sanchez, who owns a small grocery store; Yocaty Romero Mariano (not depicted), who sells clothing and footwear. The picture shows from left to right: Ramona, Antonia, Angela and Lilia.",F,1675,partner,Food,1 Dominican Republic,"Antonia Martes belongs to the Hacia Adelante Bank of Hope and lives in a small community on the outskirts of San Pedro de Macors. She lives in small home with her husband and five children, whose ages range from 6 to 16 years of age. Antonia has a small 'fritura' business where she offers a variety of fried foods to her community. This most often includes fried plantain chips, fried pork, and other fried meats or starchy vegetables. She used her loan to buy a bigger variety of food to cook and to also buy her cooking oil in bulk to reduce costs. Her dream is to have her own large food business where she owns her own location and building to sell it from. As she works towards that dream, she has created a goal to simply maintain a steady flow of business, to make sure that things are stable in her house, and to slowly grow her business. Antonia and her story represent the Hacia Adelante Bank of Hope; she belongs to a group of 10 men and women who work hard to improve their lives through the help of their small loans. Each of these men and women has taken out a similar loan to that of Antonia's. On behalf of all of them, and our team here at Esperanza, thank you for your support!",F,1700,partner,Food,0 Dominican Republic,"Antonieta, 20, runs a pica pollo, a fried chicken store with her fathers help, which they bought six months ago and began the operations a month later. In any typical pica pollo, they sell parts fried chicken, tostones (fried plantains), fried potatoes and so on. The food store opens from 12 pm to 12 am. The environment is very pleasant since people can hear good music while they eat. Antonieta wants to renovate the space to make it more convenient and comfortable for customers. She also wants to hire two persons in addition to the cook. Lastly, she plans to have flyers printed to promote special offers and to attract more customers. She hopes to get loan requested so she can start executing her plan to expanding her new business.",F,325,partner,Food,0 Dominican Republic,"Antonio is a 47 year-old man who never stops working hard, nor trying to improve the quality of his life. He lives in an impoverished community on the outskirts of the capital of Santo Domingo with his wife and an additional six family members.
He has owned a small colmado for some time, but is requesting this loan to improve, expand and grow his little business. A colmado, a very common type of business in the Dominican Republic, is essentially a small grocery store that offers community members basic food provisions (rice, beans, vegetables), as well as soaps, beverages, and miscellaneous household items. With the loan, he plans to expand his range of inventory and thereby attract new clients.
He dreams of one day having his own large grocery store, not just a neighborhood colmado, and believes that by continuing to work hard, saving, and being responsible, it is a real possibility. He insists that his children continue studying so that they can be productive members of society, and hopes that he himself will always progress in both his personal and economic life.
On behalf of everyone here at Esperanza International, and from Antonio himself, we thank you for your support with this micro loan!",M,3825,partner,Food,0 Dominican Republic,"Antonio Lugo Tejada is a married man with four children who lives in Los Alcarrizos. Before beginning the loan process with Esperanza Internacional, Antonio had a little convenience store in the patio space of his house. Despite having a business, he was still struggling to support his family. After only two loans, of 10,000 and 20,000 pesos respectively, Antonio estimates that his convenience store has grown by about 40%.
With the income that he has generated from his convenience store, Antonio has been able to provide for his family and even buy his own motorcycle. Despite the rapid growth of this business, Antonio still has many things that he would like to accomplish.
Right now he is saving money to extend his house by walling in the patio that contains his convenience store with concrete. At present, the wall consists of a metal gate, which although still difficult to penetrate, is easier to enter than a concrete wall. Because there is so much theft in the neighborhood, Antonio wants to make sure that a robbery does not happen to him.
The money he receives from his next loan will mostly go towards expanding his business with more merchandise. He would particularly like to provide telephone cards for his customers. In the long run, once he has finally made his convenience store profitable enough, Antonio would like to move his convenience store out of his house and into its own building.",M,600,partner,Retail,0 Dominican Republic,"Aracelis is 38 years old and a single mother of three school-going children. She owns and operates a beauty salon, which she started three years ago. Aracelis explains that she operates her business daily, but actually business is best on the weekends, as most of her customers work on weekdays and cant visit her then.
Aracelis also explains that shes saving money in order to buy a new generator. In her community, there are frequent power cuts, and without a generator she cant attend to her customers. The loan is to buy more products for her salon to sell to the customers. Aracelis hopes that very soon shell become one of the most well-established entrepreneurs in her sector.",F,375,partner,Services,1 Dominican Republic,"Aracelys is a thirty-year old mother of two children who is fighting tooth and nail to make a living and improve her familys living conditions. Her husband lives outside the country and sends her money occasionally. Aracelys is an experienced businesswoman. She used to run a cafeteria in the past, but she had to leave that activity for a while as it was hard to have access to capital in order to keep operating the cafeteria. She says it was like fighting a losing battle.
Now, the entrepreneur wants to start over, but seriously. Together with four other women, shell take a loan which shell invest in the purchase of a variety of materials in order to operate the cafeteria. Aracelys had already rented a small locale where the caf will be operated. She hopes that this new beginning will help her support her children's educations and to change her familys life.
The others members of the group are: Gloria Lando Santana, a womens clothing retailer; Juliana Andrs, to buy clothing in bulk to retail; Santa De La Cruz, for a small caf; Regina Torres Fabian, to sell materials for a beauty parlor.
Photo: from left to right: Aracelys, Gloria, Juliana, Santa y Regina.",F,1300,partner,Food,0 Dominican Republic,"Arelis is a thirty-three-year-old woman who struggles to take care of her four children and provide a better lifestyle for her family. She sells a collection of beauty products to friends, neighbors and beauty salon owners in the Ochocienta community of Santo Domingo. She plans to use this loan to buy a greater variety of goods to expand and restock her inventory. She hopes that someday shell become the most well established suppliers of beauty supplies in her community.",F,125,partner,Retail,1 Dominican Republic,"Arelis is an optimistic and assiduous woman who is doing her best for the sake of her family. She is a living example of a persistent and successful businesswoman for the other women of her community. She is unable to speak, but doesnt let that disability prevent her from fulfilling her dreams. She has three children that go to the public school of the zone. Her husband works as a blacksmith. For more than five years, Arelis has been selling clothes for women. She started the business with credits she got from FSMA. She sells the clothes in her house and has a lot of customers. When she really has difficulties being understood by the clients, she uses a little blackboard and a piece of chalk to convince people to buy her products. That strategy has had goods results. Now the entrepreneur wants to augment profits from her business. She is requesting funds to buy more womens clothes and introduce mens clothes in the business in an attempt to satisfy her customers' needs and have new clients. With the loan, she will keep on teaching people that anyone can succeed in life if she works hard.",F,375,partner,Clothing,0 Dominican Republic,"Arelis, 36, is married and has three children (two boys and a girl) and lives in Yamasa, Dominican Republic. They attend public school. Her husband is working as bartender in Santo Domingo, the capital. For more than two years, Arelis has been running a small business within her house. She sells clothes, shoes, slippers, trainers and sandals for women. Bi-monthly, she goes to the capital to purchase the goods and resells in her community. Sometimes, she sells door to door. Her persistence and persuasive speaking abilities have earned her many loyal customers. Now, Arelis is thinking about increasing her sales volume considerably and expanding her client base. She needs a loan to buy of products in bulk so that she can reduce costs and increase profit. She will use a part of the loan to buy a new showcase to put the products.",F,300,partner,Retail,0 Dominican Republic,"Argentina Cornelio is a 36-year-old woman who lives with her husband and four children (ages 11, 14, 17, and 18) in a small community called Quisquella Verde in the eastern province of Hato Mayor in the Dominican Republic. She began a small business selling undergarments earlier this year and continues to increase her inventory with each loan. Argentina travels by bus from town to town selling her products to people in the small communities in the countryside as many of these rural people do not have the means to travel to town to do their shopping. She has started this business so that she can provide her children with a good education and a comfortable home. In Argentinas free time, she enjoys going to church and spending time with her family.
Argentina is the leader of the 5-person micro-bank group, Renacer. In English, this means rebirth`. These unique Dominican entrepreneurs have united in solidarity, allowing them to access funding that they would never be able to receive on their own.
On behalf of Argentina, the Renacer group, and the entire team here at Esperanza International, we thank you for your support of this micro-loan!",F,675,partner,Clothing,0 Dominican Republic,"Argentina is a forty-five-year-old woman whos been trying hard to bring up four children on her own and succeed in life. She explains that shes been separated from her husband about ten years ago, and since then has been working hard to look after her children and support their education.
Currently, Argentina runs a cafeteria, and she serves breakfast and lunch during the weekdays. The entrepreneur is very confident, and she says that people love to visit her caf because she cooks like nobodys business. Argentina adds that shed like to have someday a big restaurant with a lot of waiters and millions of rich people visiting it every day.
With her loan, the chef will buy raw materials and other goods for her cafeteria.
Argentina will receive the funds together with these women:
Reyna Maria Zapata De Los Santos, who sells womens clothing.
Mariana Diaz Contreras, wholl invest her loan in pants and shirts to sell.
Ana Peralta, who runs a small cafeteria.
Lidia Beriguete Florian, who sells pants and shoes in her community.
Photo: left to right: Lidia, Ana, Mariana, Reyna and Argentina.",F,1275,partner,Food,1 Dominican Republic,"Argentina is a multifaceted entrepreneur and a very organized person. She sells fresh pork meat in the morning and mens and womens clothing in the afternoon. Argentina is a single mother, and by means of these activities, she supports her five children.
This entrepreneur wants to expand her business. She plans to use her loan to purchase clothing in bulk. She will also buy the fresh meat of other animals, such as chicken and cows, to add to her inventory. Argentina says that her most important value is to work for the sake of her family.
",F,425,partner,Retail,0 Dominican Republic,"Argentina is the mother of 3 children and several grandchildren. She owns and operates a beauty salon in her community. She is diabetic and struggles with getting the medical attention she needs. She dreams of one day adding a second story to her house. With the loan money, Argentina plans to grow her business so that she can better take care of herself and pursue her dreams.",F,1200,partner,Services,0 Dominican Republic,"Argentina sells natural juices and pica pollo (fried chicken). She is 42 years old and has four children. Her daughters are aged 15, 14 and 12; her only son is 19. Argentinas husband is a professor in a college.Argentina used to run the same business in the past. She had to close it because of illness. Fortunately, she was able to start her business up again recently when she took a loan from FSMA to invest in materials needed for the preparation of the food. After a period of hard work and some advertizing, she was able to get back a large part of her old clientele.
The entrepreneur explains that the probationary period of the business has been successful and she thinks she can invest more money to make it grow. She is requesting funds to rent a small locale where she can operate the business so that she can attend to her customers more decently, as she put it. She also hopes that in future her little business can turn into a big cafeteria which would be well known and considered one of the best in her community.
Argentina says as long as she lives, she will do her best for the sake of her family.",F,600,partner,Food,0 Dominican Republic,"Aridaysi is a 28 year old woman who lives in the small community of Guaricanos, located on the outskirts of the capital of Santo Domingo. She lives with her husband and five children, and is taking out her first loan to start her own micro-business.
She plans to use the money to start a small business selling new clothing to her community members. In her community, Los Guaricanos, the majority of the people live very poorly, but there are a few who have enough money to buy new clothes and for that very reason she sees an opportunity to start a business to meet a need that often goes unmet. She says that she hopes in a few years her business will have done so well that she will be able to own her own store where people come to her for her clothes. For her family, she hopes to see her children become prepared professionals and responsible adults, and to one day in the near future buy a home they can call their own.
Although things can often be very challenging and trying, Aridaysi says that she knows she is hard working, and that this loan will help her achieve her dreams.
On behalf of everyone here at Esperanza International, and from Aridaysi herself, we thank you for your support with this micro loan!",F,2600,partner,Clothing,0 Dominican Republic,"Armanda Ortega is the representative of this group of five micro entrepreneurs. She started her business a year ago. She took a first loan of 8000 pesos (about 220 dollars) and is applying now for a second loan of 10000 pesos (about 277 dollars).
She is a seamstress and makes bedding items such as bedspreads, sheets, pillowcases and curtains. She makes different models to offer her customers when she visits them, but also accepts special requests. Her clients can pay her cash or take credit. In this case she arranges payment plans with her customers.
Armanda says that ""preoccupations never cease to exist."" She finds it challenging to sell enough merchandise to complete her loan payments and generate profits. She envisions her business as a house store with more variety. She wants to have a shop with employees that sew for her, and a secretary to take the orders. She would want to do this venture with her other group friends as business partners.
Please help us support Armanda and her friends. Thank you!",F,1350,lender,Retail,0 Dominican Republic,"Arsenia is a 57-year-old mother of 3, Hersena (22), Antonio (18), Roberto (19) and wife to Gilberto Mosquea. She sells all sorts of miscellaneous products for everyday life including clothes, shoes, creams, hair products, hats, etc. With her loan she is going to buy more products and she hopes to eventually be able to open up her own boutique with all of her products, because as of now she is selling the items out of her own house. She believes this expansion will enable her to improve her family's quality of life and that she will be able to help her children get started in a business.
Note: Arsenia is one of five microentrepreneurs in her Bank of Hope solidarity group, all of whom have gone through Esperanza's business training courses. Each of the five members will receive a share of this $900 loan for their respective businesses and will be accountable to each other for repaying their share of this loan together. This group-lending method strengthens social ties in the community and helps ensure that members cooperate to help one another repay their loans and invest wisely in their businesses and families. This money will go towards the next loan received by this Bank of Hope; once they finish paying back their current loan it will be activated.",F,900,partner,Retail,0 Dominican Republic,"Arturo is the representative of the group known as Unidos Venceremos, which consists of 10 hard working and ambitious people looking to start small businesses. Arturo, the father of two young children, is hoping to better not only his life but also the lives of his children by starting a small clothing sale business. His ultimate goal is to become a big clothing distributor, and his dream is to own his own house someday! On behalf of Arturo, the group, and Esperanza International--- Thank you for your support!!!",F,2200,partner,Clothing,0 Dominican Republic,"Asociacion de Cristo is a group comprised of 15 people, all from the same area in San Pedro, Dominican Republic. Each member has already received a previous loan, and gotten a start on their own small business. This will actually be the third loan that each member receives, and each member has experienced success with their previous two loans. Many members didn't have any form of income before their first loan, so this is their opportunity to change their lives, and to have a more hopeful future. Alicia Perez is the chosen group representative, and it's obvious why because she is fun and outgoing. She is the mother of 4 children and lives with them and her husband. Before her first loan she didn't contribute any money to the family and had to rely completely on her husband. She felt useless and wanted to do more. She loves her children more than anything and knew that she needed to start making some money to help give them a better life. She then went to Esperanza International and took out her first loan. With the loan she started a small fruit and vegetable business in her area. She is a diligent worker and through time she was able to pay back all her loans and save some money. Now she is hoping to receive her third loan, which will enable her to start selling a wider variety of fruits and vegetables. She is happy with the way her business is running and believes that she can continue to expand. She is now an important contributor to her family and feels that she can provide for her children. She dreams of putting all her children through college, and she is on the right path! For the first time in her life she is excited for the future and knows she is going to break the cycle of poverty. On behalf of Alicia and Esperanza International---- Thank you for your support!!!",F,3925,partner,Food,0 Dominican Republic,"Asuncion is a humble woman and the mother of four school-going children. She lives in one of the most impoverished communities in San Cristobal. In fact, most of the people living in San Francisco are unemployed and undereducated.
To make a living and take care of her needy family, Asuncion operates a fruit and vegetable stand. Each day, she leaves her house early to go the street market where she sells her goods.
The entrepreneur has requested her loan so that she can have enough working capital to make her business progress. She hopes that her business can be more profitable. This way, she'll be able to repay her loan quickly so that she can be given a larger loan.",F,350,partner,Food,1 Dominican Republic,"At the age of 59, when many would like to retire, Rafaela Reyes has her eyes set on growing her business. She would like a loan to buy more ice and ice cream for her ice cream business. Rafaela has successfully completed four loan cycles and has proven herself a savvy businesswoman. Her strategy is to provide a greater variety of flavors than her competitors and it is paying off.
Rafaela is part of the solidarity group El Buen Futuro 1 (A Good Future) which takes out microloans as a group. The members of this group live in the small village of Casa Colorada which is a beautiful town surrounded by acres of sugarcane fields and lush greenery. The photo was taken in the grocery store of another group member.
Rafaela would like to keep growing her business in order to finish building her house. It is very expensive for Dominicans to build their own houses, therefore many people build out of cement and slowly add on over the years until their house is finished. Rafaela still has two children and one grandchild living at home and she would love nothing more than to be able to provide them with a house to be safe from the sometimes harsh tropical weather.
Rafaela and the entire El Buen Futuro group greatly appreciate the opportunities Kiva lenders like you have given them and hope to continue in their success!",F,1850,lender,Food,0 Dominican Republic,"Augustina is an active and hard-working businesswoman. She is 34 years old and has three children, a girl and two boys, ages 14, 12 and 11, respectively, all of whom attend a private school. Her husband works in the town council.
Augustina dedicates herself to the sales of natural medicines. She operates the business in her house, and on the weekends she offers the products door-to-door in the neighborhood. She says that business is very profitable, as she makes a weekly profit of $125.
Augustina hopes she can earn more in order to supply other necessities for her children. She has applied for a loan to buy a larger amount of natural medicines so that she can increase her sales volume. She trusts that if she keeps on working as hard as she is now, before long she will be able to rent a small site where she can sell the medicines.",F,300,partner,Health,0 Dominican Republic,"Augustina is thirty-six-years-old and she lives with her four children in Barrios, a low-income community in Santo Domingo. Her husband works for a coffee company. To contribute to family budget, Augustina had been selling an assortment of beauty products for seven years. Recently, she started a new business selling food.
Augustina serves breakfast and lunch and, in the afternoon, she visits her friends, customers, and other people in the neighborhood to sell her products. The entrepreneur explains that theres a lot to be said for running these businesses. Actually, she has been able to save a good sum of money, and shell finish her house (made of block) that is under construction very soon.
Augustina will invest her loan to buy more goods to keep running the cafeteria in order to provide her family with a better lifestyle.",F,475,partner,Food,1 Dominican Republic,"Augustina, 22, sells groceries out of a small shed next to her house. She lives with her partner and they have three children. Her partner has a nursery where he sells houseplants. Augustina sells goods like tomatoes, aubergines (eggplant), hot peppers, eggs, vegetable oil, rice, salt and so forth. She started that business very recently.
Now, Augustina needs a loan so as to purchase more goods in order to expand her business and increase her sales volume. This way, Augustina can be sure shell improve her familys situation.",F,300,partner,Food,0 Dominican Republic,"Aura Peguero is a member of the community of La Econimica in San Pedro de Macoris. This is the third loan that she and many of the other women in this group of 15 are applying for with Esperanza. As an organization, it is our hope that these women will continue participating in our programs until they have accomplished their goals. Aura is an amazing example and leader in her community, and has proven once again the sustainable benefits of micro-finance. She has four children (13, 14, 16, and 17) and runs a small grocery store near her home. Aura wants to use this loan to continue buying more merchandise for her colmado. One day she hopes to have saved enough money to buy a larger and nicer building to run her store out of. Her other priorities are providing for her children and fixing up her home.
On behalf of Esperanza, and this group of women, we want to thank you for your continued support and generosity!
About Group Loans: In a group loan, each member of the group receives an individual loan but is part of a group of individuals bound by a group guarantee. Under this arrangement, each member of the group supports one another and is responsible for paying back the loans of their fellow group members if someone is delinquent or defaults.",F,3625,partner,Food,0 Dominican Republic,"Aura sells in a ""Ventorrillo"" which is a place where she sells vegetables, and various kinds of meat. She has been in the business for almost 2 years and before that she had a stand where she sold ""Pastelitos"" .She goes to the market in Santo Domingo to resupply and only goes every time she needs to restock. She is married with 3 children 1 girl and 2 boys. She also has her own place to sell the goods.",F,375,partner,Food,0 Dominican Republic,"Aurelia Galva had been cooking for 4 years before the demands of caring for her husband and children forced her to stop. Now, her husband has left her, and she has restarted (over a year ago) the business of cooking specialty fried dishes to order. During the day, in addition to cooking, she has to take care of her 4 children (fifteen on down to four years old). However, because she lacks help, she must leave the children on their own, at home, when she travels to deliver her orders (every afternoon). Aurelia needs this loan to build her business and save enough money to move out of her current home. She was very upset when we went to her current house, because she doesnt like to show how humble it is. It is difficult to get to her house; there is a ravine one must cross in order to get there, and the bridge that crosses it is not safe. (This writer, for one, was afraid to cross!) The polluted waters that run under the bridge attest to Aurelias desire to move, but she cant afford anything else. In fact she lives here because she cannot sell it; no one wants to come close to the foul smelling river. The kids are now so used to it, that they cant smell it any more. Nor do they seem to get sick, despite the multitude of mosquito and other ticks that bite them daily while they sleep. When we told Aurelia she would be getting a loan, she wept out of joy in having her prayers answered!",F,300,partner,Food,0 Dominican Republic,"Aurelia is twenty-seven years old and a single mother of two girls (ages 9 and 11). She started selling women's clothing in her community about six months ago. Currently, this activity is her sole source of income.
The entrepreneur explains that she needs to increase her income so that she can provide for the kid's educations during the newly started school year. With her loan, Aurelia will buy a collection of stylish clothing which will help her to attract more people to her business. The entrepreneur says she'll do her utmost in order to survive the competition and move her business forward.",F,175,partner,Clothing,1 Dominican Republic,"Auroras motto is Striving for Excellence. This nice, hard-working woman is twenty-seven years old, and she and her husband have three children, two of them boys. Her husband works for a construction company.
Aurora started her first business one year ago, selling vegetables at the public market place. As business was very profitable, and with her husbands help and funds received from FSMA, she opened a small cafeteria.
Every day, people of the surroundings visit her cafeteria to get spaghetti, sandwiches, boiled manioc with eggs or with chicken, and so forth. Currently, both of Aurora's businesses are going well and she was even able to hire two girls to help her in the cafeteria while she is attending to the vegetables selling.
The entrepreneur is requesting a loan to buy ingredients to keep on running her cafeteria. She envisions her business growing a lot and being one the most often visited cafeterias of her community. She says that her big dream is to have a lot of business so that she can both earn a better income herself and provide jobs for people in the neighborhood.",F,600,partner,Food,0 Dominican Republic,"Aury Esther is 28 years old and is the proud mother of a 9-year-old daughter and an 11-year-old son, both of whom attend school. Aury recently finished secondary school and she plans to start her university studies shortly. Aury has been running an open-air, barbecue restaurant for more than three years in the Media Blanca community of Nizao. Each day, many people visit her restaurant to enjoy the great variety of delicious food she offers. Aury explains that with profits from her business, she has purchased furniture for her living room and is able to pay for her childrens education.
The entrepreneur says that she would like to have a bigger restaurant with many employees and even more customers who will come to her restaurant every day to buy her great food. She is seeking a loan to buy a large quantity of raw materials to cook her menu items. Holy Week is a great opportunity for Aury to increase her sales volume because people love to enjoy barbecue food during this holiday.",F,300,partner,Food,0 Dominican Republic,"Australia Medina is the proud owner of Botellera Dundun, a bottle recycling service that she maintains out of her home in Puerto Plata, Dominican Republic. Working in conjunction with the Dominican Republics largest brewery, Australia collects used bottles and glassware from her community and earns a profit by recycling these with local breweries. Australias business not only brings added provisions for her two children, Claraelena and Valentin (age 18 and 26, respectively), but she also is an admirable role model in her community through her stewardship for the local environment. With this loan, Australia will be able to expand her business by investing in bags to increase her storage of bottles.
Note: Australia is one of five microentrepreneurs in her Bank of Hope solidarity group, all of whom have gone through Esperanza's business training courses. Each of the five members will receive a share of this $750 loan for their respective businesses and will be accountable to each other for repaying their share of this loan together. This group-lending methodology ensures that members cooperate to help one another repay their loans and invest wisely in their businesses and families.",F,750,partner,Services,0 Dominican Republic,"Avelia operates two significantly differently entrepreneurial activities. Avelia sells both sweets and gasoline. Aided by Esperanza International, Avelia has been able to purchase additional materials, including the needed ingredient to produce her sweets and additional levels of gasoline, to increase the level of sales for both entrepreneurial activities and gain a greater return. Thus far, throughout the life of her business, Avelia has encountered some setbacks including the deaths of loved ones, but her ambition remains to own her own colmado, or small store one day, and encourage the growth and education of her children (ages: 18, 15, 11, 9).
Avelia is not alone in her quest to succeed through entrepreneurial activities. Avelia is a member of the micro-finance bank Pasos Firme. All the members of the bank are illiterate. Along with the four other women, Avelia is seeking additional loan funds from Esperanza to encourage growth in her business. Other members of Avelias microfinance bank run similar entrepreneurial ventures including selling peanut butter and assorted food sales.
On behalf of Esperanza and this group of business entrepreneurs, we would like to thank you for your support!",F,1250,lender,Retail,0 Dominican Republic,"Ayalibby Altagracia is 25 years old, and she lives with her mother and father in the Batey of Palav community of San Cristobal. To supplement her familys revenue and support her university studies, Ayalibby wants to start a call center, which will offer its services to the neighborhood. Ayalibbys father has already acquired a small local, and the business will be operated there.
Ayalibby has a lot of experience in doing business, and shes very popular in her community. Her dream for the future is to have a cyber caf and to allow the people of her community have access to the ICTs (Information and Communication Technologies). But in the meantime, she'll start with a small call center and she's requesting a loan to buy goods in order to achieve her goals. The entrepreneur thinks that people of low income have the right to know about these technologies and be able to use them.
Ayalibby wants to have enough money to support her studies and improve her lifestyle.",F,375,partner,Services,0 Dominican Republic,"Balbina Cornelia Nuez has a tough time pronouncing her own name! She has been very productive in the businesses she has started. Her former husband cares for two of her five children, and three of the children are in her care.
This, her latest venture, is a general convenience store. She says that most of her sales are derived from the sale of rum and beer, together with rice. I mentioned that this was the same combination of goods that other merchants were requesting a loan for to sell in the same community. I asked why many women would be stocking the same products to increase sales capability, as opposed to having a different strategy. Balbina mentioned that there are quite a few general stores in the area, but that they all have good businesses. Each and everyone has their customer base already built up, and are sufficiently patronized to bring in a reasonable level of business activity. Many of these businesses, if not all of them, do business not only by selling the products, but also by giving credit to their customers. This is one reason why most of these small entrepreneurs have knowledge of the financing art; they do it themselves! Its a customer retention practice!",F,275,partner,Food,0 Dominican Republic,"Balbina is in her late twenties, and she and her husband have five children, three of whom attend school. Her husband works as bus conductor for a company. To supplement her familys income, Balbina sells an assortment of homemade ice cream and mab, a non-alcoholic and energizing beverage which is well appreciated in her community. In general, she operates her business from her house and at the community's public school, but sometimes she visits friends and other people in neighboring areas to sell her goods.
The entrepreneur is requesting a loan to buy a large quantity of raw materials so as to augment her production and sales volume. Consequently, she expects to generate more review, which will serve to improve her family's standard of living.",F,400,partner,Food,1 Dominican Republic,"Banco Maranatha is a group of 15 entrepreneurs who are looking for their third loan from Esperanza International. With their first two loans, all the members were able to start their own businesses. They are now looking to expand their businesses and really start improving their lives. So far everyone in this group has had some success and has been able to pay all the loan fees on time.
Marie Louis is the representative of this group, chosen because she is a great leader and a hard-working woman. She is the mother of 3 children. Her children are her life, and she wants nothing more than to provide them with a comfortable life. Marie started a small business producing and selling food. Her dream is to live with her family in their own house and to be able to travel someday. She can't wait for this next loan because she feels that it will really help her business go to the next level.
On behalf of Marie, the rest of the group, and Esperanza International: thank you for your support!",F,3750,partner,Food,0 Dominican Republic,"Bank of Hope is looking to start its 6th loan cycle through Esperanza International, Kiva's partner. Many of the group members sell clothing. Others have small convenience stores and beauty salons.
The previous loans they've taken have helped them stabilize their business activities and generate a more steady income for their families.
Margarita Pacheco is one of the group coordinators. Her four children are grown up, but have not been able to complete their education. Margarita is still supporting them in their studies and hopes they become working professionals someday. Margarita sells cosmetics and will use this loan to purchase cosmetics that her clients have specially requested, but also to sell clothing. Margarita thinks that selling clothing will generate larger profits for her, since clothes can be purchased in bulk at a smaller price and sold for a larger profit margin.
Please help us to continue supporting these entrepreneurs through this Kiva loan. Thank you!",F,1725,lender,Retail,0 Dominican Republic,"Bank of Hope is starting its fifth loan cycle with Esperanza International. A large number of members in this group are Haitian immigrants looking for better opportunities than the ones available in their home country. The lack of employment opportunities available in their area have taken them to self-employment, which allows them to guarantee some income for their families, and in many cases, send some relief money to their families back home.
Maria Valdez is the representative for this group of five. She has been appointed by her mates to collect their payments and in general, she watches over the others and knows the general status of everyone's businesses. This is a position of much respect. Maria sells shoes and clothing. Her highest selling items are tennis shoes. She will use this loan to buy more tennis shoes and some clothing items that sell well, like jeans. Maria hopes one day to have her own store, where customers will come to her. This would allow her to have a more relaxed lifestyle and spend more time with her children.
Please support these entrepreneurs' businesses through this Kiva loan. Thank you!",F,1025,lender,Retail,0 Dominican Republic,"Barbara Arias is the bank coordinator for a group of 5 in the Sabanalamarinos Unidos Bank of Hope in Hato Mayor, Dominican Republic. She has three young children ages 3, 5 and 7. She sells clothes in her small business. She has already received four loans from Esperanza and is about to receive her fifth loan. With these loans she has been able to invest in a freezer and a gas cylinder. She would like to increase her sales volume and the clothing variety available and hopes to one day open her own real store. Her dream is to have a house of her own where she can see her children grow up. Thank you for supporting this loan!",F,1425,partner,Clothing,0 Dominican Republic,"Bartola Siriaco Martinez started out working in a Pica pollo (a small diner) with her mother ever since she was a little child. She decided to take this loan so she can invest in her establishment. She wants to have clients feel pleased with the ambiance, and attract new customers as well. She also plans to split the loan to buy more food to offer on her menu. Amongst other things she sells chicken, toasts, assorted fruit juices, and fried plantain.
Bartola is married and has 3 children. Her family helps her run the business and prepare the food every day for their customers. The interesting point in this loan is the fact that it will serve to assist the needs (of the women) in a whole family.",F,325,partner,Food,0 Dominican Republic,"Basilia is 57 years old, married, with two daughters and one son. The elder daughter has married and lives with her own family. The other daughter and the son are respectively 15 and years old. Basilia dedicates herself to the sales of silver-plated jewels. Her husband works in a construction company. She sells her goods from home and sometimes by visiting women in the community door-to-door. Basilia hopes in the future shell be able to open her own jewelery shop so as to allow customers to make the purchase handily.
With her loan, she will buy a large amount of jewels to sell at low prices during the Christmas period. That way, the entrepreneur will increase her income and attract new clients.",F,300,partner,Retail,0 Dominican Republic,"Basilia is a 51-year-old assiduous woman who struggles to earn a living. She is single and has four children, two boys and two girls. For more than four years, Basilia has been selling sandwiches, toasted bread, milk shakes and juices. She runs the business within her house. Early in the morning, she prepares the sandwiches and starts to sell them to people going to school and to work. One of her daughter sometimes helps with the preparation and selling of the food. Currently, she has a lot of customers that she says are satisfied with her service and good character.
Basilia is thinking about enlarging her business with the intention to serve more people. With her loan, she will buy a large quantity of raw materials so as to sell more and increase her income. That way, she will have more opportunity to keep improving her familys life quality.",F,300,partner,Food,0 Dominican Republic,"Basilia Lazala Moronta, here pictured in front of the church where her group Bank of Hope meets, owns a general store in the community of Juan Pablo Duarte, named for the founding father of the Dominican Republic. Basilia sells food products like rice and sugar in her store to help her husband Carlos support their three children: Harold (19), Carmen (17), and Macien (16). All three children are in school and Harold has started work in a nearby town. Carmen will probably start work soon, but she aspires to be an architect, though Basilia worries about being able to pay for schooling. This loan will help Basilia expand her stock of goods in order to grow her small business.
Note: Basilia is one of five microentrepreneurs in her Bank of Hope solidarity group, all of whom have gone through Esperanza's business training courses. Each of the five members will receive a share of this $1125 loan for their respective businesses and will be accountable to each other for repaying their share of this loan together. This group-lending method strengthens social needs in the community and helps ensure that members cooperate to help one another repay their loans and invest wisely in their businesses and families.",F,1125,partner,Food,0 Dominican Republic,"Basilia, 30, a very laborious woman, is married, with four children. Her husband helped her start a grocery store to sell basic foodstuff to the people of the community. Otherwise, theyd have to walk more than one hour to buy any goods in other zone. Currently, she is in need of US $325.00 to purchase a larger stock of products and be able to give the clients more variety. She also wants to increase her income to continue providing her four children with a good education. The loan will be completely repaid in six months. (The picture shows Basilia's husband working in the grocery store, as she was not present when our personal visited her house for the Kiva report).",F,325,partner,Food,0 Dominican Republic,"Beata is a 27-year-old woman who lives with her husband and five children in the suburb of Los Alcarrizzos on the outskirts of the capital of Santo Domingo. She has a small business where she prepares and sells fried foods to her community members; she has named her business Friatura Beata. She is asking for this loan so that she can buy a wider variety of vegetables and meats to sell her community memberswithout more capital she is restricted to buying the same, lower-priced meats and vegetables.
Her dream is to see her business grow so one day she can have her own building. For her children, she hopes to see them continue studying so that they can be professionals one day. For herself, she wants to become something and be someone important in her communityshe hopes that through her hard work she can achieve this.
Her biggest challenge in life is to never give upshe has to make herself always fight to arrive at the place that she envisions for herself and her family. In the little free time that Beata has she says that she loves to read the Bible.
On behalf of Beata and everyone here at Esperanza International, we thank you for your support of her loan!",F,750,partner,Food,0 Dominican Republic,"Beatriz is a mother of four who is kind-hearted and loves to help her community whenever possible. With this loan she will purchase fruits and vegetables that are commonly eaten daily in her community, such as bananas, apples, yams, and potatoes, and she will resell them in smaller quantities primarily in Consuelo, her hometown. She hopes that one day she will have her own grocery store. Please help Beatriz and her group make their dreams a reality. Thank you.",F,800,lender,Food,0 Dominican Republic,"Before her Esperanza Bank of Hope loan, Daisy had a business selling water in her Boca Chica community. Now, just two loans later, she runs a school for children of the community. It currently teaches 40 students 6 days a week. The school has the help of 6 volunteers, who help with preparing juice and conducting lessons, but Daisy would like to expand the business by hiring employees with future loans. Her school is a prime example of the improvements microlending can bring to communities as well as to individual borrowers.",F,225,partner,Education,0 Dominican Republic,"Before I even opened my mouth to say hello to a group of associates the small community of El Rincon, Faustina Francisco was offering me some mango she was busy peeling before the start of the loan meeting. She is a kind and open 60-yr old lady who started her business six years ago with the help of loans from Esperanza. She is in the business of selling used clothing which she buys with her loans from larger towns and cities such as Saman and Santo Domingo. She has one daughter who is 43 yrs old and lives in her own place. Mrs. Francisco is an evangelic Christian whose favorite food is arroz con vaca (rice with beef). She has hopes of seeing her business succeed to construct better living quarters and provide for herself and her husband.
Mrs. Faustina Francisco is a member of a 5 person group, Group 1, which is part of a larger micro-bank called Luz y Esperanza, ""Light and Hope"" in English. In the picture, Mrs. Francisco is second from the left. Her story is just one of a list of men and women who are improving their quality of life through the help of micro-credit loans of Esperanza. Together, this group has united with a common vision of a better life with faith and hope in their hearts and an unbreakable spirit. The concept of group lending is to have loans paid in a group to reduce the risk of a person defaulting, as others pick up where a person may lag to receive the next loan. Each of the associates in this bank has a similar business whether it is a gas station or the sale of clothing. Thank you for your support and awareness of this issue, and it is your concern and efforts that is able to bring a difference to the lives of people such as Mrs. Francisco.",F,1150,partner,Clothing,0 Dominican Republic,"Beibi Yecenia is a confident and hard-working entrepreneur that struggles to provide education and a comfortable lifestyle with her family. Beibi has been selling clothing for more than three years in the Bonito community of Santo Domingo. The entrepreneur explains that theres a lot to be said for running that business. Actually, she used the extra profits to pay her small apartment rental, and she supports the childrens education.
Beibi plans on using her loan to add new styles of clothing to her stock. She hopes that with her business, shell be able to buy a house in few years. Beibi expects to be one of the most successful businesswomen of her community. She says she can achieve that goal for shes got such a lot going for her.
Beibi Yecenia will receive her loan together with these four other entrepreneurs: Mariana Castillo De Los Santos, to purchase beauty products for her store Mayelyns Anhaita Gomez Sanchez, to purchase clothing Miguelina Martinez, to buy beauty products Ana Mara Obispo De Los Santos, to buy pants and shirts to add to her stock. Photo: from left to right: Beibi, Miguelina, Mayelyns, Mariana, Ana Mara",F,725,partner,Clothing,0 Dominican Republic,"Being a single mother is never an easy thing, and it is especially difficult when the mother doesn't have a job and has 4 children. This is the situation that Maria Vasquez faces each day. She is living in extreme poverty, and her children have to work just so the whole family can eat. Nobody in the family has a steady income, and the whole family is just living day to day. Marie decided she wanted to change her situation, so she came to Esperanza International (Kiva's Field Partner) asking for a loan so she can start her very own business. She is planning on starting a small business selling used clothing. She is a very good seamstress, so she wanted to do something where she could use her talents. She is one of the rare women in her situation because she is still able to dream. She dreams of sending all 4 of her children to college someday, and she knew that if she wanted that dream to come true she would have to change her life. She feels that having her own business is the way to realize that dream. She is a hard worker and ready to take on this challenge. She is going to be a success someday, and her whole family is going to benefit from it!!",F,2050,partner,Clothing,0 Dominican Republic,"Belkis Henriquez lives in a rural, poor area outside of El Seybo with her husband. She has four children, but they are all grown now and living in neighboring cities. Five years ago, her husband was involved in a street fight and was badly injured. He cant walk or work anymore. Through her grocery business, Belkis has been able to support him, care for their needs, buy medicine for him, and even pay for an expensive surgery.
When she received her first loan from Esperanza International, Belkis had a small colmado, or mini-grocery store. With the three loans, she has expanded the colmado to about five times its original size and is now selling more products like shoes, jewelry, dishes, soaps and shampoo. With her fourth loan, she plans to fill the empty shelves of the larger colmado with more products like cooking oil, vinegar, etc. Hopefully within the next year, she plans to convert her colmado into an almacen or warehouse where she can supply goods in bulk to other colmados in the area. She is currently working on supplying her house and colmado with electricity so that she can use the freezer she recently bought. Eventually, she would like to buy a television, but business growth is more important right now.
In the photo, Belkis and the other four members of her group are meeting with their loan officer to prepare to receive their next loan. This is a group loan for five people. The loan funds will be distributed among the group members, each of whom will invest in her own business. The members mutually guarantee one another's loans. If one member does not repay, the other members are responsible.",F,1775,partner,Food,0 Dominican Republic,"Belkis is twenty-seven years old, and she has one school-going son. Her husband is an independent truck driver. Belkis has been selling gold and silver-plated jewels for three years to the women of her community. Currently, she has a lot of loyal customers that visit her store everyday to make the purchase of bracelets, necklaces, chains and some fashionable trinkets.
Belkis expects her store to become the most well-established supplier of these goods in all the surroundings. With her loan, she will purchase more jewels in order to meet her clients needs and increase her income.
",F,900,partner,Retail,0 Dominican Republic,"Belkis Silvestre is a 25-year-old woman who lives with her husband and five-year-old son in a small community in the eastern province of Hato Mayor in the Dominican Republic. She began a small colmado, a store that sells staple foods and accessories, one year ago. She came to Esperanza because she lacked adequate capital to buy enough inventory for the store. The money from this loan will go towards purchasing oil, rice, and flour to expand her inventory even further. It is Belkis hope to continue to growing her business so that she will be able to help support her son and continue providing him with a good education. She also said that it is her dream to buy a house for her family one day. Belkis is the leader of the 10-person micro-bank group, Fuente de Luz, which means `source of light. Each of these unique Dominican entrepreneurs unite in solidarity, allowing them to access funding that they would otherwise never be able to receive on their own. On behalf of Belkis, the Fuente de Luz group, and the entire team here at Esperanza International, we thank you for your support with this micro loan!",F,3075,partner,Food,0 Dominican Republic,"Belky Fransico is the group leader for a team of young women from the town of Mamey, a city just south of Puerto Plata. At the age of 36, she is a single mother struggling to raise three kids by herself. She is able to send her children, Rafelina, Jorge-Luis, and Madeline to a nearby school and hopes that next year she will be able to afford to send Rafelina, her eldest, to a university. Unfortunately Belky is short on money. Rent for her apartment is only 500 pesos (15 dollars) a month but, even so, between the cost of rent and the cost of educating her children, she doesnt have the funds for much else. In an effort to improve her situation Belky joined a group of other women from the town of Mamey and came to Esperanza for help. By borrowing funds from Esperanza she will be able to operate a small clothing business in Mamey. With her micro-loan, she will buy clothes at a discounted price from a manufacturer in Santiago. She says that once she returns from Santiago with clothes, she will be able to sell them out of her house for a profit. Although her business is just beginning, it seems promising because it follows the same business model as many other successful Esperanza clothing vendors. Belky hopes that by reinvesting the profits of her clothing sales she will be able to expand her business enough to send her children to college, own her own house, and buy some luxury items such as a cellphone. She says her ultimate goal is to one day own her own clothing store.",F,2100,partner,Clothing,0 Dominican Republic,"Belquis is a 34 years old woman with three children living in Yamasa in the Dominican Republic. Her husband is living outside of the country. Her children, two girls and a boy, attend a private school. Five years ago, Belquis decided to open a small store in her house, since external remittances income from her husband could not always help her face the housing issues. In her store, she sells T-shirts, shirts, underwear and jeans for men and women. She also sells beauty products like hair treatment lotion, hair dying products, and other goods for skin care. Generally, she gets the merchandise in Santo Domingo, the capital, from an importer. Belquis is requesting a loan to purchase clothing in bulk, womens perfumes and accessories to supply her store. The profits from the sale will help her to continuing providing for her family.",F,375,partner,Retail,0 Dominican Republic,"Benecia is thirty years old and a proud mother of four children. She has been selling used clothing for one year in the Juanita community of Santo Domingo. Benecia has been separated from her husband for years, and since then she had to fend for her children by her own. This courageous and hard-working entrepreneur is requesting a loan to buy clothing in bulk to resell in her community in order to augment her sales volume and increase her revenue. This will help her to keep supporting her childrens studies and lift her family out of poverty.",F,200,partner,Clothing,1 Dominican Republic,"Benise Metillus lives in a small community outside of Puerto Plata on the northern coast of the Dominican Republic. She is originally from Haiti. Her parents came to the Dominican Republic in hopes of finding more opportunities and a better life. Benise is 29 years old and lives with her husband and her child.Benise has worked hard for many years but has only made enough money to barely provide for her needs. She lives in a Haitian community where unemployment rates and poverty are seen in large percentages. Currently, she sells food to about 40 construction workers a day by walking around and looking for current building projects. Work is very hard for her because she walks around all day and already has problems with one of her knees.
She currently lives with a large group of family members but one day hopes to build her own house. In five years, she hopes to build a home of her own. Benise feels that it is very hard to live in a country and a house that is not her own. She is very appreciative of the opportunity that she is now getting and desperately wants to improve her life. She hopes to give her son a better life and the chance to attend a good school.
On behalf of everyone here at Esperanza International, and from Benise herself, we thank you for your support with this microloan!",F,600,partner,Food,0 Dominican Republic,"Benita Berjadin is a very young mother of one child. She is only 21 years old and has a son of 4 years. At this point she is living in extreme poverty and is also a single mother. She is requesting her second loan with Esperanza International (Kiva's Field Partner) and has a small business selling sweets in her neighborhood. Before her first loan, she had no steady income and needed a lot of help just to feed her child. She has experienced a little success with her first loan and feels that with this second loan she could really increase her business. For the first time in her life, she feels like she has something of her own and has a way to provide for her child. She is a very loving mother and much more mature than her years tell. She wants nothing more than a good life for her child, and wants someday to have her own house for her and her child. She is on the right path, and this next loan will help her take the next step!",F,2175,partner,Food,0 Dominican Republic,"Benita Pierre Berjadin is a member of five person micro-bank, Cristo Vive which means Christ Lives. Only twenty years old, this young women has raised her three-year-old boy with the profits from her small business selling chocolates and other peanut sweets in the street. While this meager business has carried her thus far, she came to Esperanza International in search of something more. This will be each member of the groups first loan. Benita intends to use the capital to begin selling shoes, shirts, dresses, and pants in the street, while continuing to make sweets on the side. It is her dream to earn enough money someday to own her own house to improve the living conditions for her entire family.
Other members of Cristo Vivo have similar occupations selling clothing, jewelry, blankets, and bread in the streets of Agrua, Dominican Republic. Each of these unique Dominican entrepreneurs unite in solidarity, allowing them to access funding that they would otherwise never be able to receive on their own. The concept of this group bank paying their loan together is to reduce the risk of one person defaulting, as the others members gladly help cover one anothers payments in order to receive their next loan together.
On behalf of Benita, the Cristo Vive group, and the entire team here at Esperanza International, we thank you for your support and awareness of the global issue of poverty, in which your efforts are helping to make a difference.",F,750,partner,Food,0 Dominican Republic,"Benita, or Romanita as her friends and family affectionately call her, is in her late thirties. Shes the proud mother of two boys aged eleven and fourteen, both of whom go to school. Her husband works as a driller. Benita explains that her husbands wages can no longer support the familys needs. She sadly says that her financial situation forced her to withdraw her children from the private school of the community. Now theyre going to the public school, where the education is not the best. Benita wants to contribute to the familys budget and help her husband in supporting the family. Shes requesting a loan to start a small business of selling fried dishes. Benita says shes a good cook and that people will be attracted at once by her high quality and tasty dishes. The entrepreneur hopes shell succeed in her endeavor. Benita will receive the funds together with the following women:
Pura Maria Columna Milano, a beauty products retailer;
Marilenni Mendez, who operates a small fruits and vegetables store;
Venancia Martinez Contreras, to invest in womens clothing; and
Santa Nieves De La Rosa Aybar, who sells beauty products in the community.
The photo shows from left to right: Santa Nieves, Venancia, Marilenni, Pura Maria and Benita.",F,1450,partner,Food,1 Dominican Republic,"Benyn Mary lives with her husband and her five-year-old son in the Ochocienta community of Santo Domingo. She sells an assortment of hair products and womens clothing. Benyn says that she has a lot of experience selling products, and that has helped her gain a lot of customers.
Benyn also explains that the competition in her sector in very hard, but she hopes that the good quality and low prices of her products will help her to be one of most well-established suppliers of these goods in her community.
This entrepreneur would like to buy her own home someday, so she says shell keep working hard in order to reach that goal. With her loan, Benyn Mary will buy clothing and hair products in bulk to increase her supplies.
",F,300,partner,Clothing,0 Dominican Republic,"Berenanda is an optimistic and diligent woman who has operated a small grocery store for more than fifteen years. Her three children consider her a living symbol of endurance, confidence, and struggle since shes supported their education on her own in spite of the very difficult financial situation the family was going through. Berenanda expresses that shes extremely happy that she could contribute to the education of her kids, who are working now and are able to make a living on their own.The entrepreneur feels that she still can work for some years and earn more money. Shes requesting a loan to buy a large variety of goods to add to her inventory in order to increase her sales volume. Berenanda hopes that her business will allow her enjoy better her golden years.",F,350,partner,Food,1 Dominican Republic,"Berenice Bautista Meja is 33 years old and a mother of two children, who attend primary school. Jointly with other women of the El Carretn community of San Cristobal, she'll take a loan which they will invest in the purchase of clothing in bulk and silver jewelry to resell in the community. Berenice will operate her business predominantly from her house, but at times she will visit other women in the neighborhood to sell her products. The future entrepreneur says she is a responsible and trustworthy person, and that she will make great efforts to make her business successful. She also says she will encourage the other women to do the same.
NOTE: The members of the group warrant one anothers loans. If one of the women fails in repaying the loan, the other members will have to take the responsibility.",F,850,partner,Clothing,0 Dominican Republic,"Berenice coordinates the activity of this group of businesswomen that live in the Hato Castillo community of Cotu. Berenice has recently started a small beauty salon that she's operating from her home. Her husband works as bus driver for a transportation company. The couple still doesn't have children, but Berenice would like to have no more than three kids, as she says that she doesn't have enough money to take care of a large family. The entrepreneur is requesting a loan to buy materials and products to add to her salon so that she can offer a better service to her clients. The other members of Berenice's group are: Sixta De La Cruz, who owns a small salon in the neighborhood Carmen Mieses Soto, who sells jewelry Margarita Polanco Soto, who owns and operates a beauty parlor Picture shows from left to right: Berenice, Sixta, Margarita and Carmen",F,525,partner,Services,1 Dominican Republic,"Berkys Adalgisa lives in Monte Plata with her husband and her three children. She sells silver jewelry and underwear to women in her neighborhood. Berkys started her business about two years ago, and currently she has a huge clientele. Berkys explains that her activity is very helpful for the family as she uses parts of the profits to support the university studies of two of her children.
Until now, the entrepreneur has operated her business from her house, but shed like to rent a small establishment to run a store. Berkys hopes that the great variety of items shell buy with her loan will allow her to get better income so that she can keep supporting her family and improving her living conditions.",F,350,partner,Retail,1 Dominican Republic,"Bernarda is thirty-four years old, and she and her husband have three children in the range of eight to seventeen years old, all of whom attend school. Bernarda has been running a small cafeteria for five years in the Alto Limonal community of Ban. The entrepreneur talks about the multiple advantages of her business and she explains that she could do some renovation in her house, support her childrens studies and face other financial issues.
Education holds an important place in the entrepreneurs life. Actually, despite her age and her responsibilities, Bernarda will get her high school diploma this year, and she wants to obtain a Bachelors degree in Nursing.
Bernarda is requesting a loan to buy a large quantity of raw materials to keep producing her delicious breakfasts and lunches for her customers. The entrepreneur hopes that her business will allow her reach her goals and keep fending for her family.",F,450,partner,Food,1 Dominican Republic,"Bernarda lives in the Herrera community of Santo Domingo where she owns and operates a small restaurant. She serves breakfast and lunch on weekdays and says that her customers are very satisfied by her succulent dishes. Bernarda is a very confident entrepreneur and an ambitious businesswoman. She says there are many small restaurants in the community seeking to capture the same potential customers. Nonetheless, Bernarda believes she will be the most successful entrepreneur because she cooks like nobodys business.
Bernarda has applied for this loan in order to purchase more ingredients and some disposable plates to keep her small restaurant operating. Bernarda is very positive and she says shell keep working hard in order to reach her goals and succeed in life.",F,450,partner,Food,1 Dominican Republic,"Berta lives with her husband and two daughters aged five and seven years old; she also supports her disabled mother who has to stay in bed all day. She is an ambitious and experienced entrepreneur that has been selling womens clothing for a long time in her community. For Berta, the most important thing is her childrens education, and she plans to support her daughters until they become professionals. With this loan, Berta plans to purchase clothing in bulk to restock her business and increase her sales volume. She hopes someday to have enough money to start a grocery store which has a higher profit margin than clothing sales.",F,750,partner,Clothing,1 Dominican Republic,"Bertha runs a mini-market in the Yacot community of Santo Domingo. Each day she receives visits from hundreds of customers who want to purchase different kinds of products, ranging from fresh chicken meat, rice, beans, and vegetable oil to bread, peanut butter and the like. Her store also offers alcoholic and energizing drinks.
Bertha plans on using her loan to purchase more products so that she can significantly increase the sales volume and her revenue. That way, the entrepreneur will be able to improve her familys lifestyle.",F,375,partner,Food,0 Dominican Republic,"Berty Cristbal is a young woman who lives with her husband and three children, aged 14, 16 and 21 years old. They all live in small farming town called Hato Mayor, and Berty has started a small business selling used and new clothing, as well as small home decorations. She is asking for this loan so that she can increase the merchandise she is able to have on hand, and thus be able to sell more. She would also like to buy some pots and pans to begin selling as well, for a little bit of variety. Although life can often be challenging and difficult Berty is optimistic that this loan will help her improve her life and her familys lives. It is her goal to one day own her own home, and also have enough money to buy and build her own big store to sell her products fromand above all, it is her dream to have enough money to pay for her children to study at the local university. On behalf of the entire team at Esperanza International, as well as Berty and her entire groupwe thank you for your support and generosity!",F,1025,partner,Clothing,0 Dominican Republic,"Betania de los Santos Reyes is a smart and untiring businesswoman that lives in the Mulo community of Yamas.
Betania is 30 years old; she has two boys and two girls, all of whom attend school.
Betania has been running her small clothing store from her house for almost two years, and she thinks its time for her to have a location where she can comfortably receive customers. She plans to use her loan to buy more clothing in bulk so as to replenish her store.
Betanias business supports her childrens education and other family needs. Betania wants to provide a comfortable life for her children.",F,750,partner,Clothing,1 Dominican Republic,"Bety Irenis was born and raised in the little community of Gallera, located in the outskirts of Santo Domingo. Bety is the single mother of three children, all of whom attend school. To make a living and take care of them, she sells tablecloths, window curtains, table settings and other similar goods. She also has an old sewing machine which she uses sometimes and makes some dressings for women in her neighborhood.
This loan is to buy a large quantity of these goods in order that she can boost her sales volume and therefore, her income. The entrepreneur hopes that her business will help her in providing a good education for her children and in improving her family's living conditions.",F,300,partner,Retail,1 Dominican Republic,"Betzaida is twenty years old, and she and her husband have two boys and one girl, all of whom go to school. Betzaidas husband is young and doesnt have a good job. Betzaida wants to build a small business of selling fruits and vegetables in her community. She says this would allow her to supplement her familys income and support the childrens educations. Betzaida is a very optimistic woman. She says shell have success in her endeavor not only because of her unshakable faith in God, but also because shell make the greatest efforts to make things happen. Betzaida would like to study right after she gets her high school diploma in two years. Shell be a defender of badly treated and oppressed people so that we can live in a better and fair world.
Betzaida will receive her loan together with these women: Antonia Belisario Bautista, who will use her loan to buy pants and shoes for a small business; Josefa Suazo, who owns and operates a small cafeteria; Estefania Jimenez, who produces and sells fried dishes in her community; Criciana Feliciano Bautista, who operates a small grocery store. Picture, left to right: Betzaida, Antonia, Josefa, Estefania and Criciana.",F,1325,partner,Food,1 Dominican Republic,"Bianey is the owner and operator of a small restaurant in the Mata San Juan community of Santo Domingo. Each day, thousands of people visit her business to enjoy the tasty Dominican plates she prepares with care. Bianey explains that people love to eat in her restaurant because she always does her best to offer a top quality service and a clean space. The excellent chef explains that her business helps her support her two sons (six and two years old). With her loan, shell buy new goods in order to diversify the menu she offers to her clientele. Bianey hopes that her investment will continue her business growth and that, eventually, perhaps she can even buy some nicer furniture for her home.",F,425,partner,Food,0 Dominican Republic,"Bibiana is a single mother of a twenty-year-old daughter who goes to the university. To make a living and continue supporting her daughter, Bibiana sells underwear to men and women of the Doa Ana community of San Cristobal. She has been running this business for more than ten years. Bibiana also has a stall which she sets in a public place, and the passers-by visit it to purchase the fruits and vegetables shes selling. Bibiana explains that she has to face a hard competition in the area, but she expects that her new underwear patterns and styles will help her attract more people in the market and increase her revenue. Bibiana wants to maintain a comfortable lifestyle for her family.",F,450,partner,Clothing,0 Dominican Republic,"Bibiana lives in the Doa Ana community of San Cristobal, and she's taking out her second loan through Kiva. Her daughter goes to the university and frequently needs money to buy books and to pay for transportation. Bibiana supports her child by herself, and also has to work hard to make her two businesses stronger. Bibiana has been selling undergarments for many years; she also sells fruits and vegetables in the public market. With her last loan, Bibiana bought a collection of chic underwear in patterns and styles that were in high demand in the community. This helped her to increase her sales volume and income. Currently, Bibiana is short of undergarments, and she's requesting a loan to restock her small store. She'll also invest this new loan in a large stock of fruits and vegetables to keep operating her business and improving her daughter's living conditions.",F,525,partner,Retail,1 Dominican Republic,"Bidalia is hoping to receive her very first loan from Esperanza International (Kiva's Field Partner). She is the mother of one very young child, and lives with her husband. She and her husband live in a very poor area in Puerto Plata, Dominican Republic. Each day she and her husband do whatever it takes to survive, but neither has a consistent income to provide for the family. Bidalia decided to do something about that and applied for a loan. She is hoping to start a business selling food, such as rice, beans, and fruit. She hopes that one day she will be able to grow the business and have her very own grocery store. She and her husband are going to run this business together, and they are both hopeful that this is going to change their lives. This is the first step for her and her family, and she is ready to take it!",F,725,partner,Food,0 Dominican Republic,"Birtudes lives in San Pedro Barrio Blanco, Dominican Republic. Birtudes operates a natural medicine business from her home. She heard about micro-finance from a friend and took out a loan two years ago. Birtudes is now requesting her fourth loan from Esperanza to meet the high demand for medicine in Barrio Blanco. She is requesting 5,000 Dominican Pesos. With this new loan, Birtudes plans to expand her selection and restock her inventory. She will purchase natural vitamins, teas, ointments and clay spreads. Birtudes sells natural medicine because she sees a need in her community and thinks they are good for the body. Yet she confesses that owning a business isnt easy, because she has to push and do whatever it takes to survive. She hopes to be able to provide for her two children, especially the young one who is now 6 years old. Birtudes appreciates it if you would consider funding her and her groups businesses. Esperanza thanks you for your support!",F,1150,lender,Health,0 Dominican Republic,"Blacina is 48 years old and has three children (ages 16, 19, 21). She has a grandson who is 9 months old. She has been an Esperanza client for one year and has already successfully paid back two loans (one for 150 USD and one for 240 USD). Now she's applying for a third loan.
Blacina sells rice, chicken, and other typical Dominican food like moro at her little store, Colmado Blasina. She is pictured in front of her womens association meeting center, where her group meets every two weeks to pay back the loan installments. She is going to use her third loan to include more merchandise in her Colmado (convenience store), such as more soft drinks and juices.",F,350,partner,Food,0 Dominican Republic,"Blasina is 45 years old, married, with eleven children. She dedicates herself to the sale of the Avon products, specializing in makeup, hair care, and skin care products. Avon is a global company with a very large range of products such as fragrance, bath and body products, as well as the products that Blasina sells.
Blasina started her business because her husbands income is not enough to support the family. Blasina sells her goods in the afternoon, since she works in the morning as a housekeeper. She says she doesnt feel bad about doing these jobs since the most important thing for her is to assure the well-being of her offspring.
A few months ago, Blasina took a loan from our organization which she invested in a large amount of products. With her daughters help, she was able to sell off all the goods and made great profits. She said with the additional income, it was easier for her to pay the tuition for her childrens school, pay the rent for her house, and now she is able to prepare meals in the morning before the children go to school.
Blasina hopes her business can keep on growing so that she can increase her sales volume and thus her income. She is requesting a second loan to invest in the purchase of a larger amount of goods to sell. She hopes she can attract new customers and hold them. Blasinas family is very needy. Obtaining the loan will help her to save her children from poverty.",F,600,partner,Retail,0 Dominican Republic,"Blasina is an active and untiring businesswoman. She owns and operates a beauty salon in the Mulo community of Yamas, specializing in hair care. She offers services of haircuts, partial and full highlights, wash and blow-drys, hair dying and the like. The beauty parlor is the principal source of income of Blasina, and her business supports her two boys and her two girls education. The entrepreneur wants to enlarge her business, and she plans to hire one or two girls to help her attend to the customers. Blasina will invest her loan to buy a lot of materials which she usually uses in the salon. The entrepreneur is working hard to improve a better lifestyle to her family.",F,450,partner,Services,1 Dominican Republic,"Blasina is forty-five years old and has four children, three of them boys. The three elder ones work and the youngest attends school. Blasina has been separated from her husband for seven months.
With the first loan she obtained from FSMA, Blasina invested in the purchase of raw materials and some new cooking pots and an old oven so that she could keep on operating her small sandwich and hamburger business. Now her business is very profitable and she has managed to attract a lot of loyal customers.
This entrepreneur now wants to enlarge her business further. She has requested a second loan to buy ingredients to continue preparing sandwiches and to offer new sorts in order to attract new clients and increase her income.",F,900,partner,Food,0 Dominican Republic,"Blazina Soriano is the group leader for the Cristo Vive loan group. She is unmarried but lives with the father of her four children, ages five, seven, nine, and eleven.
Blazina makes her living selling clothes and shoes out of a rented stall, and has done so for the past year. With this loan, she plans to buy a more diverse, higher quality stock of goods to expand her business, with hopes to eventually open her own small shop.
Blazina has taken out and repaid four loans in the past, and says that being an Esperanza associate has improved her outlook on life, both economically and otherwise.
Blazina appreciates any help you can offer her and the other women in her group!",F,1025,lender,Clothing,0 Dominican Republic,"Bonifacia Yonk is the leader for the group called Mujeres Emprendedoras, which means in English, Enterprising Women. Bonifacia is the owner of a small convenience store and is going to buy clothing and shoes to sell in her store. Bonifacia and her partner named Modesto Silverio are the parents of three daughters in their twenties, and grandparents of five grandchildren ranging in ages from four months to seven years. She hopes to see continued growth for her business and be able to provide more for her family. She hopes someday to be able to fix up her house and improve it by adding various things. In her free time, Bonifacia enjoys reading her bible and helping the sick in her community. This is the first loan for Mujeres Emprendedoras and they are excited for this opportunity. On behalf of Bonifacia Yonk, Mujeres Emprendedoras, and all of us here at Esperanza International, thank you for your interest in these entrepreneurs and support!",F,2150,partner,Clothing,0 Dominican Republic,"Born in Yamas, a town some 30 kilometers (about 18 miles) northeast of the capital city of Santo Domingo, Arisleida, a mother of two ( 16 and 17), used to sell personal hygiene products. About 4 years ago she started selling (with her husband) fruits, beans, and other foodstuff.
She has established her business on a road which brings a decent developing market. Today she buys the food for resale in the city warehouses. Having to pay expensive public transportation every time she goes to the city, she needs to maximize her grocery purchases to minimize inventory costs. Hence her loan request.",F,200,partner,Food,0 Dominican Republic,"Braudelina Florentino, 83, is a widowed mother of six, aged 62, 50, 48, 46, 43, and 41. She has used her Esperanza Bank of Hope loans to expand the selection of her home-run candy business offerings. Her main motivation for continued expansion are her sons and daughters: though not dependent on her, Braudelina says that they are poorer than she is, and that she specifically needs to help one son who has heart problems.",F,525,partner,Arts,0 Dominican Republic,"Brigida is a beautiful 43-year-old woman who looks half her age! She lives with her husband and four children in the community of Los Alcarrizzos and runs a small business selling home accessories and supplies, as well as a small range of daily foods.
She is asking for this loan so that she can have enough money to increase her inventory and expand the amount of merchandise she is able to offer her customers. She says that the more she is able to offer, the more customers she will attractif they can get all of their shopping done with her, they will only need to come to her!
She hopes that with the extra income she can generate from her business and this loan she can begin saving money to help send her youngest children to the local university in Santo Domingo. She hopes that her business will continue to grow and expand, and that she will always have the ability to work on her own to improve her familys life.
On behalf of Luis and everyone here at Esperanza International, we thank you for supporting his dreams and goals!",F,450,partner,Retail,0 Dominican Republic,"Brigida is in her late fifties and she is the mother of four children. She has been separated from her husband for more than fifteen years. Since then, she has been working hard to lift her family up out of poverty. Brigida runs a liquor store which a large number of people visit day and night to purchase beer, wine, whisky, energizing beverages, and other alcoholic drinks. Brigida explains that Presidente (the principal Dominican beer) is the most sold because ""people consider it the best beer of the world and drink it as if it were water.""
Brigida hopes that her business will help her buy her own house sooner or later. With her loan, the entrepreneur will buy more drinks to satisfy her customers needs.",F,375,partner,Food,0 Dominican Republic,"Brigida lives in the community of Los Alcarrizzos, and has run a small beauty salon for some time now. She is asking for this loan so that she can invest money into improving the actual space where she has her business, as well as invest in higher quality products to offer her customers. People in her community, although poor, appreciate being able to go to a salon that looks nice, and feels niceand they like being offered a good quality of product. Brigida says it is her goal to one day be such a successful woman that she manages and owns numerous beauty salonsin her community there is a need for more. She says she knows she would be able to provide them with a good service, and create successful businesses. Her dream is to be able to provide her five children with a safe and healthy future, one where they can become good people and college-educated professionals. For herself, she hopes that the income she makes from this loan will help her be able to afford good health insurance, and always be able to provide for her family. On behalf of everyone here at Esperanza International, and from Brigida herself, we thank you for your support with this micro loan!",F,375,partner,Services,0 Dominican Republic,"Brigida Marte, the leader of this group, is a 47-year-old woman and a single mother of 5 children. Shes been selling clothing in her community for 15 years. During this time, her business has been the principal source of income for her family. Brigida personifies a class of women who live in very humble conditions, but are challenged to make a change in their families on their own, thanks to their hard work. The entrepreneur explains that, in the beginning, it was really hard to capture clients and have good sales volume. She had to walk all day long visiting people in the neighborhood to promote her goods. Her strategy had very good results and now her business is well-known in the community. In addition to clothing, Brigida sells toys during the Christmas season. This loan will be used to buy new clothing to add to her inventory. Shell also seize the opportunity to buy some toys to sell in the neighborhood. Brigida is joined in her group by: Altagarcia Osorio Polanco, who sells beauty products; Emilia Otaez, an older woman that sells fried dishes; Ocalia Portalatin Sanchez, who sells garments; and Dermis Acosta Flores, who sells womens clothing. The picture shows from left to right, Brigida, Altagarcia, Emilia, Ocalia and Dermis.",F,950,lender,Clothing,1 Dominican Republic,"Brigida Solano and her group (Group 2 from the Peniel Bank of Hope) are starting their fourth loan cycle through Esperanza International, Kiva's partner. Brigida has four grown-up children; three female and one male. The females are all Esperanza clients through microloans.
Brigida has a small cafeteria at a local school. Right now she is facing a problem: She doesnt have anything to keep the drinks she sells cold, so she has to buy ice blocks for this purpose. Sometimes the kids at the school dont want to buy the water, juices and soft drinks she sells because theyre not cold, which is necessary in a tropical country like the Dominican Republic. So Brigida will use this loan to buy a freezer where she can store the drinks. She has already seen one that is on sale for a good price, she says.
When the school is closed, Brigida sells fried Johnny cakes and drinks at her house. In time, she would like to have her own colmado (convenience/grocery store) so she can sell in the same place permanently.
Thank you for supporting these entrepreneurs!",F,2000,partner,Food,0 Dominican Republic,"Brigida, 32 years old, has been separated from her husband for two years. Now, she is living with her two children, a boy and a girl, that attend to the local public school. To earn a living, Brigida dedicates herself to the production and sale of decorative and aromatic candles.
She explains that this kind of business is very profitable. Generally, she invests about 5,000 Dominican pesos (USD 150) to purchase raw materials in order to make the candles; and she earns USD 400.00 more or less. With income from business, she pays the rent on the house, provides food for her children and buys fuel for the small oven with which she prepares the candles.
The entrepreneur is requesting a loan to buy raw materials such as paraffin wax, aromas and colourings so that she can produce a big quantity of candles to sell for Christmas. That will be an opportunity for Brigida to notably make more profit and continue doing the business which is helping her work for the sake of her family.",F,250,partner,Retail,0 Dominican Republic,"Buena Fe group 4 is made up of 5 people looking to receive their very first loan. Each member is currently living in extreme poverty, and is not living with any of the luxuries that we often take for granted. Each member is hoping to take this first loan and get started on their very own small business. The ideas range from clothing stores to food markets. This loan will give an opportunity to 5 people who have not had many good opportunities in their life, and give them a chance to change their future. Santa Javier is the representative of this group and is extremely excited about this opportunity. Santa is the mother of two young children and realized she needed to do something when she couldn't afford school for both her children. Santa wants nothing more than a better life for her children, and she knows that getting them an education is the only way to do that. She wants to start a small business selling clothing in her area. She plans to buy the clothing from Santo Domingo where she can buy clothing cheap, and then sell it for a profit in her area. She is excited to have something of her own and believes that this is her chance to change her family's life! Thank you for giving Santa a chance at changing her future!!",F,800,partner,Clothing,0 Dominican Republic,"Cali Marisely owns and operates a confectioners shop in the Barrancones community of Ban. She started her business three years ago, just a few months after she moved to the community. Marisely has one boy and one girl, both of whom go to school. The entrepreneur would like to quicken the production process of her cakes and pastries. By reducing delivery time and increasing her products' quality, she will be more competitive in the market. She will use her loan to buy a flour mill machine and some raw materials to keep operating her business. Cali Marisely would like to rent a big establishment for her shop, but she says thats down the line. Her profits are still limited and she cant afford a big establishment. Nonetheless, the entrepreneur will keep doing her utmost to make her business successful and provide for her children.",F,250,partner,Food,1 Dominican Republic,"Calina Joseph owns a clothing store outside of the city of Cabarete, near the small community she lives in called La Bombita. She is the leader of the Bank of Hope named ""Mujeres de Paciencia"" or in English, ""Women of Patience."" The bank has 10 people in it, most of whom sell food products in their community.
All ten of these women left Haiti and moved to the Dominican Republic for greater opportunities. Many only speak Haitian Creole and have fewer opportunities than most Dominicans because they cannot speak Spanish. Calina sells perfume, cream, undergarments, and other beauty products. She will purchase additional products with her loan to sell in her store. Many of her group members will replenish the stock in their stores also.
Calina has been married four years to her husband Rafael and has a daughter who is eight years old. She first heard of Esperanza from an associate and decided she would like a loan to help her with her business. This is the first Esperanza loan for ""Mujeres de Paciencia,"" and they are excited for this great opportunity!
On behalf of Calina, Mujeres de Paciencia, and all of us at Esperanza International, we thank you for your contribution and desire to make a direct impact in fighting poverty!",F,1525,partner,Clothing,0 Dominican Republic,"Camila is an experienced entrepreneur that has been selling ice cream for two years. She has five children, two of them boys that have their own families. The girls live with Mom. Camila trusts in the power of persistence and hard work. She says that everyone who needs to have success must struggle. She purchases ice cream outside her community and resells them within her house, or sometimes close to a public school. Camila is requesting a loan to purchase more goods and a small freezer. The one she used to keep the ice cream in is not hers but rented. She thinks thats a good investment and that before long she can significantly increase her income and improve her living conditions.",F,800,partner,Food,0 Dominican Republic,"Candida Frias lives in a poor community outside of El Seybo with her husband and her youngest child (age 15). Her two middle children live in her same community, but in their own homes. Her oldest lives in the beach city of Bavaro. She has four grandchildren. Candida has a small colmado, or mini-market, where she sells various food products including chicken and vegetables. She buys packaged food from a warehouse in El Seybo, the chicken from a chicken vender and the vegetables from the market. She then transports all her purchases home to her community where she sells them to her neighbors. The hardest part of her business is having to transport so much from El Seybo to her community, using only a motorcycle.
Candida has successfully repaid five loans to Esperanza International and is now requesting her sixth loan. With this loan of $2000, she hopes to continue growing her small colmado and support her youngest in school. In the photo, she is at a meeting with the other four members of her group so that her loan officer can prepare to give them another loan.
Note: This is a group loan for five people. The loan funds will be distributed among the group members, each of whom will invest in her own business. The members mutually guarantee one another's loans. If one member does not repay, the other members are responsible.",F,2000,partner,Food,0 Dominican Republic,"Candida is 21 years old has three daughters. She sells childrens toys such as Spiderman, Spartacus and Max Steel toy dolls in her neighborhood.
Candida needs funds to purchase soft toys to sell during the holidays. She plans to buy Christmas-related toys which she hopes people will buy as presents for their children. Candida envisions her business becoming a large toy store in a few years.",F,475,partner,Retail,0 Dominican Republic,"Candida is an optimistic and ambitious woman who is trying hard to improve her familys living conditions. She has three children aged 5, 8 and 10, all of whom attend school. Her husband works as a carpenter for a small company, but his salary is not enough to support all of the familys needs.
Candida is currently unemployed, but she plans to start a small business which would help her contribute to the familys income. She has applied for this loan in order to purchase underwear and toiletries that she will sell to people in her community. She plans to operate the business primarily from her home, but will visit people in a close-by neighborhood to sell her goods as well.
Candida hopes that this business will be the starting point for success and great changes for her family. She swears that she will keep working hard to lift her children out of their difficult economic conditions.",F,300,partner,Retail,1 Dominican Republic,"Candida sells beauty products and shoes to people of Bienestar, a low-income community of Santo Domingo. She has one daughter and one son, both of whom go to school. Candida explains that she is still operating her business from her house, but she plans to rent or buy a small shop in a couple of months. The entrepreneur currently needs funds to boost her stock. Shell use her loan to buy new kinds of fashionable shoes and to purchase beauty products for her business.
Candida hopes that her business will allow her to reach financial independence and to keep supporting her childrens educations.",F,250,partner,Retail,1 Dominican Republic,"Carlita is in her late forties and she lives with her husband and children. Carlita is an ambitious entrepreneur who is fighting tooth and nail to make a small business successful and support her childrens educations.
Carlita is a multifaceted entrepreneur, and she has been operating other business, including selling womens clothing and beauty products, for more than ten years in the Majagual community of Santo Domingo.
About six months ago, she took a loan from our organization that she invested to expand a small business in which she sells natural medicines. She used her loan wisely and repaid it on time.
Currently, Carlita is requesting a second loan to buy more natural medicines, because these goods are in high demand. Carlita hopes that, before long, she can finish her house, which is under construction, and employ a local person in her businesses.
",F,375,partner,Health,1 Dominican Republic,"Carlixta is an arduous and hard-working woman who owns and operates a general store which she started eight years ago in Chcaro, in the community of Yamas. She is a 46 year-old single mother of four children.Carlixta sells a variety of products in her store, specializing in the selling of fuel and parts for motorcycles. She also retails motor oil, fuel additives and so forth. She operates that activity in a small rented local.
Carlixta is currently looking for funds in order to expand her business. Her expansion plan includes adding new products to her actual inventory and renting a more spacious locale to operate the business. Carlixta thinks her business achievement will help her improve her familys living conditions.
",F,750,partner,Retail,0 Dominican Republic,"Carlixta lives in the Trinitarios community of San Cristobal, where she tries hard to make a living and take care of her family. Carlixta has four children, all of whom go to school. About six years ago, she was given a loan to start a small business that consists of selling pants to women in her community. Carlixta used her loan wisely, and she happily explains that she managed to make her business successful. ""It was a real blockbuster,"" she says.Now, the entrepreneur is thinking about expanding her business. She's requesting a second loan to add new styles of pants to her inventory. She'd eventually like to start selling shoes, too. Carlixta hopes that her new fashionable pants will do very well.",F,300,partner,Clothing,1 Dominican Republic,"Carlos and his wife Cecilia have two grown children. Both Carlos and Cecilia work in their family run grocery store, Colmado Cecilia. Carlos is the primary supplier of milk and cheese. Because there is large demand for both these products he is requesting this loan to increase his milk and cheese production.
He is aiming to significantly grow their business but says that his main goal is to always look forward towards the future. Please help Carlos reach significant growth so he can employ people in his community who are in need of employment. Thank you.",M,1050,lender,Food,0 Dominican Republic,"Carlos raises and sells pork. He started with 3 baby pigs several years ago; he now owns 18 pigs.
The loan he is requesting is smaller than usual because its the off-season for sugarcane. When it is in season, people spend more money because the local economy is based largely on the sugarcane industry (that is where most of the jobs are), then he takes out larger loans to advance his business quicker.
With his past loans he has been able to buy the title to his house and his land, a feat that very few people in his community are ever able to do. His dream is to continue earning money, and saving so that one day soon he can buy a bigger and stronger house. He says he worries that if a strong hurricane comes it will destroy the house he and his family live ina house made of wood and a corrugated zinc roof.
Carlos is very thankful for your help with this loan, and is excited to work hard and realize all of the blessings it will bring him.
NOTE: This $1050 loan will fund Carlos' business as well as seven other businesses in his solidarity group. They have all gone through Esperanza business training program and will receive equal shares of the loan to invest in their respective business and pay back the loan together. The entire group must pay in full and on time, otherwise group members must make up the deficit before any payment can be made. This creates accountability among the group members because each one shares in the struggles and successes of the other members in their group.",M,1050,partner,Agriculture,0 Dominican Republic,"Carmela, 29 years old, is married, with three children (a girl and two boys). The two elder children go to the primary school. The youngest one is just two years old. Carmela's husband works in a construction company in Santo Domingo, the capital.
Carmela started her business eight years ago. She sells women's and childrens shoes, skin care and hair treatment products, womens handbags, wigs, belts, and so forth. With the loan requested, she will increase her inventory in order to satisfy her customers needs. She will also introduce gold-filled jewelery so as to diversify her inventory and carry a wider range of products for her clientele.",F,625,partner,Retail,0 Dominican Republic,"Carmen defines herself as an energetic and optimistic person with unshakable courage. She has ambitions to achieve great things in life, to improve her living conditions and to help people in her community. She has two daughters and one son, all of whom go to school.
To earn a living and fend for her children, Carmen sells a collection of fashionable underwear to people in her community. She operates her business mainly from her home, but she visits regular customers and friends to offer her goods as well. This entrepreneur plans to use her loan in order to increase her inventory to include pants and shirts. This will allow her to attract new customers and increase her revenue.
Carmen has a clear idea of what she wants for her business in the future. She says that she will have one of the best established stores in the community. Her store is called Kirandys Boutique and is named after her newborn daughter Kirandy.",F,300,partner,Clothing,1 Dominican Republic,"Carmen Eusevio is a young woman in her late twenties. She has four children ages 7, 6, 4 and 2. Carmen and the rest of the members of this group live in a section called Hoyo del Toro, a small settlement on the outskirts of San Pedro de Macoris. Despite being located by a highway exit, there are little signs of progress in this small community. Many of the small entrepreneurs who live in Hoyo del Toro have to go to San Pedro or other communities during the week to sell there. Carmen decided to enter the clothing-sales business as a way to provide for her children. She doesn't have much education, but she is working on her abilities to be a good administrator. She wants to grow to become a clothing distributor and expand her sales to a larger area. Please help us support Carmen and the rest of this group with this Kiva loan. Thank you!",F,975,lender,Clothing,0 Dominican Republic,"Carmen Faviola Santana is the mother of two children, Rodriguez (23) and Rosamera Cabrera (21), and the wife of Ribel Mensero. She currently is selling different types of clothing, shoes, and other personal effects. With this loan she is going to try and buy more products to sell, as well as some things to fix up her shop, which is currently out of her home. In the future, Carmen hopes to be able to have her own store separate from her house and to be able to provide a better life for her family.
NOTE: Carmen is one of five microentrepreneurs in her Bank of Hope solidarity group, all of whom have gone through Esperanza's business training courses. Each of the five members will receive a share of this $800 loan for their respective businesses and will be accountable to each other for repaying their share of this loan together. This group-lending method strengthens social needs in a community and ensures that members cooperate to help one another repay their loans and invest wisely in their businesses and families.",F,800,partner,Clothing,0 Dominican Republic,"Carmen Geronimo (second from right) is a member of La Solucin--a group of entrepreneurs from the city of Saman, Dominican Republic. She has two children who are 9 years old and 2 years old. The two year old is pictured here with her. This is Carmens very first loan and she is excited about beginning a business selling clothing and shoes to those in her neighborhood.
Carmen hopes that with time her business will grow and the profits will help her make a better life for her family. She currently lives in a rented house with her husband, who is a construction worker. The two of them hope that the additional income from Carmens business will allow them to move into a house of their own. Carmens husband is supporting her endeavor and they are both excited about the opportunities that the profits from Carmens business will bring to their family. Carmen and her family are thankful for any help you can offer!",F,975,lender,Clothing,0 Dominican Republic,"Carmen has 4 children, 3 of whom are now pretty much grown up ladies, but she still has to care for her 17-year-old son (the one in the picture). He is blind and has a drain for the fluids that accumulate around a tumor in his brain (apparently the cause for his blindness). They have long since given up on any possibilities to improve this young man's unfortunate condition. However, Carmen realizes she can't give up in searching for ways to maintain herself and this sick child.
For over 18 years now, Carmen has been sellling bedding to earn a livelihood. She now plans to have a better future by using the requested loan to buy more products for resale. She says bedding can be sold at a good profit, there being an ample market for it.",F,425,partner,Clothing,0 Dominican Republic,"Carmen is a 50-year-old widow. Her three grown-up children go to the university and have their own families. So, she is living alone.
Carmen recently started selling womens clothing from her house. She says that earning money on her own and not being totally dependent on other people makes her feel autonomous and gives her more control of her budget.
The entrepreneur is requesting a loan to buy clothing in bulk to sell during the Christmas period. Additional money will be used to help improve her living conditions.",F,375,partner,Clothing,0 Dominican Republic,"Carmen is a busy woman, raising three children (ages: 16, 18, and 23) in the town of San Pedro de Macoris. This will be her second loan with Esperanza, and with her first she started making money by driving people around on a moped that she bought. It operates like a taxi, and she makes about $1 per ride. This loan will help with repairs, gas, and maybe another moped for her oldest child to start working with her. She said that her ambitions for the future are to continue pursuing growth for both herself and her children. Eventually she wants to buy an old car so that she can drive several people around at a time, and increase her profits.
Oh behalf of Esperanza, thank you for your support of this group! God Bless.",F,1625,partner,Transportation,0 Dominican Republic,"Carmen is a hard-working and untiring entrepreneur who strives to provide food and education for nine children. She sells womens clothing in the Yacot community of Santo Domingo. The entrepreneur explains that her childrens education is very important for her future, and that shed do anything to support them so that they can lift themselves up out of poverty.
Carmen is requesting a loan (actually the second one shell take from FSMA) to purchase clothing in bulk to continue her business activity and increase her income. The entrepreneur will do her best to improve her familys lifestyle.",F,250,partner,Clothing,0 Dominican Republic,"Carmen is a highly respected elderly woman in the Cevicos community of Cotu. She is the leader of this group of five women who operate small business so as to make a change in their families' lives. Her five children are grown and most of them live outside the community. Carmen lives with her husband who works for a construction company. Her husband is older than she, and is not as strong as before, so he can't work a lot. Carmen tries to contribute to the family's budget by means of her small grocery store. She's been running this store for about five years, and happily says that her business had never stoped despite the lack of capital and the tough competition. Carmen believes that a loan would be worth its weight in gold, because she'd be able to restock her store and increase her sales volume. She says that goods such as rice, cooking oil, and beans are running low in the grocery store, and she'd like to purchase more of these goods. Carmen hopes that the Kiva lenders will help her to achieve her goals and to improve her family's standard of living. Carmen will receive her loan in conjunction with the following women: Nery Fernandez Marte, a used-clothing retailer. Yngris Farias Hernandez, to purchase shoes and tennis shoes. Mercedes Olanes Cleto, to purchase raw materials to prepare fried vegetables and meat. Ana Antonia Espinal, for a small beauty salon. Photo shows from left to right: Carmen, Nery, Yngris, Mercedes, and Ana.",F,1350,partner,Food,1 Dominican Republic,"Carmen is a woman whose persistence, unshakable courage, and self-confidence have allowed her to succeed in life. Shes forty-three years old and has six children, four of them boys, and all of whom study. Carmen explains that her husband, a taxi driver, has exercised a great influence upon her, and hes been always supporting her and doing his best so that her business can be successful.
Carmen sells natural medicines in Sabana Grande de Boy, in the province of Monte Plata. She says that her business, which she started three years ago, is very profitable and her clientele continues on growing. She operates the business predominantly by walking along the streets every day.
The entrepreneur says that shed like to buy a small, used car in two years so that she can move faster, travel further distances, and attend to new markets.
With her loan, Carmen will buy more natural medicines to keep satisfying her customers needs and increase her income.
Carmen will receive her loan together will these four women:
Angela Lora, who sells womens clothing.
Santa Mara Del Rosario, who sells costume jewelry.
Maribel Contreras Eusebio, a shoe and pants retailer.
Dolores Encarnacin Urea, who sells clothing in the community.
Picture: left to right: Carmen, Angela, Santa Mara, Maribel, and Dolores.",F,1500,partner,Health,1 Dominican Republic,"Carmen is an excellent seamstress who operates a small tailor shop in the Duquesa section of Santo Domingo. She lives with her husband and six children, all of whom are in school. Carmen explains that its hard to bring up six kids while also renting a house and facing other expenses. Nonetheless, this hard-working entrepreneur says that shell continue striving to fulfill her responsibilities as a mother and provide her family with a better life.
With this loan, Carmen will buy cloth and sewing materials to continue operating her business, and to produce some clothing that her customers recently ordered.",F,475,partner,Services,1 Dominican Republic,"Carmen is an older and experienced entrepreneur who lives in the Batey de Palav community of San Cristobal. Her five children are grown and are not living with her.
From her house, Carmen operates a small store, and she offers various products to the clientele, such as perfumes, deodorants, slippers, shirts, pants, beauty products and the like. Carmen explains that her business allows her maintain an adequate lifestyle and support her husband who cannot work anymore.
With her loan, Carmen will buy more products to add to her stock in order to increase her sales volume and her income. The entrepreneur says it is important for her to continue doing her business, because she likes to feel independent and not to wait for money from her children or other people.",F,300,partner,Retail,0 Dominican Republic,"Carmen is taking out her first loan and will be starting a business selling towels throughout her community. Her plan is to buy bulk packages of towels at a discounted price at flea markets. As a street vendor, she will sell the towels in her community and neighboring towns.
Carmen is 54 years old. She lives with two of her four children and her husband. She says that it is her hope to be successful enough with this first loan to take out subsequent ones, and in this way build a substantial business one day. She says she will always work to continue providing her children with security, a safe home, and as many opportunities as she can.
On behalf of everyone here at Esperanza International, and Carmen herself, we thank you for your support with this micro loan!",F,1675,partner,Retail,0 Dominican Republic,"Carmen is working to get a 'license' from the wholesaler of ""Safire"" brand beauty aids in order to sell them via cataloged presentations. With the returns she expects to make out of the sale of these products, she plans to be able to sustain herself together with a now six-month-old child. The father abandoned her, and she must now make it on her own! She lives with her family, as she has no means of getting a house, but her family is as poor as can be, so Carmen needs to come up with at least the basics to maintain herself and the childs food, clothing and transportation needs.
Carmen tells us that she's realized she needs to go back to school to become a professional, so that's another reason why she needs to earn 'as much as the business will afford'. She wouldn't say the profit margin on the beauty aids selling business, but normally it's something in the neighborhood of 100%, so she will probably do well, and start her schooling days in January, as she is now planning to do!",F,275,partner,Retail,0 Dominican Republic,"Carmen Isidra Lantigua is the coordinator of a group called Mujeres Unidas por el Progreso. Her group has five members. The loan will be shared by the members of the group, who run various businesses. Carmen is 38 years old and single. She lives with her mother and three adult children; 20, 22, and 24 years old. She runs a small restaurant where she sells sandwiches, rice and meat, other dishes, and juices. She runs this business from home, and most of her clients live in her neighborhood. She has previously received three loans from Esperanza; this will be her fourth loan. With these loans she has been able to invest in a freezer and gas cylinder. Today she probably sells twice as much as she did before receiving her first loan in June of 2007. She would like to expand her business even further and hopes that one day she will be able to employ another person to help run the business. She thinks that her neighborhood is ready for a larger cafeteria. She would also like to make some home improvements and adds that she would like to find a boyfriend.",F,1850,partner,Food,0 Dominican Republic,"Carmen Lora is a newly widowed woman who is doing her utmost to support three children on her own. Carmen says that shes still crying for her beloved who passed away last month, but at the same time she knows that she has to pluck up courage and struggle to make ends meet. She sells pants and shoes in her community. Each day, she visits friends, regular customers and people in the neighborhood in order to earn something to bring to her kids. Carmen explains that the situation shes going through is very hard , but shes very confident and says that her business will be successful. With her loan, shell buy more goods to add to her stock so that she can satisfy her customers' needs.",F,225,partner,Retail,1 Dominican Republic,"Carmen Mara sells mens and womens clothing in the Caf community of Herrera, Santo Domingo. She lives close to La Pulga, the most famous street market in Santo Domingo. Swarms of people go to La Pulga every Sunday to purchase anything you could possibly need.
Carmen operates her business from her house during the week, but on Sundays she sets up a stall in La Pulga and offers her goods to the passers-by.
With her loan, Carmen will buy more clothing in bulk to replenish her stock so that she can continue selling her goods. It will help Carmen increase her income and improve the living conditions of her two children.",F,300,partner,Clothing,0 Dominican Republic,"Carmen Mara, a kind woman with a hearty laugh, sells fashionable pants and beauty products to the women in the Los Alcarrizos community of Santo Domingo. Carmen is twenty-nine years old and has two sons and one daughter, all of whom attend school. Carmens business supports her children's education.
Carmen wants to expand her business and increase her sales volume. She will use her loan to buy new products and more pants to add to her stock. That way, she will make her business more attractive and get new clients.",F,300,partner,Retail,0 Dominican Republic,"Carmen Mejia is 64 years old and lives in the Kilometro 5 community outside of El Seybo, Dominican Republic. She is the group coordinator for the Bank of Hope called La Fe (The Faith), Group 7. Carmen's experiences with Kiva and Esperanza International are typical of those of her fellow borrowers in La Fe, Group 7.
Carmen runs a small grocery store (called a colmado) in the rural sugarcane-cutting community (called a batey) of Kilometro 5. She is looking to take out her fourth loan with Kiva so she can buy additional merchandise, including juice, bananas, chicken, and vegetables, to sell in her store. Carmen reports that she has had no major problems running her business over the many years that it has been in operation; she can't remember exactly how long ago it was she opened the colmado. Carmen's goals for her business are simple: she wants to sustain her business and keep paying back her loans so she can help support her large family, which includes 12 children and 40 grandchildren!
Carmen is pictured on the far right of the attached photo. Her fellow group members from La Fe are pictured in the front row of the photo.",F,1600,lender,Food,0 Dominican Republic,"Carmen owns and operates a small grocery store in her hometown. She explains that its been hard to maintain cash flow and move her business ahead because of the increasing prices of the goods recently. Carmen has requested a loan to increase her capital in order to purchase the basic foodstuffs she needs to operate her small store. Carmen explains that her business is the main source of income for her family, and she has to guarantee the continuity of the operations to keep supporting her children and improve their living conditions. The businesswoman hopes that someday shell have sufficient money to pay for the university studies of her children.",F,250,partner,Food,1 Dominican Republic,"Carmen says her past loans have helped improve her life a lot; she saves and re-invests almost every penny she makes. She says this loan will help her to buy another pig, which she will breed so that she will have more in about 7-8 months.
Carmen hopes to expand her livestock to include hens and chickens by the end of the year; she knows that a more diverse product can increase her earnings. She is very thankful for her loan, and knows that it will help her to get closer to achieving her dreams.
NOTE: This $1200 loan will fund Carmen's business as well as seven other businesses in her solidarity group. She and seven other women micro-entrepreneurs came to Esperanza and formed their group. They have all gone through Esperanza business training program and will receive equal shares of the loan to invest in their respective business and pay back the loan together. The entire group must pay in full and on time, otherwise group members must make up the deficit before any payment can be made. This creates accountability among the group members because each one shares in the struggles and successes of the other members in their group.",F,1200,partner,Agriculture,0 Dominican Republic,"Carmen Xiomara is a single and positive woman living with her parents in Sabana Grande de Boy, a community located in Monte Plata, about two hours northeast of Santo Domingo. Shes a primary school teacher. To diversify her income, she also sells womens clothing in her neighborhood. Carmen Xiomara is a good dressmaker. Shed like to have her own sewing workshop, but she doesnt have the required materials nor does she have enough money to purchase them. Shell keep saving money so that someday she can have her workshop. Carmen feels strong concern for children who dont have the opportunity to attend school. She plans to expand a small organization she started recently with other teachers. Beginning next January, she expects to receive funds from different social organizations and utilize them to improve education and alleviate hunger of unprivileged children. We hope that Carmen will succeed in her endeavor, since there are many children that need this help. Carmen has requested a loan to buy more clothing to retail during the holidays period. She says that shell do her utmost to repay it quickly so that she can take a larger loan very soon. Carmen will receive her loan together with the following women: Segunda Mejia Javier, who sells used and new clothing; Teodora Cabrera, who sells jewelry; Yenni Isabel Peralta Garcia, who sells footwear; In the picture, Carmen Xiomara is first on the left.",F,1300,lender,Retail,1 Dominican Republic,"Carmen, 38 years old, is a single mother of two boys. She has been separated from her first husband, and during her second pregnancy, her last partner left her. Consequently, she had to take care of her family on her own.
One year and three months ago, she started to sell gold-filled jewelry such as necklaces, bracelets, rings and earrings. As she makes business with friends and very trustworthy persons, she sells on credit and allows a fortnight to the customers to pay the products. That practice has helped her get a lot of customers.
Now, the entrepreneur would like to enlarge her client portfolio. She needs a loan to buy a large quantity of jewelry so she can sell more to her existing clientele and attract new clients with some special Christmas offers she plans to give during the two next months.",F,250,partner,Retail,0 Dominican Republic,"Carmencita is a single mother who has been selling clothing for twelve years in order to support five children. She lives with her family in the Ochocienta community of Santo Domingo. Her business is well-known in the community, and every day many people visit her shop to purchase garments. Carmencita explains that the competition is very hard in Ochocienta, so from time to time she offers attractive discounts on her products in order to attract new customers and increase her sales.
Currently, Carmencita is in short supply of inventory and she wants to replenish her stock. So, this entrepreneur has applied for a loan in order to buy more clothing in bulk. This will allow her to keep running her business and will contribute to her childrens well being.
With this loan, Carmencita will be one step closer to achieving her goals and her children will have a better future.",F,475,partner,Clothing,1 Dominican Republic,"Carolina Barett (far left), is a member of the Mujeres con Cristo group in the city of Saman, Dominican Republic. She has two children, ages 16 and 8 months, and currently lives with her mom. Carolina is seeking her first loan with Esperanza, and is excited to start her own business selling household cleaning products to others in her neighborhood. Recognizing that she herself frequently buys cleaning products, and observing that her neighbors do the same, Carolina is seeking to cater her business to this demand. Her inventory will include, among other products, detergent, soap and cleaning tools. Carolina wishes to better her life, and the life of her children, through the profits her new business will bring. She not only wants to watch her business grow, but seeks to apply the profits to purchase a new house. While she currently lives with her mom, she brightens at the thought of having a house in which her 8-month-old child can grow up. Carolina is very appreciative of any support you are able to provide!",F,975,lender,Retail,0 Dominican Republic,"Carolina is a young and perseverant woman who is looking forward to making a living, supporting her studies and contributing to her familys income. Carolina lives with her parents who are not working currently. She wants to start selling womens underwear and clothing in her community. Carolina explains that she had been thinking about starting her business months ago, but the access to credit is very limited in the sector. She considers receiving a loan from our microcredit program a golden opportunity, and she swears shell do her utmost to make her business grow so that she can reach her goals. Carolina would like to study marketing at the university. She says that a good education is the only way for her to escape poverty. Carolina will receive her loan together with the following women, all of whom sell clothing in the community: Lovely Deralus Yrland Jean Lowise Marie Meteluz Rojeline Fransua The picture shows from left to right: Carolina, Lovely, Yrland, Lowise and Rojeline.",F,1475,lender,Clothing,1 Dominican Republic,Casimira is a high school graduate and mother of six who makes her living by selling new clothes from her home. She will use this loan to expand her inventory with a greater variety and to purchase clothing in bulk so people in her community can have a greater selection when they come to purchase new attire. She hopes to have her own store one day. Please help Casimira and her group expand their business. Thank you.,F,625,lender,Clothing,0 Dominican Republic,"Catalina Beltres Encarnacin, age 71, has been a member of Esperanza's program for almost ten years. Her first business was a fruit stand, which she started with a loan of $90. In September 1998, hurricane George caused massive devastation to the Dominican Republic and surrounding Caribbean countries. Catalina lost her husband and her business. After several loans, Catalina demonstrated her resiliance and has since started a new clothing business. This loan of $450 will allow Catalina to increase her inventory and branch out into new styles. Her goal is to continue expanding her business.",F,450,partner,Clothing,0 Dominican Republic,"Catalina has always worked in the mini-market business, but she just started this new one two years ago. With help of her son, she manages this new business. She receives her supplies from a man who delivers them to her door. She started this new business because her old mini-market didn't work as she intended and lost money. In her business she sells rice, beans, and soup, amongst other things.
She lives in the small community of La Cola, is married, and is the proud mother of seven children, 3 girls and 4 boys.",F,375,partner,Food,0 Dominican Republic,"Catalina is in her early thirties, and for the last eight years has operated a grocery store. Her business is popular because of the many items she has to sell, and because she is such a kind and thoughtful person. Catalina is committed to protect and expand this tradition of excellence in customer service so that her business can keep growing. She plans to do that with a new loan, which will allow her to purchase new items -- such as beer, rice and fresh pork -- to sell to her customers. Catalina's long-term goal is to open a new store in a location she owns, because this will allow her to increase her income and take better care of her six children.",F,1075,partner,Food,0 Dominican Republic,"Catalina, 26, is happily married and the mother of four children (three boys and a girl). Except the youngest, who is just two years old, they go to the public school of the township. Her husband is working in a construction company in the same township. Catalina has a grocery store and a small beauty salon in her house. She started the business about two years ago. She sells basic foodstuff like potatoes, bananas, carrots, onions, and other groceries that people cant easily get in the area. At night, she sells soups and drinks. She also offers hairdos and hair straightening. The entrepreneur is asking for a loan to expand her inventory in order to better satisfy the customers' needs. This way, shell be able to help her husband financially support the family.",F,325,partner,Food,0 Dominican Republic,"Cecilia Elisa is a dynamic and very positive woman. Every single day is a huge opportunity for her to contribute to the beauty and well-being of the women of my community, she used to say, referring to her business of selling beauty products. Cecilia started running this business three years ago, when she realized that her husbands salary (hes a messenger) could no longer support all the familys expenses.
Currently, shes operating her business mainly from her house, but sometimes she visits her friends and people of the nearby neighborhood to offer her products and attract potential clients to her business.
Cecilia is requesting a loan to purchase wholesale products in order to meet her customers needs and increase her revenue. The entrepreneur wants to keep trying hard to lift her family out of poverty.",F,450,partner,Retail,1 Dominican Republic,"Cecilia had two children. One is 37-years-old and the other passed away. She is the proud grandmother of a 21-year-old and will probably live to be a great-grandmother in the near future. Culturally, people marry very young in the Dominican Republic. Cecilias business consists of sewing clothes to sell. In order to do this, she needs to be able to buy fabric. With the loan money, she can buy more fabric to grow her business and take better care of herself and her family. She dreams of living a better life and helping her grandkids live better than she has.
Note: This is a group loan. In a group loan, each member of the group receives an individual loan but is part of a group of individuals bound by a group guarantee. Under this arrangement, each member of the group supports one another and is responsible for paying back the loans of their fellow group members if someone is delinquent or defaults.",F,625,partner,Clothing,0 Dominican Republic,"Cecilia has a ventorrillo, a business selling chicken, salad, vegetables and ripe fruits in Chcaro, in the community of Yamas. Vegetables and fruits are commonly consumed by people of that community. Therefore, her products are in high demand.
Currently, Cecilia has a weekly profit of USD 60.00. She is forty-six years old; she and her husband have three school-going sons. Her husband works for a construction company. For more than fifteen years, she has been running her business, which is the principal source of income of the family.
Cecilia would like to give her family a better standard of living. With her loan, she will purchase more products to replenish her small store.
",F,450,partner,Food,0 Dominican Republic,"Cecilia is forty-five years old and runs a cafeteria in her community. She is also the mother of five children. Everyday, from early in the morning to late into the night, people in the surroundings visit her cafeteria to get traditional Dominican meals she prepares with love. Cecilia has been running the cafeteria for more than three years, and currently has a well-established clientele.Cecilia plans to expand her business and hopes in five years time that she will have a big locale where she can operate a comfortable cafeteria. With her loan, she will make the purchase of raw materials to keep producing her delicious meals for her customers.
",F,300,partner,Food,0 Dominican Republic,"Cecilia Vargas Cueto is the leader of the Bank of Hope called ""Jesus es Nuestra Esperanza"" or in English, ""Jesus is our Hope."" Cecilia has six children, whose ages range from 17-37. She lives with her husband Monserat who is 61 years old. Some recent problems she has faced were the deaths of her father and a sister. Her dreams for the future are to make progress in and expand her business and continue to live with her family. Thank you for your interest in Cecilia!",F,1150,partner,Retail,0 Dominican Republic,"Cecilia, a thirty-five year old single mother, sells mens and womens clothing in the Hortaliza community of Yamas. Cecilia says that she is very careful in selecting the clothes for her inventory; she adds the items of clothing to her stock in accordance with customer demand and according to the season. Cecilia will use her loan to buy suitable garments to refill her stock. The entrepreneur has three school-age children and her small business supports the entire family.",F,175,partner,Clothing,0 Dominican Republic,"Cecilla Luis is a Esperanza International borrower who is hoping to receive her seventh loan. She has a small business selling her artwork, being a very talented painter. She has two young children and lives in an extremely poor area in Seybo, Dominican Republic. Before she began this business selling her artwork, Cecilla had a really hard time providing for her children. She did not have a steady income and her family were living day to day. Since Cecilla took out her first loan she has been growing her business, and now she can finally provide the basic comforts for her family. She wants to continue growing her business and dreams of having both her children attend a university and better their lives. She is loving what she does and is happy that she can call her business her own. She is excited about her next loan, and can't wait to see what the future holds for her and her family!",F,975,partner,Arts,0 Dominican Republic,"Cefesina, 23 years old, owns a little grocery store (colmado) which she started two years ago. Shes living with her 3-year-old daughter and had been separated from her daughters father. Bread, juice, tomato paste, peas, spices are some of the foodstuffs that are sold in her grocery store.Cefesina needs a loan to remodel her colmado. She plans to buy lumber and sheet iron and pay a craftsman to do the job. She will also use some of the money to buy more products like flour, sugar and other foodstuffs that people in the community frequently need.",F,375,partner,Food,0 Dominican Republic,"Celenia is 22 years old and an up-and-coming entrepreneur. She used to work as a saleswoman in the past for a clothing company. As she considers that she has enough experience to start her own business, and also in order to pay for her upcoming university studies, she plans on starting a small business selling mens and women's underwear. Celenia believes that this way, she'll get better wages and will be able to achieve her goals in life.
The young entrepreneur hopes that this new business will allow her to have a better education, which is a must to be successful in her society. Celenia counts on the open-handedness of the Kiva lenders to help her improve her life.
Celenia will receive her loan together with her group's members:
Cornelia Rodriguez Prensa, a hard-working woman who sells clothing,
Nicaurys Geralda Marinez Cuevas, who sells footwear,
Cruz Vasquez Jimenez, who sells women's clothing,
Sergia Rosario Encarnacion, who sells pants and shoes.",F,1275,partner,Clothing,1 Dominican Republic,"Celenia Sanchez is a 46-year-old woman who lives in a small town in the eastern province of Hato Mayor in the Dominican Republic. Two years ago she opened a small colmado, or store that sells staple foods and accessories. But she lacks enough capital to buy inventory for her store. The money from this loan will go towards buying oil, rice, sugar and flour to sell to her customers. Celenia said that she hopes to continue to grow her business so that she will be able to support her five children (ages 21, 20, 19, 17, and 16) and continue providing them with the education they need to obtain good jobs in the future.
Celenia leads a five-person group, El Eden III. Each of these Dominican entrepreneurs unites in solidarity, so that they can secure access to funding that they would never otherwise be able to receive on their own. One of the other women in the group has a small salon, one prepares and sells food in the street and the others sell clothing.
On behalf of Celenia, the El Eden group, and the entire team here at Esperanza International, we thank you for your support for this group!",F,2000,partner,Food,0 Dominican Republic,"Celenia Santana is a 35-year-old woman who lives with her husband and three children (ages 9, 7, and 4) in a small Haitian community called Guayabal in the eastern province of Hato Mayor in the Dominican Republic. She began a small business selling clothing 2 years ago and is using the loan to increase her inventory. Celenia travels by bus from town to town selling her products to the small communities in the countryside as many of these rural people do not have the means to travel to town to do their shopping. She started this clothing business to earn additional income so that she can provide her family with a good education and comfortable home. In Celenias free time, she enjoys going to church, reading the Bible, and spending time with her children.
Celenia is the leader of the 15-person micro-bank group, La Bendicin. In English, this means ""the blessing."" Each of these unique Dominican entrepreneurs unite in solidarity, allowing them to access funding that they would otherwise never be able to receive on their own. On behalf of Celenia, the Bendicin group, and the entire team here at Esperanza International, we thank you for your support with this $3275 micro loan!",F,3275,partner,Clothing,0 Dominican Republic,"Celeste (middle) is the coordinator of her group of five women named Unidas Para Seguir. She lives with her husband Salvador and 1-year-old son in their house just outside of Saman, Dominican Republic, and this is her first loan with Esperanza.
Celeste currently sells various fruit juices from her home, and she says that many people come from all over her neighborhood to buy her juice. She sells juices varying from cantaloupe, to mango, to cherry, and various mixtures of other fruits. Celeste noticed that no one in the area was selling juices, and decided that she would be able to sell her juice easily due to the abundance of hot days in the Dominican Republic year-round. Now, business is brisk with people seeking a refreshing drink on any given hot day.
Celeste, with her supportive husband encouraging her in her business endeavor, is seeking to use the profits from selling juice in order to continue her studies at a university. She wants to someday be a teacher, and the money that her new business will bring in is going to help her afford the necessary classes. This in turn will allow her to help provide a better home for her child, and a better living situation for the family, in addition to her husbands income.
For additional loans from Esperanza which still need funding, click the link at the bottom of this profile. Youll see a list of other groups in the Dominican Republic, full of people just like Celeste, striving to help make a better life for themselves and their family.
http://www.kiva.org/app.php?page=businesses&partner_id=44&status=fundRaising&sortBy=New+to+Old",F,475,lender,Food,0 Dominican Republic,"Celestina is forty-four years old and she and her husband have two girls aged twenty-two and twenty-six years. Celestina has been selling womens clothing and men's and women's shoes in her community for more than three years. She says that doing business is the only way she knows to lift her family from poverty. We cant wait for others or the government to do something for us; we have to work a lot to earn our living, she says.
Until now, Celestina has operated her business from her house, but she plans to rent another location someday to make her goods more accessible to her customers. With her loan, Celestina will buy clothing in bulk to continue to build her business.",F,250,partner,Clothing,0 Dominican Republic,"Celida Espino Calcano and her husband Victor have eight children and 14 grandchildren. Her small grocery store, named ""Colmado Anaceli after her second daughter, sells food staples, household items and cooking ingredients to her neighborhood of La Pacuala in the northern peninsula of Samana. She would like this loan to continue to restock her store with rice, salt, sugar, filtered water packets, etc. She puts everything that she saves back into the store and she hopes to expand with this loan to increase profits and therefore savings to provide better for her family.
NOTE: Celida is one of five microentrepreneurs in her Bank of Hope solidarity group, which have all gone through Esperanza's business training courses. Each of the five members will receive a share of this $750 loan for their respective businesses and will be accountable to each other for repaying their share of this loan together. This group-lending method strengthens social needs in a community and ensures that members cooperate to help one another repay their loans and invest wisely in their business and family.",F,750,partner,Food,0 Dominican Republic,"Celina Florentino is the representative of the group ""Fe y Progreso"" which mean Faith and Progression. Celina is a hardworking mother to five children and wants to open her own store one day. This group has 19 other loan recipients who are eager to start their business! The businesses range from food vender to beauty salon. On behalf of Celina, her group, and everyone at Esperanza International---- we thanks you for your support!",F,4250,partner,Food,0 Dominican Republic,"Celita, a forty year old woman and mother of seven children, sells an assortment of perfumes, deodorants, hand and body lotion, and men's and womens clothing, in the Mata San Juan community of Santo Domingo. She operates her business predominantly in her house, but also she visits people in the neighborhood to sell her products.
This entrepreneur plans to use her loan to add new products to her inventory. She will buy new brands of perfumes and deodorants to attract new customers and increase her income. Celitas business is the main source of income of the family.
",F,475,partner,Retail,0 Dominican Republic,"Celsa is a 48 year-old woman who lives with her three children in Luperon, Dominican Republic. When we arrived in Luperon she was behind her house killing chicken to supply the meat for her small restaurant that she runs. Celsa is famous for her Dominican soup, which has big chunks of fresh vegetables, chicken, and spices. She wants to use her loan to buy more food for her comedor including rice, live chicken, and vegetables. When Celsa isnt working or caring for her children, she enjoys going to church and helping out in the community. She hopes that in the future she will have a bigger and nicer restaurant, and that she will be able to help the orphans in Luperon by making them lunch every day.Thank you to all of the Kiva lenders who will help these entrepreneurs realize a better future!",F,1550,partner,Food,0 Dominican Republic,"Cerna Antoinne is a middle-aged mother with two daughters. When asked about her dreams for her future, she replies, For now, I just have to keep moving ahead. Her first loan from Esperanza allowed her to do just that, and now she has returned for a second. Cerna sells rice, chicken and beans from her home in Puerto Plata, Dominican Republic. When she is not preparing food at lunch time, she sells pants, shoes, shirts and blouses in the street and from her home. She will use the money from this loan to buy more food to cook and sell, as well as to buy more clothing to sell in the street. Cerna Antoinne leads a 10-person group, Mujeres Trabajadores Elegantes, which means Elegant Working Women."" Each of these Dominican entrepreneurs unites with the others in solidarity, allowing them to access funding that they would never otherwise be able to get on their own. This group pays its loan back together to reduce the risk of one person defaulting, as the others gladly help cover one anothers payments in order to receive their next loan together. Each woman has her own individual business, but finds support from the others as they come together every two weeks to learn business skills and make their payments together. On behalf of Cerna, Mujeres Trabajadores Elegantes and the entire team here at Esperanza International, we thank you for your support and awareness of the global issue of poverty, and for your commitment to make a difference.",F,2275,partner,Clothing,0 Dominican Republic,"Cinerca, mother of 3 children, is a very diligent, dynamic and visionary 42-year-old woman. Her husband buys and retails iron and other types of metal. Five years ago, she started a stationary store in Hato Nuevo and since then she's been working hard to make her business grow and be useful for the community.
Cinerca's customers include schools in the area, little businesses, churches and so forth. Due to the growing needs of the clients for other kinds of writing materials and office supplies and so as to diversify her range of products, Cinerca wants to purchase Bristol paper, Fabriano watercolor paper, handmade paper, glossy paper, and also accessories like glue and so forth. She also wants to purchase articles that people usually need during the holiday season. A loan will help her carry out her projects and earn sufficient money as to help her husband face their housing issues.",F,325,partner,Retail,0 Dominican Republic,"Cirila Calcano is the representative of this group of five people. Cirila is from an extremely poor area in Samana, Dominican Republic. She is looking for a loan to help increase her small business of selling clothing. She buys clothing from other cities at a cheap price, then sells them in her area for a profit. Cirila is the mother of very young children, and is responsible for their health and education. Before her small business, she had no job and was barely able to feed her children. She started her small business with her first loan from Esperanza International, and has been slowly increasing her business. She feels like this next loan will really help her increase the business size, and start generating more income. She said that she finally feels like she has something of her own, and is so happy that she can provide for her children. She dreams of having both her children attend a university so they can have a better life. She is very excited for what the future holds for her!",M,1025,partner,Clothing,0 Dominican Republic,"Cirila, 29, is married and has two boys, ages 7 and 8. Her husband works in a cement factory.
For seven years, Cirila has been selling womens clothing and fashionable shoes to the members of her community. She gets the goods outside the community, mostly in Santo Domingo, the capital; sometimes she goes to purchase garments in Elas Pia, a border town in Haiti where goods can be obtained at very low prices.
Currently, Cirila sells her clothing at a flea market since she doesnt have her own locale where she can run her business. She hopes that in a few years she will be able to buy a locale where she will run her big store.
With the loan requested here (her second one with FSMA), she will purchase clothing in bulk so that she wont have to make as frequent trips outside her community to get those goods.",F,1200,partner,Clothing,0 Dominican Republic,"Clara and her story are typical of the ""Trabajando Para el Futuro"" Bank of Hope; she belongs to a group of 10 men and women who work hard to improve their lives through the help of their small loans. Each of these men and women has taken out a similar loan to that of Clara's.
Clara Ventura has lived slowly, accomplishing two dreams: finishing a house and building a boutique. She sells clothes for her clients and is always searching for more customers.
Clara has five children aged 28, 27, 24, 21, and 18. She has lived her life fighting to get them where they are living at present. She has lived with her children in a small town in San Pedro de Macoris, also referred to as Macoris of the Sea, in the Dominican Republic.
""VIDA"" is the group she is part of with seven other women and two men. They all are looking for loans in order to better their futures. They probably will be able to since each day there are people like you who want to help. On behalf of all of the group members, and our team here at ""Esperanza"", thank you for your support!
",F,1900,partner,Clothing,0 Dominican Republic,"Clara Carollina is in her early thirties and has four daughters from age three to fourteen. Her husband works as coach of a small college baseball team. To supplement her familys revenue, Clara has been selling womens clothing for six years, and she now has well established customers. Clara Carollina doesnt feel comfortable receiving customers in her humble house and wants to rent a shop to expand her clientele. Clara Carollina will invest her loan to boost her inventory and add new items to her stock. She plans to keep working hard to provide a good education for her beloved daughters.",F,300,partner,Clothing,1 Dominican Republic,"Clara Celeste, a thirty-three year old mother of two school-going children, owns and operates a cafeteria in San Cristobal. Because she has to take care of her children during the day, in addition to cooking for her cafe, her sister-in-law helps her to attend to her customers.
Clara Celeste is very confident and affirms that she cooks like nobodys business! Thats why she thinks her business will keep on growing and being successful in the upcoming years.
This entrepreneur is requesting her second loan from FSMA to buy more goods in order to introduce new typical Dominican dishes and increase her revenue. Clara Celeste would like to improve her familys living conditions.
",F,475,partner,Food,0 Dominican Republic,"Clara is a successful entrepreneur who sells underwear, bedclothes and curtains to women of the Los Alcarrizos community of Santo Domingo. Clara has seven children, four of them girls, all of whom attend school. Clara has been running her business for four years, and currently she has a well-established clientele. She operates the business predominantly from her house, but sometimes she visits people of the surrounding areas to offer and sell her products.Clara will use her loan to purchase more goods in order to increase her sales volume and her income.",F,450,partner,Retail,1 Dominican Republic,"Clara lives with her two children (ages: 20 and 18) in the small town of Samana. This will be her 5th loan with Esperanza, and with this money she has opened her own store selling clothes and jewelry. She wants to use this next loan to buy more chains, earrings, rings, pants, shirts, and blouses in order to continue expanding her small shop. Clara told us that her favorite foods are rice and beans and her favorite pastime is playing dominos with her friends. Her goal for the future is to continue saving money through Esperanzas voluntary savings program.
On behalf of these 5 entrepreneurs and Esperanza, we would like to thank you for your encouragement and support! We can watch together as this loan changes these entrepreneurs over the next six months. God Bless!",F,1875,partner,Clothing,0 Dominican Republic,"Clara Santa Ana has turned her cooking skills into a steady source of income for her and her two children - Rudy (19) and Wilki (15). After suffering a severe injury while working in an industrial Free Zone near her home in San Pedro de Macoris, she lost the use of her left arm, but began cooking and selling home-cooked meals to families in her community to support her family financially. This loan will go towards purchasing new equipment and more food to increase her production and lead her to greater profits, which will help her save up enough to one day purchase a prosthetic limb. NOTE: Clara and four other micro-entrepreneurs are part of a solidarity group designed by Esperanza to create a social network and accountability system. Clara and every other member in her group will receive an equal share of this $1,200 loan to develop their own businesses to support their families. They also provide ongoing advice for each other and help one another make payments on their loans. This group-lending method has proven to be a highly effective way to ensure accountability and support.",F,1000,partner,Food,0 Dominican Republic,"Claribel Mota is a 30-year-old woman who lives with her husband and three children (ages 13, 7, and 6) in a small community called Las Palmillas in the eastern province of Hato Mayor in the Dominican Republic. She began a small business selling clothing earlier this year and wants to use the loan to increase her inventory.
Claribel travels by bus from town to town selling her products to the small communities in the countryside, as many of these rural people do not have the means to travel to town to do their shopping. Claribel also has a small hair salon in her house where she serves friends and neighbors when she is not out selling the clothing. She has started this clothing business to earn additional income so that she can provide her children with a good education and comfortable home. It is her hope that they become professionals one day. In Claribels free time, she enjoys reading and spending time with her family.
Claribel is the leader of the 10-person micro-bank group, Rayo de Luz. In English, this means `ray of light. Each of these unique Dominican entrepreneurs unite in solidarity, allowing them to access funding that they would otherwise never be able to receive on their own. On behalf of Claribel, the Rayo de Luz group, and the entire team here at Esperanza International, we thank you for your support with this micro loan!",F,1725,partner,Clothing,0 Dominican Republic,"Clarissa is a young and promising entrepreneur, mother of two girls and one boy that all go to school. Clarissa and her husband have been selling vegetables in their community for more than five years. Each day, she leaves her house early in the morning to go to public places in order to sell her goods. In the afternoon, she receives visits of friends and neighbors that want to buy her goods. Clarissa says that her business is very profitable, and she plans to keep carrying it on to maintain a comfortable lifestyle for her family. She is requesting a loan of $450 so this young and mature businesswoman can buy more vegetables to restock her business.",F,450,partner,Food,1 Dominican Republic,"Claudette Jean provides her neighbors with essential supplies and food by running a small general store in her community of Munoz in the northern province of Puerto Plata in the Dominican Republic. Claudette is 29-years-old and raises her four children Angelo (16), Wendy (8), Luisa (12) and three-year-old Emilia. Claudette has been a successful participant in Esperanza's program in the past and is a member of an Esperanza Bank of Hope, which is a group of micro-entrepreneurs in a given community who go through business training and hold one another accountable to pay off their loans. With this $200 loan, Claudette plans to expand her clothing inventory in order to widen the variety of goods available at her shop.",F,200,partner,Retail,0 Dominican Republic,"Claudia is a 32-year-old entrepreneur and mother of two daughters, who are 5 and 16 years old, respectively. Three years ago, Claudia started her own business where she cooks fried dishes. Claudia produces her goods at home, and she then sells her goods in the public place because she does not own a separate establishment from which to operate the business.
The entrepreneur plans on using her loan to buy more materials in order to produce more specialty fried dishes and to thereby increase her income. Claudia hopes that, someday, she will have enough money to buy a small house where she and her family can live comfortably.",F,250,partner,Food,0 Dominican Republic,"Claudia is thirty-seven years old and she and her husband have six children, five of whom are girls. Claudia is the proprietor of a beauty salon that supplies hair care products and accessories.
Claudia plans on using her loan to purchase additional items for her salon. She wants to add a small selection of womens clothing to the beauty products her salon already provides, explaining that, with the new products, her customers can visit the salon for all their beauty and fashion needs. Claudia believes that her business is an important source of stability for her family, helping them to navigate the unexpected challenges that all families face.",F,300,partner,Clothing,0 Dominican Republic,"Claudia lives in Samana, in the eastern part of the Dominican Republic. She has raised three wonderful children (ages: 25, 22, and 20) and now focuses on her small colmado business, which provides much needed necessities to her community. She wants to use this loan to buy more rice, beans, sugar, bread, and milk for her store. When Claudia has free time, she enjoys going to church and talking with the other women in her community.
This will be Claudias 5th loan with Esperanza, and we hope that more women in her community will follow her example. On behalf of these women and Esperanza, thank you for your support and generosity!",F,3525,partner,Food,0 Dominican Republic,"Claudio and Sonya Vargas live in the community of Las Avispas, the Dominican Republic, with their three children (ages: 8, 7, 5). To support their family, Sonya sells fruit and jewelry at a small shop in her community. Her dream is that she'll have a large and successful business in the future, so that she will be able to help other women in her community. Her favorite foods are lentils, meat, and rice and in her free time she likes to attend church with her friends in Las Avispas.
She and four other women have applied for loan of $1,025 U.S. dollars so they can all achieve the dreams of a better life.",F,1025,partner,Retail,0 Dominican Republic,"Cleidy, a brilliant university student and budding entrepreneur, lives with her parents in the Gina section of Santo Domingo. In order to contribute to the familys income and continue her studies, Cleidy sells a collection of stylish shoes and pants. She operates her business mainly from her childhood home, but regularly visits friends and neighbors to offer her products. She also sells to the students and teachers at her university.
This young entrepreneur plans to use her loan to add new items to her inventory so that she can diversify her stock and attract new clients.
Cleidy is a responsible person. A few months ago, she took a loan from FSMA, used it wisely and made repayments on time.",F,600,partner,Retail,1 Dominican Republic,"Clemena is 20 years old and has three sons (ages 4, 2 and 1). For over two years, she has been in the business of selling cake and natural fruit juice. Her weekly profit is $60.00. Her biggest overhead expense in this business is buying ice for the drinks. She is requesting a loan of $250 so she can purchase a used freezer, which will enable her to chill more beverages cheaply and earn more profit from her sales. It will also help her raise the income to take care of her sons and allow the eldest to begin school next year.",F,250,partner,Food,0 Dominican Republic,"Clemencia has been selling used women's clothing for a long time in the low-income San Francisco community of San Cristobal. This entrepreneur lives in very difficult conditions, and her revenue barely enables her to take care of her four children.
This loan is to invest in more clothing with the purpose of increasing her sales volume and therefore her income. Clemencia believes that with hard work and sacrifices, she'll be able to provide a better lifestyle for her children. Clemencia says that she'll do her best to repay the loan on the dot.",F,150,partner,Clothing,1 Dominican Republic,"Clemencia lives with her three children (ages: 14, 12, and 4) in a small community on the eastern peninsula of the Dominican Republic. Right now she sells clothing, but she wants to use this loan in order to buy more shirts, blouses, and jeans to sell and she also wants to add some curtains and interior decorations to her small business. In the future she wants to continue working in order to overcome the difficulties in her life. Clemencia told us that she enjoys studying in her free time, but usually she doesn't have much time to do that.
10 of the women in this bank have taken out a previous loan with Esperanza, but 5 of them are applying for loans for the first time! We are very excited for this group, and we want to thank all the Kiva lenders that make this possible. God Bless!",F,2550,partner,Clothing,0 Dominican Republic,"Cleonice is the proud mother of five children and an outstanding entrepreneur. She's been operating a ""ventorillo"" (fruit and vegetable stand) for the past seven years in Sabana Palenque, a community of San Cristobal. Her business has been profitable, and she has been able to take care of her children. She's requesting a loan buy more goods so she can increase her sales volume and her income. Cleonice has established a good credit history over the past years, and she says she'll continue on doing her best to make her business successful and to repay the loan.",F,450,partner,Food,1 Dominican Republic,"Cleotilde is the kind of woman that wants to do everything she can to succeed and improve her situation in life. She is 45, married and the mother of 3 children, 2 boys and a girl. When shes not in her beauty salon, that she has owned now for almost 25 five years, shes selling Jafras cosmetics and skin care products to the people of her community. Her salon was the first one built in her area and customers come for the quality and professionalism of her work. Shes one of the few people that have an electric generator so her salon can work even with the power cut. Even though she studied Nursing, Cleotilde had never had to work in a hospital or a health center, because her business provides her a higher income than working as a nurse. In fact, she earns between 10.000 and 15.000 Dominican pesos a month (US $ 1.00 =33 pesos) from her beauty salon. Now, she really thinks things could be better if she could remodel the salon. She also plans to put a showcase into the salon to exhibit some beauty samples to her customers. All those plans will be possible if she can borrow US$ 375.00.",F,375,partner,Services,0 Dominican Republic,"Cloreta Yan lives in a very poor Haitian community outside of El Seybo with her husband, her youngest child (18 years old) and two grandchildren. Her three other children (ages 22, 26 and 29) live in the city of Higuey. Cloreta has a small collection of food products, a paletera, that she stores in her house and sells to her neighbors. She says the most difficult thing about her business is having enough money to buy rice, because it is in high demand but also very expensive. Cloreta has successfully paid back four loans to Esperanza and is now requesting her fourth. With this loan of $900, she plans to buy even more products to sell so that she can increase her profits and improve her way of life. She and the other four members of her group are pictured here, meeting with their loan officer to prepare to receive the next loan. This group is part of the larger Bank of Hope called Mujeres Unidas, or United Women.
Note: This is a group loan for five people. The loan funds will be distributed among the group members, each of whom will invest in her own business. The members mutually guarantee one another's loans. If one member does not repay, the other members are responsible.",F,900,partner,Food,0 Dominican Republic,"Colaboradores 3 is made up of five people trying to receive their third loan with Kiva's partner, Esperanza International. Each member has already started their very own small business, and has started to experience some sort of success.
This group is from an extremely poor area in San Pedro, Dominican Republic, and most have lived in this area their entire lives. Before receiving their first loans, each member was having a hard time providing for their families, let alone themselves. Hopefully this next loan will enable each member to increase the size of their small business, and to improve their standard of living.
Dilcia Gabriel is the representative of this group, and was more than happy to talk to us about her situation and life. Dilcia lives with her husband and her six young children (all under the age of 17). Each day has been a struggle for Dilcia and her husband to feed her six children, and also make sure they are getting to school. She knows that going to school and receiving an education is the only way for her children to break the cycle of poverty, and for that reason she does whatever she can to get them to school.
Before receiving her first loan, Dilcia was not bringing in an income, and just relied on her husband's job. She felt useless, and felt that she was not an important piece of the family. Dilcia took out her first loan and started a small business making and selling food in her area. Since she is an excellent cook and a hard worker, her business did well and she was able to pay back all her loans and save some money.
Now she is going on her third loan, and hopes with this next loan she can expand her business even more. She said she finally feels like a contributer to the family, and feels like she is going to be able to provide her children with everything they could need! She is so happy about having her own small business, and is excited for the future for the first time in her life.
She wants to thank everyone for the help they have provided her! Thanks for all your support and for enabling people like Dilcia to change their future!",F,1125,lender,Food,0 Dominican Republic,"Colacina Santana is the group coordinator for the Creciendo Hacia el Futuro Bank of Hope. The loan will be divided among the nine people in the group, who run various businesses. Colacina has three children. She operates a grocery store. She plans to use her portion of the loan to restock her grocery. She wants to expand her business and increase her daily profits. Thank you for your interest in this group!",F,3425,partner,Food,0 Dominican Republic,"Coleta (54 years old) is engaged, with her husbands help, in selling basic foodstuff and other goods in her colmado, a typical Dominican small store where simple goods are sold. The couple has 5 children who are unemployed. For more than four years, her business has had a positive impact in the community, since it brings in a convenient manner goods that otherwise people would obtain in the town, which requires a walk of more than two hours.
Coleta wants to purchase new types of products in order to increase the variety of goods that her business brings to the community, so that people can have access to a wider range of basic goods. She also aims to augment her profit so that she can better face her family issues.",F,375,partner,Food,0 Dominican Republic,"Confesora is a successful and multifaceted entrepreneur who lives in the Chacuey Abajo community of Cotu. She'd been raising livestock for a long time, but she sold most of the animals and that activity is no longer her principal source of livelihood. Currently, Confesora runs a beauty parlor which is very successful. She has a lot experience in the matter and the customers, very satisfied, always come back to her salon.
Confesora offers a wide range of services that include hair straightening, hair cuts, hairdo, nails, and all. The entrepreneur plans on using her loan to add wigs, acrylic nails, hair lotions and other beauty products that have been running low in her salon. She hopes that her clientele will keep growing so that she can increase her revenue and support her kids better.
Confesora has three children; two attend secondary school and one goes to the university. She's been separated from her husband for a long time, and so on her own she's supporting the family.
The entrepreneur will receive the loan together with the following women:
Maria Capellan Gomez, who produces fried food,
Roma Arias Lora, a clothing retailer,
Ana Josefa Jerez, who sells footwear, and
Cristina Polanco, who sells sweets and candies;
The photo shows from left to right, Maria, Roma, Ana Josefa, Confesora, and Cristina.",F,950,partner,Services,1 Dominican Republic,"Constancia is an ambitious woman with a great sense of humor and vibrant personality. She lives in La Viara, a small village in Puerto Plata, with her husband and two children. You would never know she is 42 years old since she active, energetic, and young-spirited. When she is not working she enjoys spending time with her family and watching television. Although rice and beans are the typical Dominican food, she informed us that vegetables were her favorite food and they help keep her healthy.
Constancia sells clothing from her house and also has a large clientele that comes to her home for manicures. This is her second loan and she wants to use it to purchase a larger inventory of clothing and some new supplies for her manicure business. A lot of her materials are worn and she needs to replace them in order to do continue doing nails.
On behalf of everyone here at Esperanza International, and from Constancia herself, we thank you for your support with this business loan!",F,1000,partner,Services,0 Dominican Republic,"Cornelia lives in the Corositos community of Cotu, in the province of Sanchez Ramirez, located in the central part of the country. She lives with her two children, both of them attend school.
To make a living and take care of her family, Cornelia sells clothing in her community. She's been selling these goods for a long time, so she has lots of customers, and her products are sold quickly. The entrepreneur is looking forward to enlarging her business. She needs capital to invest in a new collection of la mode clothing which is in great demand in her community. Cornelia thanks in advance the Kiva community for its generosity and hopes that she'll get her loan before long in order to move her business forward and improve her family's lifestyle.",F,400,partner,Clothing,1 Dominican Republic,"Crecencia sells new womens clothing and beauty products from her home in the Nigua community of San Cristobal. Her son and daughter are twins, now fully grown in their forties. Crecencia has become increasingly aware of the number of entrepreneurs in her area who specialize in womens beauty items. As a result, Crecencia will use her loan to purchase clothing, makeup, and personal care merchandise that she believes her competitors do not offer. She hopes the new products will ensure her businesss continued growth.",F,250,partner,Clothing,0 Dominican Republic,"Cridia is a young businesswoman and mother of three daughters, aged 8, 7 and 2. Her husband makes a living driving a taxi. For the last two years, Cridia has helped her husband support their family by selling boiled beans and plucked chickens. She uses her income to buy items her family needs and to pay for the education of her children. Cridia's long-term goal is to open a large store that is visited by not just by the people of her town, but by people who live in surrounding communities as well. She is working hard to achieve that goal, and has come to us for a loan to buy beans and chickens that she can sell to her customers.",F,625,partner,Food,0 Dominican Republic,"Crisela Herrera is a 32-year-old woman who lives with her husband and five children (ages 14, 12, 10, 8, and 6) in a small Haitian community called Pringamoza in the eastern province of Hato Mayor in the Dominican Republic. She began a small business selling clothing a year and a half ago and continues to increase her inventory with each loan. Crisela travels by bus from town to town selling her products to the other small communities in the countryside as many of these rural people do not have the means to travel to town to do their shopping. She has also recently started a little business making and selling breakfast from home in the mornings. She has started these businesses so that she can provide her children with a good education and a comfortable home.
Crisela is the leader of the 15-person micro-bank group, Gran Esfuerzo. In English, this means `Great Force. Each of these unique Dominican entrepreneurs unite in solidarity, allowing them to access funding that they would otherwise never be able to receive on their own.
On behalf of Crisela, the Gran Esfuerzo group, and the entire team here at Esperanza International, we thank you for your support with this micro loan!",F,3950,partner,Clothing,0 Dominican Republic,"Criseyda is a single mother doing her utmost to provide her two children education and well-being. Criseyda gives special importance to education, as she believes it is a good instrument to help people lift themselves out of poverty. Eight years ago, after she gave birth to her first daughter, Criseyda had to give up school in order to take care of the child. She happily explains that shes now gone back to school and is finishing the last secondary grade.
Criseyda sells an assortment of blouses and jewelry to women in her neighborhood. Now she is requesting a loan to enlarge her business. She plans to buy new exclusive items to add to her stock so as to offer a greater variety of attractive goods to her clientele. The single mother and entrepreneur hopes that her business will allow her to improve her familys living conditions.",F,350,partner,Retail,1 Dominican Republic,"Cristina Alduey and Josefina de los Santos are the group coordinators of the two groups participating in this Kiva loan. Each group is made up of five micro-entrepreneurs. Cristina is married with no children; Josefina lives with her husband Jose Luis and has two children.
Josefina is an Avon representative, selling cosmetics. She also sells undergarments at her house. She will use the loan to purchase cosmetics from Avon's new campaign as well as to buy women's undergarments and men's underwear packages for sale. Cristina sells similar products at a small store at her house.
Cristina and Josefina represent women who decide to start small businesses to supplement the insufficient incomes their households receive. They both hope their businesses will help them become financially independent. Neither of them received enough support from their families to complete their schooling - therefore, neither of them completed school. Josefina does not want that for her children: she hopes to be successful ebough to support her children's education. Cristina hopes to continue her own education by taking a few technical courses; she plans on paying for these with some of her profits.
Please help us support these micro-entrepreneurs with this Kiva loan.
Thank you!",F,2275,lender,Retail,0 Dominican Republic,"Cristina Antonia is a 34-year-old entrepreneur who struggles to make a living and fend for two children. This entrepreneur sells wholesale rice, vegetable oil, beans and other foodstuffs in the Batey of Palav community of San Cristobal, and she plans on using her loan to bulk-buy more goods in order to keep satisfying customer demand and increase her income. Cristina Antonias business supports her childrens studies.",F,200,partner,Food,1 Dominican Republic,"Cristina Geraldino is the proud mother of 3 children. However, her children have left their home, leaving Cristina to take care of her grandchildren, her husband and herself. For this purpose shes taking a loan. It is her second loan, and a larger loan than her last. She plans to buy cooking oil, rice, beans, some refreshments and the general components of the typical Dominican diet (typical foods are referred to as the banner of colors: white rice topped with red beans and the dark color of some kind of meat, which represents the blue on the Dominican flag) to stock her little colmado or general food store. She says she won't sell otherwise very lucrative alcoholic beverages as her religion doesnt allow for it! This is only one example that illustrates that shes a responsible person.",F,250,partner,Food,0 Dominican Republic,"Cristina is a single mother of a two year old boy. She sells silver-plated jewelery by catalog to the women of her community. Every weekend she goes to Santo Domingo, the capital, to get the goods that her customers ordered during the week. After two years she has a well established clientele. Cristina expects in a few years to have her an own location where she can run her business. With her loan she will buy more jewelery and some womens blouses to add to her selection and increase her sales. Cristina hopes she will increase her income so that she can better care for her unique son.",F,425,partner,Retail,0 Dominican Republic,"Cristina is a single mother of four school-going children. She has been running a grocery store for five years in Caf community of Santo Domingo. Every day, people of the neighborhood visit her store to purchase rice, milk, beans and other basic foodstuffs. Cristina explains that she hopes her business growth will help her buy her own house. She is requesting a loan of $375 so she can buy more products to supply her grocery store and satisfy more of her customers' needs.",F,375,partner,Food,0 Dominican Republic,"Cristina is fifty-two years old and an excellent cook. She had been operating a small cafeteria for ten years before diseases and economic issues forced her to stop. Fortunately, she has restarted her business of preparing tasty Dominican dishes. Cristina explains that she has put her best foot forward to make sure that her business will be successful this time. Cristina needs this loan to add new dishes to her offering to her customers. She hopes her business will allow her to have enough money to repay the loan and improve her living conditions. Cristina seems to be very confident and she says that she cooks like nobodys business. So, she believes that her business will succeed. Cristina will receive the funds together with these entrepreneurs: Sarita Sewer Ferrer, to buy womens clothing to resell in her community Neris German Rojas, a hard-working jewelery retailer Ana Luisa Echavarria Beras, for a small sewing shop Beatriz Valdez Alcantara, to buy clothing for her store.",F,775,partner,Food,0 Dominican Republic,"Cristina lives in San Pedro de Macoris with her six children (ages: 23, 21, 18, 16, 13, and 10 years old) and her husband. Cristina sells food from a small stand outside of her house, and she would like to use the proceeds from this loan to buy more merchandise for her business. Her dream for the future is to be able to open her own restaurant, and she would like all of her children to attend university so that they might have a better life than she has had. According to Cristina, her biggest problem as of late is earning enough money to get by on a daily basis. She hopes that with this loan she will be able to expand her business, and that she will have enough money to pay for basic life necessities.
Esperanza would like to thank every Kiva lender for their support and generosity. God Bless!",F,1750,partner,Food,0 Dominican Republic,"Cristina owns and operates a grocery store which she started fifteen years ago. Cristina is in her late twenties, and she and her husband have three children, who attend school.
A few months ago, the entrepreneur took from FSMA a loan which she invested in buying of a lot of products, since supplies were running low in the store. Cristina says that the loan helped her a lot. She has managed to move her business forward and repay the loan successfully.
The experienced businesswoman is requesting a second loan to replenish her store. Cristina explains that the grocery store is the main source of income for the family, and she has to work a lot to help her husband with family issues and support the childrens studies.",F,450,partner,Food,1 Dominican Republic,"Cristina, 47 years old, is a woman who is striving for a better life in spite of a very adverse situation. Her husband died seven years ago, and since then, she has had to support her six children on her own. Her children are undereducated like their mother.
To earn a living and work on her familys issues, Cristina has been, in turn, cook, housewife and babysitter. However, she thinks she would earn more if she could have her own business. In conjunction with three other women of her village, Cristina plans to start selling clothes and shoes. They will purchase clothing in bulk in Dajabn and Elas Pia, two different border provinces with Haiti where garments can be bought at very low prices. They will get the shoes from Caribe Shoes, a multilevel company that wholesale sells shoes.
The other members of the group are Isabel Cspedes Leyba, 21 years old with one daughter; Victoria Colasa Antonio, 47 years old and a mother of nine children; and Natividad Sirita Nicacio, 37, and a mother of two children.
With the requested loan, it will be easier for these four women, headed by Cristina, to reach their goal and improve their families' living conditions. Each of the entrepreneurs will sell their portion of the purchased products within their respective houses.",F,975,partner,Clothing,0 Dominican Republic,"Cristobalina Cueto is a 39-year-old woman. She is married to Alejandro Lopez and they have two children ages 19 and 13. She sells clothing on the street of San Pedro de Macoris. People recognize Cristobalina as a good seller who always knows what her customers want and what is currently in demand.
Because the summer is approaching and temperatures are rising, Cristobalina will use this loan to purchase light, fresh children's and women's clothing to sell. She often purchases in San Pedro, but sometimes she goes to Santo Domingo, the capital city, to purchase clothing in the commercial district.
Cristobalina is working hard to generate profits that will help her cover the expenses to finish her house. She started building a couple years ago, but has to build ""one wall at a time,"" because construction materials are rather expensive. She hopes not only to finish her house with her business profits, but to also support her children's chidren's education and see them ""achieve realization in their lives.""
Please help us to continue supporting Cristobalina and the rest of this Bank of Hope. Thank you!
",F,1075,lender,Clothing,0 Dominican Republic,"Cristobalina is a young entrepreneur and mother of a unique three-year old son. Each day, she goes to a butcher shop to bulk-buy meat and then resells it to people in her community. Shortly after her sons birth, Cristobalina had to leave her studies to take care of him, but would like to resume her education and one day become a professional. She will use her loan to buy more meat to increase her sales volume and move her business forward with this goal in mind.",F,225,partner,Food,0 Dominican Republic,"Cristobalina, a forty-three year old woman, owns and operates a general store in Los Alcarrizos, Santo Domingo. She is a single mother of three children. Cristobalina is a living example of a hardworking and never-tiring person. Sometimes, you have to sacrifice yourself to achieve your goals, she says as she explains that she had to leave her job to dedicate herself wholly to her new activity. After two years of sacrifice and pain, she is experiencing success: well established clientele, a profitable business, and a more comfortable lifestyle for her family and so forth. She wants to maintain this way of life. With this loan, she will stock up the store so she can continue to satisfy her customers needs and attract new clients.",F,600,partner,Food,0 Dominican Republic,"Crucita is in her late forties and shes the mother of a large family. Actually, Crucita has five daughters and three boys, most of whom are in their twenties. To make a living and support her family, Crucita sells fresh pork in the Ro Arriba community of Ban. Each day, Crucita goes to the butchers shop to purchase pork wholesale. She has a well-established clientele to retail it to.The entrepreneur plans on using her loan to add chicken to her stock in order to attract more people and increase her income. Crucitas business supports her childrens education.",F,250,partner,Food,0 Dominican Republic,"Cruz is forty-three years old and sells an assortment of beauty and hair products to women of Hortaliza, a community of Santo Domingo. She has six children, four of them boys, all of whom attend school. Cruz says that she doesnt have a fixed inventory, and instead she takes a flexible approach, purchasing items according to the demand of her customers. After one year of operation, the entrepreneur is still running business from her home. She plans on using her loan to rent a small shop in the community so that customers can get the products at ease in a comfortable atmosphere. Cruz hopes to become the most well known and visited supplier of cosmetics in her neighbourhood.",F,325,partner,Retail,0 Dominican Republic,"Cruz Mara is the proprietor and operator of a casual clothing store which she started three years ago. Cruz is thirty-three years old, and she and her husband have two children. She is currently pregnant. Cruz mentions that in the beginning things were not easy and she was very worried about finding money to start the small store. Obtaining funds for my business have never been so stress-free, she says showing a hearty smile, referring to the loan she got from FSMA a few months ago. She used her loan to buy men and womens clothing for her store. She has also remodeled a room of her house and there she is operating the store. Cruz Mara hopes her business can keep growing so that she can continue on supporting her children's studies. With her loan, the entrepreneur will get clothing in bulk to move her business forward.",F,375,partner,Clothing,0 Dominican Republic,"Cruz Sodeli has been selling jewelry for six years to women in the community, and she joyfully says that her goods are always sold just a few days after she stocks them. Cruz Sodeli is very active and every day she visits friends and clients in the close-by neighborhood to promote her products. The entrepreneur plans on using her loan to buy more expensive items such as necklaces, earrings, and bracelets, which she believes will generate a better income for her. Cruz Sodeli has two sons who are in school, so she has to spend a lot of money every month to support their education. She hopes that her business will keep growing so that she can have enough money to buy her own home.",F,525,partner,Retail,1 Dominican Republic,"Daisy is a kind woman who is passionate about abstract art. She is dedicated to painting pictures and decorative ceramic plates which she sells to the people of Hortaliza, a community of Santo Domingo. Daisy is thirty years old, and she has two school-going sons aged seven and eight. Daisy explains that she didnt go to a professional school of art, but she is talented and gets her inspiration from nature. The artist would now like to diversify her business. With her loan, she will buy an assortment of wooden collars and bracelets which she will paint and hopefully sell to a new segment of the market. The new products of the artist will be sold in Bvaro, one of the most touristy places of the country.",F,325,partner,Arts,0 Dominican Republic,"Damaris is a living example of a dedicated, passionate, hard-working and successful businesswoman in the area of Alcaviejo, Los Alcarrizos in the city of Santo Domingo. She owns a clothing shop and she sells toasted bread with cheese or ham. She also sells natural juices and white and black coffee.
Damaris explains that she started her business a few years ago, and she was operating it in a pretty small locale in a very isolated place. After a period of efforts and sacrifices, she managed to move her business forward and get a better place close to the most of the communitys residents.
Damaris also thanks her lucky stars that she could finally have a son last year. Id been praying to God a lot to give me that precious a gift, she says.
With her loan, the entrepreneur will buy clothing in bulk and raw materials to continue her businesses.",F,450,partner,Clothing,0
Dominican Republic,"Damaris is a mother of three small children, ages five, three, and nine months. Damaris will use the loan to purchase clothes, toys, and phone cards to resell from her home, primarily to people in her community. Her dream is to have a big store one day, with a lot of variety. But more than anything she would like to support her three children, send them to school and see them succeed in life.
We have all heard of the saying, ""Give a man a fish and he will eat one meal. Teach a man to fish and you will feed him for a lifetime."" Well, how about: teach a man to fish and give him the capital to buy proper equipment, and with that you will feed a man, his family, and his community for generations to come.
Please help Damaris and her group of entrepreneurs. Thank you.",F,700,lender,Clothing,0
Dominican Republic,"Damaris Santana is the credit assistant of BDE Ulloa which is composed of 5 people, including Jesemene Zidor, a woman whose goal is to advance her business and build a concrete house. Jesemene buys merchandise to sell it in her community and in rural areas. She has a small grocery store and usually sells sweets also. She has also worked selling gasoline and wants her business to grow in a healthy way and have better output with the loan that she invested in it.
Jesumene is part of a larger group of 4 other women and me; her loan represents the other individuals in her Bank of Hope. Her group members have businesses in everything ranging from small grocery stores, to clothing and shoe sales.
On behalf of Jesumene, her group, and everyone here at Esperanza International-- we thank you for your support!
Translated from Spanish by Aimee Sostowski, Kiva Volunteer
",F,1125,partner,Retail,0 Dominican Republic,"Damasa has been selling curtains and sets of bedding for more than eighteen years. She has learned the rules of the market and is now a very experienced businesswoman with extraordinary abilities to attract people to her business and hold them. She has four sons who are married; her two daughters go to the university in Santo Domingo, the capital.Damasa wants to push her business forward. She is requesting a loan to rent a locale where she can run the business. In fact, the entrepreneur is getting elderly and cant walk along the streets to sell the products as she did before. She is also thinking about introducing tablecloths in the business so as to diversify the offering to the customers and thus attract more people.
Damasa is a very punctual and truthful woman. She has already obtained a loan from FSMA and she repaid successfully. This second loan will help the 50-year-old entrepreneur to reach her economic goals and improve her familys living conditions.",F,600,partner,Retail,0 Dominican Republic,"Damiana Rubio is the group leader of the solidarity group Fuente de Bendicion (or Fountain of Blessing). This group is made up of friends and neighbors in the small coastal town of Sabana de la Mar. With this loan, Damiana will buy fruit, vegetables and habichuelas (Dominican beans) which are used in a popular Dominican bean dish. Damiana has already repaid two loans and is excited to take out a bigger loan to grow her business even more. Damiana is a 39-year-old mother of four (ages 16,14,12, and 9) and since starting her business, she has been able to make sure all of them go to school. Her dream is to grow her businesses enough to be able to send them to college. On behalf Damiana and the entire Fuente de Bendicion group, thank you for providing an opportunity to those who need it most!",F,1200,lender,Food,0 Dominican Republic,"Danilza Paulino lives in La Mina, a small batey (a company town where sugar workers live) in the municipality of Consuelo, outside San Pedro de Macoris in the Dominican Republic. She and her husband, Cristobal Montero, have three children. Danilza went to middle school, but did not complete it, so providing a good education for her children is extremely important to her.
Danilza sells clothing, both in her neighborhood and on the nearby streets. She sells on credit to some of her clients, and then they pay her back on their pay days. This represents a challenge for her, because not everyone pays her on time and she spends a considerable amount of time doing collections.
Danilza wants to see her business grow. She wants to set up a boutique with more varied clothing items. She hopes her children have a better future and can continue studying for the careers of their choices. On behalf of Danilza and the rest of this Bank of Hope, we thank you for your support
",M,850,lender,Clothing,0 Dominican Republic,"Dannis lives with her husband and three sons in the Majagual community of Santo Domingo. She sells womens clothing and natural medicines to people in her neighborhood. The entrepreneur would like to boost her inventory significantly in order to augment her sales volume. As she is short of money, Dannis says that a loan would be worth its weight in gold and would allow her reach her goals. The businesswoman hopes that her business will keep growing and that shell have enough money to enjoy life and support her family.",F,200,partner,Health,1 Dominican Republic,"Dayanny is 25 years old and lives with her husband and their three children. The children attend the local public school, except the youngest, who is no more than one year old. Her husband works in a hardware store.For more than five years, Dayanny has been offering her services as hair stylist. Her beauty salon is very well known by local women. She attends to more than 10 customers and new clients every day. Currently, she makes a weekly profit of USD 180.
With the purpose to offer a complete service to her customers, Dayanny has requested a loan in order to buy materials that the business lacks. With the loan, she will buy a hairdryer, an automatic shampoo dispenser and a second-hand hair wash system. With those devices, the entrepreneur's beauty salon will offer a wider variety of services to the customers and attract new people. Dayanny will also increase her income.",F,225,partner,Services,0 Dominican Republic,"Daysi Mara is an old woman who is trying hard to establish herself as one of the most excellent entrepreneurs in her community. Shes been selling natural medicines for seven years. Once a week, Daysi goes to Villa Consuelo, one of the most famous public markets of Santo Domingo, to get the medicines at very low cost. Currently, this business is her only source of income.
Six years ago, Daysis husband passed away after suffering from cancer for many years. Left alone, she had to work harder to maintain a comfortable lifestyle for herself. Now, Daysi is requesting a loan to increase her supplies, because she fears losing sales during heightened periodic demand.
Daysi will share the funds with these women:
Pictured, from left to right are: Daysi, Domingo, Flor Angel, Anastacia, and Ana Casilda.
",F,1100,partner,Health,1 Dominican Republic,"Deanis Altagracia Guzman wishes to build a full scale beauty center, featuring acrylic nail fixing capacity. Deanis has been living here 3 years with her husband and their three kids. She recently started selling clothing as well, since she needs to complement the income produced by her beauty aids services and products. She also plans to sell some of the clothing that her family in the USA sends her from time to time. ""When my husband finishes the construction of the area where I plan to move the ""salon"" operations, I plan to be able to assist him as he has helped me. I feel very lucky and grateful for all that we have been able to undertake thus far.""",F,300,partner,Services,0 Dominican Republic,"Delfina is the president of the Fuente de Esperanza Bank of Hope and definitely holds sway in her community. She lives in a very poor community surrounded by sugar cane in a rural area outside of El Seibo. Delfina is 77 years old and lives with her husband. She has six children and six grandchildren who now live in the neighboring towns of Higuey and La Romana.Delfina sells clothing, mainly shirts, to the people in her community. She has successfully repaid two loans to Esperanza International and is now requesting a third. With the loan money, she hopes to open a small colmado (mini grocery-store) at the side of her house.
Note: This is a group loan for 5 people.",F,1025,partner,Food,0 Dominican Republic,"Deliana is a 22 year old woman who lives with her husband and three children (ages: 5, 4, 2) in the small community of Cangrejo, which is on the northern coast of the Dominican Republic. This is the first loan she has applied for through Kiva and she is really excited to expand her current business. Over the past couple of years she has been selling different types of homemade food to the people in her community. With this loan she wants to set up a storefront by her home and expand the variety of food she is able to make every day.
When she is not working she loves talking with her friends and catching up with her neighbors.
She wants to thank everyone who is supporting her loan and has taken the time to read about her life and business. On behalf of everyone here at Esperanza International, and on behalf of Deliana, we thank you for your support!",F,400,partner,Food,0 Dominican Republic,"Denia is a young married woman who is living with her husband and her three-year-old daughter. Her husband works as a salesman in a little store in order to pay the rent for their modest house. She buys wholesale silver-plated jewelry and resells it in smaller quantities to women in her community who retail the jewelry.
The entrepreneur applied to borrow $475.00 with the aim of expanding her business and increasing her income to improve her family situation and set some money aside for her daughter's needs.",F,475,partner,Wholesale,0 Dominican Republic,"Denia Mara, 38 years old and the mother of five school-going children, sells shoes, pants, blouses and underwear in the Batey of Palav community of San Cristobal. The entrepreneur explains that while it is hard to support five children, she hopes that her business growth will help her face all financial issues and provide a comfortable lifestyle for her family. With her loan, Denia Mara will buy more goods to add to her stock in order to increase her sales volume and consequently her revenue.",F,200,partner,Clothing,0 Dominican Republic,"Denise Philippe is the president of her Bank of Hope in the small community of Imbert, on the north coast of Puerto Plata. 28 years old, she is married with one child. Denise sells new clothing out of a small store, and takes pride in the fact that she sells good quality clothing. She attends a Baptist church in the area, and enjoys reading her Bible in her spare time. Her favorite foods are rice and chicken, but she also likes the ducles that people are famous for in the Dominican Republic. She hopes that one day she can buy a house and a car because it would make her life much easier.
This is the first loan that this community has applied for, and they are all very excited to improve and start their businesses. Many of the women in this bank are Haitian, and have come to the Dominican Republic in hopes of a better life and future. Esperanza hopes that every single one of these women will experience success and begin the process of lifting themselves out of poverty.
Oh behalf of this entire group, and Esperanza thank you for your continued support and generosity!",F,2225,partner,Clothing,0 Dominican Republic,"Deyanira was born and raised in her small community of Herrera, Santo Domingo. She and her husband have three daughters, ranging from thirteen to sixteen. Two of them attend school, and the oldest studies at the university.
To supplement her familys income, Deyanira sells mens clothing. She explains that her husbands income cant bear all the expenses of the family and support the girls education. Deyanira mentions that she still is operating her business mainly from her house, but she hopes that her business growth will help her get money enough to rent a small premises.
Diamar will receive her loan together with these women:
Marilexi Arias, who'll invest her loan in used clothing to retail in the community,
Maria Del Rosario Almonte, for her small grocery store,
Felicia Marte Brito, who owns and operates a mini-market, and
Raudelina Jimenez Ortega, to invest in jewelry.
The picture shows from left to right: Diamar, Marilexi, Maria, Felicia, and Raudelina.",F,950,partner,Retail,1
Dominican Republic,"Diana Amelia is a thirty-eight-year-old businesswoman whose passion is beautifying the girls and women around her. She owns and operates a beauty salon that she started ten years ago in the Los Alcarrizos community of Santo Domingo. Her salon offers hair styling, manicures, hair washing, pedicures, hair straightening and so forth.
Diana Amelia says that generally she has 10 customers a day during the weekdays and during the week-ends, especially on Saturdays, she can serve more than 15 persons a day.
Diana Amelia plans on using the loan to buy a large amount of beauty products to keep operating her beauty parlor. She will alsouse some of the stock for resale to her customers.",F,150,partner,Services,0
Dominican Republic,"Diana Garrido de la Rosa is the coordinator for Luz Divina, a microfinance group in Sosua. Her neighborhood is deeply impoverished, but is located amidst the lush hills of the Dominican north coast. Diana is 40 years old and lives with her husband, Orlando, and two of her three children Rolando, Ronaldo, and Franklin who are aged 24, 21, and 19 years respectively. Rolando lives by himself and runs a baseball field near his mothers neighborhood. Ronaldo and Franklin both enjoy playing basketball and hiking through the beautiful wilderness that surrounds their home. They both attend a local public school.
Diana says that she enjoys listening to music and is especially fond of cooking. With this in mind, she opened a small food shop in her house. There she sells bread, beans, rice, sugar, ham, and other basic ingredients. Diana owned the business before coming to Kiva partner, Esperanza, for a loan, and was able to make about 4,000 DOP a month. Since then, she has taken three loans (including this one) to purchase increasing amounts of inventory. Diana says that with Esperanza, she has managed to increase her monthly income by 5,000 to 6,000 DOP.
This additional money has given Diana breathing room to start thinking about her future. She has been experiencing a great deal of chest pain recently and would like to hire a doctor. Additionally, she would like to renovate the walls of her home. Diana currently has untreated wooden walls that gather termites and rot. She would like to build cement walls to solve this problem. Diana relies on loans from Esperanza to continue the growth of her business. With access to microcredit, she has the power to bring these dreams into reality.",M,1625,lender,Food,0
Dominican Republic,"Dianely is thirty years old and the proud mother of two sons. Her husband works as mechanic for a private company. Dianely has been selling jewelry for three years in the Majagua community of Yamas. Each day, she visits friends, customers, and potential clients in order to sell her goods.
Dianely says that there's a lot to be said for operating this small business. Actually, with her profits and her husband's help, she'll manage to finish her house which is currently under construction before long.
Dianely is requesting a loan to buy some necklaces, bracelets, earrings and other jewelry which her customers have ordered. The entrepreneur wants to have enough money to improve her family's living conditions.",F,225,partner,Retail,1
Dominican Republic,"Dienona Yantil is one of the hardest working women we have met, not the least reason is she's the proud mother to 12 children! However, having 12 children brings a lot of expenses, and when you are living in extreme poverty it is very difficult to pay all those expenses. Dienona came to Esperanza International in need of help, hoping to receive a loan to help start her own business. With her first loan she started a small school in her area and received enough students to pay back all her loans and also start educating her kids. Since that first loan, she has taken out three other loans and is now seeking her fifth. She has increased the size of her school and can now afford to start saving money while also helping many kids get a quality education. The best part is she is able to teach all her children, and hopefully help them have a better future and get out of their poverty. She is very happy with what she does and wants to keep increasing the size of her school. She dreams of having a giant school teaching thousands of kids and hiring more teachers. She is excited about this next loan and knows it will help her continue reaching her dreams!",F,1225,partner,Education,0
Dominican Republic,"Dieudonne Jean Jacques is a young, talented woman living in the small Haitian community of Loma Bajito in Puerto Plata, Dominican Republic. She is the only caretaker of her two kids (ages 16 and 19) after her husband passed away. She intends to use this loan to purchase pants, blouses, shoes, perfumes, and cosmetics. She will sell her inventory on the streets both in and outside of her community. Dieudonnes business will help feed her kids and provide an education for them. She hopes to own and run a ""colmado"" (a small convenient store that provides basic supplies) someday.
Dieudonne Jean Jacques is part of a five-person micro-bank, Paz y Amor, which means ""Peace and Love."" The group is composed of all Haitian immigrants living in the same community of Loma Bajito. Each woman has her own personal business, but they unite to pay their loan as a group. The purpose of the group loan is to assist each other in case someone defaults. Loans are divided among the group to pay back.
We thank you for your support on behalf of Dieudonne, the Paz and Amor group, and the entire team at Esperanza International.",F,750,partner,Clothing,0
Dominican Republic,"Dilcia is a young and vivacious woman who lives with her husband and three children (ages: 11, 6, 5) in a small community in Puerto Plata. She works a lot, but when she is not working she loves watching tv and drinking soda. This is her second loan. With her first loan she set up a small juice stand in her community. She sells several different types of juice including passion fruit, orange, pineapple, and apple.
Dilcia's first loan allowed her to make about $2000 RD Pesos (about $60 USD) more every month than she did before. She hopes to continue improving her juice stand and also wants to carry a larger variety of juices. She will buy a blender to make the polular baditas drinks that combine fruit, ice, and milk.
She wants to thank everyone who is supporting her loan, and who has taken the time to read about her life and her business. On behalf of everyone here at Esperanza International, and on behalf of Dilcia, we thank you for your support!",F,750,partner,Food,0
Dominican Republic,"Dilcia owns and operates a grocery store in the Santana community of San Cristobal. Dilcia is 47 years old, and she and her husband have seven children (six girls, one boy), all of whom attend school. Dilcia is seeking a loan to expand her business so that she does not have to depend on other people for her financial well-being. For example, she wants to buy additional sacks of rice, beans, and flour. In addition, she would like to purchase certain products that her store is running out of, such as milk, chocolate, and eggs. The entrepreneur has a loyal and dedicated customer base, and her products are always in high demand.",F,300,partner,Food,1
Dominican Republic,"Dileysi is thirty-four years old, and she and her husband have five children, four of them boys, who range in age from six to fourteen years old. They all attend school.
Dileysi dedicates herself to the preparation and selling of sandwiches, pts, hot dogs and natural juices. She has been running this business for more than five years. About six months ago, she took a loan from FSMA which she invested in the purchase of ingredients and new kitchen utensils. She repaid the loan successfully.
Now, Dileysi can provide better services to her customers, and the food is prepared in very good, hygienic conditions. The entrepreneur hopes her business can keep on growing. With this second loan she has requested, she will buy ingredients to prepare her sandwiches and she says she is working hard to make her business better and attract new clientele.",F,600,partner,Food,0
Dominican Republic,"Dilia Joseph is a gracious 35 year old woman who lives in Pancho Mateo, a small community in Puerto Plata. Pancho Mateo is one of the poorest communities in Puerto Plata it is typical to see cardboard nailed to thin metal sheets serving as houses and the use of thin cloth as doors. In midst of poverty, the people remain full of joy and truly love the people they live with. Dilia and her husband raise two children and life has been very hard for them.
Dilia has chronic stomach problems and experiences severe pain but she cant afford to buy the proper medicine. She currently has her own business selling clothes, shoes, soap, and lotion. Her goals for the future are to have a proper house with a good roof and floor and to have a larger business that makes more money. She wants to continue sending her children to school and she would also like to buy medicine for herself.",F,1175,partner,Retail,0
Dominican Republic,"Diluvina is fifty-nine years old and a proud mother of twelve children.
To make a living, she sells homemade ice cream and ripe fruits, operating her business in the public school of the community. The entrepreneur says that its a profitable business, and that she would like to augment her production in order to increase both her sales volume and her income. Profits from her activity will allow her to pay for the childrens educations and to deal with some other financial issues.
Diluvina will take her loan with a group of four other women who all own businesses. They are:
Lidia Fernandez Pujol, who owns a cafeteria;.
Rosa Perdomo, who operates a small beauty products store;
Cruz Antonia Morban Guerrero, who will purchase silver jewelry, and
Candida Asencio German, who will use her loan to buy jewelry.",F,1400,partner,Food,0
Dominican Republic,"Dina Santana is the mother of two children, Julio Manuel Santana (2), Dianna Michelle Santan (7), and the wife of Adriano De la Cruz. Dina currently is selling clothing and also selling a common type of food here called Yucca. With this loan she is hoping to be able to not only buy more merchandise in order to expand her business, but she is hoping to be able to go to a better farm from which to buy the Yucca. She hopes that in the future she will be able to buy a larger house and better provide for her family, because her husband is ill and is not able to work all of the time and therefore she is the main source of income for her family at this time. NOTE: Dina is one of five microentrepreneurs in her Bank of Hope solidarity group, all of whom have gone through Esperanza's business training courses. Each of the five members will receive a share of this $800 loan for their respective businesses and will be accountable to each other for repaying their share of this loan together. This group-lending method strengthens social needs in a community and ensures that members cooperate to help one another repay their loans and invest wisely in their businesses and families.",F,800,partner,Food,0
Dominican Republic,"Dinorah de la Cruz is the coordinator for a group of five women seeking to take out a loan. She is married with eight children, ranging in age from 14 to 35. She makes her living selling bedspreads and cushions. Dinorah plans to use her loan to buy better materials to improve the quality of her product and grow her business. She has taken out multiple loans in the past, but this will be her biggest loan yet.",F,1400,lender,Retail,0
Dominican Republic,"Diogani (who appears at the far right in the photo) coordinates the activity of this group, which consists of five hard-working and optimistic women. Diogani lives in La Victoria, a suburb of Santo Domingo that is completely plunged into poverty. Most of the people living there dont have access to education, theres little opportunity for employment, and the people who work dont earn considerable wages. Diogani lives in these very adverse conditions with her four children. Despite her difficult situation, Diogani hasn't lost her sense of humor--she even talked about her ""mansion,"" referring to her small, dilapidated house.
About six months ago, Diogani started a small store where she sells hair lotions, facial creams, combs, hair brushes, blouses, and other goods for women. The entrepreneur explained that she had run the store before, but she had to stop because she couldnt get credit to buy items to stock the store. She thinks that this loan will help her a lot by enabling her to strengthen her business and improve her familys standard of living. Diogani hopes that someday shell have enough money to buy her own house so that her children can have a comfortable lifestyle.
The other members of the group are:
Doctora plans on using her loan to enlarge her stock, adding new styles of earrings and rings which are in high demand by her customers.
Doctoras business supports her childrens education and the rent for the familys house.",F,250,partner,Retail,0
Dominican Republic,"Dolores de la Rosa (middle) is the coordinator of her group of five women named Unidas Para Seguir. In a house just outside of Saman, Dominican Republic, Dolores lives with her three children, ages 19, 16, and 14. Dolores is currently on her first loan, making charcoal, which she sells to others in her neighborhood.
While this may be her first loan with Esperanza, Dolores has been selling charcoal now for several years. Many people in the neighborhood depend on this charcoal for cooking and other uses. She makes her charcoal in a clearing in the trees which line one of the streets in the neighborhood.
Dolores took out the loan in the hopes that it would help her business continue to grow. She sees this as a great opportunity to expand her production, and is seeking to support her childrens career goals with the additional funds. Two of her children want to be a doctor and a lawyer, and Dolores would love to be able to support them long enough for them to study in a nearby university. This loan has become an opportunity to invest in her childrens education and career aspirations.",F,525,lender,Retail,0
Dominican Republic,"Dolores estimates that she sells an average of 300-400 RD pesos of chicken each day (US$ 9-12); she is the sole person in charge of her business. She hopes that with the earnings and savings she can generate with this loan she will one day be able to buy several cows so that she can sell milk for cheese and candies. Her community is known for the cheeses and candies that it makes, so she thinks that would be a great business opportunity. She plans to get there by steadily re-investing her earnings into more chickens first, and then, as her sales increase, into a cow. Dolores is very involved with her local church and community. She is thankful for the opportunities and hope this loan will give her.
NOTE: This is a group loan. Dolores is a member of an Esperanza solidarity group. She and her business represent four other micro-entrepreneurs who are members of the same solidarity group. Each members will receive a share of this $1,200 loan to develop their respective businesses. Payments are made together at biweekly meetings. If one person is unable to pay, the other members must make up the difference before any payment will be accepted. The group has gone through Esperanzas business training courses and have demonstrated their commitment and aptitude for receiving a loan to expand their businesses. Dolores and the other members are also responsible for working with one another as a social support network throughout the loan repayment period and business development processes.",F,1200,partner,Food,0
Dominican Republic,"Dolores Herminda sells a collection of pants, shirts and shoes to men and women in her community. She is 53 years old and has three sons and three daughters. Dolores has been running her business for more than ten years. She operates the business mainly from her house, and every so often she visits people in the surrounding areas to sell her products. Dolores says that she wants to expand her business and add new products to her inventory. She will use her loan to buy clothing, as well as bulk and customer-requested shoes.",F,450,partner,Clothing,1
Dominican Republic,"Dolores is a single mother fighting tooth and claw in order to take care of five children and improve their living conditions. She runs a small clothing store which she started long years ago. This activity is the family's sole source of revenue.
Dolores is requesting a loan to buy some exclusive items which she believes can generate a better income for the business. Dolores says she'll keep working hard to make things happen and she hopes she'll have enough money to enjoy her golden years.",F,175,partner,Clothing,1
Dominican Republic,"Dominga defines herself as a goal-oriented, active and assiduous person. She is 29 years old and has two sons, aged 9 and 7, that attend school. Her husband works as truck driver for a company.
Domingas business consists of buying and reselling plots of land. This is a new business for her, and she is rapidly learning how to be a good real estate agent. This entrepreneur graduated with studies in Computation Systems. She is thinking about taking postgraduate classes. She is requesting a loan of $300 so she can improve her business, continue caring for her family, and save money to further her studies.",F,300,partner,Agriculture,0
Dominican Republic,"Dominga is a hard working woman who started her ""fritureria"" business, which is a place where she fries and sells food to customers. She started it about 7-8 months ago, and before that she used to work at a house as a cleaning lady. She buys her food in the market, and in her establishment she sells salami, plantains, and other foodstuff.
She is a single mother with four children and she was born and raised in her community of Los Caos.",F,100,partner,Food,0
Dominican Republic,"Dominga is a skilled entrepreneur who sells clothing in her neighborhood. She has four daughters ranging in age from 10 to 18, all of whom attend school. Dominga sells both new and used clothing, but she says that brand-new clothing is more profitable. Dominga's husband is currently between jobs and he's helping her wife in operating the business.
Dominga says that at this time she has just a few goods left, while she's receiving many orders from her customers. Her loan is to restock her business in order to meet her customers' needs and to increase her income through increased sales.
Dominga would like to become one of the most established suppliers of these goods in her community.",F,450,partner,Clothing,1
Dominican Republic,"Dominga is forty-two years old and a single mother of three girls ages twenty, seventeen, and fourteen. Each of Domingas daughters attend school, with the eldest studying at the local university. Dominga purchases new and used shoes in bulk and resells these at a profit to passers-by on the local roads of her community.
Dominga plans on using her loan to increase the selection of used clothing and new and used shoes in her inventory. She hopes that soon her business will become established enough that she can serve customers exclusively from her home. As she works to support her childrens educations, Dominga explains that she hopes her three daughters will all receive their university degrees and live the lives of their dreams.",F,925,partner,Clothing,0
Dominican Republic,"Dominga is in her early thirties and she has three children who attend school. Dominga has been running a small grocery store for seven years in the Caf, community of Santo Domingo. Every day, people visit her store to purchase miscellaneous products such as bread, milk, chocolate, spaghetti, tomato paste, butter, rice, beans and other basic foodstuffs. The grocery store is the principal source of income of the family. Dominga would like to expand her business and add new products to the store, which is why she has asked for this loan. With the loan, Dominga expects to be a condition to continue expanding her business and maintain a comfortable lifestyle for her family.",F,425,partner,Food,0
Dominican Republic,"Dominga is the mother of three children, all of whom are now in their twenties. She has a small business selling hair braids to her neighbors and wants to be able to expand it. She hopes to be able to provide for her family and better her current living situation through the profits she will earn with a larger business. She sees people around her with more amenities and luxuries, but she cannot afford them for her family. Currently, she lives in one of the poorest provinces in the Dominican Republic. Though the loan may not seem like much, it has the potential to greatly help her and her family.
Note: This is a group loan. In a group loan, each member of the group receives an individual loan but is part of a group of individuals bound by a group guarantee. Under this arrangement, each member of the group supports one another and is responsible for paying back the loans of their fellow group members if someone is delinquent or defaults.",F,1850,partner,Retail,0
Dominican Republic,"Dominga is twenty-eight years old and she and her husband have three children, ages four, nine, and eleven. Dominga sells childrenss clothing and shoes from her home, where neighborhood moms visit her. Dominga plans to use her loan to buy clothing for adult men and women, as well. She believes that customers will make her store the source for all of their families clothing needs.
Over time, Dominga hopes her business will become more established and popular with the communitys shoppers. Domingo explains that she is eager to sustain her businesss growth without outside sources of investment.",F,375,partner,Clothing,0
Dominican Republic,"Dominga Sierra Vallejo has four children and works hard day and night to provide for them and give them a good education. Shes been operating a beauty salon for four years. Dominga says that its really hard to care for four kids and that frequently maintaining the cash flow is very challenging. She is determined to make her business successful and to change her familys situation.
With her loan, shell buy more beauty products to use in her salon and to sell to her customers.",F,350,partner,Services,1
Dominican Republic,"Domitila is fifty-six year-old single mother of five children that all attend school. To make a living and provide food and education for her children, Domitila sells mens and womens clothing in the Carvajal community of San Cristobal. She doesnt have a shop or stall, so Domitila visit her friends and other potential clients in the neighborhood to offer her products. She hopes that in a few years, shell have sufficient capital to invest in a small facility to continue her business.
She is requesting a loan of $400 to buy clothing in bulk to replenish her stock and increase her sales volume in order to augment her revenue.",F,400,partner,Clothing,1
Dominican Republic,"Dora Irene is an old woman struggling to achieve a stable economic condition for her family. Her husband works as a truck driver for a company. Dora Irene lives with five of her children, all of whom are studying at the university. She wants to take a loan to purchase womens clothing to replenish her stock. Dora has been running her business for years. She is now one of the most well-known suppliers of these goods in her community.
Dora Irene hopes that her business will allow her to continue supporting her childrens education, and to improve her familys living conditions.",F,225,partner,Clothing,1
Dominican Republic,"Dora is a single mother working hard to raise two children. She lives in the community of Cacique, in the province of Monte Plata, where she runs a small grocery store. She started her business one year ago. Now she has a lot of customers who visit her store each day to get a wide range of goods such as rice, sugar, vegetable oil, milk, flour and the like.
Currently, the store is running short of supplies. Consequently the entrepreneur is requesting a loan to buy a wide range of goods to replenish the grocery store and keep operating the business. Dora says that this loan will be extremely useful for her, and she says shell be doing her utmost to repay the loan and make her business successful.",F,350,partner,Food,1
Dominican Republic,"Doris is twenty-seven years old and the very proud mother of six children. She explains that four boys and two girls are hard to keep up with, but she is very proud that they are all in school. Her husband is a construction foreman and travels often.
Doris sells an assortment of kitchenware to the women in her community. Her products include pots and pans, bowls and plates, and other cookware. With her loan, Doris plans to boost her inventory and add fine crystal as well. Doris explains that supporting her childrens education is her most important goal for the future. Doris hopes to attend university herself some day and two of her children have already decided that they want to be professors!
This community is located in Puerto Plata, on the north coast of the Dominican Republic. The group is pictured above with their loan officer at Esperanza's office in the capital city of the province. This will be the first loan for the entire group, and they are all very excited. The women come from both Haitian and Dominican backgrounds, and ages range from 23 to 50. This is a very dynamic and diverse group of women, and Esperanza is confident that they will be a great asset to each other and the community as a whole.
Oh behalf of the women, and Esperanza, we would like to thank you for your support and generosity!",F,2250,partner,Food,0
Dominican Republic,"Dulce Bellanira, a thirty-one year old woman and mother of three sons, is striving to achieve success in her business and to improve her familys living conditions. Dulce sells tablecloths, window curtains, and bedspreads. She buys special cloth in bulk in different places in the country and, at home, she prepares the goods to order. She explains that her products are sold quickly, and her customers are very satisfied with the quality of the goods. Bellaniras dream is to have a big store with a lot of employees attending to millions of people in the area. With her loan, she will buy a large quantity of cloth to keep producing these goods to meet the needs of her customers and increase her revenue. Dulce Bellanira will share the fundswith these women: Dulce Mara produces pasties and arepas (unleavened corn flour flatbreads) from her house, and she sells them in the Limonal community of Ban. Dulce Mara would like to substantially increase her sales volume in order to earn a better income, which would help her support the forthcoming university studies of her children. Shed also like, someday, to have a good house where she can live comfortably.
With her loan, the entrepreneur will buy a large quantity of raw materials to keep producing her tasty goods and increase her income.",F,375,partner,Food,1
Dominican Republic,"Dulce Mara is thirty-three years old and sells cosmetics items to women in her Herrera community of Santo Domingo. Dulce is a very smart and experienced entrepreneur. She explains that she pays heed to customer demand and when her clientele ask for certain items, she adds the requested products to her inventory. With her loan, the entrepreneur plans on buying a showcase to display her products. Dulce Mara hopes that her business can keep on growing. That will allow her better fend for her five children.",F,325,partner,Retail,0
Dominican Republic,"Dulce Maria is married and has two daughters, one of whom attends school. Her husband is doing military service at Cotu, in the province of Sanchez Ramirez located in the central part of the country. To supplement her family's revenue, Dulce sells an assortment of cosmetics to women in her neighborhood. She's been selling these goods for more than five years, and currently she has a well-established clientele. Dulce Maria has requested a loan to add new and exclusive products to her inventory. That way, she'll be able to increase her earnings and improve her family's life.
These are the women who will receive the loan together with Dulce Maria:
Rafaela Suarez Suarez, who sells beauty products,
Teofila Gonzalez Sanchez, who sells women's clothing,
Claudina Morel Otanez, who sells fruit and vegetable,
Maritza Reyes Hilario, who owns a small grocery store;
Picture shows from left to right: Rafaela, Dulce Maria, Teofila, Claudina, and Maritza.",F,1100,partner,Retail,1
Dominican Republic,"Dulce Rumaldo Ventura is the coordinator of the group called Jesus Nuestra Esperanza, which means Jesus Our Hope in English. She is the mother of four children and is married to her husband, Julian, who is 37 years old. This will be Dulces third loan with Esperanza and she will use the money to buy more supplies to sell in her bookstore.
Dulce has a passion for books and reading. She loves to read and reads about a variety of subjects, but her favorite thing to read is her Bible. In the future, she would like to open a school next to her church. Dulce and her family live in Maimon, a town that is just outside of Puerto Plata, which is also where her business is. This is Dulce's third loan and she has been rewarded with a larger amount this loan cycle because she repaid her previous loans so faithfully. On behalf of Esperanza International, thank you for supporting these entrepreneurs!
NOTE: This $600 loan will fund Edita's business as well as four other businesses in her solidarity group. She and four other women micro-entrepreneurs came to Esperanza and formed their group. They have all gone through Esperanza business training program and will receive equal shares of the loan to invest in their respective businesses and pay back the loan together. The entire group must pay in full and on time, otherwise group members must make up the deficit before any payment can be made. This creates accountability among the group members because each one shares in the struggles and successes of the other members in their group.",F,600,partner,Food,0
Dominican Republic,"Edlina is a young woman who lives with her husband in small community in Puerto Plata. They are both originally from Haiti but have come to the Dominican Republic to find better work and a more prosperous life.
Edlina travels once a week to Santiago, a city about an hour away, to purchase clothing and other miscellaneous items. She sells these items in her community, either from her home or by walking up and down the streets showing people her merchandise. It has been very hard for her to make enough profit to pay for the bus rides and to cover other business expenses. Currently, she and her husband are renting a small house but her biggest dream is to one day have a home of her own.
She wants to thank everyone who is supporting her loan and has taken the time to read about her life and business. On behalf of everyone here at Esperanza International, and on behalf of Edlina, we thank you for your support!",F,750,partner,Clothing,0
Dominican Republic,"Eduarda, 47, has been happily married for 20 years. Seven children (six boys and one girl) have resulted from this union. The children are grown up and are studying at the university and working. Eduarda dedicates herself to the fabrication and the sale of mosquito nets and tablecloths. In her community, lots of mosquitoes swarm and are causative agents of dengue disease. The entrepreneur sells the nets not only in her community, but also in Santo Domingo, the capital, where dengue disease is very frequent.
Eduarda has requested a loan to invest in the purchase of a quintal (approximately 100 pounds) of cloth so that she can continue producing her mosquito nets and the tablecloths. With a quintal of cloth, she usually makes 50 mosquito nets, and it takes about fifteen days to have them ready. That quantity of nets can be sold in four weeks, and the entrepreneur makes a weekly profit of USD 40 from the sale of her products.
This loan will help this assiduous woman keep on contributing to the well-being of many families in her community and other parts of the country and vastly improve her familys living condition.",F,300,partner,Services,0
Dominican Republic,"Eduardina is forty-two years old, and she and her husband have five children, four of them boys and all of whom go to school. For eleven years, Eduardina has been selling fresh meat in her lovely Mata San Juan community of Santo Domingo. Her husband helps her operating the business, and now she has a well-established clientele. This activity is the main source of income of the family, so Eduardina is nervous about the challenge of producing sufficient money to face all the familys issues. With her loan, she will purchase a large quantity of meat so that she can increase considerably the sales volume and her revenue. The entrepreneur explains that supporting her childrens education is her most important goal for the future.",F,475,partner,Food,0
Dominican Republic,"Eduviges is forty-six years old, and she lives with her ten children in the Carvajal community of San Cristobal. Her husband is disabled and can't work, so Eduviges cant help being nervous about the challenge of supporting the family on her own.
Eduviges buys wholesale fresh fruits and resells them in her community. Most of the time, she gathers the fruits from the fields, but she also makes trips outside the community to get fruits such as avocado, cherry and so forth.
She is requesting a loan of $550 to expand her business and increase her income. She will buy a wider range of fruits to offer more choices to her customers and attract new people.",F,550,partner,Food,1
Dominican Republic,"Eduvijes Cruz is a 26-year old woman who lives in a very poor community called Villa Ortega in the eastern province of Hato Mayor in the Dominican Republic. Eduvijes lives with her husband and three children, ages 6, 4, and 3, in a small home. She started her business two years ago buying bread in a town called La Romana and then selling the bread to people in her rural community. She is requesting a loan so that she can buy larger quantities of bread, allowing her to reduce transportation costs to La Romana. It is Eduvijes hope that she will one day expand her business to include other baked goods. Until then, she will continue providing for her family in order for her children to receive a quality education. In her free time, Eduvijes enjoys going to church and reading the Bible.
Enduvijes is the leader of the 5-person micro-bank group, Restauracin. In English, this means `restoration. Each of these unique Dominican entrepreneurs unite in solidarity, allowing them to access funding that they would otherwise never be able to receive on their own.
On behalf of Enduvijes, the Restauracin group, and the entire team here at Esperanza International, we thank you for your support with this micro loan!",F,1050,partner,Food,0
Dominican Republic,"Edwin Bruno and this group of entrepreneurs live in Sabana de la Mar, a beautiful small town located on the northeastern coast of the Dominican Republic. It is the northern limit of the Hato Mayor province with the Samana bay. From here, ferries transport passengers to Samana, which is a beautiful peninsula with many tourist attractions. Sabana de la Mar itself has good beaches and is the takeoff point to visit a rain forest national park, Los Haitises. Despite its potential for tourism, especially ""eco-friendly"" tourism, Sabana de la Mar is a very underdeveloped, sleepy town by the Atlantic Ocean. ",F,2500,lender,Services,0
Dominican Republic,"Eladia is a humble woman and the mother of two girls and two boys, all of whom go to school. To make a living and take care of the kids, Eladia sells a collection of wigs to women in her community. The entrepreneur modestly explains that her stock is still limited, but she plans on using her loan to buy a greater variety of wigs so that she can increase her sales volume and income. Eladia would like to have enough money to build a small house to allow her children to live comfortably.",F,100,partner,Retail,1
Dominican Republic,"Elba Aurelia is thirty-six years old, and she and her husband have two daughters and two sons, all in school. Elba is an experienced entrepreneur. She's been selling clothes since she was a teenager. Currently, she owns and operates a small shop which she started a couple of years ago in the Trinitarios community of San Cristobal.
Elba sells silver jewelry, jeans, blouses, perfumes, beauty suplies, and the like. The entrepreneur explains that she also keeps some stock at home, and people go there to buy when the store is closed.
Elba Aurelia will use her loan to remodel the store and diversify her stock. The entrepreneur hopes that her business will allow her to improve her familys standard of living.",F,550,partner,Retail,0
Dominican Republic,"Elba says she is a woman who has always struggled for existence and for a better life. She is 45 years old and has three children. Her husband is a farmer. Ten years ago, Elba started a small business, but she had to leave it for a while because of illness. She used to sell shoes, shirts and pants. Right now, she is selling ice and alcoholic drinks in her house, but she wants to restart her first business. She needs a loan which will allow her buy clothing in bulk and shoes in order to start her sales activity. Restarting the sales activity will help her diversify her sources of income and earn more for the sake of her family.",F,300,partner,Clothing,0
Dominican Republic,"Elena Almonte, a proud Dominican mother of three and owner of De Todo Elena, provides such refreshments as coffee and juice to her community of Barrio Dubeau in the northern province of Puerto Plata in the Dominican Republic. With this loan, Elena intends on expanding her current inventory of coffee, tea, plastic cups, and silverware to better serve her community. As a mother raising Alfonso (age 11), Naomi (age 10), and Amauri (age 21), Elena uses the income from her business to supplement her husbands full time job.
Note: Elena is one of five microentrepreneurs in her Bank of Hope solidarity group, all of whom have gone through Esperanza's business training courses. Each of the five members will receive a share of this $750 loan for their respective businesses and will be accountable to each other for repaying their share of this loan together. This group-lending methodology ensures that members cooperate to help one another repay their loans and invest wisely in their businesses and families.",F,750,partner,Food,0
Dominican Republic,"Elena is the busy mother of 6 children, ages 22, 24, 26, 28, 29 and 36. She also has two grandchildren, ages 3 and 10. She lives with her husband, daughter, and one grandchild. Elena has a small business making juice, which she then sells in front of her house. With the loan money, she is able to buy more fruit and cups so that she can sell more juice. Business can be hard sometimes when fewer people buy juice. The loan helps her overcome this vulnerability of her small business so that she can continue progressing.
Elena has successfully repaid 5 loans to Esperanza International and is now requesting her 6th loan. She hopes to continue growing her business so that she can better provide for her family. She wants all her children to be able to continue studying and to attend the university here. Already two of her children have finished college and she is very proud of them. She would also love to be able to afford her own house one day.
Note: This is a group loan for 10 people.",F,2550,partner,Food,0
Dominican Republic,"Elena Jose is 22 years old and lives in the medium-sized town of El Seybo, in the eastern part of the Dominican Republic. She is the group coordinator for La Buena Fe (The Good Faith) bank, Group 10 of Kiva and Esperanza International. Her story is typical of her fellow group members' experiences with Kiva and Esperanza.
Today, Elena is looking to take out her second Kiva loan to grow her clothing and food retail business. She currently sells clothing, bananas, habichuela (a staple Dominican bean dish) and vegetables, but she would like to diversify her merchandise to offer earrings as well. Although she has been running her own business for at least the past five years, Elena only became a client of Kiva and Esperanza six months ago, after her mother had success as a borrower of microloans. Since becoming a Kiva and Esperanza client, Elena reports that both her business and her life have changed significantly for the better. Elena has already been able to grow her business so that her second loan is twice the amount of her first. This additional access to capital is especially important to Elena because, although she has no dependents, she lives on her own and supports herself entirely through her independent retail outlet.
With her new loan, Elena hopes to expand her merchandise offerings and to have further success with her in-home business. She is pictured in the center of the photo with her fellow members of La Buena Fe bank, Group 10.",F,925,lender,Retail,0
Dominican Republic,"Elena, a very responsible and budding entrepreneur, is the coordinator of a group of five women who live in the La Gallera community of Santo Domingo. Elena is just twenty years old and a proud mother of two sons. She sells pants and blouses to women in her community. Biweekly, this entrepreneur travels outside La Gallera to other regions where she can get garments at very low prices.
Elena is asking for a loan to get clothing in bulk to add to her stock in order to augment her sales volume and, consequently, her revenue. That way, the entrepreneur will be able to ensure a better future for her family.
The other four member of Elena's group are:
Yohana Fello Charles, to buy clothing in bulk for a small business;
Altagracia Abraham Hernandez, a tennis and shoes retailer;
Romelia Schal Vidal, to buy clothing in bulk;
Enmanuela Perez, for a small cafeteria.
Photo: from left to right: Enmanuela, Romelia, Altagracia, Elena, Yohana",F,1250,partner,Clothing,0
Dominican Republic,"Eleuteria has two small children to feed. She's photographed here in front of her very poor home with its earthen floor, with her younger daughter.
For over two and a half years now, in order to feed her children as well as cover other living expenses, Eleuteria has resorted to slaughtering chickens, plucking the feathers and selling them ""dead"", i.e., ""Pollo matao"". She can make a profit of some US$ 0.75 per chicken; normally, she can sell some 300 chickens a month. Thus she makes an average of some US$ 225 a month, whereas she needs to make around $550 (twice what she now makes) in order to meet the standard cost of living for a family in her area today. Given an eager and acceptable market, this loan can supply Eleuteria with precisely what she would need in order to balance out her requirements to meet normal cost of living expenses. Eleuteria eagerly awaits the moment when she can do this!",F,150,partner,Food,0
Dominican Republic,"Elia Mara is a multi-faceted and successful entrepreneur. She lives with her three sons in Altagracia community of Santo Domingo. Elia Mara sells an assortment of coco candies in her sister-in-laws restaurant. In the afternoon, she visits her friends and other neighbors to offer shirts, pants and shoes. She explains that she has to work hard in order to support her childrens studies and cover the household expenses.
She is requesting a loan of $375 to buy clothing in bulk to sell. She will invest a small part of the money in the purchase of raw materials to produce her candies.",F,375,partner,Clothing,0
Dominican Republic,"Eliana Alexis is the proud owner of Venta de Comestico, a general store in La Union, a quaint community in the northern province of Puerto Plata in the Dominican Republic. Although she is without a physical storefront, Eliana provides an additional service to her customers by faithfully delivering her customers orders to their homes. She will use this first loan to expand her inventory of cosmetic and hygienic supplies to better meet the needs of her community. Originally from Haiti, the 38-year-old Eliana enjoys spending time with her husband, Ambrody, when she is not tending to her business.
Note: Eliana Alexis is one of five microentrepreneurs in her Bank of Hope solidarity group, all of whom have gone through Esperanza's business training courses. Each of the five members will receive a share of this $725 loan for their respective businesses and will be accountable to each other for repaying their share of this loan together. This group-lending methodology ensures that members cooperate to help one another repay their loans and invest wisely in their businesses and families.",F,725,partner,Retail,0
Dominican Republic,"Elida Luis is only 23 years old, but is living without a job and in extreme poverty. She has no children and is unmarried, which, where she lives, is very rare for a woman of her age. Unlike many of her peers, she decided at a young age that she wants something more with her life and wants to be able to provide for her children someday.
She is a highly motivated young woman and wants to start a small clothing business. This will be her first loan and she plans on traveling to another city, where she can buy used clothing at a good price, and then sell them in her area. She dreams of having a big clothing store with all the top designers. She also wants to go back to school and get a college degree.
She realizes she has a lot of work ahead of her, but knows what she wants and is ready to go get it. She did say she is nervous about starting her own business because she has never had anything of her own, and wants to be successful in this.
Elida also knows that this is her one chance and she is going to do everything she can possibly do to make her dreams come true!",F,700,partner,Clothing,0
Dominican Republic,"Elida sells childrens clothing from her home, specializing in clothing for young children and babies.
Elida is forty-one years old and a single mother of four, three girls and a boy, all of whom attend school except for her two-year old, who is still at home with Mom. Elida sells her clothing from home, sometimes visiting neighbors in her community door-to-door. Her home is on a steep hill and, in the future, Elida hopes she can open her own clothing shop in her community where customers will no longer be greeted by a sudden slope.
Elida would like to add new merchandise to her current clothing line, particularly outfits for older children. In addition, Elida plans to use her loan to buy clothing in bulk, adding more items to her stock and improving her profit margin, as well.",F,900,partner,Clothing,0
Dominican Republic,"Elina is a lovely 36-year-old woman who lives with her 5 children and 2 grandchildren in a community called Los Guaricanos on the outskirts of Santo Domingo. She runs a small clothing business where she offers her community members new and used clothing, and everything ranging from pants to shirts to undergarmentsas she said a little bit of everything. She is asking for this loan so that she can buy a larger quantity of clothing. The extra capital will enable her to expand her merchandise and thus improve her business and increase her profits.
Her dreams are to have her own large clothing store one daybut most importantly, enable her children to have a better future, one where they can continue to study at the university, become professionals, and lead healthy and comfortable lives.
On behalf of Elina and everyone here at Esperanza International, thank you for your support!",F,750,partner,Clothing,0
Dominican Republic,"Elis Beronica is thirty-years old and lives with her one-year-old daughter in the Zapotal community of San Cristobal. To make a living and fend for her daughter, Elis sells an assortment of necklaces, bracelets, rings, and earrings to people in her neighborhood.
The entrepreneur started her business just one year ago, and she says that her business has improved her familys financial situation and will allow her to pay for her daughters education.
She will use her loan to buy new and exclusive items that will generate greater profit. Elis hopes that someday shell be able to buy her own home.",F,375,partner,Retail,1
Dominican Republic,"Elisa Gissette Nivar Rosario lives in the Coquera community of San Cristobal where shes been selling beauty products for more than a year. Elisa sadly explains that she has no child, but she plans on starting a family in a few years when she gets a more stable economic situation. With her loan, Elisa will buy more products to add to her stock so she can satisfy her customers needs. She hopes that her business will allow her to enjoy her golden years.
Elisa will share the loan with four other women of modest means but who work hard to change their living conditions. They are: Nurys Elizabeth Polanco, a beauty products retailer; Alejandrina De La Cruz Mateo, who sells womens clothing; Margarita Mateo, who owns and operates a mini-market; and Marisela Castillo, who will invest in raw materials to produce cakes and sweeties.
The photo shows from left to right: Elisa, Nurys, Alejandrina, Margarita and Marisela.",F,950,partner,Retail,1
Dominican Republic,"Elisa is a talented and dynamic young woman with two children, ages two and eight. She lives in the beautiful town of Samana. Elisa wants to start a business selling clothes and shoes with this loan. Elisa is excited to start making an income to support her family, and wants to continue expanding her business in the future. With profits from this loan she will be able to buy abetter quality of food for her children and will also have the ability to buy medicine when they are ill. Elisa told us that she loves visiting her church, and her favorite food is sancocho, a very popular Dominican soup.
This loan will also go to help fund the businesses of the other group members. In a group loan, each member helps to support and guarantee the loans of the other members.
Thanks for supporting this group of entrepreneurs!",F,2425,partner,Clothing,0
Dominican Republic,"Elisa, 33, is a skilled and assiduous entrepreneur. For eight years she's been selling fruits and vegetables in her community. Elisa has one 11-year-old daughter who attends school. Elisa explains that her principal reason for running her business is to support her daughter's education so that her daughter can become a great professional.
Elisa is also concerned about HIV issues and pregnancy rates in her community. She works with an organization called COPRESIDA, teaching women how to prevent HIV infection. She doesn't really receive a significant amount of money for that job, but she feels good about contributing to the well-being of people in her community.
With this loan, Elisa will buy more fruits and vegetables in order to keep satisfying her clientele and increase her income.",F,300,partner,Food,1
Dominican Republic,"Elisabet is the mother of four children, the last of whom was born only a few days ago. She has two businesses - one selling chicken and the other selling clothing. Esperanza International has given Elisabet two loans already, both of which she has successfully paid back. With her third loan, Elisabet hopes to continue growing her businesses so that she can better provide for her family. One day, she dreams of having her very own house and providing her children with the best education.
This loan will also fund the business efforts of the other women in the group.
Please note: The man in the photo is Elisabets husband. He appears on her behalf because she is still at home resting with her new born baby.
Note: This is a group loan. Each woman in the group helps to support and guarantee the loan.",F,975,partner,Clothing,0
Dominican Republic,"Elise is a 37 year-old woman who lives with her 2 children (ages 2 and 10) in Padre Granero. Her husband, Alexi, works at a nearby store called Casa Nelson which sells clothing and household goods. This will be the 2nd loan for Elise, and she told us that she is very excited because her business has already improved so much over the past 6 months. She has been selling clothes for 15 years, but has never had the capital to expand or improve her business. Her dreams for the future are to own a home and a proper business.
For 10 of the women in Padre Granero this will be their 1st loan with Esperanza, and for the other 10 this will be their second. It has been such a joy and an honor for us to work with these women over the past 6 months, and we are excited to add more to the group. On behalf of Esperanza, thank you for continually supporting and encouraging these women. God Bless!",F,3700,partner,Clothing,0
Dominican Republic,"Elizabeth is a very energetic and hard-working entrepreneur and the proud mother of a unique four-year-old daughter. She is also the leader of a group of five women who carry on various businesses in the community. Elizabeth has been selling tennis equipment and shoes for more than three years in the Libertador community of Santo Domingo, and since moving into a small store, she has been able to increase her customer base significantly. With her loan, Elizabeth is hoping to introduce a new line of fashionable tennis equipment in order to attract new people to her business.
Elizabeths group members are:
Rosa Johnson Bock, who plans to expand a beauty products store;
Ercilia Del Carmen Guzman Pichardo, who will buy more shoes for her business;
Amantina Nieve Sanchez, who will acquire womens clothing for her small business, and
Jenny Castillo Johnson, who will purchase silver jewelry to resell in her community.",F,1400,partner,Retail,0
Dominican Republic,"Elizabeth is a young entrepreneur who struggles to earn a living and become a professional. Shes married, but her husband passed away two months ago, and now she has to work harder to support herself. Elizabeth sells underwear and silver jewelry in her community to support her university studies. Elizabeth operates her business from home, and sometimes she visits her customers to offer her goods. She hopes that, in five years, shell be able to have a big store that can generate good income for her home. With her loan, Elizabeth will buy merchandise so that she can increase her sales volume and her income. This way, the entrepreneur will keep supporting her university studies. Elizabeth has two daughters aged two and four. She explains that her husband works part-time as a heavy truck driver for a company but he doesnt earn enough money to cover all of the familys expenses.
Elizabeth plans on using her loan to buy mens and womens clothing to resell in the community. She says that shell travel to Santo Domingo, the capital, to get the goods at very low prices so that her business will be profitable. Elizabeth says that shell put her best foot forward to make her business successful and be able to repay the loan.
Elizabeth has requested a loan together with the following women:
Rosa Jase, who will prepare homemade food to sell in the neighborhood.
Andrea Louis Fansua, who wants to start selling womens clothing.
Florinda Mambru will buy mens clothing to sell in the community.
Sandra Margarita Carreras Santos hopes to open a small grocery store",F,925,partner,Clothing,0
Dominican Republic,"Elizabeth, a young single mother of a four-year-old son, has been separated from her husband for two years, and since then she has had to support the child on her own. She explains that it's really challenging to maintain her child and have to bear all the other expenses a member of the lower-income class faces.
In order to deal with these issues and provide a better lifestyle for her son, Elizabeth has requested a loan to invest in clothing and hair products so that she can start a small business. She'll be operating it from her house, and she'll also visit friends and neighbors to promote and sell her products. She hopes that she'll receive this loan before long so that she can get her business off the ground and improve her son's lifestyle.
Elizabeth is also thinking about going back to school. In fact, after her son's birth, she was forced to leave the secondary school in order to take care of her baby. She says that only a good education can give poor people a chance of success in society.
Elizabeth will receive the funds together with these women:
Andrea Bautista Belen, a grocery store owner;
Librada Vasquez Belen, a clothing retailer;
Maria De Jesus Mariano, who sells clothing accessories;
Isabel Rosa, who sells women's clothing.
The photo shows from left to right, Andrea, Librada, Elizabeth, Maria and Isabel.",F,1500,partner,Clothing,1
Dominican Republic,"Eloise Martes is a married mother of three children, ages 10, 12, and 17, who wishes to see her children advance in their studies. She has a salon/barbershop that she has been operating for about 5 years now, 3 of the most recent years being with help from loans. When she is not busy with her business, she enjoys reading a variety of genres and watching television. Mrs. Martes hopes to grow her business and continue earning income so that she can pay for the education of her children.
Mrs. Martes is a member of a 5 person group, Group 2, which part of a larger micro-bank is called Unida Para Seguir, United to Continue in English. In the picture, Mrs. Martes is in the center in the center along with the other four members of her group. Her story is just one of a list of men and women who are improving their quality of life through the help of micro-credit loans of Esperanza. Together, this group has united with a common vision of a better life with faith and hope in their hearts and an unbreakable spirit. The concept of group lending is to have loans paid in a group to reduce the risk of a person defaulting, as others pick up where a person may lag to receive the next loan. Each of the associates in this bank has a similar business whether it is a salon service or selling clothing. Thank you for your support and awareness of this issue, and it is your concern and efforts that is able to bring a difference to the lives of people such as Mrs. Martes.",F,625,partner,Services,0
Dominican Republic,"Elsi Lendel, the group coordinator of Amor y Seriedad, resides in a batey (a small agricultural village) in the La Romana Region of the Dominican Republic. She lives at home with her husband, Yenes Polis, and their four children, aged 15, 10, 5, and 3. Despite receiving limited formal education, she has thus far been able to use her business savvy and hard work to own and operate her own colmado (small retail store). Elsi has been assisted by a loan from Esperanza which she successfully repaid.
With her new loan Elsi aims to purchase more inventory for her colmado including charcoal, shoes and meat. Additionally, she has recognized that, given the diverse fashion sense of her clientele and her limited space and resources, that she can most efficiently sell clothing by offering it to order, a setup in which she will collect several orders and then purchase the desired items from a larger city. She intends to use a portion of her new loan to establish this new element of her business.
Elsi's dream for the the future of her business is to continue growing and, for her family, she envisions using her new earnings to purchase a house for her family to live in. This will be a considerable advantage over paying the rent that she currently pays.",F,1450,lender,Retail,0
Dominican Republic,"Elsida Lachapelle has lived in this house for the past eight years. She has had three children and is presently pregnant. Her business consists of cooking the traditional Dominican plates, such as rice and beans, chicken and goat meat. She sells these plates to laborers who have no other immediate source of food while working around the community. She tells us that business is good. Now she's looking to make her business larger.
Elsida buys the food ingredients in the local market. She wishes to be able to buy more in order to have a lower overall cost per unit of product that she uses.
With the new child, it's going to be five people that she will be supporting. This is obviously no small task, especially considering her husband is not around to help her. He works sporadically as a mason. She is placing her hopes very high, intending to send all of her children to the university in the capital city of Santo Domingo, some 45 kms. away from their home.",F,250,partner,Food,0
Dominican Republic,"Elvira is 23 years old, and she and her husband have seven children, all of whom attend school. Elvira is the coordinator of a group of five women (including her) that own and operate different businesses in the Santana community of San Cristobal. Elvira sells vegetables and ripe fruits in the community. She has been running her business for more than one year, and currently she is one of the most well-established suppliers of these goods in her area. The entrepreneur is seeking a loan to purchase additional goods in order to increase her sales volume.
The four other members of the group are: (1) Ana Lucia Pinales, a 50-year-old mother of five children, who would like to purchase cloth in order to make curtains to sell in the community; (2) Santa Berta Franco Polanco, who would like to buy mens clothing in bulk for her store; and (3) Juana Estela Ortiz and (4) Elena Josefina Lugo Ortiz, who would like to use the loan proceeds to purchase womens and children's clothing so that their respective businesses can sell such goods in the community.
Notably, the members of the group guarantee the other group members' loans; therefore, if one woman does not repay her portion of the loan, then the other members of the group would assume that woman's loan obligations.",F,1200,partner,Retail,0
Dominican Republic,"Emeteria is an elderly woman who is working hard to get a better lifestyle and rise out of poverty. To make a living, she sells ice cream to the people of her community.
Emeteria says that she can no longer walk all day long to sell her goods. She plans on using her loan to start a new business. The entrepreneur says that shell be selling homemade boiled beans. Lots of people in her community, in order to save money, prefer to purchase precooked beans so that they dont have use their stove and spend a lot for the fuel. Emeteria wants to take advantage of that situation and begin her business.
The entrepreneur hopes shell be given the loan in order to start her business and earn enough money to enjoy her golden years.",F,250,partner,Food,1
Dominican Republic,"Emilia Gilo is a mother of nine ranging from 5 to 29 years old. She is the group coordinator for the group called ""Mujeres de Dios en Progreso"", or in English, ""Women of God in Progress."" This is Emilia's first loan and with it she hopes to be able to buy a variety of types of clothing and shoes to sell in her clothing business. Emilia said that a friend first told her of the loans she could get with Esperanza, and it immediately sparked an interest in her.
Emilia lives in a community near Puerto Plata called Callejon de la Loma. Some of her future goals are to improve her house and business and to progress more. She is hoping this loan and future loans can help her grow her business. She enjoys working in her home and spending time with her nine children.
On behalf of Emilia Gilo, the Mujeres de Dios en Progreso group, and the entire team here at Esperanza International, we thank you for your support and awareness of the global issue of poverty, in which your efforts are helping to make a difference.",F,1575,partner,Clothing,0
Dominican Republic,"Emilia is thirty-three years old and a mother of four school-going children. To earn a living and fend for her children, she sells various products ranging from rice, beans, flour and so forth. She also retails fuel for motorcycles and cars. This activity is the main source of income for Emilia who humbly explains that doing business is the only way people of her community can lift themselves out from poverty.
She is requesting a loan of $350 to buy more products, especially more fuel, to keep satisfying her customers and increase her income.",F,350,partner,Retail,1
Dominican Republic,"Emilia Torrez Castro (pictured far right) is the president of her Esperanza Bank of Hope, Vida (""life""). She is the mother of seven children--aged 22, 21, 18, 15, 14, 10, and 9--and is putting her loan funds towards starting a well-stocked underwear store. Her primary goal for the future is to work hard so that she and her children can see the business grow.",F,2050,partner,Clothing,0
Dominican Republic,"Emma Yahaira is a thirty-year-old entrepreneur who is working to contribute to the education of the children in the Itabo community of San Cristobal.
Emma has been the owner and principal of a primary school for three years. Currently, she receives 32 pupils, and 4 professors are teaching classes in the school.
The entrepreneur has requested a loan to buy more school furniture in order to allow the professors to teach their classes in a very good atmosphere.",F,300,partner,Education,0
Dominican Republic,"Emperatriz and her husband Leonce Guzman have a successful colmado, a little neighborhood grocery store. The couple started the business five years ago in order to provide a good education and food for their two children. Emperatriz also owns a small cafeteria in the public school of the township. In her colmado, Emperatriz sells basic necessities like bread, milk, rice, salt, drinking water, and so forth. With the loan requested, the entrepreneur plans to purchase new inventory as to handily satisfy her customers needs. That way, the couple will better support their family financially.",F,225,partner,Food,0
Dominican Republic,"Enercida is a humble but hard-working and active entrepreneur who strives to support her three children. Enercida lives in the Casabe community of Santo Domingo where she sells shoes and underwear. The entrepreneur explains that she doesnt have the capacity to buy or rent a local stall, but shell keep working hard in order to achieve that goal, and in the meanwhile strengthen her business.
Enercida is requesting a loan (the second one shell take from FSMA) to buy more shoes and underwear and add new styles in order to attract new people to her business.",F,475,partner,Clothing,0
Dominican Republic,"Eneria is an older woman and an experienced entrepreneur who is doing as best as she can to move a small business forward in order to provide her family's well-being. Eneria purchases wholesale clothing in Juanita, a low-income community of Santo Domingo. Eneria explains that her business has allowed her to better support the familys expenses, and also to support her childrens education.
Eneria would like to increase her capital and purchase a greater variety of goods to offer her clientele, and to attract potential clients too. She hopes that her small business will help her to reach her goals and to generate better income for her in order that she can keep supporting the three children who live with her.",F,450,partner,Clothing,1
Dominican Republic,"Enerita Ynoa and the four other members of this group are requesting their third loan with Esperanza International. Enerita has five children; the youngest is 11 years old. She has been appointed group representative and lives in Santiago. This is the second largest city in the Dominican Republic and one of the largest industrial cities in the country. However, it is surrounded by slum neighborhoods inhabited largely by people who've migrated from smaller areas in the north of the country looking for better employment opportunities.
Enerita makes a living selling clothing. She will use a portion of her loan to buy more clothes to sell. She will use the balance to expand into the sale of oil and milk, two of the most commonly used items in daily Dominican diet, but also two of the most expensive. She believes if she can buy a considerable quantity of these items to sell at home, she can make good profits and most likely, raise her daily income.
Enerita likes to listen to Christian music in her spare time because it helps her relax. Please help us support her and the other entrepreneurs in this through group a Kiva loan. Thank you!",F,650,lender,Retail,0
Dominican Republic,"Eneyda is the owner and operator of a beauty salon in Caf community of Santo Domingo. She has been running her business for eight months in order to support her four children's studies. Eneyda humbly explains that her clientele is still limited, but she says she will keep working hard and offering a good-quality service so that she can attract new clients.
She is requesting a loan of $300 so she can buy a wide range of hair products to keep improving her business.",F,300,partner,Services,0
Dominican Republic,"Enma is a thirty-four year old entrepreneur who is striving to earn a living and take care of her two children. Shes been selling womens clothing for four years in the Sabana Palenque community of San Cristobal. She started her business when she realized that her husbands income couldnt cover all of the familys expenses. Keeping up two children, sustaining a business, and paying the rent of a house is very hard, Enma says. Nonetheless, she plans to continue at her business because she believes thats the best way to improve her familys standard of living. With her loan, Enma plans to buy clothing in bulk to add to her stock in order to increase her sales volume and her income.",F,300,partner,Clothing,1
Dominican Republic,"Enrriqueta is an enthusiastic woman and the mother of three children. In order to take care of her kids, she was forced to leave school, and now she depends entirely on her husband, a moto-taxi driver. As you would expect, this family lives in unsteady economic and social conditions.
Enrriqueta sadly explains that shed like to go back to school and provide a good education with her children, but the lack of money impedes her from doing so. She plans on using her loan to start a small business, selling clothing accessories. Shell start her business with a few goods, but as time goes by and the business grows, shell be investing a higher amount of money in more and various goods.
She hopes that this new business will allow her to alleviate her familys poverty and to restart her studies before long.",F,150,partner,Clothing,1
Dominican Republic,"Epifania Marte Santo supports her four children and two grandchildren with her bakery stand in Mojarra, where she sells bread, pastries, and cakes as well as margarine, salt, vinegar, and flour. Epifania will use her loan to build a permanent structure next to her home to house her growing business. She would also like to expand to offer ham and chloride tablets for water purification. Epifania hopes that the sucess of her business can give her children Marilin (24), Junior (22), Guillermos (22), Rafelina (20), and her grandchildren Wilbur (2), and Wilbanias (5 months) the chance to have the education she never could.
Note: Epifania is one of five microentrepreneurs in her Bank of Hope solidarity group, all of whom have gone through Esperanza's business training courses. Each of the five members will receive a share of this $650 loan for their respective businesses and will be accountable to each other for repaying their share of this loan together. This group-lending method strengthens social ties in the community and helps ensure that members cooperate to help one another repay their loans and invest wisely in their businesses and families.",F,650,partner,Food,0
Dominican Republic,"Eransly Monpremier is the coordinator of this group of five entrepreneurs. She is married and has six children, ages 13, 11, 9, 7, 5, and 3. Eransly sells music CDs on the streets of San Pedro. She will use her loan to buy more CDs to sell. Eransly barely has some elementary school education.
She hopes her work will bring blessings from God for her family and that her profits will allow her to provide better for her children. She also wants to own a car to go to farther places to sell her CDs. On behalf of the Camino a la Santidad Group, thank you for your support! Eridania has been operating a beauty parlor in the community for ten years, and now she has a lot of customers that visit her salon for her various services. She offers womens haircuts, partial- and full-highlight hair-dying, washing and blow-drying and the like. Eridania explains that the salon is her main source of income of her family and she has to get more and more customers in order to increase her revenues.
Along with four other entrepreneurs, Eridania is requesting a loan to invest in her business. The loan funds will be distributed among the group, and each entrepreneur will invest her funds in her own business.
The other members of the group are:
Maria Nelis Rodriguez, who runs a small cafeteria.
Basilia De Jess Perez, who sells an assortment of sweets and candies
Tomasa Perez De Marte, an active woman that sells fruits and vegetables.
Blgica Cuevas, who also runs a small cafeteria.
NOTE: Members of the group warrant one anothers loans. If one member fails in repaying the loan, the other members will have to take the responsibility.",F,1425,partner,Retail,0
Dominican Republic,"Eridania is a sweet 35-year-old woman who lives in the community of 30 de Marzo with her 4 kids and husband. As we walked to her house to chat with her about the new business she wanted to start and to meet her family, we learned that there had just been a drive-by shooting in the community. There were 4 bullet holes in her neighbors wall, and all of the women were eager to explain what had happened. 30 de Marzo is one of the most dangerous areas in Puerto Plata, with drug usage and prostitution overwhelmingly prevalent in the community. Our group of 10 women genuinely want to see a better life for themselves and their families. Eridania lives in a one bedroom shack with her entire family. She, her husband, and two of their kids sleep on the one bed, while the two other children sleep on the cold, hard floor.
With this loan, Eridania wants to start a small business selling clothing and shoes around her neighborhood. Esperanza is excited to see what will happen in each of these womens lives, and we want to thank all of the lenders in advance for their support and generosity. God Bless!",F,1300,partner,Clothing,0
Dominican Republic,"Ernesta is an elderly widow, mother of eleven adult children, seven of them girls. Ernesta runs a unique business which in its own way, reflects her patient character: she makes and sells ropes.
Ernestas ropes are very famous in her community for their durability. She says the most important thing is not to focus on preparing a lot of ropes, but on making sure that they will be useful to the customers. She also says business is very profitable. She travels outside her community to purchase a small truck full of thread with which she makes the ropes. People in her community use the ropes for various purposes.
She is requesting a loan to buy a large quantity of thread so that she can produce more ropes to sell during the holidays. Additional income will help Ernesta maintain a comfortable lifestyle.",F,625,partner,Retail,0
Dominican Republic,"Escolastica is in her early thirties, and owns and operates a small restaurant in Hortaliza, a community of Santo Domingo. The entrepreneur started her business two years ago, and she is running it in a rented shop. Escolasticas husband is a technician that repairs inverters. The couple has two sons aged of five and twelve.
Her freshly and well prepared traditional Dominican dishes ensure that people visit her restaurant time and again. Escolastica is an energetic, determined woman. She works in the restaurant all day long and she never gets tired. The entrepreneur explains that someday she would like to have her own shop and not have to rent one. She says she will keep working hard to achieve that goal. She intends to use her loan to purchase more ingredients in order to expand production.",F,475,partner,Food,0
Dominican Republic,"Esdras Jean Pierre is a friendly and outgoing 43-year-old man who lives with his family in the town of Los Alcarizzos, just outside the capital of Santo Domingo. He is asking for this loan so that he can open a Christian library/bookstore in his community.
This is an excellent business idea for many reasons. First of all, Esdras community does not currently have any sort of library, so the need for one is great. Secondly, Esdras says there is a strong Christian community in Los Alcarrizzos that has expressed interest in having a Christian library; he is very excited to be able to provide them with this service. Esdras is asking for this loan so that he can buy the books he needs to start his library/bookstore. He hopes to expand the library over time.
He recognises that it will be a challenge to realize a Christian Library in the big Haitian community in Los Alcarrizzos and to meet the needs of the churches and leaders there. He plans to both sell and rent his books out.
In his free time Esdras loves to write, read the Bible, and teach his fellow community members. On behalf of everyone here at Esperanza International, thank you for your interest and time in supporting Esdras!",M,375,partner,Retail,0
Dominican Republic,"Esmeralda is a 29-year-old single mother. She has three children that are studying in the public school of the small town. She prepares and sells fried chicken pieces, fried bananas, and empanadas. She plans to invest the loan requested to purchase raw materials like flour, spices and so on, to keep producing her fried foods. She also plans to buy more bananas and chicken than before and thus increase her earnings. That way, Esmeralda will be better able to cope with her children's needs.",F,175,partner,Food,0
Dominican Republic,"Esnilda is twenty-five years old, and she and her husband have two daughters, aged of four and eight. To supplement the familys income, she sells costume jewelry to women of her community. Esnilda explains that shes started her business two years ago, and currently she has a lot of loyal customers.
The entrepreneur plans on using her loan to buy new fashionable jewels to add to her stock. She hopes that shell attract more people to her business, and increase her revenue.
Esnilda says that shes putting aside money so that she can send her youngest daughter to school next year.",F,450,partner,Retail,0
Dominican Republic,"Esperanza en Dios, or Hope in God, is a group of five entrepreneurs seeking their first loan from Esperanza International. This group hopes to utilize their first micro-finance loan to further develop their existing business ventures or create new operations in order to increase their profit levels. Monica, the wife of the pastor who works in the Santiago Esperanza office, is the coordinator of this group.
Ramona and her husband Rafa have four children (18, triplets: 12). Ramona sells oil for cooking and homemade ice-cream. Currently she is able to sell 5 to 6 units of oil a week and 100 strawberry, cherry, and chocolate ice-creams at 5 pesos each (approximately $0.14) a day. Ramona desires to use her first micro-finance loan to purchase additional ingredients to increase the sales of oil and ice-cream and also start selling undergarments from her home. Ramona and her husband Rafa desire to see continued growth so that they may continue to provide for the needs of their four children.
Other members of Ramonas bank run similar entrepreneurial operations including a colmado or small grocery store and clothing and undergarment sales.
On behalf of Esperanza and this group of business entrepreneurs, we would like to thank you for your support!",F,1150,lender,Retail,0
Dominican Republic,"Esperanza Garcia is a budding entrepreneur who would like nothing more than to expand her business. Currently, she operates out of her house selling many things, such as womens clothing, cooking equipment, and baked goods. Through Esperanzas ambition she organized four other local women from the community into a group in order to approach Esperanza for a loan.
Esperanza is a single mother raising three children. She has two boys, aged thirteen and eight, and one 3 year old daughter. When talking to Esperanza, it was very clear that her family is the number one priority for her, and she would do anything to make sure they were happy. Currently, the two boys are in school and they are doing well, and she would love nothing more than for them to attend college in the future. The three year old daughter is a handful, but is always smiling.
Obtaining a loan is what Esperanza needs in order to expand her business. Along with the ability to expand her inventory, she would like to purchase a cart with which she could travel around her village to sell her goods. In order to sell now, she has to stay in her house, but with a cart it will open up a whole new market of potential customers. The opportunity for obtaining a loan is a very rare opportunity for these women, and all members of the group, not only Esperanza, stressed their intentions to work very hard in order to pay the loan back in the allotted time.",F,850,lender,Clothing,0
Dominican Republic,"Esperanza is a 30-year-old woman and a proud mother of two schoolchildren. A few months ago, Esperanza started a small business selling mens and womens clothing in the Trinitarios community of San Cristobal.
Esperanza explains that she wants to diversify the line of products shes offering to the customers. With her loan, she will buy clothing in bulk in order to satisfy the clienteles demand, and increase her income. Esperanza wants to become a very well-established supplier of clothing in her area.",F,475,partner,Clothing,0
Dominican Republic,"Esperanza is an old and well experienced entrepreneur who has been selling fresh meat for more than forty years. She says that her pride is rooted in having supported her children's studies and helped them become professionals. They are grateful for her sacrifices in the past and help her to maintain a comfortable lifestyle.
With this loan, Esperanza will buy chicken and pork meat to satisfy her customers needs and increase her business' revenue so she will have sufficient money to enjoy her golden years.",F,250,partner,Food,1
Dominican Republic,"Esperanza is forty-nine years old and the mother of three sons and one daughter. Esperanza explains that four children are hard to keep up, but she says thats her responsibility and shes proud that they all attend school. To support her children, Esperanza operates a cafeteria she started three years ago. Currently, she has a well established clientel and she has good income.
Esperanza plans on using her loan to increase the variety of food she offers to her customers. She hopes that her businesss growth will allow her increase her revenue and maintain a comfortable lifestyle for her family.",F,450,partner,Food,0
Dominican Republic,"Estama Marie has found a unique niche in her local community just outside of Puerto Plata, Dominican Republic. When someone has an old or broken piece of furniture, they take it to her. She has begun a small business repairing chairs, sofas, beds, and other furniture. Left by her husband several years ago, Estama has found herself in the same position as many women here in the Dominican and in her home country, Haiti. She is left to provide for her two boys (ages 14, 16) with whatever means she can. The money from this loan will go towards purchasing paint, sand paper, various tools, as well as several old beds that may be refurbished and sold. She aspires to continue growing her business, so that someday she might be able to own her own shop that she can work out of.
Estama is one of the leaders of the 10 person micro bank Hermanas Unidas, which means ""United Sisters"". All ten women in the bank are Haitian immigrants who have come to earn a living in the Dominican informal sector. These unique entrepreneurs unite in solidarity, promising to cover one another if someone fails on a payment, thus allowing them to access funding that they would otherwise never be able to receive on their own. The concept of this group bank paying their loan together is to reduce the risk of one person defaulting due to the strong peer pressure from their fellow bank members. As these 10 women embark upon their first ever loan from Esperanza, we are confident that they will all succeed in bettering their lives and the lives of their families with this loan. Their businesses are simple, but offer a stream of income that could never have been accomplished without such a loan for initial capital. Several of the women sell clothes and shoes in the street, and a couple of them will offer housecleaning services and beauty supplies.
On behalf of Estama Marie, the Hermanas Unidas group, and the entire team here at Esperanza International, we thank you for your support and awareness of the global issue of poverty, in which your efforts are helping to make a difference",F,1600,partner,Services,0
Dominican Republic,"Estanisla is a humble woman who struggles to make a living and to take care of her three children. Her husband is a farm worker whose low wages are not enough to meet all the family's needs. Estanisla has been doing her best for years to help her husband in supporting the kids' education, providing food for them and paying the rent of their modest house.
Estanisla humbly explains that her small business of selling confectionery and cookies is very limited, but she hopes that this loan will allow her to add more variety to the goods in her inventory and to increase drastically her revenue. Estanisla's dream is to have a great mini-market with lots of products and millions of customers visiting it and purchasing lots of things in it.
Estanisla hopes that her business will help her children to start their university studies and to become great professionals in life.
Estanisla will receive her loan in common with these entrepreneurs:
Juliana Vasquez, who sells ripe fruits in the community.
Irene Adalgisa Vasquez Luna, to buy beauty products to sell in her neighborhood.
Elpidia Hernandez Vidal, who sells fruits and vegetables.
Rudy Hernandez Galvez who owns and operates a small cafeteria.
Picture shows, from left to right, Estanisla, Juliana, Irene, Elpidia, and Rudy.",F,1350,partner,Food,1
Dominican Republic,"Estefania is an elderly woman and hard-working entrepreneur with a disabled husband whom she supports. She sells candies in her community in public places and at the beach. She lives in the Sabana Palenque community of San Cristobal close to the sea, and every day Estefania sells her wares to the large numbers of people who visit the public beach. She plans to use the loan to expand her inventory and thus increase her income and better enjoy her golden years.",F,250,partner,Food,1
Dominican Republic,"Estela is an industrious woman and a single mother of five children, all of whom are in their twenties. Shes been selling womens clothing for five years in her neighborhood. Shes satisfied that her work allowed her children to take advantage of their studies and appreciates that they are grateful for her efforts. Currently, they are studying at the university and three of them are working. She wants to continue operating her business so that she can have enough money to support the two children who are jobless.
Shes asking for a loan to buy more clothing to add to her inventory. Estela hopes that her business will allow her to better enjoy life.",F,150,partner,Clothing,1
Dominican Republic,"Estela Yancarlo is the group coordinator for this small group of entrepreneurs. She has 8 children; the eldest is 15 and the youngest is 2 years old. Estela understands the importance of providing for all her children, which is why she has a set goal of making her business grow into a successful cafeteria.
Estela sells food (both uncooked and prepared). She cooks with charcoal because she doesn't have a stove, so part of this loan will be used to buy enough charcoal for her to cook the prepared meals she sells at her stand. The rest of her loan will be invested in purchasing cooking oil. This is one of the most expensive items used for cooking, so it's better purchased in large quantities (a 5 gallon can). Estela will also buy some seasonal fruits and vegetables to cover the demand of those people who make their own food but buy materials from the stand. She hopes that catering to a variety of clients will render her profits that one day will allow her to have her own house.",F,1500,lender,Food,0
Dominican Republic,"Estervina is a many-sided businesswoman. She runs a cafeteria and sells vegetables in the public market. She operates the cafeteria just on weekends; during the week, you can see her next to her stall selling her fresh vegetables. Estervina is fifty years old and she has nine children, eight of them boys.
With her loan, Estervina plans on purchasing raw materials for her cafeteria and more vegetables to keep selling in the public market. She explains that she has gained a lot of experience from these long and arduous years of hard work. She says she will keep on working a lot to improve her and her family's living conditions.",F,775,partner,Food,0
Dominican Republic,"Estervina is a very active businesswoman who runs a cafeteria and also sells vegetables in the public market. She operates the cafeteria on weekends only, when demand is greatest. During the week, you can see her in a stall in the public market selling her fresh vegetables. Estervina is 50 years old and has nine children, eight of whom are boys. She plans to use her loan to buy raw materials for her cafeteria, and more vegetables to sell in the public market. She is very confident that she use her loan well because of the experience she has acquired during many busy and arduous years of work. She is also determined to keep working hard to improve her her own life as well as the living conditions of her family.",F,775,partner,Food,0
Dominican Republic,"Estervina, untiring and hardworking, runs a beauty salon within her house. She has a lot of experiences as entrepreneur since she has been doing that business for more than fifteen years. Estervina and her husband have four children, three of them girls. They all have finished secondary school.
Estervinas beauty salon is well known in the community, and each two days she receives visits from a lot of customers that use her services. Hair straightening and hair dying are some of her specialities. Local women like to go to her salon because of her kindness and great abilities.
The entrepreneur envisions her beauty salon becoming very big salon with many more customers. She also wants to hire a girl to help in the business so that she can run the salon six days a week. The loan requested will help Estervina achieve that goals and will help hair maintain a comfortable lifestyle for her family.",F,450,partner,Services,0
Dominican Republic,"Esther is a young, enthusiastic, budding entrepreneur who lives in the Sabana Grande de Boy community of Monte Plata. Shell have her Secondary Education certificate in a few months, and shes ready to study Business Administration at the public university in Santo Domingo, the capital.
To make a living and save money in order to start her studies, Esther sells garments to men of her community. She says that she has a lot of customers, including teachers and students of her school, neighbors that have a good job, and other friends.
With her loan, Esther will buy more goods in order to increase her sales volume, and thus her income. That way, the entrepreneur hopes that shell be in a better situation to reach her goals and move ahead.",F,375,partner,Clothing,0
Dominican Republic,"Esther Maritza is thirty-seven years old and a mother of three children, all of whom go to school. She sells womens clothing and costume jewelry in her community. Esther Maritza has been selling for a long time, so she is well known by the people of the community and she has a well established clientele.
With her loan, Esther Maritza will buy more goods to add to her stock and to offer to her customers so she can increase her income and improve her familys living conditions. In five years, Esther would like to have a big store with millions of jewelry items and other goods. She says that shell keep working hard in order to reach her goal.
Eucaris is the leader of the 5-person micro-bank group, Ebenezer. Each of these unique Dominican entrepreneurs unite in solidarity, allowing them to access funding that they would otherwise never be able to receive on their own.
On behalf of Eucaris, the Ebenezer group, and the entire team here at Esperanza International, we thank you for your support with this micro loan!",F,950,partner,Retail,0
Dominican Republic,"Eudocia Rivera Zapota, 23, is in her second loan cycle with Esperanza and is the president of her Bank of Hope, ""Mujeres en Desarollo"" (""developing women""). She takes the job seriously, making sure that her fellow associates pay attention to their loan officer, Felix, but she can also be seen laughing and joking during the collection meetings. She lives with her large family of 3 brothers, 2 sisters, and one-year-old daughter, Denelis. With her future loans, she hopes to one day acquire a bigger, more spacious shop for her salon, and to purchase her own home for her and Denelis. Most importantly, she wishes to keep working at the job she loves so that her daughter ""will never lack anything.""",F,825,partner,Services,0
Dominican Republic,"Eugenia is a popular woman in Chacuey Abajo, a very-low income community of Cotu. She's a hard-working woman and a member of the community's neighborhood board. Eugenia is also a single mother that is trying really hard to keep up with her 7-year-old son. To improve her family's life, Eugenia wants to start a new business. She has requested a loan to purchase chickens in order to start a small poultry shop. She's already bought a small establishment for the business. Eugenia's main objective is to support her son's education so that he can become a good professional in the future. She counts on Kiva lenders' bigheartedness to allow her to get her business off the ground and have great success.
Eugenia will be given the loan together with these women, all of whom live in the community:
Georgina Guzman, who sells clothing and accessories;
Digna Calderon, who operates a small clothing store;
Juana Capellan, who sells beauty products;
and Natividad Rodriguez, who sells hair products;
The picture shows from left to right, Eugenia, Georgina, Digna, Juana and Natividad.",F,1300,partner,Agriculture,1
Dominican Republic,"Eugenia is in her late thirties and has three children, all of whom attend school. She makes a living in two ways: selling new and used clothing to the women of her community, and preparing lunches that she sells from her house. Eugenia sells clothing by walking up and down the streets of her community to see if anyone would like to make a purchase. She leaves early in the morning and returns at about 11 oclock to begin preparing lunches with the help of a young assistant. Eugenia has applied for a loan to buy clothing in bulk and ingredients she uses to prepare and sell her delicious food.",F,1200,partner,Clothing,0
Dominican Republic,"Eugenia Molil Jean is bank coordinator for a group called Llegando Lejos (Going Far). Her group has five members. She is 35 years old. She lives with her spouse and five children; ages 16, 11, 8, 7 and 2 years old. She sells chicken in her own community in El Seybo. She has already received three loans from Esperanza and is about to receive her fourth. She would like to increase her business by selling a greater quantity of products, such as sugar and coffee; and to expand her activities by selling deodorant. She finds keeping the clients happy to be the biggest challenge in her daily activities. She would also like to improve her house and make her business grow to provide for her large family. On behalf of Esperanza and the Llegando Lejos Bank of Hope, thank you for your support!",F,650,partner,Retail,0
Dominican Republic,"Eugenia, the group leader, has five children, ages 2, 6, 7, 11 and 16. She lives in a batey (which is a very poor community) of Haitian families in El Seibo, Dominican Republic. Families that live in bateys have small houses generally made of scrap tin and wood; the best possible accommodation is a cement-block house. These houses consist of only one room where the whole family lives together. To provide for her family, Eugenia has a small business killing chickens and selling their meat in neighboring bateys. In order to travel between bateys, Eugenia pays a small fee to ride on the back of a motorcycle.
By receiving loans, she and the other members of the Bank of Hope are better able to survive the economic fluctuations and frequent sicknesses that make work hard and volatile. With this next loan, Eugenia hopes to further grow her business by buying more chickens and travelling to more bateys. Someday she dreams of owning her own house. Eugenia also wants to be able to provide the best for her children, including a good education, so that they will have a bright future.
Eugenia is part of the Llegando Lejos (Going Far) group. The Bank of Hope with Esperanza International supports six groups in total, two of which are requesting new loans now.
Note: This is a group loan to 10 people.",F,1650,partner,Food,0
Dominican Republic,"Eunice is fifty-seven years old and a mother of five children, two sons and three daughters, all of whom are above the age of thirty. Since the death of her husband two years ago, Eunice has supported herself by selling a variety of domestic products to other women in her small community in the Dominican Republics San Cristobal province. Currently, Eunice sells shampoo, perfume, hair care, and hygiene items but she hopes that she can expand her inventory to include womens slippers and other clothing items after receiving her loan. She explains that, with Gods blessing, the new items will help expand her business and attract new customers.",F,225,partner,Retail,0
Dominican Republic,"Eunice Zorrilla is a single mother of three children, ages 22, 13, and 10. She is the group coordinator for Group Five of the Ebenezer Bank of Hope in Hato Mayor, Dominican Republic. This is the first loan that this group of five will receive, and they expect to make their businesses grow thanks to it.
Eunices business is a beauty salon. She will use her loan to purchase new products to do her everyday work. Her hopes are that this first loan will help her achieve her dreams of owning a bigger salon and a house of her own. From the profits she obtains, thanks to the improvements she makes in her business with this loan, she expects to help pay for her childrens school and college tuition.
Thank you for supporting this group. Lets help build the dreams of these brave women!",F,1000,partner,Services,0
Dominican Republic,"Euris Josefina is an active businesswoman that lives in the Zapotal community of Nizao. She is 32 years old and has four children that range in age from 8 to 17 years old. Euris sells womens clothing and underwear, and has been running this business for more than one year.
The entrepreneur is requesting a loan to expand and improve her business. Specifically, she would like to purchase a new collection of chic underwear and stylish clothing. Euris hopes that her business success will generate enough revenue to allow her to visit another country someday and to continue to provide for her family.",F,450,partner,Clothing,0
Dominican Republic,"Eusebia is in her late thirties, and she and her husband are raising five boys and four girls. Eusebia defines herself as a many-sided entrepreneur who does everything in her power to support her family and provide good education with her children.
She sells new and used clothing from her house. She also prepares natural juices which she sells with fried vegetables and pork meat in a school next to her house, located in the Quita Sueo community of San Cristobal.
Eusebia hopes that her business growth will help her put aside money with the intention of setting a cafeteria next to the public school of the community.",F,750,partner,Clothing,0
Dominican Republic,"Eusebia, aged 42, married and mother of three children, is a very diligent woman. Her children are studying in the community, and her husband works as a print media journalist. Eusebia needs a loan in order to restart her business activities. Before, she was selling skin care and hair products, as well as cosmetic products. She had to stop that activity for one year under a doctors advice. Now that she has recovered her health, she will open her business again. She plans to fix her old showcase and buy a new one to put the merchandise she has already purchased. Eusebia says that having her business back will make her feel independent and useful in her community.",F,175,partner,Retail,0
Dominican Republic,"Eustacia is a 39-year-old single mother of three daughters and one son. She currently has a small structure from which she cooks and sells all different types of fried foods, including chicken, beef, dumplings, etc. However, she really wants to be able to buy supplies in order to fix up her shop. She would like to be able to have a concrete floor, a new roof, a new lamp to allow her to see better once the sun goes down, and a new burner because her current one has a small leak and is not very reliable. Eustacia has a strong desire to improve the quality of life for her children and herself and is highly motivated to expand her business in order to do this.
Note: Eustacia is one of five microentrepreneurs in her Bank of Hope solidarity group, all of whom have gone through Esperanza's business training courses. Each of the five members will receive a share of this $850 loan for their respective businesses and will be accountable to the others for repaying their share of this loan. This group-lending method strengthens social ties in the community and helps ensure that members cooperate to help one another repay their loans and invest wisely in their businesses and families. This money will go towards the next loan received by this Bank of Hope; once they finish paying back their current loan it will be activated.",F,850,partner,Food,0
Dominican Republic,"Eva is a young and promising entrepreneur who struggles to earn a living and achieve great things in life. Six months ago, Eva gave birth to a child, and has had to redouble her efforts to take care of her newborn and keep operating her business. Eva also explains that her partner is quite young, and doesnt have the kind of job that would allow him support their family.
Fortunately, Eva is a smart businesswoman and her business is profitable. She says that she always pays close attention to customer demand and what people ask for, being careful to add items to her inventory that they want. Currently, she sells an assortment of fashionable earrings, bracelets, necklaces, beauty products and slippers. This young entrepreneur would like to increase her sales volume so that her business can generate a better income for her family. Shell use her loan to buy a larger quantity of goods to add to her stock.
Eva hopes that her business will allow her start her university studies next year.",F,300,partner,Retail,1
Dominican Republic,"Eva Susana is thirty-three years old, and she has two sons aged fourteen and fifteen, both of whom go to school. Eva Susana owns and operates a small beauty salon which offers the services of hair cut, hairdo, hair straightening and hair dying to women in her community. She started her business five years ago as a result of her aim to generate a better income for her family. This entrepreneur explains that theres a lot to be said for operating her beauty parlor. Actually, shes been able to support her childrens studies, and shes saving money to take care of any financial issues the family may face. Eva needs a loan to buy a wide range of products to run her salon. Shell also buy perfumes and some beauty products to offer to her customers. This entrepreneur hopes that her business will allow her to buy a house someday.",F,300,partner,Services,1
Dominican Republic,"Evangelina is 42 years old and has three sons (23, 18 and 17 years old). Her husband is a livestock farmer. Evangelina started her small business two years ago. She sells clothes and shoes for women. Normally, she sells the clothes in her house, however, sometimes she takes the goods to the customers upon request. The entrepreneur wants to increase her sales volume and therefore her income. She wants a loan to purchase a larger amount of clothes and shoes to sell during the holiday season. Given this loan, Evangelina will better face her familys needs and will continue improving their standard of life.",F,375,partner,Clothing,0
Dominican Republic,"Evangelina La Pe (pictured on the far left) is a 33-year-old woman who lives in a small community in the eastern province of Hato Mayor in the Dominican Republic. She has a small boutique in her home where she sells clothing, shoes, and beauty products. The money from this loan will go towards purchasing hair products, perfume, makeup, and various blouses. Evangelina said that she hopes to continue to grow her business so that she will be able to help support, along with her husband, their three children (ages 15, 7, and 6) and continue providing them with a good education. It is her hope to save enough money so that she would be able to go to college one day to study accounting. In her free time, Evangelina enjoys reading, singing, and spending time with her family.
Evangelina is the leader of the 5-person micro-bank group, El Eden I. Each of these unique Dominican entrepreneurs unite in solidarity, allowing them to access funding that they would otherwise never be able to receive on their own. One of the other women in the group has a small salon, one prepares and sells food in the street, and the others sell clothing.
On behalf of Evangelina, the El Eden I group, and the entire team here at Esperanza International, we thank you for your support with this micro loan!",F,2000,partner,Retail,0
Dominican Republic,"Evangelista is an active entrepreneur who has four children, all of whom attend school. With a loan she received from our organization about six months ago, she started a small business selling women's clothing. Her husband sells fruits in the street market of the community.
With this new loan, Evangelista will buy more garments to satisfy her clientele and increase her income. She hopes that her business will keep enabling her to support her children's education and improve her family's living conditions.",F,250,partner,Clothing,1
Dominican Republic,"Evelin Palanco is 23 years old, married and has a 7-year-old daughter. Her husband is a proud man who works in a law office. Evelin's life is very busy because she is a self-employed saleswoman who buys clothes in the capital and resells them in her town. One way she attracts new customers is by allowing people to buy on credit and repay her at the end of the week. Demand for her clothes is high, and Evelin would like to expand her business -- and her income -- by acquiring new inventory. To do this, she is asking for a loan of $350, which she will repay in 6 months.",F,350,partner,Agriculture,0
Dominican Republic,"Evelin Sosa Rodriguez is the group leader of the Mujeres con Esperanza Group 4. She has been selling handbags and women's shoes on the street for the past year. She began her business with a loan from Esperanza. She is receiving her second loan now to expand her business.
Sometimes Evelin has a hard time selling her wares, she quotes, ""Sometimes there is not enough money on the street."" When selling is slow, it is hard to accumulate enough capital to restock her inventory. The loan will go to invest in more stock for her to sell.
Evelin and her husband live on their own and have two daughters. Evelin's husband sells oranges in a market stall to support their growing family.",F,1300,lender,Retail,0
Dominican Republic,"Eveline is an older woman pushing hard to make a living and lift herself out of poverty. Eveline sells new and used shoes to people in her community. She operates her business predominantly by going through the streets all day long, but she also visits regular customers and some friends at their homes. With her loan, she will buy some clothing in bulk to add to the items she offers for sale. Eveline hopes her business will allow her get enough money to enjoy her golden years.",F,350,partner,Retail,1
Dominican Republic,"Evelyn Regalado approached Esperanza a couple of months ago inquiring about how to receive a loan for her business selling bedspreads, sheets, soap, and other household items. After several meetings explaining the loan terms and putting together a group of five women, she is ready to accept her loan in order to invest in and grow her small business. This is a rare opportunity for someone in her economic status, and she reinforced several times how grateful she was and how she couldnt wait for her business to grow with this new investment.
Evelyn explained that, with new loan, she would be able to increase her merchandise and also be able to explore new markets for her products. She explained she wants to grow her business in order to hopefully provide a better life for her children. She has two boys aged 11 and 3, and she has one daughter aged 15. She speaks very highly of her daughter who is an excellent student who has dreams of attending college and becoming a professional. She explained her boys are typical boys who both love playing baseball.
In the future, Evelyn hopes to expand her business through new loans, and her long term dream is to own real estate that she could rent out. She has ambitious goals, but she knows she has to start small in order to fulfill her long term goals.",M,900,lender,Retail,0
Dominican Republic,"Evelyn, a twenty-four year old newlywed, is the owner and operator of a small restaurant in the Camito community of Yamasa, Dominican Republic. The traditional Dominican meals and juices Evelyn freshly prepares make her restaurant an important gathering place for the community. Currently, Evelyn is only able to serve dinner but she plans on using her loan to expand her business and serve meals throughout the day.
Evelyns expansion plans include the construction of a concrete patio adjacent to her restaurant and the purchase of several benches. Here, she can serve more customers alongside her restaurant. As her business grows, she would like to offer breakfast, lunch and dinner. Evelyn mentions that she would also like to hire several employees. As she discusses her dreams for the future, Evelyn explains that she hopes that her restaurants success will help her to attend a university.",F,925,partner,Food,0
Dominican Republic,"Evemencia is thirty-three years old and is a very active, hard-working businesswoman. She and her husband have three children, two of them girls, who range from three to thirteen years old.
Evemencia sells an assortment of fashionable shoes and womens clothing in her community. Her store is very famous and people visit it every day to purchase her goods. Currently she makes a monthly profit of $275.00.
She is requesting a loan of $600 to increase her inventory, especially for the holidays. She envisions continuing to grow, until it is one of the largest stores in the community.",F,600,partner,Clothing,0
Dominican Republic,"Eylin is 23 years old, married, and the mother of a beautiful boy. Her son is 3 years old and is going into kindergarten. Her husband has a barber shop, and she sells clothes. Both businesses are run in their house. Eylin and her husband started their business more than two years ago. Eylin has already taken out a loan from our organization, and she used it wisely and repaid it in the time agreed upon. Her husbands barber shop was made of wood, but she remodeled it with the loan and grew the business. The entrepreneur is now asking for a loan to expand her clothes store. She wants to purchase large amounts of clothes so as to better satisfy her customers needs. Shell also help her husband hire two more hairdressers in the barber shop so they can attend to the customers more quickly.",F,925,partner,Services,0
Dominican Republic,"Fabia, 56, is a very diligent, hard working, and ambitious woman. Her children (3 girls and 3 boys) are gown up and currently are professionals and university students. Her husband is a farmer. For more than 10 years, Fabia had been selling sandwiches, churros (fried strips of dough), juice, coconuts, and pastry in general. With the money earned from that activity, and with her husbands help, she could buy a small locale where she is running a colmaldo, a grocery store. Soap, pasta, oil, candy, drinks, rice, and peas are just some of the goods that can be sold in her grocery. Fabia thinks about increasing the income obtained from the business. She is requesting a loan to purchase more and new products in order to offer a wider variety of goods with to her clientele. That way, she will better help her husband face the housing issues.",F,375,partner,Food,0
Dominican Republic,"Fabiola is a young entrepreneur and the mother of three children ranging in age from 1 to 3 years old. Her husband works for a construction company. To supplement her familys revenue, Fabiola sells womens clothing in the Ochocienta community of Santo Domingo. She started her business six months ago, and shes doing her utmost to make it successful. Fabiola humbly explains that her stock is still limited, but she plans on using her loan to purchase a great variety of clothing to boost her inventory and increase her sales volume.
Fabiola hopes that her business will allow her to support her childrens educations. She would also like to start her university studies next year and will be saving money for this purpose.",F,300,partner,Clothing,1
Dominican Republic,"Fannie is a very courageous 46 year old woman who endured much so her six children could have a good education. Her husband, who has always supported her, is a farmer. The oldest children are working and can now earn their own living; the others go to school. The loan requested by Fannie is to invest in her small business. She sells men's shirts, pants and underwear. As the holiday season is coming, she wants to buy more merchandise at wholesale price and sell them in her community. Holiday season has always been the best time to sell a large amount of product and earn sufficient money to set aside for eventual health problems or for her familys needs.",F,225,partner,Clothing,0
Dominican Republic,"Fany sells mens pants, shirts, and underwear in the Guanuma community of Monte Plata. Fany is forty seven years old and a proud mother of six children. Most of them are working and making a living for their own. The entrepreneur is requesting a loan to boost her inventory and add new and exclusive items that may generate a greater profit for her business. Fany is a mature and trustworthy person. Last year, she took a loan from Kiva through our organization and she repaid the loan on time.
Fany hopes shell receive this second loan before long so that she can keep running her business and go ahead.",F,300,partner,Clothing,1
Dominican Republic,"Fary runs a colmado, a general store where people can buy foodstuffs such as rice, beans, spaghetti, vegetable oil, and other goods. She has been operating the business for four years. Fary is twenty-five years old, and she and her husband have two sons, ages 2 and 6. The elder attends school.
Fary explains that before, her store was very small, but she was able to enlarge it with the last loan she took from FSMA about six months ago. Now, the store is more spacious and people can purchase their necessities more comfortably.
Fary is requesting a new loan to purchase big quantities of many goods that she runs low on in her store. The entrepreneur says that in the long run, she would like to buy the locale where she operates the store, since its a rented one and not hers.",F,1200,partner,Food,0
Dominican Republic,"Fatima leads a small group of five women, all of whom operate small businesses in their community. Fatima is thirty-eight years old and, she and her husband have three daughters and two sons who go to school. Fatima just finished high-school a few months ago.
Fatima sells an assortment of oral care products, such as toothbrushes, toothpaste, and mouthwash, to the people in her neighborhood, and joyfully says that her goods are sold just as quickly as she can stock them. She is not thinking about owning an establishment to operate her business, because she makes more profit by visiting her customers and bringing the products to their houses. Fatima is requesting a loan to increase her inventory in order to keep satisfying her customers. She hopes her business will allow her to maintain a comfortable lifestyle for her family. The members of Fatimas group are:
She is an incredibly hard-working woman, someone who has worked since she was only 7 years old! She works hard to improve her business, but also to take care of her children and make sure that they are raised in a safe and healthy home.
When Fausta has a bit of free time she loves to hang out with her children and husband, listen to music, or read Spanish literature.
On behalf of everyone at Esperanza International, and on behalf of Fausta, thank you for your support!",F,1350,partner,Clothing,0
Dominican Republic,"Faustina is fifty years old, and she has three sons. The eldest, 28, is working as tourist guide at Bvaro, one of the most visited touristic sites of the country. Her two other sons, 27 and 18, are living with her and are not working. Her husband is dead. Faustina is a very responsible and hard-working woman. Six months ago, she took a loan from FSMA with which she started a very small business, selling vegetables and fruits. Her business has grown so fast that she has been able to add a large range of green vegetables, and so she gets a lot of customers.
With this, her second loan requested, Faustina will buy more goods so that she can keep on satisfying her customers needs. She hopes she can have the financial flexibility to help her youngest son attend a good university next year in Santo Domingo.",F,900,partner,Food,0
Dominican Republic,"Faustina is said to be a many-sided woman. She is the kind of person that is willing to improve her life and is ready to strive to achieve her goals. She has three sons, aged 17, 16 and 13. All of them attend school.
Faustina has been selling womens and childrens clothing for ten years. Recently she started to sell sandwiches and juice with a loan she took from FSMA. She operates the two activities in a much crowded place. The elder son helps her sell the goods. Her businesses have been very profitable insomuch as she could repay the loan and put aside money to keep on investing in her activities. At present, she has more facilities to help meet the expenses of the family and she is in better condition to improve the education of her children.
Faustina needs funds to purchase raw materials to supply her sandwich and juice business. She will keep preparing the dishes and will let her son run the business in the morning. She will concentrate upon the clothing sales. She explains that with just one activity she wont be able to bear all the expenses of her family. She hopes she can get the funds soon to ensure the subsistence of her sales and make sure she can keep on improving her familys living conditions.",F,450,partner,Food,0
Dominican Republic,"Fecilisima has been a member of our microcredit program for almost two years, and now shes taking out her third loan. Fecilisima sells pica pollo (breaded deep-fried chicken). Her success makes her an excellent model for other women in her community. She remembers that things were really tough when she started her business. She could hardly find money to support her family as she had to invest all her money in her small restaurant to make it strong.
Now, she explains that the construction of her house has progressed a lot. She even had money for the roof, which is made of zinc. This is a great achievement for a woman who had absolutely nothing before. Fecilisima is a smart and experienced entrepreneur and she used her previous loans wisely so that her business could move forward and her family could have a better future. With this new loan, Fecilisima will buy more chicken meat to produce her delicious pica pollo in order to keep satisfying her customers and move ahead. The entrepreneur says that there are lots of goals still to achieve, but she knows that with hard work and persistence shell have success.",F,425,lender,Food,1
Dominican Republic,"Fela is a very young entrepreneur who struggles to make a living and take care of her two children. She runs a beauty salon whichshe started just a few months ago. Her husband, also very young, works for a watch-making company.
Fela aims to offer more services in her salon so that she can attract new clients. She has requested a loan to buy an automatic hairdryer to replace a damaged one. She also plans to purchase other goods such as rinse, shampoo, face lotion and other beauty products. Given this loan, she will be in a condition to attract new customer to her salon, and will also be able to improve her familys living conditions.",F,475,partner,Services,0
Dominican Republic,"Felicia is a 30 year old lady. Shes been married for years and has 4 children. Presently, her husband takes care of the whole family through a small business he owns where he sells a kind of Dominican meal cooked with bananas leaves not far from a public school. To be more helpful in the maintenance of the family shed like to build her own business so she can provide her kids with what they need. Her plan is to have a grocery store where shell sell drinks, rice, sugarwell, a little bit of everything. She already has a fridge that she can use for the drinks and knows some specific places where she can buy the articles she needs for the store. She expects to borrow US$325.00, money that she will repay in 6 months.",F,325,partner,Food,0
Dominican Republic,"Felicia is fifty-five years old, and she lives with her husband and her seven children. She sells bedspreads to the people of her community. Felicia operates her business mainly from her house, but sometimes she visits friends and neighbors in order to increase her sales volume. The entrepreneur explains that she has to get a greater profit from her business so that she can support the university studies of four of her children. She hopes that her business continued growth will help her to have sufficient money to improve her familys financial situation.
With her loan, Felicia will buy a larger variety of goods to offer her customers and to attract more people to her business.",F,200,partner,Retail,1
Dominican Republic,"Felicia is in her early fifties and she is the mother of four grown-up children who all work outside the community.
Felicia runs a small grocery store; she started her business two years ago. She would like to enlarge her store in order to increase her income and improve her financial conditions.
With her loan, she will buy goods that are running low in the store. Given the loan, she is sure she will be able to keep satisfying her customers and fulfill her dreams before long.",F,125,partner,Food,0
Dominican Republic,"Felicia Luna is a group coordinator for the group called Mujeres Victoriosas, which means Victorious Women. Felicia is the owner of a business selling clothing in her local community. Felicia has four grown children and four grandchildrenthree of which live with her. Felicias dream for her business is that of all entrepreneurs: to grow. She hopes to earn enough profit to provide a better life for her grandchildren and to support them in their studies. Along with her grandchildren, Felicia lives with her partner, Luis Emilio. In her free time, Felicia enjoys reading the Bible and biographies as well as swimming in the river that is by her house.
After hearing about Esperanza from a friend, Felicia decided to take out her first loan because of the good testimony she heard. Felicia wants to thank Kiva lenders for this opportunity and said she wants to develop and grow through this experience.
On behalf of Felicia Luna, Mujeres Victoriosas, and all of us here at Esperanza International, thanks for your support!",F,1350,partner,Clothing,0
Dominican Republic,"Felicia Margarita is just one of thousands unknown heroes whose exploits consist of sacrificing their lives to sustain their needy families.
Felicia and her husband live with their 6 sons and 2 grandsons. She explains that her husband doesnt have a full-time job, and his meager wages cant cover all the household expenses.
To contribute to the familys revenue, she sells an assortment of personal cleansing products, laundry detergents, dishwashing products and household cleaners in her community. Its very challenging to care for eight people, but Felicia is strong and says that shell keep doing her utmost to improve her familys living conditions.
With her loan, shell purchase more products to resell in her community. Felicia hopes that God will give her the courage to keep fighting against poverty and make a positive change in her childrens lives.
Felicia will receive her loan with these women:
Yanira Sanchez Lora, who sells womens clothing;
Bienvenida Amarante Nuez, who sells clothing;
Anastacia Faa Gonzalez and Ramona Eloisa Leonarda Acosta, both of whom sell footwear.
In the picture, Felicia is the second from the left.",F,750,lender,Retail,1
Dominican Republic,"Felicia, the leader of this group, is a needy but optimistic woman. She's the proud mother of 3 children, two of whom attend school. Felicia is currently raising the children on her own as she's separated from her husband. To support her family, Felicia works as a household servant. Unsurprisingly, her low wages don't allow her to bear all the expenses of the family.
To improve her family's living conditions, Felicia plans to start selling perfumes, deodorants, beauty soaps, and so on. She'll be selling in the evening and will be visiting people in the neighborhood to promote her products. She also explains that once she gets considerable profits, she'll buy a small showcase so that she can display and sell some goods out of her house, too.
Felicia hopes this new venture will be successful and will help her change her life and her children's. Felicia is joined in her group by the following women: Ana Julia Paula, who retails fuel in the neighborhood; Teresa Estevez, who sells women's clothing; and Abelita Pie Aguit and Maria Castro Colon.",F,1050,lender,Retail,1
Dominican Republic,"Felicita has been selling fruits and vegetables for two years in the Trinitarios community of San Cristobal. She started her business with a loan she got from FSMA; now her business is very successful. Felicita has a well-established client base, and her customers are very satisfied with the quality of her products. Felicita explains that she has a passion for selling things; moreover, she believes that she has a knack for sales.
With her loan, the entrepreneur will buy a new stock of goods in order to keep running her business and increase her income. Felicita would like to buy her own house before long.",F,275,partner,Food,1
Dominican Republic,"Felina grows and sells fried plantains, potatoes, salamis and natural juices to people in her community. This activity is the principal means of support of her family, and she would like to increase her business volume so that she can improve her children's living conditions. Felina explains that the new school year is fast approaching, and she's not ready yet to support the children. She plans on using the loan requested to purchase more raw materials, so that she can increase her productions and thus improve her revenue. Felina says that she'll keep working hard to move her business forward and to help her children become good professionals.",F,250,partner,Food,1
Dominican Republic,"Felisia is 26 years old and has a three-year-old daughter who is just starting preschool. She lives with her husband and her baby in her husbands mothers house.
-The name of her Colmado (convenience store) is La Flor de Montecristi. At her store she sells products such as rice, cooking oil, salsa, soap, and detergent.
This is the second loan Felisia has requested from Esperanza. She successfully paid back the first loan of 5000 pesos (150 USD), using her profits to further invest in her business.
Felicia buys her items from the neighboring town of El Seybo and sells them to people in her community . With her small business earnings, she wants to continue to put her child through school and eventually have her own house with her family. She wants to be able to live comfortably.",F,300,partner,Food,0
Dominican Republic,"Fermiliana is a young and promising entrepreneur. She owns a nail center, which she operates from her parent's home. Fermiliana would like to start her university studies but a lack of money prevents her from enrolling. Currently, she's studying English at an institute located in her community. She says that knowing more than one language may help a young girl have a better life.
With this loan, Fermiliana will buy a nail art printer for painting nails, along with nail polish and acrylic and gel nails. These supplies will help her better operate her salon and increase her earnings. Fermiliana hopes that she'll soon have enough money to start her university studies.",F,300,partner,Services,1
Dominican Republic,"Ferminia is 25 years old and married with a 5-year-old son. Actually, she is pregnant and will give birth to a child in a few months.
Ferminia sells womens clothes. She opened her business with credit she had obtained from FSMA. She could successfully achieve her goals, and the sales activity has been profitable. Now, she has a lot of loyal customers.
Like any businesswoman, the entrepreneur wants to see the business flourish. She would like to get more clients and obtain more profit. She has applied for a second loan to spend to purchase more clothes so as to increase profits. Ferminia trusts that before long she will get that loan, which will considerably change her business and help her prepare for the birth of her second child.",F,500,partner,Clothing,0
Dominican Republic,"Fernande, 42, is a dynamic, hard-working and ambitious businesswoman who is also the proud mother of a 24-year-old son. Fernande was born in Haiti, but moved to the Dominican Republic ten years ago with her son in order to improve her familys standard of living and better-support her sons education.
Once she arrived in her new country, she started selling underwear with the help of friends. Since that time, she has gradually added new items to her stock as a way of getting new customers. Now shes a well-established supplier of underwear, shoes, pants and perfumes in her community. She has applied for a loan to buy a larger quantity of products to offer her customers. She hopes that her business will keep growing so that she can save enough money to rent or buy a small store from which to run her business. She is also determined to keep supporting her sons education until he becomes a professional.
Fernande will receive her loan with the following women:
Marleny Roman, a small clothing-shop owner;
Gladys Livarez Esperanza, wholl use her loan to buy shoes to resell in her community;
Haleine Philocin, who sells perfumes, beauty soap, deodorants and beauty products; and
Guerda Francois, who sells womens clothing in the community
Photo: left to right: Guerda, Haleine, Gladys, Marleny and Fernande.",F,1650,partner,Clothing,1
Dominican Republic,"Fhlippe is a single parent, the head of his household that provides for his three children. He is a clothes street vendor, his business is titled Ropas Felipe. With the loan granted he will buy clothes in bulk to reduce transportation costs. In the future he hopes to own his own vehicle so he can easily get from one place to the next. His lifetime goal is to see his children prosper. Please help Fhlippe and his group expand their businesses. Thank you.",F,1175,lender,Clothing,0
Dominican Republic,"Fidelina Mejia is a single mother of 3 kids living in an extremely poor area in the Dominican Republic. Each day is a battle to feed her children, and she has no chance of saving and getting ahead. She came to Esperanza International in this situation and wanting to change her life. She took out a small loan and started a small business selling clothing in her area. She would travel to a far city to purchase clothes very cheap, then return to sell them in her area. She did well with her small business, and was able to make all her payments and feed her children.
She is now hoping to receive a second and bigger loan, with which she feels like she can create an even bigger business. She hopes to have her own store someday, and to make enough to send all her children to a good school. She said she feels happy for the first time in a long time, and feels like she can be a good provider for her children. She loves them so much and only wants to give them a comfortable life. She now has the means to do that, and she is going to continue to keep growing and generating more money. She has something of her own, and something that gives her a purpose and a drive. She is so excited about this next loan, and excited about this opportunity she is receiving!",F,1675,partner,Clothing,0
Dominican Republic,"Fina has been operating a small cafeteria for more than ten years in Duquesa community of Santo Domingo. This is her principal source of income, and allows her to support four sons who attend university. Fina also sells clothing on weekends in a difference province. She believes that running two separate businesses is an excellent strategy for diversifying revenue and risk. When things are not going well in the cafeteria, she knows that she can work harder to increase clothing sales in order to maintain cash flow and keep the family going.
Fina has requested a loan to invest in both businesses. The entrepreneur hopes that she can earn enough money to enjoy her golden years.",F,550,partner,Food,1
Dominican Republic,"Fior Daliza has been running a small cafeteria for more than three years. She is 31 years old and has two children, a boy and a girl. They attend primary school. Her husband is a plumber. Fior Dalizas cafeteria is well known by people of the town. Early in the morning, she starts to operate the business. She prepares sandwiches, spaghetti, boiled and fried eggs, boiled manioc, natural fruit juice and milk. She hopes that in the future the cafeteria can be enlarged and that her clientele can grow. Fior Daliza also hopes she will have sufficient funds to remodel the location where she runs the business. With her loan, she will buy more ingredients in order to prepare more dishes and have the opportunity to sell more and augment profits from business. That way, Fior Daliza will be able to save money to keep on improving her children's education.",F,375,partner,Food,0
Dominican Republic,"Fior Daliza started down the path as an entrepreneur ten years ago, when she began selling clothing in the Don Gregorio community of San Cristobal. Currently, Fior Daliza has amassed a healthy clientele, which keeps growing and growing. Fior is a well-educated woman, and she is studying French and English at the public university of Santo Domingo, the capital. In her opinion, she believes that a good education is the only thing that can help her rise up out from poverty and improve her living conditions.
Fior Daliza has already taken out four loans from our organizations, and she has used them wisely. With this fifth loan, the entrepreneur would like to buy clothing in bulk in order to replenish her stock and to increase her sales volume. Fior Daliza plans on buying a house within a couple of months.",F,300,partner,Clothing,0
Dominican Republic,"Fior is the leader of Sabanalamarinos Unidos 2, which is a group of women looking to take out a group loan. They are from the town of Sabana de la Mar, a coastal town in the northern part of the Dominican Republic.
Fior has been selling women's underwear for five years, but because of an increase in the number of competitors in that market, her business has slowed. Now she would like a loan to start selling used clothing. Fior said she has a contact in the nearby town of Sanchez where she can get a very good deal on loads of used clothing that have been shipped from the United States. With this loan, she will be able to travel to Sanchez and buy those clothes to sell from her house.
Fior and her husband, Manuel, have three children, ages 9, 7 and 4. The two oldest are in school and the youngest one looks forward to starting school next year. Fior hopes that with this new business plan she can save enough money to be able to send all her children to the university some day.
Fior and everyone in the Sabanalamarinos Unidos 2 group are excited at the possibility of starting and growing their businesses!",F,1050,lender,Clothing,0
Dominican Republic,"Fior, 22 years old, is married with two daughters. The eldest is finishing kindergarten and will enter primary school next year. The other was born just four months ago. Fiors husband is an independent businessman and sells different kinds of goods. The loan requested is to buy goods like flour, sugar, rice, wheat, peas and vegetable oil. These are some of the most-bought products in her community, and there are just two other ""colmados"" (grocery stores) in a range of 12 km. So, her business is very useful to the community, since people in that community can get the basic foodstuffs there without walking very long distances.",F,375,partner,Food,0
Dominican Republic,"Fiordalina is a much experienced businesswoman who lives in the Los Alcarrizos community of Santo Domingo. She has been selling fried vegetables with pork meat for more than ten years, and this business is her principal source of income. A few months ago, Fiordalina took a loan from FSMA that she used to increase her supply of ingredients, giving a boost to her business. She now produces and sells more food, and as a result her income has increased significantly.
Fiordalina is requesting a new loan to purchase more raw ingredients in order to keep boosting her business and improving her living conditions.",F,450,partner,Food,0
Dominican Republic,"Fiordeliz is a mother of three children. For the past two years, she has been able to support her family by producing and selling empanadas in her neighborhood. While Fiordeliz stays at home to prepare the empanadas and attend to some customers, her husband is responsible for delivery. Fiordeliz operates her business from afternoon to late night. As a good mother, she wakes up early in the morning to prepare breakfast before the children go to school.
Fiordeliz would like to do more for her family and her business. Shes asked for a loan to buy more ingredients to produce a larger number of empanadas in order to increase her income. Producing empanandas requires ingredients such as cheese, ham, meat, manioc, and so on. Fiordeliz hopes that her business will keep growing so that she can become the most well-established supplier of these goods in her area.
Fiordeliz is joined in her group by:
Luz Neya Vargas Rosario, who sells used clothing;
Ynes Sanchez Sanchez, who owns a mini-market;
Ramona Mejia Vasquez, a cafeteria owner; and
Maria Miledy Marte Manzueta, who sells footwear.
The picture shows from left to right: Fiordeliz, Luz, Ynes and Maria Miledy.",F,1200,lender,Food,1
Dominican Republic,"Fiorentina is 37 years old, married, and the mother of six children. Her husband is a mechanic and is working in a motor repair company. The couple wants to start an auto repair shop where they can sell motor parts and other accessories like motor oil, tires, spark plugs, and so forth. Given this loan, Fiorentina and her husband will be independent and able to better provide for their large family and improve their living conditions.",F,250,partner,Services,0
Dominican Republic,"Five months ago, this entrepreneur got credits from FMSA and with the funds she started a small business. She sells soups, vegetable oil, seasoning, beans and other goods to prepare food. She has bought a little table which she uses to display the goods she is selling.
After the first five probationary months, which were very gainful for Delfina, the entrepreneur made up her mind to really do business. She has applied for a second loan with the intention of acquiring bigger quantities of goods so that she can increase her sales margins. This loan will allow the 27-year-old entrepreneur to improve many aspects of the business, and she will better provide food and education for her two sons.",F,375,partner,Food,0
Dominican Republic,"Flor is a thirty-three year old entrepreneur who has been selling womens clothing for more than seven years in the Herrera community of Santo Domingo. She has two sons aged of four and years old.
Flor explains that maintaining the cash flow is sometimes challenging, but she hopes that with her new styles of fashionable clothing shell manage to boost her business and repay the loan.
Flor says that the most important is to provide good education with her children.",F,400,partner,Clothing,1
Dominican Republic,"Flor Lissette is a young and brilliant entrepreneur who lives in the Villa Del Carmen community of Ban. She's been operating her small grocery store for three years in the community. Flor explains with enthusiasm that things are going very well for her, and moreover, sales were beyond what she expected last month.
With her loan, Flor Lissette will buy lots of goods in order to restock her store and keep satisfying her customers' needs. The entrepreneur explains that she'll also test the waters by investing a small part of this loan in women's clothing. Flor is thinking about starting a family, but she says that's down the line.",F,300,partner,Food,1
Dominican Republic,"Florentina Belen lives in the Corositos community of Cotu with her husband and five children. She's been serving breakfast and lunch for a couple of years. Her children attend school, so she and her husband have the enormous responsibility to support their studies in addition to providing food and well-being for the family.
Florentina explains that sometimes it's very hard to face this complex situation, seeing that her wages and her husband's are not enough all the time to bear all the family's expenses.
Fortunately, Florentina is very optimistic and persistent. She will keep on cooking her delicious dishes and trying to capture new customers so as to increase her revenue. With her loan, the entrepreneur will buy a large amount of ingredients to operate her business. Florentina believes that with hard work and sacrifice, she'll do very well in the long run.",F,375,partner,Food,1
Dominican Republic,"Florentina Benjamin had a pants-making business for about a year and a half before beginning the loan process with Esperanza. She had one sewing machine and was hardly making any money. Even with the business, both she and her husband had to work second jobs to be able to provide for their four children. With her first loan of about US$ 200 she was able to buy enough fabric to begin making shirts as well as pants. Her second loan consisted of almost US$ 600 and with it, she was able to buy more machines and more fabric to produce more shirts and pants faster. With her third loan of over US$ 1,000 she has been able to hire three workers and buy more machines. As of now she has three workers apart from family members and a total of five machines. Her business is thriving and neither she nor her husband needs to work outside of their business. With the money they have earned from their business, they have made many improvements to their house, and they have been able to buy a clothes washing machine. They are also saving as much as they can so that they will be able to build a second floor on their house and be able to put the business up on the second floor. As of now the work center is in the kitchen. Because they must share the space of the kitchen to work, production is greatly reduced, as well as living space. Florentina's business has grown rapidly and is a great example of how well these loans work, however, she still has lots of room to grow and improve.",F,1025,partner,Manufacturing,0
Dominican Republic,"Florentina has operated a small grocery store for the past eleven years. She started the business with her brothers help. Each day, people from the community visit her store to purchase various products, ranging from bread, peanut butter, and sugar to spices, rice, flour, and beans. The loan Florentina has requested is to replenish the store, as shes currently in short supply.
Florentina is in her late twenties, but shes still living with her parents. She wants to get a degree in Education Psychology and have a better income before thinking about starting a family. The entrepreneur hopes that her business will allow her to keep supporting her studies and to reach her goals in life.",F,400,partner,Food,1
Dominican Republic,"Florinda has the privilege of being the coordinator of this group made up of hard-working and successful women who live in the San Luis community of Santo Domingo. Florinda is in her early forties and shes the proud mother of four children ranging in age from fifteen to nineteen, two of whom study at the university. Florinda has a lot of experience and very good sales skills. Shes been selling beauty products for years in her community. Her good-quality and low-priced goods allow her to attract and capture part of the market potential. Recently, the entrepreneur added some new bath products such as body lotions, body cleansers, soaps, and perfumes to her inventory. She says that her goods are in high demand and her clientele keeps growing.
Florinda is requesting a loan to buy more goods to add to her stock in order to satisfy her customers needs and to increase her income. She hopes that her business will allow her to keep supporting her family and to buy her own house someday.
The members of Florindas group are:
Andreina Santana Suero, who sells used garments;
Santa Vasquez Belen, to restock her small clothing store;
Milagros De Los Santos, to buy products for her small beauty salon; and
Elidiana Ramirez Del Carmen, who operates a small clothing shop.
The photo shows from left to right: Elidiana, Milagros, Santo, Andreina and Florinda.",F,1300,partner,Retail,1
Dominican Republic,"For Diomares Berenice, a loan that could help her move her business forward would be worth its weight in gold. Actually, this clothing seller is short on supply and she needs to replenish her stock in a short time in order to generate income for her large and needy family. Diomares Berenice is thirty-six years old, and she and her husband have three boys and three daughters, ranging in age from eight to nineteen, all of whom go to school. Currently, Diomares is pregnant and shell give birth to another child very soon. This entrepreneur explains that shes been selling garments for more than fifteen years, and she has a well-established clientele. At this time, her products are in high demand, but she doesnt have enough capital to order a large quantity of clothing. Therefore, shes requesting a loan which shell invest in wholesale clothing in order to satisfy her customers needs. Diomares Berenice hopes that she can get the funds in a short time so that she can keep running her business and increase her revenue.",F,450,partner,Clothing,1
Dominican Republic,"For Francia Yoselyn, a hard-working and ambitious woman, the well-being of her unique two-year-old daughter is the most important thing in life. Her husband works for a construction company and his wages are too low to support all the familys needs. In order to supplement the familys income, Francia Yoselyn started a small business two years ago. She sells clothing, perfumes, deodorants, and beauty products in her community. This loan is to inject capital into the business and purchase a wider range of products in order to attract new customers.
Francia is a very positive and confident person. She says that shes working hard to become one of the most well-established suppliers of these goods in her community. Given the loan, the entrepreneur will be one step closer to achieving her dreams.",F,150,partner,Retail,1
Dominican Republic,"For more than 12 years, Vicenta has been supporting her three children by means of the small beauty salon she operates from her home, and every afternoon her living room is overtaken by neighborhood women and their chatter and laughter. The beautician is requesting a loan to buy new blowers, hair rollers and more beauty products to keep satisfying her customers.
Vicenta explains that supporting her children and maintaining her salon is very challenging for her due to the costs involved. Her chief goal is to have enough money to provide for her family's wellbeing and the childrens education.",F,575,partner,Services,1
Dominican Republic,"For more than 13 years, Sofia has been operating a butcher shop in La Victoria, a low-income community suburb of Santo Domingo. This business has enabled Sofia to provide good education to her unique daughter.
Sofia doesnt raise animals, so she has to constantly buy bulk fresh meat to operate her business. The entrepreneur is asking for a loan to have a larger amount of working capital to strengthen her business and move it forward. Sofia hopes that her business will allow her to improve her family's standard of living and to keep providing a good education to her daughter.
Sofia is joined in her group by the following women:
With profit from the business, and with her husbands help, Flora can provide her four children with a very good education and housing.
Bi-weekly, Flora goes to Monte Plata (located about a one-hour drive from Yamas) to purchase the goods for her grocery store.
With the loan requested, the entrepreneur will purchase goods such as sacks of rice, bunches of plantains and bananas, gallons of vegetable oil and some sacks of beans. Flora will also buy red wine and some energy drinks so as to diversify inventory and attract more clients.",F,300,partner,Food,0
Dominican Republic,"For more than seven years, this 45-year-old single mother has been selling mens clothes. She has five children. Two of them work as translators in Bvaro, a tourist province located on the east coast of the country. Two others go to university, and one has her own family.
Germania is an experienced businesswoman and has numerous customers. She gets garments in Santo Domingo, the capital, and in Elas Pia and Dajabn, two border provinces with Haiti.
Germania is thinking about having a location to run the business after a lot of years selling clothes in the streets. She is asking for credits to buy more clothes and to invest in the rent of a small location. In the future, she hopes she will have enough income so that she can by a small piece of land and build a location where she will operate her business. Thus, Germania will offer improved service to her clientele.",F,500,partner,Clothing,0
Dominican Republic,"For more than three years Euris has been producing pastelitos (meat or chicken turnovers) in her community. Euris lives with her husband, with no children. She sadly says that she wasn't given the privilege to be a mom, but she says that her husband is a very great and lovely person who helps to outweigh her pains.
Euris would like to augment her production to increase her income. With her loan, she'll buy a great quantity of raw materials to keep producing her pastelitos.",F,250,partner,Food,1
Dominican Republic,"For the past 20 years, this very persistent and dynamic woman has sold fried foods and mab (a refreshing brevage made of extract of lemon). Mother of four children, Onamey is separated from her husband, and since that time was obliged to work hard to earn a living for her family. Onamey, 59 years old, is requesting a loan to purchase raw materials like flour, vegetable oil, and other goods so as to continue preparing the fried foods. She also plans to remodel the locale where she runs her business, since its in a very unpleasant condition. An additional income from profits will help the entrepreneur improve her familys standard of living.",F,175,partner,Food,0
Dominican Republic,"For years, Georgina has been doing her utmost to be the most well-established supplier of boiled beans. Actually, this thirty-seven year-old entrepreneur has been religiously selling these goods for twenty years. Georgina explains that her business is profitable and has allowed her support her three childrens educations. She also talks about the difficulties shes facing now because of the high gas prices. So she has to invest greater sum of money to buy fuel for the gas heater she uses to prepare her beans. Moreover, Georgina keeps selling her goods at the same prices as three months ago, so her margin profit has been reduced drastically.
With her loan, the entrepreneur will buy some sacks of beans to keep operating her activity and fend for her needy family.",F,100,partner,Food,1
Dominican Republic,"Francelina Espinosa Reyes is the leader of the group called Nuevo Renacer, which means New Birth in English. Francelina is the mother of five, ranging in age from three months old to fourteen. She owns a salon and will buy a hair dryer and more products with her loan. Her business started up as a bag full of supplies that she used to bring to houses of clients. It has grown into a community salon that has a physical location thanks to her Esperanza loan and good old-fashioned hard work. She eventually hopes to be able to offer all of the offerings of a spa including massage.
She hopes her children can grow up to be professionals and be strong in their Christian faith. Francelina does not have much free time between her five children and business, but when she does get to relax, she enjoys watching telenovelas (soap operas, which are very popular here in Latin America) on TV.
Because of Francelinas hard work and diligence in repaying her previous two loans, this loan will be for a bigger amount. She hopes this one will help her business as much as the previous loans have.
On behalf of Esperanza International, thank you for supporting these entrepreneurs!",F,3325,partner,Services,0
Dominican Republic,"Francia Castelli and the rest of this group of five live in Batey 18 in La Romana. It is a small, isolated batey (a company town where sugar cane plantation workers live); barely two streets long. Almost all of its population are Haitian inmigrants. They go to La Romana (the main town in their province) to sell their goods, because a lot of the people from the batey sell the same products.
Francia and her husband, Andres Pie Charles, have two small children, ages 3 and 2. The house in which they live is owned by the sugar cane company that runs the plantation that surrounds the batey. The type of businesses that people in the batey can operate are very limited, so with this new loan, Francia will buy home products, like towels and sheets, to sell in La Romana on market days. Francia would like to live in a place where she can set up a store and own her house. She believes that even though she is an immigrant, she can work to make her dreams come true in the Dominican Republic. Please help us support Francia and her friends with this Kiva loan. Thank you!
Francia has been operating a small cafeteria for almost three years. She started her business with a loan she took from FSMA. Currently, her business is growing and she hopes that this growth can be constant. The entrepreneur also explains that she would like to have enough money to keep providing good education for her children and to buy a house in the future.
With her loan, Francia will buy products she needs to prepare her delicious typical Dominican food and satisfy her customers' demands.",F,300,partner,Food,0
Dominican Republic,"Francia Margarita owns and operates a small store that offers a huge variety of products like shoes, pants, perfumes, beauty products, and all that. The entrepreneur has three daughters ranging in age from sixteen to twenty-two, two of whom are studying in the university. Francia explains that sometimes things are very good and she earns a great income, but other times things are not so successful. Nonetheless shes always managed to keep the store operating and attract new clients.
With her loan, the entrepreneur will buy a greater variety of items in order to increase her sales volume and her income. Francia Margarita would like to have enough money to buy her own house before long.",F,350,partner,Retail,1
Dominican Republic,"Francia, 47, is married with no child and lives with her husband in the Herrera community of Santo Domingo. For more than eight years, she has been operating a cafeteria which is well-known and visited by people of the community.
Francia plans on offering new typical Dominican dishes to her customers. This way, shell attract new people to her business and shell be able to increase her revenue. Francia hopes her business will allow her and her husband enjoy their golden years.",F,400,partner,Food,0
Dominican Republic,"Francis is a very young mother of three girls. Her partner is a taxi driver and works part-time for a company. Eight months ago, just after her third daughters birth, Francis had to start a small business to help her husband with the new responsibilities of the family. She sells tennis shoes and trainers for women.
Every month, she goes to Santo Domingo, the capital, to buy the goods. Sometimes, she purchases the products in Elas Pia, a border city with Haiti.
A short time after her first pregnancy, like many other young girls of her community, Francis had to drop out school so that she could look after her child. Now, she is making plans to go back to school. With the loan requested, as well as purchasing shoes and slippers to supply her business, she will also set aside some money to hire a babysitter for her daughters. Thus, she will have more time to dedicate to her sales activity, and she will also be able to go to school and become a professional.",F,375,partner,Retail,0
Dominican Republic,"Francisca Antonia sells fried vegetables, fried pork, chicken and natural juices in the Invicea community of San Cristobal. She prepares the goods within her house, but for selling, she sets up a stall close to a public place and passers-by visit her to purchase her appetizing goods. The entrepreneur wants to increase her stock so that she can augment her sales volume and her revenue. This will improve her standard of life.",F,375,partner,Food,0
Dominican Republic,"Francisca Ason is a hardworking mother of seven children. She has to work hard just to feed those seven children, which can be challenging at times because she never learned to read. She came to Esperanza International with no job and no education and needed help. She took out a small loan and started a small business selling bread in her area. She has since grown her business and is hoping to receive her fifth loan! She now sells other types of baked goods and is finally starting to earn a good income. She can afford to feed her children each day and is so excited to have something of her own. It's her business! She wakes up each day with purpose, and for the first time in her life is starting to imagine a better future for herself and her family. She wants to go back to school someday and turn her business into a thriving bakery! She is a hardworking women and knows that she is going to reach her dreams someday.",F,1000,partner,Food,0
Dominican Republic,"Francisca Batista is a bank coordinator for the group 8, in the Bank of Hope Fuente de Paz in El Seybo. Francisca has three children; ages 3 and 6 and a one-month old baby. Francisca sells underwear and accesories as her business; most of her customers are from nearby areas. She is applying for a fifth loan from Esperanza. With her new loan she wants to increase her business even more. Francisca hopes that she one day will be able to buy a nice house to live in. She is also very preoccupied about the future of her children; one of her biggest challenges in life was to drop out of school to raise her children. She hopes to go back to school in the future and get a better education so she can provide better for her young children. On behalf of Esperanza, Francisca and the Fuente de Paz Bank of Hope, thank you for your support!",F,1375,partner,Clothing,0
Dominican Republic,"Francisca Castillo was unemployed and struggling to make ends meet until she heard of Esperanza. She borrowed 5,000 Dominican pesos from Esperanza (~140 US dollars) to fund her jean-selling business. She sells women's and mens pants in her community as well as other nearby communities. She says that her business is just taking off and that is why she is back for her second loan, now borrowing 7,000 Dominican pesos, the equivalent of ~200 US dollars.
Francisca is the young mother of three children, ages 7, 5, and 2 years old. She lives in Victorina, a batey (company town where sugar workers live) belonging to De la Llanos, Dominican Republic. This particular batey does not have the typical bare look after the sugar cane season has passed. Victorina is filled with many mango trees and green hills, yet the beautiful landscape doesnt reflect the hard life of its inhabitants. When sugar cane season has passed, so has the employment and because many live day to day, when employment ceases the quality of life declines.
Francisca maintains a positive outlook on life and hopes that her business will continue to grow. Please dont hesitate to help Francisca and her group become successful entrepreneurs in their community. Thank you.",F,650,lender,Clothing,0
Dominican Republic,"Francisca Guzman, 36, is married and the mother of two, aged 2 and 13. She has used her four Esperanza loans to start her own clothing and accessory store, and hopes that her future loans will bring her business growth and her children everything they need. Francisca is a group leader in her Esperanza Bank of Hope, Hebreo.",F,775,partner,Retail,0
Dominican Republic,"Francisca has been offering dressmaking services for the last six years in her hometown, the Ochocienta community of Santo Domingo. Francisca is mute, but her disability did not stop her from reaching her dream to be a dressmaker and a well-known businesswoman. Currently, she is one of the most established dressmakers in her community, and her personality and savoir faire ensures that her clientele keeps on growing.
Francisca is single and has no child. She plans to continue operating her business until she has enough money to live comfortably and can think about starting a family. With this loan, she plans to repair her old sewing machine and buy materials so she can continue operating her business and satisfying her customers.",F,450,partner,Services,1
Dominican Republic,"Francisca is a 24-year-old mother of two children and she dedicates herself, together with her husband, to the sales of fish. She has been running that business for more than one year.
Weekly, Franciscas husband goes Santo Domingo, the capital, to buy the fish in a fish shop. In the house, they have a freezer to preserve the fish. Francisca sells the goods from home, while her husband sells in the streets. Actually, the entrepreneur buys a small amount of fish since she doesnt have a very spacious freezer. She hopes she can get a used one before long.
The entrepreneur would like to add new products to her business. Her plan is to use her loan and buy many kinds of shellfish so that she can diversify her inventory and satisfy and attract more clients.",F,375,partner,Food,0
Dominican Republic,"Francisca is a forty-seven year old single mother of four children. To make a living and support the studies of her children, Francisca has turned into a dynamic businesswoman. She has worked many jobs including: cleaning woman, selling womens clothing, promoting beauty products, and preparing and selling sandwiches.
Currently, she owns and operates a small cafeteria within her house, which she opened five years ago. The cafeteria is her principal source of income.
Every day, I ask God wisdom and patience to continue the business and achieve my goal, she says.
With the loan, Francisca will buy raw materials to keep preparing delicious meals for the people of her community. Profits from business will be used to repay the loan and to support her children's studies.",F,450,partner,Food,0
Dominican Republic,"Francisca is a hard-working woman and a skilled entrepreneur who tries hard to improve her life and her family's living conditions. She lives in Consorcio, one of the neediest sectors of San Cristobal. Her four children still havent started attending school this year. Francisca lives far away from the public school, so it's not easy to get there on foot. For the last two years, a group of Christian missionaries used to teach the children nearby, but this year they're not working in the community.
Francisca sells clothing in her neighborhood. She started her business about seven months ago with a loan she took from FSMA. She explains that her activity is still limited, but she hopes that the new stock of garments she'll buy with this loan will help her to strengthen her business and make it grow. Francisca also hopes that before long she'll be able to support her children's education.",F,300,partner,Clothing,1
Dominican Republic,"Francisca is a single mother of 4 kids (ages: 5, 6, 11, 12) and lives in the town of Samana where she will soon begin selling shoes and clothing on the streets and to her friends. She will use this loan to purchase her items from a local flea market, and then will walk around to different homes and businesses selling the items. This is a very common business in the DR, and Francisca is confident that she will be successful. She has several ideas of how to differentiate her business. Her favorite foods are rice and lentils, and she said that in her free time she visits people who are sick and spends time talking with them. She has dreams of being a professional in the future, and wants to begin taking classes at the University soon.
Thank you for supporting this group of amazing people!",F,1775,partner,Clothing,0
Dominican Republic,"Francisca is a skilled and multifaceted entrepreneur who lives in the Cabilma community of San Cristobal. For the last three years, she's been running a cafeteria and a modest grocery store, and she's managed to make both businesses successful. Francisca also sells cell phone cards from her house. She's been separated from her husband for many years, and she's supporting two of her six children.
This loan is to replenish the grocery store because the turnover time in this business is very short. Francisca will also invest part of the funds to purchase ingredients to produce her delicious food for her customers. She hopes that she'll have enough money so that she can take a trip outside the country someday.",F,725,partner,Food,1
Dominican Republic,"Francisca is a young mother, doing her best to provide a healthy and happy life for her husband and two children. As with most families in her neighborhood, her husband has a hard time finding consistent work in the off-season for sugar cane, and so Francisca works hard to make up the difference. She is requesting this loan to purchase chickens to prepare and sell in her community.
Francisca is very involved with the local Club de Madres, or Mothers' Club, and her Catholic church. Her goal is to continue expanding her business so that she is able to own and sell more chickens to her community members. She says that she sends her children to a good school so that they can hopefully have a better future than her, but the school costs 60 pesos a day, per child. She is very thankful for this loan because she knows that it will give her a chance to pay for her childrens education, as well as earning enough to supply food, clothes, and shelter.",F,300,partner,Food,0
Dominican Republic,"Francisca is an experienced and successful businesswoman living in Pedro Brand, Santo Domingo. She's been operating a grocery store in her community for many years. Her business has been the principal source of income for her family, and she proudly says that she could support her children's educations through her store. A couple of months ago, Francisca requested a loan from FSMA, which she invested to enlarge her business and add a large variety of goods in order to satisfy her customers' needs. Francisca used her loan wisely and she managed to make her business stronger and attract new clients. She also repaid the loan on time. Now, she's requesting a second loan to add new products to restock her store and keep moving her business forward.",F,725,partner,Food,1
Dominican Republic,"Francisca is twenty-seven years old, married, with three sons that range from four to ten years old. To make a living and support her family, Francisca retails fuel. The stall she has placed next to her house to operate the business in is much visited. She sells fuel by the gallon, half-gallon, and bottle.
She modestly explains that her stock of combustibles is still limited, but she plans on expanding the business with the loan she has requested.
Francisca expects that this business activity will help her improve her familys living conditions.",F,200,partner,Retail,0
Dominican Republic,"Francisca is what we would term as an extremely shy person. It was difficult to obtain information as to what she really wanted to do with the loan she was requesting. She has lived in this house for over 5 years now, and had one girl prior to her present stage of pregnancy, bearing a boy this time. However, the father was able to keep up with the family costs up to now, but they realize that with the advent of the new child, they need to make additional income in order to maintain their present level of living. Thus, Francisca determined she would help the family finances by establishing a small business of selling vegetables right in her house, where she feels comfortable and can keep an eye on her duties as a mother.",F,100,partner,Food,0
Dominican Republic,"Francisca lives with her four children in the Majagual community of Santo Domingo, where she operates various businesses. She sells cakes, sweets, and underwear and, recently, she began to sell natural medicines. Francisca explains that running many businesses has allowed her to better support her family. Her children help her to operate the businesses.
Shes requesting her second loan from Fundacin San Miguel Arcngel to add new items to her inventory, such as toothpaste, toothbrushes, and beauty soaps to sell to her customers. Francisca wants to keep supporting her children until they become professionals and can earn a living on their own.
Francisca sells shoes, slippers, and tennis shoes to men and women of her community in order to supplement the familys revenue. Sell, sell and sell is my motto, she says as she explains that her goal is to maximize her profits and improve her familys lifestyle. With her loan, the entrepreneur will buy customer-recommended products and new styles of shoes so as to attract more people to her business.
Franciscas group members are:
Merys Familia Jimenez, borrowing for her small clothing store;
Lidia Cuello Feliz, borrowing to purchase beauty products for a hair salon;
Cristobalina Quezada Montero, borrowing to expand her pants and shirts trade; and
Marilin Cuevas Medina, borrowing for her fried vegetables business.
(In the picture, from left to the right: Lidia, Francisca, Merys, Marilin and Cristobalina)",F,1225,partner,Retail,0
Dominican Republic,"Francisca, 41, is married, without children. Her husband owns a Moto Concho (motorbike taxi) and is working as a taxi driver in the township. She runs a small cafeteria that she started two years ago. Spaghetti, fried fish, fruit juice, tostones (flattened fried plantains) are some of the things that can be found at her stand. She opens the business early in the morning to attend to people that are going to work or going to school. As a result of this activity, she has been able to help her husband face the housing problems. However, since demand is growing, she is oftenin short supply. She would like to be able to supply a larger amount of goods and sell more so that it will be easier for her to attend to her growing client base. For that purpose, she is requesting an US $375.00 loan that shell repay in six months.",F,375,partner,Food,0
Dominican Republic,"Francisca, 44, married and mother of 4 children (two boys and two girls), runs a fried food store that she started nine years ago. The couple is living with their two girls (10 and 7 years old), since the boys (21 and 18 years old) are working in another part of the country. The oldest guy is actually a military student. The girls are going to the local public school. Francisca prepares various types of fried foods like fried fish or bananas. She wants to continue diversifying the range of foods she offers to her clientele. She'll introduce foods like spaghetti, stuffing, and some hotcakes. She also wants to give a new touch to the locale where she prepares and sells the fried foods. For those purposes, and in order to keep taking care of this large family, Yudelka is requesting the loan of US$ 325 that she hopes she'll have soon.",F,325,partner,Food,0
Dominican Republic,"Francisca, 57 years old, is a very persistent and optimistic woman. She is married, with eight children (six boys and two girls). They are studying and working in Santo Domingo, the capital. Her husband is a farmer.
Francisca runs a small cafeteria, which she operates all day. In the morning, she serves spaghetti with manioc, manioc with boiled or fried eggs, and chocolate with bread (mixed with peanut butter). For lunch, she prepares and sells white rice with ground meat. At night, Francisca turns her cafeteria into an authentic gathering place. She has laid out a space where the customers can play billiards from 7 p.m. to 12 p.m. On weekends, people can stay until 2:00 am.
For the last two months, the cafeteria has been closed because the entrepreneur was renovating the location so as to offer a better service to her customers. With the loan she has requested, it will be easier for her to invest in the renovation and fix her billiard table. That way, she will continue satisfying her customers needs and attract more people with her succulent dishes and through the billiards games.",F,375,partner,Food,0
Dominican Republic,"Francisca, an older woman and the mother of three daughters ranging from twenty to twenty-five years old, lives in San Cristobal, where she runs a small business selling clothes. She explains that she started her business three years ago, just a couple months after she and her husband got divorced. Francisca had rented a small establishment and she operates her business from there. Each day, she plenty of people from the close-by neighborhood visit, and she says that her customers are very satisfied with the quality and low prices of her garments.
This entrepreneurs short-term goal is to duplicate her sales volume during the upcoming season, in order to generate a better income for her home and move her business forward. With her loan, shell buy garments in bulk to add to her inventory and reach her goal through hard work. His dream is to continue developing and amplifying the school in all senses, to enable his children to become professionals in the future, and to improve his quality of life. In his free time he loves to take pictures.
On behalf of Francisco and everyone here at Esperanza International, we thank you for your support of Franciscos high school!",M,750,partner,Education,0
Dominican Republic,"Francoise Batista has three businesses. She bakes bread, which she sells to street vendors to resell, and she also sells apparel and clothing accessories - all from her home in a rural town outside the capital of Hato Mayor province. Francoise lives with her 19-year-old daughter, Daniela. This loan will go towards the purchase of clothing, shoes and accessory kits which she buys in the city to re-sell in her village. She will also be able to buy more baking materials to expand her small bakery business.
Francoise is a member of a Bank of Hope solidarity group - made up of five micro-entrepreneurs who have gone through Esperanza's business training programme and have proven to be in need of a loan as well as able to pay it back. Each member will receive a share of this $1,000 loan to develop their respective businesses and are responsible for making each loan repayment together, which fosters accountability as well as social support.",F,1000,partner,Retail,0
Dominican Republic,"From the past five years, Maria has been one of the most successful businesswomen of her community. She sells clothes, tablecloths, curtains, shoes, and also natural medicines. She has been separated from her husband for six years. Since then she has had to struggle to provide education and food for her only child, a16-year-old son. As she lives close to a wharf, Maria buys clothing in bulk from merchant ships at very good prices and resells her products some distance away, so that the business can generate good profit. With money earned from her sales activity, she pays for her rented house, goes shopping, and buys books and notebooks for her son. The entrepreneur has requested a loan to buy bulk clothing because she is presently in short supply and her customers need clothes. The loan will help this 47- year- old woman continue with her business so as to improve her family's living conditions.",F,325,partner,Clothing,0
Dominican Republic,"Gabriela is a forty-two year-old businesswoman who lives in Chcaro, in the community of Yamas. She is married, with four children (two boys and two girls) who all attend school. Gabriela has been running a grocery store for the past two years. Now, she wants to expand and add fried vegetables to her business so that she can increase her income. The grocery is the principal source of income of the family. Gabriela hopes she will get the loan soon so that she can start her business expansion. Currently, Gargilla is running an open-air pub. She explains that a lot of people visit her business to enjoy a couple of beers, whisky, and other drinks while theyre chatting with friends. This entrepreneur dreams of owning an establishment so she can run her business in a more comfortable atmosphere. With her loan, Gargilla will buy more drinks in order to enlarge her sales volume and increase her revenue.
She is requesting a loan to start a small business selling used clothing. Gaudi hopes that the loan will change her life and allow her to provide for her family.
Gaudi is very confident and says that shell manage to make her business successful and repay the loan on time.",F,375,partner,Clothing,1
Dominican Republic,"Gelene Delva is a young and spirited 18-year-old woman who lives in a very impoverished community on the outskirts of the capital of Santo Domingo. Gelene has applied for her first loan with Esperanza International for the amount of roughly $150 USD; shell be using the money from this loan to go to a local flea market where she can purchase used and new clothing in bulk.
The extra capital helps her not only to purchase more at once so she doesnt have to spend money on the transportation for return trips, but it also decreases her overall costs, which will in turn slightly increase her profit margin.
Gelene says that it is very hard to maintain a successful business where she lives, but that she is willing to work hard and never give up. With the help and guidance she receives from her loan officer she will be given new tools and skills that will help her manage her business, savings, profits and merchandise better.
Gelene is an immigrant from Haiti and had to give up school a long time ago. She hopes that with the help of this loan her business will allow her to make enough money to pay for night classes at a local school so that she can learn to read and write. One day she also hopes to be able to own her own home and land where she can raise a family.
Gelene and her story represent the Palabra de Mujer Bank of Hope; she belongs to a group of 5 women who are taking out their first micro loan with Esperanza. Each of these women has taken out a similar loan to Gelenes, and they will all be using them to invest in businesses that range from small corner grocery stores, to clothing sales, to raising pigs and goatson behalf of all of them, and our team here at Esperanza, thank you for your support!",F,725,partner,Clothing,0
Dominican Republic,"Genesis is a group of five entrepreneurs seeking their first loan from Esperanza International. This group hopes to utilize their first micro-finance loan to further expand their existing business ventures or create new operations in order to increase their profit levels. Teodosia is the coordinator for this group in the city of Santiago.
Teodosia and her husband of ten years care for their eight-year-old god-daughter. Teodosia plans to utilize her first micro-finance loan to increase her inventory of the products she sells. Currently, on the streets, Teodosia sells a variety of mens, womens, and childrens shoes and clothing, as well as belts, perfume, and other assorted accessories. Teodosia is dedicated to the success of her business as she dreams of one day owning her own large variety store and converting a room in her house into a store. Loan funds will be used to increase current inventory levels and begin the process of creating a store.
Other members of Teodosias bank run similar entrepreneurial operations including a bed-making business and food and clothing sales.
On behalf of Esperanza and this group of business entrepreneurs, we would like to thank you for your support!",F,1050,lender,Retail,0
Dominican Republic,"Genesis is a group of five entrepreneurs seeking their first loan from Esperanza International. This group, as a part of a larger, successful microfinance bank of 35 members, hopes to use their first microfinance loan to finance current businesses, or in the case of the groups coordinator, Juana, finance a new entrepreneurial activity.
Juana, mother of four (ages 18, 15, 14, and 12), resides in Santiago and plans to use her microfinance funds to finalize the opening of her variety-sales business. Juana desires to purchase additional products, especially shoes and lotions, to sell to neighboring communities. Juana desires to continue to provide for the physical needs of her family and spouse and hopes to see growth in her business throughout the term of her loan.
Other members of Juanas bank run similar entrepreneurial activities, including sales of clothing and fried food, or quipe.""
On behalf of Esperanza and this group of business entrepreneurs, we would like to thank you for your support!",F,825,lender,Retail,0
Dominican Republic,"Genoveva is a fifty-two-year-old woman who has dedicated her life to lifting her family out of poverty. Genoveva grew up in the district of Sabana Grande de Boy in the province of Monte Plata, located in the southeast region of the country. Shes a nurse and works at the public hospital of the community.
Genoveva explains that seven years ago she had to start a small business because, with her salary, she could hardly bring up her three children. Moreover, her husband had left her a couple of months earlier, and she had to do everything on her own.
Currently, the entrepreneur sells tablecloths, window curtains, and cushions in her community. She also makes up attractive bouquets and sells ornamental plants.
Genoveva says that shes really proud of the job shes done so far. Actually, her daughter is studying medicine, and her two sons are finishing secondary school. The businesswoman says that education is the greatest thing a mother can give to her children.
Genoveva would like to be a famous florist in her region and own a very big store that can generate better income for her family. With her loan, shell buy tablecloths, curtains, and various plants in bulk in order to run her businesses and increase her income.
Genoveva will receive her loan together with these following women:
Beatina Meja Cabrera, a clothing retailer.
Xiomara Mercedes Santana Espinal, who operates a small clothing store.
Michel Betances Amparo, who sells natural medicines.
Mara Del Carmen Cespedes, a small cafeterias owner.
Picture: left to right: Mara Del Carmen, Michel Betances, Xiomara, Beatina, and Genoveva.",F,1225,partner,Retail,1
Dominican Republic,"Georgina is a single woman with no children living in San Cristobal in the Dominican Republic. She sells a variety of home furnishing fabrics, including tablecloths, curtains, and bed sheets. In addition to being her primary source of income, her craft is something in which she takes tremendous personal enjoyment and pride. Georgina plans on investing in new textiles and cloth with her loan, so she can vary the kinds of products she fashions.",F,300,partner,Retail,0
Dominican Republic,"Georgina is an ambitious entrepreneur and a single mother of three school-going children. To earn a living and take care of her children, she sells tablecloths, curtains and other home products in the Bienestar community of Santo Domingo. The entrepreneur operates her business in a small shop that she owns.
Georgina wants to continue supporting her childrens educations until they become professionals, and she swears shell work hard to reach this goal. With her loan, the entrepreneur will boost her inventory and add new items to her stock so that she can attract new people and increase her income.",F,375,partner,Retail,1
Dominican Republic,"Georgista defines herself as a woman with innate abilities for business. She started her first business when she was eighteen. Six years later, she opened a grocery store which she is still running. Georgina is 42 years old and is a single mother of five children. One of them is a professional and the others attend secondary school.
Georgista thinks its time to give to her store a facelift. She wants to remodel the old locale where she is operating the business and make it more attractive so she can attract more customers. With the funds requested, she will also buy a lot of goods to supply her business. Georgista says that the products in the most demand are milk, flour, rice and ripe fruits.
The entrepreneur has a good credit history. She has already taken loans from other organizations and from FSMA, and she always had repaid them on time. Given the loan, Georgista will be in a position to keep on satisfying her customers needs and remodel her locale so that she can run her business in the most hygienic conditions and attract new customers.",F,600,partner,Food,0
Dominican Republic,"Germania is the owner and operator of a newly started restaurant in Altagracia, community of Santo Domingo. She rents a local building from whcih to run her business. Every day, from early in the morning to late night, Germania works in the restaurant, preparing and serving delicious traditional Dominican meals and juices. Her business struggled when it first opened, but she gradually built up her client base as people were impressed with her food and came back with their friends. The entrepreneur hopes her business success will help her support her children studies and improve her family's living conditions. With her loan, Germania will buy raw materials and other goods for her business.",F,475,partner,Food,0
Dominican Republic,"Germania sells a collection of chic pants to women of the Batey of Palav community of San Cristobal. Currently, Germania operates the business from her house, but she plans to rent a small locale before long in order to make it easier for her customers to purchase the goods she sells. The entrepreneur left her husband three years ago, and since then she has been working hard to make a living. Germania has no children sadly but says that operating actively in her business helps her forget and dissipate her pains. With her loan, Germania will buy new sizes, styles and also customer-recommended pants to add to her stock.",F,200,partner,Clothing,0
Dominican Republic,"Germinuris is in her late thirties. She has two sons and one daughter, all of whom go to school. Germinuris and her husband run a small bar in the Duquesa community of Santo Domingo. A pleasant atmosphere, good music and a large variety of both Dominican and international beverages make the store an important gathering place for the community. Germinuris would like to increase her sales volume so that the business can generate more revenue for her family. With her loan, shell buy a wider variety of drinks to offer her clientele. Germinuris says that shell keep working hard to provide her three children with a good education.",F,600,partner,Food,1
Dominican Republic,"Geronima has dedicated her life to buying and selling for supermarkets, particularly the supermarket ""Bravo."" She goes 3 days a week and gets paid on Fridays or Saturdays. She is single and has three children, two daughters and one son. She lives in the community of Los Botados.",F,375,partner,Wholesale,0
Dominican Republic,"Gicela Margarita is an older and skilled beautician, and she operates her own beauty parlor from her house. Gicela has been offering cosmetic treatments for many years, so her business is well-known in the community, and she has a lot of loyal customers.
This experienced entrepreneur has requested a loan to buy a new hairdryer, new styling products, more rollers and other materials she needs to operate her salon.
Gicela says that women are very satisfied with the services she offers, and says that she'll keep doing her utmost to provide high quality service to everyone who visits her salon. The entrepreneur hopes that her business will allow her to have enough money to enjoy her golden years.",F,525,partner,Services,1
Dominican Republic,"Gilca Ramona owns and operates a small cafeteria in the Herrera community of Santo Domingo. This activity is the main source of income of Gilca. She mentions that she constantly needs money to pay school tuition of her two daughters and the university studies of her son. So, she says that its not very easy to support three children, but shes proud that she could make great efforts so they can have a good education.
Gilca plans on using her loan to increase the variety of sandwiches and hamburgers she offers to her clientele. She would like to have a well-established cafeteria in the sector to better provide for her children.",F,400,partner,Food,0
Dominican Republic,"Gilda is a forty-four year old mother of five children. After her husband death about twenty six years ago, she had to struggle to raise her children alone.
Gilda has a small business selling fried bananas, chicken, meats and natural juices. She has a well established clientele.
Now, the entrepreneur wants to expand her business. She will use her loan to purchase a freezer to keep the meat and juices cold. That way, Gilda will be able to better preserve the meat and not have to buy ice every day. Gilda hopes that someday shell be able to buy her home.",F,450,partner,Food,0
Dominican Republic,"Giselle is 28 years old and has three children aged 11, 9, and 7. Her husband works as a salesman in a town grocery. She would like to go into business selling women's clothing, and has come to us for a loan of $225 to purchase products such as T-shirts, pants, dress shirts and underwear. Giselle wants to do this so that she can save money to help educate her children and improve the life of her entire family. Shell repay the loan in 6 months.",F,225,partner,Clothing,0
Dominican Republic,"Gladis Escalante says she is in the right business for raising her six growing children, ages 7, 11, 12, 13, 15 and 16. She runs her own bakery, which allows her to directly provide for much of the food for her household as well as a steady source of income to take care of immediate needs. Gladis requests this loan to purchase a bread-maker and additional ingredients such as flour and oil so that she can create enough bread to be a main distributor in her rural town outside the capital of San Pedro de Macoris. The profits she makes are invested in her business and go to savings for her children's education, which she says is one of her primary dreams for her children.
NOTE: This $1,000 will fund Gladis' business plus 4 others in her community. She and four additional entrepreneurs have formed a solidarity group that received business training from Esperanza and will be responsible for paying back this loan together as they develop their respective businesses. This group-lending methodology fosters accountability among the members because they all must pay in full and on time.",F,1000,partner,Food,0
Dominican Republic,"Gladis Mercedes is a hard-working and active woman who lives in the Gelo community of San Cristobal, where she has been operating a small dress-making shop for more than fifteen years. Gladis Mercedes explains that her well-established clientle is very satisfied with her quality of work. Currently, the entrepreneur is asking for a loan to buy a decorative sewing machine which will allow her to improve her production of baby blankets and wedding gowns.
Gladis Mercedes hopes that her business growth will help her to improve her standard of living.",F,375,partner,Services,0
Dominican Republic,"Gladys Antonia defines herself as promoter of this new generation of young entrepreneurs whore breaking old paradigms and establishing new ways of doing business in their communities. Gladys is just eighteen-years old and she still is a schoolgirl. In spite of her age, Gladys is a very responsible person and a young woman with unshakable courage and the determination to make things happen.
Gladys has been selling womens clothing for one year in her community, and she says that she makes a great effort to succeed in her endeavor and contribute to her familys budget. The young and valiant Gladys goes to school in the morning, and in the afternoon she visits friends, customers, and people of the nearby neighborhood to offer her products.
Now, the entrepreneur would like to increase her sales volume significantly. Shes requesting a loan to buy new fashionable pants and blouses to add to her stock. Gladys will receive her loan together with other four women, all of whom are young entrepreneurs and trying hard to succeed in life.
These women are:
Griselaida Perez Fransua, who owns and operates a small beauty parlor.
Elizabeth Javier Santana, who sells clothing in her community.
Angela Mieses Franco, a clothing seller.
Mirosis Yose Cruz Medina, who will invest her loan in products for her beauty salon.
Photo: From left to right: Mirosis, Angela, Elizabeth, Griselaida and Gladys.",F,1275,partner,Clothing,1
Dominican Republic,"Gladys Felicita is forty years old and the leader of a group of five women, all of them entrepreneurs living in the Bonito community of Santo Domingo. Gladys runs a beauty parlor. She offers services of hair cut, hair straightening, hair dying and the like. She intends to use her extra business profits to complete her house that is under construction.
With her loan, the entrepreneur will buy new materials for her salon so that she can offer a more competitive service to her customers. Gladys Felicita hopes that her business growth will help her improve her familys life and to complete her house.
The entrepreneur will take the loan together with other four women:
Mara Elsa Quezada Encarnacin, for a sewing shop;
Marilyn Guante, to purchase clothing for a small shop;
Lucia Duran Garca, to buy shoes for her shop;
Ramona Del Carmen Castillo, to buy materials for a beauty salon.",F,750,partner,Services,0
Dominican Republic,"Gladys is a 54-year-old, hard-working entrepreneur who lives in the Santana community of San Cristobal. Gladys lost her husband a long time ago and, since then, she has operated a small business in order to earn a living. On a daily basis, many customers, most of whom are men, visit her house for refreshments. To illustrate, she serves alcoholic drinks (e.g., beer, whisky, and red and white wines), energizing beverages, and even natural juices at times. In addition, Gladys prepares tasty pieces of toast for her customers. Gladys explains that she receives monthly a pension from the government, but that such funds are insufficient to cover all of her expenses. Therefore, Gladys is seeking a loan so that she can purchase wholesale drinks to replenish her store and to generate additional income.",F,300,partner,Food,0
Dominican Republic,"Gladys Maria, a young and smart entrepreneur, is the leader of this group of women living in Yagua, an impoverished community of Cotu. Some of the women call the community the forgotten sector because of the diverse people and because of the precarious conditions in which they are living. The lack of employment, the lack of education, and the lack of good roads are just some of the problems that the inhabitants of this community face on a regular basis. Further, many people are still waiting for the government to fulfill its many promises of developing initiatives to improve their situation.
Gladys Maria has 2 school-age children, and she simply could not wait any longer for other people to remedy her problems. As such, several months ago she decided to start a small business in her neighborhood whereby she sells womens clothing. Even though her husband works, his low wages are not sufficient to support the family. Due to the income generated from her small business, she is able to assist her husband to cover their household expenses. The entrepreneur would like to do much more for her family, so she is now requesting a loan to buy a large amount of new clothing to add to her inventory. In turn, she hopes that her business's success will enable her to provide a better lifestyle for her children.
She is joined in her group by the following individuals: (1) Justina Agramonte, who sells footwear; (2) Julia Vasquez, who operates a beauty salon; (3) Maria Acasio, who sells sweets; and (4) Cristina Crisostomo Vasquez, who sells womens clothing. The women are pictured in the photograph, from left to right, as follows: Justina, Julia, Maria, Gladys, and Cristina.",F,975,lender,Clothing,1
Dominican Republic,"Gleni is a young woman, mother of two children and she lives in the impoverished suburban locality of San Francisco, located in San Cristobal. Her husband operates a fruit stand in Santo Domingo, the capital. Gleni has recently started selling women's clothing in her community. The entrepreneur explains that her family has various necessities and the couple's actual wages are not sufficient to meet the needs.
She humbly explains that she still has to work hard and promote her products in order to capture potential customers. Gleni also wants to purchase a new variety of good quality and low-cost garments to add to her limited inventory. She hopes that the loan requested will allow her to have enough working capital so that she can strengthen her new business. Gleni says that she'll keep doing her utmost so that her children can receive a good education.
Gleni will receive her loan along with these women:
Celenia Jorge Fermin, a fruit and vegetable stand owner,
Ana Iris Fermin Garcia, who sells clothing,
Yoselin Pinales Jorge, a used garment retailer, and
Annery Maribel Asencio De La Cruz, who sells ripe fruit in the community.
The photo shows from left to right, Gleni, Celenia, Ana Iris, Yoselin and Annery.",F,1350,partner,Clothing,1
Dominican Republic,"Glenny Mariela is a young entrepreneur and mother of a newborn daughter. Glenny owns and operates an Internet Center in the Itabo community of San Cristobal. The entrepreneur humbly explains that her center just has three computers for the customers. Nonetheless, she plans to use her loan to buy some used computers in order to increase the quality of the service she offers to her customers.
Glenny Mariela says shell keep working hard in order to improve her familys living conditions.",F,300,partner,Services,0
Dominican Republic,"Glennys, a young, dynamic, and hard-working woman, started her path to success five years ago when she decided to start a beauty salon in the district of Sabana Grande de Boy in the province of Monte Plata. Glennys is twenty-four years old and mother of a two-year-old daughter. Her husband works as supervisor for a company. Glennys believes that education is more important than any other thing in life, and shes trying hard to support her university studies.
Recently, the entrepreneur has expanded her business and added a large variety of beauty products and costume jewelry. That allowed her to increase her income and attract new people to her business.
Glennys is requesting a loan to invest in the purchase of alot of materials for the beauty salon. Shell also buy more beauty products to add to her stock.
Glennys hopes that her business will keep allowing her to support her studies and improve her familys living conditions.
The entrepreneur will receive her loan together with these following women:
Antonia Jovani Lapaez Zapata, who sells silver jewelry to women in the community.
Josefina Villanueva Almonte, who will invest her loan in womens clothing to retail.
Carmen Tejada Encarnacin, a cafeterias owner.
Benita Tejada Castillo, who sells fruits and vegetables.
Picture: from left to right: Glennys, Antonita, Josefina, Carmen and Benita.",F,1350,partner,Services,1
Dominican Republic,"Gloria is a 32 year old woman who lives in a suburb on the outskirts of the capital, Santo Domingo, in the Dominican Republic. She lives with her husband Victor Manuel and her six children (4 boys and 2 girls).
Gloria used to run her own new and used clothing business but ran into hard times a while ago and was unable to continue purchasing merchandise. She is asking for this loan so she can go to an import market and buy a stock of new clothing to restart her business.
This comes at an especially important time in her life, as she and her husband are separating and she needs to have a steady source of income to pay for food and other items around the house.
Gloria and the other four women in her group are grateful to each of you for helping them work towards achieving their dreams. On behalf of everyone here at Esperanza International, we thank you as well!",F,700,partner,Clothing,0
Dominican Republic,"Gloria lives on the outskirts of the capital of Santo Domingo in the Dominican Republic. She sells mobile phones, and has applied for this loan so that she can expand her inventory of cell phones, prepaid phone cards, and phone products. Because mobile phones and mobile phone products are expensive, she is looking forward to taking this loan out and being able to invest in her business on a greater scale.
Her dream is to continue growing her business every day, and to be able to support her children and their families with some of the extra income she earns. She also says that she hopes to live for many more years, and continue to grow as a business woman, mother, grandmother, and person.
In her free time, Gloria loves to read the Bible and spend time with her family. On behalf of everyone here at Esperanza International, thank you for your interest and time in supporting Gloria!",F,750,partner,Retail,0
Dominican Republic,"Gollita is a hard-working, persistent and a very experienced businesswoman. For more than fifteen years, she has been running a discotheque in Monte Plata. Her discotheque is very well-located, so it is very often visited by locals. Gollita operates the business only on week-ends and on holidays. Every week she has to incur in the purchase beverages such as beer, rum and whiskey. Running the discotheque has been very useful for her and her family. In fact, with the income from the discotheque, she pays the university studies of her only 22-year-old daughter. She also helps her husband (a technician that fixes radios and TVs) face other housing issues. Gollita is requesting a loan to buy more drinks for her business. She will also buy new beverages to diversify her offerings to the customers and better satisfy their needs.",F,375,partner,Services,0
Dominican Republic,"Graciela is an experienced entrepreneur and mother of five children ranging in age from 3 to 19. She sells womens clothes, tablecloths, window curtains, and shower curtains in the Hato Nuevo community of San Cristobal. Graciela operates her business principally from home but also visits regular customers at their homes. Graciela will use her loan to buy new items that she believes that will sell at a greater profit than her present inventory. Graciela hopes that her profits will allow her rent a store front soon.",F,550,partner,Retail,1
Dominican Republic,"Gregoria Garcia Mejia, pictured second from the right and dressed in white, is the group coordinator for her 5-member group called ""Trabajadores Unidos"", which means ""United Workers"". She is the single mother of three children: a daughter of 22, and two boys ages 18, and 10. They reside in Paraiso Escondido, a small town in the sector of Punta de Villa Mella, in Santo Domingo Norte. Her daughter began studying law last year, her oldest son is a sophomore in high school, and her youngest son is a talented baseball player.
Her home, along with her previous business, a general store in her home, was swept away when a river flooded near her house last year, taking four other houses with it. As a result, her two oldest children had to stop going school to meet their basic needs. She is starting over now by opening up a similar store from her home, selling general care products and basic medicines.
Gregoria plans to invest in such products as hair-smoothing cream, deodorants, shampoos, medicines, and sandals, which she buys in bulk and says are the products in highest demand. The home she is living in now, Gregoria says, is located in a very strategic business location relative to her town. At the end of this loan, she hopes her store will be firmly reestablished, providing her once more with a steady source of income. With this steady income, she hopes to start saving for her daughter's education, and to be able to pay for her sons' schooling and for the baseball coaching and cleats for her youngest son. She also plans to continue working on finishing her current home, as she has placed 800 out of 1,300 cinder blocks for it so far. Since her business is run from her home, having it completed would allow her business to expand.
Some of her long-term goals are to be able to pay for her daughter's law school education, and also to be able to continue to encourage and support her youngest son, as they hope he makes it to the big leagues.",F,1400,lender,Retail,0
Dominican Republic,"Gregoria has 2 children. She used to work in a private house, but then decided to form her own business, which she will start with this loan. She will supply herself with products from Natura International, which sells natural products.
Also, she plans to have her husband, who has a motorcycle that he uses to transport people around the community, collect the revenues that she initially might extend on credit.
We bid her farewell, and expect that this new business will assist the Del Rosario family in supporting themselves and move out of the poverty they seem to live in now.",F,300,partner,Health,0
Dominican Republic,"Grisel Yocasta lives in a tropical paradise in the Dominican Republic. Surrounded by the jungle, with a small waterfall nearby, most would consider this exotic location the perfect vacation destination. But the tranquil image is shattered by the reality of the poverty confronted in the small town of Imbert every day. Grisel works everyday to provide meals and school materials for her three children (and a 4th on the way). With her two small barbecues, she sets up shop at a popular intersection in town, where she sells Chicharrones (deep fried pork) and other meets. With this loan, Grisel intends to purchase propane, paint for her BBQ, and a supply of raw meet and oils. While her current business is selling food, she dreams of one day owning her own boutique clothing store.
Grisel is the leader of a 10 person micro bank Mujeres de Fe, which means ""Women of Faith"". Each of these unique Dominican entrepreneurs unite in solidarity, allowing them to access funding that they would otherwise never be able to receive on their own. The concept of this group bank paying their loan together is to reduce the risk of one person defaulting, as the others members gladly help cover one another's payments in order to receive their next loan together. As these 10 women embark upon their first ever loan from Esperanza, we are confident that they will all succeed in bettering their lives and the lives of their families with this loan. One of the women in the group just began a small general store, one owns a small hair salon, and several of the others plan to sell clothing.
On behalf of Grisel Yocast, the Mujeres de Fe group, and the entire team here at Esperanza International, we thank you for your support and awareness of the global issue of poverty, in which your efforts are helping to make a difference.",F,1475,partner,Food,0
Dominican Republic,"Griselda is an extremely hard worker and the proud mother of four children. She lives in the Media Blanca community of Nizaol where she has been running a beauty salon for more than fifteen years. She operates the business in a rented establishment, and she says that she needs to attract a lot of customers every day in order to pay the rent and fend for her children.
Griselda is requesting a loan to buy supplies that she generally uses in her salon. The entrepreneur hopes that her business will grow and generate more income.",F,600,partner,Services,1
Dominican Republic,"Griselda is in her early thirties, and she has three school-going daughters. Griselda owns and operates a grocery store, which she started seven years ago. Every day, people in the neighborhood visit her store to purchase different kinds of products, such as rice, vegetables, milk, beans and other basic foodstuffs. Griselda hopes not only to satisfy her customers with good-quality products, but she also wants to expand her business and add new products to her inventory. That way, shell attract new clients to the business. The entrepreneur wants to be one of the most well-established suppliers of these goods in her area.",F,450,partner,Food,0
Dominican Republic,"Griselda is thirty-two years old and a proud mother of one boy and one girl who both attend school. She leads a group of five women who operate various businesses in the Invicea community of San Cristobal. Griselda sells an assortment of trendy silver jewelry. She started her business about seven months agp with a loan her group took from FSMA. The entrepreneur wishes to add new styles of jewelry to her stock. This will help her attract more people to her business, because she will offer more variety.
The other members of the group are:
Jeniffer Pamela Orel Santana, who will use her loan to buy shirts and pants for her clothing store.
Claudia Rosario Medina will buy materials for her manicure and pedicure center.
Leticia Nieves will buy products to keep producing food for her customers.
Gabriela Santana will spend her loan to buy chickens to resell.",F,1325,partner,Retail,0
Dominican Republic,"Griselle is thirty-years-old and the leader of a group of businesswomen in the San Luis community of Santo Domingo.
Griselle has a lot of experiences in sales. Shes been selling costume jewelry for many years. Recently, she decided to start a small grocery store, which offers a variety of goods like rice, beans, vegetable oil, and other basic foodstuffs. The entrepreneur explains that people in the community have been more interested in purchasing food than any other thing during these last days. Actually, as a consequence of the high cost of foods, people of low-income communities cant afford jewels and expensive products.
Griselle is requesting a loan to purchase a lot of goods to add to her stock in order to keep running her store. The entrepreneur would like to buy a house in a couple of years.
The members of Griselles group are:
Paula Rodriguez Rudecindo, a fish shop owner.
Maria Garcia, who runs a small grocery store.
Yubelkis Marian Luis, who retails womens clothing.
Margarita Garcia, who sells shoes in her community.
Picture: left to right: Griselle, Paula, Maria, Yubelkis, and Margarita.",F,1225,partner,Food,1
Dominican Republic,"Group 1 from the Fe y Progreso (Faith and Progress) Bank of Hope is taking their seventh loan through Esperanza International. These entrepreneurs do their activities in the San Pedro de Macoris area, in southeast Dominican Republic. Due to the sugar cane industry debacle a few years ago, this province suffers the devastation of unemployment. This is why many people have decided to become self-employed in order to guarantee income to provide for their families.
Celina Florentino is this group's coordinator, and she is currently maintaining a very successful clothing sales business. Her sales volume allows her to purchase in bundles, so she has more merchandise to sell for a more extended period of time. With this particular loan, she will buy more women's and children's clothing, which is more in demand. Celina finds ""improving her life condition"", her biggest challenge. She has six children who are all grown up (the youngest is 16 years old). She would like to see her business grow to one day be a clothing bundle distributor/supplier.
On behalf of Esperanza International, thank you for supporting this group of entrepreneurs!",F,975,partner,Clothing,0
Dominican Republic,"Group 1 from the Shalom Bank of Hope is a group of five entrepreneurs seeking their sixth loan from Esperanza International.
Carolina Cepeda, the group coordinator, is 27 years old and has three children, ages 9, 6 and 4. She sells a variety of home items, but specializes in kitchenware. She will use this loan specifically to purchase cups, plates, cooking pots and pans, and silverware.
Carolina's goal is to succeed in her business, in order to be able to own a house. She also hopes that through the teachings in bank meetings, she can grow in her spiritual life.
On behalf of Esperanza and this group of business entrepreneurs, we would like to thank you for your support!",F,1225,lender,Retail,0
Dominican Republic,"Group 2 from La Solucion (The Solution) Bank of Hope is located in La Barquita, a very impoverished community in Sabana Perdida, on the northern outskirts of Santo Domingo. The members are very excited about the opportunities this first loan could provide for their businesses, which include lingerie, vegetable, and clothing sales. They all dream of improving their economic conditions, hoping to provide better lives for their children (the five are mothers), and eventually moving into houses in a better area of the city.
One of the group members, Julissa, who will start a shoe-selling business with this loan, stated in the meeting that she has set herself the goal of having her own car in two years. She said to the loan officer: When I have my car, I will come here to this office and take you for a ride.
These ladies are determined to progress through hard work. Let`s help their dreams come true. Thank you for supporting this loan!",F,1100,lender,Retail,0
Dominican Republic,"Group 2 of the Los Laureles Bank of Hope is on its first loan cycle with Esperanza International. This group of small entrepreneurs has five members, with businesses in the sales and food fields. Several of the members, including Maria Jean, the group coordinator, have food stands. Others sell different products in small shops or at their own homes.
Maria has four children. She hopes to provide for them a better education so they can have a brighter future and better job opportunities. This is why she is taking this loan with Esperanza. She is looking for a fresh capital injection that will revitalize her business, allowing her to have more merchandise available for her customers and, in consequence, increase her sales.
These ladies are looking forward to the future, and know that their hard work will pay off. On behalf of Esperanza International, thank you for supporting this loan.",F,875,partner,Food,0
Dominican Republic,"Group 3 from Las Reinas Bank of Hope is starting their entrepreneurship adventure with Esperanza International. This is their first loan. They live in Los Guaricanos, a large neighborhood in the northern part of Santo Domingo. Because it is so isolated from the city, employment opportunities are very scarce. People who work in the city have to commute long distances, relying on a very deficient public-transportation system. Under these circumstances, a lot of people have decided to start new businesses and become self-employed.
Emilia Henriquez and Estela Vinicio are two of the group members. Emilia is 54, has no children and sells personal-care products. Emilia did not have the opportunity to attend school. Estela is 28 and single, with four children that depend completely on her. She runs a small butcher shop. She dreams of making her shop grow so she can become a meat supplier for larger markets.
Thank you for helping these entrepreneurs in their initiatives to build a better future for themselves and their communities!",F,1450,partner,Retail,0
Dominican Republic,"Group 3 from the Peniel Bank of Hope is ready to start their fourth loan cycle through Esperanza International, Kiva's partner. In the words of Luchi Aquino, the group has done extremely well in their previous loan cycles and none of the members has been late on their payments. All the group members have also seen a significant increase in their profits after they started taking microloans.
Luchis mother and her three sisters are clients of Esperanza International. Luchis mother, Brigida, is the group coordinator for the group 2 from this same Bank of Hope. Her sister Tania is in this same group.
Luchi sells products from a catalog. She sells leather purses, shoes and belts. She explained to us that there is a new campaign coming up so she will use the loan to purchase merchandise from the new catalog in order to offer her clients the latest styles.
Luchis biggest challenge is her childrens education. This is why in spite of being so busy selling her catalog products and visiting her clients, she helps her children (two boys, ages 5 and 8) with their homework every day. She is a very dedicated businesswoman and mother with two goals: providing her children with the best education possible and, along with her catalog sales, having her own boutique/beauty salon.
On behalf of Esperanza International and this group of micro entrepreneurs, wed like to thank you for your support!",F,1750,partner,Retail,0
Dominican Republic,"Group 4 from the Fuente de Paz (Source of Peace) Bank of Hope is now on their 6th loan cycle. Ana Rojas is the coordinator of this group of five. She has 2 children ages 9 and 5 and her business is clothing sales.
Ana sells all kinds of clothing on her business. She has found that lately some products are on higher demand than others, so she will use this new loan to purchase a quantity of products that will allow her to have merchandise in stock for a longer time. She specifically will purchase pants, shirts, polo shirts, skirts, blouses, shoes and undergarments. She will also buy personal care products like lotion and deodorant to sell.
Ana says her biggest challenge is communicating with difficult customers. Unfortunately, not everyone is as pleasant to deal with. But she understands its a part of the process when you are in sales.
Ana sees her business in the future growing even more, and established as a clothing store. She believes her business has allowed her to provide better for her family. Her long term goal is to finish building her house with her business profits.
On behalf of these entrepreneurs, and Esperanza International, thank you for supporting this loan!",F,950,lender,Clothing,0
Dominican Republic,"Group 4 of the Dios es Amor (God is Love) Bank of Hope is now in its second loan cycle. Marilandy Ventura is the group coordinator. She is married and has 2 children. She and the other group members live in Batey Palmara, a small community, part of Los Alcarrizos, outside Santo Domingo (Dominican Republics capital city).
Marilandys first loan was used for her fried chicken business. Now for her second loan, Marilandy has started a new venture: a tire-selling business where she can repair and sell second-hand tires. She has found that sometimes people have problems with their tires while passing by her isolated area and there was no one offering that service. She hopes she can establish herself in these two very different markets (food and vehicle repair) in order to build a better future for herself and her family.
On behalf of Esperanza International, thank you for supporting these entrepreneurs!",F,1000,lender,Services,0
Dominican Republic,"Group 5 from Los Colaboradores (Contributors) Bank of Hope are starting their second loan with Esperanza International. This is a group of 5 young women in search of better means for their families, specially for their young children.
Yolanda Perez is the group coordinator. She has two children, ages 3 and 2, and is only 22 years old. She has no formal education, and selling clothes is her sole source of income. She will purchase different items with the loan in order to be well stocked and be able to have stock available for her clients for a longer period of time. Getting ahead in life with her young children is her biggest challenge, but she doesn't waste her energy. She hopes to own a clothing store someday.
On behalf of Esperanza International, thank you for supporting the initiative of these young women!",F,1275,lender,Clothing,0
Dominican Republic,"Group 5 from the El Buen Futuro (""The Good Future"") Bank of Hope is starting their 6th loan cycle with Esperanza International. They all agree that the loans they've been taking have been a great help to them to keep their businesses in good shape, and make sure that they always have merchandise available for their clients. These entrepreneurs have been able to successfully repay five loans and hope to use this next one in their business expansion projects.
Antonia Sanchez is the group representative. She has four children who are grown. The youngest is 18 years old. However, she still supports all her children with their education, which is something she describes as one of her biggest challenges. She's glad that she is able to help them build a better future for themselves through a good education. In the future, she would like to have a house of her own and her own clothing store.
Antonia and her group mates are working hard on their businesses, but they still need the all support that we can give. On behalf of Esperanza International and this group of entrepreneurs, thank you for your support!",F,1325,partner,Clothing,0
Dominican Republic,"Group 5 of the Amistad (Friendship) Bank of Hope is now on their 8th loan cycle. Antonia Mercedes Sterlin is the coordinator for this group of five. She has 3 children ages 15, 12 and 9. She started her small business selling only pants. She has diversified her selection and will use this loan to purchase a larger quantity of items requested by her customers, such as undergarments and sleepwear. She will also add a variety of pants she already offers for sale. Antonia finds it challenging sometimes to understand customers needs as their tastes change from time to time but also knows a good business person can show empathy to customers, put yourself in their place, and find a way to deliver to maintain happy customers.
She envisions a future where her business continues to grow, her family is well and they all remain in faith.
On behalf of these entrepreneurs and Esperanza International, thank you for supporting this loan!",F,1925,lender,Clothing,0
Dominican Republic,"Group 7 from the Dios es Amor Bank of Hope is starting their first loan cycle with Esperanza International. Most of these ladies did not have a formal business before. They will be able to have a more organized income-generating activity thanks to this loan.
Dorkas Cela is the group coordinator. She is a young mother with three children ages 8, 5, and 3 months, Dorkas buys appliances at her customers' request and delivers them to their homes. She usually comes to the Capital to buy the appliances.
Dorkas dreams of having her own Internet cafe. She thinks it's a great business that has guaranteed clientele thanks to school and college students who would use the internet for research. She also thinks a business like this would allow her to spend more time with her young children and not travel so much for work. She also hopes to make enough profit to be able to go to college. She thinks a better education would allow her to improve her business in a smarter way.
Please support the initiative of these young women. Thank you!",F,900,lender,Retail,0
Dominican Republic,"Group numbers 6 and 7 from the Shalom Bank of Hope have successfully repaid 4 loans to Esperanza International and will start their 5th loan cycle with this Kiva loan. Many of them sell food items and clothing. For most of their group members, providing a good education for their children (and advancing their businesses) proves to be their biggest challenge, one they are especially motivated to overcome. They know that education will allow them to do better in their businesses and/or become formal employees.
Teolinda Lopez is the group representative. She has 4 children, including a 6-month-old baby. She is just 24 years old. She knows that she is mainly responsible for her childrens well being, and therefore wants to have an income-generating activity that would allow her to stay at home and take care of them. She sells clothing from her home. Since a lot of her customers cannot afford new clothes, she will also start selling used clothing she can purchase by bundle (she will buy one with this loan) that are still in optimal condition. This will open her business to potential new clients, which will increase her profits. In the near future, she would like to expand her house to have wider space to exhibit her merchandise.
On behalf of Esperanza International, thank you for helping us support these entrepreneurs!",M,2575,lender,Clothing,0
Dominican Republic,"Groups 1 and 2 from the Cristo Viene (Christ is Coming) Bank of Hope are receiving their fourth loan from Esperanza International. This group has shown good discipline in repayments and their businesses have improved since their first loan.
Altagracia Felix is Coordinator for Group 2. She is married and has 3 children, ages 14, 6 and 2. She sells both new and used clothes, mostly around her neighborhood. She will use her loan money to purchase new clothing items to be able to provide variety and meet her customers' demands.
Altagracia has some technical education, but she dreams of seeing her children go to college and become successful professionals. She is very concerned about making her business do well in order to support her children's present and future education. She also dreams of her business growing to become a clothing store in her own locality.
On behalf of Esperanza International, thank you for supporting these entrepreneurs!",F,3000,partner,Clothing,0
Dominican Republic,"Groups 1 and 2 from the Mujeres Unidas Bank of Hope are ready to start their second loan cycle through Esperanza International. The group members all live in Villa Mella, which is located in the northern outskirts of Santo Domingo, which is Dominican Republics capital city. Evelyn Ramirez and Josue Aristil are the group coordinators. Evelyn has five children. The youngest is 12 years old. All her children still live with her. She sells shoes, which she purchases in Dajabon (a city in the northwest of the Dominican Republic, which is about a 5 hour ride from Santo Domingo) as well as in the capital. With this loan, she will buy mostly tennis shoes and sandals. She explains that depending on the time of year, sales increase on a certain kind of shoe (for example, loafers during back-to-school time). Evelyn hopes her profits from selling shoes will allow her to buy a house of her own. This would let her have a more peaceful life. Josue has four children of ages 10, 8, 6 and 3. His current business is selling clothes. He finds greater demand for womens clothing. Lately, however, he has noticed that people are not buying as much as usual. He will use this second loan to purchase new clothes to sell. During his interview, he commented that he likes the fact that because all the members of his group paid their first loan on time, Esperanza International approved higher loan amounts for them in this second loan cycle. He hopes to continue that trend so he can invest larger amounts in his business and create sustainable growth. Thank you for supporting these entrepreneurs!",F,3275,lender,Clothing,0
Dominican Republic,"Groups 3 and 4 of the Dios Verdadero (True God) Bank of Hope are on their second loan cycle. Ramon Martinez is the Group 3 Coordinator. He has 5 children ages 15, 18, 12, 8 and 4. Ramon owns a colmado, which is a small store where you can buy your daily food and other supplies. Ramon will purchase different products to sell in his colmado with this second loan. He thinks it's important to keep your business well stocked, so that you can meet your customers' demands and keep them happy. His biggest challenge is to work everyday to make a living, so he hopes to make good profits in his business so he can expand its current space.
Some of the other group members have the same type of store; others have smaller vegetable stands or sell a wide variety of products. In this picture, the group members are gathered at one of their homes. On behalf of Esperanza International, thank you for supporting these entrepreneurs!",F,2350,lender,Retail,0
Dominican Republic,"Guadalupe, 54-year-old, lives in the low-income Sabana Grande de Boy community of Monte Plata. As shes undereducated and didnt have the opportunity to hear about family planning methods, Guadalupe says I committed the great error of having too many children (six daughters and five sons). She remembers that its been very hard to keep up her offspring.
To make a living and fend for her children, Guadalupe had to start selling tablecloths, bedspreads, curtains and the like to women of her community. The entrepreneur explains that currently she has a well established clientele. Her business is profitable and her children go to school. Nonetheless, Guadalupe thinks that she could earn more if she could have more access to capital and invest in the purchase of a large quantity of goods. So, she thanks in advance the bigheartedness of all the Kivas community which will support her with this loan. Guadalupe wants to keep working hard in order to provide a comfortable lifestyle with her family.",F,450,partner,Retail,0
Dominican Republic,"Guillermina is forty years old and the mother of two boys and one daughter. Her husband works for a construction company. To supplement the familys income, Guillermina sells used and new pants, shoes, shirts, blouses, and the like.
Guillermina would like to have money enough to support their childrens university studies, and also to buy a house some day. With her loan, the entrepreneur will buy more clothing to supply her business and increase her revenue.",F,300,partner,Clothing,0
Dominican Republic,"Guillermina Shephard is a budding entrepreneur who is currently employed in retail clothing sales. She sells new, fashionable clothes from her home and in the streets. The selling of used clothes in the Dominican is big business, but Guillermina has decided to sell new clothes in an effort to separate herself from the masses who are selling used clothes. Her clothes may be more expensive, but the newness of clothes is an effective selling tool.
Even though Guillermina has been successful selling new clothes, she needs capital to really expand her business. It had been very frustrating for her, because she knows that she could expand her business, but she couldnt find anyone to lend her money. She was extremely ecstatic to learn about Esperanza, and you could tell by listening and talking to her that she was eager to receive her loan and begin investing and growing her business.
Guillermina will use the loan to buy inventory for a business selling clothing accessories and jewelry. She operated such a business for two years, but she had to stop due to a lack of capital. She now hopes that her new business will help her to improve her familys conditions.",F,300,partner,Clothing,1
Dominican Republic,"Hanoi Altagracia is 30 years old and married with no children. Hanoi is an ambitious and successful entrepreneur. She owns and operates a clothing store in the Hato Nuevo community of San Cristobal. Her store is well stocked and lots of people regularly visit to get pants, shirts and to check out the chic collection of shoes she offers.
Hanoi wants to expand her business. Shes thinking about offering nail-care services to her customers. She says that she worked for a long time in a nail center and that she has a huge knowledge and experience in the matter.
With her loan, Hanoi will buy fashionable new pants and shoes to add to her inventory so as to attract new customers.
This is the third loan Hanoi will take from FSMA. She is a trustworthy and responsible person, and she always had repaid the loan on time.",F,1050,partner,Clothing,0
Dominican Republic,"Hardworking, positive and honest are just some of the countless qualities that Mara Altagracia, mother of three children, possesses. The promising entrepreneur owns and operates a grocery store which she started six years ago.
Mara Altagracia says that her store is very profitable. With the profits from her business, she supports her childrens studies and pays the rent for her house.
Mara Altagracia hopes that her business can keep growing so she can improve her familys living conditions. With her loan, she will buy a lot of products to restock her store.",F,450,partner,Food,0
Dominican Republic,"Helene, a forty-seven year old woman and mother of seven school-going children, lives in the Batey Palav community of San Cristobal where she runs a small business. Helene sells an assortment of shoes for women and cuddly toys for children in her community. Helene operates her business mainly from her house, but she habitually visits women of the neighborhood to offer her shoes.
Helene says that she wants to change her life and her childrens by the means of her business. She will invest her loan in the purchase of more merchandise to increase her stock and augment her sales volume. That way, the entrepreneur will be in conditions to improve her familys living conditions.",F,300,partner,Retail,0
Dominican Republic,"Higinia is a gracious 47 year-old woman who lives with her three children (ages: 25, 14, 5) and her husband, Manuel Jesus Ramirez.. She has lived in Puerto Plata her entire life, and has been the proud owner of a small colmado for seven years now. She carries items such as rice, beans, candy, and beverages, supplying them to her entire community. With this loan she wants to acquire a more extensive inventory of items and improve the appearance of her shop. She says that she has learned a great deal from the preliminary training Esperaza provides, and wants to put this new knowledge to good use! Higina thanks God that she doesnt have any huge problems in her family right now, and hopes that soon she and her husband will be able to build themselves a home for their family to live in.
This will be the first loan for the community of Los Limones, and they are all very excited about this opportunity. The next six months will not only provide financial support, but also the opportunity for many of these women to become very good friends and maintain life-long relationships. On behalf of Esperanza and the women of Los Limones, thank you for your support!",F,2125,partner,Food,0
Dominican Republic,"Higinia owns and operates a small grocery store in the Corositos community of Cotu, in the province of Sanchez Ramirez. She has six children ranging in age from fourteen to twenty-four, two of whom attend school.
Higinia operates her store within her humble house as she can't afford a comfortable establishment for the business. She says that with the money earned, she can hardly support her family's needs.
The entrepreneur would like to expand the variety of products she offers her customers. She expresses her thanks in advance to the Kiva community for the support she'll receive to make things happen. Higinia hopes that her store will continue gaining the ground until it becomes the most well-established grocery store in her community.",F,300,partner,Food,1
Dominican Republic,"Hilaria is a fun and vibrant woman, who, in spite of all of the hardships she has faced, continues to be optimistic and hardworking. She lives with her eight children in a small and rural town in the interior section of the island The children range in ages from 4 to 19 years old, and she is raising them by herself!
Hilaria runs a small colmado, a kind of grocery store from her home. She also sells a small selection of used clothing. She says she is planning to use this loan to buy rice, cooking oil, sugar, salt, jeans, blouses, and undergarments. The loan will enable her to buy all of these items in bulk, and as a result she will be able to slightly increase her profit margin.
She dreams that with the help of this loan, she will be able to give her children a good education, go back and finish school herself, expand her business into a big grocery store, and to one day own her own home and a motorcycle. Before she never dreamed of achieving these things, but now she says she believes they are possible.
On behalf of everyone here at Esperanza International, and from Hilaria herself, we thank you for your support with this micro loan!",F,1100,partner,Food,0
Dominican Republic,"Hilaria is a many-sided businesswoman. She owns Uniflores, a small store where she sells artificial and decorative flowers. She also dedicates herself to the sale of Avon beauty products. She is thirty-three years old, and she and her husband have four daughters who range in age from 7 to 15 years old. They all attend school.
Every day, people from her neighborhood visit Hilarias store to purchase her beautiful flowers. In the afternoon, she visits some women to promote and sell the Avon products. Currently, she makes a weekly profit of about US$ 150.
Hilaria hopes her business can grow so that she can greatly increase her income. With the loan requested (her second one from FSMA), she plans to buy more beauty products to satisfy her customers needs. She is also thinking about starting to sell womens shoes via catalog. She told us that doing business is the only way one can get to be financially independent. She would also like to be able to continue her nursing studies at the university.",F,900,partner,Retail,0
Dominican Republic,"Hilaria is in her late thirties, and she and her husband have four children, all of whom go to school. Hilaria owns and operates a beauty parlor in the area of Carvajal in San Cristobal. Shes been running the salon for eight years, and she owns a small shop which she had bought beforehand with her husbands help.
Hilaria modestly explains that her beauty salon is very small and uncomfortable, but she plans to sell her shop and rent a bigger one to offer her services in a spacious room. She is requesting a loan of $625 to buy materials such as shampoo, rinse, hair treatment, nail files, artificial nails and other goods to continue running her store.
Hilaria uses profits from her business to cover education expenses for her children.",F,625,partner,Services,1
Dominican Republic,"Hilda Mara is 40 years old and is the mother of five children between the ages of 14 and 25 years old, all of whom attend school. Hilda Mara sells fruits and vegetables, and she proudly claims that her products are sold as quickly as she can stock them. She also sells peanuts, boiled beans, sugar, and other such goods that people in her community need on a daily basis.
Hilda Mara plans to use this loan to expand her business by adding new kinds of fruits and vegetables. With the loan, she would also like to rent a small local where she can easily run her business. In short, the loan would allow the entrepreneur to increase her sales volume and revenue and, as a result, she will be able to improve her familys standard of living.",F,375,partner,Food,0
Dominican Republic,"Hipolito and his wife Reyna run a small grocery store known around the Dominican Republic as a colmado. On the weekends, their five daughters lend a hand by weighing orders of rice or sugar on the scales or giving customers their change of pesos out of the cash box.
Hipolito has built the store in front of his home along a street the neighborhood of Chavon - a populated town with a large market for small businesses. The family colmado caters to a variety of needs, from cooking ingredients to canned food and beverages. With this new loan, Hipolito can expand his inventory of household products such as soap and shampoo, as well as refrigerated and perishable foods.
Hipolito and Reyna are trying to provide for their five daughters, ages 13, 11, 9, 8 and 6. Diversifying the store's inventory with this new loan will create more business and more profit on higher priced items. Meanwhile, their children are all in school and enjoy being a part of the family business.
NOTE: As with most Esperanza loans, Hipolito is a member of a solidarity group, which receives and pays back equal shares of one loan. As well as Hipolito's business, this loan will go to four other entrepreneurs and their businesses. They formed their ""Banco de Esperanza"" (Bank of Hope), went through business training and will repay their loan together. If one person is unable to pay on time, they have their group to make up the difference.",M,750,partner,Food,0
Dominican Republic,"Horimena Charles is a young, single mother of two children. At this point in her life she lives in extreme poverty. She is doing everything she can to survive and to feed her children. It seems as though sending her children to college and having her own house aren't even possible. Her only goal is to make enough to feed her children and herself.
Horimena came to Esperanza International to try and receive a loan so she could start her own business. After many meetings and workshops, Horimena is ready to take out her first loan and start earning a steady income. She plans on starting her own business selling used clothing in her area. Though it is hard to even talk about her dreams for her children, she did say that she is excited to have her own business.
Her first goal is to grow her business so she can earn income to pay for her children's education. She said one day she does want to own a house, but she knows a lot of hard work lays ahead of her. She is ready to take the first step to a better life, and is hoping that this is the start of a better future for her whole family!",F,1625,partner,Clothing,0
Dominican Republic,"Hoyo del Toro is a small community just before getting to San Pedro de Macoris. It is so small that there is not enough business for a lot of small entrepreneurs who live in the area, so they must go to other locations to sell. Spending money on transportation diminishes their profits and the time they spend with their families.
Solitaria Soriano, this group's coordinator, is single and has 3 children. She sells clothes for a living and will invest this loan (her 6th) on more merchandise. She hopes to relocate to a larger town where she can sell from home all the time and not travel as much. She also wants to continue saving money from her business profits to have provisions for the future.
On behalf of Solitaria and this group of entrepreneurs, thank you for supporting this Kiva loan!",F,575,lender,Clothing,0
Dominican Republic,"Hoyo del Toro is a small community on the side of the road to San Pedro de Macoris. Yicer Albino (group coordinator) is married to Filiberto Heredia and they have 4 children. Yicer sells different kinds of food. Her best selling items are mabi (a Dominican drink made of boiled roots) and sorbet-like ice cream. With summertime approaching, she expects these sales to pick up, so Yicer will use this loan to buy fruit and plastic bags for the ice cream, and bottles for the mabi drink, along with the roots to make it. Yicer expects her sales to allow her to expand her business and make it into a cafeteria. Yicer wants to see her children choose a profession freely, graduate and have successful lives in the workforce.
Please help us support Yicer's dream, along with the other entrepreneurs in this Kiva loan. Thank you!",F,1725,lender,Food,0
Dominican Republic,"Ibelise is a diligent woman and a proud mother of three children. She owns and operates a small salon that she started two years ago. Ibelise offers a large variety of services, ranging from hair straightening and hairdo to nails cut. Every day she receives visits from many women, although things get better during the weekends.
This loan is to buy a used generator to face power cuts, which are very frequent in her community. Ibelise hopes that operating her salon with the generator will allow her to capture more clients. The entrepreneur is very confident and she says that shell manage to repay the loan and make her business successful.",F,750,partner,Services,1
Dominican Republic,"Idalicia is a single woman of 55 years who is living with her two nephews. Her sons (33 and 24 years old) go to the university in Santo Domingo, the capital. She sells secondhand clothes that she buys wholesale every two weeks. The entrepreneur has already taken out one loan, which she repaid successfully. Currently, Idalicia is requesting another loan in order to rent a small shop where she can sell the clothes. Since she started the business, she has been selling her products in the streets. She thinks that having her own shop would be handy for her and her clientele.",F,375,partner,Clothing,0
Dominican Republic,"Idalisia operates a small clothing store, and shes taking out her third loan with FSMA. Idalisia had been operating her activity in a public square, but she used her last loan to rent a small establishment for the business. She says that selling clothing in a comfortable establishment has allowed her to capture a big number of customers.
Currently, Idalisia is out of stock of pants and shoes. Shes requesting a loan to buy a greater variety of these goods to add to her inventory in order to keep satisfying her customers' needs.
Idalisia says shell keep walking hard to propel her company to new heights.",F,875,partner,Clothing,1
Dominican Republic,"Illuminada lives in Samana, a city on the east coast of the Dominican Republic. She has three children, ages 22, 20 and 18, and runs a small cafeteria from her home, where she sells fruit, bread, cheese, sugar and other daily essentials to her community. In her free time she enjoys talking with her neighbors and sharing stories about their families, businesses and lives. Her favorite foods are rice, beans and meat. Her dream for the future is to watch her business continue to grow bigger and bigger, and to be a successful business owner in her town.
This is the first loan that the women of La Antorcha Futura (The Future Torch) have applied for, and they are excited to see how it will transform their lives and the lives of other women in the community. On behalf of Esperanza, thank you for your support. We are looking forward to watching these women improve their lives!",F,775,partner,Food,0
Dominican Republic,"Iluminada is in her late thirties, and she and her husband have three children, two girls and one boy, all of whom go to school. Her husband is mechanic. To supplement her familys income, Iluminada sells fruits and vegetables, and she also prepares spicy sausage pork. Her business helps her support her own university studies. Actually, Iluminada studies Educational Psychology. The entrepreneur says that education is the only gate to richness. People dont strike it rich; anyone has to work hard to improve her living conditions,"" she adds. Iluminada will use her loan to buy more fruits and vegetables and raw materials for her business. She says shell keep working hard for the sake of her family.",F,200,partner,Food,0
Dominican Republic,"Immacula is a 33-year-old woman that recently seperated from her husband. She is bravely raising her two daughters by herself. The children both attend her school.
Immacula is the manager of a school she founded three years ago for the children of her community. Currently, more than 200 children go to her school. As a visionary manager, Immacula plans to computerize the school in a few years. She wants to install electronic blackboards, a computer room for the teachers as well as one for the pupils.
In the meantime, Imacula needs to resolve the school's present issues. She is requesting funds to buy new chairs for the pupils and to repair some desks. Immacula says that with Gods help and a lot of effort she will achieve her goals.",F,625,partner,Education,0
Dominican Republic,"In just three loan cycles, Milandina has more than doubled her loan amount, starting with a loan of $5000 DOP and currently borrowing $12000. Her rapid progress is most easily observed in her wellstocked store. Though the store is successful, Milandina has dreams to expand: she wants a more spacious store with a wider variety of merchandise (specifically accessories). This determined attitude has had noticeable benefits for her family and community. Milandina is a group leader in her Bank of Hope, Hacia Adelante (onward), and her loan officer Ramona often uses her story as an inspiration for new associates. Of all her successes, Milandina seems most proud of the fact that her family can now always count on herproof that Esperanza fosters solidarity and responsibility as well as entrepreneurship.",F,2550,partner,Retail,0
Dominican Republic,"In spite her very ripe old age, this very brave woman wants to continue working. She says that her business makes her feel as if her energy is renewed every time. Leoncia is 75 years old and has fifteen children. Her husband is getting old and can no longer work. Actually, he is retired and is receiving monthly a bonus pension check which is just enough to cover the expenses of the couple. Her children are all grown up and are working in Santo Domingo, the capital. For the last ten years, Leoncia has been running a small cafeteria within her house. In the morning, she prepares sandwiches, hamburgers and cheeseburgers, and spaghetti, and serves coffee for free to her customers. She also prepares what people call The Dominican Flag, thats to say rice and beans. Sometimes, the rice and beans are prepared or mixed; then the food is known as moro. The moro is usually served with chicken. This entrepreneur would like to renovate the room where she operates the business and make it more comfortable to her customers. She also wants to hire a young girl to help her prepare the lunch. The loan she has requested will help her reach these goals and keep her feeling useful to her community and continue contributing to the well-being of the couple.",F,375,partner,Food,0
Dominican Republic,"In spite of her very advanced age, Cecilia wants to keep on selling bread mixed with manba (peanut butter). She offers different types of manba. It can be sweet, salted or spicy. Sometimes, she prepares special bread mixed with peanut butter and marmalade.
Cecilia is a Haitian woman that has been living in the Dominican Republic for more than forty years. She came to the country with her husband, who worked in a cane field. After her husbands death, she had to manage to make a living. She was obliged to spend all her savings to buy food and other things she needed. She started her small business, which has been moving forward because of her devotion and perseverance. She got credits from FSMA in the past and successfully repaid a loan.
Cecilia is requesting a new loan to enlarge her business. She wants to buy more raw materials to prepare bread with manba. She will also introduce natural juices to the business.",F,375,partner,Food,0
Dominican Republic,"In spite of the very difficult life circumstances she has faced, Rossy remains a very positive and diligent person. Offspring of a poor family, she was obliged to drop out of school for many years because of financial issues. To cope with that situation, she started her small business, selling fried food, empanadas, crullers, and other goods. She operates her little fried food shop in the evening, since she goes to the school in the morning. Shes presently finishing the last grade of secondary school. Rossy is requesting a loan to increase her inventory so that she can attract new customers. With the additional income from profits, Rossy, 31 years old, will set aside savings so as to begin her nursing studies at the university in Santo Domingo, the capital.",F,375,partner,Food,0
Dominican Republic,"In the community Caimito, located in Yamas, lives this hard-working woman, mother of three children. Santa owns and operates a small grocery store which allows her to get some money to support the familys needs. Santa explains that sometimes its hard to maintain the cash flow, but she confidently believes the new stock of products shell buy with her loan will help in moving the store forward and getting her a better income. Santa hopes that someday shell have enough money to buy her own house.",F,450,partner,Food,1
Dominican Republic,"In the low-income Canta La Rana community of East Santo Domingo, lives Indhira Isabel, a hard-working woman raising two children. Her husband works as tow-truck driver for a company. To supplement her familys income, Indhira runs a small business selling various goods such as pants, shirts, etc. Shes been operating her business for two years.
Currently, Indhira has a short supply of many goods, and she needs capital to boost her inventory. Shes requesting a loan, which shell take together with four other women, all of whom live in the close-by neighborhood and are small business owners. She'll use her loan to buy a greater variety of goods to boost her inventory. These entrepreneurs are: Diomarys Ramirez Capellan, who sells costume jewelry and will buy a greater variety of goods to add to her inventory; Argentina Ramirez Suero, who sells womens clothing in the community; Jenny Maria Mejia Mejia, who has been selling clothing for more than five years; and Iris Diroche Santana, who operates a small beauty salon. Indhira explains that her family lives in a rented house, but she hopes that her business will allow her to buy her own house someday to provide her children with a more comfortable lifestyle.",F,1325,partner,Clothing,1
Dominican Republic,"In the photo are Magdalena Luois and her group, Evenezer en Cristo. Magdalene is the mother of three of the ages of 2, 4, and 6 and runs a business selling a variety of things including clothing, charcoal, and fried food. Her partner's name is Andres, and they have lived in a town near Puerto Plata called Monte Llano for about three years after emigrating from Haiti. She was invited to participate in this bank by a friend that lives in her neighborhood. Between raising her three children and working, she does not get much free time.
Some of her future goals are to grow the business and to own her own house, because she currently rents. This will be Magdalena's third loan through Esperanza.
On behalf of Magdalena Luois, the Evenezer en Cristo group, and the entire team here at Esperanza International, we thank you for your support and awareness of the global issue of poverty, in which your efforts are helping to make a difference.",F,1050,partner,Clothing,0
Dominican Republic,"In this loan there are five women from the larger group ""Shalom"" who are applying for a loan. Each woman has tasted a little success in her business, and wants to continue to increase its size. Gloria is the representative of the group, and has three children she has to care for by herself. She is a very diligent worker and has always made her loan payments on time. She has a small food market where she sells a variety of products. She hopes to continue growing and open a larger store soon. She finally feels like she can take care of her children, but now she dreams of providing them a happy, healthy, and comfortable life. She is very dedicated to her children and wants nothing more in the world than for them to succeed. She would love to send her children to college so they can have a better life, and get out of their cycle of poverty.
On behalf of Gloria, the group, and Esperanza International, thank you for your support!",F,1525,partner,Food,0
Dominican Republic,"In Villega, a secluded community of San Cristobal, lives Claudia. Shes 24 years old and a proud mother of 3 children who attend school. Currently, her husbands job is the only source of income for the family, and his low wages are not sufficient to support the children. Claudia no longer wants to have her arms folded, and would like to have the opportunity to contribute to her familys income. Shes requested a microloan to start a small business of selling womens clothing in her community.
Claudia was very happy and could hardly stifle her joy when she knew that she could apply for a loan to begin her small business. In effect, its really hard for people living in Villega to get a loan from the banks. Claudia is very confident, and she says that shell do her best to make her business successful and to repay the loan.
Claudia is joined in her group by:
Venerada De Leon Heredia, who retails clothing;
Oliva De Los Santos, who sells womens and kids clothing;
Kenia Rosario Decena and Gregoria Tejeda Javier, both of whom sell silver-plated jewelry.
In the picture, from left to right: Claudia, Venerada, Oliva, Kenia and Gregoria.",F,1425,lender,Clothing,1
Dominican Republic,"Ines Calcao is determined to make a better a world for herself and her family. She lives in a town in Saman where she can see the beautiful beaches, and she sees as many tourists as she pleases in the Dominican Republic.
Like any Dominican, her favorite foods are rice, chicken, and beans. She has three young adult children aged 20, 25, and 33. When they were little, she worked hard to bring up those future fighters of life. Now is time to fight for her own financial ease.
With the help of her small business, she is able to accomplish those desires. She sells hair products to small beauty salons near by: shampoo, conditioner, hair color, and others. Tourists love getting traditional hair styles, and there are also other women living in the same town who come to those beauty salons. Products that are put on their hair are the very products that Ines sells with such love and joy. Today the business has been growing; with the help of her group ""Trabajando para el futuro,"" in time it could be fulfilling. Stories like hers are an example of what is done thanks to you lenders.
Ines and her story are typical of the ""Trabajando Para el Futuro"" Bank of Hope; she belongs to a group of 20 men and women who work hard to improve their lives with the help of their small loans. Each of these men and women has taken out a similar loan to that of Ines's, and on behalf of all of them, and our team here at Esperanza, thank you for your support!",F,5000,partner,Wholesale,0
Dominican Republic,"Ines is forty-five years old, and she and her husband have five children, including four girls. Her husband is a truck driver and Ines sells cooking provisions throughout her neighborhood. Ines travels the main road in her community wheeling a cart full of fruits, vegetables, and other cooking supplies.
Ines plans on using her loan to purchase a small flatbed truck for use in both transporting and dispensing her goods. Also, she plans to increase her inventory of products, purchasing more of the potatoes and onions that are sought by her customers. Ines believes those investments will be a big step in ensuring her businesss continued growth and the well-being of her family.",F,300,partner,Food,0
Dominican Republic,"Ines is the mother of four and grandmother of 14. She lives with her daughter and two grandchildren in the province of El Seibo. Ines works as a cleaning lady in both homes and buildings. The government pays her for cleaning large government buildings. Its hard for her to clean sometimes because the buildings are so tall and the windows and walls are very high up.
With this loan, Ines plans to start a small business selling food that she will cook herself. Here, such a business is called a fritura,where all sorts of snacks and homemade food are prepared and sold. With the profits from the fritura, Ines hopes to one day buy a stove for her house. She would also love to install a glass window to keep out the flies and mosquitoes. Glass windows are very rare here and quite a luxury, so this is a big dream for her.",F,300,partner,Food,0
Dominican Republic,"Ingrid has one twelve year-old daughter. To support her family, Ingrid owns and works in a small shop selling clothing, shoes and perfume. She struggles with being able to pay the bills because her customers purchase items on credit and then dont pay her back. She then has to track them down and get the money from them, but sometimes they dont have enough. Because of this, Ingrid has to take out loans and stay in debt. Ingrid has had one loan with Esperanza International and successfully paid it back. She is thankful to Esperanza for the opportunity to borrow money at a low interest rate and also to save some money. With the next loan, she hopes her business will one day be debt-free. She aspires to provide her daughter with a great education so that she can become a successful professional. With a proud smile on her face, she said her daughter is a good student.",F,1200,partner,Clothing,0
Dominican Republic,"Inmacula lives in the San Luis community of Santo Domingo where she runs a small business. She produces a great variety of delicious pastelitos (meat or chicken turnovers) that she sells in the streets, the schools and other places in her neighborhood. Inmacula plans on using her loan to buy more raw materials to keep producing her goods and increase her income. Inmacula is a hard-working woman, and she says shell try harder to make her business successful and to improve her familys living conditions.",F,350,partner,Food,1
Dominican Republic,"Inocenta Martinez wishes to take a loan in order to purchase more raw materials. She will purchase water and other basic ingredients, such as cooking oil. Aside from selling drinking water, she also does raffles with the cooking oil (in one gallon units) at RD$10 per ticket. She also does bottle washing as a (major) complementary job to aid her in getting food to the table of six people.
Inocenta, a mother of 5, lives in a community called Casabe (comes from Casava, an ancient Taino Indian substitute for bread). One of their children lives with her sister, so as to alleviate the ""load,"" but along with her husband, she has to to feed their other children.",F,200,partner,Services,0
Dominican Republic,"Irene is a hardworking and very experienced businesswoman. For more than ten years, she has been preparing and selling delicious dishes to the people of her community. Irene and her husband have eight sons who study and work.
Irene plans on enlarging her business in order to serve more customers and increase her income. She plans on using her loan to buy more raw materials to keep on preparing her food. She wants to keep working hard to earn more and improve her familys living conditions.",F,475,partner,Food,0
Dominican Republic,"Irene is fond of saying that the responsibility drives the will. She believes that where there's a will there's a way. She says that no matter what happens in your life, if you have your dreams as motivation youll succeed in life.
She is 25 years old, and has two handsome and loved boys (five and four years old). Her husband is a lieutenant. Irene has always dreamt of graduating from a good university and working in a profession. However, after her first pregnancy, she had to stay in home to take care of her baby. Shortly after, she had her second son, and she had to find a job or do something to help her husband with the household expenses.
She obtained a loan from our organization and started to sell natural medicines by catalog. She also sells natural hair care and skin care products in addition to natural remedies. Her business is very profitable. Her sales volume has gone up during the last two months, and now she makes a weekly profit of USD 50.00.
Irene has requested a new loan to acquire more products in order to increase her sales volume. She says that additional money will help her continue her university studies, dropped a long time ago. The entrepreneur has a very positive attitude and thinks that she will have the opportunity to reach her goals and prove that its never late to succeed in life.",F,450,partner,Health,0
Dominican Republic,"Irene Lundy and the other members of this group live on Batey 18. This is a small settlement inhabited mainly by the families of the sugar cane field workers. The houses in this community belong to the sugar cane company. Because the wages are extremely low, and during the off-season there is no other income for the batey, a lot of people, especially women, become self-employed.
Irene is illiterate. This makes her access to formal employment almost null. She is married to Lisua Rene. They have 4 children, out of whom 2 live with them still. Irene has a small candy stand. She explains it's difficult to do business in her community because a lot of people sell the same things. She sometimes goes to sell on the streets of nearby communities to sell her merchandise. The other challenge she faces is the size of her community. Batey 18 has only 3 streets.
Irene would like to continue investing in her business and saving towards a future expansion (hopefully outside of her batey). She hopes her hard work allows her to buy a house for her retirement.",F,1425,lender,Food,0
Dominican Republic,"Irene Pita Rodriguez is the group coordinator for Mujeres Triunfadoras. The owner of a business selling used clothing in her community, Irene and her husband Ramon Gomez have four children and four grandchildren. With her loan, she plans to stock up on used clothing to sell in her business.
Irene dreams of being able to buy a truck that would allow her to travel and sell her used clothing wherever she went. Her house currently is under construction and she is also hoping that she will be able to afford to finish that project. In her spare time, Irene likes to work on her house. She says that her business has benefited a great deal from her Esperanza loans and she would like to continue to develop it. This will be her third loan with Esperanza, and she has been granted larger loan amounts each cycle because of her faithfulness in repayment.
On behalf of Irene Pita Rodriguez, Mujeres Triunfadoras, and all of us here at Esperanza International, thank you for your contribution and efforts in the global fight against poverty!",F,2375,partner,Clothing,0
Dominican Republic,"Irenes Altagracia is married with two children; one son that attends secondary school and a daughter who studies at the university. Her husband is a school teacher. To supplement her family's revenue, Irenes sells an assortment of women's underwear and slippers. She started her business about seven months ago and humbly explains that she still has to push harder and harder in order to better position her business and outshine the competition. She believes that a new collection of modish undergarments and slippers will allow her to achieve her business goals.
Every two weeks, this entrepreneur has to travel outside of her community to make the purchase of the goods. She spends a lot of money on transportation. She plans on using her loan to buy a large stock of the products she sells. That way, she'll be able to reduce these frequent trips which are not convenient for her, as they negatively affect her profit margin. Irenes hopes that her loan will allow her to move her business forward and improve her family's lifestyle.
Irenes Altagracia will receive the funds along with the following women:
Teresa Maria Lebron, who sells pants and shoes;
Ivelisse Adalgisa Basora, who retails women's clothing in the community;
Julia Mercedes Capellan, a mini-market owner;
Velkis Jackeline Evangelista, who will invest her loan to buy cloth and sewing materials for her small sewing workshop.
In the photo, from left to right: Teresa, Ivelisse, Julia, Irenes and Velkis.",F,1325,partner,Clothing,1
Dominican Republic,"Ireny is 30 years old and the mother of two sons, ages 7 and 8. For seven years, she has been operating a beauty parlor in the Itabo community of San Cristobal. Ireny has acquired a lot of experience through this long time of offering her services to people of her community. She offers services of manicure, pedicure, haircut, hair straightening, nail cut and the like.
The entrepreneur is requesting a loan to buy more products to keep operating her business and attending to her customers. Ireny hopes that her business can continue growing so that she becomes the most famous beauty parlor owner in her community.",F,300,partner,Services,0
Dominican Republic,"Iris Alexis is a Haitian women living in the Dominican Republic trying to better her life. She has one young child who she loves more than anything in the world. She came to Esperanza International without a job and without a way to provide for the child. She only has a middle school education and wanted to find a way out of poverty. She took out a small loan and received some help to start a small salon in her house. She since then has taken out three other loans and is now seeking her fifth! She has been growing her business steadily ever since her first loan. She said that she feels like she finally has purpose and can improve her situation, and most importantly feels like she can provide for her child. She wants her child to go to school, and hopefully someday go to college and live a great life. She someday hopes to have a big beauty salon from which she can generate a lot of money. She is excited about the future!",F,1175,partner,Services,0
Dominican Republic,"Iris is an eighteen year old girl that struggles to make a living. She goes to a private school and she will enter the university in two years. Currently, Iris sells gold and silver-plated jewel. She explains that she began selling jewels by catalog for a company, two years ago. She acquired a lot of experiences, and as she wanted to earn more, she decided to start her own business. With her partners help, she invested in the purchase of the jewels, and she is running the business within her house in Palav, community of San Cristobal.
Iris hopes she can achieve success with her business enterprise. She wants to increase her income so that she can put aside money to support her forthcoming university studies. The entrepreneur is asking for a loan to spend in the buy of more jewels to keep meeting her customers demand. Iris is living with her young partner and she has to work hard to help him support the couple expenses.",F,375,partner,Retail,0
Dominican Republic,"Iris is determined to start working on selling various tropical fruits as a start to her own business. She plans to start off buying fruits at the peoples central market and bring them with a hired transport to her market area. She is presently living with her husband and three children, two boys and one girl.
For the time being, Iris is assisting the familys economic needs by working three days a week as a maid in a private residence at the capital city of Santo Domingo. This means she has to take public transportation to get to work. Just this factor takes a 25% toll from her precious USD$100.00 (approximate equivalent) a month salary. She lives in the northern part of Santo Domingo, in an a populous area called Los Alcarrizos, in the community of Barrio Paraiso, where she has lived for 12 years now.",F,275,partner,Food,0
Dominican Republic,"Iris is twenty-six years old and still lives with her mother. She studies Computer Science at the university.
To pay for her studies and help her family, Iris sells shoes, pants, and costume jewelry in her community. The entrepreneur explains that her customers include her university teachers, people of her church, friends, and people of the neighborhood.
Now, Iris is looking for capital to expand and diversify her inventory. The entrepreneur hopes that in a short time shell be able to graduate from the university and improve her standard of living.",F,450,partner,Retail,0
Dominican Republic,"Iris Johanna is twenty-nine years old and coordinator of a group of five women that carry on different businesses in the San Luis community of Santo Domingo. Iris Johanna sells shoes and silver jewelry through a catalog.
She explains that she has been running her business for three years, and has been trying very hard to grow it. Iris also says that she doesnt have a local to operate the business, but she plans to rent a small shop when shell have put sufficient money aside and have the necessary amount of capital to do so.
Iris is asking for a loan to buy more goods to add to her stock in order to meet her customers needs. She will receive the funds together with the following entrepreneurs:
Ana Lilian Castro, a clothing retailer
Ileini Orquidia Pimentel, to buy materials for her beauty salon
Mara Irlanda Perez Cceres, to buy silver jewels.
Zuleika Martinez Adon, for a small jewelry shop.
Photo: From left to right: Iris Johanna, Ana Lilian, Ileini, Mara Irlanda, and Zuleika.",F,975,partner,Retail,0
Dominican Republic,"Iris Mara is a well experienced entrepreneur who has been carrying on businesses for more than fifteen years in the San Luis community of Santo Domingo. She has five children, two of whom live with her.
Iris Mara is operating a small store and people of the community visit her regularly to purchase different kinds of goods such as beauty products, perfumes, clothing and the like.
The entrepreneur plans to invest more capital in the business in order to add more varieties to her stock and attract new customers. She says that at her age, she can walk no more all along the streets, and therefore will be operating the business from her house.
Iris Mara hopes that her business will allow her maintain a comfortable lifestyle for her family. Iris will receive the funds with the following entrepreneurs:
Ana Teresa Castillo Leyba, to purchase beauty products
Clara Mara Calzado, for a small cafeteria
Yohanna Baez Calzado, to buy products for a beauty parlor
Angelica Chey Prez, to buy clothing for her store.
Picture: Left to right: Iris Mara, Ana Teresa, Clara Mara, Yohanna Baez and Angelica.",F,1075,partner,Retail,0
Dominican Republic,"Iris, a thirty-two year old mother, lives in San Cristobal where she operates a beauty salon. Iris has been running her salon for five years, and her business has become well established in her community. She is seeking a loan to purchase a showcase and a greater variety of products for the salon. As her main source of income, expanding her business will ensure its success and allow her to better care for her daughter.",F,250,partner,Services,1
Dominican Republic,"Irma is in her early thirties, and she and her husband have two children, an 11-year-old boy and an 8-year-old girl. The husband rents heavy trucks.
Irma had begun selling shoes a few years ago. She realized that people where looking for other goods in the community. Thus, she expanded the business and quickly added men and womens pants, shirts, blue jeans and underwear to her store. This decision was profitable and she saw her clientele growing drastically.
Currently, Irma is selling the shoes by catalog. She says she would like to have a more spacious room to run the business. Her expansion plans consist of adding new goods to the business; she also will finish the small concrete safe room in the second floor of the house and run the store there. Her husband has already ordered the some materials to finish the work. With her loan, Irma will acquire the materials they lack so that the business can be operated in the new locale. That way, Irma will have a comfortable store where people can purchase handily. The entrepreneur hopes she will achieve success with the business and that she can keep working for the sake of her family.",F,325,partner,Clothing,0
Dominican Republic,"Irsa is a forty-one year old single mother with two children. She is the only entrepreneur in her community who specializes in designing pieces for decorating furniture, including shams and other coverings. She began her textile business three years ago to support her two children. Her son is seventeen years old and her daughter, who will soon start school, is six years old. With her loan, Irsa plans to purchase a new weaving loom for her fabrics. She hopes that someday the textile work she does in her home will become her own company.",F,300,partner,Arts,0
Dominican Republic,"Isabel Amarilis is a young entrepreneur who owns and operates a small beauty salon in her community. She works predominantly during the weekend. She explains that most of the women in her community are jobless, and they cant afford to visit a salon more than once a week. She also explains that during the weekdays there are frequent power cuts, which make her operation impossible since she doesnt own a generator.
Isabel is asking for a loan to buy various products in order to keep operating her business. She promises that shell be working hard to move her business forward and repay the loan on time. Isabel has already taken loans from FSMA, and she used them wisely and repaid them on time.",F,300,partner,Services,1
Dominican Republic,"Isabel and her partner have eight children, whose ages range from three to twenty-seven years old. All of Isabels children are either currently attending or have finished school, except for the youngest who still has some time left at home with Mom.
Isabel collects an assortment of old metal batteries, aluminum parts, steel pieces at little to no cost, and then resells these at a profit. Every day, Isabel gathers these items from families in her community who would otherwise dispose of them. Each week, Isabel travels to the capital of Santo Domingo, where she sells these items to her sister who operates a scrap metal business.
Isabel plans on using her loan improve the flatbed on her familys truck so that the vehicle can accommodate more metal. Over time, Isabel hopes to operate a business with greater resources, perhaps employees and a number of vehicles, to profit from recycling a greater amount of scrap metal.",F,375,partner,Wholesale,0
Dominican Republic,"Isabel is a hard-working woman and single mother who is determined to make ends meet. She has two children who go to school, and pays their tuition and other expenses. Shortly after separating from her husband, she started a small business because the job she had at that time did not pay enough to meet her family's expenses. Now, Isabel makes a living selling assorted pants, shoes and slippers in her community. Things are going well, in that she is busy and, seven years after going into business, she can pay the rent for her house, support her childrens education and save money to keep investing in her business and make it grow.
Isabel has applied for a loan to buy new shoes and pants to add to her stock. By diversifying the items she has for sale, she believes she can attract new customers to her business. She has already taken loans from FSMA, and has always been punctual in making repayments. Isabel hopes that her business will allow her save enough money to send her children to university.",F,600,partner,Retail,1
Dominican Republic,"Isabel is a single mother of a thirteen-year-old unique son. To make a living and support her son, Isabel sells cleaning materials such as brooms, mops, detergents and the like. Isabel operates her business mainly from her house, but from time to time she visits her friends and people in the close-by neighborhood to sell her products. With her loan, Isabel will increase her stock so that she can better satisfy her customers needs. Having more items available will increase her income and improve her familys standard of living.",F,300,partner,Retail,0
Dominican Republic,"Isabel, 42 years old, is married, with six children. Her husband is working on the dustcarts, picking up the rubbish, and doesn't earn sufficient money as to provide a good education and food for the family. To face that situation, Isabel plans to start a small business, selling men's clothes from this holiday season onwards. She has already been a saleswoman, and has a lot of experience. She'll wholesale purchase the clothes in Santo Domingo, the capital, and sell them from her house. Given this loan, Isabel will 'en gran manera' help her husband support their family financially and improve their living conditions.",F,225,partner,Clothing,0
Dominican Republic,"Isabel, 46 years old, mother of 3 children (two boys and a girl), owns a little cafeteria. She started the business 20 years ago with the help of her partner, who is a clerk in a supermarket. Isabel prepares food in the afternoon and sells during the evenings in Santo Domingo, since Hato Nuevo is located about one hour from the capital. She also sells natural juices and alcoholic drinks as well as energy drinks.
During these last three years, Isabel's clientele has been expanding, so that she can't always offer everyone the same amount of food and drinks that she had been selling. To remedy that situation, Isabel is planning to buy more provisions in order to prepare more food. She is also thinking about hiring a woman to help her in the business. She is requesting a loan that can help her reach these goals quickly. This way, she'll be able to increase her income and improve her family situation.",F,325,partner,Food,0
Dominican Republic,"Isabelle Morris is 60 years old originally from Haiti and lives with Chelise Misteler in Munoz, a small town in the northern region of the Dominican Republic. All of her children of grown up and moved out of the house. Isabelle spends most of her time running a general grocery store, providing food, beverages and basic household supplies to her community. She is requesting this loan of $150 to replenish her stock of sugar, beverages and rice, which are her most popular items. Isabelle receives ongoing support for her business as well as a place to develop relationships with the other women in her community who have created their own businesses. She meets every two weeks with the members of her solidarity group and their Esperanza loan advisor to repay their loans at Bank of Hope meetings.",F,150,partner,Food,0
Dominican Republic,"Iselsa is a single mother of four children and takes care of her grandson as well. Her store is located on a busy corner in her barrio (neighborhood) called Los Alcarrizos.
She sells an assortment of clothing and linens to the people in her community. Her energy and outgoing nature have helped her develop her retail business and the training she has received from Esperanza has given her the skills she needs to manage a larger amount of merchandise.
Iselsa's store is not only a central location for affordable clothing and bedding within her comunity, but is her only means of income to provide for the basic needs of her children. This loan will give her the capital she needs to purchase new merchandise to reach a larger customer base and therefore earn more profit to become self-sustainable.
NOTE: As a leader in the ""La Solidaria"" lending group, Iselsa represents four other microentrepreneurs. Each one will receive an equal $150 share of this $750 loan to expand their inventories as well. They are responsible for repaying the loan together and helping one another should one person be short on a payment.",F,750,partner,Clothing,0
Dominican Republic,"Isidra defines herself as a positive woman and a responsible mother, who is prepared to make the utmost sacrifices in order to provide good education and well-being to her kids. Actually, last year two of her four children moved to the Dominican Republic to start their university studies, and Isidra had to leave Haiti to be with the kids. She says her children are very responsible for their age, but she feels better being close and taking care of them.
Once she arrived in the country, Isidra assembled a group of women, all of whom are operating small businesses in order to make a living. Isidra started selling costume jewelry, and some months later she added womens clothing to her business. Currently, her business is very profitable and her clientele keeps growing.
The entrepreneur would like to increase her inventory. Shes requesting a loan to add a greater variety of pants and jewelry to her business so that she can increase her sales volume and her income.
Isidra is very confident, and she says that her business will allow her support her studies and her childrens educations. Isidra hopes that next year shell be able to move into her own house.
The members of Isidras group are:
Carmelita Joseph, who sells shoes and tennis in the community.
Maricela Beriguete, who sells womens garments.
Charles Chistemene, to add pants and shoes to her inventory.
Bilisma Yan, to buy materials for her small cafeteria.",F,1475,partner,Retail,1
Dominican Republic,"Ismanie is a single mom raising her four-year-old daughter alone. In order to make a living and support her child, Ismanie sells an assortment of perfumes to people in her hometown, the Canela community of Santo Domingo. Ismanie learned how to sell perfumes when she worked in a store in her native land, Haiti. She is requesting a loan to buy a new collection of perfumes to diversify her inventory and attract new customers. Ismanie will receive her loan together with the other members of her group. They all are hard-working women from Haitian descents, and theyre operating small businesses in the community.
These women are:
Moumounan Aristil, a small shoes retailer; Fania Desir, who sells womens clothing; Diedone Bastien, who sells shoes and slippers; and Rosa Cueva, who sells used clothing in the community.
The picture shows from left to right: Rosa, Diedone, Fania, Ismanie and Moumounan.",F,1475,partner,Retail,1
Dominican Republic,"It hasn't been long since this woman of 23 years old began her business, selling clothes for women, in order to earn a living and fend for her 2-year-old son. Like many young girls in Dominican Republic, Yubelkis left school after her pregnancy. Now, shes living with her partner, a young man who is working as a pastry cook. Yubelkis wants to increase her sales volume in order help her partner pay for their rented house, buy food for the baby, and face other issues. She plans to increase her inventory, selling underwear for men and women as well as toiletry articles like soaps, deodorants, perfumes and hand and body lotion. Yubelkis is very positive regarding the future and is convinced that a loan will help her carry out her plans. She also hopes to set aside money to take special courses at a college very soon, in order to become educated and have a career.",F,325,partner,Clothing,0
Dominican Republic,"Ivania is a hard-working woman who sells fruits and vegetables in her community. Ivania started her business five months ago, just one month after she gave birth to her daughter. Ivania sadly explains that shed been separated from her husband a few weeks before the birth and she had to spend a lot of money for medicines.
Currently the sale of vegetables is her sole means of support. Her business is very limited, but she plans to expand it before long. With her loan, Ivania will buy a greater range of products to sell in her business.",F,150,partner,Food,1
Dominican Republic,"Ivanny is requesting her first loan from Esperanza. This loan will go to start her cloth and bedding store. She will purchase her wares from the capital city of El Seybo, then sell them to her community for a small service charge.
This is a group loan; there are four other women in her group. Ivanny is 27 years old and has two children (ages 8 and 5). She lives with her boyfriend in his mothers house. She will use the profits from her small business to buy food for her family and send her children to school. Ivanny also spoke about wanting to feel like she had accomplished something on her own. She plans to put away a little savings in case she may need it in the future.
NOTE: This is a group loan, there are four other women in her group. This $750 loan will fund Ivanny's business as well as four other businesses in her solidarity group. She and four other women micro-entrepreneurs came to Esperanza and formed their group. They have all gone through Esperanza's business training program and will receive equal shares of the loan to invest in their respective businesses and will pay back the loan together. The entire group must pay in full and on time, otherwise group members must make up the deficit before any payment can be made. This creates accountability among the group members because each one shares in the struggles and successes of the other members in their group.",F,750,partner,Retail,0
Dominican Republic,"Ivelisse Altagracia, 37, leads this group of micro-entrepreneurs who live in the Piedra Blanca community of San Cristobal. For many years, Ivelisse has been involved in informal businesses in order to take care of her five children. The lack of capital had made difficult the continuous progress of her activities. The entrepreneur is thinking about starting a new business which she believes will be very profitable. She has requested a loan to start a small cafeteria she'll be operating within her house.
Ivelisse says she cooks like nobody's business and she's very confident in her chances of making a big success with her new venture. That way, the entrepreneur will be able to provide a more comfortable lifestyle to her family.
The other members of Ivelisse's group are:
Isabel Amancio Morillo, a beauty products retailer,
Alejandrina Cisnero, a beauty salon owner,
Petra Alquidania Cabassa, who sells clothing and beauty accessories, and
Juana Aquino, who retails women's clothing.
The picture shows from left to right: Isabel, Alejandrina, Ivelisse, Petra and Juana.",F,1400,partner,Food,1
Dominican Republic,"Ivelisse is a soft-spoken, but hard working woman in her mid-thirties. She lives with her husband and two children in the small rural town of Consuelo. In Consuelo, she is surrounded by agriculture and vegetables such as yucca, a variety of other tubers (which have a close resemblance to potatoes), plantains, and plenty of sugar cane.
She is asking for this loan so that she can afford to purchase some of these vegetables in bulk quantity, fresh from the local farmers. After being able to purchase them, she will then re-sell them to smaller vendors at a marked-up price; as such she will be able to integrate herself into the food supply chain, and as a result, begin earning money for her family.
Her dream is to one day have enough money to purchase and own her home and vehicle. Consuelo is a beautiful town, but somewhat disconnected from the rest of the islanda vehicle would allow her and her children to more frequently visit family members living in other areas, family members that she says she misses dearly.
On behalf of everyone here at Esperanza International, and from Ivelisse herself, we thank you for your support with this micro loan!",F,800,partner,Food,0
Dominican Republic,"Ivelisse Melania is thirty-seven years old, and she has a son that attends school. Ivelisse has been selling a collection of pants for a long time in the Alceviejo community of Los Alcarrizos in Santo Domingo, the capital. The entrepreneur, a very active and passionate woman, operates her business from her house, but she plans on using her loan to rent a small local, as well as purchase new styles of pants and shirts to increase her sales volume and attract new clients.
Ivelisses business supports her sons education, and helps with other family costs.",F,450,partner,Clothing,0
Dominican Republic,"Jacinta sells womens clothing in the Villa Del Carmen community of Ban. Jacinta has three sons ranging in age from seven to fourteen, all of whom go to school. Her husband is a moto taxi driver and offers his services in the same community. To complement her familys income, Jacinta sells pants, shoes, shirts and underwear. She explains that its hard to bring up three children, and face all the other financial issues of the family. Jacinta is requesting a loan to add costume jewelry to her business. She wants to capture some potential clients in the community that she believes will create a great profit for her business. This entrepreneur hopes that her business will help her to support her childrens education until they become professionals.",F,375,partner,Clothing,1
Dominican Republic,"Jacquelin, an ambitious and optimistic woman, lives in the Villa Del Carmen community of Ban with her two sons aged five and seven. To earn a living and fend for the boys, Jacquelin sells used clothing to women in her community. Each day, lots of people visit her to get her garments at very cheap prices. During the weekends, she goes to the public market to sell her goods. Jacquelin would like to increase her sales volume so that her business can generate a better income for her family. She has requested a loan to buy clothing in bulk to replenish her stock, and keep attending to her customers demands. This will allow her to improve her familys living conditions.
.",F,250,partner,Clothing,1
Dominican Republic,"Jacqueline Antonia is a young and promising entrepreneur. She sells a variety of used clothing and other goods like radios, used speakers and so forth. Jacqueline lives with her husband and her two-year-old unique daughter. She is requesting a loan to buy clothing in bulk and electrical goods to increase her stock and income. Jacqueline wants to go back to school because she believes a good education is the key to success in life. Shortly after her daughters birth, she was obliged to leave school to take care of the baby. Jacqueline hopes that with the continued growth of her business, shell be able to improve her familys living condition and pay for her studies.",F,350,partner,Retail,1
Dominican Republic,"Jacqueline Jacques is a 36 year old woman who lives with her husband, niece, and seven children (ages: 14, 12, 9, 6, 4, 2 and 4 months). Her husband is currently unemployed and has found it very difficult to secure a job. She currently has problems providing for her children they are often sick with either a cold or asthma. Her 4 year old son, David, suffers from a chronic illness. She currently sells clothing from her home but hopes that one day she will have her own colmado, which is a very small grocery store. She is looking forward to this loan because it will allow her to expand her business and buy more clothing to sell.
This group lives in a small community about 40 minutes outside of Puerto Plata. Most of the people in the community are Haitian and came to the Dominican Republic in hopes of finding a better life. Jobs are extremely difficult to come by here; the unemployment rate in these smaller towns can be as high as 25%. Disease and sickness are very prevalent in this specific area due to the lack of capital available for medical care or medicine.
This is a very close and tight knit group. They rely on each other for emotional and financial support. With the loan from Kiva and business skills and supervision from Esperanza, these individuals are able to pursue their dreams and start their own small businesses.
Oh behalf of Esperanza and everyone in this group, thank you for your continued support and generosity. God Bless!",F,1500,partner,Clothing,0
Dominican Republic,"Jacqueline Nunez Medivier is a married mother of three children, ages 8, 10, and 12, who is trying to improve her life for herself and her children through loans from Esperanza. She has been working with loans for about 1 years now in her business where she runs a small seafood restaurant. Her business specializes in seafood, but when asked what she enjoys eating most she says, Me gusta toda (I like everything). She is an avid churchgoer and a firm believer in Christ. In the future, Mrs. Nunez Medivier hopes to see her business grow and move forward to provide for herself and her young children.
Mrs. Nunez Medivier is a member of a 7 person group, Group 1, which is part of a larger micro-bank called La Revolucion, ""The Revolution"" in English. In the picture, Mrs. Nunez Medivier is in third from the right in the back with a blue shirt on along with members of her group and some others of La Revolucion. Her story is just one of a list of men and women who are improving their quality of life through the help of micro-credit loans of Esperanza. Together, this group has united with a common vision of a better life with faith and hope in their hearts and an unbreakable spirit. The concept of group lending is to have loans paid in a group to reduce the risk of a person defaulting, as others pick up where a person may lag to receive the next loan. Each of the associates in this bank has a similar business such as a restaurant or selling clothing. Thank you for your support and awareness of this issue, and it is your concern and efforts that is able to bring a difference to the lives of people such as Mrs. Nunez Medivier.",F,1625,partner,Food,0
Dominican Republic,"Jade Torres is an active and hard-working entrepreneur who lives in the Gelo community of San Cristobal, where she makes a living selling womens clothing. Since the entrepreneur doesnt have a store from which to operate the business, she regularly visits her friends and other women of the nearby neighborhood.
Jade wants to buy some a la mode clothing and other customer- recommended attire with her loan. This way, she will augment her revenue and improve her standard of living.",F,300,partner,Clothing,0
Dominican Republic,"Jafrrey sells womens clothing in her community in order to make a living. She is twenty-one years old, and she has a three-year-old boy. Jafrrey explains that her partner's income is not always enough to pay for all of her family's expenses so she works a lot to improve their living conditions. The entrepreneur also says that she wants to increase her income and to put aside money to pay for her unique son's school tuition. With this loan, Jafrrey would like buy additional clothing in bulk to increase her product line.",F,375,partner,Clothing,0
Dominican Republic,"Janeta (pictured on the far left) is of Haitian decent. She has eight grown children and has been receiving loans from Esperanza for six years now. She lives in Eusrarduna, a batay of Consuelo. A batay is a sugar cane plantation site that is mostly inhabited by Haitian migrant workers. Most batays still do not have latrines, potable water is rare, and electricity is non-existent. There are narrow dirt roads that surround the batay where motoconchos (motorcycle taxis) swoosh through.
Janeta is an experienced retail clothes sales-women. She says she has been in this line of work as far back as she can remember. She primarily sells to people in her community. They have known her and her business for some time now. She also sells on the streets. When asked how these loans have changed her business, she responded, They help my business grow and bring in more profits.
Please continue to support Janeta. Thank you.",F,875,lender,Clothing,0
Dominican Republic,"Jaquelin Pierre is the group coordinator of Villa Asencion Group 6 and has been a valued associate of the Esperanza organization for over 5 loan cycles. She has over six years of experience in her business of selling clothing shoes and cosmetic products. Jaquelin lives in the Villa Asencion neighborhood outside of Puerto Plata with her three children and her husband. In this neighborhood electricity comes only several hours a week and water is gathered from the river.
Jaquelin intends to use this loan to buy more working capital for her business. Specifically she will purchase 5 pairs of pants, 12 pairs of shoes and $55 worth of cosmetics. This she believes will help her continue to grow her business in the future and improve the lives of herself and her children. Something which she feels working with Esperanza has helped her do in the past and that she expects will continue in the future.",F,975,lender,Retail,0
Dominican Republic,"Jaquelines passion is in the beauty salon business! She started her own business about a year ago. Her loan request is to buy shampoo and rinse products for her clients. These are a rare commodity in the impoverished area where her salon is located. By having them, she expects to increase salon activity, attracting more customers. Before this line of business, she used to work in various other salons. This gave her the experience and desire to start her own.
Jaqueline is married with three sons: Luis Fernando (10), Jean Luis (8), and Joan (8 months), and she has lived in the area for 9 years.",F,350,partner,Services,0
Dominican Republic,"Jean is a single 40-year-old mother of three beautiful children. Her motivation in life is to provide a good life for her children, and to send them all to a good school. With this loan she will begin selling used clothing. She plans on traveling to the bigger city of Santiago to purchase everything and then will sell it in her community for a small profit. She hopes that one day she will have a house of her own, and will be able to live in a safe part of town. Her favorite foods are plantains with meat, and in her free time she likes reading her Bible.
Note: This is a group loan. In a group loan, each member of the group receives an individual loan but is part of a group of individuals bound by a group guarantee. Under this arrangement, each member of the group supports one another and is responsible for paying back the loans of their fellow group members if someone is delinquent or defaults.
Thank you for supporting this group of entrepreneurs, and God Bless!",F,1750,partner,Clothing,0
Dominican Republic,"Jeanette lives with her husband and seven children in the Mata San Juan community of Santo Domingo. She has been selling mens and womens clothing for five years. Jeanette has her stall in the public market, and many people visit her stall every day to purchase her goods. However, Sunday has the most activity and sales because is the principal market day. This entrepreneur has requested a loan to expand her business.
Jeanette is a trustworthy person. About five months ago, she took a loan from our organization and used it wisely. She managed to improve her business and repaid the loan successfully. With this new loan, Jeanette will be able to better help her large and needy family.",F,425,partner,Clothing,0
Dominican Republic,"Jehova es mi Pastor is a group of five entrepreneurs seeking their second loan from Esperanza International. The groups past loan has been successfully repaid, and the group hopes to utilize a second loan for further business expansion. Lucia is one of the coordinators of the group in Santiago.
Lucia, mother of 3 (ages: 21, 16, 11) sells beauty products for men and women from catalogs. Lucia solicits orders from her catalogs and receives the requested products through mail from the capital, Santo Domingo. Orders are then delivered to the homes of customers. Lucia used her first loan to aid in the purchase of the catalogs and beauty supplies and plans to utilize a second loan to increase her selling capacity of offered products. Lucia desires to see continued growth in product sales so that she may continue to provide for her family and expand her existing business and product offerings.
Other members of Lucias bank run similar beauty-based entrepreneurial activities including two beauty salons, and additional catalog-based beauty sales. Such activities have gained the group the reputation and nickname of the beauties.
On behalf of Esperanza and this group of business entrepreneurs, we would like to thank you for your support!",F,1325,lender,Retail,0
Dominican Republic,"Jeimy Lizardo and Yasmel Pea are group coordinators for the Enmanuel Bank of Hope, from Villa Mella. This area is located on the northern outskirts of Santo Domingo. Jeimys group is on their third loan cycle and Yasmels group is on its first.
Jeimy has 3 children, ages 11, 9 and 2. She sells shoes from a catalog. She sells from her own home and also visits her clients to show them the catalog so they can place their orders. The shoes she sells the most are womens. She will use this loan to purchase the shoes her clients have ordered from her. She says her biggest challenge is to get her customers to pay her on time. She dreams of one day renting a space where she can have her own store and sell not only shoes, but also clothes and accessories.
Yasmel has a one-year-old daughter. She sells clothes for all ages. The highest demand she gets is for womens clothing. She buys her merchandise by bundles in order to buy a larger amount at a much smaller price. She sells from home, where her customers visit her. Her dream is to one day have her own store in Avenida Duarte in Santo Domingo (the largest commercial strip in the city).
On behalf of Esperanza International, thank you for supporting these entrepreneurs!",F,2900,partner,Retail,0
Dominican Republic,"Jesila leads a group of five women of Haitian descent, all of whom live in the San Luis community of Santo Domingo. Jesila is forty years old and a proud mother of two sons and two daughters. Her husband works as an independent cabinet-maker.
To supplement her familys income and help her husband fend better for the children, Jesila plans to start selling womens clothing for a couple of months. She says that each day, after preparing breakfast for the family, shell be visiting her friends and other people of the neighborhood in order to sell her products. Jesila is very confident and says that she knows how to convince people to make them accept a product.
The entrepreneur is expecting an improvement of her familys lifestyle as a result of her new business.
The other members of Jesilas group are:
Cristina Liman Luis, a clothing retailer
Felicia Lisman Brand, to buy perfumes and beauty products to add to her stock
Mara Garca, to replenish a small clothing store
Zelandia Lisman Louis, to buy perfumes, hand and body lotions and cosmetics.
Photo. Left to right: Zelandia, Mara, Felicia, Cristina Y Jesila.",F,1000,partner,Clothing,0
Dominican Republic,"Jessica Brito Feliz is the single mother of Angel Miguel Feliz (4). She is currently selling frozen products such as ice cream, frozen juice drinks, ice, etc. With this loan she is hoping to buy more supplies such as bags, ice chests, and bottles in order to be able to expand her business. In the future, she hopes to expand her business by buying fresh fruit to make and sell her own fresh juices in order to be able to better provide for her son. NOTE: Jessica is one of five microentrepreneurs in her Bank of Hope solidarity group, all of whom have gone through Esperanza's business training courses. Each of the five members will receive a share of this $800 loan for their respective businesses and will be accountable to each other for repaying their share of this loan together. This group-lending method strengthens social needs in a community and ensures that members cooperate to help one another repay their loans and invest wisely in their businesses and families.",F,800,partner,Food,0
Dominican Republic,"Jesucita is an experienced entrepreneur. She and her six children live in the Trinitarios community of San Cristobal, where she sells an assortment of perfumes, cosmetics, shoes, and other items.
Jesucita explains that she had started the business previously, but she had to stop for a while because she didn't have easy access to capital to make the business profitable. Recently, she took out a loan from FSMA, which she invested in restarting the business. Through hard work and persistence she has made it profitable, and she repaid the first loan.
Now, Jesucita is requesting a second loan to buy more goods to increase her sales volume and her revenue. She hopes that her business growth will allow her to give her children a better life.",F,300,partner,Retail,0
Dominican Republic,"Jesucita Trinidad is a young woman living in the community of Saman in the Dominican Republic. Struggling to find a way to begin an income generating business, she came to Esperanza. She initially requested a loan of $150, which would allow her to buy the fruits, vegetables, and chicken that she would need for her street vending business. Currently, she lives at home with her two children (who are two and eight). She spends most of her time with them. When we asked her about her favorite meal she appropriately responded, Rice and beans. What else could be your favorite dish in Latin America?
Jesucita plans to reinvest her earnings into her business as it continues to grow. It is her dream, after her children are a bit older, to travel with them to a foreign country and see a bit of the world outside the island of Hispaniola.
Jesucita is just one member of the 5 person bank, Nuevo Progreso. These Dominican entrepreneurs unite in solidarity, allowing them to access funding that they would otherwise never be able to receive on their own. The concept of this group bank paying their loan together is to reduce the risk of one person defaulting, as the other members gladly help cover one anothers payments in order to receive their next loan together.
On behalf of Jesucita and the entire team at Esperanza, we thank you for your support and awareness of the global issue of poverty that you are helping to solve.",F,750,partner,Food,0
Dominican Republic,"Jesula Eliassainthe is a coordinator for Mujeres Valientes (Brave Women), of the Bank of Hope. Thirty women belong to Mujeres Valientes, and 20 of them have successfully repaid previous loans. Jesula's group has ten women. The loan will be shared among the members of the group, who run various businesses.
Jesula is 29 years old; her husband is 30. They have two girls, 11 and 12 years old. Jesula runs a business selling clothes and shoes. She usually buys her merchandise in Santiago and resells for a profit in Cabarete, which is a tourist destination. Her customers are from Haiti and the Dominican Republic. She does not sell to tourists because because she does not speak English.
Jesula has repaid two loans from Esperanza. This will be her third loan. These loans made it possible for Jesula to start her business. She used her first loan to stock clothing. With the second loan, she branched out into shoes and expanded her clothing inventory. She plans to use the third loan to diversify her business further by stocking perfume and soap as well.
In her spare time Jesula likes to read the Bible, and also books on child rearing and running a household. Her dream is to have her own shop in the center of Cabarete, where she could attract the tourist trade. Today she lives in a rented house, and she hopes that one day she will be able to buy her own house. She also hopes that her children will have an opportunity to study at the university.",F,2900,lender,Clothing,0
Dominican Republic,"Jesula is a 32-year-old woman who lives with her husband and five children in the community of Los Alcarrizzos, located on the outskirts of the capital of Santo Domingo in the Dominican Republic. She has run a small fantasia for several years now (a fantasia is a small store that sells womens fashion items ranging from sandals to shirts to hair accessories).
She has asked for this loan so that she can improve the variety of merchandise she is able to offer her customers. Specifically, she says she would like to start offering more hair accessories and a selection of bracelets and earrings that are popular with teenagers in the area. Her loan officer has worked with her to teach her that offering products that nobody else offers in her community will give her a competitive edge, and consequently help increase her sales and profits.
Jesula says her goal is to open and own her own store in the next five yearsthat way she can make it as big as she wants and not have to worry about paying rent anymore. She hopes that she can help her children attend one of the local universities in the capital so that they will have more opportunities than she has had, and she hopes to help her husband improve their home.
On behalf of Jesula and everyone here at Esperanza International, we thank you for supporting her dreams and goals!",F,2750,partner,Retail,0
Dominican Republic,"Jesus es Prosperidad is a group of 10 women entrepreneurs seeking their third loan from Esperanza International, Kiva's partner. The groups past two loans have been successfully repaid, and the group hopes to utilize additional loan funds to further business expansion and allow for additional profits.
Angela is one of the coordinators of this group in the city of Santiago. Angela, mother of four married children and grandmother to nine grandchildren, operates clothing sales from her home and throughout the streets of Santiago. She declares business is well and Dominicans love to buy clothing. Angelas past loan performance demonstrates a commitment to her goal of improving the life of her grandchildren and providing for their physical needs.
Other members of Angelas microfinance bank run similar entrepreneurial activities including food, clothing and variety sales.
On behalf of Esperanza and this group of business entrepreneurs, we would like to thank you for your support!",F,2500,lender,Clothing,0
Dominican Republic,"Jhoana Morales is 23 years old and married to Julio de la Rosa, whose mother also has a loan from Esperanza. Jhoana and her husband are raising two children and live together with her mother in El Seybo. Their youngest child, five years old, is now attending school.
For her business, Jhoana is currently building a restaurant, which will include a small bar and pool table. The restaurant will also have music and live local entertainment. Its under construction now and is painted bright green and pink. It is set to be ready in November 2007. It should be able to fit up to 35 people. In addition to finishing construction, Jhoana needs to buy a freezer in which to hold the food she will sell. This $475 loan will go to help with construction materials as well as the freezer.",F,475,partner,Food,0
Dominican Republic,"Jhoely, a twenty-one year old budding entrepreneur and mother of three children, lives in the Batey of Palav community of San Cristobal where she operates a small business in order to make a living. Jhoely prepares homemade sweets and candies that she sells throughout the community. The entrepreneur explains that her production is still limited, but she plans on using her loan to expand the business and to produce a wider range of sweets so that she can attract more people. Jhoelys business supports her children's educations.",F,250,partner,Food,0
Dominican Republic,"Jimena has three children, ages 7, 4 and 14 months. She owns a small business selling chicken, beef and vegetables. Jimena has already completed four loans with Esperanza., and with her fifth one hopes to get that much closer to expanding her business, owning her own home and providing an education for her children.",F,2350,partner,Food,0
Dominican Republic,"Jocasta is a young mother raising two school-going children in the Guanuma community of Yamas. She and her husband own a mini-market ,which they have operated for three years. Every day, plenty of people visit the mini-market to purchase a wide range of products, including rice, vegetable oil, spices, milk, chocolate, and other foodstuffs. Currently, the store is running out of goods, so shes asking for a loan to buy a great variety of products to replenish the store. Jocasta hopes that her mini-market will generate greater income so that she can repay the loan on time and move her business forward.",F,450,partner,Food,1
Dominican Republic,"Johanny Felicia is twenty-nine years old and the coordinator of a group of five active women that carry on businesses in the Casabe community of Santo Domingo. Johanny and her husband (a blacksmith) have four children, ranging from four to thirteen years old, all of whom attend school. She has a butcher shop which she started about thirteen months ago. The entrepreneur says that her shop is well established in the community and shes not afraid of the competition. Johanny doesnt raise livestock, so she has to constantly purchase animals in order to keep operating her business. She hopes her business will allow her and her husband to improve their familys lifestyle.
The other members of the group are:
Violeta Jean La Fler, who spend her loan to buy various products to prepare natural juices and other goods.
Ana Josefa Cabrera will buy livestock for her butcher shop.
Mara Nelly Marmolejos Kelly and Cristina Caleises Selmo will buy metals and aluminum sheets to resell.",F,1800,partner,Food,0
Dominican Republic,"Johanny Margarita is a newcomer to the business world: she started a small grocery store six months ago. She has her own establishment for the business, and she's working hard to make it successful. Johanny has three children, all of whom attend school. She explains that sometimes it's hard to support the kids, but she says she'll keep doing her best to provide them with a good education.
This loan is to buy a large amount of goods in order to replenish the store. Her business has been well received in the community, and each day lots of people visit her store to purchase many goods. Johanny hopes that before long she'll become the most well-established businesswoman in her community.",F,250,partner,Food,1
Dominican Republic,"Johanny Vargas is a group coordinator for the ""El Gran Esfuerzo"" (The Great Effort) Bank of Hope in Hato Mayor. She has no children. She does not have any formal education either. The ""El Gran Esfuerzo"" bank members are receiving their 6th loan. Johanny will be using her loan to buy clothes and other items for her business.
Johanny's micro business is clothing sales. Previous to taking out microloans, these entrepreneurs could not run their own sustainable bussinesses. The group members did not see much of a future in other employment activities, and agreed that working for themselves shows much more promise and profit.
In the future, Johanny mentions that she would like to grow her business, and improve her house with cement block installation. She would also like to have a place to set up her own clothing store.
Thank you for supporting these entrepreneurs!",F,1075,lender,Clothing,0
Dominican Republic,"Jolata Elena has been selling footwear in her community for more than three years, and her business remains the principal source of income of her family. Her two children are in their twenties and are currently between jobs.
The entrepreneur plans to use her loan to buy more shoes to add to her inventory. She'll also be testing new waters by buying some toys to sell during the Christmas period. Jolata wants to lift her family out of poverty.",F,350,partner,Retail,1
Dominican Republic,"Jose has a small house in El Seibo and another in the countryside where he raises and milks cows. He currently has 6 cows. Jose sells their milk to local cheese makers. He lives with one son, although he has three in total, ages 21, 24, and 26. Jose is the proud grandfather of a six-year old little boy. Jose has only had a high school education and he really wants his children to be able to continue with their studies and go to college so that they can have professional careers.
Business can be hard because there is no electricity out in the country yet and he has to travel on dirt roads to and from his farm to sell the milk. Jose has successfully repaid 5 loans and is now requesting his 6th. With the loan money, he plans to buy more grain to feed his cows and also to invest it in agriculture on his farm.
Note: This is a group loan for 5 people.",M,1375,partner,Agriculture,0
Dominican Republic,"Josefa Cristina owns and operates a beauty parlor in the Sabana Palenque community of San Cristobal, offering facials, hair dying, haircuts, waxing, manicures, pedicures and so on. Josefa has been running her salon for twelve years, so her salon is well established in the community, and a lot of women visit her daily. Josefa Cristina and her husband (a barbershop owner) have two daughters and one boy, all of whom go to school. The main purpose of Josefa Cristina's business is to support the childrens education and improve the familys living conditions. With her loan, Josefa Cristina plans to purchase an assortment of wigs, hair treatment, acrylic nails to use in her salon and sell to her customers. The entrepreneur hopes that her business will allow her provide a comfortable lifestyle to her family.",F,600,partner,Services,1
Dominican Republic,"Josefa is 57 years old and married with six children. Her husband is a building worker. With the first loan she obtained from our organization, she made sewing machine repairs and invested in the purchase of cloth. She fabricates mosquito nets in her community, and she sells them in the capital. She managed her business judiciously and even repaid the loan before the due date of her payment.
Currently, Josefa is short of some raw materials to continue production. She will invest the loan requested in the purchase of thread, cloth, oil for her sewing machine, needles, and so forth. Given the loan, Josefa will increase her sales volume and will better help her husband bear all the expenses of their large family.",F,325,partner,Manufacturing,0
Dominican Republic,"Josefa is a young mother of two children. She lives in the Carvajal community of San Cristobal where she carries on a small business to make a living. She sells fried vegetables, spicy sausage pork, fried chicken and natural juices.
Josefa explains that shortly after her first pregnancy, she had to leave school to seek a way to get money to cover all expenses of the birth of the child. Shes still considering going back to school, and hopes that she can achieve a stable economic situation and pay someone to look after her babies in the evening, when shell attend classes.
She is requesting a loan of $450 to buy raw materials to continue preparing her goods in order to increase her revenue. She hopes that her businesss success will help her buy a small facility where she can run the business more comfortably.",F,450,partner,Food,1
Dominican Republic,"Josefa lives in Colonial, a community of Cotu in the province of Sanchez Ramirez, located in the central part of the country. She sells new and used clothing, handbags, and some beauty accessories. Josefa has three sons, two of them boys, all of whom attend school.
This loan will be used to replenish this entrepreneur's small business. Josefa explains that her goods sell quickly, as she visits friends, neighbors, and customers every single day to offer and sell her goods. Josefa wants to buy a showcase to better exhibit her beauty accessories to the clients who visit her house.
This entrepreneur will receive the funds together with these women:
Esida Altagracia Nunez Reyes, a clothing retailer;
Ysabel Guzman Garcia, who sells fried food;
Nuris Yaquelin Geraldo Fays, who sells women's clothing; and
Leocadia Contreras Serrano, who sells pants and shoes in the community.
Picture shows from left to right: Josefa, Esida, Ysabel, Nuris and Leocadia.",F,975,partner,Retail,1
Dominican Republic,"Josefina Aquino, second from right, wants to open a barber shop in Bayaguana. Josefina is pictured here with the four other members of her Bank of Hope solidarity group, all of whom have gone through Esperanza's business training courses. Each of the five members will receive a share of this $800 loan for their respective businesses and will be accountable to each other for repaying their share of this loan together. This group-lending method strengthens social needs in the community and helps ensure that members cooperate to help one another repay their loans and invest wisely in their businesses and families. Josefina will use her portion of the loan to buy materials to start up her barber shop. Her business will help her support her four-year-old daughter Jaqui.",F,800,partner,Services,0
Dominican Republic,"Josefina Feliz is a group coordinator for the larger group called Mujeres de Fe, which means Women of Faith in English. Josefina owns a business selling clothing and undergarments in her community. With her first loan, Josefina is planning on restocking her business with clothing and is excited about the opportunity. She first heard about Esperanza from her sister-in-law who invited her to join, saying that Esperanza was a great opportunity. She wants this loan to make herself and her business more independent and to have a better future.
Josefina and her husband, Silverio Gonzalez, have two sons ages 3 and 6. Josefina and Silverio hope that their children grow up to be well-educated in both school and in their Christian faith and that they follow the path God chooses for them. Josefinas dreams for her business include developing it, and continuing forward along with having her own building for her business. She hopes that the extra money generated from this loan will help her make some improvements on her house. Pictured with Josefina Feliz is their loan officer and the office loan representative.
On behalf of Josefina Feliz, Mujeres de Fe, and Esperanza International, thank you for your contribution and effort to fight the global issue of poverty!",F,2850,partner,Clothing,0
Dominican Republic,"Josefina is 39 years old, married and mother of three children (two girls and a boy). Her husband is a farmer and cultivates cacao.
Nine months ago, Josefina took a loan from our organization and used it wisely and the loan has been repaid. She invested the money in the purchase of beauty products such as hand and body lotion, hair treatment lotion, shampoo, rinse and other products for nails and the skin. That activity had a very positive impact on her life and her family. With benefits from business, she could buy new uniforms and other school supplies so that her children could keep on going to school. She says that now she can put aside money for any emergency.
Now, the entrepreneur is requesting a loan to buy more products, since supplies are running out in her small store. Josefina wants particularly to buy Jafras beauty products which are in demand in her zone. That way, she will increase her income and will better face the familys economic issues.",F,375,partner,Services,0
Dominican Republic,"Josefina is a 40- yearold woman who lives with her three children in the Barrio of Ginebra Arzerno on the north coast of the Dominican Republic. She has a small business selling watches, and she hopes that in the future she will be a successful and respected business woman. With this loan she will buy more inventory for her business, and will make some cosmetic improvements to her store as well. When she is not working, she enjoys spending time with her children and watching TV. Esperanza is looking forward to seeing this group of women succeed as they take the first step to improving their economic situation.
Note: This is a group loan. In a group loan, each member of the group receives an individual loan but is part of a group of individuals bound by a group guarantee. Under this arrangement, each member of the group supports one another and is responsible for paying back the loans of their fellow group members if someone is delinquent or defaults.
Thank you for your support!",F,1575,partner,Retail,0
Dominican Republic,"Josefina is a thirty-five-year-old single mom, raising her six children on her own. Josefina owns and operates a general store which people in the neighborhood visit to get a large variety of goods such as rice, beans, fresh vegetables, milk, eggs, rum, beer and so forth. Josefina operates the business in a rented locale but she wants to have her own house so that her family can live at ease.
With her loan, Josefina will replenish her store since supplies are running low.",F,375,partner,Food,0
Dominican Republic,"Josefina is forty-one years old and the proud mother of five sons, the youngest of whom is seventeen. They all attend school. To supplement her familys income, Jose sells an assortment of perfumes, pants, shoes, slippers, silver jewelry, beauty products, and the like. She started her business a few years ago with a loan she took from FSMA.
Currently, Josefina has a lot of customers that visit her each day to purchase her goods. Shes requesting a loan to buy more products in order to satisfy her customers needs. Josefinas business supports her childrens education.",F,750,partner,Retail,0
Dominican Republic,"Josefina is requesting her sixth loan! She has made remarkable strides in improving her business, and also in improving the health and welfare of her children. Her goal is to keep working harder and harder in the future, and to keep advancing forward.
She is asking for this loan so that she can build a cement counter top in her store, and make it more attractive and clean for her customers. She has also recently started selling calling cards for the local telecommunications company, Claroshe plans to use part of the loan to continue purchasing these cards.
Josefina is very thankful that she is being given another chance to improve her life, and on behalf of her children and family, wants everyone to know that she is very thankful for this loan.
Josefina is part of the solidarity group, Miramar Feminina #5. The loan requested will be divided among the group members listed here, and each member will be jointly liable for their peers' repayments.",F,1750,partner,Retail,0
Dominican Republic,"Josefina lives in San Pedro de Macoris with her husband and six children (ages:
21,16,15,12, 9, 4). Currently she is running a small salon, and selling both sheets and curtains to families in her community or other passers-by. She wants to use this loan to buy materials to make sheets and curtains for her little shop. Josefinas dream for the future is to own her own cafeteria, where she can prepare and sell food to people for breakfast and lunch. She said that her main struggle right now is saving up enough money to start the cafeteria, but she believes that it will happen soon.
This is the first loan that these ten people of Jehova Provee are applying for, and they are excited to see it go to good use in their various business and homes. We all want to extend our thanks to Kiva for continually supporting the people of the Dominican Republic. God bless!",F,1500,partner,Services,0
Dominican Republic,"Josefina lives with her two children in the Barrio community of Santo Domingo. Barrio is one of the poorest communities of the capital, and most of the residents are unemployed and undereducated.
Josefina sells womens clothing in the neighborhood in order to earn a living and fend for her children. She says that keeping up with two school-going kids is a hard job, but she understands thats the only way she can guarantee a bright future for the children. Josefina needs capital to invest in her business so that she can increase her inventory and her sales volume. Shes requesting a loan to buy clothing in bulk to sell in her community. Josefina hopes that her business will generate better income for her home, and improve her familys living conditions. Josefina and her husband of seven years, Julio, have two children, ages five and six. Her goals are to improve and expand her business and be able to buy more products to sell. Eventually she would like to be able to buy a place to house her business, which is currently run out of her home. Another goal is to buy supplies in bigger quantities. When not working or spending time with her family, Josefina loves to read. On behalf of Esperanza International, thank you for supporting these entrepreneurs! After having dropped out of school for two years, Josefina wants to start over with her studies. Josefina is requesting a loan to purchase a large amount of raw materials so as to produce more and increase her sales volume. That way, she will be able to continue earning a living and set aside money so that she can go back to school next year.",F,325,partner,Services,0
Dominican Republic,"Joselin is an eighteen-year-old, new mother. She sells new and used clothing to the men of her community. Joselin explains that she needs a lot of money to cover all of her household expenses. Each and every day, Joselin visits friends and neighbors to sell her goods. On weekends, she offers her products at the public market, where more people can see the garments and purchase her goods. Joselin hopes to have her own store in the near future so it would be easier for her customers to purchase her products. With this loan, she would buy more products to increase her income.",F,375,partner,Clothing,0
Dominican Republic,"Joselin lives with her 13-year-old daughter in the small community of Juanita located in the east part of Santo Domingo. For years, Joselin has been able to sustain her daughter by selling clothing in her neighborhood. This business is her principal source of income.
The Christmas period is fast approaching, and the entrepreneur doesnt have enough capital to replenish her stock quickly. She says that, as a rule, her products are always in high demand in December. With the aim of being able to satisfy her clients and not losing sales, Joselin has asked for a loan to buy more clothing. This will be her fourth loan. Joselin is a responsible person who always repays her loans on time. She says that shell do her utmost to make her business successful and to improve life for her daughter.",F,425,lender,Clothing,1
Dominican Republic,"Joselin was born and raised in the Juanita community of Santo Domingo, where she runs a small business selling tablecloths, window and shower curtains, and cushions. This activity is the principal source of income for this single mother, who has to fight tooth and nail to look after her two sons. Joselin is operating her business within a small rented locale, but shes saving money to move to a more comfortable one next year. Shes requesting a loan to add kitchen items to her inventory in order to diversify her selection and attract new clients to her business. Joselin hopes this strategy will be successful so that she can increase her revenue and improve her familys lifestyle.",F,250,partner,Retail,1
Dominican Republic,"Joseline is 32 years old and the single mother of a unique school-going 12-year-old son. After her husband left, Joseline had to quickly find a way to survive and take care of her son, so she started a small business selling perfumes, shoes, silver jewels and other goods. In a few years, she hopes she will have earned sufficient money to rent or buy a small shop.
With her loan of $175, this entrepreneur will purchase more goods to add to her stock, her goal being to maintain a comfortable life for her son.",F,175,partner,Retail,0
Dominican Republic,"Josephina King Almeyda has a very open and welcoming personality and loves to laugh. She lives in a small town in Samana called Las Galeras. She is the mother of four children, ages 11, 15, 16, and 19. All of them live with her except her eldest. In her spare time, she enjoys music and going to the nearby beach.
She owns a business, selling materials for shoemaking and other products such as perfumes. The loan will be used to buy materials and the other items she sells. Ms. King Almeyda has been working with Esperanza for 2 years. She was able to start her business with the help of loans she acquired. She is currently working out of a small wooden house. In the future she hopes to have a larger establishment made of stone that can withstand the weather.
Ms. Josephina King Almeyda is part of a 6 person group (Group 2) that is part of a 35 person micro-bank called Fuente para el Desarollo, or Fountain for Development in English. In the picture, she is in the middle with a white sleeveless shirt. The others are group members or members of their micro-bank.
Ms. Almeyda's story is just one of a list of men and women who are improving their quality of life through the help of Esperanza micro-credit loans. This group has united with a common vision of a better life through faith and hope in their hearts and an unbreakable spirit. Each of the associates in this bank have a similar business whether it is selling shoemaking materials or operating a taxi service. Thank you for your support.",F,1700,partner,Retail,0
Dominican Republic,"Juan is the leader of this amazing group of entrepreneurs, and they are now applying for their second loan with Esperanza. Juan is 24 years old and lives with his wife, Rosa, and their newborn baby girl. He has owned a small grocery store in his community for about three years but has been able to improve and expand his business significantly since his first loan. Juan wants to work hard to provide a better future for his new daughter. On weekends he likes to take his family to the beach or just spend quiet time in their house.
Thank you for your support!",M,2800,partner,Food,0
Dominican Republic,"Juan lives in San Perdro de Macoris with his wife and three children (ages: 10, 8, 6). When he received his first loan from Esperanza about a year ago, he started a small business selling fried sandwiches on the roadside. With this loan he is going to buy a small moped so that he can drive around selling his Empanadas to people walking or sitting along the busy streets. His dream for the future, however, is that he would have his own shop in town so that he could develop a regular clientele and a proper business. He said the most important part of his life is serving Jesus, and he hopes to raise his children in good health and with a love for God.
On behalf of Esperanza and this group of business entrepreneurs, we would like to thank you in advance for your support!",M,2000,partner,Food,0
Dominican Republic,"Juana Barroa is the leader of the group La Union en Progreso (or the Union in Progress) from the small village of Morquecho.
Juana started her business of selling empanadas (a pastry turnover filled with savory ingredients and baked or fried) seven years ago and began taking out loans two years ago to expand her business. She has proven herself extremely credit-worthy and is now on her sixth loan. With this loan she will buy more supplies to make more empanadas, which she sells to her friends, to stores and on the street. Her business has grown so much with these loans that she has been able to buy a motorcycle which allows her to distribute her empanadas to even more locations.
Juana is the single mother of three children, aged 13, 10, and 8. She says it has been very difficult raising all of them by herself but, with the growth of her business from her loans, she has been able to provide them with enough food and can afford to send them to school. She hopes to continue to grow her businesses so that one day she can send her children to college.
On behalf of Juana and the entire La Union en Progreso group, thank you for providing opportunities to people who need it most!",F,1300,lender,Food,0
Dominican Republic,"Juana Berroa, a mother of three from Hato Mayor, is the leader of the Bank of Hope group called Unidos Por el Progreso. The members of this group will share the loan and use it for their various businesses.
Juana has a business selling ice cream and fruit and will use the loan to buy needed supplies such flour, oil, and peanuts. She is having trouble finding a house of her own and would one day like to own her own cafeteria and support her children in their studies.
Thanks for your interest in supporting this group!",F,1175,partner,Food,0
Dominican Republic,"Juana Collins (in the middle wearing a white shirt) is a Haitian immigrant living in Monte Coca, a batey in Hato Mayor, Dominican Republic. A batey is a village of sugar cane cutters and their families. Many of them dont leave the bateys. Instead, they buy everything locally to avoid transportation costs.
In the morning, Juana makes and sells bread to her local community; in the afternoon, she sells clothes. With this loan, she will purchase both men and women jeans, underwear, firewood and ingredients for making bread. She has been in the business for as long as she can remember, always working as the hours in the day permit. Juanas situation has pressured her to become the hard worker that she is. She is living as an immigrant, learning a foreign tongue, and is single mother raising four children. She hopes that with her profits she can one day buy a horse and a cow. Please strongly consider lending to Juana and her group. Esperanza thanks you for your support.
Esperanza wants to thank the Kiva lenders in advance for supporting this group of amazing women. God Bless!",F,1475,partner,Retail,0
Dominican Republic,"Juana Eusevio is the group coordinator for these five entrepreneurs. She and her husband have one child living with them at home. Their other two children, ages 23 and 25, live independently.
Juana barely got to elementary school, so she has learned to use her own skills to generate income. Right now she sells various food items at her house for daily cooking. She plans on using this loan to buy more food to sell. She believes that being part of this group and repaying loans to Esperanza will help her grow as a businesswoman.
Juana and her friends live in a small community called Hoyo del Toro. This is a small ""batey"" (a sugar workers' town) on the outskirts of San Pedro de Macoris. It is surrounded by large sugar cane fields belonging to a private company. Because of its isolated location, it is rather difficult for people in Hoyo del Toro to conduct business. Sometimes they travel elsewhere on market days to sell.
Please help us support Juana and her fellow borrowers with this Kiva loan.
Thank you!",F,1325,lender,Food,0
Dominican Republic,"Juana Evangelista is a single mother of seven children. Shes been a member of our microcredit program for about two years, and shes now asking her third loan from FSMA. Juana sells a large variety of sweets and candies in the Juanita community of Santo Domingo. The meager profits from the business are used for the household expenses, and as you may expect, food for the children is always an issue. The entrepreneur is looking forward to improving her familys living conditions. Shes asking for a loan to add more goods to her inventory in order to raise her sales volume and earn a better income. Juana Evangelista hopes that her business will allow her to lift her family out of poverty.",F,300,lender,Food,1
Dominican Republic,"Juana Francisca has been selling womens clothing for ten years in the Villa Del Carmen community of Ban. She has a 10 year old boy and a 12 year old daughter, both of whom go to school. Juana Francisca says that her business has been extremely useful for her as it has allowed her to finish her small house that had been in construction, and to support her childrens educations. Nonetheless, this entrepreneur would like to achieve more for her family. She plans on using the requested loan to purchase a greater variety of clothing so as to increase her sales volume and attract new clients to her business. Juana Francisca says that shell keep trying hard to make her business successful and to provide her family with a more comfortable lifestyle.",F,450,partner,Clothing,1
Dominican Republic,"Juana Geovanny, or Geovy as her friends affectionately call her, is thirty-one years old and a proud mother of two school-going children. She sells womens clothing in her community. The entrepreneur explains that she pays close attention to the customers trends, and when a product is in high demand, she adds it to her inventory in order to get new clients and make her business stronger.
Currently, Juana is requesting a loan to expand her business and start selling natural medicines, which she believes will generate big profits for her business.
Juana Geovanny wants to continue working hard to improve her familys standard of living.",F,200,partner,Health,1
Dominican Republic,"Juana is 34 years old, married and the mother of four children, three girls and one boy. For the last five years, she has run a small restaurant in the local public market, where she serves traditional Dominican meals and juices. Her business is doing well, with many customers stopping by daily for her specialties, such manioc with boiled or fried eggs for breakfast, or rice with beans and chicken or spaghetti with salami for lunch. On Dec. 31, she plans to prepare a sancocho a traditional meal made with chicken, pork chops, sausage, plantain bananas and other ingredients -- to serve at 11 p.m. She has done this for the last five years, and it has been hugely popular in her town. Juana has applied for a loan to buy the items she needs to run her restaurant, such as food and disposable plastic plates, and hopes that continued success will help her care for her children.",F,775,partner,Food,0
Dominican Republic,"Juana is a living example of a hard-working woman with the desire to better herself. Actually, in spite of her blindness, Juana has been able to become a great entrepreneur and currently she has one of the most well-established mini-markets in the Ro Arriba community of Ban. Each day, thousands of people visit her mini market to purchase goods such as vegetables, milk, beer, rice, and the like. A brother of hers helps her to attend to the customers.
Juana is still single and lives with Mom. She explains that the business helps her support herself and her mother. This business is my sustenance,"" she says. With her loan, Juana plans to buy another freezer to keep beverages cold. Shell also buy other supplies for her market. The entrepreneur says that shed like to see her business grow to the point where she can buy a new locale, and ""turn the mini-market into a Big Store with millions of products"".",F,300,partner,Food,0
Dominican Republic,"Juana is a wide-awake, funny, and hard-working old woman who lives in the Los Alcarrizos community of Santo Domingo, where she runs a small business. Juana retails a variety of underwear and silver jewelry to women of her community. She says that she still feels young in spite of her age (shes 55), and wants to keep doing business until she achieves her dream, which is to become one of the most well-positioned suppliers of these goods in her community.
Juana is requesting a loan to buy more products and increase her stock. The entrepreneur has four children that are finishing secondary school and will start university studies very soon.",F,450,partner,Retail,0
Dominican Republic,"Juana is a woman in her late thirties; she and her husband have two children, a boy and a girl, both of whom attend school. Her husband works from home as a carpenter. To supplement the familys income, Juana sells beauty products to the women in her community. She usually visits friends and other women of the community to sell her goods. Juana explains that her children are still young and they need all the support she can provide them.
Juana plans on using her loan to buy more products so that she can increase her sales volume and thus her income. Juana says she will keep working for the sake of her family.",F,450,partner,Retail,0
Dominican Republic,"Juana is the mother of 4 children, ages 20, 21, 29 and 32. She is also the proud grandmother of 2, ages 6 and 16. Juana has a small business cooking and baking various foods like bread, chicken, and fried foods such as empanadas. She then sells her goods to a traveling salesman who will travel around to various communities on a motorcycle or in a car. This way Juana is able to work from home and be close to her family. She also sews clothing that she then sells in the community. Business can be hard sometimes when there is not enough demand for her products. Having a loan helps her to better weather the dry spells of business and to continue progressing.
Juana has successfully paid back 5 loans to Esperanza International and is now requesting her sixth loan. With the money, she hopes to expand her businesses even more to better provide for her family. She wants her children to be able to finish their educations and find good jobs.
Note: This is a group loan for 5 people.",F,1025,partner,Food,0
Dominican Republic,"Juana is the mother of two children, ages 17 and 18. Juana has a variety of businesses, which include killing/selling pork, running a little shop and selling agua dulce (sweet water) and other products. Juana has successfully paid back four loans to Esperanza International and her businesses are doing very well. With a fifth loan, Juana hopes to be able to own her very own house, made of cement blocks. She also wants her two children to be able to finish their education and continue studying at the university. Juana is currently halfway through her own bachelors degree at the university.",F,1200,partner,Food,0
Dominican Republic,"Juana is thirty-three years old and the mother of two boys, eleven and fifteen years old, both of whom attend school. To supplement her familys income, Juana sells womens clothing in the Ro Arriba community of San Cristobal. A good number of her customers are friends and neighbors, but Juana also travels far away from her community to sell her goods. The entrepreneur is enthusiastic about the opportunity to increase her stock with her loan. She explains that her business will allow her support her childrens education and her familys lifestyle.",F,300,partner,Clothing,0
Dominican Republic,"Juana lives with her husband and their three children who range in age from five to thirteen years old. Her husband's eldest son recently moved in with them while he studies at the university.
Juana has been running a small grocery store for seven years in the small rural community of San Cristobal. This entrepreneur humbly explains that her stock is still limited, but she plans to use her loan to buy a greater variety of products, especially drinks, which she is not selling yet. She wants to add to her inventory in order to meet the needs of her customers. Juana dreams of owning a big market with plenty of products to offer to people of her neighborhood, and becoming the most well established supplier of these goods in her community.
After many months of hard work and persistence, Juanas grocery store is starting to be very profitable. Currently Juana even plans on moving the business to a small locale she will rent before long to continue her business. The entrepreneur will use her loan to invest in the rental of the locale. She will also purchase many products to restock the grocery store.",F,300,partner,Food,0
Dominican Republic,"Juana operates what she believes is one of the most profitable businesses in her community. Shes been selling beer for five years. In the Dominican Republic, beer could easily be considered a natural liquid. Most of the people consume this drink after either lunch or dinner, and it comes as no surprise that some men start to have a couple of bottles early in the morning.
Juana operates her business from her house, but she plans to buy or rent a small establishment to use as a comfortable drink store. With her loan, the entrepreneur will buy more drinks as the beer is always in high demand. The entrepreneur believes that her business will allow her to buy her own house before long.",F,250,partner,Food,1
Dominican Republic,"Juana Reynoso is a member of the Nuevo Renacer Bank of Hope in Sabana Perdida, a neighborhood located in the northern outskirts of Santo Domingo. This area also happens to be very close to the Ozama River, so this is a threatened area during rainy season due to the river`s overflowing. This loan is for groups 3 and 4 of this bank. For group 3 it`s their second loan and for group 4 it's their first loan. Juana owns a colmado, which is a small convenience store where you can buy groceries for your daily cooking, among other supplies. Most of her clients live in her neighborhood. She would like to increase her business even more and hopes that one day she will also be able to employ one person that can help her with her business. Juana dreams of owning a larger store where she can sell better, more varied products, and hopefully allow her to improve her house condition. On behalf of Esperanza and the Nuevo Renacer Bank of Hope, thank you for your support!",F,2450,partner,Food,0
Dominican Republic,"Juana Rodriguez is the group representative of these five entrepreneurs. Their group is part of a larger Bank of Hope that has 45 members in total (including them). Juana has requested a second loan, after successfully paying her first loan with Esperanza International, Kiva's partner. She has two small businesses: she sells clothing (which she started with her first loan) and has a candy stand (which she will expand with this loan; she started it with profits from her clothing sales).
Juana explains that the reason for having two businesses is to balance her sales. Although clothing sales are less frequent, the profits are larger. However, in the candy stand, she sells every day, which gives her good pocket money. She finds that after her first loan, her business is doing better. This was the main reason she took the second loan: to expand her sales capacity. She would like to take her two businesses to a larger scale: set up a clothing store and be a candy distributor in her area.
Juana obviously dreams bigshe says dreams keep the businesswoman alive. Please help us to continue supporting her endeavors, along with her group mates. Thank you.",F,1250,lender,Retail,0
Dominican Republic,"Juana Salvador Cabrera is the group coordinator for the Bank of Hope group called ""Mujeres Rompiendo Barreras,"" which means ""Women Breaking Barriers"". Juana owns a nail salon in her local community, and after hearing about a friend's experience with Esperanza, decided to take out a loan to invest in her business. With this first loan, Juana plans to buy materials and beauty products to use and sell in her salon - or as it is called here in the Dominican Republic, ""Salon de Uas.""
Juana is the mother of two young children and hopes that they can grow up to be professionals. Juana also dreams about growing her business with more customers. Part of Esperanza's mission is to liberate children from poverty and we believe (and have seen) that giving mothers a loan can really improve the standards of living for the whole family, because most if not all of the profit goes directly into the household.
Juana's portion of this group loan will be about $140 and she plans to pay back about $15 every couple of weeks. Juana would like to thank Kiva lenders for their support!
On behalf of Juana Salvador Cabrera, Mujeres Rompiendo Barreras, and all of us here at Esperanza International, thank you for your support!",F,4500,partner,Services,0
Dominican Republic,"Juana Santana wants to open a popsicle stand in Bayaguana. She will use this loan to buy materials such as juice and popsicle sticks to make the popsicles, other small commodities to sell such as gum, and also a ledger and pens with which to keep her accounts. Juana's entrepreneurship will enable her to help her husband Danilo support their son Vladimir (11), who is in eighth grade at a local public school. Juana hopes to become a good professional whose business can benefit the surrounding community. Note: Juana is one of five microentrepreneurs in her Bank of Hope solidarity group, all of whom have gone through Esperanza's business training courses. Each of the five members will receive a share of this $700 loan for their respective businesses and will be accountable to each other for repaying their share of this loan together. This group-lending method strengthens social needs in the community and helps ensure that members cooperate to help one another repay their loans and invest wisely in their businesses and families.",F,700,partner,Food,0
Dominican Republic,"Juana sells womens clothing and gold-filled and silver-plated jewels.
Juana is 40 years old and has three children, two girls and a boy, all of whom attend school. Her husband works as a skycap in the international airport of Santo Domingo, the capital. Juana sells her merchandise in La Romana and Bvaro, two high tourist provinces of the country.
The entrepreneur hopes she can expand her business operation. She needs funds to purchase large amounts of merchandise so that she can satisfy more customers needs and increase her income. That way, she will be able to keep on running the business and have money enough to take care of her children",F,375,partner,Clothing,0
Dominican Republic,"Juana Sirvina Cuevas Sena is an excellent entrepreneur whose perspicacity and passion for business have allowed her to improve her familys humble living conditions and to move ahead. Juana Sirvina had been operating a small caf for years, but she had to stop this activity when her husband decided to leave the township where the family was living and move to the San Isidro community of Santo Domingo. Juana explains that once she arrived there, shed been thinking about running another cafeteria, but she was new in the community and was not sure whether people in the neighborhood would visit her business.
Fortunately, she has glimpsed a great opportunity from which she can take advantage to restart her business and move ahead. In the vicinity, lots of new buildings are being raised, and there Juana Sirvina has seen a copious number of low-earning workers. These workers cant afford going to a comfortable restaurant at lunch time. Juanas plan is to produce food from her house and go to the construction sites to sell her food. She believes her strategy will be successful and that her business will generate great incomes for her family.
Juana will share this loan with the following women: Alexandra Guzman Marte, a clothing retailer; ltagracia Mendez, who owns and operates a mini-market in the community; Diana Carolina Mendez Carmona, who retails shoes and tennis gear; and Elsa Yanet Melo Contreras, who produces and sells window curtains.
The photo shows from left to right: Elsa, Diana, Altagracia, Alexandra and Juana",F,1125,partner,Food,1
Dominican Republic,"Juana Vargas is a creative and spirited woman who lives in the community of San Pedro de Macors, a town on the southern coast of the Dominican Republic. Juana has a small business where she sells gasoline and oil. This business has proved to be very fruitful so far.
There is not a lot of competition where she lives, and she finds that the large numbers of motorcyclists in the area makes for constant demand. She always uses her loans to invest in the expansion of her business.
Her goal is to continue growing and expanding her business so that, one day, she can own her own gas station where everyone in her community can come for affordable and high quality gasoline and oil. She also says her goal is to expand her business enough that the business is consistently stable. This helps her rest easily at night.
Juana and her story represent the Cristo Redentor Bank of Hope. She belongs to a group of 15 men and women who work hard to improve their lives with the help of their small loans. Each of these men and women has taken out a similar loan to that of Juana's. On behalf of all of them, and our team here at Esperanza, thank you for your support!",F,1875,partner,Retail,0
Dominican Republic,"Juana, 46, has two grown sons. She got divorced many years ago and had to support her sons on her own. Juana owns and operates a small grocery store, which she started about three years ago. Juana operates her store from her own house, as she doesn't have the necessary capital to buy or rent an establishment. Her business is very successful, and each day lots of people visit the store to purchase various goods. The most demanded products are rice and beans.
Currently, Juana's business is short of the most important foodstuffs. She has requested a loan to restock her store so that she can keep satisfying her clientele and increase her earnings. Juana will receive her loan together with the following women:
Altagracia Gonzalea Ortega, a clothing retailer;
Altagracia Montero Medina, to sell pants and slippers;
Juliana Ramirez Polanco, to produce fried food; and
Ana Maria Hernandez Ramirez, to invest in clothing to sell.
Pictured from left to right are Juana, Altagracia Ortega, Altagracia Medina and Ana Maria.",F,1350,partner,Food,1
Dominican Republic,"Juana, 57, is the mother of seven children (five boys and two girls). Her husband died a year ago, and since then life has changed drastically for her family. As she is undereducated, she couldnt get a better-paying job that could help her tend to her children's needs. So, she was obliged to earn a living selling fuel and oil for motorcycles. Juana needs a loan to purchase a large amount of gas and oil. This way, shell not have to go to the capital every weekend to buy small quantities of these products. Shell also be better able to handle her housing concerns.",F,175,partner,Retail,0
Dominican Republic,"Juana, a housewife and mother of three children, lives in the Piedra Blanca community of San Cristobal. Her husband works as a waiter in a restaurant. To contribute to her family's income, Juana sells undergarments to women in her neighborhood. Each afternoon, she visits her customers and new potential clients to sell her goods. With this loan, Juana plans on increasing her stock which is still limited. She says she'll do her best to make her business successful and repay the loan.",F,175,partner,Clothing,1
Dominican Republic,"Juana, a sixty-four year old woman, is the owner and operator of a grocery store in her community. She is a well experienced businesswoman since she has been entrepreneur for a long time. All my life, I have been in business, she says.
Juana has seven grown children, three of whom are boys, which she raised on her since her husband had left her.
She says that its an exploit raising a lot of children alone, with nobodys help but Gods. She worked a lot and made a lot of sacrifices for her offspring.
Currently, she has a popular and profitable grocery store. The store is in a good location and has very good hygienic conditions. Juana is requesting a loan (the second one she will take from our organization) to replenish her store in order to keep satisfying her customers needs and increase her income. That way, Mara will improve her living condition.",F,600,partner,Food,0
Dominican Republic,"Juana, sixty-one, and her husband have four children, all of whom are married. Juana sells an array of retail items specifically for women. She sells womens clothing and shoes, beauty products and perfume, as well as houseware items such as curtains and tablecloths.
With her loan, Juana plans on increasing her selection, particularly offering more home dcor products and new colors and patterns of curtains and tablecloths. Juana explains that her business plays an important role in preserving her good health not only because it provides essential income, but also because it brings her great joy.",F,150,partner,Retail,0
Dominican Republic,"Juana, the leader of this group, is 36 years old and the proud mother of two school-aged children. She operates a small shop that she started about two years ago. Juana sells an assortment of womens sandals, socks, undergarments, nail products, deodorant, body lotions, and a wide range of other products. Juana started her business with her husbands help. She tells that at the beginning, it was hard to maintain a positive cash flow, but currently shes making a profit from the business. Now, she wants to boost her revenue so that she can better support her children's education. She would like to own her own store and a house some day.
With her loan, Juana will buy new and exclusive items that she believes could generate better profits for her. Juana hopes that shell be given this loan soon so that she can be one step closer to her goals.
The members of Juanas group are:
Magdalena Alvarez Fabian, who sells clothing;
Aida Criselda Mota Ponciano, who sells undergarments;
Sonia Altagracia Carrera Vasquez and Gladys Mota Moreno, both of whom operate a beauty salon in the community.
The principal photo shows, from left to right, Juana, Magdalena, Aida, Sonia and Gladis.
The small photo on the bottom right shows Juanas store.",F,1025,partner,Retail,1
Dominican Republic,"Juaner, 25, is a hard-working woman and the proud mother of two sons, aged of 3 and 6. Her husband is a retired policeman. To supplement her family's income, Juaner has been operating a beauty salon and selling clothing for three years in her hometown, Hato Castillo, a low-income community located in Cotu. She explains that with her wages, she can hardly support the family. She'd like to provide her family with a better lifestyle, and consequently she's requested a loan to invest in more beauty products and clothing so that she can increase significantly her income. Juaner hopes that she'll have enough money to invest in her children's educations and to buy a small house someday.
The entrepreneur will receive her loan together with these women:
Albarini De Leon, a jewelry retailer,
Marcelina Olga Polanco, a clothing retailer,
Altagracia Suarez, to invest in women's clothing,
Claridenia Guzman, who sells clothing and footwear.
The photo shows from left to right, Albarini, Marcelina, Altagracia, Claridenia and Juaner.",F,825,partner,Services,1
Dominican Republic,"Juanita is a very likeable, charming, and intelligent person. Shes got a terrific sense of humor. Her constantly smiling face makes her look younger than her 46 years. She has ten children. The two eldest live in Santo Domingo, the capital. Her husband is a self-employed radio technician.
Juana runs a ventorillo ( a small business stand) that she opened six months ago with a loan she took from our organization. That business has been very successful, and she makes a daily profit of about USD 15.00.
Now, Juana is thinking about making additional money. She needs funds to purchase more inventory and in this way increase sales. She would use part of the loan to buy clothes that shell sell from home, with the help of one of her daughters. In this way, she hopes to expand and diversify her business so that she can take good care of her family.",F,375,partner,Food,0
Dominican Republic,"Juanita, or Chicha as her friends and family affectionately call her, is thirty-nine years old and a single mom. She has four children, three of them boys, who range from eighteen to twenty-four years old. Chicha produces homemade cheese that she sells to families throughout her community.
Every day, Chichas friends and neighbors visit her home to purchase her delicious cheese. Chicha does not raise livestock and does not own a cow, but she plans on using her loan to buy more milk. She hopes she can produce more cheese and attract new customers via word-of-mouth. Chichas wonderful, hearty laugh is contagious as she jokes that if her business grows as she hopes it will, perhaps she can buy a new house every few years.",F,300,partner,Food,0
Dominican Republic,"Julia Bautista is in her early forties, and she and her husband have seven children, three boys and four girls. Her three boys are professionals and the girls attend school.
Julia has a stall in the public market where she runs her business. She sells plucked chickens. Thats a very useful and profitable business, she says. Two times a week, she goes to Santo Domingo, the capital, to purchase live chickens. Then, her patio becomes a true slaughterhouse where animals are killed and gotten ready to be sold. With a great sense of humor, she explains that business is successful because ""Dominicans eat chicken as any human being needs water to survive. In fact, chicken is one of the most often prepared dishes of this country.
Julia is requesting a loan to purchase more chickens to sell, especially during the holidays. She hopes she can get the funds before long to be sure she will increase her income and keep on helping her daughters attend school. In the past, Julia has proved to be an honest person. She has already taken a loan from FSMA and was able to repay it successfully.",F,750,partner,Food,0
Dominican Republic,"Julia has lived in this house for eight years. She has five kids, one with a former husband. Her present husband has a small shop where he dedicates himself to iron works. When we asked her husband about who helps whom in the family, he stated that it is he who helps her, as her business is smaller than his.
Julia's business is selling clothing which she normally buys in the capital, Santo Domingo, where there is a secondary market for the Haitian packs (""pacas"") of new and used clothing that are sold in the border towns, which become major trading markets between Haitians and Dominicans at the beginning and end of the week. As the majority of the Haitian people are very poor, they get donations in the form of new and used clothing. They pack these into ""pacas"" and bring them to the border in order to convert the goods into money they can use to buy food and other necessities. Their Dominican counterparts take this opportunity to purchase goods at discount prices, so that they can in turn use these low-cost (usually high-quality) products for sale back in their hometowns.
Julia doesn't have the opportunity to make the long trip (usually a whole day) to the Haitian border. because the trip to Haiti is expensive. The cost runs anywhere from $25 to $30 in public transportation (roundtrip). However, she needs to take the time and trouble to buy these products if she wishes to make the profit margin which hopefully will more than justify the sacrifice involved.",F,350,partner,Clothing,0
Dominican Republic,"Julia is 31 years old and has three children (two boys, one girl), all of whom attend school. Julia sells silver jewelry to women of the Batey of Palav community of San Cristobal. In addition, she sells ice cream in the afternoon. Julia explains that, after two arduous and laborious years, her business is relatively stable and profitable at the present time. With additional profits from her business, she would like to buy furniture and a washing machine for her house. The entrepreneur is seeking a loan to buy new items (such as necklaces, earrings, and bracelets) for her business. Julia has recently acquired a small store for her business, so she needs to have as many goods as possible to exhibit in her store.",F,450,partner,Retail,0
Dominican Republic,"Julia lives by herself with her two small children. She is not married, and she supports both children by herself. She currently has a papelera (stationery store) and a centro de comunicacines (cyber cafe). This is the first loan she is soliciting from Kiva through Esperanza. Julia plans to sell the papelera, where she sells basic notebooks, pencils, school supplies, etc., and concentrate on the cyber cafe (centro de comunicacines). In the communication center, Julia has set up five calling booths for people to make international calls, an open space where she plans to put the computer terminals, and she also sells cell phones and calling cards for both Orange and Claro, the two main telecommunications companies here. Her long term goals are to open up three franchises of her communication centers. Challenges she faces/overcomes: Julia says it is extremely hard to be a woman and own a technology-oriented business. When men come into her store and see that she is activating new cell phones, or fixing network connection problems, they dont treat her as respectfully as they would a man, and they often challenge the quality of her work. In spite of these challenges she likes her job and finds the challenge stimulating. She has been successful with these two businesses for several years and is excited to take her business to the next level with this loan.
Juliana Calcao is just one member of the 20 person bank, Mano Amigo. These Dominican entrepreneurs unite in solidarity, allowing them access to funding that they would otherwise never be able to receive on their own. The concept of this group bank paying their loan together is to reduce the risk of one person defaulting, as the othe members gladly help cover one anothers payments in order to receive their next loan together.
On behalf of Juliana, the Mano Amigo group, and the entire team here at Esperanza International, we thank you for your support and awareness of the global issue of poverty that you are helping to solve.",F,3975,partner,Services,0
Dominican Republic,"Juliana is a hard-working woman and the proud mother of a twelve-year-old daughter. Shortly after her childs birth, Juliana was left alone by her husband and she had to take care of the daughter on her own. To make a living and support her family, Juliana sells womens clothing in her community. She explains that, like most entrepreneurs, shes had her ups and downs, but she never got discouraged.
Juliana wants to keep supporting her daughter until she becomes professional and can earn her own living. She will use her loan to purchase of clothing in bulk, so she can increase her sales volume and her income.
Juliana has been running a general store for more than thirty years. Her business is well known in the neighborhood and she has a very large clientele. People visit her store frequently to get all kinds of products, from basic foodstuffs to goods such as insecticides, razors for shaving, and phone cards.
The entrepreneur needs funds to invest in the purchase of many goods to supply her store. She has already taken one loan from our organization, and she proved herself to be an honest and responsible person, since she repaid the loan punctually.",F,900,partner,Retail,0
Dominican Republic,"Juliana is forty years old. She and her husband are the proud parents of two boys and two girls who range in age from ten to twenty-five years old. Juliana sells new men's and womens clothing to customers who make their purchases inside her home.
Juliana mentions that word-of-mouth travels quickly in her community and the new clothing selection she purchases with her loan will surely spark interest in her business. Juliana explains that she and several other local clothing vendors have a friendly competition in offering new products and she looks forward to bolstering her inventory. She hopes that the continued success of her business will support her family and allow her children the opportunity to attend a university.",F,625,partner,Clothing,0
Dominican Republic,"Juliana is forty-three years old and the proud mother of five children. She owns and operates a small salon which she started about ten years ago. Her husband works as motorcycle taxi driver in the community. Six months ago, Juliana received through Kiva a loan which she invested in the purchase of a lot of materials to keep operating her salon. She's very thankful to the Kiva community which helped her to make her business more profitable and get money to support her children's studies.
The entrepreneur wants to keep offering good quality services to her customers, and she's thinking about hiring a young professionally-trained girl to help attend to her customers. Juliana is asking for another loan to invest in some products she needs to operate her salon. She thanks in advance the lenders for their generosity, and she hopes she'll be given this new loan before long.",F,450,partner,Services,1
Dominican Republic,"Juliana is the mother of four boys and one girl, all of whom attend school. Juliana has been running a beauty parlor in the Doa Ana community of San Cristobal for ten years. Her salon offers a variety of services such as nail care and hair care and includes nail polish, acrylic nails, hair cuts, hair dying and the like. Currently, the entrepreneur has a well established clientele, and she expects it to keep growing.
Juliana is requesting a loan to buy an assortment of materials which are necessary for her to carry out her work. The entrepreneur wants to increase her revenue so as to put aside money to support her childrens education and improve her standard of living.",F,50,partner,Services,0
Dominican Republic,"Juliana is the mother of four boys and one girl, all of whom attend school. Juliana has been running a beauty parlor in the Doa Ana community of San Cristobal for ten years. Her salon offers a variety of services such as nail care and hair care, and it includes nail polish, acrylic nails, hair cuts, hair dying and the like. Currently, the entrepreneur has a well established clientele, and she expects it keeping growing. Juliana is requesting a loan to buy an assortment of materials which are necessary for her to carry out her work. The entrepreneur wants to increase her revenue so as to put aside money to support her childrens education and improve her standard of living.",F,300,partner,Services,0
Dominican Republic,"Julita is a single mother who is trying hard to bring up seven children. She has been selling ladies clothing for fifteen years in the Barrios community of Ban. This activity is the main source of income for her family, and Julita explains that she can hardly support her childrens needs. She would like to increase her sales volume, so that the business can generate greater profit. This would allow her to better provide for her children, and save money for any urgent situation. With her loan, Julita will buy a larger variety of clothing for her clientele.",F,200,partner,Clothing,1
Dominican Republic,"Junie Lima is a 23-year-old entrepreneur who lives with her family in a slum in Puerta Plata. She is originally from Haiti, but moved to the Dominican Republic with her husband in search of a better life. The Dominican Republic boasts a much higher standard of living and per capita GDP (gross domestic product) than Haiti. Even so, there is a great deal of racism toward Haitians, who tend to find themselves working at menial jobs if they are lucky enough to find work at all. Junie has been struggling to adapt to the new culture and language in Puerta Plata.
Junie and her husband live with their children, Ricardo and John Pierre, who are 8 and 5 years old. The children attend a local school where they study hard to make good grades. Junie ultimately hopes to enroll her children into a university, but her income is not currently sufficient to harbor such a dream. She makes 2,000 DRP a month (about 57 USD), but thinks she will be able to significantly increase her earnings through Esperanza.
Junie plans to use her loan to start a small restaurant in her home. She says that she will cook rice, beans, chicken, and beef, which are some of the staples of the Dominican diet. She will buy the raw materials from a local food vendor in her neighborhood. Ultimately, Junie would like to open a fully-fledged restaurant in a busier section of Puerta Plata. That goal is a long way off, but the determination in Junies eyes suggests it is a definite possibility. Your contribution will help Junie make the first step to turn her aspirations into reality.",F,1050,partner,Food,0
Dominican Republic,"Junorky Indhira, an ambitious woman and the mother of two children, is a newcomer to the business world. She sells pasties and candies in her hometown. Junorky has recently separated from her husband, and must now work hard to bring up the children on her own. She is also pregnant and will have to work even harder to take care of the newborn.
This entrepreneur has applied for a loan in order to buy a large quantity of ingredients so that she can continue to produce pasties and candies, thereby increasing her revenue. Junorky hopes that her business will grow and that she will become one of the most established suppliers of these goods in her community.",F,300,partner,Food,1
Dominican Republic,"Just a few kilometers from Saman, in the Dominican Republic, Anita Hilton has made a living selling cake, cookies, candies and other treats from her home to those in her neighborhood. Using the recipes she learned as a child, along with a few of her own, Anita has a corner on the baked goods market in her area. She sells these treats from her house, where she lives with her husband Jos and their five children. Anita loves her job. She began selling baked goodies because she is good at it and because she considers it to be less complicated than other tasks. She states that she doesnt want the complications of taking peoples clothes to wash, or other services she enjoys the simplicity of giving someone a few cookies over the counter in exchange for payment.
Anita has exciting goals for the future of her family and her business. She has a passion for wanting her business to continue to grow and with this being her 6th loan cycle with Esperanza, she has shown commitment to her work. She started out small, and with each loan cycle she has been able to expand her business even more. This has benefitted her family as well. Anita is seeking to build up savings for her children. She will be able to help with any future costs, including university tuition fees. These savings will give Anita the ability to help her family in a greater array of situations that may arise in the future. This is the reason that she is focusing on saving and expanding her business.
Anita, pictured here far left, is the leader of this group of women named Luz en el Camino (Light on the Road), and her story is emblematic of the other women in her group. Anita and the rest of Luz en el Camino thank you for your help with this Kiva loan!",F,1125,lender,Food,0
Dominican Republic,"Just one year ago, Fabiana didnt have any idea about where and how to gain access to capital so she could start selling homemade sweets (candies).
Currently she has been operating her business for 5 months, ever since she found out that she could obtain loans from FSMA. Fabiana, 36, defines herself as an assiduous and energetic person who struggles to provide food and education for her five children.
Fabiana hopes her business will grow rapidly and that she can get a lot of new customers. She is requesting a second loan to buy ingredients needed in order to prepare more goods and increase her income.",F,450,partner,Food,0
Dominican Republic,"Justa has applied for this loan because she plans to purchase chicken, ice, and gasoline, which she sells from her house to her community called Margarita in the province of El Seybo. Justa is very careful with her money and keeps a record of what she buys and sells, her income and expenses, in a notebook. She is responsible for providing for 9 people in her house; her husband is not able to maintain a consistent source of income or work. In addition to having to provide for so many people, she has to live with a severe case of anemia. About two years ago she had to stop working entirely because she was so ill. Now she feels better, but gets tired often.
NOTE: Justa is one of four microentrepreneurs in her Bank of Hope solidarity group whose businesses will be funded by this loan. They have all gone through Esperanza's business training courses conducted by their Esperanza loan advisor, Algenis Chevalier. Each of the four members will receive a share of this $1,200 loan for their respective businesses and will be accountable to each other for repaying their share of this loan together. This group-lending method strengthens social needs in a community and ensures that members cooperate to help one another repay their loans and invest wisely in their business and family.
Justa estimates she makes about US$ 9-15 a week from her business and always puts part of her income away for savings, using the other part to reinvest into the business and try to diversify her products more. Her goal is to continue improving and advancing, that way she can help her family have more to eat, a better education, and so that they can own their own house built out of concrete blocks. Justa is very grateful for the chance to achieve a better future for her family. She says that these loans can help her get there, one step at a time.",F,1200,partner,Food,0
Dominican Republic,"Justa Vargas is 37 years old and is the coordinator for the Women of Ability microfinance group in Puerta Barrabas, Dominican Republic. She is a single mother and lives at home with her one child, Yesea.
Justa owns her house from which she cooks and sells food. Among other recipes, she is particularly proud of her pollo frito (fried chicken) and chichaharon, a popular pork dish in Latin America.
With the two loans she has already received and paid back, Justa has been able to buy more ingredients and has recently purchased a larger stove, leading to higher profits. She has only recently been able to make ends meet and pay her bills, thanks in large part to the loans she has been taking from Esperanza. Over the past year, she has improved her lifestyle with a wage that allows her to think past day-to-day subsistence and plan for her familys future.
Ultimately, Justa would like to open her own restaurant in Puerta Plata. In the short run, she will improve the business in her own home by purchasing increasing amounts of inventory and upgrading her equipment. Your contribution will give her the means to realize these aspirations. Thanks for your consideration.",F,3600,partner,Food,0
Dominican Republic,"Justa Vargas is an ambitious 39-year-old woman living in Puerto Plata, Dominican Republic. She does not have a husband and lives with her two kids (ages 18 and 19), one of whom is married. Justa will use this money to buy chickens and chicken feed so she can have a poultry business. She wishes to keep moving forward with her business and own a big business of her own. She also hopes that her kids will have a house of their own.
Justa Vargas is part of a 15-person micro-bank, Las Mujeres Capacitadas, which means ""Capable Women"". Each woman has her own personal business but they unite to pay their loan as a group. The purpose of the group loan is to assist each other in case someone defaults. The Kiva loans will be divided among the group to pay back.
We thank you for your support on behalf of Justa, Las Mujeres Capacitadas group, and the entire team at Esperanza International.",F,150,partner,Agriculture,0
Dominican Republic,"Justina is a fifty-year-old entrepreneur and a proud mother of three sons that are in university. Her husband passed away six months ago, and since then she has been obliged to support her sons' education on her own. Justina explains that it is difficult for her sons to get a good job, and they cannot pay for their university studies.
Justina operates a small cafeteria which she started three years ago. Shes requesting a loan to purchase materials in order to keep preparing her delicious hamburgers, cheeseburgers and natural juices for her growing clientele.
Justina would like to have money enough so as to improve her familys lifestyle.",F,450,partner,Food,0
Dominican Republic,"Justina, a skilled entrepreneur who lives in Manigua, a low-income community of San Cristobal, has been a member of our program for a long time and has received many loans to strengthen her business. Justinia runs a small grocery store that she started about five years ago, a few months after her husband passed away, in order to make a living. Her eight children are now grown up and live away from Mom.
This entrepreneur has requested a new loan to purchase supplies to restock her store. Many people visit her business daily to purchase goods, so she regularly buys products wholesale in order to keep satisfying her customers' needs. Justina goal is to have sufficient money to enjoy a more comfortable lifestyle.",F,575,partner,Food,1
Dominican Republic,"Kenia is twenty-eight years old, and she and her husband have three children, two boys and a girl respectively aged 6, 5, and 1 year old. Kenia sells men's and womens clothing in Palav, a community near San Cristobal. She explains that she pays close attention to customer demand and the season to choose the appropriate items to add to her inventory. She also says that with persistence, courage, and patience, she will fulfill her dream which is to have a big clothing store with millions of customers visiting it every day.
Kenia has acquired a lot of experience in business, and her store has been thriving. She has built a spacious house made of wood for her children. Now, we have a better and more comfortable lifestyle, she says.
With her loan, Kenia will buy clothing in bulk to add to her current stock.",F,275,partner,Clothing,0
Dominican Republic,"Kerlyn Echavarria is a young entrepreneur who has approached Esperanza in hopes of securing a loan to expand her small business of selling perfumes and other cosmetics throughout her neighborhood. She led the effort to organize five women to form a group, so they could come to Esperanza and request a loan.
Kerlyn currently deals primarily with perfumes that she sells door to door. In the future, she would like to expand into other cosmetic areas. She wants to sell facial creams, lipstick, and all types of makeup. With her current business, she is able to sell all of the perfume she buys, but she is constrained by how much she can purchase at one time. With the loan, she hopes to buy not only more perfume, but also other cosmetic products, so that she can reach an untapped market.
Kerlyn is a single mother raising a two-year-old daughter. One of her main aspirations is to provide a better life for her daughter She feels she begin to fulfill this aspiration by investing in her business that has, so far, been successful on a very small scale. She recognizes the opportunity to receive a loan can be rare in considering her economic situation, but she believes whole-heartedly in the potential success of her business.",F,850,lender,Retail,0
Dominican Republic,"Kirudis, 41, is one of the most successful businesswomen of Guanuma. You just have to visit her grocery store in the morning to realize its well frequented by the people of the community. She says its a challenge to keep the store well stocked because of the demand for her products.
Generally, the products she sells are delivered directly to her store. But she goes to the capital to buy products that are very expensive to stock locally. For example, a pack of disposable diapers costs about USD 13.00 in Guanuma but only USD 10.00 in Santo Domingo. Because she stocks large quantities of those goods, its better to buy them in the capital. The best selling items are plantains, bananas, manioc, cabbage, carrots, eggplants, rice, and other basic foodstuffs.
Kirudis supplements the household income with her profits. In this way, Kirudis and her husband (a lieutenant of the National Police) make ends meet and take care of their seven children.
Some products that Kirudis sells daily are in short supply. She needs funds to acquire some beans, rice, potatoes, oil, rum, and other alcoholic and energy drinks. That loan will allow Kirudis to continue meeting the day-to-day needs of her customers and increase her sales volume.",F,375,partner,Food,0
Dominican Republic,"La Alianza is a group from an extremely poor area in San Pedro, Dominican Republic. In this group, many of the women have already received loans and have their own small business. Dionicia Sosa is the group representative, and a great example of the power of micro-credit. She came to Esperanza International with no form of income and was living in extreme poverty. Dionicia is the mother of 4 older children, and had to give everything she had just to feed them. As her children got older and she started to have a little more time she realized she wanted something different from her life, and knew she had to do something about it. She then applied for a small loan so she could start her own small store, which she started as a small stand in her neighborhood. She sold simple things like candy, rice, and other cheaper items. She worked hard and was able to increase her business to the point today where she has her own small store! She is finally making some good money, and is happy with what she is doing. She can finally save money and help out her children when they need it. She finally feels like she can provide, and feels like she has something of her own. She is a great story of success, and is continuing to increase her business. She hopes to keep on increasing in size and hopes to have a giant store someday.",F,2250,partner,Food,0
Dominican Republic,"La Familia Unida de Inversiones or the Investment Family is a group of 15 entrepreneurs seeking their second loan from Esperanza International. The groups past loan has been successfully repaid, and the group hopes to utilize a second loan for further business expansion. Mercedes is one of the coordinators of the group in Santiago.
Mercedes, mother of seven (ages: oldest 34, youngest 16), operates two entrepreneurial activities out of her home. Door-to-door, Mercedes sells jars of a Dominican specialty dessert made of milk, sugar, vanilla, raisins and yams and within her home she operates mens and womens clothing and shoes sales. Mercedes desires to see growth in her business so that she will be able to construct a better home and continue to provide for the physical needs of her spouse and numerous children.
On behalf of Esperanza and this group of business entrepreneurs, we would like to thank you for your support!",M,3725,lender,Food,0
Dominican Republic,"La Union Hace La Fuerzas is a group of 15 women looking to receive their second small loans. All the women used their first loans to start very small businesses, and so far all member have tasted a little success. With their second loans, they all plan to grow their businesses and hope to increase their incomes.
Daphne Dorcin is the leader of this group. She was chosen because of her work ethic, and everyone in the group trusts her leadership. She started a very small clothing business and is hoping to eventually earn enough to open her own small clothing store. Daphne is the proud mother of 5 children, and she dreams of being able to travel with them. She feels that these loans are the tools that will help her reach her dreams.
On behalf of Daphne, the group, and Esperanza International: Thank you for your support!",F,3725,partner,Clothing,0
Dominican Republic,"La Union is a group of ten entrepreneurs seeking their third loan from Esperanza International. The groups past loans have been successfully repaid, and the group hopes to use the additional loan funds for further business expansion. Sara is the president of this group in the city of Santiago.
Sara, mother of a two year old daughter, has used her past two Esperanza loans to fund her colmado, or small grocery store. With her first loan, Sara ran her own small colmado until a member of her microfinance bank became ill and could no longer run her colmado. Sara merged the two colmados and with her second loan was able to fund the joint effort. The previously ill member of the bank is now healthy and will be taking over the joint colmado and Sara will use her third loan to start a new business selling used clothing. Sara is able to buy used clothing in bulk packages and sell to her neighbors and neighboring communities. When asked about the dreams for her business and life, Sara declares that she intends to help those who are ill as she has in the past and to continue to provide a good life for her child.
Other members of Saras microfinance bank run similar entrepreneurial activities including a beauty salon, cake sales, and a small restaurant.
On behalf of Esperanza and this group of business entrepreneurs, we would like to thank you for your support!",F,2375,lender,Clothing,0
Dominican Republic,"Las Hermanas de Pantoja, or the Sisters of Pantoja, is a group of five entrepreneurs seeking their third loan from Esperanza International. This groups past two loans have been successfully repaid, and the group hopes to utilize a third loan for further business expansion. Oneyra is the coordinator for this group in the town of Los Alcarrizos.
Onerya, mother of two, owns a variety store in the front room of her house. In her variety store she sells hygiene products, undergarments, accessories, and food products. Oneyra desires to see growth in her business so that she will be able to fix up her home and continue to provide for the needs of her family.
Other members of Oneryas bank run similar entrepreneurial operations including fried food sales to local vendors and a recycled plastics operation.
On behalf of Esperanza and this group of business entrepreneurs, we would like to thank you for your support!",F,1775,lender,Retail,0
Dominican Republic,"Laura is the mother of four daughters, aged 12, 10, 7 and 2. On top of running her household, she manages a small store attached to the front of her house. It is a specialty items store featuring office supplies, accessories for making crafts, and personal hygiene products. The loan will be used to expand the inventory of her business.
She lives in a neighborhood called Chavn in the Los Alcarrizos barrio (neighborhood) of Santo Domingo province in the Dominican Republic. Her three eldest daughters attend school and enjoy playing baseball and other outdoor activities with their friends.
NOTE: Laura is a member of the ""La Emresaria"" group, along with four other entrepreneurs. They will be accountable to one another for paying back their loan of $750. This group lending method requires group members to help one another throughout the loan repayment process. Loans are paid back as a group. If one person is deficient on their loan, the group must make up the difference. Everyone in Laura's group has gone through Esperanza's training and proven to be responsible and determined to not only pay back their loan, but also to provide for their children. ",F,750,partner,Retail,0
Dominican Republic,"Laura, an active and hard-working woman, lives in Los Pomos, a small community of Cotu. Cotu, located in the central part of the country, is known as one of the cities where people are living in intense poverty. And paradoxically, Cotu is the citys largest producer of pineapples in the country (about 75% of pineapples come from there). The unequal wealth distribution causes most of the people to live in precarious conditions, without good job opportunities; in brief, living in abject poverty.
To earn a living, Laura operates a small grocery store she started with her husbands help. Her husband is responsible for purchasing the goods, and she attends to the customers in the store. Lauras children are grown and they have their own families.
The entrepreneur has requested a loan to replenish her store. She explains that the basic foodstuffs are always in high demand, so she needs to constantly have enough products so that she can satisfy her clientele. Laura hopes that her business will allow her to enjoy her golden years.
The entrepreneur will receive her loan together with these women:
Rumalda De La Rosa Leon, who sells used clothing;
Segunda Cleto Suarez, who produces fried dishes;
Elisa Jose Villar, who sells empanadas;
Dominga Mosquea, who owns and operates a beauty salon;
In the picture, Laura is first on the left.",F,1150,lender,Food,1
Dominican Republic,"Laurita, a forty-two year old mother of two girls, sells chimichurri (a typical Dominican hamburger with lettuce, many kinds of herbs, spices and other condiments). Laurita operates her business from a small local next to her house located in the Batey of Palav community of San Cristobal. The entrepreneur says that this activity is her principal source of income, and she wants to keep carrying on her business until I become millionaire, she says, laughing hard.
Laurita hopes that someday shell have a very big store that can compete with Burger King. With her loan, shell buy raw materials to keep preparing her chimichurri.",F,450,partner,Food,0
Dominican Republic,"Lauteria, 38, is an active, experienced, goal-oriented and committed businesswoman. She has a degree in Education Sciences. She has two children, a 19-year-old girl and a boy, age 11. The girl goes to the university in Santo Domingo, the capital, and the boy attends school in the community. Her husband is a mechanical engineer. Six years ago, Lauteria took out a loan from our organization to open a cafeteria. She invested the funds in some frying pans, an oven, a gas tank and ingredients to prepare food. She says that God has helped her operate the business wisely so that she could manage to have profits. She is now able to improve her children's education and pay transport for her daughter to go to Santo Domingo to the university three times a week. Now she is looking forward to doing things even better and running business in a way that better satisfies her customers needs and earns new clients. She plans to rent a small site for the cafeteria and not have to operate the business within her house. She also wants to introduce new dishes into the menu. She has applied for a second loan to invest in the rent of the new site and ingredients to keep operating the business. That way, Lauteria will continue producing food for her clientele and keep on improving her familys living conditions.",F,1200,partner,Food,0
Dominican Republic,"Leandra is a persistent woman who tries hard to make a living and support her family. Nothing in this life has been given to me on a silver plate, Leandra says as she explains the tough work she had to go through to make things happen.
Leandra has two daughters and two sons; all of them go to school. Her husband works as a taxi driver for a company. To contribute to the familys budget, Leandra would like to start a small clothing store. She had been running a small store before, but she had to stop, as she was to move to the Hato Nuevo community of San Cristobal. Leandra is very confident and says that shes a silver-tongued woman wholl easily convince people to buy her products. The entrepreneur hopes that the loan requested will help her to be one step closer to achieving her dream of owning a big store with millions of womens and childrens clothing in her community.",F,350,partner,Clothing,1
Dominican Republic,"Leonarda is an experienced and ambitious entrepreneur who operates a flourishing grocery store in San Cristobal. This businesswoman is also the mother of three school-going children.
She explains that she had been operating a similar store in her hometown. Two years ago, she moved to a rural community in San Cristobal, and opened a new business. This entrepreneur says that, in her business sector, there hadnt been a grocery store as well stocked as hers, so she seized the opportunity and established her business, which is flourishing at the present time. With her loan, this entrepreneur will buy an assortment of goods to add to her inventory so she can meet the needs of her customers. Leonarda intends to save the extra business profits in order to start the construction of her own house.
The entrepreneur hopes that her business can keep growing and that she can get more clients. With her loan, she will buy clothing in bulk outside her community, in a frontier city with Haiti, where garments can be obtained at low prices. That way, Leonor can increase her income and profits.",F,625,partner,Clothing,0
Dominican Republic,"Leopoldita is a young and promising entrepreneur yet she struggles to earn sufficient income in order to live comfortably. She began selling womens clothing last year, shortly after finishing secondary school, in order to set aside money to pay for her university studies. Leopoldita feels that education is priceless because it is the only thing that will allow poor people, like herself, to make something of themselves in the future. She hopes that her business will continue to grow so that she can achieve her goals and be a part of an educated society. With this loan, she would like to buy additional clothing in bulk to expand her business.",F,200,partner,Clothing,0
Dominican Republic,"Lidia Collado Tineo wishes to obtain a loan of $275 to buy clothing in order to make womens dresses. There is a demand for these dresses in her community.
Lidia lives by herself in this small shed; half of the space is taken up by the area where she does her sewing. Her 3 daughters have now married and live with their family elsewhere. However, they usually come around here to visit me on a regular basis, she states. No one else around this community makes clothing so my business is good!
Lidia also sells fancy jewelry to complement her income, as there are times when she isnt doing a sewing job. Shes been a womens clothing confectioner for over 5 years now, and has done fancy jewelry sales for over 2 years. ""Its a nice combination, as women love to have their clothing matched up with the jewelry they exhibit, so I do just that! Questioned as to her possibilities in terms of producing and selling mens clothing and apparel, she states that she can do so, but that as of lately, she hasnt been asked for this type clothing. However, she mentioned that recently she had done some childrens clothing that she was asked for. She is better known for her womens clothing design and confection.",F,275,partner,Clothing,0
Dominican Republic,"Lidia is a young woman who has started a flourishing business selling sandals. Currently, she is only able to buy a few pairs of sandals at a time, which is barely enough to keep up with the requests of her customers. She is asking for a loan so that she can purchase a larger number and variety of sandals. Shed even like to try to expand her products to include socks and undergarments.
Lidia lives with her husband and two young children. Her dream is to be able to keep on improving her life, to always move forward, to keep learning, and to become a better person. Sometimes she gets discouraged when the competition gets fierce or when the economy slows down - but despite of all the hardships she always tries to maintain high product quality for her clients. She is also a good friend to them as well, which helps her ensure a loyal clientele.
On behalf of everyone at Esperanza, and on behalf of Lidia and her group members, we thank you for your support!",F,625,partner,Retail,0
Dominican Republic,"Lidia is asking for her third loan. She has sold gasoline and ice cream in the past, but now wants to invest in a small colmadito next year ( a colmadito is a local grocery store). She says it is very hard to make a good living in her community from gasoline or ice cream; there are very few people who have enough money to own a personal moto, and no buses ever pass through her community. Additionally, it is expensive to keep a freezer, and often costs more than her sales from ice cream can cover. Nevertheless, she has always managed her money carefully and made all of her payments on time. She supports six people in her house, including herself.
NOTE: This is a group loan. Lidia and her business represent the four other members of her group, who each will receive a share of this $750 loan to fund their respective businesses. As members of a solidarity group, Lidia and the other four micro-entrepreneurs have gone through Esperanzas business training courses and have proven to be committed to their businesses to provide for their families. If a member of the group is unable to make a payment, the other members are responsible for making up the difference and helping the person to improve. This group-lending method creates a social support network within the community as well as an accountability system to ensure that not only are loans paid back on time, but that the loan capital is invested in developing their business and providing for the basic necessities of their families.
Lidia is very involved in her neighborhood and believes that the loans have helped her not only improve the livelihood of her family, but have also allowed her a little extra free time to integrate more with her community so that she can give back to those who need her help. Lidia is very grateful for the opportunities she has been given, is proud of what she has accomplished, and is very optimistic that she can continue improving her future with the help from the micro-loans she receives.",F,750,partner,Retail,0
Dominican Republic,"Lidia Osoria's beauty shop started out as a small stand with a single window, but with a previous loan from Esperanza she was able to buy a storefront for Lidia's Beauty Salon and Boutique. Lidia will use this new loan to furnish and equip her salon, which will provide cosmetic services and also draw customers to her boutique. Though single and without children, Lidia is supporting two family members with her growing business. As soon as Lidia pays off her current loan with Esperanza, this loan will become active.",F,625,partner,Services,0
Dominican Republic,"Lidia, an active and hard-working mother of three school-going children, lives in Yamas, where she sells homemade fried chicken, spicy sausage pork, and fried vegetables. Lidia started her business three years ago, when she realized that her husbands salary could not bear all the familys expenses. Lidia has her stall set close to a public place, and passers-by visit the stall to enjoy her tasty goods.
The entrepreneur has requested a loan (the second one shell take from FSMA) to boost her business. Shell buy new cook utensils and raw materials to keep producing her food. Lidia hopes that her business growth will help her increase her revenue and better fend for her children.",F,450,partner,Food,0
Dominican Republic,"Liecer de Luna Lorenzo owns the Colmado Maximo, a general store in Mojarra where she sells everything from bread and bananas to pens and feminine products. Liecer will use this loan to expand her offerings to include more food staples such as ham, sugar, and cooking oil, and to keep her store well-stocked and growing. Liecer helps support her husband Maximo Ventura and their three children: Oscar (14), Luis (10), and Argelis (6). When not studying, Liecer's children spend their time adventuring around Mojarra on their bicycles. According to Liecer, no mango tree is safe from her three boys when school's not in session.
Note: Liecer is one of five microentrepreneurs in her Bank of Hope solidarity group, all of whom have gone through Esperanza's business training courses. Each of the five members will receive a share of this $750 loan for their respective businesses and will be accountable to each other for repaying their share of this loan together. This group-lending method strengthens social ties in the community and helps ensure that members cooperate to help one another repay their loans and invest wisely in their businesses and families.",F,750,partner,Retail,0
Dominican Republic,"Like many other women of Yamasa, Juana Mara, 23 years old, is running a business of mosquito nets. She began her business 3 years ago and still keeps working hard to help her husband cover the expenses for their 3 children (two boys and a girl).
Juana Mara applied to borrow U.S $375.00 with the intention of boosting her business and purchasing the necessary quantity of cloth (materials) to make the mosquito nets. She is also thinking of repairing her very old sewing machine, in order to manufacture more mosquito nets and sell a large quantity of her products. She will repay the loan in 6 months.",F,375,partner,Manufacturing,0
Dominican Republic,"Lionel Baptiste is the group leader of an organization consisting mostly of women. This group is located in La Romana, found in the south-western Dominican Republic. He is a 45-year-old father of two children. One of the biggest challenges he's yet to face has been starting his own business, and keeping it profitable in order to provide for his family. With this new loan, he expects to buy new merchandise so his clients will have a wider variety of options to choose from. He hopes loans like this will help his business grow so he can eventually have a house of his own. Thank you for supporting this loan!",M,1500,partner,Clothing,0
Dominican Republic,"Lislena, the group leader, is 28 years-old and has four children ages 4, 6, 7 and 10. She lives in a batey (which is a very poor community) of Haitian families in El Seibo, Dominican Republic. Families that live in bateys have small houses generally made of scrap tin and wood; the best possible accommodation is a cement-block house. These houses consist of only one room where the whole family lives together. To provide for her family, Lislena buys clothes in the city and then re-sells them for a profit in her batey and another neighboring batey.
By receiving loans, she and other members of the Bank of Hope are better able to survive the economic fluctuations and frequent sicknesses that make work hard and volatile. Lislena hopes that this loan will help her continue to grow her business so that her family can improve their living situation. She would love to own her own house someday and hopes to provide a good education for her children.
Lislena is a member of the Esperando en Dios (Hoping in God) group. The Bank of Hope with Esperanza International supports six groups in total, two of which are requesting new loans now.
Note: This is a group loan to 10 people.",F,2000,partner,Clothing,0
Dominican Republic,"Livia is a seventy-eight year old widow who lives in the Batey of Palav community of San Cristobal. To make a living, Livia prepares and sells fried vegetables with chicken or pork meat. This activity is her principal source of income. Occasionally she receives money from her five grownup children, whom all have their own families now. With her loan (the second one she will take from FSMA), the entrepreneur will purchase raw materials to keep producing for her customers and improve her living conditions.",F,200,partner,Food,0
Dominican Republic,"Loida is forty-four years old and she is a versatile entrepreneur. She already has a great deal of experience in business because she has been a couturier and a shopkeeper. Currently she runs a beauty salon in the Mata Los Indios community of Santo Domingo, where she offers services in hair straightening, hair dying, hair styling, and so forth. She also sells beauty products and fashionable hair accessories. Loida wants to expand her business in order to attract new clients and to increase her income. With this loan, she would like to buy products for her salon and to add new lines of hair products. This would be the second loan that the entrepreneur would receive from FSMA. She wisely used the first loan she received from our organization and timely repaid that first loan.",F,600,partner,Services,0
Dominican Republic,"Loida is young entrepreneur and mother of two boys. Two years ago, Loida had opened a small cafeteria in her community, but she had to close it because she didn't have access to capital to get raw materials and other goods to run the business.
A few months ago, she took her first loan from FSMA to start up her cafeteria. She got her old customers back and attracted new ones. Now her business is beginning to flourish.
Loida is requesting a second loan of $375 to purchase more materials and foodstuffs, which will improve her cafeteria, attract more customers and help her raise her children in a more comfortable lifestyle.",F,375,partner,Food,0
Dominican Republic,"Lorenza, 48 years old, is living with her husband, a mechanic. They dont have any children. Five years ago, Lorenza started a small home business. She sells hair products like shampoo, rinse, olive oil, hair straightening products and some special soap. Furthermore, she prepares some mixture for the hair. This request for a loan is to buy a wider range of merchandise because for the last two weeks she has been in short supply.",F,375,partner,Services,0
Dominican Republic,"Lourdes fax Reyes (pictured with one of her grandchildren) is a 42-year-old mother of three: Jenifer (14), Johantan Obispo (14) and Wilna Demerva (25). Lourdes is requesting this loan to expand her business selling fresh vegetables and dairy products to neighboring communities. She will use the loan capital to travel to regional markets where she can stock up at wholesale prices, then sell at the local level from her store. Lourdes also has a refrigerator to store products over a longer period of time. This cuts down her traveling expenses and allows her to purchase goods at a lower price by buying in bulk. This loan will go far in developing her business.
NOTE: Lourdes is one of five microentrepreneurs in her Bank of Hope solidarity group, all of whom have gone through Esperanza's business training courses. Each of the five members will receive a share of this $750 loan for their respective businesses and will be accountable to each other for repaying their share of this loan together. This group-lending method strengthens social needs in a community and ensures that members cooperate to help one another repay their loans and invest wisely in their businesses and families.
This loan is to purchase a greater variety of vegetables and fruits to add to the business. This will generate greater profit margins for the entrepreneur, and thatll allow her put money aside for any unexpected situation. Lourdes says that shell keep doing her best to help her children reach their goals of becoming good professionals in life.
The members of Lourdess group are:
Berkis Payano Andres, a clothing retailer,
Miguelina Americo Pierre, who sells shoes and perfumes,
Rosaina Perez, a clothing retailer, and
Mesarina Ortiz, who operates a mini-market.",F,1775,partner,Food,1
Dominican Republic,"Lourdes Rosmery is a young but responsible woman who lives in the Cacique community of Monte Plata, where she operates a small business. She humbly explains that her business of selling jewelry is still limited, but she believes that every single day, shell be one step closer to success if she keeps working hard. With her loan, Lourdes will buy more items to add to her stock in order to increase her sales volume and income. Lourdes is looking forward to starting her university studies next year.",F,175,partner,Retail,1
Dominican Republic,"Lourdes Teresa is a woman with a sharp sense of humor and charisma, and she is the leader of a group of five businesswomen in San Cristobal. She sells mens and womens clothing. Lourdes explains that she pays close attention to customer demand and the season when she makes the purchases of goods to add to her inventory. She says that her business is successful and profitable. She plans to use her loan to purchase more clothing in bulk in order to increase her sales volume and her income.
The loan funds will be distributed among the five entrepreneurs, and each one will invest her loan in her own business.
The other members of the group are:
Lucia De Los Santos Martinez, who sells clothing in bulk.
Daysi Victoria Perdomo Montero, an active woman that sells a collection of beauty products.
Miguelina Castro, who runs a small grocery store.
Amantina De Los Santos Martinez
NOTE: Members of the group warrant one anothers loans. If one of the members fails in repaying the loan, the other members will have to take the responsibility.",F,1700,partner,Clothing,0
Dominican Republic,"Lourdes was born in Haiti, but her parents moved to Santo Domingo when she was nine years old. It has been hard for her to get accustomed to a new culture, and it took her more than one year to learn Spanish. Because her parents didnt have enough money to afford a comfortable house, they had to move to a small district in San Luis, a low-income area of Santo Domingo.
Today, Lourdes is the proud mother of four children who are in school. She runs a small business selling pants, shoes and underwear to the people of her community. Each day, Lourdes goes to public markets to offer her goods for sale. In the afternoon and on weekends, she visits customers and other people in her neighborhood to sell products.
She has applied for a loan to buy new items in bulk to add to her inventory, increase her sales and generate a higher income for her family. Lourdes would like to buy a house which will allow her children to live comfortably.
Lourdes will receive her loan with the following women, all of whom own and operate a small clothing shop:
Maria Roman Puente,
Ifela Soireau,
Marie Yrose Laguerre and
Marie Aliette Germain
Picture: from left to the right: Marie Aliette, Marie Yrose, Ifela, Maria and Marlene.",F,1700,partner,Clothing,1
Dominican Republic,"Lourdes, 32 years old, lives with her partner, a bus driver, and three children. She has been in the business of selling women's clothes for six months. Her new business has helped her family improve education and food for her children, and helped to pay rent on their apartment. She is requesting a loan of $250 so she can purchase more clothing in bulk and service more customers. This will provide a better life for her children.",F,250,partner,Clothing,0
Dominican Republic,"Lourdes, the leader of this group, is a 35 year old woman who lives with her husband Felix, and two teenage-aged children in the community of Los Guaricanos in the Dominican Republic. Things in Los Guaricanos are often very difficult; consistent and well paying work is hard to come by, but the people live on the outskirts of the capital and as a result are forced to pay somewhat inflated prices for everything from food to school supplies, prices that most people simply cant keep up with.
Lourdes runs a small business selling dried flowers, scented candles, natural medicines and a few different chemicals to help treat skin problems. She normally sells these items to people who know about her business from her home, and will also walk the streets a few times a week. She has asked for this loan so that she can buy a new selection of candlescandles are always sin demand since the power goes out an average of two to three time each day. She would also like to expand the types of herbal medicines she is able to offer her clients.
She hopes that with the extra income this loan will help her make, she will be able to improve the lives of her children and improve the manner in which they all live. She also says she hopes to raise them with good health, and teach them what it means to make an honest living in a world where many people resort to corruption and stealing to get by. She wants to see them all happy, and she hopes that she will able to see her family continue to move forward in their lives economically and happily.
On behalf of Lourdes and everyone here at Esperanza International, we thank you for supporting his dreams and goals!",F,2775,partner,Arts,0
Dominican Republic,"Luca is in her early fifties, and she and her husband have six lovely children (four boys, two girls), all of whom go to school. Luca owns and operates a small business that sells basic food products (e.g., rice, beans, vegetable oil, milk, etc.). After four laborious years operating this business, Luca now has a loyal following of customers who visit her stall every day to buy her goods. The entrepreneur wants to improve upon her business by adding new merchandise so as to attract new customers and, ultimately, to increase her income so that her family can lead a comfortable lifestyle.
Luca would like to receive this loan with four other entrepreneurs who live in the Batey of Palav community of San Cristobal: (1) Mara Paredes, a 22-year-old mother of two sons, who would use her portion of the loan to purchase pants and mens underwear to re-sell to members of the community; (2) Santa Santana, who would use her portion of the loan to purchase raw materials and ingredients to continue to produce her delicious empanadas; and (3) Cecilia Santos Trinidad and (4) Veronica Salas, who would use their loan portions to purchase clothing in bulk to replenish their respective businesses.
The members of this group guarantee the other members' loans. Accordingly, if one woman fails to repay her portion of the loan, the other members will assume that woman's obligations.",F,850,partner,Retail,0
Dominican Republic,"Luca sells an assortment of tennis shoes for women in her community. She started her business six years ago, with her husbands help. She has four children, three of them boys. They all attend school.
Luca plans on enlarging her business, in order to increase her income and attract more people. She has requested a loan to purchase more tennis gear to satisfy her customers needs. She will also buy some slippers to add to the merchandise. That way, the entrepreneur will vary the offer and she hopes that strategy will help her attract new clients. Profits from business help Luca support her family.",F,375,partner,Retail,0
Dominican Republic,"Lucelia Cruz runs a small cafeteria in the little community of Llano De Perre, Dominican Republic. As a single mother of three, the income from this mini-restaurant is the livelihood of her family. She sought out Esperanza to help her with her first ever loan, valuing $150. The money that Lucelia gets from this loan will go towards purchasing bread, meat, oil, and fresh fruit to make smoothies at her local venue. In typical Dominican fashion, her favorite dish is rice, beans, and chicken, a customer favorite as well. She dreams of one day being able to travel outside of the country with her three children.
Lucelia is one of the leaders of the 15-person micro-bank Mujeres de Debora. Many of the women in this 15-person bank have recently immigrated from Haiti in search of a better future. Their businesses are simple, but offer a stream of income that could never have been accomplished without such a loan for initial capital. Several of the women sell clothes and shoes in the street, while others go from office to office vending fresh fruit and vegetables daily. These unique entrepreneurs have united in solidarity, allowing them to access funding that they would otherwise never be able to receive on their own. The concept of this group bank repaying their loan together is to reduce the risk of one person defaulting, as the other members gladly help cover one anothers payments in order to receive their next loan together. As these 15 entrepreneurs embark upon their first ever loan from Esperanza, we are confident that they will all succeed in bettering their lives and the lives of their families with this loan.
On behalf of Lucelia Cruz, the Mujeres de Debora group, and the entire team here at Esperanza International, we thank you for your support and awareness of the global issue of poverty, where your efforts are helping to make a difference.",F,2200,partner,Food,0
Dominican Republic,"Lucia Fabian, a 68 year-old widow from the rural community of Kilometro 7, Dominican Republic, owns her own business selling food items and men's and women's apparel. She is also the group coordinator for the Bank of Hope called La Fe (The Faith) Group 6. Her story is illustrative of the experiences of her fellow borrowers in La Fe Group 6.
Lucia runs her own business selling food, including homemade bread and fresh pineapple, and men's and women's clothing. Today she is looking to take out her fifth loan from Kiva and Esperanza International. When she receives her new loan, Lucia will make a three-hour journey to the capital city of Santo Domingo in order to buy more merchandise for her store. She will then sell the food and clothing she buys in Santo Domingo to her friends and neighbors in the rural sugarcane-cutting community (called a batey) of Kilometro 7.
As Lucia's business has grown over time, she has been able to take out bigger and bigger loans, and she reports that her quality of life has improved little by little with each new loan cycle. As a widow with one grown son, Lucia is dependent on revenues from her business for her livelihood and hopes to see her business continue to grow in the future. She is pictured on the far right of the attached photo.",F,1575,lender,Retail,0
Dominican Republic,"Lucia is the leader of this group of women who say there's no place in their life for negativity, and who believe they can make positive changes in their community in spite of their harsh living conditions. Lucia's husband works for a construction company, and he can hardly support the family's needs with his low wages. To face this situation and supplement her family's income, Lucia started eight months ago a small business of selling women's clothing in her community.
The lack of access to capital has been a limitation for the new entrepreneur to make a go of her business. Currently, the entrepreneur is requesting a loan purchase more clothing to add to her inventory. She also explains that she'd like to start selling a new collection of shoes which are in high demand in the community. Buying the goods wholesale will help Lucia to reduce her frequent trips outside her community to get the garments. Lucia thanks in advance the Kiva lenders for their openhandedness, and she hopes she'll get this loan before long, so that she can move her business forward.
The members of Lucia's group are:
Agustina Gonzales Figueroa, a small clothing retailer
Carmen Nicasio Lazala, who retails pants and shoes in the community
Jacqueline Leonardo Muoz, who sells exclusively shoes in the neighborhood
Fiordaliza Moreno Cleto, to invest in the purchase of women's clothing
Photo shows from left to right: Lucia, Agustina, Carmen, Jacqueline and Fiordaliza.",F,1575,partner,Clothing,1
Dominican Republic,"Lucia Martinez is a middle-aged woman who came to Esperanza in search of her first loan. She has begun a small colmadito, or store that sells staple foods and accessories. However, she is lacking adequate capital to buy enough inventory for the store. The money from this loan will go towards purchasing cooking oil, rice, sugar, and crackers. Lucia said that she hopes to continue to grow her business, so that she will be able to help support her two grown children (23 and 25) to attend college. When she is not working, Lucia enjoys attending her local church several times a week.
Lucia Matinez is the leader of the 10 person micro-bank, Las Mujeres Luchando Contra La Pobreza, which means, The Women Fighting Against Poverty. Each of these unique Dominican entrepreneurs unite in solidarity, allowing them to access funding that they would otherwise never be able to receive on their own. The concept of this group bank paying their loan together is to reduce the risk of one person defaulting, as the others members gladly help cover one anothers payments in order to receive their next loan together. One of the other women in the group has runs a small salon, one sells vegetables in the street, and several of the others sell clothing to in the streets and markets of Puerto Plata.
On behalf of Lucia, the Mujeres Luchando group, and the entire team here at Esperanza International, we thank you for your support and awareness of the global issue of poverty, in which your efforts are helping to make a difference.",F,1450,partner,Food,0
Dominican Republic,"Lucia Martinez Rivas is a group coordinator for the group called Mujeres Trabajando Contra La Pobreza, which in English means Women Working Against Poverty. Lucia is the owner of a small convenience store, where she sells food items such as rice and oil to her community. This will be Lucias third loan with Kiva's partner Esperanza and she is hoping this one will improve her business as much as the first two did. Lucia has two grown children, one of whom lives with her and her husband, Gabriel Martinez.
Lucia dreams of continual growth for her business and also continually learning skills through her business and her experience with Esperanza. She dreams that her grown children will have a good position in society and also be able to own their own businesses one day. Because of her faithfulness in repayment of her first two loans, Lucia has been able to receive more with this current loan. Lucias loan is for 15000 Dominican pesos (about $420).
On behalf of Lucia Martinez Rivas, Mujeres Trabajando Contra La Pobreza and all of us here at Esperanza International, thank you for your support!",F,3550,partner,Food,0
Dominican Republic,"Lucia Martinez Rivas started her business two years ago with her first Esperanza loan. She opened a colmado out of the side of her house. In the Dominican Republic, a colmado is a small, neighborhood general store. Lucia sells several staple food items such as rice, dried beans, cookies and crackers as well as razors, toilet paper and other daily necessities. Her business has been very successful, and she is now on her third Ezperanza loan.
Lucia's business has helped put her two children through college. She has a son, age 25, and a daughter, age 23. She is enthusiastic about the success of her business and plans to continue to expand her business as much as possible. The community she lives in loves the convenience of having a colmado in the neighborhood. Lucia is now a group leader for Esperanza and her story provides encouragement to all the women in her loan group.",F,3550,lender,Retail,0
Dominican Republic,"Luciana is a 31-year-old woman who lives in the suburb of Los Alcarrizzos on the outskirts of the capital of Santo Domingo.
She has a small business selling used and new shoes to her community members and is asking for this loan so that she can have the money available to buy a larger quantity of shoes and, as a result, both sell more shoes and make more money. In her community people are very poor, and so the demand for used shoes is high; but when people can, they always prefer to have new shoes so she likes to be able to offer both.
With the money she is able to generate from this loan, she hopes that her little business will continue to grow, attracting and retaining new customers. She hopes that the extra income will also help her go back to school and finish her high school education. One day she dreams of having her own home and her own vehicle so that she can travel around more easily and be able to visit her family and friends more often.
On behalf of Luciana and everyone here at Esperanza International, we thank you for supporting her dreams and goals!",F,2650,partner,Retail,0
Dominican Republic,"Luciana is the representative of the group ""Jehova Es Mi Pastor."" This group consists of 10 very ambitious people. Luciana is an extremely determined mother of four young children, all under the age of 11. Luciana is hoping to start a small business selling clothing! She wants to have her own clothing store, and she dreams of having a thriving business so she can better the lives of her children! On behalf of Luciana, the group, and Esperanza International--- We thank you for you support!",F,2525,partner,Clothing,0
Dominican Republic,"Lucila is an old woman and a proud mother of four children, all of whom are in their twenties. Lucila lives in the San Luis community of Santo Domingo with her husband. She wants to start a small business as shes unemployed and her husbands salary can hardly support the familys needs. Lucila explains that its not easy to get a loan from the banks as she doesnt have any goods to offer as security. She also says that microcredit lenders operating in the community are charging very high interest rates and demand the borrowers repay weekly.
As soon as she took notice about our loan conditions, Lucila looked for four other women so that they could take advantage of this opportunity. With her funds, Lucila will build a small business selling underwear and costume jewelry. She believes that shell have success in her endeavor as she had been selling before and acquired a lot of experience. Lucila hopes this business will be her starting point to success and a radical change of her familys living conditions.
Lucila will receive the loan with these following women: Mercedes Martinez Reyes, who will invest her loan to build a small business of selling shoes; Ines Diaz Lopez, who operates a small clothing store; Isabel Rosario Reyes, who sells clothing in her community; and Maria De Las Nieves Baez Nuez, wholl start selling pants and shoes as soon as she gets her loan.
Picture, left to right: Lucila, Mercedes, Ines, Isabel and Maria.",F,1250,partner,Retail,1
Dominican Republic,"Lucila Mercedes is a dynamic and an assiduous businesswoman who tries hard to make a living and keep four kids going on her own. She's been selling 'arepas' (cornmeal rolls) and pie for eleven years to people in her community.
Mercedes would like to increase her revenue, and she's thinking about testing new waters by starting to sell fruit and vegetables so as to offer a larger variety of goods to her clientele.
Lucila hopes this new venture will be worth its weight in gold and will allow her to improve her family's living conditions.",F,250,partner,Food,1
Dominican Republic,"Lucila Ramona is a well experienced entrepreneur who is selling crockery and kitchen items in the Majagual community of Santo Domingo. Shes requesting a loan to expand her business and begin selling natural medicines, which are constantly in high demand in her community.
The entrepreneurs three children are studying in the university, and she wants to keep supporting them until they become professionals and are able to earn a living on their own.
Lucila hopes shell receive her loan so that she can take advantage of this market opportunity and generate better income for her family.",F,200,partner,Health,1
Dominican Republic,"Lucrecia is married with five children, and she lives in Los Roche, a low-income community located in San Cristobal. Her husband has a motorcycle that he uses as a moto-taxi in order to earn some money. Lucrecia produces candies and arepas (cornmeal rolls) to order. She also sells ripe fruits and vegetables in her neighborhood. Every day she has to leave her house and travel sometimes long distances to deliver her orders. In the late afternoon, she starts selling her vegetables in the public market.
Lucrecia has requested a loan to increase her working capital and to invest in the purchase of ingredients to keep producing her sweets and arepas. She hopes that someday she'll have a big pastry shop with a lot of employees and many customers visiting it at every time.",F,200,partner,Food,1
Dominican Republic,"Lucrecia is one of the earliest members of the FSMA family in the Doa Ana community of San Cristobal, and she's now taking out her seventh loan from us, and her first one through Kiva. Lucrecia still remembers how effusively she thanked our organization after receiving her first loan, which meant a lot to her. In effect, her small grocery store was on the verge of going bankrupt, and she didn't fulfill the big banks' requirements to get a loan so that she could save her small business.
The injection of capital helped the small entrepreneur to revitalize her business, and since them she's been managing to make it profitable. Currently, Lucrecia's business is in the black, and she wants to work harder in order to increase her sales volume and income. With her loan, she'll buy a large stock of various goods to add to her inventory.
Lucrecia is a trustworthy person, and during her time with our organization she's never failed to repay her loans. As Lucrecia's creditworthiness remains steady, we believe she'll do her utmost to reimburse on the dot this loan which will allow her to improve her business and her family's living conditions.",F,825,partner,Food,1
Dominican Republic,"Luis Medina is a 52-year-old man who lives on the outskirts of the capital of Santo Domingo in the Dominican Republic. He has a small business selling used and new clothes, but in the past year he has experienced a significant increase in demand and has began to do very wellhis biggest challenge right now is that he simply does not have the capital available to buy enough merchandise to adequately keep up with demand from his community members.
Luis plans to use his loan to go to the large market place in the heart of the capital, called La Duarte. There, he will be able to buy his clothes in bulk and, with the help of the loan, he will not only be able to buy the amount he actually needs, but he will also be able to save money on the discounted wholesale price he receives.
His dream is to help his children be able to go back to one of the local universities in the area so that they can become professionals, and he also hopes to build and buy his own home one day in the near future.
On behalf of Luis and everyone here at Esperanza International, we thank you for supporting his dreams and goals!",M,1175,partner,Clothing,0
Dominican Republic,"Luisa Guillermina was born and raised in her small community of Casabe, Santo Domingo. She is twenty-five years old and lives with her father. To supplement her familys revenue and support her university studies (she studies Advertising), Luisa sells a collection of exclusive silver jewelry to teachers, companions at the university and to some friends in her community. She says that she pays close attention to customer demand, and when the clients ask for a certain product, she adds it to her inventory. Luisa will use her loan to buy customer recommended products to satisfy the clientele and increase her income. She hopes that her business can grow and that she will become one of the most well-known suppliers of these goods in her area.",F,300,partner,Retail,0
Dominican Republic,"Luisa is a forty-year-old woman who with her husband's help has been operating a mini-market for a couple of years. She operates in the San Luis community of Santo Domingo. Luisa plans on buying more items to add to her stock. The entrepreneur explains that currently she has to invest a large amount of money to purchase the same quantity of goods because of the increasing scarcity of food at a global level.
Luisa says that before there was a lot to be said for running a mini-market, but presently its getting difficult to make business profitable. The entrepreneur hopes that loan received will help her move her business forward and improve her familys living conditions.
Luisa will receive the funds together with these following women:
Leonora Madec De Jess, to buy womens clothing to retail in her community
Carmela Reyes, to bulk-buy clothing for her small store
Odiana Reyes, to replenish a small grocery store
Sandra Romero, to buy goods for a beauty parlor.
Photo: From left to right: Leonara, Carmela, Odiana, Luisa Y Sandra.",F,1725,partner,Food,0
Dominican Republic,"Luisa is a modest woman and a hard-working entrepreneur who is doing her utmost to sustain her very needy family.
She sells fruits, vegetables and meat in her neighborhood. Each day, she leaves her house early in the morning, and she goes to the rural market where she has her stand. Lots of people visit the stand to purchase her goods. Luisa explains that she'd like to add new products to her stand, but she doesn't have enough working capital to do so.
She is requesting a loan requested to buy more fresh vegetables, cooking oil, meat and other goods to keep running her business. Luisa hopes that her business will allow her to keep supporting her children's education and to provide a better lifestyle to her family.
The entrepreneur will receive her loan with Primitiva Aquino, who sells clothing to women and children, Crisoty Milagros Moreno Ramirez, who owns a beauty salon, Rosa Erminia Bautista Valera, who sells garments, and Maxima Pascual Vicioso, who operates a grocery store
The photo shows from left to right, Primitiva, Maxima, Luisa, Crisoty and Rosa Erminia.",F,1300,lender,Food,1
Dominican Republic,"Luisa is a single mother and grandmother. She looks after her four children, aged 21, 16, and two 15-year-olds, as well as a two-year-old granddaughter. They live in a 2-room home made of tin roof sheets and wood. Just down the street, Luisa is creating a closet-sized clothing store. Shirts and pants hang along the walls outside on display. Inside the shop are used clothing and shoes. She has a small selection at the moment, but with this new loan she will be able to afford more, to meet the needs of the surrounding communities.
Her goal is to use the profits from this loan to create a self-sustainable business. She wants to have enough money to buy medicine for her granddaughter, who has respiratory problems and poor blood circulation.
Luisa's hope is to work her way out of poverty and out of her house - a space equivelant to the size of a minivan for a family of six. This motivation, combined with her business training and reputation within her community, have made her a very good candidate for a loan.
NOTE: Luisa has many friends in the community and is a leader of her solidarity group, called 'La Union'. She represents four other microentrepreneurs, who will each receive an equal $150 share of this $750 loan to invest in their respective businesses.",F,750,partner,Clothing,0
Dominican Republic,"Luisa is an ambitious woman whose story teaches that, with ambition and courage, everyone can succeed in life. Luisa was born and raised in Haiti before she immigrated to the Casabe community of Santo Domingo as a result of her aim to progress and contribute to the well-being of her family. The entrepreneur remembers that when she came to the country, her poor income didnt allow her to bring up her children. Nonetheless, Luisa worked harder, and with an unlimited faith in God, she always hoped for sunnier days.
Slowly but surely, Luisa put aside money, and soon she could start retailing food stuffs such as bread, milk, eggs and the like. After that, she was able to build a small locale made of wood, where she runs a small grocery store.
A few years ago, the entrepreneur received a loan from our organization and invested it to purchase a wide range of products, which allowed her meet the customers needs and also increased her income.
Now, Luisa is better prepared to move her business forward and achieve more. Shes requesting another loan to add more items to her stock so that she can keep augmenting her sales volume and her income. That will allow her continue supporting her childrens educations.",F,575,partner,Food,1
Dominican Republic,"Luisa is an honest and happy mother who sells womens shoes and slippers. Her stall is located in a crowded public place in the region of Yamas. Her three boys and one girl attend school.
Luisa started her business almost two years ago and says that she has learned the rules of the market and she has gained the ability to make her business progress. Currently, she has a lot of customers who are very satisfied with the quality of the products and the personalized service she offers each of them.
The entrepreneur thinks that December is a very suitable moment to make things happen. She wants to purchase goods from the wholesale market so that she can sell them at inexpensive prices and attract new customers and hold them. Luisa says that for that occasion she will also buy mens shoes in order to offer a larger variety of products to the customers.
In the past, Luisa has proved to be a punctual and truthful person. She has already taken a loan from FSMA which she reimbursed without difficulty.",F,600,partner,Retail,0
Dominican Republic,"Luisa is an old woman living in very humble conditions in the Cacique community of Monte Plata. Despite her advanced age, Luisa runs a small business selling various goods such as beauty soap, shampoo, and gel for hair; sometimes she also sells cakes and sweets. Luisa lives with her husband, who is disabled. With her loan, Luisa will buy more products to add to her stock in order to keep satisfying her customers needs and increase her income. The entrepreneur hopes her small business will help her and her husband to enjoy their golden years.",F,175,partner,Retail,1
Dominican Republic,"Luisa is in her early forties. She and her husband have five children, two of them boys, all of whom go to school.
A few months ago, Luisa took a loan from FSMA, which she invested in her husband's business. He sells sweets and candies, and that activity is the principal source of income for the family. The couple used their loan intelligently and they managed to move the business forward and increase the familys revenue.
Luisa is requesting a new loan to boost her husbands business. The loan funds will be invested in the acquistion of ingredients to keep producing the sweets and candies. This way, Luisa and her husband will be able to improve their familys standard of living.",F,900,partner,Food,0
Dominican Republic,"Luisa is nineteen years old, and she lives with her mother and three brothers and sisters in the Alto Limonal community of Ban. Luisa studies medicine in the public university in Santo Domingo, the capital, and she has to go outside her community twice a week to the university.
To contribute to her familys revenue and save money for her studies, Luisa wants to start a small business selling costume jewelry. She explains that she gained a lot of experience in sales when she sold these goods for a company a few years ago. Luisa is very confident, and she says that she knows how to persuade people to buy her goods. She knows that the competition may be hard, but shell do her utmost to make her business successful.
Given this loan, this young and ambitious girl will be one step closer to reach her goals and lift herself out of poverty.",F,250,partner,Retail,1
Dominican Republic,"Luisa Luis Guion lives in the Yacot community of Santo Domingo with her two children, both of whom attend school. To meet the challenge of earning a living and providing for her family's needs,
Luisa sells a variety of products including vegetables, ripe fruits, rice, spices and fresh meat. She has been running her business for three years and has developed a large customer base. While currently operating from her house, she plans on using her loan to rent a local facility to better sell her products and increase her revenue.
Luisa is asking for the funds as the coordinator of a group of four other women, all operating businesses within the same community.
These members are:
Marta Estevez, an entrepreneur selling underwear for both men and women;
Josefa Perez, buying some goods to continue her fried chicken business;
Josefina Martinez, buying tablecloths to resell in her community, and
Viola Joseph, investing in the purchase of cookware.",F,1325,partner,Food,0
Dominican Republic,"Luisa Mara, 47, is married, with twelve children (eleven girls and one son). They all attend the secondary school of the town.
Luisa Mara and her husband are butchers. Her husbands works in breeding the animals. Luisa dedicates herself to the sales of the animals. She has fitted out a space next to her house and there she operates the business. She also sells fried maniocs and fried chickens.
She explains that she had been running that business for more than ten years, but she was obliged to stop the operations because of health issues. Fortunately, she recovered her health and she could restart the business two years ago. Now the business generates a weekly profit of USD 70.00.
Luisa Mara is asking for funds to make the business progress. She wants to improve the hygienic conditions of the space where her husband and she run their business. Given the loan, Luisa Mara will be able to remodel the location where the shop is operated, offer better services to her customers, and will assure the quality of the goods she is selling to people.",F,375,partner,Food,0
Dominican Republic,"Luisa sells womens clothing and shoes. She sells also plastic jewels. She has been operating this business for six months. Luisa has three children, two girls and a boy. Her husband is working as watchman.
Luisa says that business has been getting results. Even though she hopes she can improve the way she is doing business and increase her income. Currently, she has a weekly profit of USD 115.00.
The entrepreneur is requesting a loan to purchase clothing in bulk and other goods in the capital. That way, she will reduce costs of trips she makes outside her town to get products. Luisa is very responsible and has a good credit history. She has already taken a loan from FSMA and she repaid it successfully.",F,450,partner,Clothing,0
Dominican Republic,"Luisa was born and raised in the Majagual community of Santo Domingo where she is operating a small business. Shes been selling womens clothing for six years in order to take care of her children.
Luisa plans on expanding her business. Shell use her loan to add a collection of dental care products and other goods like deodorants and hand and body lotions.
The entrepreneur hopes that her business will allow her buy her own home someday.",F,150,partner,Clothing,1
Dominican Republic,"Luisa, a sixty-five-year-old woman and mother of an only daughter, is the owner and operator of a small grocery store in the Caf community of Santo Domingo. Early in the morning, Luisa prepares coffee to sell to people on their way to school or to work. At about 7:30 am, she opens the grocery store and receives the visits of people in the neighborhood who go to the store to purchase different kinds of goods.
The entrepreneur is asking for a loan to get a lot of products to replenish her store.",F,300,partner,Food,0
Dominican Republic,"Luisa's business is selling tablecloths and bedsheets. Through this activity, she makes a living and cares for her unique 4 year old daughter. She is 27 years old and is single.
Luisa has to go outside of her community to get the goods she sells. Two times a month she goes to Elas Pia - a frontier province with Haiti - to buy products very cheaply. She operates her business within her own house and sometimes she goes in the surrounding areas to offer the tablecloths door-to-door.
This businesswoman hopes her activity can grow, and that she can attract more customers. She needs funds to buy more products to supply her business. Luisa had already shown herself to be a good example of a responsible person. She has already taken a loan from FSMA, which she paid back in due time. Additional income will help Luisa keep operating her business and working for the sake of her daughter.",F,900,partner,Retail,0
Dominican Republic,"Lujida is a 44-year-old woman who lives with her daughter and two grandchildren in a poverty-stricken community called Los Guaricanos, on the outskirts of the national capital. She has made a small business for herself of selling shoes and clothing from her house, and occasionally along the streets in her community. She is asking for this loan to expand her inventoryspecifically she would like to buy a bigger quantity of clothes, as well as a wider variety. With a better variety she can begin to attract new customers, and consequently increase her income.
Her goal is to first grow and expand her business to a new and more profitable level. After that she says she will use her extra income to help give her grandchildren a better and more comfortable life than she has had; she wants to help them grow into smart and good adults.
Lujida says she knows that with Gods help, and this loan, her business will surely grow much stronger. She is very thankful to all of you out there who are helping her by supporting her in this loan!",F,750,partner,Clothing,0
Dominican Republic,"Luz Del Alba is an active and hard-working entrepreneur, and she is the coordinator of a group of five women who own and operate businesses in the Yacot community of Santo Domingo.
Luz has been selling cookware to the women of her community for more than two years. This activity is the principal means of providing food and a good education for her children. Luz will use her loan to buy more products to sell to her clientle and to attract more people.
The members of Luzs group are:
Clemencia Pierre, Macila Pierre and Mathurin Zilena, all of whom will invest their funds to buy mens clothing for a small business, and
Suanny Joseph, who will purchase cloth for a small business.",F,1275,partner,Retail,0
Dominican Republic,"Luz Del Carmen operates a reputable mini-market in the Felicita community of Yamas. Luz defines herself as an experienced businesswoman because she has been running her mini-market for twenty-two years. She confesses that she puts up fight to maintain her three sons and pays their university studies. Luz has been separated from her husband and left with the children. She had to raise her sons on her own, and she is very proud that they all go to the university.
Her loan will be used to buy more products to restock her mini-market. The entrepreneur hopes her business will allow her to maintain a comfortable lifestyle for her children.",F,250,partner,Food,0
Dominican Republic,"Luz Divina, young woman and mother of three children, is trying hard to earn a better income for her family. Her husband works as a watchman for a company, but his salary cant really satisfy the needs of the family. To supplement the familys income, Luz Divina wants to start selling beauty products to women of her community. She says that shes sold them previously, and she knows how to persuade people to buy her products.
With her loan, shell buy the beauty products in Villa Consuelo, a public market where people can buy various goods in bulk at low prices. Luz hopes that her business will be successful, and that shell be able to make it successful and repay her loan on time. As products are sold off quickly and demands from customers are very frequent, Luz needs to always have an adequate amount of products available to satisfy the clients needs. She is asking for a loan to purchase sacks of beans and rice and large amounts of other goods so that she can reduce her number of trips outside of the township to obtain products. That way, the entrepreneur will increase her income and improve her profit margin.",F,375,partner,Food,0
Dominican Republic,"Luz is hard working and determined. She will use this loan to buy fruit and vegetables to increase her sales and variety for her produce stand. She has an eleven year old son that she loves and cares for. She hopes to one day have another child when she is more economically stable and also aspires to one day travel to see the big cities. Please help Luz and her group increase their businesses.
Thank you for support!",F,525,lender,Food,0
Dominican Republic,"Luz Nunez (second from right) is a thirty-year-old businesswoman who lives about an hour outside of the capital, Santo Domingo, in a city called Los Alcarrizos. She is a coordinator for the Bank of Hope Encuentro con Jesus (Encounter with Jesus). While this is the third loan that Luz has taken out with Esperanza International, it is the first loan for many of the other women in her group.
Luz took out her first group loan in February 2008 and has consistently and persistently made her payments. However, the previous members of her group struggled to accept the responsibilities associated with microfinance and thus the group suffered from solidarity and cooperation problems. Esperanza International utilizes group lending, which means that the other members of the group are held responsible if one member defaults. Luz is excited because she has great hope for the responsibility and solidarity of this new group. She shared that it is directly evident that these women are ready to flourish with the opportunity that microfinance provides and are simultaneously ready to be dependable group members.
In February 2008, Luz ran a colmado, a small store that sells primarily durable goods and foods such as rice and potatoes. Almost a year and a half later, Luz now runs a cafeteria where she sells a variety of lunch foods including fresh juices, fried chicken, empanadas (a pastry turnover filled with savory ingredients and baked or fried), and tostados (a tortilla fried in deep fat with various fillings piled on it). Currently, Luz is unable to satisfy the demands of her customers (certainly a good problem to have); thus, she will use her loan to purchase more primary materials so she can expand the amount of food she produces with her mother.
Luz hopes to use her increased profits to not only expand her business but also to save up to replace her tin roof with a more stable cement block roof since it rains frequently in Los Alcarrizos. This new roof will truly be a manifestation of the stability and improvement that microfinance can foster.
Luz lives with her husband, who sells construction materials, and her two children (4 and 6). She is excited for her childrens future and wants them to grow up studying hard, attending church, and making good friends. The children are not the only ones studying in this family. In fact, Luz has been taking night classes in the capital. While she is currently between sessions, she plans to resume classes in August.
On behalf of Luz Nunez, the Bank of Hope Encuento con Dios, and the microfinance institute Esperanza International, thank you for providing opportunities to those who need it most!",F,1475,lender,Food,0
Dominican Republic,"Luz Sosa, a salesperson in a small town of San Pedro de Macoris in the Dominican Republic, dreams of improving her life each day that passes. Her biggest hope is to make a better future for her young kids. She is living with her children of ages 14, 7, 7, in a town where Manny Alexander, a Boston Red Sox player, lived.
Every day she sells clothes, green bananas, sweet potatoes, cassava, and others Dominican traditional foods. She helps her children grow strong and healthy with the food she sells and the money she earns. With the money that is left from all her expanses, she saves some in order to earn enough to build a house made out of concrete blocks, a necessity because of the massive floods that come to this island.
She is currently in an group named ""Alianza"" that helps her and four other members improve their lives. With the money she receives as a loan she and the other members are able to develop their small business to accomplish their dreams.
Luz and her story represent the ""La Alianza"" Bank of Hope; she belongs to a group of 5 women who work hard to improve their lives through the help of their small loans. Each of these men and women has taken out a similar loan to that of Luz's. On behalf of all of them, and our team here at Esperanza, thank you for your support!",F,1100,partner,Food,0
Dominican Republic,"Luz Urena (far left) lives in a neighborhood just outside the city of Las Terrenas, in the Dominican Republic. She has been selling clothing and shoes for the last two years. She seeks a loan to increase her inventory. She is one member of a five women group, who all seek to start or grow their current businesses.
Luz sells door to door, pulling a cart with various shirts, shoes and blouses. She once sold her goods from a van, that she drove to farther away places, but it broke down, limiting her mobility.
This loan will be her first. Luz is hoping to use the additional income to supplement her current inventory and to begin saving up for a new vehicle to expand her business. A better stocked inventory and transportation to help her sell to those who live farther away will aid Luz and help improve her living conditions.",F,950,lender,Clothing,0
Dominican Republic,"Luz Vasques owns and operates a small grocery stand on the street corner next to her home. She lives there with her husband and their six year old son. Her business is one of the main sources of household items, cooking supplies and food staples in her barrio in Villa Navarro outside Hato Mayor. Luz is even able to afford an extra employee.
This loan will give Luz the capital to replenish her store with canned food, rice, beans, bread, plantains, candy, and beverages. She has a refrigerator to keep perishable items and ample space to store a larger inventory so she can offer more goods to her customers.
Luz is a member of an Esperanza solidarity group. She and the four other members of her group will receive shares of this $1,000 loan to develop their small businesses. They have gone through business traning together and have proved to have good ability and commitment to conducting their work and supporting their family. They will make each repayment together and investors in this business will receive an update on not only the progress of Luz, but that of her group as well.",F,1000,partner,Food,0
Dominican Republic,"Luz y Esperanza or Light and Hope is a group of five entrepreneurs seeking their second loan from Esperanza International. The groups past loan has been successfully repaid, and the group hopes to utilize a second loan for further business expansion. Germania is the coordinator for this group in Santiago.
Germania, mother of a ten-year-old child, dreams of converting her current beauty salon one day to a complete spa including a massage center. Germania has recently completed her past loan of 8,000 pesos (approximately $230) and is planning to utilize a second loan of 10,000 pesos (approximately $285) to expand her current infrastructure and purchase additional supplies, including shampoos. Germania is driven in her work and desires to continue to provide for her husband and child.
Other members of Germanias bank run similar entrepreneurial operations including shoes, pillows, and clothing sales.
On behalf of Esperanza and this group of business entrepreneurs, we would like to thank you for your support!",F,1125,lender,Services,0
Dominican Republic,"Luz y Esperanza, or Light and Hope, is a group of five entrepreneurs seeking their second loan from Esperanza International. The groups past loan has been successfully repaid, and the group hopes to utilize a second loan for further business expansion. Yanira is one of the coordinators of the group in Santiago.
Yanira, mother of three (ages: 17, 14 and 9), operates from her home and sells mens, womens, and childrens clothing, shoes and accessories. Yaniras past loan was used to increase product capacity and allowed for a greater return on sales due to increased product offerings to her customers. Yanira plans to use her second loan in a similar manner, to increase her current inventory levels.
Yanira is dedicated to the completion of her loan as she dreams of one day owning her own store to sell her products from.
Other members of Yaniras microfinance bank run similar entrepreneurial operations including Dominican-style fast food sales, fried food, clothing and jewelry sales.
On behalf of Esperanza and this group of business entrepreneurs, we would like to thank you for your support!",F,1125,lender,Clothing,0
Dominican Republic,"Luz, whose name means light in Spanish, lives with her husband and four children, ages 15, 14, 13 and 5. They live in a small house made of cement blocks with a cement roof and a cement floor. She has a small business selling clothing out of her house. She buys clothing in bulk packs and then sells each piece individually. Luz has successfully repaid 3 loans to Esperanza International and is now requesting her fourth loan. She wants to be able to continue to buy more clothing and expand her business so that her kids can grow up with everything they need and get a good education.
Note: This is a group loan for 10 people.",F,3875,partner,Clothing,0
Dominican Republic,"Madre is a single mother who struggles to support four children ranging in age from 4 to 9 years old. She sells shoes, slippers and underwear to people in her home town, the Ochocienta community of Santo Domingo. Madre explains that one year ago her husband left her alone with the children and that she had to find a way to fend for her family. With the small income generated by her business Madre can barely cope with all of her familys needs. She has applied for this loan in order to buy a wider variety of products, and believes that this will increase her sales volume and generate a better income for her family.
Madre says that the greatest thing she can do for her kids is to provide them with a good education. She will work hard in order to reach this goal and enable her children become successful professionals. The entrepreneur hopes that she will receive her loan before too long so that she can move her business forward.",F,300,partner,Retail,1
Dominican Republic,"Maely Cayerano is the group coordinator for the Colaboradores Bank of Hope in San Pedro de Macoris. The loan amount will be shared among the nine members of the group, who run various businesses.
Maely has six children. She runs a catering business and needs to replenish her supplies to keep serving meals. She hopes to keep running her own business and to provide for her family.",F,2700,partner,Food,0
Dominican Republic,"Magalis is a young and budding entrepreneur, and she lives with her two-year-old daughter in the Chucho community of Santo Domingo. Magalis sells a collection of stylish pants and shirts, and she happily says that her goods are sold as quickly as she can stock them. The young entrepreneur explains that one of her priorities is to restart her schooling and become a professional.
Magalis is requesting a loan (the second shell take from FSMA) to purchase new styles of pants that are in vogue at present, increasing her sales volume and attracting new people to her business.",F,250,partner,Clothing,1
Dominican Republic,"Magdalena is a good example of an arduous woman, a loyal wife and a good mother. Her husband and she have six children, four of them boys. The children attend primary and secondary school in the small town. Magdalena is the manager of the tailors shop that her husband runs in a small, rented location. That activity is the principal source of income of the family. They have been running the business for more than fifteen years and now the have a well established clientele.
Magdalena plans to hire a young boy to help her husband prepare the clothes. Her husband wants to teach the sewing art to young people in the community. They plan to start giving sewing classes next year at very low prices to these young people. Magdalena thinks the teenagers need to develop those abilities to earn a living in nowadays.
Magdalena will invest her loan in the purchase of cloth, thread, oil for the sewing machines and other materials they need to continue running the business. They want to be able to maintain a comfortable lifestyle for the family.",F,500,partner,Services,0
Dominican Republic,"Magdalena is a hard-working entrepreneur that lives in the area of Carvajal community of Yamas, where she operates a small grocery store. Magdalena has five children, two of them boys, all of whom attend school. Magdalenas store is not the biggest one in her area. Nonetheless, she gets a lot of customers that loyally visit her to make the purchase of an assortment of goods ranging from rice and beans to milk and flour.
She is requesting a loan of $550 to buy goods to increase her stock. Magdalenas business supports her childrens education",F,550,partner,Food,1
Dominican Republic,"Maira Milady is a teacher in a primary school located in the caf community of Santo Domingo where she lives. Maira has three children, two boys and one girl. The girl attends a university and the boys go to secondary school.
Maira Milady has been producing an assortment of homemade sweets called sweet beans, for two years. She sells her goods in the school where she teaches. She explains that she continually has to buy goods such as milk, coco, sugar, sweet potato and so forth to prepare her sweets. With her loan, she plans on purchasing a large amount of raw materials so that she can produce more goods and increase her income.
Maira Milady wants to keep providing a good education for her children.",F,150,partner,Food,0
Dominican Republic,"Maireny owns and operates a small beauty salon which she started five years ago in the Doa Ana community of San Cristobal. Over the last two years, she's been receiving loans from FSMA (Kivas Field Partner) to strengthen her business. Maireny is a trustworthy person, and she's always repaid her loans on the dot.
According to the entrepreneur, the funds received from FSMA have been very useful for her. In fact, she was able to buy a generator which greatly helps to keep operating her salon despite the frequent power cuts in the area.
Maireny really means business, and she's thinking about introducing new services in her salon in an attempt to attract and retain more clients. She also would like to hire some girls to help her in attending to her customers. With her loan, the entrepreneur will buy a lot of beauty and hair products so that she can keep offering her services. Maireny hopes that her business will allow her to keep supporting her four children's educations until they become professionals.",F,400,partner,Services,1
Dominican Republic,"Maltina is a hard-working woman and mother of a thirteen-year-old boy, her only child. She lives in the Ochocienta community of Santo Domingo. Her husband is a police officer.
Maltina owns and operates a beauty parlor out of her house. The entrepreneur offers such services as nail trimming, nail polishing, hair cuts, hair coloring, and the like. She also sells a collection of beauty products to her customers. Maltina is requesting a loan which could allow her enlarge her business. She will buy an assortment of new products and some materials for her beauty parlor. Maltina hopes that her business will grow to the point where shell have to hire one or two girls to help her offer better and faster service to her customers.
Maltinas group members are:
Mercedes Liranza, who is borrowing to buy a small freezer to keep producing ice cream and gelatin treats;
Celeste Marmolejos Gonzales, to buy clothing in bulk;
Josefina Jacqueline Feliz Matos, to expand her business of selling fresh chicken meat; and
Aneisy Sanchez Reyes, to buy cleaning materials for re-sale.
(In the picture appear from the left to the right: Maltina, Celeste, Josefina, Mercedes and Aneisy.)",F,1375,partner,Services,0
Dominican Republic,"Manuela Altagracia, a 23-year-old mother of two daughters, lives in the Batey of Palav community of San Cristobal. To make a living and take care of her children, Manuela Altagracia sells pants to women in her community.
The entrepreneur explains that she wants to buy a house in a few years, but in the meantime shell keep working hard to move her business forward and improve her familys living conditions.
With her loan, Manuela Altagracia will buy new styles of pants to resell in her community.",F,200,partner,Clothing,0
Dominican Republic,"Manuela lives with her husband and three children in the neighborhood of La Pina, in the outskirts of Santo Domingo. Over the past several years she has started a business for herself where she makes and sells cloth curtains (which often serve as makeshift doors in homes throughout the Dominican Republic), sheets, and comforters. She is asking for her first loan so that she can buy better quality fabric and a few new patterns of fabrics from which she will make her sheets, curtains and comforters.
She says her goal is to improve her business step-by-step and to watch it continue to grow more and more as each day passes. Her dream is to see her children become educated professionals and to live a life of healthy decisions and love. Personally, she says she strives to always be a good, honest, and hardworking person.
Manuela wants to thank everyone who is supporting her with this loan, and she says that if at any time you need anything, she is your friend, and her doors are open.
NOTE: This is a group loan. Manuela is one of five microentrepreneurs in her Bank of Hope solidarity group, all of whom have gone through Esperanza's business training courses. Each of the five members will receive a share of this loan for their respective businesses and will be accountable to each other for repaying their share of the loan together. This group-lending methodology ensures that members cooperate to help one another repay their loans and invest wisely in their businesses and families. Mara Altagracia plans on using her loan to purchase some sacks of beans and rice, vegetable oil and other goods that are much demanded by the customers. The entrepreneur hopes shell have enough income to support her childrens education and improve her familys living conditions.",F,450,partner,Food,1
Dominican Republic,"Mara Antonia is a forty-six-year-old, experienced businesswoman and mother of three children. Mara is a well-known seamstress in El Cacique community of Yamas, seeing that she has been working there for more than twenty years.
Five years ago, Mara Antonia decided to take advantage of her reputation and opened her own shop in a locale she had bought beforehand. The entrepreneur says that she has a well-established clientele, the majority of whom are parents of school-going children. Mara also explains that she has a monthly income of about US$ 250.
When she is overburdened and has many orders, she hires other experienced women temporarily to help her.
Mara plans on using her loan to buy special cloth to start producing bedspreads, pillows, and cushions because these products are in high demand in her community. Maras business supports her childrens university studies.",F,375,partner,Services,0
Dominican Republic,"Mara Antonia is twenty-seven years old, and she and her husband have five children, three of them boys that attend school. Mara Antonia has been a money lender for more than two years. This is the way I can help the neediest people of the neighborhood, she says. She and her husband work, and they put aside part of their salary to lend people.
Mara Antonia hopes that someday shell have a house and enough money to improve her family's living conditions. She is requesting a loan of $375 to invest in her loan business so that she can keep changing her neighbors lives.",F,375,partner,Services,0
Dominican Republic,"Mara Bartolina is 52 years old and sells candies and Yaniqueques, a fried dough snack, in the Batey of Palav community of San Cristobal. Each day, the entrepreneur sets out all of the treats on her display table, and passers-by stop along the sidewalk to enjoy her snacks. Mara Bartolina now needs funds to invest in her business and add a wider variety of candies and sweets to her stock. The entrepreneur explains that this business supports her five children, and she hopes the loan will enhance her enterprises growth and eventually enable her to buy some nicer furniture for her home.",F,250,partner,Food,0
Dominican Republic,"Mara Bernalda is 45 years old, and she and her husband have two sons and one daughter, all of whom attend school. Her husband is an accountant and works for a private company. Mara Bernalda has been running a clothing store for 16 years. She says that her business helps her supplement the family's income, and she helps her husband support the children's studies. Bernalda also explains that through her business, she has been able to contribute to repairing her house.
With her loan, the entrepreneur will buy a large range of products to add to her stock. That way, she'll be able to increase her sales volume and thus her income.",F,375,partner,Clothing,0
Dominican Republic,"Mara Cristina is the coordinator of a group of five businesswomen who live in the Carretn community of Ban, San Cristobal. Mara is 35 years old, and has three school-going children, two boys and a girl. She sells mens and womens clothing. Mara explains that she started her business last year when she realized that her husbands salary could not bear all the familys expenses.
Currently, she has a lot of customers that regularly visit her house to buy her goods. Bi-weekly, Mara Cristina has to go outside her community to Santo Domingo, the capital, to get garments at very good price. With her loan, Mara Cristina will buy clothing in bulk in order to restock her business and satisfy her customers needs.
The other members of the group are:
Fiordaliza Carmona, a 26-year-old mother of three children. Shell invest her loan to buy pants, tennis gear, and perfumes for her business.
Aracelis Melo Pinales is the owner and operator of a beauty parlor. Shell buy an assortment of beauty products for her store.
Julia Melo will buy some fashionable pants, skirts, and shirts for her business.
Argentina Suarez will buy clothing in bulk to replenish her small store.",F,1275,partner,Retail,0
Dominican Republic,"Mara Cristina, a proud mother of four sons and two daughters, is fifty years old and a well experienced entrepreneur who lives in the Don Gregorio community of San Cristobal. Cris affectionately called by the women of the community has been selling vegetables for nine years. Every day, she sets her goods on her large table in the public market and passers-by stop along the sidewalk to purchase the vegetables and fruits that this entrepreneur offers.
With her loan, Mara Cristina will buy more goods in order to satisfy her customers needs and move her business forward. The entrepreneur wants to improve her familys lifestyle.",F,450,partner,Food,0
Dominican Republic,"Mara De La Cruz sells clothing in her community, and her business is her sole means of support. Each day, Mara visits friends and people in the nearby neighborhood to sell clothing. She knows that her business is limited, but she plans on investing her loan to buy of more goods to add to her stock.
Mara hopes that she can get a lot of customers to visit her every day to purchase her garments. She says that she'll keep working hard to repay her small loan, and she expects to be given a larger amount in the future so that she can accomplish more things with greater profits from her business.",F,150,partner,Clothing,1
Dominican Republic,"Mara Del Carmen is 53 years old and has 6 children. She has been married for just four years, even though she had been living with her partner and the couple had already had the children. The children go to the university and the youngest attend public school. Maras husband is working as a teacher. Four years ago, shortly after her marriage, she started a small store, selling shoes and clothes. She gets the merchandise in Santo Domingo and resells them in Monte Plata. Mara thinks that she could do much better if she could get capital to grow her business. She wants to buy bulk clothing and shoes and also to introduce cosmetics in the business. She is requesting a loan to increase her sales volume, attract new people and continue improving her familys living conditions.",F,375,partner,Clothing,0
Dominican Republic,"Mara Del Carmen is in her early 50s and is the very proud mother of three boys. Her husband works for a moving company. Mara sells a wide variety of la mode products, ranging from perfumes, deodorants and body lotion to shoes and pants. She operates the business from her house, and she receives the patronage of thousands of people who want to buy her goods. She explains that she wants to get a new showcase to display her products so that people can better see the products shes selling.
Mara says proudly that she has a very good clientele including college teachers and important persons of her community.
Shell use her loan to buy more products to replenish her store and increase her income.",F,550,partner,Retail,0
Dominican Republic,"Mara Del Carmen is thirty-six years old and the proud mother of two boys and two girls, all of whom go to school. Shes been selling fried dishes for twelve years in the Sabana Palenque community of Santo Domingo. Mara Del Carmen produces the food at home and sells the dishes in her stall on the sidewalk. The entrepreneur has requested a loan to buy meat and other ingredients to keep operating her business. Mara Del Carmen hopes that her business will help her provide a comfortable standard of living for her family.",F,250,partner,Food,1
Dominican Republic,"Mara Del Carmen, a single mother of four school-going children, lives in the Hato Nuevo community of San Cristobal, her hometown.
Mara Del Carmen has a lot of experience in running a business. She had been owner and operator of a grocery store, an auto repair shop and other small businesses.
Currently, she is running a clothing store. People visit her store each day to purchase fashionable pants, shirts, slippers, beauty products and the like. The entrepreneur wants to increase her earnings from the business. With her loan, she will buy products that are running low in the store and also new products in order to attract new people.",F,400,partner,Clothing,0
Dominican Republic,"Mara Elena is a single mother who works hard to bring up her two school-age children, and to improve her familys standard of living. Mara Elena has been producing candies and arepas (unleavened corn flour flatbreads) to order for a long time. She happily says that her goods are ordered as quickly as she can produce them, and her clientele has been growing during the last two years. Actually, the entrepreneur sells her goods to small grocery stores, cafeterias, and the schools in the community.
Mara also explains that she has to spend a lot of money to get raw materials and to purchase disposable packing material to deliver the products to her customers.
The entrepreneur will invest her loan to purchase more materials in order to continue operating her business. Shes also considering the possibility of starting to sell in small quantities directly to the consumers. She thinks that strategy will allow her increase her revenues.",F,150,partner,Food,1
Dominican Republic,"Mara Gertrudis Ponciano is a 47-year-old woman who is striving in order to make a living and fend for her five children. She runs a grocery store that she opened five years ago with her husband.
She gets the merchandise in the township, since there are a lot of fields there and she can obtain the goods fresh. She sells all kinds of vegetables, beans, rice, flour and other foodstuffs.
The entrepreneur would like to augment the operations volume of her sales activity. She thinks that she would attend to more customers if she could buy some products in bulk. Given this loan, Mara Gertrudis will see her business dream fulfilled and will earn as much as necessary to keep on running the business and looking after her children.",F,375,partner,Food,0
Dominican Republic,"Mara Gisela has been cooking for more than eight years in the Don Gregorio community of San Cristobal; her hometown. Her breakfasts and lunches are just delicious and the customers are very satisfied with her professionalism and the good quality of her dishes. Mara Gisela remembers that it was an uphill struggle to position herself as one of the best cooks in the community because of the rough competition. Currently, she has a well established clientele and her business keeps on growing.
With her loan, this entrepreneur will buy more chairs and tables in order to allow people to enjoy their food comfortably. Mara Giselas husband passed away four years ago, so she has to support her five children on her own.",F,600,partner,Food,0
Dominican Republic,"Mara Herminia sells costume jewelry and beauty products in the Chucho community of Santo Domingo. She has a lot of dreams for her family, and she hopes her business will allow reach her goals and succeed in life.
Mara Herminia has two daughters and one son, all of whom go to school. She says that its hard to provide for her children every day, but she hopes that her businesss continued growth will help her to earn more profits so she can support her childrens education and her familys well being. With her loan, Mara Herminia will buy new and fashionable items, which may help her attract new clients. This entrepreneur would like to have a big store with a lot of employees and millions of customers visiting it every day. Mara will use her loan to buy a large quantity of products ordered by her customers. Shell also purchase some fashionable shoes and sneakers that she thinks people will love and buy.
Maras business supports the education of her two children.",F,300,partner,Retail,0
Dominican Republic,"Mara is a young entrepreneur and the proud mother of a lovely son. She struggles to earn a living and take care of her family. Shortly after her childs birth, Mara was forced to leave school in order to get a job to support her child. As her sons father doesnt have a good job, Mara started a business selling pastelitos (meat or chicken turnovers) in her neighborhood. She explains that this venture has been very profitable because she cooks like nobodys business.
Mara is requesting this loan (her second from FSMA) to buy more ingredients so that she can move her business forward and lift her family out of poverty.",F,475,partner,Food,0
Dominican Republic,"Mara is a young mother who struggles to maintain three children on her own. She recently started a small business retailing fuel in her community, but because she doesnt have easy access to capital, Maria hasnt been able to purchase a significant amount of fuel. Therefore her business is still limited, but she plans on using her loan to buy many gallons of this product to retail in her community.
Mara would like to have her own house so that her children can live comfortably, but she says she'll have to work harder in order to reach this goal. She hopes that her business will allow her to provide her kids with a good education.",F,150,partner,Retail,1
Dominican Republic,"Mara is a young woman who is making great efforts to succeed in life. For more than three years, she has been selling perfumes and womens clothing in order to support her university studies. Mara explains that her inventory is still limited but she plans on expanding the business with the loan she has requested. Mara studies Education Sciences at a university in Santo Domingo, the capital, and has to go outside her community thrice a week to attend the classes. Mara hopes she will have the requested funds soon so that she can be one step closer to get professional and have a better life.
Mara also sells an assortment of underwear and fashionable shoes to women of Mulo, a neighborhood of Yamas. She has to travel outside her community once a month to get the products at very low prices. Currently, she has a well established clientele.
She plans on using her loan to supplement her business with new brands of shoes and she wants to add some chic pants to the business, too.
Mara hopes her business can keep growing. She says that before long she will rent a locale to run her business out of.",F,450,partner,Retail,0
Dominican Republic,"Mara is in her late fifties, and she is an experienced and many-sided entrepreneur. Mara sells sweets and candies to people of the Batey Palav community of San Cristobal. She also sells a wide collection of bedspreads, curtains and shoes in the same community. She explains that shell press on toward her main goal, which is to buy a comfortable house so that her five children can live at ease. She hopes that her business can turn into a Big Store with so many customers that shell have to hire many employees to attend to them.",F,300,partner,Retail,0
Dominican Republic,"Mara is the kind of person who thinks that getting older is not synonymous for sluggishness but an opportunity to keep working and positively impacting society. Mother of 2 children (boy and girl), this woman of 48 years old is happily selling second-hand clothes and cosmetic products. She started the business when she was 40 and is still working to improve it day by day. Mara has been selling the products in her house and sometimes delivering the goods to the customers houses, but now, she plans to do business in another way. She will buy used clothes in bulk, wholesale, and resell them in smaller quantities (retail wholesale) to other women of the community who will then retail the clothes. However, shell keep on selling the cosmetic products retail. Furthermore, Mara wants to rent a small place to store the merchandise purchased. She believes that her new business ideas will be successful since the holiday season is when people buy a lot of clothes in her community. Earning extra money will help her cover the university expenses of her children.",F,325,partner,Clothing,0
Dominican Republic,"Mara is the mother of six children and for the last eight years has run a small pastry shop in Yamas. She is a skilled businesswoman with lots of experience and is deeply familiar with the rules of the marketplace. After years running her business at a rented location, Maria's long-term goal is to open a new shop at a location she owns. In the meantime, she plans to continue to work diligently and patiently until she can achieve that dream. She has applied for a loan to buy the ingredients she needs to prepare cakes, cookies, pastries and pies for her customers.",F,625,partner,Food,0
Dominican Republic,"Mara is thirty-nine years old, and she and her husband have five children, four of them boys, ranging from twelve to twenty-two years old.
For six years, Mara has been selling womens clothing. She says that it's a very lucrative business.
Every Tuesday, Mara goes outside her community to purchase the goods she will resell in her neighborhood. She told us that she makes a weekly profit of about US$ 170.
The entrepreneur has requested a loan to purchase clothing in bulk in Elas Pia, a frontier city with Haiti where garments can be obtained at very low prices. She hopes someday she can have her own locale where she can run her business and no longer have to rent one.",F,900,partner,Clothing,0
Dominican Republic,"Mara Isabel is thirty-five years old and the proud mother of a nine-year-old son. She had been selling homemade fried dishes for a couple of years, but unfortunately had to discontinue her business because she didnt have enough capital to make it succeed. Also, she separated from her husband a few months ago and had to look after her son by herself. She found it difficult to take care of the family and keep running the business with such limited capital. Things began improving when Mara Isabel got a loan from MFSA, which she used to restart her business. She managed to make it successful and repaid the loan on time. Now, her business is profitable and she has a lot of satisfied customers.
The entrepreneur is requesting another loan to buy more provisions so as to keep producing her delicious dishes and attract more clients. Mara Isabel would like to have her own establishment from which to run her business.",F,300,partner,Food,1
Dominican Republic,"Mara Isabel is twenty-seven years old and lives with her husband in the Chucho community of Santo Domingo. She sells candy and sweets to people of her community. Mara Isabel would like to start a family but says that first she has to improve her living conditions to make sure she and her family could live comfortably.
Mara Isabel hopes that shell be able to put together enough money to grow her business open a retail shop for candy and pastries. She plans to use her loan to purchase more supplies in order to increase her sales volume and her income.",F,200,partner,Food,1
Dominican Republic,"Mara Josefa is in her late forties and is a multi-faceted entrepreneur living in the Zapotal community of Nizao. Her two children go to school in the same community. Early in the morning, Mara Josefa prepares coffee, chocolate with milk, and cakes or bread, all of which she offers to people that are going to work or school. In general, she operates her business to support her children's education. In addition, she offers housekeeping services on the weekends.
Mara Josefa plans to use this loan to expand and improve her business. In particular, she wants to rent a small local and run a small restaurant.",F,425,partner,Food,1
Dominican Republic,"Mara Lora is a young woman and the mother of three children. Shortly after she gave birth to her first child, she had to stop her studies to take care of her newborn. Now, she has more responsibilities and a smaller amount of money to meet all of the expenses of her family.
Mara Lora says that there are lots of things shed do to lift her family out of poverty if she could get money to start a small business and save money. Mara Lora is requesting a loan to start selling fresh chicken and pork to people in her neighborhood. She explains that this kind of business is very profitable because people in her community consume meat every day. The young woman is very confident and affirms that shell strive to achieve success in her business. Mara Loran will receive the funds together with these four other women:
The photo shows Dioganis house.",F,725,lender,Retail,1
Dominican Republic,"Dionicia and her husband own and operate a tailors shop which they started more than ten years ago. They run the shop within their house and they have many customers. Currently, they are using two old sewing machines, but Dionicia says that they will buy new ones when their business expands. Most of their clients are fathers of school-going children and band leaders. Dionicia explains that they have to buy a lot of materials to sew the clothing. With this loan, Dionicia would be able to purchase sewing thread, cloth, oil, and needles for the sewing machines and other goods to operate her shop.",F,500,partner,Services,0
Dominican Republic,"Doctora Pia, mother of four children, is a budding entrepreneur who lives in the Los Alcarrizos community of Santo Domingo. One year ago, she took from FSMA a loan with which she started a small business selling silver jewelry. The entrepreneur invested the funds wisely and she has managed to make her business successful. Currently she has a well-established clientele which is growing.
",F,1225,partner,Retail,1
Dominican Republic,"Dulce Mara is an ambitious entrepreneur who tries hard to make a living and to support her family. She has four children ranging from eighteen to twenty-six years old, all of whom go to school and live with her.
Edwin has a small repair shop where he sells parts for vehicles. This is his very first loan and he hopes to buy enough motorcycle parts for his inventory. In small towns, motorcycles are the most popular transportation. But, the condition of the roads makes it hard for their owners to keep them in good shape. This has brought Edwin a good clientele that trusts him to find even the most difficult motorcycle part.
Edwin has three young children. They are ages 8 and 6, and the youngest is just two months old. Edwin is working very hard to make sure that his children do not lack anything, especially the little baby. He dreams of seeing them grow up in a house of his own. He would like to set up his auto repair shop in a space he will own.
Some of the borrowers on this loan have already completed two loan cycles successfully with Esperanza International.
This picture was taken at the Hato Mayor office. The young man at the very back and and the woman whose head is partially visible on his right are not members of the group.
Thank you for helping us support these entrepreneurs!
",F,1475,partner,Health,1
Dominican Republic,"Fausta is a 40-year-old woman who lives her two children and husband in the community of Los Alcarrizzos on the outskirts of Santo Domingo. She sells new clothing to her community members, and is asking for this loan so that she can have enough capital to purchase a larger quantity of clothes, have more to offer her clients, and consequently, turn a higher profit each week.
Shown in the picture from left to right are: Cornelia, Carmen, Sofia, Maritza, and Zunilda.",F,725,lender,Food,1
Dominican Republic,"For more than eleven years, this intrepid and diligent woman has been working to help her grocery store grow. She was only 19 and had just had her first child when she started the business. At the beginning, she operated the grocery store only four days a week, and she was selling just some foodstuffs. But, over the years, the business has grown considerably and Flora now can operate it all the days of the week.
Pictured, from left to right are: Mara Lora, Mara Luisa, Eugenia, Dulce Mara, Mara Nila
",F,1075,partner,Food,1 Dominican Republic,"Mara Lourdes is one of the few older women who give special importance to education. In spite of her age shes fifty years old Mara Lourdes attends school for adults and she will finish secondary school next year. Mara Lourdes, a mother of five well-loved children, is also an entrepreneur. She sells mens and womens clothing in the Batey de Palav community of San Cristobal. The entrepreneur has been running this business for six years, shortly after her husbands death.Marie Lourdes explains that there are a lot of entrepreneurs who are competing to attract the customers and to be the best supplier of clothing in the community. She adds that shell do her best to lead in this competition and have a successful business.
With her loan, Marie Lourdes will buy more clothing for her business.",F,300,partner,Clothing,0 Dominican Republic,"Mara Luisa is a 22-year-old single mother of two school-going girls. She has been selling men's and womens clothing for more than eight years in her community. She explains that at the beginning her selection of clothing was very limited. Fortunately, after two months, she got a loan through FSMA which she used to supplement her inventory with new clothing. Once a month now, she goes outside her community to get garments at very low prices. Sometimes, she has to travel to cities very far from Palav such as Elas Pia, a border city with Haiti.
Mara Luisa has requested a second loan to purchase clothing in bulk. That way, she will radically reduce the number of trips she makes outside her community and augment her profit margin.",F,450,partner,Clothing,0 Dominican Republic,"Mara Magdalena is dedicated to selling fried plantains, maniocs, meat and natural juices. She is a very experienced businesswoman and has been running her business for more than five years. Her business is famous and she has a well-established clientele.
Mara Magdalena gets the vegetables from within the community, where there are a lot of fields; she gets the products for low prices because she buys big quantities of goods. However, she is currently short of enough products to satisfy all her customers' needs. She will invest the loan requested to get more raw materials to prepare the food. Mara Magdalena will also start to sell seven days a week. That way, she will be able to attend to more customers and increase her income so that she can better fend for her four children.",F,375,partner,Food,0 Dominican Republic,"Mara Maribel, a humorous but hard-working woman, is the coordinator of a group of five women, all of them entrepreneurs that live in the Bonito community of Santo Domingo. Maribel has been cooking fried dishes for more than fifteen years. I cook like nobodys business, and its always just what the doctor ordered, she says, falling down laughing.
The entrepreneur would like to add new dishes to the menu in order to offer a wider variety of choices to the customers and increase her sales volume and revenue. Mara Maribel wants to have enough money to maintain a comfortable life and enjoy her golden days.
The members of Maribels group are:
Higinia Ozorio Moreno, a beauty products retailer
Samara Mateo Brito, to purchase womens clothing
Crucita Mercedes Santi, to buy beauty products for a small shop
Teresa Moreno, to buy pants and shoes
Photo: from left to right: Higinia, Samara, Mara Maribel, Crucita, Teresa",F,950,partner,Food,0
Dominican Republic,"Mara Moya is a mother of three children. She has been a buyer of bulk clothing for some time and has worked part of her life in the selling of new and used clothing. Mara made the decision to ask for a loan through a BDE called Prosperidad\ in Samana, where our office is operating. Mara decided to invest her money in her business, hoping that it is successful. As all Dominican women, she enjoys meat and her favorite hobby is reading books and asking God for a better future for her family which we know our Lord with grant her.
Maria is part of a larger group of 35 men and women. Only 20 are taking out new loans right now, her loan represents the other 19 individuals in her Bank of Hope. Her group members have businesses in everything ranging from small grocery stores, to fried fish stands, to clothing and shoe sales.
On behalf of Maria, her group, and everyone here at Esperanza International-- we thank you for your support!
Translated from Spanish by Cindy Kendall, Kiva Volunteer
",F,5000,partner,Clothing,0 Dominican Republic,"Mara Ramona is 42 years old, and she and her husband have a unique 12-year-old daughter. Her husband works as a security agent in a commercial bank.To supplement the familys income, Mara Ramona sells a collection of shoes, slippers, and also beauty products to women of the Hato Nuevo community of San Cristobal, her hometown. Ramona operates the business predominantly from her house, but sometimes she visits some friends and other women in the neighborhood to offer and sell her products.
With her loan, the entrepreneur will buy beauty products and shoes so as to continue satisfying her customers needs.",F,325,partner,Retail,0 Dominican Republic,"Mara Ramona is in her early forties, and she and her husband have three daughters aged 15, 18 and 22. The eldest is in university, while the others attend secondary school. Mara Ramona runs a small business selling ice cream. She has a diverse clientele made up of students from the local public school to neighbors who visit her house for her delicious ice cream.
Mara Ramona is considering enlarging her business. She has requested a loan to buy new ice cream flavors so that she can attract more clients. With her new loan, she hopes to increase her income and provide a better standard of living for her family.",F,275,partner,Food,0 Dominican Republic,"Mara Reyes is 49 years old and a single mother of three girls. She sells an assortment of sweets and candies in her workplace and at a college located in the Los Alcarrizos community of Santo Domingo. By means of that activity, and with the salary from her job, the entrepreneur pays her rent and supports her childrens education.
With her loan, Mara Reyes will buy more candies and sweets to keep satisfying her customers needs and increase her income.",F,450,partner,Food,1 Dominican Republic,"Mara Rosa is in her early forties. She and her husband have two girls aged twenty-two and fifteen, both of whom study. Mara describes herself as an experienced entrepreneur. She explains that she has great abilities to convince people, and says that shell manage to be successful in any business she begins.
Mara explains that her husbands salary is not enough to bear all of the familys expenses. So, in order to help her husband improve their financial standing, Mara plans on using her loan to start a small business. Shell be selling silver jewelry and underwear to women of the Altagracia community of Santo Domingo. Mara hopes her business success will help her provide a comfortable lifestyle for her family.",F,250,partner,Retail,0 Dominican Republic,"Mara Salom is thirty-five years old and the mother of four children: three are boys, all of them attend school. Her husband works as a security agent at a country house. To supplement her familys income, Mara Salom sells vegetables and ripe fruits in her hometown, the low-income Cruce Mela community of Yamas.
Mara Salom admits humbly that it is hard to keep up with her children and that maintaining the cash flow is very challenging. Nonetheless, she expects that her business growth will help her augment her income so that she can improve her familys living conditions. Mara Salom says that the most important thing for her is to support her childrens studies so that they get a good education. In this way, even the poorest children are given a fighting chance.
Mara Salom has applied for a loan together with the following entrepreneurs:
Marta Teresa De Los Santos Gonzalez, who will buy curtains and decorative window dressings.
Grisel Villanueva, who will purchase seeds to resell in the community.
Ramona Antonia Medina Tejada has a small business selling cakes and other goods.
Epifania Santana will buy materials for a small beauty parlor.",F,1425,partner,Food,0 Dominican Republic,"Mara sells fried vegetables and ripe fruits in the Batey of Palav community of San Cristobal. She has a lot of experience, since she has been carrying on different kinds of businesses for a long time. Mara is thirty-six years old, and she has three children, two girls and a boy. They all attend school.
The entrepreneur explains that she wants to expand her business. She is requesting a loan to purchase more fruits and vegetables to increase her sales volume and her income. Maras business supports her childrens educations. The entrepreneur says shell keep working hard to provide a comfortable lifestyle for her family.",F,250,partner,Food,0 Dominican Republic,"Mara sells mens clothing. She is 38 years old and has three children. Her husband works in a construction company.
Mara has been operating her business for one year. Every two weeks, she goes to Santo Domingo, the capital, to acquire garments to resell in her community. Currently she makes a weekly profit of USD 125.00.
The businesswoman is requesting a loan to buy clothing in bulk to supply her business. Wholesale purchase will reduce frequent and costly trips outside her community to get the goods, so she will increase her income and improve her margin of profit.
Mara had previously obtained loans from FSMA and she was able to repay responsibly.",F,450,partner,Clothing,0 Dominican Republic,"Mara Teresa is forty-four years old, and she is the mother of five children. Mara Teresa lives in Hortaliza community of Santo Domingo. Mara explains that currently she needs funds to support her children's studies, and her husbands salary (he is a policeman) is not enough to bear all the familys expenses. Therefore, she plans on starting a small cafeteria in her house. She says she will sell fried food, spaghetti, sausage pork and natural juices. Mara Teresa has a huge experience in food preparation, which will help her business be successful. She is requesting a loan of $225 to purchase the necessary goods to start the cafeteria.",F,225,partner,Food,0 Dominican Republic,"Mara Teresa, a 44 year old mother, lives in Hortaliza community of Santo Domingo and is working hard to lift her seven children out of poverty. Her husband is a police officer and his income is not sufficient to bear all the expenses of the family. Mara Teresa is very positive and believes she can do something to improve her family's living conditions. She plans on starting a small cafeteria which she will run in her house. She will produce fried vegetables, spaghetti, spicy pork sausage and natural juices. Mara Teresa has visited a lot of friends and people in the surroundings to promote her forthcoming cafeteria. Mara Teresa hopes that she will receive the loan in a short time so that she can purchase food stocks to start her business, and that her cafeteria's success will help her improve her familys daily life.",F,225,partner,Food,0 Dominican Republic,"Mara Tereza Emiliano is a young entrepreneur who lives in the Batey Arroyo Indio, in the Municipality of Pedro Brand in Santo Domingo. People in Arroyo Indio are living in very precarious conditions. Most of them live in shacks instead of decent houses. To make a living and try to lift herself out of poverty, Mara Tereza operates a small grocery store in her community. The young entrepreneur explains that her business is very useful to people in the community, because she offers them various goods they would not be able to get otherwise. However, she explains that her stock is still limited, but she hopes that with the loan that she is requesting, she'll be able to add a greater variety of goods to her business in order to satisfy her customers' needs and move her business forward.",F,600,partner,Food,1 Dominican Republic,"Mara Trinidad is 43 years old and the mother of three daughters that range from 14 to 19, all of whom attend school. Her husband works as electrician for a company.
Mara Trinidad has been selling beauty products for more than 12 years. She operates the business from her house, and people visit her showcase every day to get her products. The entrepreneur is requesting a loan to add new lines of makeup, hair care products and perfumes so that she can attract new people to her business.
Maras business supports her childrens educations.",F,400,partner,Retail,0 Dominican Republic,"Marcela, the leader of this group, is an old and skilled entrepreneur who sells tennis shoes and slippers in Chacuey Abajo, a low-income community of Cotu. Her experience and knowledge of the market have allowed her to do her work successfully, in spite of the hard competition. Her clients are satisfied with the quality and price of her products. This loan is to invest in a new collection of fashionable shoes and slippers that are in high demand in the community. Marcela says that satisfying her customers is the key to her success. So, she has to pay constant attention to her clients demand, and when her patrons ask for a certain item, she adds it to her inventory. Marcela hopes that this loan will allow her to strengthen her business and improve her family's lifestyle. The members of Marcela's group are: Felicia Herrera, who sells fried dishes, Paulina Jerez Concepcion, who sells sweets and candies, Valentina Rodriguez, who sells beauty products; The photo shows from left to right: Valentina, Paulina, Marcela and Felicia.",F,850,partner,Retail,1 Dominican Republic,"Marcelina is thirty-four years old and responsible for supporting her three boys and one girl, which all attend school. To make a living, Marcelina sells an assortment of fruits and vegetables in her community. Each day, she set outs all her goods on her large table, and passers-by can see and make the purchase of her delicious fruits and vegetables. Marcelina is requesting a loan of $550 to augment her stock and better satisfy her customers. She plans to buy a large quantity of fruits and add new ones to her inventory in order to increase her sales volume and thus her revenue. Marcelina says that she has to put aside money to provide food and good education for her children.",F,550,partner,Food,1 Dominican Republic,"Marcelina lives in her small and loved community of Piedra Blanca in San Cristobal with her husband and her five children. She sells undergarments to women in her neighborhood, and says with enthusiasm that lots of people love her goods which are sold very quickly. Marcelina plans to buy new fashionable items which are in high demand this season. The entrepreneur is also a school teacher, and most of the teaching staff regularly buys her undergarments. Marcelina hopes that someday shell be able to buy her own home and provide her children a better lifestyle.",F,300,partner,Clothing,1 Dominican Republic,"Marcelina, 55 years old, mother of four children, is a very serious and dynamic woman. Her children are living in Santo Domingo, the capital, where they work and have their own families. Marcelina and her husband sell different kinds of seeds. They started doing so twenty years ago. Marcelina will be the administrator of the business, since her husband is getting old and cant work as hard as he did before.
Marcelina is requesting a loan to purchase a larger amount of seeds which will be stored in their small storehouse. That way, it will be easier for them to sell their products. The entrepreneur will also be better able to face possible health issues of her husband and improve the couple's well-being.",F,375,partner,Food,0 Dominican Republic,"Marcelina, born in Yamas, started selling natural medicine products 2 years ago, but reached a slump when she ran out of money to buy more product. This circumstance made her stop her selling activity. With the requested loan, she wants to initiate restocking of natural herbs and thereby renew her sales activity over time. She intends to buy the medicine in the capital, Santo Domingo, an hours travel time from her community in Yamas. Thus, to minimize costs, she intends to buy more products on each trip.
She also works at the nearby Yamas hospital. When she got separated from her husband, in order to feed her 5 children, she needed this stable job. It wasnt enough. That is why, at the same time she needs to continue her former business.",F,250,partner,Health,0 Dominican Republic,"Marcelo Silas lives in Batey 18, a very impoverished batey (company-run housing for a sugar cane plantation) outside of La Romana in the southeast Dominican Republic.
Batey 18 is a small community of about 20 houses, all of which are occupied by Haitian immigrants who come to work on the sugar cane fields. It is hard for them to do business in this community. The only time that people have money is during the sugar cane season when they get paid per pound of cut cane. In order to make decent profits, Marcelo has to sell on the streets of La Romana.
Marcelo will purchase house products, such as kitchen-ware, to sell. He hopes to make some good sales with Mother's day coming. Marcelo is married to Antonia Celestino and they have four children. One of his goals is to send his children to a better school so they can improve their education.
On behalf of the members of the Canal de Bendicion group, thank you for your support!
",F,1300,lender,Retail,0 Dominican Republic,"Marcia is the proud mother of four children, ages 5, 15, 18 and 20. She owns a business raising and selling cows. Esperanza has given Marcia five loans already and she has successfully paid back all of them. She is a very hard worker and her business continues to do well. With this next loan, Marcia hopes to continue progressing. She dreams that she can provide a good education for her children. She wants them to go to college and become professionals so that their lives will be even better than hers.Note: This is a group loan for 5 people. In a group loan, each member of the group receives an individual loan but is part of a group of individuals bound by a group guarantee. Under this arrangement, each member of the group supports one another and is responsible for paying back the loans of their fellow group members if someone is delinquent or defaults.",F,1450,partner,Agriculture,0 Dominican Republic,"Marcia lives in Barrio Azul Andres, Boca Chica, a municipality that belongs to the Santo Domingo province. In Barrio Azul Andres everyone knows each other and there is a strong sense of family. Marcia used to work at a ""Banca,"" a small gambling and lotto hot spot. She is no longer employed but needs income to keep her household running, especially because she has two young kids. Her kids are photographed above -- as you can see, the boy is 6 years old and her daughter is 10 months old. This is Marcia's first loan with Esperanza. With the money she will start her own boutique from home. She plans on buying clothes primarily for women, shoes, and purses to resell in her community. She plans on promoting her business by putting signs outside her home and by telling her community that she has a new business. Marcia hopes that her business can take off so her kids can benefit from the profits. Don't hesitate to support Marcia and help her group become successful entrepreneurs in their community. Thank you.",F,1025,lender,Clothing,0 Dominican Republic,"Marcia Mara sells an assortment of energy and alcoholic beverages in the Cambita community of San Cristobal. Her husbands salary is insufficient to meet the familys expenses, so Marcia Mara started her business two years ago to supplement her husband's income and help pay for her three childrens educations. Marcia Mara is seeking a loan to increase her inventory and continue to satisfy her customers needs. She hopes that her business continued growth will allow her family to buy a house someday.",F,300,partner,Food,1 Dominican Republic,"Marcia Mejia Diaz, pictured in the middle, is the coordinator of her five-member group. She resides in Carlo Alvares, a small town in the sector of Villa Mella, part of Santo Domingo Norte. Marcia is a single mother and lives with her two sons. The youngest is 16, and is a senior in high school and wants to study electronics. The eldest, 18, is a sophomore in college who wants to study informational engineering and is learning Japanese. Marcia has had six years of experience working as a massage therapist, going home to home.
With this loan she plans to buy two massage machines that would help her avoid unnecessary strain on her hands, so she can have more sessions per day. She would also invest in massage lotions and ointments to sell which boost her income. Through Esperanza, Marcia plans to take marketing courses in order to become a better businesswoman.
Through the additional income from her business as a result of this loan, Marcia hopes to be able to pay for her son's college without it being such a huge burden on her household. She also hopes to begin to save part of her income so her eldest son can study abroad in Japan in a year or two. One of her dreams is to open her own aesthetic center, where she would have others work for her, and only attend lifelong customers, while she manages the business.
Marcia will share this loan with the other members of her group.",F,825,lender,Health,0 Dominican Republic,"Marcia Mejia is the Group Coordinator for the Confianza y Dignidad (Trust and Dignity) Bank of Hope in Hato Mayor. This group of 5 hopes to utilize this microfinance loan to further establish their existing business ventures or create new operations in order to increase their profit levels. Marcia has 2 teenage children, ages 18 and 14. Marcia plans to utilize this loan to increase the inventory of the products she sells. Currently Marcia sells a variety of mens, womens, and childrens undergarments. Marcia is dedicated to the success of her business as she dreams of one day owning her own large variety store and converting a room in her house to a store. Loan funds will be used to increase current inventory levels and begin the process of creating a store. On behalf of Esperanza and this group of business entrepreneurs, we would like to thank you for your support!",M,2700,lender,Clothing,0 Dominican Republic,"Marcia Pierrot and Octavia de la Cruz are two representatives of the ten entrepreneurs applying for this Kiva loan. Both Marcia and Octavia have small cafeterias. They sell mostly juices, sandwiches, and fried pastries filled with either meat or cheese. These make great snacks and are cheap, easy-to-take-on-the-go breakfast options as well. This loan will be used to purchase more juices and pastries in order to serve larger clienteles in the morning when both of them have the largest crowds. Marcia and Octavia want to own the houses they live in so they don't have to pay rent in the future and can take more advantage of what their businesses are generating.
All of the group members live in San Pedro de Macoris, in southeast Dominican Republic. They have successfully repaid five previous loans to Esperanza International, and are working towards consolidating their businesses. These hardworking women have shown great determination in taking their micro businesses to the next level. Please help us to continue supporting them with this Kiva loan. Thank you!",F,2000,lender,Food,0 Dominican Republic,"Margalena Gomez is the bank coordinator for ""Esfuerzate y Sed Valiente"" (Group 3). The bank operates in San Marcos, a neighborhood a little bit outside of the city of Puerto Plata. Her group is the newest addition to this community bank, bringing their total number to 15 members. These entrepreneurs will undertake a variety of businesses, mostly involving clothing and food sales.
Margalena is 43 years old and is married to a man her own age. They have three grown children and three grandchildren. Margalena is a very active woman and has not delayed in putting time into her business. Most people probably see their business as a mean to achieve something, but Margalena also sees her business as a passion. Over 20 years ago, she started a beauty salon in her own house and in the front of her house she has a small frituria - which means that she fries a variety of foods for sale. About 4 years ago she also started to buy and sell clothes and natural products like medicine and drinks. Sometimes she is so busy with everything she is involved in that her husband and friends help her out. ""I simply love to do business,"" she says.
San Marcos is a poor neighborhood, but the participants in the group think their economy has improved lately and that loans from Esperanza are one important reason for this improvement. It is no wonder that they have chosen Margalena as their coordinator. She is energetic and the one that has the most experience running a business.
With her upcoming loan, Margalena wants to expand her businesses, in particular she wants to sell more clothes. By being responsible with her loan, her businesses, family, group, and neighborhood will have more opportunity to prosper.",F,950,lender,Retail,0 Dominican Republic,"Margaret is a single mother of six children. For the past three years she had been able to sustain her family by operating a beauty salon. As you might expect, the meager profits from this business are not sufficient to support all the needs of the children. Nonetheless, this entrepreneur doesn't feel discouraged; she wants to work harder in order to meet her family's needs.
With this loan, Margaret will buy more beauty products and other materials to better operate her salon. Margaret swears that she'll repay the loan quickly and thanks all the lenders for supporting her. We invite you to be a part of the growth of Margaret's business.",F,200,partner,Services,1 Dominican Republic,"Margarita and her husband have five children ranging from age thirteen to thirty-one. Margarita jokingly points out that raising four boys has been no small task. She owns a small salon, operated in her home, where she designs and shapes hairstyles for local women.
Margarita offers a variety of styling products but plans on using her loan to buy more, hopefully at lower cost. She also plans on buying a hairdryer for her salon. Someday, Margarita would like to open a second salon outside of her home, as well.",F,375,partner,Services,0 Dominican Republic,"Margarita Elizabeth is married with three children ranging in age from 8 to 12. Her husband repairs weighing machines. Three years ago, Margarita Elizabeth started a small business selling womens clothing in order to contribute to the familys budget. One her most urgent objectives is to have her own house in another community. Her current house is located not far from a river that presents a potential danger for people in the neighborhood.
Margarita is requesting a loan to buy clothing in bulk to add to her stock so that she can keep satisfying her customers needs and increase her income. She hopes that her business will allow her reach her goals before long.",F,150,partner,Clothing,1 Dominican Republic,"Margarita Guzman Medrano is one of the members of group 6 in the ""Comunidad Unida"" (United Community) Bank of Hope. This loan is also being taken by group 5 in the same bank, for a total of 10 borrowers. These groups are located in Brisas del Ozama, a community located on the eastern part of Santo Domingo, very near the Ozama River, one of the largest in the country. During rainy season, this river is a serious threat to these people`s houses. Margarita sells clothes as a business. With her new loan she wants to increase her business even more. Elize hopes that she one day will be able to buy a nice house to live in. She is also very preoccupied about the future of her children. Please help us support these ladies` hard work. Thank you!",F,2125,partner,Clothing,0 Dominican Republic,"Margarita is a single mother of a six-year-old girl, and she lives in the caf community of Santo Domingo where she carries on a small business. She has been selling sweets and candies for eight months. Margarita in general runs her business in a primary school, but every so often she also visits friends and neighbors to sell her goods. She explains that she needs a local space for the business, so that she wont have to leave her house every day and walk long distances to take her sweets to students and the neighbors. With her loan, Margarita will buy many goods to keep preparing her delicious sweets and candies, and increase her income.",F,150,partner,Food,0 Dominican Republic,"Margarita was born and raised in the Ochocienta community of Santo Domingo. Shes thirty-eight years old and a proud mother of five sons and two daughters. Margarita sells an assortment of tennis shoes in her community. This entrepreneur doesnt currently own an establishment for her to sell the merchandise, but she plans on putting aside money to have a location in a few years. With her loan, Margarita will add new items to her stock so as to make her business more atractive and augment her revenue.
Margaritas business supports the childrens education.",F,450,partner,Retail,0 Dominican Republic,"Margarita, 20, is one of the few young people in her community to cultivate the entrepreneurial spirit. She is also very responsible. She got married last year to another young man of 25. Four years ago, she started her business selling clothes, hair products and skin care products. Her store is well known by people of the township and she has an established clientele. The loan requested is to buy hair gel, since this has been in short supply. Margarita uses a part of her income to help her mother, who sometimes helps her attend to the business.",F,100,partner,Retail,0 Dominican Republic,"Margarita, 30, defines herself as an experienced businesswoman. She runs a general store which people visit every day to get goods such as rice, vegetable oil, onion and ripe fruits. She and her husband have four children, two boys and two twin girls. Currently, Margarita sells from her house. Her dream is to have her own local area in which to operate her business. With her $600 loan (the second one obtained from our organization), Margarita will keep her inventory well-stocked so she is able to meet customer demand.",F,600,partner,Food,0 Dominican Republic,"Margarita, who owns a small shop selling undergarments, is the proud mother of two children, ages 10 and 16. She has already paid back five loans to Esperanza International, and with her next loan wants to continue expanding her business so that she and her family can have a better life. Margarita hopes her children will get the best education possible and that she will be able to provide for them so that they can pursue good careers. She is very thankful to Esperanza International for the support and stability it has allowed her and her family.
Note: This is a group loan. Also, the young man wearing red in the picture is standing in for his mother Elena, who was not able to make it to the meeting.",F,1625,partner,Clothing,0 Dominican Republic,"Marguerite Jacques is the owner of Fritura Margo, a grocery store service in La Union where she sells food products like chicken, plantains, butter, and sugar, as well as essentials like oil for cooking meals. Since she is without a physical storefront, Marguerite is often seen walking the streets of her community faithfully delivering her customers orders to their homes. She will use this first loan to expand the inventory of her store to better meet the needs of her customers. Originally from Haiti, 60-year-old Marguerite is a single mom who enjoys spending time with her oldest son, Leonel, when she is not tending to her business.
Note: Marguerite is one of five microentrepreneurs in her solidarity group - part of an Esperanza Bank of Hope, which they have named ""La Union"". All of whom have gone through Esperanza's business training courses. Each of the five members will receive a share of this $750 loan for their respective businesses and will be accountable to each other for repaying their share of this loan together. This group-lending methodology ensures that members cooperate to help one another repay their loans and invest wisely in their businesses and families.",F,750,partner,Food,0 Dominican Republic,"Maria Agustin sells fresh produce at her shop in Fao, where her vegetables like green peppers, string beans, and cabbage are sold alonside local coconuts. Maria will use her loan to expand her business model by selling charcoal as well as rice and cooking oil. All of Maria's nine children are studying either in public school or for a profession. Rafael (21), Emania (18), Yela (16), Quetrina (13), Mari (13), Chelene (11), Vitali (6), Ingrid (5), and Jose (8) live with Maria and her husband Felix. This loan will help her grow her business to support her large family. These loans help a lot, Maria says. With another microloan, her business can grow and prosper.
Note: Maria is one of five microentrepreneurs in her Bank of Hope solidarity group, all of whom have gone through Esperanza's business training courses. Each of the five members will receive a share of this $825 loan for their respective businesses and will be accountable to each other for repaying their share of this loan together. This group-lending method strengthens social ties in the community and helps ensure that members cooperate to help one another repay their loans and invest wisely in their businesses and families. As soon as Maria pays off her current loan with Esperanza, this loan will become active.",F,825,partner,Food,0 Dominican Republic,"Maria Altagracia has the ability to be a great and successful businesswoman. She is a visionary person and sees business opportunities that most people ignore. At the same time, shes very realistic and studies the viability of things before undertaking them. Maria Altagracia lives with her 3-year-old daughter. In addition to supporting her child, Altagracia has to support her own studies. She is separated from her husband, so she has to make ends meet on her own. In order to increase her income, Maria Altagracia has requested a loan to start selling mens and womens underwear in her community. Shes very confident and believes shell have success in her endeavor. With profits from this business, Altagracia will be able to cover some household expenses and support her childs education. Maria Altagracia says that things are very difficult, but she promises shell do her best to make her business successful and to repay her loan quickly. Maria Altagracia is joined in her group by the following women: Maria Antonia Espinosa, who sells used and new clothing; Maria Bienvenida Rosario, who operates a fruit stand; Cristina Belen Maria, who operates a fruit and vegetable stand; and Lucitania Suarez Mejia, a clothing retailer. The picture shows from left to right: Maria Altagracia, Maria Antonia, Maria Bienvenida, Cristina and Lucitania.",F,1200,lender,Clothing,1 Dominican Republic,"Maria Altagracia is a 35 year old entrepreneur who has found a successful way to earn a living and fend for her six children. Maria Altagracia sells a large variety of plastic and paper bags in the Duquesa community of Santo Domingo. She wholesales the plastic bags in a fabric bag and retails them in her community. She also sells used bags for recycling.
The proftis from her business allow her to support her childrens education. Maria Altagracia is requesting a loan to purchase a larger quantity of plastic and paper bags so that she can increase her sales volume and income. She hopes that before long her business will allow her buy her own house so that her children can live comfortably.",F,600,partner,Retail,1 Dominican Republic,"Maria Altagracia is the mother of five children, all boys, ages 16, 14 (pictured), 13, 11 and 5. Maria builds furniture out of a 10'x 10' workshop adjacent to her home in Hato Mayor. She constructs tables, shelving, dressers, chairs and couches, which she sells to larger stores in the city. This loan will go towards the purchase of wood, not only for making furniture, but also to construct a larger workbench to saw and drill on. She will also be able to purchase a motor for her power tools. Maria has received two previous loans and paid them back with the substantial earnings she receives from her steady source of clientele.",F,725,partner,Manufacturing,0 Dominican Republic,"Maria and her husband have five children. Their eldest daughter, twenty-three, is married, while their eldest son, nineteen, works nearby his familys home. The couples three other children, fourteen, twelve, and eleven, all attend school. The general store Maria operates in the family home stocks a wide range of goods including fruits and vegetables but also soft drinks and rum, and other necessary items like motor oil, matches, and batteries. Maria plans to use her loan to keep expanding the stores inventory, particularly by buying more foodstuffs.",F,375,partner,Retail,0 Dominican Republic,"Maria Antonia is a dressmaker who has been offering her services to her community for four years. She operates her business in her house. Maria Antonia has three children, two of whom are independent and live with their own families. She's living with her husband and her youngest daughter who goes to secondary school.
The entrepreneur is requesting a loan to buy a large amount of cloth and other materials for her shop. She explains that buying in large quantities will ensure a greater profit margin than buying retail. Maria Antonia also hopes to hire a full-staff to operate the shop someday.",F,300,partner,Services,1 Dominican Republic,"Maria Bautista is the group coordinator for the Esperanza y Progreso V Bank of Hope in San Pedro de Macoris. The requested loan will be distributed among the nine members of this group, who run various businesses. Maria has seven children. Her business is selling fried foods. She would use her portion of the loan to purchase supplies. Her dream is to open her own restaurant where she would server her fried chicken and other dishes and in this way become self-sufficient. Thank you for supporting this group!",F,2100,partner,Food,0 Dominican Republic,"Maria Belen, a mother of four children, is also an experienced entrepreneur whose assiduousness and can-do attitude are well-known and respected in her neighborhood. Her husband is a fruit vendor. To contribute to her familys budget, Maria Belen sells shoes and clothing to people in her neighborhood. Certainly, its been very challenging for the entrepreneur to maintain cash flow, but she expects her new shoes and clothing will help her in repaying the loan requested. Maria Belen promises shell keep doing her best to make her business successful and to improve her familys conditions. The entrepreneur is joined in her group by the following women: Gregoria Rosario Suarez Clothing Sales Felicia Mendoza Sanchez Shoes and Slippers sales Maria Evangelista Rosario Clothing Sales. The picture shows from left to right: Maria Belen, Gregoria, Felicia and Maria Evangelista.",F,925,lender,Clothing,1 Dominican Republic,"Maria Bereguete has a lot of experience selling products, as shes been running a small business for about fifteen years. Maria Bereguete sells an assortment of bras and girdles to women who want to stay on top form. She also sells shoes and slippers. The entrepreneur operates her business from her house, but she also visits regular customers and people in the neighborhood to inform them about her new products. Actually, Maria sells many of her goods by catalog. She makes the delivery of the goods ordered to the customers' houses.
With her loan, the entrepreneur will buy more goods to replenish her store in order to increase her sales volume and her income.",F,450,partner,Retail,1 Dominican Republic,"Maria Binet is the owner of a business where she makes and sells a variety of textile products and also a group coordinator for the bank called ""Jesus Nuestra Esperanza."" With this loan, her second through Esperanza, Maria plans on buying more supplies and items to use in her business. Maria and her partner Pedro Gonzalez are the parents of four children, ranging in age from 5 to 12. One of Esperanzas goals in all of our work is to free children out of poverty, and we believe that providing loans to women with children is a way to achieve that. Maria said that her first loan really helped her business and family which is why she decided to take out another. She dreams for her business to grow bigger each day and also hopes for God to continue to protect her children. When they are older, Maria would like them to be smart people. In the little free time she has apart from her business and kids, Maria enjoys reading the Bible. Pictured are these five members of ""Jesus Nuestra Esperanza"" along with their loan officer and two other members of Jesus Nuestra Esperanza. On behalf of Maria Binet, Jesus Nuestra Esperanza, and all of us here at Esperanza International, thank you for your interest and support in fighting the global issue of poverty! Note - As there are eight people in this picture, we wanted to specify who the additional individuals are: The gentleman on the far right is the group's loan officer. In the back row, the first and third people from the left are members of another Esperanza International sub-group, but are not borrowers of this loan. Thank you!",F,800,partner,Arts,0 Dominican Republic,"Maria Cristina sells beauty products and clothing for men in her neighborhood, and she's the leader of this group of businesswomen who live in the Piedra Blanca community of San Cristobal. Cristina is a very active and silver-tongued woman who knows how to convince people to make the purchase of her products. Her business helps her to support her three children's educations and to pay for the rental of her house.
Cristina plans to expand her business, so she's requesting a loan to add new exclusive items to her inventory. The entrepreneur hopes that her business' growth will allow her to provide a better lifestyle to her family.
The members of Cristina's group are:
Rufina Mateo, who retails jewelry in the community,
Rafaela Santana Alcantara, who sells fried chicken and pork,
Petronila Rodriguez Basilio, the owner of a small butcher shop, and
Maria Zunilda Pimentel, who sells fruit and vegetables.
The picture shows from left to right: Maria Cristina, Rafaela, Petronila, Rufina and Maria Zunilda.",F,2000,partner,Clothing,1 Dominican Republic,"Maria Cuevas started out selling shampoo and disinfectant cleaner door-to-door to her neighbors in the town of El Torro. She then expanded her business to sell women's purses as well. Since Maria doesn't have a sewing machine, she stitches each individual purse by hand.
Maria plans to use her loan to buy a sewing machine and more supplies, including chemicals for her shampoo and cleaner business and cloth for her purses. Maria's entrepreneurship helps support her husband Aldofo and their two children. The income from Maria's business will help her keep her kids in school; she hopes Imel (7) will become an engineer and Nectanier (8 months) a doctor.
Note: Maria is one of five micro-entrepreneurs in her Bank of Hope solidarity group, all of whom have gone through Esperanza's business training courses. Each of the five members will receive a share of this $825 loan for their respective businesses and each will be accountable to the others for repaying their share of the loan. This group-lending method strengthens social ties in the community and helps ensure that members cooperate to help one another repay loans and invest wisely in their businesses and families.",F,825,partner,Retail,0 Dominican Republic,"Maria Del Carmen is one of the most successful businesswomen in her community. For more than 20 years, she's been selling fried food, and she's been making great earnings for her activity. Marias food stall is in the Sabana Palenque's beach, which is a popular destination for both locals and visitors. Maria's husband is a fisherman, and he helps his wife by going fishing every day. Maria is very pleased that, because of her hard work and sacrifices, her children have received a good education. They're adults now and have their own families. Her youngest son is training hard, hoping to get drafted into the Dominican Baseball League. Maria wants to increase her working capital, so she's requesting a loan that she'll use to buy supplies to keep producing her tasty fried food.",F,300,partner,Food,1 Dominican Republic,"Maria Del Carmen sells womens clothing, and shes now taking out her third loan with FSMA. With her last loan, Maria added new products like slippers to her stock. She explains that her clientele keeps growing, and she expects to become one of the most important suppliers of these goods in her community. With this loan, the entrepreneur will buy a large stock of light clothing, which is in high demand in her community during this season. Maria will keep fighting hard in order to improve her living conditions and repay the loan.",F,525,partner,Clothing,1 Dominican Republic,"Maria Dishmey Pool is a businesswoman and mother of two young children, ages two and four, living in Samana, Dominican Republic. To support her family, she sells clothes. She started by selling them from her home and on the street, but with the help of previous loans, she now has a small stand where she sells blouses, jeans, dresses, and other garments. She has applied for another to loan to purchase new merchandise to expand her business. Ultimately, Maria hopes to finish her education and become a teacher. She would like to thank all Kiva lenders for their continued support and encouragement, and tell them God bless.",F,1550,partner,Clothing,0 Dominican Republic,"Maria Dolores Paulino has been operating a ventorrillo (vegetable stand) for six years in her community. She lives with her husband and her daughter who is 13. This loan is to add chicken and pork meat to her business. Shes been planning to introduce meat to the ventorrillo for more than six months, but has not been able to do so because of the lack of capital. By expanding her offerings, she hopes that her business will be stronger and that shell be able to improve her familys living conditions.",F,300,partner,Food,1 Dominican Republic,"Maria Dominga Salcedo is a hard-working woman and a single mother of two children. She sells fruits and vegetables in the Piedra Blanca community of San Cristobal. During the past four years, this business had been the principal livelihood of her family and the means by which shes been supporting her daughters education.
Maria Dominga wants to augment her earnings and has asked for a loan to supply capital to buy fresh fruits and vegetables for her business. Maria Dominga hopes that her business will allow her to continue investing in her daughters education.",F,300,partner,Food,1 Dominican Republic,"Maria Evangelista Cruz wants to open a beauty salon in Bayaguana. She will use this loan to buy hair care products and tools as well as materials with which to keep her accounts, such as notebooks and pencils. Maria's small business will help her support her daughter Liset (16) and extended family members. Liset dreams of being a model, but for now she is studying to become a secretary.
Note: Maria is one of five microentrepreneurs in her Bank of Hope solidarity group, all of whom have gone through Esperanza's business training courses. Each of the five members will receive a share of this $800 loan for their respective businesses and will be accountable to each other for repaying their share of this loan together. This group-lending method strengthens social needs in the community and helps ensure that members cooperate to help one another repay their loans and invest wisely in their businesses and families.",F,800,partner,Services,0 Dominican Republic,"Maria Florentino is a spirited young woman who lives in a small community on the outskirts of San Pedro de Macoris in the Dominican Republic. She lives with her two small children (ages 5 and 2) in a tiny little home. Maria has a small business in which she offers fried foods to members of her community. She asked for this loan to invest more money in her business by buying more merchandise. This includes having the capital on hand to periodically buy more vegetables and meats to fry. Her goal is to continue expanding her business so that, one day, she can own her own restaurant and a spot from which she can sell her goods. Her lifelong goal is to own her house. She thinks that this finally may be possible because, with the help of this loan, she can take better care of her children. Also, for the first time in her life, she has been able to start saving towards her dream. Maria and her story represent the Dios Verdadero Bank of Hope. She belongs to a group of 10 men and women who work hard to improve their lives with the help of their small loans. Each of these men and women has taken out a similar loan to that of Maria's. On behalf of all of them, and our team here at Esperanza, thank you for your support!",F,1550,partner,Food,0 Dominican Republic,"Maria has a small cafeteria where she sells frituras, which is a variety of fried Dominican food. She is asking for a loan so that for the first time she will have extra capital to buy more merchandise to expand her business. Specifically, she wants to buy ingredients in bulk to cut down on cost, as well as occasionally buying a wider variety of meats to sell that she hasnt been able to afford before.
She lives with her two children and husband in a small community outside of the capital, Santo Domingo. Her dream is to watch her children graduate high school, go to one of the universities in Santo Domingo and become professionals. For herself, her dream is to own a bakery and dessert shop where she can sell what she loves making most: breads and cakes. She also hopes at one point to return to school herself.
Maria's biggest challenge to overcome is not a lack of money, or poverty, but rather the insecurity and doubt she harbors in herself it is hard for her to understand that she really is capable of improving her life and doing better for her family. Thankfully, with the help of Esperanza, and the group lending method, she is supported by her group members and learning to overcome this insecurityshe says they help her believe more strongly in herself.
On behalf of everyone at Esperanza, and on behalf of Maria and her group members, we thank you for your support!",F,750,partner,Food,0 Dominican Republic,"Maria has two children aged 30 and 29 and three grandchildren aged 4, 5 and 5. Maria owns a ventorrillo (or little store) where he sells yams, plantains, potatoes and other agricultural products. He obtains the vegetables by traveling to the country. Maria has already successfully completed four loans with Esperanza International, and with a fifth loan, he hopes to be able to expand his business, afford more necessities and provide his grandchildren with a good education. Note: This is a group loan.",F,1100,partner,Food,0 Dominican Republic,"Maria is 43 years old and has four children, including a daughter who has a child of her own. She also takes care of her niece, because her sister left the child with her when she went to the States. Her husband left her, so she is the sole provider for her household but her children and her mother help her run her store.
Maria runs a small grocery store selling essential foods such as rice, fruit, and vegetables. She also sells over-the-counter medicines, which she buys from a pharmacy in in the capital, Santo Domingo. She is a continuing client. With her profits so far, she has been able to purchase wood to repair her house, instead of tin. This loan will go to expand her inventory.
Maria is the president of a local mothers club, a group of 36 women who are involved in various things in the community, including trying to build a school in her area of Los Alcarrizos.",F,375,partner,Food,0 Dominican Republic,"Maria is a 22 year-old lady working hard to improve the lives of her two young children. She and her husband have had a hard time making ends meet in their community of Pantoja, an impoverished area on the outskirts of the capital of Santo Domingo. She is excited about taking out this loan because she believes it could be the extra bit of help she needs to begin to really change things.
Maria runs a small business selling a variety of vegetables and fruits to her community members; she is taking this loan out because she wants to begin providing a better variety and higher quality of produce. Through the business-training classes she was required to take before requesting her loan, she learned about how to market products effectively, and how quality really does make a big difference in overall salesshe is very anxious to apply these new skills to her business.
She dreams of being able to grow her business in steps, first renting her own small store, and eventually having enough money to buy her own store. By taking these measure, she hopes to provide the means to send her two children to college so they can become educated and professional members of society. For herself, she dreams of growing intellectually, and to be not just a good business woman, but a great one.
If she has a few moments of free time, Maria loves to read, keep her house clean, and participate in a womens club in her community that works together to keep their children and youth educated about HIV/AIDS and other issues that pose health issues to them.
On behalf of everyone here at Esperanza International, and from Maria herself, we thank you for your support with this micro loan!",F,1425,partner,Food,0 Dominican Republic,"Maria is a woman who started over 5 years ago selling clothes to her neighbors. Due to difficulties in her life, she had to stop the sales and work on a salon in the meanwhile. With this loan, she wants to resume her sales, therefore increasing her income and helping her husband who works in ""edesur,"" which is an electricity company. She plans on buying her inventory in Elias Pia, a town close to the border line between the Dominican Republic and Haiti. It is a very long trip from Santo Domingo. She doesn't own a establishment, but she is going to sell her goods in her house which is pretty common in the area.",F,375,partner,Clothing,0 Dominican Republic,"Maria is a young mother of 5 children. For the past few years she had been able to sustain the family employing her husband to attend to the clients who frequent their cafeteria/night club. The husband does the hard labor, while Maria is the administrator.
Their business is located in a community that was built by a foreign government grant wherein their homes are built of thin sheets of cement, sprayed on metallic sightings, with wooden structure roofs topped by asphalt shingles. The community consists of about 500 living units where approximately 3000 people live. Thus, Marias business together with a few other similar micro-businesses serve the night time recreational needs of the community. As you might expect, the cafeteria has very old and decrepit boom box for sound equipment. They can only function when there is electricity, which is approximately half of the time. As evident in the picture, they have a refreshment chilling unit. But, Maria and her husband suffered perhaps not so coincidentally the loss of all their goods as a result of robbery. (Najayo correctional facility, the most modern correctional facility of the Dominican Republic, happens to be about a kilometer away from this community).
Maria hopes to get back on track with her business with this loan; however, she does hint that she wants to repay as soon as possible so that she can take a larger loan. Her husband is already working on reinforcing the windows and the doors to their 200sq. ft. business space.",F,150,partner,Food,0 Dominican Republic,"Maria is an old woman pushing hard to make a living. Her husband passed away a long time ago, and since then Mara is working hard to make thing happen on her own. Currently, she retails garments in the Caimito community of Yamas. Despite her advanced age, Maria keeps operating that activity which is her sole means of support.
Mara s requesting a loan to increase her supplies; that will allow her to increase her sales volumes and thus her revenue. Maria wants to have enough money to enjoy her golden years.",F,450,partner,Clothing,1 Dominican Republic,"Maria is fifty years old and the mother of five young women, all of whom have married and left their childhood home. Marias husband is no longer physically able to work for a living, so her business is the couples primary source of income. Maria sells womens personal care products from her home in Yamasa, Dominican Republic. She also visits friends and neighbors with her assortment of shampoos, conditioners, hair-styling products, and nail polishes. With her loan, Maria plans to purchase a wider selection of hair care and beauty products that she says her customers have requested. With a smile, Maria explains that she is hesitant to share her hopes for the future because they might not come true, but she hopes her business will grow to include more in-demand beauty products and to support her familys well being.",F,600,partner,Retail,0 Dominican Republic,"Maria is married and has five children. She lives in a small town in Consuelo, Barrio 15. Consuelo has many green fields, sugar plantations, narrow dirt roads, and tin houses that are constructed one next to another. Maria has lived there her whole life and operates a small womens clothing shop from her home. Maria has been in business for about eight years, selling clothes, intimate apparel, and custom jewelry. With this loan she will particularly buy womens panties, bras, socks, bracelets, rings, earrings, and other accessories. She is also looking into buying a glass stand where she can display and protect her accessories. This is Marias third loan with Esperanza. She states that business is not always good, it has its ups and downs, like everything else. She hopes that one day her business will reach a healthy size. Please help Maria become a successful businesswoman in her community. Thank you.",F,925,lender,Clothing,0 Dominican Republic,"Maria is on her fifth loan from Esperanza. She sells chickens to entrepreneurs like herself for their businesses. People from nearby communities come to Maria to buy her chickens, and they in turn sell them in their own communities. Maria estimates that she sells an average of 300-400 pesos' worth of chicken in a day (US$ 9-12). She has three staff: her husband, herself, and her son are in charge of running the business each day. She supports six people in her household on a daily basisherself, her husband, her son, and her 3 grandsons.
NOTE: This is a group loan. The $1,200 will fund Maria's business plus 4 others in her community. She and four other entrepreneurs have formed a solidarity group that received business training from Esperanza and guarantee each other's loan repayment. This group-lending methodology fosters accountability among the members because they all must pay in full and on time.
Maria is very thankful for the loans from Esperanza and hopes to continue taking them out as long as she can. Before she had her loans, she had to depend on her husbands earnings, which were not stable. She is now very proud that she maintains a constant source of income, and that she has been able to expand her business with each loan. Just this week she bought a pig for 8,000 RD pesos (about US$ 240) with savings from her and her husbands incomewithout the loans they would never have had the savings to invest in a pig. She hopes one day to build a home out of concrete blocks, and a cement roof; her house right now is made from wood with a corrugated zinc roof; she worries that if a hurricane comes her house will be destroyed.
Maria is a savvy micro-entrepeneur. She explains that with the income she earns from the loans, she is careful to both save and re-invest her money. Buying a pig with her savings will allow her to earn more money in the next year from the pork she is able to sell. Once she begins to earn more money from her pig, she will begin saving so that she can build a better and safer house for her family. Maria is most thankful that she has had the blessing of these loans and is grateful that she is being given the opportunity to take out another one.",F,1200,partner,Food,0 Dominican Republic,"Maria Issaura is twenty years old and a promising entrepreneur. She sells shoes and silver-plated jewelry in the Hato Nuevo community of San Cristobal. Maria operates her business mainly from her childhood home, but also visits regular customers at their homes, and sells in her university. Actually, Marisa has recently started studying computer networks, and her business is supporting the cost of her studies. With her loan, the entrepreneur will buy more goods to add to her stock in order to increase her sales volume, and thus her income. Maria Issaura wants to be a good professional in life, and she says shell keep working hard so that her business can allow her to reach her goal.",F,400,partner,Retail,1 Dominican Republic,"Maria Jean Batiste understands what it is like to struggle to survive. Each day of her life has been hand to mouth as she tries to provide for her 10 children. An immigrant from Haiti, Maria and her husband, Wilson, live in Puerto Plata, Dominican Republic. Maria sells sweets made out of cocoa, peanuts, and sugar to provide for the seven children that are currently living in her house. (The others are still in Haiti). She dreams of owning her own home one day but is primarily concerned with supporting her children for the time being.
Maria Jean Batiste is just one member of the 10-person micro-bank, Villa Ascencion, which means Ascended Town. Each of these unique Dominican entrepreneurs unite in solidarity, allowing them to access funding that they would otherwise never be able to receive on their own. The concept of this group bank paying their loan together is to reduce the risk of one person defaulting, as the other members gladly help cover one anothers payments in order to receive their next loan together. Some of the other women in this particular bank make a living selling clothing or running small salons, and one owns a small colmado, or store that sells basic groceries and snacks.
On behalf of Maria, the Villa Ascension, and the entire team here at Esperanza International, we thank you for your support and awareness of the global issue of poverty, in which your efforts are helping to make a difference.",F,1775,partner,Food,0 Dominican Republic,"Maria Kelly is the representative of this group called ""luz en la tiniebla"". She was chosen because she is a very hardworking lady and is a perfect example of the type of person microcredit tries to work with. She is living in extreme poverty and trying to provide for her five young children. Each child is under the age of 16, and she even has a baby of nine months to care for. She realized that she wanted to be able to provide a good life for her children and hopefully get them out of their poverty. She is taking out a loan to try and make this dream a reality. She wants to start a small business making and selling clothing in her neighborhood. She dreams of increasing her business into a thriving clothing store. Her dream in life is to send all her children to college and have them be able to live out their dreams. She is very excited about this first step to a better life and is ready for the challenge!",F,2500,partner,Clothing,0 Dominican Republic,"Maria Leonard is one of five women hoping to start a business. This collection of women is called ""El Gran Poder de Dios."" Maria is a hardworking mother of five who is looking to better her life through this loan. She wants to start a small business of selling chicken. Her dream is to raise enough money to put her family in a house of their own. On behalf of Maria, the group, and the all of Esperanza International----Thank you for your support!",F,1075,partner,Food,0 Dominican Republic,"Maria lives in Barrio Azul Andres, a town in the municipality of Boca Chica, a well-known tourist area. Boca Chica is known for having soft, white sand; a place where the water is calm, clear and shallow. But what tourists dont normally see are those who are trying to survive in the nearby communities. Especially now in the down-turning economy, many are left without employment because businesses keep on shutting their doors.
That is why Maria started her own business four years ago -- to try to secure a steady income. She has her own shop where she sells clothes, intimate wear, kids' school uniforms, school supplies, and decorations for the house. Often, when Maria finds it is time to re-stock, but doesnt have much money saved up to do so, she borrows money from local lenders. The local lenders charge a 20% interest rate per week!
Maria found out about Esperanza through her neighbor and close friend and now she is seeking a loan through Esperanza. Esperanza charges a 2% declining balance interest rate every two weeks; 4% per month. Esperanza also helps its clients with complimentary services, such as a savings account, medical and life insurance, literacy courses, and business management training, just to name a few.
Please strongly consider lending to Maria and her group. They deserves a fair interest rate and an opportunity to grow their businesses. Esperanza thanks you for your time and consideration.
",F,900,lender,Retail,0 Dominican Republic,"Maria Lucia is a hard-working woman and mother of a unique son, and she's been pushing very hard to lift her family out poverty and change her difficult social conditions. For more than ten years, Maria Lucia has been selling crockery, curtains and decorative window dressings. Every two months, the entrepreneur must travel outside her community to Elias Pia, a city located on the border with Haiti. As the trip to Elias Pia lasts more than four hours, Maria Lucia has to get up early in the morning to take the bus on time. She explains that bulk-buying the goods would allow her to reduce the frequent trips outside the community. Unfortunately, the lack of capital impedes her from doing so. Furthermore, the meager profits from the business are not enough to bear all the expenses of the family.The entrepreneur has requested a loan to invest in a larger amount of these goods in order to increase her sales volume and her revenue. She hopes that her business will grow and allow her to keep supporting her son's education and improve the family's lifestyle.
The entrepreneur will receive her loan along with the following women: Ana Delia Brito, Nuris Mercedes Hernandez, Ana Guillermina Morales and Daniela Santana De Jaquez. These women live in the same community and sell used and new clothing in different parts in the neighborhood.
The photo shows from left to right, Maria Lucia, Ana Delia, Nuris, Ana Guillermina and Daniela.",F,1325,partner,Retail,1 Dominican Republic,"Maria Luis lives with Luis Blanco and together they raise her six children, Yosel (19), Chidro (17), Mileni (15), Luissa (12) Yory (10) and Yulisa (7). Maria provides for her large family by running her own clothing store. However, her supply is relatively small but while her customer base is growing. Maria wishes to continue developing her business and has applied for this loan of $200. Maria will use the money to purchase pants from a regional market at low-cost to sell locally in her neighborhood.",F,200,partner,Clothing,0 Dominican Republic,"Maria Magdalena is unquestionably one of the most well-known cooks in the Caimito community of Yamas. She runs a small cafeteria and her specialty is the mondongo, a delicious dish of pigs tripe, which is generally stewed in a tomato and garlic sauce. Magdalena started her cafeteria ten years ago, and currently this business is the principal means of support for her family. Maria has four children, three of them boys, who all go to school.
Maria Magdalena is requesting a loan to purchase more meat and other goods to keep satisfying her customers needs. The entrepreneur would like to rent a more comfortable establishment to operate her business.",F,350,partner,Food,1 Dominican Republic,"Maria Martha sells womens clothing in her hometown, the Ochocienta community of Santo Domingo. This activity provides her principal source of income and allows her take care of her five children. Maria Martha explains that sometimes its hard to bring up five kids and have to face other financial needs. Sometimes, I just dont get a wink of sleep for nights, figuring out how to improve my childrens living conditions she says. But she believes that it is her responsibility to fend for the children, and the entrepreneur will keep working hard to support her family.
With her loan, Maria Martha will purchase clothing in bulk to replenish her stock, augment her sales volume and increase her income. She also hopes that profits from her business will allow her finish her house, which is currently under construction.",F,250,partner,Clothing,1 Dominican Republic,"Maria Misua is a 44 year-old woman who lives with her husband, Israel, and her three children (ages: 19, 20, 22). She runs a small grocery store that provides staple items for her community such as rice, toilet paper, water, and candy. We asked Maria to tell us something about herself, and she told us that her favorite food is pork, and during her free time she loves going to church. She is a vivacious and active woman who is looking forward to the opportunity of improving her business and helping her children live better lives.
This will be the first loan for this bank of women, and they have already developed a strong community environment and interdependence. On behalf of these women and Esperanza, we would like to thank you for contributing to this loan!",F,2800,partner,Food,0 Dominican Republic,"Maria Molina is the group 1 coordinator for the Unidos Podemos (United we Can) Bank of Hope from El Seybo. Maria and her group will be taking out their 7th loan from Esperanza International. Maria has 2 children ages 17 and 11. Her goal is to make her business grow in order to support her family. She finds that her biggest challenge is to remain in good standing with her financial commitments. Maria raises pigs for resale. She is now expanding into raising chickens, since they are cheaper to raise and in more demand. This way she can raise an animal in a short time and sell it quickly. She hopes one day that the profits that she makes from raising animals in her backyard and sells in her community market, will be enough to buy a farm and supply meat on a larger scale. Thank you for supporting these entrepreneurs!",F,1725,partner,Food,0 Dominican Republic,"Maria Muoz is the leader of her Bank of Hope, Mujeres Decidida de Restauracion (""Women Determined for Restoration""). She is the mother of four, aged 24, 26, 28, and 30, and has used her Esperanza loan to start her craft-selling business. Her future ambitions include expanding her business and providing a comfortable life for her grandchildren.",F,1775,partner,Arts,0 Dominican Republic,"Maria Nely is a young mother of two boys, aged two and four years old. Her husband works as a tourist guide in Bvaro, one of the most visited tourist sites of the country. To supplement her familys revenue, Maria Nely wants to start a small business selling jewelry, beauty products and shoes. Shell be operating her business from her home, and when the business is generating great incomes, shell rent a small establishment to allow her customers to make the purchases in a comfortable space. With her loan, Maria Nely hopes that the generosity and support of the Kiva community will help her to be one step closer to reaching her goals in life. She also hopes that her business will allow her support her childrens education from next year on.
The young mother will receive her loan together with these women:
Rosa Maria Rafael, a small clothing retailer.
Nilka Antonia Cruz Mateo, who runs a small grocery store.
Yeni Margarita Mejia, who sells womens clothing in the community.
Glenny Yuliza Cuello Agramonte, a shoes and pants retailer
Picture: left to right: Glenny, Yeni, Nilka, Rosa and Maria Nely.",F,1150,partner,Retail,1 Dominican Republic,"Maria Nila is an old woman who tries hard to improve her humble living conditions and lift her family out of poverty. She has been selling garments in her community for two years. This loan is to buy a greater variety of used clothing so that the entrepreneur can increase her sales volume and thus her income.
Maria Nila says shes too old to think about earning big sums of money, but she hopes that her small business will allow her and her husband to enjoy their golden years.",F,150,partner,Clothing,1 Dominican Republic,"Maria owns a small pharmacy. She will use her entire loan to buy medicines to restock her inventory. The medicines in greatest demand at her pharmacy are parasite medicines, multivitamins, medications for high blood pressure, cold medicines, acetaminophen and ampicillin. This is her second loan and she has seen a difference from the time she didn't have loans until now. She finds her business better equipped now. She wants to move her pharmacy to a more spacious location with a better view and with better exposure. She would like to have glass panes in the front of her store so people can see her pharmacy (and herself!) from the outside.
Ines sells ice cream. Her best-selling flavors are cream, apple, grape and raspberry. She also sells juice and snacks in a small cafeteria. Her next project is to hire two or three street vendors to sell her ice cream around the nearby areas.
Felicia is taking her very first loan. She does her business on foot as she doesn't have a space to sell her clothes. She would like to rent a space to set up a store. With this loan she will buy one big bundle with varied clothing types. ''Let's see how it goes,'' she says with a hopeful laugh.
In all, this Bank of Hope has fifteen members--three groups of five. They live in Guaricanos, a large slum located on the northern outskirts of Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic's capital city. There are three group coordinators in this Bank; one per five members. They are Maria Pena, Ines Martinez and Felicia Arias.
We would like to thank you for supporting this Bank of Hope.",M,3625,lender,Health,0 Dominican Republic,"Maria Perez has used her Esperanza Bank of Hope loan to run two business: She and her husband Miguel manage a general store selling kitchen essentials and snacks on one side of her home, and a clothing store on the other. The couple still support two of their seven children, and Maria says that she plans to continue to work hard so that they don't have to work as hard as she has. With her future loans, Maria hopes to expand her clothing business.",F,300,partner,Retail,0 Dominican Republic,"Mariana is a budding entrepreneur that lives with her father and mother in the Doa Ana community of San Cristobal. She owns and operates a small beauty salon from her parents home. Every afternoon, women in the close-by neighborhood invade the familys living room, which is turned into the beauty salon. Even though she doesnt have to pay the rental for a local shop, Mariana thinks that itd be better if she could get her own place where she can attend to her customers comfortably. With her loan, she will buy a new hair dryer and a large quantity of materials that she needs to carry out her job and satisfy her customers needs. That will allow Mariana to increase her revenue and improve her familys living conditions.",F,325,partner,Services,0 Dominican Republic,"Mariana is a young and talented entrepreneur who lives with her parents in Doa community of San Cristobal. She's studying Business Management in a university in Santo Domingo, the capital. Mariana has a clear vision of what she wants for the future, and explains that she won't start a family until she gets a more stable economic condition. Mariana operates a small salon from her parent's home, and she's managed to make it successful for many years. Mariana's biggest dream is to buy an establishment for her salon so that she can offer her services in a more comfortable space. This is the second loan the entrepreneur will receive through Kiva, and she'll invest it in a stock of beauty products and materials to keep operating her salon. Mariana is doing her best to move her business forward and get money to keep supporting her studies so that she can become a good professional.",F,450,partner,Services,1 Dominican Republic,"Mariana Jose Serda owns a general store in Magdalena, a community in the Dominican Republic with strong cultural ties to Haiti. Mariana, like most of Magdalena's residents, is of Haitian ancestry; her family immigrated several generations ago in hope of a better future. Mariana sells bread, canned fish, candy, and other edibles; she will use this loan to expand the offerings of her store. Mariana is divorced with three children: Milagro Garcia (28), Jenifer (22), and Yerba (7). She hopes that the further success of her business will allow her to someday buy her own house in Magdalena; she currently lives with relatives.
Note: Mariana is one of five microentrepreneurs in her Bank of Hope solidarity group, all of whom have gone through Esperanza's business training courses. Each of the five members will receive a share of this $800 loan for their respective businesses and will be accountable to each other for repaying their share of this loan together. This group-lending method strengthens social needs in the community and helps ensure that members cooperate to help one another repay their loans and invest wisely in their businesses and families.",F,800,partner,Retail,0 Dominican Republic,"Mariana Jose Serda owns a general store in Magdalena, a community in the Dominican Republic with strong cultural ties to Haiti. Mariana, like most of Magdalena's residents, is of Haitian ancestry; her family immigrated several generations ago in hope of a better future. Mariana sells bread, canned fish, candy, and other edibles; she will use this loan to expand the offerings of her store. Mariana is divorced with three children: Milagro Garcia (28), Jenifer (22), and Yerba (7). She hopes that the further success of her business will allow her to someday buy her own house in Magdalena; she currently lives with relatives.
Note: Mariana is one of five microentrepreneurs in her Bank of Hope solidarity group, all of whom have gone through Esperanza's business training courses. Each of the five members will receive a share of this $800 loan for their respective businesses and will be accountable to each other for repaying their share of this loan together. This group-lending method strengthens social needs in the community and helps ensure that members cooperate to help one another repay their loans and invest wisely in their businesses and families.",F,800,partner,Retail,0 Dominican Republic,"Mariana Reyes Montilla is one of the most successful businesswomen of Sierra, a community of San Cristobal. She's been a member of our program for a long time and has been given many loans, all of which she's used wisely and repaid on the dot. Mariana sells a collection of beauty products to women in her neighborhood. Generally, the entrepreneur travels to Elias Pia (a city located on the border with Haiti) to get her products at a wholesale price. She operates the business principally from her house, but from time to time she visits her neighbors and friends to sell her products.
Mariana has requested a new loan to buy a large stock of clothing. This way, the entrepreneur will considerably reduce her frequent trips outside her community to acquire the clothing.",F,300,partner,Clothing,1 Dominican Republic,"Mariana, 38, owns a little cafeteria where she sells fried bananas, boiled or fried eggs, some other fried foods, coffee, milk, and juice in the morning. At midday, she prepares rice with peas, fried chicken, and greens.
Mariana started the cafeteria three years ago. The loan requested is to invest in the purchase of a larger amount of raw materials for the preparation of the food she sells. That way, Mariana will better satisfy her customers needs, increase her income, and help her husband improve living conditions for their three sons (12, 10, and 8 years old).",F,375,partner,Food,0 Dominican Republic,"Marianelly is 27 years old and the proud mother of three children ranging in age from seven to eleven, all of whom attend school. She lives in Sambrana, a community where the farmers produce lots of cocoa. Marianelly make a living by selling cocoa outside her community. She buys a large quantity of cocoa and then retails it in the town of Cotu. With her business, the entrepreneur has been able to support her family and educate her children. This loan is to invest in more cocoa so that she can increase her sales and income. By moving her business forward, Marianelly intends to improve her familys standard of living. Marianelly is joined in her group by the following women: Saturnina Bautista, a mini-market owner Cayetana Belen De Leon, who sells tennis and slippers Ana Iris Bautista, who sells clothing Maricela Bautista, who sells used and new clothing The picture shows all the group members. From left to right, they are: Saturnina, Cayetana, Ana Iris, Marianelly, and Maricela.",F,1225,lender,Retail,1 Dominican Republic,"Marianeri, mother of one son, is a young and budding entrepreneur who strives to improve her familys living conditions. To make a living, she sells iron and other metals in the low-income Casabe community of Santo Domingo. Shortly after her childs birth, Marianeri had to stop her studies in order to fend for her child. The entrepreneur explains that shed like to continue her studies, and she says if her income increases in the next month, shell pay someone to look after her son in the afternoon so that she can go back to school. With her loan, Marianeri will buy more metals in order to increase her sales volume, and thus her revenue.",F,450,partner,Retail,0 Dominican Republic,"Maribel is a hardworking mother of three children. She is the representative of this group of 20 people and a great example of the type of people Esperanza International deals with. She came to Esperanza International with no job, and no way to help her husband care for her three young. The family was going through hard times and her husband was having a hard time earning sufficient money to provide for the family.
Maribel took out a loan and started a business selling small pets. She found great success, and now is taking out her fifth loan and increasing the business. For the first time in her life she feels useful and feels like she has a purpose. She is able to provide for her family and to send her children to school. She is very happy with the success she has, but wants to keep increasing her business and bettering her life and the life of her family. She is very excited about the future, and the even more excited about the future of her children!",F,5000,lender,Agriculture,0 Dominican Republic,"Maribel is a proactive, hard-working and creative woman who lives in the Hortaliza community of Santo Domingo. Maribel is married with three children (two girls and one boy) who both attend school. Maribel produces homemade traditional Dominican meals that she sells to people in the area surrounding her home. She has been running this business for two years and has a well established and growing client base. Santo Domingo is a fast growing city and many new buildings are built every year. So, copious numbers of men work in the construction sites all day long and dont have sufficient time to go to a restaurant to get a meal. These men make up a large proportion of Maribels market. Unfortunately Maribel has been in a car accident and she has temporarily lost the use of her legs. She therefore must stay at home all day to receive medical care. However, Maribel is not discouraged; one of her daughters prepares the food and her husband delivers it to the customers. Maribel hopes that she will make a full recovery so she can continue to expand her business. She has requested this load from FSMA (it will be her second loan from FSMA) so that she can buy products to keep producing delicious food to increase her income.",F,225,partner,Food,0 Dominican Republic,"Maribel is married and has an only son, 22, who is living outside the country. Her husband works as truck driver for a brewery. Maribel sells an assortment of clothing, presently catering to women.
In the morning, she walks along the streets selling jeans, T-shirts, shoes, and underwear. A few months ago, the entrepreneur obtained a loan from FMSA to increase her inventory and better serve her customers. As a good businesswoman, she has managed to make her business more profitable and repay the loan in a timely fashion.
Currtently, Maribel is asking for a second loan to purchase mens clothing to expand her womens clothing offerings. She thinks that diversifying her inventory will attract new customers and help her increase her income.",F,900,partner,Clothing,0 Dominican Republic,"Maricela Moya leads the group Mujeres Con Cristo which translates to Women With Christ. She is asking for her fourth loan from Esperanza for her business selling womens clothes and shoes. She was chosen as the leader for her group because of her vast experience with Esperanza. She formed a new group because she moved to the Samana region, and had to leave her old group behind. Within days of moving to Samana, she easily organized a group of five women to approach Esperanza for a loan. She has the ability to quickly convince these women of how Esperanza can change their lives because it allows them to borrow money to invest in their own businesses. As I said earlier, Maricela is on her fourth loan from Esperanza, and has an excellent reputation for repayment and for growth in her business. Her group is lucky to have her as a role model for conducting themselves in a successful business manner. She has used her previous three loans to go from selling on a very small scale from inside her home to a business where she is able to go through several neighborhoods each week to sell her products. Her goals are to keep receiving loans from Esperanza in order to grow her business and to also recruit others in her neighborhood, so they can enjoy the benefits of investing in ones own business.",F,900,lender,Clothing,0 Dominican Republic,"Marie and Angeline are group coordinators for the Las Rosadas bank. Angeline is an entrepreneur who sells clothing, bedding supplies, and miscellaneous beauty products. She has been running her own business for the last four years. As a immigrant from Haiti, she has few other economic opportunities available to her. Angeline works to support four children, and puts her profits towards food for the family, school fees, and maintaining her home.
Marie is an entrepreneur also involved in clothing and bedding sales, and other miscellaneous items. She has been involved in her micro-business for 2 years. She uses her profits to send her children to school. Regarding how she makes ends meet, Marie says ""you can't just sit around and do nothing! Come up with something to do!""
These women describe their neighborhood as ""forgotten."" Their community, they say feels an economic ""crisis"" at hand. As Haitian immigrants, these women say they are very aware of the limited opportunities available to them. For many in their situation, university education will remain out of reach. Marie reflects that through microlending, she has achieved some important gains in her life. In particular, she was able to save money to visit her family in Haiti for the first time in nine years. This, she says, is very important to her.
Thank you for supporting these entrepreneurs!",F,2750,partner,Clothing,0 Dominican Republic,"Marie and Ludine Nophanor are 39 and 29 years old. They are members of the Poderoso (Powerful) Bank of Hope. These borrowers live in Los Guaricanos, a wide area located in the northern outskirts of Santo Domingo. The people in this area suffered severely from unemployment after the closing of the state cement factory a couple years ago, so they have been moving to different activities since then. Marie is married and has four children. Ludine also has four children, but she is not married. Marie has no formal education, while Ludine has some college education. Both of them, as well as all the group borrowers, are in clothing sales. They purchase large quantities of clothing that contain a variety of items for men, women and children. Marie and Ludine hope that this second loan they are taking from Esperanza International will allow them to have merchandise available for a longer time in order to meet their customers' demands. Ludine also hopes her profits are good enough so she can go back to college and finish her career. On behalf of Esperanza International, thank you for supporting these entrepreneurs!",F,2825,lender,Clothing,0 Dominican Republic,"Marie came to our office with her precious 1-year old son and 9 other women from her community to learn more about the loans that we could give them. She has lived in Basurero, on the north coast of the Dominican Republic, with her husband and two children for 15 years. Her husband works in a small jewelry shop, but she has not been able to work because of her two small children, and the lack of opportunity. With this loan she wants to buy clothes, shoes, and hair products to sell in her community. Her dream is that if her and her husband work hard they can provide a better life for their children, and send them to University.
Esperanza is so privileged to work with these women, and we want to thank Kiva lenders for their support. God Bless!",F,1575,partner,Clothing,0 Dominican Republic,"Marie Erla is a hard-working entrepreneur who tries hard to propel her small business to a leading position in her community. Marie Erla is forty years old, and she has three children ranging in age from ten to nineteen. For more than ten years, shes been selling a collection of pants, shoes, and underwear in the San Luis community of Santo Domingo. This entrepreneur, of Haitian descent, explains that she left her country about twenty years ago as a result of her aim for a better standard of living and to lift herself out of poverty. She also recalls how difficult it had been for her to support the family by her own when her husband left her alone with the children. Now her business is profitable and she has a well-established clientele.
Marie Erla is requesting a loan to replenish her store so that she can keep satisfying her customers needs and increase her income.",F,375,partner,Clothing,1 Dominican Republic,"Marie Judith was born and raised in Haiti, but she moved to the Dominican Republic a few years ago with the intention of improving her living conditions. Her son is 10 years old and lives with his father in Haiti. Marie Judith has adapted to the Dominican culture and she has quickly learned to speak the Spanish language. Currently, Marie Judith sells a collection of tablecloths, decorative window curtains and towels. This business is her principal source of income. Her greatest dream is to help her son to get to the Dominican Republic for his university studies in some years' time. With her loan, the entrepreneur will buy more goods to resell in her community in order to gain greater profits. Marie Judith will receive her loan together with these women: Rosmely Medina, a clothing retailer; Sofia Pierre, who sells shoes; Gina St Louis, who sells pants and shoes; and Rosmita Lamorel, a clothing retailer. The picture shows from left to right: Rosmely, Sofia, Marie Judith, Gina and Rosmita.",F,1600,lender,Retail,1 Dominican Republic,"Marie Leximene is a dynamic and ambitious woman, and a single mother trying hard to earn a living and support her family. Eighteen years ago, Leximene left her country of Haiti, and she moved to the Dominican Republic with the aim of improving her lifestyle and providing a better future. Currently, she sells a collection of fashionable shoes and slippers in the San Luis community of Santo Domingo. She also works three times per week as a cleaning lady in a cafeteria.
Leximene would like to gain more clients and increase her sales volume. Shes requesting a loan to buy a greater variety of goods to add to her stock. This entrepreneur hopes that her business will help her to support her 14 year old daughters education.",F,375,partner,Retail,1 Dominican Republic,"Marie Mardy is a 38-year-old from Haiti who now resides in a small community near the northern coast of the Dominican Republic. She has run her ""Colmado Rosa"" out of her home for more than two years. Marie has been approved for this loan of $150 to purchase sugar, milk and rice so she can restock her inventory. She has applied for this new loan so she can continue expanding her business, which is the source of income to support her children, Oscor (4), Martin (7), Estephani (8) and Piter (8).",F,150,partner,Food,0 Dominican Republic,"Marie, 42 years old, is married and mother of eleven children. Nine years ago, she gave birth to triplets. Marie has been living in the Dominican Republic for more than ten years. Like many Haitian women, she thinks that living in this country, shell have more chance to earn a living and support her large family.
Since her arrival in Santo Domingo, Marie started a very small business which has grown a lot. She sells womens clothes, shoes, perfumes, deodorants and hand and body lotion. She buys the goods in Dajabon, a frontier province with Haiti where products can be obtained at very low prices. Till now, Marie has been selling her products at a public square. She wants to rent a small locale in the public market so that she can attract more clients and sell her products easily. With the loan she has requested, she will also buy more goods in order to continue satisfying the customers needs. Given the loan, the entrepreneur will increase her income and help her very large and needy family.",F,375,partner,Retail,0 Dominican Republic,"Mariel Mara is twenty-two years old and lives in the Sabana Palenque community of San Cristobal. Five years ago, she was a high-school student with a bright future, but an early pregnancy forced her to give up school in order to work and save money to take care of her child. Currently, she offers salon services like haircuts and manicures, and she also sells ice cream. Mariel Mara wants to finish high school and start university studies as a means of lifting her family out of poverty. With her loan, the young entrepreneur plans to buy a greater amount of acrylic nails and hair treatments for her business, increasing her available services, allowing her to save money so that she can resume her studies.",F,275,partner,Services,1 Dominican Republic,"Mariela is twenty-eight years old and a budding entrepreneur. She sells silver jewelry to the women in her neighborhood, and happily says her products are sold just as quickly as she can stock them. Mariela operates her business predominantly from her childhood home, but also visits regular customers at their homes. Mariela plans on buying new and exclusive items more expensive necklaces, bracelets, and earrings that she believes will sell at a greater profit than her current inventory. Mariela explains that with her businesss continued growth, she hopes that someday shell be able to buy her own home.",F,750,partner,Retail,0 Dominican Republic,"Marielena, the group coordinator, resides in a Batey (small agricultural village) in the La Romana region of the Dominican Republic along with the other members of her credit group. She lives with her husband Jose Jimenez and their six children ages 18, 16, 14, 10, 7 and 6. Despite being illiterate she has successfully created a retail business selling various sundry items from a paletera (small retail stand) to support her family. She has been able to expand her business to this point with the help of Esperanza International and this is her third loan, after having successfully repaid the first two. With her new loan Marielena plans to further expand her offerings by purchasing flour, cooking oil, shoes, saltines, lollipops and charcoal to sell; all items for which she has identified a market. In the long term Marielena plans to expand to the point where she can own and operate a colmado (small retail store). She hopes to do so in order to better support her family. Although she recognizes the difficulty of continuing to expand, she is continuing to look for new products which will be in demand in her area.",F,925,lender,Food,0 Dominican Republic,"Marileidi is a beautiful young woman with two children (ages: 6, 8). Their family lives in the small, coastal town of Samana in a nice quiet community. With this loan, she wants to start a business selling clothes. She plans on traveling to Santo Domingo (the capital city) to purchase her initial stock, and then will sell it at a higher price in her town. Marileidi is a very motivated and intelligent woman, and one day wants to open her own store. During her free time, she enjoys watching the popular Spanish soap operas on TV.
Thank you for supporting this group of entrepreneurs!",F,975,partner,Clothing,0 Dominican Republic,"Marilu is in her early forties. She and her husband have four children, two girls and two boys. They all attend secondary school. Marilu owns a car and motorcycle repair shop. Her garage provides a lot of services and also sells products such as lubricants, brakes, used bumpers etc. Marilu started the business a few months ago with her husbands help. As the couple didnt have sufficient money to operate the new enterprise, Marilu took a loan to purchase the neccessary materials. Marilu has some experience selling products and attracting clients. Currently, her employees (two mechanics) repair an average of eight cars a day. Marilus work consists of selling articles the customers need. She is currently requesting a loan to purchase more materials and products in order to improve the quality of services she can offer to her clients. Marilus business supports the studies of her children.",F,600,partner,Services,0 Dominican Republic,"Marilu lives in the Duquesa community of Santo Domingo, where she operates a small business producing and selling ice cream. Shes been running this business for a year, and this is her principal source of income. Marilu wants to have her own house so that her children can have a more comfortable lifestyle. She is also trying hard to grow her business despite hard competition seeking to capture the same market potential.
Marilu will use her loan to buy a large quantity of raw materials and other goods to keep producing her ice cream. Shell also repair one of her two freezers so that she can maximize her production and increase her revenue.",F,600,partner,Food,1 Dominican Republic,"Marilu, a thirty-year-old mother of four school-going children, sells diced pork in the Mata San Juan community of Santo Domingo. She has been running this business for four years.
Marilu explains that the business is gainful and the clientele is growing. Currently, she has a monthly profit of about USD 200.00. Marilu will use her loan to invest in the purchase of more meat to keep satisfy her clienteles needs. She says that she will work for the sake of her family as far as possible.
",F,475,partner,Food,0 Dominican Republic,"Marina is a 44-year-old mother of two children, a boy and a girl. She sells gold-filled jewels such as earrings, bracelets, anklets, rings and so forth. She sells womens shoes too. Her two children attend school.Bi-weekly, Marina has to travel to Santo Domingo or Elas Pia, a frontier province with Haiti, to get the goods at very low prices. She retails them in her community and she says that until now she has managed to obtain profits and put aside money for her childrens needs.
With her loan, Marina hopes to invest in more jewels and shoes. She also wants to use the Christmas period to buy some womens slippers which she would sell at special prices. That way, the entrepreneur will increase her sales volume and make her business known by many more people.",F,375,partner,Retail,0 Dominican Republic,"Marisol is 26 years old and lives with her partner and their 3-year-old boy. Jointly with her partner, she runs a grocery store that they started one year ago. They sell a very wide range of products and people visit the grocery store frequently to buy products they need to prepare food. Bananas, maniocs, rice, beans, carrots, vegetable oil, bread, juice and energy drinks are just some of the varied products that you can find in theirbusiness. Marisol is requesting a loan to increase the volume operations of her store. She will invest the funds to buy bulk goods to supply her business.",F,375,partner,Food,1 Dominican Republic,"Marisol owns and is the principal of a primary school in the Altagracia community of Herrera, Santo Domingo. Currently, she receives more than 500 children from the surrounding area who attend class in the school. Mara explains that not all parents have the means to pay for their childrens education, even though her school is not expensive. She also says that she employs 17 teachers and, every now and then, she needs to get the benches and blackboards repaired.
With her loan, the entrepreneur will buy more school furniture because she thinks that the more comfortable the pupils are, the better theyll be able to learn.",F,300,partner,Education,0 Dominican Republic,"Marisol, hard-working and multifaceted entrepreneur and mother of three school-going children, owns a small lottery bank and sells shoes, tennis shoes and other goods to the women of her community. She has been selling these goods for more than ten years. Marisol explains that its a very hard task to keep up three children and have to pay the rental of the house. Nonetheless, she says shell keep doing her best to provide good education to them. With her loan, the entrepreneur will buy more goods to continue satisfying her clienteles need and increase her revenue.",F,400,partner,Retail,0 Dominican Republic,"Maritz Esther, an untiring woman and mother of two schoolchildren, lives in San Cristobal where she runs a small business.
Maritza Esther has been selling underwear and silver jewelry for more than seven years in her community. Maritza Esther says her business is the main source of the familys income. She also says its hard to keep up with two children and that she has to work hard to provide them with food and education.
With her loan, the entrepreneur will buy new styles of underwear and jewelry for her customers. Maritza Esthers dream is to have a big ""Boutique.",F,425,partner,Retail,0 Dominican Republic,"Maritza had always thought that shed be a happy wife and a great mother, until an unexpected divorce awoke her to reality. The ending of the relationship had been disastrous, and I said that I was treated unfairly Death was all I wanted, Maritza says. Fortunately, her three children motivated her to stay alive and to see the positive side of the things. Currently, Maritza sells natural health products in Quita Sueos, a community located in Cotu. These products are manufactured outside the country by a company called Natura International. Maritza buys large amount of these goods at reduced prices and she resells them in her community. Each day, she visits people in the neighborhood with her catalog and some products in order to capture new potential clients and augment her sales. The entrepreneur has requested a loan to purchase more products to add to her inventory. She wants to increase her income so that she can improve her childrens living conditions. Maritza is looking forward to buying a small house that will allow her kids to have a more comfortable lifestyle. The entrepreneur will receive her loan with the following women: Denissa Altgracia Martinez, who also sells natural products; Matilde Garcia Rodriguez, who produces empanadas; Solaine Adames Leonardo, who sells clothing; Juana Garcia Rodriguez, who sells fried dishes; In the picture, Maritza is the first on the left.",F,625,lender,Health,1 Dominican Republic,"Maritza, 45, runs a colmado (a typical Dominican grocery store) with her husband. They have 8 children, and only the youngest (a boy of 19 years old), lives with them; the others are either with a partner or working in other townships. None of her children have attended school, and Maritza herself had no formal education. Her husband is jobless and helps her with the business. Maritza wants to purchase larger quantities of goods like rice, oil, sugar, salt and so on, that can last for a long time. This way, she wont have to go to the capital every weekend to get the goods to sell. For this reason, and also to set aside some money for her familys needs, she is requesting a loan of US $375.00 that shell repay in 6 months.",F,375,partner,Food,0 Dominican Republic,"Mariyanis has 7 children from 16 years old on down to 5 years old. Estefania, Mariyanis' oldest daughter (16 years old), depicted in this picture, ""takes care of business"" while her mother completes chores for the family.
Mariyanis is a full fledged businesswoman. She is farming some of the vegetables they sell in the store, right outside of the small shed where they sell the produce. She's had this business for two years now. Additionally, she has some rental property, which she keeps to supplement her income. It is not easy to care for 7 children, one right after the other in age! Mariyanis will use the loan to buy supplies for her store.",F,275,partner,Food,0 Dominican Republic,"Marlene leads a group of five women of Haitian descent, all of whom are small business owners. She has four children, and lives with one while the others live with their father in Haiti. Her home is in the little Haiti"" area of San Luis in Santo Domingo. People of the district are very poor, and live in small houses made of wood or scrap metal. Marlene explains that district residents try hard to lift their families out of poverty, but its an uphill battle. Furthermore, most of the people are poorly educated, and cant get a good job.
Marlene has been selling womens clothing for nine years. She says that things are up and down these days, and its not always easy to maintain cash flow. However, she's committed to do the best she can in order to continue contributing to the well being of her family and her business. With this loan, Marlene will buy clothing in bulk and resell it in the community to increase her income. Her fondest hope is that her children will grow up to become great professionals in life.
The members of Marlenes group are: Esther Jean Baptiste, who sells shoes and pants in the community; Ginette Lexime, a clothing retailer; Santa Livarez Santos, who will use her loan to buy womens clothing; and Marie Leonise Laguerre, who sells pants and slippers to people of the community.
Picture: left to right, Marie Leonise, Santa, Ginette, Esther and Marlene.",F,1775,partner,Clothing,1 Dominican Republic,"Marleny is a young and budding entrepreneur. She sells pants and shoes to women of the Buenos Aires community of Santo Domino. She operates the business mostly out of her parents' house, but sometimes she visits friends to sell her goods. Marleny explains that shes recently finished high school and in a short time she wants to study marketing at the university.
With her loan, Marleny will purchase customer-recommended products in order to augment her sales volume and her revenue. Marleny hopes that her business growth will help her achieve her goal of becoming a professional.",F,200,partner,Clothing,0 Dominican Republic,"Marta (pictured in the center) lives in the community of Molquecho in the eastern province of Hato Mayor in the Dominican Republic. She has five children, ages 18, 17, 15, 13, and 12. Marta owns and manages her own business making and selling jewellery as well as clothing and undergarments. Her business has continued to grow since she has had greater access to capital through the loans that Esperanza Internacional has given her. She has paid off two loans already and would like to purchase more clothing and undergarments to sell in her store with this next loan. On behalf of everyone here at Esperanza International, and from Marta herself, we thank you for your support with this micro loan!
About Group Loans
In a group loan, each member of the group receives an individual loan but is part of a group of individuals bound by a group guarantee. Under this arrangement, each member of the group supports one another and is responsible for paying back the loans of their fellow group members if someone is delinquent or defaults.",F,1175,partner,Clothing,0 Dominican Republic,"Marta has a successful small business: preparing and selling food. She started her business five years ago. In the morning, she prepares food such as spaghetti, boiled eggs, bananas with fried hot dogs or fried eggs and so on. In the night, she sells fried chicken, broth, fried potatoes, manioc, and so forth. With the income obtained from her business, Marta, 36, provides her two sons with a good education. Currently, she is thinking about remodeling the locale where she operates the business. With the loan requested, she will also purchase raw materials to prepare the food. Given the loan, the entrepreneur hopes the remodeled local will attract new customers to her business.",F,375,partner,Food,0 Dominican Republic,"Marta is a woman who has decided to go into the beauty salon business and would like a loan to start the business. She wants to use the loan to buy hair products for her to offer to her clients and offer a better service. As of now she does not own an establishment but she uses her house to offer her services to clients which are usually her neighbors. She buys the products in the city which is around 1 hour or more away since she has to take public transportation and sometimes walk. She is single and has 3 children",F,325,partner,Services,0 Dominican Republic,"Marta is forty-two years old and a single mother of one daughter. To make a living and fend for her family, Marta sells homemade food to people in her community. Early in the morning, Marta prepares her tasty typical Dominican dishes, and she leaves her house to go to the public place where she operates her business. Thousands of people regularly visit her to enjoy her food.
The entrepreneur explains that she needs more capital to buy more goods in order to offer new dishes to her customers. Marta Jimenez hopes that her business growth will help her put sufficient money aside in order to buy a house in the upcoming years.",F,400,partner,Food,1 Dominican Republic,"Marta is twenty-four years old, and she and her husband have three children who all attend school. Her husband works in the city council.
Marta has recently begun selling paintings with loans she obtained from our organization. She has to travel outside her community to get the paintings or pictures on the wholesale market and then she retails them in the public square.
Marta envisions her business becoming a big shop with a large range of paintings to offer her customers. With her loan, she will buy more goods, especially drawings closely related to Christmas, to sell during the holidays.",F,450,partner,Arts,0 Dominican Republic,"Marta prepares and sells fried vegetables to earn a living. She and her husband,who does not currently have a job, have three children. Marta runs her very small business from her house, and she is working hard to attract as many customers as possible.
She is requesting a Kiva loan to purchase vegetables to continue her business. Marta envisions that her business will grow a lot in future. She hopes to increase her sales and income so that she can improve her needy familys living conditions.",F,175,partner,Food,0 Dominican Republic,"Martha (pictured far right of Group 1) is a fun and energetic woman who lives with her three children in the town of Los Alcarizzos. She has a colmado which is a small neighborhood grocery store of sorts, typical of many street corners in towns throughout the Dominican Republic. From her store, she sells fresh vegetables, rice, beans, canned goods, soaps, and toilet paper. She is asking for this loan so that she can purchase a better variety of canned goods, desserts and candies, and be able to keep her colmado better stocked. With a better inventory she knows she can retain her current client base, as well as attract new clients and beat out some of her competition.
Her dreams are to see her colmado grow, and to have it be the biggest and best liked place to shop in her community. She wants her children to have the chance to change their lives, improve their futures, and always enjoy the opportunities they are given. She personally hopes to be able to live a more peaceful lifestyle, one where she advances economically and doesnt have to worry so much about having enough money to take care of everyone.
In her free time Martha loves to visit the hospital and spend time with the sick people who are often forgotten. She also goes to her local church every Sunday. On behalf of Martha, and everyone in her bankEsperanza International thanks you for your support of her loan!",F,1450,partner,Food,0 Dominican Republic,"Martha is in her early thirties, and she is a single mother with six school-going children (four boys and two girls). Martha runs a bakery which she started eight months ago, with a loan she had taken from FSMA. She used the funds wisely and she was able to repay the loan on time. Currently, people in the neighborhood visit her house all day long to purchase her mouth-watering cakes, pies, and delectable desserts.
With this loan, Martha will rent a small locale next to her house, and there shell run the bakery. She hopes her business will become the best confectioners shop of her community.",F,900,partner,Food,0 Dominican Republic,"Martha is in her late thirties. She's an optimistic woman who works her tail off to make a living and take care of her five children. Martha sells an assortment of fashionable jewelry to women in her hometown, the Villa Del Carmen community of Ban. Her husband lives outside the country and helps her in supporting the children's education.
Martha is requesting a loan to purchase more products so that she can increase her sales volume and get a better income. She'd like to rent a small establishment to run her store. She believes this would help her get new clients and offer better service to her current customers.",F,300,partner,Retail,1 Dominican Republic,"Martha is thirty-two years old, and she and her husband have two children, one son and one daughter, both of whom go to school.
Martha has been selling beauty products for more than eight years. She has her showcase in her house, and from there she operates the business. The entrepreneur plans on using her loan to add perfumes and shoes to her stock so as to attract new people and increase her sales volume.
The entrepreneurs business supports her childrens studies.",F,400,partner,Retail,0 Dominican Republic,"Martha is twenty-seven years old and she has four children, three of them boys. Martha has been selling a collection of fashionable jeans to men and women of the Batey of Palav community of San Cristobal. Until now, she has been operating her business from her house, but she plans on renting a locale before long to run her activity. Martha will use her loan to expand the business and add an assortment of sneakers and blouses. That way, the entrepreneur will attract more people and increase her income. Martha wants to provide a comfortable lifestyle with her family.",F,225,partner,Clothing,0 Dominican Republic,"Martha Maria is the kind of person who wants to take advantage of each minute and every single opportunity in life in order to reach their goal and be successful. She owns and operates a small cafeteria which she built one year and a half ago. Her delicious and well-prepared typical Dominican breakfasts and lunches have made of her cafeteria well-visited and one of the preferred gathering places of the community. Martha has three daughters ranging in age from six to eighteen, all of whom go to school. Theyre the principal reason why the entrepreneur wants to keep fighting hard so that her business can generate a better income to keep supporting the childrens studies. Martha will use her loan to buy a wider range of goods to produce her delicious dishes. She hopes that her business can grow to such an extent that she can start serving dinners to her clientele very soon.",F,300,partner,Food,1 Dominican Republic,"Martha Sosa has lived a very difficult life. Her whole life she has been living in extreme poverty and has not found a way to generate a steady income. She is a 55-year-old single mother of two children. She came to Esperanza International in hopes of receiving a loan so she could start her own business, and she sees this opportunity as a way to change her fortune and to give her a purpose.
She has always wanted to be able to provide a good life for her children, and be able to travel and have her own house. Martha is going to start a small business selling clothing in her area, and is so excited to get started. She is going to buy cheap clothing and fix it herself to sell. She really feels like a change is coming for her and her family, and she is ready to do whatever it takes. She is a really hardworking woman. We are all excited about her future!
Martha represents a ""Bank of Hope,"" of which she is one of 10 members.",F,1475,lender,Clothing,0 Dominican Republic,"Martha Sosa Rincon (far left) is the coordinator for a group of five women seeking to take out a loan. She is a single mother of two children, ages 5 and 2. She manages a small business selling clothes, something she has a wealth of experience doing. This is the second time she has taken out a loan with Esperanza; her first loan was successfully used to expand her business to improve her familys wellbeing. With this loan, she plans to purchase more clothes to further expand her business. Eventually, she hopes to open her own boutique.",F,1200,lender,Clothing,0 Dominican Republic,"Martha Yanelis, 33 years old, lives in the Villa Del Carmen community of Ban with her three sons. Her three sons range in age from 4 to 12 years old, and two of them attend school. The father of her children lives outside the country, and at times he helps her in taking care of the children. Currently, Martha is between jobs, so she is naturally nervous about the challenge of bearing all of the family's expenses by herself.
To address this situation, she plans on starting a small business where she will sell women's clothing, purses, and beauty products. Importantly, she will operate this business from her house; further, she will purchase her goods in Villa Consuela in Santo Domingo, a famous place where people can purchase goods in bulk to cut down on costs. Martha feels that this activity would be very helpful for her as it would generate profits which could be used to support her children's educational pursuits.
This needy mother thanks the Kiva community in advance for its support, and she hopes to receive the loan before long so that she can get her project off the ground.",F,100,partner,Retail,1 Dominican Republic,"Martha, 26, is a courageous woman and an assiduous entrepreneur who lives in the Cajuiles community of Cotu. She's married with no children and she's living with her parents since her husband lives outside the community.
A couple of months ago Martha had a miscarriage, and she's nervous about the possibility of not being able to give birth to a child. She sadly explains that she can't afford to visit a fertility specialist because of her low wages.
Martha is a skilled woman. She's a good beautician and has worked for various beauty salons in the community. Now, the entrepreneur wants to start her own business. She has already rented an establishment and bought some products. With this loan, she'll buy a used salon chair, a manicure table, and a hair dryer. Martha is very confident and optimistic. She believes that her savoir faire and good quality service will help her to face the competition and have success in her endeavor.
Martha will receive the funds along with these women:
Ines Acosta Angeles, an entrepreneur who sells beauty products,
Ana Mercedes Adames, an elderly woman who operates a fruit and vegetable stand, and
Marta Dionisia Marte, who sells beauty products in the neighborhood;
The photo shows from left to right: Martha, Marta Dionisia, Ana Mercedes and Ines.",F,950,partner,Services,1 Dominican Republic,"Martina Espino Hidargo is a middle-aged woman that lives in Saman, Dominican Republic. As a single mother, her small vending business allows her to support her two sons. With this particular loan, she is looking forward to the possibility of acquiring more inventory such as necklaces, purses, and jewelry. The earnings from her business will allow her to continue to support her children and put her one step closer to her dream, which is to return to school and earn a degree.
Martina (pictured in the center with the brown shirt) is just one member of the 10 person bank, El Arroyo Unido. Together, these Dominican entrepreneurs are able unite in solidarity, allowing them access to funding that they would otherwise never be able to receive on their own. The concept of this group bank paying their loan together is to reduce the risk of one person defaulting, as the other members gladly help cover one anothers payments in order to receive their next loan together.
On behalf of Martina Espino and the entire team at Esperanza, we thank you for your support and awareness of the global issue of poverty that you are making a difference in.",F,1775,partner,Retail,0 Dominican Republic,"Martina has been selling undergarments, perfumes, and beauty products for seven years in the Villa Carmen community of Ban. This is the main source of income of her family. Martin has four children ranging from four to ten years old, two of whom go to school. She explains that its hard to support four children. Martina says that shell try to raise her kids until they become good professionals in life and be able to earn a living on their own.
Martina is requesting a loan to purchase a new line of beauty products and new brands of perfume. She hopes the new products that shell add to her business will generate a greater profit than her current inventory.",F,225,partner,Retail,1 Dominican Republic,"Martina has been selling womens clothing for more than ten years in the Majagual community of Santo Domingo. Recently, she took a loan from FSMA that she invested to start a new business selling natural medicines. She explains that this kind of business is highly profitable and that will help her to provide her family with a better lifestyle.
Martina has to work hard every day to support her three childrens educations. With her loan, shell buy more natural medicines, because these goods are in high demand in her community. Martina would like to have her own house and a better location for her store.
",F,300,partner,Health,1 Dominican Republic,"Martina is 63 years old and has a grown-up son. She has been widow for more than 10 years. Her son has graduated from the university and has his own family. In spite of her advanced age, Martina wants to be an active businesswoman. Six months ago, she got from our organization a loan to purchase goods in order to supply her business activity. The entrepreneur sells clothes and fabrics, curtains, sheets, beds and tablecloths. Martina wants to have a local shop where to sell the goods. Now, every day she has to go to the public place to operate the business. She has applied for a second loan, which she will use to rent a small local store and a showcase for some of the products. The entrepreneur thinks that obtaining the funds will be a huge opportunity for her change the way shes doing business, and that she will get more clients.",F,300,partner,Clothing,0 Dominican Republic,"Martina is a diligent and optimistic young woman who tries really hard to improve her family's lifestyle. She's been separated from her husband and she lives with her two school-going children. Martina runs a lot of small businesses so as to maintain her family. Presently, within a small establishment, the entrepreneur sells beauty products and she retails gas which she wholesales in a gas station. During the week-ends, she produces pork and chicken barbecue.The entrepreneur explains that a single mother has to work hard to provide good education and well-being for her kids. Martina will finish secondary school next year, and she wants to start her university studies. She believes that a good education will allow even poor people a fighting chance of having a good place in society.
The entrepreneur will invest her loan in a considerable quantity of pork and chicken meat, gas and beauty products in order to keep operating her businesses and to increase her revenue.",F,575,partner,Retail,1 Dominican Republic,"Martina is a young mother of two children and a budding entrepreneur. Shes recently started a small grocery store, which will help her keep supporting her family. As her business is in her initial phase, its not generating the amount of income the entrepreneur needs to boost it and face all her financial issues. Therefore, Martina is requesting a loan to keep investing in the purchase of different goods to supply her store. The businesswoman hopes that her grocery store can grow insomuch as shell get a well established clientele and before long improve her familys living conditions.",F,475,partner,Food,0 Dominican Republic,"Martina is thirty-eight years old, and she and her partner have four children who go to the university. Martina is a very active businesswoman who struggles to provide a comfortable lifestyle with her children. She says that since childhood, she has learned the price of persistence. Her parents used to force her to work to make a living.
Now, Martina runs a beauty salon that she started ten years ago. She offers services of hair dying, hair treatment, hairdos and so forth. She has a well-established clientele. She has a local salon where she operates the business. Martina plans on enlarging her salon and adding new services so that she can attract new clients.
With her loan, she will purchase goods that are running low in the salon, such as a hairdryer, rinse and shampoo. Martina says that goods are the raw materials with which she runs the business. The entrepreneur hopes her business can grow and she can make more profits in order to keep working for the sake of her family.",F,300,partner,Services,0 Dominican Republic,"Martina is twenty-five years old and a buddimg entrepreneur. She runs a beauty salon that is well-known by people of Bonito community of Santo Domingo, her hometown. Martina is planning to use her loan buy a new line of hair care and hair treatment products to resell in her business. The entrepreneur explains that services offered at her beauty salon are still limited, but she plans on adding new ones in the future. She even thinks about hiring one or two girls to help her attend to the customers when business substantially grows.
Martina will receive the funds together with the following entrepreneurs: Juana Mercedes Aguasanta Daz, a beauty salon owner Rosa Yvelisse Feliz Reyes, to supply a clothing store Mara Altagracia De Los Santos Feliz, to buy shirts and shoes Inocencia Cruz Matias, for a small clothing shop. Picture: from left to right: Juana, Martina, Rosa, Mara, Inocencia",F,1375,partner,Services,0 Dominican Republic,"Martina Jimenez is the bank coordinator for the Bank of Hope ""Fuerza Divina"", which has 9 groups of 5 members each. Three groups are participating in this loan. Martina has 3 children, ages 29, 2 and 3. Martina sells all kinds of clothes in Hato Mayor.
Martina has received four loans from Esperanza; this would be her fifth. The first loans made it possible for her to expand her business. Her monthly sales have increased, so she needs this loan to replenish her business and be able to have more stock to offer her growing clientele. Martina hopes that she one day will be able to buy a nice house to live in and a place where she can set up her own clothing store.
With your help, Martina will be one step closer to accomplishing her dreams. Thank you for supporting this loan!",F,4600,partner,Clothing,0 Dominican Republic,"Martina leads this group of women, all of whom live in Villega, an extremely impoverished community located in San Cristobal. Most of the people in the community are unemployed, and agriculture is not profitable because the poor farmers dont have efficient equipment to work their land. The roads are in disrepair, and it takes a lot of effort to get to the town of San Cristobal. Martina lives in these unfavorable conditions. She and her husband have three children who attend school. Her husband works at an electronics repair company. Despite this job, he cannot fully support the family. Martina would like to contribute to her familys income. She has requested a loan to start selling used clothing in her neighborhood. She will buy the garments in bulk in Santo Domingo, and she expects shell have enough clients so that she can earn a good profit and change her familys living conditions. Martina will receive her loan together with these women: Santa Miguelina Valdez Tejeda, who sells beauty products; Juana Evangelista Del Orbe Jimenez, who operates a fruit and vegetable stand; Ramona Aybal Peynado, who sells fried dishes; and Miledys Tejeda, who sells fruit. The picture shows from left to right: Santa Miguelina, Juana, Ramona, Martina and Miledys.",F,1300,lender,Clothing,1 Dominican Republic,"Martina, coordinator of this group, is an excellent entrepreneur who operates a ""ventorrillo"" (fruit and vegetable stand). Martina recently started her business with the aim of helping her husband to support their children's education. She has three children from her previous marriage, but she has no children with her present husband. This entrepreneur explains that she has to fight very hard to take care of the kids, but she hopes that this loan will allow her to move her ventorrillo forward so that she can boost her earnings and improve her family's living conditions. The members of Martina's group are: Maria Estela Fernandez Paula, who sells fruits and vegetables; Georbania Mendoza, a clothing retailer; Maria Antonia Suarez Gonzalez, who sells pants and shoes; and Luisa Sano Nunez, a small ventorillo's owner. The picture shows from left to right: Martina, Maria Estela, Georbania, Maria Antonia and Luisa.",F,1425,partner,Food,1 Dominican Republic,"Martina, the mother of seven children, is a modest woman and hard-working entrepreneur who has been doing her utmost to maintain her large family by selling pastelitos (rounds of pastry folded over a filling of meat and vegetables). During the weekdays, the entrepreneur goes to the nearby public school where she remains until the late evening in order to sell her product. Her husband is a humble farmer whose wages aren't enough to bear all the family expenses
Martina is requesting a loan to buy floor, cooking oil, chicken meat and other goods to keep producing her delicious pastries. This humble entrepreneur hopes that her business will allow her to keep supporting her children's education and provide a better lifestyle for her family.
Martina will receive her loan together with these women: Eusebia Beltran, who sells footwear; Lucrecia Martinez Cleto, who sells jewelry; Miledy Luzon Santos, a clothing retailer; Elsa Maria Rosario Nicasio, who owns and operates a mini-market.
The picture shows from left to right: Martina, Eusebia, Lucrecia, Miledy and Elsa.",F,1100,partner,Food,1 Dominican Republic,"Martire runs her colmadito (small neighborhood grocery store) by herself and is asking for her fourth loan to expand her inventory. She is very responsible with her income and savings and keeps a record of her expenses, sales, and inventory in a notebook she carries everywhere with her. With her past loans, she has managed to use her savings to buy a freezer. She says her ability to purchase this freezer has been the key to her success. She is now able to sell perishable items, cold water, and cold beer to her neighborsand as a result has greatly increased her sales.
Martire says it has been a hard life; she supports her three children, her mother who is very ill, and her husband by herself. She is grateful, however, that one step at a time, she has been able to improve her income and the welfare of her family members. Martire is very involved with her Catholic Church, and the local Club de Madres (Mothers' Club). She is most grateful for these loans and believes that they have truly changed her life for the better.",F,375,partner,Food,0 Dominican Republic,"Mary is an ambitious and positive woman trying hard to raise four sons and one daughter in the Villa Del Carmen community of Ban. Her husband is an electrician and works for a small company. To generate more income for the family, Mary wants to start a small business selling pants, shoes, and undergarments to people in her community. She says this kind of business is very profitable, and believes that this would allow her to support her children better.
With the requested loan, Mary will wholesale clothing in Santo Domingo to retail in her community. She hopes that her business will be successful so that she can change her familys living conditions.",F,150,partner,Clothing,1 Dominican Republic,"Mary is thirty-two years old, and she and her husband have four children. Mary runs a beauty salon in her house. She operates the business five days a week. She does not yet have a well-established clientele but is working hard to get new clients.
She has requested a $175 loan to buy a new blower and a chair hair dryer for the salon. Mary says if business is very profitable, she will buy a small generator to help deal with the frequent power cuts in her neighborhood. That way, she will be in a better condition to compete with other beauty salons in the neighborhood. Additional income will help her improve her familys living conditions.",F,175,partner,Services,0 Dominican Republic,"Mary is twenty-seven years old and she and her husband have two children. Mary's husband works as a mechanic and her young son and daughter, three and one years old respectively, stay at home with mom. Mary sells clothing and fashion products to the women in her community. From her home, she offers womens dress shoes, pants, blouses, and a selection of silver jewelry. With her loan, Mary plans on adding more silver bracelets, necklaces and earrings, which she believes will increase her profit margin. Mary explains that as her business becomes more established she hopes she can ensure that her children receive an education and maintain her familys lifestyle.",F,1200,partner,Retail,0 Dominican Republic,"Matea is 27 years old and has lived with her partner for eight years. They have three sons aged 7, 5 and 3, and her partner also has a beautiful 11-year-old daughter. All of their children go to public school in the township, except for the 3-year-old boy, who attends kindergarten. Matea owns a beauty salon that she started a year ago. Demand for her services is very high, and she is seeking a loan of $325 to buy more products and offer new services to her customers. The loan will be repaid in 6 months.",F,325,partner,Services,0 Dominican Republic,"Matilde has been operating a butcher shop for fourteen years in the Media Blanca community of San Cristobal. Her husband helps her in managing the business. Matilde doesn't raise livestock, so she has to constantly invest money to purchase cows, goats and pigs for her butcher shop. The entrepreneur explains that her business is very profitable, and says that a goat lasts no more than two days before it is sold.
By means of her business, Matilde has been supporting her three children's educations and she wants to do much more for them. She's requesting a loan to buy more animals so that she can keep satisfying her customers' needs and increase her revenue. Matilde wants to keep working hard to provide her family with a more comfortable lifestyle.",F,575,partner,Food,1 Dominican Republic,"Matilde is fifty years old, and she and her husband have five sons and three daughters, all of whom live with Mom and Dad. To supplement her familys income, Matilde sells a collection of products such as liquid soap, perfumes, hair treatment, hand and body lotions, toilet paper and the like. Bi-weekly, she goes outside her community to Santo Domingo, the capital, to get her products. She says that people of Don Gregorio, her community, need those goods and theres not enough suppliers offering them to the community.
With her loan, Matilde will bulk-buy products and add new items in order to allow people to meet their needs. That way, Matilde will ensure the healthiness of her business and shell better support her family.",F,475,partner,Retail,0 Dominican Republic,"Maura is the coordinator of a group of five women, all of whom are entrepreneurs which operate their own businesses in the Los Roche community of San Cristobal. Maura is fifty-eight years old and a proud mother of seven grownup sons, each one living with his respective family. Maura explains that her husband passed away eight years ago and she was left alone to face all the responsibilities. She spent almost all her savings to start a small cafeteria. She explains that in the beginning, it was really difficult to run the cafeteria. She remembers that she had to face an arduous competition, and the access to capital was complicated.
Now, Mauras cafeteria is relatively stable and she has a lot of customers that visit her everyday to enjoy her appetizing plates. Maura would like to leave the local stall (made of wood) within which shes operating her cafeteria and build a concrete one in a few years. With her loan, Maura will buy raw materials and other goods to prepare her food and keep satisfying her clients.
The members of Mauras group are: Santa Patricia Soto Carmona, a grocery stores owner; Yenny Gabriela Roche Arias, to invest in her store; Anicia Soto Carmona will buy more goods for her clothing store; Fiordaliza Santos Gonzalez, to purchase womens clothing to resell in her community.",F,1050,partner,Food,0 Dominican Republic,"Maura, a single mother of four children, lives in Monte Plata where she operates a small shop offering womens clothes and jewelry to people of the neighborhood. Maura explains that it was a terrible blow for her raise four children on her own after her husband passed away. Nonetheless, God has helped me a lot, and He gave me strength to work hard and move my business forward.
Maura explains that maintaining the cash flow is sometimes a hard task, but she hopes that her new collection of fashionable garments will help her business be more profitable than before.
Maura says that shell keep working hard in order to provide a comfortable lifestyle with her children.",F,450,partner,Retail,0 Dominican Republic,"Maxima is a 46-year-old woman who lives in an impoverished community in the eastern Dominican province of Hato Mayor with her husband and three children, ages 19, 22 and 23. She has owned a small colmado for some time, but is requesting this loan to improve, expand and grow her little business. A colmado, a very common type of business in the Dominican Republic, is essentially a small grocery store that offers community members basic food provisions (rice, beans, vegetables), as well as soaps, beverages and miscellaneous household items. With the loan, she plans to expand her inventory of rice, oil, plantains and other food.
It is Maxima's ambition to continue growing her business so that she can continue providing for her family. She insists that her children continue studying so that they can be productive members of society, and hopes that she herself will always progress in both her personal and economic life. On behalf of everyone here at Esperanza International, and from Maxima herself, we thank you for your support with this micro loan!",F,3200,partner,Food,0 Dominican Republic,"Maximina Mercedes Santa is a young woman, of 37 years, who has formed a beautiful home with her husband Carlos de la Rosa, with whom she has two children. She lives in the small town of El Seibo, a province of the Dominican Republic, and she specifically lives in the community of Los Cajuiles. It is in that community that she has her business selling clothes, clothes, and ladies accessories; the past 6 months have been very successful for her and have permitted her to dedicate extra income to her family.
She is now asking for a loan of 15,000 Dominican Pesos to buy more merchandise for the upcoming summer season, and to expand her business. She hopes to increase her sales and continue developing her business in this way.
Her goals are always be a productive person, and to maintain her physical health, and the growth of her business. She also hopes to continue moving forward with her life so that her children can continue their education and become professionals.",F,450,partner,Clothing,0 Dominican Republic,"Mayra Jacqueline is married with two children. Her husband runs a small grocery store. To supplement her familys income, Mayra wants to start a small business of selling clothing to the women in her neighborhood. Shes requesting a loan to buy clothing in bulk to retail in the community. Mayra will be visiting her good friends and other women in the neighborhood to sell her goods. Mayra is a very confident person. She says she knows many people in the community, and she believes she has the talent of persuading people. Mayra will do her utmost to make her business successful and to repay the loan.",F,250,partner,Food,1 Dominican Republic,"Mayra lives in Santiago, the Dominican Republic's second largest city, with her husband and six children. She plans to use her Kiva loan to buy silver jewelry that she can sell from her house, while still being able to care for her children. Mayra hopes to use the profits from her jewelry business to pay for the education of her six children. Her goal is to provide her children with a good education so that they can become working professionals.
Mayra is the coordinator of the Mujeres con Esperanza (Women with Hope) bank group. She takes great pride in leading her successful bank group. This will be the second loan for the Mujeres con Esperanza bank group.
",F,2275,partner,Retail,0 Dominican Republic,"Meet Mrs. Rosa Dishmey, one of the most accomplished borrowers Esperanza has seen. She is requesting her eleventh loan. On each of the previous 10 loans, she has consistently invested in her business, and she has seen that business grow steadily.She came to Esperanza as a local saleswoman selling perfumes and creams door-to-door throughout her neighborhood. However, she has moved on from that to sell natural medicines. Natural medicines are organic products used for all types of illnesses. They are very expensive products and she receives orders from all over the country.
Organic medicines are a very unique business to be in, but she reiterated she saw a market where there were not many sellers and seized on that vacancy. She has been very successful in this market and with the loan would like to grow the business even more. She has dreams one day of having a separate store and home, and hopefully shortly this dream will come true.",F,2450,lender,Health,0 Dominican Republic,"Melania Mota is the leader of the La Union group, which takes out microloans in the small village of Manchado. Melania started a business selling bedsheets with her first loan, and she has been so successful that she is now on her sixth loan cycle! She is now also selling purses and blouses since there is a high demand for these products in her area. With this loan she will buy more blouses to sell to attract more customers.
Melania lives with her husband and five children. With the success of her loans she has been able to send all of her children to school and provide them with enough food. Her husband is a motorcycle taxi driver (a very popular form of transport in the Dominican Republic) and is very supportive of her business. Melania hopes that she can grow her business even further so that she might be able to send her children to college one day.
On behalf of Melania and the entire La Union group, thank you for providing opportunities to those who need them most!",F,1075,lender,Clothing,0 Dominican Republic,"Melania, aged 34, married and mother of two daughters, sells shoes for women and children. Generally, the business operates in the morning next to a public place. She started this business three years ago. Currently, she has a small local shop which she acquired with her husbands help. She is requesting a loan to remodel the shop, and have it ready for December. This will help her sell the shoes more easily, since the customers will be able to go to her shop in the afternoon and evening too. This way, she will increase her income and improve her familys living conditions.",F,325,partner,Retail,0 Dominican Republic,"Melida Martes (far right) is one member of the group Unidas para Seguir. She lives with her three children and her husband a few kilometers outside of Saman, Dominican Republic. Currently she works as the neighborhood veterinarian, going from house to house helping in any way she can with animals. She is on her eighth loan with Esperanza, and currently sells and administers vaccines, vitamins and antibiotics in her neighborhood. She loves working with the animals, and after seeing a need for veterinary care, she took it upon herself to begin work in the area. Many people she knows have pigs, so a majority of her work is with those animals, though she does do some work with cats, dogs and other animals as well. Melida has several goals for the future, as her business continues to grow. Her additional income, along with the income her husband brings in fishing, will allow her to fix up her house and to add an additional room or two as money allows. On top of this, Melida dreams of someday owning a house with enough property outside where she can raise cows. She got a big smile on her face when talking about someday being able to raise cows of her own, rather than just tending to those owned by others. For now, this is only a desire for Melida, as she uses much of her income just to help pay for food for the family. Her income, combined with her husbands, is not yet sufficient to buy both food and pursue her other goals. Melida is striving to grow her business day by day, and is very thankful for any help you can provide!",F,650,lender,Agriculture,0 Dominican Republic,"Members of Bank of Hope live in Hato Mayor, Dominican Republic. Their town is very small with few industries or services that generate employment. And although fishing is a largely practiced, it receives little support or funding.
The business activities of these entrepreneurs are varied: juice bar/ice cream shop, cosmetics sales, clothing sales and fish selling. Fish in this area are especially good, caught and sold on the same day.
Lourdes Torres is the group coordinator. She sells fish for a living. Lourdes buys fresh fish at the Sabana de la Mar port, where fishermen offer it after they come from work. She takes it home, clean it and sells to customers. Lourdes will use this loan to purchase more fish, which she can freeze if not sold in a short period of time. So far, her sales have been satisfactory. She hopes to increase sales to a level that in time, will allow her to finish building her house.
We'd like to thank you for your support these entrepreneurs.",M,2500,lender,Food,0 Dominican Republic,"Members of Ms. Lourdes Devers Maldonados group describe her as being the head of the group. Energetic and ambitious, she is borrowing from Esperanza for the first time. Her group consists of young and ambitious ladies who hope to change their lives through these loans. The newly formed group is called Mujeres D Vida and has five members. In the picture provided, Ms. Devers Maldonado is second from the right. The sixth person (standing in the back) is their loan officer, Nelly Mercedes Pena.
Ms. Devers Maldonado is starting a food shop that specializes in selling various cheeses as well as salami and sausage. Her loan will be used to purchase the items. The business will be run out of her house. One day, she hopes to have store.
She is the mother of two children, ages five and eight. She enjoys listening to music and going to the beach. Even as she plans on starting her business, she is trying to learn English. Lourde's story is just one of a list of men and women who are improving their quality of life through the help of Esperanza's micro-credit loans . This group has united with a common vision of a better life with faith and hope in their hearts and an unbreakable spirit. Each associate in this bank has a similar business, whether it is selling cheese and meats or operating a hair salon. Thank you for your support.",F,1025,partner,Food,0 Dominican Republic,"Menena, 26, originally from Haiti, lives in Batey Palav in San Cristobal. A 'batey' is a company town consisting of barracks and a few houses. They are located close to cane fields so that groups of workers can live near the site of their labor (usually called ingenio). In the past, many immigrants from Haiti came to work the sugar fields in Dominican Republic in order to make a living. Currently the ingenio is out of service, but the batey houses Haitians and Dominicans.
Menena is living with two of her children. The eldest is living in Haiti with her father. Menena was separated from her husband two years ago. Since then, she has been working as a housekeeper. As money earned from that job couldnt cover all the expenses of the family, she has been obliged to invest a part of her salary in the purchase of jeans and shoes, which she resells door-to-door in her community. Currently, she works more than she sells. She wants to invert that situation and convert the sale of clothes to her principal source of income.
She is requesting funds to purchase enough clothes and shoes to augment her sales volume and have enough money to keep on taking care of her children.",F,150,partner,Clothing,0 Dominican Republic,"Mensa is a 52-year-old widow, with three children (two boys and a girl). Her children are studying and working at Santo Domingo, the capital. Mensa wants to renew the business she started ten years ago, and was obliged to close last year for health reasons. She will sell natural medicines in her house, and sometimes will take them to the customers upon request. Withe the requested loan she will purchase the NATURE SUNSHINE companys products, since these are well known and very much in demand by a large part of the population.",F,375,partner,Health,0 Dominican Republic,"Mercedes and her partner have three children together - two girls, fifteen and ten, and a boy, eight. She bakes empanadas and prepares freshly squeezed juice for sale in her community. Before school each morning, Mercedes children help her prepare the goods for sale that day. Mercedes walks through the neighborhood, carting her empanadas and fresh juice. Her customers vary daily, but the workingmen in the neighborhood regularly enjoy the freshly baked snacks and juice. Mercedes plans on buying more fruit and other baking ingredients with her loan. She explains that, with some good fortune, her business has plenty of growth potential. Someday, Mercedes dreams of opening a buffet style luncheonette, where she can serve twenty to twenty five customers.",F,150,partner,Food,0 Dominican Republic,"Mercedes coordinates the activities of a group of five women, all of whom are operating businesses in the Los Roche community of San Cristobal. Mercedes sells tablecloths, curtains, bed sheets and the like to the women of the community. The entrepreneur has five sons who range from thirteen to twenty years old. Mercedes explains that this activity is the principal source of income of the family. Her husband is currently unemployed. With her loan, the businesswoman will buy more goods to offer to her customers in order to increase her revenue and improve her familys living conditions.
The members of Mercedes group are: Adargiza Ramn Gernimo, to sell clothing in bulk; Lucrecia Carmona Mndez, to invest in the buy of clothing for her business; Juana Yabelin Snchez, to add new styles of shoes to her stock; Olga Jimnez, to buy clothing for her business.",F,1075,partner,Retail,0 Dominican Republic,"Mercedes Henrique has opened her kitchen to the public and created a restaurant in her front yard. She lives with her son, Roberto, daughter, Santa Dominga, and her two grandchildren, all of whom she supports through her renowned cooking. She sets up shop outside her home which is just off the main highway that connects her home of San Pedro de Macoris with the Dominican capital, Santo Domingo. This loan will help her improve the quality of her restaurant by being able to purchase table cloths, additional chairs and tables, as well as more food for her rapidly growing customer base. NOTE: Mercedes is one of five microentrepreneurs in her Bank of Hope solidarity group, which have all gone through Esperanza's business training courses. Each of the five members will receive a share of this $1,000 loan for their respective businesses and will be accountable to each other for repaying their share of this loan together. This group-lending method strengthens social needs in a community and ensures that members cooperate to help one another repay their loans and invest wisely in their business and family.",F,1000,partner,Food,0 Dominican Republic,"Mercedes is 60 years old and she has seven grown-up children. They all are working and have their own families. She lives with her husband, a retired officer.
Mercedes dedicates herself to the preparation and sale of natural juices, arepa (fried or baked corn), sandwiches, coconut, and pastry-making. She has been running this activity for two years with the purpose of staying active at home and not depending only on other people. She operates the business close to her house, since she doesnt want to get tired by walking a lot.
The entrepreneur is requesting a loan to buy raw materials to continue with this small business, which has made a big change in the couple's living conditions.",F,200,partner,Food,0 Dominican Republic,"Mercedes is an elderly entrepreneur who struggles to improve her living conditions and lift herself out of poverty. To make a living, she sells womens clothing and costume jewelry in her hometown, the Chucho community of Santo Domingo. Mercedes lives with her three adult sons, all of whom are currently unemployed, although they often help her deliver goods throughout the neighborhood. With her loan, Mercedes will add new exclusive items to her inventory so that she can generate greater revenue and improve her familys lifestyle.",F,250,partner,Clothing,1 Dominican Republic,"Mercedes is an older and experienced businesswoman who lives in the Ro Arriba community of Ban. To make a living and help her husband support their children, she retails fuel to motorcycle and cars owners. Mercedes humbly explains that you wont get rich by doing this business, but she mentions that now she can face many financial issues and support her childrens education. Actually the entrepreneur has seven children, all of whom are in their twenties. With her loan, the entrepreneur will buy more fuel so that she can keep running her business and satisfy her customers needs.",F,225,partner,Retail,0 Dominican Republic,"Mercedes is fifty-six years old, and she and her husband have three sons. Two of them go to the university. Mercedes is a well-known teacher of a primary school in Caf community of Santo Domingo. As her husband is currently unemployed, and her salary is not sufficient to bear all the familys expenses, Mercedes had to invest a part of her salary to buy of mens clothing to resell in her community. Although her activity has started recently, Mercedes has a lot of customers, most of them young people, who purchase her goods. Mercedes is requesting a loan of $300 which she will use to expand her business, adding underwear to her inventory. Mercedes hopes that her business expansion will help her improve her familys living conditions.",F,300,partner,Clothing,0 Dominican Republic,"Mercedes is sixty years old and has recently started a business selling chocolates, candies, and yaniqueques (""Johnny cakes""), a fried dough snack, in her community. Each day, Mercedes sets out all of her treats on her display table, and passers-by stop along the sidewalk to enjoy Mercedes delicious snacks.
Mercedes is excited about investing in her business and adding a wider variety of candies and sweets to her stock. At the same time, Mercedes husband is no longer physically able to work, and she is nervous about the challenge of supporting her family. Mercedes hopes that her investment will continue her business growth and that, perhaps, eventually, she can even buy some nicer furniture for her home.
",F,250,partner,Food,0 Dominican Republic,"Mercedes is thirty-two years old and a single mother of three boys and one girl, all of whom attend school in San Cristobal. Mercedes sells underwear to men and woman of her community. She started her business last year, and now she has a well-established clientele which includes friends, teachers of the public school and people of the surroundings. Twice a month, Mercedes trips outside her community to buy the goods at low prices, and she retails them in her area. Mercedes hopes to become, before long, one of the most well-known supplier of these goods in the market. With her loan, the entrepreneur will buy big quantities of underwear so that she can reduce the frequent trips outside her community and increase her revenue.",F,250,partner,Retail,0 Dominican Republic,"Mercedes leads this group of entrepreneurs who live in the Sabana Grande de Boya community of Monte Plata. She has been offering services of tapestry-making for three years in her community. The art of tapestry-making requires a great deal of hard work and precision, and it consumes a lot of time to make the initial drawings. Furthermore, Mercedes explains that she has to spend a considerable sum of money to get the materials such as wool, silk, linen and the like to complete her jobs.On a more personal level, Mercedes has five children, all of whom attend school. She explains that it is hard to raise the kids and to generate money to cover her family's expenses. Ideally, she would like to have her own workshop, as well as some employees who have knowledge of techniques of the tapestry industry to work with her.
With the requested loan proceeds, the entrepreneur will buy a large amount of materials she needs to produce her woven fabrics. The members of Mercedes' group are: (1) Nicaury Del Rosario Fabian, who sells clothing in the community; (2) Paula Wendy Benjamin De La Cruz, who owns and operates a small grocery store; (3) Ana Berkis Dipre Figuereo, who sells fried dishes and natural juices; and (4) Martha Maritza Silvestre Frias, who sells women's clothing in the community.",F,1400,partner,Arts,1 Dominican Republic,"Mercedes' name merits an explanation. Although it seems to be a long name, it really is a commonly used form to name someone in the Dominican Republic, and in general, in Hispanic cultures. Her second last name, ""Del Carmen"", is given after the patron saint ""Del Carmen Virgin"" from the Catholic tradition of having patron ""Mother of God"" who bears different name depending on where it is that it's used as such. It isn't strange to find that this particular ""Virgin"" is popular in the island of Puerto Rico. Insofar as her last name is concerned, the ""De Leon"" stands for the origins of her ancestors: the Province of ""Leon"" in Spain. Her second last name, Rodriguez, is as common as the name ""Smith"" may be in certain parts of the U.S.A.
Mercedes had 9 children, but today she only has one living with her. Her husband died some time ago, and now she must care for her recently injured son. He was procuring the food for their plates, but fell from the motorbike on which he gave rides for a living. He is now living with a cast and theres no certainty as to when or how he will be able to ride the bike again. Regardless, Mercedes now wants (and as well needs) to put up a cafeteria for which she has most of the utensils (such as the thermos to keep the liquids hot, such as coffee and milk), the toaster for the bread, the blender for the fruit juices, etc. She needs a place to do it in, and needs to buy the raw materials. Hence, shes taking this loan.
She used to have a small grocery store earlier on, but now decided to put up the cafeteria (right where she is standing in the picture) because in the time between when she had the grocery store and now, she feels there have been too many stores put up in the neighborhood. She reminded us that these are good businesses (300% profit margin), but you cant have too many of them close by.",F,275,partner,Food,0 Dominican Republic,"Mercedes was born and raised in Media Blanca, a small community of the Nizao municipality where African roots, beliefs, and culture are very strong. Women in Media Blanca are very active and hard-working, and they carry on various kinds of businesses in order to earn a living. Mercedes has been influenced by these women and has decided to follow in their footsteps.
Therefore, she owns and operates a small store which helps to pay for her education costs and to support her unique 1-year-old son. Mercedes store offers a collection of a la mode eau de cologne, clothing, jewelry, and cosmetics. She started her business one year ago with a loan from FSMA. Currently, her business is well-established in the community and she has many loyal customers.
The entrepreneur is seeking a loan to increase her inventory, especially the beauty products, which will enable Mercedes to continue to satisfy her customers needs and will thereby increase her income.",F,300,partner,Retail,0 Dominican Republic,"Mercedes works selling motorbike parts. She plans on buying more parts. She has been working in this job for over fifteen years. She's are married woman with five children. Her husband works on a truck picking up garbage. She buys parts from a warehouse and has an establishment. She sells tires, tubes , oil , gas. She is in a small community called Los Casabes.",F,375,partner,Retail,0 Dominican Republic,"Mercedes Yojanna is an excellent and well-;experienced hair dresser who lives in the Villa Del Carmen community of Ban. Her salon, which she operates from her house, allows her to support her three beautiful children; her youngest child is 3 years old, her middle child is 6 years old, and her oldest child is 12 years old. Mercedes has been running her salon for three years in Villa Del Carmen. However, before she moved to this community, she had a small and successful salon in her hometown.
The entrepreneur explains that she regularly attends to about five clients each weekday, but that she typically attends to more than 30 clients during weekends. Currently, Mercedes in short supply of many products that are needed to operate her salon. With the requested loan proceeds, she will purchase new hairsprays, hairbrushes, hair dyes, and other hair products she needs to run successfully her business. The entrepreneur believes that better days are coming, and that her business will be one the most established salons in her community if she can secure this funding.",F,350,partner,Services,1 Dominican Republic,"Mercedes, 23, is the proud mother of a unique son, and she's one of our earliest program members in Media Blanca community of San Cristobal. She sells a collection of jewelry, clothing, perfumes and cosmetics. She started her store with the first loan she received from our institution. This entrepreneur is very grateful to the Kiva lenders and says happily that she wisely used the loan given to her through Kiva six months later. Her business has generated better income and she was able to put money aside to start her university studies.
Mercedes really means business, and she doesn't get intimidated by the continuous rain which has resulted in flooding the surrounding communities. On the contrary, she thinks that one must tighten one's belt and work even harder to make a living. This entrepreneur arms herself with a used jacket and an umbrella, and she visits her clients to offer her merchandise. Mercedes is requesting a loan in order to add new products to her inventory so she can boost her sales volume and income.",F,275,partner,Retail,1 Dominican Republic,"Mercedes, 39, is running a little garage. Her son (19 years old) is working as a mechanic in the business. In addition to fixing pneumatic tires, she sells spare tires, lubricants, and spark plugs for both motorcycles and cars. Every two weeks, Mercedes sends her son to Santo Domingo, the capital, to purchase the materials, especially lubricants, since its one of the most desired items. On each occasion (every two weeks), she buys more or less US $50.00 and earns more than double that amount weekly. Mercedes wants to keep purchasing products, but also wants to save money so she can provide her five children with a good education. Her husbands income is not sufficient to face those issues, since hes working on the dustcarts, picking up the rubbish, and is not well paid. The entrepreneur is requesting a US $375.00 loan.",F,375,partner,Services,0 Dominican Republic,"Mercedita dedicates herself to the sale of toasted bread, natural juices and sandwiches, a business which she started more than four years ago. Mercedita is 37 years old and has three children (two boys and a girl). Her husband works in a construction company. She gets raw materials in her town and doesnt buy fruits since her husband has a field and cultivates various types of fruits.
Merceditas dream is to have a cafeteria. She plans to remodel a room of her house to convert it into the cafeteria. She had put aside money to invest in the remodel and will sell a cow she has in order to have money to finish off the work. She needs funds to help her cover the costs that the work requires. Once her locale is ready, Mercedes will see her business change radically. She will more easily sell off the food and she will get more clients, so she will significantly increase her income and will better support her family.",F,300,partner,Food,0 Dominican Republic,"Merida is a multifaceted and optimistic entrepreneur whos been working hard to bring up her four sons, all in their twenties now, by herself. She owns and operates a mini-market, and she sells empanada in the morning. Occasionally, Merida prepares breakfast and lunch for her customers. She says that at regular intervals frequently during the summer people from other regions visit and stay for one or two weeks in her community to attend and participate in some national competitions. She seizes these opportunities to sell her delicious food to these short-term customers. During the last six months, shes been preparing food every day. Workmen doing road construction flock to her small establishment.
Currently, Merida is running low on many staples. She is asking for a loan to buy milk, sugar, rice, detergent, and other necessities. Turnover is very high in her business, and she is constantly having to replenish her stock. Merida hopes that her business will keep growing so that she can boost her earnings and keep helping her children continue their educations.
The following women will share the loan with Merida: Carolina Jimenez sells men's and womens clothing.
Tomasa Peguero sells underwear.
Altagracia Olivo sells clothing and accessories.
Rafaela Rafael Poline runs a fruit and vegetable stand.
In the photo, from left to right: Merida, Carolina, Tomasa, Altagracia and Rafaela.",F,1125,partner,Food,1 Dominican Republic,"Merita is in her late thirties and the mother of four children. The eldest goes to university, and the younger ones are in secondary school. Merita makes a living selling fresh vegetables and legumes. She has been this business for six years, is well known for her produce and has lots of customers. Merita's long-range goal is to rent a stall where she can sell her goods, because this will allow her to expand her business and make her customers more comfortable. Merita has applied for a loan to buy a large quantity of vegetables to sell, so that she will not need to leave her community to acquire new stock for the next two weeks. Her goal is to increase her income so that her family can live more comfortably and she can pay her son's university tuition.",F,475,partner,Food,0 Dominican Republic,"Mermena dedicates herself to the sale of natural juices and fried food. She started to run this business five months ago with a loan she had obtained from FSMA. Profits from that activity helped her repay the loan and take care of her two sons (2 years old and 1 year old). Her husband works as a blacksmith. Actually, the couples weekly income is about USD 100.00. The entrepreneur is asking for a second loan to enlarge her business. With the funds, she will buy large amounts of raw materials so that she can prepare and sell more goods. She will also buy a small freezer so as to preserve the fruits and keep the juices iced . Like so, the beverages will be more pleasant to the customers. The entrepreneur really worries about offering good quality service to the clients.",F,400,partner,Food,0 Dominican Republic,"Micaela Candelario is taking out her second loan with FSMA through Kiva. With her first loan, this social entrepreneur helped people in her community to resolve the problem of water scarcity. Now, Micaela wants to invest money in a new business, as her grandson is operating the first business of selling water in the community. She wants to buy an assortment of fashionable underwear and exclusive jewelry to retail in her neighborhood.
Micaela explains that she likes to be independent and able to earn money on her own. Consequently, she says shell be operating business as long as shes able. The entrepreneur hopes that shell have enough money to enjoy her golden years.",F,225,partner,Clothing,1 Dominican Republic,"Michaela is a living example of a hardworking and diligent woman. After her husbands death 15 years ago, she had to work a lot in order to take care of her three sons. Currently, she considers herself satisfied with her commitment, since her sons are working in other parts of the country and can earn their own living. Shes now living with her three grandsons.
People in Guanuma are facing a serious water scarcity. If it doesnt rain, they have to walk about 8 km to reach the public tap to collect water daily. Michaela thinks she can have a positive impact in her community and has decided to do something. She plans to buy a second-hand motorcycle and some five-gallon bottles. She also wants to buy a pack saddle to put behind the motorcycle to carry the bottles.
As Michaela is an elderly woman, shell let her 19-year-old grandson tend to the business. Daily, the boy will go all around the streets to sell water to people in the community. To start this business, Michaela is asking for a US$ 225 loan which will be repaid in a period of 6 months.",F,225,partner,Services,0 Dominican Republic,"Michelina is 20 years old and she has one son. Her husband works for a construction company. Michelina and the other members of this group are originally from Haiti; Michelina moved with her parents to the Dominican Republic about 12 years ago. Now, she has finished secondary school and needs to start her university studies. As her parents cant support her, Michelina wants to starts a small business to earn and save money, which will help her to start her studies. Shes requested a loan to start selling tablecloths, bedspreads and window curtains. Michelina is very positive and shes convinced that her business will be successful. Michelina would like to be a great accountant and says that shell do her best to reach her goal. Michelina is joined in her group by: Litha Dorlan, who sells footwear; Lourdes Gregorio, a clothing retailer; Johanna Jacques, who sells shoes; and Nerys Castillo, who sells clothing. The picture shows from left to right: Litha, Lourdes, Johanna, Nerys and Michelina.",F,1600,lender,Retail,1 Dominican Republic,"Micheline (pictured far right) is a soft-spoken 27-year-old woman who lives with her husband and three children in the suburb of Los Alcarrizos on the outskirts of the capital of Santo Domingo. She has started a business of selling undergarments, and has named it Exclusividades Micheline. She is asking for this loan so that she can purchase a larger quantity of undergarments and likewise be able to sell more to her community members.
Her dream is to continue extending her progress and business growth into the future, so that it is a reliable and long-term source of income for her and her family. She hopes to see her children move forward, continue their education and always advance as people and leaders in her community. She says her biggest challenge right now is to fight against the widely held belief in her particular community that they will always be poor, and that no one in her community has the potential to really improve. To advance, she has to not only work hard in her business, but also work hard to stay positive and optimistic.
In her free time Micheline likes to study and work on her business. On behalf of Micheline and everyone in her Capullo de Rosa Bank of Hope, thank you for your support of their loan and your interest in helping them overcome the odds to improve their lives in ways they only dreamed of before!",F,750,partner,Clothing,0 Dominican Republic,"Micheline Metellus is a young and highly-motivated female entrepreneur. Returning to our organization, Esperanza, to receive her second loan, she has proven that she not only has the ability to payback loans on time, but also that she is able to use loans to make significant improvements in her life. Selling pants, shirts, and blouses from her home, Micheline has been able to acquire inventory to establish this small business. She has also begun to save for the first time in her life. She plans to use her second loan to buy clothes in bulk from the nearby city of Santiago. Micheline said that her business is more important to her than ever now that she has her first child, a three-month-old girl, to care for. Micheline leads a five-person group, Las Mujeres Fuertes. Each of these Haitian entrepreneurs lives in the Dominican Republic and supports the others so that each can access funding that they would never be able to receive on their own. The purpose of their group loan is reduce the risk of one person defaulting, as the others members gladly help cover one anothers payments so that all may receive their next loan together. These women have found work here in the Dominican Republic so that they can send money back to their families in Haiti. One of the women is running a small salon, one makes empenadas on the street, and the two others others sell clothing similar to Micheline. On behalf of Micheline, Las Mujeres Fuertes, and the entire team here at Esperanza International, we thank you for your support and awareness of the issue of global poverty, and for your commitment to make a difference.",F,750,partner,Clothing,0 Dominican Republic,"Michelle is twenty-eight years old and a proud single mother of a four-year old daughter. She sells a collection of earrings, necklace, rings and other silver jewels. Michelle mentions that she wants to add hair care products to her stock in order to increase her sales volume and her income. This way, the entrepreneur will be able to face her financial responsibilities and improve her familys living conditions.",F,400,partner,Retail,0 Dominican Republic,"Migdalia is very active, with all the youthful energy and positivity of a hard-working woman. She is 20 years old and has a one-year-old son. She dedicates herself to the sale of tennis shoes, shirts and pants. She started her business six months ago with a loan which she had taken from our organization. She wisely used the funds and could repay the loan on time. She gets the products in the capital and resells them in her community and other provinces. Her mother helps her , since she works every weekend in the field and got a lot of customers there. The entrepreneur confesses that her midterm plan is to have a location to run the clothes store. Meanwhile she is working a lot selling good in the streets. She plans to invest the loan requested to buy more second-hand tennis shoes and shirts to sell in December. That way the entrepreneur will have more means to improve her familys living condition.",F,500,partner,Retail,0 Dominican Republic,"Miguel Mardonado (pictured in the front in the blue hat) is a 44-year-old single father who lives with his five children (ages 18, 16, 8, 6, and 4) in a small Haitian community called Pringamoza in the eastern province of Hato Mayor in the Dominican Republic. His wife died a couple of years ago and he has since begun a small business selling miscellaneous items such as charcoal, calling cards, and candy so that he can be flexible and more easily available to his children. Miguel sells these items from his home as well as in the streets. He has started these businesses so that he can provide his children with a good education and a comfortable home. Miguel is the leader of the 15-person micro-bank group, Gran Esfuerzo. In English, this means `Great Force. Each of these unique Haitian entrepreneurs unite in solidarity, allowing them to access funding that they would otherwise never be able to receive on their own. On behalf of Miguel, the Gran Esfuerzo group, and the entire team here at Esperanza International, we thank you for your support with this micro loan!",F,4175,partner,Retail,0 Dominican Republic,"Miguelina Antonia Nunez is a bank coordinator for Union con Esperanza (The Union of Hope). She is 39 years old and single. She has three children; 21, 18 and 16 years old. The 15 women of the bank are now looking for a loan with Esperanza. Miguelina and nine of the other women have never received a loan.
Miguelina used to have a business selling clothes, but decided to go another route because there are a lot of people selling clothes near her. She wants to start a new business selling shoes for men. A friend of hers makes shoes and she wants to sell his shoes in her neighborhood, in Puerto Plata. She also thinks it will be easier to sell shoes to men than clothes to women because men do not take such a long time to make a decision and also pay more (her words).
Miguelina first heard about Esperanza because some of her family members have already received loans. Now she hopes it will be possibly for her to receive a loan so she can start her new business.
Miguelina wants to learn English and hopes that in the future she will be able to study at a school that teaches English. It is important to her that she will be able to help her children. She owns a house in the countryside, but lives in a rented house in Puerto Plata. Her dream is that one day she will own her own house in the city.
On behalf of Miguelina, Union Con Esperanza, and Esperanza International, thank you for your interest in these entrepreneurs!",F,2850,partner,Retail,0 Dominican Republic,"Miguelina Arredondo runs a small convenience store in front of her house. She sells things like rice, chicken, coffee, sugar, and charcoal for cooking and heating. Miguelina is 46 years old, married, has one daughter and four grandchildren. Her husband is a day laborer in a nearby farm and her daughter works for an electrician in the nearby city of Barbaro. They all live together.
Miguelina has already successfully paid back an Esperanza loan for 5,000 pesos (US$ 150 ). She buys products for her convenience store from the nearby capital city of El Seybo, then sells them to her community. Miguelina wants to keep moving forward with her business. Business is good, she says, and she wants to keep selling more goods and needs money to expand.",F,300,partner,Food,0 Dominican Republic,"Miguelina de los Santos is a 29-year-old single mother of three children, ages 9, 7 and 4. With her first loan she opened her own store selling jewelry and for the past three years it has been growing. She says her store has been successful because she has a lot of young women as customers who like the style of jewelry she sells. With this loan she will buy more bracelets, necklaces and rings from the nearby town of San Pedro to sell in her store.
Miguelina has successfully completed five loan cycles and is excited at the possibility of increasing her business even more. With her past loans, Miguelina has been able to keep her children well fed and healthy. Her dream is to one day own her own house and make enough money to send her children to college. With this loan she will be one step closer to achieving her dreams.
Miguelina is the leader of the group Unidos Para Progresar 1 (Progressing Together) which takes out microloans as a group in Hato Mayor, Dominican Republic. On behalf of Miguelina and everyone in the Unidos Para Progresar group, thank you for the opportunities you provide to the people who need them most!",M,1750,lender,Retail,0 Dominican Republic,"Miguelina Heredia Santos is a young entrepreneur who is working hard to make a living and take care of her one-year-old daughter. Miguelinas business consists of selling pork and chickens meat to people in the Coquera community of San Cristobal. She started this activity just some months after she gave birth to her daughter. Miguelina believes that the baby deserves the best in this life, and she swears that shell do her best to provide well-being and good education for her child. Shell use her loan to buy more meat for her business. Miguelina plans to keep saving money so that she can buy a freezer to keep her meat fresh.
Miguelina will share her loan with these women: Dorotea Antonia Rosario Marte, who produces fried chicken; Elisea Garcia, who sells fried meat and natural juices; Maria Yolanda Mateo Tejeda, who sells fruits and vegetables; and Cruz Maria Santiago, who operates a small grocery store in the community.",F,1300,partner,Food,1 Dominican Republic,"Miguelina is a hard-working women striving hard to take care of her family and move a small business forward. She sells womens wear to her community. Miguelina explains that it's hard to raise her children on her own, but she swears that she won't give up as she wants the kids to become professionals. Miguelina would use the requested loan to buy a new variety of shoes which are currently in high demand. The entrepreneur hopes that her business' continued growth will allow her to earn enough money to repay the loan and to improve her family's living conditions.",F,250,partner,Retail,1 Dominican Republic,"Miguelina is a member of the group. She is an outgoing 30 year-old woman with one precious daughter and a drive to improve her economic situation. She owns a salon in her small community of Imbert, on the north coast of the Dominican Republic. With this loan she hopes to buy higher quality products, improve the appearance of the salon, and buy a new blow-dryer. When Miguelina isnt working, she enjoys reading her Bible. Her favorite food is meat. In the future she hopes to have a proper home, and a safe place to raise her children.
Thank you Kiva lenders for supporting this amazing group of entrepreneurs!",F,1375,partner,Services,0 Dominican Republic,"Miguelina is forty years old. She and her husband have five children, four of them boys, that range from ten to twenty years old. Miguelina owns and operates a tailoring shop in the community of Altagracia in Santo Domingo. She learned to sew at the age of twelve. The entrepreneur has three different sewing machines that she works with. Miguelina explains that she mostly prepares party and wedding dresses. Sometimes she offers her services to school-going children. Miguelina is requesting a loan to by a lot of material such as cloth, sewing thread, and zippers in other to keep preparing dresses for her customers. Miguelinas business supports her childrens studies.",F,375,partner,Services,0 Dominican Republic,"Miguelina lives in the small Batey de Palav community of San Cristobal. Shes the proud mother of a son who is in his twenties.
Miguelina owns and operates a cafeteria within her house. The entrepreneur explains that the cafeteria is her familys main source of income. She would like to boost her business. Miguelina wants to increase her sales volume so as to put aside money for her sons studies.
With her loan, the entrepreneur will buy various goods to supply her cafeteria.",F,450,partner,Food,0 Dominican Republic,"Miguelina Sarmien has a small business selling clothing. She is hoping to receive her third loan and continue growing her business. She came to Esperanza International about a year ago hoping for some help out of her situation. She is a single mother who was living in extreme poverty. Before she started her small business she had no form of income and was barely able to feed her child. She felt alone, as if she had no purpose. Once she started her business selling clothes she was able to provide for her child, and for the first time felt like she had a purpose each morning. She has been growing the business since that first loan and has plans for further expansion. She dreams of being able to send her child to a university someday. She now feels like she is going to reach that dream someday, and is ready to work to get there!",F,1000,partner,Clothing,0 Dominican Republic,"Miladys is twenty-four years old and she has three children, one of whom attends school. Her husband works in a poultry shop.
Miladys has been selling used clothing for two years in the Canasta community of San Cristobal. Miladys explains that poverty has destroyed people's purchasing power in her community. Just few people have a chance to get a job and it generally generates low income for them.
Despite these adverse conditions, Miladys has managed to make her business successful. Once a month, she leaves her community and goes to Villa Consuela, a famous zone in Santo Domingo where people can buy garments at very low prices. Her clientele normally is satisfied with her products, as she offers the clothing at very competitive prices.
Currently, Miladys' business inventory is low. She's requesting a loan to get more inventory in order to satisfy her customers' needs and to increase her income. She hopes that her business will help her in improving her family's standard of living. Miladys will receive her loan together with these women:
Gabina Nova, an experienced businesswoman who sells beauty products, Marina Vizcaino, who runs a butcher shop, Elizabeth Ramirez Nova, a young entrepreneur who sells clothing, and Petronila Casilla Brito, who also sells women's clothing in the community.
Photo shows from left to right: Gabina, Marina, Elizabeth, Miladys, and Petronila.",F,1425,partner,Retail,1 Dominican Republic,"Milagros Candelario is the group coordinator for this group of five in the Amor y Paz Bank of Hope in San Pedro de Macoris. Some of the people in her community are Haitian immigrants. Because they don't have Dominican documentation and don't speak the language well, their employment opportunities are limited, so they start their own businesses. Milagros sells different food items at her house. Most of her sales come from basic lunch products like rice, beans, oil, and spices used to flavour food. Usually she sells small quantities from larger amounts that she purchases. She will use this loan to be well stocked in these products in order to meet the demands of her clientele. One of Milagros' biggest challenges is collecting payments from the customers she sells to on credit. A lot of them get paid weekly or biweekly so it takes longer for her to see profits. She hopes to be able to set up a real convenience store one day. Please help us support Milagros and her friends with this Kiva loan. Thank you!",M,1175,lender,Food,0 Dominican Republic,"Milagros de Cumayasa 2 is a group of five woman all hoping to receive a loan. Each member of this group has already received a previous loan and all the women already have started their own small business. Each member has already experienced some success and now want to continue growing their business. Julia Paulino is the representative of this group and she has been a very good, outspoken leader for the women. Julia is the mother of four young children and knows she has to work hard if she wants her children to have a better life. Julia always had a dream to send all her children to school, but before receiving her first loan, she had no way of generating income. She came to Esperanza International in hopes of receiving a loan to start her own business. With her first loan she started a small business selling jewelry in her area and specializing in silver. With this next loan, she hopes to be able to buy more products for her business. She is excited that she is succeeding at something and that she has something that is all hers. She has never been so happy now that her children are going to school and she knows that she is going to be able to provide them a better life than she has had. Thanks for your support!!",F,750,partner,Retail,0 Dominican Republic,"Milagros de Cumayasa 3 is a group of women hoping to receive their fourth loan. Each member of this group has already experienced some success and each have their own small business. With this fourth loan, the women are all hoping that they can increase the size of their businesses and continue to improve their lives. This has been a very good group, and the three previous loans were all paid back on time and in full. Amanda Pimentel is the group representative and a women who is a proven hard worker. Amanda is the mother of five children, so she has had to work hard her whole life to support all those children. Her children range in age from 32 all the way down to 11. With her first three loans, Amanda started a successful business selling quilts and pillowcases. She has always been a great seamstress and, when she took out her first loan, she knew exactly what she wanted to do with it. She has continued to increase the size of her business with each loan and now is earning a good salary. She hopes to continue increasing in size and wants to show her young children, and even her older children, what is possible through hard work. She is very excited about her future, and can't wait to put this next loan to work! Thank you for your support!!",F,775,partner,Services,0 Dominican Republic,"Miledy Cruz Ventura is 50 years old and is the coordinator for 'Jesus nuestra Esperanza', a micro-finance loan group of Esperanza International. She lives with her husband, four sons, and two grandchildren in Las Avispas, an impoverished but beautiful village outside of Puerta Plata. There is not nearly enough space for her whole family in her tiny home, which only has two beds.
Miledy tells me that although she is grateful for what she has, her health, a loving family, and her faith, she wishes she could help to provide a better life for her children and grandchildren. She wants to send Rican and Ronnie, who are 27 and 17 respectively, to university. She wants to expand her house so that her children dont have to argue over who gets to sleep in the beds.
With these dreams in mind, Miledy came to Esperanza to take a micro-loan and create her business. Actually, she has started two. During the day, she sells used clothes along her street and in her neighborhood. She buys these clothes from Santiago, which is about 2-3 hours away. At night, she runs a food stand from which she sells hot-dogs and sandwiches.
Miledy has taken four loans from Esperanza since starting her business. Her first loan was for 6,000 RDP. Now her business has expanded to the point where she needs a 10,000 RDP loan to buy enough inventory for resale.
Miledy has big dreams for her clothing business. Ultimately, she hopes to purchase clothes internationally, where she could find cheaper prices than in the Dominican Republic. She then hopes to sell them in areas that are busier than her own neighborhood. Miledys vision for a better life and a better business is coming true, but she needs access to micro-credit to make it happen. Thanks for taking the time to read her story and for considering her for a loan.",F,2250,lender,Clothing,0 Dominican Republic,"Miledy is a high-spirited young woman, and a newcomer to the business world. In fact, about four years ago, Miledy started a small grocery store with her husband's help. She lives with her two daughters and her husband's unique son. One of the most urgent objectives of Miledy is to get enough money to go back to school. She explains that an unexpected pregnancy forced her to leave secondary school and devote all her time to caring for her newborn. One year later she got pregnant again, and it was even harder to bear all the expenses. Miledy explains that her newly started store is still not profitable, but she hopes that by using this loan to buy new stock, her business will move forward. This entrepreneur also hopes that her business will allow her to go back to school before long. Miledy will receive her loan together with these women: Yosiris Reyes Brito, who sells clothing in her neighborhood; Santa Ysabel Serrano Sanchez, a clothing retailer; Aurelia Villa Fana Gonzalez, who sells jewelry; and Josefa Perez Guzman, who owns and operates a mini-market. The picture shows from left to right: Miledy, Yosiris, Santa Ysabel, Aurelia, and Josefa.",F,1025,partner,Food,1 Dominican Republic,"Mileidy is a smart and untiring businesswoman. She sells womens clothing and beauty products. Mileidy is thirty-four years, and she and her husband and an 11-year-old daughter. She started that business almost two years ago in conjunction with her husband. They have a lot of customers who visit their house to purchase products. The entrepreneur says business is very profitable, and she wants to add new products to the store so as to attract new clients. With her loan, she will purchase bed spread sets, bed sheets, and curtains, as well as clothing in bulk to keep on satisfying her customers needs. Mileidy hopes she can use a big local shop in a few years, where she can run the business.",F,600,partner,Clothing,0 Dominican Republic,"Milena is a young entrepreneur that struggles to improve her living conditions. She sells a collection of perfumes, deodorants, hand and body lotions, hair care products and the like. Shes been running this business for a couple of years. Milena regularly visits other women in the neighborhood to show them some catalogs of the products she sells. Currently, she offers to her customers the products lines of AVON and EBEL. She plans on using her loan to add new types of products to her stock. Milena had already taken from FSMA a loan which she used wisely, and she managed to make her business successful and she repaid the loan on time. Milena says shell keep working hard so that she can soon buy her own house.",F,600,partner,Retail,0 Dominican Republic,"Miline Palveuts is a 25 year-old woman who lives with her 5 children (ages: 9, 7, 6, 4, 6 months) and husband in the small community of Imbert in the Dominican Republic. To support her family, Miline sells used clothing in the street. She is on her feet 10 hours a day, which is exhausting. Miline hopes that one day she'll be able to afford to rent a store near her home.
That is why Miline and 14 other women--all of who emigrated form Haiti in the hopes of finding a better life--have applied for a collective loan of $2,225 U.S. dollars.
In her free time, Miline enjoys going to church and reading her Bible. The entire group would like to thank every Kiva lender and tell them God bless.",F,2225,partner,Clothing,0 Dominican Republic,"Milly is a young and promising entrepreneur who is working hard to earn a living and to fend for her newborn daughter. Milly operates a small business, which she started just one and a half years ago, where she sells silver jewels. Millys big dream is to own a big establishment where she can sell a great deal of jewels and other womens clothing. Meanwhile, shell keep working hard to offer new products to her customers and to attract new customers. With this loan, Milly would like to buy more goods to add to her stock.",F,200,partner,Retail,0 Dominican Republic,"Miltha Calan already has a small general store near her home in San Pedro de Macoris where she lives with her son and two daughters. To improve the living conditions of her family, she is starting a second business, selling clothing out of her general store as well. This loan will finance the seed money necessary to buy the clothing as well as restock her inventory of food staples and household items that she is currently selling with great success. NOTE: Miltha is a member of an Esperanza solidarity group. She and her business represent four other micro-entrepreneurs who are members of the same solidarity group who will all receive a share of this $750 loan to develop their respective businesses. Miltha and the other members are accountable to each other for making loan repayments together.",F,750,partner,Food,0 Dominican Republic,"Mimose Francois is 30 years old and working to support her three young children by operating her own clothing store, which she has owned for more than two years. The savings she earns from her business goes to improve the health, living conditions and education of her children, 5-year-old Dariana Francois, 4-year-old Yulina and 2-year-old Arismendy. Mimose is requesting this $200 loan to purchase men and women's clothing to restock and increase her inventory. Her business is growing and she has shown that she can increase sales with a larger supply of product. This loan will not only improve her capital, but will decrease the number of trips she needs to make away from her family to the regional market to purchase merchandise.",F,200,partner,Clothing,0 Dominican Republic,"Minelva is a 39-year-old married woman living with her husband and four children. The eldest recently began university studies. The others go to the public school. Her husband is a teacher and works for a private college. Shortly after her marriage fifteen years ago, Minelva opened a business with her husbands help. She retails clothes that she buys in bulk in Santo Domingo or La Romana, a province located on the southeastern coast of the Dominican Republic. Minelva has a very well established clientele. But like any visionary entrepreneur, Minelva wants to grow her business and become one of most known and profitable businesses in the township. She needs funds to buy larger amounts of clothing in bulk so that she can sell more. She also is thinking about saving money in order to have an own local (market stand) where she can operate her sales activity. Minelva is very positive and thinks that she fulfill her dreams if she keeps working hard and being persistent.",F,300,partner,Clothing,0 Dominican Republic,"Minerva believes that the best way to support her children is by sending them to school and paying their fees. She's a very proud woman who knows that a good education is the key to lifting her family out of poverty. Minerva makes a living by selling beauty products and an assortment of perfumes to people in the Libertador community of Santo Domingo. She explains that she started this activity to complement her familys income. Her husband works at a construction company, but his salary is too low to meet the familys expenses. Now that she is working, Minerva says it is easier to pay all their bills.
She has applied for a loan to buy a new assortment of products and perfumes that are in high demand in her community. Minerva says that shell keep working hard, and her dream us to buy a store in which she can run her business.",F,225,partner,Retail,1 Dominican Republic,"Minerva is 38 years old and a proud mother of four children, all of whom go to school. Her husband works as a truck driver for a company. To supplement her familys income, Minerva operates a beauty salon in her rented house in the Bienestar community of Santo Domingo. Minerva explains that she doesnt have a generator to operate her salon when there are power cuts out. She says that shell keep saving money in order to get one soon.
With her loan, Minerva will buy more products to keep running her salon. She hopes that someday shell become one of the most well-established salon owners in her sector.",F,375,partner,Services,1 Dominican Republic,"Minerva is a humble and honest entrepreneur, and the proud mother of six children. She sells pants and shirts in her hometown, the Barrios community of Santo Domingo.
Minerva started her business one year ago when she took her first loan from our organization. Shes a very smart entrepreneur and wisely she managed to make her business successful in spite of difficult competition.
As well as being a responsible person, Minerva is also of the highest integrity. Six months ago, she took another loan from FSMA, which she invested to add new items to her stock in an attempt to diversify her offerings. She used the loan prudently, and was able to repay it on time. Now, the entrepreneur has a well-established clientele, which keeps growing, and she knows how to attract people to her business.
Minerva is requesting a new loan to add new fashionable pants and shirts to her stock in order to increase her sales and keep ahead of the competition.",F,475,partner,Clothing,1 Dominican Republic,"Minerva lives in San Pedro de Macoris with her three children (ages: 10, 9, and 4). She runs a small grocery store, which supplies basic foods and drinks for her community. With this loan she wants to buy more merchandise in order to increase her clientele. She thinks that if she has a larger stock with more variety she will attract new customers. Rice, beans, milk, and sugar are her most popular items. In the future she hopes to have a large business and a proper home for herself and her family.
We are excited to see what Minerva and the rest of her group will do with their loans. On behalf of everyone, Esperanza would like to thank you for your support! God Bless.",F,1050,partner,Food,0 Dominican Republic,"Miomis (pictured far left) is 34 years old and lives with her four children in the town of Los Alcarrizzos on the outskirts of the capital, Santo Domingo. She runs a successful business from her home selling new clothing, some jewelry and beauty items, and a small selection of shoesshe calls her business El Rinconcito. She has applied for this loan so that she can buy a larger selection of merchandise, and at a bulk pricethat way she will be able to both offer her clients more choice and increase her profit margin.
Her dreams are to see her business grow enough so that her children can continue their studies and one day she will be able to see them become professionals. She also has ambitions to expand her business and make it bigger, stronger, and more widely known.
Miomis biggest challenge right now comes from renting her house. While renting, she is forced to pay a high price for a house that is of poor quality. She hopes that this loan will help her save more money towards buying her own house one day soon. In the little free time that she has, Miomis says she loves to read.
On behalf of Miomis and everyone here at Esperanza International, we thank you for your support of this loan!",F,750,partner,Retail,0 Dominican Republic,"Miriam Caro is fifty-three years old and she lives in the Libertador community of Santo Domingo. Miriam has been selling homemade cakes and bonbons for seven years to people in her neighborhood. Her husband is very old and can no longer work, so Miriam has the huge responsibility of providing food and ensuring the well being of the family.
Shes requesting a loan to buy raw materials to keep producing her delicious goods. Miriam Caro hopes her business will allow her and her husband enjoy their golden years.
",F,300,partner,Food,0 Dominican Republic,"Miriam is a budding entrepreneur and the proud mother of two school-going children. To make a living and provide food and education for her children, Miriam sells a collection of chic pants, shirts, blouses, and shoes. Recently, the entrepreneur took a loan from FSMA which she used to add new styles of shoes and slippers to her stock. The investment was successful and Miriam managed to attract new people to her business and increase her income.With this second loan, the entrepreneur will buy new fashionable pants and shirts to add to her inventory. Miriam wants to keep working hard in order to provide a comfortable lifestyle for her family.",F,375,partner,Clothing,0 Dominican Republic,"Miriam sells shoes in the Cacique community of Monte Plata. She started her business one year ago as a result of her aim to supplement her family's income. Her husband works as a tourist guide outside the community. The forthcoming school year starts in September, and consequently things like shoes are in high demand. Miriam wants to seize the opportunity to add a greater variety of these goods to her stock, so that she can increase her sales volume and her income. She hopes she'll be given a loan soon in order to make the purchases. This is the second loan the entrepreneur will take from FSMA. She's a very responsible person, and she repaid the past loan successfully.",F,400,partner,Retail,1 Dominican Republic,"Mirian Cristina is a young and budding entrepreneur who makes a living selling womens clothing in her hometown of Los Roche community in San Cristobal. Mirian explains that she wants to become a professional in order to lift herself out of poverty and achieve a better position in society. With her loan, she will buy more goods to continue satisfying her customers needs and augment her income.",F,225,partner,Clothing,0 Dominican Republic,"Mirian is thirty-four years old and the mother of two boys, ages ten and twelve, both of whom attend school. Her husband works at a nearby hotel. To supplement her familys income, Mirian sells an assortment of womens shoes and slippers. Most of her customers are friends and neighbors in her community, but Mirian also travels to Santo Domingo, the capital of the Dominican Republic, to sell her shoes.
Mirian is excited about the opportunity to increase the sizes and styles of her shoe inventory with her loan. She explains that her business will help support her childrens educations and her familys well being.
",F,300,partner,Retail,0 Dominican Republic,"Mirian lives with her son in La Victoria, an impoverished municipal district located in the north part of Santo Domingo. For more than 12 years, shes been selling fresh meat in her neighborhood in order to maintain her family on her own. Mirian doesnt raise animals, so she has to make the purchase of the meat at a nearby butcher shop.Every day, the entrepreneur sets out the meat on her stall in the public rural market, and passers-by can see and purchase there. The entrepreneur says that the meat is generally in high demand during the Christmas period. Therefore, shes requested a loan to buy more fresh meat in order to satisfy her clients and increase her revenue. Mirian hopes that her business will help her to keep supporting her sons education.
The entrepreneur will receive her loan together with these women:
Rosanna Reyes Bonilla, who sells jewelry;
Francia Fortunato Rodriguez, who owns a small cafeteria;
Ana Maria Pepen, who sells used clothing;
Sugely Francisca Capellan Pia, who sells clothing;
In the picture, Mirian is the first on the left.",F,725,lender,Food,1 Dominican Republic,"Modesta is married and has three grown-up children (ages 34, 30, and 20). The two elder ones are married and living with their families. The youngest son lives with his mom and goes to the university in Santo Domingo, the capital.
For more than three years now, Modesta has been selling mens and womens apparel, mostly pants and shoes. She says she started the business specially to support her youngest sons studies.
Every day, friends and neighbors from her community visit her home to see and buy her goods. She says the customers are satisfied with the quality of her clothing. Currently, she has a well-established clientele. Her weekly profit is about US$ 100.
Modesta would like to be able to sell more and attract new customers. With this second loan, she will buy clothing in bulk in Santo Domingo to resell in her community. Modesta envisions her business becoming a big clothing store in a few years with a big and beautiful locale.",F,1200,partner,Clothing,0 Dominican Republic,"Momsy is a vivacious 23-year-old who lives with her husband, Miguel, and their two children (ages: 6, 8). She has lived in Puerto Plata since she was a child and loves her country. Momsy sells used shoes and clothing out of a small addition to her home, and she works very long days trying to make enough money to support her family. She told us that her favorite foods are the most popular ones here in the DR: rice, beans, and meat. She hopes that one day she will have enough money to own her own home and business, and that her children will have a good life.
Most of the women in Batay la Union have moved here from Haiti, in search of more opportunity and a better life. A micro-loan is often times the only break they get in their lives, and it gives them a chance work hard and accomplish something on their own. On behalf of Esperanza, and this entire group of women, we want to thank you for your support!",F,1725,partner,Retail,0 Dominican Republic,"Monica is a 37 year-old woman living with her husband and six children in a small and impoverished community on the far outskirts of the Santo Domingo capital area. From her home and the streets, she sells used clothing to her community members; in fact, she is requesting this loan so that she can finally buy sufficient inventory to meet the demand she faces every week.
With the money from the loan, she plans to go to one of the major marketplaces in the capital to buy her used clothing at bulk. Doing this will increase her profit margin and decrease expenses incurred in trips and higher inventory costs.
Monica hopes that with the increased profit made possible by this loan, she can continue expanding and developing her business and eventually return to school to become better educated. She wants to make certain that her children always have enough to eat and will be able to stay in school instead of quitting to help make money for the family. It is also the family's dream to have enough money to buy their own home and land. Monica's personal goals are to advance herself as a businesswoman, friend, and leader in her community.
On behalf of everyone here at Esperanza International, and from Monica herself, we thank you for your support with this micro loan!",F,750,partner,Clothing,0 Dominican Republic,"Monica is a forty-six-year old entrepreneur and mother of six school-aged children. She lives in the Mata Los Indios community of Santo Domingo, where she runs a small business selling traditional Dominican meals. She prepares the food within her house and sells it in a public place. Monica explains that she hopes that someday shell be able to buy a local spot to run the business. With her loan, Monica will buy a wide range of products in order to keep producing her food and increase her income.",F,600,partner,Food,0 Dominican Republic,"Monica is in her early thirties and the proud mother of an eleven-year old daughter. She'd been selling toasted sandwiches, pts and natural juices for many years before the lack of capital forced her to stop it. Since then, her family has been supported by her husband's meager wages. Monica would like to make a fresh start, and she's requesting a loan to buy a new toaster and to get her refrigerator repaired. She believes that her business would help her contribute to improve her family's living conditions.
Monica wants to earn enough money so that she can allow her daughter to have a good education and to become a good professional in life.
Monica will receive her loan in common with these women:
Maria Belen Morel, who sells clothing
Alejandrina Coronado, who sells fruits and vegetables
Mercedes Belen Vasquez, for her small business of selling fried chicken
Barbara Cornelio Morel, to buy fresh meat to resell in the community
Picture shows, from left to right, Monica, Maria Belen, Alejandrina, Mercedes and Barbara.",F,1425,partner,Food,1 Dominican Republic,"Monise Israel Pierre is a young and ambitious Dominican women who came to Esperanza with a dream and a plan to accomplish her vision. A single woman at age 22, Monise finds her inspiration for day-to-day activities fueled by her dream of one day becoming a doctor. Right now, she travels each Thursday to the nearby city of Santiago to buy shirts, pants, skirts, and blouses to sell in the streets of her local community, Amistad, which means friendship. Monise plans to continue selling clothes in the afternoon while she attends school in the mornings.
Monise Israel is just one member of the 15-person micro-bank, Movimiento Mujeres de Amistad, which means Women's Movement for Friendship. Each of these unique Dominican entrepreneurs unite in solidarity, allowing them to access funding that they would otherwise never be able to receive on their own. The concept of this group bank paying their loan together is to reduce the risk of one person defaulting, as the others members gladly help cover one anothers payments in order to receive their next loan together. Many of the women in this bank have businesses similar to Monises, selling clothing in the streets, while several others sell vegetables in the street, and some even maintain a personal hair salon.
On behalf of Monise, the Movimiento Group Bank, and the entire team here at Esperanza International, we thank you for your support and awareness of the global issue of poverty, in which your efforts are helping to make a difference.",F,4750,partner,Clothing,0 Dominican Republic,"Monsa, 44-year-old mother of three children, is a very hard-working and dynamic person. Three years ago, Monsa opened a bar where only beer was sold. She offers the principal and best Dominican beers like Presidente, Bohemia and also Brahma (made by a Brasilian company that is producing beer in this country).
Currently, Monsa doesnt have a refrigerator to keep the drinks cold, so she is obliged to purchase many ice packs every day, in order to serve iced beverages to her customers. To remedy that uncomfortable situation, the entrepreneur is requesting a loan to buy a used refrigerator, so that she can handily satisfy her clienteles needs.",F,375,partner,Food,0 Dominican Republic,"Most of the time, they say that young people do not have plans for their future, or they are all wasting their time in unavailing things. Thats the case for some people, but if you meet Soraya Nez, youll see something totally different. Soraya is an 18 year old girl. She lives with her mother and her two sisters. Her father doesnt only have her family to support; he also has some other children from another woman, a fact that makes the situation much more complicated for Sorayas family. 2 years ago, she started with a lunchroom where she sells food to people in the surrounding area and that helped her a lot. Now, she earns around $34 daily working in her small cafeteria. Shed like to sell even more things in the cafeteria and thats the reason she hopes to borrow US $375.00. Shell repay it in 6 months.",F,375,partner,Food,0 Dominican Republic,"Ms. Rosa Dishmey has accessed loans from Esperanza for four years. She has operated her business for five years. She owns a fruit shop where she sells items ranging from bananas to melons. Although she started business a year prior to receiving her first loan, her business needed a strong financial boost from Esperanza. Her loans are currently used to purchase the fruit that she sells. She is an avid member of her church and also enjoys going to the nearby beach and dancing. Her favorite food is fried fish. Rosa hopes to expand her business by beginning to sell more items such as chicken. This will increase her income and allow her to better provide for herself and her family. Ms. Rosa Dishmey is a member of a 5 person group (Group 4) that is part of a 35 person micro-bank called Miramar Feminina. In the picture, Ms. Dishmey is first on the left. She is pictured with her group members and other members of the micro-bank. Rosa's story is just one of a list of men and women who are improving their quality of life through the help of Esperanza's micro-credit loans. This group has united with a common vision of a better life with faith and hope in their hearts and an unbreakable spirit. Each associates in this bank has a similar business, whether it is selling fruit or operating a taxi service. Thank you for your support.",F,2000,partner,Food,0 Dominican Republic,"Mujeres con Esperanza, or Women with Hope, is a group of fifteen entrepreneurs seeking additional loan funds from Esperanza International. The groups prior loan has been successfully repaid and the group hopes to use additional loan funds for further business expansion. Mariela is one of the coordinators for this group in Santiago. Mariela, mother of two and proud grandmother of three grandchildren (ages: 13, 6, 3), lives with her husband and sells beauty products. With funds from her prior loans from Esperanza, Mariela has been able to establish a loyal customer base and her customers are able to buy her beauty products on credit and pay for their purchases at the end of the month. This agreement allows for a flexible payment system and has been very successful for Mariela. Mariela plans to use her next loan to purchase additional beauty supplies to increase her inventory. Mariela dreams of a beautiful house and plans on using her profits towards that goal. Other members of Marielas bank run similar entrepreneurial activities including ice cream, clothing and perfume sales, as well as small restaurants. On behalf of Esperanza and this group of business entrepreneurs, we would like to thank you for your support!",F,4100,lender,Retail,0 Dominican Republic,"Mujeres con Futuro or ""Women with a Future,"" is a microfinance bank composed of ten entrepreneurs seeking their first loan from Esperanza International. The community in which this microfinance bank is located has suffered greatly over the past two years. Less than two years ago, tropical storm activity and rapid flooding destroyed all the members homes; in the community and hundreds were killed. The Dominican government has since provided a new housing community for these affected. The bank members have been living for less than nine months in government-funded housing and are beginning the process of reestablishing their business activities. Gladys, a mother of three (ages: 18, 12, 3) is one of the coordinators for this group in the city of Santiago. Gladys runs a nail salon and hopes to use her first microfinance loan from Esperanza to buy the materials that she needs for her business, including hand creams and a fan. Each day, Gladys serves between 2-4 clients and dreams of expanding her business so that she may continue to provide for her family. Other members of Gladyss bank run similar entrepreneurial activities, including ""colmados,"" which are small grocery stands and clothing sales. On behalf of Esperanza and this group of business entrepreneurs, we would like to thank you for your support!",F,1800,lender,Services,0 Dominican Republic,"Mujeres Decididas 1 is a group of 5 borrowers all trying to receive their first loan with Esperanza International. Each member is hoping to take out a small loan and start their very own small business. Lucy Astacio is the representative of this group, and a great leader with the group. Lucy is the mother of 2 very young children and knows that this is her chance to provide them with a better life. She always dreamed of providing her children with a good education. Right now Lucy is having a hard time feeding both children and does not have a steady income. She is hoping to start a small store selling all sorts of goods. She feels like she is ready to start something of her own and start making her own money. She is very excited about this opportunity and is going to make the most of it! Thanks for all your support!!",F,1050,partner,Food,0 Dominican Republic,"Mujeres Decididas 2 is a group of five people who are all trying to receive their first loans with Esperanza International. This group comes from an extremely poor area in San Pedro, Dominican Republic. The majority of this group do not have a steady income, and they are looking to start small businesses to change that fact. This group is very excited about this opportunity, and they are ready to get started on their businesses. Alexandra Guerrero is the representative of this group. She is planning on starting a small store where she will sell all sorts of goods. She is the mother of two young children, and she wants nothing more than to be able to provide them with a comfortable life. She dreams of sending them to a University someday. Alexandra is an extremely hard worker who will find a way to make her business work. She is excited to finally be getting a chance, and she admits that opportunities like this haven't come often in her life. She is ready to take this next step towards a better life!! Thank you!",F,800,partner,Food,0 Dominican Republic,"Mujeres Del Nuevo Renacer is a group of 15 very eager women who are all ready to start their own businesses. Balbina Santos is the chosen representative of this group, and is very proud to be leading her friends. Balbina is a hardworking mother of 2 young children. She is planning on using her loan to start a small beauty salon from her house. She hopes to have a thriving business one day, and her dream is to have enough money to remodel her house. She wants to be able to provide her family with all the basic necessities and live a comfortable life. These women all realize that this could be their chance to change their future, and all of them are ready to take the first step in bettering their lives. On behalf of Balbina, the group, and Esperanza International, thank you for your support!",F,2850,partner,Services,0 Dominican Republic,"Mujeres en Gloria 1 is a group consisting of 5 strong women who want to take out a loan. This is not a gift they are asking for, but a loan from which they can start their own small business. In the area they come from, credit is not readily available unless they borrow from a loan shark who charges unreasonable interest. In the immense poverty they live in, it is hard to find jobs and hard to support a family. For that reason Mujeres en Gloria are hoping to receive a loan and start their own business. This group is ready to work to try and break the chains of poverty. Isaura Nolasco is the group leader and their representative, and she is very excited about being given the honor. She lives with her husband and her one child. She has not had an easy life. She has had to live in extreme poverty her entire life. Isaura received a high school education, which is more than most in her area. She knows that education is something that is very important if you want to break out of poverty, and for that reason she dreams of sending her child to a university someday. Isaura has a small food stand where she sells items she cooks, but with a loan she will be able to increase the variety of food she sells, and hopefully increase her profit. She is an intelligent, hard working woman who wants nothing more than to improve the life of her child. She is ready to expand her business and is excited about the opportunity. She knows this is the first step in achieving her dream of putting her child through college, and she is ready to take the first step. On behalf of Isaura, the group, and Esperanza International----- Thank you for your support!!!",F,1300,partner,Food,0 Dominican Republic,"Mujeres Existosas, or Successful Women, is a group of five entrepreneurs seeking their first loan from Esperanza International. This group, as a part of a larger successful microfinance bank, is seeking to utilize loan funds to further establish existing businesses, or in the case of the groups coordinator, Chisel, to begin a completely new entrepreneurial activity.
Chisel, mother of four (ages: 28, 22, 15, 9) will use her first microfinance loan to begin selling jeans to those in her community. Chisel has seen a need for jeans, especially among the youth, and plans to use her loan to purchase new pairs of jeans in Santiago and in turn sell to her community. As she puts it, Chisel dreams of a nueva vida, or a new life, and for this reason plans to use the opportunity of a loan with Esperanza to the best of her ability.
Other members of Chisels bank run similar entrepreneurial activities including food, fruit and meat sales.
On behalf of Esperanza and this group of business entrepreneurs, we would like to thank you for your support!",F,1125,lender,Clothing,0 Dominican Republic,"Mujeres Exitosas, or Successful Women, is a group of 10 women entrepreneurs seeking their second loan from Esperanza International. The groups past loan has been successfully repaid, and the group hopes to utilize a second loan for further business expansion. Isela is one of the coordinators of the group in Santiago. Isela, mother of three (ages: 25, 26, 27) is expecting her first grandchild and is thrilled to share this fact with whomever she comes into contact with. Isela, aided by her first microfinance loan with Esperanza International, opened Dominican snack sales of quipes and pastelitos, both consisting of a fried dough with a meat, vegetable or cheese filling. Isela plans to use her second microfinance loan to purchase additional materials needed to make her snacks and dreams of one day being able to own her own store from which she may sell these fried snacks. Other members of Iselas microfinance bank run similar entrepreneurial operations including undergarment, vegetable and ice-cream sales. On behalf of Esperanza and this group of business entrepreneurs, we would like to thank you for your support!",F,2825,lender,Food,0 Dominican Republic,"Mujeres Hacia el Futuro is a large group of 20 women hoping to receive loans. This group is very mixed in that some members will be receiving their third loan, while other are on their seventh loan. The one thing they all have in common is that they are in the process of improving their lives. Many of the group members have already doubled or tripled their income, and they hope to continue raising their standard of living. Ynes Miguel is the representative of this group, and she is a perfect example of what micro-credit can do in a person's life. Ynes is the mother of one young child and before receiving her first loan, she was having a hard time feeding her child each day. Ynes had no real source of income and was just scrapping by each day. Ynes came to Esperanza International and took out her first loan a few years ago and started a small salon, selling beauty products. Through her hard work and diligence she is now taking out her seventh loan from Esperanza, and she can finally provide for her child. Her child is the love of her life, and she is so happy that she can put him through school! All she wants is a great life for her child, and she is on the right path! Ynes is so happy for the opportunity she received a couple years back, and is excited for her future! Thank you for all your support!!",F,3250,partner,Services,0 Dominican Republic,"Mujeres Luchadoras, or Fighting Women, is a group of 15 women entrepreneurs seeking additional loan funds from Esperanza International, Kiva's partner. The groups past loans have been successfully repaid and the group hopes to utilize additional loan funds to further business expansion and increase profit levels.
Marisol is one of the coordinators for the group in the city of Santiago. Marisol, mother of three (ages: 14, 5, 1), operates clothing and shoe sales from her home and throughout the streets of her neighborhood. Marisol dreams of improving the lives of her children and being able to pay for their physical needs through the profits of her business. Marisols past loan performance demonstrates a dedication to this goal.
Other members of Marisols microfinance bank run similar entrepreneurial activities, including a colmado or small grocery store, a small restaurant, beauty supplies and undergarment sales.
On behalf of Esperanza and this group of business entrepreneurs, we would like to thank you for your support!",F,3450,lender,Clothing,0 Dominican Republic,"Mujeres Luchando Por El Progresso, or Women Fighting for Progress, is a group of ten entrepreneurs seeking additional loan funds from Esperanza International. The groups past loan has been successfully repaid, and the group hopes to use additional loan funds for further business expansion. Altagracia is one of the coordinators for this group in Santiago. Altagracia, mother of three (ages: 7, 5, 2), operates a colmado or small food stand selling Dominican staple foods such as rice, oil, bread, and sugar. Due to Altagracias established clientele base she is able to sell her food items on credit to her customers and collect the money in installment payments. This makes it easier for her customers to purchase the food items they need. Altragracia wants to see her business grow so that she can continue to provide for the physical needs of her three children and husband. Other members of Altagracias bank run similar entrepreneurial activities including bean, undergarment, and shoe sales as well as a restaurant and beauty salon. On behalf of Esperanza and this group of business entrepreneurs, we would like to thank you for your support!",F,2550,lender,Food,0 Dominican Republic,"Mujeres que Luchan por el Progreso, or Women Fighting for Progress, is a group of five women entrepreneurs seeking their first loan from Esperanza International. This group hopes to use their first microfinance loan to finance current businesses, or in the case of the groups coordinator, Leoncia, finance two new entrepreneurial activities. Leoncia, mother of 5 (ages: youngest 16, oldest 30) resides in Santiago and plans to split her loan funds amongst three different entrepreneurial activities. For as long as she can remember, Leoncia has been selling corn and ice-cream from her house and to local colmados, or small grocery stores. In addition to this business, Leoncia plans to finalize the start of two new product sales: candy and shoes. Leoncia will make her own candy from her house and similarly to her corn and ice-cream sales, will sell the candy in two different-sized packages from her home and at local colmados. Leoncia will also sell shoes for men, women and children through catalog sales. Leoncia is dedicated to the repayment of her loan since she wants to own her own home. Other members of Leoncias microfinance bank run similar entrepreneurial activities including undergarment, fried food, accessory, and cloth sales. On behalf of Esperanza and this group of business entrepreneurs, we would like to thank you for your support!",F,1050,lender,Retail,0 Dominican Republic,"Mujeres Unidas Con Proposito (or Women United with Purpose) is a group of ten entrepreneurs seeking their third loan from Esperanza International. The groups past two loans have been successfully repaid, and the group hopes to utilize a third loan for further business expansion. Eladia is one of the coordinators of the group in Santiago.
Eladia is the mother of three married children aged 19, 28, and 31. Her business is selling undergarments. Daily she travels the streets of Santiago with her garments to sell to local women. She declares business is good and she is able to sell inventory daily.
Eladia's past two loans have been used to purchase additional undergarment pieces to sell; because of the success of her business and the customer base she has developed, she plans to start food sales from her home. Her third loan will be used to purchase rice, beans, oil, and other needed Dominican food and cooking staples. Because of her loyal customer base she is able to sell her products on credit, something that local grocery stores cannot offer.
Other members of Eladias microfinance bank run similar entrepreneurial operations, including small grocery stands, beauty salons, and vegetable and clothing sales.
On behalf of Esperanza and this group of business entrepreneurs, we would like to thank you for your support!",F,2775,lender,Food,0 Dominican Republic,"Mujeres Unidas con Proposito, or Women United with Purpose, is a group of five women entrepreneurs seeking their first microfinance loan from Esperanza International. All but one member of this bank, who already operates an entrepreneurial activity, plan to use their first loan to begin their first business and take a step towards bettering their financial and living situation. It is an exciting time for this bank and community. Yovaira, the coordinator for this group in the city of Santiago, declares that she wants to triumph. Yovaira, mother of two children (ages: 4, and 5 months), plans to sell cooking oil and bedding from her home and throughout the streets of her neighborhood. She declares that she wants to provide for her two children and give them a better standard of living. Other members of Yovairas microfinance bank plan to create similar entrepreneurial activities including a washing and ironing business, shoes, clothing and paper sales. On behalf of Esperanza and this group of business entrepreneurs, we would like to thank you for your support!",F,825,lender,Retail,0 Dominican Republic,"Mujeres Unidas in Spanish means ""united women,"" and unity has been key to the success of this group of five. They have successfully received and paid back seven loans with Esperanza International. This will be their 8th loan.
Magalis Cedeno is the group representative. She has 3 young children ages 10, 8 and 3. She has a ""fantasia,"" which is a small store where you can buy accessories, personal care products, and school supplies. Magalis plans to add undergarments to her inventory, and will purchase the new products with this loan. Two other members of the group own grocery stores, and the other two run a poultry stand and a fruit stand.
The business stability they've experienced after taking out loans is, in their words, ""incomparable"" to their situation beforehand. Despite a worse economy, they feel more at ease and are confident that their hard work will pay off and they will continue to provide faithfully for their families. Please help us to continue supporting these entrepreneurs. Thank you!",M,1625,lender,Retail,0 Dominican Republic,"Mujeres Vencedoras, or Victorious Women, is a group of five entrepreneurs seeking their second loan from Esperanza International. The groups past loan has been successfully repaid, and the group hopes to use the additional loan funds for further business expansion. Crescencia is one of the coordinators for this group in Santiago. Crescencia, mother of three (ages: 28, 25, 11), operates two notably different entrepreneurial activities. Crescencia cares for children in her house. Currently every day she cares for six or seven children and provides meals for them while their parents are gone. Crescencia has been operating this business for ten years and used her first loan with Esperanza to pay for additional food for the children. With her second loan from Esperanza, Crescencia plans to finalize her new business of selling food orders to customers. Customers call her home with their requested meals and Crescencia has the food delivered to her customers. The second loan will be used to buy food products to create these meals. Other members of Crescencias bank run similar entrepreneurial activities including meat and furniture sales as well as a small grocery store and restaurant. On behalf of Esperanza and this group of business entrepreneurs, we would like to thank you for your support!",F,1125,lender,Food,0 Dominican Republic,"Mxima is an honest and very respectful woman in her community. She is known in the town as a positive, assiduous and hard-working woman. For almost two years, she has been selling vegetables. Within her house, where she runs the business, people go to acquire goods such as carrots, manioc, yams, beetroot and so forth. Fortunately, Mxima doesnt have to go outside the town to get products since her husband has some fields and cultivates the vegetables. Currently, she makes a weekly profit of $130.00. The entrepreneur wants to enlarge the business and attract more clients. She plans to rent a locale where she will run the business. That will help customers more conveniently make their purchases. Her business will also be more competitive, since clients like to feel comfortable when they go to a store to buy goods. Mxima also plans to add new products to the business. She says that before long, she will start to sell foodstuffs like bread, flour, rice, beans and spices. With the loan requested, Mxima will purchase the new goods she will add to her business. The other part of money will be invested in the rental of the new locale where business will be run. Additional income will greatly help the entrepreneur to improve her economic situation, and keep fending for her four children. Mxima has a good credit history. She has already taken a loan from FSMA and, responsibly, she has repaid it.",F,1200,partner,Food,0 Dominican Republic,"Mxima lives with her two children in the Hato Nuevo community of San Cristobal. To make a living and provide food for her two sons, Maxima sells silver jewelry to the women of the community. The entrepreneur says its very important for her to see her children go to school and get ready for the future.
With her loan, Maxima will buy some customer-recommended chic necklaces, bracelets, earrings and rings. The businesswoman hopes that her business can grow so that she has enough money to buy a house in the future.",F,400,partner,Retail,0 Dominican Republic,"Mxima, is 27 years old, with two daughters and a boy. Her husband is a topographer and is working in Yamas . Mxima and her husband have to work a lot to provide their children with a good education. She earns some money, selling clothes, curtains, tablecloths, and so forth. Currently she has a well established clientele, which continues to grow. The requested loan is to purchase more clothes to sell during the holiday season. This will increase this entrepreneurs sales volume and will allow her to help her husband face the housing issues. Mxima also wants to set aside money to go back to her languages classes at the University at Santo Domingo next year.",F,250,partner,Clothing,0 Dominican Republic,"Myrlanda Pierre is a young talented 18-year-old girl who lives in small Haitian community in Puerto Plata Dominican Republic. She wants to open a colmado, which is a small convenient store. She will use this loan to buy rice, oil, beans, soup, and other basic necessities for her colmado. Myrlanda hopes her business will thrive so that she can own a bigger colmado one day and have a better life. Myrlanda Pierre is part of a 5-person micro-bank, La Union Hace la Fuerza, which means The Union Makes the Force. The group is composed of all Haitian immigrants living in Puerto Plata. Each woman has their own personal business but they unite to pay their loan as a group. The purpose of the group loan is to assist each other in case someone defaults. The Kiva loans will be divided among the group to pay back. We thank you for your support on behalf of Sonia, the La Union Hace la Fuerza group, and the entire team at Esperanza International.",F,150,partner,Food,0 Dominican Republic,"Myrtha Griffon has established a small business selling rice, chicken, and fried plantains. Selling cooked meals from her home, she is able to provide affordable meals to her neighbors while watching over her two daughters (ages 3 yrs. & 3 months). Her short term goals are to continue expanding her business and clients with the loan that she will receive from Esperanza. Eventually, she would like to have a separate restaurant from her home. When shes not working, Myrtha enjoys spending time with her daughters and going to the local church in the community of Barrio Haiti.
Myrtha Griffon is one of the coordinators of the 15 person micro-bank, Mujeres Divinas, which means Divine Women. Each of these unique Dominican entrepreneurs unite in solidarity, allowing them to access funding that they would otherwise never be able to receive on their own. The concept of this group paying their loan together is to reduce the risk of one person defaulting, as the others members gladly help cover one anothers payments in order to receive their next loan together. Some of the other women in this particular bank make a living selling clothing, running small salons, and selling vegetables on the street. This Kiva loan will go towards the entire group and be divided among each member respectively to pay back.
On behalf of Myrtha, the Mujeres Divinas group, and the entire team here at Esperanza International, we thank you for your support and awareness of the global issue of poverty, in which your efforts are helping to make a difference.
A couple of the women's children as well as three of the Esperanza loan officers are pictured in the photo as well.",F,2200,partner,Food,0 Dominican Republic,"Nadalia is an experienced businesswoman working her hardest to take care of her family and be successful in life. She sells fried dishes in her community. Nadalia's children to go school, and she says that sometimes it's very hard to maintain the cash flow, and that sometimes she has struggled to provide money for her children's educations. Nadalia would like to considerably increase her income. She's requesting a loan to buy a larger stock of raw materials in order to increase her production and her sales volume. Nadalia hopes that someday she'll get enough money to buy a small establishment to run a comfortable restaurant.",F,250,partner,Food,1 Dominican Republic,"Nadege Osnacle is a cheerful young woman who lives with her three children (ages: 4, 1, 3 months) and earns a living by sewing and mending dresses and other types of clothing. With this loan she wants to buy new fabric and material in order to continue making these dresses for women in her community. She is very skilled, and can sew dresses very quickly and professionally. Her dream for the future is to have a steady business that will help provide money for her children. The biggest obstacle she faces right now is finding an affordable room or building to run her business out of.
Many women in this community have just completed paying back their first loan, and this will be their second loan, as is the case with Nadege. For the other women, this is there first opportunity to obtain credit in order to improve their lives and care for their families. Esperanza wants to thank all of the Kiva lenders that make it possible for us to continually extend credit to these women. God bless!",F,2400,partner,Clothing,0 Dominican Republic,"Nadia has been selling womens clothing for many years in her hometown. Her business has allowed her to improve her familys lifestyle and to support her four childrens educations.
With this loan, Nadia will expand her inventory and add new items she thinks that will generate greater profits for her business.
The thirty-four year-old entrepreneur explains that she wants to buy local goods for her business and own a big clothing store where people can feel comfortable. Nadia hopes that, with perseverance and hard work, shell fulfill her dreams and become the most well established supplier of these goods in her area.
",F,550,partner,Clothing,1 Dominican Republic,"Nadia Mara is a young woman who lives with her mom and her three brothers in the Arroyo Salado community of Ban. To contribute to the familys budget and support her studies, Nadia Mara sells bedspreads, tablecloths, cushions and housewares to women in her community. Nadia started her business about two years ago with a loan she took from our organization.
The young entrepreneur would like to become professional. She says that shes putting money aside to start her university studies next year. She wants to study business management as she believes that could help her to be more efficient not only in operating her business, but in any job she could get in the future. Nadia says that when she started her business, she hadnt had any experience, so she was flying blind. These two years spent in selling her goods provided her with good experience, but she thinks that attending university will give her a complete and professional knowledge which will allow her be a highly competitive businesswoman in life.
Nadia Mara will use her loan to purchase a greater variety of these goods in order to satisfy her customers needs and increase her sales volume and revenue.",F,250,partner,Retail,1 Dominican Republic,"Nancis is twenty-six years old and the proud mother of two sons, ages 6 and 8, both of whom go to school. She separated from her husband a couple of years ago, and now she has to raise her children on her own. Nancis sells womens shoes and slippers in her hometown. She also sells housewares and kitchen items.
Nancia explains that she needs capital to increase her stock, because her goods are in high demand during this season. Nancis also wants to add items, such as tablecloths and curtains, to her stock. She thinks that these new items will allow her to earn a larger profit.
Nancis will receive the funds together with four other women, all of them are business owners. They are:
Nancy has taken great care in choosing to begin her business by catering to women and children. She explains that given the expenses she will incur in purchasing her inventory, Nancy wants to be sure her products will sell and she believes women and children represent the greatest potential market. To minimize her costs and maintain a high profit margin, Nancy plans on using her loan to buy clothing in bulk, focusing on jeans and blouses for women. Nancy hopes that her nascent clothing enterprise will someday grow into a full-size family clothing store.",F,375,partner,Clothing,0 Dominican Republic,"Nancy lives with her four children--ages 15, 13, 10 and 8 years--old in a small, rural town in the Dominican Republic. She runs a small business selling new and used clothing to her community members and is asking for this loan so she can improve the selection she is able to offer and purchase a larger quantity of product. Her goal is to grow her business so that she both increases the amount she earns as profits, as well as increases the number of reliable and consistent clients she has. Although things in her community are often very hard, and its a challenge to improve ones life economically, Nancy believes that this loan is going to help her immensely. It will be the first time she has had the opportunity to move her business and goals to the next level. On behalf of everyone here at Esperanza International, and from Nancy herself, we thank you for your support with this micro loan!",F,3575,partner,Clothing,0 Dominican Republic,"Narcisa is a skilled entrepreneur who has been operating a small business for more than eight years in the Hato Castillo community of Cotu, in the province of Sanchez Ramirez, located in the central part of the country. She sells hair and beauty supplies and accessories and women's clothing in her small store.
Narcisa explains that she needs to inject more capital into the business in order to offer a larger variety of products to her clientele. Narcisa's modest house and living conditions attest to her desire to increase her income and provide a better lifestyle for herself. She's been living alone since her husband's death (about ten years ago).
Narcisa hopes that the loan requested will help her to strengthen her business and to improve her standard of living. The entrepreneur will receive the loan together with the following women:
Carmen Elena Lantigua Rodriguez, who operates a mini-market,
Polonia Almanzar Rosario, who sells fried meat and vegetables,
Lucia Altagracia Santiago Medrano, who sells women's clothing, and
Ramona Morel, who sells pants and shoes in her community.
The picture shows from left to right Narcisa, Carmen, Polonia, Lucia and Ramona.",F,1550,partner,Retail,1 Dominican Republic,"Narcisa is an entrepreneur whose success in the business world comes from her assiduousness and her can-do attitude. She cooks and sells fried food, and she always tries aggressively to capture more potential customers.
Narcisa has been operating her business for fifteen years within her house. Now she's planning to buy a small establishment in order to allow her customers make their purchases in a more comfortable space. She has four children, all of them boys, ranging in age from 2 to 17, two of whom attend school.
The entrepreneur has asked for a loan to invest in a lot of raw materials to keep producing her tasty food. She hopes that her business will allow her to support her children's educations so that they can become good professionals.",F,375,partner,Food,1 Dominican Republic,"Natalia is thirty-nine years old and a single mother of four school-age children. She lives in the Trinitarios community of San Cristobal. Natalia separated from her husband four years ago, and since then she has had to fend for her family by herself. She says that seeing to the needs of four kids is no easy job, and that some nights she doesnt get a wink of sleep, thinking about what she can do to keep supporting her family.
Currently, Natalia sells garments to people in her community, and she says that her business has been a great help in paying for her children's schooling. With her loan, the entrepreneur will buy more garments to increase her sales volume and thus her revenue.
Natalia wants to become one of the most well-established suppliers of these goods in her sector.",F,450,partner,Clothing,0 Dominican Republic,"Natividad is a modest entrepreneur selling shoes, pants and slippers in her community. She started her business about one year ago with a loan she received from FSMA. Natividad would like to increase her sales volume and thus her income. She's requesting a loan to bulk-buy used clothing to add to her stock. Natividad's husband is currently unemployed, so she has to redouble efforts in order to support the family's needs. The entrepreneur says she'll keep working hard in order to lift her family out of poverty.",F,150,partner,Clothing,1 Dominican Republic,"Natividad is thirty-seven years old and a single mother of two children who attend school. Natividad owns and runs a small store in the Mulo community of Yamas. She sells perfumes, deodorants, beauty products, and hand and body lotion; she also offers a variety of chic pants and shoes to the customers.
Natividad started her business just eight months ago, and she humbly explains that she doesnt have a well-established clientele yet. Nonetheless, she says that shell keep offering high-quality products at comfortable prices so that she can attract more people and become one of the most well-established suppliers of these goods in her area. With her loan, Natividad will buy more goods to add to her stock.",F,600,partner,Retail,1 Dominican Republic,"Natividad lives with her three children in the Media Blanca community of Nizao. To earn a living and take care of her kids, she sells shoes and slippers to women in her neighborhood. She has a lot of customers, and she says that her clientele has grown considerably during the last four years.
With her loan, Natividad will purchase a greater variety of shoes and slippers to offer her customers. The entrepreneur had already taken out many loans with FSMA, and shes been responsible and repaid them on time. Natividad hopes to buy her own house someday.",F,600,partner,Retail,1 Dominican Republic,"Naya is an example of a hardworking woman that makes the impossible happen when its about taking care of her family and ensuring their survival. Naya is 34 years old, is a single mother and is living with four children. She has to work hard to provide them with food and pay for their education. After working for a long time for other people, she recently decided to start her own business. Actually, shes running a small store where she sells casual clothes, baby clothes and perfume. Furthermore, early in the morning, she prepares foods and converts her store into a little cafeteria. She purchases the clothes every two weeks from a salesman that brings them to her house.Her plan is to keep investing the profit in the business. She also wants to set aside money for any emergency or the needs of her children. She has applied to borrow US $375.00 that shell repay in six months.",F,375,partner,Clothing,0 Dominican Republic,"Nelly is twenty-four years old. She is married, with two children who attend school. She sells pants and shoes in the Piedra Blanca community of San Cristobal, her hometown. Nelly is still running her business from her house because her stock is still limited and she started the business a few months ago. She plans on using her loan to buy clothing in a town named Villa Consuela located near Santo Domingo. Nelly would like her business to grow faster and rent or buy a small establishment from which to operate her business. She says shell be working hard to achieve this.",F,175,partner,Retail,1 Dominican Republic,"Nelly sells shoes for men and children. She is 39 and has one 16-year-old daughter that is finishing secondary school. Nelly has been separated from her husband for three years; shortly after her separation, she started the business in order to make a living and take care of her daughter.
Nelly has great dreams for her business. She hopes that someday she could have a location where she can run the sales activity and not have to sell in the streets and public places. She says she will continue working hard to achieve that goal.
With her loan, Nelly will purchase shoes in bulk to sell in her community. She likes to sell off her products at once and go back to the capital to buy more goods to supply her business.",F,300,partner,Retail,0 Dominican Republic,"Nemias Calcano Mota is a 32-yr old married mother of a 7-yr old child whom she is trying to put through school. She was able to start her business 2 years ago with the help of loans. She has a small restaurant where she cooks and sells foods such as plantains and fried fish. She is a dedicated Christian who very much enjoys Christian music as well as reading the Bible when she is not working with her business. Mrs. Calcano Mota has dreams of seeing her business grow so that she can provide for her family and continue the education of her child.
Mrs. Nemias Calcano Mota is a member of a 5 person group, Group 6, which is part of a larger micro-bank called Liberacion. In the picture, Mrs. Calcano Mota is second from the left along with three members of Liberacion. Her story is just one of a list of men and women who are improving their quality of life through the help of micro-credit loans of Esperanza. Together, this group has united with a common vision of a better life with faith and hope in their hearts and an unbreakable spirit. The concept of group lending is to have loans paid in a group to reduce the risk of a person defaulting, as others pick up where a person may lag to receive the next loan. Each of the associates in this bank has a similar business whether it is a restaraunt or salon. Thank you for your support and awareness of this issue, and it is your concern and efforts that is able to bring a difference to the lives of people such as Mrs. Calcano Mota.",F,875,partner,Food,0 Dominican Republic,"Nereida is an old woman and an experienced entrepreneur who has been operating a small clothing store for more than twenty years in the Libertador community of Santo Domingo. Nereida says that, despite her age, she wants to keep running her store because she loves her business. The entrepreneur explains that after her husband passed away her store has been her new partner. Nereida is completely satisfied that she could provide her children with a good education and that all of them are now working and supporting their own families.
This old and hard-working businesswoman has applied for a loan in order to buy a wide variety of goods to add to her inventory. This way she can keep satisfying her customers needs and augment her revenue. Nereida would like to have enough money to enjoy her golden years.",F,250,partner,Clothing,1 Dominican Republic,"Nereyda Antonia is in her late thirties and she has three children, two of whom go to the university. Nereyda is an excellent hair-dresser and she runs a salon in the Hato Nuevo community of San Cristobal. She also sells undergarments to her customers. Nereydas salon is well-known in the community as shes been operating it for more than twenty years. This loan is to buy a large stock of products for the salon. Actually, Nereyda wants to buy shampoo, rinse, two new blowers, dye for hair and other hair products the entrepreneur regularly uses to attend to her customers. Nereyda would like to have a big salon with a full-time staff and millions of people visiting it each day.",F,675,partner,Services,1 Dominican Republic,"Nersula is forty-seven years and a proud mother of ten children, all of whom go to school. Nersula is a very active and untiring entrepreneur that moves heaven and earth to provide a comfortable lifestyle for her family.
For more than fifteen years, Nersula has been selling mens and womens clothing in the Quita Sueo community of San Cristobal. Bi-weekly, she travels outside her community to make the purchase of garments at very low prices. Every Sunday, she installs her stall in La Pulga, one of the most popular informal markets where people go to buy a wide range of products. During the weekend, Nersula operates the business from her house, and sometimes she visits some friends and neighbors to sell her products.
The entrepreneur is requesting a loan to buy clothing in bulk so as to increase her sales volume and her revenue.",F,675,partner,Clothing,1 Dominican Republic,"Nicia is 26 years old and lives in the town of Guanuma with her beautiful 5-year-old daughter. Her husband lives and works in another part of the country for a company that sells chickens wholesale. In order to help her family pay for the cost of housing, she wants to start a small business selling clothes and other items to women, such as bed sheets, bed spreads and window curtains. She plans to sell her goods in the capital, Santo Domingo, and acquire them in Elas Pia, a frontier town near the Hatiian border where products can be purchased cheaply. To meet these goals, she needs a loan of $250 to acquire goods to sell. She will repay her loan over a period of six months.",F,250,partner,Clothing,0 Dominican Republic,"Nicolasa Mejia (pictured above in red) used to be a housewife, until she got a divorce. Now she has her own business. Her kids are still her priority and she insists on calling them her babies, even though they are now 13 and 14. She received a loan with Esperanza two years ago and with that began her business. Nicolasa sells health, beauty, and basic hygiene products from her home; in that way she can still be close to her kids. She lives in Barrio Lindo in San Pedro de Macoris. Even though translated it means Beautiful neighborhood. Barrio Lindo can have its troubles. To name the most prominent ones, there is no constant running water - sometimes the town is left three to four days without water. Electricity goes out unpredictably every day, sometimes for a few hours but sometimes for half a day, and crime has risen so much that you cannot walk by yourself after it gets dark. Yet with all those circumstances Nicolasas business has proven to be successful. She is now on her third loan with Esperanza and is quite satisfied with her steady income. She laughs and smiles at me, confessing that she wishes her business can keep on gaining momentum because one day she hopes to own her own car. Please strongly consider loaning to Nicolasa. She is diligent and deserves an opportunity to grow her business and eventually own her own car. Esperanza thanks you for your time and consideration. Maira Flores Summer Intern 09",F,975,lender,Retail,0 Dominican Republic,"Nidia Eloisa, 25, is the mother of two children aged one and two years. She sells an assortment of fashionable tennis shoes and slippers in the Caimito community of Yamas, her hometown.
Nidia is requesting a loan to expand and increase her business. Over the past three months, her clientele has kept growing, so the entrepreneur wants to take advantage of this situation and increase her stock in order to satisfy her customers' needs. Nidia explains that her business will help support her childrens education and pay their university studies later on.",F,225,partner,Retail,1 Dominican Republic,"Nidia is a humble woman and the proud mother of three school-going children. She has recently started a small business selling spicy pork sausages and natural juices in her neighborhood. Her loan is to buy meat and fresh fruits to keep operating her business. Nidia says that her business is very small, and she has to work hard to face harsh competition in the sector. She hopes that she'll manage to make her business strong and repay the loan. Nidia would like to receive a higher amount of money next year so that she can enlarge her business and improve her family's living conditions.",F,150,partner,Food,1 Dominican Republic,"Nidia Mercedes is a high-spirited and optimistic woman pushing very hard to maintain her humble and needy family. Her son will start his university studies next January, and her daughter goes to the secondary school. Her husband works for a construction company.
Nidia explains that she'd like to start a business which can generate a better income, as current earnings from her homemade sweet potato pastries can barely support her children's education. Nidia is therefore requesting a loan to open a fruit and vegetable stand which she plans to operate in the local marketplace everyday, with the exception of Sundays. The entrepreneur believes that her endeavor will be successful, and says that she'll be working hard in order to repay the loan. Nidia hopes that she'll receive the loan before long so that she can improve her family's living conditions.
Nidia Mercedes will receive her loan together with the following women: Ismaela Galvez, a clothing retailer; Ely Ynmaculada Otaez, who operates a beauty salon; Mirian Martinez Capellan, who'll use her loan to purchase clothing and footwear; Fanny De La Rosa, who sells jewelry.
The photo shows from left to right, Nidia, Ismaela, Ely, Mirian and Fanny.",F,1475,partner,Food,1 Dominican Republic,"Nidia Nuez is a young, newlywed woman who comes from a broken home. Her father left soon after she was born, and her mother abandoned her when she was one year old to flee to Panama. Nidia has hoped to meet her mother for as long as she can remember, and prays that she will not leave earth without first doing this.
There are two ways in which Nidia can achieve this dream. The first is from a local television progam, which is holding out the hope that it may sponsor a trip. The second is by raising the money on her own, although this will mean that she and her husband, Jose, may not be able to have children for a while. But Nidia and Jose are willing to put this off so she can realize her dream of meeting her mother.
In the past, Nidia operated her own beauty salon, but today has worked out an arrangement with a business partner who puts up all the capital in exchange for her doing all the work. Nidia would like to go back to operating her own salon because that would allow her to keep everything she earns, and also because she believes that her partner is not very knowledgable about the business they are in.
Nidia has requested a loan of $350, which will permit her to open her own business, using equipment she has at home. This will allow her to fulfill her dream of being self-employed, and also give her the opportunity to raise enough money to one day meet her mother in person.",F,350,partner,Services,0 Dominican Republic,"Niery Esmirna, a young and promising entrepreneur, lives with her parents in the San Luis community of Santo Domingo. Shes been selling fashionable clothing and costume jewelry to women in her community. This activity allows the young girl to pay for her university studies, as her parents are unable to meet their daughters educational needs. In order to satisfy the growing demand for her goods from her customers, shes requesting a loan to replenish her stock and keep operating her business. Niery Esmirna hopes that her business will help her repay her loan and get a greater profit margin so that she can easily support her university studies. The entrepreneur will receive her loan together with the following women:
Deici Ramos Pereyra, another young entrepreneur who sells used garments;
Sixta Arcangel, who operates a small business of cabinet-making together with her husband;
Alba Iris Ramirez Del Carmen, wholl invest her loan in womens clothing to retail in the community; and
Leticia Pea Paredes, who sells silver-plate jewelry.
The photo shows from left to right: Leticia, Alba, Sixta, Deici and Niery.",F,1175,partner,Clothing,1 Dominican Republic,"Nieve is 33 years old and is mother of three beautiful girls of 15, 14 and 10 years old. Six months ago, she started a little business with the purpose of tending to her girls' needs. The father of her daughters doesnt live with them and is not regularly contributing to solving household problems. She is now selling clothes, shoes, curtains, sheets for beds, and other houseware. As she began the business with a very small amount of merchandise, she now wants to have sufficient inventory to offer to clientele. This way, people will have more purchase options when visiting her business. The loan requested will positively help this woman achieve her goals and help her family.",F,300,partner,Clothing,0 Dominican Republic,"Nieves is a 56-year-old woman who lives in a very poor community called Mata de Palma, which is on the outskirts of Hato Mayor. Nieves lives with her husband and 15-year-old daughter in a small home. She started a small business two years ago selling homemade food to her community members. She is requesting a loan so that she can buy more flour, oil, plantains, and chicken. Nieves operates her own `fritura, a small business that makes homemade snacks, such as empanadas. In the Dominican Republic, it is very common for people to buy a snack on the street corner as they walk to work, their homes, or simply when they are out and about. The money from this loan will help Nieves to buy enough ingredients to make the food necessary to meet the demands she faces. She hopes that her business will continue to grow and become more stable with the help of this loan. The profits she makes will enable her to better provide for her family. On behalf of everyone here at Esperanza International, and from Nieves herself, we thank you for your support with this micro loan! The loan will also help fund the businesses of the other group members. About Group Loans: In a group loan, each member of the group receives an individual loan but is part of a group of individuals bound by a group guarantee. Under this arrangement, each member of the group supports one another and is responsible for paying back the loans of their fellow group members if someone is delinquent or defaults on the loan.",F,2050,partner,Food,0 Dominican Republic,"Nilda is a very persistent woman who has learned to strive for a better life since her youth. She has been in turns a saleswoman in a store and cook in a cafeteria. She had also owned a clothing store for a long time. Nilda is a single mother of two children, a boy and a girl.
Currently, Nilda runs a cafeteria. She had taken cuisine classes in a professional center of culinary art. She says her customers are very satisfied with the quality of her dishes. Now she wants to run her own business and, as she puts it: I am working hard to achieve that goal.""
With her loan, Nilda will purchase of raw materials to continuen producing food for her cafeteria. She hopes she can earn sufficient money to realise her dreams to run her own small business before long.",F,325,partner,Food,0 Dominican Republic,"Nilsa is a thirty-year-old woman who is contributing to the education of the children of Palav, a community near San Cristobal. Five years ago, Nilsa founded a primary school since children in the community had to walk about an hour to the closest school to attend class. It grieved me to see the kids in that situation, and I said that I might do something for them,"" says the entrepreneur who studied Learning Therapy and School Psychology.
Currently, the school provides a good education for fifty children. Nilsa has hired three teachers to teach the pupils. Nilsa says she will keep working hard to nurture in those kids the sense of responsibility and civic-mindedness.
With her loan, the entrepreneur will get some benches and blackboards repaired. Given this loan, Nilsa will be able to continue this very admirable work to help those children who are the future of our country.",F,300,partner,Education,0 Dominican Republic,"Nini is the leader of this group of women, all of whom operate small businesses in the Canela community of Santo Domingo. Nini sells cakes, sweeties and natural juices. She started her business two years ago. Nini, as well as the other members of the group, is from Haiti. She moved to Dominican Republic six years ago because she wanted to improve her familys living conditions and lift her kids out of poverty. When she got to the country, she couldnt even speak Spanish. Because she had to work to support her family, she learned the language rapidly. She says that one must struggle to succeed in life. Nini is requesting a loan to buy raw materials to keep producing her goods. She hopes that her business will soon allow her to pay the school tuition for her three kids.
The other members of Ninis group are: Erma Joseph, who sells fruits and vegetables; Noutha Desir, who sells clothing; Dalin Pie, who sells shoes and tennis shoes; and Nana Ifra, who will buy items for her small cafeteria. The picture shows from left to right: Nana, Dalin, Noutha, Erma and Nini.",F,1475,partner,Food,1 Dominican Republic,"Niurka Altagracia is a dynamic and hard-working woman who struggles to fulfill her dreams of economic independence and well-being for her family. She lives in the Juanita community of Santo Domingo with her husband and six children.
To contribute to the family income, Niurka sells beauty products in the neighborhood. Shes been running her business for three years, and now shes well established in her community in spite of the tough competition.
Niurka would like to have a big store where people from different townships can go to make their purchases. The entrepreneur says that her main desire is to see her children become good professionals in life, which will help them have a comfortable lifestyle.
With her loan, Niurka will new products to add to her stock in order to diversify her selection and attract new people.",F,300,partner,Retail,1 Dominican Republic,"Niurka Mara is an influential woman in her community and the leader of a group of five businesswomen in the Casabe community of Santo Domingo. To support her unique son, she sells homemade sweets and candies. The entrepreneur has been running this activity for two years. Niurka explains that she has good experience running her business and a well established clientele. So, she iwishes renting a small local (place from which to sell) to run the business. That will allow her to offer a more comfortable service to her clientele and attract more people. With her loan, Niurka will buy more materials to prepare her delicious sweets and candies. The group is composed as well by: Augustina De La Cruz Marte and Augustina De la Cruz Marte, twin sisters (with the same name), who sell mens and womens clothing. Graciela Selmo, an owner and operator of a small cafeteria. Cecilia De La Cruz Selmo who retails sewing cloth in the same community.",F,1200,partner,Food,0 Dominican Republic,"No, it's not a mistake! Simeona's last name is ""De la Cruz"" from her father and her mother as well! (In Spanish tradition, one's use of last names includes the mother's last name in addition to the father's last name).
She has lived in this place for the past 5 years. She and her husband, who is a hired laborer in the collection of cocoa beans in local plantations, have had 5 children. They couldn't keep up with the cost of such a large family, and that's the reason why Simeona chose to put up this general store in her house which is practically ""in the middle of nowhere"". The area/community is called Serralles, and belongs to the Yamasa municipality, but it's located some 15 kilometers north of Yamasa, and it takes practically an hour to get to it. There are a lot of ravines with small brooks in this area of the country, as it rains practically on a daily basis. But that means that roads are mostly impassable so it takes a long time to get there, despite being relatively close to the neighboring town of Yamasa.
Simeona has a very small area and a low level of inventory to sell products. It occupies about half the length of her house. (It's not larger than what you can envision, proportioning the size of Simeona vs. the rest of the area you can see in the picture.) This can give you an idea of how poor this family is. But she is the only one in the general area where one can get supplies of foodstuff and other items of daily usage. She sells the equivalent of around 10 dollars worth of goods a day, but now plans to keep a much larger stock and sell over 3 times as much...all possible with the requested loan. She wouldn't say her profit margin, but that's not usually expected from a 'merchant'. However, it was generally evident that she will sell for about a 200% gross margin on sales.
Simeona is dreaming of being able to relocate, or at least be able to rebuild their house in cement blocks, as she feels the wood is not only a fire hazard, but also subject to all kinds attacks, not only from natural phenomena, but also from termites and other bugs. She should do well with her dreams.",F,375,partner,Retail,0 Dominican Republic,"Noem is a 23 year-old woman struggling to earn a living by means of a humble womens clothing store. Noem started her store with funds she borrowed from FSMA five months ago. Currently, she operates the business within her house located in Lambedera, in the community of Yamas. Aside from her business, she is a full-time mother with two school-going daughters aged three and six.
In spite of the relatively short period of operation, Noem could obtain a well-established clientele. Her sense of humor and kindness make the customers feel comfortable when they go to her store to make the purchases. Noem explains that she would like to see her business grow so that she can keep supporting her children's studies. She is requesting a loan to purchase clothing in bulk and an assortment of fashionable slippers and shoes to increase her inventory and attract new clients.
",F,600,partner,Clothing,0 Dominican Republic,"Noemi is a lively 22 year old woman. She is living with her husband, a farmer, and their 4 children. A year ago she started her business, a small grocery store, which allows her to earn a living and assist her husband in taking care of their children. She wants to purchase assorted goods in order to diversify and enlarge her inventory. In fact, until now, she sold basic foodstuff. For that reason, she is requesting a US$125.00 loan that shell repay in 6 months.",F,125,partner,Food,0 Dominican Republic,"Noemi lives in the Cacique community in the province of Monte Plata with her husband and five children, ranging in age from three to fourteen. Her husband works for a construction company. Eight months ago, Noemi started a small business of selling Habichuelas con dulce (sweet cream beans). This tasty dessert is one of the Dominicans' most beloved traditions. Noemi explains that the habichuela con dulce is prepared with a lot of ingredients such as sweet potatoes, cinnamon, milk, butter and the like. People love to enjoy her dessert as shes a great chef, and cook like nobodys business, as Noemi says. With her loan, the entrepreneur will buy more raw materials so that she can produce more of her habichuelas con dulce and have a better income.",F,225,partner,Food,1 Dominican Republic,"Noreyba lives in the Ro Arriba community of Ban where she runs a small business selling pants to men and women. Noreyba is forty years old and mother of seven children, four of whom still live with her. She explains that a large family is hard to keep up, but she says shed move heaven and earth to provide food and good education for them.The entrepreneur wants to enlarge her business. She plans on using her loan to buy a collection of fashionable shirts to add to her stock. Noreyba wants to work better and increase her income for the sake of her family.",F,375,partner,Clothing,0 Dominican Republic,"Noris has the characteristics of a successful entrepreneur: she's patient, optimistic and always wants to learn from others. She's been operating a beauty salon for ten years in her community. Noris explains that while she was not able to make a successful beginning, she kept working hard and offered very good service to her clients. Currently, she's one of the most well-established hair dressers in the Corositos, her hometown. In addition to the various services she offers, Noris sells hair treatment lotion and other beauty products. At this time, the entrepreneur is running low on most of those products, and therefore is requesting a loan to restock her salon in order to keep running her business and increase her income. Noris has five children who attend school.",F,300,partner,Services,1 Dominican Republic,"Noris Garcia lives and raises her two daughters, 10-year-old Joann and 5-year-old Yomydi, in the rural town of Restauracion in the province of San Pedro de Macoris, located on the south coast of the Dominican Republic. She runs a business selling filtered water packets and coconut-flavoured ice cream. Since potable tap water is not available in most cities throughout the Dominican Republic, filtered water is in high demand, whether for rehydrating against the high Caribbean temperatures or to wash and prepare food. This loan will allow her to increase her inventory of water, which is filtered and sealed into plastic bags in about 6-ounce quantities. She will also be able to purchase ice and ingredients for making frozen sweets so that she can take full advantage of her new refrigerator. NOTE: This $1,000 loan will go to fund Noris' business, as well as four other businesses within her solidarity group. She and four other micro-entrepreneurs in her community came to Esperanza and formed their own group, which they named 'Por Fe Vivimos' or ""We Live by Faith."" They have all gone through Esperanza's business training program and will receive shares of this $1,000 loan to invest in their respective businesses and pay back the loan together. The entire group must pay in full and on time, otherwise group members must make up the deficit before any payment can be made. This creates accountability among the group members because each one shares in the success and struggles of the other members in their group.",F,1000,partner,Food,0 Dominican Republic,"Norma is a hard-working and ambitious entrepreneur who is fighting tooth and claw to establish herself as a successful businesswoman in her community. Her husband works as a taxi driver for a company. To supplement her familys income, Norma sells natural medicines to people of her neighborhood. The entrepreneur explains that there are lots of other women who are running the same business in the community, and she has to try hard to face the competition and attract new clients every day. With her loan, Norma will buy more goods to add to her stock in order to keep satisfying her customers needs and increase her income.",F,200,partner,Health,1 Dominican Republic,"Normilia is a 47-year-old woman who lives in a very poor community called Los Guaricanos on the outskirts of the capital of Santo Domingo. She runs a small business of fried foods and breakfast foods. She is asking for this loan so that she can invest money into her business and buy a wider variety of foods to offer her customers in the mornings.
She says her goal is to move her life forward and to live in comfort with a consistent source of income. She would also like to have enough money to afford medicine for her migranes: she often suffers from debilitating headaches, but cant spare the money to buy medicine to ease the pain.
In her free time she likes to read the Bible, go to her church, and spend time with her family. Normilia is very thankful to everyone who is helping her with his loanon behalf of her, and our entire team at Esperanza, thank you!",F,750,partner,Food,0 Dominican Republic,"Nuna is 22 years old and has four children (three boys and one girl). Only the eldest goes to school. Her husband works with dust carts to remove rubbish from the community. For more than five years, Nuna sold womens clothing, but she had to close the business due to illness. Now she is ready to begin her business again, because her husband's income isn't enough to cover the family's expenses. She is requesting a loan of $250 to purchase initial stock of clothing and shoes. The additional income from her business will greatly improve the living conditions of her family.",F,250,partner,Clothing,0 Dominican Republic,"Nuris Soraida is married with six children. The children range in age from 16 to 23 and all go to school. Nuris has been selling garments for two years, and has already taken two loans from FSMA. Nuris says that she always pays close attention to the market's trends, and she buys her goods according to her customers needs. This third loan will be used to purchase an assortment of fashionable blouses and pants to add to her stock. Nuris wants to keep doing her utmost in order to be one step ahead of the competition, and to increase her revenue.
Nuris Soraida hopes her business will allow her to provide her children with a better lifestyle and a brighter future.",F,150,partner,Clothing,1 Dominican Republic,"Octaviana is a mother of four children, two boys and two girls, which will soon go to university. She is a very persistent woman that has been running a small cafeteria in her community for one year. She produces an assortment of delicious sandwiches, hot dogs, empanadas and juices in the morning. For lunch, she serves traditional Dominican meals such as moro, which is a mixture of rice and beans. Her cafeteria is well visited and people who go to eat there once generally return. Octaviana wants to make a good income to keep on supporting her children's studies. With this loan, she will purchase raw materials such as fresh bread, butter, vegetable oil, ketchup, spices, rice and beans so she can keep on preparing delectable meals for her customers.",F,450,partner,Food,0 Dominican Republic,"Odalis Caridad is thirty-six years old and she has three school-age children that live in Juanita, a low-income community of Santo Domingo. To make a living and bring up her children, Juanita sells an assortment of shoes and pants. The entrepreneur humbly explains that her business is still limited and she doesnt have access to enough capital to make it progress.
Shed like to receive a loan, which shell invest to purchase a greater variety of products to offer her clientele and attract potential clients to her business.
Odalis hope that someday shell be able to have her own house and provide her family with a better lifestyle.",F,150,partner,Retail,1 Dominican Republic,"Odilus is 25 years old and is studying Informatics in a professional school. She also is member of the group called Mujeres Inmigrantes de San Cristobal. Shes single, with no child, and is living alone. In the workgroup, she prepares pants and shirts for men. With the loan requested, Odilus will buy raw materials such as cloth, sleeve buttons, zippers and thread to sew more pants and shirts in order to increase her sales volume. She is finishing the last grade of secondary school right now and wants to go the university next year. Given the loan, the entrepreneur will have sufficient money so that she can get ready to face that new chapter of her life (university study), that is a gate to wealth and success.",F,325,partner,Services,0 Dominican Republic,"Old Maria Francisca Severino has been operating a small business in cooperation with a friend for more than 7 years in her community. Marias associate does the hard work of making tablecloths and window curtains, while Maria is the business manager.
Maria is a popular and well-respected woman in her community. Before managing her present business, shed been selling these items and operating various businesses. Maria Francisca wants to seize the Christmas period as an opportunity to offer a new collection of decorative curtains to her clientele. Shes requested a loan to buy more cloth in order to produce the items. The entrepreneur hopes that her business will allow her to enjoy her golden years.
Maria Francisca is joined in her group by:
Luz Delania Monegro, who sells clothing;
Ana Mercedes Pea, who sells jewelry;
Ines Castro, who sells used clothing; and
Enegilda Aquino Rodriguez, who sells shoes and slippers.
The photo shows, from left to right, Luz Delania, Maria Francisca, Ana Mercedes, Ines, and Enegilda.",F,1025,lender,Arts,1 Dominican Republic,"Olga (pictured in the center) lives in a small community in the eastern province of Hato Mayor in the Dominican Republic. Olga lives with her husband and two children, ages 7 and 2. She owns and manages her own business selling clothing, shoes, and undergarments as well as jewelery and bed sheets. Her business has continued to grow since she has had greater access to capital through the loans that Esperanza Internacional has given her. She has successfully paid off two loans already and would like to purchase more clothing, shoes, and undergarments to sell in her store with this next loan.
Olga has worked very hard to get to where she is today and will continue to do so in order to grow her business, support her family, and progress as an individual. On behalf of everyone here at Esperanza International, and from Olga herself, we thank you for your support with this micro loan!",F,1175,partner,Clothing,0 Dominican Republic,"Olga is an old woman who has been struggling to make a living on her own since her husband passed away. Olga sells fruits and vegetables in her community. She predominantly operates her business from her house, but sometimes she sets a stall in the public market and sells her goods there. This loan is to buy a large amount of fruits and vegetables to add to her stock. Olga wants to increase considerably her sales volume, and she believes this loan will help her in doing so. The entrepreneur hopes that she'll have enough money to enjoy her golden years.",F,350,partner,Food,1 Dominican Republic,"Olga lives in the province of El Seibo, in the community of Colinas Don Guillermo. She is a hard-working woman, puts a lot of effort into her business, and has an entrepreneurial spirit. She has now become quite the businesswoman! She started out by selling accessories for women, such as hair pieces and beauty supplies. She developed her business to the point that she now owns a boutique where she sells clothes, shoes, beauty accessories, and home accessories! She requests a loan of 15,000 pesos (450 USD) to continue investing in her business, expanding it, and moving forward. She says that her goal is to continue developing a sustainable business, generate the necessary income to repay her loan, and satisfy the needs of her clients. We wish Olga the best of luck, and thank you all for supporting her!",F,450,partner,Personal Use,0 Dominican Republic,"Olga, a forty-seven-year-old woman and mother of four children, has been selling fried dishes and natural juices for six years in her hometown, the Barrios community of Santo Domingo. She sells her goods in the public school of the community. Olga explains that the two last loans she got from our organization had helped her to sustain her family and support her childrens studies.
Currently, Olga plans on buying a small house in a couple of years so that her family can live comfortably.
With her loan, the entrepreneur will buy raw materials to keep producing her delectable fried dishes and her juices.",F,475,partner,Food,1 Dominican Republic,"Olguine is 41 years old and is the mother of seven children. She is living with her partner and his two sons. Less than one year ago, Olguine started a small business with a loan she obtained form our organization. She prepares and sells fried eggs, fried bananas, chicken, and some tasty empanadas. After repaying her loan on time, Olguine wants to continue moving her business forward. She has requested a loan to buy more raw materials so that she can considerably increase her sales volume and thus her income. Given this loan, Olguine will better help her husband face the multiple housing issues of their large and very needy family.",F,300,partner,Food,0 Dominican Republic,"Oliva is a 58-year-old widow, mother of eight children, four boys and four girls. They all are grown up and are working, some of them outside the community.
Oliva is running a cafeteria that she started three years ago. She says she had wanted to have this business for a long time, but she didnt have access to capital, so she had to wait for the appropriate moment.
Six months ago, Oliva took a loan from our organization and was able to radically change her business. With her loan, she bought a lot of kitchen utensils and now she can prepare the food in good, hygienic conditions. Oliva hopes her business can become so much more profitable that she can hire a girl to help her with the preparation of the food.
With this, her second loan, she plans on purchasing food ingredients to keep on running her business and varying the menu to attract new customers.",F,900,partner,Food,0 Dominican Republic,"Oneida Medrano Paez (pictured on the far left) is a 27-year-old woman who lives with her husband and two-month-old son in a small community called Los Hatillos in the eastern province of Hato Mayor in the Dominican Republic. She began a small business selling bedspreads, sheets, curtains, and towels two years ago and continues to increase her inventory with each loan. Currently, Oneida travels from town to town selling her products in addition to selling them from her home; however, it is her hope to continue growing her business so that she will be able to establish her own store in town one day. Above everything, she works to provide for her newborn boy, so that he may have a good education in the future. In Oneidas free time, she enjoys going to church, reading the Bible, and spending time with her family. Oneida is the leader of the 5-person micro-bank group, Mujeres Solidarias. In English, this means women in solidarity`. Each of these unique Dominican entrepreneurs unite in solidarity, allowing them to access funding that they would otherwise never be able to receive on their own. On behalf of Oneida, the Mujeres Solidarias group, and the entire team here at Esperanza International, we thank you for your support with this micro loan!",F,1175,partner,Retail,0 Dominican Republic,"Oneyra lives in the suburb of Los Alcarrizos on the outskirts of Santo Domingo. From her home she has a small shop where she sells jewelry, makeup, undergarments and beauty supplies. She is asking for this loan so that she can have adequate capital to expand the products and merchandise that she is able to offer her clients. She knows that if she has a better selection she will be able to attract more clients and beat out her competition better!
Her dream is to move her business forward, keep expanding it, and to make better profits off of it. For her children, she hopes to provide a safe home and healthy environment so that they can grow up to become useful people to their communities. For herself, she hopes that her work ethic and success will provide a good example to both her family and her community.
In her free time she likes to pray that all of her dreams can be realized. On behalf of Oneyra and everyone here at Esperanza International, we thank you for your support of her loan.",F,725,partner,Retail,0 Dominican Republic,"Oneyra Yambatiste Luis is the mother of two and the head of the Bank of Hope called Las Hermanas de Pantoja. She owns her own business selling personal products and plans on using her loan to replenish her supplies and to invest in her business. This will be Oneyra's third loan.
Thank you for your interest in supporting this group!",F,1825,partner,Retail,0 Dominican Republic,"Ordaliza is a very young entrepreneur and mother of two girls (ages 8 and 2) and a 6-year-old boy. Contrary to the great majority of women here, Ordaliza says the fact of being a mother wont impede her in continuing her studies. Twice a week, she goes to Santo Domingo to attend classes at the university.
Ordaliza sells vegetables, spices, and ripe fruit. Her stall is always very crowded, and people who visit her once always want to come back because of her wisdom and empathy. She says she sells for more than 1000 Dominican pesos daily (about US$ 30).
The entrepreneur is requesting a loan to purchase more goods to offer to her clientele and so that she can attract new customers. In the past, Ordaliza has proved to be an honest, reliable person. She had already taken a loan from FSMA and was able to repay it without problem.",F,900,partner,Food,0 Dominican Republic,"Panilus Elda is a mother of two young boys (ages 2 and 9). She moved to the small community of Momjor, just outside of Puerto Plata just several months ago, where she lives alone selling clothing on the streets. She made the move, leaving behind her two children to live with their grandmother, so that she would be able to find a way to pay for their education. When asked if she would like them to come and join her here in the Dominican Republic, she quickly responded, No. While not many complete the education system in Haiti (for lack of funds), it is a far superior education to that of the public schools in the Dominican Republic. Panilus has left everything she knows to fulfill her dream of putting her children through school in Haiti. The money from this loan will be used to buy more pants, shirts, and shoes to sell on the streets of Momjor. Panilus hopes that someday she will be able to afford the rent of a small store to sell her clothes from. Panilus Elda is just one member of the 10 person micro-bank, Las Mujeres Unidas. Each of these unique Dominican entrepreneurs unite in solidarity, allowing them to access funding that they would otherwise never be able to receive on their own. The concept of this group bank paying their loan together is to reduce the risk of one person defaulting, as the others members gladly help cover one anothers payments in order to receive their next loan together. On behalf of Panilus, Las Mujeres Unidas, and the entire team here at Esperanza International, we thank you for your support and awareness of the global issue of poverty, in which your efforts are helping to make a difference.",F,1475,partner,Clothing,0 Dominican Republic,"Pascacio (pictured above, on a bike) has a joyful personality. He is a young father of two who strives for success. He lives in Consuelo, an agricultural community of sugar cane farmers. In this particular community, the sugar cane plantation owners pay their daily workers in tickets. Those tickets can be later cashed in at the end of the month. Pascacio, learning from microfinance, plans to finance some of those tickets for people who cannot wait until the end of the month, and charge interest. With the profits, he hopes to one day open his own store and have his own truck.",F,950,lender,Services,0 Dominican Republic,"Pascuala is 58 years old and has three children. Her husband is a farmer. The family lives in a small rented house.
Pascuala actually is unemployed. She is a seamstress and used to work part-time for an haute couture company. Pascuala says that the home is short of money since her husband is getting older and can't work as hard as before.
She has decided to start a small business within her house. She plans to sell cloth and sew tailor-made clothing. She expects business will be successful since she has a famous reputation as seamstress in the town.
She is asking for credits to purchase a quintal (100 pounds) of different kinds of cloth to sell in her community. She will also repaire her old sewing-machine so that she can prepare clothing the customers order.
This way, Pascualas family will have a second source of income and she will be in a condition to help her husband support her family financially.",F,300,partner,Services,0 Dominican Republic,"Pascuala is the owner and principal of a school which she started fifteen years ago, when she decided to contribute to the education of children in her community. Pascuala explains that most of the people in the community are jobless or have very low salaries, and cannot afford an expensive school for their children. Pascualas school offers children the opportunity to receive good education at very low prices. She says that her strategy is every effective, and currently about 140 children attend her school.
Pascuala needs a loan to order a large quantity of printed T-shirts with the name and logo of the school. She will sell them to pupils during the next semester.",F,600,partner,Education,1 Dominican Republic,"Pascuala is thirty-five years old, and she has two school-going boys ages thirteen and sixteen. She and her husband carry on a small business of selling fruits in the Carvajal community of San Cristobal. Each day, Pascuala sets her wares on her table, and people visit them to get her juicy fruits. Her husband makes trips outside the community about four days a week to make the purchase of the fruits. Pascuala explained that the first loan she took from FSMA, was very useful and helped her to strengthen her business. She hopes that her investment will continue her business growth and will help her repair her house. She is requesting a loan of $450 so she can expand her business further.",F,450,partner,Food,1 Dominican Republic,"Pasos Firme is a group of five, all but one illiterate, entrepreneurs seeking additional loan funds from Esperanza International. The groups past loans have been successfully repaid, and the group hopes to utilize an additional loan for further business expansion. Luisa is the coordinator for this group in El Seybo.
Luisa, mother of a ten-year-old child, operates three notably different entrepreneurial sales. Luisa sells vegetables, cellular phone recharge cards, and gas for stove-top cooking and lamps. Recently, Luisas husband has fallen ill, leaving Luisa to care for her ill husband and child, and continue to work for prosperity within her business. However, Luisa is dedicated and dreams of one day owning her own home.
Other members of Luisas bank run similar entrepreneurial operations including selling chicken, clothing, and undergarment sales. The bank as a whole is committed to successful completion of this additional micro-finance loan and past performance demonstrates competence and commitment.
On behalf of Esperanza and this group of business entrepreneurs, we would like to thank you for your support!",F,1200,lender,Retail,0 Dominican Republic,"Patricia is 18 years old and is member of the group called Mujeres Inmigrantes de San Cristobal. Very smart and disciplined, she learned to sew at the age of 14. She makes pants, shirts, skirts, and babys clothes. She sells her products in her house and in the school to the teachers and her schoolmates. She will invest her loan in the purchase of raw materials in order to continue with the fabrication of clothes. With profit earned from her business, she pays her school fees and helps her father bear the expenses of the family, since her mother is currently jobless. Her father is a farmer, and money obtained from Patricias activity is the second source of income of the family.",F,325,partner,Manufacturing,0 Dominican Republic,"Patricia is thirty-six years old and an excellent entrepreneur. She sells mens and womens clothing in the Batey of Palav community of San Cristobal. She explains with enthusiasm that her business is very promising, since she has a growing clientele. Patricia plans to boost her business and add a wide variety of new clothing to her present inventory. That way, shell increase her sales volume and attract new clients. The entrepreneur has five children, four of them boys, all of whom attend school. Her business supports their educations.",F,225,partner,Clothing,0 Dominican Republic,"Patricia Paola is a young and promising entrepreneur. She lives with her parents in the impoverished community of Yagua, which is located in Cotu. About two years ago, she started selling beauty products in order to support her university studies; unfortunately, her parents cannot afford to pay for her studies, so she has to do so on her own.
Recently, Patricia had to halt her business operation due to a lack of working capital. As a result, she has no income with which to support her studies. Accordingly, she is requesting a loan to start selling womens clothing so that she can generate a substantial income stream, which will allow her to resume her university studies. Patricia is a very positive and confident woman, and she truly believes that her business will be successful. She notes that she knows many of the women in her community and that she is a smooth-talking saleswoman, which enables her to convince people to purchase her items. For Patricia, a good education is the most valuable thing one can get in this world. As such, she believes that with a license from her university and more sales experience, she will be able to succeed with her business and will ultimately be a rich person.
Patricia is seeking this loan along with the following women in her group: (1) Odaly Margarita Soto, who sells clothing; (2) Maria Elena Lazala, who sells beauty products; (3) Bartola Mariano, who sells fried dishes; and (4) Fredelbinda Garcia, who sells jewelry. In the main picture, the women are pictured, from left to right, as follows: Odaly, Patricia, Maria Elena, Bartola, and Fredelbinda. And, in the other picture, Odaly can be seen carrying her child in the muddy road.",F,950,lender,Clothing,1 Dominican Republic,"Patricia Trinidad lives in the San Luis community of Santo Domingo. She leads a group of five women, all of whom run businesses. In her business, Patricia makes and sells typical Dominican dishes. She uses the proceeds to take care of her three children.
Patricia doesnt own a restaurant, so she serves the food in a public place. She explains that, despite the precarious conditions in which she attends to her customers, she receives significant support from her customers, who are very satisfied with her savoir faire and good service.
Patricia hopes that, in a few months, shell be able to improve her business conditions and offer a more comfortable space to her clients. With her loan, she will buy supplies to keep producing her delicious dishes. Patricia says that, someday, shell be the owner the biggest restaurant in San Luis. She says that shell reach that goal through hard work and sacrifice.
The members of Patricias group are:
Pictured, from left to right are: Patricia, Justina, Mara Elena, Pura and Cuca.
",F,1250,partner,Food,1 Dominican Republic,"Patricia, a twenty-four year old mother of three children, lives in Casabe community of Santo Domingo where she strives to make a living and support her family. She helps needy people of her hometown by lending them money at very low interests. Patricia explains that the most of people of Casabe dont have a job. And people that work receive their salary bi-weekly, but they have to spend money every day to face the household issues. Her clientele is built-up of these people. Her husband, a truck driver, helps her run the business. Patricia says that she wants to turn her business into a formal lending bank with lots of customers. My neighbors need help, and as far as possible, I will help them. She is requesting a loan of $375 so that she can have more capital to keep running her business.",F,375,partner,Services,0 Dominican Republic,"Paul Guerriel is the leader of the group called Paz y Amor, or in English, Peace and Love. Paul is the owner of a used clothing business that he operates in his community. He and his wife of six years, Girena, have three children, ages 4, 3, and 16 months.Pauls dream for his business is to keep growing and have a larger capacity to sell clothing. Eventually he would like to buy a storefront for his business. He would like to be able to own his own house and be able to provide a good life for his children. In his free time, Paul enjoys attending his church with his family. This is his second loan and because of his faithfulness in repaying his last one, it is for a larger amount of money.
On behalf of Esperanza International, thank you for your interest in these entrepreneurs and effort to fight the global issue of poverty!
",F,1075,partner,Clothing,0 Dominican Republic,"Paul is the head of his household and provides for his wife and three children. He owns a small clothing retail business called 'Ropas Paul', and his customers are primarily people from the local community. With his loan Paul will buy clothes in bulk. This will reduce his transport costs to the nearby city. In the future he hopes to expand his business and generate enough income to have his own house. Please help Paul and his group expand their businesses. Thank you.",F,1075,lender,Clothing,0 Dominican Republic,"Paula and her husband certainly have their hands full with six children, ranging from fourteen years to two months old. Paulas husband works as a gardener in areas around their community, while she balances the responsibility of Mom and entrepreneur at home. Paula has started a small shop in her home, where she sells fashion accessories and undergarments. Her products include semi-precious jewels, hair ties, barrettes, decorative scarves, and other things as well. Her inventory is small, and she plans on using her loan to maintain an assorted collection of these trinkets and fashionable accessories. Paula hopes that her business will grow as quickly as her children, particularly her four boys, and that she will be able to generate income for her family while spending time at home.",F,200,partner,Retail,0 Dominican Republic,"Paula Campusano Paula coordinates the activity of a group of five women, all of whom are entrepreneurs. Paula runs a well-established grocery store in the community. Everyday she receives visits from large numbers of people who want to purchase a variety of products, including rice, beans, vegetable oil, bread, peanut butter and the like. Her store also offers alcoholic and energy drinks. Paula plans on using her loan to purchase more products so that she can considerably increase her sales volume and revenue. That way, this entrepreneur will be able to improve her familys standard of living.The members of Paulas group are: Yesenia Mara Asencio Almonte, who owns a grocery store; Maxima Augustina De Los Santos Daz, who is borrowing for her jewelry store; Celeste Rosario Castillo, who wishes to purchase silver jewelry, and Claudina Vasquez, who wants to buy beauty products for her store.",F,1500,partner,Food,0 Dominican Republic,"Paula Guerrero owns what is called a fantasia in the Dominican Republic. It is a small store mostly dedicated to offering personal care products, accessories and school supplies. With this loan, Paula will ensure her fantasia is properly stocked for the months to come. She hopes to expand her business to transform it into a department store in the future. Her greatest ambition is to see her children practicing professional careers of their choice. She has four children: ages 19, 14, 13 and 11.
Paula has been appointed the group coordinator of this group of five entrepreneurs from San Pedro de Macoris. They are starting their microfinance venture with this Kiva loan. These are people who have been involved in trade activities for some time but who do not have financial support to sustain their businesses through the current economic situation.
Please help us support these new microentrepreneurs with a Kiva loan. Thank you!",F,725,lender,Retail,0 Dominican Republic,"Paula is a 37-year-old single mother of five children, Melanie (17), Elmuruiz (15), Jennifer (12), Almando (10), and Camillo (7). She currently does not own a store of her own, but sells frozen fresh squeezed juices and small baked goods out of a cooler that she carries around with her. With this money she is hoping to buy a new juicer, a bigger cooler, and then the fresh fruit and other materials to make the food she sells. She would eventually like to be able to have her own store and be able to sell more, since she is her children's sole provider.
Note: Paula is one of five microentrepreneurs in her Bank of Hope solidarity group, all of whom have gone through Esperanza's business training courses. Each of the five members will receive a share of this $700 loan for their respective businesses and each will be accountable to the others for repaying their share of this loan. This group-lending method strengthens social ties in the community and helps ensure that members cooperate to help one another repay their loans and invest wisely in their businesses and families. This money will go towards the next loan received by this Bank of Hope; once they finish paying back their current loan it will be activated.",F,700,partner,Food,0 Dominican Republic,"Paula is a single mom with four children, three boys and a girl, whose ages range from five to seventeen years old. Paula serves traditional Dominican dishes in her home, where neighborhood customers enjoy them. Her homemade meals include arepa - cornmeal cakes; abichuela - a combination of beans, vegetables, and pork; and an assortment of other local dishes.
Paula produces some of the ingredients for her cuisine at home, but others, including many of the vegetables found in her meals, she buys from nearby markets. Paula plans on using her loan to increase her inventory and serve more customers. Someday Paula envisions operating a restaurant that is a focal point of her community, where customers can enjoy her home-cooked meals alongside friends and family.",F,300,partner,Food,0 Dominican Republic,"Paula is in her early forties, and she lives with her husband and four of their children. The other five boys are grown up and have their own families.
Paula sells womens clothing. She operates her store within her house. The entrepreneur says that her business supports the childrens studies. She hopes her business success can help her keep supporting her family. With her loan, Victoria will buy more clothing in bulk to supply her store.",F,300,partner,Clothing,0 Dominican Republic,"Paula, 39, is a very wise, practical and positive woman. She is known in her village for her sympathy and her smile that shines light on everyone who approaches her. She lives with her husband (currently unemployed) and her well-loved 10 year-old daughter.
Paula has always had a truly responsible attitude with regard to her family. Immediately after her husband lost his job, she got her act together and tried to find a way to financially support the family. First, she started a small cafeteria which she operates early in the morning, and at night. She serves bananas with boiled or fried eggs, boiled manioc, mang (a pure of boiled plantains) which is a much appreciated dish by people. She also prepares natural fruit juices and at night, she sells empanadas and some typical Dominican hamburgers.
Recently, eager to increase her income, Paula received from our organization a loan which she repaid in the due time. She invested the loan in the purchase of bulk clothing which she sold in her community. She could make a profit from that activity. Now, this entrepreneur has requested a loan to buy a larger amount of clothes so that she can considerably increase her sales volume. Profits made from her business will help her handily repay the loan and keep doing her exceptional best for the sake of her family.",F,300,partner,Clothing,0 Dominican Republic,"Paulina Cersar Sirena owns a bustling general store in Fao where she sells commodities including bread, cheese, eggs, lollipops, flip-flops, combs, hair ties, nail files, and diapers. Paulina will use this loan to expand her offerings by stocking new essential items such as rice, cooking oil, soft drinks, and sugar. The growth of Paulina's store will help her support her three children: Adelinas (13), Marinalde (11), and Miguelangel (6). Adelinas wants to work as a secretary when she's older; her more capricious sister Marinalde wants to be a model. For now, Miguelangel is content to be six years old. He spends most of his time tooling around Fao on his bicycle.
Note: Paulina is one of five microentrepreneurs in her Bank of Hope solidarity group, all of whom have gone through Esperanza's business training courses. Each of the five members will receive a share of this $825 loan for their respective businesses and will be accountable to each other for repaying their share of this loan together. This group-lending method strengthens social ties in the community and helps ensure that members cooperate to help one another repay their loans and invest wisely in their businesses and families. As soon as Paulina pays off her current loan with Esperanza, this loan will become active.",F,825,partner,Retail,0 Dominican Republic,"Paulina is an active entrepreneur and a proud mother raising six children on her own. Her husband passed away months ago, and since then she had to redouble efforts to keep sustaining her family and supporting the kids studies. The loan requested is to invest in some sacks of rice, gallons of vegetable oil, spices, flour ,and other basic foodstuffs, without which she may lose sales in her small grocery store.
Paulina has been operating her store for four years, and after her husbands death its been hard to get access to capital to move her business forward. The entrepreneur hopes that her business will generate great incomes so she can repay her loan and save money to support the kids educations.",F,225,partner,Food,1 Dominican Republic,"Paulina is an experienced and versatile entrepreneur. Shes been selling wood, coal, fruits and vegetables, and also ice cream. Currently, Paulina sells tablecloths, window curtains, and bedspreads in her neighborhood.
This entrepreneur explains that, despite her advanced age, she doesnt feel like closing her business. In fact, shes requesting a loan to boost her business and to buy a large variety of goods to add to her stock. The entrepreneur would like to have enough money in order to enjoy her golden years.
",F,450,partner,Retail,0 Dominican Republic,"Paulina is the leader of a group of five women living in the Canta la Rana community in the East of Santo Domingo, and she's taking out her first loan with FSMA. Paulina is forty-nine years old, and she and her husband have two sons and two daughters, all of whom go to school. The economic situation of the country directly affects families of the most humble conditions, and it's now hard for people in this low-income community to solve their basic problems. Despite this adverse situation, Paulina doesn't get discouraged as she's the kind of person who never says die, but who thinks that there's still a chance that they can make things happen. She's requesting a loan to start a small cabinet-making activity, and she'll help her husband to manage the business. Paulina's spouse has a lot of experiences as a cabinetmaker and woodworker, and he has been working for years in this service area.Paulina hopes she'll have success in her endeavor, and that this business will allow her to lift her family out of poverty. She's very confident and says that she and her husband will do their best to provide their kids with a brighter future.
The members of Paulina's group are: Yanira Hernandez, who sells pants and shoes in the community; Gregoria Cuevas Cuevas, who operates a small business selling beauty products in her neighborhood; Mayra Jimenez Santos, who sells shoes; and Isabel Cuevas Carvajal, who will invest her loan in purchasing clothing for her small store.",F,1475,partner,Services,1 Dominican Republic,"Paulina Rosario is a dedicated and vivacious woman who lives with her 4 children (ages: 16, 14, 12, 3) in San Pedro de Macoris. Currently, Paulina sells shoes and slippers by walking around her community all throughout the day. She will use this loan to continue making small improvements to her business by purchasing better quality items and developing a consistent client base. Her goal for the future is to open a proper store in her neighborhood so that she doesnt have to walk from place to place every day. She told us that it is very hard on her knees and back to carry around her merchandise for 10 hours every day. Paulina wants to use any extra profit from her business to help her children with school and necessities.
On behalf of Esperanza, thank your for your generous support and we look forward in joining with you to watch these women succeed! God Bless.",F,800,partner,Clothing,0 Dominican Republic,"Paulina sells mens and womens clothing. She started her business eight years ago. Paulina is 43 years old and has six children, four boys and two girls. Four of them are grown and are working in Santo Domingo. The two youngest attend school.
Paulina says shes very proud to have worked hard in order to provide good education for her children. But her major satisfaction is to run her business and not depend on others to have food to eat. She hopes her business can get better and better.
With her loan, she will buy clothing in bulk and shoes to introduce into the business. That way she hopes she will increase her sales volume and attract new clients.",F,300,partner,Clothing,0 Dominican Republic,"Paulina sells womens clothing in her small community of San Luis where she was born and raised. Paulina operates her business mainly in the streets, but also regular customers go to her house to purchase her high quality clothing. This loan is to buy light clothing to sell during the summer period which is characterized by a very high temperature in the country. Paulina hopes her business growth will enable her to save enough money to buy her own home.",F,350,partner,Clothing,1 Dominican Republic,"Paulina Silven is a cheerful lady who is known by others in her group for loving to talk, sharing stories, and expressing her opinion. She is the mother of five children, ages 14-21, all of whom live with Mrs. Silven except for the eldest who is married. She runs a shop where she sells clothing as well as a number of other personal items. When asked what her favorite food was, she laughs and says all types of meat, chicken, beef, fish, etc. In the future, Mrs. Silven hopes to be able to focus her shop in one area and specialize in a particular item. She says that right now she sells a wide variety of things because there isnt enough money in any one field to support her and her family.
Mrs. Paulina Silven is a member of a 5 person group, Group 4, which is part of a larger micro-bank called Cristo Viene, ""Christ Comes"" in English. In the picture, Mrs. Silven is in the center in the very back with a white shirt on along with members of her group and some others of Cristo Viene. Her story is just one of a list of men and women who are improving their quality of life through the help of micro-credit loans of Esperanza. Together, this group has united with a common vision of a better life with faith and hope in their hearts and an unbreakable spirit. The concept of group lending is to have loans paid in a group to reduce the risk of a person defaulting, as others pick up where a person may lag to receive the next loan. Each of the associates in this bank has a similar business whether it is a motor taxi service or selling clothing. Thank you for your support and awareness of this issue, and it is your concern and efforts that is able to bring a difference to the lives of people such as Mrs. Silven.",F,1450,partner,Retail,0 Dominican Republic,"Paulina, a strong-willed young woman, lives with her husband and five children. She jokingly says that her husband wanted to have more kids, but she had to stop him, seeing that it's a huge responsibility keeping up all those children.
To supplement her family's income, Paulina sells an assortment of bed sheets to women in her community. This activity has allowed her to help her husband pay the rent on their house, support the children's education, and move the business forward.
Nonetheless, Paulina says that she's still not satisfied with her business performance and believes that she could significantly increase her income. She's asking for a loan to buy more bed sheets and to introduce new goods such as window curtains to her inventory. Paulina would like her business to be one of the most well-established in her community.",F,375,partner,Retail,1 Dominican Republic,"Pedrina is a 25-year-old mother of three sons, aged of 6, 5 and 2. The two eldest attend school. She sells sandwiches, fried salami, hamburgers, spicy sausage and milk shakes and natural juice. She started her business six months ago with funds she obtained from FSMA. She repaid the loan successfully. With that first loan, she bought all the kitchen utensils and some raw materials to prepare the food.
She says that her familys living condition had changed dramatically since she opened that business. Not only can she now prepare breakfast for her children before they go to school, but she also gives them money for the lunch at school. This September, her sons began the new school year with brand-new shoes and uniforms.
Pedrina hopes her business can keep on growing so that she can continue providing a good education for her children. She has requested a second loan to buy raw materials for the business since she is short of some goods. Given this loan, the entrepreneur will be in a position to satisfy her customers and work for the sake of her family.",F,300,partner,Food,0 Dominican Republic,"Pedro Inocencio Santos lives in Canutillo with his wife Mariledas. Pedro owns the Peluquera Pepe, a barber shop that he built with a previous loan from Esperanza. With this loan, Pedro will renovate and better equip his shop, improving its structure and interior and purchasing tools and materials. Pedro and Mariledas's four children: Rosangelica (11), Pedro Juan (8), Pedro Miguel (7), and Vladimir (6) attend school locally. Like most Dominican boys his age, Pedro Juan dreams of playing baseball professionally. Rosangelica has a dream of her own: she aspires to be an architect.
Note: Pedro is one of five microentrepreneurs in his Bank of Hope solidarity group, all of whom have gone through Esperanza's business training courses. Each of the five members will receive a share of this $1000 loan for their respective businesses and will be accountable to each other for repaying their share of this loan together. This group-lending method strengthens social needs in the community and helps ensure that members cooperate to help one another repay their loans and invest wisely in their businesses and families. As soon as Pedro pays off his current loan with Esperanza, this loan will become active.",M,1000,partner,Services,0 Dominican Republic,"Pedro is part of the La Paz de Dios Bank of Hope with Esperanza International, which means ""The Peace of God."" Like the other people of his group, Pedro lives in a rural community just outside of El Seibo in the Dominican Republic. The families in this area live in small houses made of scrap tin and wood. The best of the possible living situations is a cement-block house. These houses generally consist of only one room for the whole family to live together. Pedro has two grown children, ages 21 and 23, along with two grandchildren. Some of his children and grandchildren live in a neighboring province of El Seibo, and he loves to visit them.
To support his family, Pedro has a small business buying and selling a variety of staple foods and vegetables. He has already successfully repaid 5 loans to Esperanza International. With this next loan, Pedro hopes to further grow his business and continue improving his living situation. He wants to be able to provide the best for his grandchildren, including a good education, so that they will get the most out of life.",M,200,partner,Food,0 Dominican Republic,"Pelagia is a successful businesswoman who lives in the Corositos community of Cotu with her two sons. Shes been running a mini-market for three years in the community. Her store offers a large variety of goods among which the beers are the most demanded. Now, Pelagia operates her store within her house, but she plans on saving a part of her profits to rent a small establishment in a short time.
With her loan, the businesswoman will buy foodstuffs and alcoholic drinks to keep satisfying her customers' needs. Pelagia hopes that her business will keep being in the black so that she can provide her family with a comfortable lifestyle.",F,425,partner,Food,1 Dominican Republic,"Petra has been selling shirts, pants, and shoes for more than three years to supplement her familys income. Her husband works as a mechanic, and the couple has four daughters ranging from six to fifteen years old, all of whom go to school.
It is Petras ambition that her children can become professionals, and independent and important people in the society, so she swears that shell keep working hard so that she can reach that goal.
With her loan, this entrepreneur will buy a greater variety of goods to add her to her stock to increase her sales volume and attract new clients.
",F,450,partner,Clothing,0 Dominican Republic,"Petrolina lives with her 2 children (ages: 16,18) in San Pedro de Macoris. She currently runs a small cafeteria in a local school, where children can come to buy snacks during lunch time. With this loan, she would like to buy her most popular merchandise in bulk so that she can make more of a profit. She loves children, she has a passion for teaching, and she hopes that one day she will be able to open a private school in her neighborhood. Right now, the most important thing on her mind is raising and educating her own children, and supporting them in their educational pursuits.Thank you for supporting and encouraging these women, and we look forward to watching them grow and succeed!",F,1225,partner,Food,0 Dominican Republic,"Petrona is 26 years old, single, and living with her parents. Her five brothers and sisters live in Santo Domingo, because they go to the university there. Her parents are farmers. Petrona sells clothes and shoes in her parents house. She started that business one year ago after being obliged to drop out of school for financial reasons. Her parents couldnt provide the transport for her, since she had to spend more than $40 a week to go to school in the city. Currently she is back in school, since she earns sufficient money from her business. The entrepreneur needs a loan to purchase more clothes and shoes, because she has these in short supply. She is working hard to grow her business so as to improve living conditions for herself and her family.",F,375,partner,Clothing,0 Dominican Republic,"Petrona is a 52-year-old single mother of five children, three girls and two boys. Her boys work in the town as farmers. Her daughters are housekeepers.
For more than eight years, Petrona has been running a small general store. She sells different kinds of foodstuffs, such as bread, butter, seasoning and spices, vegetables and fruits. With her small business, she manages to make a living and take care of her children.
Petrona hopes she can enlarge the store and offer more products to her clientele. She is requesting a loan to buy more goods to sell. Additional income will help the entrepreneur keep on improving her familys living conditions.",F,300,partner,Food,0 Dominican Republic,"Petronila has been in the business of selling foodstuffs to schoolchildren for over 15 years now. She's never really been able to have an ample food supply, so she's been taking up the slack with fried foods of a simple nature, such as stuffed wheat flakes and the like.
Still having to care for 2 children (out of 5 she had, three don't live with her any more), and with no help from anyone, Petronila has been 'praying' for resources with which to replenish her stock of food to sell to the schoolchildren during this season. Her prayers are answered in our having been able to get to her community, called ""Mulo"" (literally means ""mule"") in the Yamasa area, Altagracia province of the Dominican Republic.",F,325,partner,Food,0 Dominican Republic,"Petronila is a very hard-working woman and mother of three children, and she is responsible for supporting all the family. Her husband is a public employee and doesnt have a good salary. Im the leader of the house, she says.
Petronila sells a collection of chic pants, blouses, slippers and shoes to women of the Buenos Aires community of Santo Domingo. As she doesnt have a locale to run the business out of, the entrepreneur visits friends, neighbors and other people of the surroundings in order to sell her goods.
Petronilas dream is to have a very big clothing store ""with millions of products and thousands of loyal customers"". With her loan, Petronila will purchase more goods to add to her stock.",F,250,partner,Clothing,0 Dominican Republic,"Petronila is fifty years old and has seven grown children. Some of them are married and living on their own while the others are in college. Petronila is a seamstress, and for the last 23 years has run a clothing-making business out of her house. She is very experienced and skilled, and a lot of people stop by to purchase her products. Petronila wants to enlarge her business by hiring one or two employees next year. She has come to us for a loan to buy cloth, thread and other material she needs to meet her clients needs.",F,475,partner,Services,0 Dominican Republic,"Petronila is forty years old, and she and her husband have four children who go to school. She has been cooking specialty fried dishes for a long time in her community. Petronila explains that she started this business when she realized that her husbands job couldnt help him to support all of the expenses of the family.
Theres a lot to be said for running this business, she says.
Actually, its easier to pay the children's school tuitions and the rental of her house. Petronila dreams of buying her own house in the upcoming of years, so she can provide a comfortable lifestyle for her children.
Shell use her loan to buy ingredients to keep producing her tasty fried dishes and increase her income.
",F,450,partner,Food,0 Dominican Republic,"Petronila is the mother of four girls, ranging in age from thirteen to nineteen, all of whom go to school. Petronila operates a small salon which she started about ten years ago. The entrepreneur says that currently lots of people are visiting her salon, probably because of the hot weather.She'll use her loan to buy a greater amount of products to keep operating her store. Petronila hopes that her business will allow her to support the university studies of her eldest daughter, which she will begin in September.",F,450,partner,Services,1 Dominican Republic,"Petronila sells small articles of clothing, accessories and sweets from a bag as she walks through the streets of the various communities in her area. She probably walks 10-15 miles a day as she sells her items.
Every night she makes homemade coconut-bread, a delicious sweet bread that everyone loves to buy from her. This will be the fifth loan that she has taken out, and she is very excited to continue improving her life.
She plans to use the loan to purchase a better variety of clothes to sell, and she hopes to save enough so that one day she can build a strong and safe home of concrete for her family, and so that she can also build a store where she can sell her items without having to walk so much each day.
She is very involved with her local Catholic church, and wants nothing more than to give her nine children a shot at a better life. She is very thankful for your help with this loan.
NOTE: This $1,000 loan will fund Petronila's business as well as four other businesses in her solidarity group. She and four other women micro-entrepreneurs came to Esperanza and formed their group. They have all gone through Esperanza business training program and will receive equal shares of the loan to invest in their respective business and pay back the loan together. The entire group must pay in full and on time, otherwise group members must make up the deficit before any payment can be made. This creates accountability among the group members because each one shares in the struggles and successes of the other members in their group.",F,1000,partner,Clothing,0 Dominican Republic,"Piedad, 35, lives with her husband and their two boys. Her husband, a professional painter, works in Santo Domingo, the capital. Five months ago, Piedad took out a loan and used it to open a small cosmetics business. She sells lip gloss, lipstick, skincare products, hair lotion, perfumes, and womens fragrances. Because she managed her small business prudently, she was able to pay back the loan before the due date. She runs her business from home, but sometimes she sells door to door or in the public market, especially on weekends. Now she wants to expand the business and introduce gold-filled and silver jewelry to diversify her inventory and attract more customers. She has applied for a second loan for this purpose. The entrepreneur hopes that very soon her business will grow and that shell have her own location from which to run the store.",F,300,partner,Retail,0 Dominican Republic,"Pilar is a 48-year old woman who lives with her husband and son (age 6) in a small town called Sabana in the eastern province of Hato Mayor in the Dominican Republic. Pilar operates her own `fritura, a small business that makes homemade snacks such as empanadas. She makes the food in her home and then sells it in the street. In the Dominican Republic, it is very common for people to buy a snack on the street corners as they walk to work, their homes, or simply when they are out and about.
The money from this loan will help her to buy enough ingredients such as flour, oil, corn, sugar, and chicken to make the food necessary to meet the demand she faces. She hopes that her business will continue to grow and become more stable with the help of this loan. Eventually Pilar hopes to save enough money to buy a refrigerator so that she can store meat for longer periods of time. In the meantime, she continues to work hard to provide for her family and better their living conditions.
Pilar is the leader of the 5-person micro-bank group, Unidos por el Progreso. In English, this means `united to progress. Each of these unique Dominican entrepreneurs unite in solidarity, allowing them to access funding that they would otherwise never be able to receive on their own.
On behalf of Pilar, the Rayo de Luz group, and the entire team here at Esperanza International, we thank you for your support with this micro loan!",F,875,partner,Food,0 Dominican Republic,"Pilar, a single mother of two (aged 5 and 25), sold clothing and food before she took out her first Esperanza Bank of Loan two cycles ago, but she says that her experience has allowed both parts of her business to grow, because she can now offer a much wider selection. Also, the opportunities that Esperanza have been offered have taught her much about God and getting through hard times.",F,225,partner,Retail,0 Dominican Republic,"Pinchn as she is affectionately called by her friends and neighbors is a hyperactive, strong, and hard-working woman. She is thirty-three years old and she has three children. To earn a living and take care of her children, she sells pants, blue jeans, and underwear to women of her community.
Her contagious laugh, her kindness toward the customers, and her crazy jokes help her cultivate good relations with people, keeping the present customers loyal and attracting new ones.
Eusebia explains that she would like to rent a locale before long so that she can run her business more easily. With her loan, she will buy clothing in bulk in Santo Domingo, the capital. That way, Eusebia will reduce the frequent trips outside her community to get goods. She will increase her income and keep working for the sake of her family.",F,400,partner,Clothing,0 Dominican Republic,"Plan de Lucha consists of a group of entrepreneurs in the small town of Hato Mayor in the Dominican Republic who are seeking a micro loan. The members of this group have successfully completed four loans and are eager to continue to grow their businesses with another loan. Mercedez is the leader of this group and runs a fruit stand. With this loan, she would like to buy more bananas so she can make more guineo, a popular local dish of fried green bananas. Mercedez lives with her husband and four children aged 20, 17, 15, and 14. She says that her family has been blessed with good health and she would like to grow her business in order to continue providing a healthy life for her children. Mercedez is an inspiring example of the opportunities that micro loans give the members of this community.",F,1825,lender,Food,0 Dominican Republic,"Polonia is a 34-year-old single mother of four children, three boys and a girl. They all are above the age of fifteen and attend school. Since her separation from her husband, ten years ago, she has supported herself and her offspring by selling womens used clothing in her community.
She says that this activity has been very profitable and has helped her contribute to the well-being of her family. But every day other needs arise which must be satisfied. She hopes to someday to sell the clothes from her own store and not have to operate business at home or a public place.
With her loan, she will buy clothing in bulk in order to limit number of trips she has to make outside of her community. That way, she will increase her sales volume and improve her profit margin.",F,375,partner,Clothing,0 Dominican Republic,"Priscila Estefany is a young entrepreneur who started a small business selling clothes just a couple of months ago. She is working to pay for her university studies and produce more revenue for her family. Priscila is married and says that, even though she has no children, it is hard to pay for all the expenses of the couple with just her husbands job.
This entrepreneur sells her garments to friends, teachers at her university, and people in her neighborhood. She says that her business has an excellent reception from people she regularly visits, and her clientele continues to grow.
She used her first loan to open her business. Priscila is now requesting a second loan to buy goods for the approaching season in order to augment her sales volume and increase her income.
",F,300,partner,Clothing,0 Dominican Republic,"Progreso Hacia Adelante is a brand new Esperanza Bank of Hope from Consuelo, a town just outside of San Pedro de Macors in the Dominican Republic. The group lives in a 'batey' community, a rural sugarcane plantation with very harsh living and working conditions. Fighting to overcome such challenges, these new entrepreneurs are seeking to take out their first microloan to develop their exciting business ideas and improve their lives and their families' lives.Miguelina Benitez is the coordinator of one group within Progreso Hacia Adelante. She is 21 years old and is a single mother with three kids, ages six, five, and five months. She lives in a small house with her mother and her children. Until now she has had unsteady work substituting at the local school that two of her children attend.
Despite her difficult circumstances, she is enthusiastic and optimistic about the future. With the money from her loan she will start a new business selling food supplies. The first items she plans to carry include rice, beans, cooking oil, and snack items like crackers and candy. More than anything, she wants to provide for her children so they can continue their education and fulfill their dreams. She also wishes to finish her own education, and talks excitedly about someday learning to use a computer, opening her own bank account, and using an ATM.
Please support Miguelina and the rest of her group as they work to support their families and better their lives!",F,675,partner,Food,0 Dominican Republic,"Pura works hard to support 6 people in her family. She raises and sells pigs to local community members, but recently spent a lot of money on a pig that became sick and died. She is requesting this small loan so that she will be able to buy plantains from local Haitian workers to sell to her community members. With this loan she hopes that she can begin to regain some of the money she lost when her pig died, and eventually get back on her feet again with her business.
Pura's dream is to one day build a home out of concrete blocks, with a concrete roof and floor, and to also have a separate room where she can prepare the pork that she sells to her neighbors.
NOTE: Pura is one of five microentrepreneurs in her Unidos Podemos (United We Are Able) Bank of Hope solidarity group. They have all gone through Esperanza's business training courses and will be accountable to each other for repaying $60 each of this $300 loan together. This group-lending method strengthens social needs in a community and ensures that members cooperate to help one another repay their loans and invest wisely in their business and family.",F,300,partner,Food,0 Dominican Republic,"Rafaela is a businesswoman that had to work hard to care for her daughter. The daughter is now grown up and is married. Rafaela lives with her partner, a farmer. Rafaela runs a small grocery store. The store is very useful in the community because people dont have to walk far to get the goods they need to prepare food. The entrepreneur says her neighbors are very thankful and that she has been very satisfied for many years, serving others. The entrepreneur is requesting funds to get goods to replenish her store. She says that during the holidays, people need more products. She hopes she can increase her sales volume and have money saved away for unforeseen circumstances.",F,450,partner,Food,0 Dominican Republic,"Rafaela Machuca is a hard-working entrepreneur who has been selling beauty products and cosmetics in her neighborhood for more than four years. Currently, operating this business is her main livelihood. Rafaela wants to increase her sales and income so that she can better support her family. She wants to keep providing for her childrens educations so that they can have good professions in life.
Shes requesting a loan to buy more products to add to her inventory. Rafaela is a trustworthy person. She has already taken various loans from FSMA, and shes always repaid on time.",F,300,partner,Retail,1 Dominican Republic,"Rafaela Maria has been operating a small cafeteria for five years in Santo Domingo. She runs her business in an establishment she inherited from her father. In addition to her delicious empanadas and natural juices, the entrepreneur sells pieces of cake and candies. Rafaela lives with one of her youngest children. The others are grown and live with their families. Rafaela has requested a loan to buy a large stock of ingredients so that she can produce more food for her clientele. She hopes that her business will allow her to support her child and to enjoy life better.
Rafaela will receive her loan together with these women: Cristina Sena, who sells men and women's clothing; Juana Castillo, who sells clothing; Mercedes Concepcion, who sells pants and shoes; and Juana Contreras, who operates a small cafeteria.",F,1350,partner,Food,1 Dominican Republic,"Rafaela Miguelina is 29 years old, and this is her second loan from FSMA. Rafaela sells womens clothing in her community, and happily says that her garments sell quickly. Rafaela is a skilled vendor, and she is able to build many connections with her customers. She is requesting a second loan in order to purchase an exclusive assortment of pants and blouses to add to her inventory. She believes that this collection will allow her to generate a better profit than her current stock. Rafaela hopes that her business will allow her to buy her own house before long.",F,450,partner,Clothing,1 Dominican Republic,"Rafaela sells womens clothing and jewelry in the Zapotal community of Nizao. She is 42 years old and is the mother of two sons who attend school. She started her business one year ago with a loan she received from FMSA. Currently, her business is one of the most well-established operations in her area, and the business generates enough income to cover the school tuition of her children.
Rafaela would like to complete her house that is under construction, so she is hopeful that her business success will help her achieve her goal. Rafaela will use this loan to purchase more clothing and jewelry in bulk to add to her stock.",F,475,partner,Clothing,1 Dominican Republic,"Rafaela Zorrilla is the group coordinator for these five entrepreneurs. She and her friends will be taking their second loan with Esperanza International. Their first was a great help in setting up their businesses and they hope that with these second loans they can expand both their sales and their profits. Rafaela has three children ages 7, 9 and 12. She sells jewelry which she buys, most of the time, at the commercial district in Santo Domingo, the capital city. She will use this loan to buy a large inventory, expecting her jewelry sales to pick up with Mother's Day coming up on May 31st. Rafaela has not always sold clothes. She once had a chemical products manufacturing business. She used to make cleaning products and personal care products like shampoo and soap. Rafaela hopes to invest her jewelry profits into setting up her chemical factory again. She would like to be admired in her community as a hard-working woman full of creativity and always looking to grow as a person. Pleas help us support this group with this Kiva loan. Thank you!",F,900,lender,Retail,0 Dominican Republic,"Ramon Ramirez started out selling snacks out of a cart he would push through the streets of Quisqueya. With a loan from Esperanza, he was able to open up a permanent storefront where he sells essential foodstuffs like bread, rice, and meats, as well as everyday conveniences like pens and candies. Ramon is a smart businessman with almost $100 in savings. However, Ramon's savings are not enough to grow his business. He will use this new loan to buy a freezer to expand his offerings to include ice, juices, and soft drinks. As soon as Ramon pays off his current loan with Esperanza, this loan will become active.",M,475,partner,Food,0 Dominican Republic,"Ramona Cornelio is a 31-year-old woman who lives with her husband and three children (ages 14, 7, and 6) in a small community called Bejucal in the eastern province of Hato Mayor in the Dominican Republic. She began a small business selling undergarments two years ago and continues to increase her inventory with each loan. Ramona operates her business from her home and occasionally travels by bus from town to town. She has started this business so that she can provide her children with a good education and a comfortable home. In Ramonas free time, she enjoys working with computers and spending time with her family.
Ramona is the leader of the 10-person micro-bank group, Plan de Lucha. In English, this means `fight plan. Each of these unique Dominican entrepreneurs unite in solidarity, allowing them to access funding that they would otherwise never be able to receive on their own. On behalf of Ramona, the Plan de Lucha group, and the entire team here at Esperanza International, we thank you for your support with this micro loan!",F,4000,partner,Clothing,0 Dominican Republic,"Ramona has been making bread for over 15 years now. She says her main difficulty is having to buy the flour, oils, and seeds she uses for bread making. However, she states that she now needs a more modern oven to bake her bread. She's presently using an oven fueled by wood. She says that she wants to have an alternative to using fuel which she knows is wasting trees.
When we sat down to do some math relative to the cost of energy, we found that for her, wood is cost-effective, plus the fact that wood as a source of cooking heat is unbeatable with respect to flavor of the final product! Thus we concluded that if she could buy more flour and other cooking needs, she might have just the right combination of cost and product effectiveness. Hence, Ramona is 'counting the hours' until she can get her loan, so as to stop ""beating around the bush"" to make a living!",F,300,partner,Food,0 Dominican Republic,"Ramona is 31 years old and the single mother of three children. For the last year and a half, she has run a business selling ice cream and fried and grilled chicken. Her business has grown rapidly, with many customers coming to her stall daily for her delicious meals. Ramona wants to rent a small shop from which to run her business, and has applied for a loan to buy the materials she needs to expand her operations. These include plucked chickens, spices, vegetable oil and other goods. She will also use part of the money to rent her store. Ramona believes that her business will be successful and allow her to better support her family.",F,1200,partner,Food,0 Dominican Republic,"Ramona is a 59-year-old woman who lives with her husband in a small rural town in the eastern province of Hato Mayor in the Dominican Republic. This is Ramonas fourth loan from Esperanza International, which she will use to invest in additional inventory for her clothing and curtain business. She will use this loan to buy pants, blouses, undergarments and curtains. She hopes that one day she will be able to buy or rent a fixed space from which to sell her clothing as the business is currently located in her home. In her free time, Ramona enjoys spending time with her friends and family, especially her two grandsons, ages 2 and 4. On behalf of everyone here at Esperanza International, and from Ramona herself, we thank you for your support with this micro loan!",F,2000,partner,Clothing,0 Dominican Republic,"Ramona is a hard-working and persistent woman who fights to improve her familys lifestyle. Ramona is in her late fifties and she has five children, three of them boys, all of whom are grown-up and have their own families. Currently, the entrepreneur lives with her husband, who is not working.
To make a living, Ramona sells basic foodstuffs such as eggs and spaghetti to people of her community. Sometimes, she purchases beauty products to resell to women of the neighborhood. Ramona explains that she pays special attention to customer demand and market needs to invest in the purchase of goods. That way, she doesnt have many goods in stock, and she can sell them off rapidly.
With her loan, the entrepreneur will buy a wide range of goods in order to increase her income and support her husband.",F,450,partner,Food,0 Dominican Republic,"Ramona is a real go-getter and an experienced woman. She lives in the Trinitarios community of San Cristobal with her husband and three children, who range in age from thirteen to nineteen. For more than twenty years, Ramona has been operating a nails center in her community. She happily says that her business is very successful and her client base keeps growing. Ramona is known by people in her community as an impressive, persuasive person with a great sense of humor.
With her loan, the entrepreneur will buy a large amount of products she constantly needs to perform her activity. Ramona says that her children's education is her most important and challenging responsibility, and she swears that she'll do her utmost to help her kids become professionals.",F,750,partner,Services,1 Dominican Republic,"Ramona is in her early forties, and she and her husband have two boys aged twenty one and twenty years old. Her elder son has finished secondary school and his brother should finish quite soon. Ramona sells an assortment of clothing, presently catering to men. Customers visit Ramona in her home, where they can find t-shirts, jeans, khaki pants, and tennis and dress shoes. With her loan, Ramona plans on purchasing a selection of womens clothing to dovetail with her mens clothing offerings. Ramona explains that she would like to have the financial flexibility to help her sons attend the local university. In fact, Ramona hopes that she will have the opportunity to continue her education as well.",F,300,partner,Clothing,0 Dominican Republic,"Ramona is part of a solidarity group called Plan de Lucha, or Plan of Attack. The members of this group live in the small town of Hato Mayor in the Dominican Republic and are seeking a loan to build their businesses. This group has successfully completed four loan cycles and has enjoyed the opportunity these loans have provided them. They seek another loan to continue to build their businesses and provide for their families. Ramona runs two businesses, one selling womens undergarments and one selling milk. With this loan she would like to buy more of each to increase her inventory to meet the increasing demand in the community. Ramona lives with her husband Felipe and her three children aged 15, 7, and 6. All of her children attend school and, with this loan, she can grow her business to continue to be able to provide an education for her children. Ramona and the entire Plan de Lucha group appreciate the opportunity that these micro-loans have given them and hope to continue in their success.",M,1775,lender,Clothing,0 Dominican Republic,"Ramona operates a small restaurant inside her home. The menu varies daily dependent upon what is available, but daily a plato del da, or plate of the day, is offered generally consisting of rice, beans and a meat option, or sancocho, a typical Dominican stew. Aided by Esperanza International, Ramona is able to purchase ingredients in greater bulk and produce a larger quantity of food for her customers and in turn, earn a greater profit than she was able to before her first loan.
Ramona is not alone in her quest to earn a profit through entrepreneurial activities. Ramona is a member of the ten person microfinance bank, La Union Hacia La Fuerza. This groups past two loans have been successfully repaid, and the group, including Ramona, hopes to utilize a third loan for further business expansion.
Ramona, mother of four children (ages 9, 11, 12, and 14), desires to see growth in her business so that she may continually provide for her children. Her husband, a street vegetable vender, desires the same and together, success is aspired for.
On behalf of Esperanza and this group of business entrepreneurs, we would like to thank you for your support!",F,1600,lender,Food,0 Dominican Republic,"Ramona sells fresh meat and operates a small cafeteria in the Mata San Juan community of Santo Domingo. Ramona is forty-two years old and she has two daughters, ages sixteen and twenty years old. The girls attend school. Ramona is recently separated from her husband, and now she has to provide food and look after her daughters on her own.
This entrepreneur defines herself as a persistent and courageous woman, and she says she will persevere until she achieves her main goal, which is to buy a house where her family can live comfortably. Ramona wants to keep supporting her daughters university studies until they graduate and can sustain themselves.
Ramona will use her loan to buy raw materials to keep producing food for her customers.
",F,300,partner,Food,0 Dominican Republic,"Ramona Upia Frias Is a middle aged lady who moved to the Los Alcarrizos section of Santa Domingo, in a community called ""Brisal"" from a distant location (about 150km away). This community is located approximately 20km north of the city of Santo Domingo (capital of the Dominican Republic). It is a rather densely populated area even though it is in the outskirts of the city. Ramona tells us that she moved here approximately one year and eight months ago. Upon moving, she established their general foods store.She lives with her husband and two kids in the house that can be seen on the left hand side of the picture. The business which is in the right hand side sells a combination of foodstuffs and alcoholic beverages. In the food area, she sells mostly rice and beans (which is the main composition of the Dominican daily plate), and on the liquor side, she sells beer and rum, both of which are manufactured in the Dominican Republic. ""During the weekdays, which are slow food selling days, I normally sell about $60.00 a day. However, during the weekends, we sell almost twice those amounts in a day, although at this time, volume is generated out of alcoholic beverage sales. Most of the product that is sold in terms of food, happens to be rice, and rum on the beverage side. Thus, it is that I want to increase our stock of rice and rum. In doing so, I believe that we can have a better return.""
""We sell ice too, and this keeps up the business, as we are known in the neighborhood for our capacity to sell cold beverages. This is an important factor in these days hot climate . . . """,F,275,partner,Food,0 Dominican Republic,"Ramona, a successful businesswoman and single mother of four children, is the leader of this group. Since 1996, she has been operating a small clothing store in her community. As Ramona has no husband to help her with the households expenses, she has to work very hard. Her children attend primary school, and they all depend upon Ramonas business. This entrepreneur is facing a very hard and challenging situation. She explains that if she could earn greater profits, she could improve her familys living conditions. She has requested a loan to buy used and new clothing in bulk to add to her inventory. She hopes that the store can grow and become one of the most famous clothing stores in the community. Ramona is joined in her group by the following women: Lidia Adames Diaz, a mini-market owner; Aurora Almonte, who sells fried dishes; Eusebia Vicioso Almonte, who sells used clothing; and Juana Morillo Disla, who sells womens clothing. The picture shows from left to right: Ramona, Lidia, Aurora, Eusebia and Juana.",F,1225,lender,Clothing,1 Dominican Republic,"Raquel is a mother of two young children ages 4 years and 7 months. Raquel lives in the remote community of Consuelo. Often times when people in her community want to buy new clothes for a special occasion they have to spend a considerable amount of money in transportation to get to San Pedro de Macoris, the nearest city. She will use this loan to buy new clothes and serve this demand in her community. She hopes to expand her business as time permits. She hopes to better her life and the lives of her children. Please help Raquel become a successful business woman in her community. Thank you.",F,800,lender,Clothing,0 Dominican Republic,"Raquel Margarita is a young mother of two girls whose humble economic condition doesn't allow her to reach the dreams she has for her family. Her husband works as watchman but is not well paid. To supplement her familys income, Raquel prepares and sells fried fish and chicken in Cambita, a low-income community of San Cristobal. Raquel wanted to be a professional but had to give up school after she gave birth to her first child. Raquel will use her loan to buy meat in order to continue producing fried food for her customers. She hopes thereby to have enough money to hire someone to look after the children while shes operating the business and someday return to school.",F,450,partner,Food,1 Dominican Republic,"Raquel Martinez, a member of this group loan and the hardworking mother of two children, is doing everything possible, along with her husband, to feed those children, but at the moment they are not earning sufficient money to ether educate them or feed everyone in the house. The family is currently totally dependent on the money Raquel's husband earns while Raquel stays at home to take care of their children.
Raquel came to Esperanza International after learning about it through a friend, and after several meetings and workshops she has decided to start a small business selling used clothing out of her house, where she can still watch over the kids. She feels that having her own business could really help out the family, and hopefully someday pull them out of the poverty they are in. Raquel is therefore excited about requesting the loan and starting the business, dreaming that one day she will have a big business and be able to send her children to college.
She knows this is just the first step, and there is still a lot of work ahead. Raquel is ready for this new challenge, and she and her family are very appreciative of this possibly life-changing opportunity!!",F,3525,partner,Clothing,0 Dominican Republic,"Regina is forty-six years old and is a proud mother of two children. For more than eight years, she's been running a small cafeteria in her hometown, the Trinitarios community in San Cristobal. Regina explains that after these years of operating her store, she's got a lot of experience under her belt; additionally, she says that she's not afraid of the competition. Nonetheless, she keeps trying hard to take her store to newer heights and to capture new potential clients.
Currently Regina is short of many goods, so her loan is to replenish her store in order to satisfy her customers' needs. The most frequently demanded products are milk, rice, sugar and other basic foodstuffs. Regina hopes that her business will be the most important grocery store in the community.",F,350,partner,Food,1 Dominican Republic,"Regina Torres is a single mother raising her four children, Claudio (19), Ambreisi (17), Rosmery (13) and Ana (13). Regina supports her children by running her own clothing and personal care product store from their home in San Pedro de Macoris. She has requested this loan so she can expand her inventory from hygienic products to t-shirts. Regina says that by using these loans to develop her store, she hopes to help her community and family to become more successful and improve their lives.
NOTE: This $750 loan will go to fund Regina's business, as well as four other businesses within her solidarity group. She and four other micro-entrepreneurs in her community came to Esperanza and formed their own group. They have all gone through Esperanza's business training program and will receive shares of this $750 loan to invest in their respective businesses and pay back the loan together. The entire group must pay in full and on time, otherwise group members must make up the deficit before any payment can be made. This creates accountability among the group members because each one shares in the success and struggles of the other members in their group.
",F,750,partner,Retail,0 Dominican Republic,"Reina Maria De Leon is a 21-year-old woman who lives with her husband and two children (ages 4 and 2) in a small community in the eastern province of Hato Mayor in the Dominican Republic. She opened a small stand selling seafood products and snacks one year ago. She recently came to Esperanza because she lacked adequate capital to buy enough products for her stand. The money from this loan will go towards purchasing fish, crab, shrimp, and oil to expand her inventory further. It is Reinas hope to continue to growing her business so that she will be able to help support her young children and provide them with good health care and education.Reina is the leader of the 5-person micro-bank group, Fuente de Bendicin. In English, this means `source of blessing. Each of these unique Dominican entrepreneurs unite in solidarity, allowing them to access funding that they would otherwise never be able to receive on their own.
On behalf of Reina, the Fuente de Bendicin group, and the entire team here at Esperanza International, we thank you for your support with this micro loan!",F,750,partner,Food,0 Dominican Republic,"Reina, 57, is married and is mother of a large family. In fact, the couple has eleven children.
Reina owns a clothing store. She started her business ten years ago. She buys garments in Santo Domingo, the capital, or Dajabn, located on the border with Haiti, where she finds variety and good prices.
The businesswoman is requesting a loan which will be used to purchase a large amount of clothes to be sold during the holiday season. Given this loan, Reina will be able to help her husband deal with their housing issues.",F,325,partner,Clothing,0 Dominican Republic,"Renata Rosario, 38, is looking forward to taking out her first loan with Esperanza. She plans to use the funds to expand a home-operated beauty salon she managed to fund herself. Now, with an inside knowledge of her customers preferences, she will use her loan to sell beauty products door-to-door in her neighborhood. Looking ahead, Renata plans to use her new income to both continue taking out future loans to expand her business, and to provide benefits for her two children, Jose (12) and Katherine (14), who already attend school. Renata is Coordinator of the newly formed solidarity group Nuevo Renacer (New Rebirth), pictured above. From left to right: Yessi, Evelin, Renata, Juana and Carmen.",F,925,lender,Services,0 Dominican Republic,"Restauracion is a group of five entrepreneurs seeking their fifth loan from Esperanza International. This group hopes to utilize this loan to further establish their existing business ventures or create new operations in order to increase their profit levels.
Regina is the coordinator for this group in the city of Hato Mayor. Regina plans to utilize this fifth loan to buy clothes in what's called ""pacas"", which are large bundles of clothing that can be of one kind (women's or children's, for example). Purchasing her merchandise in bulk will allow Regina to acquire a larger amount of items and keep her business well stocked for a longer period of time, at a smaller price.
Regina is committed to making her business grow as she dreams of one day owning her own large variety store and converting a room in her house to a store. Regina has 3 children, ages 22, 20 and 12. She hopes to provide a better education for them.
On behalf of Esperanza and this group of business entrepreneurs, we would like to thank you for your support!",F,1375,lender,Clothing,0 Dominican Republic,"Reyna is thirty years old and sells housewares and kitchen items to women in her community. Reyna explains that she pays close attention to customer demand and when her patrons ask for a certain item she adds it to her inventory. With her loan Reyna plans on purchasing customer recommended products to add to her current stock. Reyna mentions that local women visit her home to purchase curtains tablecloths, irons, table-settings and cookware. She hopes to become the most well established supplier of these goods in her area.",F,1200,partner,Retail,0 Dominican Republic,"Reyna Leonidas is 25 years old and the proud mother of four children, three of whom attend school. She sells homemade breakfasts to people of the Los Roche community in San Cristobal. Although maintaining the cash flow is sometimes challenging, this entrepreneur expects her new sandwiches and hamburgers to help in moving her business forward and repaying the loan. Reyna Leonidas enterprise supports her childrens education and the familys well-being.",F,250,partner,Food,0 Dominican Republic,"Rhina Altagracia has been selling a collection of fashionable purses and beauty products to women in her community. This activity has been for years her principal source of income, and she wants to increase her sales volume to get more money to improve her living conditions. Rhina Altagracia had already taken a loan from FSMA, and she was responsible regarding the loan repayment. The entrepreneur is requesting another loan to purchase a new collection of purses which are in much demand in the community. She hopes that new assortment of goods will help her significantly increase her revenue and move her business forward. Rhina Altagracia lives with a grandson and supports his education.",F,200,partner,Clothing,1 Dominican Republic,"Rhina, 25, is married with two children, one of whom attends school. Her jewelry business is the principal livelihood of her family. She started her business about six months ago with a loan she received from our organization. Rhina used her loan wisely and made her business profitable.
Now this entrepreneur is requesting a second loan to invest in some new and exclusive jewelry items, which she believes may generate a better income from the business. Rhina says she'll continue doing her best to make her business more successful and to repay this new loan.",F,325,partner,Retail,1 Dominican Republic,"Rita has had 7 children, 6 girls and 1 boy. She now lives with her husband and 3 children ( girls), and wishes to be able to make her children go to school and ""become professionals"". She, as well, states that she would like to finish high school. In fact, she mentioned she would try to get herself enrolled in the local school within the next few days, as this is a long-time aspiration of hers! (She failed school when she was in 8th grade, and would need to start this grade all over again.)
Luisa presently sells some $45 worth of personal home products a week. They are normally ordered via catalog, so she doesn't have to have a large inventory, but does have to manage a credit portfolio. Normally she can't buy more product than what she's collected, so her cash flow is limited to precisely the amount she sells, generally speaking. With the added cash from the loan, she expects to be able to increase her earnings some 3 times her actual figures.",F,275,partner,Retail,0 Dominican Republic,"Rita lives with her father and mother, where her sister also moved in when her husband abandoned them. The only difference is that Rita has 4 kids (depicted in the picture) and she needs to assist her husband (a fresh produce salesman himself) to supply their needs to make a living.
Rita would like to ""become a professional"", meaning that she would like to have the opportunity to go to school and earn some degree, but we explained that ""professionalism"" doesn't come from degrees so much as from ""doing well whatever one does"" for a living! This seemed to enlighten her otherwise somber-looking composure, obviously stemming from the heavy load of having to care for such a large and growing family at this stage of their lives.
She figures that she will no have much time to do her selling activity, thus she chose to sell shoes and the like, which bodes well with her needs of tending to her children and those around her. All of the kids that live under the same roof now (8 at this time) will need some kind of footwear, so this is a good place to start 'selling', and she plans to continue doing so in the close-by neighborhood.
A 200% profit margin should allow Rita to be able to repay her loan and obtain the benefits of assisting herself in caring for the children. The market, at least in terms of number of kids, is certainly there.",F,275,partner,Retail,0 Dominican Republic,"Roberto Pena Luna has worked as a confectioner since he was a boy. Typical Dominican sweet shops usually make and sell candied fruits, jams, and a sugary caramel spread called dulce-de-leche, often mixed with dried fruit or nuts. A few months ago, Roberto decided he wanted to go into business for himself. He developed his own recipe for dulce-de-leche, and has been running his business out of his kitchen, making and distributing one batch at a time as he could accumulate the funds.
Many members of Robertos community, Hato Mayor, have received microloans from Esperanza and used them to get their own small businesses off the ground. Seeing their success encouraged Roberto to apply for the program, and he has become the leader of a new loan group. Roberto will use his loan to jump-start his production. He will be taking his product around to as many local stores as possible. His goal is to circulate his new product in the marketplace as quickly as possible and create brand awareness in his area.
Roberto has big dreams for his business, and gets very excited when he shares them. He has no education past elementary school and is illiterate, but he knows the confectionary business and he is determined to succeed. He wants to expand his business enough to someday open his own factory with a large workforce of 50 people or more. He recently married and has a 3-year-old daughter. His business will be his familys primary source of income.",F,750,lender,Food,0 Dominican Republic,"Romelia is 27 and she lives with her husband and two sons. Currently shes pregnant, and will give birth probably in December. Romelia has been cooking fried vegetables and meat in the Corositos community of Cotu, her hometown. This is a tiring activity, as the entrepreneur has to get up early in the morning to prepare the food, and she sells her fried vegetables all day long.
Romelia wants to provide a good education to her children. Shell use her loan to buy more vegetables and fresh meat to keep operating her business. The entrepreneur hopes that her activity will help her pay the school tuition of her kids.",F,300,partner,Food,1 Dominican Republic,"Romina is an enthusiastic woman and the proud mother of four school-aged children. She lives in the Alto Limonal community of San Cristobal. Her husband works in a small grocery store. To contribute to the familys budget and help her husband with the household expenses, Romina sells tortilla chips, sweets, and juices in a public school during the weekdays. On the weekend, she makes fried dishes. Because she would like to make her business bigger and more profitable, shes requested a loan to buy more goods to add to her inventory. This will help her attract more customers and generate more income. Romina hopes that shell be able to have her own house someday.",F,300,partner,Food,1 Dominican Republic,"Rosa Azime is a part of a large group of women named ""Paz y Amor"" which means Peace and Love. She and her whole group are living in extreme poverty, and almost all of them have no form of steady income.
Rosa is a mother to 3 children, and has to take care of them all by herself without a husband. She is so excited about the idea of starting her own business, and needs this to help provide for her 3 children. She plans on starting a small business selling fruits and vegetables in her area.
She hopes to have a thriving grocery store someday, and to save enough to send her children to college. She said she wants nothing more than for her children to have a better life than she has had, and said she is willing to do anything to give that to them. She said she feels that having her own business is the first step to reaching her goals, and she is ready for this challenge!",F,1050,partner,Food,0 Dominican Republic,"Rosa Bonilla is hoping to receive her second loan. She came to Esperanza International around 6 months ago with no job and was having a difficult time providing for her only child. She comes from a very poor city in Puerto Plata, Dominican Republic.
After receiving her first loan, she started a small stand selling various types of candy and other small items. With this next loan she hopes to expand her business and sell a more varied selection of goods. Her goal is to one day have her own grocery store. She said that she has never been more happy than she is right now. She has finally found a way to have a steady income, and she also found something was all hers.
Rosa wakes up every day excited to go to her business and excited to try and improve what she has. She said she can finally provide for her child and wants to send him to a college someday. She feels like this next loan is just going to help her expand even more, and she is so excited about this opportunity!",F,1925,partner,Food,0 Dominican Republic,"Rosa Emilia is 43 years old and is a single mother of four girls between the ages of 10 and 18 years old, all of whom attend school. Rosa sells mens and childrens clothing in the Media Blanca community of Nizao. She also produces homemade mab, a non-alcoholic beverage that is said to lower blood pressure and cholesterol and to make the men more potent. Naturally, this drink is always in high demand, so Rosa has to constantly purchase more and more raw materials to make the drink to satisfy her customers.
Rosa Emilia hopes that her businesss continued growth will enable her to complete her house, which is under construction. With this loan, Rosa Emilia would like to purchase clothing in bulk and additional raw materials to keep producing her magic drink.",F,250,partner,Retail,0 Dominican Republic,"Rosa Emilia is a 19-year-old woman living with her mother and three brothers in Bani, Dominican Republic. She's currently enrolled in school with the dream of becoming a successful professional. In addition to studying, Rosa also sells an assortment of haircare products to the women in her community to contribute to her family's income. Because she must go to nearby towns to purchase them, Rosa spends much of her time travelling. She has applied for a loan of US $150 to buy larger quantities--and reduce her frequent trips. With the additional profit, Rosa hopes to raise her family's standard of living.",F,150,partner,Retail,1 Dominican Republic,"Rosa Gonzalez Ortiz owns the Cafeteria Leisy, a brightly-painted sandwich shop in Quisqueya. She does a lunchtime business in sandwiches, bananas, potatoes, and other fresh fruits and vegetables. With this loan, she will buy a blender to make fruit juice and also expand her business to sell cooking gas and charcoal. Rosa says that her business has taught her an important lesson: anyone can be successful, so long as they use their head. Rosa's entrepreneurship helps her and her husband Ramon support their four children: Beatriz (12), Beolen (10), Raibol (5), and Marileiza (2).
Note: Rosa is one of five microentrepreneurs in her Bank of Hope solidarity group, all of whom have gone through Esperanza's business training courses. Each of the five members will receive a share of this $1200 loan for their respective businesses and will be accountable to each other for repaying their share of this loan together. This group-lending method strengthens social needs in the community and helps ensure that members cooperate to help one another repay their loans and invest wisely in their businesses and families. As soon as Rosa pays off her current loan with Esperanza, this loan will become active.
",F,1200,partner,Food,0 Dominican Republic,"Rosa Iliana is twenty-eight years old, and she and her husband have a six-year-old son and a newborn daughter. Rosa Iliana works in a store, selling silver jewelry, and her husband works as a mechanic for a company.Rosa Iliana explains that her salary and her husbands are just not enough to cover all the expenses of the family. She is requesting a loan to buy a collection of silver earrings, bracelets and necklaces to sell to the women of her community. Rosa has a lot of experience selling these goods, and she knows the needs of the customers. She says that its always an asset to know a lot of people and to be well-liked in ones community.
Rosa Iliana hopes shell have the loan before long so that she can start her new business and improve her familys living conditions.",F,300,partner,Retail,0 Dominican Republic,"Rosa Iris is a brilliant entrepreneur who sells silver jewelry to women of the Los Alcarrizos community of Santo Domingo. Rosa and her husband have three boys, aged 10, 12 and 14 years, who attend school. Rosa began her business about two years ago because her husbands salary was not enough to bear all the expenses of the family. Sometimes people go to her house to buy the jewelry, but the most of the time, Rosa visits her friends, neighbors or others in the area to offer and sell her goods.
Rosa wants to expand her business in order to attract more people and increase her income. With the loan, Rosa will buy more silver jewelry as well as a collection of womens underwear to diversify to her inventory.",F,450,partner,Retail,0 Dominican Republic,"Rosa is a lively and energetic young woman who lives with her husband and three children (aged 16, 14, and 12 years) in the rural farming town of Hato Mayor in the Dominican Republic. For a few years now she has run a small business selling clothes and shoes, but she says that often she lacks the necessary capital to buy as much merchandise as she would like. She is asking for this loan so that she can purchase a larger variety and greater quantity of clothes and shoes.
Rosa say she dreams of seeing her children go to college so that they can enter a profession and enjoy a more comfortable life than she has been able to. She hopes that with the extra income this loan will allow her to generate she can save money and buy her own house; in the Dominican Republic those who can buy the title to their own land and house are viewed with great respect.
On behalf of the entire team at Esperanza International, as well as Rosa and her entire groupwe thank you for your support and generosity!",F,2200,partner,Retail,0 Dominican Republic,"Rosa is a sweet young woman who lives with her husband and 3 children (ages: 4,6,7) in the beautiful town of Samana. With her first loan, Rosa started a small shop that sells fried foods such as fish, chicken, plantains, etc. She will use this loan to purchase more materials, and she also wants to purchase higher quality meat and fish. She said that when shes not working, she loves to watch TV, eat chicken, and learn how to be a great businesswoman. She enjoys spending time with her family, and wants her kids to grow up to be professionals in the DR.
All of these women and men are taking out their second loans with Esperanza, and are very excited about the future. Thank you to Kiva lenders for your support and generosity in helping these entrepreneurs.",F,1425,partner,Food,0 Dominican Republic,"Rosa is a twenty-nine year old mother of four. Her two boys and two girls range from four months to seven years old. Her two eldest children attend school. Rosa operates her own luncheonette where she serves freshly prepared chicken, salads, squeezed juices and other traditionally prepared Dominican dishes. With her loan Rosa plans on stocking more of the meats, fruits and vegetables with which she prepares her meals. She hopes that as she has more foodstuffs available, she can serve more food daily and build a larger business with a greater number of customers.",F,625,partner,Food,0 Dominican Republic,"Rosa is an ambitious 37-year-old woman who lives with her husband, Jose Luis, and her 6 children (10, 12, 14, 17, 19, and 21). Rosa has been selling food for almost 14 years, but she barely makes enough profit to just sustain her business like it is. With this loan she wants to buy a new supply of food, and also add new things to her store. In her free time she enjoys spending time with her friends, and watching TV. Her dream for the future is that she would be able to own a successful restaurant. This will be the 2nd loan for 10 of the women in Tamarindo, and the 1st loan for the other 5. Esperanza looks forward to watching them grow and succeed, and we want to sincerely thank you for your support! God Bless.",F,2625,partner,Food,0 Dominican Republic,"Rosa is in her late forties and she lives with her three daughters. Rosa sells pants and shoes to people of her hometown, the Chucho community of Santo Domingo. As shes been running her business for years, Rosas store is well known and often visited by people of the community. The entrepreneur plans on using her loan to repair the old house within which she operates her humble store. Rosa believes that each human being, rich or poor, deserves to live in a comfortable house which contributes to the well-being of the residents. She hopes that her business will allow her save enough money to enjoy her golden years.",F,250,partner,Retail,1 Dominican Republic,"Rosa is married and her three sons, fifteen, sixteen, and nineteen, all attend school, thanks in part to the aromatic candles and tablecloths their mother crafts at home. Rosas business is particularly unique because it offers both an array of goods she produces by hand and manufactured items she brings to market. Rosa also sells a variety of womens clothing. She plans to begin selling mens clothing, including pants and collared shirts soon and hopes to someday sell her merchandise from her own store instead of her home. With her loan, Rosa would purchase men's and womens clothing in bulk, securing a better rate for the merchandise and limiting the number of trips she will have to make outside of her community to buy the items.",F,300,partner,Clothing,0 Dominican Republic,Rosa is thirty-eight years old and a mom of seven children. Rosa sells pants and shoes to men of the Mata Los Indios community of Santo Domingo. Rosa started her business a few months ago with a loan she received from our organization. Rosa cautiously used her loan and now her business is moving forward. Rosa doesnt have the means to rent space to operate her business so she runs the business out of her house. Rosa hopes that her businesss success will help her continue to support her large family. She will invest her second loan to buy more clothing in order to increase her income.,F,250,partner,Clothing,0 Dominican Republic,"Rosa is twenty-eight years old and has three school-going children. She sells a wide selection of shoes, pants, and shirts to the men of her community. Rosa slowly started her business four years ago and had to work very hard just to maintain the business because she did not have much access to capital and was unsure about the future of her business. Fortunately, she received funds from FSMA and she invested the money to purchase many goods that her customers were looking for and subsequently purchased. Now, Rosa would like to expand her business. She is seeking a second loan to add an assortment of perfumes so as to diversify her product line and to attract new clients.",F,500,partner,Clothing,0 Dominican Republic,"Rosa leads this group made up of hard-working Haitian women who have left their country and moved to the Dominican Republic as a result of their aim to improve their economic conditions and change their living conditions. Actually, over the last years, there has been a signifigant migratory flow of Haitians to this side of the island because of the unstable economic and politic situation of Haiti.
Rosa has been operating a small grocery store for seven years. She explains that when her husband passed away last year, it was very difficult to sustain the business on her own and maintain the cashflow. As a consequence, she had to give up her plan of renting a small space to run the business.
Rosa is requesting a loan to buy a large variety of goods to replenish her store so that she can keep satisfying her customers needs and capture new clients to her business. She hopes that her business continued growth will help her to get enough money to rent a location for the business and allow her customers make their purchases in a comfortable way.
The members of Rosas group are:
Ruth Dieujuste, a clothing retailer,
Jacqueline Jean Baptiste, who will invest in purchasing clothing in bulk,
Silvinana Lima, who will sell shoes for a small business,
Lourdes Jose, who sells womens clothing.",F,1600,partner,Food,1 Dominican Republic,"Rosa Lina owns and operates a small cafeteria in the Doa Ana community of San Cristobal. She also sells mens and womens underwear. Rosa Lina separated from her husband long time ago, and since then she had to work hard to support her two children (a boy and a girl) on her own. She hopes that her business's continuous growth will help buy a house where her children can live at ease. With her loan, the entrepreneur will buy new styles of underwear to add to her stock. Shell also purchase raw materials to keep producing food for her cafeteria.",F,300,partner,Food,0 Dominican Republic,"Rosa Manie is one of the members of the 10-person micro-bank, Luchando Por El Por Venir, which means Fighting for His Return. This small bank is composed of all Haitian immigrants who live in a small community just outside of Puerto Plata, Dominican Republic.
Each of these unique Haitian entrepreneurs unite in solidarity, allowing them to access funding that they would otherwise never be able to receive on their own. The concept of this group bank paying their loan together is to reduce the risk of one person defaulting, as the others members gladly help cover one anothers payments in order to receive their next loan together.
Rosa Manie intends to use this loan to purchase pants, blouses, womens shoes, and perfume from the nearby city of Santiago. She will sell her inventory both on the streets of her community and from within her small home. She has established a reputation in her community for providing good quality clothing and has a small group of clients who come to her house regularly. Her business allows her to feed her three children and purchase school uniforms for them, a responsibility that she must face on her own as her husband has left her to provide for their children alone.
On behalf of Rosa, the entire Luchando group, and the team here at Esperanza International, we thank you for your support and awareness of the global issue of poverty, in which your efforts are helping to make a difference.",F,1625,partner,Clothing,0 Dominican Republic,"Rosa Mara is 33 years old, married and the proud mother of a 1-year-old son. Her husband is a self-employed blacksmith. She works as a saleswoman for an Italian company that sells hair-care products and accessories. In order to earn extra money, she also sells children's clothing, such as pants and underwear. Her business is doing very well, but now that she is a mother she would like to tap into her experience in sales to earn extra income. To achieve that goal, she has come to us for a loan of $350 to open a new business selling silver jewelery. She will repay the loan in 6 months.",F,350,partner,Clothing,0 Dominican Republic,"Rosa Mara is a twenty-three year old mother of three children, who sells mens and womens clothing in Altagracia, a community of Santo Domingo. She runs the business in a rented house. Rosa Mara buys the garments in the capital or in Elas Pia, a frontier city with Haiti. Many of Rosa Mara's friends and neighbors visit her house day after day to purchase her clothing. She hopes her business success will help her to support her family financially. With her loan, she will buy clothing in bulk to restock the inventory.",F,475,partner,Clothing,0 Dominican Republic,"Rosa Mara is the proud mother of two children, both in school. Her husband works as bus conductor for a private company. Rosa Mara has been cooking for two years, and she has attracted a faithful clientele in her sector. Each day, a lot of people visit Rosa Maras cafe to enjoy her delicious dishes. She carefully prepares sandwiches, hamburgers, and fried dishes in the morning. For lunch, she prepares typical Dominican dishes and natural juices. The entrepreneur says that her business is growing and more people are visiting the cafe.
Rosa Mara is requesting a loan to buy ingredients for the dishes she prepares so that she can attract more customers and move her business forward.",F,450,partner,Food,0 Dominican Republic,"Rosa Maria (shown on the far left) is an optimistic and energetic woman living in Monte Plata, Dominican Republic. Since separating from her husband this year, Rosa Maria has been single-handedly supporting her two young sons by selling shoes in her community. She purchases the shoes in Santo Domingo, and then spends the day visiting friends, customers, and potential clients to sell her goods. She, and the four other women shown here, have applied for a group loan of $1,175 U.S. dollars. Rosa Maria wishes to use her share to invest in her business; she hopes to provide her sons with a better education and one day buy a home for her family.
In this type of loan, the five women guarantee each other's share of the money; if one can't pay, the rest make up her portion. All of the women in the group are small business owners. From left to right, they are: Porla Pie, another shoe seller; Florita Ramirez Aquino, who sells cakes and sweets; Mayreline Moreno Perez, who sells jewelry; and Maria Benitez, who runs a small cafeteria.",F,1175,partner,Retail,1 Dominican Republic,"Rosa Yan is the group leader of these five entrepreneurs. She has four children, ages 5, 9, 10, and 17. Despite the fact that Rosa did not complete elementary school, her business skills are remarkable. She maintains three trades: vending fried food, selling clothing, and running her small ""colmado"" (convenience store).
Rosa will use her loan to buy the most commonly needed products for her store: rice, beans, oil, sugar, coffee, herbs, and spices. Most people in her community buy small amounts of provisions daily because they do not have refrigerators to store food: in other words, they buy whatever they will cook the same day. Rosa wants to continue to cater to her current demand as well as to draw new customers to her store.
Rosa, as a smart businesswoman, thinks big. In the future, she'd like to own her own warehouse, and be a supplier to small stores like the one she runs today. She thinks this will allow her to provide much better for her family and to extend her business to other communities.
On behalf of this group of entrepreneurs, thank you for supporting this Kiva loan!",F,1200,lender,Food,0 Dominican Republic,"Rosa Yaquelin sells shirts, pants, and undergarments in Monte Plata. This activity is the main source of income of the entrepreneurs family. Rosa explains that she needs capital to invest in the business. She wants to buy a collection of fashionable goods, which are in high demand in her community.
The entrepreneur hopes that shell get this loan in a short time so that she can reach her goals and improve her standard of living.",F,450,partner,Clothing,0 Dominican Republic,"Rosa Yda sells a collection of necklaces, bracelets, earrings and trinkets to women of the Altagracia community of Santo Domingo. She has two boys and a girl; they all attend school.
Rosa dreams of having a small shop where she can operate her business. That way, she wont have to walk along the streets offering her products, and customers will be able to make purchases more easily.
With her loan, Rosa will buy more goods in order to expand her stock and attract new customers.",F,200,partner,Retail,0 Dominican Republic,"Rosa, 35, is known by the people of her community as a tireless and persistent woman. She always finds something to do in order to make things better. Her husband is a lieutenant and works in Santo Domingo, the capital.
Rosa runs a small cafeteria within her house that she started four years ago, with her husbands help. She sells food in the morning and in the night. She also prepares natural juices, chocolate with milk, and sells energy drinks. She has a well-established clientele.
Rosa would like to have better location to run her enterprise. She dreams of having a big cafeteria which is very famous and profitable.
She will use her loan to buy drinks to supply her business, since she is short of beverages and people consume a lot of drinks. That way, shell better satisfy her customers needs and will have enough money to help her husband support her three children.",F,350,partner,Food,0 Dominican Republic,"Rosa, 43, is married with four children, three of them boys. They dont attend school. Her husband works outside her community. Rosa has always been an active woman. When she is not working as housekeeper, youll see her selling anything just to support her children, since her husband's income is not enough to bear all the family's expenses. Now, Rosa plans on doing business more reliably. With her loan, she will purchase rice, beans, vegetable oil, bread and other foodstuffs to sell within her house. Her general stores name will be D Rosa Colmado. Given the loan, Rosa will be able to improve her family's living conditions.",F,375,partner,Food,0 Dominican Republic,"Rosanna is a friendly entrepreneur who wants to open her own beauty slaon for the women and girls of Palav, a comunity of San Cristobal. She will be twenty-six years old tomorrow and is ready to celebrate with her two children and her loyal customers. Rosanna has been running a nail salon for four years. She offers services such as manicures, pedicures, nail polish, drawing on nails, nail repair and more. She explains that she constantly has to invest in materials such as acrylic, artificial nails, varnish, nail scissors, and nailfiles. She also says that she has a well established clientele, and Rosanna would like funds to expand her business. With the loan requested, she will purchase a new nail polish machine so she can hire one more girl so she can care for more than one customer at a time.The entrepreneur mentions that she hopes her business will be successful enough so that she will attract more customers and hire at least five more employees.",F,300,partner,Services,0 Dominican Republic,"Rosanna is in her late twenties, and she's an active businesswoman who tries hard to succeed in life. Rosanna sells womens pants and shoes in her community. With her loan, she plans on buying a collection of fashionable pants to add to her stock. Rosanna explains that she has to walk all day long to visit friends and customers in order to sell her goods, as she doesn't have an establishment to run her business. She hopes that someday she'll get enough money to buy a small store so that she can have a comfortable space where customers can easily make their purchases.",F,250,partner,Clothing,1 Dominican Republic,"Rosario Yanira is a woman who tries hard to raise her three children and to improve her living conditions. Yanira has been selling underwear and costume jewelry for more than one year in her community. Yanira nervously explains that the next school year is fast approaching, so she needs to find money to pay for the uniforms, books, school bags and other goods for the children. Shell use her loan to get a great variety of items that she believes will sell at big profits for the business so that she can support her childrens education.
Yanira would like to have a big store with millions of products and thousands of people visiting it to make their regular purchases.",F,350,partner,Retail,1 Dominican Republic,"Rose Eniese leads this group formed by Haitian women who have left their country in a attempt to improve her living conditions and provide their kids with a better future. Rose Eniese has a three-year-old daughter whom shes raising by her own, as her husband passed away a few months ago. Rose has been selling womens clothing for two years in the Canela community of Santo Domingo. Shes still operating her store from her home, but she hopes that next year shell move into a comfortable space to run the business. In the meanwhile, shell keep visiting friends and potential clients to sell her goods. The entrepreneur hopes her business will allow her be in a position to support her daughters education from next year on.
The other members of Rose Enieses group are:
Nicolasa Parrayan, an excellent clothing seller.
Carmen Ramirez, who operates a small clothing shop.
Ermita Michell, to invest in the purchase of shoes to add to her stock.
Yilandi Fautina, who sells men and womens garments in the community.",F,1475,partner,Clothing,1 Dominican Republic,"Roselia, 42, lives in the Union community of Cotu. She and her husband have three daughters and one son, and they all go to school. Roselias husband is disabled, so she has to support the family on her own. About ten months ago, Roselia started a small store with a loan she received from a microfinance institution. She explains that was very difficult, as she had to repay the loan on a weekly basis and the interest rates were very high. The entrepreneur sells womens underwear, body lotions, products for the hair and so on. She says that she is looking forward to capturing a larger number of clients so that she can face the competition successfully. Roselia was very happy to learn about the microloans program, and shes very thankful for the opportunity to receive a loan with a more comfortable repayment frequency. Shell invest the loan in the purchase of more goods in order to increase her sales volume and her income. Roselia will receive her loan together with these women: Antonia Santos De Jesus Jewelry sales Margarita Frias Acosta Clothing sales Andrea Miese Clothing sales Emelicia Almonte Sanchez Grocery store management. In the picture, from left to right: Antonia, Roselia, Margarita, Andrea and Emelicia.",F,1500,lender,Retail,1 Dominican Republic,"Roselin Petit dreams of expanding her small business and turning it into a store with a variety of different clothes. She lives today in San Pedro de Macoris. Roselin Petit is a woman with four children ages 11, 9, 7, and 5. She has two jobs each day she wakes up: one is to take care of her children and the other is to find a way to live comfortably with them in a small house of her own.
Rosalin belongs to an association in San Pedro de Macoris called ""Jesucristo"". The fifteen members of this association are there for the same purpose: to make a better future for themselves and their loved ones. Roselin is asking for a loan to buy more clothes to sell, and thereby provide more benefits for the ones she loves.
Roselin and her story are typical of the ""Jesucristo"" Bank of Hope, 15 men and women who work hard to improve their lives with the help of their small loans. Each of these men and women has taken out a similar loan to that of Roselin's--these fifteen members are able to manage with the help that you give our organization. Thank you!",F,2375,partner,Clothing,0 Dominican Republic,"Roseline is an outgoing and lively 26-year-old woman who lives with her husband and two children (ages 7 and 10) in the community of Agua Negra (Black Water). Agua Negra is nestled inside the biggest port on the north coast of the Dominican Republic, with several ships coming in and out every day. This community is perhaps one of the poorest on the north coast and gets its name because of the dirty and contaminated water that flows through the community. Roseline and her husband have two of their nieces living with them, and they can barely afford the basic necessities. With this loan Roseline will replenish her clothing and shoe supply and continue selling these products from her home. In the future she wants to own a house and expand her business.
Thank you for supporting this group!",F,1850,partner,Clothing,0 Dominican Republic,"Roseni has been living in the San Luis community of Santo Domingo for twenty years. She was born and raised in a poor community of Port-au-Prince, in Haiti, but she had to leave her country when she realized that she could better earn a living in the Dominican Republic. Currently, Roseni and her husband have seven children ranging in age from six to eighteen, and she has to work hard to bring them up.
Roseni sells womens clothing in her community, and her clientele has kept growing during the past three years. This entrepreneur operates her business predominantly in the streets, but shed like to buy or rent a small establishment to run her business. With her loan, Roseni will buy more clothing in bulk to keep selling her goods and increase her revenue.",F,375,partner,Clothing,1 Dominican Republic,"Rosita (pictured far right) is a vibrant 33-year-old who lives with her husband and three children in a suburb called Los Alcarrizzos, which is about a 30-minute drive from the capital of Santo Domingo. She has a small cafeteria called Cafeteria Rosita that specializes in making lollipops. Rosita is asking for this loan so that she can expand the products she is able to offer her clients. Specifically, she wants to offer more fried foods like empanadas, tostones, and fried chicken.
Her dreams are to continue expanding her business, and to work so that her children can continue to study.
On behalf of Rosita and everyone here at Esperanza International, we thank you for your support of Rositas cafeteria!",F,750,partner,Food,0 Dominican Republic,"Roxanna is 26 years old and is a single mother of her 6-year-old son. Roxanna owns and operates a nail care center in the Zapotal community of Nizao. At the nail care center, she offers services in acrylic polish changes, American and French manicures and pedicures, etc. However, she also offers private services to customers who are too busy to go to her salon.
Roxanna plans to use this loan to buy materials such as nail varnish, artificial nails, files, and a special table for the business. She hopes that before long shell have enough money to design a comfortable beauty parlor. This way, the entrepreneur will be able to attend to her customers in a pleasant space, and she will in turn improve her familys living conditions because her business will generate additional income.",F,475,partner,Services,0 Dominican Republic,"Roxanna is in her late twenties, and she is a single mother of two children. Her son and daughter both attend school. Roxanna runs a very small store that she recently started. She sells an assortment of perfumes, shampoos and other beauty products. The entrepreneur is working very hard to make her business known in the community and to increase her clientele. She is requesting a loan to increase the inventory for her store. She wishes to continue to satisfy her customers demands and increase her income. Roxanna wants to provide a comfortable lifestyle for her two children.",F,175,partner,Retail,0 Dominican Republic,"Rudelania, 21, is living with her daughter, 4 years old. Before her daughters birth, she separated from her partner, and since then she has been working to earn their living and tend to the child.
Rudelania owns a small beauty salon and offers hairdos and hair straightening. She also sells cosmetic products and other items like shampoo, hand and body lotion, beauty and medical soap.
Now, Rudelania is requesting a loan with the intention of purchasing the entire line of Jafra skin care products, since theyre well appreciated by the women of her community. She also wants to buy a showcase where she can put her new products in order to make them known to her clientele. This way, shell be able to increase her income and do her best for the sake of her beloved little daughter.",F,325,partner,Services,0 Dominican Republic,"Rudesinda, a fifty-four-year-old woman and the mother of four children, lives in San Cristobal, where she owns and runs a cake shop. Rudesinda has been running her shop for more than eight years and she produces cakes to order. Currently, she has a well-established clientele, most of whom are mini-market owners.
This entrepreneur is requesting a loan to buy ingredients, such as flour, sugar, milk, and cream, to keep producing her cakes, since her products are in heightened demand now. Rudesinda hopes that, by the end of the year, shell have enough money to begin the construction of her own house.
",F,300,partner,Food,0 Dominican Republic,"Rudilani is the coordinator of the Bank of Hope, Nuevo Renacer, which roughly translates to rebirth in English. Their Bank of Hope is the first such group to be formed in their community of La Barquita and they are proud to be part of the new relationship between their community and Esperanza International.Rudilania is a 28 year old woman who lives with her husband. They have one daughter together but due to tough economic circumstances their daughter lives with her grandmother.
Rudilania has asked for this loan to start a new business selling clothing. She plans to make a part of her small house a sales room and will travel around her neighborhood to market her new store. Specifically, she is excited to begin selling new mens' and womens' jeans, as well as blouses and undergarments. She will purchase the clothes from a market in Santo Domingo called Villa Consuelo, an area famous for high-quality, imported clothes at discount prices. Through the training she received from Esperanza, she learned that purchasing clothes at a wholesale discount, or at a small discount, substantially increases her profit margin, and consequently enables her to generate more income.
Her biggest goal is to provide a better life for her daughter and give her what she herself never had growing up. Her personal goal is to continue studying and to graduate from the medical school she has been studying at. Rudilani is being trained in dialysis and blood work, as well as in providing vaccinations. Her biggest challenges revolve around the lack of opportunity to improve her business and to work. For the first time in a year and a half, Esperanza International is giving her the opportunity to return to work and create a stable income for her family.
In her free time, she likes to spend as much time as she can with her daughter, as well as study, read, and go to her local church. Rudilania sincerely thanks everyone who is supporting not just her loan, but also the loans of her group members. She says that without opportunities like these, they are not able to move forward with their lives and live the lives that they know they can. On behalf of everyone here at Esperanza, and the entire Nuevo Renacer Bank of Hope, we thank you for your support!",F,750,partner,Clothing,0 Dominican Republic,"Rufina, a very kind and persistent woman, lives with her four-year-old boy in the Batey Palav community of San Cristobal. Rufina prepares decorative candles. She explains that to prepare the candles, she needs a lot of materials such as wax, essence, aroma oils and so forth. Rufina has a well established clientele, and currently her candles are on high demand. She is requesting a loan to invest in the purchase of raw materials in order to prepare more candles and satisfy her customers needs. Rufina wants to improve her familys living conditions.",F,200,partner,Retail,0 Dominican Republic,"Ruth (pictured second from the left) is a 22-year-old newlywed and her husband is in the military. Ruth is opening her own salon to supplement the income that her husband earns in the military. Ruth spends her evenings and weekends studying at her local university, and she is very excited to start her own business. With this loan, Ruth would like to purchase a hair dryer and hair care (e.g., styling) products. In practice, Ruth plans to expand her hair care inventory and purchase only those products requested by her clients. Ruth hopes that the income generated from her beauty salon will allow her to complete her studies.
Ruth is the leader of her loan group, which includes Santa, Ana, Nancy, and Fior. All of the women in the group are hereby applying for their first loans and each one is a new entrepreneur with enormous hope for the future.",F,875,partner,Services,0 Dominican Republic,"Ruth Celenia is in her late thirties and a single mother of a two-year-old son. To make a living and take care of her child, Ruth Celenia sells clothes and an assortment of rings, earrings, bracelets and other jewels to people in her community. She operates her business mostly from her house but in a couple of months plans on renting a small shop. Ruth Celenia wants to establish herself as one of the most successful entrepreneurs in the Chucho community of Santo Domingo so that she can sustain her family independently. She plans to invest her loan to buy more goods to boost her inventory and satisfy her customers needs.",F,250,partner,Retail,1 Dominican Republic,"Ruth Dilenia is the proud mother of three children (two daughters and one son), two of whom attend school. Ruth Dilenia owns and operates a poultry shop, which she starts about five years ago with her husbands help. She also operates a ""pica pollo"", a restaurant where people can buy deep-fried chicken with fried bananas or potatoes. She operates the ""pica pollo"" in the night. The entrepreneur explains that the local stall where she runs the business is not hers but a rented one. She plans to buy it in a few years. In the meantime, she says shell dedicate all her efforts to improve the quality of the services shes offering to her clientele. Ruth Dilenia wants a loan to purchase more chicken in order to increase her sales volume and her income.",F,475,partner,Food,0 Dominican Republic,"Ruth Esther is a successful entrepreneur living in the Doa Ana community of Ban, and shes taking out her second loan through Kiva. Her can-do attitude and her many-sidedness help her to do different things in order to maintain her family. Actually, shes been operating a small cafeteria for years, and at the same time shes been selling clothing in her community. Ruth Esther says that a small businesswoman has to wear many hats.
With her last loan, she introduced mens clothing to her inventory, and she managed to keep her business in the black. She also was able to finish her house which had been in construction for a long time. Her children started the school year with no problem. Ruth is very grateful to the Kiva lenders, and she hopes that shell be given more loans so that she can move her business forward.
Currently, Ruth is running out of clothing, and shes requesting a loan to purchase an assortment of stylish garments which are in demand by people in her community. The entrepreneur says shell keep doing her utmost to repay her loans and improve her familys living conditions.",F,725,partner,Clothing,1 Dominican Republic,"Ruth Esther is a very active and untiring businesswoman of the Doa Ana community of San Cristobal. She is thirty-two years old and a proud mother of two children that go to school. Ruth Esther is multifaceted entrepreneur. She owns and operates a cafeteria which offers a wide variety of typical Dominican foods. Each day, she attends to thousands of people of the close-by neighborhood that visit her regularly to consume her tasty dishes. Ruth Esther also sells womens clothing in the same community. She runs that business mostly on the weekends. The entrepreneur explains that her businesses are very profitable. With incomes from her activities, she covers the expenses of her childrens studies and she pays the rental of her house. Ruth wants to expand her business and add new kinds of clothing to her store. She will use her loan to buy clothing in bulk (including mens clothing) in order to attract more people and increase her sales volume. That will allow the entrepreneur improve her familys living conditions.",F,550,partner,Clothing,0 Dominican Republic,"Ruth Esther is a young and budding entrepreneur. She sells a collection of natural medicines in her hometown. Ruth explains that selling these goods is her unique opportunity to earn money and support her studies. She wants to become a great professional with a good job or leading a big business and have a comfortable lifestyle. With her loan, the young entrepreneur will purchase more goods to add to her stock in order to keep satisfying her customers needs and increase her revenue.",F,250,partner,Health,1 Dominican Republic,"Ruth Pena Medina and her husband Jose Pimentel sell everything from mops to fresh fruit in their store in Quisqueya. It is well stocked with toilet paper, napkins, bread, vegetable oil, brooms, and canned foods. They have three children: Genia (20), Jose Manuel (18), and Jose Antonio (14). With this loan, Ruth wants to expand their business to sell shoes and bedsheets. She hopes such an expansion will increase their business and allow her and her husband to ease their children's transitions into adulthood.
Note: Ruth is one of five microentrepreneurs in her Bank of Hope solidarity group, all of whom have gone through Esperanza's business training courses. Each of the five members will receive a share of this $825 loan for their respective businesses and will be accountable to each other for repaying their share of this loan together. This group-lending method strengthens social needs in the community and helps ensure that members cooperate to help one another repay their loans and invest wisely in their businesses and families. As soon as Ruth pays off her current loan with Esperanza, this loan will become active.",F,825,partner,Retail,0 Dominican Republic,"Ruth Rodriguez is a cheerful single mother and the coordinator for a new microfinance group of fifteen entrepreneurs. Her four children, Andelie, Danielle, Avel, and Ruth are 13, 11, 9, and 1 years old, respectively. They live together with her mother in Villa Isabela, a small village west of Puerta Plata. On days when her children arent in school, they enjoy playing baseball with other kids from the neighborhood. Although Mrs. Rodriguez says she has very little time for fun, she enjoys playing with her one-year-old child and listening to Shakira and Juanes. Recently, Mrs. Rodriguez has been working to expand her hair salon. A friend told her about Esperanza and she recognized the opportunity to increase her income. She intends to use her increased capital to buy a new hair salon, which she believes will pay back the loan and significantly improve her life. Mrs. Rodriguez works mainly for her children. She hopes to provide them all with a college education and wants to secure a future for them in the Dominican Republic. Like many of the other women in the group, she sees her first loan from Esperanza as the beginning of a more secure, more fruitful lifestyle.",F,2100,partner,Services,0 Dominican Republic,"Ruth Zeneyda Santos used her Esperanza Bank of Hope loans to open her salon, Salon Belleza Grismary, two years ago. Because of her loans and the help of her cousins, the salon is now able to offer both hair and nail services. Ruth's ultimate dream is open more branches of her salon so that she can give her three children (aged 9, 13, 19) the best life possible.",F,875,partner,Services,0 Dominican Republic,"Sabina is 54 years old and has nine children and eleven grandchildren. She is no longer married, but 9 of her children/grandchildren live with her in her house. -
Sabina is illiterate, however, she was able to send four of her nine children to school. She is pictured in front of her womens association meeting center, where her group meets every two weeks to pay back their loan installments.
Sabina has been an Esperanza client for one year and has already successfully paid back two loans (one for 150 USD and one for 240 USD). Now she is applying for a third loan. She used to sell her small goods on the street: items such as shampoo and lotions, but with her first loan from Esperanza she was able to buy a small store where she is able to sell gasoline to vehicles passing by, particularly motorcycles (the main means of transportation in her area).
Sabina says her profits have increased greatly from having the loans. She still sells her small products, but she does it from her little gas station. This way she is able to attract more customers. She is going to use this next loan to buy more products to sell at her gas station and keep expanding her business.",F,350,partner,Retail,0 Dominican Republic,"Sabrina is 17 years old and is living with her four brothers and sisters. Her father has a small grocery store and sell basic foodstuffs. Sabrina will finish secondary school next year and is considering going to university. But her parents' incomes are not sufficient to pay for both her tuition and other family needs. So,she has decided to take action. She is requesting a loan to buy inventory to open a mobile store. She plans to sell men's clothes, shoes and underwear. She has already contacted a provider who will sell her wholesale merchandise monthly. Sabrina is very positive-minded and is sure that shell succeed.",F,325,partner,Clothing,0 Dominican Republic,"Salis Paola is a young single mother of a three-year old daughter, and she lives in Altagracia community of Santo Domingo. Shortly after her pregnancy, she was left alone by her partner, and since then she has been selling an assortment beauty products and perfumes by catalog to support herself and her child. Currently, Salis has a loyal and growing clientele. Sometimes she has to face payment delays from some customers, but generally the business is profitable. She has a monthly income of $100.00. She is requesting a loan of $250 to purchase more products in and grow her business.",F,250,partner,Retail,0 Dominican Republic,"Samena, the group leader, has two children, ages 5 and 1 and a half. She has a small business selling clothes out in the country where people dont have easy access to many products. She buys the clothes near her home and her husband, who works in the country, takes them with him to sell for a profit. Samena would use this loan from Esperanza International to buy even more clothes to sell, which will help her better provide for her family.
Samena currently lives with her family in a small hut constructed from scraps of tin and wood. She is originally from Haiti, where conditions are even worse. She hopes that she will be able to provide a good education for her children through the money she makes from her business.
Note: This is a group loan to 5 people.",F,875,partner,Clothing,0 Dominican Republic,"Sandra Acosta is a perfect example of the effects of micro-credit. Sandra came to Esperanza International with no income and three kids to feed with her husband's tiny income. She came hoping to receive a loan and start her own business. She received a small loan of 5,000 pesos which is approximately 150 USD. She took that loan and started a small business selling used clothing. Due to her hard work, she increased her business and paid back the loan in its entirety. Today she is hoping to receive her fifth loan for 18,000 pesos (or about 530 USD). Sandra is now able to provide for her children and put them through school. She said that she is happy for the first time and feels like she has something of her own and something to wake up for each day. She is excited about the future, and feels like this next loan will just continue to grow her business. She is very grateful for this opportunity and challenge.",F,1525,partner,Clothing,0 Dominican Republic,"Sandra Carolina, or Sandy as her friends and family tenderly call her, is twenty-one years old and she lives with her partner. Sandy is the owner and operator of a beauty salon that she started three years ago. She offers various services: hair straightening, hair dyeing, hairdos and so on. She also sells beauty products and fashionable hair accessories.
As she talks about her dreams for the future, Sandra Carolina explains that she hopes her salon can be very successful and that she can increase her income. That way, she will be able to attend university next year.
Sandy will invest her loan in the purchase of wigs, hair dyes, and other goods to use to run her business. She will also buy a new mirror since her old one has been broken and couldnt be repaired.",F,900,partner,Services,0 Dominican Republic,"Sandra Fabian is a single women who has two children whom she takes care of all by herself. Unfortunately, where she is from it is very common for the dads to leave their families. So now she is alone to try and take care of her young children. The hardest part is that she does not have a steady income and has to do all sorts of things to provide food for her kids. She recently came to Esperanza International (Kiva's Field Partner) to seek a loan so she could start her own small business and start earning an income. She plans on selling small food products in her area, such as rice, salt, bread, and other small items. She is confident in herself that she can grow her business and hopes to someday have her own grocery story. She said she wants nothing more than to provide a good life for her kids because she loves them more than anything else. She is a great mother and knows this is her opportunity to change her life, and also the lives of her children. She and the other 14 people in this group are all excited about this opportunity, and ready to take this first step!!",F,2875,partner,Food,0 Dominican Republic,"Sandra is a straightforward and humble woman who struggles to make a living and take care of her five children. Sandra lives in a modest house from which she runs a small business selling pants, shoes and underwear to women of the Batey Yaco community of Pedro Brand, Santo Domingo.
Sandra has requested a loan to purchase more inventory and increase her sales volume. Sandra hopes that she can earn enough money in the future so that her children can have a good education.",F,100,partner,Clothing,0 Dominican Republic,"Sandra is a twenty-five year old woman living in the Cacique community of Monte Plata. Shes recently started selling silver plate jewelry in order to guarantee her three children a better life. Sandra would like to expand her business and add plenty of new items such as fashionable necklaces, bracelets and other goods to her stock so that she can attract more people to her business. The entrepreneur hopes this loan will help her to provide her family a better lifestyle.",F,250,partner,Retail,1 Dominican Republic,"Sandra is an active and positive 21-year-old woman who is determined to succeed in life. She is married and will have her first child very soon, as shes four months pregnant.
Two years ago, Sandra graduated as a hair stylist from a beauty academy. She wants to exercise her profession and make a living. She needs funds to open a small beauty salon, which she will run within her house.
She will invest her loan in the purchase of materials, such as a blower, hair dying products and hair treatment lotion. She says that she has already bought other products, such as shampoo, face cleansing lotions, and a used hair-washing machine, with her husband's help. The entrepreneur hopes she can get the funds before long so that she can make her dream come true.",F,300,partner,Services,0 Dominican Republic,"Sandra is in her late thirties, and she and her husband have five children, three of them girls. They all attend school. Sandra produces homemade juices. Sandras juices are made from a wide variety of natural fruits such as pineapple, orange, melon, and strawberry. She also prepares some succulent mixes of oats with milk.
Sandra hopes that in the future she can have her own locale where she can run the business. She plans on using her loan to expand her business. She will offer a wider variety of juices and add sandwiches to her inventory.",F,375,partner,Food,0 Dominican Republic,"Sandra is part of a solidarity group called El Milagro, or The Miracle. This group lives in the small agricultural town of Hato Mayor in the Dominican Republic and has been together since 2006. This tight-knit group of friends has helped each other grow their businesses over the years and they are seeking another loan to further their success. Sandra is the 37-year-old mother of two (aged 11 and 4) and owns her own salon. With this loan, she hopes to buy supplies such as shampoo and nail polish so that she can serve more customers. With the extra income, she hopes to save up so that she can send her children to the university and fulfill her dream of seeing them become successful professionals. Sandra and the whole El Milagro group appreciate the opportunities micro loans have given them and they hope to continue their success.",F,1150,lender,Services,0 Dominican Republic,"Sandra, 37 years old and a proud mother of two daughters (10 and 16 years old), owns and operates a small clothing business in her hometown of Batey of Palav community in San Cristobal. The entrepreneur humbly explains that while she is currently operating her business from home, she plans to put money aside in order to rent or buy a small local store in a few years. With her loan, Sandra hopes to increase revenue by buying more clothing in bulk to add to her stock.",F,200,partner,Clothing,0 Dominican Republic,"Sandra, a thirty-seven year old mother of two boys and two girls, lives in the Batey of Palav community of San Cristobal, where she operates a small business. Sandra sells a collection of sneakers and shoes to friends and neighbors. She has been running this activity for more than one year, and now she wants to boost her business and add new styles of shoes in order to attract more people and increase her sales volume.
Sandra hopes shell get this loan before long so that she can achieve these goals and improve her familys living conditions.",F,250,partner,Retail,0 Dominican Republic,"Santa Benita, a thirty-year-old woman and mother of five children, lives in the Ro Arriba community of Ban. To supplement her familys income, she sells a collection of shirts, pants, and underwear to women of her community. Santa Benita explains that her family is very needy, so she has to work hard to make money and help her husband support the childrens education.
With her loan, Santa Benita will buy more clothing. She says shell get the products from a new supplier who is offering the goods at very low prices. Santa Benita hopes that her business growth will help her improve her familys standard of living.",F,300,partner,Clothing,0 Dominican Republic,"Santa Catalina, a young, dynamic budding entrepreneur, lives with her parents in the Alto Limonal community of Ban. She sells a collection of fashionable pants, shirts and shoes. Catalina operates her business predominantly from her childhood home, but she frequently visits friends and customers at their homes in order to sell her goods. Catalina is looking forward to starting her university studies next year, and she explains that shell need a better income to support her education.
Catalina plans on using her loan to buy more clothing, but shell also purchase housewares to add to her business so that potential clients will be attracted to her business. The young entrepreneur hopes that her business can keep growing and allow her put enough money aside to start her university studies next year.",F,150,partner,Clothing,1 Dominican Republic,"Santa Cecilia is forty years old and the proud mother of a five-year-old boy. Santa Cecilia is a multifaceted and experienced entrepreneur. She sells womens clothing and operates a beauty parlor in the Hato Nuevo community of San Cristobal, where she cuts, dyes, and straightens hair, and gives manicures and pedicures.
The entrepreneur plans on using her loan to buy a new armchair with a manicure basin. Shell also buy some nail brushes and manicure products.
Santa Cecilia explains that her big dream is to open a primary school for the children of her community. She has a degree in Primary Education and would like to help low-income families by giving their children a chance to attend primary school.",F,600,partner,Services,0 Dominican Republic,"Santa Evangelina is twenty-six years old and the proud mother of three school-aged children. She sells women's clothing during the week days, and on the weekend she operates a small beauty parlor. Santa Evangelina has been running her businesses for more than five years.
Currently, Santa Evangelina doesn't have enough working capital to keep operating her business. So she's requested a loan to invest in fashionable clothing and to buy more products to add to her inventory. Santa Evangelina has already taken loans from FSMA, and she'd always repaid punctually. We believe that she'll keep doing her best to make her business successful and repay this new loan.",F,425,partner,Clothing,1 Dominican Republic,"Santa Fabia is in her late twenties and she has three children ranging in age from one to seven. Fabia operates a small grocery store called Colmado el Play as its located in close proximity to a baseball field. Each day, lots of people visit her grocery store to purchase a wide range of products like rice, beans, milk, cooking oil, salami and other basic foodstuffs. Fabia explains that in the neighborhood there are just two grocery stores, hers and another which is located not far from hers. The entrepreneur also explains that during the weekends, she offers special rebates on beers and other alcoholic beverages, so as to retain her customers and attract new clients.
With her loan, Santa Fabia will buy more goods in order to replenish her store and keep satisfying her customers needs. The entrepreneur hopes that someday shell be able to buy her own house in her hometown, the Limonal community of Ban.",F,375,partner,Food,1 Dominican Republic,"Santa Francisca lives in Arroyo Salado, an outlying and low-income community of San Cristobal. She lives with her husband, who is a taxi driver, and her four children, three of whom attend school. To supplement her familys income, Santa Francisca makes and sells empanadas, pts, and fruit juices -- mainly in a private school located in her neighborhood. Unfortunately, the profits generated by the business (about US $120 a month) are not sufficient to pay for the childrens studies and to support household expenses.
Francisca is requesting a loan to increase her supply of ingredients with the purpose of boosting her production, sales volume, and income. She promises that shell be doing her utmost to repay the loan on time so that she can later apply for a larger loan.",F,300,partner,Food,1 Dominican Republic,"Santa Gonzalez is 40 years old and the mother of three children, one of whom is disabled. The two others attend school. Santa has been operating a beauty salon in her community for 10 years. She generally works during the weekend because country women go to the beauty parlor just on Saturdays and Sundays. Her husband owns and runs a small grocery store.
Santa explains that, in addition of supporting the children's education, she and her husband have to spend a lot of money for the care of the disabled child. Sometimes she asks herself what she did to deserve the situation. Nonetheless, she loves her child and is doing her best to protect and take care of her.
With her loan, the entrepreneur will buy a larger inventory of beauty products so that she can better operate her salon and satisfy her clientele.",F,425,partner,Services,1 Dominican Republic,"Santa Guillermina is a hard-working woman and a proud mother of three girls and one boy, all of whom go to school. Guillermina works as a house cleaner, and her husband sells basic foodstuffs in the Alto Limonal community of Ban.
Guillermina would like to do a lot of things for her family, but she says that her wages and her husbands are too low to bear all the familys expenses. Shes requesting a loan to invest in clothing in bulk in order to start a small business in her community. Guillermina explains that, given this loan, she and her husband will be able to provide her children with a more comfortable lifestyle, and be able to help them become good professionals in life.",F,200,partner,Clothing,1 Dominican Republic,"Santa Inocencia is a single mother pushing hard to make a living and taking care of her three school age children. Inocencia is a very positive woman. She explains that she had to fight literally against friends and neighbors who told her it's not a good idea to start a small business at her age. Inocencia defines herself as a hard-working woman, and consequently believes that she's a good chance of achieving her goals.
This loan is to invest in costume jewelry in order to start a small business which will help her take care of her children. Inocencia lives in an isolated rural community of San Cristobal, called Canasta, with lots of modest means people. Currently, she's between jobs and says that selling the jewelry is the most viable option she has to ensure her children's well-being.
Santa Inocencia will receive her loan together with other four women who live and are operating small businesses in the community. They are: Mireya Gonzales Mendoza, who'll use her loan to invest in beauty products, Isidora Nova, who sells hair products, Carmela Maria Mateo Pinales, who sells clothing and Lourdes Margarita Jimenez Mateo, a young entrepreneur who sells women's clothing.
Photo shows from left to right: Santa Inocencia, Mireya, Isidora, Carmela and Lourdes Margarita.",F,1150,partner,Retail,1 Dominican Republic,"Santa Inocencia is in her late twenties, and she lives in the Arroyo Salado community of Ban. Santa has a seven-year-old daughter who attends school. Her husband works for a construction company, and she offers her services as a cleaning woman in her community. Santa explains that she needs a loan to start a small business that she thinks well generate a better income for her family. She says that her actual wages and her husbands are too low to keep facing all the familys financial needs. Shell be selling womens clothing and beauty products to people in her community.
For Santa, its very important that her daughter receive a good education, and she swears shell do her utmost to help the child to become a great professional.
Santo hopes that shell receive the loan before long so that she can start her business and be one step closer to a better future.",F,250,partner,Clothing,1 Dominican Republic,"Santa is a 26 year old young woman who lives with her husband and one year old daughter in the community of La Viara. She is currently attending a local university and spends most of her time studying when she is not at work or caring for her daughter.
Santa runs a small business selling silver, shoes, and other accessories. She has only been able to carry a small inventory due to a lack of sufficient capital. Now, she hopes to increase her profits. She spends most of her money on school and helping her husband support the household. Her goal is to one day have her own boutique of specialty merchandise and to have a college degree.
On behalf of Santa, and everyone here at Esperanza International, we sincerely thank you for your support!",F,600,partner,Retail,0 Dominican Republic,"Santa is a 28-year-old mother of five children, four boys and a girl, all of whom attend the public school of the town. Her husband is a farmer. Santa dedicates herself to the sale of womens clothing. She started that activity one year ago. Bi-weekly, she goes to the stores in Santo Domingo where she can acquire garments at very low prices. She sells the clothes in a much frequented public place.
The entrepreneur wants to significantly augment profits from the business. She plans to buy clothing in bulk so that she can reduce costs due to the number of trips she has to make to Santo Domingo to get the clothing. She thinks that she will increase her income and improve her margin profit.",F,300,partner,Clothing,0 Dominican Republic,"Santa is a 50-year-old woman who struggles to improve her six childrens living conditions. To earn a living, she sells fried vegetables and fried chicken in her community. Santa has been running her business for more than ten years.
With her loan, Santa will buy a large amount of raw materials and other goods in order to expand her inventory and attract new clients. Santa hopes that someday she will have sufficient money to buy a house.",F,450,partner,Food,0 Dominican Republic,"Santa is a middle-aged woman who lives with her four children and one grandson in a community on the outskirts of the capital of Santo Domingo. She has struggled for a long time to provide for her children, and ever since she and her husband separated, she has essentially been their sole provider. Santa currently has a small business where she collects glass soda and beer bottles from restaurants and the streets, and then sells them back to their respective companies. Typically she gets paid a flat rate per pound for her bottles; however, with the help of this loan, two very important things will happen. First, she will be able to begin buying bottles from some of the local colmados (corner stores) at a very low rate so that she can turn a higher profit each week. After a few months of the increased profits, she will have enough money saved so that she can submit her paperwork to obtain a legal ID number in the Dominican Republic. Consequently this will help her further, because recognized and legal Dominican residents get paid a higher rate, per pound, for recycled glass material. Santa is very grateful to everyone who is helping her to make this loan happen. And on behalf of everyone here at Esperanza International, we too are thankful for your interest and support!",F,750,partner,Wholesale,0 Dominican Republic,"Santa is a new entrepreneur who has a lot going for her. Actually, she's very persistent and optimistic, and she's not afraid of hard work. She and her husband have three children, all of whom attend school. Santa sells window curtains, tablecloths, bedspreads, and she also sells jewelry in her neighborhood. Santa wants to enlarge her business, and she's requesting a loan to buy a greater variety of goods to add to her stock. This will help her increase her income and put money aside to support the children's education during the upcoming school year. Santa says that she'll keep working hard so that her children can become good and successful professionals.",F,250,partner,Retail,1 Dominican Republic,"Santa is twenty-eight years old, and she and her husband have two young girls, ages five and seven. Santa has recently begun selling womens clothing and fashionable shoes to members of her community. Santa plans to use her loan to buy more clothing at bulk rates, improving her profit margin and limiting the number of trips she will have to make to purchase the clothing she sells outside of her community.
Santa envisions her business becoming a grand store with a large selection of chic attire. She explains that the income from her business will help support her studies at the local university and help her to safeguard her childrens health.",F,300,partner,Clothing,0 Dominican Republic,"Santa is twenty-five years old, and she and her partner have three sons who range in age from one to five years old. Santa has been running a pastry shop for five years. She operates her business within her house. As she wanted to expand her business and diversify what she has for sale, Santa took a loan from FSMA which she invested to add pts and empanadas to the business. She sells the latter products in the afternoon in the public square.
Santa envisions her business becoming one of the best known and most frequently visited pastry shops in her community. Once she gets a locale, she will operate her two businesses in the same place. The entrepreneur wants to increase her income to keep on providing education for her sons and to pay for her studies at the public university in Santo Domingo.",F,600,partner,Food,0 Dominican Republic,"Santa Isidra is a positive young woman living in Bani, Dominican Republic. A single mother of a young son, Santa is trying hard to lift her family out of poverty. Four months ago, she started a small business selling clothing to people in the community. In spite of the tough competition, Santa is doing her best to attract new clients. That's why she has applied for a loan of US $150 to expand her business. She would also like to hire a part-time babysitter so that she can go back to school and have a chance to become a successful professional.",F,150,partner,Clothing,1 Dominican Republic,"Santa Juana is in her late twenties and shes the mother of two sons and two daughters. She sells deodorants, perfumes, and hand and body lotions as well as tablecloths and window curtains. Due to her lack of capital, she has been unable to add new goods to her inventory. This has resulted in huge sales losses during a period of heightened demand.
Santa Juana has requested a loan to buy more goods to satisfy the needs of her clients. By increasing her sales volume, she hopes that her business will allow her to provide a better life for her family.",F,175,partner,Retail,1 Dominican Republic,"Santa lives in La Victoria, a small and impoverished town outside Santo Domingo. Shes 27 years old and is the mother of two school-aged children. Shes a talented interior decorator who offers her services mostly to people the national district of Santo Domingo. She also sells tablecloths and decorative window curtains to people in her neighborhood.
Santa is very concerned about the lack of education of the children living in La Victoria. Two years ago, she started to teach some kids to write and learn, and now shes thinking about opening a primary school to help more children get an education. Santa is currently attending a faculty of Education so that she can have the required qualifications for her school. For now, the entrepreneur keeps operating her business and offering her services. These activities are her principal source of income.
Santa is requesting a loan to buy more goods to retail in her neighborhood so that she can have enough money to maintain her family and support her studies.
Santa is joined in her group by these three women:
Santa Patricia hopes that her business will help her to provide a better education for her children and improve her family's living conditions.",F,325,partner,Food,1 Dominican Republic,"Santa runs a small beauty salon which she started five years ago. Her joviality, the special treatment she gives to the customers, and her professionalism are some of the characteristics that have helped her establish a very large clientele. She operates the business six days a week, offering services such as hair straightening, hairdo, and other beauty treatments. She also sells beauty products such as shampoo, rinse, hair treatment, skin care products, and so forth.
Santa has requested a loan with which she will purchase more products in order to better attend to her customers. She also is thinking about buying a new showcase to put the products in. With her beauty salon very well supplied (given the loan),and continuing to provide good services to her customers, this 36-year-old woman will be better able to support her three children.",F,300,partner,Services,0 Dominican Republic,"Santa Siven is a group coordinator for the Paz y Amor Bank of Hope. Of this 3-group bank, 2 groups of 5 are participating in this loan. All the group members live in Samana, Dominican Republic. Santa's business consists in selling beauty products and personal care products. Mostly, she sells the products at her home to people in her own neighborhood. She has 4 young children.
Santa's favorite activity is to read and she also loves to eat vegetables. All of the loan she receives will be used to replenish her business merchandise. Santa hopes in the future to expand her business to a point where she has her own beauty supply.
On behalf of Esperanza, thank you for supporting these entrepreneurs!",F,2050,partner,Retail,0 Dominican Republic,"Santa Veneranda is a thirty-one year old entrepreneur who owns and operates a clothing store in the Don Gregorio community of San Cristobal. Her husband and she have three sons and one daughter, all of whom go to school. A couple of months ago, Santa Veneranda took a loan from FSMA which she invested to add to a collection of fashionable clothing to her stock. According to the entrepreneur, this strategy was worth its weight in gold since more people have started to visit her small store and she has gotten a lot of new customers. Veneranda says her business is profitable, and she wants to keep running it in a similar fashion so that she can earn more income. The well experienced businesswoman explains that will use this new loan to buy a larger showcase for her store. She will also buy also new clothing to add to her stock. Santa Veneranda hopes that before long she will become one of the most known suppliers of these goods in her community.",F,275,partner,Clothing,0 Dominican Republic,"Santa, 32, is a humble woman and the proud mother of three school-aged children. She's been selling cosmetics products for four years in order to help her husband in supporting the children's education and to bear other expenses of the family. Santa explains that her stock is still limited, but she plans to use her loan to buy more goods so that she can increase her sales volume and her revenue. For Santa it's hard to keep up with the kids' expenses, and she hopes that someday her husband and she will have better wages so that they can improve the family's living conditions.",F,175,partner,Retail,1 Dominican Republic,"Santa, 47 years old, mother of five children, is a very diligent and dynamic woman. In order to provide her children with a good education, she has been in turn a cook, house cleaner, and saleswoman. Ten years ago, she started her own business. In the morning, she sells fresh chicken parts and vegetables at the public market. At night, she makes empanadas, fried chicken, and sells drinks in her house. With the requested loan she will invest in the purchase of live chickens and some goods like flour, spices, and meat. She also wants to fix her houses roof. This way, customers will have no problem when it rains. Given this loan, this entrepreneur will also better face her family's financial issues.",F,325,partner,Food,0 Dominican Republic,"Santa, a low-income entrepreneur and mother of three children, lives in the Los Roche community of San Cristobal, where her husband works for a construction company. To augment family income, Santa sells a collection of beauty products such as hand and body lotions, facial cleansing foam and the like. In order to make her products better-known and increase her sales volume, this entrepreneur plans to use her loan to purchase a showcase to display her products. Santa hopes her business will allow her and her family to enjoy a better lifestyle",F,225,partner,Retail,0 Dominican Republic,"Santiago is middle aged man who lives with his wife and four children in the farming town of Hato Mayor, in the Dominican Republic. He has asked for this loan to buy used and new clothing for his small business; in his community there are no businesses that sell both new and used clothing, so demand is often higher than what he afford to supply. This loan will allow him to buy a larger quantity of clothing, and consequently, earn more income. His biggest challenge right now is to enjoy his health while he has it by walking, and taking time to enjoy being active, as well as being able to pay for his five children to continue studying. He says his dream is to own his own house, own his own land plot to put his business on, and to one day in the near future have enough savings to buy his own vehicle or motorcycle. On behalf of the entire team at Esperanza International, as well as Santiago and his entire groupwe thank you for your support and generosity!",M,4775,partner,Clothing,0 Dominican Republic,"Santica Butn Tejada sells jewelry and garments, and shes now taking out her second loan with Kiva. This activity remains the principal source of income for her and her familys sole means of support. Santica explains that with profits from the business, she could expand the business and add clothing to her inventory. Now shes requesting a second loan which shell take together with four other women, all of whom are entrepreneurs living in the Guanuma community of Monte Plata. Santica will use her loan to add an assortment of fashionable jewelry and clothing which are well demanded by people in the community. Santica hopes her business will allow her to buy her own house so that her children can have a more comfortable lifestyle.
The members of Santicas group are: Merys Mena Ramirez, a shoes and tennis retailer; Elena Gonzalez De La Rosa, who runs a small beauty parlor; Maria Dominique Flerimon, who sells womens clothing; and Marina Ortiz, who sells garments.",F,950,partner,Retail,1 Dominican Republic,"Santica, 28, sells jewelery for a living. Three times a week, she walks around the streets of her town, selling her merchandise. From time to time, people also go to her house to buy products. Santica started her small business two and a half years ago as a way to support her three sons and two daughters. A year ago, she separated from her husband and is now her family's sole means of support. She would like to expand her business by acquiring new products to sell. This will help her increase her income and better support herself and her five children. She is requesting a loan of $250 to make this possible.",F,250,partner,Retail,0 Dominican Republic,"Sara Castro has created a business selling various food staples as well as new and used clothing. Her business supports her family and she hopes to fulfill her goal of being able to send all of her children to college. Her oldest son, Keni (17) assists her after school by looking after his two younger siblings, Sandra (12) and Luis (8) while their mother works. This loan will allow Sara to have the capital she needs to invest in developing her business. Right now she has limited resources and a small inventory, but her business plan and training that she went through with Esperanza has prepared her to move ahead in her business growth process with this first loan. NOTE: Sara is one of 5 micro-entrepreneurs in her Bank of Hope solidarity group, which have all gone through Esperanza's business training courses and will be accountable to each other for repaying their shares of this $1,000 loan together. If a member is unable to pay in full on time, the group is responsible for making up the deficit before a payment can be made. Investors in this loan will receive an update on Sara's progress as well as that of the entire group. This group-lending method strengthens social needs in a community and ensures that members cooperate to help one another repay their loans and invest wisely in their business and family.",F,1000,partner,Food,0 Dominican Republic,"Sara Ysabel is a well-experienced entrepreneur who has been running a beauty salon for more than twenty-five years. She sells an assortment of beauty products to the women of her community. Sara Ysabel offers the services of hair cut, hair dying, pedicure, manicure, acrylic nails and the like. This entrepreneur explains that theres a lot of similar businesses seeking to capture the same market potential, but she says that shell work harder to propel her salon to a leading position.
Sara Ysabel lives with her four children whom she has to support and provide with good education. With the loan requested, she will buy some new hair dryers, manicure and pedicure kits, and other materials to keep operating her salon. Sara Ysabel swears shell keep working to support her familys well being.",F,150,partner,Services,1 Dominican Republic,"Saturnina is thirty-two years old and the proud mother of three children, ranging from six to sixteen years old, all of whom attend school. Saturnina has been selling shoes, slippers and tennis shoes for six years in the Alcarrizos community of Santo Domingo. Her business allows her to support her childrens education, and she helps her husband face other house issues.
Saturnina thinks its time to have a premises for the business. She plans on using her loan to increase her supplies. A part of the loan will be invested in the rental of a premises. Saturnina explains that with her businesss continued growth, she hopes that someday shell be able to buy her own home.",F,600,partner,Retail,0 Dominican Republic,"Saturnina, 36, is married with three children. The boys, 14 and 12, are attending the public school in Santo Domingo, the capital. The girl, 6, is studying in the same township. Saturninas husband, a vehicle driver, is paid on an hourly basis when he gets the opportunity to be hired on occasion for a company. Thus far, he cant afford a truck so that he can work full-time.
Saturnina applied to borrow US $375.00 in order to move forward her business, a little shop she started 5 years ago in her house. In fact, she sells a lot of things like toilet articles, shaving cream, antiperspirant, clothes for women and girls and so on. Now she wants to purchase more products and a showcase to put the new goods so that the customers can easily view and appreciate the products.
Saturnina thinks thats a safe investment and is sure that her business will improve. This way, shell have sufficient money to help her husband cope with their family issues.",F,375,partner,Retail,0 Dominican Republic,"Secundina is a very active and diligent woman who would attempt the impossible in order to guarantee her four children a better lifestyle. Currently she sells used and new clothing. She mainly sells her goods in Piedra Blanca, her hometown, but during the weekends she goes outside her community to La Pulga, one of the most famous flea markets located in Santo Domingo. Secundina is requesting a loan to buy clothing in bulk to add to her stock, so as to increase significantly her sales volume. The entrepreneur explains that her eldest son will start his university studies before long, and she wants to put money aside in order to help her son pay for the studies.",F,175,partner,Clothing,1 Dominican Republic,"Seferina, thirty-four, lives in the Cruce Mela community of Yamas, where she runs a small business which helps her keep her five children out of poverty. Seferina sells womens clothing. She explains that her husbands job cant resolve all of the familys financial problems, as she had expected. So, its one step forward, two steps back, she added.
Fortunately, since starting her business three years ago Seferina has been able to earn the family some additional money. Nonetheless, her income is still limited and she cant support all of her childrens studies. So, Seferina has applied for a loan to purchase clothing in bulk in order to increase her sales volume and, consequently, her income.
Seferina has applied for the loan together with four other women, all of whom are entrepreneurs and run businesses in the low-income community. The other members of Seferinas group are:
Dominga Moreno, who has a small business selling fried vegetables.
Bruna Jorge Del Rosario, who will use the loan to buy mens clothing for her business.
Simeona Gonzalez Soriano, who plans to buy shoes to resell in her community.
Berkis Mariano will purchase clothing in bulk.
Order of appearance in the picture, left to right: Seferina Mambru, Dominga Moreno, Bruna Jorge Del Rosario, Simeona Gonzalez Soriano, Berkis Mariano",F,1325,partner,Clothing,0 Dominican Republic,"Segunda is a 55-year old widow that fights really hard to make a living in the impoverished community of Sambrana, located in Cotu. Pig farming is a frequent activity in the community, and most of the farmers used to travel outside the community in order to get food for their pigs. Segunda thought that this could be a great business opportunity, and she decided to start a small business selling food for the pigs. The business has not yet reached the level of development proposed, but Segunda says that shell keep working hard in order to improve her business. Segunda would like to increase her sales volume and income. Shes requested a loan to buy some sacks of food to fatten the pigs. Segunda uses part of the business profits to support her 3 grandsons educations. She is very grateful for this microfinance program. Before, she had to pay very high interest rates on a weekly basis for the loan received from other institutions. She promises that shell do her best to repay on time; this will entitle her to be given a larger loan in the future. Segunda is joined in her group by the following women: Juana Maria Rosario, an old entrepreneur that sells used clothing; Margarita Fernandez, who sells jewelry; Porfiria Galvez, who sells chicken; Patria Tejada Taveras, who sells sweets and cakes; The photo shows, from left to right, Juana, Margarita, Porfiria, Segunda and Patria.",F,1600,lender,Agriculture,1 Dominican Republic,"Segunda is an experienced and versatile entrepreneur who is trying hard to make a living and support her three children. She sells beauty products, crockery and other kitchen items to people of her community.
The entrepreneurs goal is to help her children finish their studies and become professionals in life. With her loan, the entrepreneur will buy more products to keep satisfying her customers needs and increase her income so as to improve her familys living conditions.",F,300,partner,Retail,1 Dominican Republic,"Segunda, an optimistic woman and diligent worker, lives in the landlocked Sanchez Ramirez province in the central part of the country. She has eight children, most of whom are grown and live with their kids. Segunda's husband is a farmer, and he also works hard to take care of the family. Segunda has been selling silver-plated jewelry to women in her community for three years. Her business helps her very much in helping her husband to support the family. The entrepreneur is requesting a loan to expand her business. Segunda is currently running her activity within her house, as she considers herself too old to visit her customers. Fortunately, she has a loyal clientele who keep purchasing her goods for their quality and cheap prices. Segunda wants to keep working hard to maintain her family.",F,350,partner,Retail,1 Dominican Republic,"Senaida Agueda has a business in which she buys and resells clothing that she has been operating for about 2 years now with the help of loans from Esperanza. She has two children, 41 and 38, whom do not live with Mrs. Agueda. When not working with her clothing shop, she enjoys going to the beach and cooking, arroz con carne (rice with meat) being one of her favorite dishes. As Mrs. Agueda is in her elder years and has fully grown children, she simply wishes to sustain her business to support her and her husband.
Mrs. Senaida Agueda is a member of an eight person group, Group 4, that is part of a larger micro-bank called Mujeres de Fe, ""Women of Faith"" in English. In the picture, Mrs. Agueda is third from the right along with members of her group and some others of Mujeres de Fe. Her story is just one of a list of men and women who are improving their quality of life through the help of micro-credit loans of Esperanza. Together, this group has united with a common vision of a better life with faith and hope in their hearts and an unbreakable spirit. The concept of group lending is to have loans paid in a group to reduce the risk of a person defaulting, as others pick up where a person may lag to receive the next loan. Each of the associates in this bank has a similar business whether it is a motor taxi service or selling cosmetics. Thank you for your support and awareness of this issue, and it is your concern and efforts that is able to bring a difference to the lives of people such as Mrs. Agueda.",F,1250,partner,Clothing,0 Dominican Republic,"Senaida Agueda is the representative of this small group. This particular loan is for five hard-working women from a larger group of forty women who are applying for a loan. Senaida has really benefited from microcredit. She came to Esperanza International a few years back with absolutely nothing. Not only did she not have an income, but she had seven children that she needed to take care of all by herself. Being a single mom is difficult, but imagine having seven kids and no real income. Many times, the kids would have to go into the streets to beg, or do whatever they could for money, and miss out on school. Life for this family was never easy. Senaida took out her first loan and started a small business selling clothing in her area. Her pleasant personality and hard work helped her to thrive, and to start having some success. She is now applying for her 6th loan, and has continued to grow with each loan. She is starting to feel like she can provide for her children and put them in school. She has never been more happy and feels like she has something of her own. Senaida is very excited about this next loan and even more excited about what the future holds for her and her family.",F,600,partner,Clothing,0 Dominican Republic,"Sencin is thirty years old and sells fresh pork meat in the Mata San Juan community of Santo Domingo. She joyfully says that her business is very profitable and that the meat is sold as just rapidly as she can purchase it wholesale.
Sencin explains that, during the past ten years, she has been able to fend for her three children by means of the business. Now, she plans on putting aside money to support the forthcoming university studies of her eldest son. This entrepreneur also is thinking about hiring a employee to help her run the business. She will use her loan to supply her business.
",F,475,partner,Food,0 Dominican Republic,"Serafn Garca and her husband Alfida Betres have four children. Serafn helps support her family by running her furniture manufacturing business. She makes tables, chairs, and various other pieces from scratch, then sells them wholesale to retail stores and distribudors around the province of San Pedro de Macors. She is requesting a loan of $600 to purchase more wood and tools to take her business to the next level. She has received and repaid several loans of increasingly larger amounts from Esperanza, proving that her business has the potential to keep growing.",F,600,partner,Manufacturing,0 Dominican Republic,"Seven months ago, this 20-year-old opened a small business preparing and selling sandwiches and hot dogs. She lives with her 23-year-old partner and her two children. Mara sells her sandwiches in a public place in the morning, and from her house in the afternoon. Her partner helps her sometimes, taking the goods to his job and selling them to his coworkers. Maria is requesting a loan of $250 to increase her sales. With the loan, she will be able to purchase more foodstuffs and increase her output. She will also buy fruits so she can prepare natural juices and expand her offerings to her customers. Additional income will help the couple care for their children more easily.",F,250,partner,Food,0 Dominican Republic,"Seven years ago, this 33 year old woman, who is the mother of three children, started her business. Lucrecia sells clothes and curtains. Every two weeks, she goes to Santo Domingo, the capital, to purchase the goods then resells them in her community. Generally, she operates the business in her house, but during the holiday season she goes to the public place to lay out her products to increase her sales volume. With the loan requested, the entrepreneur will purchase more clothes and curtains to sell for the period. She will also introduce tablecloths in order to diversify her inventory. That way, she will increase her income and will be in a better situation to improve her childrens life.",F,325,partner,Clothing,0 Dominican Republic,"Shely Perez is an energetic and lively 28 year old woman with 7 kids (ages 9, 7, 6, 5, 4, 3, 2, 1, and 8 months.) She is happily married and loves her kids more than anything else in the world. When she is not working she enjoys reading her Bible. With her first loan funded by Kiva, she was able to begin running her own business selling clothing to other people in her community. With this next loan she hopes to expand her business. Her goal is to have a boutique in Puerto Plata that sells nice clothes and shoes. She would also like to expand her home because there are nine people and not much room!This Bank of Hope has been part of Esperanzas microfinance program for over a year. Three of the four groups are applying for their second loan and one group is applying for the first time. The group of twenty women is very diverse: some have come over to the DR with their families from Haiti, and others were born and raised here. For these five women, this is an opportunity they have only dreamed of. Because it actually costs money in the Dominican Republic to even save money its unfathomable for these women to think that they would be offered a loan from someone besides a greedy loan shark, much less an organization that anticipates their personal growth and success.
On behalf of Esperanza, Shely, and the entire group we would like express our gratitude for your generosity and support!",F,3625,partner,Clothing,0 Dominican Republic,"Sicta, 48 years old, is married, with eleven children (five boys and six girls). Her husband is a farmer. She sells fresh chicken parts and vegetables like cabbage, and condiments like leeks, cloves, and so forth. Sicta needs a loan to purchase a large amount of those goods in order to easily cope with her customers demand. Recently she has been short of those goods, and its not good for business to run short of things.
Given this loan, Sicta will be able to continue providing a good education and nourishing food for her children and improve the familys economic situation.",F,325,partner,Food,0 Dominican Republic,"Siliana Yan is this group's coordinator and she sells clothing. Usually the best-selling items are women's and children's clothing. Dominican women care very much about their appearance, and children's appearance speaks to others of their mother's care. Siliana tries to keep her clothes inventory as assorted as possible. This loan will help with that. Siliana wants to build on her clothing sales to become a successful boutique--one that generates enough profit for her to purchase a home for herself.
This group of five entrepreneurs has successfully repaid one loan through Esperanza International; therefore, this is their second loan request. This is the first loan they are requesting for funding through Kiva. Their businesses include a beauty salon and two small cafeterias.
Thank you for supporting this loan!",F,1250,lender,Clothing,0 Dominican Republic,"Silverina lives with her two children and husband in a small rural town in the Dominican Republic. She runs a small business selling new and used clothes from her home, and occasionally she sells her merchandise on the streets of her community. She also sells gasoline by the gallon to her community members -- people often buy gasoline in smaller quantities here because it is so expensive -- which is a profitable business. She is requesting a loan to buy a better selection of clothes to sell, and a to buy a larger quantity of gasoline. It is her goal to own her own store where she can sell a variety of clothes, and operate a real gas station. She hopes her children will continue studying and that within a few years she will have saved enough to buy their own home. On behalf of everyone here at Esperanza International, and from Silverina herself, we thank you for your support with this micro loan!",F,4250,partner,Clothing,0 Dominican Republic,"Silvia chose the mini market as her business 8 years ago. She is a hard-working woman who has been able to maintain her business for a long time. Now it is time for her to make it grow; therefore, she wants to accept this loan to buy more inventory for her ""colmado"" or mini market. Every weekend the place becomes a night club for the people in her community to dance and have fun.
She is together with a man but not married to him, even though she has 7 children with him. Before she started her business, she used to stay at home and do house chores.",F,375,partner,Food,0 Dominican Republic,"Silvia Iluminada is an excellent cook and the proud mother of six children. She has a many years experience cooking typical Dominican dishes, and her clientele says that she cooks like nobodys business!
Silvia explains that this business is her main source of revenue, and that shes been supporting her childrens studies on her own for a long time. Silvia says that sometimes its really hard to keep up with six children, but shell keep doing her best to provide a good education for her kids. Actually, Silvia thinks that a mothers job is to ""sacrifice herself"" for the well being of her offspring.
This entrepreneur hopes that, as time goes by, shell see the results of her investments, and her kids will become important people in society. With her loan, Silvia will buy the ingredients to keep producing her delicious dishes so she can increase her revenue and improve her familys lifestyle.
",F,300,partner,Food,0 Dominican Republic,"Sima is the leader of this group of five women whose common purpose is to make their childrens lives a little bit better, providing them with a good education and well-being. Sima started her colmado (mini-market or grocery store) six years ago, and every single day she works hard to propel her business as the most well-established one in the community. Currently, Sima needs to inject capital into the store in order to increase her supplies and augment her sales volume. Shes requesting a loan which will help her purchase the goods that are running low in the store. Sima hopes that her business will allow her to keep supporting her four daughters' university studies. The other members of Simas group are:Jesusa Alcantara, who sells shoes in the community.
Maria Ysabel Ramirez, who produces cakes and sweets.
Cristina Henriquez Manzueta, who operates a beauty parlor.
Nelia Suero, who owns a small clothing store.
Picture: left to right: Nelia, Cristina, Maria Ysabel, Jesusa and Sima.",F,1200,partner,Food,1 Dominican Republic,"Simeona is a humble woman who tries really hard to maintain her very large family. Simeona lives with her husband and 8 sons and grandsons. Her husband works on the garbage trucks, picking up rubbish, and his modest wages don't allow him to provide fully for the family. To supplement her family's income, Simeona operates a small fruit and vegetable stand in her neighborhood. She says that her business is quite profitable, but she thinks she'd earn more money if she could introduce pork and beef to her business. She hopes that the loan she'll receive will allow her to reach this goal so that she can increase her income and improve her family's living conditions. Simeona is aware of her difficult economic situation, but she believes that with a lot of effort and sacrifice she'll be able to change many things in her family. The entrepreneur will receive her loan in company with these women: Teodora Castro Nicacio De Rubio, who'll invest her loan in pork and chicken; Victoria Carmona Concepcion, to invest in a fruit and vegetable stand; Andrea Leonardo Camacho Disla, who sells fruits and vegetables; and Felicia Mena Castillo, who owns a mini-market. Pictured from left to right are Felicia, Andrea, Victoria, Teodora and Simeona.",F,1000,partner,Food,1 Dominican Republic,"Since she and her husband split 3 years ago, Dominga, 47, has had to work hard so as to survive and feed her 3 children. She earns a living selling clothes for children, curtains, bed sheets and shoes for men. She walks around the streets and goes door-to-door to sell her products, since her house is too narrow and not handy for her customers.
As the holiday season is coming, Dominga needs a loan to purchase a large amount of the products shes selling, especially clothes for children. Indeed, this period is usually the high season for selling clothes.",F,325,partner,Clothing,0 Dominican Republic,"Since the death of her dearly beloved husband, Luca, 63, has had to work very hard to support her five sons, all of whom live with her. Two of her children are part-time farm workers, two are on unemployment and the youngest was disabled in an accident and is not able to work.
Luca started a small business three months ago and quickly realized that it was a great way to increase her income. She sells fresh chicken parts (legs, wings, giblets and so on) and boiled peas. Every day, she buys five live chickens from a poultry house near where she lives and sells the parts. A live chicken weighs four or five pounds, and costs about 30 pesos (or $1) per pound. Sold as parts, these chickens are worth more than 70 pesos per pound. Her boiled peas are popular because women in her township dont want to use the energy needed to soften peas in their gas ovens.
Because these activities have proved so lucrative, Luca has applied for a loan of $375 to expand her business. She'll use her loan to buy enough chickens and peas to substantially increase her income and better support her family.",F,375,partner,Wholesale,0 Dominican Republic,"Sindy is an eighteen-year-old girl who works hard to make a living. She lives with her partner, a 24-year-old man who works for a construction company. Sindy sells an assortment of perfumes and clothing to the women of her community. Currently, the entrepreneur operates the business within her house; and sometimes she walks along the streets or visits her neighbors in order to sell her products. However, she hopes that in a little while she can have a small locale so that her customers can make their purchases in more comfort.
With her loan, Sindy will buy clothing in bulk and new brands of perfumes to add to her current stock. The entrepreneur hopes the success of her business will help her attend a university next year.",F,600,partner,Retail,0 Dominican Republic,"Sirila is 29 years old and has 5 children. Shes living on the upper slopes of Yamas hill where she runs her business. She buys special cloth and with a sewing machine she makes mosquito nets that she sells in the surrounding community and Santo Domingo, the capital. From a quintal of cloth (approximately 100 pounds), she can make 60 mosquito nets in 15 days.
Sirila is requesting a loan of U.S $225.00 to expand her business and to have the capacity to reach more people, since the demand for this kind of product is increasing. Her product can prevent diseases caused by mosquito bites like dengue which has been very frequent during the last six months.",F,225,partner,Manufacturing,0 Dominican Republic,"Sixta is an elderly lady who has been working in her ""Colmado"" or mini-market for over six years. In her Colmado she sells rice, beans, salami, cooking oil, and other foodstuff.
Sixta is a widowed mother with 7 children who was born and raised in her community of Los Caos and she travels to the markets around her community like ""comercial altagracia"" to buy her products for the colmado.",F,375,partner,Food,0 Dominican Republic,"Sixta is in her early fifties and is a single mother of seven daughters. They all are working.
Sixta runs a general store that she started fifteen years ago. Her store is well known and people visit it every day to purchase rice, vegetable oil, milk, chocolate, and a large assortment of basic foodstuffs. She also sells plucked chickens and boiled beans. Sixta says she has got a lot of experience and skills from these years of running her business. She used to sell on credit but people often took unfair advantage of her kindness and they didnt want to pay on time. Now, she only takes cash.
Sixta needs funds to re-supply her store with a lot of products such as beer, rice, and sugar because those goods are running out. This will be the second loan she will have taken from our organization. Sixta has a good credit history and we are sure that she will manage to make her business grow and repay this second loan successfully . Her dream is to have a big store with a very big clientele, where she can sell a large assortment of goods.",F,900,partner,Food,0 Dominican Republic,"Sofia is an old woman pushing hard to make a living. She started selling women's clothing two years ago, just some days after her husband passed away. The entrepreneur operates her business from her home as it would be painful for her to go to the streets all day long. Every day, lots of people visit her house to buy her clothing. She sells fashionable items which can sell at a good profit for her business.
With her loan, Sofia will buy new exclusive clothing which is demanded by women in the community. The entrepreneur wants to have enough money to enjoy what she calls her 'last days on earth'.",F,250,partner,Clothing,1 Dominican Republic,"Solanyi is a brave woman who works hard to fend for her two sons aged seven and twelve years old. Solanyi sells womens clothing in the Don Gregorio community of San Cristobal. According to her, this business has been the principal source of income for her family over the last five years. Currently, Solanyi plans to increase her inventory to increase her sales. As her children are growing, it is becoming much more difficult for her to make her ends meet. She hopes that this loan (the fifth shell receive from FSMA) will help her move her business forward and provide a comfortable lifestyle for her family.",F,300,partner,Clothing,0 Dominican Republic,"Soledad is a very young entrepreneur that struggles to make a living. A couple of months ago, she started a beauty salon with a friends help. She runs the salon in a small, rented location. Soledad needs funds to buy some materials. With her loan she will buy a hair dryer, a used chair hair dryer and some hair brushes. Given this loan, the entrepreneur will able to support her university education in the capital.",F,200,partner,Services,0 Dominican Republic,"Sonia Cleotilde sells gasoline in her community, and she's now taking out her second loan with FSMA through Kiva. Her husband runs a small business selling motorcycle parts. Sonia explains that she needs more capital to inject into the business as she can't buy the same amount of fuel she used to buy before. Actually, the high price of petroleum has produced a huge increase in the price of gasoline in the country, and it's difficult for Sonia to purchase the precious liquid.
The entrepreneur hopes she'll be given this loan before long so that she can keep operating her business and supporting her three children.",F,150,partner,Retail,1 Dominican Republic,"Sonia is a 37 year old woman who lives in a small suburb outside of the capital with nine other family members, including her two sons, four daughters and two grandchildren. She runs a small business from her home that sells prepared food. She is asking for this loan so that she can offer more food to her customers and community members, and in turn, make a larger profit.
Her dreams are to be able to better support her family and to see her children continue studying so that they can be smart and educated professionals with healthy and blessed families of their own.
Sonia says that things are often very hard. As her husband has passed away, she has been left to provide for everyone, as well as act as both a father and mother. She is very grateful however for the opportunity to take this loan out and sends her thanks and love to all of you who are helping to support her!",F,700,partner,Food,0 Dominican Republic,"Sonia lives in Batey, the migrant camps which house immigrant Haitian sugar-cane workers and their families. She lives with her family in one of the Batey company houses, barracks owned by the nationalized sugar-cane industry. She is 29 years old, unmarried and raises her children on her own. She has two children, ages 11 and 15.
Her Colmado, a small grocery store, provides food and small convenience goods to her community (i.e. rice, cooking, oil, soap). She buys her products in El Seybo and sells them to her community.
This is her third loan from Esperanza. She successfully paid back her first two loans of 300 USD and 330 USD respectively. Her profits allow her to buy food for her family and keep sending her children to school. She moved to the Dominican Republic from Haiti 8 years ago.",F,450,partner,Food,0 Dominican Republic,"Sonia Maria Franco and Luisa Marte are group coordinators for the Las Flores Bank of Hope in Los Alcarrizos. Sonia has 7 children living in her home, and Luisa has 3 children in her home. El Progreso bank members have been participating in the Esperanza loan program for up to a year. Sonia will be using her loan to buy food products and inventory for her fried food stand and her variety store. For her variety store, Sonia will be specifically investing in buying bedding products.
Luisa's micro business is clothing sales. She purchases her wares in Santo Domingo, and brings them back to her community. Previous to taking out microloans, these women could not run their own sustainable businesses. Sonia was employed as a domestic worker, and Lusia in a factory. Neither women saw much of a future in either of those employment activities, and agree that working for themselves shows much more promise and more profit.
In the future, Sonia mentions that she would like to grow her business and upgrade her home with cement block installation. Lusia would like to make similar improvements to her home, and perhaps expand her business venture into a cafeteria.
Thank you for supporting these entrepreneurs!",F,1925,partner,Clothing,0 Dominican Republic,"Sonia Martinez is a 38-year-old woman who lives with her husband, 17-year-old daughter, and mother in a small community called Villa Vilorio in the eastern province of Hato Mayor in the Dominican Republic. She began a small business selling clothing and jewelery a year and a half ago and continues to increase her inventory with each loan. Sonia not only buys clothing in the capital to resell from her home, but she also buys materials to knit hats and blankets. She has started these businesses so that she can provide her daughter with a good education and her sick mother with proper medical care. It is her hope that one day she may convert her house of wood into one of sturdy concrete.
Sonia is the leader of the 10-person micro-bank group, El Samaritano. In English, this means `The Samaritan. Each of these unique Dominican entrepreneurs unite in solidarity, allowing them to access funding that they would otherwise never be able to receive on their own.
On behalf of Sonia, the Samaritano group, and the entire team here at Esperanza International, we thank you for your support with this micro loan!",F,2250,partner,Clothing,0 Dominican Republic,"Sonia Milanes is a hard-working 63 year old woman living in Puerto Plata, Dominican Republic. She has three sons who are all married and lives with her husband, Luis de la Rosa. She will use this loan to open a small clothing shop. She will go to the near by city of Santiago and buy pants, shirts, blouses, undergarments, and shoes. Sonia hopes that her business will be successful enough to one have her own business and a house for her sons.
Sonia Milanes is part of a 10-person micro-bank, Mujeres de Esperanza, which means Esperanzas Women. Each woman has their own personal business but they unite to pay their loan as a group. The purpose of the group loan is to assist each other in case someone defaults. The Kiva loans will be divided among the group to pay back.
We thank you for your support on behalf of Sonia, the Mujeres de Esperanza group, and the entire team at Esperanza International.",F,150,partner,Clothing,0 Dominican Republic,"Soraida is the owner of one of the most famous grocery stores in Lambedera, in the community of Yamas. Everyday, people in the neighborhood go to her store to purchase a wide range of products such as rice, milk, chocolate, juices, alcoholic drinks, and many other basic foodstuffs.
Soraida has been running her store for more than ten years. Soraida is married and has three sons aged of two, eight and ten years old. The two elder attend school.
The grocery store is the main source of income for the family, and through the business, she is supporting the studies of her sons. This determined businesswoman is requesting a loan to stock up the store since supplies are running low and she has to satisfy her customers needs.
",F,600,partner,Food,0 Dominican Republic,"Sorangel is an experienced person in doing business. She is living with her husband and their beloved one-year-old daughter. For the sake of sustaining the family, her husband has a lottery bank and offers his services as a barber to the men of the township. Sorangel attends to the drink store of the couple. The store has its key activities at night, even though its open in the morning. The atmosphere is very pleasant, because there is good sound equipment, and almost all types of drinks are sold. Customers seize upon that time to play dominos and cards there.Generally, Sorangel has to go to Santo Domingo, the capital, every weekend to buy wholesale drinks. Since the terrain is pretty rough, the delivery service of the drinks companies cant easily take the goods to her business. So shes obliged to rent an expensive truck and take the supplies to her.
Up until now, the business has been profitable. In fact, when we visited her store, we could observe that there was nothing left to sell. People in the township consume a lot of alcohol, especially during the weekends, and the demand continues growing.
Sorangel has applied to borrow US $375 that will help her buy more drinks in order to face the growing demand from the population. This way, she will be able to increase her income and use part of that additional to buy fuel for the two motorcycles of the business. Shell also be able to save some money for other needs of the family.",F,375,partner,Food,0 Dominican Republic,"Soria is a 41-year-old woman who lives with her seven children in the slums that surround Santo Domingo. Her children range from 23 years old to 9 years old.
She has a small business where she sells various hair accessories, beauty supplies, and feminine accessories. She asked for this loan so that she could invest more money into the supplies that she is able to sell from her store. With the extra income from this story she hopes to save her money so that one day in the next couple of years she can open an even bigger store and be known as a respectable business woman and leader in her community.
Her dream is to own her own home one day, and one that is built from concrete blocks so that it will withstand the hurricanes and tropical storms that pound her tiny country every year. She also hopes to see her children go to college, and continue with their studies.
Soria and her story represent the Las Flores Bank of Hope; she belongs to a group of 10 women and men and women who are taking out their first micro loan with Esperanza. Each of these men and women has taken out a similar loan to that of Soriason behalf of all of them, and our team here at Esperanza, thank you for your support!",F,1450,partner,Personal Use,0 Dominican Republic,"Sosiana Manase is married with five children who was living in extreme poverty until she started a small business a while ago that has been growing since. When she came to Esperanza International she was living only off her husband's salary which was not much. She and her husband could barely feed such a large family, and she said she felt like she was not helping. She took out a small loan and started a business selling flowers and now wants to take out her sixth loan! She has always paid each of her loan payments on time, and has slowly grown her business with each loan. She now earns enough money to take care of her children and have them all in school. She also feels useful to her husband and knows that she has a purpose each day. She is so happy with the way her business is going and loves having something of her own. She and her husband are living more comfortably and finally can save some money to send their children to college. They pray that someday their children will have a good, comfortable life. Sosiana is ready for this next loan, and very excited about the next stage of her business and her life!",F,1100,partner,Agriculture,0 Dominican Republic,"Sujeidy is twenty seven years old, and she and her partner have three children. The youngest, one year old, does not wander too far from mom, while Sujeidys elder children, seven and four, attend school. Sujeidy is very humble, and quickly points out that her business is quite new, having only started in the last few weeks. Currently, she sells men's and womens clothing; mostly shoes and sneakers, along with a variety of bedtime wear. With her loan, Sujeidy plans on focusing on womens sleepwear and adding more shoes and sneakers to her selection. Even though she is just getting started, Sujeidy explains that her enterprise will help her maintain a comfortable lifestyle for her family. She hopes that her business will someday grow into a fully stocked clothing shop.",F,150,partner,Clothing,0 Dominican Republic,"Sunilda sells a variety of candies, cakes and pop corn to the children and teachers of primary school in Caf community of Santo Domingo. Sunilda has three school-going children, and she and her husband have to struggle in order to support their studies. As she talks about her dream for the future, Sunilda says that she would like to have a house where her family can live comfortably. She also wants to have a local place where she can operate the business. That way, Sunilda wont have to take her merchandise everyday to the school, and people will be able to visit her store to make the purchase of these goods. She is requesting a loan of $375 to buy raw materials to keep producing her candies and cakes.",F,375,partner,Food,0 Dominican Republic,"Susana is a young entrepreneur and mother of three children who is fighting to lift her family out of poverty. A few months ago, she took an FSMA loan, and used it to open a small business selling fried bananas, potatoes, spicy pork sausage, and natural juices in the Mata San Juan community of Santo Domingo.
Susana explains that her business supports her children. She also explains that she has to increase her income to fend for her youngest son, born just two weeks ago.
With her second loan, Susana wants to buy raw materials and other goods to move her business forward. With this loan, the entrepreneur will be able to improve her family's living conditions.
",F,375,partner,Food,0 Dominican Republic,"Susana is the coordinator of this group of businesswomen who live in Cajuiles, a small town of Cotu. Susana owns and operates a grocery store which she started about four years ago, and it enjoys an excellent reputation for offering good quality and low-priced products. Susana's husband is a farmer, and the couple has four children attending school.Since turnover in her business is very fast, this entrepreneur needs to continually purchase more and more goods in order to satisfy her clients' needs. She is requesting a loan to buy some sacks of rice, fresh chicken parts, cooking oil and other foodstuffs that are running low in her grocery store.
Susana hopes and expects that her business will keep growing, thereby enabling her to improve her family's living conditions.
The members of Susana's group are: Antonia De Jesus Taveras, a clothing and footwear retailer; Joselin Brito Contreras, who operates a mini-market; Gertrudis Victoria Torres Rodriguez, who operates a grocery store; Vicenta Liranzo Crisostomo, who'll invest her loan in footwear.
The picture shows from left to right: Vicenta, Gertrudis, Joselin, Antonia and Susana.",F,1125,partner,Food,1 Dominican Republic,"Tania lives with her husband and three children (ages: 16, 14, and 12) in the town of Samana. She is the proud owner of Salon de Belleza and she plans on using this loan for shampoo, conditioner, dye, and brushes. When she is not working at the salon she loves to draw, visit with her friends, and in the future she hopes to have a bigger home for her and her family. She is a very energetic and bright woman, and is determined to see her children have a better life than her own.
These 10 women are eagerly awaiting this loan and cant wait to put it to good use. Thank you to Kiva lenders for your continued support and generosity!",F,2750,partner,Services,0 Dominican Republic,"Tania Martinez is one of two groups leaders in the Renovacion Las Aguilas group. She runs a small business called a fantasia out of her house. In the Dominican Republic, a fantasia is a store that sells a variety of non-grocery goods. Tania sells bicycles, shoes, perfumes and other items. Tania lives in Santiago, a crowded city that suffers from severe rainwater drainage problems. The income from her business goes to support her family and two children, ages eight and ten. She has previously taken out one Esperanza loan, and found it to be a great help. Tania was able to restock her inventory at a time when her familys budget was very tight. She plans to use this loan to expand her inventory. Tania reports that her involvement with Esperanza has given her a more positive outlook on her businesss ability to succeed in this economy. She has learned how to more efficiently manage her costs, which has led her to feel more confident in her skills as a business owner.",F,1525,lender,Retail,0 Dominican Republic,"Tempora Maria lives with her four children in the low-income comunity of Arroyo Salado in San Cristobal. Her husband works part-time in a grocery store in the neighborhood. Money is so tight that she can't help her children get the education they need to get ahead. She says that its difficult for her and her husband even to put food on the table and provide for other basic needs. To reverse this situation, Tempora is asking for a loan to start a small business selling footwear. She plans to run her business from her home, and she will call on potential clients in the neighborhood to promote and sell her goods.
Tempora hopes that this business will help her lift her family out of poverty.",F,200,partner,Retail,1 Dominican Republic,"Teodora Andisin is a kind and gentle older lady who has used her loans from Esperanza Internacional for a little over one year now to sustain and grow her business. She owns a shop specializing in the sale of food and drink items, such as bread and various kinds of juice, and therefore uses her loans for the operation of the store, primarily purchasing goods to sell. Ms. Andisin is the mother of four children, three of whom are still her dependents. When not doing work for her store, she enjoys watching television and has a particular love for various juices. In the future she hopes to see her business grow and progress to better the lives of herself and her family.
In the picture provided, Ms. Andisin is with her loan group, but she is just one of 20 members of a micro-bank called Nueva Esperanza, or New Hope in English. Her story is just one among many of this group of men and women who are improving their quality of life through the help of the micro-credit loans of Esperanza. This group has come together with a common vision of a better life, with faith and hope in their hearts and an unbreakable spirit. The concept of group lending is to have loans paid back in a group to reduce the risk of any one person defaulting, as others pick up where a person may lag so as to receive the next loan. Each of the associates in this bank has a similar business whether it be selling bread and various kinds of juice or cutting hair. Thank you for your support and awareness of this issue. It is your concern and efforts that are able to bring a difference to the lives of these wonderful people.
",F,1325,partner,Retail,0 Dominican Republic,"Teofila Polanco, pictured on the right, is the coordinator of her 5-member group. She resides in Carlo Alvares, a small town in the sector of Villa Mella, part of Santo Domingo Norte. She lives with her husband and four children: two girls ages 18 and 13, and two boys ages 9 and 6. The oldest girl currently studies tourism in college. Teofila works hard so all of her children can attend school. She currently operates a ""san"" business. This is a business where people order a product from her, and then pay her weekly or monthly. Once they have paid enough for the item, she buys it and delivers it to them. Teofila plans to use this loan in order to stock up on the items with the greatest demand, such as pressure cookers, cooking wear, and sandals. By buying them before they have been ordered, she can purchase them in bulk at lower prices and provide faster service. As a result, she will be able to handle more customers investing in her ""san,"" and increase her flow of income. With the increased income, she hopes to be able to afford a technology course for her 13-year-old and take beauty classes. Some of Teofila's long term goals are to place all four of her children through college and to improve her current living situation.",F,1125,lender,Retail,0 Dominican Republic,"Teresa and her partner have three children. She is a very young entrepreneur who has been selling womens clothing for one year now. She obtains garments from Santo Domingo, the Dominican Republic's capital, as well as from the Fleet Market at very low prices.
Teresa hopes to increase her income significantly. With her Kiva loan, she plans to buy clothing in bulk. That way, she wont have to make frequent trips outside her community to get the clothing. Teresa hopes her business becomes successful so that she can continue providing education for her children. Teresa says her family is very needy, and that she is working hard to change their living conditions.",F,200,partner,Clothing,0 Dominican Republic,"Teresa is a very intelligent and hard-working woman who lives in the town of Samana with her three children, ages five, 14, and 15. She sells fried and baked bread outside of her house, and hopes to expand her business. With this loan she plans to buy flour, coconut, and sugar, which she uses to make sweet bread. In her free time she attends church and spends time with her friends. She looks forward to being able to create a better future for herself and her family, and thanks you for your support!",F,4025,partner,Food,0 Dominican Republic,"Teresa lives in the San Luis community of Santo Domingo. She sells shoes and pants to the women in her neighborhood. Teresa would like to add more items to her stock, because her shoes and pants sell quickly and she has to replenish the goods too frequently. A loan will enable her to acquire enough product to spend more time selling and less time replenishing. She hopes that someday shell be able to buy her own home.",F,350,partner,Retail,1 Dominican Republic,"Teresa sells hats, shoes and clothes to adolescents in her neighborhood. She has three of her own, two girls and one boy, whom she raises and puts through school with the income generated by her business. Teresa has paid off her first loan from Esperanza, which gave her the opportunity to start her own business. This loan will allow her to replenish her inventory and expand the types of products she can sell. OTE: Teresa is a member of an Esperanza solidarity group, which means this $750 will go to finance her business as well as four other micro-entrepreneurs in her community, whom Teresa has gone through training with and they will make each loan repayment together. You will receive journals covering Teresa's progress and that of her fellow group members.",F,750,partner,Clothing,0 Dominican Republic,"Tereza has been selling bedspreads for eight months in El Cacique community of Yamas. She is twenty-seven years old and has four children. Her husband lives outside the country and visits the family only rarely. Tereza says her business is very profitable because she buys a bedspread at 600 Dominican pesos and resells it at about 1000 pesos or more (USD 1.00 = 34 pesos).
Until now, the entrepreneur has been running her business out of her rented house but she says she will keep doing business in order that she can finish her own house which is being built in the same community. Tereza will use her loan to purchase more bedspreads in order to increase her income.",F,300,partner,Retail,0 Dominican Republic,"Tereza is an optimistic businesswoman who struggles to make a living and take care of her family. She sells housewares to women in her community. Tereza humbly explains that she still has to make lots of efforts to propel her business to newer heights, and she hopes that this new loan she is requesting will allow her to put her business on the path to success. Tereza has already successfully completed loans from FSMA and hopes to continue to expand her business in the future.",F,150,partner,Retail,1 Dominican Republic,"Tereza is thirty years old, married, and operates a small ice cream shop in her home. All of the ice cream is homemade and Tereza takes great pride in her sweet creations. She plans on using her loan to buy a larger freezer to accommodate a greater quantity of ice cream that, in turn, will be sold to more customers. Tereza also hopes to buy more of the ingredients she uses to make the ice cream and increase her offerings. Tereza aspires to own a big ice cream shop with plenty of seating, and dreams the entire community will enjoy her ice cream.",F,300,partner,Food,0 Dominican Republic,"Tereza sells bedspreads in the Cacique community of Monte Plata, and shes now taking her second loan with FSMA. Tereza has five children, and currently her activity is the sole means of support of the family. She explains that maintaining the cash flow is sometimes challenging, but she expects her new bedspread patterns and styles that shell buy with her loan will help in increasing her sales volume and her income. Tereza hopes that her business will help her to keep taking care of her children and supporting their education.",F,400,partner,Retail,1 Dominican Republic,"The 10 entrepreneurs requesting this Kiva loan are mostly Haitian immigrants who have settled in the northern outskirts of Santo Domingo, the Dominican Republic's capital city, in search of better opportunities. Most of them do not speak any Spanish, which makes their communication very limited. Some of the group members can understand Spanish when you speak, but they can't speak themselves.
These entrepreneurs will all start a new micro business with this loan. Most of them will buy a bundle of clothing to sell. Even though many of them will do the same activity, their strategy is to sell in different communities. Some of them have spots at local markets or go to nearby communities on market day to offer their merchandise. One of the group members will sell cosmetics, two others will sell shoes, and another will set up a small fruit and vegetable stand. She will purchase the produce at a local market and sell on the streets.
Many of the members of this group are single mothers who have to provide for their small children. Because of the language barrier, it is very hard for them to find a regular job (if not impossible). This is why they've turned to self-employment. These two groups of five got together through their local church, and aside from Bank meetings, they also meet at church.
Please help us support these new micro entrepreneurs through this Kiva loan. Thank you!",M,2250,lender,Clothing,0 Dominican Republic,"The 10 group members of the Dios Verdadero (True God) Bank of Hope live in San Pedro De Macoris in the southeastern Dominican Republic. Groups 1 and 2 from this bank are participating in this loan. Juana Torres is the Group 1 Coordinator She has a 14-year old child and runs a small variety store in her house where she sells a variety of products, specializing in accessories. Juana will use this loan to buy new merchandise to sell so she has more variety to offer her clients. Her dream is to own a boutique some day. Most of the other group members are engaged in diverse retail activities, from selling undergarments to bread and fish. Some others have repair shops or cafeterias. They are all looking forward to expanding their businesses to keep providing their children and families with an improved quality of life. On behalf of Esperanza International, thank you for supporting these entrepreneurs!",F,2075,partner,Retail,0 Dominican Republic,"The Amistad Bank of Hope is now starting its 8th loan cycle with Esperanza International. Ana Febles is the group coordinator for these five ladies. Ana is a single mother of 3 children. Her business consists of making hair products; shampoo, conditioner and anti-frizz serum, as well as disinfectant for floors and home surfaces. Ana purchases chemical products from local distributors to make her products and packs them for distribution. Her finished products are sold in small grocery stores and in her own home. She hopes to see her children become professionals, which is one reason why she invests so much time and energy into her small business: to produce profits to allow her to provide a good education for her children. She also set a goal of buying a pickup truck a year from now to sell her products in other communities and outside her province to expand her clientele. She thinks Esperanza Internationals support through loans will help her achieve her dreams. On behalf of these entrepreneurs and Esperanza International, thank you for supporting this loan!",F,1525,lender,Retail,0 Dominican Republic,"The Amor y Esperanza (Love and Hope) Bank of Hope group is ready to start its entrepreneurial endeavor with Esperanza International. The members of this group are very excited about receiving their loans and bringing new life to their businesses. They feel very thankful to be given the opportunity to receive a loan and improve their lives through their own work. Yolanda Poche Valdez is the group coordinator. She has four children who are all grown up (the youngest is 26 years old). However, they all still live with her and she supports them financially. Her business consists of selling clothing from her house. She purchases clothes in bundles, then sells the clothes, and this activity is what her first loan will be used for. If sales are good, she can sell them all in a month. This bundle will be entirely of childrens clothing, not necessarily because it sells better, but, in Yolandas words, Because these are the clothes I like to sell. She thinks the fact that she dedicates her business to only the clothes she likes to sell will make her business progress. She hopes in the future to buy and sell bundles with bedding (sheets and towels) as well as clothes for adults. Matelo Cauzi is the group two coordinator. He has six children who are all living with him. He sells vegetables in a stand at a local market. He buys his vegetables from a large supplier in the same market and sells them in his small stand. The vegetables he sells the most are carrots and eggplant. Eggplant is a popular food in Dominican Republic because it doesnt cost much, making it affordable when meat is too expensive. Also, it serves as a good side dish with rice and beans, which is the traditional Dominican meal. Matelo thinks its important for a stand in a market to look attractive so that customers are drawn to it. He also thinks a seller must be aware of his customers demands because demands vary from person to person. He hopes this first loan with Esperanza International will help him increase his sales and help him set up a larger stand in the market. Please help these new micro entrepreneurs launch their initiatives to generate income and improve their quality of life. On behalf of Esperanza International, thank you for your support!",F,2250,lender,Clothing,0 Dominican Republic,"The assiduous and hard-working women that make up this group consider themselves an anti-poverty outfit. They live in the low-income Sabana Grande de Boya community of Monte Plata, where they run different small businesses in order to survive and take care of their families. The group representative, Victoria, is 43 years old and sells women's clothing in the neighborhood. Because she lacks capital, she is unable to introduce new clothing items, which has impeded her from capturing new potential clients and increasing her sales volume and income. As expected, Victoria was very happy when we told her that she would be given a loan in order to strengthen her small business. She will use the loan to buy some fashionable clothing, which will generate a better income for the business. Victoria hopes that her business's growth will allow her to provide her family with a better lifestyle. The other members of Victoria's group are: Valentina Santana Sosa, a fruit and vegetable stand owner; Rosa Bonet Calis, a clothing retailer; Mirlanesse Valdez Decena, who sells undergarments; and Lucrecia Barona, who sells meat and vegetables in the neighborhood. The photo shows from left to right, Mirlanesse, Valentina, Rosa, Lucrecia and Victoria.",F,1475,lender,Clothing,1 Dominican Republic,"The Bank of Hope ""Maritza Mercedes"" is located in El Seybo. Group 8 has just gotten approval on their third loan. All members of this group will be investing their money directly in merchandise purchases. Sandra Montecino is the group representative. Her business consists of selling shoes. In the future, these micro-entrepreneurs state that they'd love to see better lives for their children, good health-care and education, they'd like to grow their business ventures further, and some would like to continue their own studies (at the secondary and university level). Sandra has set herself the goal of building her own house. The picture provided shows these group members gathered at the Esperanza office in El Seybo. Thank you for supporting these entrepreneurs!",F,1275,partner,Clothing,0 Dominican Republic,"The Bendicion (Blessing) Bank of Hope has 2 groups of five entrepreneurs, with a total of 10 members. They all live in San Pedro de Macoris, in the southwest Dominican Republic. This is their first loan with Esperanza International.
Celeste de los Santos is the Group 1 coordinator. She has 6 children, ages 21,18,16,14,11 and 10. The younger three still live with her. She is very concerned about providing well for them and making sure they have the best education possible.
Celeste's business is a small sandwich/coffee shop. She will use her loan money to purchase more sandwich provisions (bread, ham, cheese, tomatoes), in order to serve a larger clientele. She believes this first loan will take her closer to her goal of a larger cafeteria.
Thank you for supporting these entrepreneurs!",F,1175,partner,Food,0 Dominican Republic,"The clothing business is one of the favorites for microentrepreneurs, as everyone needs clothing and there's a ample profit margin in sales of such. In the case of the ""pacas"", we are talking of even higher margins than those usually found in the business, as these are pressed bundles of new and used clothing that are sent to poor countries as assistance, but end up being traded in an ""open"" market in this country. The business is even more profitable when you buy unopened bundles, as the element of surprise makes the initial sales price lower for lack of real knowledge of what's in the bundle.
Usually the bundles are made up of clothing which is much more appreciated in the market than the real price paid for the unopened bundle. (Sometimes one can get 'burnt' in the process, but this is a rare occasion, and usually one can at least 'break even' under the most negative clothing bundle conditions.)
Even though Francisca is a young mother, she now needs to take care of her offspring, and therefore is going to start out in this business, which she feels is the most lucrative she can develop. Or as she affirms...""for the time being"".",F,250,partner,Clothing,0 Dominican Republic,"The Decadas group is made of five new entrepreneurs from San Pedro de Macoris. This is their very first micro-loan. Their business activities are mostly clothing sales and small grocery stores, except for Eustaquio, who has a car and motorcycle repair shop.
Sonia Cano was chosen to be the group representative. She and her partner, Rafael, have three children. She will start a clothing business. Her plan is to purchase items like t-shirts, women's blouses, jeans, and undergarments to sell in her neighborhood to her acquaintances. She knows that possibly, people won't buy much at the same time, which is why she plans to keep her sales varied.
Sonia would like to eventually own a house where she and her family can live more comfortably and not pay rent, since this will most likely represent a large portion of her monthly profits.
The members of this group are very excited about this opportunity they have received and believe that it will bring new life to their household economies. Thank you for supporting this Kiva loan!",M,1075,lender,Clothing,0 Dominican Republic,"The El Mamey Bank of Hope is a new group of micro-entrepreneurs joining Esperanza International for a loan. They live near Villa Mella, which is a large district on the northern outskirts of Santo Domingo. There, employment opportunities are scarce and life conditions are difficult. Most people have turned to self-employment to support their families.
This groups coordinator is Lario Pierre. Lario is 28 years old. He is married and has 3 children. Despite having some college education, Lario has not been able to find a good job placement. He has taken advantage of the numerous construction sites around Villa Mella to sell breakfast and lunch to the construction workers. He sells good portions of traditional items like rice and beans for a very low price. He plans on using this loan to buy more food items in order to be able to cook more portions to sell, since he is finding a larger demand for his meals.
Lario hopes the profits from his business will help him establish a food business where people can come and buy from him, instead of his having to go and sell on site.
On behalf of the El Mamey Bank of Hope members and Esperanza International, thank you for your support!",F,1125,lender,Food,0 Dominican Republic,"The El Mamey Bank of Hope is a new group of micro-entrepreneurs joining Esperanza International for a loan. They live near Villa Mella, which is a large district on the northern outskirts of Santo Domingo. There, employment opportunities are scarce and life conditions are difficult. Most people have turned to self-employment to support their families. All the members of this group are Haitian immigrants.
Roselene Faustin is the group coordinator. She is married and has 3 children. She has a small stand where she sells fruits and vegetables, and she will use her loan to buy more items to sell. Her biggest challenge at the time is communicating. She hardly speaks any Spanish and has a hard time speaking and trying to understand her Dominican customers. She was not able to go to school either, so cannot read or write. This is a powerful reason for Roselene to work very hard to provide her children with an education that will help them embrace a future with more opportunities.
On behalf of the El Mamey Bank of Hope members and Esperanza International, thank you for your support!",F,875,lender,Food,0 Dominican Republic,"The five entrepreneurs applying for this Kiva loan have already paid back two loans to Esperanza International over 6-month terms. This third loan will be used to strengthen their businesses' inventories, which will hopefully produce higher sales volumes.
Milagros Pimentel is the group representative, and her business consists of selling charcoal. In the impoverished area where she lives, many people do not have a stove to cook on or cannot afford gas. Their option is to cook the little food they have in aluminum pots and pans over charcoal fires. Milagros has managed to develop a faithful clientle and hopes to continue providing charcoal to them by buying more with this loan.
Milagros's greatest ambition is to contribute to the education of her four children attending school by supporting them for as long as they wish to continue studying. Her hopes are that through education they can access better employment opportunities.
Please help us to continue supporting these five micro entrepreneurs. Thank you!",F,850,lender,Retail,0 Dominican Republic,"The five entrepreneurs taking part in this loan are on their 6th loan cycle with Esperanza International. Ysabel Sufron is their coordinator. Ysabel and her husband have three children, but they are all grown up. Ysabel has hairstyling skills, but doesn't work as a hairdresser. Instead, she sells a variety of products: from accesories, to personal care, to home products. She will use this loan to buy what her customers have been ordering from her lately. Ysabel doesn't want to go back to beauty. She dreams of becoming an important supplier in the San Pedro area and own a large warehouse. She also hopes her profits will help her support her children's education and help them go to college. Ysabel has come a long way, but has not lost her determination or initiative. Please help us continue to support her and her friends with this Kiva loan. Thank you!",F,1625,lender,Retail,0 Dominican Republic,"The five members of the Union Cristiana Bank of Hope are ready to start their entrepreneurship adventure through Esperanza International. This is their first loan, and the group is very optimistic about using it to improve their business activities.
Wilkins Chacon is the group coordinator. He is the father of four boys, two of whom live with him, while the other two live with their mother. Wilkins used to sell fruits and vegetables as a street vendor, but has decided to set up a produce business at home because he would like to spend more time with his children. He wants to take better care of them and be more involved in their education.
Wilkins has set up a small produce stand at his home, with room to store produce and receive clients. He will use this first loan to buy the produce he plans to sell. When interviewed about his business, Wilkins explained that the products in highest demand are plantains, bananas, sweet potatoes, yucca, all salad vegetables, papayas, melons, oranges and tangerines. He goes to the market three times a week to restock. He hopes to stabilize his home business and eventually grow it into a mini market.
The Union Cristiana Bank of Hope and Esperanza International thank you for helping Wilkins grow his business and be a more present parent by working from home.",F,1125,partner,Food,0 Dominican Republic,"The four members of Group 3 from David Bank of Hope in La Romana will begin their second loan. They hope this new loan will help them strengthen their businesses, several of which were started with their first loan. Lavila Pierre is the group coordinator. She has two children, ages 4 and 7. She sells clothes and will use her entire second loan to buy new merchandise so that she has stock and can produce profits for a longer period of time. Lavila could not get any formal education, but she knows how important it is in order to have better income-generating activities. She dreams of seeing her children graduate from college from a career of their choice. This is why she works very hard to take her clothes-selling business to her ultimate goal, which is to have her own boutique. Thank you for supporting these entrepreneurs!",F,750,lender,Clothing,0 Dominican Republic,"The Fuente de Bendicion Bank of Hope from San Pedro de Macoris is starting their entrepreneurship with their first loan from Esperanza International. Joselania Serrano and Maria Garcia are the two group coordinators. Joselania is the mother of 5 children between the ages of 16 and 7, and Maria has a 6-year-old son. Joselania has a clothing sales business, and Maria has a vegetable stand. Both will use their loans to buy new products for their customers. They find their daily work is their biggest challenge, but they also believe having their own businesses will allow them to take better care of their children by being self-employed and generating income to provide for their needs. When asked about their dreams for the future, Joselania answered she would like to own a large boutique. Maria want to have her own grocery store and a house of her own. Please support these entrepreneurs as they start their businesses thanks to this loan. Thank you!",F,1875,lender,Clothing,0 Dominican Republic,"The group 1 from the ""Los Laureles"" Bank of Hope, a group of 5 entrepreneurs, live in Los Alcarrizos, on the northwestern outskirts of Santo Domingo, the capital city. Pressina Haitienne is the group coordinator. She is divorced and has no children.
Pressina, like many of the group members and the people who live in her area, is a Haitian inmigrant. She barely has elementary school education. Pressina sells clothes as her micro-business. Some of the other group members businesses are food stands and small grocery/convenience stores. Pressina hopes that taking loans to expand her merchandise and be able to satisfy a larger clientele will allow her to be financially independent one day and live in better conditions. She also hopes her business reaches a point where she makes enough profits to help others in need.
Thank you for supporting these entrepreneurs!",F,1575,lender,Clothing,0 Dominican Republic,"The Group 1 from the Florentino Bank of Hope in Los Alcarrizos is on their third loan cycle with Esperanza International. Los Alcarrizos is a large district on the northwestern outskirts of Santo Domingo. Many of its habitants are Haitian inmigrants.
Suze Charlex is one of the group members. Suze is 31 years old, is married and has 2 children. She sells seasoning and cooking spices in her small business at home. All the other group members are involved in clothing sales. Suze's customers are mostly from her own neighborhood. She will use this loan to buy some more products to continue her activities. Her pastimes include reading the Bible, praying, and thinking about new ways to ""spice up"" her business. She also dreams of providing her children a good education.
On behalf of Esperanza International, thank you for supporting this group!",F,1700,partner,Food,0 Dominican Republic,"The group 4 from Los Lirios Bank of Hope is ready to receive their first loan. This is a group of entrepreneurs who live in Los Alcarrizos, a large county on the northeastern outskirts of Santo Domingo. Evelyn is 36 years old and has 3 children. She has some college education, but has not been able to finish. She runs a small beauty salon in her home where she offers basic beauty services like washing, blow drying, and perms. Evelyn hopes this loan will be the first step to expanding her business and making it grow into the big beauty parlor she dreams of. She hopes this will be a mean for her to provide a better education for her children and to finish her own.
In the picture, we can see the 5 bank members in Evelyns salon, which is located in her garage. On behalf of Esperanza International, thank you for supporting these entrepreneurs!",F,750,lender,Services,0 Dominican Republic,"The leader of this group is Barbara Messon Figueora, who appears at the far left in the picture. Barbara is an experienced and confident businesswoman. She owns and operates a successful grocery store in her community, Hacienda Estrella. The entrepreneur started her business some years ago, and now her small store is well known and appreciated by people in the community who visit it every day to purchase a lot of products.
Due to the constant demand for products from her customers, Barbara needs to keep replenishing her store time and again. She is requesting a loan to buy various goods to add to her grocery store so that she can keep satisfying her clientele. The entrepreneur hopes that someday shell have enough money to provide a more comfortable lifestyle for her children. Shed like to travel and know other countries and cultures, too.
The optimistic Barbara is joined in her group by:
The members of Odelines group are: Jessica Faustina, who sells clothing; Mellisa Bergak, who will buy clothing in bulk; Yuselle Charles, will replenish the stock in her small clothing store; and Alicia Desir, also a clothing retailer.",F,1475,partner,Food,1 Dominican Republic,"The leader of this group, Argentina, is 38 years old and mother of two beautiful children. Her husband is a hawker. Argentina operates a small beauty salon she started about two years ago. In addition to generating income for her family, this activity allows Argentina to feel more independent and helps her gain more self-confidence. The entrepreneur operates her salon during the weekends.
Argentina works hard and spends money to take acrylic nails and hair dressing courses. That way, shell be a highly-trained professional, capable of overcoming the competition and offering better services to her clientele. Argentina is also a woman who devotes her life to God. She says that she seeks first Gods kingdom so that she can succeed in her business and other aspects in her life.
With this loan, the entrepreneur will buy some products to add to her salon so that she can keep offering her services to her customers.
Shes joined in the group by:
Filomena Jerez Polanco, a grocery store owner;
Juana Concepcion Merejildo, who sells fried dishes;
Paulina Vasquez Sanchez, who sells fried meat and plantain;
Fermina Heredia, a clothing retailer;
The picture shows from left to right, Filomena, Juana, Paulina, Fermina and Argentina.",F,1050,lender,Services,1 Dominican Republic,"The leader of this group, Quirudis Altagracia, is an experienced and confident businesswoman. She owns and operates a successful grocery store located in her community, Guanuma. About a year ago, she was given a loan to strengthen her business. Quirudis explains that the money received was very helpful. She restocked her store, adding new products that were in high demand in her neighborhood. With profits from her business, the entrepreneur was able to start the concrete foundation for her house. Quirudis is looking forward to finishing her house construction. She is requesting a new loan so her business can generate substantial revenue to help her support her family and reach her goals in life. The optimistic Quirudis is joined in her group by: Santa Acevedo Henrique, a high-spirited and hard-working woman who sells women's clothing; Silvestrina Mariano, who operates a fruit stand; and Yocelin Estevez and Miliota Milien, who sell clothing and underwear in the neighborhood. The photo shows from left to right: Santa, Quirudis, Silvestrina, Yocelin and Miliota.",F,1525,lender,Food,1 Dominican Republic,"The leader of this small group of five women is Francia Antonio. Shes in her early forties and is the proud mother of a unique daughter who goes to school.
Francia owns and operates a small grocery store, which she started more than fifteen years ago. Currently, Francias store is well established and dozens people visit it every day to buy lots of goods, such as rice, flour, wheat, milk and other foods.
About six months ago, Francia took from FSMA a loan to restock her business. She used the funds intelligently and she managed to make her business successful. Now, Francia is requesting another loan which shell share with a group of entrepreneurs who live in her community. Shell use her funds to increase her inventory and add new items to offer to her customers. Francia says that shes determined to improve her familys living conditions.
The members of Francias group are:
Pictured, from left to right are: Josefa Aquino, Inocencia Garcia, Francia Antonio, Josefina Urbaez and Mara Estela.
",F,950,partner,Food,1 Dominican Republic,"The Libertad (Freedom) Bank of Hope from San Pedro de Macoris is starting their first loan with Esperanza International. These 15 women are very enthusiastic to receive this opportunity and have great plans for their now small businesses.Jeantilia Jean is the coordinator for Group 1. She is married and has two grown children. She owns a colmado, which is a small food market where you can buy different types of groceries. She states that the products with more demand are rice, beans, oil, and canned goods, so she will use her loan money to purchase a quantity to cover her customers' demands. Rice and beans are part of the typical Dominican lunch fare. If it is under the family's financial possibilities, rice and beans are usually served with meat.
Other businesses that the group members have include clothing sales and fried food stands. Thank you for supporting these entrepreneurs!",F,2250,partner,Food,0 Dominican Republic,"The Luz de Paz (Light of Peace) Bank of Hope members all live in Los Alcarrizos. This group of five ladies is on their second loan cycle. Rosa Emane is the group coordinator and has a colmado, a small grocery store where you can also find other convenience items. Some other group members have similar businesses.
Rosa is 27 years old and lives with her spouse and her 5 children. She was unable to complete basic education (elementary and middle school) so one of her biggest concerns is her childrens education. She hopes she can provide better for them in that matter, which is why she is committed to making her business grow enough to produce profits that will allow her to send her children to college one day. She also hopes to have a bigger store, more like a supermarket.
Thank you for supporting these entrepreneurs!",F,1075,lender,Retail,0 Dominican Republic,"The members of Group 2 from the Amigos Unidos Bank of Hope have successfully paid off two loans they've had with Esperanza International and are now requesting a third. Many of them started their businesses with the first loan they had, and the loans have helped them establish themselves as micro entrepreneurs in their area. Their activities range from running cafeterias and small grocery stores, to candy making. Louis Keli is the group coordinator and he sells prepaid phone cards. Mobile communications are relatively affordable in the Dominican Republic, and a lot of people own prepaid phones. Phone cards range in price from 50 to 500 pesos (between $1.50 and $12 approximately), and for some people, their mobile phones are their only source of communication (most people in rural areas and urban outskirts cannot afford a landline). However, this is a business which is best served as a street vendor, and Louis would like to move to another business activity soon. His life goal is to own his own home. Please help us support these entrepreneurs with this Kiva loan. Thank you!",F,1075,lender,Retail,0 Dominican Republic,"The members of Group 3 on the ""Union de los Vecinos"" (The Neighbors' Union) are requesting their first loan with Esperanza International. They hope this loan will help them establish their businesses and generate better profits to improve their living conditions. In San Pedro de Macoris, the employment opportunities are not abundant due to the sugar cane industry collapse and the town's proximity to the capital. (For some industries it's not profitable to establish operations in San Pedro de Macoris, and some people cannot commute to Santo Domingo to work every day due to transportation costs). Ramon Concepcion is the group coordinator. He is an electrician and decided to start making power inverters. This generates good profits because power outages are common in the Dominican Republic. Inverters are charged with batteries (the same kind you use in cars), and allow you to run some appliances for a reasonable amount of time. He will use this loan to buy wires and generator parts that are necessary to make inverters. Right now, he works out of his home but his hope is that profits from his sales will allow him to set up his own workshop, and eventually, build a new house of his own. Please help support these new entrepreneurs' initiatives with a Kiva loan. Thank you!",F,1250,lender,Services,0 Dominican Republic,"The members of Group 4 from the Unidas Venceremos Bank of Hope have been clients of Esperanza International for the last three years. They have paid their previous loans on time and have remained together as a group all this time. They think being together in a Bank of Hope has helped them be closer as neighbors and to contribute to their community. Ruth Jhonson is the group coordinator, which means she is responsible for watching out for the well being of the rest of the group members, collecting payments, and being in permanent communication with their loan officer Nelly. She sells clothing and has built a large, faithful clientele. With this loan, she plans to add shoes to her sales, in order to offer this option to her clients who have asked that she start selling shoes. Ruth's health is not very strong. She gets sick rather easily and this keeps her away from her clients for extended periods of time. She hopes that during the time she is healthy, she can sell enough to attend her sickness with proper medical attention. Her dream is to travel to the United States someday as a tourist. Please help us support the hopes and dreams of these entrepreneurs. Thank you!",F,1625,lender,Clothing,0 Dominican Republic,"The members of Group 6 from David Bank of Hope are starting their second loan cycle with Esperanza International. Four of them are involved in retail sales, selling clothes and personal care products. Altagracia Noel makes bread and pastries at her home for sale. Yaquelin Yedi is the group representative. This young mother of 5 children (ages 8, 5,3, 2 and 5 months) sells clothes to support her five children. This is not an easy task, since she is a single parent. Her children, being so young, require a lot of attention; so it becomes very challenging for Yaquelin to run her business. Yaquelin doesn't want to sell clothes forever. She dreams of running a big convenience store one day. She hopes that the profits from her business will allow her to support her children's education. She hopes at least one of them decides to become a doctor. Thank you for supporting the hard work of these entrepreneurs!",F,925,lender,Clothing,0 Dominican Republic,"The members of La Bendicion 5 Group have been clients of Esperanza International for 3 years, and are starting their 6th loan cycle. Many of the five members of this group sell clothes. They have made enough sales to successfully pay back five loans and have made profits that helped them to improve their quality of life. Each member sells in a different place and they refer customers to one another if a customer is looking for a specific item someone else in the group has for sale.
Ana Rellisa is the group representative. She is a mother of 5 children. Selling clothes allows her to have her own income without leaving her home for extended periods at a time. The loans she has taken out have enabled her to purchase merchandise in larger quantities and of better quality. This has resulted in a faithful clientele that has grown thanks to her customers' referrals. Ana believes her hard work will pay off and one day she will have her own boutique.
Please help us to continue supporting these entrepreneurs through Kiva loans. Thank you!",F,1075,lender,Clothing,0 Dominican Republic,"The members of the La Union de los Vecinos 2 (The Neighbors' Union) Bank of Hope are starting their entrepreneurship endeavor with Esperanza International with this first loan. They hope this micro loan will help them inject some capital in their businesses to make them more stable, or to expand into complimentary activities. Miriam Reyes is the group representative. She is a single mom with a seven year old child. As her primary activity she sells clothing, but she also runs a small cafeteria in her home. Her loan will be used equally in both her businesses; she plans to buy some clothing items that her customers have specially requested, and also expand her cafeteria. Miriam finds one of her biggest challenges is to keep her savings in storage and not spend them frivolously. She knows that savings are important in order to become financially independent, which is her ultimate goal. Please help us support this new group of entrepreneurs. Thank you!",F,1125,lender,Clothing,0 Dominican Republic,"The members of the Nuevo Progreso (New Progress) Bank of Hope are requesting their 6th loan through Esperanza International. They've reached a level of stability in their sales and have also built a faithful clientele that keeps their businesses sustained. Pura Castillo, the group representative, sells clothes. She will use this loan to buy a ""paca"", which is a bundle of clothing that contains a number of items. The paca can have used or new clothes. Sometimes it has only one type of clothes (for example, clothes meant for children) and sometimes mixed. Pura has two children, aged 8 and 11, and she hopes to keep providing for them as she has always done. She dreams of setting up her own store, where she can sell clothing for women, men and children. Please help us to continue supporting these entrepreneurs. Thank you!",F,1550,lender,Clothing,0 Dominican Republic,"The members of the Shalom Bank of Hope have been with Esperanza International for about 6 loan cycles. They have been faithful in completing their payments and their businesses have experienced a certain amount of growth in profit and sales volumes.
Natividad Marte is one of the group coordinators. She is a candy maker. She makes candy and sells it on the street. With this loan, she will buy the ingredients for making her candies such as corn, sweet potatoes, coconut, milk, and sugar.
She makes several types of candy. ""Maiz dulce"" which means ""sweet corn,"" and is made with the whole grains of the corn kernels, then cooked in sweetened milk with cinnamon and cloves. ""Dulce de coco"" (""sweet cocoa"") is either cooked in the stove or baked, and ""dulce de batata"" (""sweet potato"") is a type of sweet potato pudding. Her candies have become well known in her area, but she would like to have a storefront in her house so that she can sell her candies there and avoid the walking.
Natividad's life is definitely not easy. Between cooking the candies and getting up early and walking the streets of Hato Mayor selling, she has very little time for herself and is often very tired from long days of work. She wants her three children (ages 11,12 and 15) to have a better life quality, which is why she is committed to suporting their education, hopefully until they become working professionals.
Please help us to continue to support this hard-working group of entrepreneurs through this Kiva loan. Thank you!
",F,3000,lender,Food,0 Dominican Republic,"The members of this Bank of Hope are starting their fifth loan cycle with Esperanza International. The name of their Bank is ""Confianza y Desarrollo"" which means, in English, Trust and Development. Definitely one cannot go without the other. The two group coordinators are Hector Ortiz and Jackelin Martinez. Hector makes candy. He makes several kinds of staple Dominican sweets, which have milk, coconut, and peanuts usually. They are sweetened with sugar and enhanced with spices like cinnamon and cloves for a more distinctive flavor. Hector's hopes are to make his business into a candy factory where he can hire staff to make the candy and move forward to a more administrative position. He hopes to become a lead candy distributor in the San Pedro province. Jackelin, on the other hand, has a colmado: a small convenience store where she sells the daily meal items. She will use this loan to buy canned goods like beans and sardines. The Dominican Republic suffers serious power outages and a lot of people do not own a refrigerator, so canned goods are a more convenient option, being less perishable. Her hopes are that the profits of her colmado will allow her one day to build a house with firmer materials. These entrepreneurs have shown outstanding credit behavior and great will to work. Thank you for your support!",F,1375,partner,Food,0 Dominican Republic,"The members of this Bank of Hope group, group 6, have requested their sixth loan through Esperanza International. They've been clients for the last 3 years. These loans have allowed them to make their businesses more sustainable. Their business activities include clothing and accessories sales, and an internet cafe.Marisabel Perez is the group representative. She's married and has 3 children. She has a ""fantasia"" in her house. This is a store where mostly, you can purchase accessories like hair pins and ponytail holders, and personal care products like deodorant and shampoo. You can also find small school supplies like pencils and paper.
Marisabel wants to provide her children with the best education and quality of life so that they can excel. This is why she works so hard in her business and tries to keep it well stocked and interesting, and to achieve the financial stability that allows her to support her children's education.
Please help us support these entrepreneurs through this loan. Thank you!",F,1075,lender,Retail,0 Dominican Republic,"The members of this Bank of Hope have successfully paid back 6 loans to Esperanza International. These previous loans have allowed the entrepreneurs to expand their business activities, their inventory volume and their profit margins. They want to see their children have a better life quality, provide them schooling and a college education, and hopefully see them break the vicious circle of poverty.
Petronila Morla is the group representative. She has two children, ages 17 and 9. She has a small store in her home where she offers an array of items for sale: from personal care products to school supplies. She would like to see her store grow to become a department store (maybe a chain of them!) that will provide items at more accessible prices for the community.
All the group members have similar businesses, but they do not compete against each other. Usually, the items available in one are not available in the other, and they live far enough apart for there to be enough clientele for everybody.
Please help us to continue supporting these entrepreneurs through this Kiva micro loan. Thank you!",F,1425,lender,Retail,0 Dominican Republic,"The members of this group are embarking on their second loan as clients of Esperanza International.
Yane de la Rosa, their group representative, is 39 years old and single. She has some high school education.
Yane has a small colmado (convenience store). Her customers generally purchase the food items they need for every meal only when they need them, because they don't have refrigerators in their homes. Due to this daily sale model, she must have her business well stocked.
The best-selling items in the colmado are rice, beans, oil, and candy. Some of her clients have ""accounts"" and pay her on paydays, which is a challenge for her (collecting payments).
Yane believes that being a client of Esperanza will be a blessing to her life. She also wants to have a car of her own to move around and get her supplies.
Please help us support these entrepreneurs with this Kiva loan. Thank you!
",F,775,lender,Food,0 Dominican Republic,"The members of this group from Las Reinas Bank of Hope are receiving their first loan through Kiva's partner, Esperanza International. These enthusiastic entrepreneurs expect to improve their income and quality of life with their business activities.Mari Beltre, 25, and Robinson Ramirez, 30, are two of the group members. They are both single. Mari has three children and Robinson has one child. Mari sells personal-care products and Robinson sells fruits and vegetables at the local market. Since neither of them completed high school (Mari only reached middle school), both of them are very committed to providing a better education for their children so they can have a better life and hopefully, break the poverty cycle they've been born in.
On behalf of Esperanza International, thank you for supporting these new entrepreneurs!",F,1525,partner,Retail,0 Dominican Republic,"The members of this group of five entrepreneurs are requesting their second loan from Esperanza International. They live in an area of Santo Domingo named Los Coordinadores, which, despite being within the limits of Santo Domingo, is far less developed. Most of the residents live in inadequate houses and are at the mercy of the Ozama River as the rainy season, which has just started, constantly threatens floods and mudslides.
Aracelis Vasquez, the group coordinator, sells fruits and vegetables purchased in the market and products such as rice and beans which she buys at a warehouse. She will use her loan to restock her inventory and hopes to one day own a supply warehouse similar to the one from which she buys the products she sells. Aracelis also hopes this new loan will help her establish her business in her area. Her short term goal is to set up a colmado (a small convenience store).
Thank you for supporting these entrepreneurs!",F,1300,lender,Food,0 Dominican Republic,"The members of this group of five entrepreneurs live in Guaricanos. It is a large neighborhood on the northern limit of Santo Domingo. The brand new Santo Domingo Metro (subway train) has a station right at the entrance of Guaricanos; however, modern improvements haven't reached many of our borrowers' homes. All services, especially water, are scarce. Finding employment is difficult, which is why many people, especially single mothers like Nereida Pena, find that they need to put their skills to work in order to support their families. Nereida is thirty-six years old and has two children. She didn't complete middle school, but went to beauty school and received a certificate in beauty culture. She set up a salon where she works alone. Peak days are Saturdays and Sundays. She explains that things are not easy lately. ""People come less often than before,"" she points out. Even so, she's been able to build a faithful clientele that will still come to get their hair done at least once a week. Nereida knows they pay not only for the service, they also pay to have HER provide the service. She will use this loan to buy specific hair products so that she can offer ""special services"" to her customers. When you wash hair with brand name products you can charge more, and Dominican women are willing to pay well to have their hair well taken care of. She will also buy a few new brushes, rollers and pins. This beauty salon is this inspiring young woman's sole source of income. Please help us continue to support her and her work with this Kiva loan. Thank you!",F,1500,lender,Services,0 Dominican Republic,"The members of this group of five micro-entrepreneurs live in a small sugarcane settlement called Batey Guerrero. It is a small ""neighborhood"" only three streets long. During the cutting season, some people, specially male workers, work the fields and generate some kind of income. However, during the off-season employment in the batey is almost nonexistent and people don't have money to purchase the merchandise offered by those self-employed. Luis Bautista is this group's representative. He sells clothing for a living. In most cases it's better for him to go to La Romana or other large towns to sell on market days. He will use this second loan he's receiving from Esperanza to buy fresher clothes to sell during the summer months. His dream is to have his own large boutique and own a house where he can live with his family.",F,925,lender,Clothing,0 Dominican Republic,"The members of this group of microentrepreneurs are all engaged in retail activities. Most of them have small shops at their own homes where they offer their merchandise. The products they offer are convenience items for homes, personal care products, clothing and jewelry.
The group coordinator is Filonila Hodge. She sells clothes. She will use this entire loan to buy more clothes to sell to her faithful clients and those new clients her old ones refer to her. Filonila hopes her hard work will pay off and allow her to have a house for herself and her husband. She has no children.
Thank you for helping us to continue to help! We appreciate your support.",F,675,lender,Clothing,0 Dominican Republic,"The members of this group, belonging to the Bank of Hope ""Con Esfuerzo Triunfaremos"" (We Will Succeed with Effort), are requesting their second loan since they've been clients of Esperanza International. This group of entrepreneurs lives in Consuelo, an area of San Pedro de Macoris known for being the hometown of baseball stars like Sammy Sosa. Consuelo was established around a sugar cane factory that is no longer operating. This has brought serious unemployment and left many acres of State-property land that are not being used right now because no one is planting on them after the sugar cane industry collapse. This has forced many people to become self-employed and set up their own businesses.
Roxana Otano is the group representative and has a miscellaneous store. She sells all kinds of items, and will restock her inventory using the loan she has requested. She hopes to expand it to a large department store one day, so that people in Consuelo won't have to travel to San Pedro de Macoris (about 40 minutes away) to do their shopping.
Please help us support these microentrepreneurship initiatives through this Kiva loan. Thank you!",F,750,lender,Retail,0 Dominican Republic,"The members of this group, part of the La Union en Progreso (Union in Progress) Bank of Hope, are starting their 6th loan cycle with Esperanza International. This group is very excited to receive this new loan because it will help them to continue to expand their businesses. But they are also excited about how far they've come. To date, they have successfully repaid five loans. These small entrepreneurs are very grateful for the opportunity they've been given and the trust Esperanza International has showed in them. That is why they are very careful to conduct their business practices in the right way so that they can produce enough profit for themselves and their families and repay their loans on time. Ocadia Santana is the group representative. She is 35 years old and has five children, ages 18,16,13,7 and 5. She could not reach middle school, which is why she works very hard and makes sure her children have everything they need to go to school. She dreams of seeing them go to college one day and getting successful jobs. For herself, she dreams of having a house of her own and a deli where she can sell all kinds of meats and cold cuts. Please help these entrepreneurs who are on their way to achieving their dreams. On behalf of Esperanza International and the Union en Progreso Bank of Hope, we would like to thank you for your support!",F,1225,partner,Food,0 Dominican Republic,"The pride of this 57 year old single mother resides in having done her best to provide a good education to her children. Her five children are now grown up, earning their own livings, and are professionals who support their mother. Although her economic situation is relatively stable, Cesilia wants to continue working. She thinks that getting old is not an excuse for sluggishness. Two years ago, she started a small business, selling hair-slides, hair clips, earrings, and underwear to women. She is now requesting a loan in order to purchase mens underwear to introduce in the business. That way, she will increase her income and feel independent.",F,325,partner,Retail,0 Dominican Republic,"The women from group 3 of the Unidos Venceremos Bank of Hope are requesting their 7th loan through Esperanza International. They live in Samana, a peninsula located in northeast Dominican Republic. Samana is relatively an isolated and unexploited area of the country. Hence employment opportunities are scarce. The group members have worked very hard to establish their business through their previous micro loans and want to increase their sales volumes by buying new supplies with this loan. Maribel Azor is the group coordinator. She runs a small grocery store where she sells basic food supplies for daily cooking. She will use this loan to purchase rice, sugar and malted drinks, which are the items she sells the most. She's been sick recently for an extended period of time, which has led to a decrease in her sales. She hopes to recover soon and attend to her business without having to ask for help (she still doesn't make enough profits to hire staff). She also wants to make some improvements in the space where her store is located. She will work hard to continue paying her loans successfully, as she has done so far. Please help us support these entrepreneurs through this Kiva loan. Thank you!",F,1675,lender,Food,0 Dominican Republic,"The women from Pancho Mateo have completed paying back their first loan, and are now re-applying with a larger group! Teresa is one of the new women in this group, and she is excited to experience the same success as the other women in her community. Teresa is 48-years-old, and a single mother of 2 children. She wants to sell clothes and shoes once she receives her loan. She told us that her favorite food is lentils and that in her free time she loves listening to music. In the future, she would love to own a home and have a safe place for her kids to continue grow up. We are so blessed to continue working with this group of women, thank you again for your generosity!",F,1700,partner,Clothing,0 Dominican Republic,"The women of group 5 from the Dios es Amor (God is Love) Bank of Hope are starting their 5th loan cycle with Esperanza International. They have experienced sustained growth in their businesses, thanks to the capital injection the loans have offered, and to the increased profits their businesses have generated.
San Pedro de Macoris is a province specially hard-hit by unemployment and lack of opportunities: the sugar cane industry that was the core of the province has been mostly closed for several years now, and the investments in areas like tourism are not as big as they are in other provinces of the Dominican Republic's southeast.
Sheila Pierre is this group's coordinator. She is a seamstress and makes clothing (mostly for women). She will use this loan to buy fabric for her activity and to expand to an additional area: she will also buy charcoal to sell. Propane gas is expensive, and a lot of people in rural areas do not own a stove anyway, so they use charcoal for cookiing. Sheila thinks this is something that will help her make more daily money, since the clothing takes longer to make and sell; she has 3 children and wants to ensure her income sources to make sure she will provide properly for them. These entrepreneurs have shown great commitment in their repayments and are an example to the rest of their community. Please support their business initiatives through this Kiva loan.
Thank you!",F,1200,lender,Services,0 Dominican Republic,"The women who constitute this group live in La Victoria, a small municipal district located in the north part of Santo Domingo. La Victoria is a well-known sector as it houses the largest and worst Dominican prison with the same name. Most of the people living there are of modest means.
Josefina, the group leader, lives in the district with her 4 four children who attend the public school. Josefina is the first on the left in the picture. Shes been supporting her children on her own for about 3 years, after she was left alone with the kids by her husband. To make a living and sustain the family, Josefina has been selling fried dishes in her neighborhood. Sometimes, she produces boiled beans and sells them to her neighbors. Josefina says that its difficult to operate the latter business, as cooking the beans requires the use of a large amount of fuel. Each day she produces fried pork, plantains, manioc and potatoes, and lots of people go to her house to get her delicious food.
With this loan, Josefina will buy various ingredients to keep operating her business and augment her sales volume and revenue.
Josefina is joined in her group by: Rafaela Bonilla, a beauty salon operator; Yesenia Reyes Bonilla, a clothing retailer; Juana Rudescindo, who sells fried food; Betania Guzman Moreno, who sells clothing;",F,725,lender,Food,1 Dominican Republic,"The young Ibelises, 23, leads this group of women, all of whom live and operate small businesses in Hato Castillo community of Cotu. Ibelises was still a school girl when, four years ago, she got pregnant and was forced to leave school in order to take care of her baby. Last year, she started a small beauty salon with her husband's help, and now she's finishing her last secondary grade. Ibelises' objective is to start her university studies next year. She wants to be a doctor and says she's working hard to reach her goal.
With her loan, the young entrepreneur will buy more products to operate her salon better. Ibelises would like particularly to buy a large stock of hair products and acrylic nails for her business.
These are the members of Ibelises' group:
Jackeline Castro, Denise Lucia Holguin Lopez, Yamirca Altagracia Cepeda Rosario and Dominga Confesora De La Cruz. All these businesswomen will invest their loans in used clothing to retail in the community. Picture shows from left to right: Jackeline, Denise, Yamirca, Dominga and Ibelises.",F,900,partner,Services,1 Dominican Republic,"There are three groups of women participating in a shared loan entitled Bank of Hope. All the members live in Villa Mella, on the northern outskirts of Santo Domingo. The group coordinators are Carmen Martinez, Justa Heredia, and Rosa Santos. Justa has four children; ages 26, 23, 19 and 17. Her children do not live with her anymore, but three of her grand-children do. She sells personal care products and also runs a fried food stand. She says her peak business days are weekends. She has a volunteer helper on some mornings when she is not at the house. Justa is seeking a loan to make repairs on her business and buy new merchandise. Justas favorite activity is cooking and she says people really like her food. One day, she dreams of having her own restaurant where she can serve her clients with all kinds of food, including her favorites desserts. Carmen has a two year old daughter. Four months ago, Carmen opened a colmado which is a small grocery store. She recognizes her job is very demanding job because she is required to be at the store all the time. However, she also thinks this brings her great satisfaction. It means Im always there for my customers, so Im satisfied by serving them she says. She dreams of one day having a large grocery store where her customers can find anything they might need. She will use the full amount of her loan to purchase merchandise to restock her business. Rosa has four children who are all grown up. She runs a business managing rental houses. She will use her loan to make repairs on the houses she shows for rent. She hopes one day to be a formal real estate agent and to be able to offer her customers houses for rent in excellent conditions. Thank you for supporting these entrepreneurs!",F,3000,partner,Retail,0 Dominican Republic,"These 10 entrepreneurs are the new members of the Mujeres Unidas Bank of Hope from Villa Mella. They live in the farthest northern neighborhood of Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic. Ornise Maranatha is the Group 3 Coordinator. She doesnt speak much Spanish so her fellow group members helped with her interview and also described some of their own businesses and why they decided to get together on a microloan. Ornise sells clothing which she buys in bundles. She travels from Santo Domingo all the way to Dajabon, a city on the border with Haiti with a large commercial market. It is about a 5 hour ride. Another member of the group is involved with the same business. The other businesses include a butcher shop and a fried food stand. Two of the members own colmados (convenience stores). Carine de la Cruz is the Group 4 Coordinator. This group was interviewed during a visit to Esperanza Internationals DR headquarters in Santo Domingo. Carine also sells clothing. She would like to increase her business profits to build a reputation in her area. In general, the group members indicate that loans help them to keep their businesses stocked and allow them to have merchandise available for longer periods of time. They are very excited to be receiving their first microloan through Esperanza International. Please help us to support their business initiatives. Thank you!",F,2150,lender,Clothing,0 Dominican Republic,"These entrepreneurs live in La Javilla. Bethania Hernandez is the coordinator. Bethania sells clothes and non-prescription medicines like acetaminophen and some antibiotics. Right now she is focusing on her pharmaceutical sales and will have the clothing sales as a side business. This is the second loan they received through Esperanza International, and the first to be submitted for funding through Kiva. The rainy season has just started in the Dominican Republic, and with that, the cases of colds, strep throat and the flu. Bethania will use her loan to purchase medicines that are in high demand, like childrens acetaminophen and penicillin. She usually sells them at a better price than larger pharmacies, and sometimes the government facilities don't have the medications available. So she has become an option for people who can't pay much for medication and can't move far to get them. She wants this business to grow up to be a pharmacy and she would like to become a certified pharmacist. Please help us to continue supporting this Kiva loan. Thank you!",F,1300,lender,Health,0 Dominican Republic,"These fifteen entrepreneurs from San Pedro de Macoris are applying for this Kiva loan in order to keep their inventories properly stocked and, in some cases, to expand their sales activities to other areas.
There are three representatives appointed for each group of five entrepreneurs: these are Fior Alexis, Lesbia Alexis, and Rafael Alexis.
Fior has two children, ages four and eight. She sells breakfasts and lunches at a small cafeteria and will use the loan to buy the food items she needs in quantities large enough that will allow her to cook more portions per day.
Lesbia has a small repair shop where she sells parts for cars and motorcycles. All her children are grown up: the youngest is 18 years old.
Rafael sells clothing, which he buys in bundles and sells in his home. He will use this loan to start a new sales endeavor: he wishes to buy pork to sell in order to make a daily profit that will balance his more unpredictable clothing sales, which do not happen every day. This is important to Rafael because he needs to make sure his youngest child, now three months old, is well taken care of.
The three are united in wanting to expand their businesses and each of them has the short-term goal of setting up stores for their activities. Their common dream is someday to own a house.
Please help us to support the hard work of these entrepreneurs.
Thank you!",M,3425,lender,Clothing,0 Dominican Republic,"These five entrepreneurs are members of the Guerreros para Cristo Bank of Hope. They are all located in Batey Guerrero outside La Romana. This is a small settlement very much dependent on sugar-cane cutting, the work of most of its population. Even their houses are owned by the sugar-cane company. Because the community is so small, they can't all work inside it, so some people do business elsewhere. Margarita Berroa is an elderly woman who had eight children, the youngest of whom is 12 years old. She supplies a large amount of the demand for cooking fuel in the community by selling charcoal. With this loan, she will also buy matches and cooking gas to sell to the few people in the batey who own gas stoves. She hopes her profits increase and allow her to buy a house outside the batey, where she has more business opportunities. Thank you for supporting this Kiva loan!",F,900,lender,Retail,0 Dominican Republic,"These five entrepreneurs are receiving their 6th loan from Esperanza International. They have had a good payment history so far, and they have used their loans wisely by reinvesting in their businesses to expand their sales. Gladys Carty is the group coordinator. She did not finish high school. She and her husband have two children ages 14 and 10 who attend school. Gladys sells clothes, both in her neighborhood, to her acquaintances, and in the San Pedro market on market days. She will use her loan to buy new clothes to sell. She expects women's clothing to sell a bit more this month because of Mother's Day. She wants to have a couple of special items for her clients who might be looking for a special piece to either wear or give. Gladys expects to increase her profits and hopes to stop being an informal vendor one day. Her dream is to have a boutique where she can offer her merchandise, in order to continue improving her family's life quality. On behalf of Gladys and her friends, thank you for supporting this Kiva loan!",F,1250,lender,Clothing,0 Dominican Republic,"These five micro-entrepreneurs live in a small community inside La Romana called Batey Magdalena. In order to purchase their inventory, they must travel to the main city of La Romana, which means a long trip by bus or motorcycle. This is why they try to go when they have enough money to buy in bulk, or enough orders. Milagros Garcia is this group's coordinator. She is married to Juan Yan and they have 2 children aged 8 and 2. Milagros sells clothing and accessories. So far, the best system she has found is to take orders of specific items and delivers the products to her customers, who then pay. This way she avoids purchasing merchandise she might not sell. Milagros has been able to create a faithful clientele that effectively employ her as their personal shopper: they ask her for a certain item, and she purchases it to resell to them. Milagros would love to have her own house someday; she thinks it would improve her life greatly and she could use the extra money she now uses to pay rent.",F,1725,lender,Clothing,0 Dominican Republic,"These five micro-entrepreneurs live in Batey 18. This is a small settlement around one of the many sugar cane fields in La Romana. The sugar cane fields are owned by a private company, who also owns the houses in the batey and has some control over the commercial activities allowed inside the batey. This forces many of the batey inhabitants to leave their home and their children for extended periods of time to sell their goods. Mariluz Mateo, the group coordinator, has 3 children (ages 11, 9 and 4). She sells two different things: candy and snacks, which she sells from a palatera (a small market stand) and chorizo (a type of sausage). This loan, which is Mariluz's very first loan with Esperanza, will allow her to purchase merchandise for both of her sales. However, Mariluz does not intend to remain a seller. She intends to learn beauty culture and open a beauty salon in the near future.",F,750,lender,Food,0 Dominican Republic,"These ladies from Group 1 of Cristo Redentor Bank of Hope from San Pedro de Macoris are on their third loan cycle with Esperanza International. Francisca Leonardo is their group coordinator. She is the mother of 5 children: ages 14, 12, 6, 3, and a 5-month-old baby. She has a beauty salon where she provides hair care for women. She will use this loan to purchase different kinds of hair products, including some high-quality hair product lines that she can charge a higher rate per service. Because she does all the salon work herself, Francisca has very little time to spend with her children. Luckily, her salon is in her own house. She dreams of providing a safe home for her children to live in and making her hair salon a modern facility where she can provide all kinds of beauty services. Juana Vargas is the Group 2 coordinator. They are on their second loan cycle with Esperanza International. Juana has two different businesses: selling clothes and selling gasoline. She sells the clothes in her home, and she sells the gasoline on the road close to her house. The community roads are often small and it's hard to find gas stations, so it's easy for her to sell small quantities to the motorcycle drivers. She hopes to expand both businesses in order to provide a better quality of life for her family. On behalf of Esperanza International, thank you for supporting these entrepreneurs!",F,1300,partner,Services,0 Dominican Republic,"These two groups belonging to the Dios es Amor (God is Love) Bank of Hope, in La Romana, Dominican Republic, are receiving their first loan with Esperanza International. This vibrant group of entrepreneurs is very excited and hopeful about the course their businesses will take with this new capital injection. Neganis Alseis is one of the group coordinators. She is married and has 6 children. Her business consists of personal sales of beauty products and undergarments. She sells in her home, and to her own neighbors. Some of the other members' businesses include colmados (small convenience stores) and new/used clothing sales. Since Neganis has to go sell and collect payments from her clients, she dreams of having her own store one day, so she can stay there and customers will come to her instead. She also thinks this will allow her to spend more time with her young children. On behalf of Esperanza International, thank you for supporting these entrepreneurs!",F,2000,partner,Retail,0 Dominican Republic,"Thirty-two-year-old Tomasa Disla Lao (second to the right in the front row) is one of the coordinators for the Bank of Hope Violeta and a budding entrepreneur. She lives about an hour outside the capital, Santo Domingo, and makes a living selling clothes door-to-door. While Tomasa has had this business for six years, its grown since she took out her first loan in December 2007. Since then, Tomasa has paid back two loans and is now taking out her third (exactly twice the amount of her first one!)
One of the greatest benefits of a micro-loan is that it provides Tomasa with the capital she needs to expand her business. While many clothes vendors must travel to the capital two to four times each month to purchase new merchandise, Tomasa only has to make this trip once monthly. This indicates that she has a stable and steady source of income, which allows her to make larger merchandise investments. Since she does not have to make this trip as frequently, she reduces travel costs and also has more time sell the clothes. Since receiving her first loan, Tomasa has expanded her business to reach 12 rather than 6 communities within her city. While this growth is certainly impressive, Tomasa continues to dream and plan; she eventually hopes to own a store.
Tomasas aspirations also reach beyond her business as she has high aspirations for her eight-year-old son. While she wants him to study to become a lawyer, he is not yet convinced and would rather pursue a future as a policeman!
In her free time, Tomasa enjoys reading her Bible and learning about beautician practices and computers.
On behalf of Tomasa, the Bank of Hope Violeta, and the micro-finance institute Esperanza International, thank you for providing opportunities to those who need it most!",F,2800,lender,Clothing,0 Dominican Republic,"This 30 year old woman, mother of four children, operates a womens clothing stand in her house. She started that business eight years ago, so as to support the familys needs. Her husband is currently unemployed. Mara Martha buys the clothing in Santo Domingo, the capital, as well as in Santiago, a province located in the northern center of the country. Currently, Mara Martha is short of supplies in stock. She is requesting a loan to replenish her business with bulk clothing, needed to satisfy an increase in her usual demand, as well as some new customers she expects to gain with diversified stock of clothing material.",F,325,partner,Clothing,0 Dominican Republic,"This 36 year old woman dedicates herself to preparing and selling chimi churri. Frequently abbreviated to chimi, its a hot sandwich either a pork burger or roast pork adorned with fresh salad and a variety of sauces squeezed from plastic bottles. Her husband works as a watchman in a hotel at Bvaro, a touristy zone located in the east of the country. She has three boys and a girl. They attend the public school of the suburb; the elder is finishing the last grade of secondary school. Esther operates the business from 4 pm to 12 am. Besides the chimi, she also sells beer and natural juices. With her loan, she wants to purchase raw materials such as salami, cabbage, lettuce, onion, and meat, in order to prepare her chimis. With the profits from business, she will help her husband financially support their children and continue improving the familys life condition.",F,225,partner,Food,0 Dominican Republic,"This 40 year old woman is a very dynamic and ambitious one, and she is putting a lot of effort into providing a good education to and food for her three children. Her husband works as a painter but his income is not enough to bear all the expenses of the family. After a long time of inactivity due to disease issues, Elida wants to sell clothes again. With the loan she has requested, she will purchase clothes wholesale in Santo Domingo and will resell them in her community. She has a lot of experience in selling those goods, and is confident that her business will be a success. She will use the profits from business to help her husband face the economic situation of the family and improve their standard of life.",F,325,partner,Clothing,0 Dominican Republic,"This 51-year-old woman, mother of seven children, is a very hard-working and positive person. Rosa lives in Don Juan, a pretty remote community of Yamas. Her husband works for a little company that makes blocks. She owns a colmadito, a very small grocery store. She sells basic goods like rice, vegetable oil, floor, spaghetti, juice, bread and so forth. She started her business two years ago in order to deal with the family's financial issues. She also sells charcoal (obtained by heating wood), since in her community not all the people have sufficient means to use gas. Women in Don Juan use the charcoal to soften up peas, because peas take a long time to be well-cooked and that consumes a lot of gas. The entrepreneur requests a loan to wholesale purchase the goods she usually sells in her business, as she is short of supply. Given this loan, she'll be able to help her husband support the family and improve their living conditions.",F,225,partner,Food,0 Dominican Republic,"This Bank of Hope group is requesting their 7th loan for their micro business. They have shown great responsibility paying their previous loans so Esperanza has approved the amounts they have requested. They think this new loan will help them continue with the stability they've had in their activities ever since they've been Esperanza clients.
Nuris Dominguez is the group coordinator and she sells clothing and shoes. She will use this loan to purchase clothes and shoes her customers have already requested. She's made this her sales method to ensure she doesn't buy more merchandise than necessary or more than she is certain she will sell.
Nuris hopes to improve her economic condition and give her teenage children better opportunities than the ones she had. Her main goal is to take 50,000 pesos in an upcoming loan to set up a store (her current loan is for 15,000 pesos). Please help us continue support these entrepreneurs through this Kiva loan. Thank you!",F,1975,lender,Clothing,0 Dominican Republic,"This dynamic young woman and mother of three children lives in the Corositos community of Cotu where she operates a small business selling fried vegetables and meat. Each day Rosa Elvira, with her stall close to her house, prepares and sells her fried plantains, potatoes, chicken and other foods. This entrepreneur has a large clientle as she works very hard every day, satisfied that her business is succeeding and supporting her children's education. Rosa is requesting a loan to purchase more raw materials in order to keep selling her goods and earning enough money to support her family.",F,300,partner,Food,1 Dominican Republic,"This group belonging to the Mujeres en Gloria (Women in Glory) Bank of Hope is ready for their second loan through Esperanza International. They are very proud of themselves for fully paying their first loan and feel good about the fact that Esperanza International has rewarded their good payments with a second loan. Yanilsa Vasquez is the group coordinator. She has two children and lives with her husband. Her children are nine and four years old. The oldest goes to school and the youngest will start in the next school year. She is a home-to-home seller of clothing and shoes. Her mother owns a convenience store so she will use the money from her second loan to set up a display in her mothers store, which will allow her to offer her products to a wider clientele. Even though right now she sells clothing, Yanilsa is a college student. She plans to major in Education, concentrating in Elementary Education. She hopes to finish her college education in order to accomplish her dream of setting up an elementary school to teach children. Yanilsa is one of the many examples of Esperanza clients who intend to use their businesses to get to a point in their future where they can give back to their communities. Yanilsa believes education can help a person have a better quality of life, which is why she wants to eventually commit her time to teaching children. On behalf of Esperanza International and the Mujeres de Gloria Bank of Hope, thank you for your support!",F,1400,lender,Clothing,0 Dominican Republic,"This group consists of five assiduous and optimistic women, all of whom live and operate small businesses in Cajuiles, a community of Cotu. Edilia, a forty-two-year old woman and mother of four children, is the group representative and coordinator. Currently, her principal livelihood is selling boiled beans, but she also offers haircutting and hair washing services to women in her neighborhood. As well, Edilia makes homemade popsicles.
The multifaceted entrepreneur explains that every week she buys about 10 lbs of beans, the sale of which generate significant income. The sale of popsicles also helps her to support her children's educations, especially in the purchase of schoolbooks and other materials.
Edilia wants to enlarge her business in order to boost sales volume and improve her profit margin. With her loan, she'll buy a larger amount of beans and raw materials such as coco, milk and other fruit to produce her popsicles. Edilia hopes that this loan will help her move one step closer to her goal of completing her house which is currently under construction.
The other members of Edilia's group are: Florida Pool Belen, a beauty salon owner; Ysabel Mena Reyes, who sells hair and beauty products; Candida Cuello Muoz, a clothing retailer; Natalia Nuez, who owns and operates a small grocery store.
The photo shows from left to right, Florida, Ysabel, Edilia, Candida and Natalia.",F,1100,partner,Food,1 Dominican Republic,"This group consists of five diligent and optimistic women who live in Sabana Grande de Boy. This town is in the province of Monte Plata, in the southeastern part of the country. The economy centers on cattle ranching and rice farming. Recently, pineapple farming has expanded significantly.
Maria Estela, the group leader, is in her late forties. She has two children. Her daughter finished secondary school last year, but she couldnt enroll in the university for lack of funds. Maria Estela operates a humble business, selling tablecloths, curtains, and decorative window dressings in her community. Her monthly income (about USD 100.00) definitely doesn't stretch far enough to support three people.
Maria Estela travels two times a month to Santo Domingo, the capital and largest city, to buy goods for resale. She hopes to use her loan to buy in bulk, eliminating the need for frequent and expensive trips. She also hopes that the new assortment of goods will increase sales volume and income. Maria Estela is grateful to be part of this program and promises that shell repay her loan promptly.
The other members of the group are:
Segunda Vasquez sells clothing in her neighborhood.
Marina Fabian Silvestre runs a small cafeteria.
Nuris Pantaleon Santana sells womens clothing.
Temporosa Dipre Figueora also sells clothes.
In the photo, from left to right: Maria Estela, Segunda, Marina, Nuris, and Temporosa.
",F,1250,partner,Retail,1 Dominican Republic,"This group consists of five hard-working businesswomen led by Aura, a skilled entrepreneur. Aura has been selling pants, tennis shoes, perfumes and various other products for a long time in the Hato Castillo community of Cotu. This activity is the source of income of her family.
Aura is asking for this loan to buy more merchandise to add to her stock. The entrepreneur would like to boost her revenue in order to improve her family's living conditions. Aura is known in her community for her seriousness and sense of responsibility. She swears she'll do her best to use the loan wisely and to manage to move her business ahead.
The members of Aura's group are:
Angelita Arias, a vendor of women's clothing,
Lucrecia Holguin, who wholesales used garments,
Tomasina Castro, a cafeteria owner, and
Yelenis Del Carmen Moreno Almanzar, who sells undergarments in the community.
The picture shows from left to right: Angelita, Lucrecia, Tomasina, Aura, and Yelenis.",F,1275,partner,Retail,1 Dominican Republic,"This group consists of five humble but assiduous women who live in La Victoria. La Victoria is an impoverished community located about 45 minutes north of the capital, Santo Domingo; most of the people are unemployed and have a poor level of education.
Ana Luisa, a mother of 5 children, is the leader of the group. Her loan is to restart a small business of selling mens and womens underwear. Ana Luisa sold these items in the past, but a lack of capital forced her to stop the business. Now that shell receive this loan, she hopes that shell have success in her endeavor so she can provide a better lifestyle for her children.
The other members of the group are:
Esmirna, the group leader, lives with her husband who is a military man. Shes been selling womens clothing and accessories for more than 10 years in her neighborhood. The entrepreneur still operates the business from her home, but she plans on renting a small establishment for the business before long.
Esmirna is also a brilliant university student. Shes looking forward to receiving an academic degree in Bioanalytical Science next year, which will allow her to be one step closer to her dream of opening a laboratory in her community someday. Meanwhile, the entrepreneur will keep operating her business in order to have a steady source of revenue to support her studies. Esmirna is expecting her first child. She also hopes to significantly increase her income so that she can take care of the baby.
Esmirna is joined in her group by the following women:
Melania Garcia Moreno, who operates a small grocery store;
Fior Severino, who sells jewelry;
Yineiri Hernandez Peguero, a young entrepreneur who sells silver-plated jewelry;
Juana Marisol Mejia Jimenez, who sells clothing;
The photo shows from left to right, Melania, Esmirna, Fior, Yineiri and Juana.",F,925,lender,Clothing,1 Dominican Republic,"This group consists of five tireless women who work hard to maintain their families. Luz Massiel, the group leader, is 24 years old and the mother of two children. Eight years ago, she started a small business with her husbands help in order to enjoy a better life. Massiel operates a small store where people can buy products such as perfumes, beauty soaps, toothbrushes and toothpaste, body lotion, and pants for women. Luz Massiel remembers that things were very difficult in the beginning. The lack of access to capital prevented her from augmenting her stock of products. This loan is to replenish the store's inventory. Currently, Massiel is running short of most items. She expects the loan will help her business to grow, so that she can become one of the most well-established suppliers of these goods in her area. The other members of the group are: Agustina Belen Vasquez Slippers Sales Francisca Belen Reinoso Fruit and Vegetables Stand Perfecta Baez Villar Clothing Sales Martina Bautista Beauty Salon. In the picture, from left to right: Luz Massiel, Agustina, Francisca, Perfecta and Martina.",F,1225,lender,Retail,1 Dominican Republic,"This group consists of five women of Haitian descent, all of whom live in San Luis, a community located in Santo Domingo. Many Haitian immigrants live in the area because of the low cost of housing. However, the population of San Luis lives in very bad conditions. Most of the people are unemployed. Children do not have access to good education since the parents cant afford to pay for school for their kids. In spite of these adverse conditions, the group leader Victoria believes she can make a change in her familys life. She is a 28-year-old single mother of four children. Victoria explains that its really hard to raise four kids as a single parent. To support her children, she operates a small business of selling used clothing from her home. She explains that by being home, she can prepare food for the children and wash their clothes. When a customer comes to the house, she attends to the client and quickly goes back to her previous activity. Victoria is thinking about adding new clothing to her stock. Shes requested a loan to have enough capital to invest in the garments. She believes that offering new styles of clothing could help her increase her profits. She hopes that her business will allow her to provide a better education and lifestyle for her children. The other members of Victorias group are: Lilianne Vilma Clothing Sales Yina Siguir Shoe Sales Yanet Mesa Clothing Sales Lislaine Lauraux Shoes and Pants Sales In the picture, from left to right: Lilianne, Victoria, Yina, Yanet and Lislaine.",F,1475,lender,Clothing,1 Dominican Republic,"This group consists of five young women who have decided to change their lives by improving their small businesses with the first loan theyll receive from FSMA. The group leader, Maria Isabel, still attends public school and shes the mother of 3 children. Los Pomos, the community where Maria Isabel lives, is totally consumed by poverty. The lack of job opportunities plunge the inhabitants into a desperate situation. Maria Isabel has been hardly able to earn a living by selling clothing in her neighborhood. Each day, she visits friends, customers and new potential clients to offer her garments. Her husbands meager wages cant help to bear all the familys expenses. The entrepreneur hopes that better days will come for her family. Shes requested a loan to get more clothing to sell during the Christmas period. Maria Isabel is joined in her group by the following women: Ysabel Jose Suarez, who sells silver-plated jewelry; Josefa Herrera Abreu, who sells clothing; Mercedes Suarez Nuez, a clothing retailer; Marileida Disla, who sells used clothing; In the picture, Maria Isabel is first on the left.",F,1050,lender,Clothing,1 Dominican Republic,"This group is composed of five needy but high-spirited women that try hard to lift their families out from poverty. The group is lead by Natividad Virginia, 24, a single mother of two school-age children. To earn a living and support her family, Natividad operates a salon and she sells various hair products. Currently, the entrepreneur runs her business from her house, but she'd like to have her own establishment someday. Natividad explains that being left by her husband was a bitter pill to swallow, but she had to arm herself with courage and find a way to support her children. She hopes that her business will be successful so that she can maintain her kids. With her loan, the entrepreneur will buy new hair dryers, wigs, hair lotion and treatments and other products. Natividad thanks in advance the lenders and hopes that she'll be given the loan soon in order that she can change her family's living conditions. Natividad will receive her loan together with these women: Romana Brito, who operates a fruit and vegetable stand, Ana Mercedes De Luna, who sells tennis and slippers, Maria Estela Heredia, to sell women's clothing, Heridania Jerez, a clothing retailer. The photo shows from left to right, Heridania, Maria Estela, Ana Mercedes, Natividad and Romana.",F,1450,partner,Services,1 Dominican Republic,"This group is formed by five valiant women who have decided to endeavor to make a positive change in their families living conditions and provide their kids with a better future. Ana Greicis, a proud mother of three children, plays the role of leader of the group. Greicis owns and operates a small store which lots of people visit every day topurchase of various goods such as perfumes, clothing, beauty products and so on.
Ana Greicis plans on using her loan to increase her supplies. Shed like her business to generate greater income so that she can better support her family. Greicis wants to fit out and extend the shop space, but due to her financial situation she says thats a few years down the line. The members of Ana Greicis group are:
Yolanda Morel, who produces lunch to order.
Magaly Tavares, an owner of a small grocery store.
Ignacia Mateo Galvan, to buy shoes and pants to restock her small store.
Andrea Ramirez Diaz, to buy beauty products and clothing for a small shop.
Picture: left to right: Andrea, Ignacia, Magaly, Yolanda, and Ana Greicis.",F,1500,partner,Retail,1 Dominican Republic,"This group is made up of five proactive women who consider themselves an anti-poverty outfit. They live in the impoverished Cevicos community of Cotu, and they operate different small businesses in order to survive and take care of their families.
Yvelisse Olanis, the group's representative, lives with her husband and is the mother of an 8-year-old daughter. With her husband's help, Yvelisse started a small business about eight years months ago: she sells women's pants in the neighborhood. However, because of a lack of access to credit, she was not able to add a considerable amount of merchandise to her inventory, which has impeded her from getting substantial profits from her business. She expressed her thankfulness to our program officer when she was told that she'd be given a loan to strengthen her small business. With her loan, Yvelisse will buy some fashionable and exclusive pants, which will generate a better income for the business. Yvelisse hopes that expanding her business will allow her to provide her family with a better lifestyle.
The members of Yvelisse's group are:
Raisa plans on starting a small business selling jewelry in order to supplement her family's income. She says that she'll use the loan requested to buy some fashionable earrings, bracelets, rings, and anklets. She believes this business will allow her to save money so that she can start her university studies next year.
Raisa will leave the children with their grand-mother when she starts operating her business. This way, she'll be able to visit many potential customers in the neighborhood, which will enhance her chance of success in this endeavor.
The members of Raisa's group are:
Yris Antonia Rodriguez, a hard-working entrepreneur who operates a cafeteria,
Nancy Arelis Ruiz Montero, who produces fried dishes,
Emiliana Simeona De Los Santos, who sells used clothing, and
Luisa Rondon De Rodriguez, a clothing retailer.
The photo shows from left to right, Raisa, Yris, Nancy, Emiliana, and Luisa.",F,1725,partner,Retail,1 Dominican Republic,"This group of 10 entrepreneurs from Hato Mayor (northeastern Dominican Republic) is made up of members who are at different stages. For some of these borrowers, this will be their 7th loan with Esperanza International. For some others, just the third. They all express gratitude for having access to a loan that represents an incentive for their businesses that many microentrepreneurs in their area do not have. This helps them keep their businesses going even during these hard times when sales have decreased about 50% for most of them. Ana Salas is one of the two group representatives. She has 2 children with a large age difference: the eldest is 12 and the youngest is just one year old. Ana sells silver jewelry, mostly at her house but sometimes she takes it with her to show to acquaintances that live in other towns. She would like to have her own jewelry store to avoid traveling with it, which can be dangerous if someone knows about the merchandise you sell. She also hopes to be able to return to school one day and have a house of her own for herself and her children. Please help us continue supporting these microentrepreneurs with this Kiva loan. Thank you!",F,3125,lender,Retail,0 Dominican Republic,"This group of entrepreneurs belongs to the Dios es Amor (God is Love) Bank of Hope in San Pedro de Macoris. They are starting their businesses with this first loan. Lucia is the group coordinator and she sells clothes. She has 5 children; the oldest is 10 years old and the youngest is just two months old. She will use the entire amount of her loan to purchase clothes to sell in her business. She finds her biggest challenge in life is to be there for her children as a parent, and not merely as a provider. She knows her presence and guidance are important, which is why she hopes that (and works hard for) her business to grow so she can be self-sufficient and spend more time with her young children. On behalf of Esperanza International, thank you for supporting these new entrepreneurs!",F,850,lender,Clothing,0 Dominican Republic,"This group of five belonging to the Dios es Amor Bank of Hope is starting its entrepreneurship endeavor with this loan. They hope to make their business activities more established. In most cases, these women have been trading for some time but had no organization or business training. Thanks to the training they received before joining Esperanza International formally, they believe they will be able to approach their customers more effectively and administer their money better.
Alerte Fiefie is the group's representative and she sells clothes. Pants and blouses are more in demand, so she will purchase more with this loan to meet her customers' needs.. She will also buy some accessories, that also have good sales because they cost less.
She hopes that slowly but steadily, her business will gain more structure and become a store where she can offer a wide variety of clothing and accessories to all ages.
Please help us support these entrepreneurs who are just starting. Thank you!",F,800,lender,Clothing,0 Dominican Republic,"This group of five entrepreneurs is taking its first loan with Esperanza International, Kiva's partner. Ylaria Martinez is the group representative. She originally sold bedding items. However, during January and February, her bedding business decreased in sales. So she decided to take a loan to start selling undergarments. She thought this would be an interesting sales experience.
She plans on selling the undergarments she purchases with her loan to all her current clients ''and anyone else who wants.'' Her future plan is to set up a decoration shop, as big and equipped as she wants it. She plans to continue selling her decoration items and bedding in the future.
So far, she hasn't had problems with customers that have unpaid past due amounts after purchasing on credit. ''I know who I make business with,'' she says. All her customers are reliable people who make their payments on time. She hopes this good relationship with her clients will continue as she diversifies into another sales branch.
Please help us support these new entrepreneurs through this Kiva loan. Thank you!",F,1125,lender,Clothing,0 Dominican Republic,"This group of five is the newest addition to the Dios es mi Pastor (God is my Shepherd) Bank of Hope in San Pedro de Macoris. This is their first loan for their micro enterprises and they all believe it'll be a great help to their business activities. Joselin Martinez is the group representative. She started her business selling clothes, but now is looking to expand by starting a nail salon with this micro loan. She will use the loan amount to buy the materials to do acrylics in her small booth, which will be located at her house. She will also buy the machine used to polish the nails and make them look smooth and natural. She will also use a small portion of the loan to buy pants, blouses and undergarments for her clothing clientele. She believes her hard work will help her achieve her goals and provide a better life quality for her children. Please help us support the creativity and determination of these ladies. Thank you for your support!",F,1250,partner,Services,0 Dominican Republic,"This group of five micro entrepreneurs is applying for its sixth loan through Esperanza International, Kiva's partner. Their business activities go from a grocery store, to selling shoes and undergarments, even a car repair shop.
Ivelisse Trinidad, the group coordinator, owns a small convenience/grocery store in Hato Mayor. She normally sells traditional items for daily lunch and dinner, like rice, beans, cooking oil, fruits and vegetables, and some spices. This loan will help her keep her inventory in good shape in order to meet her growing clients' demands. Ivelisse hopes to own a house someday, maybe one where she has a larger space for her grocery store.
On behalf of Magaly, the group, and Esperanza International, thank you for your support!!!",F,2425,partner,Food,0
Dominican Republic,"This group of women headed by Aracelis will be the first one to receive a loan through Kiva in this community. Zambrana is a rural community characterized by increasing poverty and high unemployment. Most of the men are farm workers, and the women are housewives. The lack of capital doesn't allow all people to start a business, and generally poor people don't meet the requirements to get a loan from the local banks.
Aracelis couldn't hide her joy after being told that she and her group would receive a microloan to help her strengthen the small business she started just fifteen days ago with her husband's help. She sells fried chicken and vegetables. Aracelis says that she cooks like nobody's business, and that her original recipe will help her to capture a large number of clients in the market.
With her loan, Aracelis will be able to buy fresh meat, vegetables, spices and other goods to prepare her tasty fried chicken. Aracelis believes that with this loan, she'll be one step closer to reaching her goals and to supporting her three children's educations.
The members of Aracelis' group are:
Ramona Belen Morey, to buy chicken and pork meat to sell fried food.
Margarita Belen Lora, who retails used clothing.
Equilina Cruz Vasquez, who sells fried food.
Carlista Garcia, who sells clothing and beauty products in her community.
Photo shows from left to right: Aracelis, Ramona, Margarita, Equilina, and Carlista.",F,1200,partner,Food,1
Dominican Republic,"This group, composed of five women, is led by the young and high-spirited Gladis Maria, who lives in the needy community of Sambrana, located in Cotu. Her husband is a humble fruit farmer, and the couple has three children, two of whom attend school.
Gladis Maria would like to provide her family with a better quality of life, and for this reason is requesting a loan to start a small business selling clothing and accessories as well as beauty products. Gladis explains that she willl start operating the business from her house, since she doesn't have enough capital to rent an establishment. She'll also visit friends and potential clients in the nearby neighborhood in order to promote her products.
Gladis strongly believes that this loan will produce great changes in her family, and she swears that she will be doing her best to come out ahead and improve her family's living conditions.
The members of Gladis' group are:
Cristina Bautista Diaz, a clothing and footwear retailer;
Jhoan Bautista Adames, who sells sweets and candies;
Marina Morrobel Germosen, a mini-market owner;
Nicolasina Bautista, who sells clothing accessories.
The photo shows from left to right, Cristina, Jhoan, Marina, Gladis and Nicolasina",F,1450,partner,Clothing,1
Dominican Republic,"This group, led by Eudosia, belongs to the community of Santa Fe located in Cotu, in the province of Sanchez Ramirez. Eudosia is married with three children, one of whom attends school. Her husband is currently between jobs, and the couple is trying hard to make ends meet. Eudosia had operated a small store a couple of years ago, but she had to close it due to a lack of working capital. Recently, she restarted selling her shoes, slippers and sneakers, this time operating her business from her home. She explains that she doesn't have enough money to rent an establishment.
Eudosia has requested a loan to purchase more goods so that she can increase her sales volume and boost her earnings. She hopes that her business will allow her to maintain her family and improve the children's lifestyle.
Eudosia's group is composed by the following women:
Cristina Pea, a mini-market owner;
Ana Castro, who sells pants and shoes;
Isidra Amparos Santos, a beautician;
Maritza Cabra Lebron, who sells women's clothing.
The photo shows from left to right: Cristina, Ana, Isidra, Eudosia and Maritza.",F,1175,partner,Retail,1
Dominican Republic,"This group, Mujeres Capacitadas, has four subgroups, four group coordinators and 20 members. Anania Hernandez is one of the coordinators. Her group has five members. She is 20 years old and single, and she does not have any children. Anania sells clothes and shoes in her neighborhood in Imbert. She buys her merchandise in Santiago, the next largest city in the country.
Anania has received one loan from Esperanza and is about to receive a second loan. With her first loan, she was able to buy more clothes to sell. Her monthly sales increased after receiving the first loan. She believes that with her second loan she can increase business even more. Anania is fond of her church. She hopes that she will be able to study tourism at the local university and find a job within the tourism industry later in life. She also hopes that one day she can start a family and have children of her own.",F,1850,partner,Clothing,0
Dominican Republic,"This is a group of 10 women looking to receive loans to help grow and start their own business. This is 10 women from a larger group of 30. Katiana is the representative and leader of this group. Katiana is a very energetic 22 year old who wants to get a early start on bettering her life. She does not have any children, which is abnormal for her age in the area she lives. She also is not married, but told me she feel like she has kids because she has young brothers and sisters she takes care of. She is a very hard working women, and is extremely excited to have her own business. She is ready for this new challenge, and she is excited to call the business her own, and have something to work for. On behalf of Katiana, the group, and Esperanza International----- Thank you for your support!!!!",F,1900,partner,Retail,0
Dominican Republic,"This is a group of 5 women applying for their second loan with Esperanza International. With the first loan all the women were able to get started on their small businesses, and taste a little bit of success. Fatima is the group representative; she is a very hard-working mother. She has a very small business selling food in her area. She hopes to use this loan to increase the variety of food she sells, and grow her business. She wants to have her own restaurant someday, and dreams of sending her children to good schools and a university some day. She is ready to start changing her life for the better. The other women in the group also want to increase the size and revenue of their businesses with this loan.
On behalf of Fatima, the group, and Esperanza International, thank you for your support!",F,1025,partner,Food,0
Dominican Republic,"This is a group of 5 women who are looking to take out another loan. Each woman has taken out a previous loan, and all the women have been very faithful in making all their payments.
Anarelis is the group representative, and she was chosen because she is an great example of a hardworking woman, who is very diligent in all her payments. She has been very successful with her previous loans. She started a small business selling food in her area, and it has grown and grown. She is a single woman who hopes to have a family someday, but wants to be able to provide for her children before she has any. She thinks this new loan will help her business grow a lot, and so she is very excited about this opportunity!
On behalf of Anarelis, the group, and Esperanza International------ Thank you for your support!",F,2000,partner,Food,0
Dominican Republic,"This is a group of five members of a bigger group of people called ""Porvenir Femenina"". All of the people in this group are trying to increase their small businesses and improve their lives. Flavia Shephard is the group representative, and for good reason. She is an extremely hard-working, outgoing woman. She is dedicated to her work and to making sure all loan payments are made. She is the mother of four children, and those children's future is what motivates her. She wants to provide them with a comfortable life, and give them a chance at a better future. She has a small business selling food, and has slowly been increasing her business. She thinks this next loan is really going to make a big difference and help her business grow. She dreams of having her own house, and sending her children to college. She said she is ready to go out and achieve those goals instead of just hoping for them.
On behalf of Flavia, the group, and Esperanza International, thank you for your support!",F,1650,partner,Food,0
Dominican Republic,"This is a group of five people hoping to receive another loan. Each person in this group has received loans in the past and have all paid back all the loan payments. Each member has had some success with their business and is now at the point where they want to expand and start generating more income.
Juana Giron is the group representative and is a very dedicated mother to three children. She works as hard as she does because she wants a better life for her children. She says that her main goal is to get her children educated so they can get out of their poverty and live a better life. She has a small business selling used clothing in her area and hopes to one day have her own clothing store. She dreams of traveling and having her own house. This loan could be the start of getting her to those dreams and getting her children to college!
On behalf of Juana, the group, and Esperanza International, thank you for your support!!!",F,2000,partner,Clothing,0
Dominican Republic,"This is a group of five very excited people! They come from the group ""Capullo De Rosa"". Each member is living in extreme poverty and feels like starting their own business could be a way to break cycle of poverty.
Jacquelin is the representative of this group and was chosen because of her strong nature. She is only 23 years old but wants to change things early in her life. She says she wants to be able to provide for her kids and family someday. She currently has a small business selling clothes. She started it with her first loan and wants to continue increasing and growing her business. She feels like this is her chance to change her future and she wants to take advantage of it!
On behalf of Jacquelin, the group, and Esperanza International, thank you for your support!!!",F,1050,partner,Clothing,0
Dominican Republic,"This is a group of five women from the group ""Ebenezer"", which is a bigger group of 20 people. These five women are looking to receive a loan to help increase their small businesses. This will be the second loan for these women, and each has a very small business they started in the last 6 months. Jesula is the representative of this group, and she has a small salon in her house. She used her first loan to buy all the necessary items to start this business. She is dedicated mother who hopes to have her own salon some day, and be able to provide for her family. She dreams of being able to travel with her children, and show them the world outside the Dominican Republic. She had some success with her first loan, but thinks this loan will make a big difference in her business. This whole group is very excited about this opportunity, and ready to take advantage of it.
On behalf of Jesula, the group, and Esperanza International, thank you for your support!",F,1425,partner,Services,0
Dominican Republic,"This is a group of five women trying to receive loans to increase their businesses. The name of their group is ""Estrellas Brillante"". Each one of these members has received loans before, and all of them were very diligent in paying back their loans.
Alicia is the representative of this group, and has proven to be a very hardworking woman. She said she has to work hard because she has four young children that she needs to take care of and feed. She has a small business selling food in her area. She hopes to have her own restaurant someday, and move out of the area she is in. She said it's a goal to put all her kids through high school, and hopefully they will be able to go to college someday. She is ready to start changing her life and the life of her children!
On behalf of Alicia, the group, and Esperanza International - Thank you for your help!!!",F,2000,partner,Food,0
Dominican Republic,"This is one of the newest groups in the Unidos Venceremos Bank of Hope, from San Pedro de Macoris. All five members are in business sell clothing, accessories, cosmetics and health care products. Due to the current economic situation, they need to infuse some capital into their businesses to keep them going.
Bladimir Ciprian is the group's representative and has a varied sales business. He sells mostly accessories, so he will use this loan to buy accessories and perfumes, which is his newest offer to customers. Bladimir also sells tennis shoes, which sell well. He hopes to make his business grow into a store where he can sell a wider variety of merchandise and move to an administrative position where he supervises supplies, purchasing and the staff.
Please help us support the first steps of Bladimir's dream as well as the rest of this Bank of Hope group. Thank you!",F,1175,lender,Retail,0
Dominican Republic,"This is the newest group of five to join the Mata de Palma en Desarrollo Bank of Hope in Hato Mayor. They are taking their first loan with Esperanza International, Kiva's partner. In view of the slow movement of the economy in the past few months, many people have decided to become self-employed as an alternative to unemployment. Hato Mayor is one of the provinces with the lowest population in Dominican Republic, and many of its inhabitants are forced to perform their work activities elsewhere, or commute to other provinces to work. This results in an additional burden to their businesses and families, as on many occasions, our clients have to be away from home either for work or to restock their inventory.
Altagracia Santana has been appointed as group representative. She has 4 children; the oldest is 19 and the youngest is 6. Her group mates recognize her as a leader and trust her to do a good job in keeping the group together. Altagracia has set up a clothing sales business, so she will use her loan to buy new clothes to sell. For the present time, she will sell from her own home and visit her acquaintances with her merchandise. She hopes to eventually set up a store where her customers can come to her instead. She also wants to start building a house with her sales profits and be able to help her children acquire a college education.
Please help us support this group of new micro entrepreneurs through this Kiva loan.
Thank you!",F,725,lender,Clothing,0
Dominican Republic,"This Kiva loan will be for a full Bank of Hope with a total of 15 members. This will be their first loan with Esperanza International. They are all looking forward to starting or reinforcing their business activities. Expanding their businesses represents a challenge for them; in their own words, ""the economy is not good and not proper for most businesses"". However, they remain optimistic and are willing to work hard.
The coordinators for the three groups of five are Ligne Lantigua, Emilia Mendez, and Wilson Florestal. The three of them are in sales but each sells a different item: Ligne sells vegetables, Emilia sells hair extensions and weaves, and Wilson sells clothes. Emilia and Wilson are parents. Emilia has an 8-year-old child and Wilson's child is 9 years old. They all have a common dream: own a house one day.
Please help us support this new group of entrepreneurs. Thank you!",F,3225,lender,Retail,0
Dominican Republic,"This Kiva loan will truly be one of a kind. This group of women, the Nueva Vida group (New Life Group) live in the community of Muuz, Dominican Republic. The village is filled with Haitian immigrants and poverty is rampant. This particular group of women chose to participate in Esperanza International's first-ever trial of the program ""40 Days to a New Life"". The program was dedicated to bettering the lives and providing opportunity to women who had been trapped within the cycle of poverty and prostitution. These women chose to spend 2 hours each day, for forty consecutive days, learning about the Gospel message, God's purpose for their lives, receiving extra medical attention, and learning basic skills such as sewing, making candles, and making jewelry, skills that could be used to start a new business.
Each of these women found themselves in the desperate situation of prostitution as a last resort to feed their children. Through microfinance, beginning small businesses with $150 loans, these women will be able to find a new way to provide for their children with dignity. Several have decided to buy and sell clothes, traveling to the nearby city of Santiago to purchase shoes, pants, and shirts for resale in the villages. Others have chosen to open small shops in front of their homes where they are able to sell juice, bread, cookies, or fried foods while still taking care of their kids. With their first-ever loan, we at Esperanza are confident that the 40 days of training and this small loan will impact these women's lives forever as they truly take on a new life.",F,1900,partner,Clothing,0
Dominican Republic,"This old woman is a hard-working entrepreneur who is striving to support her family. Her husband has been affected by a severe disease and is disabled. To make a living, Carlita produces and sells fried vegetables and stewed tripe in the Caimito community of Yamas. Carlita humbly explains that her business is still limited, but she plans on using her loan to buy a large variety of vegetables and pork meat to produce more food and increase her sales volume.
The entrepreneur wants to keep working hard in order to take care of her husband.",F,300,partner,Food,1
Dominican Republic,"This valiant woman of 45 lives with her husband and their four children. The couple owns a confectionery (pastry-making business) in Herrera, a secluded area of Santo Domingo. As an excellent confectioner, Francisa prepares different kinds of succulent sweets like pies, buckwheat cake, pudding, and so forth. At the midday, her confectionery shop is turned into a cafeteria where food is sold to a number of people. Presently, Francisca has a well-established clientele which continues expanding. Due to that fact, she is asking for a loan to buy raw materials so she can offer her customers more variety. Francisca is requesting a loan of US$ 325.",F,325,partner,Food,0
Dominican Republic,"This will be the second loan cycle for this group of five women. With this loan, they will be trying to expand their small businesses. Leonie is the representative of this group, and with her first loan she started a small beauty salon in her house. She experienced a lot of success with her first loan, but her business is still very small. With this loan she hopes to increase the size of her salon and the variety of products she sells. She really feels that with this loan she can start to grow the business. Leonie is the young mother of three children, and dreams of education for all of them. She hopes to improve her business so she can provide a good life for her loved ones. She is a very hard-working woman and is on the path to a better life.
On behalf of Leonie, the group, and Esperanza International, thank you for your support!",F,1425,partner,Services,0
Dominican Republic,"This woman has been selling gasoline for years in her community in order to sustain and lift her family out of poverty. Carmen says she works so hard that sometimes she has a tendency to get herself discouraged and want to give up, but instantaneously she pulls herself together and realizes that one can succeed in life only through sacrifices and struggles.
Carmen also explains that now she has to spend a greater amount of money to purchase a lower quantity of gas because of the rise of the petroleum price. So, shes requesting a loan to buy some liters of fuel to retail by gallons and bottles in the community. The entrepreneur says shell keep trying hard to improve her familys living conditions, and shed like to buy her own house someday.",F,250,partner,Retail,1
Dominican Republic,"Though Amancia had been selling her handmade clothes and ceramics for twenty years before she joined her Esperanza Bank of Hope (of which she is a group leader), her loans have had an undeniable impact on her life. In terms of her business, she has been able to widen the variety of merchandise her business offers. Not only that, but the loan has inspired her to start thinking more ambitiously and entrepreneurially: she has learned to gauge what her customers want, and hopes to one day move her business into a permanent stall. In terms of her family and community, she has taken leadership roles in both. She makes sure that her grandchildren have everything they need for school and medical supplies, and buys them clothes when she sees something she thinks they would like. Her home serves as the meeting site for Bank of Hope meetings, where she often serves lemonade and snacks to everyone. During this particular meeting, Amancia remains modest when I ask her questionsbut her fellow group members chime in to tell me accomplishments she has left out. Everyone presentthe other associates, her loan officer Cristinaseems incredibly proud of her.",F,1000,partner,Retail,0
Dominican Republic,"Three years ago, Maribel decided to change her familys living conditions and to lift her children out of poverty. Maribel started a small clothing store, as she realized that her husbands wages were too low to support all of the familys needs. With great effort and sacrifice, Maribel continues to do her utmost to reach this goal and provide her kids with a brighter future. Before, I used to think that my husband was the only one responsible for taking care of the family. I just used to stay home and manage the household, says the entrepreneur. Fortunately, Maribel has changed her mind, and currently her activity is the principal source of income of her family. She is still operating the store from her home, but she plans on renting a small establishment for the business. With the loan, she will purchase an assortment of chic blouses and slippers to add to her stock. Maribel will receive her loan together with the following women: Digna Suero Alcantara, an excellent entrepreneur who sells silver jewelry in the community; Margarita Martinez Galvez, who sells womens clothing; Angela Adames, who runs a small business of selling pants and shoes; and Alba Neida Martinez Encarnacion, who sells shoes and slippers in the community.",F,800,partner,Clothing,1
Dominican Republic,"Timotea is 27 years old and has five children (two boys and three girls). The three eldest attend the local public school. Her husband sells fish.
Timotea has been selling cosmetics for more than six years. She runs the business from home and has many loyal customers. She purchases the goods at Villa Consuelo in Santo Domingo, a well-known supplier of quality goods at reasonable prices.
Timotea has applied for a loan to expand her business. She wants to purchase fingernail polish, hair lotion, shampoo, skin lotion, perfumes, lipstick, makeup, and other cosmetics in bulk. She thinks that Christmas is a very good time to increase sales volume and get new clients. With the loan, she will buy cosmetics and offer them for sale at very attractive prices. In this way, she hopes that many people will get hear about her business and possibly become her customers. Additional income will help her improve her familys living conditions.",F,250,partner,Retail,0
Dominican Republic,"Tiolenis is thirty-four years old and a proud mother of four children ranging in age from one to thirteen. Tiolenis sells an assortment of tablecloths and bedspreads in her community. She sells predominantly on the street, but sometimes people visit her house to purchase her goods. Her dream is to be able to buy a house and continue supporting her children until they enter the professional workforce. Tiolenis will use the loan to boost her inventory and better position herself to satisfy her customers needs, working hard to reach her business goals and improve her familys living conditions.",F,300,partner,Retail,1
Dominican Republic,"Tita Charles came to Esperanza International in need of help. She is a very hard-working mother to 5 children, but is having a tough time taking care of and providing for all her children. She and her husband work as hard as they can, but feeding 5 children in the poverty that they live in is not a easy task.
Tita took the first loan she received and started a very small restaurant outside of her house. She is a good cook and experienced a little bit of success. She was able to make all her loan payments and also save some money. For the first time in her life, she felt successful, and felt like she could do this.
Tita now wants to take out a second loan and try to make even more money and grow her restaurant. She dreams of having a big, thriving restaurant. Her main goal is to help her children all get educated and have better lives. She wants to move up out of poverty someday, and she feels like she is on the right track. She is so excited about her business and very ready for her next loan!",F,1150,partner,Food,0
Dominican Republic,"Tita Charles Josefa, a Haitian immigrant to the Dominican Republic, is a motivated woman who has dug within herself to whatever skills she possesses to provide for her children. A mother of four daughters and one boy (ages 15, 13, 11, 8, and 6), she has dedicated her life to providing for them and saving her business earnings so that they may one day attend a private school. Previously, Tita sold meat from her home in Puerto Plata, Dominican Republic, but she has decided to use this loan to change directions. She will use the money from this loan to buy shoes, pants, shirts, and skirts to sell in her nearby neighborhood, items that are not as perishable as the meat she had been trying to sell.
Tita Josefa is just one member of the 5 person micro-bank, La Union Hace La Fuerza, which means The Unity Makes Force, a common slogan in Haiti, these womens country of origin. Each of these unique entrepreneurs unite in solidarity, allowing them to access funding that they would otherwise never be able to receive on their own. The concept of this group bank paying their loan together is to reduce the risk of one person defaulting, as the others members gladly help cover one anothers payments in order to receive their next loan together. The other four women have similar businesses to Titas, selling meet and clothing in the streets. In the photo, the five women pose with their loan assessor Paul.
On behalf of Tita, the Union group, and the entire team here at Esperanza International, we thank you for your support and awareness of the global issue of poverty, in which your efforts are helping to make a difference.",F,750,partner,Clothing,0
Dominican Republic,"Tita is a young mother of a three-year-old daughter and an unborn son. She lives Casabe, a community of Santo Domingo, where she operates a small hardware store along with her husband. Tita has been managing this business for more than three years. She has therefore gained a lot of experience, and she knows the rules of the market place. The entrepreneur buys the materials wholesale from some importers, which she then resells in her store. Currently, many customers visit Tita's shop every day and purchase a wide range of goods. Tita wants her business to keep growing in order to offer better services to the customers and increase her income. With her loan, she will buy an assortment of products to restock her store.",F,400,partner,Retail,0
Dominican Republic,"Tita, 25, is a hard-working woman striving very hard to earn a living and raise three children. Shes been running a small clothing shop for one year in her community. Tita explains that shed like to increase her sales volume so that she can have enough money to bear the school expenses of the children. The school year starts next month, and Tita needs to get ready financially in order to support her kids.
With her loan, the businesswoman will buy clothing in bulk to retail in the community. She hopes that her garments will be sold at once and that they will generate a great income so that she can reach her goals.",F,300,partner,Clothing,1
Dominican Republic,"To call Carmen Ramires anything less than an artist would be a misnomer as she is a talented craftsman of jewelry. The bracelets, necklaces and earring sets that she makes are both unique and beautiful. While she has occasionally sold her products in the past, this is the first time that she is trying to truly scale up her efforts. She is moving her sporadically lucrative hobby to a developed business venture.
Carmen Ramires (far left) is a bright and engaging 50-year-old woman. She is both passionate and a true leader as evidenced by the fact that she is one of the coordinators of group Luz Cerito. Resting at the base of the tropical hills of the Los Alcarrizos barrio (community), La Pared, Carmen lives with her husband and two grown sons.
One of the main barriers that prevented Carmen from previously scaling up her work was lack of capital. She simply did not have the means to purchase the supplies she needed to make her jewelry. With this loan, she will be able to purchase these materials from a supplier in Santo Domingo, the capital, which is about an hour away from her home. Carmen plans to sell her jewelry from her house and her sisters salon as she figures women who have just had their hair done will be feeling beautiful and will be more willing to purchase jewelry to complement their new style.
Carmen is excited about the opportunities that this loan will provide. She thinks it is wonderful that her hobby is becoming her profession and looks forward to a life that is more stable, tranquil, and peaceful. On behalf of Carmen Ramirez, the bank Luz Cerito, and the microfinance institute Esperanza International, thank you for providing opportunities to those who need them most.
This profile was written by Anne Cherniss, Esperanza International Summer Fellow 09",F,650,lender,Arts,0
Dominican Republic,"Tomasa is 63 years old and lives with her husband and two daughters. She has seven children, but the majority are grown up and have their own families. Tomasas husband is handicapped and has to stay home all the time. Tomasa earns her livelihood selling deep-fried chicken, spicy pork sausage and natural juices. She started the business five months ago with a loan she borrowed from FSMA. Tomasa used the funds wisely and says that she can repay the loan on time. Until now, she has run the business within her house, but she plans on renting a small local for that activity after a short time. Fortunately, competition in her zone is not very strong. So, she has received a lot of customers that visit her house every day to buy her delicious fried food. Tomasa will invest her second loan in the purchase of meat and other goods to continue that activity which is the main source of income of her family. This entrepreneur has applied for a US$175.00 loan to buy more jewelry and sell a larger quantity of her supplies. This will help her increase her business net income, and therefore have money to start her marketing career.",F,175,partner,Retail,0
Dominican Republic,"Tomasina is a hard-working woman and the proud mother of two beautiful sons. Recently, Tomasina decided to start a business selling house wares and kitchen items to the women of her community. Her business allows her to supplement the familys income and helps her husband face their financial burdens. Tomasina plans on using her loan to add new items to her stock in order to increase her sales volume and her income. Tomasina says shed like to buy a house so that her children can live comfortably, but thats down the road.
Tomasina has requested this loan together with the following women:
Ana Bez Linares, an active entrepreneur who sells womens clothing.
Teofila Linares Suero, who will use the money to buy shoes and pants for her small store.
Marileidy Jimenez Medina, who sells clothing.
Luisa Selmo Guzman, who will buy clothing in bulk.
Order of appearance in the picture, left to right: Ana Bez Linares, Tomasina Tapia Magallenes, Teofila Linares Suero, Marileidy Jimenez Medina and Luisa Selmo Guzman",F,1600,partner,Retail,0
Dominican Republic,"Tomasina, a forty-seven-year-old mother of five children, sells a collection of fashionable shoes to the men and women of her community. Tomasina purchases her stock in response to her customers' orders and sells them from her house. She has been selling these goods for two years and now she a well-established clientele. With the profits from the business, Tomasina helps her husband to support the household and the children's studies.
With her loan, Tomasina will buy a showcase to display her shoes for sale.",F,250,partner,Retail,0
Dominican Republic,"Toribia and her sister own a small store and they sell womens clothes, shoes, beauty, and toilet products, and also products for the hair. They started the business ten years ago. Toribia is 47, and a single mother with three children (a boy and two girls). She needs a loan which will help supply the business with a variety of products like soap, deodorants, hand and body lotion, shoes for women, and clothes to sell during the holiday season. Given this loan, the entrepreneur will increase her income and will be in a condition to continue providing a good education and food to her children.",F,225,partner,Retail,0
Dominican Republic,"Toribia is fifty years old and the proud mother of six children, all of whom are in their twenties. Toribia sells curtains, tablecloths, bedspreads, and the like in the Buenos Aires community of Santo Domingo. The entrepreneur operates her business predominantly within her house, but from time to time she also visits friends and other people in the close-by neighborhood to sell off her goods.
Toribia explains that being a well-established provider of these goods in the community is very challenging, but she expects that her new styles of curtains and bedspreads will help her increase her revenue as well as repay her loan. She wants to keep working hard for the sake of her family.",F,600,partner,Retail,0
Dominican Republic,"Trinidad wants to start a new cafeteria. She plans to sell toasted bread, various fruit juices and sandwiches'. She wants to start selling from her house since she doesn't own an establishment. She plans on serving clients from all around her community. She currently works as a cleaning lady in other peoples homes in Santo Domingo. She is married and has one daughter named Elainy Paola.",F,375,partner,Food,0
Dominican Republic,"Trinidad Xiomara was born and raised in the low-income neighborhoods of Herrera in Santo Domingo. Currently, shes the owner and principal of a basic education school she started last year to contribute to the education of the children of this community. She receives about 105 children from the surroundings and the teaching staff is composed of five people.
Trinidad explains that not all the parents have the means to pay for their childrens educations, even though her school is not expensive. So she has to be supportive and help these parents, allowing that the children attend classes without paying the school fees.
With her loan, Trinidad will buy school furniture so that the children can learn in a comfortable atmosphere. Shell also make the purchase of many goods for the school cafeteria.",F,400,partner,Education,0
Dominican Republic,"Two years ago, this skilled entrepreneur started her business. She purchases clothes wholesale in Dajabn and Elas Pia, where garments can be acquired at very low prices, and she sells the clothes in her community. That way, Mxima, 40, helps her husband face the familys needs and provides their three children with a good education. The entrepreneur is requesting a loan because she wants to supply the business with more clothes so that she can increase her sales volume during the holiday season. With profits from the business, she will also set aside money for possible disease issues of a member of the family.",F,375,partner,Clothing,0
Dominican Republic,"Ubalda is 39 years old and married with six children - four girls and two boys. All of her children attend school. Her husband works for a construction company.
Ubalda is an untiring woman. She runs a small store, which she started five years ago. She sells women's clothing, silver-plated jewelry, cosmetics and beauty products. She gets the products in the captial, Santo Domingo, where she goes twice a month. Currently, her business is very successful and she has a well established clientel. She mostly sells the goods from her house, but on weekends she goes to sell in the surrounding areas. Her monthly profit reaches the sum of $500.00.
Ubalda is requesting a loan to purchase large amounts of products in order to increase her sales volume. Getting products wholesale will help her saving money since she will considerably reduce the number of trips she makes outside the town to get the goods.
This will be the second loan the entrepreneur will get from FSMA. Five months ago, she took a loan from our organization to supply her business. She used the funds wisely, could reach the goals she established and repaid the loan on time. Given this second loan, Ubalda will be in a condition to make her business progress and will be on her way to fulfilling her dream, which is to have a big store.",F,1200,partner,Retail,0
Dominican Republic,"Unidos para Vencer, or United to Overcome, is a group of ten entrepreneurs seeking their third microfinance loan from Esperanza International. The groups past loans have been successfully repaid and they hope to use this third loan to further increase the prosperity of their existing businesses in the city of Santiago.
Marisol, mother of three (ages 9, 7, and 6), sells clothing from her home and on the streets of Santiago. Marisols past two loans have been used to increase the volume of her business through additional purchases of mens, womens and childrens clothing, which has allowed for additional earnings. Marisol plans to utilize her third loan in a similar manner, to purchase needed and popular clothing items. Marisol is committed to the completion of her third loan. She speaks with passion as she describes the clothing store she dreams of owning someday.
Other members of Marisols bank run similar entrepreneurial activities. All but one member sell clothing or undergarments, and the other member, the only male of the group, owns a small caf.
On behalf of Esperanza International and this group of business entrepreneurs, we would like to thank you for your support!",F,2975,lender,Clothing,0
Dominican Republic,"Ursula is a promising entrepreneur and a proud mother of four school-going children. She recently started a business selling jewelry to women in her neighborhood. Her husband works in a muffler shop. Ursula would like to expand her business and add new fashionable items to her stock. She explains that with her actual revenue and her husbands, shes barely supporting the children. She thinks that the kids deserve a good education and a comfortable space to live. She hopes that with her businesss continued growth, shell be able to provide her children with those things and much more.",F,175,partner,Retail,1
Dominican Republic,"Valentina is 49 years old and has six children and 14 grandchildren. She was able to send three of her children to school.She has been an Esperanza client for one year and has already successfully paid back two loans (one for 150 USD and one for 240 USD). Now she's applying for a third loan.
Valentina buys her clothes in the nearby city of La Romana and sells them out of her house. She says her business is better than the competition in the nearby cities, because the people in her community dont have to pay money to travel in order to go shopping.
Valentina is going to use her next loan to start construction on a little store abutting her house, so she doesnt have to keep selling her clothes from her porch.",F,300,partner,Clothing,0
Dominican Republic,"Valentina is a 42-year-old woman who lives in a very poor community called Mancorneta in the eastern province of Hato Mayor in the Dominican Republic. Valentina lives with her husband and four children, ages 13, 15, 16, and 19, in a small home. She started a small business two years ago selling fresh fruit to her community. She is requesting a loan so that she has can buy larger quantities of higher quality fruit to sell. In the Dominican Republic, it is very common for people to buy pieces of fresh fruit on the corners as they walk to work, their homes, or simply when they are out and about. The money from this loan will help her make more money by enabling her to buy enough fruit to meet the demand she will face. She hopes that her business will continue to grow with the help of this loan, and that with the profits she will be able to continue providing for her family. On behalf of everyone here at Esperanza International, and from Valentina herself, we thank you for your support with this micro loan!
About Group Loans
In a group loan, each member of the group receives an individual loan but is part of a group of individuals bound by a group guarantee. Under this arrangement, each member of the group supports one another and is responsible for paying back the loans of their fellow group members if someone is delinquent or defaults.",F,1475,lender,Food,0
Dominican Republic,"Valentina is married and has three children, two boys and a girl, each a year apart at fourteen, fifteen, and sixteen years old. While her children are at school, Valentinas house becomes a neighborhood beauty salon. Valentina sells an assortment of shampoos, perfumes, hairbrushes, and other styling products for the makeovers her clients receive in her home.
Valentina has operated her business for one year but had no access to capital before now and was not certain that investing in her business was a viable option. She plans on using her loan to offer new and varied styling and beauty products, particularly fashionable hair accessories. Valentine hopes that she will one day own a modern salon where she can accommodate dozens of customers with a full-service staff.",F,300,partner,Services,0
Dominican Republic,"Valentina, the leader of this group, is an active and optimistic woman who has been able to maintain her family by selling used and new clothing. She lives in Los Pomos, a very needy community located in Cotu, in the central part of the country. Her husband produces and sells cassava bread.
Bi-weekly, Valentina leaves her community to Santiago (about 85 km from Cotu) in order to purchase the garments. Up till now, Valentina had been selling womens clothing, but she plans on using this loan to add mens pants to her inventory. She hopes that this will be a new opportunity to make her business grow and to increase her revenue.
The entrepreneur is looking forward to renting a small establishment for the business before long.
Valentina is joined in her group by:
Rosmeri Maria Roca, a young mother of 2 children (depicted), who sells used clothing;
Monica Villar Morla, who sells womens clothing;
Josefa Tribulcio Cleto, who sells used and new clothing;
The photo shows, from left to right, Valentina, Rosmeri, Monica and Josefa.",F,550,lender,Clothing,1
Dominican Republic,"Venacia lives in the municipality of Pedro Brand in Santo Domingo, and she sells women's clothing to make a living. As Venacia doesn't have her own store to sell her goods, she has to visit customers, friends and neighbors all day long with the aim of selling her goods. Nonetheless, Venacia hopes that her business keeps growing and she can attain a greater income. Soon, she'll be able to rent or buy a small establishment to run a store. With her loan, the entrepreneur will add a greater stock of clothing to her inventory. Venacia would like to become an important clothing vendor in her community.",F,350,partner,Clothing,1
Dominican Republic,"Vicenta was born and raised in her small community of Los Botados. She is the proud mother of two children who are 21 and 9 years old. She is a hard-working woman. Before starting her present business, she used to make ""quipes"" (deep fried bulgur roll) and ""pastelitos"" (meat or chicken turnovers). Fifteen years ago she started the present day business, a ""colmado"" (mini-market or grocery store). Now she plans on using this loan to increase her supplies, especially chilled refreshments, without which she fears losing sales during heightened weekend demand.",F,400,partner,Food,0
Dominican Republic,"Victoria Campo is the group leader in the Jehova es mi Pastor group. She is the mother of three children, and helps support her family by running a small store out of the side of her home. She started her small business five years ago, and she now sells a variety of household goods and womens clothing.
Victoria heard about Esperanzas program from other women in the community. This will be her first micro-loan, and she will use the money to restock the inventory in her store.
Victoria was elated when she heard about the micro-loan program. The loan came at a time when she was worried about how she was going restock her inventory because her house budget is currently very tight. The new inventory will mean a fresh stream of income for Victoria, and she feels very good about the future of her business and her family.",F,1125,lender,Retail,0
Dominican Republic,"Victoria has been a member of the FSMA microcredit program for more than two years, and she started her small business with the first loan she received. Victoria is the mother of nine children, four of whom are dependent on her. The entrepreneur buys used and new clothing wholesale, and she retails it in her neighborhood. She has a small establishment for the business. Victoria is very grateful for the possibility given to people of her class to get a loan in order to run a small business so that she can improve her life. She hopes that her business will allow her to have enough money to enjoy life more.
With her loan, Victoria will travel outside her community, probably to Santo Domingo, the capital, to get more garments in order to increase her sales volume and income.",F,500,partner,Clothing,1
Dominican Republic,"Victoria is 42 years old and a single mother of two boys and a girl, all of whom attend school. Victoria has been selling mens and womens clothing for three years in the El Carretn community of San Cristobal. Currently Victoria is the coordinator of a group of five women who own and operate the same kind of business in the community. The entrepreneur wants to expand her business and add new products, such as silver jewelry, to her inventory. Victoria wants to keep running her business to support her childrens educations and her familys well-being. The loan will be distributed among the group members, each of whom will invest in her own business. NOTE: The members of the group warrant one anothers loans. If one of the women fails in repaying the loan, the other members will have to take the responsibility.",F,900,partner,Clothing,0
Dominican Republic,"Victoria is a hard-working entrepreneur and proud mother of a fifteen-year-old son whose husband works as a truck driver. Victoria owns and operates a beauty salon which she started five years ago, first in another community, then in the Ochocienta community of Santo Domingo two years ago when she and her family moved there.
Most of Victoria's customers visit her only on weekends because they work during the rest of the week, so she opens the salon in the afternoon during the weekdays and all day on the weekends. She's requesting a loan to purchase a large amount of supplies to attract new clients as well as continue serving her existing ones. Victoria hopes that as time goes by, shell become one of the most well established salon owners in her community.",F,775,partner,Services,1
Dominican Republic,"Victoria is an old entrepreneur who has been selling beauty products for nine years in Santo Domingo. Victoria happily says that her goods are sold as quickly as she can stock them. The entrepreneur operates her business from her home even though she has a small shop for the business. She explains that her shop is not safe and has been burglarized in the past. Shes thinking about purchasing an iron gate to protect the shop.
Victoria hopes that someday shell own a big store with millions of people visiting it every day, and which may generate great profit margins so that she can improve her lifestyle and enjoy her golden years.
Shell use her loan to buy more goods in order to boost her inventory.",F,375,partner,Retail,1
Dominican Republic,"Victoria is seventy years old and has been selling shoes, blouses and shirts for more than twenty years in the Itabo community of San Cristobal. Each day, Victoria sets out all her goods on her display table, and her customers as well as passers-by visit her to buy her goods. The entrepreneur wants to add a wider variety of goods to her stock.
Victoria also explains that her husband is getting old and can work no more. So, she has to support her family on her own. Victoria hopes that her business growth will help her and her husband enjoy a better future.",F,300,partner,Clothing,0
Dominican Republic,"Victoria, or Victory, is a group of five entrepreneurs, mostly illiterate, seeking their seventh loan with Esperanza International. This groups past six loans have been successfully repaid through business expansion and the group hopes to utilize a seventh loan to continue such expansion. Juan is the coordinator of this group in the city of El Seybo.
Juan, father of three (ages: 30, 25, 20), operates assorted mens and womens clothing and undergarment sales. Aided by his six previous loans, Juan has seen growth in the availability of product offerings and an increase in his profit margin. Juan desires to continue to provide for his family and to witness continued success and growth in his clothing business.
Other members of Juans bank run similar entrepreneurial operations including bean and vegetable sales and two colmados, or grocery stands.
On behalf of Esperanza and this group of business entrepreneurs, we would like to thank you for your support!",F,950,lender,Clothing,0
Dominican Republic,"Vida is a large group of 20 borrowers who are all trying to receive their second loan. With the first loan this group received they were all able to get their small businesses off the ground and start making some money. This second loan will help each individual grow their business and, hopefully, start increasing their earnings!
Sira Mendez is the representative of this group. She is an extremely hard working woman and she has to be because she has 4 young children she must take care of. Each child is under the age of 14 and requires a lot of attention and care. Before Sira's first loan she had almost no form of income and found it very difficult to even feed all her young children. With the first loan she started a very small cafeteria. She hopes to use this next loan to add a wider range of products to sell. She is very excited about her cafeteria and finally feels like she is going to be able to support her children and give them a better life. She is excited to finally have something of her own and she knows she will be a success someday!
Thanks for all your support!!",F,4375,partner,Food,0
Dominican Republic,"Viercelie is an intelligent, 35-year-old woman. She lives with her three children and her husband Wilmer in the community of Los Algodores. With this loan she will start a small business selling clothing in her community. She plans on selling them to her friends from her house and on the street. Her favorite food is rice, and when she is not working she enjoys watching news on the TV.
In addition to helping Viercelie's business, this loan will be used to fund the businesses of each of the group members. These 10 entrepreneurs are being added to a large community of women that already have loans from Esperanza. We are excited to see them flourish and become a strong part of this community.
Thank you for your support and generosity!",F,1475,partner,Clothing,0
Dominican Republic,"Vileises is thirty years old and has two daughters and one son. Her husband works as watchman, but to earn a living Vileises sells womens clothing in the Cambita community of San Cristobal. She travels to the capital Santo Domingo on a bi-weekly basis to purchase garments wholesale. To sell her goods, Vileises walks all day selling her wares throughout the community. It is hard work but she is willing to do so in order to improve her life and the lives of her family. Vileises plans to use her loan to purchase bulk clothing to expand her inventory and continue selling as a means of achieving her goals.",F,300,partner,Clothing,1
Dominican Republic,"Vinicia, an assiduous and very positive woman who works very hard to support her family, sells fresh meat, mainly chicken, pork and cow that she purchases wholesale in her community. Because these wholesale purchases are costly, Vinicia is requesting a loan as she needs a large amount of capital to keep operating her business. She is a trustworthy person who has always repaid on time the loans received from our organization.
Vinicia hopes that someday she'll have enough money to open a big butcher shop.",F,525,partner,Food,1
Dominican Republic,"Viola is a skilled entrepreneur who's been selling fried dishes for ten years in Santa Fe, in the community of Cotu, located in the central part of the country. Viola lives with three of her children. The other two are grown and married. She's been separated from her husband for a long time, and since then she's been doing her utmost to support her family and face hard financial issues.
Viola is thinking about enlarging her business. She has requested a loan to add new dishes in her inventory. The entrepreneur runs her cafeteria from her house, but she expects to rent a small establishment for the business, once she gets a better income. Viola is known to be a trustworthy person in her neighborhood. We believe that she'll use her loan wisely and she'll repay it promptly.
Viola will receive her loan together with the following women:
Dianelva Del Carmen Aquino, who sells beauty products,
Estaunis Acosta Rodriguez, who sells shoes and pants,
Yovanny Del Carmen Fernandez, a clothing retailer,
Nayrobis Rosario, who sells jewelry.
The photo shows from left to right, Dianelva, Estaunis, Viola, Yovanny and Nayrobis.",F,1200,partner,Food,1
Dominican Republic,"Virginia is 50 years old and has five grown children. The youngest is 20. Her husband is a taxi driver and has his own car. Money from the taxi driving is the principal source of income for the family.
Virginia is requesting a loan of $300 to make repairs on the taxi with which her husband earns the money to put food on their table. Taxi driving is a very profitable business, and because she is helping her husband manage the finances of his business, the money he earns will go farther towards supporting the family and keep his taxi in good shape.",F,300,partner,Transportation,0
Dominican Republic,"Virginia is a very dynamic 17-year-old girl. Presently she is finishing the last grade of secondary school and is getting ready to go to the university. Virginia is living at home with her parents and her seven brothers and sisters. Her mother is a well-known businesswoman in the area, and her father is a bus driver for a security company. Virginia has gained enough experience in selling products, since she has had to help her mother many times selling her products.
In order to enter the university, Virginia plans to have her own business, selling beauty items like hair repair products, skin care lotions, body lotions and so forth. She will start the business especially with the Jafra skin care line products since those products are commonly know and well accepted in the sector of Hato Nuevo. Virginia thinks that after twelve months, she'll have set aside sufficient money so as to begin her study of Marketing in a good university of Santo Domingo.",F,325,partner,Retail,0
Dominican Republic,"Virtudes is a 39 year old mother of three. Her husband works as truck driver for a local company. Virtudes lives in Casabe, a community of Santo Domingo. She earns a living running a business that is very unusual in her community; she lends money to women in the neighbourhood, charging them some interest. She has been running this business for more than ten years. Virtudes is employed in a local shop, and every month, when she gets her salary, she puts aside some money to invest in the business. Her husband also helps with this business by contributing some of his wages. Virtudes says there are a lot of people who visit her house to use the services. She explains that she offers very low interest rates to the customers. The entrepreneur has requested a loan to continue with her activity.",F,400,partner,Services,0
Dominican Republic,"Virtudes is a twenty-four-year-old budding businesswoman and mother of two girls aged four and two years. Recently, Virtudes started a small business selling fried vegetables with chicken and pork. She modestly explains that her clientele is still limited, but she manages to make the business profitable and says she will work harder to move it forward.
With her loan, Virtudes will buy fresh vegetables, vegetable oil, fuel for the heater with which she prepares the goods, and other items to continue her business. Virtudes hopes shell increase her income so that she can pay the school tuition for her children.",F,250,partner,Food,0
Dominican Republic,Virtudes is an older woman and ambitious entrepreneur who is trying hard to make her business successful and improve her familys welfare. She runs a small cafeteria which is open every night in the Cambita community of San Cristobal. Virtudes prepares the dinner in her house and then sells the foods in the small locale which she's recently rented. Virtudes has been operating the cafeteria for three years with a loyal and continually growing clientele. The entrepreneur plans on using her loan to buy meat and other ingredients to keep producing her tasty food and increase her income. Virtudes hopes that someday shell have enough money to buy a house and live comfortably.,F,600,partner,Food,1
Dominican Republic,"Virtudes is forty-five years old, and she and her husband have two children who attend school. For three years, Virtudes has been running a small business selling vegetables to people of Los Alcarrizos community of Santo Domingo. This poor section of Santo Domingos periphery is densely populated, and all the neighbors know one another. So, Virtudess business is very successful and much visited.
With her loan, Virtudes plans on purchasing more fresh vegetables to add to her current stock. She hopes to become the most well established supplier of these goods in her area.",F,300,partner,Food,0
Dominican Republic,"Wendy Amarilis, an ambitious entrepreneur and a proud single mother of a school-age boy, is doing her best to provide a better lifestyle for her family through hard work.
She recently got a degree in Basic Education and wants to become a primary school teacher soon. Meanwhile, Wendy is selling her fashionable earrings, bracelets, shoes, and bedspreads to people in her community.
Wendy has taken out two loans with our organization, and she repaid them on time.
Wendy plans to use her new loan to increase and diversify her inventory.",F,300,partner,Retail,0
Dominican Republic,"Wendy Bautista Rodrigu, aged 34 and the mother of 2, used her Esperanza Bank of Hope loan to start her business of selling crafts and general home products. Some of the products she makes at home, like candles and Christian novelties, and others she orders, like cleaning products and children's vitamin syrup. The choice of merchandise may seem odd, but Wendy's business experience has taught her what her customers want.",F,225,partner,Retail,0
Dominican Republic,"Wendy Bautista Rodriguez is an enterprising interior decorator. Her business, Wendy Decoracion, sells scented candles, framed three-dimensional reliefs, baby accessories, curtains, pillow cases, and other textiles. She will use this loan to buy materials to expand her stock of goods. Wendy's entrepreneurship helps her and her husband Juaquin support their two daughters: Lisi (10) and Dilovi (6). Wendy hopes her business will be successful enough to be able to provide Lisi with the computer lessons she's wanted. If Lisi learns how to use a computer, she can someday work in an office in the town near her home. NOTE: Wendy is one of five microentrepreneurs in her Bank of Hope solidarity group, all of whom have gone through Esperanza's business training courses. Each of the five members will receive a share of this $800 loan for their respective businesses and will be accountable to each other for repaying their share of this loan together. This group-lending method strengthens social needs in a community and ensures that members cooperate to help one another repay their loans and invest wisely in their businesses and families.",F,800,partner,Arts,0
Dominican Republic,"Wendy Rodriguez is married and has three children, ages 6, 10 and 13. She lives in San Pedro de Macoris in Southeast Dominican Republic. Wendy has some high school education, but has not been able to get a formal job, so she has a small store in her house. Wendy sells all kinds of merchandise from clothing to accessories and home products. This new loan will be used to keep her inventory in shape and meet her clientele's demands.
Wendy would like to have her own store in downtown San Pedro ""where all the movement is."" But she is an ambitious woman and does not expect to be a retailer forever. Wendy dreams of going to college and majoring in psychology. Please help us continue supporting Wendy's dream so she can achieve her goals. Thank you!
Fortunately, she received a loan from FSMA that allowed her to increase and diversify her inventory and move her business forward. Currently, Luisa offers a large selection of sheets, curtains, and shoes to buyers in the Hato Nuevo community of San Cristobal.
Luisa explains that her business helps her to keep her four children in school. The entrepreneur hopes that if her business continues to grow, shell be able to buy her own house someday.",F,550,partner,Retail,0
Dominican Republic,"When she started her small business two years ago, Felipa was just selling sandwiches and juices. Shortly after, she decided to run a grocery store because people of the community really needed such a thing she explains. Felipa kept fighting to make her business successful, and one year later she obtained an FSMA loan, which helped her assure the subsistence of her store. Felipa has three children who range in age from 13 to 17.
Felipa envisions her grocery store becoming the biggest of her community. She thinks that December is a suitable month to increase her sales volume and her income. She has requested a loan to buy more goods with which to replenish her store. Felipa is putting money aside to support her eldest son's university studies next year.",F,925,partner,Food,0
Dominican Republic,"Wilma is a 31 year-old woman from the community of Imbert, on the north coast of the Dominican Republic, where she lives as a single parent with her 12 year-old daughter, a student at a nearby local school . Wilma is currently attending University and hopes to one day be a professional and move to the United States. She received her first loan from Esperanza six months ago, and is now taking out a second. She sells used clothing that she imports from the US, and her business has grown significantly since she first started working with Esperanza. We asked her to tell us a few facts about herself, and she told us that her favorite foods are salami and bananas and that she loves using the Internet in her free time.
Five women in this community have already taken out one loan with Esperanza and five women are new clients. They are all looking forward to this opportunity, and are committed to their families, businesses, and each other! Oh behalf of Esperanza, and all of the women in this group, thank you for your generosity and support. God Bless!",F,1475,partner,Clothing,0
Dominican Republic,"Wilmi Kenia is a young mother of three children, and shes trying hard to support them and improve the familys standard of living day after day.
Wilmi explains that currently shes unemployed and her husband gives her money ""once in a blue moon"" to meet the expenses of the family. Shes requesting a loan to start selling womens clothing and natural medicines in her community. Wilni hopes that shell get the funds very soon through the Kiva community, and she thanks the bigheartedness of every person who is making this possible.
Altagracia is excited to see her business continue to grow. Through the loan cycle progression at Esperanza, she was able to buy the little building next to her house and she has continually increased her inventory. Most recently, her loan has gone to buying gasoline, baking goods and parts for repairing motorcycles. She loves her business and for now is almost completely focusing on its growth and putting extra profits back into her enterprise. However, in the future, Altagracia wants to fix up her home a little bit, including finishing off a cement floor throughout her entire house. For now, most of her house has a floor but some of it is still dirt.
Altagracia (second from left) is the coordinator of this group of five women within the Mujeres Unidas Bank of Hope near Saman, Dominican Republic. Altagracia is very thankful for any help you can provide!",F,1150,lender,Retail,0
Dominican Republic,"Working to support her five children, Juana Barret has started her own business of selling and refilling propane. She lives on the outskirts of Samana in the Domincian Republic. Juana has established a positive repayment record with Esperanza with her previous four loans that she has completed. This particular loan will be used to purchase more propane canisters as well as the liquid fuel itself. When she is not working, Juana spends most of her time attending to her four children (ages 1, 3, 5, and 10) who are still living in the house. It is her goal to one day own the property that she is currently renting to run her business.
Juana Barett is just one member of the 5 person micro-bank, La Buena Nueva. Each of these unique Dominican entrepreneurs unite in solidarity, allowing them to access funding that they would otherwise never be able to receive on their own. The concept of this group bank paying their loan together is to reduce the risk of one person defaulting, as the others members gladly help cover one anothers payments in order to receive their next loan together.
On behalf of Juana, La Buena Nueva group, and the entire team here at Esperanza International, we thank you for your support and awareness of the global issue of poverty in which your efforts are helping to make a difference.",F,1150,partner,Services,0
Dominican Republic,"Xiomara Guzman Marte is the leader of a group of six women who own and operate different businesses in the Altagracia community of Santo Domingo. Xiomara has four children, three boys and a girl, all of whom attend school. A good education ensures a better future for poor people, says Xiomara, as she explains the main reason why she is struggling to support her children's studies. This entrepreneur will use her loan to buy fuel and other supplies for her husbands business. Her husband uses his motorcycle as a taxi and offers his services to people in the surrounding areas. The other members are: NOTE: Members of this group warrant each others loans. If one of the members fails to repay her loan, the other members must take responsibility for it. Xiomara runs the business mainly from her house, but from time to time she visits some women of the neighborhood to offer her products. I want to have a big store with millions of loyal customers, says the entrepreneur, as she talks about her dream for the future. Xiomara will use her loan to buy more products in order to increase her sales volume and thus her income.",F,450,partner,Retail,1
Dominican Republic,"Xiomara is a twenty-one year old new mother. She balances her responsibilities as an entrepreneur and mom with her studies at the local university. Xiomara sells new and used clothing as well as tennis shoes to men and women in her community.
She humbly explains that her selection of clothes and sneakers is still limited but, with her loan, she plans on supplementing her inventory with new styles of men's and womens shoes. Xiomaras business supports her university tuition but she also hopes that she will be able to help her parents as they grow older, as well.",F,1200,partner,Retail,0
Dominican Republic,"Yajaira Altagracia, an ambitious and hard-working woman, lives in the Trinitarios community of San Cristobal, where she runs a small store. She has two daughters and one son, all of them toddlers. Yajairas husband works for a construction company.
Yajaira says that two years ago she started a business selling makeup, perfumes, deodorants, body lotions, and the like. Until now, the entrepreneur has run the business from home, but she plans on saving money so that she can rent a store front soon.
With her loan, Yajaira will expand and diversify her stock to attract new clients. The entrepreneur wants to have enough money to pay for her childrens education.",F,450,partner,Retail,0
Dominican Republic,"Yameris Mariano is the single mother of a two-year-old baby girl. She has a small business killing and selling chickens in her community. She has already successfully repaid two loans to Esperanza International and is now applying for her third. With the loan money she will be able to buy more chickens to raise and then sell so that she can better her life. Yameris has hopes of becoming a better person and she really wants to ser alguien en la vida, (to be someone in life). She dreams of being able to provide well for her daughter and of sending her all the way through college so that she can have a professional career. She also dreams of one day owning her very own little house. With your help and her continued loans, Yameris is on her way to making her dreams come true.
Note: This is a group loan for 5 people.",F,775,partner,Food,0
Dominican Republic,"Yamileysi was born and raised in Quita Sueos, a small community of Cotu located in the central part of the country. She lives with her husband and 3 children, ages 3, 6 and 7 years. Overwhelmed by a harsh financial situation, Yamileysi is seeking a way to lift her family out of poverty and provide them with well-being.
With four other women, shes requesting a loan to start a small business in her neighborhood. Yamileysi plans to invest her loan in the purchase of used clothing.
In Quita Sueos, its not easy for women of modest means to be given a loan, since they dont meet the exigent requirements of the banks. Yamileysi was overjoyed when we told her that shed receive a loan from us quickly and without many requirements, except for the requirement to repay on time. She promises that shell do her best to make her business successful and to provide repayment on the dot.
Yamileysi is joined in her group by:
Andrea Vasquez, who produces fried dishes;
Maribel Del Carmen Mirambeaux, who sells fresh meat;
Edilenia Mendoza and Felipa Heredia Dominguez, both of whom sell retail clothing in the community
Yamileysi is the first person on the left in the photograph.",F,850,lender,Clothing,1
Dominican Republic,"Yanet lives with her husband in the San Luis community of Santo Domingo. Four years after their marriage, the couple still has no children because Yanet believes that a child deserves to be raised in a financially secure family. Her husbands wages can barely support the couples needs.
To supplement the familys income, Yanet started a small business selling tablecloths, bedspreads, cushions and window curtains in her community. She humbly explains that her stock is still limited, but she plans to use her loan to purchase a greater selection of these products to boost her inventory and increase her sales volume.
Yanet hopes that this loan will help her move one step closer to reaching her goal: for her business to generate a better income for the couple in preparation for their first child.",F,225,partner,Retail,1
Dominican Republic,"Yanet, an ambitious and assiduous businesswoman and a proud mother of three children, lives in the San Luis community of Santo Domingo. Her husband runs a carpenters shop in the community. To contribute to the familys budget, Yanet runs a small business of producing candies and pasties. Yanet sells her goods predominantly in the communitys public school, but she also visits regular customers at their homes to offer her goods. Yanet is requesting a loan to buy a large quantity of raw materials to keep producing her goods and satisfying her customers. This entrepreneur would like to buy an establishment to run her business.",F,300,partner,Food,1
Dominican Republic,"Yanilda is 23 years old and married with three children. They all go to the public school of the zone. Yanilda dedicates herself to the sale of flowerpots. She sells different kinds and sizes of these products. Her clientele is made up mostly of florists and nurserymen. She has been operating this business for more than one year.
Actually, she sells the flowerpots in a public place during the day, and at night she has to take them to her house or keep them in a storehouse close to the place. Therefore, she has to incur expenses for the storage of the flowerpots. She says that the storehouse is not safe, since sometimes flowerpots disappear or get broken. Thus, she is thinking seriously about renting a small location where she can her operate business and make sure that her flowerpots will be safe.
She has applied for a loan in order to reach these goals. The entrepreneur has a very good credit history since she has already taken from us a loan which she had repaid successfully.",F,500,partner,Retail,0
Dominican Republic,"Yaquelin, aged 39, mother of two daughters and a son, sells skin care and hair repair products, as well as cosmetic products. Her children go to the public school of the community; and the elder go to the university in Santo Domingo. This entrepreneur is requesting a loan to purchase merchandise like shampoo, rinse, hair treatment, gel for hair, and products for nails. Currently, these products are running low in her business. Increasing her income will help Yaquelin continue providing a good education and food for her three children, and improve her economic situation.",F,325,partner,Retail,0
Dominican Republic,"Yarisa is a 32-year-old woman who lives with her husband and four children in a rural community called Sabana Perdida (or the lost sheet), on the outskirts of the capital of Santo Domingo.
A while ago, Yarisa noticed that in her community there was a great need to teach children simple technical skills, so that they could be prepared to actively participate in todays society. In response to that need, she opened a small internet center, where people could come to use the internet, and where they could also come to learn more about computers. She has worked hard to develop this business which has undoubtedly been successful. She is asking for this loan so that she can buy a small car. With the car she intends to provide transportation services for people interested in taking her computer classes, but who are otherwise unable to travel to her location, or who can not send their children alone to her business. For this summer she has already planned and sold out places for a computer summer camp; she has worked hard to advertise for this camp, and says that she actually has a waiting list of children whose parents are paying to send them. Without this loan though, she would not be able to provide the necessary transportation to her clients so that they could attend her camp.
Her dream is to make her business bigger and better; one day in the next two years, she wants to offer computer courses, as well as reading and writing courses (because many people in her community are illiterate). One of her own children has special needs, and so she says one of her most important dreams is to provide a good future for her daughterto always give her the support and love that her disability requires. For herself, it is her goal to always work towards improving her life, and who she is as a person.
On behalf of everyone here at Esperanza International, and from Yarisa herself, we thank you for your support with this micro loan! Yarisas vision and motivation are truly exceptional and it will be an honor for all of us to watch her make good.",F,1025,partner,Education,0
Dominican Republic,"Yarisa is a young woman who has decided to start her path as an entrepreneur by starting her own jewelry business. She plans on buying the jewelry in a nearby town named ""Villa Consuelo"" and plans on selling the items to her neighbors since she does not currently own an establishment for her to sell the merchandise.
Yarisa is married with 1 daughter named Nicauris and her husband works at a warehouse. They live in Yamasa but her community is called ""La Cola"". She is also a member of the military.",F,375,partner,Wholesale,0
Dominican Republic,"Yarisa sells jewelry to the people in her community, and she wants to take this loan to increase her supplies and variety. She buys the items in ""Villa Consuelo,"" a nearby town. For her business to grow, she needs to make more sales; therefore, she needs more inventory. She is a married woman with one two-year-old daughter called Nicauris, and she used to work with her husband in a warehouse that he has.",F,375,partner,Retail,0
Dominican Republic,"Years ago, the husband of this brave 55 years old lady had an accident and became paralyzed. Since that day she had to do everything herself. Her best skill is dressmaking and thats how she has raised her 6 boys. She buys the cloth and sews it into uniforms, sheets, tablecloths and other articles that people buy from her. She now has 30 years of experience. She realizes that she could be much more productive if she could buy even more fabric and make more articles. She hopes to borrow an amount of US $175.00 that shell repay in 6 months in order to increase her business.",F,175,partner,Services,0
Dominican Republic,"Yenis Teresa sells beauty products, shoes, and pants to people in the Villa Del Carmen community of Ban. She started her business five years ago when she realized that her husbands wages were too low to support all the familys expenses. Now, her business is very profitable and she has a well-established clientele.
With her loan, Yenis will buy a wider variety of goods to add to her stock so that she can satisfy the needs of her customers and attract new clients to her business. Yenis hopes that her business can continue to support her four childrens studies.",F,450,partner,Retail,1
Dominican Republic,"Yenisa lives in a Batey, the migrant camps which house immigrant Haitian sugar-cane workers and their families. She is 34 years old, single and raises her three children by herself: a boy aged 6, and two girls aged 5 and 2. She lives with her family in one of the Batey company houses, barracks owned by the nationalized sugar-cane industry. She has been an Esperanza client for over two years. This is her fifth loan from Esperanza and she has paid back the other four successfully. She hopes to use her loan to continue selling small food items to her community, such as chicken and rice. She wants to buy more products with her loan. She uses the profits from her store to buy medicine and to take care of her children. They go to school so she buys their uniforms.",F,350,partner,Food,0
Dominican Republic,"Yenisfe Mercedes is the group coordinator of this group of five. She is twenty-two years old and has a four-year-old child. Yenisfe used to have a barber shop, but had to close down because business was slow. She moved into selling clothing. She goes to the capital or to San Pedro, the closest large city, to buy new clothes to sell. With this business, she can collect payments more frequently than her paying clients came to the barber shop. Yenisfe hopes to succeed in her business and open a clothing shop in downtown Hato Mayor. Yenisfe also expects to get her business well established so that she can go back to college and get a better education for managing her business. On behalf of Yenisfe and the rest of these entrepreneurs, thank you for your support!
Note: The lady to the left of the girl with jean jacket (Yenisfe) is not part of this loan. She was accompanying her on that visit to the Hato Mayor office.",F,1350,lender,Clothing,0
Dominican Republic,"Yennifer, 42, is a very wise and hard-working woman. She is married, with seven children (two boys and five girls). The children attend the public school of the town. With profits from her sales activity, she has been able to buy a small piece of land and build a house made of stone.
This entrepreneur dedicates herself to the sale of pants, shirts and shoes. She has been doing this business fore more than sixteen years. She says that with incomes from her activity she is able to provide education and food for her children.
Yennifer is looking for funds to purchase wholesale clothes to sell during the Christmas period. She believes that its a great opportunity for her to increase her income and go on taking care of her very large family.",F,150,partner,Clothing,0
Dominican Republic,"Yenny Anahilda is a twenty-year-old entrepreneur and the proud mother of a one-year-old girl. Her husband works as a cabinet maker, but his wages can barely satisfy the family's needs. To supplement her family's revenue, Yenny sells costume jewelry. She's requesting a loan to buy some bracelets, earrings, and similar goods to add to her stock.
Yenny would like to go back to school, and she hopes that her business will allow her to get enough money to reach this goal some day.",F,150,partner,Retail,1
Dominican Republic,"Yenny is thirty-four years old and a proud mother of three girls ranging in age from six to fourteen, all of whom go to school. Her husband is an electrician and has a small inverters repair shop. Yenny explains that her husband has been running his shop for more than ten years, and now shes helping him to manage the business. In her community, there are frequent power cuts, and consequently the small entrepreneurs install inverters in their businesses to run their activities.
This loan is to buy a wide range of materials and inverter parts which Yennys husband uses to operate his shop. Yenny hopes that this small business will generate greater profits so she can better support the childrens educations.",F,300,partner,Services,1
Dominican Republic,"Yenny is twenty-eight years old and the mother of two children who go to school. Her husband works as truck driver for a company. To supplement her familys income, Yenny sells underwear and shoes to people in her community. Yenny is a very experienced entrepreneur, because shes sold beauty products and other goods for a long time.
Shell use her loan to purchase more products to expand her inventory and increase her sales volume. Yennys dream is to build her own house in a few years in order to provide her children with a better life.
Dont hesitate to help Yenny become a successful businesswoman in her community! Thank you.",F,925,lender,Clothing,0
Dominican Republic,"Yesenia is a funny and bright-eyed woman who lives with her husband and sonin the community of Los Alcarrizzos. She runs a small business out of her home selling curtains, sheets and a cloth home accessory that is very popular in the Dominican Republic. She has requested this loan to buy a few new kinds of fabric which are new to the area, but which she knows will be a hit with existing and new customers. Because summer is beginning, when the heat is often unbearable, people want materials that are bright, beautiful, and which help block the sun from their homes, and Yesenia plans to use this loan to buy material that will fit this need perfectly.
She hopes that this money will help her and her husband improve their lives enough so they can afford three meals a day, and so that their son has the opportunity to grow up in health and happiness. She hopes that the boy grows up to become not only a man of God, but a man who does well for he community. She herself hopes to always continue improving her life and business, and when asked what challenges she faces in her life, replied with a simple ""Yo puedo,"" brushing off the idea that something might keep her down, and saying matter-o- factly, I can.",F,1400,partner,Personal Use,0
Dominican Republic,"Yesenia is a single mother of five living in the Doa community of Ban, Dominican Republic. Three of her children attend school, and one of them is physically handicapped and requires special attention. Because the small amount of child support she receives from her husband isn't enough to feed the family, Yesenia sells undergarments for additional income.
Yesenia urgently needs to increase her profit so that she can support all of her family's expenses; currently, she is not able to buy uniforms and other school supplies for her children. That's why she has applied for a loan of $150 U.S. dollars. She hopes to buy shoes to add to her business.",F,150,partner,Retail,1
Dominican Republic,"Yesenia is thirty years old and a single mom, raising her two children alone. Yesenia owns and operates a small clothing store in a rented locale in the Caf community of Santo Domingo. She plans on supplementing her business with new styles of mens and womens clothing. She also wants to add an assortment of perfumes and deodorants to the business with the intention of attracting new customers. Yesenia hopes to become the most well-established supplier of these goods in her community.",F,375,partner,Clothing,0
Dominican Republic,"Yesenia is thirty-two years, and she and her husband have five children, who range from 8 to 15. They all attend school. The entrepreneur lives in Mulo, a neighborhood of Yamas.
Yesenia runs a little grocery store which she started five years ago. Every day, from early in the morning, people in the neighborhood visit her store to get many kinds of products such as bread, sugar, milk, chocolate, spices, ripe fruit and so on. She also sells fresh meats.
Profit from the store has been very useful for my family, she says. In fact, she was able buy a washing machine, a television and a new suite of dining-room furniture last year for the comfort of her family.
Yesenia has requested a second loan to supplement her store's inventory with new products.",F,600,partner,Food,0
Dominican Republic,"Yesenia Nunez Munoz is a bank coordinator for the bank of Mujeres con Propositos. She is 33 years old and lives with her 36-year-old husband. They have three children: 12, 8 and 6 years old. Fifteen women from the bank are now looking for their second loan.
Yesenia has a business selling candy to students at a school in her neighborhood. The school has about 120 students and she visits it twice per day. Before her first loan she had sales of about 500 pesos per month, but after receiving a loan from Esperanza, her sales have increased to over 2000 pesos per month. With a new loan, she hopes to increase her business even more.
Yesenia is herself a student. She has been studying at a university in the evenings for the past four years to become a teacher. She will finish her education in a year and will be able to work as a teacher then. She wants to continue selling candy, but hopes it will be possible for her to have her own colmado (small shop) one day.
In her spare time Yesenia likes to read and mentioned Juan Bosch as her favorite author. She hopes that she will be able to help her children so that they too will have an opportunity to study at the university.
On behalf of Yesenia Nunez Munoz, Mujeres con Propositos, and all of us here at Esperanza International: thank you for your support!",F,3275,partner,Retail,0
Dominican Republic,"Yesseny, the leader of this group, is a 38-year old woman and a single mother of 3 children. Shes been selling clothing in her community for several years, and her business has been the principal source of income for her family. Yesseny exemplifies an important class of women: women who live in very needy conditions but who do their utmost to make positive changes in their families through their hard work.
In the early days of her business, thing were really hard for Yesseny, and maintaining the cash flow was challenging. With persistence and courage, she kept working at her business until she captured lots of clients, who remain loyal to her. Her strategy had very good results, and now her business is well-known in the community.
This loan is to buy new and fashionable clothing to sell during the Christmas period. The entrepreneur hopes that her business will allow her to provide a better lifestyle for her children.
Yesseny will receive her loan together with these women:
Yessica is requesting a loan to buy more goods in order to increase her inventory and meet her customers needs. She would like to own a big boutique that could generate enough money to provide a comfortable lifestyle for her family. The members of Yessicas group are:
With the additional profits, Yinet and her husband hope to establish a comfortable home so that they can have children one day.",F,300,partner,Agriculture,1
Dominican Republic,"Yisel is a young entrepreneur and newlywed who is working hard to move her small business forward and increase the revenue of her household. Shes been selling bedspreads, window curtains and housewares for three years in the Ochocienta community of Santo Domingo. A couple of months ago, Yisel took a loan from FSMA and invested the funds in her business, purchasing large amounts of supplies in bulk, managing to grow her business and repay her loans on time.
Yisel is requesting a second loan to expand her inventory and add a new variety of fashionable curtains and bedspreads to offer to her customers. She plans to use the additional revenue to save money to start university studies.",F,425,partner,Services,1
Dominican Republic,"Yisel is a young mother and a budding entrepreneur who is fighting tooth and nail to take care of her family and become a professional. She sells an assortment of beauty products in the Bienestar community of Santo Domingo. Yisel started her business a few months ago with a loan she took from FSMA. She is a responsible entrepreneur; she used the funds wisely and managed to make her business successful.
Yisel is now requesting a second loan to buy a greater variety of merchandise and increase her income. This season, her goods are in high demand and she needs capital to invest in more products.
Yisel says that shell keep working hard to lift her family out of poverty and provide them with a comfortable lifestyle.",F,250,partner,Retail,1
Dominican Republic,"Yissel Delisse is in her late twenties and shes taking out her second loan through Kiva. Yissel has three kids that go to school. With her first loan, the entrepreneur started a small business selling womens clothing in her community. Yissel managed to make it successful and she could repay the loan without delay. This loan is to add an assortment of new and exclusive pants and shirts, which are very much in demand in the community. The entrepreneur believes that these articles will generate greater profits for the business. This will allow her to better support her family and keep improving the kids living conditions.",F,250,partner,Clothing,1
Dominican Republic,"Yissel is a young entrepreneur with a strong desire to succeed in life. She is twenty-one years old and the proud mother of two children. Yissel sells clothing to people in her community. Each day, she visits regular customers and people in a close-by neighborhood to sell garments.
Yissel strongly believes that education plays an important role in leading someone to success. Consequently, she hopes to start her university studies soon. She plans to study marketing be because she thinks that this degree will complement her knowledge of sales and allow her have a good job in the future.
This young entrepreneur would like to have a big clothing store someday with a wide range of products and many customers. A shop such as this would generate employment for lots of people in her community and allow them to improve their families lifestyle.
Yissel plans to use her loan to purchase more wholesale clothing in order to keep satisfying customer demand and increase her income.",F,300,partner,Clothing,1
Dominican Republic,"Yissel is the coordinator of a group of five dynamic and hard-working entrepreneurs of San Cristobal.
Yissel is a single mother who has to work a lot to feed her son and support her university studies. Yissel owns and runs a beauty salon, specializing in nail-care. She offers services such as nail polish, designer nails, artificial nail removal, pedicures, and so forth. Yissel hopes that her businesss growth will help her increase her revenues and hire two or three girls to help her attend to her customers. Yissel is requesting a loan together with the other members of the group. Each entrepreneur will use her loan for her own business.
The other members are:
Altagracia Ydira Bautista Paredes, Normaliza Jimenez Acosta and Juana Fernandez De La Cruz will purchase clothing in bulk in order to boost their businesses.
Miguelina Abreu will buy an assortment of products for a small grocery store.
NOTE: Members of the group warrant one anothers loans. If one of the members fails in repaying the loan, the other members will have to take the responsibility.",F,1250,partner,Services,0
Dominican Republic,"Ylemis, 34 years old, is a very dynamic and ambitious woman. She is married, with four children (3 girls and a boy). She is from Haiti, the neighbor country of the Dominican Republic and has been living in our country for more than fifteen years. Ylemis is member of a group called Mujeres Inmigrantes de San Cristobal. The group is formed of women and young girls who all are professionals in the area of sewing. They have rented a locale where they run their workgroup. Recently, Ylemis has gotten a contract with a small company which needs some uniforms for the employees. The entrepreneur needs a loan in order to buy cloth, thread and other raw materials so that she can satisfy her new client's demand. That way, Ylemis will increase her income and will be able to continue improving her family's life.",F,300,partner,Services,0
Dominican Republic,"Yluminada is an ambitious entrepreneur who owns and operates a small grocery store in the Hato Nuevo community of San Cristobal. She also prepares breakfast and lunch for people in her community. She explains that her husband is very helpful and attends to the customers at the grocery store when she is busy cooking and selling her delicious Dominican dishes. Yluminadas businesses pay for her childrens school fees.
She will use the loan to buy rice, flour, vegetable oil, and the like.
Yluminada wants to keep working hard for the well-being of her family.",F,325,partner,Food,0
Dominican Republic,"Yndalesia is forty-four years old and mother of two sons and one daughter, all of whom attend school. Yndalesia sells homemade sweets and cakes to teachers and students of a public high school located in the Felicita community of Yamas.
Yndalesia says that her children would like to become professionals someday, and she adds that shed do everything to help them achieve this goal. With her loan, she will buy more raw materials to keep preparing her delicious sweets and cakes in order to increase her revenue and better fend for her family.",F,325,partner,Food,0
Dominican Republic,"Yns, 45, is a very persistent, dynamic and succesful businesswoman. She owns a beauty salon which she started 15 years ago. She has developed a very well established clientele. On the week-ends, she hires a young girl, because of the influx of customers on these days. Yns has requested a loan to renovate the locale, making it more attractive to the customers. She also wants to purchase some hair treatment and cosmetics products which are the most demanded by the women of her community. Given this loan, the entrepreneur will be able to help her husband provide their only son with a good education.",F,375,partner,Services,0
Dominican Republic,"Yocasta is an ambitious woman and a single mother of two children, aged two and seven. Seven years ago, Yocasta started a small business selling ladies clothing in her hometown, the Barrancones community of Ban. She is still operating her small store from her house, but she plans to rent a small establishment for the business before long. Currently, the entrepreneur is short of supplies, so she is requesting a loan to purchase clothing in bulk to add to her inventory. Yocasta hopes that her business will allow her to provide her children with good educations, and that she will be able to have her own house in the upcoming years.",F,375,partner,Clothing,1
Dominican Republic,"Yocelyne Janvier is an ambitious young woman from Puerto Plata, Dominican Republic. She is 25 years old and lives with her husband and their three children. She will use this loan money to purchase new pants, blouses, shoes, and cosmetics from the nearby city of Santiago. Then, she will go on to sell the purchased goods in a local flea market. She hopes that her business will continue to thrive and aspires to own her personal business in the future.
Yocelyne Janvier is part of a 10-person micro-bank, Lucero de la Maana, which means ""Morning Star"". Each woman has her own personal business but all of them unite to pay their loan as a group. The purpose of the group loan is to assist each other in case someone defaults. The Kiva loans will be divided among the group to pay back.
We thank you for your support on behalf of Yocelyne, the Paz and Amor group, and the entire team at Esperanza International.",F,1475,partner,Clothing,0
Dominican Republic,"Yohanna Aidee is married with three children, and she lives in Santana, a small community of modest-means people located in San Cristobal. She and her husband own and operate a small motorcycle tire shop. She started the shop about ten years ago, and currently it's well known by people in the community. In fact, every day lots of people visit the store to make the purchase of various products such as brakes, wheels, seats, clutches and the like.
This loan is to buy a lot of parts that customers frequently need and which are running low at the shop. Yohanna explains that with her business's continued growth, she hopes that she'll be able to provide a more comfortable life for her children.",F,275,partner,Services,1
Dominican Republic,"Yohanny is a 28 year old, single woman. She has two boys and a girl, aged 12, 11 and 8 respectively. All the children attend school.
Yohanny dedicates herself to the sale of women's and children's clothing. She has been running this business for more than three years. This activity is her principal source of income, and through it, she provides food and education for her children and pays for her rented house.
Six months ago, the entrepreneur took a loan from FSMA because supplies had been running low in her business. With the funds, she purchased clothing in bulk which she sold successfully. The loan helped her to give a new giro to the business and she was able to make a lot of profits and repaid the loan in due time. She also opened a bank account and learned to save money for any unforeseen event. Currently, she is operating her business in a small location that she could rent.
Yohanny is requesting a second loan to buy more clothing in bulk to sell during the Christmas period. She will offer the goods at very low prices, so that more people can get to know her business and possibly become part of her numerous loyal customers. Her income will also be increased, and her profit margin improved.",F,1200,partner,Clothing,0
Dominican Republic,"Yokasta Rodriguez is a hard working single mother of a 10 year old child. She is currently living in a small town in San Pedro de Macoris in the Dominican Republic. She has a small business near the beach, a beauty salon, where women go to get their hair cut, or to get a stylish hair-do.
The beauty salon has been successful for her. She has been able to pay her bills and take care of her child's needs. In the future she would like install her beauty salon in her very own local area. Yocasta works hard even although she is at present fighting an illness.
She is a member of the ""Milagros de Cumayasa"" with 9 other women. They all get loans to expand their businesses. Yocasta has used the loans to increase her business. It has been very promising for her to receive the loans, which she has used to buy very comfortable chairs for her clients to sit on while she is using her hair dryer, which she also bought, to dry their hair. She has also used her loan in order to buy merchandises like shampoos, conditioners, and other items.
On behalf of all of them, and our team here at ""Esperanza"", thank you for your support!",F,1625,partner,Services,0
Dominican Republic,"Yokatsa Rodriguez is the representative of a group of five women. These five women are from a group called ""Milagros de Cumayasa."" The members come from a very poor area in San Pedro, Dominican Republic. When this group first came to Esperanza International, almost none of the members had a steady income, and all were having a difficult time paying for life's basic necessities. Now, through hard work, this whole group is receiving their 4th loan, and are continuing to grow their small businesses.
Yokatsa is a mother to one young child and wants nothing more than a better life for that child. With her first loan, she started a small beauty salon in her house and now has a very successful business. For the first time in her life, she feels like she has something of her own, and feels like she can provide her child with all the things he needs. She is excited to continue expanding her business, and feels like this next loan will really help her salon. Thanks for all your support!",F,1125,partner,Services,0
Dominican Republic,"Yolainy is an excellent entrepreneur and a proud mother of a one-year-old unique daughter. Yolainy started her business five years ago in her community. She recalls that on the beginning, she was selling basic foodstuff, and she didn't have many clients. As she was a newcomer to the business world, without experience, it was very hard to face the competition.
Nonetheless, two years later she expanded her business, and with her husbands help she bought an old car, which she uses to deliver products to her customers. Currently, shes one of the most well-established suppliers of bread, cakes and bottled water, and she also sells her goods to small groceries stores and cafeteria in the community.
Now that shes finished paying for the car, Yolanda is requesting a loan in order to further expand her business and add new products to her inventory. Yolainy hopes that her business will generate greater income so that she can better support her family.
The entrepreneur will receive the funds together with the following businesswomen:
Hilaria Geruacio Pereyra, who runs a small hair salon,
Luz Cristina Rosario, who retails pants and shoes,
Marleni Severino Tolentino, a small vendor of rice, and
Yesenia Mota Hilario, who owns and operates a mini-market.",F,1125,partner,Food,1
Dominican Republic,"Yolanda is a hard-working woman who is struggling to make a change in her familys living conditions. Yolanda is an optimistic woman, and she never lets herself get discouraged in spite of the bad economic situation shes facing. On the contrary she believes that failures can be a good teacher from which we can learn to be successful in the future.
Yolanda has three children ranging in age from five to ten, all of whom go to school. To keep supporting her family and the childrens education, Yolanda wants to start a small business of selling jewelry. With her loan, shell purchase the goods outside her community at very low prices, and shell resell the jewelry at very competitive prices so that she can capture a part of the competitors clients. Yolanda has an unshakable faith in God, and she believes that with a lot of sacrifices and Gods help, shell be able to reach her multiple goals in life.
Yolanda will receive her loan together with these women:
Martina Cedano Mejia, who sells fruits and vegetables in her community,
Maricela Altagracia Cabrera, who will start a beauty salon,
Yoselin Carrera Tabarez, who will invest in the purchase of shoes for a small business, and
Alfa Kenia Romero Martinez, who will sell shoes and tennis. ",F,1350,partner,Retail,1
Dominican Republic,"Yolanda is an extremely hard-working and energetic woman. For more than three years, she has operated a store where she sells mens and womens clothing. Every two years, she travels to Santo Domingo, her nation's capital, to get new garments at very cheap prices. Her store is well known, and people love to visit because it's clean, tidy, and run by someone who is very kind and thoughtful. Yolanda hopes that her store will keep growing so that she can maintain a comfortable life for herself and her four children. To make that possible, she has applied for a new loan that she will use to buy more clothing to sell.",F,925,partner,Clothing,0
Dominican Republic,"Yolanda is twenty-four-years old and a mother of three children. She lives in Mata Los Indios, in the community of Santo Domingo.
Yolanda sells a collection of pants, shoes, and underwear to men and women of her community. Yolanda explains that twice a month, she has to take a trip outside the capital in order to get the garments at low prices. This way, she makes sure she will have good profits. Currently, her products are in high demand, but she is in short supply. Therefore, Yolanda is requesting a loan (the second loan she will take from FSMA) to buy clothing in bulk, in order to satisfy her customers needs.",F,600,partner,Clothing,0
Dominican Republic,"Yolanda lives in the city of San Pedro de Macoris, and is part of a bank of 20 women from her community. She has two children and in addition to caring for her household, she runs a bakery/bread shop. She wants to use this loan to buy more flour, sugar, and butter in order to always have a supply on hand. Her business has grown significantly since she took out her first loan with Esperanza six months ago, and she wants to continue expanding her business. Her favorite foods are natural juice, rice, beans, and meat. In the future Yolanda wants to continue expanding her business so that she can help other women in her community.
These six women are part of a larger Bank of Hope, and they have grown very close over the course of their first loan. They are all excited for the opportunity to take out a second loan, and appreciate the support from Kiva lenders. On behalf of everyone, we want to thank you for your support and encouragement!
About Group Loans:
In a group loan, each member of the group receives an individual loan but is part of a group of individuals bound by a group guarantee. Under this arrangement, each member of the group supports one another and is responsible for paying back the loans of their fellow group members if someone is delinquent or defaults.",F,825,partner,Food,0
Dominican Republic,"Yoli, a particularly young woman, started her business eight months ago. She sells food on a wheel cart (locally called a chimi) commonly used in populated areas to serve those who go out in the night time and need a place to have a bite when they come out of a bar or night club. She typically serves cooked meat products such as hot dogs, hamburgers, and sandwiches. Her husband and a brother-in-law assist her in this business. She tells us that the chimi, although it is a business that requires sacrifice, provides the family with a higher income.
She plans to buy pierna (roasted leg of ham), which is in high demand by those who have had a few frias (cold beers). This, she feels, will probably bring in either a higher number of customers, or at least shell be able to mark up her products according to the increased value added by this specialty food ingredient.",F,275,partner,Food,0
Dominican Republic,"Yomara was born and raised in her beloved Sabana Grande de Boy in the province of Monte Plata. Yomara has four children, two of whom go to school. Her husband works as truck driver for a company. To contribute to the familys budget and support the studies of the other children, she wants to start a business selling window curtains, tablecloths and cushions.
Yomara explains that she used to work in a tailors shop and had been one of the smartest and most effective seamstresses. She wants to take advantage of her abilities and start a successful business. Yomara explains that shes already evaluated the risks of starting such a business and the expenses shell be incurring, and has concluded that her activity will be profitable.
Yomara says that having her own business is the only way she can help her husband to lift her family out of poverty. Shes requesting a loan to invest in cloth and other sewing materials. Shell also get her sewing machine repaired so that she can start operating her business.
Yomara hopes that her business will be successful and that very soon shell be able to change her familys life.
Yomara will receive her loan together with these following women:
Margarita Tolentino Fabian, who sells beauty products to women in the community. >p>
Delfina Martinez, who sells womens clothing.
Alexandra Mara Langomas De La Rosa, wholl invest her loan to buy shoes, pants, and shirts to retail.
Ana Leocadio J D Ramrez, who operates a small clothing store.
Picture: left to right: Yomara, Margarita, Delfina, Alexandra and Ana.",F,1175,partner,Retail,1
Dominican Republic,"Yomaris Martinez Almonte is an excellent social entrepreneur and a proud mother of three children ranging in age from four to 12. Over the last three years, shes been working hard to contribute to the education of the children in the San Isidro community of Santo Domingo. Yomaris is the owner and principal of a basic school she started as a result of her aim to help kids from low-income families to have an adequate education. Yomaris explains that she still is running the school in very humble conditions. As she hasnt access to a large quantity of capital, she had to fit out a small space to simulate a classroom for the children. She confesses that the kids deserve a much better atmosphere so that they can learn in a school worthy of this name.
With her loan, Yomaris will buy some plastic chairs, as for the past year about a dozen have been broken. Shell also buy other materials and make painted blackboards. Yomaris says that shell keep doing her utmost to provide good education to these disadvantaged kids who deserve the best, like any other child of a developed country.
Yomaris will share this group loan with: Altagracia Gonzalez, a costume jewelry retailer; Francisca Solis, who will invest in the purchase of curtains and tablecloths for a small business; Maria Magdalena Mendez, to buy clothing in bulk to resell in her community; and Ysabel Severino Jimenez, to purchase womens clothing in bulk.
The photo shows from left to right: Ysabel, Maria Magdalena, Francisca, Altagracia and Yomaris.",F,975,partner,Education,1
Dominican Republic,"Yomeris Silverio is a group coordinator for the bank of Hope named Mujeres Luchadoras, which means, Fighting Women in English. Yomeri is the owner of a business selling perfume in her local community near Imbert, Dominican Republic. Yomeri has one young son named Oliver who is one year old. This loan will be Yomeris second with Esperanza, the first of which helped her considerably.
With the extra money that Yomeris earned in her business, she was able to bring home bigger profits and help provide for her son Oliver. Helping children out of poverty is one of the goals Esperanza has as an organization. By giving women like Yomeris a micro-loan, we are able to ensure that her children will benefit because women generally spend most of their money on the family and their home.
Yomeris dreams of continual growth for her perfume business and would also like to open up an internet caf in the near future. She would like to see her son Oliver graduate from school and to grow up strong. In her free time, Yomeris enjoys reading and also chatting with friends.
On behalf of Yomeris Silverio, Mujeres Luchadoras, and all of us here at Esperanza International, thank you for your support and efforts to fight the global issue of poverty!",F,3725,partner,Retail,0
Dominican Republic,"Yoni is a 39-year old woman who lives in a very poor community called Proyecto Rima, or Project Rima, on the outskirts of the capital Santo Domingo.
Yoni is a Haitian immigrant, and lives with her husband and four children in a small home. She recently started a small business selling fresh fruit to her community members She is requesting a loan so that she has can buy larger quantities of higher quality fruit and travel to heavily transited areas to sell her wares. In the Dominican Republic, it is very common for people to buy pieces of fresh fruit on the corners as they walk to work, their homes, or simply when they are out and about. The money from this loan will help her make more money by enabling her to sell in a different location and to buy enough fruit to meet the demand she will face.
She hopes that her business will continue to grow with the help of this loan, and that with the profits she realizes, she will be able to help her children study more. It is her goal to always have a steady job, and to always work to provide for her family.
On behalf of everyone here at Esperanza International, and from Yoni herself, we thank you for your support with this micro loan!",F,1650,partner,Food,0
Dominican Republic,"Yosayra lives in the small rural community of Consuelo, in the eastern interior of the Dominican Republic. She is asking for this loan so that she can buy used and new clothing to sell in her community. She hopes that one day she will be able to buy or rent a fixed space from which to sell her clothing. She will use the this loan to buy more clothes at a bulk price, and in this way increase her profit margin.
Although she has no children right now, she says she that she looks forward to having her own family one day. Her dream is to own her own house in which to raise her future family.
On behalf of everyone here at Esperanza International, and of Yosayra herself, we thank you for your support with this micro loan!",F,1175,partner,Retail,0
Dominican Republic,"Yoselin is a pleasant young woman and mother of two sons and two daughters. She lives in the Corositos community of Cotu, in the province of Sanchez Ramirez in the central part of the country. Her husband works as bus driver for a transportation company.
For the past ten years, Yoselin has been operating a small mini market, which is helping her in supporting the kids' education and covering other expenses of the family. Yoselin explains that the beers and other alcoholic drinks are the most popular products in the store. This loan is to purchase lots of goods, especially drinks, as she's running low on those products. Yoselin hopes that her business will allow her to improve her family's standard of living.",F,375,partner,Food,1
Dominican Republic,"Yoselin is in her late twenties and she has three children, two of them girls. They go to the public school in her community. Yoselin runs a small beverage store that she opened one year ago. People visit her store to get different kinds of beverages such as beer, whisky, wine, ron and energy drinks. Currently she has a lot of loyal customers. On the weekends, to give customers the incentive to purchase at her store, Yoselin offers specials from 10:00 pm to 2:00 am.
The entrepreneur is requesting a loan to purchase more beverages to supply her business. During the holiday season people usually buy more drinks. I have to get ready for this very moment, she says. Currently, the store is the principal source of income of Yoselin, and she wants to increase her income in order to improve her familys living conditions.",F,500,partner,Food,0
Dominican Republic,"Yoselin, a woman of humble conditions and a mother of two children, makes a living selling jewels and beauty products by catalogue to women of Hortaliza, a community of Santo Domingo. She has been running her business for two years, and it has grown rapidly as more women have tried her products and become loyal customers. She has asked for this loan in order to purchase a range of jewellery items for her expanding business so that she can more effectively meet customer demand. Yoselin is ambitious, and dreams of having a small premises so that she can store products and reduce the amount of trips she must make to the supplier.",F,325,partner,Retail,0
Dominican Republic,"Young Luz Maria is a promising and optimistic entrepreneur whos been operating a small grocery store for two years. Luz Maria had been a very brilliant student at secondary school, but an unexpected pregnancy forced her to stop her studies, and now she spends most of her time taking care of her son.
The entrepreneur explains that turnover in the grocery business is very high; she has to constantly restock her business or otherwise lose sales because the items are always in high demand. With her loan, shell buy a wide range of products, including rice, cooking oil, sugar, and beer, which are the goods most in demand in her grocery store. The entrepreneur hopes that shell have enough money to hire someone look after her son during the evening when she goes back to school.
The other members of Luz Maria's group are:
Yris plans on using her loan to boost her business. She'll buy an assortment of chic pants and shoes which are well demanded in her community at the present time. Yris is a very responsible person. A few months ago, she took a loan from our institution. She used her loan thoughtfully and she managed to repay it on the dot and to make her business successful.",F,525,partner,Clothing,1
Dominican Republic,"Yris, the young leader of this group, is a successful entrepreneur who lives in the Cevicos community of Cotu, in the province of Sanchez Ramirez located in the central part of the country. Yris runs a small beauty parlor and proudly says that she's contributing to making people more beautiful through the different services she offers. Yris has been operating her salon for eight years and this activity is the principal source of income of her family. She's been separated from her husband for a long time, and since they separated she has been maintaining her three children by her own. Of course, in the beginning it was very hard for Yris to make a go of the business, but with patience, hard works and improvement of her services, she managed to move her business forward and make it profitable.
With this loan, Yris wants to buy some materials and products she needs to keep operating her business. She'll specifically purchase some hair strengthening shampoos, conditioners, hair brushes, sprays and the like to continue offering her services.
Yris will share this loan with the other members of her group, who are: Ayda Altagracia Cleto, a small clothing retailer; Miguelina Nicasio, a mini-market owner; Josefa De La Cruz, who sells women's clothing; and Dominga Rosario Hernandez, who sells fried vegetables in the community.
The photo shows from left to right: Yris, Ayda, Miguelina, Josefa and Dominga.",F,1075,partner,Services,1
Dominican Republic,"Ysabel ""Maritza"" Sufron is in her fourth loan cycle with her Esperanza International Bank of Hope, La Alianza (""The Alliance""). She used her first loan to open her women's underwear store, ""Interiores Penia."" Maritza tried to open her store before her loan, but the business failed because she was unable to keep the store stocked with the variety and selection her customers wanted. Now, just two years later, Interiores Penia is always full of merchandise--and customers!
Before she joined her Bank of Hope, Maritza was dependent on her husband to send her money for necessities. As a result of her business's success, Maritza is now able to easily provide everything her family needs, from home furnishings to school supplies for her grandchildren.
Many budding entrepreneurs in this Quisqueya community have been inspired by the success of Interiores Penia, and have joined Esperanza as a result. Maritza's home (which adjoins her shop) serves as the center for Bank of Hope collection meetings, and her loan officer, Damaris, often uses story to inspire her other borrowers.",F,1450,partner,Clothing,0
Dominican Republic,"Ysabel has been selling footwear for a long time, and her business remains the principal source of income for her family. Ysabel has five sons, three of whom live with her.
Ysabel is currently short of shoes to sell, so she has requested a loan to replenish her small business and thereby satisfy her clientele and boost her income. She hopes that her business's growth will allow her to have a better income and improve her family's living conditions.",F,350,partner,Retail,1
Dominican Republic,"Ysabel is the mother of three children, ages 5, 14 and 16. She has a business where she sells clothes and shoes. She wants to be able to send her children to school and provide them with a better life. By investing the money she will receive from the loan in her business, she hopes to grow her clothing sales and pursue her dreams for her family.
The loan will also help the other group members fund their business enterprises. The photo shows all ten women at a group meeting with their loan officer.
Note: This is a group loan. The women in the group help support and guarantee the loan for one another.",F,4000,partner,Clothing,0
Dominican Republic,"Ysabel is undoubtedly the leader of her Bank of Hope. Ysabel sells undergarments, beauty products, perfumes, and jeans, and she is now taking out her second loan with Esperanza International. She says that she would use this second loan to invest in a new product--portable home stoves. Many people in her community cannot afford a full stove and oven, but they can afford the portable and compact gas stoves. This is an excellent opportunity to fill an unmet need in her community.
She lives with her husband and seven children, three of whom are adopted. She is now six months pregnant. She says that it can be hard to provide for 8 people every day, but the success of her past loan gives her hope that if she continues to work hard, things will get better. Her dream is one day to have her own store where she can sell anything she wants. She says that this store would be big, with big windows, and it would be a place where women could find the latest fashion or home accessories.
She dreams of achieving a stable economic state in her life so that she can send her children to a university. She wants each child to pursue one of the professions. For herself, she says that her dream is look back on her life in peace and without regrets, knowing that she did the best she could and provided a good life for her children.
Ysabel, as well as the other 14 women in her Bank of Hope thank you for your generosity and support with this loan. They are excited about the prospect of improving life for themselves, their children, and their community through hard work.",F,3675,partner,Retail,0
Dominican Republic,"Ysidoro lives with his wife and two children (ages: 12, 15) in the busy town of San Pedro de Macoris. He owns a small street-side business where he sells a variety of fried foods. This loan will be used to buy flour, oil, meat, and vegetables for the popular Dominican food called empanada. In the future, he would like to move his business from the street to a proper store where he would be able sell a variety of different foods. Ysidoro loves his children, and he takes great pride in sending them to a good school. He hopes that once his business grows even more he will be able to start saving for their college education.
Thank you for supporting this group, and we look forward to watching these 5 entrepreneurs improve their businesses and lives!",M,825,partner,Food,0
Dominican Republic,"Ystella is a vivacious 32 year old woman who lives in a small Haitian community on the northern coast of Puerto Plata. She lives with her husband and five children (ages 12, 9, 6, 3, 1) in a small, one bedroom house.
Ystella currently sells a variety of items to the people living in her community. She walks around everyday trying to find people to purchase the items that she has on hand. Currently, her biggest problem are customers who buy on credit and never pay her back. With this loan, she hopes to set up a store that her customers can come to and carry a larger inventory of household items. Her husband works in construction and is often out of work for weeks at a time. Having two incomes will greatly benefit their family. Eventually, Ystella would love to be able to build her own home for her family.
On behalf of Ystella, and everyone here at Esperanza International, we sincerely thank you for your support!",F,750,partner,Retail,0
Dominican Republic,"Yuberki is a twenty-two year old single woman and she sells womens clothing and beauty products in the Batey of Palav community of San Cristobal. Yuberki has already finished secondary school and wants to attend a university. She explains that public university is located at Santo Domingo, the capital, and that shell need money to travel outside her community daily to attend classes. Yuberki says she will keep working very hard to achieve her goal. With her loan, the entrepreneur will buy more goods in order to satisfy her customers needs and increase her income.",F,225,partner,Clothing,0
Dominican Republic,"Yudelka, 29, and her husband sell clothes for women and children, in order to earn a living and take care of their own seven children. Yudelka started the business five years ago. She buys in Santo Domingo, the capital, and retails the clothes in her community. Right now the couple is running the business out of their modest rented house in Hato Nuevo. Yudelka is now working to expand the business and make it known to all the community and sell more. She is planning to renovate a small locale that her husband has just bought for her and move the business there. She also wants vary her range of products, adding clothes for men to her business. The couple needs straightaway a loan that could help them reach their purpose and increase their income so that they can improve the situation of their needy family.",F,325,partner,Clothing,0
Dominican Republic,"Yudelki Rosine sells new and used clothing to people of the Batey of Palav community of San Cristobal. Yudelki is in her early twenties, and she and her husband have a newly born girl. The entrepreneur explains that her businesses help her supplement the familys income and face some of their financial issues. In addition, she says she feels independent since she doesnt have to wait for a man to give her everything she needs.
Yudelki will use her loan to restock her business. She is putting aside money to rent a small locale before long for the business.",F,225,partner,Clothing,0
Dominican Republic,"Yudelkis Altagracia is a thirty-two-year-old single mother of a thirteen-year-old girl. She lives in the Alceviejo community of Los Alcarrizos in Santo Domingo, the capital. Yudelkis sells a collection of chic pants to friends and other people in her community. She doesnt have a big stock of products, but she makes purchases according to quantity ordered by her customers. Yudelkis says that business is going well, and that shes getting more and more customers.
Yudelkis wants to stabilize and boost her business. She is requesting a loan to add shirts and underwear to her stock so as to offer more variety to her customers and attract more people.",F,450,partner,Clothing,0
Dominican Republic,"Yuderca Altagracia Polanco Santana is thirty-three years old and a proud mother of an only son who goes to school. Her husband works as a machine operator for a textile company in the San Isidro Industrial Free Zone. As her husbands wages are too low to support all the familys expenses, Yuderca is thinking about starting a small business which would help her generate another source of income for the family. Shed been operating a small decoration center and selling artificial flowers for more than 10 years, but she had to move to another township and close the business. This loan is to buy a wide range of materials to start a small flower shop. Yuderca explains that her business will be successful and profitable because plenty of people use decoration flowers for various occasions such as weddings, birthdays, anniversaries or any other party. Yuderca hopes that shell be able to buy her own house before long.
Yuderca will share this group loan with: Jenifer Emelinda Aybar, who retails shoes; Diomaris Montero Romero, to invest in various materials for her cafeteria; Ana Reyes Campos, to invest in beauty products to retail; and Yajira Augustina De La Cruz, to buy raw materials to produce fried dishes to sell in her community.
The photo shows from left to right: Yajira, Ana, Diomaris, Jenifer and Yuderca.",F,1025,partner,Agriculture,1
Dominican Republic,"Yuderca or Yudy, as friends and family affectionately call her, is an active and hard-working woman who lives in the Trinitarios community of San Cristobal. She has four children that range from 1 to 10 years old, three of whom go to school.
Yudy sells an assortment of pants, blouses, shirts and underwear to the men and women of her community. Shes still running the store within her house, but she is thinking about renting a local before long to operate the business.
Yuderca is requesting a loan to invest in the purchase of new styles of pants and shirts. The entrepreneur hopes that her business can grow so that she can buy a house with the profit from her store. Yudercas business supports her childrens educations.",F,475,partner,Clothing,0
Dominican Republic,"Yuderka is a twenty-eight year old entrepreneur and a proud woman who struggles in order to guarantee her two children a better lifestyle. She sells jewelry to the women in her community. Yuderka plans to buy new and exclusive bracelets, necklaces and earrings which will generate a greater profit than her current inventory. Yuderka would like to become one of the most well-established suppliers of these goods in her community.",F,250,partner,Retail,1
Dominican Republic,"Yulvania is a very young entrepreneur who is striving for a better life. She lives with her partner and has no children. She is studying Computer Sciences in the public university of Santo Domingo, in the capital.
For more than two years, Yulvania has been selling jewelry. She has different kinds of jewels in her inventory: gold-filled, silver-plated, acrylic jewels and plastic stones. When she started the business, she was just selling gold-filled jewelry. Six months ago, she obtained FSMA funds with which she could enlarge her inventory and attract more customers. This entrepreneur is very responsible and hard-working. Her discipline and sense of business helped her pay back the loan on time.
With profits from her sales activity, Yulvania pays transport to go to the university five days a week; she also helps her partner pay for their rented house, and she saves money for an emergency.
This entrepreneur hopes her business can grow so that she can have her own locale to operate her business, and that the store can get a lot of loyal customers. She has applied for a second loan to buy more goods to sell during the Christmas period. She thinks that its a great opportunity to increase her sales volume and thus her income. In the future, Yulvania says she will keep doing the business so that she can continue her university studies until she becomes a professional and has her own software company.",F,900,partner,Retail,0
Dominican Republic,"Yuly Remy Rosa lives in a Haitian batey, a housing community provided by the sugarcane companies for their poor field workers. In her little wooden house with a tin roof and cement floor, Yuly lives with her husband and two children, ages 4 and 6.
In order to contribute to the family income, especially in the sugarcane off season, Yuly has a small business selling clothing. She buys the clothing in the capital of Santo Domingo, about 2 hours away from where she lives, and sells the clothing in the touristy beach city of Bavaro, another two hours of travel in the opposite direction. When she travels for work, her mother cares for her two children.
Yuly has successfully repaid 3 loans to Esperanza International and is now requesting her fourth. With the money she hopes to continue growing her business so that she can one day afford her own house and send her children to college so that they can have professional careers.
Note: This is a group loan for 13 people.",F,4550,partner,Clothing,0
Dominican Republic,"Yuly, a twenty-eight year old woman, is an experienced and successful businesswoman of the Batey of Palav community of San Cristobal. Yuly started a business selling pants and shoes to people of the community eight years ago, but shes been immersed in business since her childhood. Yuly says that her activity helps her to provide food for her children and support her education. She also expressed her desire to buy a house where her family can live comfortably. Ill work hard to achieve my goal, and Ill try to not spend my money on alcoholic drinks, as so many people waste their money, she adds. Yuly will use her loan to buy more merchandise so as to increase her income.",F,250,partner,Retail,0
Dominican Republic,"Yunisi is a young, active, open-minded, persistent and hard-working girl. She is single and lives with her mother and five brothers and sisters. Even though her parents work, they cant bear all the expenses of such a large family. Yunisi says its her responsibility to help her parents. Three months ago, she began selling gold-filled and silver-plated jewelry. She sells her goods in the neighborhood and to her classmates and teachers at the public school she attends. Yunisi plans use her to put aside money so that she can go to the university in a years time. She is very confident and knows she will do well. The 18-year-old entrepreneur is requesting a loan of $375 to purchase of more jewelry with the aim of increasing her sales volume and earning the money for her education.",F,375,partner,Retail,0
Dominican Republic,"Yusetty is a very congenial and positive 25-year-old woman. She has three children and is pregnant. For more than ten years, her husband and she have been running a general store. Currently, she sells vegetables, ripe fruits, bread, milk, chocolate, rice, beans and other basic foodstuffs. She would like to expand her inventory and include energy drinks, bath soap, toothpaste and other similar items after receiving her loan.
The entrepreneur thinks that the business expansion will help her greatly and she will better help her husband support the family.",F,375,partner,Food,0
Dominican Republic,"Yvelisse is thirty-two years old and the mother of two sons and one daughter, all of whom attend school. Her husband works at a nearby electro-mechanical shop. To complement her familys income, Yvelisse sells silver jewelry to women of the Buenos Aires community of Santo Domingo. The entrepreneur explains that she needs to augment her stock so as to better satisfy her customers. She is requesting a loan to buy customer-recommended products. That will allow her to increase her sales volume and her revenue, and Yvelisse will be able to support her family.",F,375,partner,Retail,0
Dominican Republic,"Zacaras is a relatively young businesswoman, and she and her partner have a very big family: ten children, seven of them girls. Just two of the children work while the others attend school.
Zacaras has been selling mens clothing for two years. She runs her business in the morning, and in the evening she works in a lottery bank. Biweekly, she leaves her neighborhood to collect clothing from Santo Domingo, the capital. She also occasionally buys garments from a frontier city in Haiti.
With her loan, she plans to purchase used clothing in bulk to resell in her community. Given the loan, Zacaras will be in a better condition to improve her very needy familys living conditions.",F,175,partner,Clothing,0
Dominican Republic,"Zoila Peralta runs a small grocery store out of her home in El Seybo. She started with nothing and now her business is helping her family get along well. With this new loan she wants to keep expanding her business and buy more products such as pork, chicken, and vegetables. Zoila still has two years to complete her university degree and wants to go back. She has not finished school yet because she got married and became pregnant and also had to come home to take care of her sick mother. She is hoping that with her profits from her small business, she will be able to complete school.
NOTE: This is a group loan. Zoila is one of five microentrepreneurs in her Bank of Hope solidarity group, all of whom have gone through Esperanza's business training courses. Each of the five members will receive a share of this $1,125 loan for their respective businesses and will be accountable to each other for repaying their share of this loan together. This group-lending methodology ensures that members cooperate to help one another repay their loans and invest wisely in their businesses and families.",F,1125,partner,Food,0
Dominican Republic,"Zoraida Nunez is the coordinator of a group of five entrepreneurs. They are looking for their first loan to invest in their respective businesses. Zoraida owns a small salon and is looking to invest in her business by purchasing more hair products and making small improvements to her store. She decided to approach Kiva partner, Esperanza, because she has been working in the salon business for several years, but has never been able to grow her salon substantially. A loan from Esperanza will allow her to make capital improvements necessary for substantial growth.
Some of the improvements Zoraida needs for her salon include installing a fan and a door. A door and a fan seem very minor, but they represent major improvements for Zoraidas salon. In the future, Zoraida would like to be able to hire several employees and have a large, modern salon.
Zoraida is happily married with two daughters and one son. Her daughters are aged 19 and 6, and her son is 22. Her son works at a water factory, while her eldest daughter is in college studying administration. Her youngest daughter just finished her first year of elementary school. Zoraida's family is very important to her, and she is taking a loan from Esperanza in the hope that her business investment will make her familys life better.",F,950,lender,Services,0
Dominican Republic,"Zuleida is in her late thirties and has five children (four girls and one boy), three of whom go to school. Zuleida has been selling window curtains, tablecloths, and baby clothes in the Trinitarios community of San Cristobal. The entrepreneur explains that she has a lot of experience selling these products, and that shes very good at persuading people to buy.
Zuleida is also a very responsible person. Shes taken out two loans from FSMA in the past, and she repaid them on time. Shed like to see her business grow and to be very profitable. Shes requesting more funds to baby clothes in bulk and increase her stock. Zuleida says shell keep working hard in to improve her familys standard of living.",F,475,partner,Retail,0
Dominican Republic,"Zunilda Baret F. de Jhon has a wonderful heart and ambitions for the growth of her business. She has used her loans to start a hair salon that has been functioning for about three years now with the help of loans. When asked about her business, she kindly smiles and offers to give me a haircut in the near future. Ms. Baret F. de Jhon has used her loans for purchasing materials for daily operation such as mirrors, scissors, clippers, chairs, and hair accessories. She is married with six children, three of whom live at home with her. She enjoys spending her free time with her grandson and visiting with people in her neighborhood. When asked about her favorite food, she laughs and says that shes Dominican so she must like la bandera, which is a traditional dish consisting of rice, beans, and meat. Also, when shes not working in her shop, she dedicates her time to her church and the upholding of her home. Ms. Baret F. de Jhon would like to see her business grow in the future to help provide for her and her family.
Ms. Baret F. de Jhon is one of a group of 5 persons, 'Grupo 1', that is part of a micro-bank called Miramar Femenina which consists of 35 members (other members of Miramar Femenina are seen in the photo). Her story is just one of those of a list of men and women who are improving their quality of life through the help of the micro-credit loans of Esperanza. Together, this group has united with a common vision of a better life, with faith and hope in their hearts and an unbreakable spirit. The concept of group lending is to have loans repaid in a group to reduce the risk of any one person defaulting, as others pick up where a person may lag so as to receive the next loan. Each of the associates in this bank has a similar business whether it is a barbershop or a restaurant. Thank you for your support and awareness of this issue. It is your concern and efforts that are able to bring a difference to the lives of these wonderful people. ",F,875,partner,Services,0
Dominican Republic,"Zunilda is a young and budding entrepreneur whos trying hard to support her studies and supplement her familys income. Zunilda lives with her mom and four brothers and sisters. She explains that her father passed away a few weeks ago, and she has to work hard to help the family earn a living.
She sells a collection of silver jewelry to people of her community, and she says that her business has allowed her to help her familys economic situation. Zunilda wants to continue running her business in order to keep improving her familys lifestyle and to continue her university studies. With her loan, Zunilda will buy more goods to expand her inventory and increase her sales volume.
She opened a salon with her first loan and is now trying to increase the size of the business. This has been the first steady income in her life, and finally she is starting to feel like a proper provider for her children. She has never been so happy! She is excited that her children are in school and preparing for a better future. She dreams of sending those children to college, and would also love to travel someday. She knows that she is going to continue growing and become a real success story!
Zunilda is part of a ""Bank of Hope,"" and in conjuction with the other members of her group she will repay this loan over the coming months.",F,4300,lender,Services,0
Ecuador,"
",F,1100,lender,Clothing,1
Dominican Republic,"Yessica Ridelina is a twenty-four year old university student and the mother of two school-going children. Yessica is in charge of her group of five women, all of whom are entrepreneurs living in the same town. To increase her familys income, and to help her husband take care of the children, Yessica has started a small business selling pants, shoes and handbags to women in her community. She explains that, when she began her business, she was just selling shoes. After a couple of months, she added new items to her stock because she realized that these goods were a great source of income. Now, her business is successful and she has a lot of loyal customers.
",F,1400,partner,Retail,1
Dominican Republic,"Yinet Gissel, a 20-year old newlywed, lives in the Majagua community of Yamas, Domincan Republic. She and her husband have recently opened a small poultry shop selling live chickens. To grow her business, Yinet has applied for a loan of $300 U.S. dollars to purchase more chickens. She also wishes to resume her studies at the public university so that she can have a professional career.
All five women are shown in the picture. From left to right they are: Luz Maria, Ramona, Maria Nela, Ramona Belen, and Martina.",F,1050,lender,Food,1
Dominican Republic,"Yovany Encarnaci is the representative of the group ""Mujeres Trabajadoras 1"". This group is receiving its second loan cycle, and hoping to increase the business they started with its first loan. Yovany took her first loan and started a small business selling used clothing in her area. She experienced some success and was able to make all her loan payments while also saving some. She said she was very excited and happy about running her own business. It is the first time in her life that she has something of her own and something that wakes her up in the morning. She is the mother of three children and finally feels like she can provide for them. After the success of her first loan she is already dreaming of owning her own clothing boutique and earning plenty of money to send her children to college and provide them a good lives. She also wants to have her own house someday! She feels like she can do this and thinks this next loan will help her increase in size. She is very grateful for the opportunity and ready for the next step!",F,1050,partner,Clothing,0
Dominican Republic,"Yris Bernardita is the proud mother of three children, all of whom attend school. Her husband is an electrician and is working for a private company. To contribute to her family's budget, Yris sells a collection of pants, shoes, slippers and shirts to people in her community.
Consuelo is 47 years old. She has four children of which two are students. Consuelos husband helps her with the business and also works as a taxi driver. Consuelo states that the income generated by her husband has been a big help in financing the business but that any remaining income needs to cover all of the family expenses.
Translated from Spanish by Martha Martinez, Kiva Volunteer.
",F,600,partner,Food,0 Ecuador," Business Description
Lupe has had her business for 25 years, and she works with Chileans who brought this business to the country. She takes photos which are developed using oil paints. They take photos of the client and someone else develops the picture. They have been fortunate to have lots of clients. She works everyday from 9am 5pm. Her husband travels to other provinces to attract more clients during the week. She is also starting to sell chicken by the pound from her house.
Loan use
She will use the loan to buy what her clients have asked for. This demand has grown thanks to the good customer service that she offers. She will also invest in chickens to sell from her home.
Personal Information
Lupe is 45 years old, married and has 4 kids; two of them work and two are single. They help with the household costs. Her husband helps in the business and studies; next year he will graduate as an agronomic engineer. He hopes to be able to earn more money for the family in this profession. Their house is made of cement. They hope that with the investment they will improve their familys life.
Translated from Spanish by Liz Harvey, Kiva Volunteer
",F,650,partner,Arts,0 Ecuador," Business Description
Luigui started his business a year ago, and he sells clothes such as pants, shirts and underwear. He does this everyday from 9am 6pm.
Loan Use
Luigui needs a loan in order to buy more and newer clothes so that he can offer more variety to his clients.
Personal Information
Luigui is 20 years old and he is single. He lives with his parents and he sells his wares walking around the neighborhood where they live. He hopes to grow and improve along with his business so that he can offer more support to his family and their household.
Translated from Spanish by Liz Harvey, Kiva Volunteer
",M,400,partner,Clothing,0 Ecuador," Business Description
Margarita sells food such as rice, meat, pork chops and a wider variety of dishes too. She has been doing this for 10 years and she works from her home from 6pm 11pm weekdays. Thanks to her own hard work she has been able to keep her business going.
Loan use
Margarita needs a loan in order to fit out her shop structurally and to buy chairs, tables and kitchen utensils. Due to the large number of clients that she has, Margarita would also like to increase the range of foods that she offers to keep her clients happy and coming to her.
Personal Information
Margarita is 43 years old and lives with her two kids who are 12 and 22 years old. They are both studying thanks to the hard work that she has done alone. Margaritas dream is to see her business grow and to earn more money from it for the well-being of her kids and the family as a whole.
Translated from Spanish by Liz Harvey, Kiva Volunteer
",F,525,partner,Food,0 Ecuador," Business Description
Daisy had 20 years experience. She started working in houses, doing domestic chores. The death of her son and brother was her main reason for starting her own business. She received help from her family. She now works weekdays selling household items and weekends she sells lunches from her front door. She gets help from her children too.
Loan Use
She will invest this money in buying merchandise for her business in order to attract more customers. She will also buy some chickens to sell them by the pound.
Personal Information
Daisy is married. She has two grown-up kids. Her husband is a fisherman and spends his time traveling and returns home every 2 weeks. This is how they cover the household costs. Their house is made of sugar cane stalks; in the future they hope to start building it of cement.
Translated from Spanish by Liz Harvey, Kiva Volunteer
",F,400,partner,Retail,0 Ecuador," Business Description
Segundo has 2 years experience and learnt his trade from a friend who gave him the tools he needed to start his business. He started repairing computers and now he also puts them together and sells them. He works weekdays from 3pm 7pm. Each morning he teaches IT in a school near his home.
He will use the credit to buy computing material and he will also fit out his home as a shop in order to serve his clients better.
Personal Information
Segundo is single and he lives with his parents and 5 siblings. They are all single and the oldest work. Their house is made of a mixture of materials. Segundo was born with a defect in his hands which meant it was hard to work, but this is what pushed him to continue to work and help his family. His aim is to see his business grow and to have his own shop.
Translated from Spanish by Liz Harvey, Kiva Volunteer
",M,525,partner,Retail,0 Ecuador,"
Descripcin del Negocio
La Sra Angela se dedica a la venta de articulos para el hogar a credito y de forma anbulante ademas vende golosinas a llos nios de una escuela. En la actualidad vende a personas de otros sectores que han sido recomendados por buenos clientes que le refieren esos sitios.
Uso del Prstamo
Ella necesita el credito para comprar mas mercaderia pues en estas epocas de fin de aos le son muy solicitadas.
Informacin Personal
Ella tiene 29 aos y tiene dos hijos que estudian su casa es de caa y tiene estabilidad familiar.
Translated from Spanish by Kiva Volunteer Wendy Wise
",F,700,lender,Retail,1 Ecuador,"Business Description: For the past two years, Mrs. Maria dedicates herself to selling cosmetics and lingerie. She is a single mother, and her children help her with her business. Maria has a disability in her feet, but this has not stopped her from starting her own business and promoting her products through the hills of her neighborhood. With $50 that she saved through washing other peoples laundry, she was able to start her business. Currently, she sells not only cosmetics, but also electronics.
Loan Use: She needs the credit to buy more merchandise to take advantage of end-of-year parties and the beach season that is beginning soon.
Personal Information: She is 40 years old and has three children in school and a stable family. Her house is made of reeds. Her main goal is to progress with her business and ensure her childrens education.
Translated from Spanish by Shannon Skoglund, Kiva volunteer.
",F,400,lender,Retail,1 Ecuador,"Business Description: Mr. Guillermo devotes himself to selling encebollados, a seafood soup, which is a typical dish of his country. He started his business two years ago when he found himself unemployed with $30 in his pocket. Guillermos life has not been easy. Apart from his business, he is a single father and must be both father and mother to his five small children, who help him with his business when they arent in school. He currently also sells other typical dishes that his customers request.
Loan Use: He needs to credit to improve his shop and to buy an industrial kitchen that is being sold cheaply.
Personal Information: He is 31 years old and has five children in school. His house is made of reeds, and his family life is stable. His principal goal is to improve his quality of life through his business.
Translated from Spanish by Shannon Skoglund, Kiva volunteer.
",F,400,lender,Food,1 Ecuador,"Business Description: Mrs. Lucy and her husband dedicate themselves to selling household goods from door to door for cash or credit. They began this business with some savings that they had from a previous job. While they currently continue to sell their household articles, they now also sell garlic that they peel themselves and sell to stores by the pound.
Loan Use: They need the credit to buy more merchandise so they can increase sales and take advantage of the upcoming good months.
Personal Information: She is 23 years old and has children who are not yet in school. Her house is made of cement, and her family life is stable.
Translated from Spanish by Shannon Skoglund, Kiva volunteer.
",F,525,lender,Retail,1 Ecuador,"Business Description: Mrs. Pastora and her husband devote themselves to selling cosmetics through promotions. That is, they put together boxes with various products and deliver them to other people so the others can sell them retail, and they earn prizes for best sales. They got this idea from an old boss that they worked with. Currently they have two distributors beside themselves, and with great effort they have bought a second-hand car to better distribute their product.
Loan Use: She needs the loan to purchase additional merchandise and attend to other areas that have requested their products.
Personal Information: She is 36 years old and has two children in school. Her house is made of cement, and her family life is stable. Her main goal is to improve her business for their quality of life.
Translated from Spanish by Shannon Skoglund, Kiva volunteer.
",F,650,lender,Retail,1 Ecuador,"Business Description: Mrs. Pura and her husband devotes herself to selling electronics and hardware. For the last five years, they have distributed these goods to hardware stores in the area; their business is more of a traveling one than a store-based one. Currently, they sell not only to hardware stores, but also principally to owners of circuses and carousels that request the special light bulbs that they distribute. Additionally, they make uniforms to sell to nearby schools.
Loan Use: She needs credit to buy additional merchandise and novelties.
Personal Information: She is 43 years old and has two children, one of whom is in school. The house is made of reed grass, and her main objective is to have a stable business.
Translated from Spanish by Shannon Skoglund, Kiva volunteer.
",F,550,lender,Retail,1 Ecuador,"Business Description: Mrs. Sandra dedicates herself to selling clothing and cosmetics to the residents of her area. She began five years ago, and currently continues to sell perfumes and clothing, as well as other new products.
Loan Use: She needs the credit to purchase seasonal merchandise.
Personal Information: She is 37 years old has three children in school. Her house is made of grass reed, and her goal is to grow her business.
Translated from Spanish by Shannon Skoglund, Kiva volunteer.
",F,550,lender,Clothing,1
Ecuador,"Business Description:
Mrs. Piedad devotes herself to raising and selling pigs and chickens in one section of her home. Ten years ago she had the opportunity to acquire three sets of them at a good price, starting at that moment her business that has become a source of work for her. Currently, she sells not only pigs and chickens, but also clothing and shoes door-to-door. She also offers these products to those who come to buy her livestock.
Loan Use:
She needs the credit to purchase additional merchandise and also to make adjustments to the corral where she keeps her animals. Her neighborhood is more populous now, and she doesnt want to disturb her neighbors.
Personal Information:
She is 41 years old and has three children in school. Her house is in the process of being built, and her family situation is stable.
Translated from Spanish by Shannon Skoglund, Kiva volunteer.
",F,850,lender,Agriculture,1 Ecuador,"Business Description: Mr. Leiber works selling mens and womens footwear. He began this business with the use of his savings.
Use of the Loan: Mr. Leiber need the loan in order to purchase more merchandise and provide a newer and greater selection to his clients.
Personal Informacion: Mr. Leiber is 41 years old and has not children. His house is made of cement and his primary purpose is to stabilize his business.
Translated from Spanish by Casey Unrein, Kiva volunteer.
",M,825,lender,Retail,1 Ecuador,"Business Description: Mrs. Argentina works in sales of clothing and imitation jewelry in a store located in the commercial district of her city. Currently she not only sells clothing and jewelry, but other products her clients have requested such as shoes and lingerie.
Use of the Loan: Mrs. Argentina needs the loan to purchase a greater amount of merchandise and in doing so make use of year end promotional sales.
Personal Information: Mrs. Argentina is 45 years old and has six children who are students. They live in a home made of cement. Mrs. Argentinas primary purpose in life is to provide for her childrens education through the income from her work.
Translated from Spanish by Casey Unrein, Kiva volunteer.
",F,575,lender,Clothing,1 Ecuador,"Business Description: Mrs. Mercedes works selling milk products in a rented space in the local market. For two years Mrs. Mercedes, or Mechita as her clients call her was provided good products to her clients. Currently she not only provides milk products, but also eggs and canned foods.
Use of the Loan: Mrs. Mercedes needs the loan to purchase more merchandise and use it to attend to more clientele.
Personal Informacion: Mrs. Mercedes is 53 years old and she has two adult children. She lives in a home made of cement.
Translated from Spanish by Casey Unrein, Kiva volunteer.
",F,1200,lender,Food,1 Ecuador,"Business description: Mrs. Regina dedicates herself to selling household goods through the streets. She started her business twenty years ago, and is assisted by her husband. They travel through various villages in the province, and their sales have begun to grow now that they have begun to sell Christmas items.
Loan use: She wants to use her credit to invest in merchandise and special Christmas products as this is the season when these items are highly requested by her customers.
Personal information: She is 50 years old and has one son; her house is made of cement. Her dream is to grow her sales so that one day she can expand her store.
Translated from Spanish by Shannon Skoglund, Kiva volunteer.
",F,675,lender,Retail,1 Ecuador,"Business Description Sarita sells clothing and accessories to people in her neighborhood, friends, and family in different areas of the city.
Loan Use She needs a loan to purchase more merchandise and thereby attend to her customers, and as the end of year holidays are very near, which are her best sales.
Personal Information She is 36 years old and has three grown children, her house is made of reed and she has a stable family.
Translated from Spanish by Cindy Kendall, Kiva volunteer.
",F,700,lender,Clothing,1 Ecuador,"Business Description
Mr. Arteaga is devoted to the sale of pigs. He started his business two years ago and his regular customers are the butcher shops at nearby markets; his wife helps him with the sales and the demand is presently growing.
Loan Use
He wants to invest in the purchase of more pigs, to be able to satisfy his clients demands, and he presently doesnt have the required capital to do so.
Personal Information
He is 37 years old and has two children, who study in nearby schools. His house is made of cane and his goal is to make his business grow and, one day, have a farm to raise his animals.
Translated from Spanish by Leticia Britos, Kiva Volunteer.
",M,550,lender,Agriculture,0
Ecuador,"Description of Business:
Don Eduardo devotes himself to mobile water sales. He arrives at houses with hoses that transport the water from a reservoir to its requested location. He began this job when he could no longer continue in his former work due to injuries he suffered in a traffic accident. He currently has two distribution networks.
Loan Use:
He needs the credit to buy more piping to have another distribution network, thereby satisfying another sector of his community.
Personal Information:
He is 42 years old and has two children in school. His house is made of cement, and his family is just as stable.
Translated from Spanish by Shannon Skoglund, Kiva volunteer.
",M,850,lender,Services,1 Ecuador,"Investment of the First Loan: With her first loan, Gabriela bought work materials she needed for her business, such as: threads, fabrics, and hooks. (See below for a description of Gabriela's previous loan.)
Business Development: Her sales have been improving. She maintains the same work schedule. She supplied her business with new types of fabrics, threads, and hooks. Her mother assists her with making the clothing.
Personal Information: Gabriela is single. She also works in customer service at another business. Her house is made of cement. Together with her siblings, she has been able to improve her house and the wellbeing of her family.
How She Will Use the Second Loan: She will buy fabrics at whole-sale price because she already has many orders for high school uniforms. She hopes to be able to meet the demand that has arisen.
Translated from Spanish by Jennifer Day, Kiva Volunteer.
",F,600,lender,Services,1 Ecuador,"Investment of the First Loan: Clarisa increased her working capital with a variety of items. In this way she was able to supply the demand that she was presented with at that time. (See below for the description of Clarisa's first loan.)
Business Development: Her sales are increasing. The good relationship she has with the customers and the service she proves have helped her gain new customers. She continues with her same work schedule. Her sisters help her with sales.
Personal Information: Clarisa is married and has one child, who is in school. Her husband does electrical repairs for a business. They rent their place of residence.
How She Will Use the Second Loan: She will continue increasing her working capital. She will include new items for sale, such as: televisions, blenders, irons, and mixers. Her dream is to be able to have her own house and with the help of God and her business will she will be able to achieve this goal.
Translated from Spanish by Jennifer Day, Kiva Volunteer.
",F,700,lender,Retail,1 Ecuador,"Investment of the First Loan: Daysi invested her first loan in buying merchandise for her store. She stocked it with products such as: rice, sugar, dairy products, soft drinks, and candies. (See below for a description of Daysis previous loan.)
Business Development: Her sales have been improving. She maintains the same work schedule. She stocked her business with new items that generated greater profits. Her daughter helps her tend to the business.
Personal Information: Daysi is a single mother. She has 3 children, 2 of whom are studying. Her house is built of cement. Her effort and hard work have enabled her to make her house, and her familys wellbeing, more secure.
How She Will Use the Second Loan: She will increase her working capital for her business. She will buy stationary supplies, notebooks, and pens.
Translated from Spanish by Jennifer Day, Kiva Volunteer.
",F,800,lender,Food,1 Ecuador,"Investment of the First Loan: Gilberto was able to buy the utensils for his kitchen. He also bought supplies for his business at whole-sale prices. (See below for a description of Gilbertos previous loan.)
Business Development: His sales are increasing, bit by bit. Gilberto had to move his business to another location because they began repairing the streets where he was, and this was detrimental to his business. He decided to remodel a section of his house and moved his business to his house. He continues with the same work schedule. His daughter helps him prepare the foods.
Personal Information: Gilberto is a single father. He has 3 children and they are in school. His house is of mixed construction. Gilberto also sells seafood outside of the city.
How He Will Use the Second Loan: He will outfit his business with chairs and tables. He will buy cooking pots and kitchen utensils. He will also buy general supplies.
Translated from Spanish by Jennifer Day, Kiva Volunteer.
",M,400,lender,Food,1 Ecuador,"Investment of the First Loan: Jessica increased her working capital by buying a variety of items. (See below for a description of Jessicas previous loan.)
Business Development: She has good references from people in her neighborhood. She acquired more clients due to her good service and the cost of her products. She maintains the same work schedule.
Personal Information: She is a single mother. She also works part time as a receptionist for a cosmetics sales business. She currently lives with her in-laws.
How She Will Use the Second Loan: She will use the loan to continue increasing her working capital. She has many orders. She hopes to be able to meet the demand that exists.
Translated from Spanish by Jennifer Day, Kiva Volunteer.
",F,850,lender,Retail,1 Ecuador,"Investment of the First Loan: Mery increased her working capital with different products to sell. (See below for a description of Mery's first loan.)
Business Development: She has good references from people in her neighborhood. She acquired more clients due to her good service and the cost of the products. She maintains her work schedule.
Personal Information: She is a single mother. She has two children who are studying. On the weekends she sells food and in this way she helps with the household expenses. Her house is built of cane.
How She Will Use the Second Loan: The loan will be used to increase her working capital. She has many orders. She will also, over time, improve her home for the wellbeing of her family.
Translated from Spanish by Jennifer Day, Kiva Volunteer.
Business Description
Mery has three years of experience in her business. She started her business with the help of a friend who supplied the products that Mery sells. She has decided to make her own capital investments. Her business is doing very well and she has many customers in her area. Mery works every day of the week from 9 a.m. until 5 p.m. On the weekend she also prepares food that she sells, including local specialties such as encebollado, morochos, and pastries. Her daughter helps her with the business.
Loan Use
Mary will use the loan to purchase costume jewelry and cosmetics for her business. She hopes that in the future she will be able to purchase a showcase where she can display her merchandise.
Personal Information
Mery is 34 years old and has two children. She is a single mother. Thanks to her hard work, she has been able to give them a good education. They are very happy with the efforts of their mother and in their free time they help her out with the business. As can be seen in the photo, their house is made of cane and consists of one living area. Mery hopes to partition the space and convert it to a cement structure.
Translated from Spanish",F,200,lender,Retail,1 Ecuador,"Previous Profile
[English text for this section provided by MIFEX:] Alba sells cosmetics and costume jewelry-door-to door. Albita started her business with $200 dollars of savings. Initially she only sold cosmetics. Now she sells all types of costume jewelry and clothing. Alba apires to sell cosmetic-clothing combos. She will use this loan to invest in merchandise at volume wholesale prices to increase her profits. Alba is married, 37 years old, married with four children. She depends on this business to support her family and to save for the future.
First Loan
With the first loan, Alba was able to improve her house and get more merchandise at a better price. She's also started selling other products that her customers have asked for.
Developing The Business
Alba is now selling cosmetics and has a small line of clothes that she's started to sell to credit and layaway customers.
Personal Information
Alba, 39, has succeeded in moving up both her business and her family. She's very happy now that she can provide a better education for her two children and she's still improving her house.
Second Loan
Alba needs the loan to buy more cosmetics and to make modifications to her house, specifically, a small office for meeting her customers.
Translated from Spanish by Jere Wiseman, Kiva Volunteer
",F,1075,lender,Retail,1 Ecuador,"
Translated from Spanish by Geraldine Kim, Kiva Volunteer.
",M,1075,lender,Manufacturing,1 Ecuador,"Translated from Spanish by Geraldine Kim, Kiva volunteer.
",F,925,lender,Retail,0 Ecuador,"Jos has only worked in agriculture; he has had crops of pigeon-peas and corn. Thanks to his more than 10 years experience, he has been able to support himself economically. Now he has a small shop where he works from very early of the day, gaining clientele and experience in the business.
Our friend Jos is asking for the loan to reactivate his sown land. He want to buy the inputs and products needed for his crops like corn, but his biggest investment will be the purchase of merchandise for his small but cozy shop, since he wants to work not only in agriculture but in commerce as well.
At present Jos is 47 years old and he is married. His wife also helps him with the crops. They work every day for the well-being of their only son who is in school now. They have a cozy house with a cement structure, they have happily lived in this area for 20 years. He hopes that with the loan his life conditions will improve and this way he will serve better the community and relatives of his area.
Translated from Spanish by Ana Gabriela Clark, Kiva Volunteer.
",M,650,partner,Food,0 Ecuador,"
David has helped serving his mothers business since he was quite young. From his father he learned the bakers occupation. He got married one year ago and along with his wife managed to establish his own bakery. His sister helped him with merchandise. Little by little and being responsible he has managed to obtain loans so his business is the source to support his family. David has a shop and a bakery where he has put into practice the knowledge that his parents taught him. He works every day from 5:30 a.m. to 9:30 p.m. His wife helps him serving the clients. He also sells gas cylinders for domestic use.
The credit will be use to buy merchandise in order to have other products that have a lot of demand. He will refit his premises to provide a better service.
David is 23 years old. Currently he has no children. His wife besides helping him in the business, she sells cosmetics. His wish is to be able to buy the small house where they live now and have the shop. The house belongs to his sister and she will allow them to pay her in installments to be able to buy it. He hopes that with the loan he will be able to fulfill his dream.
Translated from Spanish by Ana Gabriela Clark, Kiva Volunteer.
",M,650,partner,Food,0 Ecuador,"
Alsi has been buying and selling bottled water for the past 8 years, he started his business with little money he saved from the company he used to work. He bought large water bottles and started distributing them in different domiciles around the area where the lives. He works from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. At present he has 3 persons helping him in the distribution of the water.
Alsi wants to use the loan to improve the premises where the water is bottled. This way, he will be able to sell water of better quality and he will be able to get more clients in other areas, since the demand of bottled water is growing.
Alsi is 39 years old, he is married and has 2 young children who are in school. His wife has a canteen, this business helps as well with the familys expenses. Alsi lives in his mothers house, she gave him the upstairs part of the house so he could live there with his family. The house is of cement and still needs to be finished. Alsi wants to use the loan to help in the grow of his business and in this way grow with his family as well.
Translated from Spanish by Ana Gabriela Clark, Kiva Volunteer.
",M,650,partner,Food,0 Ecuador,"
Don Jos works as teacher in a school of his community; he has a teaching experience of 25 years. He has 10 years experience working in agriculture and 20 years experience working in commerce. He has a small shop where he sells supplies, such as rice, sugar, oil, etc. Since the rice crop season is over, at the moment he is only working in commerce and in education, having this way different sources of income.
Jos needs the loan to buy merchandise such oil, soap, supplies and other products for the shop, in order to a larger variety of products and keep his clients satisfied.
At present our friend Jos is 49 years old, he lives with his wife, who helps him with the work around the house, they have a very clean cement structure house. Thanks to both their efforts they have their beautiful son in school, since they were only able to have one. Jos's dream is to reactivate the economy and commerce in the area and generate more sources of work for the inhabitants of the area.
Translated from Spanish by Ana Gabriela Clark, Kiva Volunteer.
",M,650,partner,Food,0 Ecuador,"
Mrs. Olga has a grocery store where she sells essential food products. She opened this business four years ago. At present her mother helps her and the business has grown notably.
She wants to buy more merchandise such as rice and sugar since these are the most needed products by her clients.
She is 27 years old and has two children. Her house is made of cement and her goal is to expand the store in order to provide a better service to her clients.
Translated from Spanish by Ana Gabriela Clark, Kiva Volunteer.
",F,825,lender,Food,1 Ecuador,"
Mr. Murillo has a bazaar that he opened a year ago with a capital he managed to save product of a work he performed for a private company where he also works. His wife helps him with the bazaar and his business is growing day after day thanks to its location.
He wants to invest the loan in buying more merchandise since his goal is that the business premises are always well stocked to be able to provide a good service to his clients.
He is 22 years old and has a child, they live in the house of his in-laws and their family relationship is good. His goal is to work in his business every day, so in the future to be able to build his own house.
Translated from Spanish by Ana Gabriela Clark, Kiva Volunteer.
",M,925,lender,Retail,1 Ecuador,"
Don Adolfo sells fruits on a traveling cart. His wife helps with the business by selling fruit and healing herbs as well. They started this project when they emigrated from their city two years ago. They currently sell fruits and herbs.
He needs this credit in order to purchase tricycles so that they can more easily get to the zone where their clients are. They've also thought about selling other products that were requested by their clients, such as legumes and vegetables.
Don Adolfo is 30 years old and has three children, two of whom are studying. His wife is very hardworking and his main goal is to build a house, since he has already purchased a good piece of land where he is thinking about building it.
Translated from Spanish by Yael Schwartzman, Kiva Volunteer.
",M,675,partner,Food,0 Ecuador,"Rosa has a shop at home where she sells office supplies, stationary and gifts that are good for any occasion. She started her business with her sister's help who owns a school and helped her set her shop up. She has recently expanded her business by putting up a soda bar for the school kids. In adition, she has started working at her sister's school as a teacher.
She needs this credit in order to purchase more display cases because she has enlarged her shop. She also needs to purchase more merchandise in order to satisfy her customers needs.
Rosa is 26 years old and has one child. Her home is made out of cement. Her principal goal is to save enough money for her son's education.
Translated from Spanish by Yael Schwartzman, Kiva Volunteer.
",F,950,lender,Retail,1 Ecuador,"Don Hector and his wife have managed a pharmacy for three years. They were able to set it up with their parent's help. He learned about the business when he started working at another pharmacy. Currently, he owns both the pharmacy and the video game store next to it .
They need this credit to purchase more merchandise and to adapt the premises. They want to set up a bigger banner on the storefront.
Hector is 24 years old and has two children. He still lives with his parents who support his business. Their goal is to start building their home because they have recently acquired a plot of land to build it on.
Translated from Spanish by Yael Schwartzman, Kiva Volunteer.
",M,1050,lender,Health,1 Ecuador,"Jess has eight years of experience in her industry. She started selling cosmetics for another individual, and then she was able to open her own business with her savings. Because of her hard work, she has been able to build a more sturdy, cement house. It accommodates a small store inside. She works every day of the week from 8 a.m. until 10 p.m.
She will invest the loaned money into the purchase of cosmetics, jewelry, and gifts. Because of the service she provides, demand for her goods has increased.
Jess is a 33 year old single mother. She has one child. Her baby attends a school near her home. She hopes that with these new funds she will be able to begin saving and provide better security for her home by creating an enclosure around her home.
Translated from Spanish by Ann Kenney Molloy, Kiva Volunteer.
",F,650,partner,Retail,0 Ecuador,"
Mrs. Maria sells novelties and gifts for every occasion. She opened her business with the help of her husband with their savings, which motivated her to open her business. Currently she continues to sell various items, but she has added a distribution center for supplies which she hopes to expand with the loan.
Maria would use her loan to purchase more merchandise and buy a glass display case glass to better show off her products.
Maria is 39 years old and has five children who are in school. Her house is constructed of mixed materials. Marias husband helps her around the house and they have a stable home life.
Translated from Spanish by Ann Kenney Molloy, Kiva Volunterr.
",F,575,lender,Retail,1 Ecuador,"
Rosa has 4 years experience. While she was still young she started working in houses doing domestic chores. Bit by bit she saved up some money and started a small sewing factory in her house. Along with her daughter, she started making clothes and then selling them. She also sells household items on the weekend. She works at home from 8am 3pm everyday, and in the afternoon and evening she dedicates herself to her business.
She will use the credit to buy material to make clothes. She will also buy a better sewing machine for a better finish. She would also like to invest in household articles to sell.
Rosa is a single mother and has 4 kids, 3 of whom are studying, while the eldest helps her in her business. Their house is made of sugar cane stalks and has a dirt floor. Their desire is to be able to build their house out of cement, improving the familys way of life.
Translated from Spanish by Liz Harvey, Kiva Volunteer
",F,400,partner,Services,0 Ecuador,"
Jesus sells brand cosmetics from a company that is well known in her country. She started her business with savings from a previous job. Besides cosmetics, she sells beauty accessories which are in high demand by her customers.
Jesus needs this loan to buy additional products when they go on sale, which will allow her to make higher profits; this will enable her to begin selling a line of clothing which her customers are asking for.
Translated from Spanish by Rosario McFaull, Kiva Volunteer.
",F,575,lender,Retail,1 Ecuador,"
Mr. Rivadeneira sells disinfectants and general home cleaning products; he also prepares colognes and perfumes. He started this business after having learned how produce these products through a course he made. At present he is selling all kinds of fungibles.
He will be use the loan to buy more raw materials in order to be able to increase his production since he has gained a lot of clients due to the good quality of his products and the low selling price.
He is 43 years old. He is married and has three children who are in school. His house is made of cane. His main goal is to improve his business to secure the education of his children.
Translated from Spanish by Ana Gabriela Clark, Kiva Volunteer.
",M,550,lender,Retail,0 Ecuador,"
Imelda capitalized her business with her own savings. Her mother helps her serve her clients. Her business thrives because she serves delicious and varied dishes.
Imelda would use the loan to buy kitchen utensils, tables, chairs, and crockery and to make other improvements that would result in better service for her clients.
Imelda is thirty-eight. She has three children who attend school. In spite of receiving no help from her family, Imelda takes care of her mother, who suffers from diabetes. Her house is of mixed construction techniques. Her hope is to expand her business and improve her family's quality of life.
Translated from Spanish by Antonio Padial, Kiva Volunteer",F,650,partner,Food,0 Ecuador,"
Don Lorenzo has a grocery store where he also sells other basic necessities, in a business area and on a main street. He began his business with some money that his wife sent him from abroad, where she has been for three years now.
Don Lorenzo will use this loan to purchase more merchandise on wholesale and continue to invest in his store so that he can improve it and attract more customers.
Don Lorenzo is 45 and has three children who all go to school. He lives in a cement-built home. He has the firm conviction that with the improvements he will make in his store, he will bring in more customers. With the increase in customers, he will be able to better assure the future of his family and he will be able to bring his wife home to live with them again.
Translated from Spanish by Kiva Volunteer, Kristin Connor
",M,700,lender,Food,0 Ecuador,"
Mauro sells fresh fruits from a stand in front of his home. He began his business with some money that his son loaned him. Today, Mauro sells fruits from the coast and the sierra and also those that are in season and occassionally those requested by his customers as well.
Mauro is 40 years old and has one son who lives with him. His home is made of reed. His main goal is to be able to build a house made of cement and to improve his business.
Translated from Spanish by Kiva Volunteer, Kristin Connor.
",M,425,partner,Food,0 Ecuador,"
Mr. Bartolome has his own store where he sells seafoods and meats. He began his business 3 years ago with money he earned from a business he and selling clothing in different sectors of the city. He helps his wife from his stationary store starting at mid-day, and he has seen his business grow with time because of it's good location.
Mr. Bartolome is 40 years old and has four children, who all go to school. His home is made of cement. His goal to to see his business grow and one day to hand over his business to his children.
Translated from Spanish by Kiva Volunteer, Kristin Connor.
",M,550,partner,Food,0 Ecuador,"
Mr. Cesar has been working as a grocer of fruits and cheeses for 20 years now. He learned this trade as an adolescent working for his Uncle and then took this experience to start his own business. He sells his fruits from a bicycle and he travels throughout his neighborhood with his products. He starts working at 8am and finishes at 6pm, with a lunch break from 1pm-3pm, from Monday to Friday and during the mornings on Saturday and Sunday from 8am-1pm.
Translated from Spanish by Kiva Volunteer, Kristin Connor.
",M,650,partner,Food,0 Ecuador,"
Mr. Chuya began his business with som savings 8 years ago. Before, he worked selling wholesale products in the center of the city, but decided to install a store in his own him. His business has grown and now his store sees many customers. He sells tinned vegetables, meats and other popular products.
Mr. Chuya is 32, married and has three children, one of whom goes to a nearby school. His home is made of cement and he has a healthy, stable family life. His goal is to stock his store and to be able to offer more to his customers.
Translated from Spanish by Kiva Volunteer, Kristin Connor.
",M,1200,lender,Food,0 Ecuador,"
Mr. Luis is a clothing salesman who now also has his own tailoring shop. He began working from the time he was very young, so that he could feed himself. He travels to and from many different locations within his province, and he currently works with his wife Norma, who has been a big help to him. He works from 8am to 6pm.
Mr. Luis needs this loan to purchase more merchandise, since his demand is high, and he would like to travel to new provinces to sell his products. He would also like to improve his home.
Translated from Spanish by Kiva Volunteer, Kristin Connor.
",M,525,partner,Clothing,0 Ecuador,"
Mr. Quimis has a bicycle and motorcycle repair shop, which he began with money he received from his previous job's liquidation, 5 years ago. Currently, his wife also works in his shop, where she works primarily selling spare parts. Their shop is located on a principal road in the commercial center of the community, and has had success there.
He hopes that with this loan, he will be able to invest in a variety of merchandise such as spare parts. He is constantly buying them little by little and his customers must occasionally wait for him to have items in stock.
Translated from Spanish by Kiva Volunteer, Kristin Connor.
",M,525,partner,Services,0 Ecuador,"
Ms. Alexandra began her business four years ago, selling her products as a traveling saleswoman. She travelled between different sectors of her city, but decided in the end to place her business in her home. She sells basic needs items, and her sales increase evey day.
She is confident that this loan will allow her to purchase more merchandise for her store. With her customers continuning to ask for new products, she needs to stock a variety of items in order to satisfy the demand so that her customers don't take their business elsewhere.
She is 44 years old, her home is made of cement and her goal is to have a larger store within her home so that she can better tend to her customers, but this has been difficult as she has not had the capital to invest.
Translated from Spanish by Kiva Volunteer, Kristin Connor.
",F,675,partner,Food,0 Ecuador,"
Ms. Aura has worked for ten years selling clothing but two years ago she decided to open her own eatery. She began her business with some money her husband gave her from his earnings as a driver. Since then, she has sold things such as fish and rice, rice and vegetable stew with chicken, fritters, sodas, and beers. Her business is located in her own home. She tends to customers from Friday to Monday from 7pm to 3am.
Ms. Aura wishes to apply for a loan to purchase more rice, beef, chicken and drinks. She has already been loaned money at a rate of 20% and is losing money, and so she hopes she can receive a loan from us so that she can improve her business.
Translated from Spanish by Kiva Volunteer, Kristin Connor.
",F,650,partner,Food,0 Ecuador,"
Ms. Blanca has a grocery store where she also sells stationary supplies. Her store is in her home, in an area very lucrative for these types of sales. She began her business with a $100 loan from a family member.
Blanca will use this loan to purchase more merchandise, such as office supplies and stationary, because she lives diagonally from a school. She also wishes to improve her business' facade and would like to repaint the exterior and to place a sign that draws more attention.
Translated from Spanish by Kiva Volunteer,Kristin Connor.
",F,675,partner,Retail,0 Ecuador,"
Mrs. Carmen sells various products and gifts for every occasion. In addition, she has years of experience as a seamstress and she makes a type of knitting called bees nest which she supplies to a clothes factory. She also sells home products to her clients through credit arrangements which has been working out well for her.
Mrs. Carmen needs the credit to buy merchandise and raw material, given she is receiving more and more orders for her products and she lacks cloth to make her dresses.
Mrs. Carmen is 42 years old and she has four children of which two are students. Her house is made out of bamboo and her husband helps her at home. She has a stable family environment.
Translated from Spanish by a Kiva volunteer
",F,400,partner,Clothing,0 Ecuador,"
Sandra has been in the commerce business for six years. Her husband helped her with the initiative of putting up a shop. She used a capital of $50 to purchase merchandise such as school supplies. She conditioned part of her home to start a shop. Now she also sells toys, imitation jewelry, gifts and cosmetics. She works every day of the week from 7 a.m to 8 p.m.
She will invest the credit into purchasing merchandise to supply her shop. Se is also thinking about buying a display case in order to help her exhibit her products.
Sandra is married. She is 34 years old and has three children, all of whom are studying. Her husband is a gas fitter. Her house is made out of cane and she hopes to be able to repair it with the investment. Her wish is to have a bigger shop in order to better serve her clients.
Translated from Spanish by Yael Schwartzman, Kiva Volunteer.
",F,300,partner,Retail,0 Ecuador,"Sra. Maria has a small grocery store that she started about 2 years ago with some money she had saved by selling food/snacks some time ago. Her husband helps her around the store in the evenings since he is a a teacher. Today her store is very busy since her store is located near a bus stop.
She needs a loan to purchase more merchandise and to purchase bottle water since it is very much needed in this area and it helps to increase her sales.
Translated from Spanish by Carolina Zelaya-Kronlund, Kiva Volunteer.
",F,925,lender,Food,0 Ecuador,"
Doa Audelith is dedicated to sell refreshing beverages like: water, flavored waters, different colas and others. She has been working on this type of activity for 4 years. Her business is located at her home and she tends to it from 8 am until 8 p.m. every day of the week. Thanks to this effort she has been able to maintain and continue her business.
Presently, Audelith is 46 years old and lives with her husband. Her husband is a great help for her at the business as well as in the house. They also have 2 grown-up children that don't live with them because they are independent. Audelith's hopes to move her business forward and expand it more. That way she can increase her capital for her own benefit and progress and help her family.
Translated from Spanish by Maria Ramirez-Gregg, Kiva Volunteer",F,400,partner,Food,0 Ecuador,"Mr. Alvarado sells tropical fruits in one of the commercial sectors of his district for a living. He started his business with money earned from the sale of vegetables. Today, his sales have grown and he already has his own premises, where his father helps him in the business.
Mr. Alvarado would like to use the loan to buy a shop window and a tent for his premises as the current setup is insufficient for his needs as his clients tell him daily.
Mr. Alvarado is 27 years old, single and lives in a cement house. His goal is to grow in his locality and his sales so that he can one day live in his own house.
Translated from Spanish by Alex Galimbert, Princeton University Language Project volunteer.
",M,825,lender,Food,1 Ecuador,"
Ms Rosa works hard to sell basic goods and general supplies. Her store is also very well situated in a prime location. Moreover, she sells bottles of water and gas for domestic use.
She will use the loan to buy more wholesale merchandise and gas cylinders to have large profits and moreover, be able to offer these products at the most competitive prices.
She is 37 years old and lives in a cement home. She has three children who are students. Her main goal is to make sure she and her family have stable, comfortable lives.
Translated from Spanish by Geraldine Kim, Kiva volunteer.
",F,1050,lender,Retail,0 Ecuador,"
Ms. Clara has been the owner of her pharmacy for ten years now. She started her store after she finished her degree in medicine, with some savings she had accumulated. She rents the storefront for her pharmacy and consulting from which she provides a low-cost service to her customers. Her pharmacy is open from 8am to 10pm from Monday to Sunday. She sells a variety of medicines as well as milk, juices etc. She hires one employee to help her in the store.
Dr. Clara wishes to invest in adding a beauty supply section to her pharmacy. She would like to purchase shampoos, hair dyes and other accessories to re-sell. She would also like to hire another employee to help her, because she has high demand in her pharmacy right now.
Ms. Clara is married and is 42 years old. She has two young daughters who are both school aged. Her husband works in a molding shop for industrial factories. Her home is 2 stories and made of cement; both she and her husband work to support the family. She wishes to continue to work, and after growing with us, to give opportunities to others to work with her in her small-business.
Translated from Spanish by Kiva Volunteer, Kristin Connor.
",F,1200,partner,Retail,0 Ecuador,"
Mrs. Anatacia Guaranda sells basic staples from a small store she runs from her home. She has had this business for seven years. Currently she sells not only groceries but also vegetables.
She would use the loan to restock her store. Her goal is to carry high-quality goods and give excellent service
Anatacia is 34. Her home is made of concrete. Her goal is to work a little longer each day in her business so that she can provide economic stability to her children.
Translated from Spanish by Antonio and Sarah Padial, Kiva Volunteers
Translated from Spanish by B, Kiva Volunteer.
",M,800,lender,Retail,0 Ecuador,"
Mr. Morante has have a refrigeration workshop for the past 7 years. He started with a capital he managed to save from jobs working as a technician in other workshops. His son and his son-in-law help him in the business, today he has clients from gated communities and companies in the city. He makes all kinds of refrigeration repairs.
He needs to expand and fix his workshop because the lot where its located is big and it doesnt not have the necessary fence since the area is not very safe; for this reason he wants to adapt the place to provide a better service to his clients.
He is 51 years old and has three children. His house is made of cane. His goal is to expand his business.
Translated from Spanish by Ana Gabriela Clark, Kiva Volunteer.
",M,825,lender,Services,1 Ecuador,"
Translated from Spanish by Kiva Volunteer, Kristin Connor
",M,1200,lender,Agriculture,1 Ecuador,"
Leonidas invested in seeds and fertilizers so that he could harvest on time. He invested little by little as production of each plot had been sown. Then at the end of the harvest, he saw the results.
Cultivating rice is a job that he has been developing over the years. Every harvest is a new experience, be it because Leonidas parchases new seeds or that he rents more machinery. The product obtained from every harvest always reaches good prices in the local market.
Leonidas is 47, has 6 children in school, and the younger ones still help with the harvest. Leonidas home is made of wood and cane. His wife takes care of the daily chores.
This second loan will be investid in the purchase of farming supplies for the next harvest, Duch as fertilizers, seeds, labor, in addition to the drying, shipping and other machine rental.
http://www.kiva.org/app.php?page=businesses&action=about&id=9691Translated from Spanish by Joanne Egnatchik, Kiva volunteer
",M,1075,lender,Agriculture,1 Ecuador,"
The productivity of Eulogios land has considerably increased with the purchase of fertilizers and certified seeds as well as other farm supplies. As a result he was able to grow stronger plants, with roots that grow deeper, thus improving the harvest.
Innovation in Eulogios rice harvest has helped increase production levels upon commercializing the grass with the use of adequate machinery. The rice sold is clean and dry, ensuring that clients always prefer Eulogio's product.
Eulogio Herrera is a rice grower that has lived in the Baba sector for more than 30 years. He is 62 years old. He has been in the rice business for more than 25 years and on the land for more than 40 years. He is married and has 6 grown children. Three of them help with the harvest.
This second loan will be used to buy fertilizers, seeds, agrochemicals, irrigation, and workforce. He will also have to pay for drying and shipping.
http://www.kiva.org/app.php?page=businesses&action=about&id=9669Translated from Spanish by Joanne Egnatchik, Kiva volunteer
",M,1200,lender,Agriculture,1 Ecuador,"
Julia runs a pharmacy that was opened 13 years ago with capital obtained from the sale of land. She sells all kinds of pharmaceutical products and she is assisted in her business by her husband, who is studying general medicine. Recently her business has grown and she is located in a very busy, well-traveled area.
Julia wants to invest in more inventory and would also like to purchase a display case for her medicine. It is her hope that her business will continue to grow and she is focused on providing excellent service to her customers and presenting her merchandise in a pleasing and effective way.
Julia is 32 years old and has three children. Her house is made of cement and her goal is to expand her site to accommodate more medicine, as it is a much needed service and very important that her neighborhood have a full service pharmacy.
Translated from Spanish by Ann Kenney Molloy, Kiva volunteer
",F,825,lender,Health,1 Ecuador,"Mery has three years of experience in her business. She started her business with the help of a friend who supplied the products that Mery sells. She has decided to make her own capital investments. Her business is doing very well and she has many customers in her area. Mery works every day of the week from 9 a.m. until 5 p.m. On the weekend she also prepares food that she sells, including local specialties such as encebollado, morochos, and pastries. Her daughter helps her with the business.
Mary will use the loan to purchase costume jewelry and cosmetics for her business. She hopes that in the future she will be able to purchase a showcase where she can display her merchandise.
Mery is 34 years old and has two children. She is a single mother. Thanks to her hard work, she has been able to give them a good education. They are very happy with the efforts of their mother and in their free time they help her out with the business. As can be seen in the photo, their house is made of cane and consists of one living area. Mery hopes to partition the space and convert it to a cement structure.
Translated from Spanish by Ann Kenney Molloy, Kiva volunteer
",F,300,partner,Retail,0 Ecuador,"Ms. Silvia has a small store that she runs with her husband. It was her husband who suggested that they open the store after he found himself without work. Nowadays, they not only run the store but they also have placed three telephone booths in their business where all types of calls can be made.
.
They will use the loan to purchase more merchandise for the store. Also, they wish to purchase cards for reloading minutes onto cell phones, which are very much in demand in businesses that offer telephone services.
Silvia is 31 years old and has three children, two of whom are in school. They have a stable family life and a house made out of cement. Her primary goal is to have a private school serving her community.
Translated from Spanish by Ann Kenney Molloy, Kiva volunteer
",F,800,partner,Retail,0 Ecuador,"Carmen began her business nine years ago with a little bit of capital that she obtained from selling products such as gifts, paper and craft supplies, and games. Carmen made use of this money and invested it in the preparation of encebollados (a typical food in Ecuador made with albacore fish), which yielded a better income for her. Her business is taking care of her clients daily from 6 a.m. to 12 p.m. She also sell sodas and juices.
Carmen needs a loan in order to increase her sales by buying fish, yucca, tomatoes, onions, and lemons in advance preparation for the weeks to come. Carmen tells us that by making this investment, her costs for shipping will go down, because she would like to make her purchases only twice a month. Also, her profits will improve her work site so that it will attract more clients.
Carmen is 43 years old and has three kids who are studying. Carmen is single; her spouse abandoned her four years ago, and since then she has carried on and continued taking care of her children and home. Carmen indicated to us that the reason that she is taking a loan is that she knows her buisness and that money makes more money. With this extra income, she plans to continue improving her home and increasing security for her family, because the area where she lives is dangerous but they have to survive.
Translated from Spanish by Jay Osborne, Kiva volunteer",F,400,partner,Food,0
Ecuador,"Business Description
Hugo began his business five years ago with his own savings. His business is selling plastic articles for the home, such as jars, plates, waste baskets, laundry baskets, brooms, and more. Hugo serves his clients from the shop that he rents near the main avenue of Trinipuerto from 7 a.m. to 8 p.m. every day of the week.
Hugo requests a loan so that he can increase his business and meet the demand of his clients. Due to his service and low prices, his business is in high demand. Hugo will buy more laundry and waste baskets, big and small, and plates and trays.
Hugo is 37 years old and has two children who are studying. Hugo's wife supports him by tending to the clients. Hugo indicated that with this loan he will be able to increase his business and generate a better income that will enable him to give his family a better quality of life. Hugo also plans to save his profits to buy land and be able to build his house.
Translated from Spanish by Jay Osborne, Kiva volunteer",M,650,partner,Retail,0
Ecuador,"Business Description
Jacobo and his wife have a sewing workshop were they make bedspread sets. Aside from this business, Jacobo sells other kinds of household goods like dust covers, tents, sets of cooking pots, sets of dishes, and others. Jacobos workshop is situated in his own house where he takes care of customers from 8 am to 8 pm.
Jacobo is asking for this credit to buy rolls of fabric to make more bedspreads, and the household goods that costumers are looking for. Jacobo comments that he sells products not only in the city, but also travels to sell them outside the city.
Jacobo is 37 years old, married. He has three young children; two of them go to school. Jacobo and his wife are willing to develop their business because it is their source of income. They mention that they would like to keep building their home to make it a safer dwelling and to protect their business.
Translated from Spanish by Marco Ramn, Kiva Volunteer.
",M,650,partner,Services,0 Ecuador,"
Mr. Javier sells cleaning supplies and general household items which he sells on the road to areas near his neighborhod. He started selling those products with a loan he got from his brother in law. Currently he sells not just in cash, but he gives his clients time to pay in full, so his clients have increased because of the options of payment he offers.
Javier needs the credit to buy more merchandise because he needs to increase his clients and range of work. Also he knows that with more merchandise his profits will increase and he will have a prosperous business.
Javier is 35 years old and has 3 children who are in school, his house is made of cement and his wife also helps him selling some products at home.
Translated from Spanish by N.D., Kiva Volunteer.
",M,400,partner,Retail,0 Ecuador,"
Sra. Luz Villamar has a small store where she sells basic essentials. She started this business with savings from wages earned by her husband four years ago. Their daughters assist them in the shop.
Sra. Villamar will use this loan to purchase more merchandise at wholesale prices. She also wants to make some improvements to the space where her store is located
Sra. Villamar is 51 years old and has two children who are students. She has a stable family and her house is constructed from mixed materials. Her primary goal is to be able to increase her business so that she can be assured of being able to provide an education for her children.
Translated from Spanish by Ann Kenney Molloy, Kiva volunteer
",F,650,partner,Retail,0 Ecuador,"Fernando started his business one year ago. The products he sells to stores and schools are: cookies of different flavors, gelatins and flours. He tends to his customers personally every day from 6 am to 3pm.
Fernando needs the loan to invest in the purchase of more and new confectionery products, since hes been presented with the opportunity to expand his business out of town.
Fernando is 46 years old. He has three children, two of which help him with his business. His wife works as domestic help, and he works as a driver several nights per week. Theirs is a mixed construction house, part of which is used for the business. Fernando wishes to become better and grow along with his business, so that his children can go to college and complete their studies.
Translated from Spanish by Leticia Britos, Kiva Volunteer.
",M,650,partner,Food,0 Ecuador,"
Joffre has 10 years of experience in business. He started his current business doing ironwork with a little capital he had been able to obtain with his former bakery, which he had to close due to the economic conditions in the country and their effect on small businesspeople. For this business he uses part of his home. He makes doors, windows, and grills. He works every day of the week from 8 a.m. until 6 p.m.
Joffre needs this loan to invest in the purchase of materials for his work, because demand has increased and he wants to fulfill his clients' requests. He wants to take advantage of this opportunity to expand his business and improve the quality of his services.
Joffre is 34 years old. He has 3 children who are in school. His wife works taking care of the home. Their house is of mixed construction (part cane, part concrete). They have two small rooms which they rent out. In this way, they generate other income for the household. His desire is to have a well-equipped workshop, and also to create jobs for other people.
(Translated from the Spanish by Naomi Johnson, Kiva volunteer)",M,650,partner,Manufacturing,0 Ecuador,"
Lili has 4 years of experience with this business. She started out selling items of clothing. Little by little she saved her money, and together with her sister decided to buy a cart for selling fast food. She came up with the idea on her own initiative, and she liked it. She works only on the weekends, from 5 p.m. until 11 p.m. She keeps her cart at her father's house, which has made it easier for her to run her business.
Lili wants this loan to buy supplies wholesale, which will make her work easier and she won't have to go out to buy her products. Also she would like to remodel her cart. This will help her provide better service to her customers. She would also like to start selling soft drinks and juices.
Lili is a single mother. She is 26 years old and has 2 children, who are both in school and are her reason for living. She has succeeded, thanks to her effort, in giving them the things they need. She has her own little house, which she is completing little by little. She hopes with this investment to improve her income and the life of her family.
(Translated from the Spanish by Naomi Johnson, Kiva volunteer)",F,400,partner,Food,0 Ecuador,"
Maria started her business two years ago. The products she offers are: breakfast and candy. She looks after her clientle personally from 6 am to 1 pm.
Maria needs the loan to invest in the purchase of an industrial kitchen, tables and kitchen utensils.
Maria is 42 years old. She has 3 grown up children. Her husband works as a tailor from their home. Maria started her business with her own capital. Her house has a mixed construction. She sells her products outside of a small school close to her house.
Translated from Spanish by Luis Lpez Martinelli, Kiva Volunteer.",F,400,lender,Food,1
Ecuador,"Business Description
Mariana has a grocery store, very well located on a main street, which she opened nine years ago with the help of her savings. She presently sells all kinds of basic needs products, and also has installed video game machines next to her store.
She needs this loan to buy merchandise at a wholesale price, and to be able to renovate her store, which is long overdue.
She is 32 years old and has three children, two of whom study. Her house is made of concrete and her main goal is to make her business grow and ensure a good future for her children.
Translated from Spanish by Leticia Britos, Kiva Volunteer.
",F,800,partner,Food,0 Ecuador,"
Mrs. Margarita she is devoted to selling products of basic needs. She has the store in her own home and in the business her sons are her helpers. This business was started by the money she save by working as a domestic worker.
She needs the loan so she can buy more merchandise so that her sales can increase in the coming months.
She is 56 years old and is presently single. She has grown children and her home is made of cement and has thoughts of making improvements to her home.
Translated from Spanish by Gabe of San Roque High School, Kiva volunteer
",F,1075,lender,Food,1 Ecuador,"
Ms. Nancy sells a well known brand of cosmetics. Also, in recent months, she has begun to sell alternative medicine, which has been highly sought after by her clientele. She has been in business for five years. In addition to selling cosmetics, she also sells clothing that she buys at a lower cost in a particular area of the city.
Nancy seeks this loan in order to purchase more merchandise at wholesale prices and to take advantage of months when beauty products and alternative medicine are on sale at lower prices, which will also help her earn income at a higher profit margin.
Nancy is 38 years old and has six children, four of whom are in school. She has a stable home and her house is constructed from mixed materials. Her principal goal is to be able to advance her business to the point that she can be assured of being able to provide an education for all her children.
Translated from Spanish by Ann Kenney Molloy, Kiva volunteer
",F,825,lender,Retail,1 Ecuador,"Don Julio is dedicated to baking breads and he has eighteen years experience in this activity. He works every day of the week until Sunday preparing his product with high quality for his community, and he has great support from his wife who helps him in his job.
Julio needs the loan to buy more ingredients since the his clientel has really increased in size. Julio needs to increase his sales now, as a result of the effort that he makes day after day in his work. He and his wife know how to move their business forward with dedication, hard work, and responsibility.
Presently Julio is 38 years old and lives together with his wife and three beautiful children, and thanks to his effort, he and his wife have been able to keep educating them. Their home is a cement structure in a stable and cozy condition. The dreams of Julio are to have a shop with a greater variety of products that he will offer by means of his great efforts.
Translated from Spanish by Jay Osborne, Kiva volunteer
",M,650,lender,Food,0 Ecuador,"
Gina sells various articles and clothes in provinces. She has a 50 client portfolio. She is successful because she sells her products in rural areas that are far away from Guayaquil. Therefore, there is lesser offer and competition. Her products are very well received due to their quality and price.
She will use the loan to purchase merchandise at wholesaler's price.
Gina is 38 years old and has one separated daughter. Her house is made out of cement. Her goal is to improve her family's quality of life.
Translated from Spanish by Yael Schwartzman, Kiva Volunteer.
",F,1200,lender,Retail,1 Ecuador,"Ins has a business selling perfume, cosmetics and costume jewelry. She provides the merchandise to her customers after they order it. Ins attends to her customers every day of the week from 8:00 a.m. until 8:00 p.m.
Ins is asking for a loan to purchase merchandise in greater quantities and greater variety. Demand for her products has increased since there is an increasing number of people to whom she provides this merchandise. Naturally, Ins earns more per item -- having a greater profit margin -- when she is able to purchase in larger quantities. She also tells us that in this way she does right by her clients and can even pass on some of the savings to them.
Ins is 36 years old. She is a widow and has four children. She sees in her business the chance to provide a source of greater income for her family. It is Inss wish that her business continue to grow in order to increase her income and be able to provide food, education and greater security (both financial and in the home) for her children.
Translated from Spanish by Ann Kenney Molloy, Kiva volunteer
",F,650,partner,Retail,0 Ecuador,"Letty has a sales business offering plastic and glass items, including chairs, washcloths, jars, wastebaskets, clothes hampers, and more. Letty doesn't only sell from her store, but also takes products door to door in the area where she lives. She is open for business from 8:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m.
Letty is asking for a loan to purchase additional merchandise. Her customers are asking for a greater variety of products, and she has been unable to meet the demand. They are asking for comforters, sheet sets, dish sets, and other products that she would like to offer. By doing this Letty will be able to take good care of her customers.
Letty is 30 years old. She has 4 children, 3 of whom are in school. Letty is separated from her husband, who send her a small amount of money monthly. For this reason, Letty would like to keep growing her business. She has told use that her business is her sure source of income which she uses to provide well being and a better quality of life to her children.
Translated from Spanish by James Comstock, Kiva volunteer.
",F,650,lender,Retail,1 Ecuador,"
Maria serves snacks, lunch and a la carte entrees in her restaurant. She started this business when she immigrated from Colombia in search of a better life. With her husband's help, she has been successful in Ecuador and runs a business that continues to grow each day. She has also added a pay phone booth at the same location.
She needs this loan to expand the size of her restaurant and make improvements to the space, which will allow her to better serve her growing clientele.
Maria is 49 years old and has three children who are students. Her house is made of cement. Her husband helps her around the house and they enjoy a stable family life.
Translated from Spanish by a Kiva volunteer.
",F,1075,lender,Food,0 Ecuador,"
Mrs. Moraima cooks and sells lunches and snacks mainly traditional Ecuadorian food like bollos (fish and chicken long pasties) , tortas (cakes) , encebollados (fish soup with sour onions), fritadas (fried pork with plantains), some dishes under request, etc, she has about 2 years experience working by herself. She works from Wednesdays to Sundays delivering meals to homes that place orders.
Moraima needs the loan to improve her working space so people can go to eat her delicious dishes. She needs to improve her local because of the quality of clients she has now.
Moraima is 52 years old, she lives with her husband and 14 year old son who is studying, who also helps her cooking the meals and with household shores, her house is made of cement and very clean. Moraima dreams having a big restaurant very well known so people could go to enjoy the delicious dishes she creates.
Translated from Spanish by N.D., Kiva Volunteer.
",F,425,partner,Food,0 Ecuador,"
Ms. Gregoria is dedicated to the sale of bleach and disinfectant to institutions and factories. She also sells other products, such as softeners and aromatizers, that have been requested by her clients. She presently counts with the help of a salesman, who travels to the countryside to offer the products that Gregoria elaborates.
She needs the credit in order to buy more raw materials and thus have more products to offer. She is also considering opening a store at her house as, until now, she has only been selling door to door.
She is 48 years old and has four children, one of which is in school. Her house is made of cane and her main goal is to build a concrete house and ensure a good future for her children.
Translated from Spanish by Leticia Britos, Kiva Volunteer.
",F,800,partner,Retail,0 Ecuador,"
Our friend Maria is dedicated to the sales of clothing, such as pants, t-shirts, blouses, dresses... etc. In addition to having 3 years experience working independently, she is also a teacher at a school in her community. In spite of the fact that her husband passed away she has faced the hardships of generating income for her family, taking care of her only child, and attending to her business from very early in the morning every day of the week.
Maria needs the loan in order to be able to buy more merchandise and offer a greater variety of products to her clients. In this way she will be able to gain new clients as a result of the hard work that she puts into her business day after day. Maria needs this loan in order to cover various costs of her business and in order to keep her clients satisfied.
Maria is 41 years old and lives alone with her 17 year old daughter, who, thanks to Maria's hard work and efforts, is able to continue studying. She also helps with the activities of the house which has a cement structure. Maria's dream is for her business to grow so she can increase her income and come out ahead. Maria is confident that as she continues to adapt her home on her own land, she will eventually be able to earn additional income by renting out her home.
Translated from Spanish by Laura Kirkvold, Kiva volunteer.
",F,525,partner,Clothing,0 Ecuador,"Emma sells food items and sundries from a small shop located on a main street. She also sells sweets at a local school.
The loan will be used to purchase merchandise at wholesale prices, which will allow Emma to offer lower prices and increase her profits.
Emma is 55 years old; she lives in a house made of reeds. Her goals are to build a better home and to secure a more stable life.
Translated from Spanish by Rosario McFaull, Kiva Volunteer.
",F,425,lender,Food,0 Ecuador,"
Fernanda does computer work, and also provides a copy service. She also cuts both mens' and womens' hair. She has 6 years of experience in this field, having learned from a family member who trained her while she saved money to begin her own business. Her work day is from 8 a.m. until 7 p.m.
Fernanda is asking for a loan to purchase more stationary material, including pictures, notebooks, pencils, and other childrens' school supplies. Because of the growth of her client base, Fernanda has seen the need to offer additional merchandise, so that she can continue to serve her client's needs.
Fernanda has two children and is 29 years old. One of her children attends school, an opportunity made possible by Fernanda's hard work. She and her husband have a friendly cement home. Fernanda's desire is to grow her business and increase her capital, for the benefit of her children and her entire family.
Translated from Spanish by James Comstock, Kiva volunteer.
",F,525,lender,Services,0 Ecuador,"
Javier is in the business of selling cleaning supplies and general household items. He sells these items on the road near his neighborhood. He started selling these products with a loan he received from his brother in-law. Currently, aside from cash transactions, he also extends credit to his clients. Therefore, he has increased the number of clients he has have because of the payment options he offers.
After receiving a previous loan from Kiva and Mifex, Javier was also able to begin investing in clothing and electrical appliances. He sees that these items are very profitable and hopes to concentrate his sales in this area in the near future. For the time being, he also wants to help his wife with a store she recently set up at a family member's home, which is located in a commercial area. He hopes that he can buy more merchandise.
Javier is 35 years old and has 3 children, who are in school. His house is made of cement. His wife also helps with the new business. They hope to one day have a store conveniently located from their home and be distributors of major products.
Previous Profile: http://www.kiva.org/app.php?page=businesses&action=about&id=14073",M,850,lender,Retail,1 Ecuador,"Mr. Justo opened his general store with savings from a harvest and some of his son's savings. The store is well located and there is not a lot of competition in the area where he lives. Despite not having been in business for long, his clientele has increased with time.
This is Justos second loan with Kiva and Mifex. With his first, he was able to buy more merchandise and eventually fix the floor in his home/business. Before it was made out of dirt but is now paved cement. He is very happy with what he has been able to accomplish and hopes that he can continue borrowing in order to include more types of products in his store, including potentially seafood.
Mr. Justo is 55 years old and his children are grown and working. He and his wife can no longer do physical labor so a store is a good business for him to pursue. His house is made of cement. He also has the support of his wife, who helps to sell products from their home.
Previous profile: http://www.kiva.org/app.php?page=businesses&action=about&id=13887
",M,700,lender,Food,1 Ecuador,"Teresa has been in business for 12 years. Four years ago, with her own capital and savings, she modified her house to accomodate a grocery shop. This business has gone very well for her, and she has provided good service to her customers. She works every day from 6am to 11pm. She is also starting to sell lunch from her house.
She will use this, her second loan, to buy merchandise for her business. It will also help her provide support and investment capital for her husband who sells sandals in nearby communities.
Teresa is 58 years old. She has 6 children, all adults. They help her with whatever she needs and they are always looking out for her. Her husband sells slippers as an outdoor vendor. Little by little, loans have allowed her to finish construction on her house. With increased profits she will make because of this loan, she hopes to continue work on it.
",F,1075,lender,Retail,1 Ecuador,"
With the loan, Mary wants to buy more merchandise for her store and also wants to refurbish her shop where her lunch sales are already growing, so her goal is to keep her customers satisfied with her attention.
Mary is 35 years old and has three children, one of which is studying. She lives in a cane house and one of the problems she has is that her shop is inadequate for her to be able to help her customers. She is certain that this is the opportunity to improve her business and the way for her to move ahead together with her family.
Translated from Spanish by Geraldine Kim, Kiva Volunteer.
",F,700,lender,Retail,1 Ecuador,"
Nancy works as a traveling saleswoman in the town of Dauel and neighboring towns. She is assisted in her sales efforts by her children, as she makes her trips on weekends. She sells clothing, makeup and shoes.
She would like a loan to be able to purchase additional goods to sell to her customers.
Nancy is 32 years old, and has five children in school. They live in a house made of cana (a reed-like wood). Her goals are to improve her business to be able to build a better home and to ensure her childrens education.
Translated from Spanish by Mary Lynn, Kiva Volunteer.
",F,675,lender,Clothing,1 Ecuador,"
Ms. Mirta dedicates herself to making wheat bread and other confectioneries. She sells her products in a location near her house and also delivers them to the major stores in her area. Her 14 years old son assists her in this business that she learnt from her former husband.
She needs the loan to be able to buy basic ingredients as well as to expand the local where she sells her product.
Ms. Mirta is 39 years old and has two children at school. She lives in a cement house. Her goals are to perfect her business and to insure the education of her children.
Translated from Spanish by Marc Lanthemann, Princeton University Language Project Volunteer.
",F,1050,lender,Food,1 Ecuador,"
Mr. Busto dedicates himself to selling clothes and seasonal items in the street. He started this business 8 years ago with the assistance of his family; his wife still helps him today. His sales have increased since he included the residents of villages outside the city in his client network. They represent the biggest part of his sales.
He wants to use the loan to buy more merchandise in order to keep his business stocked and better satisfy his clients.
Mr. Busto is 34 years old and has one child. He lives in a rented house. His goal is to expand his business and having a higher financial income in order to buy his own house.
Translated from Spanish by Marc Lanthemann, Princeton University Language Project Volunteer.
",M,675,lender,Clothing,1 Ecuador,"Nodenca started her business 2 years ago. She sells home and kitchen items (pans, knives, plates etc). She takes order from catalog every day of the week from 6 a.m. to 5 p.m.
Nodenca needs the loan to invest in the sale of new products. Her client network is satisfied with her delivery system. She wants to offer a new variety of products and improve the image of her business.
Nodenca is 34 years old, she has 4 children in school. Her husband is employed as a construction worker. She started her business with a small loaned capital. She works and lives in a wood and cane house. Her goal is to buy a cement house to increase the security of her business and family.
Translated from Spanish by Marc Lanthemann, Princeton University Language Project Volunteer.
",F,650,partner,Retail,0 Ecuador,"Mr. Asterio dedicates himself to collecting metallic and plastic items in order to resell them to the citys recycling companies. He currently uses a second-hand car, bought with his savings, to conduct his business. His children assist him.
He needs the loan to have cash and thus being able to buy more waste material and increase his profit. He also plans to increase his client network by traveling to other villages.
Mr. Asterio is 43 years old and has three children in school. He lives in a house made of cane. His goals are to build a new house and to perfect his business.
Translated from Spanish by Marc Lanthemann, Princeton University Language Project Volunteer
",M,1050,lender,Retail,1 Ecuador,"
Adalinda is a schoolteacher. Her sister put Analinda in charge of her own store. Little by little, she started saving and set up a business of miscellaneous items. She works every day from 7 a.m. to 8 p.m.
She will invest the loan in purchasing goods for supplying her location. She already has orders from people in the area.
Adalinda is a single mother. She is 32 and a has a 6 year old son that is currently attending school. Her little house is made of cane. Thanks to her hard work, she has been able to start building a cane fence in order to give it more security. She is hoping to save money and provide a better environment for her business to grow.
Translated from Spanish by Gabriel Santamaria, Kiva Volunteer.
",F,525,partner,Retail,0 Ecuador,"
Angela has been working in this job for 6 years. Her husband helped her get started so that she could work on her own. They now each have their own business, bringing income into their home. They both work buying and selling plastic pipes. Angela works from 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. Recently they aquired a truck which they use to purchase work material.
This loan will be used to purchase recycled raw material for later sales. She has orders for this recycled material.
Angela is 31 years old. She has 4 children in school. She is currently living in her the home of her in laws. Her husband works in the same business, but with different kinds of material. They hope to save money in the future and purchase a lot of their own where little by little they will build a home of their own.
Translated from Spanish by James Comstock, Kiva volunteer.
",F,800,lender,Retail,0 Ecuador,"
Beatriz has been working in this job for 18 years. She began by purchasing piglets with a small amount of capital, which she would raise and sell. She has recently began selling food as well. She works from 8 a.m. to 2 p.m. Her daughters help her with the food sales, and she sells pork in the areas near her home.
This loan will be invested in the purchase of more piglets for later sale. She will also use the money to modify her tricycle which she uses to distribute the food that she sells.
Beatriz is a a single mother. She has 4 adult children who help her in her business. She is currently adding to her home. Through her earning she has been able to begin construction using cement. She would like to finish it, and to set up a place to sell food.
Translated from Spanish by James Comstock, Kiva volunteer.
",F,650,lender,Food,0 Ecuador,"
Carmen has 10 years of experience doing business. She started selling water, sodas and juices. Through a loan she purchased make up. Due to her own initiative she started in this line of business. She has done very well. She works every day in a schedule of 8 a.m. to 6 p.m.
The loan will be invested in the purchase of jewelry, make up and other accessories. She has good demand from clients. Thanks to the service she provides.
Carmen is married. She is 28 and has two kids. They study. Her husband is in the military and her dream is to open a diner. She hopes to reach this with the investment she will make.
Translated from Spanish by Claudia Welch, Kiva Volunteer.
",F,650,partner,Retail,0 Ecuador,"
Dionicio is a tailor who makes men's clothing such as pants, shirts, and ties that he sells at to store in the city. He began this business 8 years ago and put a shop in his house 4 years ago. Now his wife helps him in the business as he as taught her the trade. Dionicio now wants to learn to make women's clothing as his clients have asked for this line of clothing.
He needs the loan to be able to buy raw materials such as fabric to make clothing. In addition he needs to purchase a special machine to place buttons and therefore increase his production and earnings.
He is married, 30 years old, a house made of reed, a stable family and has a son that studies.
Translated from Spanish by Cindy Kendall, Kiva volunteer.
",M,675,lender,Services,1 Ecuador,"
Don Mauro co-owns a restaurant alongside his wife; it is located at an excellent location in one of the principal streets of his neighborhood. The restaurant is open for breakfast, lunch, and dinner and also sells empanadas [corn cakes].
He will use the loan proceeds to better his restaurant by buying more fixed assets such as: chairs, tables and other furniture as needed.
He is 49 years old, he is married and has three sons, his house is built of cement. His principal goal is to grow his business by reinvesting the revenue obtained.
Translated from Spanish by Felipe Salcedo, Kiva Volunteer.
",M,825,lender,Food,1 Ecuador,"
Isabel got started selling crabs. Since she had to travel every week and that was too much of an effort, her father encouraged her to offer restaurant services. With his support, she was able to buy cooking utensils. She began selling five meals a day for lunch. Currently, she has a clientele that surpasses 20 customers everyday. She works during the weekends from 5 p.m. to 11 p.m. She gets help from her mom and dad for the preparation of the meals
She will invest the loan in buying supplies. She is also planning to purchase sodas, beverages and juices. Additionally, she is thinking of buying chickens once her income has increased.
Isabel is 39 years old and single. Eighteen years ago she suffered the loss of her 2-month-old son. She lives with her parents and seven siblings. They are all adults and they take care of their parents. Three years ago, her father had prostate surgery and this left her with little money. Her parents are her inspiration in order to keep going. She is hoping to build a house of concrete in the future. She currently lives in a house built with mixed materials.
Translated from Spanish by Gabriel Santamaria, Kiva Volunteer.
",F,525,partner,Food,0 Ecuador,"
Luis has 33 years of experience working as a cabinetmaker, a trade he learned from his father where he little by little acquired the tools of his job. He became independent and currently employs people in his workshop. He works every day of the week from 8a.m. to 6p.m. He has a many customers because of the quality and price of his products.
He will invest the loan in buying raw materials for the creation of his products, in addition to buying nails, glue, sand paper.
Luis is 54 years old and has 2 children. They both studies and have become interested in learning the trade of cabinetmaking little by little. His wife works selling cosmetics and imitation jewelry. Their little house is made out of cement. He hopes that with his income he will be able to give his house security for the wellbeing of his whole family.
Translated from Spanish by Eliana Colunga, Kiva volunteer.
",M,650,lender,Manufacturing,1 Ecuador,"
Maria has 6 years of business experience with her store. She has been able to make money thanks to her profits as a merchant which she used to do. Currently she raises chickens, which she learned to do from her mother. She works every day of the week from 7am to 11pm and her eldest children help her with tending to the store.
She would like to increase her profits by diversifying her inventory.
Maria is a single mother. She is 33 years old and has 4 children. They are all students and the eldest children help her with stocking the business. Her small house is made of various construction products. She hopes to make more money in order to improve her home and give security to her family.
Translated from Spanish by Kiva Volunteer Wendy Wise
",F,400,lender,Food,1
Ecuador,"Business Description
Mirella has 10 years of experience as a seamstress. She worked with her mother, which is how she learned her trade. Two years ago she started her own business and with the help of some money her husband saved she was able to buy the raw materials she needed to open her business. Mirella specializes in school uniforms and flags. Her workshop is in her home and she works Monday through Saturday from 8:00am until 7:00pm.
Mirella will use the loan to purchase more raw materials, such as leather and fabric. There is much demand for her work right now, particularly for sports uniforms as many schools will be celebrating their schools Olympic games and have placed orders with Mirella. She would also like to use some of the loan money to purchase materials in order to make improvements on her home and workshop.
Mirella is 30 years old. She is married but has no children. Her husband is a security guard at a clinic and therefore also contributes toward household expenses. They live in a little house made of cane and wood given to them by her mother. They are working hard to be able to reconstruct the house, which is in a fairly unstable condition. Mirella hopes to grow her business and continue improving the quality of her life.
Translated from Spanish by Ann Kenney Molloy, Kiva volunteer
",F,525,partner,Services,0 Ecuador,"Mr. Arteaga has had his business selling various meats and tropical fruit for one year and his wife helps him attend to his customers. Currently sales are growing because he supplies various stores and restaurants in the area.
He wants to use the loan to buy merchandise and improve his store, as it is very small and he would like to be able to better attend to his clients.
He is 46 years old and has no children. His house is made of cane and his goal is to grow his business in order to one day be able to be in a better financial situation.
Translated from Spanish by Laura Westin, Kiva volunteer.
",M,550,lender,Food,0 Ecuador,"
Mr. Jaime works selling rice to stores in his area. He started this business two years ago with the help of his wife and some savings he had from a previous job. Currently, he doesn't only have the rice selling business, but has also started selling household appliances in more remote areas of the city.
He needs the money to buy more merchandise and rice wholesale.
He is 34 years old and has three children, two of whom are in school. His house is made out of concrete, and his main goal is to have a well-established business.
Translated from Spanish by Eliana Colunga, Kiva volunteer.
",M,700,lender,Retail,1 Ecuador,"
Mr. Javier has a pharmacy in a place he has set up in his house which he started with a loan he got of $250. With time and because of a school built diagonal to his pharmacy he also began selling school supplies. Currently he is not just selling medicine but also school and party supplies.
Mr. Javier needs the credit to enlarge his space and wants to set up a phone boot as there is no phone boot near by.
Javier is 26 years old and he has a daughter who is studying, her wife also works, they have family stability and a house made of cement. Javier is sure with the improvements to his business he will improve his familys future.
Translated from Spanish by N.D., Kiva Volunteer.
",M,1075,lender,Health,0 Ecuador,"
Mr. Prado has run his store for five years and began the business selling legumes as a street vendor. He decided to move the business into his own house, where his wife helps him. In the afternoons he also sells banana chips in different stores in the area. At present time his sales are growing because his store is located on one of the main streets in the area.
He wants to invest in merchandise and improve the store, as he is always looking for ways to better serve his clients.
He is 53 years old and has no children, his house is made of cement and his goal is to expand his business and one day he hopes to open a new store in the area.
Translated from Spanish by Laura Westin, Kiva volunteer.
",M,925,lender,Food,1 Ecuador,"
Mrs. Dumez has been selling clothing and accessories to the local residents for five years. She got her start with the money she was able to save from her previous job. Now she sells the latest fashions.
She needs the loan in order to buy more merchandise for the holiday season. Her customers are requesting more apparel and accessories to dress up for the year-end festivities.
Mrs. Dumez is 39 years old and has three school age children. She lives in a cement house and has family stability. Her main objective is to enhance the success of her business so that she may set up her own clothing store from home sometime in the near future.
Translated from Spanish by Elizabeth Casian, Kiva Volunteer.
",F,700,lender,Clothing,1 Ecuador,"
Mrs. Jess Mara has 2 years of experience in business. 8 months ago, her son-in-law lent her some money and she decided to start her business, where she sells diapers, juices, sodas, cookies, notebooks, etc. She works Monday through Friday from 6:00 am until 5:00 pm, and on weekends from 9:00 am until 6:00 pm. Her business is located in her home.
Mrs. Jess wants this loan to buy more merchandise, such as diapers, school supplies, and juices. She also wants to start selling gift items, since her business is located across from a school and she has a lot of demand for her products.
Mrs. Jess Mara is 48 years old, she is married and has 5 children, all older. Her husband is a door-to-door vendor and he also contributes to the household expenses, and 2 of her children are single and live with her. Her home is made of cement, with 2 stories, and they are finishing constructing it. She is a woman who is making a great deal of effort to get ahead with her family, and she aspires to grow with her business as her loans generate greater utility and in that way to have a better way of life.
(Translated from the Spanish by Naomi Johnson, Kiva volunteer)",F,650,partner,Retail,0 Ecuador,"
Mrs. Mercedes works on the street selling clothes and novelty articles. She started this business with the help of her husband who at present is her right hand and helps her with the promotion and collection.
She will use the loan to buy more merchandise that at present is on sale. She wants to make her business grow with the profits.
She has one child who is in school. She has a brick house. Her main goal is to save for the education of her child.
Translated from Spanish by Ana Gabriela Clark, Kiva Volunteer.
",F,525,lender,Clothing,1 Ecuador,"
Mrs. Serrano has been selling cosmetics for a living for three years. Because she is such an excellent retailer, she is now the director of a group of merchants who sell the same type of products.
She needs this loan in order buy more merchandise, which will allow her to both further assist her group of merchants and expand her business with aspiring entrepreneurs like her.
The client is 26 years old and has two young children. She lives in a cement house. She has family stability, and her main goal is to provide her children with a brighter future.
Translated from Spanish by Elizabeth Casian, Kiva Volunteer.
",F,1200,lender,Retail,1 Ecuador,"
Mrs. Sonia sells clothes, cosmetics and jewelry (as a street vendor). Sonia is a teacher in a neighborhood school and her principal clients are the parents of the students attending the school. Since she is the sole provider for her sons she has been dedicated to study to become a better teacher and salesperson.
She needs the loan proceeds to buy more merchandise and be able to sell more now that the higher demand from the holidays is approaching.
She is 42 years old, she has 3 sons and her house is made of cane and her household situation is very stable.
Translated from Spanish by Felipe Salcedo, Kiva Volunteer.
",F,675,lender,Clothing,1 Ecuador,"
Olga used to drive a school bus. Her car broke down. Then she looked for help through her sister to find funds to reach the dream to have a diner. This was possible and the business started three years ago. She started with a dining table in her house. Little by little she has adapted her diner. Together with her mom she works from Monday to Saturday in a schedule from 6 a.m. to 3 p.m. And until 11 p.m. on the weekends.
The loan will be invested in purchasing food to prepare meals. As well as, in repairing a little used car to deliver lunch downtown. This way she will be able to provide a better service to her clients.
Olga is a single mother. She is 43 and has 4 children. 3 study and one of them helps her with her business, besides delivering lunches downtown. Her house is made of cement. Her wish is to have a big diner to accommodate the demand she currently has. People like her because of her sazon (seasoning of the food she prepares) which is really good.
Translated from Spanish by Claudia Welch, Kiva Volunteer.
",F,650,partner,Food,0 Ecuador,"
Sra. Emilia has 40 years of experience in her industry -- from a very young age she has been involved in business. Two years ago, she decided to open a stall to sell breakfast in a market near her neighborhood with savings from money her children have given her. She works from 6:00 a.m. until 1:00 p.m.
Sra. Emilia would like a loan to purchase utensils for her kitchen. The ones she has been using are quite old and have lost their usefulness. She would also like to purchase some tables and chairs to provide better service to her customers.
Sra. Emilia is 66 years old. She is a widow and has three adult children. She lives in a very simple one-story home made of cement with her daughter who works outside the home and whom she helps with the household expenses. Doa Emilias wish is to make improvements, little by little, to her home. Currently, her home has a dirt floor.
Translated from Spanish by Ann Kenney Molloy, Kiva volunteer
",F,300,partner,Food,0 Ecuador,"Yessenia Pinto works hard to sell medicine and office supplies. She has a home-office. She started her business with the money she saved up from her previous job.
She will use the loan to buy more merchandise at wholesale prices. She is also thinking about making improvements to the place where she sells her products.
She is 32 years old and separated from her husband. She has 2 children and they live in a cement home. Her goals are to save for childrens future and to grow her business.
Translated from Spanish by Geraldine Kim, Kiva volunteer.
",F,825,lender,Health,1 Ecuador,"
Adelaida has 15 years of experience in the business of selling fish. She started out with her own savings, selling in one corner of her home. At present, Adelaida sells fried fish with rice and vegetable stew on Thursdays, Fridays, Saturdays, and Sundays from 5 p.m. to 9 p.m. Adelaida works by herself. She is a single mother, but she considers herself a fighter. Adelaida has seen development in her business, since thanks to her fish sales she has directed part of her capital toward buying yogurt in 2 or 4 liter containers which she delivers every 15 days and at the end of the month to the crew of a shrimp boat on the peninsula.
Adelaida is requesting this loan in order to increase her business. The demand has grown for her yogurt and fish sales. She also indicates to us that she has thought of investing in the purchase of milk, coconut, and sugar to make homemade ice cream. She could deliver it to 2 people who would sell it and she would earn a percentage of the sales. Adelaida wants to continue improving her home to give greater safety to her family.
Adelaida is 48 years old and has 1 son. Her home is made of concrete with an earth floor, and it is under construction.
(Translated from the Spanish by Naomi Johnson, Kiva volunteer)",F,525,partner,Food,0 Ecuador,"
Andrea Aviles sells meat out of her home to stores in her neighborhood. She started this business after separating from her husband who has a similar business. She is well known and respected by her clients.
She is requesting this loan in order to buy more meat. She would also like to begin selling other food products.
She is 26 years old and lives in a cement house with her two young children. She hopes to provide a better life for them.
",F,1050,lender,Food,1 Ecuador,"Autrey has been working for 6 years selling clothing, cosmetics, and costume jewelry. Her husband helped her to start with $100 in capital. She works the areas near her home every day, in the afternoons. In the mornings, and into the afternoon she works providing domestic help in a private home.
This loan will be invested in supplying the business with merchandise. This is a good time of the year, and she has pending orders for various articles.
Audrey is 42 years old and married. She has just one daughter, who is about to graduate from the national police academy. Her husband works as a security guard at a company in the north part of the city. They have a small car which she uses for work in the evenings after her husband gets off work. Their home is made of cement. They have been able to finish it thanks to their income.
Translated from Spanish by James Comstock, Kiva volunteer.
",F,650,lender,Retail,0 Ecuador,"
Brenda has a store that she began a year ago that is located on one of the main streets in the area, and because of this sales have increased recently. Her husband helps her at the business where she sells essential items.
She wants to use her credit to invest in the purchase of merchandise, as she always is very careful to keep her customers happy.
She is 26 years old and has a son, her home is made of cement and her goal is to increase her sales in order to one day be able to expand her shop.
Translated from Spanish by Laura Westin, Kiva volunteer.
",F,675,lender,Food,1 Ecuador,"
Ganine and her husband have 25 years of experience in vehicle repair. She was able to learn some things about vehicle repair, and later her husband was the one who acquired greater knowledge, since from the age of 12 he worked along with a friend. At present, he has a workshop located in their home, where he also provides employment for one of his children, who already knows the trade, as well as for two other people. He works every day of the week from 7 a.m. until 6 p.m.
The loan is requested to invest in the purchase of spare parts for cars. At present they just repair the vehicle without replacing any of the parts. What they want is to have the spare parts on hand, which will improve the service they offer.
Ganine is 39 years old and has 4 children, including 3-year-old twins. Her house is of mixed construction (part concrete, part cane). In the future, she plane to start a car-washing business. She hopes with this investment that she will be able to improve her income and meet the goals she has in mind.
(Translated from the Spanish by Naomi Johnson, Kiva volunteer)",F,650,partner,Services,0 Ecuador,"
Gina sells items for the home in a business she began a year ago. She works as a street vendor in various parts of the city and is helped by her two siblings. Recently, her sales have increased.
She would like to use her loan to invest in the purchase of merchandise because her customers are making various requests for the winter season and she does not have enough capital to invest.
She is 35 years old, has one son, her house is made of cane, and her goal is to increase sales in order to one day increase her family income.
Translated from Spanish by Laura Westin, Kiva volunteer.
",F,550,lender,Retail,1 Ecuador,"
Julio has 30 years of experience in business. He started out selling seafood, but he had to switch products because of increasing competition. By his own initiative, he decided to start selling fruit. With this product, things have gone very well for him, and little by little he has been able to make some improvements to his home. He works every day of the week from 5 a.m. until 3 p.m.
This loan will be invested in the purchase of fruits, since he is a little low on capital. He will stock his business with a variety of fruits, and in that way give better service to his customers.
Julio is 64 years old. He has 4 children who are adults and who help him with his needs. His wife works as a seamstress, and earns income for that activity. Julio's desire is to be able to start constructing his little house out of concrete, since now it is made of cane, and in the winter time it gets damaged. He knows that, with this investment, he will be able to realize his dream.
(Translated from the Spanish by Naomi Johnson, Kiva volunteer)",M,300,partner,Food,0 Ecuador,"
Margoth has a retail store where she sells clothes, footwear, and various novelties. She began the business two years ago thanks to the capital she obtained through work as a professor. Her two brothers help her at the business and recently her sales have increased as it is the winter season.
She would like to use the loan to invest in the purchase of more merchandise, as her customers are making various requests for the winter season.
She is 41 years old, has two children, her house is made of cement and her goal is to expand the store.
Translated from Spanish by Laura Westin, Kiva volunteer.
",F,825,lender,Clothing,1 Ecuador,"
Maria Castillo has a dressmaking studio where she sews all types of clothing and also a shop where she sells sewing supplies
She needs the loan in order to purchase more fabric for clothing and supplies for her shop. She would also like to purchase a better sewing machine to improve the quality of the clothing she makes.
She is 44 years old and has 4 children, 2 of whom are in school. Her husband is a carpenter and together they live in a cement house. They live in a stable community and get along well with their neighbors.
",F,800,lender,Services,0 Ecuador,"Maritza has had a store for one year and her sister-in-law helps her at the store. In recent months her sales have increased. She sells all types of essential products.
She wants to use part of her loan to invest in the purchase of merchandise, and another part to make improvements to her store, as she always wants her customers to be content with her store.
She is 27 years old and has three children, one of whom is in school. Her home is made of cane and her goal is to increase her sales, but she has the problem of not having enough capital to invest in more merchandise.
Translated from Spanish by Laura Westin, Kiva volunteer.
",F,825,lender,Food,1 Ecuador,"
Martha works as a street vendor selling sandals and clothing. She began the business 7 years ago and she makes the most sales in the neighboring towns of the province. Her husband helps her with the sales and in recent months sales have increased.
She wants to use her loan to invest in the purchase of merchandise as her customers are making requests for the winter season and she does not have enough capital to be able to keep her clients happy.
She is 39 years old and has no children. Her house is made of cane and her goal is to increase her sales so one day she can move the business into her home.
Translated from Spanish by Laura Westin, Kiva volunteer.
",F,550,lender,Clothing,1 Ecuador,"
Miss Myriam runs a beauty shop in which she also sells Yanbal perfumes. She began her business eight months ago with capital given to her by her father who is currently living outside the country. Myriams sister assists her in the business and they now have several clients.
Myriam wants to expand her facilities and to purchase additional items for the beauty shop, as she is serving new clientle every day.
Myriam is single and lives with her mother and her sister. Their house is made of cane. Myriams goal is to increase her business, since she now provides the main economic support for the household.
Translated from Spanish by Ann Kenney Molloy, Kiva volunteer
",F,925,lender,Services,1 Ecuador,"Mr. Alvarez has worked selling chicken for four years. He began selling cheese and milk as a street vendor until he decided to open his own store. His wife helps him at the store and his main clients are the shops and restaurants in the area. Mr. Alvarez is very happy that his sales have increased recently.
He wants to use part of his loan to invest in a cooler, and another part to buy merchandise that has been requested by his clients, as he does not have the capital to keep his customers satisfied.
He is 49 years old and has a daughter. His home is made of cane and his goal is to grow the business and in this way increase sales and one day be able to build a restaurant in his house.
Translated from Spanish by Laura Westin, Kiva volunteer.
",M,400,lender,Food,1 Ecuador,"
Mr. Carlos Genoves has a handicraft workshop that he began 40 years ago. His wife helps him in the business, and currently Carlos is a supplier to various wholesale warehouses. He learned the art in Colombia when he was young. His sales are currently increasing, and he sells all sorts of resin handicraft products.
He wants to use his loan to invest in the purchase of raw materials, as he would like to increase his production.
He is 73 years old and has four children, all of whom are self-sufficient and learned the trade from their father. His home is made of cement and his goal is to increase his production. More specifically, Carlos passed this trade on to his two children, Luis and Sandra. While their pictures might look similar they are in different locations. They each have their own workshops in their homes and have different client groups. Because each workshop is in a different location and has its own business activities, MIFEX determined that loans could be made to each family member.
Translated from Spanish by Laura Westin, Kiva volunteer.
",M,525,lender,Arts,1 Ecuador,"
Mr. Edmundo works distributing and selling ice cream of a well recognized brand. He distributes in private and public schools in his area. In addition, he offers ice cream to people as he goes around the city in his tricycle.
He needs the money to buy a new tricycle so he can distribute ice cream in areas farther away.
He is 37 years old and has two children. He is building his own house out of concrete, and his main goal is to have a well-established business.
Translated from Spanish by Eliana Colunga, Kiva volunteer.
",M,950,lender,Food,1 Ecuador,"
Mr. Genoves has had a handicraft studio for ten years. He learned the trade from his father, and now his wife helps him at the business. His best customers are big warehouses in the city, as he sells wholesale. He currently has various signed contracts with large businesses and therefore his sales grow every day. He makes all types of handicrafts using resin material.
He wants to use his loan to invest in raw material as he has various orders to this season but doesnt have enough capital.
He is 29 years old and has three children. His home is made of cement and his goal is to increase his sales and expand the market in the rest of the provinces. This individual works in the family trade passed down by the father to his two children, Luis and Sandra. While their pictures might look similar they are in different locations. They each have their own workshops in their homes and have different client groups. Because each workshop is in a different location and has its own business activities, MIFEX determined that loans could be made to each family member.
Translated from Spanish by Laura Westin, Kiva volunteer.
",M,925,lender,Arts,1 Ecuador,"
Mr. Guaman has had a business selling meat for one year. His mother helps him with the business and his biggest customers are the stores in the area. Today his business has grown.
He wants to use this loan to invest in merchandise and to buy a display case in order to display his products better.
He is 21 years old and single. He lives with his parents. The home is made of concrete and his goal is to grow his business and get ahead, along with his parents.
(Translated from the Spanish by Naomi Johnson, Kiva volunteer)",M,675,lender,Food,1 Ecuador,"
Mr. Jaramillo has a restaurant that he started two years ago. His wife and an employee help him at the business, and they sell everything related to lunches and snacks. In recent months his sales have increased because his restaurant is located on one of the main streets in the area.
He would like to use his loan to invest in making improvements to his restaurant, as the winter season is a disadvantage to his customer service.
He is 27 years old, has one son, his house is made of cane and his goal is to increase his sales, and in this way increase his income and one day be able to build a cement house.
Translated from Spanish by Laura Westin, Kiva volunteer.
",M,825,lender,Food,1 Ecuador,"
Mr. Lucas has been a tailor for 4 years, assisted by his wife. The majority of clients live in the neighborhood, and he makes all kinds of creations. Currently his sales are growing now that the Christmas season is approaching.
He wants to use his loan to invest in inventory such as fabric and an industrial sewing machines in order to better serve his clients. /p>
He is 38 years old and has two children, his house is made of reed, and his goal is to grow his business thereby being able to have more income for his family.
Translated from Spanish by Cindy Kendall, Kiva volunteer.
",M,675,lender,Services,1 Ecuador,"
Mr. Ramo sells vegetables nearby his house. He started working this way when he lost his job, then a friend of his loaned him $50 and bought lemons on wholesale and sold them on the road.
Ramo needs the credit to buy merchandise in cash instead of borrowing from his providers and also wants to sell different products and also hopes his wife will be able to stop working as a cleaning lady. He is sure that buying the merchandise in cash he will be able to lower his costs and increase his clients.
Ramo is 33 years old and has 3 kids who are in school, his house is made of cement and his goal is to improve his house to rent two spaces and increase his profits and the quality of life of his family.
Translated from Spanish by N.D., Kiva Volunteer.
",M,425,lender,Food,1 Ecuador,"
Mrs. Bella works selling coconut juice. She started this business 9 years ago thanks to her husband's help. Her husband, their oldest son, and an employee help her in the business. She sells her products walking through the streets offering them in different zones of the city. Lately, her sales have increased and her business is doing very well.
She wants to use the loan to invest in buying a refrigerator and to make improvements to their locale because hr business is growing and the space in which she prepares the juices is very small.
She is 34 years old and has 3 children. Her home is made out of concrete and her goal is to expand her business to increase her sales and one day be able to open a restaurant in her house.
Translated from Spanish by Eliana Colunga, Kiva volunteer.
",F,825,lender,Food,1 Ecuador,"
Mrs. Digna works selling household items and clothing in a locale she set up in her home. In addition, in a different locale, she has set up a small general store which her daughter helps attend. Right now, Mrs. Digna tends to both businesses.
She needs the loan to buy a copy machine which will be very helpful because a new school has opened by her house, and thus there is a demand for this type of service.
She is 53 years old and has two children, one of whom is in school. Her house is made out of concrete, her husband contributes financially to the household, and her family is stable.
Translated from Spanish by Eliana Colunga and son, Kiva volunteers.
",F,400,lender,Retail,1 Ecuador,"
Mrs. Escobar has sold household gas for 4 years, a business she began thanks to the capital she acquired working as a domestic employee. Her eldest son helps her at the business and the business has grown thanks to her location because in the sector where she is, there are only two stores that sell domestic gas.
She wants to use her loan to invest in the purchase of more gas cylinders as lately the demand has increased and she does not have enough cylinders to satisfy the demands of her customers.
She is 35 years old and has two children. Her home is made of cement and her goal is to increase her sales in order to one day expand her store.
Translated from Spanish by Laura Westin, Kiva volunteer.
",F,400,lender,Retail,1 Ecuador,"
Mrs. Janeth is dedicated to the sale of items for the home by credit and for cash, she began this business when she arrived in the city five years ago. Her husband and children actually help her with her business.
She needs credit to buy more wholesale merchandise and, in this way, increase her profits.
She is 39 years old and has four children, all of whom study to have a cement house and her goal is to succeed in her business in order to help her husband in educating their children.
Translated from Spanish by Andrew, Princeton university Language project volunteer
",F,900,partner,Retail,0 Ecuador,"
Mrs. Lpez has a traveling clothing business in the provinces different populations, her husband helps her with the business and her principle clients are the bazaars of these areas to whom she delivers merchandise on credit, ultimately her sales have grown.
She wants to use her credit to buy merchandise and to be able to have a better stocked store, since ultimately she has various orders and because of a lack of capital she has not been able to attend to her clients in an efficient manner.
She is 38 years old and has 3 children, her house is made of reeds and her goal is to increase her sales in order to one day install her own home location and in this way be able to improve her familys income.
Translated from Spanish by Andrew, Princeton University Language Project volunteer.
",F,550,lender,Clothing,1 Ecuador,"
Mrs. Maria sells basic needs products in a locale she has fixed up in her own home. Right now she has managed to have many products and also sell legumes. She started this business with some savings she had from a previous job.
She needs the loan to buy more merchandise to be able to increase her clientele. Also, her sales increase during this season because of the new year.
She is 29 years old and has three grown children. Her house is made out of concrete and she has a stable family.
Translated from Spanish by Eliana Colunga, Kiva volunteer.
",F,1075,lender,Food,1 Ecuador,"
Mrs. Mariuxi has a general merchandise store which she started 3 years ago, thanks to a credit she got from a financial institution. Her father helps her in the business and each day her business grows because it is located in one of the most commercial areas of the city.
With the loan Mrs. Mariuxi wants to buy more merchandise and increase the variety of her products because they are in the cold season and her clients have several requests, she is always trying to give them the best attention in order to have one day a bigger and better business.
Mariuxi is 31 years old and has a 11 years old son, who studies in a near by center, her house is made of cement and she has always been focus on growing her business. p>
Translated from Spanish by N.D., Kiva Volunteer.
",F,950,lender,Retail,1 Ecuador,"
Mrs. Norma has a general store in a very good location in her area. She started this business four years ago with the aide of some savings. Currently, she not only sells these products, but also distributes rice to other stores in her area.
She needs the money to buy mroe merchandise so she can satisfy her clientele, which increases every day because of her excellent attention.
She is 37 years old and has two children, is building their house out of concrete, and her main goal is to have a well-established business.
Translated from Spanish by Eliana Colunga, Kiva volunteer.
",F,700,lender,Retail,1 Ecuador,"
Mrs. Reyes has a variety store and also works as a seamstress. She started her business one year ago, at present her sales have grown and her principal customers are the students of a school which is located near her store. She sells all kinds of school supplies and seasonal items.
She wants to use her loan to invest in merchandise and also buy a display case in order to be able to display her products.< /p>
She is 34 years old and has 3 children. Her home is made of cane and her goal is to increase her sales so that one day she can improve her house.
(Translated from the Spanish by Naomi Johnson, Kiva volunteer)",F,550,lender,Clothing,1 Ecuador,"
Mrs. Zavala has a store that she began 7 years ago. It is located on one of the main streets in the area, and because of this her sales have been increasing lately. Her eldest son and her cousin help her in the business, where she sells all sorts of essential products.
She wants to use her loan to buy merchandise, as she always strives to keep her customers happy.
She is 38 years old and has three children. Her home is made of cement and her goal is to increase her sales so that one day she can expand her store and her children can manage and making a living from it.
Translated from Spanish by Laura Westin, Kiva volunteer.
",F,675,lender,Food,1 Ecuador,"
ngel sells homemade food. He started this business a year ago; his wife and older son help him with it. Sales have gone up since his cart is located in a busy area.
ngel wants to add tents and tables to his business, to improve the service he provides to customers.
ngel is 38 years old, he has two kids. His home is made of bamboo poles. Hes decided to make the business grow, so he can help his wife to set a selling place at home.
Translated from Spanish by Marco Ramn, Kiva Volunteer.
",M,675,lender,Food,1 Ecuador,"
Sandra has a handicraft workshop that she began 14 years ago. She learned the trade from her father, and her husband helps her in the business. Her biggest clients are warehouses in other provinces, which she provides with a large number of products wholesale. She sells all types of products related to handicrafts made of resin, and recently her workshop has been visited by customers who like her art and her sales have increased.
She wants to use her loan to invest in the purchase of a compressor, as her sales have grown and the compressor that she has is insufficient for the great demand.
She is 32 years old and has three children. Her home is made of cement and her goal is to increase her sales and also increase her publicity to a national level. This individual works in the family trade passed down by the father to his two children, Luis and Sandra. While their pictures might look similar they are in different locations. They each have their own workshops in their homes and have different client groups. Because each workshop is in a different location and has its own business activities, MIFEX determined that loans could be made to each family member.
Translated from Spanish by Laura Westin, Kiva volunteer.
",F,1050,lender,Arts,1 Ecuador,"
The client works selling clothing door-to-door. At present she sells pants, shirts, caps, and various merchandise. She got started with $50 which a cousin lent to her and with neighbors who acquired the merchandise.
She will use the loan to buy merchandise wholesale and make repairs to her home.
She is 42 years old, she is separated, and she has three children. Her house is made of concrete and she has family stability.
(Translated from the Spanish by Naomi Johnson, Kiva volunteer)",F,850,lender,Clothing,1 Ecuador,"Vilma sells uniforms and books to students of a nearby school. The books are a result of her work and investigation and she buys the uniforms from a manufacture and she resells them to the students. She started the business as a request from the parents of the school.
Vilma needs the loan to buy more books requested by more schools of her area and because the sporting weeks are coming she will need more uniforms to sell.
Vilma is 42 years old and has 3 children who are all in school, her house is made of cement.
Translated from Spanish by N.D., Kiva Volunteer.
",F,825,partner,Retail,0 Ecuador,"
Mrs. Rosa owns a pharmacy that she started two years ago. She began her business with the capital obtained from her work as a pharmaceutical assistant in one of the pharmacies in downtown and then she opened her own location from home. Currently, her sales are increasing every day and her mother and sister are helping with her business. She sells everything related to medicine.
She wants to expand her business by buying more merchandise, since her customers are placing more orders every day and the location is perfect for selling.
She is 25, has three children of whom two are studying at nearby schools. Her house is made of cement and her goal is to expand her business location so she can offer a better service to her clientele.
Translated from Spanish by Gabriel Santamaria, Kiva Volunteer.
",F,550,lender,Health,1 Ecuador,"
Carlos has 15 years of experience in shoe making and repair. He started out as an apprentice and learned the trade until he decided to start his own business. His savings allowed him to buy the necessary equipment. He works every day of the week from 8:00 AM until 6:30 PM in a rented space near his home.
He will use the loan proceeds to purchase supplies to manufacture sandals and to perform maintenance on his equipment. He also plans to purchase a display fixture for the shoes.
Carlos is 29 years old, is married and has two children. His wife is a homemaker and helps with the business as time allows. Their home is made of reeds. He hopes to be able to improve their home and provide a better life for his family as his business expands.
Translated from Spanish by Rosario McFaull, Kiva Volunteer.
",M,400,partner,Retail,0 Ecuador,"
Don Rodrigo and his wife sell fruits and curative herbs in several local markets. They started this business two years ago when they moved here from their home town. While continuing to sell fruits and herbs, Don Rodrigo has started raising pigs, which he processes and sells to local markets and around his neighborhood.
Rodrigo needs this loan to make improvements to the facilities where he houses and processes his pigs, as this will allow him to increase production. Part of the loan will be used to secure a market stall where he can expand his fruit sales, as one of his daughters has expressed an interest in joining the family business and wants to run that part of it.
Rodrigo is 39 years old and has five children, two of whom attend school. His wife is very hard working and their goal is to finish building their home. They have already bought a plot where they plan to build a large corral to raise their pigs.
Translated from Spanish by Rosario McFaull, Kiva Volunteer.
",M,1075,lender,Food,1 Ecuador,"
Kelvin has two years of experience in this industry. He used to work delivering propane gas tanks and learned the business that way. Six months ago he decided to invest his savings in this business and acquired his own gas tanks. He currently runs a small shop from 6:30 AM to 11:00 PM; his shop is centrally located and he has many clients.
Kelvin needs this loan to invest in more gas tanks to meet the increased demand. This additional investment will allow him to greatly expand his business.
Kelvin is 20 years old, single and lives with his mother in his grandfather's house. Theirs is a humble and simple home. He's an only child and works very hard to help his mother, who is a single woman, get ahead. His mom has a job and also contributes to the family's expenses. They hope that with Kelvin's hard work and his growing business they will be able to make improvements to their home.
Translated from Spanish by Rosario McFaull, Kiva Volunteer.
",M,525,partner,Retail,0 Ecuador,"
Ana has a store in her home where she sells fish soup, more commonly known as ""encebollado"" (a popular Ecuadorian soup made of tuna, yuca, tomatoes and onions). Her daughter helps her in this business. She started this business 3 years ago from a mobile cart. Currently, she gets orders from various customers and provides door to door service. For this reason, her business has grown day by day.
She wants to use the loan to buy chairs and tables as well as adapt her store so she can provide better service to her customers.
She is 47 years old and has 2 children. She lives in a cement home. Her goal is to develop her business and have a better income for her family.
Translated from Spanish by Geraldine Kim, Kiva Volunteer.
",F,800,lender,Food,1 Ecuador,"Don Juan runs a small food and sundries store. He started this business with savings from a previous job. His wife helps him run the store, which has grown due to the high level of service they provide their customers.
Juan will use the loan to purchase additional merchandise at wholesale prices, because this will give him greater profits.
He is 59 years old, is married and has two children who are students; his house is made of cement. His main goal is to improve his business so that his family will prosper.
Translated from Spanish by Rosario McFaull, Kiva Volunteer.
",M,1075,lender,Food,1 Ecuador,"
Glenda has had five years of experience in the commerce business. She used to live in a different province and her sister had the initiative to start selling cosmetics. Her husband helped her with the capital. She moved to Guayaquil and set up a cosmetics and imitation jewelry shop. She's been doing really well with her business. She works every day of the week from 7 a.m. to 11 p.m. She has two people that help her with sales. She works and lives in the same place, which she is currently renting.
She would invest the credit on purchasing more cosmetics, imitation jewelry, jewelry and gifts. Demand for her product has augmented due to the quality of her services.
Glenda is married. She is 30 years old and has three children. Her children are currently living with Glenda's mother in a different province. She travels every 15 days to visit them and give them what they need. Her husband is a wood salesman. He travels often to deliver the material. Glenda's wish is to be able to save in order to purchase a terrain where she can build her own house and have hew own shop.
Translated from Spanish by Yael Schwartzman, Kiva Volunteer
",F,650,partner,Retail,0 Ecuador,"Jorge has 20 years experience selling clothes such as skirts, blouses and t-shirts. He was able to obtained some cash from some of his friends to be able to open up his own business. His products varied according to the seasons. His work hours are from 8:00 am to 6:00 pm. His wife helps him by selling fish throughout the week.
He will use the loan to purchase a variety of products to add to his merchandise. His products are in high demand and he has a lot of orders. He will also use the loan to purchase more fish so that his wife can sell from home.
Jorge is 47 years old. He's married and he has a baby. His house is made out of reed, and he lives near a creek. He hopes that his income will improve so that he can fix his house little by little. Most importantly to give him peace of mind.
Translated from Spanish by Carolina Zelaya-Kronlund, Kiva Volunteer.
",M,300,lender,Clothing,0 Ecuador,"
Luber and his wife have a store where they sell all types of basic goods. Also, they have finally incorporated stationery into their business as well. He started this business with some savings he had from his previous job in a yogurt factory.
He needs the loan to buy more merchandise because his inventory is low and he's had too many customers. His parents also passed away.
He is 45 years old and married. He has no children and he lives in a cement house with his wife. They have family stability.
Translated from Spanish by Geraldine Kim, Kiva Volunteer.
",M,825,lender,Food,1 Ecuador,"Maria sells groceries and other home staples. She has run this business from her home for the past six years. She has recently added paper products and sundries to her merchandise mix.
She needs this loan to buy more merchandise and to purchase store fixtures to display the additional merchandise, as she has run out of room. Her clientele has increased, requiring that she purchase more inventory.
Translated from Spanish by Rosario McFaull, Kiva Volunteer.
",F,700,lender,Food,1 Ecuador,"
Maria works hard to sell home articles and products from a mobile stand. She started this business, which was inspired by her cousin. Her daughter helps her as well.
She needs the loan to buy more merchandise for the coming Christmas festivities. She is certain that her sales will grow and thus increase her profits during this busy season.
She is 52 years old and has five children, of which four are students. Her husband helps her at home. They live in a cement house. Their plans are to grow their business to secure their family's future.
Translated from Spanish by Geraldine Kim, Kiva Volunteer.
",F,525,lender,Retail,1 Ecuador,"Mr. Garcs works hard to sell seafood like fish and prawns. On the weekends, he also sells pork. His wife helps him in this business. He started this work two years ago and as of now, his sales have grown since his store is located near the town plaza.
He wants to use the loan to buy more pork at wholesale prices as they are selling very well in his business and thus offer the best profitability.
He is 31 years old and has 3 children. He lives in a cane home. His goal is to increase his sales so he can build a cement house.
Translated from Spanish by Geraldine Kim, Kiva Volunteer.
",M,675,lender,Food,1 Ecuador,"Mr. Guaman sells garlic and lemons to small business. He also sells other produce, such as onions. He started this business ten years ago, and his two children him out.
Loan UseHe needs the loan in order to buy more goods and to be able to supply products to other businesses that have been referred to him by his frequent customers.
Mr. Guaman is 51 years old. He has two adult sons and lives in a cement house.
Translated from Spanish by Elizabeth Casian, Kiva Volunteer.
",M,1200,lender,Food,1 Ecuador,"
Mr. Segovia works hard to sell fast food like tortillas, coffee, and fish soup. He started this business one year ago. His wife helps him out. Their sales come from one of the well-known manufacturers that employ around 500 people. This is why their profits increase each day.
He wants to use the loan to buy more tables and chairs since his customers eat uncomfortably. His goal is to provide better service.
Translated from Spanish by Geraldine Kim, Kiva Translator.
",M,825,lender,Food,1 Ecuador,"Mrs. Rosa Suarez works selling food and basic necessities in a shop that she has established in her own home. Her adolescent children help her with the business. She began four years ago and has not stopped since. She is continually increasing her supply of products in order to keep her customers satisfied.
Rosa needs a loan in order to purchase more merchandise and also in order to develop a book store as part of her shop. Rosas business is located near two schools, and she has noticed that she could earn money by adding those types of products to her collection.
Rosa is 36 years old and has two school-aged children. Her home is made of cane. Rosa is separated from her husband, but she has a stable family situation.
Translated from Spanish by Debra Faszer-McMahon, Kiva Volunteer.
",F,850,lender,Food,1 Ecuador,"
Ms. Zambrano works hard to make sport suits and shirts. She started this business one year ago and her largest accounts come from schools in the area. Her sales and customer base have increased as of now.
She wants to invest in various fabric for the coming winter and Christmas season. She also wants to use the loan to adapt her studio for business purposes.
She is 32 years old and has 2 children. She lives in a cement home and her goal is to develop her business.
Translated from Spanish by Geraldine Kim, Kiva Volunteer.
",F,675,lender,Services,1 Ecuador,"Pascual works hard to sell seafood like fish and prawns. He started this business 12 years ago from a mobile cart. His wife helps him to tend to his customers. Currently, he has a stand in one of the markets in the area and his sales are growing.
He wants to use the loan to buy more seafood and adapt his store since the space is very small. He wishes to provide better service to his customers.
He is 39 years old and has 8 children - four of them are students. He lives in a cane home. His goal is to grow his business so that one day, he can have an improved living style and financial status.
Translated from Spanish by Geraldine Kim, Kiva Volunteer.
",M,675,lender,Food,1 Ecuador,"Sr. Chichande bakes and sells bread out of a small rented space which is located in a very busy area in his community. He also sells dairy products and sausages. His wife helps him run the business.
He needs the loan to purchase more merchandise that will compliment the products he already has. He would also like to purchase a different variety of products to gain more customers
He is 22 years old and he has a newborn baby girl. His house is made out of reed. He has the support of his family.
Translated from Spanish by Carolina Zelaya-Kronlund, Kiva Volunteer.
",M,675,lender,Food,1 Ecuador,"
Sra. Santa sells seafood such as fish which she purchases at wholesale price in a nearby fish market. Her children help her sell. She also sells sodas, juices and other types of fruit drinks that she sells from door to door.
She needs this loan to purchase more merchandise and this way increase her profit since she is thinking about opening up other side businesses.
She is 35 years old. She is married and has 3 children. Her house is made out of cement. Her main goal is to make her business more stable and to make sure that she's able to provide her kids with an education
Translated from Spanish by Carolina Zelaya-Kronlund, Kiva Volunteer.
",F,650,lender,Food,1 Ecuador,"
Aura has been in the sales business for 12 years. A friend of hers persuaded her to sell beauty products. It has gone very well for her, as she now has very loyal customers. Her products are of good quality and low cost. She also raises chickens in her home. She works every day of the week from 8am to 6pm.
Increase her profits by adding more diverse inventory, as well as to continue raising chickens for profit. She would also like to make room for the chickens she raises and make the space adequate for their growth.
Aura is married and has 4 children. Three of them are students and do very well in their studies. The eldest helps her with the sale of the chickens. Her husband works as a stonemason in local areas and seasonally he works as a merchant. Their small home is made of sugar cane and her goal is to be able to reconstruct her home out of cement, and security for the well being of her entire family.
Translated from Spanish by Kiva Volunteer Wendy Wise
",F,400,lender,Retail,1
Ecuador,"Business Description
Daysi started her business with her own savings, along with her husband, 9 years ago, and it is located in her home. She works every day of the week from 6 a.m. to 10 p.m. The products Daysi sells are rice, oil, meat, chicken, and various vegetables. She indicates to us that her business has helped her get ahead by improving her location, giving it more security. In the area where she lives, you have to be very careful.
Daysi indicates to us that with this loan she will buy more sacks of rice, boxes of oil, and soft drinks, and in this way meet the demand of her customers, which has increased. She indicates that greater investment means greater earning, and this will permit her to keep improving her home, which is already being remodeled.
Daysi has 3 children, 2 of whom are in school. Her home is made of concrete, but it is being improved. Daysi tells us that one difficulty in maintaining her business is other businesses in her area, and she knows that success means having her business well-stocked and providing good service. That's why she is requesting this capital, to continue offering her customers the variety of products they need.
(Translated from the Spanish by Naomi Johnson, Kiva volunteer)",F,650,partner,Food,0 Ecuador,"
Don Jorge runs a small shop selling gifts and other products. He started this business with savings obtained from his computer business. He sells gifts, clothing and school supplies. He serves customers from 6:30 AM until 10:00 PM seven days a week from a shop located in his home.
He will invest the proceeds of this loan in additional merchandise, mostly clothing, as this is in high demand by his customers. He currently does not have enough capital to invest in more inventory.
Jorge is married and has a four year old daughter who attends preschool. He lives in a modest cement home that his father-in-law partly deeded to him and his wife. Jorge's wife buys and sell clothing in a nearby market to help cover the family's expenses. They are a very close knit family and they work hard every day to give their daugher a better education and brighter future.
Translated from Spanish by Rosario McFaull, Kiva Volunteer.
",M,650,partner,Retail,0 Ecuador,"
Evelin has 3 years of work experience. Luckily, her mother, whom she met in another country, gave her $200 to start her own business. Together with her grandmother, she has been able to continue her business. Also, she travels to sell brand name cosmetics in one of the most reputable markets in the country. She works everyday of the week from 8AM to 9PM.
The loan will be used to invest in more inventory since the busy season is coming. In addition, she wishes to stock up for her cosmetics business.
Evelin is single and 20 years old. She lives with her brother and grandmother. She lives in a cement home. She wishes to be able to grow and expand her business to other parts of the city. She hopes to attain her dreams with the investment she makes.
Translated from Spanish by Geraldine Kim, Kiva Volunteer. ",F,650,partner,Retail,0 Ecuador,"Julia has 6 years of experience in this type of work. She used to work at the snack bar of a school, where little by little she was saving her money. Not being close to her children motivated her to start this business in her home. She attended classes at a bakery where she acquired the knowledge and she created her shop. She supplied her shop with other types of products, such as candy and now housewares and gifts. She works every day of the week from 6 a.m. until 9 p.m. Her children help her serve her customers and in making the bakery products.
The loan will be invested in the purchase of merchandise for her store. She will supply it with candy, housewares and gifts, and also with the ingredients for making her bread.
Julia is 43 years old and she is a single mother. She has 2 children who are already adults. One of them helps her look after the business, and the other works at a gas station as a gas pumper. Her house is made of cane. Thanks to her work, she has succeeded in giving her children education and nutrition. She hopes, with this investment, she will be able to continue improving the life of her family.
(Translated from the Spanish by Naomi Johnson, Kiva volunteer)",F,525,partner,Retail,0 Ecuador,"
Mercy travels around her neighborhood selling cosmetics and clothing. She has also begun to sell costume jewelry in order to increase sales.
She needs the loan to buy more merchandise so that she can increase revenue.
She is 55 years old and is currently separated. She has two children who help out at home. Their house is made of bamboo. Her family life is stable.
Translated from Spanish by Alison Rives, Kiva Volunteer.
",F,400,lender,Retail,1 Ecuador,"
Miss Isabel has owned a pharmacy for two years. She started this business thanks to a credit she got from a financial institution. Nowadays, her sales have grown considerably since she is located at a very commercial sector. Four months ago, the business had grown to the point that it was necessary to open a second pharmacy. Isabel's mother helps her at the pharmacy. Her biggest clients are the neighborhood's doctor's offices
Isabel wants to use this credit to purchase more merchandise and a display cabinet. She will use the display cabinet to better display her products and increase sales because she has new plans for her future.
Isabel is 20 years old and she is single. Her home is built out of cement and her goal is to extend her business. Currently, she is helping one of her brothers who has autism. Isabel always does her best to satisfy her clients. She wants to have a larger income so that she can share it with her family.
Translated from Spanish by Yael Schwartzman, Kiva Volunteer.
",F,900,partner,Health,0 Ecuador,"Mrs. Alexandra owns a bazaar and perfume business since 2 years ago, when she started her enterprise thanks to a credit granted by a local financial institution. Her husband helps with business and he sells products such as clothes, stationery, perfumes and all the items found in a bazaar. Lately, they have been receiving more shopping orders and thus their profits have increased.
She wants to invest her loan in buying merchandise, since her goal is always to satisfy her customers and in order to do this, she needs to offer a good variety of products at her store.
She is 31, has two children and lives in a house made of cane. Her goal is making her store grow.
Translated from Spanish by Gabriel Santamaria, Kiva Volunteer.
",F,550,lender,Retail,1 Ecuador,"
Mrs. Macas has a mini market located in a commercial district. She has been running this business out of her own home for seven years. Currently, she sells groceries, peels and sells garlic to other markets, and has reserved a section in her house to provide video games.
She needs the loan to purchase more goods so that she may satisfy her customers needs. She is also thinking about renovating her shop.
She is 37 years of age and became a widow 8 months ago. Her two daughters both study and help her with the housework. They live in a cement house.
Translated from Spanish by Elizabeth Casian, Kiva Volunteer.
Ms. Rosa works as a traveling saleswoman, offering clothes in distant towns and other provinces. She started this activity with some savings. Her husband, who works as a driver during the week, helps her with the business during weekends. She is presently selling not only clothes but other novelties as well.
She needs the loan in order to buy more merchandise and thus have enough products to satisfy her clients demand.
She is 30 years old and has three children who study. Her house is made of cane and her family is stable.
Translated from Spanish by Leticia Britos, Kiva Volunteer.
",F,1075,lender,Clothing,1 Ecuador,"
Neyda sells products to meet the basic needs of her customers. She has run this business for five years now with the help of her daughter. She also sells clothing to clients who hire her to clean their homes, which is another source of income for her family.
She needs the loan to finish equipping her store and to buy more merchandise to keep her customers satisfied.
Neyda is 45 years old and is currently separated. She has two children who are both students. Her house is made of different material and her family life is stable.
Translated from Spanish by Alison Rives, Kiva Volunteer.
",F,525,lender,Food,0 Ecuador,"
Silvia has 5 years of experience in this business. She opened up a 'boutique' with the help of her husband and with some savings. She works weekdays from 7:00 am until 9:00 pm. she also has another job in customer service. Her older daughter takes care of the store whenever Silvia has to run an errand. She sells various products such as gifts, toys, perfumes and stationery.
With this loan, she will purchase more merchandise and will do some renovations in her store.
Silvia is married and she has 3 children who all go to school. During their free time, they help her run the store. Her husband works in the transportation industry selling tickets. They are renting some rooms and are currently saving to buy a house.
Translated from Spanish by Carolina Zelaya-Kronlund, Kiva Volunteer.
",F,650,lender,Retail,1 Ecuador,"
Sra. Angela sells home products and cleaning supplies. Her children are also involve in the business.
She needs the loan to purchase more merchandise and to be able to increase her bottom line.
She is 41 years old and she has 5 children. She is married. Her house is made out of reed and cement. Her main goal is to make her business more profitable so that she can finish renovating her house.
Translated from Spanish by Carolina Zelaya-Kronlund, Kiva Volunteer.
",F,950,lender,Retail,1 Ecuador,"
Translated from Spanish by Debra Faszer-McMahon, Kiva Volunteer.
",F,550,lender,Retail,1 Ecuador,"
She needs the loan to equip her store. She plans to buy a copy machine for the students who attend the school across from the store.
Francisca is 32 years old. She has no family of her own and lives with her parents in a concrete house. She helps her parents and and has a stable family life.
Translated from Spanish by Alison Rives, Kiva Volunteer.
",F,825,lender,Retail,1 Ecuador,"
He is 36 years old and has four children, of which three are students. His wife helps him in his business. They live in a cement home although they still need to finish the construction. He aspires to progress his business soon, so they can finish building their home.
Translated from Spanish by Geraldine Kim, Kiva Volunteer.
",M,400,lender,Agriculture,1 Ecuador,"
Translated from Spanish by Lizella West, Kiva Volunteer.
",F,550,lender,Retail,1 Ecuador,"
Translated from Spanish by Debra Faszer-McMahon, Kiva Volunteer.
",F,550,lender,Retail,0 Ecuador,"
Translated from Spanish by Lizella West, Kiva volunteer.
",F,550,lender,Retail,1 Ecuador,"
Translated from Spanish by Lizella West, Kiva Volunteer.
",F,650,lender,Retail,1 Ecuador,"
Translated from Spanish by Geraldine Kim, Kiva Volunteer.
",M,1050,lender,Food,0 Ecuador,"
Translated from Spanish by Pax Bobrow, Kiva Volunteer.
",F,300,lender,Services,1 Ecuador,"
Translated from Spanish by Lizella West, Kiva volunteer.
",F,550,lender,Retail,1 Ecuador,"
Translated from Spanish by Lizella West, Kiva volunteer.
",F,925,lender,Food,1 Ecuador,"
Translated from Spanish by Lizella West, Kiva volunteer.
",F,825,lender,Food,1 Ecuador,"
Translated from Spanish by Lizella West, Kiva Volunteer.
",F,1200,lender,Retail,1 Ecuador,"
Translated from Spanish by Lizella West, Kiva volunteer.
",F,925,lender,Services,1 Ecuador,"
Ms. Blgica sells""basic needs"" groceries such as: noodles, rice, oils, beef, chicken, etc. She tends her store from 6am to 10pm. She has 15 years experience in her store. Ms. Blgica began her business with money her husband gave her for the groceries, which she managed to save from and began to purchase more merchandise. Ms. Blgica's store is run from her own home and she has plenty of experience.
Translated from Spanish by Kiva Volunteer, Kristin Connor.
",F,525,partner,Food,0 Ecuador,"
Carlos has been in the business of buying and selling lumber for about ten years. He started his business with the help of his father, who began teaching Carlos the business at a very young age. In time, Carlos began trying to become independent, and with the salary his father gave him, Carlos started to buy his own logs. He transports the logs from Esmeraldas and processes them into lumber in his home town of Guayaquil. He makes two trips each month to buy logs, which he saws and sells in Guayaquil.
Carlos wants to buy a new chainsaw, his most valuable tool. The one he has now doesn't work too well. It's time for a new one, considering that the useful life of a chainsaw is about one year.
Carlos is thirty-one. He is married and has a five-year-old girl who attends school. His wife teaches in a primary school, and she helps make ends meet. Right now, they don't live in their own home but rent an apartment. However, they bought a lot four years ago and are building their own home on it bit by bit. The couple hopes to expand the business with this loan, thereby improving their quality of life.
Translated from Spanish by Antonio P, Kiva Volunteer
",M,650,partner,Construction,0 Ecuador,"
Ms. Vicenta and her husband have a bakery where they sell all types of bread and dairy products. Her business is well-situated in a prime location close to a school. Currently, she is also selling all sorts of breakfast items and other grocery products.
She needs a loan because she has been thinking to buy merchandise at wholesale prices in order to have more competitive prices and good products for her clients. Also, there is a secondhand sale where she wishes to buy an oven at a good price and take advantage of this opportunity.
She is 33 years old and has two children. Her home is a mixed construction and has family stability. Her main goal is to be able to build her business for her childrens education and finish building her house.
Translated from Spanish by Geraldine Kim, Kiva volunteer.
",F,925,lender,Food,1 Ecuador,"
Perla started her business with a little bit of capital she had saved, the fruits of her work as a schoolteacher. Perla runs her business all by herself, so she offers high-quality work and she has gained the confidence of her customers.
With this loan, Perla wants to renovate her equipment and incorporate new products, in order to offer better service to her customers.
Perla is 52 years old and single. She lives with her sister, who is a single mother and has 2 children who are in school. One of the children, in his free time, works at a hardware store. Perla hopes to improve her business and her income, so she can continue helping support her family.
(Translated from the Spanish by Naomi Johnson, Kiva volunteer)",F,650,partner,Services,0 Ecuador,"
Mr. Uriarte began his business 8 months ago thanks to capital earned from sales in his job when he began selling fruit. As time has passed his business has grown remarkably and today he sells well balanced products such as whole grain foods and cereals, as well as chemical products. His wife assists him with their clients.
Mr. Uriarte has been married for a year and has no children. Their house is made of cane or reeds. Mr. Uriartes and his wife's goal is to expand their business. However, at the moment they do not have money to rely on and for that reason they are trusting in our loan so as to be able to further develop their trade.
Translated from Spanish by Rebecca Pendleton, Kiva Volunteer.
",M,850,lender,Food,1 Ecuador,"
Jaime is a farmer who has spent 15 years growing and harvesting rice for later sale. Currently, he has only 3 blocks for his crop, from which he hopes to get optimum production with the adequate supplies and capital.
He will invest his loan into the purchase agricultural products to fertilize his land for subsequent planting. Obtaining some capital is critical for the upcoming favorable winter crop season.
Jaime lives in an open arrangement with his partner, with whom he has two children ages 6 and 1 respectively. The precinct he lives in is some distance from Santa Lucia.
Translated from Spanish by Mary Lynn, Kiva Volunteer.
",M,1200,lender,Agriculture,1 Ecuador,"
Mr. Surez has a shop that he started ten years ago, where he is assisted by his older son. He has been able to grow his sales through his contacts with education departments and has been able to create agreements for several jobs for their classrooms. He does all type of work related to metal, locks, etc.
He wishes to use his loan to purchase raw materials given he does not have enough capital to complete the jobs for the educational departments. His goal is to serve as best as possible these types of customers as they involve large projects that last for a long time.
He is 51 years old, has a son and his home is made from cement. His goal is to grow his sales so one day his children can inherit and live off of the business.
Translated from Spanish by Mary Lynn, Kiva Volunteer.
",M,825,lender,Manufacturing,1 Ecuador,"
Mrs. Petra dedicates herself to selling poultry and beef as a street vendor. Her husband helps her with the business which has grown given their contact with the restaurants of the area. She started the business ten years ago and her customers are satisfied with her service.
She wants to invest her loan into the purchase of poultry at wholesale prices to obtain a greater profit margin on her sales. She also needs a cycle to be able to move around with her merchandise and, in this manner, better serve her customers.
She is 48 years old and has three children. Her house is made of cement and her goal is to grow her sales to one day be able to have a better income and improve her and her familys standard of living.
Translated from Spanish by Mary Lynn, Kiva Volunteer.
",F,675,lender,Food,1 Ecuador,"
Rigoberto is a farmer who has spent 20 years growing and harvesting rice for later sale. Currently, he has 4 blocks of land for planting, from which he hopes to obtain a production of at least 50 sacks per block.
He will invest his loan into the planting of his rice crop, preparing the land for the following harvest.
Rigoberto is 44 years old and has three children, one of whom is older and always helps with the harvest. His wife is a homemaker.
Translated from Spanish by Mary Lynn, Kiva Volunteer.
",M,1200,lender,Agriculture,1 Ecuador,"
Sebastin is in the rice business for twenty years now, owning four blocks in the Santa Lucia area where he grows his crops. The section where he is located is very fertile given its location and the water canals that facilitate this type of labor.
He will invest his loan into the purchase of agricultural products to ready the land for the winter harvest. If he has enough left, he would like to increase the number of pigs he owns.
He is 39 years old and has two small children. He has an open partnership. His partner/wife does not work, and cares for the family's domestic needs.
Translated from Spanish by Mary Lynn, Kiva Volunteer.
",M,1200,lender,Agriculture,1 Ecuador,"
Angela dedicates herself to the sale of perfumes and cosmetics through a business she started two years ago. Currently, she manages a group of 18 women who help her with sales. The majority of her clients work in various businesses in her area, and her sales grow daily seeing as her marketing effort also includes door-to-door sales.
She would like to invest in additional merchandise, as she has various requests from customers but not enough working capital to fulfill their orders.
She is 48 years old and has three daughters, one a student that helps her with the business. Her house is made of cane and her goal is to increase her sales.
Translated from Spanish by Mary Lynn, Kiva Volunteer.
",F,825,lender,Retail,1 Ecuador,"
Angela has a bakery very well-located in her own home. She began her business ten years ago with some savings. In addition to her bakery, Angela rents A/V equipment for childrens parties and other events with the help of her son.
She needs a loan to purchase more raw goods (flour, etc.) and other seasonal products for the holidays.
She is 38 years old, is separated, and has four children who are students. She lives in a cement house, and her family situation is stable.
Translated from Spanish by Mary Lynn, Kiva Volunteer.
",F,1200,lender,Food,1 Ecuador,"
Clarisas business involves the sale of a variety of household goods such as sheet sets, pots and pans, silverware, quilts, blenders, etc. She travels throughout the Isla sector offering her products, where she is known for augmenting her earnings through her business to sustain her home. She works every day of the week.
Clarisa asks for a loan to purchase additional merchandise, specifically those which bring a good profit and are in high demand. She also wants to increase her inventory to offer her customers a greater variety of products.
Clarisa is 25 years old and has a 6-year old child. Her husband works at a garage. He tells us he would like to have your support with his wifes request for a loan, as the additional income she can generate greatly helps the family. Clarisas desire is to grown her business to generate enough income so that they could save money to buy their own lot and build a house.
Translated from Spanish by Mary Lynn, Kiva Volunteer.
",F,650,lender,Retail,0 Ecuador,"
Erguin is a farmer who has dedicated himself to rice production for the past 15 years in the Santa Lucia region. In addition, he owns several heads of cattle and a few pigs.
He will invest his loan into the planting of rice, to increase the number of pigs he owns, and to take care of the livestock.
He is 32 years old and has two small children, the oldest of whom studies at the local school. He lives with a partner who dedicates herself to homemaking tasks and taking care of the children, eventually helping with the rice harvest.
Translated from Spanish by Mary Lynn, Kiva Volunteer.
",M,1200,lender,Agriculture,1 Ecuador,"
For the last 5 years, Jose has engaged himself to selling plastic houseware goods such as: garbage bins, containers, bowls, etc. One year ago he also started selling disinfectants and bleach. He started out his own business because, since he was a teenager, he helped his father at work and he grew fond of it. Shortly after, he began to build his own clientele. His father pitched in the initial capital he needed to go on his own. His business has been growing gradually ever since. He works everyday from 8:00 am until 4:00 pm. He delivers his merchandise to a well-populated area in Guayaquil, known as Guasmo, where he is well known by his customers. He has his sister's assistance to run his business.
Jose wishes to obtain the credit so that he can increase his buying budget. The demand for disinfectants has grown and he needs to stock up enough merchandise to better serve his customers.
Translated from Spanish by Bertolt Cantalice, Kiva Volunteer",M,650,partner,Retail,0
Ecuador,"Business Description
Francisco, together with his wife, sells vegetables from a popular city market. His most popular-selling products, lemons and peppers, have become a specialty of his over the past few years.
He would like a loan to purchase additional product as his sales will increase in the coming months, therefore he would like to have more product to promote.
He is 34 years old, is married with two children, and lives in a cement house. His family and economic lives are stable, and his main goal is to operate his business from the house so his wife can spend more time at home.
Translated from Spanish by Mary Lynn, Kiva Volunteer.
",M,1200,lender,Food,1 Ecuador,"
Germania has four years of experience with her business activity. She worked in food production where she, little by little, acquired the experienced which served to help her start her own enterprise. With the help of her husband, she purchased an industrial kitchen and supplies with which to begin. She works every day of the week, from 8 am to 3 pm. In addition, she sells sodas, juices and ice cream. She has a good customer base thanks to the service she offers.
She would use her loan to buy additional sodas, juices and other foodstuffs/drinks. In addition, to purchase other supplies and kitchen utensils.
Germania is married and is 36 years old. She has 5 children who are students, the older ones helping her with her business. Her husband works as a cook in a city business and, in his free time, he also helps her with her activities. Her house is made of cement.
Translated from Spanish by Mary Lynn, Kiva Volunteer.
",F,525,lender,Food,1 Ecuador,"
Jacinta Marisol (""Marisol"" is her nickname) has a store, which she started four years ago, where she sells a wide variety of basic necessities. She is helped by her husband, and her sales have grown since her store is one of only five primary stores in the area.
She would like to use her loan to invest in other merchandise and a freezer. She hopes to stock her store in such a way that she can satisfy the needs of all her customers.
She is 30 years old and has four children. Her home is made of mixed materials, and her goal is to continue its construction to help improve the well-being of her family.
Translated from Spanish by Mary Lynn, Kiva Volunteer.
",F,1050,lender,Food,1 Ecuador,"
Maria has two years of experience with her activity of fast food sales. She had a store, but due to her childs illness she had to close it. Now, with a $50 loan, she started her business. Her children were her main motivation for her desire to get ahead. She works selling chicken wings, corn, chicken skewers outside in a commercial center of the city. She works from 5 pm to 10 pm. In addition, her children help by selling soda. In this manner, they are helping with their living expenses.
The loan would be invested in the purchase of sodas, juices, candies. She would like to re-open her store, for which she has the space but needs working capital.
Maria is a single mother. She is 32 years old and has three children who are students and help her with her customers. Her house is made of cement, which she was able to complete with the help of her children. She hopes to be able to improve her earnings to give them more security and stability.
Translated from Spanish by Mary Lynn, Kiva Volunteer.
",F,525,lender,Food,1 Ecuador,"
Mariela has had a school for ten years, where she teaches children with the help of other colleagues. In addition, she sells uniforms and books for the childrens' educations.
She needs a loan to rebuild two classrooms that are in a state of disrepair as a result of being built from sub-standard construction materials.
She is 28 years old and has one daughter. Her house is made of cement, and her family situation is stable.
Translated from Spanish by Mary Lynn, Kiva Volunteer.
",F,1200,lender,Services,1 Ecuador,"
Mrs. Florencia has dedicated herself to the sale of home products such as: pans, sheets, clothing, etc. She also sells candy to public buses' passengers. She began to work because the number members in her family grew and her husband's income alone was not enough to support them. With a small amount of cash given by her husband she started to buy and sell candies. She, then, invested the profit in the purchase of clothing and other goods and, after that, slowly her business started to grow. She works from Mondays through Saturdays, from 7:30am to 6:00pm.
Mrs. Florencia wishes to receive this credit because she does not have enough money to purchase merchandise. She had a friend that would lend her money at a very high interest rate. Now, she wants to receive this credit so that she can move forward and satisfy her customer's demands, and, more importantly, be able to sell her products at a lower price so she can attract more customers.
Mrs. Florencia is 43 years old. She is married and has 5 young children. Her husband works with construction and uses his income to cover the family's expenses. Their home is made of brick and straw, the floor is made out of dirt. She wishes to expand her business with the credit and, with the profit, slowly build a well-constructed house. Above all, she would be able to provide a better future for her children.
Translated from Spanish by Bertolt Cantalice, Kiva Volunteer",F,525,partner,Retail,0
Ecuador,"Business Description
Mrs. Ketty sells novelty products from a space in her home that she has designated for this use. She also sells other basic goods, and is helped by her husband who also is a cab driver.
She needs a loan to purchase additional merchandise, and also a copy machine which has been in demand by her clients.
She is 28 years old, and has two children who are students. She has a cement house and a stable home environment.
Translated from Spanish by Mary Lynn, Kiva Volunteer.
",F,1200,lender,Retail,1 Ecuador,"
Roberto and his wife dedicate themselves to creating and selling clothes that they have made. They deliver these goods to another region of the country (the equatorial Amazon). They started this business with the motivation of one son.
They are asking for a loan to purchase more raw materials as well as an Overlook sewing machine to better help them meet the demand for their products.
She is 43 years old, has two married children, and lives in a cement house. Her main goal is to grow the business and open a clothing store.
Translated from Spanish by Mary Lynn, Kiva Volunteer.
",M,950,lender,Clothing,1 Ecuador,"
Sergios enterprise entails the sales of a variety of general merchandise such as sandals, suitcases, backpacks, belts, etc. He conducts his business every day from 7 am to 5 pm. He has 27 years of experience, and five years running his own business.
Sergio asks for a loan to buy new and varied seasonal goods to offer to his clients. With the approach of the holiday season and New Years, his sales grow and he has an opportunity to attract new customers.
Sergio is 46 years old. He is married and has five children, three of whom live next to him. His experience with commerce motivated him to start his own business five years ago. His home is made of cane and wood, and he aspires to build his house from cement with a space in which to install his business. This way, he can avoid having to transport himself to the market where he currently attends to his clients.
Translated from Spanish by Mary Lynn, Kiva Volunteer.
",M,650,lender,Retail,1 Ecuador,"
The client dedicates herself to the sale of basic necessities from a location in her home. She started her business with the support of her brothers.
She needs a loan with which to buy additional goods/products to satisfy customer demand.
She is 45 years old, and has two children who help with the business. Her house is made of cement, and her goal is to improve her familys standard of living.
Translated from Spanish by Mary Lynn, Kiva Volunteer.
",F,425,lender,Food,1 Ecuador,"
This client focuses on selling lunches which are delivered to various institutions. In the afternoons he also sells roast chickens from his home. He is currently delivering lunches to a market close to his business.
Bartolome will use the loan to renovate an area in his house in order that he can establish a diner in his own house: this includes the purchase of chairs and tables to expand his business.
Bartolome is thirty years old and has a son who is studying. His house is made of cement. His principle aim is to improve and expand his business in order to secure his sons education.
Translated from Spanish by Katy Long, Kiva Volunteer
",M,1200,lender,Food,1 Ecuador,"
Zoila has been selling perfumes for the past three years. She started her business with a business loan from a financial institution. She sells her products to clients such as teachers and professors and her business has lately grown significantly.
Zoila wants to invest the proceeds of the loan in additional inventory to help her meet demand.
Zoila is 37 years old and has two children who attend local schools. Her home is made of reeds and her goal is to expand her business and one day have her own perfume shop.
Translated from Spanish by Rosario McFaull, Kiva Volunteer.
",F,825,lender,Retail,1 Ecuador,"
Translated from Spanish by Kim Baker, Kiva volunteer.
",F,675,lender,Retail,1 Ecuador,"
Edith has 5 years of experience with her work. She used to maintain a store, which she had to close because of the death of her husband 5 years ago. This motivated her to become strong and achieve going forward with her business. She started with the sale of food. She works every day of the week on a schedule of 8 a.m. until 7 p.m. Currently she delivers food in the center of the city and to known areas. Her son helps her with the services of the business.
The credit will be invested in the purchase of chairs and tables for her business in the home, besides the purchase of wholesale supplies, which will give her discounts in her purchases.
Edith is a widow. She has one son, who studies. Her little house is made of cement. Her wish is to return to take up again her store business and hopes that with the investment she will achieve this goal little by little.
Translated from Spanish by Kate Huddleston, Princeton University Language Project volunteer.
",F,525,partner,Food,0 Ecuador,"
Erika has 2 years of experience with her work. Through a friend she got an incentive to work with these products. She attracted clients, which made her business go on increasing. The quality of the products is very good. Consequently people search for her. Besides she also sells clays from her products in the mornings. She works on a schedule of 7 a.m. until 2 p.m. Currently she rents the premises where she has the business.
She will invest the credit in the purchase of natural products. Her wish is to be able to open another location. This will be attended to by a relative. The product that she sells has good success in the market.
Erika is 31 years old. She is married. She has 3 children that study. Her little house is made of cement. Her husband has a small car, which he uses to carry freight. He also is a seller of assorted merchandise.
Translated from Spanish by Kate Huddleston, Princeton University Language Project volunteer.
",F,650,partner,Health,0 Ecuador,"
Julio has 8 years of experience in this field. He began working for his father and brother where he was able to acquire the necessary skills. Little by little from his work he began to make a profit. With this he began to buy his tools. He decided to open his own business on a separate site, which is currently rented. His brother helps to serve his clients. He works everyday of the week from 6:30 in the morning until 7 at night. Hi business is based in a place where there is good demand for his service.
He will use the loan to buy mercandise for his business. He is thinking of buying a compressor, in order to improve the level of service offered. He also has orders for bicycles, and he hopes he will be able to satisfy this demand with the investment he will be able to make using the loan.
Julio is married. He has two children: of these, one is already studying. His wife works from home as a seamstress. In this way she generated anoterh income for the home. A short time ago he took out a loan with which he bought a second-hand truck: he uses this to make chartered journeys. And when he has the time, he also spends time selling fruit from his car. He hopes to increase his income in order to give his family a better life.
Translated from Spanish by Katy Long, Kiva Volunteer
",M,525,partner,Services,0 Ecuador,"
Mrs. Esperanza started her business four years ago with capital she obtained from a financial lender. Her mother helps her run a store that lately has seen an increase in sales due to its privileged location in a commercial zone. They sell different kinds of essential goods: anything from baby's bibs to beverages.
She wants to invest the loan amount to purchase more merchandise since she has seen the number of orders climb everyday and her goal is to keep her customers satisfied.
Translated from Spanish by Bertolt Cantalice, Kiva Volunteer",F,950,lender,Food,1
Ecuador,"Business Description
Ms. Luz has 2 years of experience in this activity. She started her business with her own capital, selling bijouterie, such as earrings and bracelets, as well as lipsticks, eye shadows and perfumes. Ms. Luz works every day of the week, administrating her business from home, with the help of her daughter.
Translated from Spanish by Leticia Britos, Kiva Volunteer.
",F,650,partner,Retail,0 Ecuador,"
Narcisa has four years experience with her business. When she was young, she began working at home where she was saving money. With this effort, she was able to buy a refrigerator and shelves, and by her own initiative, she began her little shop. The business has gone very well for her. She works every day of the week from 6 a.m. until 11 p.m.
She will invest the loan to boost her business with another line of products. Some of the products include: milk, games, candies, and cleaning products.
Narcisa is a single mother. She has two children that are studying. Narcisa is 31 years old. Her older son helps her by attending to the clients when she is on vacation. Her main desire is to attain security for her business and finish constructing her little cement home.
Translated from Spanish by Jay Osborne, Kiva volunteer
",F,425,partner,Food,0 Ecuador,"
Reina sells clothing and shoes, both from her home and as a traveling salesperson. She has been self employed for 25 years. She services her customers seven days a week, from 7 AM to 6 PM, leaving her home early in the morning to travel to adjacent areas.
Reina is requesting this loan to purchase additional clothing and shoes, as these are the basis of her business. Having additional inventory will allow her to provide more choices to her clients, which will translate into more income. She needs to increase her inventory in order to meet an increased demand for her goods, a reflection of her hard work.
Our friend Reina is 55 years old and currently lives with her brother and sister-in-law, who support her in her business endeavors and have agreed to let her live with them. Reina states that her hard work has paid off because she's among family. She helps with home expenses as best she can. Her hope is to be able to increase her inventory to better serve her clients and, as a result, increase her income. This, in turn, will allow her to help her brother replace their home's dirt floor.
Translated from Spanish by Rosario McFaull, Kiva Volunteer.
",F,650,partner,Clothing,0 Ecuador,"
Rosas business is located in her home. She sells all types of provisions from the coast and the mountains: rice, sugar, meat, chicken, vegetables and more. She attends to clients from 6:00 a.m. to 10:00 p.m. every day of the week.
Rosa is requesting a loan to purchase more merchandise. Sales have increased and she wants keep up with customer demand. Rosas sales are up because of the good service she provides to her clients and the variety of products she offers.
Rosa is 34 years old. She has two daughters who are in school. Rosa is a single mother whose husband abandoned her six years ago. Since that time her business is their only source of income. Her house is of mixed construction with a dirt floor. Rosas desire is to see her business continue to grow and to be able to continue the construction of and improvements to her home, little by little, so that she can provide greater security to her family and her business.
Translated from Spanish by Ann Kenney Molloy, Kiva volunterr
",F,650,partner,Food,0 Ecuador,"Seor Robi has a restaurant which he opened about 4 years ago. He has hired a waitress to help him with his clients. His restaurant was small at first, but now his restaurant is expanding as well as his clientele.
He would like to purchase main and basic ingredients such as rice and sugar. He would also like to purchase more chairs and tables to make sure his clients are happy and satisfy since his main goal is to make sure that he provides the best customer service to his clients.
Robi is 36 years old and he is single. He has a 12 year old boy whom he adopted 2 years ago. His house is made out of reed and his goal is to one day build a bigger restaurant.
Translated from Spanish by Carolina Zelaya-Kronlund, Kiva Volunteer.
",M,700,lender,Food,1 Ecuador,"
Seora Nancy started her business about 3 years ago with some money that her husband received selling ice-cream throughout the city. She has a mini-mart where she sells basic food supplies. Her husband helps her to run the business which is notably growing.
She would like to purchase more merchandise to stock up her store because she wants to make sure her clients are satisfied since her store is one of the 3 best stores in town.
She is 33 years old and she has 4 children. Three of the children are in school. She lives in a house made out of reed. Her goal is to keep her business growing so that she and her family can move ahead!
Translated from Spanish by Carolina Zelaya-Kronlund, Kiva Volunteer.
",F,825,partner,Food,0 Ecuador,"
When she was young, Carmen began selling food with her mother. She enjoys the business because this was her dream. Little by little, with her savings she decided to buy a cart and begin working on her own. Her mother helped her a lot in the beginning. She could fit on the side of her home a spot for her cart. She worked only on weekends from 4 p.m. until 11 p.m. On the other days, she worked as a guard for a business looking after a health center.
Her desire is to be able to buy food products so that she may offer better service to her clients. Also, she is going to change some reeds on her restaurant walls that are damaged.
Carmen is a single mother. She is 29 years old and has a son who is 13 years old. She only wants to be able to give her son an education. Her mother is the person that helps her in the preparation of the food. Her desire is to be able to begin constructing a little cement home and give a better life to her son.
Translated from Spanish by Jay Osborne, Kiva volunteer
",F,425,partner,Food,0 Ecuador,"
Gilberto has 5 years of experience owning his own business. Since he was young he has enjoyed working. He began by selling seafood with the help of a friend. Together with his daughter he rents a sapce where they began selling foods. They work Monday through Saturday from 8 a.m. until 7 p.m, and his energy helps him keep his business going. The business is locatied in the commercial sector where there is high demand, and people come looking for them because of the great flavors his daughter is able to cook up.
This loan is being requested so that Gilberto can make improvements to his business space. He plans to purchase a door and a small piece of glass window where he hopes to sell ceviches and empanadas. He is also hoping to install an air conditioner is the eating area of his restaurant, in order to improve the service he provides to his clients.
Gilberto is 48 years old and has 3 children. The youngest is is school, and the other 2 are working. His daughter works with him, and is also studying at the university. She wants to be an architect. Gilberto has been seperated from his wife for 2 years. He is an example for his children, of whom he is very proud. In his house he has been able to contruct a space to run his business. He also hopes to sell during the weekends, and he wishes for help to realize his dreams.
Translated from Spanish by a Kiva Volunteer
",M,650,partner,Food,0 Ecuador,"
Mr. Marcos Gmez first went into business about ten years ago with a simple food stand. He sells encebollados (a stew made with yuca and tuna) and other dishes. His wife and daughter help run the business. He has built up a good clientele, and today he has two business locations.
He would use the loan to buy supplies, tables, and chairs for his business. Now that his clientele is growing, there isn't enough room to serve his clients well.
Mr. Gmez is fifty-four. He has four children. One daughter is in school. He lives in a cane house, and his goal is to own a large business that his children will someday run.
Translated from Spanish by Antonio P, Kiva Volunteer",M,675,partner,Food,0 Ecuador,"
The client has a bakery in a commercial area of his neighborhood. He has two years experience at this and sales have grown over that time. He's very pleased that he can meet his customers' needs. He sells bread and everything related to ""dulceria"" (a traditional sweetbread).
He needs a loan to buy display cases so that he can better show off his products and an oven so that he can increase production.
He is 41 years old, married and the father of 2 children. His house is made of cement. He's financially stable and his goal is to grow his business.
Translated from Spanish by Jere Wiseman, Kiva Volunteer.
",M,1075,lender,Food,1 Ecuador,"
Agripina started her business using a little money she had been able to save, and she dedicated herself to the sale of fast food and fruit. On the weekends her daughters help her attend to the business. She has been able to maintain her clientele thanks to the high quality of the products she offers.
Agripina wants this loan to buy accessories and improve her location, in order to offer better service to her customers.
Agripina is 50 years old, and her husband is a clothing vendor. They have 4 daughters who live on their own. Her home is of mixed construction (part concrete, part cane). She only completed the first grade in school, so she has not been able to have the best work opportunites. That's why she started her own business. Due to insufficient capital, she has not been able to make these improvements in her location.
(Translated from the Spanish by Naomi Johnson, Kiva volunteer)",F,525,partner,Food,0 Ecuador,"
Amelia runs an eatery where she sells lunches and snacks. She started the business four years ago, and she has one of her sisters help attending to her clients. Her sales have grown given the fact that she is located in one of the main streets of the area.
She would like to use part of the funds to buy additional food products such as rice and sugar. She would use the other part of the loan to buy tables and chairs, which would help her provide better accommodations for her customers.
She is 48 years of age, single and her house is made of cane. Her goal is to expand her business to be able to generate more income for her family, as she helps her nieces and nephews with their educations.
Translated from Spanish by Mary Lynn, Kiva Volunteer.
",F,675,lender,Food,1 Ecuador,"
Ana started her business a year ago. The products she offers are: perfumes, cosmetics and chickens. She pays personal attention to her clients every day between 8 a.m. and 9 p.m.
Ana needs a loan to purchase new fragrances, make ups and materials to fix up her store. From this, she'll be able to offer a fresh look and a variety of products to her clients.
Ana is 46 years old. She has a young son who is in school. Her husband works at an auto repair shop. She started her business with a small amount of capital and works out of her home. She needs the loan to be able to set up her store better and offer her clients a better service.
Translated from Spanish by Marty Greenstein, Kiva Volunteer
",F,400,partner,Retail,0 Ecuador,"
Carlos has a blacksmith shop that he started eight years ago with help from his parents. He sells are kinds of products like windows and iron doors, which are quite popular due to the common feeling of insecurity.
Carlos plans to use the loan to invest in his business by purchasing iron to make doors and windows, and for installation. This will help him have pre-made products instead of having to wait for the clients to order and pay him to buy the materials.
Carlos is 32 years old, married, and has a child in school. His primary goal is to continue growing his business to ensure his son's education.
Translated from Spanish by Marty Greenstein, Kiva Volunteer
",M,1075,lender,Manufacturing,1 Ecuador,"
Carmen began her business four years ago. She sells children's clothing such as pants, blouses, costume jewelry, matched sets and underclothes. She offers her clients personalized service and attention, every day from 9 until 6.
Carmen needs a second loan to continue investing in merchandise. In her line of work the most important thing to have is a variety of items that are appropriate for the time of year. As the beach season reaches its height, she wants to have warm weather clothing available.
Carmen is 20 years old and has one child in school. Her husband works outside the city as a crab fisherman. Carmen started her business with a small loan. She makes her sales travelling around to areas close to her small wooden house. She hopes to improve and grow her business so that she can help improve her home and better help her parents as well.
",F,700,lender,Retail,1 Ecuador,"Catalina sells lunches and snacks from a space in her home. She has a friend who helps out with the business. She also has set up a small bazaar where she sells notions and gifts for all occasions.
She needs this loan to expand the area where she serves her customers, as their numbers have increased and she has quickly run out of room. She will also need to buy more tables and chairs.
Catalina is 27 years old and has 3 children. Her two youngest are in school and her oldest daughter helps her with the business. They live in a home constructed of cement. Catalina's goal is to continue to expand her business.
Translated from Spanish by Rosario McFaull, Kiva Volunteer.
",F,925,lender,Food,1 Ecuador,"
Cecilia runs a business selling products for the home, fragrances, costume jewelry and cosmetics. She started her business 2 years ago. Previously she sold cheese wholesale to businesses in her area. She receives customers at her home from 8 AM to 8 PM seven days a week and also makes sales calls both inside and outside her area. Her catalog sales format, along with her lay-away weekly payment plans, have resulted in even more customers.
Translated from Spanish by Rosario McFaull, Kiva Volunteer.
",F,650,partner,Retail,0 Ecuador,"
Don Carlos has an eight-year experience in hardware store sales. He started his business with the capital he built with the sales of women sandals, as he also fabricates shoes. In this way, he installed a hardware store, where he sells paint, cables, paint brushes, solvents and other various products. His business is located at home and tended by him from Mondays to Saturdays, from 7am to 10pm, and on Sundays from 10am to 5pm.
Don Carlos is requesting the loan exclusively in order to purchase paint, as this has been the product in greatest demand by his clients in the past three months and, being out of stock, he hasnt been able to meet those demands.
Carlos is 29 years old, married and father of two children, one of them of school age. His wife helps him with the business. He also manufactures women shoes, which generates an additional income. They currently rent a house, where theyve lived for the past eight years. His dream is to buy their own house with the earnings yielded by this business. They both work hard to achieve new goals and give a better future to their children.
Translated from Spanish by Leticia Britos, Kiva Volunteer.
",M,1075,lender,Retail,1 Ecuador,"
Don Eusebio runs a food market from his home that was established 6 years ago. Currently, he sells food products but has also begun expanding the variety of products he offers at the request of his customers such as gas containers for domestic (In many areas of the globe, gas is not piped into the home for cooking and heating use.)
He needs this loan to purchase additional merchandise and to purchase a copier. There is a demand for copier service in his neighborhood and no other neighborhood business offers this service.
He is 40 years old and has two school-aged children. His home is made of sugar cane stalks and his has a stable family life. His principal goal is to have a successful business allowing him to increase his familys standard of living
Translated from Spanish by Christian Garcia, Kiva volunteer.
",M,1075,lender,Food,1 Ecuador,"
Don Jairo is dedicated to blacksmithing and vehicle repairs. He opened his shop two years ago, where, in addition to manufacturing window bars, he also does bicycle repair jobs.
He needs the loan to buy more materials, in order to have doors and bars ready for sale when clients come in. He also intends to refurbish his shop to have more space.
He is 28 years old and has one child, not yet of school age. His house is made of cement and he has family stability. His main goal is to make progress with his business, in order to ensure his child's education.
Translated from Spanish by Leticia Britos, Kiva Volunteer.
",M,300,lender,Manufacturing,1 Ecuador,"
Don Segundo sells produce, wholesale and retail, in one of the principal markets in the area. Over that time, his sales have grown thanks to an established customer base.
He will use the loan to buy new lines of produce because his customers have asked for things that he doesn't now stock.
He's 43 years old and single. His house is made of cement. His parents help him with the business and his goal is to increase his sales because he wants to improve his house.
Translated from Spanish by Jere Wiseman, Kiva Volunteer.
",M,675,lender,Food,1 Ecuador,"
Edy has had an audio and video workshop since he was 12. He started his business by going from door to door and offering his services in various parts of the city. He focuses on the reparation and maintenance of domestic products. Nowadays, his development is evident as he already has a shop in his home as well as an employee. His potential clients are from the community he lives in as well as offering his services to numerous businesses and institutions in Guayaquil.
He would like to use part of his loan to buy replacement parts he needs on a daily basis so that he can build up a stock as well as adapt his shop so that he can pay more attention to his clients.
He is 34 years old and lives in a cement house with his three kids. His wife helps him deal with the clients. His goal is to grow in the locality so that he can can have a bigger income and thus progress with his family.
Translated from Spanish by Alex Galimberti, Princeton University Language Project
",M,525,partner,Services,0 Ecuador,"
Felicita sells Yanbal brand cosmetic products. This is her second loan application with Kiva and Mifex. Prior to receiving her first loan, Felicita was selling lunches to local construction workers. She had to give up this business due to health issues, but with her savings and the help from the first loan she was able to purchase a truck for her husband. Now, he uses his truck as a bus to transport local workers to their jobs.
Felicita hopes to use this second loan to continue investing in more merchandise. This is by far the best business strategy because having a diverse line of products on hand makes selling much easier. She also hopes to open a small store in her home so she can travel less.
She is in her late 30s and has four children. Some parts of her home are made out of cement while others are made out of unstable cane material. Her husbands new line of work helps with the family income. They are both very upbeat about the future.
Previous profile: http://www.kiva.org/app.php?page=businesses&action=about&id=14510",F,1075,lender,Retail,1 Ecuador,"For the last 5 years, Jose has had his own business selling plastic houseware goods such as garbage bins, containers, bowls, etc. One year ago he also started selling disinfectants and bleach. He began his own business because, since he was a teenager, he helped his father at work and he grew fond of it. Shortly afterward, he began to build his own clientele. His father pitched in the initial capital he needed to go on his own. His business has been growing gradually ever since. He works everyday from 8:00 am until 4:00 pm. He delivers his merchandise to a well-populated area in Guayaquil, known as Guasmo, where he is well known by his customers. His sister helps him run his business.
Jose wishes to obtain a second loan from Kiva and Mifex. The demand for disinfectants has grown and he needs to stock up enough merchandise to better serve his customers. He will also continue to invest in plastics.
Jose is 25 years old, single, and lives with his parents. He also helps with his family's expenses. He wishes to use this credit to expand his venture and to become a solid source of support for his family, particularly his parents.
",M,1200,lender,Retail,1 Ecuador,"Iliana has sold chickens and clothes for one year. She buys chickens on foot from different aviaries in the town in order to later sell them in local shops. She also sells childrens clothes, blouses etc. She began the business using a little money which her husband gave her from the salary he earns. She works at her business every day from 7am to 5pm.
Iliana wants a loan in order to buy clothes: she already has orders from clients and as a result wishes to invest in this line and satisfy the demand of the customers she already has.
Iliana is 22 years old: she is married and has two young children, one of whom is in school. Her husband works as a messenger in a business where he receives a monthly income that allows him to meet their household bills: he is excellent source of support for his wife. They currently live in her fathers house, who gave her part of the house as an inheritance. She hopes to expand her business so that in time with the income they will be able to build their house little by little and secure a better future for their children.
Translated from Spanish by Katy Long, Kiva Volunteer
",F,400,partner,Food,0 Ecuador,"
Isidro is dedicated to selling pork and seafood. He started his business 12 years ago. His potential clients are distributors who take the meat to the local shops to be sold. His wife helps him with the business and his sales have increased lately.
Isidro needs the loan to purchase live pigs from the countryside, which will in turn help him raise some himself.
Translated from Spanish by Marty Greenstein, Kiva Volunteer
",M,925,lender,Food,1 Ecuador,"
Jacinta started her business five years ago. The products she offers include: women's undergarments, perfume and candies. She pays personal attention to her clients every day between 8 a.m. and 9 p.m.
Jacinta needs the loan to purchase new dress models, new fragrances and additionally fix up her small flock of chickens, which she sells every eight weeks. Through this, she'll be able to offer a new variety of products to her customers.
Jacinta is 39, and her youngest daughter is still in school. Her husband works in construction. She started her business with a small amount of loaned capital, and she sells her items in outdoor areas near her home. She's requesting the loan to set up a space for her business in her home and to create a bazaar.
Translated from Spanish by Marty Greenstein, Kiva Volunteer
",F,400,partner,Clothing,0 Ecuador,"
Jacinta started her business with a little capital of her own. Jacinta, along with her husband, started a business buying and selling recycled materials, such as scrap metal from washing machines, refrigerators, and stoves, copper, cardboard, plastics, and other products. Jacinta indicates that she attends her business Monday through Saturday from 6 a.m. to 8 p.m. Jacinta rents a piece of land where she lives and stores all the different recycled materials she sells on the days when she works.
Jacinta is asking for this loan in order to have capital available, because often people come to sell her recycling and she has to pay them on the spot, depending on the weight of their materials in pounds or kilos. Jacinta indicates that this business supports both her and her family, as well as the people who come to them to sell recycled materials.
Jacinta is 38 years old and has 3 children. She and her husband are keeping this business going and they say that, even though it's trash, for them and others who work in this field, recycling is the source of their income. She says that thanks to this business they have been able to buy a plot of land. Her longing is to be able to build a home and to give better food and education to her family.
(Translated from the Spanish by Naomi Johnson, Kiva volunteer)",F,650,partner,Retail,0 Ecuador,"
Jorge, along with his wife, offers the service of educating children in an impoverished sector of the city. There, with the help of twelve teachers, he has successfully educated many children in primary and secondary school. Additionally, he sells books and uniforms to the children that study in his institution.
Jorge needs this credit to make improvements in the school. In particular, they plan to fix the roof so they may be better prepared during the winter.
Jorge is 49 years old and has two children. He lives in a cement house, and he and his family have financial stability.
Translated from Spanish by Evelyn Garcia, Kiva Volunteer.
",M,1150,lender,Services,1 Ecuador,"
Jos started his business two years ago. The products that he offers include: breakfasts, lunches and snacks. He pays personal attention to his clients every day from 6 a.m. to 9 p.m.
Jos needs a loan to purchase materials to fix his diner and to acquire tables, plates and kitchen utensils.
Jos is 23 years old and single. Through his business he helps relatives. He started his business with his own capital. The restaurant is part of his mother's home. With the loan he hopes to make repairs to the diner and make his business more mobile. Through this he'll be able to improve his customer service.
Translated from Spanish by Marty Greenstein, Kiva Volunteer
",M,525,partner,Food,0 Ecuador,"
Karen has 3 years of experience selling cosmetics. She started thanks to the help of a cousin who loaned her a capital of US$50. Little by little her sales increased and now she has plenty of customers. She works every day of the week in a schedule from 8a.m. until 6p.m.
The credit will be invested in buying more products. She has many orders. Her goal is to become a great salesperson and to be able to register more people for the sale of this product.
Karen is 26 years old and has two babies. She is married. Her husband works in a company as an administrative assistant. She helps with the household expenses. Their little house is made out of reeds. She hopes to little by little fix their home and make it safe.
Translated from Spanish by Eliana Colunga, Kiva volunteer.
",F,525,lender,Retail,1 Ecuador,"
Laurida began her business 1 year ago. The products she sells are: chuzos, (an Ecuadorian skewered-meat snack), chicken wings and roasted corn on the cob. She provides her customers with personal service every day from 4 to 10 pm.
Laurida needs the loan to invest in the purchase a small display cabinet, more products and to fix up her business. This way she will be able to improve her business image and offer a wider variety of good to her customers.
Translated from Spanish by Christian Garcia, Kiva Volunteer.
",F,400,partner,Food,0 Ecuador,"
Luder started this business 5 years ago. He sells dog food and poultry feed. He serves his clients daily from 8 AM to 8 PM
Luder needs this loan to invest in live poultry, poultry feed and other veterinary science products. This way he will be able to offer healthy chicks to his clients who raise poultry.
Luder is 33 years old and has 2 minor children, one of whom attends school. His wife is employeed at a mattress store. Luder started his business by borrowing from a private lender. He and his family live in his parents' home. He needs this loan to improve his business.
Translated from Spanish by Rosario McFaull, Kiva Volunteer.
",M,525,partner,Retail,0 Ecuador,"
Maria began her business 6 years ago. The products that she offers for sale are: Modular Sofas and Chests of Drawers. She gives her customers personal attention every day, working from 8 a.m. to 6 p.m.
Maria needs this loan to invest in the purchase of material, including lacquer and paint.
Maria is 29 years old. She has three young children. Her husband works together with her in the shop. Maria began with a small amount of capital which she borrowed. Her shop is near her home, where she lives with her parents. She hopes to someday have a home of her own.
Translated from Spanish by James Comstock, Kiva volunteer.
",F,400,lender,Manufacturing,1 Ecuador,"
Maria owns a small beauty salon located at her home. She opened it over two years ago, when she earned her vocational school diploma. She also has beauty products for sale, such as perfumes, hair dye and make-up.
Maria needs the loan to purchase accessories and assorted products for her salon, such as a shampoo bowl and chair to wash the customers' hair, mirrors, hair dye, make-up sets, lotions and perfumes. She also plans to use part of the loan to make improvements to her salon and make it more inviting.
Maria is 39 years old. She has been married for 20 years. She has to children and they both attend school. Her husband earns a living making deliveries at the city. The family lives in a house. One of Maria's goals is to eventually obtain a commercial space for her beauty salon in a busy commercial area.
Translated from Spanish by Libertad Leal, Kiva volunteer.
",F,525,lender,Services,1 Ecuador,"
Mariela sells a variety of products, including stationary, from a store rented to her by a friend who is the director of a school in the neighborhood. Mariela, thus, sells her products to the people in the neighborhood. Currenly she sells stationary and candy and has added costume jewelry to her shelves in order to promote sales.
She needs the loan to buy more merchandise and thus increase revenue.
Mariela is 26 years old and is currently separated from her husband. She has two children who help her at home. Her house is made of bamboo. Her family life is stable.
Translated from Spanish by Alison Rives, Kiva Volunteer.
",F,300,lender,Retail,1 Ecuador,"
Mnica started her business with a little bit of capital from her family. She has the help of her son in attending the business, which is located in a school. It is the School Supply Store and Soda Bar of the school. Mnica works every day that school is in session, from 7 a.m. to 12 p.m. Mnica offers her customers sausages with french fries, empanadas, soft drinks, juices, various candies, and school supplies.
With this loan, Mnica wants to purchase new candy products, to have a variety so that her customers will have more options to choose from and be satisfied. She also indicated to us that she will improve her location where she puts the school supplies that the children are asking for, like pens, pencils, educational sheets, and more.
Mnica is 35 years old, she is separated from her husband, and she has 3 young children. They are in school. Her home is of mixed construction (part concrete, part cane). Since she doesn't have any help from her husband, it has been hard for her to get ahead with her family. Mnica hopes that with her effort and hard work their living conditions will improve.
(Translated from the Spanish by Naomi Johnson, Kiva volunteer)",F,650,partner,Food,0 Ecuador,"
Mr. Jonny dedicates himself to the making of sweet snacks. He takes the snacks to public schools, private schools, and hospitals. He has eight years of experience doing this. He works everyday of the week, and delivers his products to stores located inside of the establishments that were mentioned before. He has great support from his wife.
Jonny needs the loan to buy more supplies for the business since the level of clients has improved and the number of clients has increased. Also, Jonny wants to build a little cart for hamburgers, so he can generate more income for his family.
Jonny is 37 years old, and lives with his wife and 3 beautiful children. Thanks to his hard work and his wifes they have been able to pay for their childrens educations.
Translated from Spanish by Johnny of San Roque High School, Kiva volunteer
",M,525,lender,Food,1 Ecuador,"
Mr. Jorge has a school located near his home where he provides educational services to neighborhood children in addition to selling the uniforms and books which they use in class. With six teachers and the help of his brother, Mr. Jorge has been able to make headway with his institution.
Translated from Spanish by Eric Strader, Kiva Volunteer
",M,1200,lender,Services,1 Ecuador,"
Mr. Lopez has a locale where he sells everything related to construction materials. He started the business a year ago, and he is assisted by his wife. His store is visited by many customers, given that it is located in one of the commercial zones of the area. His sales have increased because many of the areas residents live in houses made from cane, and they aspire to construct their homes from cement instead. This demand for construction materials has helped his enterprises growth.
He would like to invest in additional merchandise and improve his business location, which is currently very small, so he can better serve his customers.
He is 37 years old, has two children, and lives in a house made from cane. His goal is to grow his business and expand his store to one day have a better standard of living.
Translated from Spanish by Mary Lynn, Kiva Volunteer.
",M,925,lender,Construction,1 Ecuador,"
Mr. Ochoa has a beauty shop which he started 2 years ago, cutting and dyeing hair. He started his business with the capital liquidated from a previous job. In this business, his sister-in-law and brother help him. Finally, his clientele has grown since the business is located in a commercial district.
He wants to buy hairdresser furniture as well as to make his shop more spacious for his large clientele. Currently, his shop is too crowded.
He is 33 years old and has been separated from his wife for 6 years. He is the breadwinner and lives with his parents. They live in a cement home. His goal is to be able to expand the areas of his business and to overcome financial problems and to be able to provide a better future for his children.
Translated from Spanish by Geraldine Kim, Kiva Volunteer.
",M,825,lender,Services,1 Ecuador,"
Mr. Olmeda has worked in silk screening for eight years. He completed courses in school, and later began to offer his products to schools in his region. At the moment, he not only offers silk screening, but also does work printing cards, checkbooks, invoices and receipt books for institutions.
Mr. Olmeda needs this loan to purchase raw materials in order to increase his production. He is also considering purchasing other types of merchandise in order to attract more clients and have more to sell.
Translated from Spanish by Elizabeth Novesky, Kiva volunteer.
",M,525,lender,Arts,1 Ecuador,"Mr. Pincay has a workshop where he manufactures candy called BESITOS. He started the business three years ago, having learned the trade from his father. His candies are very well-received, and he works with his father and another helper. Sales are made, for the most part, through the various stores in the area since there are regular customers with orders. This has made sales grow day by day.
He would like to invest in utensils/tools to help with the production of the candy, given that orders are increasing and there are not enough. His wish is that his customers are always happy with his services, but he does not have enough funds to make the investment he needs for his business.
He is 32 years old and single. He lives in his fathers house, which is made from cane. His goal is to expand his business to have better income, and also to create new employment opportunities for other people.
Translated from Spanish by Mary Lynn, Kiva Volunteer.
",M,675,lender,Food,1 Ecuador,"
Mr. Roberto has dedicated himself to the sale of essential goods and food in general. His store is well located in the areas main road, and, currently, he also rents out washing machines to his neighbors as a way of bringing in extra income for his family.
He needs the loan in order to buy more merchandise at wholesale prices since their value tend to rise, and, he believes, he should have enough merchandise in stock to avoid any shortages.
He is 32 years old and has two children - one of them is in school. His house has been built with cement and his goal is to finalize its construction.
Translated from Spanish by Bertolt Cantalice, Kiva Volunteer",M,700,lender,Food,1
Ecuador,"Business Description
Mr. Wong owns a bazaar where he has sold toys for 4 years. He started this business with the help of his parents, since his father already had a similar business. At the time being his sales are increasing and his mother helps him. He sells all kinds of stationary products, novelty items and plush toys. The sale of plush toys in done by order and by walk-in in different stores in the sector.
Mr. Wong wants to use his loan to able to capitalize on opportunity. Already there have been several occasions where opportunities for sales were missed because he did not have money. He actually wants to supply his bazaar in advance of the Christmas season and thereby increase his orders for toys.
Mr. Wong is 22 years old and single. He lives with his parents in their cement house. He is always on the move to attend to his clients in whatever they ask since he wants to increase his sales and so be able to help his parents since he is already the primary contributer to the household.
Translated from Spanish by Eric Strader, Kiva Volunteer
",M,675,lender,Retail,1 Ecuador,"
Mrs. Cedeo has been selling backpacks and satchels on the streets for the past 4 years. Additionally, she also buys novelty products when she finds the on sale and sells them at reasonable prices. She started the business with her savings. Her daughter now helps her sell her products.
She needs the loan to purchase more merchandise. Specially novelty items that are on sale, since she feels that due to the upcoming Valentine's Day holiday she will be able to make a big profit on the items she sells.
Translated from Spanish by Libertad Leal, Kiva volunteer.
",F,300,lender,Clothing,1 Ecuador,"
Mrs. Enma works selling household items door to door. In this activity, she gets help from a friend and her major customers who are the people who live in that area, because she offers her products on credit. She started this business three years ago with a capital thanks from the sewing jobs she used to do back then. She has noticed that her current business generates better income and for this reason she works hard to be able to meet all the requirements of her customers.
She is 39 years old and has two children. Their home is made out of reeds and her goal is to expand her business because she wants her children to have a better quality of life in the future.
Translated from Spanish by Eliana Colunga, Kiva volunteer
",F,675,lender,Retail,1 Ecuador,"
Mrs. Florencia has dedicated herself to the sale of home products such as: pans, sheets, clothing, etc. She also sells candy to public buses' passengers. She began to work because the number members in her family grew and her husband's income alone was not enough to support them. With a small amount of cash given by her husband she started to buy and sell candies. She, then, invested the profit in the purchase of clothing and other goods and, after that, slowly her business started to grow. With the recent help of a loan from Mifex and Kiva Florencia was able to begin selling domestic appliances. She works from Mondays through Saturdays, from 7:30am to 6:00pm.
As the holiday season approaches Florencias sales promise to grow significantly. She is making an effort to pay off her first loan in advance in order to receive a second loan. This boost in capital will help her purchase more merchandise that is high in demand.
Mrs. Florencia is 43 years old. She is married and has 5 young children. Her husband works with construction and uses his income to cover the family's expenses. Their home is made of brick and straw, the floor is made out of dirt. She wishes to expand her business with the credit and, with the profit, slowly build a well-constructed house. Above all, she would be able to provide a better future for her children. Her oldest daughter is now helping her with the business and making a small income of her own.
",F,850,lender,Retail,1 Ecuador,"Mrs. Gutierrez and her husband own and run a hardware store and a bazaar that have been open for business for four years. Lately, both businesses have seen a rise in sales due to the construction of residencies around the sector where they are located.
She wishes to expand her businesses and purchase additional merchandise to cover the many orders her customers have placed. Her goal has always been to take good care of her customers so that they will keep coming back and help her grow financially.
She is 24 years old and her family is united and stable. Her goal is to improve and expand her businesses locations
Translated from Spanish by Bertolt Cantalice, Kiva Volunteer",F,675,partner,Retail,0
Ecuador,"Business Description
Mrs. Maria Macay dedicates herself to selling clothing and cosmetics. She began this business with some savings, and she has had this business for five years. She is continually looking for more novelty products to offer her clients.
She needs this loan to purchase more merchandise, and therefore satisfy her customer's orders.
She is 36 years old and has two children that are in school. Her home is made of cement, and her main objective is to have a stable business.
Translated from Spanish by Mindy Burns, Kiva volunteer
",F,850,lender,Clothing,1 Ecuador,"
Mrs. Sancan sells roasted cow meat in the business area of her neighborhood. One of her sons helps her with the business, which she started with a loan she received from her brother.
Mrs. Sancan is 33 years old. She has 4 children and they all attend school. Her home is a bamboo shack and her husband helps her with the household expenses. She hopes that one day, with a lot of hard work, she is able to set up a small grill (restaurant) at her home.
Translated from Spanish by Libertad Leal, Kiva volunteer.
",F,300,lender,Food,1 Ecuador,"
Mrs.Quijije and her daughter have set up a novelty shop where they sell an assortment of products as well as stationary. Currently, not only does she sell these products, but she also prepares snacks for the school children of the area.
The loan is needed to purchase more merchandise and to make some improvements to her shop.
She is 58 years old and has a daughter that helps in the shop, since she is no longer in school. Her home is made of cement blocks and her husband helps her with the housework.
Translated from Spanish by Libertad Leal, Kiva volunteer.
",F,825,lender,Retail,1 Ecuador,"
Ms. Lourdes works buying and selling houseware such as: sets of glasses, sets of plates, sheets, sets of pots, sets of cups. Having 8 years of experience, she works every week, especially on holidays. Carrying her products from house to house, in places outside the city where she lives, thanks to her own efforts she has been able to keep her business going.
Lourdes is requesting this loan to buy more varied articles, such as blankets, washcloths, and plastic articles, to give her business more stock and more variety. With the clientele she already has, Lourdes sees the need to please her customers with their requests and worries, and thanks to the experience she has in this line of work she has been able to keep and satisfy them.
At present our friend Lourdes is 32 years old, and since she is a widow she alone keeps the business stable and growing, thanks to her own efforts. She has 3 children, 2 of whom are in school. With courage and force of will, Lourdes has kept her family together and her business stable with untiring effort. Her goal is to get ahead with her business and expand it much more, and in that way increase her capital for the wellbeing of her children and family.
(Translated from the Spanish by Naomi Johnson, Kiva volunteer)",F,650,partner,Retail,0 Ecuador,"
Ms. Marisol has a store where she sells a wide variety of basic necessities. She started her business eight years ago, and is assisted by her husband. Her sales have increased given that she is located on one of the major thoroughfares of the area.
She would like to use the funds to purchase additional merchandise, as she has built and made improvements on land next to her house. For this reason she is low on working capital, but always has the hope to have a well-stocked store that can generate sales and meet the needs of her customers.
She is 30 years old and has one child. Her house if made from cane, and her goal is to finish the construction from cement that she started adjacent to the current home and in this manner also give better service the public.
Translated from Spanish by Mary Lynn, Kiva Volunteer.
",F,1050,lender,Food,1 Ecuador,"
Narciso has 25 years of experience in his business. He began working for another person, who taught him his trade. Later, little by little with his savings he decided to open his own business and began to have his own customers. His works consists of buying furniture and providing the finishing touches, leaving the furniture looking beautiful. He works everyday of the week in his house: people also contract him to work on location. His hours of business are 8am-6pm.
Narciso is now requesting his second loan from Kiva and Mifex. He was very happy with the results of his first loan as he was able to buy pieces of unfinished furniture at higher volumes and of better quality. He is now hoping to continue this trend as his clients have noticed that the variety and quality of his products has increased significantly.
Narciso separated from his wife 8 years ago. He has one son who lives with his grandmother. Narciso is 43 years old and lives alone in his house. His hope is that he might be able to make his home suitable enough for his son to come and live with him, especially so that he can also start to learn, little by little, his trade. Recently, he brought on his brother to help him in the business and provide him with employment.
",M,700,lender,Manufacturing,1 Ecuador,"Nestor has a small general store where he sells basic products used in everyday life. For the past 10 years, with his wife's help, he has made his business prosper. Currently two of his nephews help him at the store. Additionally, he was able to set up a ""locutorio"" with 4 booths next to the store, to offer to his clients. A ""locutorio"" is small phone kiosks or booths, where people can can make phone calls for a fee.
Nestor needs the loan to purchase more merchandise and to make some improvements to the store so that he can better organize the merchandise.
Translated from Spanish by Libertad Leal, Kiva volunteer.
",M,1200,lender,Food,1 Ecuador,"
Olga has been a saleswoman for five years. She also sells food from her home, although for some time she had to stop due to health problems. Her husband has helped her to start her own business selling various products. He gave her $70 to start off and with it she bought various products which sell well. She works weekdays from 6am to 10pm.
Olga is now on her second loan with our organization and Kiva. She used the first loan to buy many products such as: notebooks and workbooks, pens, presents and household objects. Clients had asked Olga for these products and they responded well to the new supply. She is now hoping to invest in more products and also in tables and chairs for her restaurant business.
Olga is married. She is 52 and has five grown-up children, two of whom help her with her business. Her house is being finished bit by bit. Her husband delivers construction materials for a living. All of her children live with her although 3 of them now have their own families. Her goal is to have a bigger shop so that she can serve her clients better.
",F,1075,lender,Retail,1 Ecuador,"Pilay dedicates herself to the sale of a fish soup known as Encebollados, a typical meal of the area. She started her business ten years ago in the form of traveling sales. Currently, she has her own location on a central route in her area. She is helped with the business by her older daughters, and her sales have steadily increased.
She would like to purchase tables and chairs to improve her business location, which is being visited by new customers. She does not have enough funds to make an investment of this type.
She is 41 years of age and has four children. Her house is made of cane. She aspires to increase her sales so that she can open a new location, as the last few months have gone very well.
Translated from Spanish by Mary Lynn, Kiva Volunteer.
",F,675,lender,Food,1 Ecuador,"
Senor Baque has been selling home products for about 4 years. He offers installment plans to his clients. He has a friend who helps him with the distribution and with collecting payment from his clients. He currently has many clients who are requesting a variety of products. His business keeps growing daily. He sells in and out of the city.
He would like to purchase merchandise since there have been many occasions when he wasn't able to fulfill an order because he didn't have the money to purchase a bigger and better inventory. He is always thinking of ways to offer better customer service and to be able to always provide his clients with the products they need.
He is 36 years old and he is single. He is currently renting. His goal is to expand his business and to make a bigger profit so that sometime this year he can start building his own home.
Translated from Spanish by Carolina Zelaya-Kronlund, Kiva Volunteer.
",M,700,lender,Retail,1 Ecuador,"
Senora Belgica sells items for the home door-to-door. She began this business a year ago. She has a friend who helps her, and recently her sales have increased significantly.
Senora Belgica is 27 years old and has a daughter. She has a reed home, and her goal is to grow her sales and improve her income so that she can build a home in the near future.
Translated from Spanish by Elizabeth Novesky, Kiva translator.
",F,550,lender,Retail,1 Ecuador,"Senora Blanca has a store where she sells basic commodities. She began the business four years ago with the help of her parents. Her husband helps her with the business, and currently her sales have grown, since her shop is located on one of the main roads in the area.
Senora Blanca is 34 years old and has three children. Her home is wood, so her goal is to build onto her house so that she can expand the store and provide more offerings to her customers.
Translated from Spanish by Elizabeth Novesky, Kiva volunteer.
",F,1050,lender,Food,1 Ecuador,"Senora Edilsa has a dispensary located in a commercial ares. She has had this business located in her home for two years. Currently, she not only sells staple food products, but also household gas tanks and other products. Her husband also works in the store, and also sells clothing door-to-door when business is slow at the store.
Senora Edilsa needs this loan to purhcase more merchandise in order to have a sufficient invnetory to satisfy the demand of her clients. She would also like to make some repairs to her shop.
Senora Edilsa is 28 years old. Her husband helps her at home. They have two children in school. They have a cement house and a stable family.
Translated from Spanish by Elizabeth Novesky, Kiva volunteer.
",F,1150,lender,Food,1 Ecuador,"Senora Nercy works in the sale of novelty items (gifts, jewelry, clothing, etc.) in a well placed shop in the commercial district. She has been in business for 5 years, and with her earnings is able to help her daughter and husband.
Senora Nercy needs this loan to purchase more inventory, and also to make improvements in the business.
Translated from Spanish by Elizabeth Novesky, Kiva volunteer.
",F,1200,lender,Retail,1 Ecuador,"Senora Perla sells perfume and cosmetics door-to-door. She began this business 8 months ago, and her sales have increased as her main clients are people with businesses nearby. Therefore, she sells her products on credit.
Translated from Spanish by Elizabeth Novesky, Kiva Volunteer.
",F,550,lender,Retail,1 Ecuador,"Senora Toala sells perfumes and clothing door-to-door. She began this business a year ago. Her main clients are people in her area to whom she sells products on credit. Her mother helps her in the business. At this time, her orders have increased, as have her sales.
Senora Toala wants to use this loan to invest in merchandise for the upcoming Christmas season. She needs to stock her store with these products so that her clients will be satisfied with her offerings.
Senora Toala is 27years old. She is a single mother with three children, and she lives in a cement house. Her goal is to expand her shop, and to someday have a large store with a variety of novelty products.
Translated from Spanish by Elizabeth Novesky
",F,925,lender,Clothing,1 Ecuador,"Senora Yolanda has a store that she opened seven months ago, thanks to capital earned from selling chicken and pork door-to-door. Now she sells all products related to staple foods in her store, and her mother helps her. The business is growing, since it is located in a high traffic area in the region.
Senora Yolanda wants to use her loan to invest in more merchandise for her store, and to make improvements in the store, since her concern is always to maintain the satisfaction of her clientele.
Senora Yolanda is 30 years old and has 4 children, one of which is in school. She has a cement house, and her goal is to expand her shop to be able to increase her sales. In the future, she hopes to have a large store with a variety of products.
Translated from Spanish by Elizabeth Novesky, Kiva volunteer.
",F,825,lender,Food,1 Ecuador,"Seora Anatila has 10 years of experience in this business. She began to work when she separated from her husband. She began her diner with money which she received from a job where she worked for eleven years. From this she renovated her house so that the diner could operate from there. She works from Monday Friday from 6.30am to 3pm selling lunches and on Saturdays and Sundays she sells snacks too. On the weekends her two daughters help her in the restaurant.
She will invest the loan in the purchase of utensils for the diner: she already needs to replace those she already owns because theyre not sufficient to satisfy her customer demand.
Seora Anatila is a single mother: with effort she has helper her children and now all of them are of age and help her with household bills. Her two adult daughters work with her on the weekends. Her house is made of cement and is two stories high, although is is currently under construction and not yet finished. She has always acted as both mother and father to her children. Seora Anatilas ambition is to establish another restaurant site in an area further away from her house so that one of her daughters could work there too. She works everyday with great effort in order to better herself and her children.
Translated from Spanish by Katy Long, Kiva Volunteer
",F,525,partner,Food,0 Ecuador,"
Seora Carmen has a candy store which she opened 8 years ago with some money that she made by selling fruit around the neighborhoods in the city. Her oldest daughter helps her around the store. She also sells candy products outside various schools in the area. Lately, her business has been growing.
She would like to purchase more merchandise and make some improvements to her store since she wants to make sure her clients, who are mainly children, feel welcomed.
She is 40 years old and she has 2 children. She lives comfortably in a house made out of reed. She would like to one day expand her clientele so that she can increase her sales and improve her economic situation.
Translated from Spanish by Carolina Zelaya-Kronlund, Kiva Volunteer.
",F,425,lender,Food,0 Ecuador,"
Seora Fanny opened up a small grocery store about 3 years ago with the money she made when she was a traveling saleswoman. She used to travel to different providences in the country selling all sorts of products. She mainly sells basic food supplies. Her husband helps her in the store. Her business has grown so much that she has outgrown her small store.
She would like to purchase more inventory to stock up her store so that she can offer better customer service.
She is 35 years old and she has 2 children who go to nearby schools. she lives in a cement house. Her goal has always been to make her business successful and to provide good service to the people in her community.
Translated from Spanish by Carolina Zelaya-Kronlund, Kiva Volunteer.
",F,1200,lender,Food,1 Ecuador,"
Sra. Maria sells cosmetics from door to door to her neighbors in her community. She currently sells clothes. she has been doing this for the past 5 years.
She needs this loan to purchase more merchandise so that she can have enough merchandise to satisfy her clients' demands.
She is 35 years old. Her husband helps her around the house. They have 2 sons who go to school. Her house is made out of reed and cement. She has the support of her family.
Translated from Spanish by Carolina Zelaya-Kronlund, Kiva Volunteer.
",F,675,lender,Retail,1 Ecuador,"
Teresita has run her own beauty salon for three years, but has 26 years of experience, acquired from family members that were already in the business. With her savings, she opened her salon where, from 9 AM to 4 PM, she provides several services, such as manicure, pedicure, hair cuts, coiffure and facials.
Teresita is 52 years old and has one child under her care. Her husband helps with the business. Teresita is confident that this loan will allow her to improve her business and increase this income that benefits the business and her family.
Translated from Spanish by Leticia Britos, Kiva Volunteer.
",F,675,lender,Services,1 Ecuador,"
The client has a food business where she sells soft drinks and light meals. She began the business with financial support from her family. Her business has grown lately and her customers are very satisfied with her products.
She will use the loan to buy merchandise at wholesale prices.
Translated from Spanish by Jere Wiseman, Kiva Volunteer.
",F,950,lender,Food,1 Ecuador,"
Tony's business is dedicated to the repair of vehicles. The jobs he offers are: brake repair, gear box, alignment, balance, etc. His shop is open every day from 7am to 5pm. He has 10 years of experience, and has had his own business in partnership with family members for five years. At the moment Tony has his own shop located in his home. His clients are loyal to him, and they seek him out because they consider him an honest mechanic.
Tony is asking for this loan to purchase new tools such as: a hydraulic jack, hydraulic press, drill pedestal. With these new tools, he will be able to improve and activate his services, offering better services to his clients.
Tony is 26 years old. He is single. He lives at home with his parents, where he occupies some space in the home for his shop. His aspiration is to grow together with his business, and to improve his income so that he can continue to help his parents.
Translated from Spanish by Elizabeth Novesky, Kiva volunteer.
",M,650,lender,Services,1 Ecuador,"Veronica has 2 years of experience running her own business. She started when she was young helping her mother with her business of selling fruits. She really enjoyed the work and little by little she was able to save money. Using this capital, she decided to start selling chickens. With the help of a Kiva and Mifex loan, Veronica was able to make a small store in the front of her home where she now sells all types fruits. She works every day of the week from 5am until 2pm.
Veronica is now asking for a second loan in order to continue making her business grow. She is proud of the progress she has made and sees that she continue to prosper. She wants to buy a refrigerated glass display case so she can sell canned juices and fresh juice that she will make.
Veronica is a single mother. She is 30 years old and has 2 children who are studying. Her business is based in her mother's home, which helps a lot. She recently moved from the local market to a the store she built in her mothers home. This makes running the business all the much easier and profitable. The nearby residents are loyal customers and she is well known in her community. The location of the business helps her take of her children when they are back from school.
",F,1200,lender,Food,1 Ecuador,"Victor has 30 years of experience in this business. He started by working with his brother when he was 18 years old. He learned the trade from him. Thanks to his savings and the knowledge he had, he decided to open his own shop. He started by buying tools and some machinery to make his products. Today, he works every day from 8 a.m. until 6 p.m. His son and his son-in-law work with him at the shop. They are also learning the trade from him
The laon will be invested to buy raw materails like: wood strips, glues, and nails. That way Victor will be able to improve the service that he offers.
Victor is 59 years old. He has 6 children and only one, who is 11 years old, is still with him. Victor still provides for him and for his education. Their home is a mixed construction and he hopes that he can make some improvements to it in the future like dividing it into different rooms. Also to be able to change some of the zinc boards on his shop because during winter is very uncomfortable to work at his shop in a normal fashion.
Translated from Spanish by Maria Ramirez-Gregg, Kiva Volunteer.
",M,525,partner,Manufacturing,0 Ecuador,"
Yanela sells products for the home on credit. She started this business 5 years ago under advice of a sister in law. Her husband has a delivery business in a commercial area close to their home. Besides products for the home, Yanela also sells clothing and shoes, as well as a small line of cosmetics.
She needs this loan to buy merchandise at wholesale prices to increase her inventory and meet her customers' demand.
Yanela is 31 years old and has two children who attend school. Her home is constructed of cement and she enjoys a stable family life. Her goal is to get ahead with her business so that she can ensure her children receive an education.
Translated from Spanish by Rosario McFaull, Kiva Volunteer.
",F,675,lender,Retail,1 Ecuador,"
Yessica has 3 years of experience running her business. She began with the help of a family member who encouraged her to begin selling these products. She works daily from 8:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m. She has earned a loyal clientele in the small amount of time she has been in business which have helped increase her earnings. She offers home delivery of her products as well as selling them from her storefront.
The loan will be used to invest in additional merchandise for her business. The time of year is fast approaching in which she receives requests for specific products.
Yessica is a single mother. Her son is 3 years old. She lives with her In-Laws who provide her with all the support she needs. The home in which she lives is of mixed construction (cement and wood). Her goal is to grow her business and comfortably provide for her son.
:Translated from Spanish by Christian Garcia, Kiva Volunteer.
",F,525,lender,Retail,0 Ecuador,"
Yorleny used to work doing domestic chores in homes. She has 1 year of experience in cosmetic sales. She was motivated to start her own business by her aunt and Yorleny was able to gather the capital to invest in cosmetics. She has her own business thanks to her determination to save up enough money to start it. She works every day of the week from 8 a.m. until 6 p.m. Yorleny has a good clientele to whom she distributes her products.
Yorleny was able to successfully invest a previous loan from Mifex in her business. She was happy with the results as she was able to have more products on hand and offer her clients more variety. She is now seeking a second loan to invest in a similar fashion.
Yorleny is 26 years old and has 3 children. Two of the children go to school. Her husband works in construction and helps with the expenses at home. Her small home is made out of reeds and has only one room (her dining room and bedroom are together). Her wish is to provide security for her residence where her children can grow up without fear.
",F,700,lender,Retail,1 Ecuador,"Translated from Spanish by Samantha, Kiva Volunteer.
",F,525,lender,Food,1 Ecuador,"
Translated from Spanish by Samantha, Kiva Volunteer.
",M,650,partner,Food,0 Ecuador,"
He needs this credit in order to purchase more merchandise since he has recently built a shop at home and he is now also selling products from his house.
Translated from Spanish by Yael Schwartzman, Kiva Volunteer.
",M,525,partner,Food,0 Ecuador,"
Translated from Spanish by Jennifer Day, Kiva Volunteer.
",F,400,partner,Retail,0 Ecuador,"
Translated from Spanish by Jennifer Day, Kiva Volunteer.
",F,650,partner,Retail,0 Ecuador,"
Translated from Spanish by Jere Wiseman, Kiva Volunteer.
",M,650,partner,Retail,0 Ecuador,"
Translated from Spanish by Samantha, Kiva Volunteer.
",F,400,lender,Clothing,1 Ecuador,"
Translated from Spanish by Geraldine Kim, Kiva Volunteer.
",F,650,partner,Retail,0 Ecuador,"
Translated from Spanish by Luis Lpez Martinelli, Kiva Volunteer.",M,400,partner,Food,0
Ecuador,"Business Description
Mrs. Felicita sells items for the home including beds and living room shelves through either cash or credit. She started the business 5 years ago with some savings she had.
Translated from Spanish by Lizella West, Kiva Volunteer.
",F,925,lender,Retail,1 Ecuador,"
Translated from Spanish by a Kiva Volunteer.
",F,675,partner,Retail,0 Ecuador,"
Translated from Spanish by Laura Bobbit, Kiva volunteer
",F,825,lender,Services,1 Ecuador,"
She wants to invest the loan in the purchase of merchandise, as well as in the renovation of her store, in order to keep her clients satisfied.
She is 35 years old and has five children. Her house is made of cane. Her goal is to increase sales in order to be able to build a house made of cement.
Translated from Spanish by Leticia Britos, Kiva Volunteer.
",F,550,lender,Food,1 Ecuador,"
Translated from Spanish by Leticia Britos, Kiva Volunteer.
",F,850,lender,Services,1 Ecuador,"
Alexandra began her business twelve years ago. She manufactures garments for women, men and children, such as slacks and trousers, blouses, T-shirts, and leg warmers. She gives her customers personal attention every day, from nine in the morning until six in the evening.
She would use the loan to buy a machine that attaches snaps and clasps to clothing and also to buy fabric from which to make outfits. In this way, she hopes to offer a greater variety of products to her clients.
Alexandra is 32. She is a single mother. Her husband left her nine years ago. She lives with her parents, and she has a space for her workshop there. She employs another single mother with a three-year-old daughter. She used her own capital to start her business. She hopes to improve herself and her business and in this way give her parents more help with household expenses.
Translated from Spanish by Antonio Padial, Kiva Volunteer
",F,650,partner,Services,0 Ecuador,"
Jacquleine works making school uniforms in a shop out of her home. She has also been able to acquire a vehicle that she uses as a school bus of sorts.
She will use the loan to buy materials, including fabrics, to make gym uniforms for the new school season.
Translated from Spanish by Kimberly Baker, Kiva volunteer.
",F,1200,lender,Services,1 Ecuador,"
Bastildo has a shop where he makes keys, metal doors and windows, and other metal goods. He started this business five years ago, when he finished his apprenticeship.
He would use the loan to buy raw materials to keep in stock. At certain times, iron becomes scarce and expensive. If he buys now, when iron is cheap, his profit will be greater when costs rise. Also, his goods will be cheaper, and he will gain clients
Bastildo is forty-seven. He is married and has four children, three of whom go to school. He lives in a concrete block house. His goal is to expand his business and better his quality of life
Translated from Spanish by Antonio Padial, Kiva Volunteer
Jos started his business ten years ago. He sells juices, snow cones, and soft drinks in different flavors. He gives his customers excellent service every day from nine in the morning to six in the afternoon
Jos needs this loan to restock his business, buy new products, and also to purchase a new tricycle vending cart. In his expanded business, he will be able to offer his younger brother a job.
Jos is twenty-one. He is single and lives with his parents. He is the eldest of four brothers. He learned this business from his father when he was just a boy. At night, he works repairing electric appliances from his home. He hopes to improve and enlarge his business so that he can contribute more toward household expenses.
Translated from Spanish by Antonio Padial, Kiva Volunteer
Justino started his business using some capital saved up from his old job. He sells fish, shrimp, and appetizers typical of the province of Manab, on the Pacific coast. He learned this trade from his parents. His wife, his mother, and his oldest son help him run the business. He has kept up his clientele thanks to the high quality of his merchandise.
Justino would use the loan to buy shellfish, a new table, a scale, and a tent marquee so that he can adapt his business to meet client needs.
Justino is twenty-eight. He is married and has two children. His home is of mixed construction styles. He runs his business from there, and shares the home with his mother and family. He went no further than primary school, which limited his opportunities. Even though losing his old job was a setback, Justino hopes to improve his own business, generate more income, and better his family's quality of life.
Translated from Spanish by Antonio P, Kiva Volunteer
",M,525,partner,Food,0 Ecuador,"
Mrs. Blanca Arvalo has been selling gas in cylinders for 4 years now. A friend who also sells gas cylinders got her started in this business by lending her a few cylinders. Later, as she learned the business, she started selling them on her own. She started getting more clients, and today she is very well known in her neighborhood for providing this service. She runs the business from her own home, and she's on the job from 8:00 AM to 10: PM, seven days a week.
Mrs. Blanca Arvalo would use the loan to by more gas cylinders; she doesn't have enough to meet the demand. Also, she would use some of the money to invest in her husband's lumber business.
Mrs. Blanca Arvalo is fifty. She's been with her husband for thirty-five years. She has six grown children. One daughter attends the university and still lives at home. Blanca and her husband help her with her studies. Her husband sells lumber to different workshops. He transports it from Esmeraldas and sells it in Guayaquil. Her two-story house, made of concrete, is very simple in style. Her daughter helps her run the business from home. She has a strong desire to better herself and her family's quality of life.
Translated from Spanish by Antonio P, Kiva Volunteer
",F,525,partner,Retail,0 Ecuador,"
Paulina has a restaurant that she started 3 years ago. Her daughter and one other employee work with her. Her sales have grown because her restaurant is located on one of the main streets in the sector - she sells lunch and snacks.
She will use the loan to invest in the purchase of a refrigerator and to buy tables and chairs. With these items, she will be able to offer better service to her clients. She always is very careful to ensure that her clients are happy with their service.
She is 41 years old, has one daughter and lives in a cement house. Her goal is to increase her business so that she can grow her sales and one day be able to install another restaurant/dining area in her house.
Translated from Spanish by Kim Baker, Kiva volunteer.",F,925,lender,Food,1 Ecuador,"
Vernica works washing and drying clothing. She has 6 years of experience and works in her business seven days a week. She serves the members of her community that come to her laundromat in order to meet her own needs, and thanks to her hard work she has been able to sustain her business.
Vernica is asking for a loan to buy more supplies like detergent and fabric softener, and also to decorate her laundromat, which is in her house, so that she can attend to her customers and make them comfortable. With the number of clientle that she has accumulated, Vernica has to work hard to satisfy their requests and worries. She has been able to do this thanks to her experience in the business.
Translated from Spanish by Alexandra Jaffe, Kiva volunteer.
",F,650,partner,Services,0 Ecuador,"
Dexy Lozano sells paper products and plastic products for the home (pails, trays, clothes baskets, and so on). She began this business with her husband's help when they both found themselves unemployed. As of today, she sells her line of household products from home, and her husband sells them door to door.
Dexy would use the loan to buy more inventory and make a few improvements in her home shop. Because client demand is high, she needs the extra inventory.
Dexy is thirty. She has a son who goes to school. Her husband helps her run the household, and the family is stable. Her goal is to expand her home shop so that her husband would no longer have to sell door to door, unless he could get a shop of his own.
Translated from Spanish by Antonio Padial, Kiva Volunteer
Edmundo and his wife run a shoemaking business. Currently they manufacture only sandals. They have had this business for two years, and they have dedicated a part of their home to the business.
He would use the loan to buy raw materials so as to increase the amount of goods he can merchandise. He would use part of the loan to fix up the workshop, which needs repairs.
Edmundo is 41. He has two children who attend school. His house is of mixed construction styles, and his family life is stable. His goal is to advance his business to ensure that his children get a good education.
Translated from Spanish by Antonio and Sarah Padial, Kiva Volunteers
",M,650,partner,Retail,0 Ecuador,"
Jos started in this business by selling pork. He had to change his business because demand for pork was high and he didn't have enough capital to buy it. At the suggestion of a friend, he used his savings to invest in beef instead. The business has done well. He works every day of the week from seven in the morning to seven at night.
He would use the loan to buy sausages, meat, and poultry, which he plans to offer again. He is hoping that his investment will lead to greater profits. Also, he wants to save up to buy a refrigerator in which to store his meats.
Jos separated from his wife three years ago. He is fifty-four and has two grown children. He is engaged to be married, and his fiancee helps him in his rented shop. His wish is to have his own home and a larger shop.
Translated from Spanish by Antonio Padial, Kiva Volunteer
Karina has spent three years running a business she started with her own money. She sells clothing, shoes, skirts, and so on. She also sells juices, candies, and many other confections. She sells the clothes on credit and works from eight in the morning to eight at night. Her business is located in her home.
Karina would use the loan to buy more clothing, which makes up the bulk of her sales because demand is high. She wants to pay cash so that she can get a better price and pass on the savings to her customers.
Karina is married and has three children who go to school. Her husband makes deliveries from a small vehicle they own. Together, they are able to meet household expenses. They live with Karina's mother-in-law, who has given over a part of her home to them. Karina's wish is to obtain this loan so that she can expand her business and ensure a better future for the family.
Translated from Spanish by Antonio Padial, Kiva Volunteer
Mr. Jos Delgado and his family run an autmobile repair and painting shop. His son and another worker help him run the business. He has had this business for five years. They have bought a lot next to his house where they park the cars they are working on, so that he can run his business more effciciently.
He would use the loan to buy raw materials and to pour a cement floor over the earthen floor of his workshop.
Jos is 57. He has five children, two of whom attend school. His wife sells soft drinks to help meet household expenses. His goal is to update his workshop with the latest technology.
Translated from Spanish by Antonio and Sarah Padial, Kiva Volunteers
",M,800,partner,Services,0 Ecuador,"
Mrs. Ivonne Barreiro manufactures cabinetry and other furniture. Her shop is located at the rear of her home. She tends to clients from eight in the morning to six in the afternoon. She manufactures chests of drawers in laurelwood and pine. She has five years of experience in this business and works alongside her husband.
She would use the loan to buy more lumber. The demand for chests of drawers has increased, and she would like to meet client orders. Her funiture is well finished, and the demand is growing.
Our friend Ivonne is 33. She has three children, who attend school. Her husband helps her in the business, and she would like the loan in order to meet client orders and expand her business. In addition to her cabinetry business, she runs a small store where she sells household supplies, and she would use part of the loan to stock the store with more staples. Her one-story house is of cane and has an earthen floor. Ivonne told us that her dream is to increase her business and build a more secure cement block house for her family and business.
Translated from Spanish by Antonio Padial, Kiva Volunteer
",F,650,partner,Manufacturing,0 Ecuador,"
Mxima has fifteen years of experience in the sale of cosmetics and costume jewelry, including perfumes, creams, lipstick, earrings, rings, and more. She begain this business because she and her husband separated. With some money that he left her, she began her sales career little by little so that she could take care of her two children. She works from nine in the morning until eight at night, every day. She conducts her business door to door.
Mxima would use the loan to buy Herbalife products. She is just branching out into this product line, and she doesn't have enough capital to keep investing in the line. She also wants to continue her line of costume jewelry. Herbalife products are in great demand, and she wants to fill client orders.
Translated from Spanish by Antonio Padial, Kiva Volunteer
Rosa buys and sells chickens and hens. She has twenty years of experience in this business. Twelve years ago she used her own money to open a business so that she could be independent. Her business is located in the local market. She works from five in the morning to one in the afternoon.
Rosa wants this loan so that she can pay cash when buying more poultry. Currently she pays cash for only some of the poultry and buys the rest on credit. She doesn't have enough capital because of the expenses she incurred when her small son had an operation two months ago. This loan would allow her to buy her poultry at a better price and pass the savings along to her clients.
Rosa is thirty-four. She is separated from her husband. She is both mother and father to her children. Her two-story home is made of concrete but is still under construction. Two of her children go to school; the third is a one-year-old. She is a very hard-working person who is striving to give her children a better future.
Translated from Spanish by Antonio Padial, Kiva Volunteer
Segundo sells and distributes soft drinks to stores and markets. He started this business after a stint in a soft-drink bottling plant, when he saved up to buy a soft-drink delivery truck. Today, he buys soft drinks and sells and delivers them to his clients.
He would use the loan to buy more inventory and extend his delivery routes to accommodate requests from new clients. His good customer service will attract even more clients.
Segundo is forty-three. He has five children, four of whom go to school. His house is of mixed construction styles. His goal is to finish construction work on his house and ensure that his children get a good education.
Translated from Spanish by Antonio Padial, Kiva Volunteer
Victor runs a business where he sells many kinds of dishes made with shellfish. He started this enterprise six years ago, when he and his wife pooled their funds and opened for business in a corner of their home. Today, he has his own place of business, and his clientele is constantly growing.
He would use the loan to buy a food cart and open a stand in another location recommended to him. His son wants to work in the business, and with his son's help, the business would have two sales outlets.
Victor is sixty-three. He is married and takes care of a granddaughter. He lives in a concrete block house. His goal is to expand his business.
Translated from Spanish by Antonio Padial, Kiva Volunteer
",M,700,lender,Food,1 Ecuador,"
Wilson buys and sells household goods, such as quilts, bedspreads, plastic bins, bedsheets, and so on. He has fifteen years of experience. He works every day of the week, delivering his wares to the homes of clients who place orders. His wife is a great help to him in his business.
Wilson needs the loan to buy more household goods for resale, since he has retained and increased his clientele through his daily effort in his business. Despite the setback of the theft of a certain portion of his inventory, Wilson has not lost the ability to work and generate income for his family.
Wilson is thirty-one. He lives with his wife and his three beautiful children. Thanks to his efforts and those of his wife, he has been able to continue their education. His house is constructed from cane, but is sturdy and cosy. Wilson's dream is to have his own shop, where he could display and sell his wares to his clients.
Translated from Spanish by Antonio Padial, Kiva Volunteer
She would use the loan to buy more cosmetics and take advantage of special offerings and reduced prices. She would also use part of the loan to buy clothing wholesale.
Juana is 30. She has three children who are still in school. She lives in a house of mixed construction styles and enjoys a stable family life. Her main goal is to advance her business so as to ensure the education of her children.
Translated from Spanish by Antonio and Sarah Padial, Kiva Volunteers
",F,825,lender,Retail,1 Ecuador,"
Jos has 35 years of experience with his work. He acquired his knowledge from his father, who maintained a workshop in this line when Jos was small. Little by little, with his work Jos acquired his work tools. Currently he has his own workshop and employs 2 people who help him in the manufacture of his products. He works from 8 a.m. until 4 p.m.
The credit will be invested in the purchase of raw materials to manufacture his products. These include: aluminum, copper, and bronze, as well as diesel and burned oil to make his melting oven function. Besides giving the business security in order to guard his already manufactured products.
Jose is 52 years old. He has been separated from his wife for 5 years. He has only one son, 17 years old, who lives with his wife in another country. His house is made of cement, and currently he lives alone. He hopes with the investment to better his income and consequently to help the people who work with him.
Translated from Spanish by Kate Huddleston, Princeton University Language Project volunteer.
",M,1050,lender,Manufacturing,1 Ecuador,"
Mr. Chero has had a retail-pharmacy business for 4 years. He started this business from liquidation of a previous business. His wife helps him at the store. His sales have grown since his store is located very close to an academic institution.
Since he sells every novelty item, stationery, and medicine, he would like to buy more merchandise as well as a computer to offer computing services to students in the area.
He is 25 years old and has one son. He lives in a cane house. His goal is to enlarge his business to provide improved services to his customers in the community.
Translated from Spanish by Geraldine Kim, Kiva Volunteer.
",M,675,lender,Retail,1 Ecuador,"Mercedes has a small store where she sells groceries and other household items. The store is located in the front section of her home where it is visible to the public. She has been in the business for about two years.
Mercedes hopes that she can access a loan so tha she may supply her store with more merchandise. The extra capital will help her purchase in bulk and take advantage of discounts and sales.
Mercedes is 46 years old and does not have children. Her home is made of cement which helps the appearance of her business. Her main goal is to improve the conditions she lives and works in.
Translated from the following profile.
La Sra. Merdedes se dedica a la venta de productos de primera necesidad en un local que tiene en su domicilio hace dos aos
Necesita el Credito para comprar mas mercaderia y asi aprovechar las promociones que hay en el mercado por motivo de las fiestas de fin de ao.
El cliente tiene 46 aos y no tiene hijos ademas su casa es de cemento. Su principal objetivo es poder mediante su negocio hacer arreglos a su hogar.
",F,575,lender,Retail,1 Ecuador,"She would use the loan to buy more inventory. We are in the cold season, and her orders vary according to the season.
Ramona is 34. She has three children. She lives in a concrete block home. Her goal is to someday run her business out of her own home.
Translated from Spanish by Antonio and Sarah Padial, Kiva Volunteers
",F,675,lender,Clothing,1 Ecuador,"
Mr. Holgun started his restaurant seven years ago. He has expanded the restaurant's output and now has orders from several businesses, to which the restaurant delivers to workers at their work site. His wife helps him with the business.
Mr. Holgun wants to buy tables and chairs so as to provide better service and comfort to his clients.
Mr. Holgun is 31 years old with two kids. His house is made of cement. His goals are to expand his business premises in order to improve the quality of service since his business continues to grow day by day and has a great location.
Translated from Spanish by a Kiva Volunteer.
",M,650,partner,Food,0 Ecuador,"
Mr. Riera started his business one year ago with capital gained from selling books, which he did prior to this business. He sells clothes of varying quality in several places within the area neighboring his house. He also takes orders from customers. A friend helps in the business with distribution and collecting clients' payments. In previous months his business has grown.
He wants to buy this season's merchandise since his clients make orders and his goal is always to have everyone pleased with their orders.
Mr. Riera has four children whom have all started their own families. He is 58, his house is made of reed and his goal is to have his business out of his house.
Translated from Spanish by a Kiva Volunteer.
",M,850,lender,Clothing,1 Ecuador,"
Don Olger sells encebollado (fish soup) which is a typical dish of the area. He started this business eight months ago with the capital he managed to save product of a particular work he used to do. His wife helps him with the business and nowadays he has a lot of clients.
He needs the loan to buy more equipment for his business such as tables and chairs since its growing everyday and his goal is that his clients are comfortable.
He is 34 years old and he has a child. His house if made of cement. His wife helps him with the business and, his goal is of being able to have a capital to have an eatery in his house
Translated from Spanish by Ana Gabriela Clark, Kiva Volunteer.
",M,400,lender,Food,1 Ecuador,"
. la Sra. Esperanza tiene un restaurante frente a una contructora donde vende desayunos y almuerzos a los trabajadores de la fabrica y de otras industrias colindantes. Ademas ella vende platos tipicos a las personas que se lo requieren
Ella necesita el credito para comprar mas mesas y silla pues actualmente se queda sin atender a muchos clientes porque su resturante se llena.
Ella tiene 36 aos y tiene unhijo que estudia tiene una casa de caa y su meta es salir adelante en el negocio para comenzar a construir su casa y tambien para asegurar la educacion de sus hijos
Translated from Spanish by Sarah Pixler, Kiva Volunteer.",F,400,lender,Food,1 Ecuador,"
La Sra Luisa tiene a la venta productos de primera necesidad y bebidas gasesosas que distribuye a otras tiendas pues ella haces algun tiempo ha sido el crentro distribuidor de la zona. En el negocio le ayudan sus hijos que aun viven con ella
Ella necesita el credito para comprar mas mercaderia y tambien para comprarse un congelador pues el que tiene no le abastece.
Ella tiene 49 aos 6 hijos de los cuales 1 estudia su casa es de cemento su meta es tener un negocio grande para ayudar a sus hijos .
Translated from Spanish by Sarah Pixler, Kiva Volunteer.",F,675,lender,Food,1 Ecuador,"
La Sra Nelly tiene un negocio de venta de carne de pollo, pescado y camaron este negocio lo realiza junto con su hermano, ellos reparten a todo el sector, actualmente estan atendiendo a otras zonas de la ciudad que solicitan su servicio por la rapidez y calidad que ellos prestan
Necesita el credito para comprar mas mercaderia pues la que compra actualmente no le abastece y por ende si tiene mas mercaderia tendra mas clientes y ganancia.
El tiene 37 aos y dos hijos que estudian su casa es de cemento su meta es ponerse una atercena en su casa o en algun sitio comercial
Translated from Spanish by Sarah Pixler, Kiva Volunteer.
",F,825,lender,Food,1 Ecuador,"
Lisleys Caicedo has a well known dispensary where she has been selling basic necessities and cosmetics for 5 years. Her son helps her at the store. She started with $150 that she had saved from another business.
She needs the loan to buy more merchandise and also to improve and renonvate the entrance to her business.
She is 40 years old and has one son who is in school and also works in construction. She is separated from her husband. She and her son live in a cement house.
",F,800,lender,Retail,0 Ecuador,"Jama has had her sewing studio for one year. Her husband helps her in this business. Her largest clients are well established in the area. She also has contracts with various schools, so her sales have grown.
Since she does everything related to tailoring, she would like to use the loan to buy cloth at wholesale prices. Because Christmas is coming, she would like to be prepared to meet all her clients' needs.
She is 47 years old and has no children. She lives in a cement home. Her goal is to one day, increase her sales so she can improve her family's financial status; they want to finish building their home.
Translated from Spanish by Geraldine Kim, Kiva Volunteer.
",F,1050,lender,Services,1 Ecuador,"Jose works hard to sell dairy products and sausages in a very popular market in the city. In the same market, his wife has a store where she sells vegetables. In the afternoons, he helps his wife and does deliveries to other businesses in the area where they live.
He needs the loan to buy more merchandise and to make home adaptations. He would like to offer other popular products to his customers.
He is 36 years old and has two children who are students. His wife takes care of the cement home where they live. Their plan is to grow their business so they can have a business in their own home.
Translated from Spanish by Geraldine Kim, Kiva Volunteer.
",M,1025,lender,Food,1 Ecuador,"Marcia has a store where she rents out telephone booths and sells all types of beverages. She started this business 1 year ago with her parents' help. Her mother helps her attend to customers. Their sales have grown since it is located in a commercial district.
She is 23 and single. She lives in her mother's cement home. Her goal is to grow her business and open another one in a different part of the city.
Translated from Spanish by Geraldine Kim, Kiva Volunteer.
",F,1050,lender,Retail,1 Ecuador,"
Translated from Spanish by Debra Faszer-McMahon, Kiva Volunteer.
",M,950,lender,Retail,1 Ecuador,"
Doa Filonila makes a living by selling lunch in her home every day of the week. She has been doing this for the past 5 years. Thanks to her hard work she has been able to support herself and her family with the income generated from the business.
Filonila is requesting a loan so that she will be able to buy supplies and materials like chairs and tables. She would like for her business to look more elegant and inviting. Also, because of the clients she serves, she sees the necessity to make her dinning room larger. She wants all of her clients to receive the best service possible.
Doa Filonila is 45 yeas old and along with her husband and her 14-year-old and 15-year-old children she takes care of the business. Thanks to her hard work and also that of her husband the business has been successful. Her dream is for the business to continue to be even more successful and to increase its sales, and by doing so increase the business income for the well being of her children and her family.
Translated from Spanish by Kendra and Mariela of San Roque High School, Kiva volunteers
",F,400,lender,Food,1 Ecuador,"
Edith started her business 3 years ago. The products that she sells are: provisions of primary necessity, gifts, and toys. She attends to her clientele in a personal way, every day from 6am until 9pm. Her business is located in her home.
Edith needs this loan in order to invest in the acquisition of more supplies and new jewelry products. In this way she will offer a greater variety of products to her clients. She will take advantage of the opportunity to expand her business by offering more and improving the quality of her services.
Edith is 34 years old. She has 3 children that are studying. Her husband works as a laboror. Edith takes care of her brother-in-law that is suffering from advanced diabetes. Her business was started with the capital that she managed to obtain with the small amount of savings that are the fruits of her husbands labor. Her business will take up a part of their home. She aspires to improve and grow with her business. In this way she will be able to collaborate in a better way and cover the expenses of her home.
Translated from Spanish by Laura Kirkvold, Kiva volunteer.
",F,450,partner,Retail,0 Ecuador,"Isidro Daniel and his wife sell basic goods at a store, which is also their home. In addition, he also sells shoes in a nearby city ,and on the weekends, his wife sells sausages and roasted buffalo wings. All of their income from these activities have supported their business's growth.
He needs the loan to buy more merchandise so he can be well-stocked for the year-end sales when he is very busy.
He is 46 years old and has five children, four of whom are students. His wife takes cares of the cement home they live in. Their plans are to grow and flourish their business so it can secure their family's future.
Translated from Spanish by Geraldine Kim, Kiva Volunteer.
",M,900,lender,Food,0 Ecuador,"Petrona works hard to sell vegetables in a well-known market in the city. There, she supplies vegetables that she buys from wholesale stores in the city to the families and other small produce markets in the area. Her husband helps out in her business.
She will use the loan to invest in more vegetables so her husband, who's gathered more customers, can sell more produce and meet their demands.
Translated from Spanish by Geraldine Kim, Kiva Translator.
",F,1200,lender,Food,1 Ecuador,"Aida dedicates her time to the selling of dairy and canned products at the municipal market in town. She started her business by traveling around and selling her products. When she had the opportunity of renting her own stand in the market, she decided to open a stand there. She has a lot of clients. She sells high quality products for the right prices.
She needs a loan to buy products in bulk.
She is 55 years old and is currently separated from her husband. She has a son. Her home is made out of cement and she has a stable wage. Her goal is to increase her business.
Translated from Spanish by Edith of San Roque High School, Kiva volunteer
",F,1075,lender,Food,1 Ecuador,"
Don Joffre collects recyclables for sale to recycling companies. He operates this business with his son. Three years ago, Joffre bought a second-hand vehicle that he was able to adapt for collecting recyclable goods and went out to buy recyclables from families in the area who were willing to sell. Now his son has learned electronics and repairs whatever can be fixedtelevisions, radios, bicyclesso they can be sold like new. They also sell metals like copper and iron.
Joffre needs the loan to buy recyclables along with replacement parts to repair whatever can be fixed.
Joffre is 37 years old and has 4 children, including two in school. His house is made of cement and he has a stable family life. His main goal is to grow his business so that he can ensure his children get an education. He wants to set up a recycling center, something he knows will greatly benefit the environment.
Translated from Spanish by Jere Wiseman, Kiva Volunteer.
",M,1050,lender,Services,1 Ecuador,"
Doa Modesta earns a living by making uniforms for businesses and P.E. uniforms for schools. Modesta has 25 years of experience in this business. With a little bit of capital she established her own little workshop in her own house. Modesta attends her clients as early as 8am until as late as 8pm. Modesta serves clients that live both inside and outside of her neighborhood.
Modesta is requesting this loan so that she will be able to buy materials for business. She would like to buy materials for Christmas, since there is a great demand for items made of this material during the Christmas season. Also, because of the economic level of clients she has begun to attract, she needs to increase the variety of merchandise that she has to offer. She wants all of her clients to receive the best products and service possible.
Modesta is 43 years old and she lives with her three children. She is able to pay for all three of them to be in school. This is thanks to the money that she has earned by working hard. Her home is humble yet warm and charming. Modestas dream is to continue to be successful in her business and to make it grow as much as possible so that she can increase her income for the wellbeing of her children.
Translated from Spanish by Mariela and Kendra of San Roque High School, Kiva volunteers
",F,650,lender,Clothing,0 Ecuador,"
Don Jaime has a business space were he fixes all types of tires and also sells used tires. This business was started eight years ago with money that he had saved.
He will use the loan to invest in the purchase of tires for wholesale prices. Also, he will use the loan to help fix-up his place of business so that he can better serve his customers.
He is 47 years old, is married and has two sons. His house is made of sugar cane. His main goal is to grow his business and one day, not very far away, he will finish constructing his house.
Translated from Spanish by Gabe of San Roque High School, Kiva volunteer
",M,850,lender,Services,1 Ecuador,"
The client has a store located on a major street. Actually, she has a pantry and bazaar where novelty articles are sold. She began her business with the help of her husband.
She will use the loan to buy supplies and various articles for the bazaar. With the gains she will begin to make other investments.
She is thirty-three years old and has a son to whom she aspires to give an education.
Translated from Spanish by Cara Healey, Princeton University Language Project volunteer.
",F,1075,lender,Retail,1 Ecuador,"
Translated from Spanish by Jere Wiseman, Kiva Volunteer.
",F,400,partner,Retail,0 Ecuador,"
Translated from Spanish by Jere Wiseman, Kiva Volunteer.
",F,400,partner,Food,0 Ecuador,"
The loan will be used to buy merchandise. She hopes to enter the market for clothing sales. She also wants to stock her business with electrical products such as irons, toasters, microwaves, etc.
Translated from Spanish by Jere Wiseman, Kiva Volunteer.
",F,400,partner,Retail,0 Ecuador,"
Translated from Spanish by Marco Alves, Kiva Volunteer.
",F,675,lender,Clothing,1 Ecuador,"
Carmen has 6 years of experience with her business. She used to work for another person and little by little was earning her working capital. She decided on her own to have her own business, which has gone very well. She has enough clients. She works every day of the week from 8 AM to 6 PM.
The loan will be used to purchase cosmetics, creams, and costume jewelry. The demand for her products is on the rise and Carmen wants to be able to satisfy the needs of her clients.
Carmen is a single mother. She is 30 years old and has 4 children. They are all in school. When she leaves for work her mother is the one that takes care of the children. Her little house is of mixed construction. She has her own house and lives next to her mother and brothers.
Translated from Spanish by B, Kiva Volunteer.
",F,525,lender,Retail,1 Ecuador,"
Mr. Mera has a bakery, he started it two years ago with capital that he got from his previous job settlement. Today his business has grown, also because he distributes his products to other stores in the industry. His wife helps him out selling breakfast-related products such as milk, cheese, bread, etc.
He wants to buy a display cabinet to showcase his products. The rest of the money is to buy more products for his bakery because the number of clients keeps growing.
He is 34 years old, he has two sons who go to school in the area. His goal is to broaden his business so he can give a better service to his clients.
Translated from Spanish by Ana Escalante, Kiva Volunteer.
",M,675,lender,Food,1 Ecuador,"
Ms. Petita sells cosmetics and clothing in a mobile- informal way, she also gives credit facilities to her clients. This business started with $100 dollars on savings she had while working as a housekeeper, this is where she got the idea.
She needs this loan because she has thought of buying more products when on sale and therefore get better prices and sell good products to her clients.
Ms. Petita is 39 years old. she has five children who are in school. Her house is made of cement and her main goal is to have a prosperous business so she can provide for her childrens education and start the business at home.
Translated from Spanish by Ana Escalante, Kiva Volunteer.
",F,675,lender,Clothing,1 Ecuador,"
Ms. Sefora gains from selling cosmetics and clothing. She sells these products to people around the sector, her friends and neighbors. She started this business with her sons help, who sent her money from abroad.
With this loan she will buy more products at a bulk price and she will re-invest with the profit she gains.
She is 39 years old, married and two sons who go to school. Her house is made of cement and her main goal is to save for her childrens education.
Translated from Spanish by Ana Escalante, Kiva Volunteer.
",F,675,lender,Retail,0 Ecuador,"
Mr. Bolivar sells clothing in a mobile- informal way, he gives credit facilities to the people in the nearby towns from where he lives. This business started with his $150 dollars of his savings, from a store he had in his house. His sons help him out in the business and his wife sells typical dishes on the weekends.
He needs this loan because he wants to buy more products at bulk price and therefore have better prices for his clients. He also wants a store in his house so he can also show the products that he sells on the streets.
He is 57 years old, he has two children who go to school and he lives in a cement house, he lives in a stable family home. He main goal is that his business will provide for his childrens education and that he will have a peaceful old age.
Translated from Spanish by Ana Escalante, Kiva Volunteer.
",M,825,lender,Retail,0 Ecuador,"
The business of selling jewellery and clothing orginated as Miriam's own idea. She used to work as an employee in this same activity. Her initial capital was her savings plus a small loan from her former spouse. The business has been developing progressively.
She will invest the credit in purchasing seasonal merchandise. She will invest in clothing for the beach, like shorts, t-shirts, hats, and other accessories of the season.
Miriam is 33-years-old and has 3 children. She lives in her parents' house, and all of her children go to school. Her goal is to have a large bazaar with all kinds of clothing for every season of the year. She currently is separated from her husband.
Translated from Spanish by Tanya Harper, Kiva volunteer
",F,525,lender,Clothing,1 Ecuador,"Translated from Spanish by B, Kiva Volunteer.
",F,525,lender,Retail,1 Ecuador,"
Ms. Gladys has a business where she sells breakfast, lunch and dinner in a premise she set up in her own home. She started this business with $80 dollars on savings she had from another small store she had in her house. Her two young sons help her out in the business.
She needs this loan because she wants to buy tables and chairs, she would also like to purchase a new industrial kitchen because the one she had is big not enough for all the cooking she has to do. The other part of the loan will be used to buy more merchandise for the store.
Ms. Gladys is 41 years old, she has four sons, one is a student. Her home is made of cement and she lives in a functional family. Her main goal is to get her business in progress and ensure a job for her sons, since they already know the business. She also wants to provide for their education.
Translated from Spanish by Ana Escalante, Kiva Volunteer.
",F,800,partner,Food,0 Ecuador,"
For the past four years Mr. lvarez has earned a living selling metallic and plastic containers. These containers are used to store water. Most of Mr. lvarezs customers live in areas where the homes have no running water. The business has allowed Mr. lvarez to help his two oldest children. Recently his sales have shown impressive growth.
He will use his loan to invest in merchandise because at the moment he does not have the capital his business needs. To grow He has always been dedicated to providing his clients with a variety of products to choose from.
He is 52 years old and he has two grown children. His home is made of cement and his goal is to increase his business by building a space where he can house his business next to his home. This way he would be able to increase his income and at the same time take care of his family.
Translated from Spanish by Kendra Casey of San Roque High School, Kiva volunteer
",M,925,lender,Retail,1 Ecuador,"
Nelly dedicates herself to the selling of seafood for 3 years now. She is a traveling salesperson. Nowadays she has accomplished the renting of her stand in the sector. Her business has helped her and her husband. Her sales have increased lately.
She sells everything related to seafood. She wants to buy a larger freezer and a tricycle, so that she can deliver the various orders she receives that are outside of her town.
She is 47 years old. She doesnt have any children. Her home is made out of sugar cane and her goal is to one day increase her merchandise. This way she plans to sell her products in bulk around town.
Translated from Spanish by Edith of San Roque High School, Kiva volunteer
",M,550,lender,Food,1 Ecuador,"
Angel works in the sale of a variety of fish. He began this business 8 years ago with some savings he had accumulated from a previous job. Today, he sells not only fish, but also other types of seafood.
Angel needs this loan to buy more merchandise and thus better serve his clients
Angel is 42 years old, is separated, and has a son who studies. He lives in a cement house. His goal now is to save for the future of his son and to be able to reunite his family
Translated from Spanish by Eric Strader, Kiva Volunteer
",M,825,lender,Food,1 Ecuador,"
Juan started his business 5 years ago. The products he sells are tropical fruits, rice, soft drinks and ornamental plants. Juan serves every client directly from 6am to 9pm every day.
Juan needs the loan to invest in the acquisition of fruits from the mountain range, more rice and also material for the changes to the space he uses for his business.
Juan is 57 years old. He has 4 children, the younger one lives with them and he is attending school. His wife works with him in the preparations of meals to sell. Juan uses his front and backyard of his own house as warehouse. He comments that a year ago he suffered an accident where he lost great part of his business. This situation has not managed to stop the work spirit and and desire to overcome that Juan has. He aspires to improve his business and fix his home little by little.
Translated from Spanish by Manuel Vargas Ricalde, Kiva Volunteer.
",M,650,partner,Food,0 Ecuador,"
Juan started his business 5 years ago. The products he sells are tropical fruits, rice, soft drinks, and ornamental plants. Juan serves every client directly from 6am to 9pm every day.
Juan is requesting a second loan in order to buy more varieties of fruits and beverages. He also wants to invest some of his money in his wifes restaurant which is an important source of income for the family.
Juan is 57 years old. He has 4 children; the youngest one lives with them and is attending school. His wife works with him in the preparation of meals to sell. Juan uses the front and backyard of his own house as a warehouse. A couple of years ago, he suffered an accident where he lost a great part of his business. The situation did not manage to stop the work ethic and desire to overcome the odds that Juan displays. He aspires to improve his business and fix his home up little by little.
",M,1075,lender,Food,1 Ecuador,"Lucila has had a little Pharmacy practice for the last four years. She attends to her customers every day of the week from 8 am until 10 pm. Lucila sends medications such as: pills, painkillers, liquid serums, and various antibiotics.
Lucila is asking for a loan in order to purchase medications in accordance with her customers' demands. She also needs to purchase a sliding door to increase the security of her practice.
Lucila is 39 years old and has a 12 year old son. Her husband work as a vendor of shoes and supports her store. She desires to continue building her life and knows that in order to do this, she must expand her Pharmacy practice. Then, she would be have better security at home.
Translated from Spanish by Chlo Tuot, a Kiva Volunteer.
",F,650,partner,Health,0 Ecuador,"
Translated from Spanish by Marco Alves, Kiva Volunteer.
",M,1200,lender,Agriculture,1 Ecuador,"
Barbarito invested his first loan into four blocks of land and livestock. He bought the necessary supplies for both endeavors at wholesale, which helped to reduce his business costs. Thanks to these developments, he has been able to provide his customers with a rice crop of excellent quality.
He is still developing his business, despite the climate changes that were experienced within the country throughout this past year. Regardless, Barbarito still aims to increase his production.
Barbarito is 40 years old and has dedicated 20 years of his life to farming. His three children are all still single and are studying in the area's public schools.
This second loan would be invested into improving his farming production and maintaining his cattle, and to obtain better prices at the markets where he delivers his product.
Translated from Spanish by Mary Lynn, Kiva Volunteer.
",M,1200,lender,Agriculture,1 Ecuador,"
Clemente invested part of his first loan into fertilizers and other supplies for his rice crop. He used the other portion of the funds on his livestock.
He is still working to develop his business, and he maintains a customer base that has known him for many years and waits each season for his harvest.
Clemente is 43 years old and has five children, three of whom are of age. He resides in the Las Cabuyas precinct in Santa Lucia.
This second loan would continue to be invested into his rice harvest. He would like to prepare the land for the next growing season, which starts at the beginning of this year.
Translated from Spanish by Mary Lynn, Kiva Volunteer.
",M,825,lender,Agriculture,1 Ecuador,"
Edison invested his first loan into his rice harvest, which allowed him to have his crop ready on time. It also helped him to better attend to his customers, who now can seek him out for something other than his livestock.
Edison has one block of land for farming his rice. This land is located in the El Provenir precinct, near Santa Lucia. To reach this area, he crosses by barge and by a highway that is now in better condition than before. This road also makes it possible to transport his sacks of grain and livestock.
Edison is 40 years old and has three children, two of whom are of school age. Currently, he is separated. He lives near the school district where one of his children studies.
This second loan would be invested in part into his rice crop. Another part would go toward maintaining his livestock, which also generates income for him and is an activity he has been involved in for more than ten years.
Translated from Spanish by Mary Lynn, Kiva Volunteer.
",M,1075,lender,Agriculture,1 Ecuador,"
Freddy is a farmer who, with his first loan, diversified his rice business to include the sale of arroncillo (rice husks) which are also utilized in the region. In this manner, he was able to offer an additional product to his customers.
The business is growing, as he is taking advantage of the six blocks of land that he dedicates to the harvest and sale of his rice crop. He is gratified that people seek him out for his product.
Freddy farms in the rural area of Santa Lucia, is 40 years old, and has lived in a conjugal union for approximately 17 years.
This second loan would continue to be invested in his production of rice, given the approach of the winter season which runs from January to April.
Translated from Spanish by Mary Lynn, Kiva Volunteer.
",M,1200,lender,Agriculture,1 Ecuador,"
The first loan allowed Audencio the ability to harvest calmly, without running out of supplies, materials or machinery for his production, as had occurred in previous years. All thanks to the initial credit he received.
The business has taken advantage of all 30 blocks that he dedicates to his rice harvest. He also would like to purchase more land for future crops.
Audencio is married and has two children. He has lived in the rural section of Santa Lucia for over 20 years.
This second loan would continue to be invested in his rice harvest for the following season, and also a small portion would be directed toward the few livestock that he has.
Translated from Spanish by Mary Lynn, Kiva Volunteer.
",M,1200,lender,Agriculture,1 Ecuador,"
With his first loan, Baldomero gave priority to his rice harvest and was subsequently able to improve the quality of the product he offered. The two blocks of land that he owns were thanks to this loan, and he obtained supplies over time. He was unable to increase the number of pigs in his herd.
Baldomeros yield-per-block is projected to increase little by little, and is where working capital is necessary in order for him to reach his goals. Currently, he has only two blocks of land on which to cultivate his crop.
Baldomero is single, 25 years old, and has completed his secondary studies. He resides in the ""las cabuyas"" precinct of Santa Lucia.
This second loan would be prioritized for the purchase of farming-related supplies for his rice crop, as well as for maintaining the pigs he currently owns.
Translated from Spanish by Mary Lynn, Kiva Volunteer.
",M,675,lender,Agriculture,1 Ecuador,"
With his first loan, Remigio planted his rice crop on the eight blocks of land he possesses. To improve costs he bought his supplies at wholesale, which also allowed him to better service his customers.
He conducts his rice business in a tropical area for its excellence, an activity he has been involved in his entire life. The irrigation canals created by local authorities have helped agricultural activity in the region, a feature that Remigio has taken advantage of in his farming endeavors.
Remigio is 72 years old. His seven children are of age and living on their own, and are all connected in some way to farming.
This second loan would continue to be invested in the land that he has for planting his crop. A priority of his is the purchase of supplies to prepare the land for the following rice planting season which draws near.
Translated from Spanish by Mary Lynn, Kiva Volunteer.
",M,1200,lender,Agriculture,1 Ecuador,"
With his initial credit, Felipe has been able to take advantage of the four blocks that he uses for his harvest. His investment rendered the hoped-for harvest, reflected in the production of rice for sale to the public and for his own consumption.
With the successful production, he was able to meet customer demand and increase the number of clients in the neighboring areas around his home.
Felipe is married, and the father of 3 school-aged children. He owns a couple heads of cattle with which he also hopes to eventually produce some extra income.
He intends to continue investing this second credit into his rice crop, given that a new harvest season approaches and he needs to fertilize and prepare his land for this new planting cycle.
Translated from Spanish by Mary Lynn, Kiva Volunteer.
",M,1200,lender,Agriculture,1 Ecuador,"
Sandra began her business five years ago. She sells chicken as well as traditional foods from the coastal regions of Ecuador. Sandra has a very personal relationship with her clients and works every day from 8a.m. to 9p.m.
Sandra is in need of a loan for investment in an industrial kitchen, tables, chairs, and other materials to decorate and improve the presentation of her restaurant.
Sandra is 32 years old. She has three beautiful younger children and one who is in school. Her husband works as a day laborer in house building. Since she was very young, Sandra has taken a keen interest in working, and it was with the help of her mother that she began to sell chicken and traditional foods. Occupied as she is with her business, she feels it is a large part of her life. She hopes that in keeping up and improving her business she will also be able to ensure the improvement of her home.
",F,525,partner,Food,0 Ecuador,"
Roxana is the owner of a local school named Soldiers of Jess that has over 250 students. She and 10 other teachers work together to educate elementary-aged children from 7 am to 1pm. She was able to build the school on borrowed land and has seen it go from a small bamboo structure into a respectable concrete building.
Roxana wants to borrow from Mifex because she is hoping that she can make new uniforms for her students. The uniforms will be used for a special presentation at the school and a field day. Roxana hopes the students can continue to use the uniforms for physical education. She will buy the materials and have them made at a better cost if she has the money to invest. She figures she will be able to provide parents with much better prices after having the uniforms made in bulk.
Roxana is 36 years old and has five children. She separated from her husband about two years ago and is raising her family on her own. Her school and her faith have helped her get through these two years. She feels confident she can continue to provide not only for her own children, but also for the children of the surrounding community.
",F,800,partner,Education,0 Ecuador,"Manuel Arias is a blacksmith who has a relatively young business. He learned his skills from his job with another metal worker but had decided to venture on his own and begin offering these products in his own neighborhood because the demand is high. Currently he operates from the backyard of his home working on projects from the clients in his area. He must ask them to provide 50% of the costs upfront because he cannot afford the materials otherwise. Obviously this slows down his business and he could use the loan to buy tools and supplies that will allow him to make doors, gates and window frames in advance to increase sales.
",M,300,partner,Manufacturing,0 Ecuador,"Frutas Don Luis, which has been open for 29 years now, would like to thank Mifex and Kiva for advertising the need for business capital. He moved to Guayaquil, Ecuador from Cotopaxi (sierra region) 40 years ago to start a new life for himself and his family. At the age of 53, Luis has plenty of experience selling his fruit, but he needs vital capital to expand. He runs his shop along with his wife, so they can continue to provide a better life for their children. His three children are grown up now and live independent from the family, and he would like to improve their lot. Until now, Luis has been unable to gain access to credit from any institution.
",M,500,partner,Food,0 Ecuador,"Cesar Pilco, who was born in Chimborazo, a region in Ecuador known for its famous extinct volcano. Mr. Pilco is married with one son, he is a homeowner, and his forte is preparing a delicious South American soup called encebollado. His restaurant is located on one of Guayaqils major avenues and has been serving up Don Pilcos famous recipe soup for 8 years. Before starting his own business, Cesar worked at a restaurant for 12 years. When he thought he was ready to open his own business, he used what little savings he had and rented a small storefront along a well-positioned thoroughfare in downtown Guayquil. He and his wife work hard every day from 6:00 am until 1:00 pm, and they are requesting $1035.00 to be able to buy key ingredients in bulk. For instance: oil, dressing, cola, etc He also would like to buy some uniform utensils and dishes to serve up encebollado.
For more information about the history and culture of Riobamba, the largest city in the province of Chimborazo, read here.
",M,1050,partner,Food,0 Ecuador,"Diana Farias, who was born in Quevado, Ecuador, is a 22 year-old single woman who resides with her parents. She runs a small gift shop in the Municipal de Bastin Popular that is known for its selection of perfumes. She has been in business for 5 years. Every morning from 6:00 am until 2:00 pm Diana and her mother operate their shop. Ms. Farias wants this loan to buy more products and diversify her stock. This hard-working young woman not only runs this business; she is wrapping up her studies at the University in Business Administration.
",F,1200,partner,Retail,0 Ecuador,"Edgar Pilataxi, originally from Riobamba, Ecuador, is a 39 year old salesman with two children, eight and five years old. Mr. Pilataxi is a homeowner. His business is located in a section of Guayaquil called Bastin Popular, and it has been in operation for seven years. His wife helps him with sales and administrative work from 6:00 am until 6:00 pm. Edgar is in charge of managing some customers weekly credit tabs, although most customers pay cash for his goods on the spot. He needs this loan money to be able to buy other products like watches, lamps, bed sheets, and other home items. Mr. Pilataxi thinks this loan will also help financially because he can receive a discount from wholesalers if he buys in bulk and pays in cash. Lastly, Edgar wants lenders to know that he is a hard-working entrepreneur.
",M,1900,partner,Retail,0 Ecuador,"Felipe Guterrez is a 45 year-old businessman from Manabi, Ecuador with one son. Mr. Gutierrez is a homeowner who runs a seafood restaurant in the busy market called Municipal de Bastin Popular. His clientele is mainly locals from the neighborhood. With 11 years of experience at this particular business, he and his wife who also helps run the operation work from 6:00 am until 1:00 pm. Mr. Gutierrez needs this loan to be able to buy more seafood and a display case to show off the meals of the day. Don Felipe is a persevering self-starter who loves managing his small seafood restaurant.
",M,1200,partner,Food,0 Ecuador,"
Angel Conforme is 52 years old and has 3 children. Hes owned this store for about four years and counts on the help of his wife who also works part time for a bakery and of his kids when they are not in school. He sells all kinds food items but concentrates on selling candies, snacks and other foods for people on the go. He is in need of capital so that he may improve his current product offerings and sell at lower prices. It is very difficult for him to maintain his inventory without the power to buy in bulk.
",M,400,partner,Food,0 Ecuador,"Boris Puero is a 39 year old computer technician in Guayaquil. At his shop he repairs computers with hardware and software issues and sells computer accessories. He also helps his clients get connected online and shows them how to use the power of the Internet to their advantage. This in itself is a valuable service to the community as he is helping to bridge the technology gap and break paradigms in computer literacy. Currently he counts on the help of two employees who all help him run his shop from 8 AM until 10 PM. He intends to use the loan to add another employee, buy accessories in bulk and buy newer tools for computer repair.
",M,1200,partner,Services,0 Ecuador,"Carmen Hernandez is a mother of 3 and is 42 years old. Although she lives in Duran, her dental office is located in Guayaquil. She has just a little less than 20 years of experience in the field and is interested in investing in new tools that will help her be more efficient and offer better service to her clients. She currently opens at 6 AM and works diligently until 8 PM. She seems to be very responsible and highly dedicated to her work.
",F,575,partner,Health,0 Ecuador,"ENGLISH
Kleber Villafuerte owns a small business where he sells fabrics and makes clothes. He works in making adjustments, new designs and creating custom fabrics. His business is run out of a rented location where he has access to attract clients from the community. Kleber needs $685 to be able buy materials like: fabrics, threads, scissors, and a mannequin. He was born in Manabi, he is 39 years old, he is single father with 2 sons and lives in an apartment which was inheritance from his parents. He has 15 years of experience in this type of business. He works from 7:00am to the 18:00pm, and appears to be very committed and hardworking.
SPANISH
Klber Villafuerte, naci en Manab, tiene 39 aos de edad, es padre soltero, tiene 2 hijos, vive en un departamento que es herencia de los padres Posee un negocio de Confeccin de ropa, alquila un local en la avenida principal, sus clientes son todas las personas de la comunidad, su experiencia es de 15 aos en esta actividad, l atiende a partir de las 7:00 AM hasta las 18:00PM, l necesita $ 685, para poder comprar materiales como: telas, hilos, juego de tijeras, una moldeadora, se pudo observar que es una persona trabajadora, y emprendedora.
",M,700,partner,Services,0 Ecuador,"ENGLISH
Leandro Burgos runs a small but efficient manufacturing operation in Guayaquil, Ecuador. He concentrates his efforts on making bed railings and other pieces of bedroom furniture. He supplements his business by selling mattresses and other complementary items. He operates from 8:00 AM to the 6:00 PM and his primary clients are the people from his community who he has served for over 10 years. Leandro needs a loan of $1,200, to buy more iron, wood, shellac, etc. It was observed that he has good family stability and ownership of a small truck in order to transfer his merchandise. Leandro was born in Ventanas has 1 child with his wife and owns his own house. He has 19 years of work experience in manufacturing.
SPANISH
Leandro Burgos tiene 39 aos, naci en Ventanas tiene 1 hijo, esta unin libre con su seora, posee casa propia. Tiene un negocio de Elaboracin y venta de camas y rejas, ubicado en el mismo domicilio de su casa, su clientela son todos los moradores de la comunidad y clientes de otras zonas, su experiencia la tiene desde hace 19 aos pero en esa direccin esta hace 10 aos, la atencin al pblico es de las 8:00 AM hasta las 18:00PM, l necesita el prstamo de $ 1,200, para comprar ms hierro, madera, laca, etc. se pudo observar que ellos tienen buena estabilidad familiar inclusive tienen una pequea camioneta de segunda para poder trasladar su mercadera
",M,1200,partner,Manufacturing,0 Ecuador,"Ervin Lino is 27 years old and has three children. He owns a small location where he sells ceviche, a common Ecuadorian dish made with seafood, lime, onions and tomatoes. He is near a very popular market that creates high traffic around his area and helps him sell. He has an assistant who helps him along with the mother of his children. He is in need of a loan in order to buy more seafood so that he can meet the increasing demand he is experiencing. He is also eager to add chairs and tables for his clients in order to create a more inviting dining environment.
",M,925,partner,Food,0 Ecuador,"Jose Reyna is a 52 year old store owner who has had his shop for about 14 years. He is not married but has the responsibility of taking care of his 11 year old adopted son and his mother. His store is on the bottom floor of his home and is located well in order to attract clients from the area. With the loan Jose will buy more merchandise to sell at lower prices. Jose is completed dedicated to his business which is open from 6am to 11pm. His hard work and perseverance have allowed him to buy his home and fulfill the responsibilities of being a father.
",M,500,partner,Retail,0 Ecuador,"Lourdes Rizzo is a 46 year old mother of five, although she now only has the responsibility of her 11 year old daughter. She owns a small restaurant that serves breakfast and dinner mainly to her loyal customers who are workers in the area. She opens at 6 AM and closes at 4 PM. She is in need of this loan in order to buy food in bulk and make some minor improvements to her location.
",F,475,partner,Food,0 Ecuador,"Maria Carmilema is 41 years old, is married and has 3 children. She owns a business where members of the community make long distance and local phone calls. This is a valuable service in her area because many people cannot afford to have their own phone lines in their home. Recently the city made her move back part of her business in order to abide by local regulations. She is in need of a loan in order to repair the floor that was damaged in order to comply with the local government. The current condition is having a significantly negative effect on her business.
",F,375,partner,Retail,0 Ecuador,"Maria Guanuchi is originally from Azuay but has lived in Guayaquil, Ecuador for more than 30 years. She has owned this store for 23 years with the help of her husband and only son. Her husband is in charge of buying merchandise for the store, but he can only buy as much as the store sells in the short term. Therefore, the store has very little in stock and cannot buy at larger quantities with cheaper prices. She has made efforts to seek loans from banks but has been rejected and she cannot pay the 20% monthly interest rates that local informal lenders offer. With the $500 loan she will be able to take advantage of better deals from her wholesale providers and also diversify her products.
",F,500,partner,Food,0 Ecuador,"Oswaldo Chanduy is 33 years old, has three children and owns a restaurant that he opened about a year ago. He is encouraged by the progress and popularity of his venture and is seeking to invest in improvements to the location and to take advantage of buying food in bulk. The restaurant is conveniently located on a main street where he gets plenty of attention and business. He works from 8:00 AM until 10:00 PM.
",M,375,partner,Food,0 Ecuador,"Rosa Cevallos is a 47 year old single mother of four children. Although only two of her children still live at home she has the responsibility of supporting one of them who is currently enrolled in a University. Her dream is to have her children attain college degrees and become professionals.
Her beauty salon has been established for over thirteen years. She has a dedicated group of clients but she is looking to expand her business in order to increase profits. She is interested in hiring another employee and offering new services. Therefore, she will use the capital in order to help her hire a new employee and buy products that will help her diversify her offerings.
",F,1200,partner,Services,0 Ecuador,"Rosa Parra has two children and is 35 years old. She owns a store in
Guayaquil where she sells food in large amounts like rice, corn and sugar. The business is located in her parents home which is conveniently located on a main street. She is seeking to diversify her product offerings and buy in larger quantities for her clients. She also sells womens clothing and perfume as a side job in order to bring in extra income for her home. She will use the loan primarily for her store in order to increase her inventory and boost sales.
Sotero Peafiel is 45 years old, was born in the province of Manabi in Ecuador, is married and has a 6 year old son. Sotero is a tailor who makes suits and uniforms of all types. He operates his business out of his home for over 32 years and has the help of his wife and a partner who purchases some of the suits he makes in order to resell them. He is in dire need for capital in order to increase production for the upcoming school year. He expects that demand will be high because students will need new uniforms and teachers will also be looking for new work attire. In order to meet the demand he must buy more materials to make the clothing. He is hopeful that he will receive the loan in time to make these products.
",M,500,partner,Clothing,0 Ecuador,"Vicente Ruiz is a 50 year old father of two boys. For over 11 years he and his wife have owned a bakery that is very popular in his neighborhood. They begin baking at 6 am every morning and continue to sell throughout the day and night until about 10 pm. They will use the loan to buy ingredients for their bread like flour, butter and baking soda and will also consider purchasing complimentary goods that they can sell with their current product. This business has provided a living for them and their children and allowed them to build their current home.
",M,300,partner,Food,0 Ecuador,"Wilson Hernandez is a 41-year-old native of Guayaquil who is married and has 3 children. He owns his home and rents a location for his business where he sells, repairs and refurbishes furniture. He sells all types of items, including popular outdoor pieces made with wood perfect for beach conditions. His business is located near his home in a popular business sector. He opens from 8:30 AM to 6:30 PM and counts on the help of one employee and his oldest daughter. He is in need of $575 dollars in order to buy materials (such as wood and paint) necessary for the production and refurbishment of new items.
",M,575,partner,Retail,0 Ecuador,"Anita, a 32 year-old originally from Manabi, Ecuador, has three children, two of whom study at the colegio. Unfortunately, her third son who is 14 years of age does attend school because Anita and her husband cannot afford it. Sra. Choezs husband works as a cabinet maker and makes $120 every month. Anita has always had an entrepreneurial spirit, and once she married, she wanted to pursue her dream of opening a breakfast restaurant with her husband. They began by running the small restaurant out of their home, but they realized 5 years ago that they would need a larger location to accommodate the growing number of customers that frequented their place. This husband-wife team has been able to improve their home which is in an area of Guayaquil called Isla Trinitaria. With the profits from business, Anita and her husband have been able to re-do the structure of their house to brick. She wants to borrow $585 so that she can put in new flooring in her house. The way things are right now, her family is very susceptible to flu and other throat sicknesses because the flooring is just dirt. Also, Anita would like to buy more utensils for her restaurant.
",F,600,partner,Construction,0 Ecuador,"Edeisi, who was born in Esmeralda, Ecuador, has lived in Guayaquil since she was very young. Now, this 42 year-old mother of two lives with her husband in a marginalized area of the city referred to as Isla Trinitaria. Edeisi and her partner had to wait 10 years to obtain the title to their house as well as many other hardships. They lack potable water which costs $1 per tank, hygienic services, and a mode of transportation. Now 7 years widowed, Edeisi is left with her two children who are almost independent and her husbands cabinet making business. When he passed away, Sra. Benitez still had possession of all of the tools, but she took the initiative in finding a worker who could continue the business to continue bringing in money for the family. One of her sons markets the finished products in the local markets. Edeisi is asking for this $365 loan to buy more wood to continue making cabinets as well as a polisher.
",M,375,partner,Construction,0 Ecuador,"Gloria Pazmio is a native of Guayaquil, Ecuador, and she runs a small shop that sells food items and drinks. This mother of two children, one of whom still depends on her financially, is a homeowner. Located in her house, Tienda Jenny is a bustling little store that sells to customers in the neighborhood in need of candy, juices, and soda. With 20 years of experience managing her shop, Gloria is a local favorite. Many of the young children that attend the school across the street come to her store after class. Working from 6 a.m. until 8 p.m. Gloria is a hard-working, entrepreneurial woman. She is asking for a $575 loan to buy more products for her store and diversify the supply.
",F,575,partner,Retail,0 Ecuador,"Luis is a 40 year-old native of Guayaquil who has two children and a living wife. His wife is a mannequin maker, and Lucho used to work in a factory. Left without work, Luis had to learn how to sell fish to continue providing for his family. For 7 years Sr. Astudillo has worked as a fish salesman in a local market. He arrives at 4:00 am every day to buy his fresh products in the grand market, and thanks to the help of his wife, they have been able to make improvements on their home from mud and raw materials to cement. Don Luis needs this loan to be able to buy a refrigerator to keep his fish fresh throughout the day.
",M,475,partner,Food,0 Ecuador,"Manuela Guaylla who was born in Chimborazo, Ecuador is a 45 year-old married entrepreneur. She runs a small vegetable market that she and her husband rent in the busy district. Manuela has been the owner of this particular business for 4 years, but she thanks her parents and husband for teaching her how to run such a business. Their advice about where to find the best products for the lowest price, as well as how to display her vegetables has been valuable. Ms. Guaylla works from 6 a.m. until 5 p.m. She is asking for a $465 loan to purchase more vegetables in cash, allowing her to get wholesale discounts. Manuela wants lenders to know that she is a hard-working and industrious woman who wants her business to succeed.
",F,475,partner,Food,0 Ecuador,"Maria Ortiz who is a 49 year-old originally from Caar, Ecuador has two children and runs a small music store. Ms. Ortiz lost her husband a few years ago and is completely in charge of managing the business and supporting her young ones. Her store which is in the Municipal Enrique Grau has 25 years of experience and sells CDs and Ecuadorian music recordings to members of the community. Every day from 6 a.m. until 6 p.m. Maria takes care of the store. She is asking for a $355 loan to be able to buy different products in cash, so that she can get a discount from her supplier. She wants lenders to know that she is industrious and emprendedora or entrepreneurial.
",F,375,partner,Retail,0 Ecuador,"Mercis Reinel, who was born in Esmeralda, Ecuador has lived in Guayaquil for 10 years. She is a 42 year-old single mother with 4 children, one of whom (7 years old) still lived in the household. Sra. Reinel has a fish business which she learned about from her parents. This long-time fish saleswoman of 15 years has been searching for a way to make greater profits so that she can provide for her children. Her daily routine is fairly normal; she wakes up at 4:00 am to buy the catch for the day at which point she brings the fish to her market and sells it until around 1:00 pm. If she does not sell all of her fish at the market, she takes it home with her and finishes selling it there, she says. Mercis wants to take out a $475 loan to buy fish in cash and choose from the freshest fish around. Also, she wants to improve the presentation of her business to market the products better and bring in more clients. Mercis wants lenders to know that she is a very industrious woman who wants nothing more than to have her business succeed so that she can provide a better life for her children.
",M,475,partner,Food,0 Ecuador,"Mnica Santiana, 39 years old, was born in the province of Manabi. She is married with 2 children that are in school. The bakery which is located downstairs from her house is in a part of town where there is not an overabundance of bakeries. Also, the business lies along a main thoroughfare, so plenty of traffic passes by their store. From 6am until 10pm Monica and her husband sell bread and other bakery items. They know how to run their business efficiently, but they lack the capital to expand.
",F,600,partner,Food,0 Ecuador,"Pedro Quinez, originally from Columbia, has lived in Guayaquil, Ecuador for 10 years. He is a 56-year-old married man with 3 children. His business sells household provisions and treats. Pedros venture is run out of his home and he has been in this business for 5 years. Clients from the neighborhood can buy goods there from 9:00am until 11:00 pm. Sr. Quinez woul like to take out a $475 loan to buy more inventory and purchase special order items from his regulars. Don Pedro is a hard-working entrepreneur that wants to grow his small business and advance his familys situation.
",M,475,partner,Retail,0 Ecuador,"Victoria Urgiles is a 38 year-old woman from Azoguez, Ecuador with three children. She is married and owns her home. Ms. Urgiles owns a small business that specializes in vegetables and fruits. Her shop is located near her house in the Mercado Municipal (Enrique Grau), and the normal customers are neighborhood locals. Victoria has 25 years of experience selling at her current market, which was passed down to her from her parents. She feels a duty to work extremely hard because this is the only business she has ever known, and her parents spent many years building it up. Victorias husband is her right-hand man, partner, and motivator. They work together in the market from 6 a.m. until 1 p.m., and she is asking for a $575 loan to buy more vegetables and a new scale for weighing items. Together Victoria and her husband are an entrepreneurial pair full of perseverance.
",F,575,partner,Food,0 Ecuador,"Yesenia Guadam, a 29 year-old single mother originally from Vinces, Ecuador, has lived in Guayaquil for 15 years. Since she and her husband split, she has been responsible for their two children ages 6 and 7. A good friend of Yesenias encouraged her to open a fish market, and so she started a small business a few years back. Sra. Guadama opens shop at 4:00 am and usually sells out by 1:00 pm. With her revenues from one day, Yesenia will buy fish for the next, but she would like to expand her offering by taking out a $365 loan. She wants to buy seafood like fish, shrimp, and shellfish like crab and scallops. This microloan will allow Yesenia to buy in cash, whereas now she currently purchases goods on credit for a one-day period and pays nearly double to settle the debt. She wants to strengthen her business and build a board with which she can display her fish. One of the side benefits of making more profit is that Yesenia can save enough money to fix the roof of her house and send her children to a better school.
",F,375,partner,Food,0 Ecuador,"Reason for Borrowing- Pedro Mosquera, who was born in Guayaquil, is a 49-year-old bicycle salesman who has been in business for 3 years. His small enterprise is located in the house that he and his brothers inherited from his father. His bike shop is strategically located because there is not another similar business like this nearby. Working from 9 am until 7 pm, Pedro desperately needs this capital to serve his clients better. He would like lenders to know that he is running a professional bike shop and that he is very responsible.
Justificacion de Credito- Pedro Mosquera naci en Guayaquil, tiene 49 aos de edad, es soltero, posee un negocio de venta de repuestos y arreglos de bicicletas desde hace 3 aos, el negocio esta ubicado en su domicilio que fue herencia de sus padres con otros hermanos, la ubicacin es estratgica porque no hay ese tipo de negocio en la zona y esta muy bien ubicado, atiende de 9:00AM hasta las 7:00PM., el esta solicitando el crdito para comprar ms repuestos y surtir su negocio y atender mejor a sus clientes. Se pudo observar que Don Pedro es una persona que conoce del negocio y muy responsable.
",M,400,partner,Retail,0 Ecuador,"
Gloria Paredes was born in Guayaquil, Ecuador and is 39 years old. She divorced but later remarried a very supportive husband, with whom she had two children. Together they are homeowners. Gloria runs a thriving construction supply store look out Home Depot! Her shop is located in the large market called Municipal Cinco Esquina. Ms. Paredes has 15 years of experience selling home construction materials, but she has only been selling in the Municipal for the last two years. Her husband helps her purchase the wholesale goods from large manufacturers. Without him Gloria could not run her business. From 6 a.m. until 5 p.m. these two entrepreneurs work together to sell materials to locals who are constantly making home improvements. She is asking for $1,200 to buy a variety of quality products that her clients ask for. Like most other Mifex borrowers, Gloria will be able to buy a higher quantity of goods if she can purchase supplies in cash because of the discounts. She wants to continue growing her business and is hoping that the kind lenders who see her profile will invest in her future.
",F,1200,partner,Retail,0 Ecuador,"Alberto is a single man living with his mother. He cultivates rice, watermelon, tomatoes and corn. He also raises chickens and pigs that serve as a secondary source of food and income for him and his mother. He would like to invest this loan in seeds and fertilizer and to hire a couple of workers to clean a plot that is currently unproductive. He plans to invest the extra income he will make in buying machinery that will help him improve his land for farming.
",M,950,lender,Agriculture,1 Ecuador,"Angela has three children and one adopted child. On her farm she plants rice and relies on this production to feed her family. She lives at home with one of her grandchildren, her daughter and, the adopted son. With the loan she will buy fertilizer and seeds for rice production. Angela suffers from kidney disease and must go through dialysis once a week for treatment. She hopes that she will be able to contract someone to help work her land so she can pay her medical expenses without bothering her children.
This borrower is part of the newest and largest Communal Bank in the recently developed Mifex Rural Finance Program. All of the members of the Centro Agricola de Baba Communal Bank are part of an Association of Rice Farmers in the county of Baba in rural Ecuador. Their association works cooperatively to cultivate rice and commercialize the product after it has grown. As an association, Centro Agricola helps the farmers by providing access to machinery and training services. The farmers from Centro Agricola have received special instruction on financial responsibility and accounting from Codemicro, an organization that specializes in training programs geared towards the rural sector.
The members of Centro Agricola de Baba will use the micro-loans to prepare their lands and cultivate rice on their farms. Because they form part of a communal bank, they are all each others' guarantors for the loan. This means that if for some reason one person in the group cannot fully repay the loan, the other borrowers and the Centro Agricola de Baba Association are responsible for the amount in default. The members of the bank also participate in a program designed to teach and encourage savings among the group. Promoting savings is often forgotten in many micro-finance programs, but Mifex believes that is imperative for the communities we works with to have capital reserved for future investments or unexpected difficulties.
Below is more information about Baba compiled by Luis Crespo and Robert Edgar of the Mifex team when evaluating the potential of the sector for the Rural Finance Program.
The people of Baba have been organized since the days of Gran Colombia when Ecuador was yet to be a country. The area has always been popular because of the extremely productive lands that gave way to cultivation of cacao for decades. Now Baba is a county in the province of Los Rios in the coastal region of Ecuador. For most of the latter part of the 20th Century it was a cacao and banana producing sector. Most of the surrounding areas of Baba in Los Rios are owned by big large companies such as Dole, but Baba is a sector characterized the small and informal farms.
Rice production has now turned into the main economic activity of the area as about 80% of the people are rice farmers. Cacao is still very popular in the area, but because of the long cultivation cycle people prefer to invest in rice. The lands in Baba are very fertile though, and most farmers in the sector often grow other crops, such as plantains and soy beans, as secondary sources of income. Many farmers also keep livestock as emergency sources of food and income, commonly resorting to selling a chicken or pig if they are in need of cash.
Most of the people in the Baba area are small farmers. They produce about 80 sacks of rice per hectare of land. In order to farm they first must prepare the lands by removing weeds, plowing and leveling the lands. This is the most difficult part for the farmers in Baba, who often lack the necessary machinery to properly plough the lands for rice production. After appropriately preparing the lands, the farmers fill an area with water to form what is known as a paddy field, because rice is a very water intensive crop. The rice seeds are either dispersed freely (the process is known as boleo in Spanish) or hand sowed. Once the rice has grown, most farmers rent machinery that helps them gather their production.
One of the biggest struggles in the area has been the lack of credit due to the absence of any type of financial institution. Because people do not count on formal financial finance, they have turned to loan sharks for financing. They have been affected by expensive lines of credit that exceed 100% interest a year and can be as expensive as 240%. Intermediaries also exploit the farmers because of their outstanding debt. Farmers also lack skills and knowledge to commercialize their products and pay fair prices for their crops.
The largest risk in the sector is due to absence of watering systems. Although Baba is in the province Los Rios (the rivers) there is severe problem with access to water. The lack of infrastructure in the sector does not allow the small farmers to benefit from the presence of the many rivers in the area. If the winter season is too dry, it is likely that the lands will not be sufficiently fertile for rice production in the summer. On the other hand, if there is too much rain there are no drainage systems to prevent flooding and the crops are often ruined. Generally speaking though, Baba is a very productive sector where the lands yield all types of products including rice, cacao, corn, watermelons, plantains, and soy beans.
The loans in this sector will be used to to buy soil, seeds, fertilizer and insecticides. Many of the loans will also go towards renting machinery and equipment necessary to effectively work and prepare the fields. The loan repayment schedule is different from the typical micro-entrepreneur because farmers see the profits from their investments 5 or 6 months after making their initial expenditures. Mifex asks our rural clients only to pay 50% of the capital in the first 6 months of the loan. The rest of the debt must be paid in the seventh and final month.
",F,1200,lender,Agriculture,0 Ecuador,"Armando cultivates rice, watermelons, corn and soy beans on his land. He has been living in this area for about forty years. He lives with his wife and three of his sons who help him with the farming. He also lives with 4 grandchildren in his small home. He hopes to invest the loan in the preparation of his land for production and to purchase fertilizer. He is trying to save money in order to increase the size of his home for his family.
This borrower is part of the newest and largest Communal Bank in the recently developed Mifex Rural Finance Program. All of the members of the Centro Agricola de Baba Communal Bank are part of an Association of Rice Farmers in the county of Baba in rural Ecuador. Their association works cooperatively to cultivate rice and commercialize the product after it has grown. As an association, Centro Agricola helps the farmers by providing access to machinery and training services. The farmers from Centro Agricola have received special instruction on financial responsibility and accounting from Codemicro, an organization that specializes in training programs geared towards the rural sector.
The members of Centro Agricola de Baba will use the micro-loans to prepare their land and cultivate rice on their farms. Because they form part of a communal bank, they are all each others' guarantors for the loan. This means that if for some reason one person in the group cannot fully repay the loan, the other borrowers and the Centro Agricola de Baba Association are responsible for the amount in default. The members of the bank also participate in a program designed to teach and encourage savings among the group. Promoting savings is often forgotten in many micro-finance programs, but Mifex believes that is imperative for the communities we work with to have capital reserved for future investments or unexpected difficulties.
Below is more information about Santa Lucia compiled by Luis Crespo and Robert Edgar of the Mifex team when evaluating the potential of the sector for the Rural Finance Program.
The people of Baba have been organized since the days of Gran Colombia when Ecuador was yet to be a country. The area has always been popular because of the extremely productive land that gave way to cultivation of cacao for decades. Now Baba is a county in the province of Los Rios in the coastal region of Ecuador. For most of the latter part of the 20th Century it was a cacao and banana producing sector. Most of the surrounding areas of Baba in Los Rios are owned by large mulitnational companies such as Dole, but Baba is a sector characterized by the small and informal farms.
Rice production has now turned into the main economic activity of the sector as about 80% of the people are rice farmers. Cacao is still very popular in the area, but because of the long cultivation cycle people prefer to invest in rice. The land in Baba is very fertile though, and most farmers in the sector often grow other crops, such as plantains and soy beans as secondary sources of income. Many farmers also keep livestock as emergency sources of food and income, commonly resorting to selling a chicken or pig if they are in need of cash.
Most of the people in the Baba area are small farmers. They produce about 80 sacks of rice per hectare of land. In order to farm, they first must prepare the land by removing weed, plowing and leveling it. This is the most difficult part for the farmers in Baba, who often lack the necessary machinery to properly plow the land for rice production. After appropriately preparing the land, the farmers fill an area with water to form what is known as a paddy field, because rice is a very water intensive crop. The rice seeds are either dispersed freely (the process is known as boleo in Spanish) or hand sowed. Once the rice has grown, most farmers rent machinery that helps them gather their production.
One of the biggest struggles in the area has been the lack of credit due to the absence of any type of financial institution. Because people do not count on formal financial support, they have turned to loan sharks for financing. They have been affected by expensive lines of credit that exceed 100% interest a year and can be as expensive as 240%. Intermediaries also exploit the farmers because of their outstanding debt. Farmers also lack skills and knowledge to commercialize their products and pay fair prices for their crops.
The largest risk in the sector is due to absence of watering systems. Although Baba is in the province Los Rios (the rivers), there is severe problem with access to water. The lack of infrastructure in the sector does not allow the small farmers to benefit from the presence of the many rivers in the area. If the winter season is too dry, it is likely that the lands will not be sufficiently fertile for rice production in the summer. On the other hand, if there is too much rain there are not any drainage systems to prevent flooding and the crops are often ruined. Generally speaking though, Baba is a very productive sector where the lands yield all types of crops including rice, cacao, corn, watermelons, plantains, and soy beans.
The loans in this sector will mostly be used to to buy soil, seeds, fertilizer and insecticides. Many clients will use the capital towards renting machinery and equipment necessary to effectively work and prepare the fields. Clients also typically use a part of the loan to buy livestock in order to raise and have as reserves. The loan repayment schedule is different from the typical micro-entrepreneur because farmers see the profits from their investments 5 or 6 months after making their initial expenditures. Mifex asks our rural clients only to pay 50% of the capital in the first 6 months of the loan. The rest of the debt must be paid in the seventh and final month.
",M,1200,lender,Agriculture,0 Ecuador,"Baldomero is a farmer from the Santa Lucia area. He has a small piece of land that was given to him and his brothers by his father. He primarily produces rice on his part of the land. He lives with his wife and children on his land, with his brothers nearby. They are a very close knit family who help each other out by working cohesively on their lands. He hopes that with the loan he can make his land more productive for rice, as now it is not level and he needs to rent machinery to level it out. With the extra profits he wants to improve his home which is in poor condition.
Baldomero is part of one of the newest Communal Banks in the recently developed Mifex Rural Finance Program. All of the members of the Primero de Agosto Communal Bank are part of an Association of Rice Farmers in Santa Lucia. They will use the microloans to prepare their lands and cultivate rice on their farms. Because they form part of a communal bank, they are all each other's guarantors for the loan. This means that if for some reason one person in the group cannot fully repay the loan, the other borrowers and the Primero de Agosto Association are responsible for the amount in default. The members of the bank also participate in a program designed to teach and encourage savings among the group. Promoting savings is often forgotten in many microfinance programs, but Mifex believes that it is imperative for the communities it works with to have capital reserved for future investments or unexpected difficulties.
Below is more information about Santa Lucia compiled by Luis Crespo and Robert Edgar of the Mifex team when evaluating the potential of the sector for the Rural Finance Program. Special thanks to Mario Balazantegui, who provided expert insight and contributed to the development of the alliances with the local organizations.
Santa Lucia County has a population of about 33,000 people. The sector is fit for rice cultivating because it is not in the lowlands and therefore it is not at risk of flooding. There is also great access to water because of the Daule River, which is accessible to many of the farmers in the area. About 70% of the farmers have basic infrastructure for watering their crops.
Rice production is the main economic activity of the area, as about 80% of the people are rice farmers. Almost everyone is either directly or indirectly involved with the rice production, as they produce, commercialize, or participate in activities that add value to the product. Within the county, there is a small town also named Santa Lucia. The town is filled with many small businesses and it serves as the social and commercial hub of the area.
Most of the people in the Santa Lucia area are small farmers. They produce about 100 sacks of rice per hectare of land. In order to farm they first must prepare the lands by removing weeds and plowing. The farmers then fill an area with water to form what is known as a paddy field, because rice is a very water intensive crop. The rice seeds are either dispersed freely (the process is known as boleo in Spanish) or hand sowed. Once the rice has grown, most farmers rent machinery that helps them gather their production. A risk factor does exist in rice farming because of drought, but in Santa Lucia this is somewhat mitigated by the access to water from the nearby river.
The biggest struggle in the area has been the lack of credit. Because people do not count on formal financial services, they have turned to loan sharks for financing. They have been affected by expensive lines of credit that exceed 100% interest a year and can be as expensive as 240%. Intermediaries also exploit the farmers because of their outstanding debt. Farmers also lack skills and knowledge to commercialize their products and pay fair prices for their crops.
The loans in this sector will be used to to buy soil, seeds, fertilizer and insecticides. They will also be used to prepare the land prior to farming, to plant the seeds, and purchase other materials. The loan repayment schedule is also different from the typical microentrepreneur. Because farmers see the profits from their investments 5 or 6 months after making their initial expenditures, Mifex asks them only to pay 50% of the capital in the first 6 months of the loan. The rest of the debt must be paid in the seventh and final month.
",M,1200,lender,Agriculture,0 Ecuador,"Belarmina lives with her husband, her son and three grandchildren. On her land she plants rice and cacao. She has been producing these crops for over forty years after being taught how to farm by her father. She hopes she can invest in seeds and fertilizer now that she has already taken the necessary steps to prepare the lands. With the extra profits she wants to continue to improve her home while also providing an education for her grandchildren.
This borrower is part of the newest and largest Communal Bank in the recently developed Mifex Rural Finance Program. All of the members of the Centro Agricola de Baba Communal Bank are part of an Association of Rice Farmers in the county of Baba in rural Ecuador. Their association works cooperatively to cultivate rice and commercialize the product after it has grown. As an association, Centro Agricola helps the farmers by providing access to machinery and training services. The farmers from Centro Agricola have received special instruction on financial responsibility and accounting from Codemicro, an organization that specializes in training programs geared towards the rural sector.
The members of Centro Agricola de Baba will use the micro-loans to prepare their lands and cultivate rice on their farms. Because they form part of a communal bank, they are all each others' guarantors for the loan. This means that if for some reason one person in the group cannot fully repay the loan, the other borrowers and the Centro Agricola de Baba Association are responsible for the amount in default. The members of the bank also participate in a program designed to teach and encourage savings among the group. Promoting savings is often forgotten in many micro-finance programs, but Mifex believes that is imperative for the communities we works with to have capital reserved for future investments or unexpected difficulties.
Below is more information about Santa Lucia compiled by Luis Crespo and Robert Edgar of the Mifex team when evaluating the potential of the sector for the Rural Finance Program.
The people of Baba have been organized since the days of Gran Colombia when Ecuador was yet to be a country. The area has always been popular because of the extremely productive lands that gave way to cultivation of cacao for decades. Now Baba is a county in the province of Los Rios in the coastal region of Ecuador. For most of the latter part of the 20th Century it was a cacao and banana producing sector. Most of the surrounding areas of Baba in Los Rios are owned by large mulitnational companies such as Dole, but Baba is a sector characterized by the small and informal farms.
Rice production has now turned into the main economic activity of the sector as about 80% of the people are rice farmers. Cacao is still very popular in the area, but because of the long cultivation cycle people prefer to invest in rice. The lands in Baba are very fertile though, and most farmers in the sector often grow other crops, such as plantains and soy beans as secondary sources of income. Many farmers also keep livestock as emergency sources of food and income, commonly resorting to selling a chicken or pig if they are in need of cash.
Most of the people in the Baba area are small farmers. They produce about 80 sacks of rice per hectare of land. In order to farm they first must prepare the lands by removing weeds, plowing and leveling the lands. This is the most difficult part for the farmers in Baba, who often lack the necessary machinery to properly plow the lands for rice production. After appropriately preparing the lands, the farmers fill an area with water to form what is known as a paddy field, because rice is a very water intensive crop. The rice seeds are either dispersed freely (the process is known as boleo in Spanish) or hand sowed. Once the rice has grown, most farmers rent machinery that helps them gather their production.
One of the biggest struggles in the area has been the lack of credit due to the absence of any type of financial institution. Because people do not count on formal financial finance, they have turned to loan sharks for financing. They have been affected by expensive lines of credit that exceed 100% interest a year and can be as expensive as 240%. Intermediaries also exploit the farmers because of their outstanding debt. Farmers also lack skills and knowledge to commercialize their products and pay fair prices for their crops.
The largest risk in the sector is due to absence of watering systems. Although Baba is in the province Los Rios (the rivers) there is severe problem with access to water. The lack of infrastructure in the sector does not allow the small farmers to benefit from the presence of the many rivers in the area. If the winter season is too dry, it is likely that the lands will not be sufficiently fertile for rice production in the summer. On the other hand, if there is too much rain there are not any drainage systems to prevent flooding and the crops are often ruined. Generally speaking though, Baba is a very productive sector where the lands yield all types of crops including rice, cacao, corn, watermelons, plantains, and soy beans.
The loans in this sector will mostly be used to to buy soil, seeds, fertilizer and insecticides. Many clients will use the capital towards renting machinery and equipment necessary to effectively work and prepare the fields. Clients also typically use a part of the loan to buy livestock in order to raise and have as reserves. The loan repayment schedule is different from the typical micro-entrepreneur because farmers see the profits from their investments 5 or 6 months after making their initial expenditures. Mifex asks our rural clients only to pay 50% of the capital in the first 6 months of the loan. The rest of the debt must be paid in the seventh and final month.
",F,950,lender,Agriculture,1 Ecuador,"Clara has lived around Baba for her entire life. She has a small piece of land where she plants rice, corn, plantains and cacao. She also has a small business in the small town of Baba, where she sells juice, tortillas and snacks. She is applying for the loan because she wants to buy pigs that she will eventually sell as a secondary source of income. She will also invest in her land to produce rice. She has twins who are currently living in Guayaquil because they want to go to school. Clara has been trying to help them study but is having a hard time paying for their school and living expenses. Claras dream is to help her two sons graduate as professionals from a good school in the large city.
This borrower is part of the newest and largest Communal Bank in the recently developed Mifex Rural Finance Program. All of the members of the Centro Agricola de Baba Communal Bank are part of an Association of Rice Farmers in the county of Baba in rural Ecuador. Their association works cooperatively to cultivate rice and commercialize the product after it has grown. As an association, Centro Agricola helps the farmers by providing access to machinery and training services. The farmers from Centro Agricola have received special instruction on financial responsibility and accounting from Codemicro, an organization that specializes in training programs geared towards the rural sector.
The members of Centro Agricola de Baba will use the micro-loans to prepare their land and cultivate rice on their farms. Because they form part of a communal bank, they are all each others' guarantors for the loan. This means that if for some reason one person in the group cannot fully repay the loan, the other borrowers and the Centro Agricola de Baba Association are responsible for the amount in default. The members of the bank also participate in a program designed to teach and encourage savings among the group. Promoting savings is often forgotten in many micro-finance programs, but Mifex believes that is imperative for the communities we work with to have capital reserved for future investments or unexpected difficulties.
Below is more information about Santa Lucia compiled by Luis Crespo and Robert Edgar of the Mifex team when evaluating the potential of the sector for the Rural Finance Program.
The people of Baba have been organized since the days of Gran Colombia when Ecuador was yet to be a country. The area has always been popular because of the extremely productive land that gave way to cultivation of cacao for decades. Now Baba is a county in the province of Los Rios in the coastal region of Ecuador. For most of the latter part of the 20th Century it was a cacao and banana producing sector. Most of the surrounding areas of Baba in Los Rios are owned by large mulitnational companies such as Dole, but Baba is a sector characterized by the small and informal farms.
Rice production has now turned into the main economic activity of the sector as about 80% of the people are rice farmers. Cacao is still very popular in the area, but because of the long cultivation cycle people prefer to invest in rice. The land in Baba is very fertile though, and most farmers in the sector often grow other crops, such as plantains and soy beans as secondary sources of income. Many farmers also keep livestock as emergency sources of food and income, commonly resorting to selling a chicken or pig if they are in need of cash.
Most of the people in the Baba area are small farmers. They produce about 80 sacks of rice per hectare of land. In order to farm, they first must prepare the land by removing weed, plowing and leveling it. This is the most difficult part for the farmers in Baba, who often lack the necessary machinery to properly plow the land for rice production. After appropriately preparing the land, the farmers fill an area with water to form what is known as a paddy field, because rice is a very water intensive crop. The rice seeds are either dispersed freely (the process is known as boleo in Spanish) or hand sowed. Once the rice has grown, most farmers rent machinery that helps them gather their production.
One of the biggest struggles in the area has been the lack of credit due to the absence of any type of financial institution. Because people do not count on formal financial support, they have turned to loan sharks for financing. They have been affected by expensive lines of credit that exceed 100% interest a year and can be as expensive as 240%. Intermediaries also exploit the farmers because of their outstanding debt. Farmers also lack skills and knowledge to commercialize their products and pay fair prices for their crops.
The largest risk in the sector is due to absence of watering systems. Although Baba is in the province Los Rios (the rivers), there is severe problem with access to water. The lack of infrastructure in the sector does not allow the small farmers to benefit from the presence of the many rivers in the area. If the winter season is too dry, it is likely that the lands will not be sufficiently fertile for rice production in the summer. On the other hand, if there is too much rain there are not any drainage systems to prevent flooding and the crops are often ruined. Generally speaking though, Baba is a very productive sector where the lands yield all types of crops including rice, cacao, corn, watermelons, plantains, and soy beans.
The loans in this sector will mostly be used to to buy soil, seeds, fertilizer and insecticides. Many clients will use the capital towards renting machinery and equipment necessary to effectively work and prepare the fields. Clients also typically use a part of the loan to buy livestock in order to raise and have as reserves. The loan repayment schedule is different from the typical micro-entrepreneur because farmers see the profits from their investments 5 or 6 months after making their initial expenditures. Mifex asks our rural clients only to pay 50% of the capital in the first 6 months of the loan. The rest of the debt must be paid in the seventh and final month.
",F,675,partner,Agriculture,0 Ecuador,"Danilo has a small home on a piece of land that was given to him by his employer. He tends to his plot as well as that of his employer. He only has a few chickens and a horse named Mueca on his land. With the loan he hopes to invest in rice for the upcoming season. He will buy seeds, fertilizer and pesticides. He has four children, two of whom are still in school and living at home. He hopes that with the additional income he can continue to feed his family and educate the his two youngest sons.
This borrower is part of the newest and largest Communal Bank in the recently developed Mifex Rural Finance Program. All of the members of the Centro Agricola de Baba Communal Bank are part of an Association of Rice Farmers in the county of Baba in rural Ecuador. Their association works cooperatively to cultivate rice and commercialize the product after it has grown. As an association, Centro Agricola helps the farmers by providing access to machinery and training services. The farmers from Centro Agricola have received special instruction on financial responsibility and accounting from Codemicro, an organization that specializes in training programs geared towards the rural sector.
The members of Centro Agricola de Baba will use the micro-loans to prepare their land and cultivate rice on their farms. Because they form part of a communal bank, they are all each others' guarantors for the loan. This means that if for some reason one person in the group cannot fully repay the loan, the other borrowers and the Centro Agricola de Baba Association are responsible for the amount in default. The members of the bank also participate in a program designed to teach and encourage savings among the group. Promoting savings is often forgotten in many micro-finance programs, but Mifex believes that is imperative for the communities we work with to have capital reserved for future investments or unexpected difficulties.
Below is more information about Santa Lucia compiled by Luis Crespo and Robert Edgar of the Mifex team when evaluating the potential of the sector for the Rural Finance Program.
The people of Baba have been organized since the days of Gran Colombia when Ecuador was yet to be a country. The area has always been popular because of the extremely productive land that gave way to cultivation of cacao for decades. Now Baba is a county in the province of Los Rios in the coastal region of Ecuador. For most of the latter part of the 20th Century it was a cacao and banana producing sector. Most of the surrounding areas of Baba in Los Rios are owned by large mulitnational companies such as Dole, but Baba is a sector characterized by the small and informal farms.
Rice production has now turned into the main economic activity of the sector as about 80% of the people are rice farmers. Cacao is still very popular in the area, but because of the long cultivation cycle people prefer to invest in rice. The land in Baba is very fertile though, and most farmers in the sector often grow other crops, such as plantains and soy beans as secondary sources of income. Many farmers also keep livestock as emergency sources of food and income, commonly resorting to selling a chicken or pig if they are in need of cash.
Most of the people in the Baba area are small farmers. They produce about 80 sacks of rice per hectare of land. In order to farm, they first must prepare the land by removing weed, plowing and leveling it. This is the most difficult part for the farmers in Baba, who often lack the necessary machinery to properly plow the land for rice production. After appropriately preparing the land, the farmers fill an area with water to form what is known as a paddy field, because rice is a very water intensive crop. The rice seeds are either dispersed freely (the process is known as boleo in Spanish) or hand sowed. Once the rice has grown, most farmers rent machinery that helps them gather their production.
One of the biggest struggles in the area has been the lack of credit due to the absence of any type of financial institution. Because people do not count on formal financial support, they have turned to loan sharks for financing. They have been affected by expensive lines of credit that exceed 100% interest a year and can be as expensive as 240%. Intermediaries also exploit the farmers because of their outstanding debt. Farmers also lack skills and knowledge to commercialize their products and pay fair prices for their crops.
The largest risk in the sector is due to absence of watering systems. Although Baba is in the province Los Rios (the rivers), there is severe problem with access to water. The lack of infrastructure in the sector does not allow the small farmers to benefit from the presence of the many rivers in the area. If the winter season is too dry, it is likely that the lands will not be sufficiently fertile for rice production in the summer. On the other hand, if there is too much rain there are not any drainage systems to prevent flooding and the crops are often ruined. Generally speaking though, Baba is a very productive sector where the lands yield all types of crops including rice, cacao, corn, watermelons, plantains, and soy beans.
The loans in this sector will mostly be used to to buy soil, seeds, fertilizer and insecticides. Many clients will use the capital towards renting machinery and equipment necessary to effectively work and prepare the fields. Clients also typically use a part of the loan to buy livestock in order to raise and have as reserves. The loan repayment schedule is different from the typical micro-entrepreneur because farmers see the profits from their investments 5 or 6 months after making their initial expenditures. Mifex asks our rural clients only to pay 50% of the capital in the first 6 months of the loan. The rest of the debt must be paid in the seventh and final month.
",M,1200,lender,Agriculture,1 Ecuador,"Felipe has a small piece of land that he inherited from his father. He primarily produces rice, although he also plants other crops such as corn. He lives with his 15 year old daughter and his wife. He hopes that with the loan he can make his land more productive for rice, as now it is not level and he needs to rent machinery to level it out. With the extra profits he wants to educate his daughter or help her start a business of her own.
Felipe is part of one of the newest Communal Banks in the recently developed Mifex Rural Finance Program. All of the members of the Primero de Agosto Communal Bank are part of an Association of Rice Farmers in Santa Lucia. They will use the microloans to prepare their lands and cultivate rice on their farms. Because they form part of a communal bank, they are all each other's guarantors for the loan. This means that if for some reason one person in the group cannot fully repay the loan, the other borrowers and the Primero de Agosto Association are responsible for the amount in default. The members of the bank also participate in a program designed to teach and encourage savings among the group. Promoting savings is often forgotten in many microfinance programs, but Mifex believes that it is imperative for the communities it works with to have capital reserved for future investments or unexpected difficulties.
Below is more information about Santa Lucia compiled by Luis Crespo and Robert Edgar of the Mifex team when evaluating the potential of the sector for the Rural Finance Program. Special thanks to Mario Balazantegui who provided expert insight and contributed to the development of the alliances with the local organizations.
Santa Lucia County has a population of about 33,000 people. The sector is fit for rice cultivating because it is not in the lowlands and therefore it is not at risk of flooding. There is also great access to water because of the Daule River, which is accessible to many of the farmers in the area. About 70% of the farmers have basic infrastructure for watering their crops.
Rice production is the main economic activity of the area as about 80% of the people are rice farmers. Almost everyone is either directly or indirectly involved with the rice production, as they produce, commercialize or participate in activities that add value to the product. Within the county, there is a small town also named Santa Lucia. The town is filled with many small businesses and it serves as the social and commercial hub of the area.
Most of the people in the Santa Lucia area are small farmers. They produce about 100 sacks of rice per hectare of land. In order to farm they first must prepare the lands by removing weeds and plowing. The farmers then fill an area with water to form what is known as a paddy field, because rice is a very water intensive crop. The rice seeds are either dispersed freely (the process is known as boleo in Spanish) or hand sowed. Once the rice has grown, most farmers rent machinery that helps them gather their production. A risk factor does exist in rice farming because of drought, but in Santa Lucia this is somewhat mitigated by the access to water from the nearby river.
The biggest struggle in the area has been the lack of credit. Because people do not count on formal financial services, they have turned to loan sharks for financing. They have been affected by expensive lines of credit that exceed 100% interest a year and can be as expensive as 240%. Intermediaries also exploit the farmers because of their outstanding debt. Farmers also lack skills and knowledge to commercialize their products and pay fair prices for their crops.
The loans in this sector will be used to to buy soil, seeds, fertilizer and insecticides. They will also be used to prepare the land prior to farming, to plant the seeds and purchase other materials. The loan repayment schedule is also different from the typical microentrepreneur. Because farmers see the profits from their investments 5 or 6 months after making their initial expenditures, Mifex asks them only to pay 50% of the capital in the first 6 months of the loan. The rest of the debt must be paid in the seventh and final month.
",M,1200,lender,Agriculture,0 Ecuador,"Galo has lived on his lands for thirty years. He mainly plants rice on his farm but he also has some plantain trees. He has several cows that he uses for milk production and to sell when he is short on money. He has 6 kids who are all independent. He is living alone because his wife passed away two years ago. He will use the loan to buy seeds and fertilizer for his lands. He wants to make his lands as productive as possible to leave for his children, who help him farm when they can.
This borrower is part of the newest and largest Communal Bank in the recently developed Mifex Rural Finance Program. All of the members of the Centro Agricola de Baba Communal Bank are part of an Association of Rice Farmers in the county of Baba in rural Ecuador. Their association works cooperatively to cultivate rice and commercialize the product after it has grown. As an association, Centro Agricola helps the farmers by providing access to machinery and training services. The farmers from Centro Agricola have received special instruction on financial responsibility and accounting from Codemicro, an organization that specializes in training programs geared towards the rural sector.
The members of Centro Agricola de Baba will use the micro-loans to prepare their lands and cultivate rice on their farms. Because they form part of a communal bank, they are all each others' guarantors for the loan. This means that if for some reason one person in the group cannot fully repay the loan, the other borrowers and the Centro Agricola de Baba Association are responsible for the amount in default. The members of the bank also participate in a program designed to teach and encourage savings among the group. Promoting savings is often forgotten in many micro-finance programs, but Mifex believes that is imperative for the communities we works with to have capital reserved for future investments or unexpected difficulties.
Below is more information about Baba compiled by Luis Crespo and Robert Edgar of the Mifex team when evaluating the potential of the sector for the Rural Finance Program.
The people of Baba have been organized since the days of Gran Colombia when Ecuador was yet to be a country. The area has always been popular because of the extremely productive lands that gave way to cultivation of cacao for decades. Now Baba is a county in the province of Los Rios in the coastal region of Ecuador. For most of the latter part of the 20th Century it was a cacao and banana producing sector. Most of the surrounding areas of Baba in Los Rios are owned by large mulitnational companies such as Dole, but Baba is a sector characterized by the small and informal farms.
Rice production has now turned into the main economic activity of the sector as about 80% of the people are rice farmers. Cacao is still very popular in the area, but because of the long cultivation cycle people prefer to invest in rice. The lands in Baba are very fertile though, and most farmers in the sector often grow other crops, such as plantains and soy beans as secondary sources of income. Many farmers also keep livestock as emergency sources of food and income, commonly resorting to selling a chicken or pig if they are in need of cash.
Most of the people in the Baba area are small farmers. They produce about 80 sacks of rice per hectare of land. In order to farm they first must prepare the lands by removing weeds, plowing and leveling the lands. This is the most difficult part for the farmers in Baba, who often lack the necessary machinery to properly plow the lands for rice production. After appropriately preparing the lands, the farmers fill an area with water to form what is known as a paddy field, because rice is a very water intensive crop. The rice seeds are either dispersed freely (the process is known as boleo in Spanish) or hand sowed. Once the rice has grown, most farmers rent machinery that helps them gather their production.
One of the biggest struggles in the area has been the lack of credit due to the absence of any type of financial institution. Because people do not count on formal financial finance, they have turned to loan sharks for financing. They have been affected by expensive lines of credit that exceed 100% interest a year and can be as expensive as 240%. Intermediaries also exploit the farmers because of their outstanding debt. Farmers also lack skills and knowledge to commercialize their products and pay fair prices for their crops.
The largest risk in the sector is due to absence of watering systems. Although Baba is in the province Los Rios (the rivers) there is severe problem with access to water. The lack of infrastructure in the sector does not allow the small farmers to benefit from the presence of the many rivers in the area. If the winter season is too dry, it is likely that the lands will not be sufficiently fertile for rice production in the summer. On the other hand, if there is too much rain there are not any drainage systems to prevent flooding and the crops are often ruined. Generally speaking though, Baba is a very productive sector where the lands yield all types of crops including rice, cacao, corn, watermelons, plantains, and soy beans.
The loans in this sector will mostly be used to to buy soil, seeds, fertilizer and insecticides. Many clients will use the capital towards renting machinery and equipment necessary to effectively work and prepare the fields. Clients also typically use a part of the loan to buy livestock in order to raise and have as reserves. The loan repayment schedule is different from the typical micro-entrepreneur because farmers see the profits from their investments 5 or 6 months after making their initial expenditures. Mifex asks our rural clients only to pay 50% of the capital in the first 6 months of the loan. The rest of the debt must be paid in the seventh and final month.
",M,550,lender,Agriculture,1 Ecuador,"Genaro owns a workshop where he makes bedroom and living room furniture. He moved to Guayaquil more than 20 years ago after growing up in rural Ecuador. When he moved to the city he found a job as an assistant for furniture maker. As time went on he learned the trade well and saved up enough money to start his own operation. He made a his backyard and part of his home into a workshop where he and his 3 sons now work.
Genaro needs the loan to invest in wood before the rainy season. For the next couple of months the price of wood will increase drastically due to shortage in supply. He wants to prepare buy purchasing enough wood to keep in stock until the prices fall again.
Genaro is 44 years old and has 7 kids who all live with him. 3 of him are part of his workforce and help him with the sole source of income in the household. The family is close knit and hard working.
Mifex offers its clients microinsurance and access to business training and educational programs. For more information about microfinance, Ecuador, and our services, please visit www.mifex.org.
",M,475,partner,Manufacturing,0 Ecuador,"Guido produces rice and corn on lands given to him by his father, with also some small production of plantains. He lives with his brother who he works in the fields with. He will invest the loan to plant for the next cycle. He will prepare the lands and also buy fertilizer and seeds. Although he does not have children, he is still very family oriented. He is very close to his mother, father and brother. He hopes he can fix the lands so they can be productive for years to come. He is also hoping to start a family of his own in the near future.
This borrower is part of the newest and largest Communal Bank in the recently developed Mifex Rural Finance Program. All of the members of the Centro Agricola de Baba Communal Bank are part of an Association of Rice Farmers in the county of Baba in rural Ecuador. Their association works cooperatively to cultivate rice and commercialize the product after it has grown. As an association, Centro Agricola helps the farmers by providing access to machinery and training services. The farmers from Centro Agricola have received special instruction on financial responsibility and accounting from Codemicro, an organization that specializes in training programs geared towards the rural sector.
The members of Centro Agricola de Baba will use the micro-loans to prepare their lands and cultivate rice on their farms. Because they form part of a communal bank, they are all each others' guarantors for the loan. This means that if for some reason one person in the group cannot fully repay the loan, the other borrowers and the Centro Agricola de Baba Association are responsible for the amount in default. The members of the bank also participate in a program designed to teach and encourage savings among the group. Promoting savings is often forgotten in many micro-finance programs, but Mifex believes that is imperative for the communities we works with to have capital reserved for future investments or unexpected difficulties.
Below is more information about Santa Lucia compiled by Luis Crespo and Robert Edgar of the Mifex team when evaluating the potential of the sector for the Rural Finance Program.
The people of Baba have been organized since the days of Gran Colombia when Ecuador was yet to be a country. The area has always been popular because of the extremely productive lands that gave way to cultivation of cacao for decades. Now Baba is a county in the province of Los Rios in the coastal region of Ecuador. For most of the latter part of the 20th Century it was a cacao and banana producing sector. Most of the surrounding areas of Baba in Los Rios are owned by large mulitnational companies such as Dole, but Baba is a sector characterized by the small and informal farms.
Rice production has now turned into the main economic activity of the sector as about 80% of the people are rice farmers. Cacao is still very popular in the area, but because of the long cultivation cycle people prefer to invest in rice. The lands in Baba are very fertile though, and most farmers in the sector often grow other crops, such as plantains and soy beans as secondary sources of income. Many farmers also keep livestock as emergency sources of food and income, commonly resorting to selling a chicken or pig if they are in need of cash.
Most of the people in the Baba area are small farmers. They produce about 80 sacks of rice per hectare of land. In order to farm they first must prepare the lands by removing weeds, plowing and leveling the lands. This is the most difficult part for the farmers in Baba, who often lack the necessary machinery to properly plow the lands for rice production. After appropriately preparing the lands, the farmers fill an area with water to form what is known as a paddy field, because rice is a very water intensive crop. The rice seeds are either dispersed freely (the process is known as boleo in Spanish) or hand sowed. Once the rice has grown, most farmers rent machinery that helps them gather their production.
One of the biggest struggles in the area has been the lack of credit due to the absence of any type of financial institution. Because people do not count on formal financial finance, they have turned to loan sharks for financing. They have been affected by expensive lines of credit that exceed 100% interest a year and can be as expensive as 240%. Intermediaries also exploit the farmers because of their outstanding debt. Farmers also lack skills and knowledge to commercialize their products and pay fair prices for their crops.
The largest risk in the sector is due to absence of watering systems. Although Baba is in the province Los Rios (the rivers) there is severe problem with access to water. The lack of infrastructure in the sector does not allow the small farmers to benefit from the presence of the many rivers in the area. If the winter season is too dry, it is likely that the lands will not be sufficiently fertile for rice production in the summer. On the other hand, if there is too much rain there are not any drainage systems to prevent flooding and the crops are often ruined. Generally speaking though, Baba is a very productive sector where the lands yield all types of crops including rice, cacao, corn, watermelons, plantains, and soy beans.
The loans in this sector will mostly be used to to buy soil, seeds, fertilizer and insecticides. Many clients will use the capital towards renting machinery and equipment necessary to effectively work and prepare the fields. Clients also typically use a part of the loan to buy livestock in order to raise and have as reserves. The loan repayment schedule is different from the typical micro-entrepreneur because farmers see the profits from their investments 5 or 6 months after making their initial expenditures. Mifex asks our rural clients only to pay 50% of the capital in the first 6 months of the loan. The rest of the debt must be paid in the seventh and final month.
",M,625,lender,Agriculture,0 Ecuador,"Juan lives with his youngest son who is 16. Together they work their fields to plant and cultivate rice and corn. Juan is 65, but is still a very hard worker who wants to make sure he leaves his family with fertile lands. His wife passed away several years ago and he has three kids total. He hopes with the loan he make investments in preparing the fields and purchasing fertilizer.
This borrower is part of the newest and largest Communal Bank in the recently developed Mifex Rural Finance Program. All of the members of the Centro Agricola de Baba Communal Bank are part of an Association of Rice Farmers in the county of Baba in rural Ecuador. Their association works cooperatively to cultivate rice and commercialize the product after it has grown. As an association, Centro Agricola helps the farmers by providing access to machinery and training services. The farmers from Centro Agricola have received special instruction on financial responsibility and accounting from Codemicro, an organization that specializes in training programs geared towards the rural sector.
The members of Centro Agricola de Baba will use the micro-loans to prepare their lands and cultivate rice on their farms. Because they form part of a communal bank, they are all each others' guarantors for the loan. This means that if for some reason one person in the group cannot fully repay the loan, the other borrowers and the Centro Agricola de Baba Association are responsible for the amount in default. The members of the bank also participate in a program designed to teach and encourage savings among the group. Promoting savings is often forgotten in many micro-finance programs, but Mifex believes that is imperative for the communities we works with to have capital reserved for future investments or unexpected difficulties.
Below is more information about Santa Lucia compiled by Luis Crespo and Robert Edgar of the Mifex team when evaluating the potential of the sector for the Rural Finance Program.
The people of Baba have been organized since the days of Gran Colombia when Ecuador was yet to be a country. The area has always been popular because of the extremely productive lands that gave way to cultivation of cacao for decades. Now Baba is a county in the province of Los Rios in the coastal region of Ecuador. For most of the latter part of the 20th Century it was a cacao and banana producing sector. Most of the surrounding areas of Baba in Los Rios are owned by large mulitnational companies such as Dole, but Baba is a sector characterized by the small and informal farms.
Rice production has now turned into the main economic activity of the sector as about 80% of the people are rice farmers. Cacao is still very popular in the area, but because of the long cultivation cycle people prefer to invest in rice. The lands in Baba are very fertile though, and most farmers in the sector often grow other crops, such as plantains and soy beans as secondary sources of income. Many farmers also keep livestock as emergency sources of food and income, commonly resorting to selling a chicken or pig if they are in need of cash.
Most of the people in the Baba area are small farmers. They produce about 80 sacks of rice per hectare of land. In order to farm they first must prepare the lands by removing weeds, plowing and leveling the lands. This is the most difficult part for the farmers in Baba, who often lack the necessary machinery to properly plow the lands for rice production. After appropriately preparing the lands, the farmers fill an area with water to form what is known as a paddy field, because rice is a very water intensive crop. The rice seeds are either dispersed freely (the process is known as boleo in Spanish) or hand sowed. Once the rice has grown, most farmers rent machinery that helps them gather their production.
One of the biggest struggles in the area has been the lack of credit due to the absence of any type of financial institution. Because people do not count on formal financial finance, they have turned to loan sharks for financing. They have been affected by expensive lines of credit that exceed 100% interest a year and can be as expensive as 240%. Intermediaries also exploit the farmers because of their outstanding debt. Farmers also lack skills and knowledge to commercialize their products and pay fair prices for their crops.
The largest risk in the sector is due to absence of watering systems. Although Baba is in the province Los Rios (the rivers) there is severe problem with access to water. The lack of infrastructure in the sector does not allow the small farmers to benefit from the presence of the many rivers in the area. If the winter season is too dry, it is likely that the lands will not be sufficiently fertile for rice production in the summer. On the other hand, if there is too much rain there are not any drainage systems to prevent flooding and the crops are often ruined. Generally speaking though, Baba is a very productive sector where the lands yield all types of crops including rice, cacao, corn, watermelons, plantains, and soy beans.
The loans in this sector will mostly be used to to buy soil, seeds, fertilizer and insecticides. Many clients will use the capital towards renting machinery and equipment necessary to effectively work and prepare the fields. Clients also typically use a part of the loan to buy livestock in order to raise and have as reserves. The loan repayment schedule is different from the typical micro-entrepreneur because farmers see the profits from their investments 5 or 6 months after making their initial expenditures. Mifex asks our rural clients only to pay 50% of the capital in the first 6 months of the loan. The rest of the debt must be paid in the seventh and final month.
",M,425,lender,Agriculture,0 Ecuador,"Lino was born and raised in Baba, Ecuador. His father taught him to work rice production at a young age. He bought his land about 30 years ago. The land have helped him raise and feed his four children. He makes rice and cacao on his farm and also raises some chickens. He will use the loan in order to invest in seeds, fertilizer, and pesticides. He hopes he can improve his home which is made out of wood and is not too stable. He lives on his farm with his wife and his youngest son who help him with the production.
This borrower is part of the newest and largest Communal Bank in the recently developed Mifex Rural Finance Program. All of the members of the Centro Agricola de Baba Communal Bank are part of an Association of Rice Farmers in the county of Baba in rural Ecuador. Their association works cooperatively to cultivate rice and commercialize the product after it has grown. As an association, Centro Agricola helps the farmers by providing access to machinery and training services. The farmers from Centro Agricola have received special instruction on financial responsibility and accounting from Codemicro, an organization that specializes in training programs geared towards the rural sector.
The members of Centro Agricola de Baba will use the micro-loans to prepare their lands and cultivate rice on their farms. Because they form part of a communal bank, they are all each others' guarantors for the loan. This means that if for some reason one person in the group cannot fully repay the loan, the other borrowers and the Centro Agricola de Baba Association are responsible for the amount in default. The members of the bank also participate in a program designed to teach and encourage savings among the group. Promoting savings is often forgotten in many micro-finance programs, but Mifex believes that is imperative for the communities we works with to have capital reserved for future investments or unexpected difficulties.
Below is more information about Santa Lucia compiled by Luis Crespo and Robert Edgar of the Mifex team when evaluating the potential of the sector for the Rural Finance Program.
The people of Baba have been organized since the days of Gran Colombia when Ecuador was yet to be a country. The area has always been popular because of the extremely productive lands that gave way to cultivation of cacao for decades. Now Baba is a county in the province of Los Rios in the coastal region of Ecuador. For most of the latter part of the 20th Century it was a cacao and banana producing sector. Most of the surrounding areas of Baba in Los Rios are owned by large mulitnational companies such as Dole, but Baba is a sector characterized by the small and informal farms.
Rice production has now turned into the main economic activity of the sector as about 80% of the people are rice farmers. Cacao is still very popular in the area, but because of the long cultivation cycle people prefer to invest in rice. The lands in Baba are very fertile though, and most farmers in the sector often grow other crops, such as plantains and soy beans as secondary sources of income. Many farmers also keep livestock as emergency sources of food and income, commonly resorting to selling a chicken or pig if they are in need of cash.
Most of the people in the Baba area are small farmers. They produce about 80 sacks of rice per hectare of land. In order to farm they first must prepare the lands by removing weeds, plowing and leveling the lands. This is the most difficult part for the farmers in Baba, who often lack the necessary machinery to properly plow the lands for rice production. After appropriately preparing the lands, the farmers fill an area with water to form what is known as a paddy field, because rice is a very water intensive crop. The rice seeds are either dispersed freely (the process is known as boleo in Spanish) or hand sowed. Once the rice has grown, most farmers rent machinery that helps them gather their production.
One of the biggest struggles in the area has been the lack of credit due to the absence of any type of financial institution. Because people do not count on formal financial finance, they have turned to loan sharks for financing. They have been affected by expensive lines of credit that exceed 100% interest a year and can be as expensive as 240%. Intermediaries also exploit the farmers because of their outstanding debt. Farmers also lack skills and knowledge to commercialize their products and pay fair prices for their crops.
The largest risk in the sector is due to absence of watering systems. Although Baba is in the province Los Rios (the rivers) there is severe problem with access to water. The lack of infrastructure in the sector does not allow the small farmers to benefit from the presence of the many rivers in the area. If the winter season is too dry, it is likely that the lands will not be sufficiently fertile for rice production in the summer. On the other hand, if there is too much rain there are not any drainage systems to prevent flooding and the crops are often ruined. Generally speaking though, Baba is a very productive sector where the lands yield all types of crops including rice, cacao, corn, watermelons, plantains, and soy beans.
The loans in this sector will mostly be used to to buy soil, seeds, fertilizer and insecticides. Many clients will use the capital towards renting machinery and equipment necessary to effectively work and prepare the fields. Clients also typically use a part of the loan to buy livestock in order to raise and have as reserves. The loan repayment schedule is different from the typical micro-entrepreneur because farmers see the profits from their investments 5 or 6 months after making their initial expenditures. Mifex asks our rural clients only to pay 50% of the capital in the first 6 months of the loan. The rest of the debt must be paid in the seventh and final month.
",M,950,lender,Agriculture,1 Ecuador,"Ovidio is from Baba and has been living in the region his entire life. He has a small store where he sells different kinds of beverages and snacks on the main road leading out of town. His business is a common stop for people on their way out to work in the fields. He will invest his money to purchase products from wholesalers at better prices. With the extra profit he hopes he can continue to invest in his business. His wife has land where they grow rice, but due to bad crop years Ovidio has decided to open this store as a more stable source of income.
This borrower is part of the newest and largest Communal Bank in the recently developed Mifex Rural Finance Program. All of the members of the Centro Agricola de Baba Communal Bank are part of an Association of Rice Farmers in the county of Baba in rural Ecuador. Their association works cooperatively to cultivate rice and commercialize the product after it has grown. As an association, Centro Agricola helps the farmers by providing access to machinery and training services. The farmers from Centro Agricola have received special instruction on financial responsibility and accounting from Codemicro, an organization that specializes in training programs geared towards the rural sector.
The members of Centro Agricola de Baba will use the micro-loans to prepare their land and cultivate rice on their farms. Because they form part of a communal bank, they are all each others' guarantors for the loan. This means that if for some reason one person in the group cannot fully repay the loan, the other borrowers and the Centro Agricola de Baba Association are responsible for the amount in default. The members of the bank also participate in a program designed to teach and encourage savings among the group. Promoting savings is often forgotten in many micro-finance programs, but Mifex believes that is imperative for the communities we work with to have capital reserved for future investments or unexpected difficulties.
Below is more information about Santa Lucia compiled by Luis Crespo and Robert Edgar of the Mifex team when evaluating the potential of the sector for the Rural Finance Program.
The people of Baba have been organized since the days of Gran Colombia when Ecuador was yet to be a country. The area has always been popular because of the extremely productive land that gave way to cultivation of cacao for decades. Now Baba is a county in the province of Los Rios in the coastal region of Ecuador. For most of the latter part of the 20th Century it was a cacao and banana producing sector. Most of the surrounding areas of Baba in Los Rios are owned by large mulitnational companies such as Dole, but Baba is a sector characterized by the small and informal farms.
Rice production has now turned into the main economic activity of the sector as about 80% of the people are rice farmers. Cacao is still very popular in the area, but because of the long cultivation cycle people prefer to invest in rice. The land in Baba is very fertile though, and most farmers in the sector often grow other crops, such as plantains and soy beans as secondary sources of income. Many farmers also keep livestock as emergency sources of food and income, commonly resorting to selling a chicken or pig if they are in need of cash.
Most of the people in the Baba area are small farmers. They produce about 80 sacks of rice per hectare of land. In order to farm, they first must prepare the land by removing weed, plowing and leveling it. This is the most difficult part for the farmers in Baba, who often lack the necessary machinery to properly plow the land for rice production. After appropriately preparing the land, the farmers fill an area with water to form what is known as a paddy field, because rice is a very water intensive crop. The rice seeds are either dispersed freely (the process is known as boleo in Spanish) or hand sowed. Once the rice has grown, most farmers rent machinery that helps them gather their production.
One of the biggest struggles in the area has been the lack of credit due to the absence of any type of financial institution. Because people do not count on formal financial support, they have turned to loan sharks for financing. They have been affected by expensive lines of credit that exceed 100% interest a year and can be as expensive as 240%. Intermediaries also exploit the farmers because of their outstanding debt. Farmers also lack skills and knowledge to commercialize their products and pay fair prices for their crops.
The largest risk in the sector is due to absence of watering systems. Although Baba is in the province Los Rios (the rivers), there is severe problem with access to water. The lack of infrastructure in the sector does not allow the small farmers to benefit from the presence of the many rivers in the area. If the winter season is too dry, it is likely that the lands will not be sufficiently fertile for rice production in the summer. On the other hand, if there is too much rain there are not any drainage systems to prevent flooding and the crops are often ruined. Generally speaking though, Baba is a very productive sector where the lands yield all types of crops including rice, cacao, corn, watermelons, plantains, and soy beans.
The loans in this sector will mostly be used to to buy soil, seeds, fertilizer and insecticides. Many clients will use the capital towards renting machinery and equipment necessary to effectively work and prepare the fields. Clients also typically use a part of the loan to buy livestock in order to raise and have as reserves. The loan repayment schedule is different from the typical micro-entrepreneur because farmers see the profits from their investments 5 or 6 months after making their initial expenditures. Mifex asks our rural clients only to pay 50% of the capital in the first 6 months of the loan. The rest of the debt must be paid in the seventh and final month.
",M,425,lender,Food,1 Ecuador,"Pedro has 14 years experience in the production of insecticides, following work with friends who made their living to support their families with this type of business. For 13 years, Pedro has taken on this business to make a living for himself and his family. His business is in his home, producing insecticides per client request. Pedro works 6 days a week, at which time he produces and delivers his product. The insecticides are used to kill rodents, cockroaches, ants, mosquitoes, and other. His wife helps him with the sales at home as neighbors purchase his product.
Pedro is applying for a loan to buy raw material and to make labels. He indicates that his sales have grown and that his current income does not cover for the increase in client demand.
Pedro is 47 years old and has four children who study. His wife helps in the business and considers that the loan will increase her husbands income which will benefit their home and help meet his responsibilities.
Translated from Spanish by Martha Martinez, Kiva Volunteer.
",M,375,partner,Retail,0 Ecuador,"
Pedro is a rice farmer in Baba. He relies on his rice production to feed his three children, one his is an infant and two who are 7 and 11. He lives with his wife who also helps him on the lands. He was raising chickens some time ago but unfortunately all the chickens fell ill and passed away. He will buy fertilizer and seeds with his loan. He would like to increase his profits because there is a sector of his farm that is not yet productive. He wants to rent machinery in order to prepare these unused lands for farming.
This borrower is part of the newest and largest Communal Bank in the recently developed Mifex Rural Finance Program. All of the members of the Centro Agricola de Baba Communal Bank are part of an Association of Rice Farmers in the county of Baba in rural Ecuador. Their association works cooperatively to cultivate rice and commercialize the product after it has grown. As an association, Centro Agricola helps the farmers by providing access to machinery and training services. The farmers from Centro Agricola have received special instruction on financial responsibility and accounting from Codemicro, an organization that specializes in training programs geared towards the rural sector.
The members of Centro Agricola de Baba will use the micro-loans to prepare their lands and cultivate rice on their farms. Because they form part of a communal bank, they are all each others' guarantors for the loan. This means that if for some reason one person in the group cannot fully repay the loan, the other borrowers and the Centro Agricola de Baba Association are responsible for the amount in default. The members of the bank also participate in a program designed to teach and encourage savings among the group. Promoting savings is often forgotten in many micro-finance programs, but Mifex believes that is imperative for the communities we works with to have capital reserved for future investments or unexpected difficulties.
Below is more information about Santa Lucia compiled by Luis Crespo and Robert Edgar of the Mifex team when evaluating the potential of the sector for the Rural Finance Program.
The people of Baba have been organized since the days of Gran Colombia when Ecuador was yet to be a country. The area has always been popular because of the extremely productive lands that gave way to cultivation of cacao for decades. Now Baba is a county in the province of Los Rios in the coastal region of Ecuador. For most of the latter part of the 20th Century it was a cacao and banana producing sector. Most of the surrounding areas of Baba in Los Rios are owned by large mulitnational companies such as Dole, but Baba is a sector characterized by the small and informal farms.
Rice production has now turned into the main economic activity of the sector as about 80% of the people are rice farmers. Cacao is still very popular in the area, but because of the long cultivation cycle people prefer to invest in rice. The lands in Baba are very fertile though, and most farmers in the sector often grow other crops, such as plantains and soy beans as secondary sources of income. Many farmers also keep livestock as emergency sources of food and income, commonly resorting to selling a chicken or pig if they are in need of cash.
Most of the people in the Baba area are small farmers. They produce about 80 sacks of rice per hectare of land. In order to farm they first must prepare the lands by removing weeds, plowing and leveling the lands. This is the most difficult part for the farmers in Baba, who often lack the necessary machinery to properly plow the lands for rice production. After appropriately preparing the lands, the farmers fill an area with water to form what is known as a paddy field, because rice is a very water intensive crop. The rice seeds are either dispersed freely (the process is known as boleo in Spanish) or hand sowed. Once the rice has grown, most farmers rent machinery that helps them gather their production.
One of the biggest struggles in the area has been the lack of credit due to the absence of any type of financial institution. Because people do not count on formal financial finance, they have turned to loan sharks for financing. They have been affected by expensive lines of credit that exceed 100% interest a year and can be as expensive as 240%. Intermediaries also exploit the farmers because of their outstanding debt. Farmers also lack skills and knowledge to commercialize their products and pay fair prices for their crops.
The largest risk in the sector is due to absence of watering systems. Although Baba is in the province Los Rios (the rivers) there is severe problem with access to water. The lack of infrastructure in the sector does not allow the small farmers to benefit from the presence of the many rivers in the area. If the winter season is too dry, it is likely that the lands will not be sufficiently fertile for rice production in the summer. On the other hand, if there is too much rain there are not any drainage systems to prevent flooding and the crops are often ruined. Generally speaking though, Baba is a very productive sector where the lands yield all types of crops including rice, cacao, corn, watermelons, plantains, and soy beans.
The loans in this sector will mostly be used to to buy soil, seeds, fertilizer and insecticides. Many clients will use the capital towards renting machinery and equipment necessary to effectively work and prepare the fields. Clients also typically use a part of the loan to buy livestock in order to raise and have as reserves. The loan repayment schedule is different from the typical micro-entrepreneur because farmers see the profits from their investments 5 or 6 months after making their initial expenditures. Mifex asks our rural clients only to pay 50% of the capital in the first 6 months of the loan. The rest of the debt must be paid in the seventh and final month.
",M,1200,lender,Agriculture,1 Ecuador,"(With this loan,) Manuel will buy supplies and seeds, rent machinery and pay for small teams of laborers. That is to say, he could harvest two hectares of mango and one of rice according to what he has planned, with no problem.
Manuels profit from each crop is always reinvested in the purchase of agricultural supplies or in improving the quality of his products; for example, buying seeds or supplements or building pools for his crop.
Manuel is 39 years old. He is married. His spouse performs the household chores. He has two children of 16 and 8 years, both in school. Manuel also is responsible for his father, who is too old to work. His home is of cement.
This new loan will allow him to develop a mango crop for export. All of the loan will be applied to that end, without neglecting the crop of rice and corn that are his main products with a reliable customer base.
Translated from Spanish by B, Kiva Volunteer.
",M,1200,lender,Agriculture,1 Ecuador,"
Business Description
The client has a tailor shop. He makes shirts, pants and dress shirts, but specializes in suits. He has had this business for 20 years. He started this business with a loan.Loan Use
The loan will be used to increase his products by investing in more fabric and thread.Personal Details
He is 54 years old, married, and has 3 children, who are all married. He lives in a cement home. His goal is to grow his business.Translated from Spanish by Geraldine Kim, Kiva Volunteer.
",M,1075,lender,Services,1 Ecuador,"Business Description:
Mr. Hipolito has been dedicated to farming since an early age. He learned this activity from his parents. He sows rice, corn, etc. He works all day without a fixed schedule. Although the sowing season for rice is past, he has his own irrigation system and he can continue sowing.
Use of the Loan:
Mr. Hipolito wants to acquire supplies with this credit such as fertilizers, herbicides, manure, etc. Since for lack of funds he has not been able to maintain an optimal level of production for development.
Personal Information:
Mr. Hipolito is 60 years old and is happily married. He actually has three children but all are already of majority. His house is built of wood, very orderly and welcoming. The aspirations of Hipolito are to buy more land in order to thus get them to yeild crops, generating income that will allow a better quality of life for his family.
Translated from spanish by Pax Bobrow, Kiva Volunteer.
",M,675,lender,Agriculture,0 Ecuador,"
Business Description:
Mr. Jose has eight years dedicated to the business. He started this activity when he was very young, because he would help his mother in order to obtain income for their home. He sells all kinds of pants, jeans and skirts. His business is located in a market close to his home. What is more he travels to various provinces of Guayaquil also to complete his sales. Jose works from 7 am until 2 pm from Monday to Sunday. He travels one day a week to the provinces to sell his merchandise.
Use of the Loan:
Mr. Jose desires the loan to buy more pants, since he does not account with sufficient capital to invest. He travels to the city of Cuenca to buy merchandise and what is more spends for travel expenses. He desires the poan to be able to travel with more money and in this manner acquire more merchandise which will permit him to give a better sales price to his customers.
Personal Information:
Mr. Jose is 45 years old, is married to Mrs. Monica and they have two children of minor age who are in college. His wife helps him in the business when he goes out to travel. His house has two floors but is in construction. They have a stable home and good family realtions. Mr. Jose aspires to grow his business through loans and in this manner to give a better education to his children and better the quality of life for him and his family.
Translated from spanish by Pax Bobrow, Kiva Volunteer.
",M,525,partner,Clothing,0 Ecuador,"
2 years ago Maria decided to start her own store out of her home. She started off with just $100 in capital and slowly was able to increase her product line and her customer base. She now sells basic foods and snacks for kids. She opens her business every morning and closes late at night. With profits above her expectations, Maria has been continuously investing in her business.
Maria needs the loan in order to continue investing in her business. She wants to begin selling meats such as beef and chicken. She also wants to make some physical improvements to her shop.
Maria moved to Guayaquil from Esmeraldas, a predominantly Afro community, about ten years ago. She attained her land in a popular invasion of a territory now named Nigeria. She still does not have the paperwork for her home, which is built out of a bamboo like wood. Currently there is no pavement where she lives because the tide brings in the water. She has 5 small children and a husband who is works for the local water company.
Mifex offers its clients microinsurance and access to business training and educational programs. For more information about microfinance, Ecuador, and our services, please visit www.mifex.org.
",F,475,partner,Food,0 Ecuador,"Abel sells cleaning products and other household items. He started off in this type of business by working with a friend for about 3 years. Recently he and his wife decided to start their own business and sell the products out in the neighborhood and from their home. They have 3 children to support with this business. They just moved into this sector of the city after having an unfavorable experience in a different part of the city. They have high hopes for their loan. They will use it to invest in different plastic plates and containers. He hopes he can continue to build on his strong client base.
Mifex offers its clients microinsurance and access to business training and educational programs. For more information about microfinance, Ecuador, and our services, please visit www.mifex.org.
",M,500,partner,Retail,0 Ecuador,"Adela has 6 years of experience running her business. She started it using some savings that earned from selling plastic goods. She started sales just by walking through neighborhoods. She got a loan from the bank and then was able to start her business out of her home. Little by little, she was able to make money and buy house goods and was able to provide basic products to sell in her business. Currently at her store she also sell jewelry, clothing and children's clothes. She works every day of the week from 7am to 10 pm.
Adela wants credit in order to augment the number of products sold in her store. She would also like to buy more clothes and jewelry to sell.
Adela is a single mother. She is 29 years old. She has 3 children who are all attending school. She has been seperated for 3 years, and she has pushed herself and children to continue to work hard and achieve. Her work has allowed her to support her children's education. Her hope is to have a store full of products which will increase her profit and help her family.
Adela tiene una experiencia de 6 aos con su negocio. Se inicio con unos ahorros que tenia comprando artculos plsticos. Comienza a vender ambulante por su sector. Hace un prstamo al banco y con este adecua su casa poniendo un local. Poco a poco con sus ganancias comienza a comprar vveres y de esta manera lograr surtir su local con productos de primera necesidad. Actualmente en su local tambin vende productos de bisutera y ropa interior y de nios. Trabaja todos los das de la semana desde las 7 a.m. hasta las 10 p.m.
Adela desea el crdito para surtir en su tienda en vveres. Adems desea comprar ms ropa y productos de bisutera.
Adela es madre soltera. Tiene 29 aos. Tres hijos los que estudian. Esta separada 3 aos de su esposo lo que ha ella la ha impulsado a seguir adelante por sus hijos y con sus hijos. Su trabajo le ha ayudado para darles una buena educacin a sus hijos y tambin surtir su negocio. Su deseo es tener su tienda llena de productos lo que le dejara ms ganancia.
",F,600,partner,Retail,0 Ecuador,"Agapito has many years experience in agriculture which has allowed him to learn many tecniques. He has worked for more than 40 years on his farm, where he personally transports the ears of corn that he grows.
Translated from Spanish by Kiva Volunteer, Kristin Connor
",M,675,lender,Agriculture,1 Ecuador,"Alexandra is a single mother of a one child. Her husband left her only a few months after her 10 year old son was born. Since then she has been hard at work trying to make ends meet. She started a small business out of the home she and her mother live in. They sell sodas and juices to the local community. Her mother tends to the business during the day, while Alexandra travels around the community selling clothing and shoes. Alexandra will invest the money from the loan for the purchase of shoes at wholesale quantities.
Mifex offers its clients microinsurance and access to business training and educational programs. For more information about microfinance, Ecuador, and our services, please visit www.mifex.org.
",F,375,partner,Retail,0 Ecuador,"Ampara and her husband have a workshop where they make and sell gates, fences and other metalwork. Ampara is in charge of commercializing the products that her husband makes and running the administrative part of the business. Her and her husband have had this business for 4 years now and are looking to make it grow. They need the loan because they have had a boost in orders, but they do not have the raw materials to complete them.
Amara and her husband have 6 children together. Life has not been easy for them because of the tough financial situation. They see hope in their business as it has steadily grown and built a strong customer base. They hope that with the extra profits they make they will be able to provide their children with better food and education.
Mifex offers its clients microinsurance and access to business training and educational programs. For more information about microfinance, Ecuador, and our services, please visit www.mifex.org.
",F,725,partner,Manufacturing,0 Ecuador,"Aura has an eatery she opened two years ago after leaving the clothing selling business she worked in for ten years. She began her business with some money her husband gave her from his earnings as a driver. Since then, she has sold things such as fish and rice, vegetable stews with chicken, fritters, sodas, and beers. Her business is located in her own home. She attends to customers from Friday to Monday from 7pm to 3am.
Aura applied her first loan with Mifex and Kiva to buy more raw materials for her eatery such as rice, beef, and chicken. A large part of the loan was invested in drinks juices, soft drinks, and beers. Previously Ms. Aura had been loaned money at a rate of 20% and suffered a loss of money, so she was eager to improve her business and increase her profits.
Auras business has made steady improvement thanks to her good food and great service. She is requesting a second loan to buy plastic tables and chairs for her eatery and to increase her business. Because her clientele frequently recommend her to their friends and neighbors, her business is growing and she is sure her income will increase with the use of this loan. Her dream is to one day move the eatery out of her home and to a different, more spacious locale where she can better attend to clients.
Aura is 42 years old and she lives with her husband of 20 years. She has 4 children, of whom only one remains a dependent. Her husband and older children help in her eatery and help with household expenses since they are employed. They live in a one story cement house. She hopes to improve her business and hopes that this loan will allow her to improve her family's quality of life.
",F,1200,lender,Food,1 Ecuador,"Besides agriculture, Ricardo has a small restaurant. That is to say, he will use the loan to increase the working capital of his restaurant. The purchase of cooking supplies and food wholesale is his better strategy.
For his corn crop, Ricardo has 5 hectares of land, which is shared with his father. He has worked in agriculture for 5 years and with the restaurant for 2 years. At the same time, he sells prepared fast food in the afternoon, such as salchipapa (a type of kebob), patties, corviches (a type of fritter) and other foods.
Ricardo is 40 years old. He is married. His spouse helps him with the restaurant. He has 5 children, who all attend school. Their home is of mixed construction; cement and wood. One of his aspirations is to expand his restaurant to offer better service to his clients.
His priorities are improving his restaurant, buying chairs and tables and renting and painting a small stall in the sector. He will also buy agricultural supplies in order not to pass up a winter crop.
Translated from Spanish by B, Kiva Volunteer.
",M,1200,lender,Agriculture,1 Ecuador,"
Blanca is a saleswoman of clothing and other products. She works during the week at a factory but she and her husband also sell clothing when she is not at work. It is very difficult for them to make ends meet for them and their 3 children because their salaries are very low. They hope that with this loan they will be able to make a significant investment in clothing that will allow them to improve their business and leave their jobs. They are very optimistic about the future for them and their three kids, although they know they must continue to work hard.
Mifex offers its clients microinsurance and access to business training and educational programs. For more information about microfinance, Ecuador, and our services, please visit www.mifex.org.
",F,375,partner,Clothing,0 Ecuador,"Business Description
Jorge began working selling seafood at the age of 10 due to the economic needs in his family. When he got older, he realized that this business could bring in small capital and independence. Currently he sells all kinds of fish in a small space on his property.
Loan Use
Credit to invest in buying fish at wholesale and to distribute at lower costs to restaurant owners who sell ""encebollados and ceviches"" which are special ways of preparing fish in his region.
Personal Information
Jorge is 58 years old. He lives alone with his wife. Their children only visit on weekends. George's personal satisfaction comes from helping his children get ahead by providing them with the means for an education. His house is made of cement and it consists of one level.
Translated from Spanish by Mayra Gould, Kiva volunteer.
",M,400,lender,Food,1 Ecuador,"
Business Description
Holger has 12 years of experience in his business selling fish. He began his business seven years ago with the help of his friend and with his own effort in acquiring working capital. He started selling fish in the streets which gave him the opportunity to meet various clients. To date, he has been able to improve his business considerably. He has a shop in one of the open markets of the city. He works every day of the week from 6:00 am to 2:00 pm.
Loan Use
Now on his second loan with Kiva and Mifex, Holger hopes to continue investing in wholesale seafood at discount prices. He has already purchased a freezer which has helped him significantly.
Personal Information
Holger has been separated from his wife for one year. He is 51 years old and he has two children, who study and whom he looks after. With personal effort he has been able to remodel his home and provide his family with a better lifestyle. Currently, he has added a second floor to his home so he may live more comfortably with his mother. He hopes that future profits will help him finish the construction.
Previous Profile: http://www.kiva.org/app.php?page=businesses&action=about&id=35823
",M,1075,lender,Food,1 Ecuador,"Business Description
Mr. Diaz has a convenience store he opened two years ago, a result following a loan he received from a financial institution. His wife and mother-in-law help with the business. They sell various products to meet the immediate needs of his clients. Recently, his business has been growing, given the shop is located in an important avenue in his community.
Loan Use
He has been able to improve his business through a loan with Mifex and Kiva. He invested in more merchandise and gas cylinders that people buy to use for their kitchens. He hopes that he can take out another loan to buy a second refrigerator where he can store beverages and other perishable goods.
Personal Information
Mr. Diaz is in his late 20s and does not have children. His concern is the lack of capital to invest in his business. However, he trusts that this loan will allow him to progress and to enhance his business.
Previous Profile: http://www.kiva.org/app.php?page=businesses&action=about&id=14505
",M,1200,lender,Food,1 Ecuador,"Business Description
Victoria began her business 5 years ago. In her shop, she sells groceries, medicine, costume jewelry, and sweets. She attends to her clients every day from 6:00 am to 11:00pm.
Loan Use
Victoria needs a second loan for her business. With her first loan she was able to purchase a glass door refrigerator to display and store her products. She is now hoping to improve the appearance of her store while also buying more merchandise.
Personal Information
Victoria is 33 years old and has a husband and two lovely children. From a very young age, she was interested in working which led to her acquiring experience from various places. With her husbands help, she was motivated to open her own shop selling groceries, medicine and imitation jewelry. Her shop is in her parents house. She wishes to improve her business and income and someday be able to offer her own home to her children.
Previous Profile: http://www.kiva.org/app.php?page=businesses&action=about&id=14067
",F,1050,lender,Retail,1 Ecuador,"Doenina is a door-to-door saleswoman who offers clothing and other items. She started off by selling earrings and other plastic jewelry. She has been able to expand her business by making investments in clothing and selling these products to the client base she has built. She is seeking the loan because she wants to begin selling home electronics such as blenders and fans. Doenina is married and has 3 children. She depends on the business to provide the education for her kids while her husband covers most of the other household expenses.
Mifex offers its clients microinsurance and access to business training and educational programs. For more information about microfinance, Ecuador, and our services, please visit www.mifex.org.
",F,625,partner,Retail,0 Ecuador,"Don Felipe is applying for his second loan with Kiva and Mifex. He runs a stand at very popular and large market where he predominantly sells seafood. When he received his first loan Don Felipe ran into an opportunity to add chicken and cheese to the products he sells. He does not sell these items from his stand though because the capital allowed him to do much more. He was able to buy a large amount of these products and be a distributor to other store and stand owners. He and his wife still run the stand, but Don Felipe has been able to improve his income greatly now that he can also be a distributor. He is applying for his second loan so he can continue to expand and buy products wholesale.
",M,1200,partner,Food,0 Ecuador,"Don Pedro is a second time lender in the Kiva and Mifex program. He is the owner of a small store in Guayaquil where he sells rice, sugar, oil and other basic groceries. With his last loan he invested in more products and he was able to make some minor improvements to his store. He made all of the payments from his last loan on time and is now hoping he can take out a second. He plans on using the loan money to buy a display refrigerator where he can keep products cool and market at them at the same time. Don Pedro is 56 years and has 6 children, 3 of which still depend on him. He is a Colombian who has lived in Ecuador since he was 18.
Mifex offers its clients microinsurance and access to business training and educational programs. For more information about microfinance, Ecuador, and our services, please visit www.mifex.org.
",M,875,partner,Food,0 Ecuador,"Don Ricardo has a locale in his home, from which he sells articles of necessity and school supplies. He began his business two years ago when he recieved a bonus from the company where he worked for $500 with which he started to work.
At the beginning he only sold vegetables and dry grains, which he bought on wholesale. These days, he continues to sell groceries, as well as other items. With the advantage of living in front of a school, he decided to sell school supplies and stationary, which attracted more customers.With the loan, Ricardo hopes to purchase more products and start a small line of toys, that he noticed were in high demand.
Ricardo is certain that this the loan opportunity he will increase his sales and improve the conditions of his store. Ricardo is 28 years old and has four children, one son who is ""special needs"" and two who go to school. His home is made of cement, and he is certain that with the prosperity of his business he will be able to give a better quality of life to his family.
Translated from Spanish by Kiva Volunteer, Kristin Connor.
",M,925,partner,Retail,0 Ecuador,"
Elizabeth has 5 years of experience selling household products. She used to work as a seamstress. Her husband moved to Spain 7 years ago, which was her motivation for beginning to work. She went to work for the sake of her children, who were still young and needed her financial support. She started her own business and it is going very well. She works every day of the week from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Her daughter helps her in the business, as well.
Elizabeth would like this loan so that she can add electrical appliances, products she does not currently sell, to her inventory. She already has orders for these items.
Although Elizabeth is married, her husband lives in another country. Periodically he sends her financial help for the children. She is 45 years old and has 3 children. Two of her children are married and no longer live with her. She is living in her in-law's home right now. She aspires to be able to renovate the house where she lives in order to open a bazaar (store)there. She hopes to start that business with the earnings from her present business along with the help of her husband.
Translated from Spanish by Erin Corcoran, Kiva volunteer.
Elizabeth tiene una experiencia de 5 aos en venta de articulos para el hogar. Ella se dedicaba a la costura. Su esposo viajo hace 7 aos a Espaa. Lo que fue el motivo para que ella comience a trabajar. En si lo hizo por sus hijos ya que ellos eran todava jvenes y necesitaban su apoyo. Comenz con su negocio y al momento le va muy bien. Trabaja todos los das de la semana en horario de 10 a.m. hasta las 5 p.m. Su hija tambin le ayuda con las ventas de su negocio.
",F,475,partner,Retail,0 Ecuador,"Erlinda has had a business selling clothes for 5 years. She began her business with her own savings. She gained experience from a young age, given she would help her relatives with sales. Currently, she sells her products per request. She serves her clients every day of the week from 8:00 AM to 20:00 PM.
Erlinda will use the loan to buy clothes, school uniforms, and school supplies to meet the demands of the school season.
Erlinda is 35 years old and has three children who are students. She has stated that her childrens education is the main reason for her to move forward with the business and that she needs to expand the business to be able to generate more income to cover her day to day needs.
Translated from Spanish by Martha Martinez, Kiva Volunteer.
",F,475,partner,Clothing,0 Ecuador,"
Esperanza, has twelve years experience working in a obstretician's office. After three years working in an office in her area, she has been entrusted with the mission of opening up her own office where she has been working for the past nine years. She began working by herself and thanks to her effort and perseverance, she has been able to maintain herself because of her constant dedication.
Esperanza is requesting a credit to increase her business which has grown because of the excellent attention she gives her patients. With this loan, Esperanza will buy medicines for prenatal care and instruments to carry out pap smears and other tests.
Esperanza is a 41 year old single mother of a 13 year old son who is in school. Esperanza hopes that this credit will help her better her business and the attention she gives her patients since she is located in a marginal area with limited resources and services. She needs the credit to buy medicines at a lower cost and in this manner better serve her patients in the most economical and efficient manner.
Translated by Kiva volunteer Maite Barragn
Esperanza con su experiencia de 12 aos y 3 aos trabajando en un consultorio del sector, le han dado la confianza para poner su propio consultorio el cual lo viene desempeando desde hace 9 aos. Se inicio individualmente gracias al esfuerzo y continuidad, de esa manera ha logrado mantenerse gracias a la constante dedicacin que Esperanza posee.
Esperanza pide un crdito para incrementar su negocio. Debido a que su demanda aumentado gracias a su buena atencin. Con este prstamo Esperanza comprara medicamentos para el control Prenatal y esptulas para realizar exmenes de papanicolao y otros.Esperanza tiene 41 aos es madre soltera, tiene un hijo de 13 aos que esta estudiando. Esperanza tiene la confianza que con el crdito aspira mejorar su negocio y su atencin a sus clientes, por estar en un sitio marginal de escasos recursos y servicios. Esperanza necesita el crdito para comprar medicinas a menor costo y de esta manera poder servir a sus clientes de la manera ms econmica y eficiente.
",F,600,partner,Health,0 Ecuador,"Estela has more than 13 years of experience in the production and selling of clothing. She learned the trade from her mother and set up her own business after saving up money from a job as a housekeeper. She has a very modest workshop that is in need of more fabrics and other materials, but she works long hours in order to make ends meet. As a single mother, she relies heavily on this business and a part time job cleaning houses in order to feed and educate her 2 children.
Mifex offers its clients microinsurance and access to business training and educational programs. For more information about microfinance, Ecuador, and our services, please visit www.mifex.org.
",F,375,partner,Services,0 Ecuador,"For 13 years, Maria has been selling fried pork pieces and stuffed corn patties of potatoes and pork. She gained experience from her parents who ran a similar business to earn a living. Along with her children, Maria runs the business in front of her house, giving good service to her clients in providing good portions and cleanliness. She attends to her clients from 15:30PM to 20:00PM.
Maria would like the loan to buy a big cart with ample storage room to meet her needs, and to be able to sell her product with greater care. With the growing demand for her product, Maria sees the need to enhance the presentation of her product.
Maria is 37 years old and has 2 children that study. In their spare time, the children help Maria run the business because they know the business is their only source of income to cover their home expenses. Additionally, they are eager to own a piece of land to be able to build a house one day.
Translated from Spanish by Martha Martinez, Kiva Volunteer.
",F,600,partner,Food,0 Ecuador,"
Geovanis sells sandals. She began her business by learning how to make sandals from her father, who is an artisan. At first, she only sold to family members. Now, she offers her product in neighboring provinces and to friends in the area. She will use the loan to invest in a variety of shoes and sandals for men and women. By buying in bulk, she will get a better price, and therefore earn a better profit. Geovanis believes her business will grow by offering a larger selection of styles to her clients.
Geovanis is 46 years old, married and has one daughter. She hopes that this loan will help her save to build a house and give her daughter a better education.
Translated from Spanish by Bianca Vargas, Kiva Volunteer.
",F,275,partner,Retail,0 Ecuador,"
Gladys owns a stand at a local market where she sells a wide variety of products. When she started selling she did not have a stand and she had to sell from a cart in downtown Guayaquil. With a $200 loan from a friend, she was able to set up a stand in a local market. She now sells clothing, make up products and many other items.
Through hard work and perseverance Gladys has been able to make her business a success. She needs this loan in order to continue investing in products to sell from her store. Specifically, she plans to buy new toys and clothing. Eventually Gladys wants to run the store from a part of her a home. She has children but they are no longer dependent on her.
Mifex offers its clients microinsurance and access to business training and educational programs. For more information about microfinance, Ecuador, and our services, please visit www.mifex.org.
",F,600,partner,Retail,0 Ecuador,"Gualberto has a small plot of land as part of an association of farmers in Baba, Ecuador. He wants to invest in order to cultivate rice on his lands, purchasing everything from seeds to fertilizer. He lives with his mother, his wife, and a daughter who is 22. He also lives with three of his grandchildren. He wants to fix his land which has not been adequately prepared. He hopes he can rent machinery that will help increase his productivity.
This borrower is part of the newest and largest Communal Bank in the recently developed Mifex Rural Finance Program. All of the members of the Centro Agricola de Baba Communal Bank are part of an Association of Rice Farmers in the county of Baba in rural Ecuador. Their association works cooperatively to cultivate rice and commercialize the product after it has grown. As an association, Centro Agricola helps the farmers by providing access to machinery and training services. The farmers from Centro Agricola have received special instruction on financial responsibility and accounting from Codemicro, an organization that specializes in training programs geared towards the rural sector.
The members of Centro Agricola de Baba will use the micro-loans to prepare their lands and cultivate rice on their farms. Because they form part of a communal bank, they are all each others' guarantors for the loan. This means that if for some reason one person in the group cannot fully repay the loan, the other borrowers and the Centro Agricola de Baba Association are responsible for the amount in default. The members of the bank also participate in a program designed to teach and encourage savings among the group. Promoting savings is often forgotten in many micro-finance programs, but Mifex believes that is imperative for the communities we works with to have capital reserved for future investments or unexpected difficulties.
Below is more information about Santa Lucia compiled by Luis Crespo and Robert Edgar of the Mifex team when evaluating the potential of the sector for the Rural Finance Program.
The people of Baba have been organized since the days of Gran Colombia when Ecuador was yet to be a country. The area has always been popular because of the extremely productive lands that gave way to cultivation of cacao for decades. Now Baba is a county in the province of Los Rios in the coastal region of Ecuador. For most of the latter part of the 20th Century it was a cacao and banana producing sector. Most of the surrounding areas of Baba in Los Rios are owned by large mulitnational companies such as Dole, but Baba is a sector characterized by the small and informal farms.
Rice production has now turned into the main economic activity of the sector as about 80% of the people are rice farmers. Cacao is still very popular in the area, but because of the long cultivation cycle people prefer to invest in rice. The lands in Baba are very fertile though, and most farmers in the sector often grow other crops, such as plantains and soy beans as secondary sources of income. Many farmers also keep livestock as emergency sources of food and income, commonly resorting to selling a chicken or pig if they are in need of cash.
Most of the people in the Baba area are small farmers. They produce about 80 sacks of rice per hectare of land. In order to farm they first must prepare the lands by removing weeds, plowing and leveling the lands. This is the most difficult part for the farmers in Baba, who often lack the necessary machinery to properly plow the lands for rice production. After appropriately preparing the lands, the farmers fill an area with water to form what is known as a paddy field, because rice is a very water intensive crop. The rice seeds are either dispersed freely (the process is known as boleo in Spanish) or hand sowed. Once the rice has grown, most farmers rent machinery that helps them gather their production.
One of the biggest struggles in the area has been the lack of credit due to the absence of any type of financial institution. Because people do not count on formal financial finance, they have turned to loan sharks for financing. They have been affected by expensive lines of credit that exceed 100% interest a year and can be as expensive as 240%. Intermediaries also exploit the farmers because of their outstanding debt. Farmers also lack skills and knowledge to commercialize their products and pay fair prices for their crops.
The largest risk in the sector is due to absence of watering systems. Although Baba is in the province Los Rios (the rivers) there is severe problem with access to water. The lack of infrastructure in the sector does not allow the small farmers to benefit from the presence of the many rivers in the area. If the winter season is too dry, it is likely that the lands will not be sufficiently fertile for rice production in the summer. On the other hand, if there is too much rain there are not any drainage systems to prevent flooding and the crops are often ruined. Generally speaking though, Baba is a very productive sector where the lands yield all types of crops including rice, cacao, corn, watermelons, plantains, and soy beans.
The loans in this sector will mostly be used to to buy soil, seeds, fertilizer and insecticides. Many clients will use the capital towards renting machinery and equipment necessary to effectively work and prepare the fields. Clients also typically use a part of the loan to buy livestock in order to raise and have as reserves. The loan repayment schedule is different from the typical micro-entrepreneur because farmers see the profits from their investments 5 or 6 months after making their initial expenditures. Mifex asks our rural clients only to pay 50% of the capital in the first 6 months of the loan. The rest of the debt must be paid in the seventh and final month.
",M,675,lender,Agriculture,1 Ecuador,"Henita has had her business selling school supplies, gifts and costume jewellery from her house for eight years. Her opening hours are from 7am to 7pm. Without any experience, she decided to start using the small savings her husband had made from his work. She has managed to keep her business going thanks to her constant dedication.
Henita needs a loan in order to be able to buy school supplies, gifts, make-up and clothes. Because its the beginning of the school year and she is located near several educational establishments, her clients have asked for her to stock a greater variety of school supplies.
Henita is 36 years old and is married: her husband works as a cook in a factory near Guayaquil. They have 3 children, 2 of whom are studying and help in their spare time by serving in the shop. Their house is located only a few blocks from the ringroad. The structure is mixed and the floor is made of earth. With this credit she hopes to improve her business and living conditions, being an example for her children and helping her husband.
Translated from Spanish by Katy Long, Kiva Volunteer
",F,600,partner,Retail,0 Ecuador,"Investment of First Loan:
Betty could buy all the necessary agricultural supplies to attend to the demands of her clients. That is to say she could buy everything in time, harvesting her crop as expected and marketing all her product.
Development of Business:
She possesses only one block of land, which has permitted her to have land to cultivate her rice. Ten years of experience vouch for the quality and quantity of her products.
Personal information:
Betty is 41 years old. She is married. She has 1 son that already studies in the school of the sector. Her dwelling is of mixed construction; cane and wood. One of her aspirations is to buy more hectares of land to have more production and to improve her dwelling.
Use of Second Loan:
With this new loan she will buy agricultural supplements, seeds, fertilizer, small equipment and other necessary supplies, rent machinery and contract labor to take advantage of the winter season and to save irrigation. The advantage of her location is that it is in a high part.
Previous Profile: http://www.kiva.org/app.php?page=businesses&action=about&id=11779
Translated from Spanish by B, Kiva Volunteer.
",F,1200,lender,Agriculture,1 Ecuador,"
Investment of First Loan:
Juana could buy all the necessary agricultural supplies to attend to the demands of her clients. That is to say she could buy everything in time, harvesting her crop as expected and marketing all her product.
Development of Business:
The 2 blocks that she possesses have permitted her to have sufficient land to cultivate not only rice but also related products such as corn. Thirty years of experience vouch for the quality and quantity of her products.
Personal information:
Juana is 49 years old. She is married. She has 1 son, that already is independent and works for himself. Her dwelling is of mixed construction; cane and wood. One of her aspirations is to buy more hectares of land to have more production and to improve her quality of life.
Use of Second Loan:
With this new loan she will buy agricultural supplements, seeds, fertilizer, small equipment and other necessary supplies, rent machinery and contract labor to take advantage of the winter season and to save irrigation. The advantage of her location is that it is in the high part of this coastal sector.
Translated from Spanish by B, Kiva Volunteer.
",F,500,lender,Agriculture,1 Ecuador,"
Ivonne is 50 years old and lives with her children who are students. She is also a secondary education teacher and is conscious of the need to prepare her children very well for the future.
Ivonne has a fast food and stationery business located inside a school. She started her business with $200 that she saved from her afternoon job. She takes care of the business in the mornings.
The loan she is asking for will be used to make suitable improvements inside the business. She has noticed that she needs to improve her business' image in order to increase the sales. Ivonne needs to buy another display case and improve and embellish the walls at her location.
She trusts that the business will give them the economic solvency to help her children in what they need most. She has a stable family and a lot of enthusiasm for work.
Translated from Spanish by Maria Ramirez-Gregg, Kiva Volunteer.
",F,1050,partner,Food,0 Ecuador,"
Jacinto is a hard working farmer who grew up in Baba. He produces rice and corn on land given to him by his father, who, he still helps and work with. He lives with his girlfriend, who he hopes to marry and start a family with in the near future. He will invest the loan so he can plant for the next cycle by preparing the land, and buying fertilizer and seeds. He does not have children but is still very family oriented, as he is close to his mother, father and brothers. He hopes he can fix the lands so they can be productive for years to come.
This borrower is part of the newest and largest Communal Bank in the recently developed Mifex Rural Finance Program. All of the members of the Centro Agricola de Baba Communal Bank are part of an Association of Rice Farmers in the county of Baba in rural Ecuador. Their association works cooperatively to cultivate rice and commercialize the product after it has grown. As an association, Centro Agricola helps the farmers by providing access to machinery and training services. The farmers from Centro Agricola have received special instruction on financial responsibility and accounting from Codemicro, an organization that specializes in training programs geared towards the rural sector.
The members of Centro Agricola de Baba will use the micro-loans to prepare their lands and cultivate rice on their farms. Because they form part of a communal bank, they are all each others' guarantors for the loan. This means that if for some reason one person in the group cannot fully repay the loan, the other borrowers and the Centro Agricola de Baba Association are responsible for the amount in default. The members of the bank also participate in a program designed to teach and encourage savings among the group. Promoting savings is often forgotten in many micro-finance programs, but Mifex believes that is imperative for the communities we works with to have capital reserved for future investments or unexpected difficulties.
Below is more information about Baba compiled by Luis Crespo and Robert Edgar of the Mifex team when evaluating the potential of the sector for the Rural Finance Program.
The people of Baba have been organized since the days of Gran Colombia when Ecuador was yet to be a country. The area has always been popular because of the extremely productive lands that gave way to cultivation of cacao for decades. Now Baba is a county in the province of Los Rios in the coastal region of Ecuador. For most of the latter part of the 20th Century it was a cacao and banana producing sector. Most of the surrounding areas of Baba in Los Rios are owned by big large companies such as Dole, but Baba is a sector characterized the small and informal farms.
Rice production has now turned into the main economic activity of the area as about 80% of the people are rice farmers. Cacao is still very popular in the area, but because of the long cultivation cycle people prefer to invest in rice. The lands in Baba are very fertile though, and most farmers in the sector often grow other crops, such as plantains and soy beans, as secondary sources of income. Many farmers also keep livestock as emergency sources of food and income, commonly resorting to selling a chicken or pig if they are in need of cash.
Most of the people in the Baba area are small farmers. They produce about 80 sacks of rice per hectare of land. In order to farm they first must prepare the lands by removing weeds, plowing and leveling the lands. This is the most difficult part for the farmers in Baba, who often lack the necessary machinery to properly plough the lands for rice production. After appropriately preparing the lands, the farmers fill an area with water to form what is known as a paddy field, because rice is a very water intensive crop. The rice seeds are either dispersed freely (the process is known as boleo in Spanish) or hand sowed. Once the rice has grown, most farmers rent machinery that helps them gather their production.
One of the biggest struggles in the area has been the lack of credit due to the absence of any type of financial institution. Because people do not count on formal financial finance, they have turned to loan sharks for financing. They have been affected by expensive lines of credit that exceed 100% interest a year and can be as expensive as 240%. Intermediaries also exploit the farmers because of their outstanding debt. Farmers also lack skills and knowledge to commercialize their products and pay fair prices for their crops.
The largest risk in the sector is due to absence of watering systems. Although Baba is in the province Los Rios (the rivers) there is severe problem with access to water. The lack of infrastructure in the sector does not allow the small farmers to benefit from the presence of the many rivers in the area. If the winter season is too dry, it is likely that the lands will not be sufficiently fertile for rice production in the summer. On the other hand, if there is too much rain there are no drainage systems to prevent flooding and the crops are often ruined. Generally speaking though, Baba is a very productive sector where the lands yield all types of products including rice, cacao, corn, watermelons, plantains, and soy beans.
The loans in this sector will be used to to buy soil, seeds, fertilizer and insecticides. Many of the loans will also go towards renting machinery and equipment necessary to effectively work and prepare the fields. The loan repayment schedule is different from the typical micro-entrepreneur because farmers see the profits from their investments 5 or 6 months after making their initial expenditures. Mifex asks our rural clients only to pay 50% of the capital in the first 6 months of the loan. The rest of the debt must be paid in the seventh and final month.
",M,1200,lender,Agriculture,0 Ecuador,"Jaime has 8 years of experience selling and repairing shoes, a trade he learned little by little while working for someone else. His initiative to rent a site where he could put his own business was wise, since it has gone very well for him. He works every day of the week from 7 a.m. until 12 p.m., when he closes to business to return home to eat. He opens again from 2 p.m. until 7 p.m. He makes shoes on order for his clients, and repairs shoes and suitcases.
Jaime would like the loan so that he can buy a glass display case in which to display his products. He will also buy raw materials with which to continue producing shoes.
Jaime is single and 40 years old. He lives with a married brother and his mother.
Translated from Spanish by Erin Corcoran, Kiva volunteer.
Jaime tiene una experiencia de 8 aos en el negocio de ventas y reparacion de calzado. Actividad que aprendi trabajando para otra persona de donde poco a poco fue adquiriendo el conocimiento. Su iniciativa de alquilar un local para poner su negocio fue decisiva ya que le ha ido muy bien. Trabaja todos los das de la semana en horario de 7 a.m. hasta las 12 p.m. Luego el cierra su negocio para ir a comer. Lo vuelve abrir desde las 2 p.m. hasta las 7 p.m. Su trabajo consiste en elaborar zapatos los que despus los entrega ha clientes fijos. Adems en su taller realiza trabajos de costura de zapatos y maletas.
",M,275,partner,Retail,0 Ecuador,"Jenny has 6 years experience with her business of selling cosmetics and jewelry. She has been working since she was in school helping her mother. She would take products to sell them at school. In a way, it was her mother who started the business. Once she was of legal age, she decided to start buying her own products. The reason she is asking for a loan is that she was pregnant and had to stop working for one year. Now she works everyday from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m.
Jenny wants to use the loan to invest in her business. She wants buy other products that for the lack of working capital she hasnt been able to.
Jenny is a single mother. She is 24 years old and she has 2 children. Currently, she is separated from her husband. She lives in a house that belongs to her in-laws. They have practically given it to her to live. In spite of their separation, the father of her children helps them every month.
Jennys wish is to be able to buy a used car that would help her with her business and have a bigger income.
Translated from Spanish by Ana Gabriela Clark, Kiva Volunteer.
",F,375,partner,Retail,0 Ecuador,"
Jorge has owned his general store for about 3 years. He started the business when he found himself out of work and without a way to support himself and his wife. At his store he sells a wide variety of products including posters, officer supplies, cosmetics and bottled water. He currently rents at the location where he sells from and he is very happy with his business.
He is seeking a loan in order to invest in more products and take advantage of his great location. He works with his wife and they are both very happy with the results of the venture. Their dream is to save enough money in order to buy a location of their own for the business.
Mifex offers its clients microinsurance and access to business training and educational programs. For more information about microfinance, Ecuador, and our services, please visit www.mifex.org.
",M,625,partner,Retail,0 Ecuador,"Juan has been working on this farm his entire life. He lives with his wife and 9 year old daughter, and helps his other two children who are grown up and independent. He relies completely on rice farming to feed his family, as his lands are only productive for this activity. He was born and raised in Baba and learned to farm rice from his father. He wants to make his land more productive by plowing them with rented machinery. In the long run, he wants to save for his daughters education.
This borrower is part of one the new Communal Banks formed in the recently developed Mifex Rural Finance Program. All of the members of the Anzuelo Baba Communal Bank are part of an association of rice farmers in the county of Baba in rural Ecuador. Their organization, El Anzuelo Asociacion, works cooperatively to help their members cultivate rice and commercialize the product after it has grown. Most recently, El Anzuelo was able to start a program that improved their members access to watering services..
The members of La Asociacion El Anzuelo de Baba will use the micro-loans to prepare their lands and cultivate rice on their farms. Because they form part of a communal bank, they are all each others' guarantors for the loan. This means that if for some reason one person in the group cannot fully repay the loan, the other borrowers and the association are responsible for the amount in default. The members of the bank also participate in a program designed to teach and encourage savings among the group. Promoting savings is often forgotten in many micro-finance programs, but Mifex believes that is imperative for the communities we works with to have capital reserved for future investments or unexpected difficulties.
Below is more information about Baba compiled by Luis Crespo and Robert Edgar of the Mifex team when evaluating the potential of the sector for the Rural Finance Program.
The people of Baba have been organized since the days of Gran Colombia when Ecuador was yet to be a country. The area has always been popular because of the extremely productive lands that gave way to cultivation of cacao for decades. Now Baba is a county in the province of Los Rios in the coastal region of Ecuador. For most of the latter part of the 20th Century it was a cacao and banana producing sector. Most of the surrounding areas of Baba in Los Rios are owned by large mulitnational companies such as Dole, but Baba is a sector characterized by the small and informal farms.
Rice production has now turned into the main economic activity of the sector as about 80% of the people are rice farmers. Cacao is still very popular in the area, but because of the long cultivation cycle people prefer to invest in rice. The lands in Baba are very fertile though, and most farmers in the sector often grow other crops, such as plantains and soy beans as secondary sources of income. Many farmers also keep livestock as emergency sources of food and income, commonly resorting to selling a chicken or pig if they are in need of cash.
Most of the people in the Baba area are small farmers. They produce about 80 sacks of rice per hectare of land. In order to farm they first must prepare the lands by removing weeds, plowing and leveling the lands. This is the most difficult part for the farmers in Baba, who often lack the necessary machinery to properly plow the lands for rice production. After appropriately preparing the lands, the farmers fill an area with water to form what is known as a paddy field, because rice is a very water intensive crop. The rice seeds are either dispersed freely (the process is known as boleo in Spanish) or hand sowed. Once the rice has grown, most farmers rent machinery that helps them gather their production.
One of the biggest struggles in the area has been the lack of credit due to the absence of any type of financial institution. Because people do not count on formal financial finance, they have turned to loan sharks for financing. They have been affected by expensive lines of credit that exceed 100% interest a year and can be as expensive as 240%. Intermediaries also exploit the farmers because of their outstanding debt. Farmers also lack skills and knowledge to commercialize their products and pay fair prices for their crops.
The largest risk in the sector is due to absence of watering systems. Although Baba is in the province Los Rios (the rivers) there is severe problem with access to water. The lack of infrastructure in the sector does not allow the small farmers to benefit from the presence of the many rivers in the area. If the winter season is too dry, it is likely that the lands will not be sufficiently fertile for rice production in the summer. On the other hand, if there is too much rain there are not any drainage systems to prevent flooding and the crops are often ruined. Generally speaking though, Baba is a very productive sector where the lands yield all types of crops including rice, cacao, corn, watermelons, plantains, and soy beans.
The loans in this sector will mostly be used to to buy soil, seeds, fertilizer and insecticides. Many clients will use the capital towards renting machinery and equipment necessary to effectively work and prepare the fields. Clients also typically use a part of the loan to buy livestock in order to raise and have as reserves. The loan repayment schedule is different from the typical micro-entrepreneur because farmers see the profits from their investments 5 or 6 months after making their initial expenditures. Mifex asks our rural clients only to pay 50% of the capital in the first 6 months of the loan. The rest of the debt must be paid in the seventh and final month.
",M,675,lender,Agriculture,0 Ecuador,"Juana se inicio en el comercio vendiendo arroz por quintales por falta de capital dejo ese negocio y con algo de ahorro se puso una tienda en su casa la misma que la tiene desde hace 2 aos. Juana atiende a sus clientes todos los das de la semana desde las 6: AM a 22: PM El esposo de Juana la apoya su negocio
Juana solicita el prstamo para compra de vveres de primera necesidad: arroz, azcar, aceite, carnes, pollos y otros. As de esta manera surte su negocio y cumple con las necesidades de sus clientes.
Juana tiene 47 aos 2 hijos y a su cargo 1 el mismo que estudia. El esposo de Juana la apoya en la atencin del negocio y trabaja como maestro constructor.
English:Translated by Nuria Ruiz, Kiva Voluteer.
Juana started her business selling rice in big amounts. Due to lack of capital she had to leave that business and she started her little store. She and her husband work there every day from 6am to 10pm.
Juana is requesting a loan to buy goods for her business. She 's planning on using the money to buy rice, sugar, oil, meat, chicken and others. That way she can have a better stocked store and thus , better serve her clients.
Juana is 47 years old and she has two sons. Her husband is very supportive of her enterprises; besides helping her in the store, he works in construction.
",F,600,partner,Food,0 Ecuador,"Kennys owns a general store where she sells almost anything her clients will buy. The business was launched with $20 in capital. She now sells items including bed sheets, sodas and drinks, household items, and medicines. Kennys also holds a job as a worker for a local pharmaceutical company. This job not only provides a secondary source of income, it allows her to purchase medicine in bulk at wholesale prices.
Kennys is seeking the loan because she wants to continue to invest in new products. She sees the Christmas as a golden opportunity to make a good amount of sales. She will buy sheets, toys and more drinks.
Kennys is the 37 years old and has 8 children. She moved to Guayaquil from Esmeraldas, a city with a predominantly Afro community. She has always worked as a maid in households, but this new business venture has allowed her to quit those jobs. Due to the strenuous financial circumstances, none of her older children graduated from high school. They do help her run the business when she is at work.
Mifex offers its clients microinsurance and access to business training and educational programs. For more information about microfinance, Ecuador, and our services, please visit www.mifex.org.
",F,475,partner,Retail,0 Ecuador,"Leonardo is a street vendor who sells clothes and other items. He started his own business after realizing that the wages he made as a factory worker were not sufficient to maintain his family. He has a 5 month old daughter and a wife who works as a secretary. He travels around the community from 8 am until sunset offering his products to friends, family and acquaintances. He needs the loan in order to be able to purchase from wholesale distributors. He says he will use the extra profits to buy baby products for his daughter.
Mifex offers its clients microinsurance and access to business training and educational programs. For more information about microfinance, Ecuador, and our services, please visit www.mifex.org.
",M,475,partner,Clothing,0 Ecuador,"Leyda has a small beauty shop where she cuts men's and womens hair. She started out in this line of work by offering her services at peoples homes, and now she has set up a part of her own house to work from. Several months ago she started selling jewelry and other accessories to her clients, and, thanks to a previous loan from Mifex, she was also sells perfumes. Leyda increased her salon services to include hair dying and facials. These services require investment capital she did not have prior to the loan.
Leyda is requesting another loan so she can continue to bring in new items for sale, and so she can make improvements to her home and salon.
She and her husband have three kids. She is very optimistic about receiving the loan for her business and the good of her family.
",F,950,lender,Services,1 Ecuador,"Lidys runs a hair salon where she styles and cuts hair. She has been in this line of work for over 15 years. After working in the beauty salon of a family member, Lidys decided to start her own operation with $50 of capital. She opens her salon at 9 in the morning and works until about 8 p.m. She needs the loan in order to buy better equipment for her operation. She needs new scissors, a blow dryer and a hair iron.
Lidys is a 34 year old mother of 5 children. All of her kids are in school thanks to the income she generates from her own salon. She hopes to continue to improve her services and attract a larger amount of clients.
Mifex offers its clients microinsurance and access to business training and educational programs. For more information about microfinance, Ecuador, and our services, please visit www.mifex.org.
",F,600,partner,Services,0 Ecuador,"Ligia has 12 years of experience with her business. She started as a school bus chauffer. Then, she managed a grocery store that was far from her home. Noting that this required a lot of travel time, she decided to start a business in her home and saved money to do this start-up. So far, she's been running the business from her home for 2 years and it is going very well. She works every day from 6am to 11pm. Her husband helps a lot with the business as well.
Ligia requires credit in order to enhance her business line with more products such as meats and sausages. She would like to buy an oven in order to start making breads as well.
Ligia is married and has 3 children who are all studying. During their spare moments, they help with the store as well. Her husband is a chauffer and uses his own car to chauffer school children. In addition to running her store, Ligia is studying baking in a course run by a company called Empresa. She hopes to finish the course and then be able to start making fresh bread products to sell.
Ligia tiene una experiencia de 12 aos con su actividad. Se inicio siendo chofer de expreso escolar. Pone un local de venta de vveres lejos de su domicilio. Viendo que esto le significaba demasiado tiempo decide con sus ahorros adecuar su hogar para poner su negocio en casa. Actualmente tiene ya 2 aos en su domicilio y le ha ido muy bien. Trabaja todos los das de la semana en horario de 6 a.m. hasta las 11 p.m. Su esposo le ayuda mucho en su negocio siendo una ayuda enorme para ella.
Ligia desea el crdito para poder surtir su negocio con otra clase de productos como lo son las carnes y embutidos. Adems ella ya cuenta con un horno y muy pronto comenzara a producir panes.
Ligia es casada. Tiene 3 hijos los cuales estudian y en sus ratos libres le ayudan con la atencin de la tienda. Su esposo trabaja de chofer en carro propio haciendo expreso escolar. Ligia adems de su trabajo ella tambin estudia panadera en nuestros cursos que da la Empresa. Su deseo es poder terminar su curso y de esta manera con el conocimiento comenzar a trabajar en la elaboracin de productos de panadera.
",F,600,partner,Food,0 Ecuador,"Liner runs a small store where she sells hardware supplies. She started the business out of her home when her husband found himself without a job. With $200 in start up capital she started selling basic supplies such as light bulbs and nails. The business is about the 3 years old and now includes a wider range of products.
Liner is requesting the loan because she wants to purchase her merchandise at wholesale prices and quantities. Currently she does not have this benefit and she sees that her profits are very minimal. She is 35 years old and has two children that are still in school. Her husband now has a job and supports the business in any way he can.
Mifex offers its clients microinsurance and access to business training and educational programs. For more information about microfinance, Ecuador, and our services, please visit www.mifex.org.
",F,500,partner,Retail,0 Ecuador,"Lorena sells sodas and other products from her small store. Because her parents ran similar stores, Lorena learned the ins and outs of the business from a young age. She saved $100 in order to start up her operation about 2 years ago. She sells these products from her home to the local community and she is also a distributor for some nearby stores. She is seeking this loan in order to increase her inventory. She wants to begin selling dairy products and eggs from her store as well.
Lorena is 32 years old, she is married and she has 2 school aged children. She is very proud to have a business of her own that allows her to provide an education and food for her children. She hopes that she can continue to improve her store and use the profits for the well being of her family.
Mifex offers its clients microinsurance and access to business training and educational programs. For more information about microfinance, Ecuador, and our services, please visit www.mifex.org.
",F,600,partner,Food,0 Ecuador,"Lourdes has a small business selling womens accessories and shoes. She started with $100 of her savings and the support of her husband. She offers her products to locals and also sells door-to-door. She has started to explore the possibilities of selling new products such as toys and electronics. She is requesting a loan in order to continue testing the market and investing in the most popular products. She has four children, who are all studying. They live together in a house of wood that is slowly being converted to cement.
",F,375,partner,Clothing,0 Ecuador,"Luis has a very small but productive rice farm. He has been living on these lands for about thirty years with his wife and family. He has raised all 8 of children with the rice production from his farm. He lives with four of his grandchildren and works hard to educate them. He will invest in fertilizer and seeds for the upcoming season. He hopes to one day fix his house and have enough saved up to rest and retire. At the moment he is still in good spirits to work and provide for his family.
This borrower is part of the newest and largest Communal Bank in the recently developed Mifex Rural Finance Program. All of the members of the Centro Agricola de Baba Communal Bank are part of an Association of Rice Farmers in the county of Baba in rural Ecuador. Their association works cooperatively to cultivate rice and commercialize the product after it has grown. As an association, Centro Agricola helps the farmers by providing access to machinery and training services. The farmers from Centro Agricola have received special instruction on financial responsibility and accounting from Codemicro, an organization that specializes in training programs geared towards the rural sector.
The members of Centro Agricola de Baba will use the micro-loans to prepare their lands and cultivate rice on their farms. Because they form part of a communal bank, they are all each others' guarantors for the loan. This means that if for some reason one person in the group cannot fully repay the loan, the other borrowers and the Centro Agricola de Baba Association are responsible for the amount in default. The members of the bank also participate in a program designed to teach and encourage savings among the group. Promoting savings is often forgotten in many micro-finance programs, but Mifex believes that is imperative for the communities we works with to have capital reserved for future investments or unexpected difficulties.
Below is more information about Santa Lucia compiled by Luis Crespo and Robert Edgar of the Mifex team when evaluating the potential of the sector for the Rural Finance Program.
The people of Baba have been organized since the days of Gran Colombia when Ecuador was yet to be a country. The area has always been popular because of the extremely productive lands that gave way to cultivation of cacao for decades. Now Baba is a county in the province of Los Rios in the coastal region of Ecuador. For most of the latter part of the 20th Century it was a cacao and banana producing sector. Most of the surrounding areas of Baba in Los Rios are owned by large mulitnational companies such as Dole, but Baba is a sector characterized by the small and informal farms.
Rice production has now turned into the main economic activity of the sector as about 80% of the people are rice farmers. Cacao is still very popular in the area, but because of the long cultivation cycle people prefer to invest in rice. The lands in Baba are very fertile though, and most farmers in the sector often grow other crops, such as plantains and soy beans as secondary sources of income. Many farmers also keep livestock as emergency sources of food and income, commonly resorting to selling a chicken or pig if they are in need of cash.
Most of the people in the Baba area are small farmers. They produce about 80 sacks of rice per hectare of land. In order to farm they first must prepare the lands by removing weeds, plowing and leveling the lands. This is the most difficult part for the farmers in Baba, who often lack the necessary machinery to properly plow the lands for rice production. After appropriately preparing the lands, the farmers fill an area with water to form what is known as a paddy field, because rice is a very water intensive crop. The rice seeds are either dispersed freely (the process is known as boleo in Spanish) or hand sowed. Once the rice has grown, most farmers rent machinery that helps them gather their production.
One of the biggest struggles in the area has been the lack of credit due to the absence of any type of financial institution. Because people do not count on formal financial finance, they have turned to loan sharks for financing. They have been affected by expensive lines of credit that exceed 100% interest a year and can be as expensive as 240%. Intermediaries also exploit the farmers because of their outstanding debt. Farmers also lack skills and knowledge to commercialize their products and pay fair prices for their crops.
The largest risk in the sector is due to absence of watering systems. Although Baba is in the province Los Rios (the rivers) there is severe problem with access to water. The lack of infrastructure in the sector does not allow the small farmers to benefit from the presence of the many rivers in the area. If the winter season is too dry, it is likely that the lands will not be sufficiently fertile for rice production in the summer. On the other hand, if there is too much rain there are not any drainage systems to prevent flooding and the crops are often ruined. Generally speaking though, Baba is a very productive sector where the lands yield all types of crops including rice, cacao, corn, watermelons, plantains, and soy beans.
The loans in this sector will mostly be used to to buy soil, seeds, fertilizer and insecticides. Many clients will use the capital towards renting machinery and equipment necessary to effectively work and prepare the fields. Clients also typically use a part of the loan to buy livestock in order to raise and have as reserves. The loan repayment schedule is different from the typical micro-entrepreneur because farmers see the profits from their investments 5 or 6 months after making their initial expenditures. Mifex asks our rural clients only to pay 50% of the capital in the first 6 months of the loan. The rest of the debt must be paid in the seventh and final month.
",M,950,lender,Agriculture,0 Ecuador,"Magaly sells clothes in her local community. This type of activity allows her the flexibility to bring in a stable source of income while also giving her time to spend with her children. While she is out selling, her mother takes care of her youngest one while the others are at school. She began in this line of work with only $15 in investment capital.
Magaly needs a loan in order to make investments in her business. She wants to buy a larger amount of clothing at cheaper prices so she may be able to keep more profits. She works very hard, often traveling to downtown Guayaquil in search of potential customers for her goods.
Magaly is 29 years old and has 4 small children. She feels proud to be able to help her family with the extra money she makes. She is very grateful of the help her mother provides, without her she would not be able to run this business and care for her children.
Mifex offers its clients microinsurance and access to business training and educational programs. For more information about microfinance, Ecuador, and our services, please visit www.mifex.org.
",F,375,partner,Clothing,0 Ecuador,"Manuel bought his land 30 years ago. His land is great for making rice due to their location in the lowlands of Baba. He raised his five children with his farm production. He lives with his wife, his son Manuel Jr., and his daughter Rocio. They all pitch in with the work to make the lands productive. With the loan he will buy seeds and fertilizer. He hopes that with the profits he can increase the size of his land in order to leave them for his children. He is almost 70 years old and still feels strong enough to work and help feed his family.
This borrower is part of the newest and largest Communal Bank in the recently developed Mifex Rural Finance Program. All of the members of the Centro Agricola de Baba Communal Bank are part of an Association of Rice Farmers in the county of Baba in rural Ecuador. Their association works cooperatively to cultivate rice and commercialize the product after it has grown. As an association, Centro Agricola helps the farmers by providing access to machinery and training services. The farmers from Centro Agricola have received special instruction on financial responsibility and accounting from Codemicro, an organization that specializes in training programs geared towards the rural sector.
The members of Centro Agricola de Baba will use the micro-loans to prepare their lands and cultivate rice on their farms. Because they form part of a communal bank, they are all each others' guarantors for the loan. This means that if for some reason one person in the group cannot fully repay the loan, the other borrowers and the Centro Agricola de Baba Association are responsible for the amount in default. The members of the bank also participate in a program designed to teach and encourage savings among the group. Promoting savings is often forgotten in many micro-finance programs, but Mifex believes that is imperative for the communities we works with to have capital reserved for future investments or unexpected difficulties.
Below is more information about Santa Lucia compiled by Luis Crespo and Robert Edgar of the Mifex team when evaluating the potential of the sector for the Rural Finance Program.
The people of Baba have been organized since the days of Gran Colombia when Ecuador was yet to be a country. The area has always been popular because of the extremely productive lands that gave way to cultivation of cacao for decades. Now Baba is a county in the province of Los Rios in the coastal region of Ecuador. For most of the latter part of the 20th Century it was a cacao and banana producing sector. Most of the surrounding areas of Baba in Los Rios are owned by large mulitnational companies such as Dole, but Baba is a sector characterized by the small and informal farms.
Rice production has now turned into the main economic activity of the sector as about 80% of the people are rice farmers. Cacao is still very popular in the area, but because of the long cultivation cycle people prefer to invest in rice. The lands in Baba are very fertile though, and most farmers in the sector often grow other crops, such as plantains and soy beans as secondary sources of income. Many farmers also keep livestock as emergency sources of food and income, commonly resorting to selling a chicken or pig if they are in need of cash.
Most of the people in the Baba area are small farmers. They produce about 80 sacks of rice per hectare of land. In order to farm they first must prepare the lands by removing weeds, plowing and leveling the lands. This is the most difficult part for the farmers in Baba, who often lack the necessary machinery to properly plow the lands for rice production. After appropriately preparing the lands, the farmers fill an area with water to form what is known as a paddy field, because rice is a very water intensive crop. The rice seeds are either dispersed freely (the process is known as boleo in Spanish) or hand sowed. Once the rice has grown, most farmers rent machinery that helps them gather their production.
One of the biggest struggles in the area has been the lack of credit due to the absence of any type of financial institution. Because people do not count on formal financial finance, they have turned to loan sharks for financing. They have been affected by expensive lines of credit that exceed 100% interest a year and can be as expensive as 240%. Intermediaries also exploit the farmers because of their outstanding debt. Farmers also lack skills and knowledge to commercialize their products and pay fair prices for their crops.
The largest risk in the sector is due to absence of watering systems. Although Baba is in the province Los Rios (the rivers) there is severe problem with access to water. The lack of infrastructure in the sector does not allow the small farmers to benefit from the presence of the many rivers in the area. If the winter season is too dry, it is likely that the lands will not be sufficiently fertile for rice production in the summer. On the other hand, if there is too much rain there are not any drainage systems to prevent flooding and the crops are often ruined. Generally speaking though, Baba is a very productive sector where the lands yield all types of crops including rice, cacao, corn, watermelons, plantains, and soy beans.
The loans in this sector will mostly be used to to buy soil, seeds, fertilizer and insecticides. Many clients will use the capital towards renting machinery and equipment necessary to effectively work and prepare the fields. Clients also typically use a part of the loan to buy livestock in order to raise and have as reserves. The loan repayment schedule is different from the typical micro-entrepreneur because farmers see the profits from their investments 5 or 6 months after making their initial expenditures. Mifex asks our rural clients only to pay 50% of the capital in the first 6 months of the loan. The rest of the debt must be paid in the seventh and final month.
",M,950,lender,Agriculture,1 Ecuador,"Marcia sells baby clothes, strollers, and toys. She began her business with $100 dollars from a friend. At first, she only sold strollers and toys for babies. Now she sells baby walkers, diaper bags, and a range of baby products. Marcia will use this loan to buy new merchandise in bulk, such as lotions, shampoo and soaps. This way, she will earn a better profit. She believes that these new products will benefit her business and help it grow.
Marcia is 38 years old, married and has 3 children. She believes that this loan will give her family economic security and help her business grow.
Translated from Spanish by Bianca Vargas, Kiva Volunteer.
",F,625,partner,Retail,0 Ecuador,"
Maria has 5 years' experience with her restaurant business. On her own initiative, she started selling candies at home. Then her grandmother encouraged her to start selling snacks. Thanks to that motivation she doesnt only sell snacks but she also sells lunches. She works everyday from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. and the weekends from 9 a.m. to 12 p.m. Her mother helps her serving the clients at her eatery. With this business, she has been able to recondition the premises and provide a better service for her clients. She also has a small store that generates and additional income. Her younger sisters help her with the sales.
Maria wants to use the credit money to invest in kitchen utensils for her eatery like pots, pans and plates. She would like also to invest part of the money in her small store.
Maria is single. She is 34 years old and she lives with her parents, who have helped her undertake her business.
Translated from Spanish by Ana Gabriela Clark, Kiva Volunteer.
",F,475,partner,Food,0 Ecuador,"
Maria has a stand where she sells fresh fruit and juice. Maria used to sell vegetables from her stand, but because profits were not sufficient she and her husband decided to try something different. After being forced to move from their old location because they did not have government permits, they moved the stand to a location closer to their home. Maria and her husband prepare the juice and fruit salad in the mornings. While Maria stays at the stand, her husband travels around the community in his tricycle cart selling the fresh juice and fruit salad.
Maria is seeking a loan because she wants to make significant improvements to her business. Along with buying a new juicer, Maria wants to purchase a new tricycle cart for her brother to use. This way, her business will have three points of sale and they can increase their production and revenue.
Maria is 35 years old, she is married, and she has 3 children. They live in her husbands family house where they pay rent. Marias goal is to save up enough money to buy herself and her children a home.
Mifex offers its clients microinsurance and access to business training and educational programs. For more information about microfinance, Ecuador, and our services, please visit www.mifex.org.
",F,475,partner,Food,0 Ecuador,"Maria is 22 years old and has 2 small children. She and her mother run a restaurant that is very popular in their neighborhood. Maria has been in the restaurant since she was very young because her mother always ran similar businesses. Now they are business partners and are having great success. Maria is also a saleswoman who sells shoes, clothes and home products. She sells to many of the clients at her restaurant and she also travels into large markets in the city to make her sales. Maria has not had much luck with the father children. The father of the first left her shortly after finding about the pregnancy and the father of the second passed away two months after the child was born. Although Maria faces the difficult challenge of being a single mother, she is hardworking and optimistic.
Mifex offers its clients microinsurance and access to business training and educational programs. For more information about microfinance, Ecuador, and our services, please visit www.mifex.org.
",F,375,partner,Food,0 Ecuador,"Maria Ordonez has had a store for 6 years. She began with an ambulatory fruit selling business. Over time she was able to build this business into a more stable one and now she sells fruits, vegetables, meat, drinks and other basic necessities.
She wants to use this loan to invest in more merchandise and to purchase a display case for her products.
She is 25 years old and lives with her two children in a cement house. Her partner helps her with the business. Her dream is to improve her business and provide for her children.
",F,1050,lender,Food,1 Ecuador,"Maria runs a small food stand where she sells all types of typical Ecuadorian dishes. Her daughter helped her start this business 2 years ago by buying Maria the small barbecue in the picture. Maria started off by selling just empanadas and shish kabobs, two of Ecuadors more popular foods. She now has a large of variety of foods and dishes that she makes.
Her dream is to one day have a restaurant. She wants to make reparations to her home in order to be able to offer seating for her clients. The first step is to add pavement to her home and make a section for her customers.
Maria is 40 years old and has 4 children who are already grown up. One of her daughters still lives with her and helps her in the business. Her husband also contributes to the business when he is not working.
Mifex offers its clients microinsurance and access to business training and educational programs. For more information about microfinance, Ecuador, and our services, please visit www.mifex.org.
",F,375,partner,Food,0 Ecuador,"Maria sells all types of plastic home products ranging from buckets to plastic dishes. She has been in this line of work for about three years. She was working as an assistant for her sister in law before this and then decided to start her own operation. Her husband has been very supportive throughout the process.
She needs the loan in order to introduce new products to her line. She sees potential for sales in a variety of new items but does not have the money to invest in them. This business plays a major role in her household. It has allowed her to provide her 4 children with an education and humble home. She hopes that with these investments she can continue to improve the quality of life for her family.
Mifex offers its clients microinsurance and access to business training and educational programs. For more information about microfinance, Ecuador, and our services, please visit www.mifex.org.
",F,375,partner,Retail,0 Ecuador,"Mary has 3 years of experience selling cosmetics and perfumes. She was motivated to start by her sister, who is in the same line of business and experiences success. With the help of a close friend who lent her money, Mary invested in cosmetics and some perfumes. She sells by visiting the homes of family, friends and acquaintances. Like her, the clients she sells too often lack liquidity and they must pay for the products in installments. Part of Marys work is to collect on the weekly and biweekly payments owed to her by clients.
May will use the loan to continue to invest in her products. With an increase in products she will be able to offer better variety and increase sales.
Mary is 37 years old and is a native of Guayaquil. Her husband has been working at a nearby factory for about 4 years. They have 2 children together and live in a home made out of bamboo with some concrete. They are slowly improving their living conditions and they make sure to provide an education for their children.
",F,600,partner,Retail,0 Ecuador,"Maryuri has 2 years experience with her business of selling cosmetics. She used to work in a clothing store, but she was laid-off. A friend encouraged her to sell these cosmetic products. She works everyday of the week from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.
Maryuri wants to use the loan to invest in her business. By having a bigger investment her earnings will be bigger as well. She also wants to sell other articles like clothing.
Maryuri is a widower. She is 30 years old and she has a 14 year old daughter. Her husband died of tonsil cancer 8 years ago. She is now renting a house where she lives with her daughter who is in school. Maryuris mother in law who is abroad helps her with the needs of her granddaughter. Her mother and sister are always looking after her and help her when needed. She has been able to pull through with her own work. With this business, she hopes to able to save enough to buy a small house.
Translated from Spanish by Ana Gabriela Clark, Kiva Volunteer.
",F,375,partner,Retail,0 Ecuador,"
Maximo has been living in Baba his entire life. He has a primary education, and is a very hard worker. Through his farming he has been able to raise six children. He lives with his wife Marcia, a son and a daughter. They help him plant rice, plantains, bananas, and corn. He also raises some chickens, pigs, and cows. He hopes he can invest in a chicken coop so he can establish a business. He is optimistic about the loan because chicken sales provide a good secondary source of income in case of emergencies. With the extra profits he hopes to help pay for one of his grandchildren's university studies.
This borrower is part of the newest and largest Communal Bank in the recently developed Mifex Rural Finance Program. All of the members of the Centro Agricola de Baba Communal Bank are part of an Association of Rice Farmers in the county of Baba in rural Ecuador. Their association works cooperatively to cultivate rice and commercialize the product after it has grown. As an association, Centro Agricola helps the farmers by providing access to machinery and training services. The farmers from Centro Agricola have received special instruction on financial responsibility and accounting from Codemicro, an organization that specializes in training programs geared towards the rural sector.
The members of Centro Agricola de Baba will use the micro-loans to prepare their lands and cultivate rice on their farms. Because they form part of a communal bank, they are all each others' guarantors for the loan. This means that if for some reason one person in the group cannot fully repay the loan, the other borrowers and the Centro Agricola de Baba Association are responsible for the amount in default. The members of the bank also participate in a program designed to teach and encourage savings among the group. Promoting savings is often forgotten in many micro-finance programs, but Mifex believes that is imperative for the communities we works with to have capital reserved for future investments or unexpected difficulties.
Below is more information about Santa Lucia compiled by Luis Crespo and Robert Edgar of the Mifex team when evaluating the potential of the sector for the Rural Finance Program.
The people of Baba have been organized since the days of Gran Colombia when Ecuador was yet to be a country. The area has always been popular because of the extremely productive lands that gave way to cultivation of cacao for decades. Now Baba is a county in the province of Los Rios in the coastal region of Ecuador. For most of the latter part of the 20th Century it was a cacao and banana producing sector. Most of the surrounding areas of Baba in Los Rios are owned by large mulitnational companies such as Dole, but Baba is a sector characterized by the small and informal farms.
Rice production has now turned into the main economic activity of the sector as about 80% of the people are rice farmers. Cacao is still very popular in the area, but because of the long cultivation cycle people prefer to invest in rice. The lands in Baba are very fertile though, and most farmers in the sector often grow other crops, such as plantains and soy beans as secondary sources of income. Many farmers also keep livestock as emergency sources of food and income, commonly resorting to selling a chicken or pig if they are in need of cash.
Most of the people in the Baba area are small farmers. They produce about 80 sacks of rice per hectare of land. In order to farm they first must prepare the lands by removing weeds, plowing and leveling the lands. This is the most difficult part for the farmers in Baba, who often lack the necessary machinery to properly plow the lands for rice production. After appropriately preparing the lands, the farmers fill an area with water to form what is known as a paddy field, because rice is a very water intensive crop. The rice seeds are either dispersed freely (the process is known as boleo in Spanish) or hand sowed. Once the rice has grown, most farmers rent machinery that helps them gather their production.
One of the biggest struggles in the area has been the lack of credit due to the absence of any type of financial institution. Because people do not count on formal financial finance, they have turned to loan sharks for financing. They have been affected by expensive lines of credit that exceed 100% interest a year and can be as expensive as 240%. Intermediaries also exploit the farmers because of their outstanding debt. Farmers also lack skills and knowledge to commercialize their products and pay fair prices for their crops.
The largest risk in the sector is due to absence of watering systems. Although Baba is in the province Los Rios (the rivers) there is severe problem with access to water. The lack of infrastructure in the sector does not allow the small farmers to benefit from the presence of the many rivers in the area. If the winter season is too dry, it is likely that the lands will not be sufficiently fertile for rice production in the summer. On the other hand, if there is too much rain there are not any drainage systems to prevent flooding and the crops are often ruined. Generally speaking though, Baba is a very productive sector where the lands yield all types of crops including rice, cacao, corn, watermelons, plantains, and soy beans.
The loans in this sector will mostly be used to to buy soil, seeds, fertilizer and insecticides. Many clients will use the capital towards renting machinery and equipment necessary to effectively work and prepare the fields. Clients also typically use a part of the loan to buy livestock in order to raise and have as reserves. The loan repayment schedule is different from the typical micro-entrepreneur because farmers see the profits from their investments 5 or 6 months after making their initial expenditures. Mifex asks our rural clients only to pay 50% of the capital in the first 6 months of the loan. The rest of the debt must be paid in the seventh and final month.
",M,950,lender,Agriculture,0 Ecuador,"Mercy sells perfumes and cosmetics door-to-door in her neighborhood. Because Mercy was raised in a very poor household, she was forced to be a saleswoman from a very young age. She has been selling cosmetics and perfume for about 11 years. Thanks to her business she has been able to provide an important source of income for her household, especially at times when her husband was out of work.
She needs this loan in order to invest in products. Because Christmas is coming soon she will have a significant increase in demand. She wants to take advantage of this situation for the holiday season.
Mercy and her two children live with her husband at his parents home. He worked for a large company for 8 years until he was fired a year ago. He just found a new job as a salesman, but he is not sure if it will last long. Mercys goal is to set up a sector of her in-laws home as a point of sale for her business. She plans to continue to invest in merchandise before making any changes in construction.
Mifex offers its clients microinsurance and access to business training and educational programs. For more information about microfinance, Ecuador, and our services, please visit www.mifex.org.
",F,375,partner,Retail,0 Ecuador,"More than a year ago Jessica was working as a teacher, but due to the low wages and inadequate conditions she was forced to find a new source of income. With her savings she was able to purchase two washing machines, which she used to provide laundry services to local community members. In the short time she has been working she has already acquired several machines and she is growing rapidly. She has set up a room in her home where people can come in and rent the machines for a fee.
She borrowed from Kiva and Mifex before, using the money to buy more washing machines and a dryer. She was very happy with the flexibility the loans gave her and she is optimistic about continuing to invest in her business. She will use this loan to buy detergents, bleach and other products that she can sell to her customers.
She is 31 years old and is married. She only has 1 daughter who is 6 six years old. Her husband works as chauffeur and truck driver, and on his days off he helps his wife in the business. Their goal is to save enough money to buy a truck for her husband to make deliveries on his own.
",F,850,lender,Services,1 Ecuador,"Mr. Felix has a store from which he sells articles of necessity as well as school supplies. The store was originally owned by his father, and Felix worked helping in the store, and when his father retired, he gave it to Felix.
At the beginning he only sold vegetables and then began to sell groceries up until today when he now sells school supplies. With this loan, Angel wishes to purchase more merchandise, because his current stocks often do not meet his customers needs, and because he gives his customers excellent service and very good prices, his merchandise is very sought after.
He is sure that with the injection of stationary items on his shelves, he will be able to increase his number of customers as well as his profits. Felix is 28 years old, has two children who are not school aged yet, and his home is made of cement. He is confident that with the progress of his business he will be able to give a better life to his family.
Translated from Spanish by Kiva Volunteer, Kristin Connor.
",M,1050,partner,Retail,0 Ecuador,"
Mrs. Laura has 20 years experience as a seamstress. She began working for someone else, but she began studying and taking courses. With the money saved she bought a sawing machine and began working in her house. Little by little she got more clientele because of her good customer service. She works everyday from 8am to 8pm, and when she has classes she stays working even later.
Laura needs the Kiva loan to buy raw material like clothes and threads, because currently she has some request but is not able to finish all because of lack of materials.
Laura is a single mother with 3 kids who are all in school. She has been able to support her home thanks to her work. She is looking to buy an industrial sawing machine and with it improve her profit.Translated from Spanish by N.D., Kiva Volunteer.
",F,375,partner,Services,0 Ecuador,"
Mrs. Mercedes has 5 years experience on her business. She decided to take a course of crafting. Her mom who is in Spain helped her to begin her business creating party souvenirs with just $50. She works everyday of the week from 9am to 6pm.
Mercedes wants a Kiva loan in order to buy raw material to fulfill the requests she has from her neighborhood. Besides she teaches during the weekends and needs materials for her students.
Mrs. Mercedes is a single mother, who has 3 kids, and has been able to provide them education. She wants to finish her house to improve the space where she has her business.
Translated from Spanish by N.D., Kiva Volunteer.
",F,375,partner,Retail,0 Ecuador,"
Mrs. Nancy has 30 years' experience with her grocery store business. She first started selling clothing going to different towns each week. After saving a little bit of money and with the help of her husband they were able to open the grocery store. She works every day of the week from 6 a.m. to 11 p.m. Her husband has a small car that she uses to buy new supplies.
Nancy wants to use the loan to invest in her business and buy new products that she hasnt sold before. She already has some orders from the people in the area where she lives.
Nancy is 49 years old. She is married and has 3 children. Two of them are old enough to help her when needed. Her husband works in a company as a machinery operator. In the afternoons, he goes out in his small car to make some deliveries. Nancys wish is to be able to recondition the store and find a better location for it. She hopes to make it bigger and have a bigger inventory.Translated from Spanish by Ana Gabriela Clark, Kiva Volunteer.
",F,600,partner,Retail,0 Ecuador,"
Mrs. Rosa has 2 years' experience with her restaurant business. She used to have a store that she had to close due to health problems. On her own initiative, she decided to start selling snacks. Her business started growing and now she also sells lunches, and during the weekends she sells Encebollados, a traditional dish. She works every day from 6 a.m. to 3 p.m. and the weekends from 6 a.m. to 12 p.m. Her daughter helps serving the clients and her husband helps during his free time.
Rosa wants to use the loan to buy more plastic tables and chairs for her business, the ones that she has at the moment are not enough due to the demand that her food is having.
Rosa is married. She is 47 years old and she has 4 children. Only one of her children is still with her because she is still in school; and one of the married daughters helps her with the business. Her husband works as a painter and as a driver; he helps with restaurant during his free time especially over the weekends. Rosas wish is to be able to own a small house, since they are renting where they live now.
Translated from Spanish by Ana Gabriela Clark, Kiva Volunteer.
",F,375,partner,Food,0 Ecuador,"
Nancy makes cleaning products like disinfectant, soap, detergent, shampoo, etc. She has been working in this business for about 2 months. She took a course at the Mifex MERIT Centers that taught her basic chemistry and gave her the skills to make her own cleaning products. This type of business is very lucrative in this sector because the manufactured versions of these products are usually too expensive for most to afford. Therefore, Nancy can make her own products at home and sell them to other businesses.
Nancy needs the loan in order to invest in the chemicals necessary to maker her products. She wants to give potential customers samples of her products in order to bring in new business. Her daughter is currently a marketing student and she wants to patent a brand for her mother to be able to market her product. The loan will also serve to cover these expenses.
Nancy and her husband have two children who are college students. During the week, her husband must leave home because he works at a banana plantation in rural Ecuador. Nancy started the business because she could not find a job and she felt the need to help her children through college.
Mifex offers its clients microinsurance and access to business training and educational programs. For more information about microfinance, Ecuador, and our services, please visit www.mifex.org.
",F,375,partner,Retail,0 Ecuador,"Patricia has 12 years experience of selling gas for domestic use. She began thanks to the help of her ex-husband who lent her the money with which she bought 10 gas cylinders. Little by little her capital has grown and she now has 110 gas cylinders. She works 12 hours a day, 7 days a week, from 8am until 8pm. After this her brother is in charge of minding the site and she pays him for his help: in this way she is helping to provide employment.
Patricia would like this loan so she can invest in purchasing more gas cylinders. Demand is growing and is providing a good income.
Patricia is 38 years old and has two daughters. Currently her business site is rented. Her current husband has a small car he uses to work at night. With their savings they hope to renovate the site in order to provide a better service for their customers.
Translated from Spanish by Katy Long, Kiva Volunteer
",F,600,partner,Retail,0 Ecuador,"Pedro sells one of the most popular foods in Ecuador, crab (cangrejo in Spanish). The crabs he sells, which are in the picture, are found in mangroves along the coast of Guayaquil. His father taught him how to catch these animals when he was 9 years old and he has been doing so ever since. Due to the unfortunate and strenuous economic situation his parents faced, Pedro did not go to school past the third grade. He cannot read and write, but out of the necessities of his job he has become good at math. Pedro no longer catches the animals himself to sell, instead he purchases them from wholesale distributors.
He needs the loan in order to purchase larger quantities of crab. The holiday season is a great time to sell because people have dinners known as cangrejadas where family and friends sit around a large table and break open crabs while talking and listening to music.
This business plays a major role in the life of Pedro. He has 5 children, although two of them are already independent. His two grown children work with Pedro and also lack a formal education. Pedro hopes that with the extra profits from this business he will be able to fix up his home. Currently it is made out of a bamboo like wood and is situated near the coast where the tide often brings in water to his house.
Mifex offers its clients microinsurance and access to business training and educational programs. For more information about microfinance, Ecuador, and our services, please visit www.mifex.org.
",M,475,partner,Food,0 Ecuador,"Purisima is 56 years old and married. Her husband can't work outside his home due to blindness caused by his diabetes. He helps to look after the business. Due to this illness, Purisima lost her second son 2 years ago and almost caused them to lose their working capital.
For 18 years, she has run a grocery business from her house. The grocery store is open every day from 6 a.m. to 10 p.m. Purisima and her husband started their business with some small savings from her husband's previous job.
They have been able to keep the business running thanks to their constant dedication, work, and service that she and her family had contributed. They have 3 other children that live with them. Their house is made out of wood with a dirt floor. Her greatest wish is to continue working and to help her family move forward
Translated from Spanish by Maria Ramirez-Gregg, Kiva Volunteer.
",F,400,partner,Food,0 Ecuador,"
Rene owns a small rice farm in Santa Lucia County. He has lived in rural Santa Lucia his entire life and has over 30 years of experience growing rice. He also has some cattle that he raises on his farm. He has one son who is 11 years and is currently in school. He and his wife, Veronica, hope they can continue to provide their son with an education and have him earn a college degree. They also hope they can make some improvements to their wooden home in the near future with the extra profits.
Rene is part of one of the newest Communal Banks in the recently developed Mifex Rural Finance Program: the Primero de Agosto Communal Bank. All bank members are part of the Association of Rice Farmers in Santa Lucia, and they will use these microloans to prepare their lands and cultivate rice on their farms. As members of a communal bank, they are all guarantors for each other's loans. This means that if for some reason one person in the group cannot fully repay the loan, the other borrowers and the Primero de Agosto Association are responsible for the amount in default. The members of the bank also participate in a program designed to teach and encourage savings among the group. Promoting savings is often forgotten in many microfinance programs, but Mifex believes that is imperative for the communities we work with to have capital reserved for future investments or unexpected difficulties.
Below is more information about the commnity of Santa Lucia, compiled by Luis Crespo and Robert Edgar of the Mifex team when evaluating the potential of the sector for the Rural Finance Program. Special thanks to Mario Balazantegui who provided expert insight and contributed to the development of the alliances with the local organizations.
Santa Lucia County has a population of about 33,000 people. The region is fit for rice cultivating because it is not in the lowlands and therefore it is not at risk of flooding. There is also great access to water because of the Daule River, which is accessible to many of the farmers in the area. About 70% of the farmers have basic infrastructure for watering their crops.
Rice production is the main economic activity of the area, as about 80% of the people are rice farmers. Almost everyone is either directly or indirectly involved with the rice production, as they produce, commercialize or participate in activities that add value to the product. Within the county, there is a small town also named Santa Lucia. The town is filled with many small businesses and it serves as the social and commercial hub of the area.
Most of the people in the Santa Lucia area are small farmers. They produce about 100 sacks of rice per hectare of land. In order to farm they first must prepare the lands by removing weeds and plowing. The farmers then fill an area with water to form what is known as a paddy field, because rice is a very water intensive crop. The rice seeds are either dispersed freely (the process is known as boleo in Spanish) or hand sowed. Once the rice has grown, most farmers rent machinery that helps them harvest their crop. A risk factor does exist in rice farming because of drought, but in Santa Lucia this is somewhat mitigated by the access to water form the nearby river.
The biggest struggle in the area has been the lack of credit. Because people do not have access to formal financial services, they have turned to loan sharks for financing. They have been affected by expensive lines of credit that exceed 100% interest a year and can be as expensive as 240%. Intermediaries also exploit the farmers because of their outstanding debt. Farmers also often lack skills and knowledge of how to commercialize their product and get fair prices for their crops.
The loans in this sector will be used to to buy soil, seeds, fertilizer and insecticides. They will also be used to prepare the land prior to farming, to plant the seeds and purchase other materials. The loan repayment schedule is different from the typical microentrepreneur. Because farmers see the profits from their investments 5 or 6 months after making their initial expenditures, Mifex asks them to repay 50% of the capital in the first 6 months of the loan. The rest of the debt must be paid in the seventh and final month.
",M,1200,lender,Agriculture,0 Ecuador,"Rosa has been selling pharmaceuticals for about 13 years. She decided to set up a pharmacy because there were none near her sector. Her business has done well due to the lack of competition, but she has not been able to meet the demand of the local area. Her lack of capital has not allowed her to sell a large variety of products or offer lower prices. She is seeking the Kiva loan in order to purchase a variety of goods at larger wholesale quantities. Rosa is 38 years old, she is married and has two children. The youngest of her children will be starting school this year. Her priority is to provide them both with an education.
",F,500,partner,Health,0 Ecuador,"Rosa is 55 years old and married. She decided to start her own business 10 years ago with part of the settlement from her old job and no experience. Today, she maintains that business thanks to her constant dedication and work. Rosa sells ice cream, yogurt, candies, and beverages at her house. She runs the business every day from 9 a.m. to 12 p.m.
Her business is in a good location. She needs the loan in order to buy new candy products and ice cream novelties. Her clients want her to provide them with new varieties of products. She also wants to buy a better display case for them as well.
Rosa's business is located only a short distance from the city bus stop. The home is a mixed structure with a dirt floor. They also have a daughter. Rosa is the main breadwinner of the family. With the loan, she hopes to make improvements to her business as well as their living conditions. She is an example of hard work in her community.
Translated from Spanish by Maria Ramirez-Gregg, Kiva Volunteer.
",F,400,partner,Food,0 Ecuador,"
Rosa is a mother of three children. In order to contribute to her family income she sells mens clothing in her neighborhood. She started in this line of work about 5 years ago with the help of her mother who provided the start up capital. Rosa feels that her work is very important because her husband does not have much job security. He is often hired as a skilled worker in factories but his jobs are never stable and he is always at risk of being unemployed.
Rosa will use this loan in order to buy a new line of products for the upcoming Christmas season. She is very enthusiastic about her sales for this time of year. She hopes that she can fix up her home so that eventually she can run her business from there instead of having to sell at the overly competitive markets.
Mifex offers its clients microinsurance and access to business training and educational programs. For more information about microfinance, Ecuador, and our services, please visit www.mifex.org.
",F,375,partner,Clothing,0 Ecuador,"Rosario has owned her small store for about three years. She started off with the help of her husband who provided the first $100 of merchandise for her market. At first she only sold sodas and snacks, but now she has included many other grocery items including dairy products and vegetables. She is seeking this loan because she wants to invest in cleaning products and other items for the home. She is confident that her investment will help her business grow. She has 3 children that depend on the business for their schooling and food.
Mifex offers its clients microinsurance and access to business training and educational programs. For more information about microfinance, Ecuador, and our services, please visit www.mifex.org.
",F,875,partner,Retail,0 Ecuador,"Simon has a small chicken farm in the backyard of his home. Prior to starting his own operation, he worked at a chicken farm for about 8 years. With about $400 of savings he was able to buy chicks and feed. He has been working on his own for the last 4 years. He has made a living by selling the chickens he grows to the small local markets and vendors. He wants to invest in more chicks and feed at wholesale quantities. He hopes that he can soon begin providing to larger super markets and restaurants who will demand more poultry. Simon depends on this business to support his wife and his son.
Mifex offers its clients microinsurance and access to business training and educational programs. For more information about microfinance, Ecuador, and our services, please visit www.mifex.org.
",M,500,partner,Agriculture,0 Ecuador,"Sonia makes cleaning products like disinfectant, soap, detergent, shampoo, etc. She has been working in this business for about 2 months. She took a course at the Mifex MERIT Centers that taught her basic chemistry and gave her the skills to make her own cleaning products. This type of business is very lucrative in this sector because the manufactured versions of these products are usually too expensive for most to afford. Therefore, Sonia can make her own products at home and sell them to other businesses. Sonia is also a seamstress. As a complimentary source of income she makes different types of clothes that she sells.
She needs the loan in order to invest the chemicals necessary to maker her products. She also wants to invest in cloths for her sewing operation.
Sonia has 4 children, 2 of which are studying in college. Her husband helps her in many of her activities, but he is much older than she is and cannot work much anymore. Part of her home is made out of cement but the other part is still made only of bamboo like wood.Mifex offers its clients microinsurance and access to business training and educational programs. For more information about microfinance, Ecuador, and our services, please visit www.mifex.org.
",F,475,partner,Services,0 Ecuador,"The loan will be used not only to buy agricultural supplies for his corn crop, but also to buy some head of cattle, giving him good results. Besides corn, he has also sowed rice and cotton.
Vitervo has worked for more than 18 years in agriculture and for 5 years in stockbreeding. The corn crop always has buyers from adjoining precincts. In stockbreeding he always buys on the hoof, for subsequent sale.
Vitervo is 53 years old and divorced. He has 5 children, two in school. His house is of mixed construction; cement and wood. One of his goals is to improve the quality of life for his children.
Just like in the previous crop, he will buy seeds, herbicides, and fertilizer, contract labor and rent machinery. For his cattle, he will buy food and will have them vaccinated and disinfected.
Translated from Spanish by B, Kiva Volunteer.
",M,1200,lender,Agriculture,1 Ecuador,"
The loan will be used to buy herbicide, seeds, and fertilizer, rent machinery and contract manual laborers; all with the purpose to obtain a crop of rice and corn, that will be distributed immediately to the business districts on the boundaries of the sector.
Vicente has been a farmer for 20 years, with a business that has always had a reliable customer base for the harvest of each crop. The confidence that he shows his clients and the people with whom he works has been one of the factors that has given him success.
Vicente is 47 years old and married. He has two children of 16 and 21 years, both in school. His spouse works in the home. His house is of mixed construction; cane and wood. One of his goals is to give a good education to his children.
He will take advantage of this new loan to buy the agricultural supplies that he lacks, because the winter season already approaches. In addition, he will build irrigation ditches because there are few in the precinct where he lives.
Translated from Spanish by B, Kiva Volunteer.
",M,1200,lender,Agriculture,1 Ecuador,"
Veronica has 2 years of experience running her own business. She started when she was young helping her mother with her business of selling fruits. She really enjoyed the work and little by little she was able to save money. Using this capital, she decided to start selling chickens. She works every day of the week from 5am until 2pm. Sometimes, she has a lot of demand right into the late afternoon.
Veronica requires credit to buy more chickens since the demand is rising. Additionally, she wants to start raising her own chickens in order to keep her costs low. That will also bring her more earnings.
Veronica is a single mother. She is 30 years old and has 2 children who are studying. Her business is based in her mother's home, which helps a lot. She also has a fruit stand at a local market near her home. When she cannot attend the stand, her father is there. She hopes to be able to locate her fruit stand business in her mothers home one day. There is good demand for her product and she is recognized in the neighborhood for her business acumen.
Vernica tiene una experiencia de 2 aos con su negocio propio. Se inicio desde muy pequea ayudndole a su mama en el negocio de venta de frutas. Gusto mucho el trabajo que ella poco a poco con sus ahorros decide comenzar con un capital pequeo para vender pollos. Trabaja todos los das de la semana desde las 5 a.m. hasta las 2 p.m. . En algunos casos hasta la noche cuando tiene demasiada demanda.
Vernica desea el crdito para comprar mas pollos ya que su demanda va en aumento. Adems desea ella misma comenzar a criar sus propios pollos y de esta manera sus costos van ha ser mas baratos. Lo que le dejara mayor ganancia.
Vernica es madre soltera. Tiene 30 aos. Dos hijos los que estudian. Su negocio lo tiene en casa de su mama la que la apoya bastante. Adems tiene un puesto de frutas en un mercado cerca de su domicilio. El que cuando ella no puede atenderlo lo hace su papa. Su deseo es poder adecuar un local en casa de su mama para poner el negocio de las frutas. Tiene una buena demanda su producto y es bien reconocida en el sector.
",F,600,partner,Food,0 Ecuador,"Victor inherited a small piece of land from his father. He produces primarily rice, and also plants watermelon and corn. He lives with his 11 year old daughter and his mother who helps care for her. He hopes with the loan he can make his land more productive for rice and watermelon production. He hopes with the extra profits he can one day help educate his daughter or help her start her own business .
This borrower is part of the newest and largest Communal Bank in the recently developed Mifex Rural Finance Program. All of the members of the Centro Agricola de Baba Communal Bank are part of an Association of Rice Farmers in the county of Baba in rural Ecuador. Their association works cooperatively to cultivate rice and commercialize the product after it has grown. As an association, Centro Agricola helps the farmers by providing access to machinery and training services. The farmers from Centro Agricola have received special instruction on financial responsibility and accounting from Codemicro, an organization that specializes in training programs geared towards the rural sector.
The members of Centro Agricola de Baba will use the micro-loans to prepare their lands and cultivate rice on their farms. Because they form part of a communal bank, they are all each others' guarantors for the loan. This means that if for some reason one person in the group cannot fully repay the loan, the other borrowers and the Centro Agricola de Baba Association are responsible for the amount in default. The members of the bank also participate in a program designed to teach and encourage savings among the group. Promoting savings is often forgotten in many micro-finance programs, but Mifex believes that is imperative for the communities we works with to have capital reserved for future investments or unexpected difficulties.
Below is more information about Santa Lucia compiled by Luis Crespo and Robert Edgar of the Mifex team when evaluating the potential of the sector for the Rural Finance Program.
The people of Baba have been organized since the days of Gran Colombia when Ecuador was yet to be a country. The area has always been popular because of the extremely productive lands that gave way to cultivation of cacao for decades. Now Baba is a county in the province of Los Rios in the coastal region of Ecuador. For most of the latter part of the 20th Century it was a cacao and banana producing sector. Most of the surrounding areas of Baba in Los Rios are owned by large mulitnational companies such as Dole, but Baba is a sector characterized by the small and informal farms.
Rice production has now turned into the main economic activity of the sector as about 80% of the people are rice farmers. Cacao is still very popular in the area, but because of the long cultivation cycle people prefer to invest in rice. The lands in Baba are very fertile though, and most farmers in the sector often grow other crops, such as plantains and soy beans as secondary sources of income. Many farmers also keep livestock as emergency sources of food and income, commonly resorting to selling a chicken or pig if they are in need of cash.
Most of the people in the Baba area are small farmers. They produce about 80 sacks of rice per hectare of land. In order to farm they first must prepare the lands by removing weeds, plowing and leveling the lands. This is the most difficult part for the farmers in Baba, who often lack the necessary machinery to properly plow the lands for rice production. After appropriately preparing the lands, the farmers fill an area with water to form what is known as a paddy field, because rice is a very water intensive crop. The rice seeds are either dispersed freely (the process is known as boleo in Spanish) or hand sowed. Once the rice has grown, most farmers rent machinery that helps them gather their production.
One of the biggest struggles in the area has been the lack of credit due to the absence of any type of financial institution. Because people do not count on formal financial finance, they have turned to loan sharks for financing. They have been affected by expensive lines of credit that exceed 100% interest a year and can be as expensive as 240%. Intermediaries also exploit the farmers because of their outstanding debt. Farmers also lack skills and knowledge to commercialize their products and pay fair prices for their crops.
The largest risk in the sector is due to absence of watering systems. Although Baba is in the province Los Rios (the rivers) there is severe problem with access to water. The lack of infrastructure in the sector does not allow the small farmers to benefit from the presence of the many rivers in the area. If the winter season is too dry, it is likely that the lands will not be sufficiently fertile for rice production in the summer. On the other hand, if there is too much rain there are not any drainage systems to prevent flooding and the crops are often ruined. Generally speaking though, Baba is a very productive sector where the lands yield all types of crops including rice, cacao, corn, watermelons, plantains, and soy beans.
The loans in this sector will mostly be used to to buy soil, seeds, fertilizer and insecticides. Many clients will use the capital towards renting machinery and equipment necessary to effectively work and prepare the fields. Clients also typically use a part of the loan to buy livestock in order to raise and have as reserves. The loan repayment schedule is different from the typical micro-entrepreneur because farmers see the profits from their investments 5 or 6 months after making their initial expenditures. Mifex asks our rural clients only to pay 50% of the capital in the first 6 months of the loan. The rest of the debt must be paid in the seventh and final month.
",M,550,lender,Agriculture,1 Ecuador,"Victor sells clothes and accessories. He stared the business with the help of a brother who provided some merchandise for him to get off the ground. At first he only sold cloths and plastics door-to-door and now he has opened a store where he sells all types of clothing and accessories. Victor is planning to break into the household appliances market with this loan. He will use the capital to invest in microwaves and small kitchen appliances that are very popular in the sector. He believes that there is high demand for these products in his area and that his investment will be successful. Victor is very confident that things will go well and he will be able to provide a better future for his three kids.
Mifex offers its clients microinsurance and access to business training and educational programs. For more information about microfinance, Ecuador, and our services, please visit www.mifex.org.
",M,1050,partner,Retail,0 Ecuador,"Viviana has a business selling crabs, in bundles and in jars. Viviana has experience in this business because it is a family owned business of 9 years. Her parents helped her brothers with the business. Viviana has managed the business following the death of her mother and because her clients call on her. Viviana works 4 days a week and attends to her clients from 7:00 AM to 20:00PM, delivering her products to the various restaurants that request them.
Viviana is applying for a loan to buy more crabs, meet and satisfy the demand of new clients, and to increase her business.
Viviana is 28 years old and has five children of which four are students. Her husband works as a taxi driver and helps her with the delivery of the merchandise to the various selling sites within and outside of her area. Viviana has also told us that as her business grows so does her income, allowing her to give her family a better quality of life in terms of nutrition and education.
Translated from Spanish by Martha Martinez, Kiva Volunteer.
",F,600,partner,Food,0 Ecuador,"
Wilson started selling fruit as an assistant for his father-in-law. He and his wife have been working in this type of business for over 15 years. They currently have a tricycle cart that they use in order to sell their fresh produce to the local community. They are seeking a loan in order to purchase a new tricycle cart. This will allow Wilson and his wife to work independently and cover more ground selling.
Wilson and his family of 5 children live with his mother and his sister. While he and his wife are at work, Wilsons sister looks after the younger children. The house this family lives in is made out of wood and is in poor conditions. Wilson hopes that with the increased revenue from having a second cart he can fix up his familys home. This business is in the only source of income in this household.
Mifex offers its clients microinsurance and access to business training and educational programs. For more information about microfinance, Ecuador, and our services, please visit www.mifex.org.
",M,250,partner,Food,0 Ecuador,"Wilter has worked in markets since he was 15 when he helped his aunt out in her store. Once he was older he decided to start his own business with the help of his father and a brother. After working for several years with his brother, Wilmer decided to start a bakery on his own. He used the money he had saved from his previous business and a loan he received from his father to get things going. He is now very happy to have a business of his own. He is very dedicated to the enterprise as he often works from 6 am until 10 pm. His wife also contributes greatly to the business.
Wilter is requesting a loan because he wants to begin selling beverages. He would like to upgrade his refrigerator and also make some other improvements to the business.
Wilter is 25 years old, is married and has one son who is in school. Thanks to hard work and a successful business, he owns his home and his bakery. With the extra profits he plans to make improvements to his house and possibly his business.
",M,475,partner,Food,0 Ecuador,"Yadira is a decorator for social events such as birthday parties, weddings and baptisms. She makes most of decorations herself with the skills she learned at an institution that sells the supplies for decorations. She has been doing this for about 7 years and she is doing very well. She has no shortage of clients because her work is well liked. She works with her mother as an assistant.
Yadira will use the money from this loan to invest in supplies for her decorations. She is a a very hardworker and she is dedicated to providing a better living for her 2 kids. She also volunteers at the Mifex MERIT Centers as a teacher of our arts and crafts courses.
Mifex offers its clients microinsurance and access to business training and educational programs. For more information about microfinance, Ecuador, and our services, please visit www.mifex.org.
",F,250,partner,Retail,0 Ecuador,"Yessenia is a 25 year old seafood saleswoman and a single mother of 2. This is her second loan with Mifex and Kiva. With the first, she invested in various seafood items to sell instead of offering just fish. The loan also gave her the ability to expand into a new business. She has partnered up with a friend to work at a small restaurant. She runs the business in the morning while she pays someone to man her stand. She is very happy about the results of the loan because it gave her the flexibility to explore new business opportunities with a friend. With the extra profits she fixed her roof in time for the rainy season in Ecuador. With her next loan she will continue to invest in seafood products, both for her stand and the restaurant.
Mifex offers its clients microinsurance and access to business training and educational programs. For more information about microfinance, Ecuador, and our services, please visit www.mifex.org.
",F,650,partner,Food,0 Ecuador,"Yrma has been selling clothing for about 3 years. She first stared working in this type of activity about 10 years ago but had to quit when she had her children and her husband no longer allowed to her work. She now sells to the immediate community, friends and family. She buys the clothing in bulk from her husbands boss who is a wholesale disritbutor.
Yrma is requesting the loan because she wants to invest in sheets and table cloths. She currently cannot afford to make many investments in her business because of a lack of capital. She hopes that with the extra profits she will have sufficient capital to increase her inventory.
Yrma is 39 years and has 3 children. Her husband works as a security guard for a large company. Her goal is to be able to put her kids through high school and provide them with a better living.
",F,275,partner,Clothing,0 Ecuador,"Business Description
Betty has a unique business in the community she lives in. She owns a laundromat where she charges her customers per load of laundry. She started her business by financing a washing machine. She has now increased the number of washers and rents them to customers. Although her home is made of wood, she runs her business from her house.
Loan Use
With a previous loan from Mifex and Kiva, Betty was able to buy another dryer for her business. This allowed her to bring in more customers and increase profits. She was also able to invest in some appliances to sell. With this loan and some savings of her own, she will purchase another dryer for her customers to use.
Personal Information
Betty is a single mother of four children. She depends completely on this business to feed her family.
Betty's previous profile: http://www.kiva.org/app.php?page=businesses&action=about&id=3987",F,1200,lender,Services,1 Ecuador,"Business Description
Carlos has a store where he sells clothes and cosmetics. He started this business with $300 that he saved from a previous job. He invested in clothing and sold his products door-to-door while saving to build a store in his home.
Loan Use
As a repeat borrower from Kiva and Mifex, Carlos recognizes the importance of investment capital. With his first loan, he invested in more clothing for his store and also helped his wife set up her own lunch-serving business in their home. He was very happy with this progress and hopes he can receive another loan to continue improving the the product line he offers his clients.
Personal Information
Carlos lives with his wife and two children in a wooden house that is being rebuilt with cement. He is optimistic about the future and his possibilities of continued growth.
Carlos's previous profile: http://www.kiva.org/app.php?page=businesses&action=about&id=11353",M,1200,lender,Clothing,1 Ecuador,"Business Description
Dexy sells household products (such as pails, trays, and clothes baskets) and clothing from her home, and her husband sells them door-to-door. She opened the store with her husband's help when they both found themselves unemployed.
Loan Use
Dexy used her first loan from Mifex and Kiva to add clothing products to her store. With this loan, she will increase her inventory and explore other products in which she can invest.
Personal Information
Dexy is in her early thirties. She has a son who attends school. Her husband helps her run the household, and the family is stable. Her goal is to expand her home shop so that her husband would no longer have to sell door-to-door, and possibly have a shop of his own.
Dexy's previous profile: http://www.kiva.org/app.php?page=businesses&action=about&id=14813",F,1200,lender,Retail,1 Ecuador,"Business Description
Holger has a small shop offering food staples. He started this business with the help of his wife, who had helped her parents with their business for ten years. At first, they sold only sweets and home cleaning products but they now also sell groceries and sausages.
Loan Use
With a previous loan from Kiva and Mifex, Holger invested in baby products and office supplies. With this loan, he will buy products wholesale at better prices and larger quantities.
Personal Description
Holger is in his late thirties, married, and has two children. He is originally from Manab, and moved to Guayaquil to find a better life for his family. He depends entirely on this business for the education and support of his children.
Holger's previous profile: http://www.kiva.org/app.php?page=businesses&action=about&id=7042",M,1200,lender,Food,1 Ecuador,"Business Description
Jess sells cosmetics and clothing in her neighborhood and the surrounding areas. She started her business with the help of a friend who provided the merchandise. Initially, she sold only cosmetics but now also offers clothing and shoes.
Loan Use
Jess used a previous loan from Mifex and Kiva to invest in many of the same products that she sold before. With the extra capital she was able to maintain an full inventory of products and serve her customers better. She also tested selling appliances but realized that she did not have sufficient investment capital to maintain an inventory. With this loan, she will slowly venture into the appliance market.
Personal Information
Jess is 36 years old, married, and has three children, all in school. She depends on her business to support her family and continue providing an education for her children.
Jess's previous profile: http://www.kiva.org/app.php?page=businesses&action=about&id=7041",F,1200,lender,Retail,1 Ecuador,"Business Description
Mariana has a grocery store, very well located on a main street. She opened the store nine years ago with the help of money she had saved. She sells all kinds of basic needs products, and also set up phone booths next to her store.
Loan use
She will use this loan to invest in more products for her store, as she is running short in inventory. Marianas shortage of capital seriously affects her business because she can't meet the her customers' demands.
Personal Information
Mariana is 32 years old and has three children, two of which are at school. Her house is made of concrete. Her main goal is to grow her business grow and ensure a good future for her children.
Mariana's previous profile: http://www.kiva.org/app.php?page=businesses&action=about&id=19977",F,1200,lender,Food,1 Ecuador,"Business Description
Mr. Gmez first went into business about ten years ago with a simple food stand. He sells encebollados (a stew made with yuca and tuna) and other dishes. His wife and daughter help run the business. He has built up a good clientele and now has two locations. The name of the stands are Todos Vuelven (""Everyone Returns"") because his food is so tasty that he has built a reputation for having customers come back for seconds.
Loan Use
Marcos used a previous loan from Kiva and Mifex to buy dishes, chairs, and tables. He will use this second loan to buy a tent under which his customers can eat during the rainy season.
Personal Information
Marcos is fifty-four years old and has four children. One daughter is in school. He lives in a cane house. His goal is to own a large business that his children can eventually run.
Marcos's previous profile: http://www.kiva.org/app.php?page=businesses&action=about&id=13727
",M,1050,lender,Food,1 Ecuador,"Business Description
Mr. Holgun started a restaurant seven years ago. He then expanded the business to deliver food to workers on-site and now has orders from several businesses. His wife helps him with the business.
Loan Use
Previously, most of Fernando's business came from delivering lunches, but he is now making a substantial part of his income from customers eating at the restaurant. Fernando used his first loan from Kiva and Mifex to buy tables and chairs to provide better service and comfort to his customers. He will use this loan to improve the appearance of the restaurant and expand the premises.
Personal Information
Fernando is in his early thirties and has two children. His house is made of cement. His goal is to improve the quality of service in his restaurant because the business grows day-by-day and has a great location.
Fernando's previous profile: http://www.kiva.org/app.php?page=businesses&action=about&id=14827",M,1050,lender,Food,1 Ecuador,"Business Description
Mr. Pincay is a traveling salesman within the province of Guayas, where he lives. He began his business with a loan from a friend for $100.00 and initially sold only sunglasses. As sales improved, he began to offer other items, such as watchbands, shoes, women's belts, and imitation jewelery.
Loan Use
Angel used his first loan from Mifex and Kiva to purchase more merchandise to meet customer demands. With this loan, he will again purchase more merchandise and also hopes to set up a store in a small area in his home. He is confident that the increase in merchandise will create more satisfied customers and higher earnings.
Personal Information
Angel is 36 years old and has five children, three of whom are in school. His home is made of reed. He is sure that as his business grows, he will be able to provide a higher quality of life for his family and a better education for his children.
Angel's previous profile: http://www.kiva.org/app.php?page=businesses&action=about&id=12132",M,1075,lender,Retail,1 Ecuador,"Business Description
Mr. Quinde has a store in which he sells basic items, as well as school supplies. The store was originally his father's and Felix worked in the store. When his father retired, he gave it to Felix. Then, with a previous loan from Mifex and Kiva, Felix invested in wholesale rice and set up a small warehouse. He is now a local rice distributor for the small markets nearby.
Loan Use
With this loan, Felix will invest in both the rice warehouse and add more merchandise to the store.
Personal Information
Felix is 28 years old and has two children, who are not yet school-aged. His home is made of cement. He is confident that with the progress of his business he will be able to give his family a better life.
Felix's previous profile: http://www.kiva.org/app.php?page=businesses&action=about&id=12133",M,1200,lender,Retail,1 Ecuador,"Business Description
Mr. Quimis has a bicycle and motorcycle repair shop, which he began five years ago with money he received from his previous job's liquidation. His wife also works in his shop, primarily selling spare parts. Their shop is located on a principal road in the commercial center of the community and has been successful there.
Loan Use
This will be Carlos's second loan with Kiva and Mifex. He used his first loan to buy a variety of materials and tools for the shop. The investment helped his business run more smoothly because he was able to reduce repair times and provide quicker service to his clients. He hopes he can continue making these types of investments as well as possibly improving his workspace.
Personal Information
Carlos is 30 years old and has two children. His home is made of cement and his children attend nearby schools. Five years ago, Carlos lost a leg in an accident. However, he always keeps himself busy and valiantly began his business from his own home because he knows he must continue to work to support his family. His goal is to one day have a large shop where he can employ other people like him. He was very happy with the first loan and hopes to continue in our program to prove his success as an entrepreneur.
Carlos's previous profile: http://www.kiva.org/app.php?page=businesses&action=about&id=13281
",M,825,lender,Services,1 Ecuador,"Business Information
Elsa has a small store that she opened thanks to the support of her aunt, who always encouraged her to find a means to support herself. From her small store, she sells a variety of products ranging from condiments to detergent.
Loan Use
Elsa has completed two previous loans from Kiva and Mifex with great success. She first invested her money in increasing the inventory of her store. Once she made her capital back and increased profits, she went on to make adjustments to her store and home. She finished building a section of the store out of cement and now it is much bigger and accommodates much more inventory.
Thanks to her second loan, she also has a computer that she rents out to the local community members. With her third loan, she will continue improving the appearance of her store and invest in more products.
Personal Information
Elsa has been separated from her husband for over ten years and raises their child. For several years, her ex-husband would send her money to help cover household expenses but now she is dependent completely upon her business. She raises four children on her own and has taught them the value of hard work and is very dedicated to their proper schooling. The computer that she bought also helps them with their learning and development.
Elsa's previous profile: http://www.kiva.org/app.php?page=businesses&action=about&id=10505",F,1200,lender,Food,1 Ecuador,"Previous Profile
[English text for this section provided by MIFEX:] Carmen runs her own business selling basic household goods. The business is well-located, being the only one in her area and therefore enjoys high sales. She began her business when she immigrated with her entire family to the province of Manabi due to the El Nio phenomenon. With the help of her husband, she sold vegetables to area residents. She currently sells all types of groceries, basic household products and foodstuffs. Carmen is seeking the loan because she has realized the need to purchase products at wholesale prices due to the increase in her clientele. Being a visionary, she also wants to put up a bazaar; there is a school near her house and her customers have requested it. Carmen is sure that with the improvements she makes to the business along with the purchase of additional merchandise, she can improve her and her family's living conditions. Carmen is 33 years old and has 3 children, 2 of whom attend school.
First Loan
With the first loan, Carmen was able to improve her house and add more merchandise which, in turn, enabled her to increase her earnings.
Developing The Business
Carmen continues selling everyday products but she also showcases new items to cement her relationship with her customers.
Personal Information
Carmen, 33, is married and has 3 children who are very pleased with their mother's business. They study, constantly exerting themselves so that they can help her with the business.
Second Loan
She will use the loan to buy rice and other grain at wholesale prices.
Translated from Spanish by Jere Wiseman, Kiva Volunteer",F,1200,lender,Food,1 Ecuador,"
Gloria Magallanes was born in Guayaquil, Ecuador. This 40-year-old single mother of three opened her restaurant 10 years ago. Her clients are all regulars from her neighborhood, and they all enjoy the tasty food she offers day-in and day-out. Gloria works from 6am serving breakfast to the morning crowd until 4 pm when she serves lunch. This $400 loan will allow her to accomodate her devoted clients better and expand her business.
Aura has an experience of 15 years as a merchant. She started selling food 10 years ago. Thanks to the help of her husband she gathered the capital and started selling lunches and snacks. She has done well due to the good taste of her meals. She works everyday from 8 a.m. to 3 p.m. and in the weekends until 12 p.m. She is also investing in the purchase of yogurt per liter. Moreover she sells clothes to her friends being this another source of income.
The loan will be use to buy kitchen tools. She will also buy merchandise since she has a business unit at the citys market. She has a good demand and she hopes to please all of her clients.
Aura is married. She is 46 years old and has 5 children. Two of them are in school. In their free time they help her mother to serve the clients and also with the purchases. His husband works as a bus driver. Thanks to both their work, they have managed to finish little by little their small house. Her wish is to give a better home environment to her family.
Translated from Spanish by Ana Gabriela Clark, Kiva Volunteer.
",F,650,partner,Food,0 Ecuador,"
Angelita and her husband sell fish from a stand they have situated in a commercial zone. Currently, they each have a stand where they can sell their product and obtain higher incomes.
They need this loan to purchase more merchandise and establish a small store in their home so that their 16-year-old can help them sell their product.
She is 32 years of age and has three children in school. Her house is made of cane, and her husband helps her around the house.
Translated from Spanish by Evelyn Garcia, Kiva Volunteer.
",F,400,lender,Food,1 Ecuador,"
A year ago Juan and his mother opened this small restaurant. They mainly sell food for people on the go and they also specialize in lunch time meals. Juan has been working in this line of work since he was 14 and is now the head of the restaurant although his mother does help him quite a bit. He is 18 years old and studies commerce at a local university during the night time. He is seeking the loan in order to purchase ingredients and dining utensils for the restaurant.
Mifex offers its clients microinsurance and access to business training and educational programs. For more information about microfinance, Ecuador, and our services, please visit www.mifex.org.
",M,675,partner,Food,0 Ecuador,"Abel sells cleaning products and other household items. He started off in this type of business by working with a friend for about 3 years. Recently he and his wife decided to start their own business and sell the products out in the neighborhood and from their home. They have 3 children to support with this business. They just moved into this sector of the city after having an unfavorable experience in a different part of the city.
Abel and his wife have lent from Kiva and Mifex before and are eager to continue this beneficial relationship. They used their last loan to make some improvements to their home/store. Their business is set up much better now and they are steadily attracting clients. Abel realizes he still has a long way to go before his store is complete, but with the help of investment capital he is confident he will one day achieve his dream.
",M,1200,lender,Retail,1 Ecuador,"Adelaida has a business of soda and beer sales. She also sells items for the house and for woman, men and children. She has 35 years of experience in this business. When she was younger, Adelaida used to travel to the local markets to sell her goods. She is no longer able to go to the markets due to health problems with her legs. She now works out of her house every day from early morning to 11 at night. She sells her products on credit, with 30% paid up front and the remainder in weekly payments thereafter.
She needs the loan to stock up on beverages and buy the additional items she sells. She has pending orders but lacks the additional capital to fill them.
Adelaida is 50 years old. One of her 7 childen lives with her. He works for and supports himself. Adelaida is a single mother. She had to take on full responsibility for supporting and raising her family because her husband abandoned her. Her children worked to support themselves from the time they were very young. With a lot of effort and hard work, the family was able to buy the house where Adelaida now lives. Adelaida's dream is to maintain her business and continue to sell, because it is her business that entertains and sustains her.
Translated from Spanish by Erin Corcoran, Kiva volunteer.
",F,375,partner,Retail,0 Ecuador,"
Adriana has a small restaurant that she runs out of her home. She has had about 8 years of experience in the restaurant business. She started this operation off by just selling chicken and chicken wings. She has made it into a full fledged restaurant during the weekends, but because of capital restrictions cannot sell during the week. She has also made space in her home to be able to seat people, but she is also in need of tables and chairs for the business. She hopes that the loan will help her overcome these barriers and continue to develop her business. She has five children, only two of which still live at home.
Mifex offers its clients microinsurance and access to business training and educational programs. For more information about microfinance, Ecuador, and our services, please visit www.mifex.org.
",F,375,partner,Food,0 Ecuador,"After being a maid her whole life Beatriz decided to start her own business a year ago. She learned how to make jewelry from a company who sells the materials for the production. Her daughter inspired her to take the course from the company and begin selling the jewelry herself. She now sells to the people in her local community and also to the people in the small town where she grew up.
She is seeking the loan in order to buy more materials and increase production before the Christmas season. This business has allowed Beatriz to be her own boss and provide sufficient income for her livelihood. She has been separated from her husband for 15 years and lives with her daughter.
Mifex offers its clients microinsurance and access to business training and educational programs. For more information about microfinance, Ecuador, and our services, please visit www.mifex.org.
",F,250,partner,Services,0 Ecuador,"After being a maid her whole life, Beatriz decided to start her own business a year ago. She learned how to make jewelry from a company that sells jewelry materials. Her daughter inspired her to take the company's course and begin selling jewelry. She now sells to the people in her local community and the small town where she grew up.
Beatriz used her first loan with Mifex to buy more materials to increase production before the Christmas season. She was able to make many sales during that time. Due to increased productivity, Beatriz is now able to sell her products in bulk to stores outside the city. She will use the loan to buy raw materials that she needs in order to assemble the products, such as beads and decorations, and some basic tools that will increase her efficiency.
",F,425,partner,Arts,0 Ecuador,"Agapito es un seor de mayor edad pero que sigue trabajando en sus tierras dado a las necesidades de la vida. A pesar de su edad, el pueda todava salir al campo y sembrar el arroz, actividad que le ha dado de comer por toda su vida. El tiene una casa humilde de madera donde el vive con su esposa y unos de sus hijos. El quiere el prstamo para poder solicitar la ayuda de unos trabajadores que lo ayuden en su actividad.
English:Translated by Nuria Ruiz, Kiva Voluteer.
Agapito is an old man. He, however, still works the land since he needs to provide for his family. Despite of not being young he still can go out to the fields and seed rice. He lives in a humble home with his wife and some of his children. Agapito is requesting a loan to hire some workers that help him cultivate the land.
This borrower is part of the newest Communal Bank in the recently developed Mifex Rural Finance Program. All of the members of the Rosa de Oro (Golden Rose) Communal Bank are part of an Association of Rice Farmers in the county of Baba in rural Ecuador. Their association works cooperatively to cultivate rice and commercialize the product after it has grown. As an association, Rosa de Oro helps the farmers by providing access to machinery, training services and government assistance. The farmers from Rosa de Oro are very close to each other and cooperate to help one another on their farms.
The members of Rosa de Oro will use the micro-loans to prepare their lands and cultivate rice on their farms. Because they form part of a communal bank, they are all each others' guarantors for the loan. This means that if for some reason one person in the group cannot fully repay the loan, the other borrowers and the Rosa de Oro Association are responsible for the amount in default. The members of the bank also participate in a program designed to teach and encourage savings among the group. Promoting savings is often forgotten in many micro-finance programs, but Mifex believes that is imperative for the communities we works with to have capital reserved for future investments or unexpected difficulties.
Below is more information about Baba compiled by Luis Crespo and Robert Edgar of the Mifex team when evaluating the potential of the sector for the Rural Finance Program.
The people of Baba have been organized since the days of Gran Colombia when Ecuador was yet to be a country. The area has always been popular because of the extremely productive lands that gave way to cultivation of cacao for decades. Now Baba is a county in the province of Los Rios in the coastal region of Ecuador. For most of the latter part of the 20th Century it was a cacao and banana producing sector. Most of the surrounding areas of Baba in Los Rios are owned by large mulitnational companies such as Dole, but Baba is a sector characterized by the small and informal farms.
Rice production has now turned into the main economic activity of the sector as about 80% of the people are rice farmers. Cacao is still very popular in the area, but because of the long cultivation cycle people prefer to invest in rice. The lands in Baba are very fertile though, and most farmers in the sector often grow other crops, such as plantains and soy beans as secondary sources of income. Many farmers also keep livestock as emergency sources of food and income, commonly resorting to selling a chicken or pig if they are in need of cash.
Most of the people in the Baba area are small farmers. They produce about 80 sacks of rice per hectare of land. In order to farm they first must prepare the lands by removing weeds, plowing and leveling the lands. This is the most difficult part for the farmers in Baba, who often lack the necessary machinery to properly plow the lands for rice production. After appropriately preparing the lands, the farmers fill an area with water to form what is known as a paddy field, because rice is a very water intensive crop. The rice seeds are either dispersed freely (the process is known as boleo in Spanish) or hand sowed. Once the rice has grown, most farmers rent machinery that helps them gather their production.
One of the biggest struggles in the area has been the lack of credit due to the absence of any type of financial institution. Because people do not count on formal financial finance, they have turned to loan sharks for financing. They have been affected by expensive lines of credit that exceed 100% interest a year and can be as expensive as 240%. Intermediaries also exploit the farmers because of their outstanding debt. Farmers also lack skills and knowledge to commercialize their products and pay fair prices for their crops.
The largest risk in the sector is due to absence of watering systems. Although Baba is in the province Los Rios (the rivers) there is severe problem with access to water. The lack of infrastructure in the sector does not allow the small farmers to benefit from the presence of the many rivers in the area. If the winter season is too dry, it is likely that the lands will not be sufficiently fertile for rice production in the summer. On the other hand, if there is too much rain there are not any drainage systems to prevent flooding and the crops are often ruined. Generally speaking though, Baba is a very productive sector where the lands yield all types of crops including rice, cacao, corn, watermelons, plantains, and soy beans.
The loans in this sector will mostly be used to to buy soil, seeds, fertilizer and insecticides. Many clients will use the capital towards renting machinery and equipment necessary to effectively work and prepare the fields. Clients also typically use a part of the loan to buy livestock in order to raise and have as reserves. The loan repayment schedule is different from the typical micro-entrepreneur because farmers see the profits from their investments 5 or 6 months after making their initial expenditures. Mifex asks our rural clients only to pay 50% of the capital in the first 6 months of the loan. The rest of the debt must be paid in the seventh and final month.
",M,550,lender,Agriculture,0 Ecuador,"Agapito sells crab meat to the local community and nearby restaurants. He has been working with seafood for over 15 year. He gets up at 4 every morning to buy crabs from fishermen. He and his wife then spend the next couple of hours cooking the crab and removing the crab meat. He puts the meat in plastic containers and then sells it to the public.
His previous loan with our institution helped him increase his production and target the small restaurants in his area. He was very grateful for the opportunity he received, but is not satisfied. He hopes to invest in new tools that will help him be more efficient and lower prices. He hopes he can provide crab meat to many more restaurants in his area.
He and his wefe have 3 kids who are all in school and often help out in the business. His wife is a housekeeper who works in the city. Their short term goal is to fix their home before the rainy season gets bad. Currently their roof leaks and it is very vulnerable to heavy rains.
",M,550,lender,Food,0 Ecuador,"Agapito sells crab meat to the local community. He has been working with seafood for over 15 year. He gets up at 4 every morning to buy crabs from fishermen. He and his wife then spend the next couple of hours cooking the crab and removing the crab meat. He puts the meat in plastic containers and then sells it to the public. He and his wefe have 3 kids who are all in school and often help out in the business. His wife is a housekeeper who works in the city. Their short term goal is to fix their home before the rainy season gets bad. Currently their roof leaks and it is very vulnerable to heavy rains.
Mifex offers its clients microinsurance and access to business training and educational programs. For more information about microfinance, Ecuador, and our services, please visit www.mifex.org.
",M,375,partner,Food,0 Ecuador,"Agustin was born and raised in Baba where he has spent his life working in agriculture. He never had the opportunity to go to school, but through hard work he has been able to send some of his kids to school. Despite his age, he still works the fields and makes his land produce great rice. He hopes with the loan he will be able to be more effective.
This borrower is part of the newest and largest Communal Bank in the recently developed Mifex Rural Finance Program. All of the members of the Centro Agricola de Baba Communal Bank are part of an Association of Rice Farmers in the county of Baba in rural Ecuador. Their association works cooperatively to cultivate rice and commercialize the product after it has grown. As an association, Centro Agricola helps the farmers by providing access to machinery and training services. The farmers from Centro Agricola have received special instruction on financial responsibility and accounting from Codemicro, an organization that specializes in training programs geared towards the rural sector.
The members of Centro Agricola de Baba will use the micro-loans to prepare their lands and cultivate rice on their farms. Because they form part of a communal bank, they are all each others' guarantors for the loan. This means that if for some reason one person in the group cannot fully repay the loan, the other borrowers and the Centro Agricola de Baba Association are responsible for the amount in default. The members of the bank also participate in a program designed to teach and encourage savings among the group. Promoting savings is often forgotten in many micro-finance programs, but Mifex believes that is imperative for the communities we works with to have capital reserved for future investments or unexpected difficulties.
Below is more information about Santa Lucia compiled by Luis Crespo and Robert Edgar of the Mifex team when evaluating the potential of the sector for the Rural Finance Program.
The people of Baba have been organized since the days of Gran Colombia when Ecuador was yet to be a country. The area has always been popular because of the extremely productive lands that gave way to cultivation of cacao for decades. Now Baba is a county in the province of Los Rios in the coastal region of Ecuador. For most of the latter part of the 20th Century it was a cacao and banana-producing sector. Most of the surrounding areas of Baba in Los Rios are owned by large multinational companies such as Dole, but Baba is a sector characterized by small and informal farms.
Rice production has now turned into the main economic activity of the sector as about 80% of the people are rice farmers. Cacao is still very popular in the area, but because of the long cultivation cycle people prefer to invest in rice. The lands in Baba are very fertile though, and most farmers in the sector often grow other crops, such as plantains and soybeans as secondary sources of income. Many farmers also keep livestock as emergency sources of food and income, commonly resorting to selling a chicken or pig if they are in need of cash.
Most of the people in the Baba area are small farmers. They produce about 80 sacks of rice per hectare of land. In order to farm they first must prepare the lands by removing weeds, plowing and leveling the lands. This is the most difficult part for the farmers in Baba, who often lack the necessary machinery to properly plow the lands for rice production. After appropriately preparing the lands, the farmers fill an area with water to form what is known as a paddy field, because rice is a very water-intensive crop. The rice seeds are either dispersed freely (the process is known as boleo in Spanish) or hand sowed. Once the rice has grown, most farmers rent machinery that helps them gather their production.
One of the biggest struggles in the area has been the lack of credit due to the absence of any type of financial institution. Because people do not count on formal financial finance, they have turned to loan sharks for financing. They have been affected by expensive lines of credit that exceed 100% interest a year and can be as expensive as 240%. Intermediaries also exploit the farmers because of their outstanding debt. Farmers also lack skills and knowledge to commercialize their products and pay fair prices for their crops.
The largest risk in the sector is due to absence of watering systems. Although Baba is in the province Los Rios (the rivers) there is severe problem with access to water. The lack of infrastructure in the sector does not allow the small farmers to benefit from the presence of the many rivers in the area. If the winter season is too dry, it is likely that the lands will not be sufficiently fertile for rice production in the summer. On the other hand, if there is too much rain, there are not any drainage systems to prevent flooding and the crops are often ruined. Generally speaking though, Baba is a very productive sector where the lands yield all types of crops including rice, cacao, corn, watermelons, plantains, and soybeans.
The loans in this sector will mostly be used to buy soil, seeds, fertilizer and insecticides. Many clients will use the capital towards renting machinery and equipment necessary to effectively work and prepare the fields. Clients also typically use a part of the loan to buy livestock in order to raise and have as reserves. The loan repayment schedule is different from the typical micro-entrepreneur because farmers see the profits from their investments 5 or 6 months after making their initial expenditures. Mifex asks our rural clients only to pay 50% of the capital in the first 6 months of the loan. The rest of the debt must be paid in the seventh and final month.
",M,425,lender,Agriculture,0 Ecuador,"Airu has had her business for only 8 months. She had been working as a housekeeper since she was very young, but she is in search of a new way to generate income for her family. Her sister motivated her to start a business selling sodas and other drinks from her home. She lives in one of the worst sectors in Guayaquil. Her house, which is pictured, is made out of bamboo and is in the sector of the city near the shore where the tide rises into her home. She is hoping that with time she will be able to make a better home for her and her 9 children. Her husband works in the water company for a low wage.
Mifex offers its clients microinsurance and access to business training and educational programs. For more information about microfinance, Ecuador, and our services, please visit www.mifex.org.
",F,375,partner,Food,0 Ecuador,"Albino produces rice, corn, soy beans, mango and plantains. He is extremely happy to have such a productive land. He also has a few cows, chickens, pigs ,and ducks, but arecomplimentary sources of income. He makes ends meet with the profits he makes from rice production. In his home he lives with his wife, kids, some grandchildren and his mother. He will invest the loan in preparing his lands and in fertilizer. He hopes with the investments he will have more productivity from the land and to fix the roof of his home.
This borrower is part of the newest and largest Communal Bank in the recently developed Mifex Rural Finance Program. All of the members of the Centro Agricola de Baba Communal Bank are part of an Association of Rice Farmers in the county of Baba in rural Ecuador. Their association works cooperatively to cultivate rice and commercialize the product after it has grown. As an association, Centro Agricola helps the farmers by providing access to machinery and training services. The farmers from Centro Agricola have received special instruction on financial responsibility and accounting from Codemicro, an organization that specializes in training programs geared towards the rural sector.
The members of Centro Agricola de Baba will use the micro-loans to prepare their lands and cultivate rice on their farms. Because they form part of a communal bank, they are all each others' guarantors for the loan. This means that if for some reason one person in the group cannot fully repay the loan, the other borrowers and the Centro Agricola de Baba Association are responsible for the amount in default. The members of the bank also participate in a program designed to teach and encourage savings among the group. Promoting savings is often forgotten in many micro-finance programs, but Mifex believes that is imperative for the communities we works with to have capital reserved for future investments or unexpected difficulties.
Below is more information about Santa Lucia compiled by Luis Crespo and Robert Edgar of the Mifex team when evaluating the potential of the sector for the Rural Finance Program.
The people of Baba have been organized since the days of Gran Colombia when Ecuador was yet to be a country. The area has always been popular because of the extremely productive lands that gave way to cultivation of cacao for decades. Now Baba is a county in the province of Los Rios in the coastal region of Ecuador. For most of the latter part of the 20th Century it was a cacao and banana producing sector. Most of the surrounding areas of Baba in Los Rios are owned by large mulitnational companies such as Dole, but Baba is a sector characterized by the small and informal farms.
Rice production has now turned into the main economic activity of the sector as about 80% of the people are rice farmers. Cacao is still very popular in the area, but because of the long cultivation cycle people prefer to invest in rice. The lands in Baba are very fertile though, and most farmers in the sector often grow other crops, such as plantains and soy beans as secondary sources of income. Many farmers also keep livestock as emergency sources of food and income, commonly resorting to selling a chicken or pig if they are in need of cash.
Most of the people in the Baba area are small farmers. They produce about 80 sacks of rice per hectare of land. In order to farm they first must prepare the lands by removing weeds, plowing and leveling the lands. This is the most difficult part for the farmers in Baba, who often lack the necessary machinery to properly plow the lands for rice production. After appropriately preparing the lands, the farmers fill an area with water to form what is known as a paddy field, because rice is a very water intensive crop. The rice seeds are either dispersed freely (the process is known as boleo in Spanish) or hand sowed. Once the rice has grown, most farmers rent machinery that helps them gather their production.
One of the biggest struggles in the area has been the lack of credit due to the absence of any type of financial institution. Because people do not count on formal financial finance, they have turned to loan sharks for financing. They have been affected by expensive lines of credit that exceed 100% interest a year and can be as expensive as 240%. Intermediaries also exploit the farmers because of their outstanding debt. Farmers also lack skills and knowledge to commercialize their products and pay fair prices for their crops.
The largest risk in the sector is due to absence of watering systems. Although Baba is in the province Los Rios (the rivers) there is severe problem with access to water. The lack of infrastructure in the sector does not allow the small farmers to benefit from the presence of the many rivers in the area. If the winter season is too dry, it is likely that the lands will not be sufficiently fertile for rice production in the summer. On the other hand, if there is too much rain there are not any drainage systems to prevent flooding and the crops are often ruined. Generally speaking though, Baba is a very productive sector where the lands yield all types of crops including rice, cacao, corn, watermelons, plantains, and soy beans.
The loans in this sector will mostly be used to to buy soil, seeds, fertilizer and insecticides. Many clients will use the capital towards renting machinery and equipment necessary to effectively work and prepare the fields. Clients also typically use a part of the loan to buy livestock in order to raise and have as reserves. The loan repayment schedule is different from the typical micro-entrepreneur because farmers see the profits from their investments 5 or 6 months after making their initial expenditures. Mifex asks our rural clients only to pay 50% of the capital in the first 6 months of the loan. The rest of the debt must be paid in the seventh and final month.
",M,675,lender,Agriculture,0 Ecuador,"Aleida has a restaurant that is very popular in the local community. Prior to opening her business she held jobs in the city as an assistant for a dentist and at department stores. After she and her husband divorced, she decided to stay near her children and open a business from her home. She started off by just selling chicken wings, but as time passed she has been able to open a full fledged restaurant. The person who owns the home where she rents offered to rent her the home right next to it for her business. This has been great for Aleida who is raising two kids on her own. She runs the restaurant with the help of her mother, who always dreamed of having a business with her daughter. She is requesting the loan in order paint the place and invest utensils.
Mifex offers its clients microinsurance and access to business training and educational programs. For more information about microfinance, Ecuador, and our services, please visit www.mifex.org.
",F,475,partner,Food,0 Ecuador,"Alejandro has a small plot of land where he produces rice. He has been living on this land for thirty years with his wife. He has three children ages 16, 13 and 11, all of whom are in school. He will use the loan to clean and prepare his lands in order to make them adequate for rice production. He is planning to make several improvements to his home because the floor and roof need much work.
This borrower is part of the newest and largest Communal Bank in the recently developed Mifex Rural Finance Program. All of the members of the Centro Agricola de Baba Communal Bank are part of an Association of Rice Farmers in the county of Baba in rural Ecuador. Their association works cooperatively to cultivate rice and commercialize the product after it has grown. As an association, Centro Agricola helps the farmers by providing access to machinery and training services. The farmers from Centro Agricola have received special instruction on financial responsibility and accounting from Codemicro, an organization that specializes in training programs geared towards the rural sector.
The members of Centro Agricola de Baba will use the micro-loans to prepare their lands and cultivate rice on their farms. Because they form part of a communal bank, they are all each others' guarantors for the loan. This means that if for some reason one person in the group cannot fully repay the loan, the other borrowers and the Centro Agricola de Baba Association are responsible for the amount in default. The members of the bank also participate in a program designed to teach and encourage savings among the group. Promoting savings is often forgotten in many micro-finance programs, but Mifex believes that is imperative for the communities we works with to have capital reserved for future investments or unexpected difficulties.
Below is more information about Santa Lucia compiled by Luis Crespo and Robert Edgar of the Mifex team when evaluating the potential of the sector for the Rural Finance Program.
The people of Baba have been organized since the days of Gran Colombia when Ecuador was yet to be a country. The area has always been popular because of the extremely productive lands that gave way to cultivation of cacao for decades. Now Baba is a county in the province of Los Rios in the coastal region of Ecuador. For most of the latter part of the 20th Century it was a cacao and banana-producing sector. Most of the surrounding areas of Baba in Los Rios are owned by large multinational companies such as Dole, but Baba is a sector characterized by small and informal farms.
Rice production has now turned into the main economic activity of the sector as about 80% of the people are rice farmers. Cacao is still very popular in the area, but because of the long cultivation cycle people prefer to invest in rice. The lands in Baba are very fertile though, and most farmers in the sector often grow other crops, such as plantains and soybeans as secondary sources of income. Many farmers also keep livestock as emergency sources of food and income, commonly resorting to selling a chicken or pig if they are in need of cash.
Most of the people in the Baba area are small farmers. They produce about 80 sacks of rice per hectare of land. In order to farm they first must prepare the lands by removing weeds, plowing and leveling the lands. This is the most difficult part for the farmers in Baba, who often lack the necessary machinery to properly plow the lands for rice production. After appropriately preparing the lands, the farmers fill an area with water to form what is known as a paddy field, because rice is a very water-intensive crop. The rice seeds are either dispersed freely (the process is known as boleo in Spanish) or hand sowed. Once the rice has grown, most farmers rent machinery that helps them gather their production.
One of the biggest struggles in the area has been the lack of credit due to the absence of any type of financial institution. Because people do not count on formal financial finance, they have turned to loan sharks for financing. They have been affected by expensive lines of credit that exceed 100% interest a year and can be as expensive as 240%. Intermediaries also exploit the farmers because of their outstanding debt. Farmers also lack skills and knowledge to commercialize their products and pay fair prices for their crops.
The largest risk in the sector is due to absence of watering systems. Although Baba is in the province Los Rios (the rivers) there is severe problem with access to water. The lack of infrastructure in the sector does not allow the small farmers to benefit from the presence of the many rivers in the area. If the winter season is too dry, it is likely that the lands will not be sufficiently fertile for rice production in the summer. On the other hand, if there is too much rain, there are not any drainage systems to prevent flooding and the crops are often ruined. Generally speaking though, Baba is a very productive sector where the lands yield all types of crops including rice, cacao, corn, watermelons, plantains, and soybeans.
The loans in this sector will mostly be used to buy soil, seeds, fertilizer and insecticides. Many clients will use the capital towards renting machinery and equipment necessary to effectively work and prepare the fields. Clients also typically use a part of the loan to buy livestock in order to raise and have as reserves. The loan repayment schedule is different from the typical micro-entrepreneur because farmers see the profits from their investments 5 or 6 months after making their initial expenditures. Mifex asks our rural clients only to pay 50% of the capital in the first 6 months of the loan. The rest of the debt must be paid in the seventh and final month.
",M,550,lender,Agriculture,0 Ecuador,"Alejandro Vera works his land where he plants rice, corn and plantains. He raises livestock and has two horses. He has three daughters ages 18, 22 and 23 who already have families of their own. He lives with his wife, named Luisa, who helps care for the animals. With the loan he will invest in fertilizer and pesticides for his crops. He hopes that he can continue to improve the roof of his wooden home with the extra money he makes.
This borrower is part of the newest and largest Communal Bank in the recently developed Mifex Rural Finance Program. All of the members of the Centro Agricola de Baba Communal Bank are part of an Association of Rice Farmers in the county of Baba in rural Ecuador. Their association works cooperatively to cultivate rice and commercialize the product after it has grown. As an association, Centro Agricola helps the farmers by providing access to machinery and training services. The farmers from Centro Agricola have received special instruction on financial responsibility and accounting from Codemicro, an organization that specializes in training programs geared towards the rural sector.
The members of Centro Agricola de Baba will use the micro-loans to prepare their lands and cultivate rice on their farms. Because they form part of a communal bank, they are all each others' guarantors for the loan. This means that if for some reason one person in the group cannot fully repay the loan, the other borrowers and the Centro Agricola de Baba Association are responsible for the amount in default. The members of the bank also participate in a program designed to teach and encourage savings among the group. Promoting savings is often forgotten in many micro-finance programs, but Mifex believes that is imperative for the communities we works with to have capital reserved for future investments or unexpected difficulties.
Below is more information about Santa Lucia compiled by Luis Crespo and Robert Edgar of the Mifex team when evaluating the potential of the sector for the Rural Finance Program.
The people of Baba have been organized since the days of Gran Colombia when Ecuador was yet to be a country. The area has always been popular because of the extremely productive lands that gave way to cultivation of cacao for decades. Now Baba is a county in the province of Los Rios in the coastal region of Ecuador. For most of the latter part of the 20th Century it was a cacao and banana-producing sector. Most of the surrounding areas of Baba in Los Rios are owned by large multinational companies such as Dole, but Baba is a sector characterized by small and informal farms.
Rice production has now turned into the main economic activity of the sector as about 80% of the people are rice farmers. Cacao is still very popular in the area, but because of the long cultivation cycle people prefer to invest in rice. The lands in Baba are very fertile though, and most farmers in the sector often grow other crops, such as plantains and soybeans as secondary sources of income. Many farmers also keep livestock as emergency sources of food and income, commonly resorting to selling a chicken or pig if they are in need of cash.
Most of the people in the Baba area are small farmers. They produce about 80 sacks of rice per hectare of land. In order to farm they first must prepare the lands by removing weeds, plowing and leveling the lands. This is the most difficult part for the farmers in Baba, who often lack the necessary machinery to properly plow the lands for rice production. After appropriately preparing the lands, the farmers fill an area with water to form what is known as a paddy field, because rice is a very water-intensive crop. The rice seeds are either dispersed freely (the process is known as boleo in Spanish) or hand sowed. Once the rice has grown, most farmers rent machinery that helps them gather their production.
One of the biggest struggles in the area has been the lack of credit due to the absence of any type of financial institution. Because people do not count on formal financial finance, they have turned to loan sharks for financing. They have been affected by expensive lines of credit that exceed 100% interest a year and can be as expensive as 240%. Intermediaries also exploit the farmers because of their outstanding debt. Farmers also lack skills and knowledge to commercialize their products and pay fair prices for their crops.
The largest risk in the sector is due to absence of watering systems. Although Baba is in the province Los Rios (the rivers) there is severe problem with access to water. The lack of infrastructure in the sector does not allow the small farmers to benefit from the presence of the many rivers in the area. If the winter season is too dry, it is likely that the lands will not be sufficiently fertile for rice production in the summer. On the other hand, if there is too much rain, there are not any drainage systems to prevent flooding and the crops are often ruined. Generally speaking though, Baba is a very productive sector where the lands yield all types of crops including rice, cacao, corn, watermelons, plantains, and soybeans.
The loans in this sector will mostly be used to buy soil, seeds, fertilizer and insecticides. Many clients will use the capital towards renting machinery and equipment necessary to effectively work and prepare the fields. Clients also typically use a part of the loan to buy livestock in order to raise and have as reserves. The loan repayment schedule is different from the typical micro-entrepreneur because farmers see the profits from their investments 5 or 6 months after making their initial expenditures. Mifex asks our rural clients only to pay 50% of the capital in the first 6 months of the loan. The rest of the debt must be paid in the seventh and final month.
",M,1200,lender,Agriculture,1 Ecuador,"Alex is a native of Salitre, Ecuador, where he has been farming rice his entire life. On his lands, he has rice, cattle and some other fruits such as mangoes. He will use the loan to invest in rice production and to buy a few new steers. He hopes he can continue to improve his lands and increase his property. He has three children. One is still in school. The other two help him out with his cattle ranching and farming.
Alex is the latest addition to one of the new Communal Banks in the Mifex Rural Finance Program. All of the members of the 10 de enero Communal Bank are part of an Association of Rice Farmers in Salitre named 10 de enero. They will use the microloans to prepare the lands and cultivate rice on their farms. Because they form part of a communal bank, they are all each others' guarantors for the loan. This means that if for some reason one person in the group cannot fully repay the loan, the other borrowers and the 10 de enero Association are responsible for the amount in default. The members of the bank also participate in a program designed to teach and encourage savings among the group. Promoting savings is often forgotten in many microfinance programs, but is imperative for the communities Mifex works with to have capital reserves for future investments or unexpected difficulties.
The loans in this sector will be used to create water basins that will prevent flooding in the case of heavy rains or store water in case of droughts. The loans will also be used to treat the land prior to farming, to plant the seeds and purchase fertilizer. The loan repayment schedule is also different from the typical microentrepreneur. Because farmers see the profits from their investments 5 or 6 months after making their initial expenditures, Mifex asks them only to pay 50% of the capital in the first 5 months of the loan. The rest of the debt must be paid in the sixth and final month.
Below is more information about Salitre compiled by the staff at Mifex when evaluating the potential of the sector for the Rural Finance Program.
Salitre is a rural sector in the Province of Guayas known as the capital of Montuvios (montuvio is a cowboy) with approximately 30,000 inhabitants. The main economic activities are herding and agriculture which make up about 80% of the economy. The infrastructure and basic services are poor, especially the roads and water services.
Salitre is highly dedicated to farming rice and cattle ranching. Rice is a crop that yields about every four months. In order to farm rice, the environment must be very humid and there must be a high volume of water. The lack of a structured water system makes it difficult for the small farmers to be highly productive. The best months for cultivating rice are early in the year when it is the rainy season in the coast of Ecuador.
Salitre is a national tourist attraction as many Ecuadorians visit the freshwater Salitre River. There are cottages, small restaurants and water attractions that people come to enjoy.
There are not many financial institutions that provide services to the productive sector of the local economy. The primary access to credit comes from loan sharks who charge extremely high interest rates averaging around 20% a month. The locals are also exploited by the intermediaries that buy their products in order to sell them in the city and to export abroad. These intermediaries buy crops in advance at very low prices, finance soil at extremely high prices and often provide emergency loans for even higher interest rates than the loan sharks.
Salitre is a dangerous sector considering it is in a rural area. There is a high incidence of robbery of cattle that results in many of the ranch owners owning weapons to protect their property. Because the police are not present in these areas, farmers and ranchers must apply their own laws and provide their own security. In some instances they have formed their own cooperatives and associations to have a community crime prevention effort.
Salitre is in the lowlands of Ecuador and is vulnerable to flooding in the rainy season. In the event of a heavy rainy season, often at its worse when El Nio occurs, the farmers of rice lose many of their crops. All this is due to a lack of infrastructure in the area.
",M,1200,lender,Agriculture,0 Ecuador,"Alexandra is a fruit distributor and vendor in Guayaquil. She has been in this type of business for about 17 years because she helped her parents when they were in the same line of work. For a while she worked as a nanny but she did not make enough to make ends meet at her home. About 8 years ago she started working with about $200 in capital and sold at a stand on the street. She now was a spot in a market and is much better off.
She needs this loan in order to buy very large quantities of fruits. Alexandra has started distributing to other fruit vendors in her area and has been very successful. In order to continue she needs to have access capital to buy at wholesale prices. She has 3 children of which one is already independent. She hopes to one day open a business out of her home.
Mifex offers its clients microinsurance and access to business training and educational programs. For more information about microfinance, Ecuador, and our services, please visit www.mifex.org.
",F,925,partner,Food,0 Ecuador,"Alexandra needs the loan in order to continue making improvements to the business. Although the front part of her store, which is pictured, is made out of cement, the inside is still wood and is vulnerable to damage from heavy rains. She also wants to invest in toys to sell from her store for the Christmas season.
Alexandra is 40 years old and has 3 children. Her husband is her right hand man in business and in life. They are a very united family and believe firmly in the value of education for the children.
Mifex offers its clients microinsurance and access to business training and educational programs. For more information about microfinance, Ecuador, and our services, please visit www.mifex.org.
",F,375,partner,Food,0 Ecuador,"Alexandra sells clothing. She began her business with help from her brother-in-law who gave her merchandise to start her business. In the beginning she only sold children's clothing door-to-door. Now she continues to offer children's clothing together with clothing for adult women and men, shoes and boutique items. Her business is now run out of her home. She has a glass display case for shoes and other small items while the clothing is hung for display from the wall. Alexandra previously lived in a cane house but used her income to slowly renovate her home.
Alexandra is a mother of four children. She is 39 years old and has been married for several years. Her husband is her right-hand man in the business, and he moved to Guayaquil after living in Los Rios. Her business is the only source of income for her family. She will use her second loan to buy more merchandise and also to offer her clients a greater variety of sizes to chose from. Holidays are around the corner and Alexandra anticipates a greater volume of sales this season. She hopes that this loan will give her financial security to save for her children's education and to complete the cement construction of her home.
",F,1200,lender,Clothing,1 Ecuador,"Alfredo is a rice farmer from Baba, Ecuador, a sector known for its rice cultivation. He has only had his farm for several years, but it is serving well to feed his wife and his infant child. He wants to invest the loan received in improving his crop output. He hopes to buy more seeds, fertilizer and pesticides. His long term goal is to improve his home for his growing family.
This borrower is part of the newest and largest Communal Bank in the recently developed Mifex Rural Finance Program. All of the members of the Centro Agricola de Baba Communal Bank are part of an Association of Rice Farmers in the county of Baba in rural Ecuador. Their association works cooperatively to cultivate rice and commercialize the product after it has grown. As an association, Centro Agricola helps the farmers by providing access to machinery and training services. The farmers from Centro Agricola have received special instruction on financial responsibility and accounting from Codemicro, an organization that specializes in training programs geared towards the rural sector.
The members of Centro Agricola de Baba will use the micro-loans to prepare their lands and cultivate rice on their farms. Because they form part of a communal bank, they are all each others' guarantors for the loan. This means that if for some reason one person in the group cannot fully repay the loan, the other borrowers and the Centro Agricola de Baba Association are responsible for the amount in default. The members of the bank also participate in a program designed to teach and encourage savings among the group. Promoting savings is often forgotten in many micro-finance programs, but Mifex believes that is imperative for the communities we works with to have capital reserved for future investments or unexpected difficulties.
Below is more information about Santa Lucia compiled by Luis Crespo and Robert Edgar of the Mifex team when evaluating the potential of the sector for the Rural Finance Program.
The people of Baba have been organized since the days of Gran Colombia when Ecuador was yet to be a country. The area has always been popular because of the extremely productive lands that gave way to cultivation of cacao for decades. Now Baba is a county in the province of Los Rios in the coastal region of Ecuador. For most of the latter part of the 20th Century it was a cacao and banana-producing sector. Most of the surrounding areas of Baba in Los Rios are owned by large multinational companies such as Dole, but Baba is a sector characterized by small and informal farms.
Rice production has now turned into the main economic activity of the sector as about 80% of the people are rice farmers. Cacao is still very popular in the area, but because of the long cultivation cycle people prefer to invest in rice. The lands in Baba are very fertile though, and most farmers in the sector often grow other crops, such as plantains and soybeans as secondary sources of income. Many farmers also keep livestock as emergency sources of food and income, commonly resorting to selling a chicken or pig if they are in need of cash.
Most of the people in the Baba area are small farmers. They produce about 80 sacks of rice per hectare of land. In order to farm they first must prepare the lands by removing weeds, plowing and leveling the lands. This is the most difficult part for the farmers in Baba, who often lack the necessary machinery to properly plow the lands for rice production. After appropriately preparing the lands, the farmers fill an area with water to form what is known as a paddy field, because rice is a very water-intensive crop. The rice seeds are either dispersed freely (the process is known as boleo in Spanish) or hand sowed. Once the rice has grown, most farmers rent machinery that helps them gather their production.
One of the biggest struggles in the area has been the lack of credit due to the absence of any type of financial institution. Because people do not count on formal financial finance, they have turned to loan sharks for financing. They have been affected by expensive lines of credit that exceed 100% interest a year and can be as expensive as 240%. Intermediaries also exploit the farmers because of their outstanding debt. Farmers also lack skills and knowledge to commercialize their products and pay fair prices for their crops.
The largest risk in the sector is due to absence of watering systems. Although Baba is in the province Los Rios (the rivers) there is severe problem with access to water. The lack of infrastructure in the sector does not allow the small farmers to benefit from the presence of the many rivers in the area. If the winter season is too dry, it is likely that the lands will not be sufficiently fertile for rice production in the summer. On the other hand, if there is too much rain, there are not any drainage systems to prevent flooding and the crops are often ruined. Generally speaking though, Baba is a very productive sector where the lands yield all types of crops including rice, cacao, corn, watermelons, plantains, and soybeans.
The loans in this sector will mostly be used to buy soil, seeds, fertilizer and insecticides. Many clients will use the capital towards renting machinery and equipment necessary to effectively work and prepare the fields. Clients also typically use a part of the loan to buy livestock in order to raise and have as reserves. The loan repayment schedule is different from the typical micro-entrepreneur because farmers see the profits from their investments 5 or 6 months after making their initial expenditures. Mifex asks our rural clients only to pay 50% of the capital in the first 6 months of the loan. The rest of the debt must be paid in the seventh and final month.
",M,1075,lender,Agriculture,0 Ecuador,"Although Ramon is 69 years old he must continue working in order to cover his living expenses. He owns a soda and juice stand that he runs with the help of his wife. Ramon has been a construction worker and handy man most of his life, but because of his old age he cannot no longer find work in these fields. Therefore, he set up his home as a beverage stand because he lives near soccer field and basketball courts, which always provide thirsty players who are great customers. He is requesting the loan because he wants to begin investing in snacks and other basic foods to sell.
Ramon has 3 kids who are already on their own. 20 years ago his wife and his childrens mother passed away. Ramon is remarried (his wife is in the picture) and uses this business to pay for food and housing.
Mifex offers its clients microinsurance and access to business training and educational programs. For more information about microfinance, Ecuador, and our services, please visit www.mifex.org.
",M,275,partner,Food,0 Ecuador,"Although Ramon is 69 years old, he must continue working in order to cover his living expenses. He owns a soda and juice stand that he runs with the help of his wife. Ramon was a construction worker and handy man most of his life, but because of his old age he cannot no longer find work in these fields. So he set up a snack and beverage stand in his home because he lives near soccer field and basketball courts. Thirsty players are great customers. He will use his second loan to buy more snack food and other basic foods to sell at his stand. His first loan was a success because it enabled him to break into selling these complimentary goods.
Ramon has 3 children who are grown and on their own. Twenty years ago, his wife and his childrens mother passed away. Ramon is remarried (his wife is in the picture) and his the income from his business supplies food and housing for this couple.
",M,400,partner,Food,0 Ecuador,"Alvina plants rice and corn on her farm. She lives on the land with her husband and three children. She was born in Baba and has been involved in rice production for her entire life. She hopes to invest the loan in fertilizer and the rental of machinery to work the lands. She is hoping that, with the profits, she can finish constructing her home which was left incomplete. She works her part of the land on her own, with little help from her husband who has a separate plot that he rents. She works primarily to educate and feed her children.
This borrower is part of the newest and largest Communal Bank in the recently developed Mifex Rural Finance Program. All of the members of the Centro Agricola de Baba Communal Bank are part of an Association of Rice Farmers in the county of Baba in rural Ecuador. Their association works cooperatively to cultivate rice and commercialize the product after it has grown. As an association, Centro Agricola helps the farmers by providing access to machinery and training services. The farmers from Centro Agricola have received special instruction on financial responsibility and accounting from Codemicro, an organization that specializes in training programs geared towards the rural sector.
The members of Centro Agricola de Baba will use the micro-loans to prepare their lands and cultivate rice on their farms. Because they form part of a communal bank, they are all each others' guarantors for the loan. This means that if for some reason one person in the group cannot fully repay the loan, the other borrowers and the Centro Agricola de Baba Association are responsible for the amount in default. The members of the bank also participate in a program designed to teach and encourage savings among the group. Promoting savings is often forgotten in many micro-finance programs, but Mifex believes that is imperative for the communities we works with to have capital reserved for future investments or unexpected difficulties.
Below is more information about Santa Lucia compiled by Luis Crespo and Robert Edgar of the Mifex team when evaluating the potential of the sector for the Rural Finance Program.
The people of Baba have been organized since the days of Gran Colombia when Ecuador was yet to be a country. The area has always been popular because of the extremely productive lands that gave way to cultivation of cacao for decades. Now Baba is a county in the province of Los Rios in the coastal region of Ecuador. For most of the latter part of the 20th Century it was a cacao and banana-producing sector. Most of the surrounding areas of Baba in Los Rios are owned by large multinational companies such as Dole, but Baba is a sector characterized by small and informal farms.
Rice production has now turned into the main economic activity of the sector as about 80% of the people are rice farmers. Cacao is still very popular in the area, but because of the long cultivation cycle people prefer to invest in rice. The lands in Baba are very fertile though, and most farmers in the sector often grow other crops, such as plantains and soybeans as secondary sources of income. Many farmers also keep livestock as emergency sources of food and income, commonly resorting to selling a chicken or pig if they are in need of cash.
Most of the people in the Baba area are small farmers. They produce about 80 sacks of rice per hectare of land. In order to farm they first must prepare the lands by removing weeds, plowing and leveling the lands. This is the most difficult part for the farmers in Baba, who often lack the necessary machinery to properly plow the lands for rice production. After appropriately preparing the lands, the farmers fill an area with water to form what is known as a paddy field, because rice is a very water-intensive crop. The rice seeds are either dispersed freely (the process is known as boleo in Spanish) or hand sowed. Once the rice has grown, most farmers rent machinery that helps them gather their production.
One of the biggest struggles in the area has been the lack of credit due to the absence of any type of financial institution. Because people do not count on formal financial finance, they have turned to loan sharks for financing. They have been affected by expensive lines of credit that exceed 100% interest a year and can be as expensive as 240%. Intermediaries also exploit the farmers because of their outstanding debt. Farmers also lack skills and knowledge to commercialize their products and pay fair prices for their crops.
The largest risk in the sector is due to absence of watering systems. Although Baba is in the province Los Rios (the rivers) there is severe problem with access to water. The lack of infrastructure in the sector does not allow the small farmers to benefit from the presence of the many rivers in the area. If the winter season is too dry, it is likely that the lands will not be sufficiently fertile for rice production in the summer. On the other hand, if there is too much rain, there are not any drainage systems to prevent flooding and the crops are often ruined. Generally speaking though, Baba is a very productive sector where the lands yield all types of crops including rice, cacao, corn, watermelons, plantains, and soybeans.
The loans in this sector will mostly be used to buy soil, seeds, fertilizer and insecticides. Many clients will use the capital towards renting machinery and equipment necessary to effectively work and prepare the fields. Clients also typically use a part of the loan to buy livestock in order to raise and have as reserves. The loan repayment schedule is different from the typical micro-entrepreneur because farmers see the profits from their investments 5 or 6 months after making their initial expenditures. Mifex asks our rural clients only to pay 50% of the capital in the first 6 months of the loan. The rest of the debt must be paid in the seventh and final month.
",F,950,lender,Agriculture,0 Ecuador,"Amada has a small restaurant where she sells roasted chicken, rice and beans. She and her husband started this business one year ago. Her husband bought the roasting oven second hand for $150. They set up a part of their home as a sales point and have been serving lunch and dinner combos for a year.
Amada was able to fix up her restaurant with her first loan by purchasing new tables and chairs. She was very happy because she saw business improve and her clients more satisfied. She and her son now also work with her sister in law; who helps during the busy weekends. She will use her second loan to buy more food products and be able to offer different types of dishes.
Their business is going well and has allowed them to cover most of their living and housing expenses. They have five children, but only one of them still lives at home. They care for two of their grandchildren whose parents went to Chile in search of work and better opportunities.
",F,950,lender,Food,1 Ecuador,"Amanda has a small restaurant where she sells roasted chicken, rice and beans. She and her husband started this business one year ago. Her husband bought the roasting oven second hand for $150. They set up a part of their home as a sales point and have been serving lunch and dinner combos for a year. They will use the loan to invest in furniture for their restaurant and to build a wall that will separate the business from their home.
The business is going well and allows them to cover most of their living and housing expenses. They have 5 kids but only one of them is still lives at home. They care for 2 of their grandchildren whose parents went to Chile in search of work and better opportunities.
Mifex offers its clients microinsurance and access to business training and educational programs. For more information about microfinance, Ecuador, and our services, please visit www.mifex.org.
",F,475,partner,Food,0 Ecuador,"Amanda sells poultry in a local market. She remembers when she was young she used to help her parents sell vegetables in a similar type of market. She moved on to selling lunches and breakfasts at a stand of her own while she was raising her children. She has been selling chicken for the last 6 years at her stand in Guayaquil. Her entrepreneurial ventures have always allowed her to raise and support her kids.
She is seeking this loan because she wants to invest in chicken and pork, which sells extremely well in the month of December. She wants to see her business grow because it makes her feel alive. She loves the fact that she, at the age of 72, can still depend on herself for income.
Amanda also helps her family quite a bit. She had 12 children, 3 of which have gone to Spain in search of work and a better life. She helps raise 5 of her grandchildren whose parents are away. Although she says she has not been able to rest despite her 72 years of age, she seems intent on staying busy.
Mifex offers its clients microinsurance and access to business training and educational programs. For more information about microfinance, Ecuador, and our services, please visit www.mifex.org.
",F,475,partner,Food,0 Ecuador,"Ana has 2 years of experience in her business of sales of home products. She started her business with money that her husband had saved; together they have succeeded in launching the business. They work every day from 8 am to 3 pm alongside their sons, who help them sell. Previously, Ana worked in an office as a secretary for a year. When she left that job, her husband brought up the idea of starting her own business.
Ana wants the loan so she can invest it in the business by buying products her clients order but that she doesn't currently stock, and by having more products in stock in general, in order to generate more income. This will be the second time that Ana receives a loan for this purpose. She was successful investing the first as she made all of her payments on time while still having money left over to make some improvements to her home.
Ana is 38 years old with 8 children. Four of her children are currently in school; the other four help her in the business. Her husband has worked for almost 16 years as a cook preparing morocho, a dry cracked corn used in beverages and foods; he enjoys his work. With the loan and the income their business generates, they would like to begin to improve their home, which is currently made of reed. They want to begin to reinforce the house with cement. They also want their children to be able to live a better quality of life. The childen who work with Ana and her husband wish to begin to build their own businesses soon, to follow their mother, who has succeeded in setting an example for them with her hard work and effort.
",F,425,lender,Retail,1 Ecuador,"Ana has 8 years of experience in her business. She learned about this type of business while working with her mother. She was self-motivated in starting her business. She began to sell right outside her home and was pleased with the results. This has motivated her to continue in this endeavor but in another location.
Right now she sells from a market near her home. She works every day from 5 am to 1 pm. Her children help customers as well. From her home, Ana also sells food and has the help of her children when she is working at the market. She is need of chairs, stools and tables for the comfort of her customers. She hopes she can use this, her second loan with Kiva, to purchase these goods after using the first loan to buy a new freezer display case.
Ana is a single mother of 4. All of them go to school and help her with the business in their free time. The children's father helps meet their needs. Even though Ana and the children's father are separated, they are on good terms. Ana hopes to provide her business with more items and use the resulting higher revenue to help her son buy a computer, which he needs for the major he is pursuing in college.
",F,950,lender,Food,1 Ecuador,"Ana has a small store she has owned for over 5 years. She sells a little bit of everything. Prior to opening her store she used to work with her late husband selling seafood. They worked together for about 8 years until one night he was killed in a robbery attempt. Although this was very tough for Ana, she had to continue to make income to support her 3 kids. She worked selling various items door-to-door until a family member from Spain gave her a $1000 loan to get her store up and running. She now needs to continue investing in her store in order to make her business successful. She plans on investing in beef, poultry, eggs and other foods to sell from her store.
Mifex offers its clients microinsurance and access to business training and educational programs. For more information about microfinance, Ecuador, and our services, please visit www.mifex.org.
",F,475,partner,Food,0 Ecuador,"Ana has a store where she sells a variety of products. She started off by selling home made popsicles and tortillas. She continuously reinvested her profits into the business and now she sells perfumes and other cosmetic products as well. She needs the loan because she wants to invest in a new line of products for her business. She sees great business potential for the future but insists that the lack of capital is holding her business back from growing. She uses most of the profits for her business for her home and the education of her 13 year old daughter.
Mifex offers its clients microinsurance and access to business training and educational programs. For more information about microfinance, Ecuador, and our services, please visit www.mifex.org.
",F,475,partner,Retail,0 Ecuador,"Ana has about 18 years of experience in the business of retail. Currently she sells all types of beverages including soda and beer. She also has a pool table where local members of the community come to play. This business was owned by her late husband who passed away two years ago. She has had to take on the work in order to find a way to make ends meet. Her two sons help her at the business as well.
Mifex offers its clients microinsurance and access to business training and educational programs. For more information about microfinance, Ecuador, and our services, please visit www.mifex.org.
",F,275,partner,Food,0 Ecuador,"Ana has owned her shop for about two years. She sells basic groceries and snacks to the local community. Due to her very limited access to capital, she cannot keep her store stocked with products. She is seeking this loan because she wants to be able to buy in bulk without having to borrow from loan sharks who charge interest rates she cannot afford. Her husband makes cleaning products from his home.
Ana has 3 children and she is also pregnant. Her husband is a hard worker who tries to sell his products all day, but he does not make enough money to support the family on his own. They live in a wooden house in and the floor in the home is made out dirt. She hopes that with the loan she can improve the quality of her home and provide better food for her children.
Mifex offers its clients microinsurance and access to business training and educational programs. For more information about microfinance, Ecuador, and our services, please visit www.mifex.org.
",F,275,partner,Food,0 Ecuador,"Ana owns a small market where she sells many basic groceries and other goods. She started her business ten years ago with one sack of rice and another of sugar. She has continuously reinvested many of her profits into her business in order to make it grow. Today her product line continues to include groceries but also extends into basic school and office supplies.
Ana is interested in taking out a loan so she may continue to invest in foods but also to explore sales of new items. She feels that selling clothes from her business may be very successful in her part of the community.
Ana is 32 years old, is married and has 4 children. Her husband has been a construnction worker for about 10 years. Her business has been a great a crucial source of income for her family because many of her husbands jobs are by contracts and he therefore finds himself out of work for weeks and even months at a time.
Mifex offers its clients microinsurance and access to business training and educational programs. For more information about microfinance, Ecuador, and our services, please visit www.mifex.org.
",F,375,partner,Food,0 Ecuador,"Ana sells clothing items from a small store she has in her house. She began the business with $200.00 that she saved from her previous job. She started by selling to neighbors, offering a good variety of products at low prices. With a loan she received from Kiva and Mifex several months ago, she has also been able to set up a restaurant that serves lunch. Both of these businesses help her provide for her family and save towards home improvements.
She will use the new loan to invest in her restaurant and clothing store. She needs tables and chairs, and more merchandise to offer her customers.
Ana is happy that by opening the restaurant, and by remodeling her home, she and her family have achieved better living conditions. She is 31 years old, has one son at school, and her house is made of cement. With the new focus that shell give to her business, she is sure she will be able to provide her son with a better education.
Ana's previous profile: http://www.kiva.org/app.php?page=businesses&action=about&id=12393
",F,1200,lender,Retail,1 Ecuador,"Ana started selling clothes 5 years ago when her husband passed away. Ana used the savings from her husbands wages as start-up capital for her operation. She sells door-to-door mostly to her friends and the people in her community. She also displays clothes from a window in her house and takes in clients when she is home.
When her husband passed away her three kids were already at mature age. She has two grandchildren who she helps take care of. She needs the loan in order to increase her inventory. Her goal is to fix up her home so she can establish her business there because it is too tiring for her travel door-to-door selling these products.
Mifex offers its clients microinsurance and access to business training and educational programs. For more information about microfinance, Ecuador, and our services, please visit www.mifex.org.
",F,475,partner,Clothing,0 Ecuador,"Andres has a farm where he grows rice and raises cattle. He wants to invest in fixing his lands because they are not in the best shape for rice cultivation. In the long run, he wants to save enough money to buy a truck. He lives with his wife and four children. Three of his sons work the lands with him.
Andres is the latest addition to one of the new Communal Banks in the Mifex Rural Finance Program. All of the members of the Buena Suerte de Salitre Communal Bank are part of an Association of Rice Farmers. They will use the microloans to prepare the lands and cultivate rice on their farms. Because they form part of a communal bank, they are all each other's guarantors for the loan. This means that if for some reason one person in the group cannot fully repay the loan, the other borrowers and the Buena Suerte Association are responsible for the amount in default. The members of the bank also participate in a program designed to teach and encourage savings among the group. Promoting savings is often forgotten in many microfinance programs, but is imperative for the communities Mifex works with to have capital reserved for future investments or unexpected difficulties.
The loans in this sector will be used to create water deposits that will prevent flooding in the case of heavy rains or store water in case of droughts. They will also be used to treat the land prior to farming, to plant the seeds and purchase fertilizer. The loan repayment schedule is also different from the typical microentrepreneur. Because farmers see the profits from their investments 5 or 6 months after making their initial expenditures, Mifex asks them only to pay 50% of the capital in the first 5 months of the loan. The rest of the debt must be paid in the sixth and final month.
Below is more information about Salitre compiled by the staff at Mifex when evaluating the potential of the sector for the Rural Finance Program.
Salitre is a rural sector in the Province of Guayas, known as the capital of Montuvios (montuvio is a cowboy), with approximately 30,000 inhabitants. The main economic activities are herding and agriculture which make up about 80% of the economy. The infrastructure and basic services are poor, especially the roads and water services.
Salitre is highly dedicated to farming rice and cattle ranching. Rice is a crop that yields about every four months. In order to farm rice, the environment must be very humid and there must be a high volume of water. The lack of a structured water system makes it difficult for the small farmers to be highly productive. The best months for cultivating rice are early in the year when it is the rainy season on the coast of Ecuador.
Salitre is a national tourist attraction as many Ecuadorians visit the fresh water Salitre River. There are cottages, small restaurants and water attractions that people come to enjoy.
There are not many financial institutions that provide services to the productive sector of the local economy. The primary access to credit comes from loan sharks who charge extremely high interest rates averaging around 20% a month. The locals are also exploited by the intermediaries that buy their products in order to commercialize them in the city and to export abroad. These intermediaries buy crops in advance at very low prices, finance soil at extremely high prices and often provide emergency loans for even higher interest rates than the loan sharks.
Salitre is a dangerous sector considering it is in the rural area. There is a high incidence of robbery of cattle that results in many of the ranch owners owning weapons to protect their property. Because the police are not present in these areas, farmers and ranchers must apply their own laws and provide their own security. In some instances they have formed their own cooperatives and associations to have a community crime prevention effort.
Salitre is in the lowlands of Ecuador and is vulnerable to flooding in the rainy season. In the event of a heavy rainy season, often at its worse when El Nio occurs, the farmers of rice lose many of their crops. All this is due to a lack of infrastructure in the area.
",M,1200,lender,Agriculture,0 Ecuador,"Andres has a rice farm in the province of Los Rios in Ecuador. He has lived in the small town of Baba his entire life, and the farm he now owns was an inheritance from his father. He has two children who are still going to school. He hopes to use the money from the loan to rent machinery that will help him plow the land and plant the rice seeds.
This borrower is part of the newest and largest Communal Bank in the recently developed Mifex Rural Finance Program. All of the members of the Centro Agricola de Baba Communal Bank are part of an Association of Rice Farmers in the county of Baba in rural Ecuador. Their association works cooperatively to cultivate rice and commercialize the product after it has grown. As an association, Centro Agricola helps the farmers by providing access to machinery and training services. The farmers from Centro Agricola have received special instruction on financial responsibility and accounting from Codemicro, an organization that specializes in training programs geared towards the rural sector.
The members of Centro Agricola de Baba will use the micro-loans to prepare their lands and cultivate rice on their farms. Because they form part of a communal bank, they are all each others' guarantors for the loan. This means that if for some reason one person in the group cannot fully repay the loan, the other borrowers and the Centro Agricola de Baba Association are responsible for the amount in default. The members of the bank also participate in a program designed to teach and encourage savings among the group. Promoting savings is often forgotten in many micro-finance programs, but Mifex believes that is imperative for the communities we works with to have capital reserved for future investments or unexpected difficulties.
Below is more information about Santa Lucia compiled by Luis Crespo and Robert Edgar of the Mifex team when evaluating the potential of the sector for the Rural Finance Program.
The people of Baba have been organized since the days of Gran Colombia when Ecuador was yet to be a country. The area has always been popular because of the extremely productive lands that gave way to cultivation of cacao for decades. Now Baba is a county in the province of Los Rios in the coastal region of Ecuador. For most of the latter part of the 20th Century it was a cacao and banana-producing sector. Most of the surrounding areas of Baba in Los Rios are owned by large multinational companies such as Dole, but Baba is a sector characterized by small and informal farms.
Rice production has now turned into the main economic activity of the sector as about 80% of the people are rice farmers. Cacao is still very popular in the area, but because of the long cultivation cycle people prefer to invest in rice. The lands in Baba are very fertile though, and most farmers in the sector often grow other crops, such as plantains and soybeans as secondary sources of income. Many farmers also keep livestock as emergency sources of food and income, commonly resorting to selling a chicken or pig if they are in need of cash.
Most of the people in the Baba area are small farmers. They produce about 80 sacks of rice per hectare of land. In order to farm they first must prepare the lands by removing weeds, plowing and leveling the lands. This is the most difficult part for the farmers in Baba, who often lack the necessary machinery to properly plow the lands for rice production. After appropriately preparing the lands, the farmers fill an area with water to form what is known as a paddy field, because rice is a very water-intensive crop. The rice seeds are either dispersed freely (the process is known as boleo in Spanish) or hand sowed. Once the rice has grown, most farmers rent machinery that helps them gather their production.
One of the biggest struggles in the area has been the lack of credit due to the absence of any type of financial institution. Because people do not count on formal financial finance, they have turned to loan sharks for financing. They have been affected by expensive lines of credit that exceed 100% interest a year and can be as expensive as 240%. Intermediaries also exploit the farmers because of their outstanding debt. Farmers also lack skills and knowledge to commercialize their products and pay fair prices for their crops.
The largest risk in the sector is due to absence of watering systems. Although Baba is in the province Los Rios (the rivers) there is severe problem with access to water. The lack of infrastructure in the sector does not allow the small farmers to benefit from the presence of the many rivers in the area. If the winter season is too dry, it is likely that the lands will not be sufficiently fertile for rice production in the summer. On the other hand, if there is too much rain, there are not any drainage systems to prevent flooding and the crops are often ruined. Generally speaking though, Baba is a very productive sector where the lands yield all types of crops including rice, cacao, corn, watermelons, plantains, and soybeans.
The loans in this sector will mostly be used to buy soil, seeds, fertilizer and insecticides. Many clients will use the capital towards renting machinery and equipment necessary to effectively work and prepare the fields. Clients also typically use a part of the loan to buy livestock in order to raise and have as reserves. The loan repayment schedule is different from the typical micro-entrepreneur because farmers see the profits from their investments 5 or 6 months after making their initial expenditures. Mifex asks our rural clients only to pay 50% of the capital in the first 6 months of the loan. The rest of the debt must be paid in the seventh and final month.
",M,825,lender,Agriculture,1 Ecuador,"Angel Chiriguaya owns a rice farm in Salitre, Ecuador. He has been a farmer his whole life in this area, where rice is the primary crop. Angel has livestock on his farm as a secondary source of income. He raises chicken and grows many different fruits for personal consumption and small sales. He hopes that with this loan he will be able to more efficiently plant rice and involve his 3 children in the activities. They are all almost done with school and are interested in taking part in the family business.
Angel is part of the first Communal Bank in the new Mifex Rural Finance Program. All the members of the Resistencia Communal Bank are part of an Association of Rice Farmers in Salitre named Resistencia. They will use the microloans to prepare the land and cultivate rice on their farms. Because they form part of a communal bank, they are all each others guarantors for the loan. This means that if for some reason one person in the group cannot fully repay the loan, the other borrowers and the Resistencia Association are responsible for the amount in default. The members of the bank also participate in a program designed to teach and encourage savings among the group. Promoting savings is often forgotten in many microfinance programs, but is imperative for the communities Mifex works with to have capital reserved for future investments or unexpected difficulties.
The loans in this sector will be used to create water deposits that will prevent flooding in the case of heavy rains or store water in case of droughts. They will also be used to treat the land prior to farming, plant the seeds and purchase fertilizer. The loan repayment schedule is also different from the typical microentrepreneur. Because farmers see the profits from their investments 5 or 6 months after making their initial expenditures, Mifex asks them only to pay 50% of the capital in the first 6 months of the loan. The rest of the debt must be paid in the seventh and final month.
Below is more information about Salitre compiled by the staff at Mifex when evaluating the potential of the sector for the Rural Finance Program.
Salitre is a rural area in the Province of Guayas which is known as the capital of Montuvios (montuvio is a cowboy) with approximately 30,000 inhabitants. The main economic activities are herding and agriculture, which make up about 80% of the economy. The infrastructure and basic services are poor, especially the roads and water services.
Salitre is highly dedicated to rice farming and cattle ranching. Rice is a crop that yields about every four months. In order to farm rice, the environment must be very humid and there must be a high volume of water. The lack of a structured water system makes it difficult for the small farmers to be highly productive. The best months for cultivating rice are early in the year during the rainy season on the coast of Ecuador.
Salitre is a national tourist attraction as many Ecuadorians visit the fresh water Salitre River. There are cottages, small restaurants and water attractions that people come to enjoy.
There is not a single financial institution that provides services to the productive sector of the local economy. The only access to credit comes from loan sharks who charge extremely high interest rates averaging around 20% a month. The locals are also exploited by the intermediaries that buy their products in order to commercialize them in the city and to export abroad. These intermediaries buy crops in advance at very low prices, finance soil at extremely high prices and often provide emergency loans for even higher interest rates than the loan sharks.
Salitre is a dangerous area despte its rural location. There is a high incidence of robbery of cattle that results in the fact that many of the ranch owners owning weapons to protect their property. Because the police are not present in these areas, farmers and ranchers must apply their own laws and provide their own security. In some instances they have formed their own cooperatives and associations to have a community crime prevention effort.
Salitre is in the lowlands of Ecuador and is vulnerable to flooding during the rainy season. In the event of a heavy rainy season, often at its worst when El Nio occurs, the rice farmers lose many of their crops. All this is due to a lack of infrastructure in the area.
",M,1200,lender,Food,0 Ecuador,"Angel has a small store where he sells snacks and foods. He also makes lunches and delivers them to construction sites during the week. He has had this business for about five years after he lost his job where he worked as a supplies salesman.
Angel is optimistic about receiving his second loan from Kiva and Mifex. With the first he was able to make some physical improvements to his store after investing in a variety of products. He served as a great leader in his community and has inspired other micro entrepreneurs in his area to work with our program. He is seeking to use his second loan in order to plastics to sell. He is a very hard worker who runs his business from early in the morning until 10 PM.
Angel is 31 years old and does not have a family. Currently he is studying at a local university on the weekends in order to get his degree. He is very optimistic about the future of his business.
",M,1200,lender,Retail,0 Ecuador,"Angel has a small store where he sells snacks and foods. He also makes lunches and delivers them to construction sites to make sales. He has had this business for about five years after he lost his job selling supplies. He is seeking to use his money to purchase his food supply from wholesalers. He is a very hard worker who runs his business from early in the morning until 10 PM.
Angel is 31 years old and does not have a family. Currently he is studying at a local university on the weekends in order to get his degree. He is very optimistic about the future of his business.
Mifex offers its clients microinsurance and access to business training and educational programs. For more information about microfinance, Ecuador, and our services, please visit www.mifex.org.
",M,725,partner,Food,0 Ecuador,"Angel runs a small market with the help of his 3 children. This is now the third loan he will receive from Kiva and Mifex. With his first and second loans he bought a wide range of products at wholesale prices for his store. He generated enough profits to set up a workshop and also buy some video game machines that have become extremely popular. He got a excellent deal on the machines because a large arcade in the city had gone bankrupt and were selling the machines at very low prices. He noticed that the games are a huge hit with kids and is confident that an extra machine will generate good profit in the long run.
He was very happy with the results of the loan and now is applying for a second loan in order to buy more arcade machines and also a washing machine so his wife can begin washing clothes as a business. He hopes he will also have enough left to upgrade his kitchen.
",M,1200,lender,Retail,1 Ecuador,"Angel runs a small market with the help of his 3 children. This is the second loan he will receive from Kiva and Mifex. With his first loan he bought a great deal of products at wholesale prices for his store. With the profits he generated he decided to set up a small work station where he fixes radios and other appliances from the community.
He was very happy with the results of the loan and now is applying for a loan of $800. He plans to continue investing in wholesale goods and also wants to buy an arcade machine for the local kids. The machines are particularly cheap because a large arcade in the city has gone bankrupt and they are selling the machines at very low prices. He has noticed that the games are a hit with kids and is confident the machine will generate profit in the long run.
He is pictured with the youngest daughter of his three children and one of his infant grandkids.
Mifex offers its clients microinsurance and access to business training and educational programs. For more information about microfinance, Ecuador, and our services, please visit www.mifex.org.
",M,1025,partner,Food,0 Ecuador,"Angela and her husband live on a farm in Baba, Ecuador where they cultivate rice. She has two children who are already grown up, but still live with her and help out on the farm. They have a few chickens and pigs that are their secondary sources of income. Angela hopes to invest the loan in a water pump so she may access water for her crops.
This borrower is part of the newest and largest Communal Bank in the recently developed Mifex Rural Finance Program. All of the members of the Centro Agricola de Baba Communal Bank are part of an Association of Rice Farmers in the county of Baba in rural Ecuador. Their association works cooperatively to cultivate rice and commercialize the product after it has grown. As an association, Centro Agricola helps the farmers by providing access to machinery and training services. The farmers from Centro Agricola have received special instruction on financial responsibility and accounting from Codemicro, an organization that specializes in training programs geared towards the rural sector.
The members of Centro Agricola de Baba will use the micro-loans to prepare their lands and cultivate rice on their farms. Because they form part of a communal bank, they are all each others' guarantors for the loan. This means that if for some reason one person in the group cannot fully repay the loan, the other borrowers and the Centro Agricola de Baba Association are responsible for the amount in default. The members of the bank also participate in a program designed to teach and encourage savings among the group. Promoting savings is often forgotten in many micro-finance programs, but Mifex believes that is imperative for the communities we works with to have capital reserved for future investments or unexpected difficulties.
Below is more information about Santa Lucia compiled by Luis Crespo and Robert Edgar of the Mifex team when evaluating the potential of the sector for the Rural Finance Program.
The people of Baba have been organized since the days of Gran Colombia when Ecuador was yet to be a country. The area has always been popular because of the extremely productive lands that gave way to cultivation of cacao for decades. Now Baba is a county in the province of Los Rios in the coastal region of Ecuador. For most of the latter part of the 20th Century it was a cacao and banana-producing sector. Most of the surrounding areas of Baba in Los Rios are owned by large multinational companies such as Dole, but Baba is a sector characterized by small and informal farms.
Rice production has now turned into the main economic activity of the sector as about 80% of the people are rice farmers. Cacao is still very popular in the area, but because of the long cultivation cycle people prefer to invest in rice. The lands in Baba are very fertile though, and most farmers in the sector often grow other crops, such as plantains and soybeans as secondary sources of income. Many farmers also keep livestock as emergency sources of food and income, commonly resorting to selling a chicken or pig if they are in need of cash.
Most of the people in the Baba area are small farmers. They produce about 80 sacks of rice per hectare of land. In order to farm they first must prepare the lands by removing weeds, plowing and leveling the lands. This is the most difficult part for the farmers in Baba, who often lack the necessary machinery to properly plow the lands for rice production. After appropriately preparing the lands, the farmers fill an area with water to form what is known as a paddy field, because rice is a very water-intensive crop. The rice seeds are either dispersed freely (the process is known as boleo in Spanish) or hand sowed. Once the rice has grown, most farmers rent machinery that helps them gather their production.
One of the biggest struggles in the area has been the lack of credit due to the absence of any type of financial institution. Because people do not count on formal financial finance, they have turned to loan sharks for financing. They have been affected by expensive lines of credit that exceed 100% interest a year and can be as expensive as 240%. Intermediaries also exploit the farmers because of their outstanding debt. Farmers also lack skills and knowledge to commercialize their products and pay fair prices for their crops.
The largest risk in the sector is due to absence of watering systems. Although Baba is in the province Los Rios (the rivers) there is severe problem with access to water. The lack of infrastructure in the sector does not allow the small farmers to benefit from the presence of the many rivers in the area. If the winter season is too dry, it is likely that the lands will not be sufficiently fertile for rice production in the summer. On the other hand, if there is too much rain, there are not any drainage systems to prevent flooding and the crops are often ruined. Generally speaking though, Baba is a very productive sector where the lands yield all types of crops including rice, cacao, corn, watermelons, plantains, and soybeans.
The loans in this sector will mostly be used to buy soil, seeds, fertilizer and insecticides. Many clients will use the capital towards renting machinery and equipment necessary to effectively work and prepare the fields. Clients also typically use a part of the loan to buy livestock in order to raise and have as reserves. The loan repayment schedule is different from the typical micro-entrepreneur because farmers see the profits from their investments 5 or 6 months after making their initial expenditures. Mifex asks our rural clients only to pay 50% of the capital in the first 6 months of the loan. The rest of the debt must be paid in the seventh and final month.
",F,550,partner,Agriculture,0 Ecuador,"Angela is 26 years old with two children, both in school. Her husband works in a meat business. Angela is requesting a second loan to improve the interior appearance of her home so she can attract more clients to her business. She has confidence that with this loan her earnings will improve and she will be able to complete her home and provide for her family in a fulfilling way.
With her own savings, Angela started her business four years ago selling fashion accessories, children's clothing, blouses, kitchen utensils, and clothing she sews and designs herself. She tends to her business every day of the week from 6 a.m. to 10 p.m. With her first Mifex and Kiva loan she invested in school supplies, fashion accessories, cosmetics and other clothing for women. With the extra income earned, she finished the floor in her home with cement.
",F,1200,lender,Clothing,1 Ecuador,"Angela is approaching Mifex in order to receive a second loan from the Kiva program. She has done well with the loan she received. She initially used the money to boost her inventory for the upcoming Christmas season. She was able to significantly increase her profits and she has put much of the money away in savings. Although she planned on opening a new point of sale with her first loan, she recognized the immediate opportunity to increase profits during the holiday season and she chose to postpone her plans.
Angela owns a shoe store in Guayaquil, Ecuador. She has owned her business for about 9 years. She started the business with her late husband who passed away several years ago. It was very difficult for her to continue on without her business and life partner, but she has endured through the hard times. She feels very proud to know that she has been able to succeed with the help of her daughter. She is requesting this loan because she wants to set up a new point of sale managed by her daughter. She hopes she can use the money to rent some space and invest in products.
",F,1200,partner,Retail,0 Ecuador,"Angela opened this beauty shop shortly after separating from her ex-husband. She not only provides beauty services she also sells a variety of products to her clients. Included in her beauty services are facial treatments and massages, which are not very common in the area she works in. Her clients are loyal and are very satisfied with her work.
This business is the main source of income for her and her two children. She plans to use the loan to invest in beauty supplies and tools for her salon. She needs to buy massage creams and also hair dye for these upcoming months that are always busier.
Mifex offers its clients microinsurance and access to business training and educational programs. For more information about microfinance, Ecuador, and our services, please visit www.mifex.org.
",F,500,partner,Services,0 Ecuador,"Angela owns a shoe store in Guayaquil, Ecuador. She has owned her business for about 9 years. She started the business with her late husband who passed away several years ago. It was very difficult for her to continue on without her business and life partner, but she has endured through the hard times. She feels very proud to know that she has been able to succeed with the help of her daughter. She is requesting this loan because she wants to set up a new point of sale managed by her daughter. She will use the money to rent some space and invest in products.
Mifex offers its clients microinsurance and access to business training and educational programs. For more information about microfinance, Ecuador, and our services, please visit www.mifex.org.
",F,600,partner,Retail,0 Ecuador,"Angela owns a small market where she sells basic groceries. She has only been running the business for a year, but it plays a major role in the household. Four months ago her husband had an operation that required that all the profits from the business go to his medicine. Angela and her family need the loan in order to allow them to invest in the business. Currently the business is run out of the home where she, her husband, and their three kids live.
Mifex offers its clients microinsurance and access to business training and educational programs. For more information about microfinance, Ecuador, and our services, please visit www.mifex.org.
",F,275,partner,Food,0 Ecuador,"Angelina has a store where she sells basic products. She began her business when she got married and, with the savings of both, they began the business. At first they only sold candy. Now they sell these products along with basic goods and cleaning products.
With a previous loan from Mifex and Kiva, Angelina was able to purchase more merchandise for her business and to make improvements to her home. Initially she was able to sell only a few products, but with her loan she slowly earned more capital and is now able to sell not only candy but also snacks, cleaning supplies, and other household goods. Her clients know her well and continue to buy these new products from her. She would like to continue to invest in more merchandise and the display case to improve her business, to invest in her childs education, and to continue with improvements to their home.
Angelina is 21 years old, is married, has an 8 month-old son, and lives in a cement house. She wants to save in order to be able to send her child to a good school so he can receive the education that she never had. She is sure that with this loan, her business will grow and she will be able to save for the future education of her children.
",F,825,lender,Food,1 Ecuador,"Angelita currently sells clothes and perfume in her local community. She must travel door-to-door marketing her products and trying to make sales to her friends and family. It is very tough for her to sell in this manner because of the extremely hot weather. She is also very limited in the amount of clothes she can walk around with to display. Therefore, she is requesting this loan in order to make a part of her home into a clothing store. She has already designated the area but needs the capital in order to make some adjustments to the space and fix up the store.
Mifex offers its clients microinsurance and access to business training and educational programs. For more information about microfinance, Ecuador, and our services, please visit www.mifex.org.
",F,475,partner,Clothing,0 Ecuador,"Angelita currently sells clothes and perfume in her local community. She originally marketed her products door-to-door making sales to her friends and family. It was very tough for her to sell in this manner because of the extremely hot weather and the limited in the amount of clothes she could walk around with to display. She used a loan with Mifex and Kiva to turn a part of her home into a clothing store.
Angelita`s business has grown steadily and she is relieved to be able to do business from her home. She works hard to find the specific products her clients request at a low price so she can offer them a small discount. Angelita wants to take out a second loan so she can continue to buy more merchandise at wholesale prices. She hopes to make more improvements to her store so she can better serve her clients.
",F,950,lender,Retail,1 Ecuador,"Angelita makes cleaning products like disinfectant, soap, detergent, shampoo, etc. She has been working in this business for about 20 years. This type of business is very lucrative in this sector because the manufactured versions of these products are usually too expensive for most to afford. Therefore, Angelita can make her own products at home and sell them to other businesses.
Angelita started off as a clothes saleswoman in a business venture with a family member. Due to her lack of capital she could not make the business succeed. She does not want the same thing to happen to her in this operation. She is seeking a loan in order to buy the chemicals necessary to make her products. She is married and has two kids, one who is still in school and the other who works but still lives at home.
Mifex offers its clients microinsurance and access to business training and educational programs. For more information about microfinance, Ecuador, and our services, please visit www.mifex.org.
",F,475,partner,Retail,0 Ecuador,"Angelita makes cleaning products like disinfectant, soap, detergent, shampoo, etc. She has been working in this business for about 20 years. This type of business is very lucrative in this sector because the manufactured versions of these products are usually too expensive for most to afford. Therefore, Angelita can make her own products at home and sell them to other businesses.
Angelita started off as a clothes saleswoman in a business venture with a family member. Due to her lack of capital she could not make the business succeed. She does not want the same thing to happen to her in this operation. She is married and has two kids, one who is still in school and the other who works but still lives at home.
She is seeking a second loan in order to buy the chemicals necessary to make her products. Angelitas first loan went very well. She is very satisfied with the results and she hopes to continue growing. As she expected, she invested in the necessary ingredients to maker her products and also bought some better plastics to sell them in. Her children recently have started helping their mother, but she prefers to keep them somewhat out of the business so they may concentrate on school. She hopes that with the profits of this loan she will also be able to invest in cosmetics as a secondary source of income.
",F,925,partner,Retail,0 Ecuador,"Anibal is a tailor who runs a shop out of his home. He makes mens suits and formal clothing which he sells to the people in his community. He has been working in this business for the entirety of his adult life.
Anibal is requesting his second loan with our program. He used a previous one to increase his production for the upcoming holiday season. His investment went well as he was not only able to make more clothing, but he was also able to purchase secondary goods to sell to his clients. His new loan will go towards the improvement of his shop. He wants to buy glass display cases for his products as well as bettering the appearance of his store. Anibal is 50 years old but does not have a family.
",M,1200,lender,Services,1 Ecuador,"Anibal is a tailor who runs a shop out of his home. He makes mens suits and formal clothing which he sells to the people in his community. He needs a loan in order to increase his production for the upcoming holiday season. He also wants to make investments to his shop that will allow him to sell to retailers. He wants to buy a couple more sewing machines so he can hire a staff. He is 50 years old but does not have a family.
Mifex offers its clients microinsurance and access to business training and educational programs. For more information about microfinance, Ecuador, and our services, please visit www.mifex.org.
",M,625,partner,Services,0 Ecuador,"Anita owns a beauty salon where she cuts hair and gives manicures and pedicures. She has been into cosmetology since she was young and her husband always supported her in her efforts to start her business. Three years ago he helped her find and fix up the location for her beauty shop and inspired her to start the business.
Anita needs the loan in order to improve the appearance of her salon and make necessary investments like a special chair, hair products and a special sink.
She is 40 years and has 4 children, two of which are already grown and contribute to the family income with their jobs. She will keep making improvements to her home and her business with the extra income earned. She also wants to formally employ one of her daughters at her business.
Mifex offers its clients microinsurance and access to business training and educational programs. For more information about microfinance, Ecuador, and our services, please visit www.mifex.org.
",F,600,partner,Services,0 Ecuador,"Antonio has a spot at a local market where he sells jewelry, laces and other items. He buys the merchandise in whole sale packages from a local distributor. Antonio has been watching his parents in this type of activity from a very young age. They owned a stand at a local market where Antonio would always visit and help out. Eventually, his father provided him with $50 worth of merchandise in order to get Antonio started in his own business.
He sells all his products for $1 or less because he works in very poor communities where people cannot afford to pay more. Antonio is seeking the loan so he may purchase at larger quantities from wholesalers. He is hoping to invest in new and different products that are still affordable to his clients.
Antonio is only 22 years old. He is currently a student at a local college. His business helped him cover the expense from finishing high school and attending college. He hopes to continue running his business until he graduates when he wants to open a much a larger operation.
Mifex offers its clients microinsurance and access to business training and educational programs. For more information about microfinance, Ecuador, and our services, please visit www.mifex.org.
",M,375,partner,Retail,0 Ecuador,"Antonio lives with his son and his wife. He mainly produces rice on his land in order to feed his family. He needs the loan in order to drain the lands because they are now over-flooded. He hopes that he can drain the field so he can plant in time for the next production cycle. He has raised 8 children with the production of his lands and he hopes he can finish paying for the education of the last.
This borrower is part of the newest and largest Communal Bank in the recently developed Mifex Rural Finance Program. All of the members of the Centro Agricola de Baba Communal Bank are part of an Association of Rice Farmers in the county of Baba in rural Ecuador. Their association works cooperatively to cultivate rice and commercialize the product after it has grown. As an association, Centro Agricola helps the farmers by providing access to machinery and training services. The farmers from Centro Agricola have received special instruction on financial responsibility and accounting from Codemicro, an organization that specializes in training programs geared towards the rural sector.
The members of Centro Agricola de Baba will use the micro-loans to prepare their lands and cultivate rice on their farms. Because they form part of a communal bank, they are all each others' guarantors for the loan. This means that if for some reason one person in the group cannot fully repay the loan, the other borrowers and the Centro Agricola de Baba Association are responsible for the amount in default. The members of the bank also participate in a program designed to teach and encourage savings among the group. Promoting savings is often forgotten in many micro-finance programs, but Mifex believes that is imperative for the communities we works with to have capital reserved for future investments or unexpected difficulties.
Below is more information about Santa Lucia compiled by Luis Crespo and Robert Edgar of the Mifex team when evaluating the potential of the sector for the Rural Finance Program.
The people of Baba have been organized since the days of Gran Colombia when Ecuador was yet to be a country. The area has always been popular because of the extremely productive lands that gave way to cultivation of cacao for decades. Now Baba is a county in the province of Los Rios in the coastal region of Ecuador. For most of the latter part of the 20th Century it was a cacao and banana-producing sector. Most of the surrounding areas of Baba in Los Rios are owned by large multinational companies such as Dole, but Baba is a sector characterized by small and informal farms.
Rice production has now turned into the main economic activity of the sector as about 80% of the people are rice farmers. Cacao is still very popular in the area, but because of the long cultivation cycle people prefer to invest in rice. The lands in Baba are very fertile though, and most farmers in the sector often grow other crops, such as plantains and soybeans as secondary sources of income. Many farmers also keep livestock as emergency sources of food and income, commonly resorting to selling a chicken or pig if they are in need of cash.
Most of the people in the Baba area are small farmers. They produce about 80 sacks of rice per hectare of land. In order to farm they first must prepare the lands by removing weeds, plowing and leveling the lands. This is the most difficult part for the farmers in Baba, who often lack the necessary machinery to properly plow the lands for rice production. After appropriately preparing the lands, the farmers fill an area with water to form what is known as a paddy field, because rice is a very water-intensive crop. The rice seeds are either dispersed freely (the process is known as boleo in Spanish) or hand sowed. Once the rice has grown, most farmers rent machinery that helps them gather their production.
One of the biggest struggles in the area has been the lack of credit due to the absence of any type of financial institution. Because people do not count on formal financial finance, they have turned to loan sharks for financing. They have been affected by expensive lines of credit that exceed 100% interest a year and can be as expensive as 240%. Intermediaries also exploit the farmers because of their outstanding debt. Farmers also lack skills and knowledge to commercialize their products and pay fair prices for their crops.
The largest risk in the sector is due to absence of watering systems. Although Baba is in the province Los Rios (the rivers) there is severe problem with access to water. The lack of infrastructure in the sector does not allow the small farmers to benefit from the presence of the many rivers in the area. If the winter season is too dry, it is likely that the lands will not be sufficiently fertile for rice production in the summer. On the other hand, if there is too much rain, there are not any drainage systems to prevent flooding and the crops are often ruined. Generally speaking though, Baba is a very productive sector where the lands yield all types of crops including rice, cacao, corn, watermelons, plantains, and soybeans.
The loans in this sector will mostly be used to buy soil, seeds, fertilizer and insecticides. Many clients will use the capital towards renting machinery and equipment necessary to effectively work and prepare the fields. Clients also typically use a part of the loan to buy livestock in order to raise and have as reserves. The loan repayment schedule is different from the typical micro-entrepreneur because farmers see the profits from their investments 5 or 6 months after making their initial expenditures. Mifex asks our rural clients only to pay 50% of the capital in the first 6 months of the loan. The rest of the debt must be paid in the seventh and final month.
",M,1200,lender,Agriculture,1 Ecuador,"Antonio makes backpacks. He began his business when he needed to employ himself after being left jobless. At the beginning he made the backpacks by hand and was selling them to friends and throughout his neighborhood. Now he sells the same product as well as school supplies. As time has passed, he has established a well-organized workshop where the backpacks are made with machinery and various assistants.
He would like to use this loan to invest in material and to buy an industrial cutting machine so that he can increase production. He used a previous loan from Kiva and Mifex for a sewing machine and more fabrics.
Antonio is in his early 30s, he is married and has 3 children. He is sure that with the continued growth of his business he will be able to improve his family's quality of life and be able to save for the future of his family.
Previous Loan: http://www.kiva.org/app.php?page=businesses&action=about&id=9302
",M,1200,lender,Services,1 Ecuador,"Aracely is a native of Salitre where she has been farming rice her entire life. She has a small farm where she farms the crop and she also a couple of cattle. Aracely lives with her husband and three children who are in school. She will invest her money in pesticides and feed for her cattle. With the extra profits she hopes she can purchase a cow and continue to provide her kids with an eduction.
She is the latest addition to one of the new Communal Banks in the Mifex Rural Finance Program. All of the members of the 10 de enero Communal Bank are part of an Association of Rice Farmers in Salitre named 10 de enero. They will use the microloans to prepare the lands and cultivate rice on their farms. Because they form part of a communal bank, they are all each others guarantors for the loan. This means that if for some reason one person in the group cannot fully repay the loan, the other borrowers and the 10 de enero Association are responsible for the amount in default. The members of the bank also participate in a program designed to teach and encourage savings among the group. Promoting savings is often forgotten in many microfinance programs, but is imperative for the communities Mifex works with to have capital reserved for future investments or unexpected difficulties.
The loans in this sector will be used to create water deposits that will prevent flooding in the case of heavy rains or store water in case of droughts. They will also be used to treat the land prior to farming, to plant the seeds and purchase fertilizer. The loan repayment schedule is also different from the typical microentrepreneur. Because farmers see the profits from their investments 5 or 6 months after making their initial expenditures, Mifex asks them only to pay 50% of the capital in the first 5 months of the loan. The rest of the debt must be paid in the sixth and final month.
Below is more information about Salitre compiled by the staff at Mifex when evaluating the potential of the sector for the Rural Finance Program.
Salitre is a rural sector in the Province of Guayas known as the capital of Montuvios (montuvio is a cowboy) with approximately 30,000 inhabitants. The main economic activities are herding and agriculture which make up about 80% of the economy. The infrastructure and basic services are poor, especially the roads and water services.
Salitre is highly dedicated to farming rice and cattle ranching. Rice is a crop that yields about every four months. In order to farm rice, the environment must be very humid and there must be a high volume of water. The lack of a structured water system makes it difficult for the small farmers to be highly productive. The best months for cultivating rice are early in the year when it is the rainy season in the coast of Ecuador.
Salitre is a national tourist attraction as many Ecuadorians visit the fresh water Salitre River. There are cottages, small restaurants and water attractions that people come to enjoy.
There are not many financial institutions that provides services to the productive sector of the local economy. The primary access to credit comes from loan sharks who charge extremely high interest rates averaging around 20% a month. The locals are also exploited by the intermediaries that buy their products in order to commercialize them in the city and to export abroad. These intermediaries buy crops in advance at very low prices, finance soil at extremely high prices and often provide emergency loans for even higher interest rates than the loan sharks.
Salitre is a dangerous sector considering it is in the rural area. There is a high incidence of robbery of cattle that results in many of the ranch owners owning weapons to protect their property. Because the police are not present in these areas, farmers and ranchers must apply their own laws and provide their own security. In some instances they have formed their own cooperatives and associations to have a community crime prevention effort.
Salitre is in the lowlands of Ecuador and is vulnerable to flooding in the rainy season. In the event of a heavy rainy season, often at its worse when El Nio occurs, the farmers of rice lose many of their crops. All this is due to a lack of infrastructure in the area.
",F,1200,lender,Agriculture,0 Ecuador,"Argentina has a rice peeling operation in Salitre. She hopes to invest the loan in buying rice from the local farmers so she can sell it to distributors. She has three children, two males and a female. She lives in her home with two of her kids who are still in school. She hopes that she can save enough money to send her kids to school in Guayaquil.
She is the latest addition to one of the new Communal Banks in the Mifex Rural Finance Program. All of the members of the Buena Suerte de Salitre Communal Bank are part of an Association of Rice Farmers. They will use the microloans to prepare the lands and cultivate rice on their farms. Because they form part of a communal bank, they are all each other's guarantors for the loan. This means that if for some reason one person in the group cannot fully repay the loan, the other borrowers and the Buena Suerte Association are responsible for the amount in default. The members of the bank also participate in a program designed to teach and encourage savings among the group. Promoting savings is often forgotten in many microfinance programs, but is imperative for the communities Mifex works with to have capital reserved for future investments or unexpected difficulties.
The loans in this sector will be used to create water deposits that will prevent flooding in the case of heavy rains or store water in case of droughts. They will also be used to treat the land prior to farming, to plant the seeds and purchase fertilizer. The loan repayment schedule is also different from the typical microentrepreneur. Because farmers see the profits from their investments 5 or 6 months after making their initial expenditures, Mifex asks them only to pay 50% of the capital in the first 5 months of the loan. The rest of the debt must be paid in the sixth and final month.
Below is more information about Salitre compiled by the staff at Mifex when evaluating the potential of the sector for the Rural Finance Program.
Salitre is a rural sector in the Province of Guayas known as the capital of Montuvios (montuvio is a cowboy) with approximately 30,000 inhabitants. The main economic activities are herding and agriculture, which make up about 80% of the economy. The infrastructure and basic services are poor, especially the roads and water services.
Salitre is highly dedicated to farming rice and cattle ranching. Rice is a crop that yields about every four months. In order to farm rice, the environment must be very humid and there must be a high volume of water. The lack of a structured water system makes it difficult for the small farmers to be highly productive. The best months for cultivating rice are early in the year when it is the rainy season on the coast of Ecuador.
Salitre is a national tourist attraction as many Ecuadorians visit the fresh water Salitre River. There are cottages, small restaurants and water attractions that people come to enjoy.
There are not many financial institutions that provide services to the productive sector of the local economy. The primary access to credit comes from loan sharks who charge extremely high interest rates averaging around 20% a month. The locals are also exploited by the intermediaries that buy their products in order to commercialize them in the city and to export abroad. These intermediaries buy crops in advance at very low prices, finance soil at extremely high prices, and often provide emergency loans for even higher interest rates than the loan sharks.
Salitre is a dangerous sector considering it is in the rural area. There is a high incidence of robbery of cattle that results in many of the ranch owners owning weapons to protect their property. Because the police are not present in these areas, farmers and ranchers must apply their own laws and provide their own security. In some instances they have formed their own cooperatives and associations to have a community crime prevention effort.
Salitre is in the lowlands of Ecuador and is vulnerable to flooding in the rainy season. In the event of a heavy rainy season, often at its worse when El Nio occurs, the farmers of rice lose many of their crops. All this is due to a lack of infrastructure in the area.
",F,1200,lender,Agriculture,0 Ecuador,"Aroldo was born and raised in Baba, and has been farming rice his entire life. He lives with one of his daughters and her family. He works the land with the help of his sons who share in profits from the production. He has been living on the land for more than 60 years. He hopes that he will be able to buy fertilizer and seeds with the loan. He also wants to rent a tractor to work the land so it will be more productive.
This borrower is part of the newest and largest Communal Bank in the recently developed Mifex Rural Finance Program. All of the members of the Centro Agricola de Baba Communal Bank are part of an Association of Rice Farmers in the county of Baba in rural Ecuador. Their association works cooperatively to cultivate rice and commercialize the product after it has grown. As an association, Centro Agricola helps the farmers by providing access to machinery and training services. The farmers from Centro Agricola have received special instruction on financial responsibility and accounting from Codemicro, an organization that specializes in training programs geared towards the rural sector.
The members of Centro Agricola de Baba will use the micro-loans to prepare their lands and cultivate rice on their farms. Because they form part of a communal bank, they are all each others' guarantors for the loan. This means that if for some reason one person in the group cannot fully repay the loan, the other borrowers and the Centro Agricola de Baba Association are responsible for the amount in default. The members of the bank also participate in a program designed to teach and encourage savings among the group. Promoting savings is often forgotten in many micro-finance programs, but Mifex believes that is imperative for the communities we works with to have capital reserved for future investments or unexpected difficulties.
Below is more information about Santa Lucia compiled by Luis Crespo and Robert Edgar of the Mifex team when evaluating the potential of the sector for the Rural Finance Program.
The people of Baba have been organized since the days of Gran Colombia when Ecuador was yet to be a country. The area has always been popular because of the extremely productive lands that gave way to cultivation of cacao for decades. Now Baba is a county in the province of Los Rios in the coastal region of Ecuador. For most of the latter part of the 20th Century it was a cacao and banana-producing sector. Most of the surrounding areas of Baba in Los Rios are owned by large multinational companies such as Dole, but Baba is a sector characterized by small and informal farms.
Rice production has now turned into the main economic activity of the sector as about 80% of the people are rice farmers. Cacao is still very popular in the area, but because of the long cultivation cycle people prefer to invest in rice. The lands in Baba are very fertile though, and most farmers in the sector often grow other crops, such as plantains and soybeans as secondary sources of income. Many farmers also keep livestock as emergency sources of food and income, commonly resorting to selling a chicken or pig if they are in need of cash.
Most of the people in the Baba area are small farmers. They produce about 80 sacks of rice per hectare of land. In order to farm they first must prepare the lands by removing weeds, plowing and leveling the lands. This is the most difficult part for the farmers in Baba, who often lack the necessary machinery to properly plow the lands for rice production. After appropriately preparing the lands, the farmers fill an area with water to form what is known as a paddy field, because rice is a very water-intensive crop. The rice seeds are either dispersed freely (the process is known as boleo in Spanish) or hand sowed. Once the rice has grown, most farmers rent machinery that helps them gather their production.
One of the biggest struggles in the area has been the lack of credit due to the absence of any type of financial institution. Because people do not count on formal financial finance, they have turned to loan sharks for financing. They have been affected by expensive lines of credit that exceed 100% interest a year and can be as expensive as 240%. Intermediaries also exploit the farmers because of their outstanding debt. Farmers also lack skills and knowledge to commercialize their products and pay fair prices for their crops.
The largest risk in the sector is due to absence of watering systems. Although Baba is in the province Los Rios (the rivers) there is severe problem with access to water. The lack of infrastructure in the sector does not allow the small farmers to benefit from the presence of the many rivers in the area. If the winter season is too dry, it is likely that the lands will not be sufficiently fertile for rice production in the summer. On the other hand, if there is too much rain, there are not any drainage systems to prevent flooding and the crops are often ruined. Generally speaking though, Baba is a very productive sector where the lands yield all types of crops including rice, cacao, corn, watermelons, plantains, and soybeans.
The loans in this sector will mostly be used to buy soil, seeds, fertilizer and insecticides. Many clients will use the capital towards renting machinery and equipment necessary to effectively work and prepare the fields. Clients also typically use a part of the loan to buy livestock in order to raise and have as reserves. The loan repayment schedule is different from the typical micro-entrepreneur because farmers see the profits from their investments 5 or 6 months after making their initial expenditures. Mifex asks our rural clients only to pay 50% of the capital in the first 6 months of the loan. The rest of the debt must be paid in the seventh and final month.
",M,425,lender,Agriculture,0 Ecuador,"Astolfo has 18 years of experience in this business. He makes roofs for houses, sliding doors, folding screen room partitions, and windows. He learned this business when he worked in a factory. When the factory was liquidated, he bought some of the machinery and started his own workshop. For the past five years he has been running his own business, which is open from 6:00 AM to 6:00 PM, depending on the urgency of the orders he is working on. He has two employees who help him. The business has been growing bit by bit and he has invested all of his earnings in heavy machinery.
He used a previous loan from Mifex to buy raw materials, such as iron. His business did well with the investment and he now is seeking a second loan to continue improving his work. He has a contract with a big store owner and he must buy the materials and pay his workers in order to finish the job.
Astolfo was born in Simn Bolvar-Juian. He is 49 years old and is married. His wife works in the home. Astolfo is a hard-working and responsible person. Thanks to his hard work, he has his own house that is built of cement and he also is the owner of his place of business. He has been able to manage his finances very well. His hope is to maintain his business and that it will prosper so that he will be able to provide jobs to other people.
",M,1075,lender,Manufacturing,1 Ecuador,"Audencio is a rice farmer from the Santa Lucia province. He has been farming rice and raising cattle for about 50 years since he was young. He and his wife Germania have been living on this farm since they were married. They have raised their two kids and fed their family thanks to the fertility of their lands. Their children are all grown up now, but Audencio continues to cultivate rice in order to feed himself and provide additional support to his sons.
This borrower is part of the newest Communal Banks in the recently developed Mifex Rural Finance Program. All of the members of the Centro Agricola de Santa Lucia Communal Bank are part of an Association of Rice Farmers in Santa Lucia. Their association works cooperatively to help in the commercialization of the product after it has grown. They will use the micro-loans to prepare their lands and cultivate rice on their farms. Because they form part of a communal bank, they are all each others' guarantors for the loan. This means that if for some reason one person in the group cannot fully repay the loan, the other borrowers and the Primero de Agosto Association are responsible for the amount in default. The members of the bank also participate in a program designed to teach and encourage savings among the group. Promoting savings is often forgotten in many micro-finance programs, but Mifex believes that is imperative for the communities we works with to have capital reserved for future investments or unexpected difficulties.
Below is more information about Santa Lucia compiled by Luis Crespo and Robert Edgar of the Mifex team when evaluating the potential of the sector for the Rural Finance Program. Special thanks to Mario Balazantegui who provided expert insight and contributed to the development of the alliances with the local organizations.
Santa Lucia County has a population of about 33,000 people. The sector is fit for rice cultivating because it is not in the lowlands and therefore it is not at risk of flooding. There is also great access to water because of the Daule River, which is accessible to many of the farmers in the area. About 70% of the farmers have basic infrastructure for watering their crops.
Rice production is the main economic activity of the area as about 80% of the people are rice farmers. Almost everyone is either directly or indirectly involved with rice production, as they produce, commercialize or participate in activities that add value to the product. Within the county, there is a small town also named Santa Lucia. The town is filled with many small businesses and it serves as the social and commercial hub of the area.
Most of the people in the Santa Lucia area are small farmers. They produce about 100 sacks of rice per hectare of land. In order to farm they first must prepare the lands by removing weeds and plowing. The farmers then fill an area with water to form what is known as a paddy field, because rice is a very water intensive crop. The rice seeds are either dispersed freely (the process is known as boleo in Spanish) or hand sowed. Once the rice has grown, most farmers rent machinery that helps them gather their production. A risk factor does exist in rice farming because of drought, but in Santa Lucia this is somewhat mitigated by the access to water form the nearby river.
The biggest struggle in the area has been the lack of credit. Because people do not count on formal financial services, they have turned to loan sharks for financing. They have been affected by expensive lines of credit that exceed 100% interest a year and can be as expensive as 240%. Intermediaries also exploit the farmers because of their outstanding debt. Farmers also lack skills and knowledge to commercialize their products and pay fair prices for their crops.
The loans in this sector will be used to to buy soil, seeds, fertilizer and insecticides. They will also be used to prepare the land prior to farming, to plant the seeds and purchase other materials. The loan repayment schedule is also different from the typical micro-entrepreneur. Because farmers see the profits from their investments 5 or 6 months after making their initial expenditures, Mifex asks them only to pay 50% of the capital in the first 6 months of the loan. The rest of the debt must be paid in the seventh and final month.
",M,925,lender,Agriculture,0 Ecuador,"Aura has experience of 15 years as a merchant. She started selling food 10 years ago. Thanks to the help of her husband she gathered the capital and started selling lunches and snacks. She has done well due to the good taste of her meals. She works everyday from 8 a.m. to 3 p.m. and in the weekends until 12 p.m. She is also investing in the purchase of yogurt by the liter. Moreover she sells clothes to her friends, this being a secondary source of income.
A previous loan from Mifex and Kiva was used to buy kitchen tools. She also bought a freezer where she keeps cold drinks and other items she can sell to the general public. The new loan will go towards the purchase of more food and utensils for her restaurant.
Aura is married. She is 46 years old and has 5 children. Two of them are in school. In their free time they help her mother to serve the clients and also with the purchases. Her husband works as a bus driver. Thanks to both their work, they have managed to improve their small house. Her wish is to give a better home environment to her family.
",F,1075,lender,Food,1 Ecuador,"Aurelio has 20 years of experience farming rice. He was born and raised in Santa Lucia and helped his father farm when he was young. His three kids have also followed the family trade and help him on his farm. He and his wife Nancy are optimistic about receiving the loan because it will allow them to invest in their lands. They want to maximize their productivity by purchasing fertilizer and pesticides that will help nurture the crop. They will also use the loan to rent machinery that will make the picking process much easier.
Aurelio is part of the newest Communal Banks in the recently developed Mifex Rural Finance Program. All of the members of the Centro Agricola de Santa Lucia Communal Bank are part of an Association of Rice Farmers in Santa Lucia. Their association works cooperatively to help in the commercialization of the product after it has grown. They will use the micro-loans to prepare their lands and cultivate rice on their farms. Because they form part of a communal bank, they are all each others' guarantors for the loan. This means that if for some reason one person in the group cannot fully repay the loan, the other borrowers and the Primero de Agosto Association are responsible for the amount in default. The members of the bank also participate in a program designed to teach and encourage savings among the group. Promoting savings is often forgotten in many micro-finance programs, but Mifex believes that is imperative for the communities we works with to have capital reserved for future investments or unexpected difficulties.
Below is more information about Santa Lucia compiled by Luis Crespo and Robert Edgar of the Mifex team when evaluating the potential of the sector for the Rural Finance Program. Special thanks to Mario Balazantegui who provided expert insight and contributed to the development of the alliances with the local organizations.
Santa Lucia County has a population of about 33,000 people. The sector is fit for rice cultivating because it is not in the lowlands and therefore it is not at risk of flooding. There is also great access to water because of the Daule River, which is accessible to many of the farmers in the area. About 70% of the farmers have basic infrastructure for watering their crops.
Rice production is the main economic activity of the area as about 80% of the people are rice farmers. Almost everyone is either directly or indirectly involved with rice production, as they produce, commercialize or participate in activities that add value to the product. Within the county, there is a small town also named Santa Lucia. The town is filled with many small businesses and it serves as the social and commercial hub of the area.
Most of the people in the Santa Lucia area are small farmers. They produce about 100 sacks of rice per hectare of land. In order to farm they first must prepare the lands by removing weeds and plowing. The farmers then fill an area with water to form what is known as a paddy field, because rice is a very water intensive crop. The rice seeds are either dispersed freely (the process is known as boleo in Spanish) or hand sowed. Once the rice has grown, most farmers rent machinery that helps them gather their production. A risk factor does exist in rice farming because of drought, but in Santa Lucia this is somewhat mitigated by the access to water form the nearby river.
The biggest struggle in the area has been the lack of credit. Because people do not count on formal financial services, they have turned to loan sharks for financing. They have been affected by expensive lines of credit that exceed 100% interest a year and can be as expensive as 240%. Intermediaries also exploit the farmers because of their outstanding debt. Farmers also lack skills and knowledge to commercialize their products and pay fair prices for their crops.
The loans in this sector will be used to to buy soil, seeds, fertilizer and insecticides. They will also be used to prepare the land prior to farming, to plant the seeds and purchase other materials. The loan repayment schedule is also different from the typical micro-entrepreneur. Because farmers see the profits from their investments 5 or 6 months after making their initial expenditures, Mifex asks them only to pay 50% of the capital in the first 6 months of the loan. The rest of the debt must be paid in the seventh and final month.
",M,1200,lender,Agriculture,0 Ecuador,"Aurelio has a small piece of land that his father gave him. He was born and raised in Baba and has been involved in rice production for his entire life. On his land, he primarily plants rice and corn, but also has a very small section divided for some livestock. Aurelio has seven children who he supports with the production of his farm. Five of his children are still in school while another has already graduated. His youngest is only a year old. With the extra profits he would like to first make improvements to his home. He then hopes to start saving towards the purchase of a truck, which will help him transport goods.
This borrower is part of the newest and largest Communal Bank in the recently developed Mifex Rural Finance Program. All of the members of the Centro Agricola de Baba Communal Bank are part of an Association of Rice Farmers in the county of Baba in rural Ecuador. Their association works cooperatively to cultivate rice and commercialize the product after it has grown. As an association, Centro Agricola helps the farmers by providing access to machinery and training services. The farmers from Centro Agricola have received special instruction on financial responsibility and accounting from Codemicro, an organization that specializes in training programs geared towards the rural sector.
The members of Centro Agricola de Baba will use the micro-loans to prepare their lands and cultivate rice on their farms. Because they form part of a communal bank, they are all each others' guarantors for the loan. This means that if for some reason one person in the group cannot fully repay the loan, the other borrowers and the Centro Agricola de Baba Association are responsible for the amount in default. The members of the bank also participate in a program designed to teach and encourage savings among the group. Promoting savings is often forgotten in many micro-finance programs, but Mifex believes that is imperative for the communities we works with to have capital reserved for future investments or unexpected difficulties.
Below is more information about Santa Lucia compiled by Luis Crespo and Robert Edgar of the Mifex team when evaluating the potential of the sector for the Rural Finance Program.
The people of Baba have been organized since the days of Gran Colombia when Ecuador was yet to be a country. The area has always been popular because of the extremely productive lands that gave way to cultivation of cacao for decades. Now Baba is a county in the province of Los Rios in the coastal region of Ecuador. For most of the latter part of the 20th Century it was a cacao and banana producing sector. Most of the surrounding areas of Baba in Los Rios are owned by large mulitnational companies such as Dole, but Baba is a sector characterized by the small and informal farms.
Rice production has now turned into the main economic activity of the sector as about 80% of the people are rice farmers. Cacao is still very popular in the area, but because of the long cultivation cycle people prefer to invest in rice. The lands in Baba are very fertile though, and most farmers in the sector often grow other crops, such as plantains and soy beans as secondary sources of income. Many farmers also keep livestock as emergency sources of food and income, commonly resorting to selling a chicken or pig if they are in need of cash.
Most of the people in the Baba area are small farmers. They produce about 80 sacks of rice per hectare of land. In order to farm they first must prepare the lands by removing weeds, plowing and leveling the lands. This is the most difficult part for the farmers in Baba, who often lack the necessary machinery to properly plow the lands for rice production. After appropriately preparing the lands, the farmers fill an area with water to form what is known as a paddy field, because rice is a very water intensive crop. The rice seeds are either dispersed freely (the process is known as boleo in Spanish) or hand sowed. Once the rice has grown, most farmers rent machinery that helps them gather their production.
One of the biggest struggles in the area has been the lack of credit due to the absence of any type of financial institution. Because people do not count on formal financial finance, they have turned to loan sharks for financing. They have been affected by expensive lines of credit that exceed 100% interest a year and can be as expensive as 240%. Intermediaries also exploit the farmers because of their outstanding debt. Farmers also lack skills and knowledge to commercialize their products and pay fair prices for their crops.
The largest risk in the sector is due to absence of watering systems. Although Baba is in the province Los Rios (the rivers) there is severe problem with access to water. The lack of infrastructure in the sector does not allow the small farmers to benefit from the presence of the many rivers in the area. If the winter season is too dry, it is likely that the lands will not be sufficiently fertile for rice production in the summer. On the other hand, if there is too much rain there are not any drainage systems to prevent flooding and the crops are often ruined. Generally speaking though, Baba is a very productive sector where the lands yield all types of crops including rice, cacao, corn, watermelons, plantains, and soy beans.
The loans in this sector will mostly be used to to buy soil, seeds, fertilizer and insecticides. Many clients will use the capital towards renting machinery and equipment necessary to effectively work and prepare the fields. Clients also typically use a part of the loan to buy livestock in order to raise and have as reserves. The loan repayment schedule is different from the typical micro-entrepreneur because farmers see the profits from their investments 5 or 6 months after making their initial expenditures. Mifex asks our rural clients only to pay 50% of the capital in the first 6 months of the loan. The rest of the debt must be paid in the seventh and final month.
",M,950,lender,Agriculture,1 Ecuador,"Aurora has dedicated herself to selling cosmetics and perfumes. She sells a line of perfumes manufactured in Guayaquil called Yanbal. When Auroras husband had a hard time finding a job, she quit her job as full time mom and opened her shop, Cosmticos Esmeralda, in order to support the family. She is asking for this loan in order to increase the selection of perfumes for her customers, and being so close to Christmas, cologne and perfume is a popular thing to save up for and give as gifts. Nowadays, Aurora runs the show the entire show. Her husband abandoned the family and left her in charge of their 5 children. Her wish is to be able to earn enough money from operating Cosmeticos Esmeralda so that she can cover the costs of living for herself and the remaining kids who still lives in the house.
Mifex offers its clients microinsurance and access to business training and educational programs. For more information about microfinance, Ecuador, and our services, please visit www.mifex.org.
",F,250,partner,Retail,0 Ecuador,"Azucena is a seamstress who has over 30 years of experience. She has been in this line of business since she was 24, thanks to the support of her family. For about 15 years, she and her husband have been living in this area, where she is well-known for the products she makes and sells.
Several months ago, Azucena received a loan from Kiva and Mifex that allowed her to start a new business from her home. She now also has a store where she sells a variety of miscellaneous products along with the clothes she sells. She hopes that this new loan will help her buy more items for her store and also more fabric for her to work with.
",F,1200,lender,Clothing,1 Ecuador,"Azucena is a seamstress who has over 30 years of experience. She has been in this line of since she was 24 thanks to the support of her family. She has been living in this area for about 15 years, where she is well known for the products she makes and sells. She is requesting a Kiva loan because she would like to invest in fabrics and other necessary materials to make uniforms for the upcoming school year. This is the busiest time of year for her and she is hopeful that the capital will help her take advantage of the spike in demand. She is very hopefully that these investments will reap profits that will help her make improvements to the home she lives in.
",F,600,partner,Services,0 Ecuador,"Baking has long been the family trade for the Santianas. As a youngster Galo helped his father at his bakery and then worked for another family member until three years ago when he decided to open his own bakery. His sister Monica, who is also a baker and a Kiva borrower, helped him out by providing the oven and finding a spot for his business. Now he and his wife work everyday from 5 am until late in the night. They are seeking a loan in order to invest in raw ingredients such as flour and baking soda. He wants to also buy the ingredients to make Christmas bread for upcoming holiday season.
Mifex offers its clients microinsurance and access to business training and educational programs. For more information about microfinance, Ecuador, and our services, please visit www.mifex.org.
",M,675,partner,Food,0 Ecuador,"Baking has long been the family trade for the Santianas. When he was young, Galo helped his father at his bakery and then worked for another family member until three years ago, when he decided to open his own bakery. His sister Monica, who is also a baker and a Kiva borrower, helped him by providing the oven and finding a spot for his business. Now he and his wife work everyday from 5 in the morning until late into the night. They have three children, whom they work hard to educate and provide for.
Galo has already borrowed from Mifex and he was able to increase the amount of raw ingredients he needed for his bakery. This helped him lower the costs of his baked goods and bring in a new group of clients. He also started making new types of sweets for his clients after seeing his profits increase. Galo is looking towards increasing the amount of goods he sells in the morning, as he now provides the local newspaper and has received requests to make breakfast items. He will try to incorporate new products, such as milk and eggs, to his bakery.
",M,925,lender,Food,1 Ecuador,"Barbarito Briones is a farmer in the Santa Lucia County area. He owns a small plot of land where he lives with his wife, Maria, and their three children. Because he is from Santa Lucia, an area known for its rice cultivation, he has been growing rice his whole life. He also has experience with raising cows, which he owns a couple of. He hopes the loan he receives will help him in making his rice farming more efficient.
Barbarito is part of one of the newest Communal Banks in the recently developed Mifex Rural Finance Program: the Primero de Agosto Communal Bank. All bank members are part of the Association of Rice Farmers in Santa Lucia, and they will use these microloans to prepare their lands and cultivate rice on their farms. As members of a communal bank, they are all guarantors for each other's loans. This means that if for some reason one person in the group cannot fully repay the loan, the other borrowers and the Primero de Agosto Association are responsible for the amount in default. The members of the bank also participate in a program designed to teach and encourage savings among the group. Promoting savings is often forgotten in many microfinance programs, but Mifex believes that is imperative for the communities we work with to have capital reserved for future investments or unexpected difficulties.
Below is more information about the commnity of Santa Lucia, compiled by Luis Crespo and Robert Edgar of the Mifex team when evaluating the potential of the sector for the Rural Finance Program. Special thanks to Mario Balazantegui who provided expert insight and contributed to the development of the alliances with the local organizations.
Santa Lucia County has a population of about 33,000 people. The region is fit for rice cultivating because it is not in the lowlands and therefore it is not at risk of flooding. There is also great access to water because of the Daule River, which is accessible to many of the farmers in the area. About 70% of the farmers have basic infrastructure for watering their crops.
Rice production is the main economic activity of the area, as about 80% of the people are rice farmers. Almost everyone is either directly or indirectly involved with the rice production, as they produce, commercialize or participate in activities that add value to the product. Within the county, there is a small town also named Santa Lucia. The town is filled with many small businesses and it serves as the social and commercial hub of the area.
Most of the people in the Santa Lucia area are small farmers. They produce about 100 sacks of rice per hectare of land. In order to farm they first must prepare the lands by removing weeds and plowing. The farmers then fill an area with water to form what is known as a paddy field, because rice is a very water intensive crop. The rice seeds are either dispersed freely (the process is known as boleo in Spanish) or hand sowed. Once the rice has grown, most farmers rent machinery that helps them harvest their crop. A risk factor does exist in rice farming because of drought, but in Santa Lucia this is somewhat mitigated by the access to water form the nearby river.
The biggest struggle in the area has been the lack of credit. Because people do not have access to formal financial services, they have turned to loan sharks for financing. They have been affected by expensive lines of credit that exceed 100% interest a year and can be as expensive as 240%. Intermediaries also exploit the farmers because of their outstanding debt. Farmers also often lack skills and knowledge of how to commercialize their product and get fair prices for their crops.
The loans in this sector will be used to to buy soil, seeds, fertilizer and insecticides. They will also be used to prepare the land prior to farming, to plant the seeds and purchase other materials. The loan repayment schedule is different from the typical microentrepreneur. Because farmers see the profits from their investments 5 or 6 months after making their initial expenditures, Mifex asks them to repay 50% of the capital in the first 6 months of the loan. The rest of the debt must be paid in the seventh and final month.
",M,1200,lender,Agriculture,0 Ecuador,"Bella works as a saleswoman. Her main products are shoes and perfume. She learned how to sell by watching her mother who would bring her along when she would go out and sell clothes. She started off by selling lingerie to her close friends and now has moved on to other products. She needs the loan in order to buy her merchandise from wholesalers at better prices. She wants to invest in active wear now that the hottest months are approaching (January April is the summer season).
Bella is 29 years old and has 2 children. Her biggest aspiration is to be able to giver her kids a complete education. With the extra profits she will help her husband with the construction costs of their new home.
Mifex offers its clients microinsurance and access to business training and educational programs. For more information about microfinance, Ecuador, and our services, please visit www.mifex.org.
",F,500,partner,Retail,0 Ecuador,"Bella works as a saleswoman. The products she sells are shoes and beauty products for women. She learned how to be a salesperson by watching her mother, who would bring her along when selling clothes. She started off selling lingerie to her close friends and now has moved onto other products. She is requesting a second Mifex and Kiva loan in order to buy her merchandise from wholesalers at better prices. She wants to invest in activewear now that the hottest months are approaching (January April is the summer season).
Bella used her first loan to improve the area of her house where she sells merchandise. She was able to air condition it so clients would be more comfortable and relaxed. Her clients are pleased with her attentive service and the fact that she is timely in locating products they specifically ask for. Bella hopes she can offer her products at a better price.
Bella is 29 years old and has 2 children. Her biggest aspiration is to be able to provide her kids with a complete education. With the extra profit she will help her husband with the construction costs of their new home.",F,1200,lender,Retail,1 Ecuador,"Benito is a rice farmer in Santa Lucia. He is the leader of the cooperative of rice farmers and field workers named Dios Con Nosotros (God is with Us). His job as leader is to make sure that his fellow borrowers are on time and no one falls behind. He needs this loan in order to purchase all the necessary items to plant rice on his lands. He has been a rice farmer for over 20 years, and he is sure that the access to capital will help him and his fellow cooperative members be more productive than ever. He hopes that this is the first step in bypassing loan sharks and intermediaries who take many of the profits that he and his fellow field workers would otherwise make.
Benito is part of one of the newest Communal Banks in the recently developed Mifex Rural Finance Program: the Paypayales Communal Bank. All bank members are part of a rice farmers' cooperative in Santa Lucia named Dios Con Nosotros (God is with us). They will use these microloans to prepare their lands and cultivate rice on their farms. As members of a communal bank, they are all the guarantors for each other's loans. This means that if for some reason one person in the group cannot fully repay the loan, the other borrowers and the Dios con Nosotros Cooperative are responsible for the amount in default. The members of the bank also participate in a program designed to teach and encourage savings among the group. Promoting savings is often forgotten in many microfinance programs, but Mifex believes that is imperative for the communities we works with to have capital reserved for future investments or unexpected difficulties.
Below is more information about the commnity of Santa Lucia, compiled by Luis Crespo and Robert Edgar of the Mifex team when evaluating the potential of the sector for the Rural Finance Program. Special thanks to Mario Balazantegui who provided expert insight and contributed to the development of the alliances with the local organizations.
Santa Lucia County has a population of about 33,000 people. The region is fit for rice cultivating because it is not in the lowlands and therefore it is not at risk of flooding. There is also great access to water because of the Daule River, which is accessible to many of the farmers in the area. About 70% of the farmers have basic infrastructure for watering their crops.
Rice production is the main economic activity of the area, as about 80% of the people are rice farmers. Almost everyone is either directly or indirectly involved with the rice production, as they produce, commercialize or participate in activities that add value to the product. Within the county, there is a small town also named Santa Lucia. The town is filled with many small businesses and it serves as the social and commercial hub of the area.
Most of the people in the Santa Lucia area are small farmers. They produce about 100 sacks of rice per hectare of land. In order to farm they first must prepare the lands by removing weeds and plowing. The farmers then fill an area with water to form what is known as a paddy field, because rice is a very water intensive crop. The rice seeds are either dispersed freely (the process is known as boleo in Spanish) or hand sowed. Once the rice has grown, most farmers rent machinery that helps them harvest their crop. A risk factor does exist in rice farming because of drought, but in Santa Lucia this is somewhat mitigated by the access to water form the nearby river.
The biggest struggle in the area has been the lack of credit. Because people do not have access to formal financial services, they have turned to loan sharks for financing. They have been affected by expensive lines of credit that exceed 100% interest a year and can be as expensive as 240%. Intermediaries also exploit the farmers because of their outstanding debt. Farmers also often lack skills and knowledge of how to commercialize their product and get fair prices for their crops.
The loans in this sector will be used to to buy soil, seeds, fertilizer and insecticides. They will also be used to prepare the land prior to farming, to plant the seeds and purchase other materials. The loan repayment schedule is different from the typical microentrepreneur. Because farmers see the profits from their investments 5 or 6 months after making their initial expenditures, Mifex asks them to repay 50% of the capital in the first 6 months of the loan. The rest of the debt must be paid in the seventh and final month.
",M,925,lender,Agriculture,0 Ecuador,"Betty has a unique business in the community she lives in. She owns a laundry mat where she charges her clients per load. She started her business off by financing a washing machine. She now has increased the number of washers and allows clients to rent them. Although her home is made of wood, she has placed the washers inside and has done business from her house. She is requesting the loan because she wants to invest in a dryer. Currently, her clients can only wash the wet clothes and must take them home to hang dry. She hopes that with this new investment she will be able to increase her profits. She is a single mother of four children who completely depends on this business to feed her family.
Mifex offers its clients microinsurance and access to business training and educational programs. For more information about microfinance, Ecuador, and our services, please visit www.mifex.org.
",F,1175,partner,Services,0 Ecuador,"Betty is not only a school teacher at the 24 de mayo (May 24th) school in the district that she lives but is also a farmer. She already has 12 years of experience in this area. Together with her husband, they have been able to combine their careers as teachers at the local school with their love of farming. They have done this in a very responsible and direct way.
Betty asks for a loan so she can prepare the land for the new crop and renew it as well. She also needs to buy supplies and products that are required and needed for it.
Betty is 40 years old and is married. The well-being of their only son who goes to school and studies is very important to them and they fight for it each day. The conditions of her home are cozy although is made out of wood. They have live happily in this area for 40 years. She hopes that with the crop's earnings, she can buy an irrigation pump and another one for fumigation as well as being able to acquire her own land.
Translated from Spanish by Maria Ramirez-Gregg, Kiva Volunteer.
",F,1200,lender,Agriculture,0 Ecuador,"
Blanca Cortez and her husband Marco live on a small farm where they grow rice. On their farm they also raise chickens and pigs as a secondary source of income. Together, they have had three children who are already grown up. They rely on rice farming as their main source of income. Blanca has been a rice farmer for over 35 years, a skill she learned from her parents.
Blanca is part of one of the newest Communal Banks in the recently developed Mifex Rural Finance Program. All of the members of the Paypayales Communal Bank are part of a rice farmers cooperative in Santa Lucia named Dios Con Nosotros (God is with us). They will use the microloans to prepare their lands and cultivate rice on their farms. Because they form part of a communal bank, they are all each others guarantors for the loan. This means that if for some reason one person in the group cannot fully repay the loan, the other borrowers and the Dios con Nosotros Cooperative are responsible for the amount in default. The members of the bank also participate in a program designed to teach and encourage savings among the group. Promoting savings is often forgotten in many microfinance programs, but Mifex believes that is imperative for the communities we works with to have capital reserved for future investments or unexpected difficulties.
Below is more information about Santa Lucia compiled by Luis Crespo and Robert Edgar of the Mifex team when evaluating the potential of the sector for the Rural Finance Program. Special thanks to Mario Balazantegui who provided expert insight and contributed to the development of the alliances with the local organizations.
Santa Lucia County has a population of about 33,000 people. The sector is fit for rice cultivating because it is not in the lowlands and therefore it is not at risk of flooding. There is also great access to water because of the Daule River, which is accessible to many of the farmers in the area. About 70% of the farmers have basic infrastructure for watering their crops.
Rice production is the main economic activity of the area as about 80% of the people are rice farmers. Almost everyone is either directly or indirectly involved with the rice production, as they produce, commercialize or participate in activities that add value to the product. Within the county, there is a small town also named Santa Lucia. The town is filled with many small businesses and it serves as the social and commercial hub of the area.
Most of the people in the Santa Lucia area are small farmers. They produce about 100 sacks of rice per hectare of land. In order to farm they first must prepare the lands by removing weeds and plowing. The farmers then fill an area with water to form what is known as a paddy field, because rice is a very water intensive crop. The rice seeds are either dispersed freely (the process is known as boleo in Spanish) or hand sowed. Once the rice has grown, most farmers rent machinery that helps them gather their production. A risk factor does exist in rice farming because of drought, but in Santa Lucia this is somewhat mitigated by the access to water form the nearby river.
The biggest struggle in the area has been the lack of credit. Because people do not count on formal financial services, they have turned to loan sharks for financing. They have been affected by expensive lines of credit that exceed 100% interest a year and can be as expensive as 240%. Intermediaries also exploit the farmers because of their outstanding debt. Farmers also lack skills and knowledge to commercialize their products and pay fair prices for their crops.
The loans in this sector will be used to to buy soil, seeds, fertilizer and insecticides. They will also be used to prepare the land prior to farming, to plant the seeds and purchase other materials. The loan repayment schedule is also different from the typical microentrepreneur. Because farmers see the profits from their investments 5 or 6 months after making their initial expenditures, Mifex asks them only to pay 50% of the capital in the first 6 months of the loan. The rest of the debt must be paid in the seventh and final month.
",F,325,lender,Agriculture,0 Ecuador,"Blanca has a mini-bazaar where she sells gifts for all occasions, materials for painting fingernails, and school supplies. She was motivated to start her business by her mother-in-law, who gave Blanca use of a small space in her store so that she could launch her own business. Her husband helped her procure the products. He works selling the same products in the street.
She used a previous loan from Mifex to buy school supplies because the back to school season was about to begin. She is hoping to again take advantage of seasonal spikes in demand and invest in Halloween and Christmas products.
Blanca is 22 years old, with one daughter. Her husband works selling school supplies in the street. Although they are a young couple, they are very hardworking and very motivated to get ahead. Blanca dreams that her business will grow and she will be able to own her own parcel of land some day.
",F,1200,lender,Retail,1 Ecuador,"Blanca has a year's experience in clothing sales. Previously, after her husband's death, she began to work doing domestic chores. Later she worked as a packer. When her sister saw her doing the packing work, she encouraged Blanca to start her own business selling clothes. She was able to finance her business with money loaned by her sister. Blanca has succeeded in moving her business forward, selling to people she knows and to family members from Monday to Saturday, 9 am to 6 pm.
Blanca wants this, her second loan, in order to invest in different types of clothing. Her last loan helped her satisfy her customers' demand for beach clothing, and she hopes this time around she can use the loan to buy clothes for the cold season.
Blanca is 53 years old, with 6 children. Four of her children are now adults and help her with what she needs; the other two are still in school. In the future she wishes to fix up her house and to give her children a better life.
",F,550,lender,Clothing,1 Ecuador,"Blanca is a hardworking restaurant owner in Guayaquil, Ecuador. Her business is small but she benefits from a loyal client thanks to her delicious plates. She makes traditional Ecuadorian dishes such as fried pork with plantains (fritada) and meat pies (empanadas). During off time at the restaurant Blanca delivers baskets of food to homes in the area.
Blanca is requesting this loan from Mifex and Kiva because she is hoping to invest in tables, chairs and utensils for her business. She is proud of her business, but she definitely sees room for improvement, particularly in the aesthetic appeal of her location. She also feels she would benefit from making her restaurant larger to accommodate more clients.
Blanca is a widowed mother of four. Most of her children have already grown up, but she still lives with one daughter who is 18 and helps her with the business. Blancas restaurant helped her raise her family during tough times and she is very excited about the possibility of improving it.
",F,400,partner,Food,0 Ecuador,"Blanca started her business with a remittance she received from a family member in Italy. She sells cosmetics and jewelry to the people in her community. She often must sell her products on credit and she collects payments weekly. She will use the loan to buy more merchandise for the upcoming holiday season when sales are higher.
This activity helps her provide for her young children who are still going to school. The biggest difficulty she has had is providing them with an education and adequate housing. She still lives in a house made of wood and her main goal is to make cement improvements.
Mifex offers its clients microinsurance and access to business training and educational programs. For more information about microfinance, Ecuador, and our services, please visit www.mifex.org.
",M,250,partner,Retail,0 Ecuador,"Blanquita owns a business selling soft drinks and homemade ice cream. Three years ago she began making bolos, a type of home made Popsicle made from water and flavored mix. Every other day she will produce about 200-300 bolos by using bags in order to shape and store these popsicles. She sells these consistently to children are on their way home from school for 5 cents each. They are a big hit in the community because of the hot and humid weather of Guayaquil.
She will use the loan in order to purchase bags, mix, cups and more soda. She is seeking the loan because she also wants to begin making other types of ice cream that are dairy based and have fruit.
Blanca is 55 years old and has three children from her first marriage who are all independent. She now lives with her second husband who has a stand selling snow cones nearby. She focuses on this as her main business but always has side jobs because of her work as a seamstress.
Mifex offers its clients microinsurance and access to business training and educational programs. For more information about microfinance, Ecuador, and our services, please visit www.mifex.org.
",F,250,partner,Food,0 Ecuador,"Blgica is a single mother with 3 children. She supports her family with the income she makes from selling chickens and water. She began to work in poultry sale with her ex-husband. They owned a business together where she was in charge in preparing the chickens for her husband to sell. 3 years ago they got divorced and Blgica was forced to open her own business with $100 she had saved up. She bought a cart to sell chicken from and now she has also begun to sell water. Because she could not make it on her own she was forced to move in with her mother who helps her by taking care of the children. She has observed that there is plenty of demand in her community and needs the loan in order to buy more poultry and water for her clients. She hopes that with the profits she can move out on her own with her children.
Mifex offers its clients microinsurance and access to business training and educational programs. For more information about microfinance, Ecuador, and our services, please visit www.mifex.org.
",F,250,partner,Food,0 Ecuador,"Bolvar has 5 years of experience manufacturing dressers for storing clothes. He left his native city and came to live near his uncle in Isla Trinitaira in Guayaquil, where he started to work, learned the profession, and slowly became independent. Two years ago he married, and his wife is in charge of buying the wood for the business, which is located in front of the place where they live. They don't pay rent because they are caretakers for the place. They have steady clients who order products every week. They charge 50% in advance and the balance upon delivery. They work from Monday through Saturday. They are trying little by little to get ahead, because they are still paying on the used machinery they bought.
Bolvar needs this, his second loan, to buy materials in order to increase his production. He feels the pressure to improve his quality and have a more diverse line of products because the competition is heavy in his sector. The investments he has and will continue to make certainly give him an advantage and the consumer a better product.
Bolvar is 19 years old, with one child. His wife helps him in the business, especially buying the wood. They have been married just two years, and since they are very young they are trying to get ahead in their family life as well as their business. Their aspiration is to establish their business well and save to buy a home.
",M,800,lender,Manufacturing,1 Ecuador,"Business Description
Alsi has been buying and selling bottled water for the past eight years. He started his business with little money he saved from the company he used to work. He bought large water bottles and started distributing them in different communities around the area where the lives. Everyday, he works from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. In the present, he has five people helping him in the distribution of the water.
Loan Use
After using a previous loan to improve his work area, Alsi is now hopeful of receiving a second loan through Mifex that will help him buy more bottles of water and hire more people for distribution. He is also planning to start a local campaign to promote the benefits of drinking purified water in order to educate the community and market his product.
Personal information
Alsi is 40 years old, he is married and has two young children who are in school. His wife has a canteen; this business helps as well with the familys expenses. Alsi lives in his mothers house; his mother gave him the upstairs part of the house so he could live there with his family. The house is of cement and still needs to be finished. Alsi wants to use the loan to help in the growth of his business and in this way grow with his family as well.
http://www.kiva.org/app.php?page=businesses&action=about&id=14237Business Description
Hernn has been selling typical Ecuadorian food from a stand for over ten years. He started this business with his own money and he works at it with his wife. They work from 6am 11am. Their business is located in the centre of the city. After selling food, Hernn makes deliveries in a small car in order to earn more money. He has also has a small store located in his home that is operated with the help of his wife and kids.
Loan Use
Hernn used a previous loan from Mifex and Kiva to purchase much needed utensils and kitchen supplies. His profits helped him start the small store from home that represents a very important complimentary source of income. He is now hoping to receive a follow up loan so he may continue investing in his businesses.
Personal Information
Hernn is 31 years old and is married to Mariana. They have children all under the age of 18, two of which are in high school and two of which are in elementary school. His 2 eldest children help a lot in the preparation of the foods. They have their own house which is made of cement but is not yet finished. They offer each other mutual support in order to keep going and therefore have a better lifestyle.
Previous Profile: http://www.kiva.org/app.php?page=businesses&action=about&id=15324
",M,1200,lender,Food,1 Ecuador,"Business Description
Luigi started his business a year ago, and he sells clothes such as pants, shirts and underwear. He does this every day from 9am 6pm.
Loan Use
Luigi needs a loan in order to buy more and newer clothes so that he can offer more variety to his clients.
Personal Information
Luigi is 20 years old and he is single. He lives with his parents and he sells his wares walking around the neighborhood where they live. He hopes to grow and improve along with his business so that he can offer more support to his family and their household.
Previous Profile: http://www.kiva.org/app.php?page=businesses&action=about&id=16595
Inversin de Primer Prstamo:
Luigi incremento su capital de trabajo. Logro adquirir otra clase de artculos como : sabanas, prendas de vestir, blusas.
Desarrollo de Negocio:
Sus ventas mejoraron debido al servicio y bajos costos que el ofrece. Adems en su domicilio su mama tambin le ayuda con las ventas. Tiene buenas referencias dentro de su sector.
Informacin Personal :
Es soltero. Vive en casa de sus padres. Y adems de su negocio el trabaja en una lubricadora a medio tiempo. Con lo que genera otro ingreso para los gastos del hogar. Su casa es de cemento.
Uso de Segundo Prstamo:
El crdito lo utilizara en la compra mercadera variada. Y uniformes para la temporada escolar.
",M,675,lender,Clothing,1 Ecuador,"Business Description
Ms. Silvia has a small store that she runs with her husband. It was her husband who suggested that they open the store after he found himself without work. Nowadays, they not only run the store but they also have placed three telephone booths in their business where all types of calls can be made.
Loan Use
Silvia and her husband are asking for their second loan. They will use the loan to purchase more merchandise for the store and more prepaid calling cards for reloading minutes onto cell phones, which are very much in demand in businesses that offer telephone services.
Personal Information
Silvia is 31 years old and has three children, two of whom are in school. They have a stable family life and a house made out of cement. Her primary goal is to have a private school serving her community.
Previous Profile: http://www.kiva.org/app.php?page=businesses&action=about&id=17346
",F,1200,lender,Food,1 Ecuador,"Business Description
Noris began her business 2 years ago with money that she earned from sales in a previous job. She provides personal attention to her clients from her home and among friends. She sells a variety of clothes, cosmetics, and jewelry. Noris maintains her business by providing a variety of high quality products to clients.
Use of the Loan
This is the second time Noris will receive a loan through Mifex and Kiva. She uses the capital to invest in increasing the diversity of her products, by adding things such as clothing for children, women and men. She also invests in improvements to her shop such as purchasing display cases to better showcase her necklaces, earrings, bracelets, and rings.
Personal Information
Noris is 32 years old and has 5 children, 4 of whom are in school. Her husband works as a construction laborer, but his earnings are not enough to sustain the household. For this reason, Noris began her business. She lives in a home made of wood and cane with a dirt floor. She hopes to grow and improve her business and the quality of life for her family.
Previous Profile: http://www.kiva.org/app.php?page=businesses&action=about&id=13888
",F,850,lender,Retail,1 Ecuador,"Business Description
Pablo has been making and selling food for 30 years. He has a basic food store where he sells rice, oil, beans, sugar and other staples. He started this business when his wife died. He had his own money and decided to invest it in a business. It is open from 6.30am 10 pm Monday Sunday. During the weekends, he also sells ceviches ad encebollados (Ecuadorian seafood dishes made with shrimp and albacore) from 6am 11am.
Loan Use
Pablo, now on his second loan with Kiva and Mifex, would like to invest in tables and chairs for his clients that buy food on the weekends. He has been gaining popularity in the neighborhood for his food and is hoping he can take the opportunity to expand his business.
Personal Information
Pablo is 59 years old and has been a widower for 3 years. When his wife died he was left in charge of the house. He currently lives with his two eldest daughters and he helps out with his grandchildren when he can. He has his own house which has 2 floors and is made of cement, although it is not yet finished. His daughters help him out with his business, especially by selling encebollado which is what they did before his wife died. They are very hard-working people despite difficulties which have meant they have had to fight to continue on together.
http://www.kiva.org/app.php?page=businesses&action=about&id=15327
",M,950,lender,Retail,1 Ecuador,"Business Description:
Lorena has a store in her home that has been up and running for 12 years. The store is open from 7:00 am to 11:00 pm, seven days a week. She also sells other miscellaneous products to obtain more customers.
Loan Use:
She will use the loan money to buy school supplies and stationary, since classes will soon begin in the entire costal region. There are already some customers who have placed supply orders, which is why she needs to stock up as soon as possible.
Personal Information:
Lorena is 36 years old. She is divorced and lives with her mother, who also helps her in her business. She has no children. Her home is made of cement. She has been working in this business for over 12 years. One of her dreams is to go to college and become a career woman.
Translated from Spanish by Sandy Jurez, Kiva volunteer.
",F,650,lender,Retail,1 Ecuador,"
Business Description:
Mr. Jose has eight years dedicated to the business. He started this activity when he was very young, because he would help his mother in order to obtain income for their home. He sells all kinds of pants, jeans and skirts. His business is located in a market close to his home. He travels to various provinces surrounding Guayas to also market and distribute the products. Jose works from 7 am until 2 pm from Monday to Sunday. He travels one day a week to the provinces to sell his merchandise.
Use of the Loan:
Mr. Joses business is always in need of more capital for investment. He has lent from Kiva and Mifex before, using his money to significantly increase the items he has on stock. This helps him have more variety for his clients and often meet their demands and increase sales.
Personal Information:
Mr. Jose is 45 years old, is married to Mrs. Monica and they have two children of minor age who are in college. His wife helps him in the business when he goes out to travel. His house has two floors but is in construction. They have a stable home and good family relations. Mr. Jose aspires to grow his business through loans and in this manner to give a better education to his children and better the quality of life for him and his family.
Previous Profile: http://www.kiva.org/app.php?page=businesses&action=about&id=14496
",M,950,lender,Clothing,1 Ecuador,"Business Description:
Martha owns a cabinet-making workshop that has been in business in the area for more than 10 years. She has been in charge of the business ever since her husband passed away one year ago. Martha is an enterprising woman who begins her workday at 8:30 AM and continues until 7:00 PM. She has two employees that help with the business. She makes all sorts of wood furniture for customers both inside the city and beyond.
Use of the Loan:
Martha is requesting the loan to purchase wood for existing furniture orders. These include making dressers and shelves for regular customers who live outside the city. She needs to make the purchase as quickly as possible so that she can put the wood out to dry; Martha always uses dry wood for her furniture.
Personal Information:
Martha is 36 years old. She is widowed, and has two daughters, aged 9 and 19. The older daughter is married and does not live with her. Martha is responsible for her younger daughter, who goes to a nearby school. Their house is built of cement.
Translated from Spanish by Chris Knutson, Kiva Volunteer
",F,500,lender,Manufacturing,1 Ecuador,"
Business Description:
Victor has a business located in an informal marketplace. He sells plastic and porcelain times. His business has been up and running for 10 years with customers who pay either in cash or credit. His work schedule is 6am to 2pm.
Loan Use:
Victor needs the loan to stock his business and buy porcelain times, which his clients have been asking for lately. Victor always buys his supplies at whole sale price to lessen the costs, but he would like to be able to have immediate cash available.
Personal Information:
Victor is 63 years old. Hes married to Italia Muzzio. He has two children, ages 19 and 26, who have already finished their schooling. His home is made of cement. He hopes to open another business in a different sector.
Translated from Spanish by Sandy Jurez, Kiva volunteer.
",M,650,lender,Retail,1 Ecuador,"
Business Description
Blanca owns about 6 blocks of land which she uses solely for the cultivation of rice. With each harvest, she hires outside help so that her product is on time. She has been farming for the past 15 years. She has a clear understanding as to how to cultivate the land that there are some seasons when she gets 4 harvests per year.
Loan Use
The money will be used to purchase seeds, fertilizers, leasing of equipment, and to hire help, and other things needed during the harvest season. She would also like to sell rice directly to customers to sell more and to make more profit.Personal Information
Blanca is 34 years old. She has a partner and she has 3 small children. All of them go to nearby schools. Her home is made out of wood and reed. One of her wishes is to build a cement home to provide better living conditions for her family
Translated from Spanish by Carolina Zelaya-Kronlund, Kiva Volunteer.
",F,700,lender,Agriculture,1 Ecuador,"
Business Description
Cristina has 10 years experience with this business. Thanks to the help of her childen and her weekday job, she was able to open up a small restaurant. She serves breakfast, lunch and dinner on weekends. She works from 4 am until 11 pm every weekend. Her older daughter helps her with the meal preparation and the serving.
Loan Use
She will use the money to purchase more groceries and beverages. She will also purchase more kitchen utensils.
Personal Information
Christina is married. She has 3 children who are all adults now. Her house is made of mixed construction. Her husband is an electrician.
Translated from Spanish by Carolina Zelaya-Kronlund, Kiva Volunteer.
",F,400,lender,Food,1 Ecuador,"
Business Description
Jose has been a farmer for 15 years. He owns about 12 acres of land which he uses solely for the cultivation of rice. The different type of rice that he gets from every harvest varies, and this has made him one of the pioneers for producing new type of rice with good quality.
Loan Use
The money will be used to purchase seeds, fertilizers, leasing of equipment, and to hire help, etc. He needs this loan to take advantage of the season and to save money in the long run.Personal Information
Jose is 32 years old. He's married with 3 children. Only one of them goes to school. He lives in a house made of mixed construction which is wood and reed. One of his wishes is to increase production using modern day technologies.
Translated from Spanish by Carolina Zelaya-Kronlund, Kiva Volunteer.
",M,700,lender,Agriculture,1 Ecuador,"
Business Description
Mayra owns about 2 blocks of land which she uses solely for the cultivation of rice. She has been farming for the past 5 years. The harvest varies from year to year due to the amount of physical work Mayra must do.
Loan Use
The money will be used to purchase seeds, fertilizers, leasing of equipment, and to hire help, and other things needed during the harvest season.Personal Information
Mayra is 21 years old. She has a partner and she has 3 small children. Only one of them goes to school. Her husband helps her with the harvest. Her home is made out of wood and reed. One of her wishes is to be one of the mayor producers of rice in the area and in the country.
Translated from Spanish by Carolina Zelaya-Kronlund, Kiva Volunteer.
",F,700,lender,Agriculture,1 Ecuador,"
Business Description
Tyrone has been a farmer for 15 years. He owns about 4 blocks of land which he uses solely for the cultivation of rice. His harvests produce an average of 3 times a year. The main harvest takes place within these months.
Loan Use
The money will be used to purchase seeds, fertilizers, leasing of equipment, and to hire help, and other basic things needed during the harvest season.Personal Information
Tyrone is 22 years old. He's married with one small child. He lives in a house made of mixed construction which is wood and reed. One of his wishes is to provide a better way of life for his son.
Translated from Spanish by Carolina Zelaya-Kronlund, Kiva Volunteer.
",M,700,lender,Agriculture,1 Ecuador,"
Business Description
Ramn is a farmer who has been growing rice for more than 20 years. His work day is from 6 a.m. until 6 p.m. He has two blocks of land to seed; depending on the work schedule, he also rents additional land for cultivation.Use of the Loan
The loan will be dedicated to buying supplies for the harvest such as fertilizer, seeds, minor equipment, and also to rent equipment as needed. He may also contract labor.
Personal Information
Ramn is 43 years old and is married. He has five children, of whom only three are studying. His house is of mixed construction, wood and cane. One of Ramns aspirations is for his entire house to be made of cement.Translated from Spanish by Diane Lister, Kiva Volunteer.
",M,700,lender,Agriculture,1 Ecuador,"
Business Description
Mr. Bartolome has his own store where he sells seafood and meat. He began his business 3 years ago with money he earned from a business selling clothing in different sectors of the city. His wife helps him at the store during the mid-day while he makes purchases from wholesalers. He has seen his business grow with time because of its good location.
Loan Use
Cesar is now requesting his second loan with Mifex and Kiva. With his first, he invested in freezers that help him preserve his product and buy more at a time. The investment has paid off as he now offers more diverse types of meat for his clients. He wants to continue investing in better quality meat and also make improvements to his storefront.
Personal Information
Mr. Bartolome is 40 years old and has four children, who all go to school. His home is made of cement and has benefitted from recent improvements. His goal is to see his business grow and one day to hand it over to his children.
Previous Profile: http://www.kiva.org/app.php?page=businesses&action=about&id=13282
",M,1075,lender,Food,1 Ecuador,"Business Description
For the last twelve years Seor Pilay has sold seafood: he is helped in the business by his wife and one of his elder daughters: his potential customers are restaurants and shops in the area. Recently, his sales have risen thanks to the fact that he is always trying to improve his merchandises prices and in this way his customers are always satisfied. He sells everything relating to seafood.
Loan Use
He wants to use the loan to invest in the purchase of merchandise to stock in his business, and also to make improvements to his sales-place, as because we are currently in the rainy season, sometimes this causes problems with the stock as a result of the strong rains that fall in the area.
Personal Information
Pilay is 39 years old and has 8 children, his home is made of cane and his aim is to increase his sales so that one day he may expand his business site. His dream is that his children will one day administer the business and live from its earnings.
Translated from the Spanish by Katy Long
",M,300,lender,Food,1 Ecuador,"Business Description
Mr. Sal began his business 4 years ago with his bricklayer salary. He has a workshop where he makes and sells everything related to locksmiths: doors, windows, gates, etc. Mr. Sal started out with very few clients. Now, a few months later, he has clients constantly seeking his products.
Use of Loan
Saul was very successful in the use of a previous loan he attained from Mifex and Kiva. He used the loan to buy a compressor, which not only helped him be more efficient but also allowed him to do work he could not previously. He has a few contracts with other businesses and is need of investment capital for raw materials.
Personal Information
He is single, his house is made of concrete and his goal is to have a bigger workshop to provide others in need a job opportunity.
Previous Profile: http://www.kiva.org/app.php?page=businesses&action=about&id=12611
",M,950,lender,Manufacturing,1 Ecuador,"Business Description
Seora Letsy has a business site where she sells novelty items: also together with her husband she has a school which around 50 children attend. They started this activity two years previously and their best customers are children from the surrounding areas of Guayaquil. She sells everything related to stationery and uniforms in their school, and recently the sales in the bazaar have also been improving and so too the income for her family.
Loan Use
She wants to use her credit to invest in the purchase of merchandise for the new school season which is already here, which means she needs to stock-up her store to be able to attend better to her students and customers.
Personal Information
Letsy is 28 years old and has three children, her house is made of cement and her goal is to improve her sales and also expand her school in order to have space so that more children from the area can receive primary education at her campus.
Translated from the Spanish by Katy Long
",F,400,lender,Retail,1 Ecuador,"Business Description
Celina has sold cosmetics for two years: she is helped by her brother in the business. Her best customers are the business people of the area: as she sells her products on credit, in recent times her sales have improved and she has been able to install telephone booths, thanks to the business profits.
Loan Use
She wants to use the loan to invest in a glass show-case in order to better exhibit her products.
Personal Information
She is 27 years old and has two children, her house is made of cement and her aim is to improve her sails as shes already thinking of establishing a new site for cosmetics sales.
Translated from the Spanish by Katy Long
",F,600,lender,Retail,1 Ecuador,"Business Description
Don Julio has a shop which he set-up eight years ago. His wife helps with customer service: in recent times the business has improved as the shop is already located on a main street and sells all sorts of essential goods.
Loan Use
He wants to use the loan to invest in the purchase of rice wholesale as in this way he can secure a better profit margin while maintaining his customer satisfaction levels.
Personal Information
Julio is 46 years old and has one son, his house is made of cement and his goal is to expand his business, because through doing this one day he will be able to enjoy a better life with his family.
Translated from the Spanish by Katy Long
",M,800,lender,Food,1 Ecuador,"Business Description
Don Manuel sells confectionery and candy in a traveling cart. His wife helps him sell his products too. They started this business when he was laid off. They are currently working outside a school where the authorities have allowed them to sell their product to students. He also now sells clothing and other accessories from his cart while not selling his candies.
Loan Use
He needs this loan in order to purchase more merchandise since he has recently built a shop at home and he is now also selling products from his house. He has invested a previous loan in purchasing a freezer and now wants to start a small grocery market. He also will continue investing in clothing and candies.
Personal Information
Don Manuel is 52 years old and he has five children, two of whom are studying. His main goal is to have a stable business so that his wife doesn't have to go out to work somewhere else.
Previous profile: http://www.kiva.org/app.php?page=businesses&action=about&id=15290
",M,550,lender,Retail,1 Ecuador,"Business Description
Isabel got started selling crabs. Since she had to travel every week and that was too much of an effort, her father encouraged her to start her own restaurant. With his support, she was able to buy cooking utensils and get started. She began selling just five meals a day for lunch. Currently, she has a very stable base of clients that frequent her eatery. She works during the weekends from 5 p.m. to 11 p.m. She gets help from her mom and dad for the preparation of the meals.
Loan Use
Isabel is a second time borrower from our program. With a loan she received several months ago she invested in beverages and other snacks that compliment her foods. She was also able to buy a grill. With this loan she hopes to continue investing in ingredients for her food and complimentary snacks and also in slowly improving the appearance of her site.
Personal Information
Isabel is 40 years old and single. Eighteen years ago she suffered the loss of her 2-month-old son. She lives with her parents and seven siblings. They are all adults and they take care of their parents. Three years ago, her father had prostate surgery and this left her with little money. Her parents are her inspiration in order to keep going. She is hoping to build a house of concrete in the future. She currently lives in a house built with mixed materials.
Previous Profile: http://www.kiva.org/app.php?page=businesses&action=about&id=14816
",F,850,lender,Food,1 Ecuador,"Business Description
Mirta has a business where she sells s cosmetics, clothing and women's under garments. Her main clients are the neighbors from her area, friends and family. She started her business two years ago and now has a client base of more than 40 individuals.
Use of Loan
She needs the loan so she may increase the merchandise she has in stock by purchasing from wholesalers. This way she will be able to attract more clients and increase sales.
Personal Description
Mirta is 41 years old is sepearted from her husband and has three children. Her goals are to improve her business and improve her economic stability. Her home is made out of cment thanks to her hard work.
Spanish Profile:
Descripcin del Negocio
La cliente se dedica a la venta de articulos varios ropa, lenceria ,y cosmeticos. Sus principales clientes son vecinos de su sector, familiares y amigos. Empezo su negocio hace 2 aos y en la actulidad tiene una cartera de 40 clientes.
Uso del Prstamo
Ella necesita el credito para incrementar la cartera de sus clientes y esto lo lograra cuando comience a vender mercaderia a precio de mayorista para si atraer mayores clientes.
Informacin Personal
Tiene 41 aos y tres hijos esta separada de su esposo . Sus metas son crecer en el negocio y tener tener estabilidad economica. Su vivienda es de cemento gracias a su trabajo.
",F,700,lender,Retail,1 Ecuador,"Business Description
Mr. Apo works buying and selling recyclable/recycled products. He began this business 15 years ago, and today he has three employees who help with the business.The buying and selling of these products takes place both within and outside the city. Recently his sales have increased and, as a result so have his customer orders. He sells all sorts of plastic products.
Loan Use
He wants to use the loan to invest in the fitting-out of a business site as his present site is not suitable for further improvements. Don Apo insists on serving his clients well and as a result needs to make the mentioned improvements and renovations.
Personal Information
He is thirty-six years old and has three children. His home is of mixed construction and his goal is to improve his sales so that one day he is able to expand his office site as his dream is that his children will one day administer the business and live from its proceeds too.
Translated from the Spanish by Katy Long
",M,1000,lender,Retail,1 Ecuador,"Business Description
Mr.Cox owns a shop which he established two years ago when he was still together with his wife. They are now separated but his mother helps him with the business in regards to customer service, currently his shop is very well-received in the area as in recent times he has been able to stock-up his shop, selling all sorts of essential goods.
Loan Use
Mr.Cox wants to use the loan to invest in the purchase of merchandise in order to better stock his store, and also to buy rice at wholesale prices.Personal Information
He is 24 years old and has two children, his house is made of cement and his goal is to expand his sales base so that he can secure a better style of living for his family.
Translated from the Spanish by Katy Long
",M,500,lender,Food,1 Ecuador,"Business Description
Ms. Alexandra began her business four years ago, selling her products as a traveling saleswoman. She traveled between different sectors of her city, but decided in the end to place her business in her home. She sells basic-needs items, and her sales increase every day. Her business is in a good location that attracts a significant number of customers.
Loan Use
Alexandra hopes to receive a second loan from Kiva and Mifex. She uses the capital to buy more merchandise and keep her store stocked with items. She also hopes that she may be able to make her store bigger as her business continues to grow.
Personal Information
She is 44 years old, her home is made of cement, and her goal is to have a larger store within her home so that she can better tend to her customers, but this has been difficult as she has not had the capital to invest. She hopes this loan will help her take the next step.
Previous profile: http://www.kiva.org/app.php?page=businesses&action=about&id=13279
",F,1075,lender,Food,1 Ecuador,"Business Description
Mxima has fifteen years of experience in the sale of cosmetics and costume jewelry, including perfumes, creams, lipstick, earrings, rings, and more. She began this business because she and her husband separated. With some money that he left her, she began her sales career little by little so that she could take care of her two children. She works from nine in the morning until eight at night, every day. She conducts her business door-to-door.
Purpose of the Loan
Mxima used a previous loan to venture into Herbalife products. Her investment went well but she wants to continue increasing the amount of products she has in stock. This allows her to provide her customers with faster service and helps her increase sales.
About the Borrower
Mxima is forty-five and divorced. She has two children. Her older child helps out with household expenses. The younger helps out by selling the products in school and through schoolmates. The father of the children makes a monthly payment to cover food expenses. They live in a very modest one-story house made of concrete. She is a woman who has worked very hard to better her children's life in the fifteen years that she has been alone. She is committed to her business because it means so much to the well being of her household.
Previous Profile: http://www.kiva.org/app.php?page=businesses&action=about&id=14760
",F,1075,lender,Retail,1 Ecuador,"Business Description
Pedro sells seafood in a commercial zone of his neighbourhood. He started this business three years ago and his wife helps him with the sales. In recent times his business has improved thanks to which his potential customers are the shops and diners of the area. He sells all sorts of seafood.
Loan Use
He wants to use the loan to invest in the purchase of merchandise wholesale as the number of orders is already rising and his goal is to please everyone possible.
Personal Information
Pedro is 48 years old and has 4 children, his house is made of cement and his aim is to increase his sales and improve his business together with his family.
Translated from the Spanish by Katy Long, Kiva Volunteer
",M,525,lender,Food,1 Ecuador,"Business Description
Sonia has a seamstress' workshop which she established 20 years ago and so she has spend all her youth undertaking this own sort of work. Currently her clients are neighbours from her area and also education centres: as a result of her experience and professionalism she now has many satisfied customers. One of her elder daughters helps her with the business and their sales are increasing every day.
Loan Use
She wants to use the loan to invest in the purchase of primary materials, because as a result of the school calendar she has several outstanding contracts with schools to make school uniforms.
Personal Information
She is 53 years old and 3 children, her house is made of cement and her goal is to see her sales grow in order that one day she will be able to expand her workshop as her dream is that her children will be able to administer the business and live off it too.
Translated from the Spanish by Katy Long, Kiva Volunteer
",F,825,lender,Services,1 Ecuador,"Business Description
This client sells handbags and cloths to her neighbours: the business was established six years ago, and currently she is continuing to sell bags and clothes, which she always assures are in fashion in order to satisfy her customers demands.
Loan Use
She will use the loan to finance the sale of merchandise and various items, especially some products for which there is a market opening.
Personal Information
She is 37 years old and is separated. Her house is made of cane. She is an enterprising woman and she is sure that with her business growth she will be able to construct a cement house.Translated from the Spanish by Katy Long, Kiva Volunteer
",F,700,lender,Clothing,1 Ecuador,"Business Description
Victor has 30 years of experience in this business. He started by working with his brother when he was 18 years old. He learned the trade from him. Thanks to his savings and the knowledge he had, he decided to open his own shop. He started by buying tools and some machinery to make his products. Today, he works every day from 8 a.m. into the late afternoon, often past 6 p.m. His son and his son-in-law work with him at the shop. They are also learning the trade from him.
Loan Usage
Victors first loan with Mifex and Kiva was a success. He used the money to invest in raw materials such as wood strips, glues, and nails. Victor was able to increase his production and demand has followed in step. There are many more orders and he has had to hire a new employee. Victor hopes to continue being able to invest in raw materials and man power to keep up with the increased demand.
Personal Information
Victor is 59 years old. He has 6 children and only one, who is 11 years old, is still with him. Victor still provides for him and for his education. Their home is a mix of cement and wood and he hopes that he can make some improvements to it in the future like dividing it into different rooms. Also to be able to change some of the zinc boards on his shop because during winter is very uncomfortable to work at his shop in a normal fashion.
Previous Profile: http://www.kiva.org/app.php?page=businesses&action=about&id=15728
",M,825,lender,Manufacturing,1 Ecuador,"Business Description
Pilar, with her husband's help, operates a few phone kiosks where people can make long distance and international calls for a fee. These booths or kiosks are called ""locutorios"". Their sales have been growing thanks to them being located in one of the commercial sectors of her area.
Loan use
She would like to invest the loan in the purchase of two more kiosks, since in the last couple of months she has noted that she she cannot keep up with the demand with the kiosks she has.
Personal Information
She is 47 years old and has three children. He home is built of mixed materials and her goal is to expand her business and increase sales.
Translated from Spanish by Libertad Leal, Kiva volunteer.
",F,675,lender,Retail,1 Ecuador,"
Business Description
Wilson has been a farmer for more than 30 years. He has 5 blocks of his own land available for growing rice. Wilsons experience has allowed him to use appropriate techniques for rice cultivation, and saves on unnecessary costs.
Use of the Loan
The purchase of agricultural supplies to obtain an optimum harvest is the priority. Specifically, to be purchased are manure, seeds, fertilizers, contracting of machinery and labor, among other goods or services that may be required so that the crop will advance.
Personal Information
Wilson is 62 years old, and has a spouse. His house is of mixed construction, cane and wood. One of the aspirations of Wilson is to have an outlet in the nearby city to sell his product directly to buyers.
Translated from Spanish by Diane Lister, Kiva Volunteer.
",M,700,lender,Agriculture,1 Ecuador,"
Carlos and his wife Ingrid have a small farm in Santa Lucia province in Ecuador. Carlos has been living on this land for about 30 years, since it was given to him by his father. Because he only has an elementary education, Carlos wants to provide something more for his 4 year-old son. He relies on the income for his rice farming to feed his family and pay for all the household expenses. He has also been raising cattle for several years as a secondary source of income.
Carlos is part of the newest Communal Banks in the recently developed Mifex Rural Finance Program. All of the members of the Centro Agricola de Santa Lucia Communal Bank are part of an Association of Rice Farmers in Santa Lucia. Their association works cooperatively to help in the commercialization of the product after it has grown. They will use the micro-loans to prepare their lands and cultivate rice on their farms. Because they form part of a communal bank, they are all each others' guarantors for the loan. This means that if for some reason one person in the group cannot fully repay the loan, the other borrowers and the Primero de Agosto Association are responsible for the amount in default. The members of the bank also participate in a program designed to teach and encourage savings among the group. Promoting savings is often forgotten in many micro-finance programs, but Mifex believes that is imperative for the communities we works with to have capital reserved for future investments or unexpected difficulties.
Below is more information about Santa Lucia compiled by Luis Crespo and Robert Edgar of the Mifex team when evaluating the potential of the sector for the Rural Finance Program. Special thanks to Mario Balazantegui who provided expert insight and contributed to the development of the alliances with the local organizations.
Santa Lucia County has a population of about 33,000 people. The sector is fit for rice cultivating because it is not in the lowlands and therefore it is not at risk of flooding. There is also great access to water because of the Daule River, which is accessible to many of the farmers in the area. About 70% of the farmers have basic infrastructure for watering their crops.
Rice production is the main economic activity of the area as about 80% of the people are rice farmers. Almost everyone is either directly or indirectly involved with rice production, as they produce, commercialize or participate in activities that add value to the product. Within the county, there is a small town also named Santa Lucia. The town is filled with many small businesses and it serves as the social and commercial hub of the area.
Most of the people in the Santa Lucia area are small farmers. They produce about 100 sacks of rice per hectare of land. In order to farm they first must prepare the lands by removing weeds and plowing. The farmers then fill an area with water to form what is known as a paddy field, because rice is a very water intensive crop. The rice seeds are either dispersed freely (the process is known as boleo in Spanish) or hand sowed. Once the rice has grown, most farmers rent machinery that helps them gather their production. A risk factor does exist in rice farming because of drought, but in Santa Lucia this is somewhat mitigated by the access to water form the nearby river.
The biggest struggle in the area has been the lack of credit. Because people do not count on formal financial services, they have turned to loan sharks for financing. They have been affected by expensive lines of credit that exceed 100% interest a year and can be as expensive as 240%. Intermediaries also exploit the farmers because of their outstanding debt. Farmers also lack skills and knowledge to commercialize their products and pay fair prices for their crops.
The loans in this sector will be used to to buy soil, seeds, fertilizer and insecticides. They will also be used to prepare the land prior to farming, to plant the seeds and purchase other materials. The loan repayment schedule is also different from the typical micro-entrepreneur. Because farmers see the profits from their investments 5 or 6 months after making their initial expenditures, Mifex asks them only to pay 50% of the capital in the first 6 months of the loan. The rest of the debt must be paid in the seventh and final month.
",M,925,lender,Agriculture,0 Ecuador,"Carlos Chamo Vasquez has a farm where he grows rice, hay and cattle. He lives with his wife, Cecilia, and his four children. His oldest son works with him on the farm to grow their products, while the other three still go to school. He is a native of Salitre and has been raised in agriculture his entire life. He also has a small butcher shop in the small town of Salitre. He hopes that with this loan he will be able to invest in feed for his cattle and possibly buy some more steers. With the profits he will continue to educate his kids and feed his family.
He is the latest addition to one of the new Communal Banks in the Mifex Rural Finance Program. All of the members of the 10 de enero Communal Bank are part of an Association of Rice Farmers in Salitre named 10 de enero. They will use the microloans to prepare the lands and cultivate rice on their farms. Because they form part of a communal bank, they are all each others guarantors for the loan. This means that if for some reason one person in the group cannot fully repay the loan, the other borrowers and the 10 de enero Association are responsible for the amount in default. The members of the bank also participate in a program designed to teach and encourage savings among the group. Promoting savings is often forgotten in many microfinance programs, but is imperative for the communities Mifex works with to have capital reserved for future investments or unexpected difficulties.
The loans in this sector will be used to create water deposits that will prevent flooding in the case of heavy rains or store water in case of droughts. They will also be used to treat the land prior to farming, to plant the seeds and purchase fertilizer. The loan repayment schedule is also different from the typical microentrepreneur. Because farmers see the profits from their investments 5 or 6 months after making their initial expenditures, Mifex asks them only to pay 50% of the capital in the first 5 months of the loan. The rest of the debt must be paid in the sixth and final month.
Below is more information about Salitre compiled by the staff at Mifex when evaluating the potential of the sector for the Rural Finance Program.
Salitre is a rural sector in the Province of Guayas known as the capital of Montuvios (montuvio is a cowboy) with approximately 30,000 inhabitants. The main economic activities are herding and agriculture which make up about 80% of the economy. The infrastructure and basic services are poor, especially the roads and water services.
Salitre is highly dedicated to farming rice and cattle ranching. Rice is a crop that yields about every four months. In order to farm rice, the environment must be very humid and there must be a high volume of water. The lack of a structured water system makes it difficult for the small farmers to be highly productive. The best months for cultivating rice are early in the year when it is the rainy season in the coast of Ecuador.
Salitre is a national tourist attraction as many Ecuadorians visit the fresh water Salitre River. There are cottages, small restaurants and water attractions that people come to enjoy.
There are not many financial institutions that provides services to the productive sector of the local economy. The primary access to credit comes from loan sharks who charge extremely high interest rates averaging around 20% a month. The locals are also exploited by the intermediaries that buy their products in order to commercialize them in the city and to export abroad. These intermediaries buy crops in advance at very low prices, finance soil at extremely high prices and often provide emergency loans for even higher interest rates than the loan sharks.
Salitre is a dangerous sector considering it is in the rural area. There is a high incidence of robbery of cattle that results in many of the ranch owners owning weapons to protect their property. Because the police are not present in these areas, farmers and ranchers must apply their own laws and provide their own security. In some instances they have formed their own cooperatives and associations to have a community crime prevention effort.
Salitre is in the lowlands of Ecuador and is vulnerable to flooding in the rainy season. In the event of a heavy rainy season, often at its worse when El Nio occurs, the farmers of rice lose many of their crops. All this is due to a lack of infrastructure in the area.
",M,1200,lender,Agriculture,0 Ecuador,"Carlos has 18 years of experience in buying and selling old appliances and metal scraps. He worked alongside his father from the time he was young. He travels through neighborhoods buying used items house to house. He buys and fixes the items so that he can sell them at low prices in the poorer areas. He goes out in the streets looking for goods from 8 am to 2 pm. The business has allowed him to support his family and make some repairs to his home.
Carlos with a previous loan from our organization was able to increase the amount of items he bought and also buy higher quality goods. He has therefore seen an improvement in his profits and has begun saving towards a new home of his own. This new loan will be used to continue investing in better products and the necessary pieces to repair them.
Carlos was born in Guayaquil He is 32 years old with 3 children, all still in school. His wife helps him around the house. At the moment they do not own their own home. They live in the home of family members who have immigrated to other countries to find work. They are a very humble and hardworking couple who persevere to get ahead. Their dream is that their children finish school and that their business grows, since it is the sole source of income for the family.
",M,700,lender,Retail,1 Ecuador,Carlos has a store where he sells clothes and cosmetics. He started this business with $300 he saved from a previous job. He invested in clothing and sold his products door-to-door while saving up to construct a store in his home. He hopes to use the loan as investment capital to purchase clothes and cosmetics at more affordable prices. He lives with his wife and two children in a wooden house that is in the process of being rebuilt with cement. He is optimistic about the future and his possibilities of continuing growth.
,M,850,partner,Clothing,0 Ecuador,"Carlos has owned his bakery for 4 years. He delivers his goods door-to-door to his neighbors and community members. He specializes in pastries and other sweets, but also makes different types of breads. Thanks to his recent success, he has hired three part time employees to help him deliver the goods. He is seeking the loan because he wants to move into a larger space. He also wants to invest in display cases.
Carlos is 44 years old and has 2 daughters. Currently, he rents his home but he aspires to buy a house of his own in the future. He also wants to provide the best education possible to his children.
Mifex offers its clients microinsurance and access to business training and educational programs. For more information about microfinance, Ecuador, and our services, please visit www.mifex.org.
",M,625,partner,Food,0 Ecuador,"Carlos lives with his wife and three children, ages 20, 18 and 15. His sons produce rice on the land with Carlos. The family relies completely on rice production in order to survive. With the loan he will buy seeds, fertilizer, and pesticides and hopes to fix his home. He will also make the lands as productive as possible so his children will be able to produce from them in the future.
This borrower is part of the newest and largest Communal Bank in the recently developed Mifex Rural Finance Program. All of the members of the Centro Agricola de Baba Communal Bank are part of an Association of Rice Farmers in the county of Baba in rural Ecuador. Their association works cooperatively to cultivate rice and commercialize the product after it has grown. As an association, Centro Agricola helps the farmers by providing access to machinery and training services. The farmers from Centro Agricola have received special instruction on financial responsibility and accounting from Codemicro, an organization that specializes in training programs geared towards the rural sector.
The members of Centro Agricola de Baba will use the micro-loans to prepare their lands and cultivate rice on their farms. Because they form part of a communal bank, they are all each others' guarantors for the loan. This means that if for some reason one person in the group cannot fully repay the loan, the other borrowers and the Centro Agricola de Baba Association are responsible for the amount in default. The members of the bank also participate in a program designed to teach and encourage savings among the group. Promoting savings is often forgotten in many micro-finance programs, but Mifex believes that is imperative for the communities we works with to have capital reserved for future investments or unexpected difficulties.
Below is more information about Santa Lucia compiled by Luis Crespo and Robert Edgar of the Mifex team when evaluating the potential of the sector for the Rural Finance Program.
The people of Baba have been organized since the days of Gran Colombia when Ecuador was yet to be a country. The area has always been popular because of the extremely productive lands that gave way to cultivation of cacao for decades. Now Baba is a county in the province of Los Rios in the coastal region of Ecuador. For most of the latter part of the 20th Century it was a cacao and banana producing sector. Most of the surrounding areas of Baba in Los Rios are owned by large mulitnational companies such as Dole, but Baba is a sector characterized by the small and informal farms.
Rice production has now turned into the main economic activity of the sector as about 80% of the people are rice farmers. Cacao is still very popular in the area, but because of the long cultivation cycle people prefer to invest in rice. The lands in Baba are very fertile though, and most farmers in the sector often grow other crops, such as plantains and soy beans as secondary sources of income. Many farmers also keep livestock as emergency sources of food and income, commonly resorting to selling a chicken or pig if they are in need of cash.
Most of the people in the Baba area are small farmers. They produce about 80 sacks of rice per hectare of land. In order to farm they first must prepare the lands by removing weeds, plowing and leveling the lands. This is the most difficult part for the farmers in Baba, who often lack the necessary machinery to properly plow the lands for rice production. After appropriately preparing the lands, the farmers fill an area with water to form what is known as a paddy field, because rice is a very water intensive crop. The rice seeds are either dispersed freely (the process is known as boleo in Spanish) or hand sowed. Once the rice has grown, most farmers rent machinery that helps them gather their production.
One of the biggest struggles in the area has been the lack of credit due to the absence of any type of financial institution. Because people do not count on formal financial finance, they have turned to loan sharks for financing. They have been affected by expensive lines of credit that exceed 100% interest a year and can be as expensive as 240%. Intermediaries also exploit the farmers because of their outstanding debt. Farmers also lack skills and knowledge to commercialize their products and pay fair prices for their crops.
The largest risk in the sector is due to absence of watering systems. Although Baba is in the province Los Rios (the rivers) there is severe problem with access to water. The lack of infrastructure in the sector does not allow the small farmers to benefit from the presence of the many rivers in the area. If the winter season is too dry, it is likely that the lands will not be sufficiently fertile for rice production in the summer. On the other hand, if there is too much rain there are not any drainage systems to prevent flooding and the crops are often ruined. Generally speaking though, Baba is a very productive sector where the lands yield all types of crops including rice, cacao, corn, watermelons, plantains, and soy beans.
The loans in this sector will mostly be used to to buy soil, seeds, fertilizer and insecticides. Many clients will use the capital towards renting machinery and equipment necessary to effectively work and prepare the fields. Clients also typically use a part of the loan to buy livestock in order to raise and have as reserves. The loan repayment schedule is different from the typical micro-entrepreneur because farmers see the profits from their investments 5 or 6 months after making their initial expenditures. Mifex asks our rural clients only to pay 50% of the capital in the first 6 months of the loan. The rest of the debt must be paid in the seventh and final month.
",M,1075,lender,Agriculture,0 Ecuador,"Carlos makes furniture in a shop that he runs out of his home. He started off as an assistant for another furniture maker and learned the trade quickly. With the help of his father and with the money he saved from his job he decided to open up his own business. He rented a location where he could work and sell and he also invested in a couple of necessary tools. He soon realized that the costs of renting were too much and he moved the business into his home.
This business provides for him, his wife and his three children. He uses his earnings to put his kids through school and dreams of them having college degrees.
Carlos is now lending for the second time through Kiva and Mifex. Although Carlos planned to invest his first loan in new machinery he found that the costs were extremely high. He bought a second hand polishing tool that has helped, but most of the money from the loan was invested in raw materials. He was able to increase his production and hire a new worker that helps him greatly. He made some basic improvements to his workshop and his home as well. His children are doing well in school and he is grateful for the opportunity to improve his business. He hopes he can receive a second loan so he may continue to purchase raw materials at large quantities.
Translated from English by Maria Ramirez-Gregg, Kiva Volunteer.
Carlos hace muebles y gabinetes en su taller, el cual opera desde su hogar. El empezo como asistente de otro ebanista y aprendio el oficio rapidamente. Con la ayuda de su padre y el dinero que ahorro de su trabajo, Carlos decidio abrir su propio negocio. El rento un lugar donde pudiera trabajar y vender sus creaciones. El tambien invirtio en un par de herramientas necesarias. Carlos pronto se dio cuenta que el costo de rentar un lugar era demasiado y movio su negocio a su hogar.
Este negocio provee para el, su esposa y sus tres hijos. El usa sus ganancias para costear el costo de la educacion de sus hijos y suena con el dia en que ellos tengan sus diplomas universitarios.
Esta es la segunda vez que Carlos hace un prestamo atraves de Kiva y MIFEX. Aunque Carlos planeo invertir su primer prestamo en maquinaria el hallo que los costos eran extremadamente altos. El compro una pulidora de segunda mano que le ha ayudado pero la mayoria del dinero del primer prestamo fue invertido en materia prima.
El ha sido capaz de aumentar su produccion y ha podido contratar a un nuevo empleado que le ayuda mucho. El ha hecho unas mejorias basicas a su taller y a su casa tambien. Sus hijos van muy bien en la escuela y el esta agradecido de la oportunidad que ha tenido de mejorar su negocio. El espera poder recibir un segundo prestamo para asi poder continuar comprando materia prima en grandes cantidades.
",M,700,partner,Manufacturing,0 Ecuador,"Carlos makes furniture in a shop that he runs out of his home. He started off as an assistant for another furniture maker and learned the trade quickly. With the help of his father and with the money he saved from his job he decided to open up his own business. He rented a location where he could work and sell and he also invested in a couple of tools necessary. He soon realized that the costs of renting were too much and he moved the business into his home.
He is seeking this loan specifically to buy the tools necessary to work more efficiently and make better products. Currently he rents most of the machinery necessary for the work which is getting expensive and inefficient. This business provides for him, his wife and his three children. He uses his earnings to put his kids through school and dreams of them having college degrees.
Mifex offers its clients microinsurance and access to business training and educational programs. For more information about microfinance, Ecuador, and our services, please visit www.mifex.org.
",M,375,partner,Retail,0 Ecuador,"Carlos sells bread in his own store. He began his business after learning about baking at his former job. At first, he only sold bread. Now, he sells bread along with candies and other sweets, and he has two assistants who help distribute bread to local stores. Carlos hopes to sell other products like sugar and oil. He will use the loan to buy these new products. He hopes that the introduction of these new products will help him increase and reinvest in his business.
Carlos is 48 years old, married, and has two sons. He is from Manab and he moved to Guayaquil to earn a better living. This loan will improve the quality of life for his family and help him grow his business.
Translated from Spanish by Bianca Vargas, Kiva Volunteer.
",M,625,partner,Food,0 Ecuador,"
Carlota travels around her local community selling household products. She uses a tricycle cart where she displays her many products that range from juicers to buckets. Her husband is in a similar line of work only he travels to rural towns to do business because there is much less competition. They have been doing this for about 15 years and they remember starting their business with only $1 in capital (15 years ago a dollar went a long way).
Carlota is 32 years old and has 3 small children. Her and her husband work diligently in order to provide the basic necessities for their kids. Their goal is to have them all finish high school and go for a college degree since they themselves were never able to pursue this dream. Carlota will use the money to buy more goods and cheaper prices from wholesale distributors.
Mifex offers its clients microinsurance and access to business training and educational programs. For more information about microfinance, Ecuador, and our services, please visit www.mifex.org.
",F,475,partner,Retail,0 Ecuador,"Carmen has been working as a dentist for over 19 years. After receiving and repaying her first loan with Kiva and Mifex, she is requesting a second loan in order to invest in a new dentist chair and other equipment. The capital has helped her business because she has better quality materials and tools. She is slowly seeing that her client base has become larger and more satisfied. Her offices are located in the city although she lives in Duran, a poor community on the outskirts of Guayaquil. Carmen also works for a foundation several days a week, offering her dental services at much more affordable prices to the local community. She has 4 children who her and her husband must support.
Mifex offers its clients microinsurance and access to business training and educational programs. For more information about microfinance, Ecuador, and our services, please visit www.mifex.org.
",F,1575,partner,Health,0 Ecuador,"Carmen owns a shop where she makes ceramic decorations. She learned how to work with ceramics from her parents when she was 18. When she got married 10 years ago she and her ex-husband set up the business in her home with the help of her parents who provided the ceramic oven which cost $100 at the time. Slowly she bought the molds for her decorations which became popular in her neighborhood. Now she not only sells ceramics she also teaches others how to make them through her courses. She is seeking investment capital in order to invest in molds and paints for her ceramics. She is anxious to receive the loan so she may improve her business and provide a better living for her 3 children whom she cares for on her own.
Mifex offers its clients microinsurance and access to business training and educational programs. For more information about microfinance, Ecuador, and our services, please visit www.mifex.org.
",F,875,partner,Retail,0 Ecuador,"Carmen sells cosmetics and perfumes. She started off as an assistant for a friend and decided to branch off and start her own operation with a $100 loan from her sister. She now offers cosmetics, perfumes and cleaning products to her customers. After receiving a loan from Mifex several months ago, she was able to increase her perfume sales, travel to nearby towns and add an assistant to help her.
With this, her second loan, she is hoping to continue making investments in merchandise that she can offer to her clients that are in the city and also in nearby towns. She also hopes to continue making small improvements to her home, which have an immediate impact on her family's standard of living.
Carmen is a single mother of three children. Two of her children are old enough to go to school but the other is still too young. The toughest part of raising her kids on her own has been finding someone to take care of them. When she sees that she must go out and sell in order to make ends meet, she has to leave her youngest child at the care of her 9 year old daughter. She hopes that if she continues to increase profits she will be able to run the business out of her home.
",F,950,lender,Retail,1 Ecuador,"Carmen sells cosmetics and perfumes. She started off as an assistant for a friend and decided to branch off and start her own operation with a $100 loan from her sister. She now offers cosmetics, perfumes and cleaning products to her customers. She is need of the loan in order to invest in more of these products and also in some clothes. She sees the time of year as a golden opportunity to increase her profits.
Carmen is a single mother of three children. Two of her children are old enough to go to school but the other is still too young. The toughest part of raising her kids on her own has been finding someone to take care of them. When she sees that she must go out and sell in order to make ends meet, she has to leave her youngest child at the care of her 9 year old daughter. She hopes that if she continues to increase profits she will be able to run the business out of her home.
Mifex offers its clients microinsurance and access to business training and educational programs. For more information about microfinance, Ecuador, and our services, please visit www.mifex.org.
",F,475,partner,Retail,0 Ecuador,"Carmen sells cosmetics, clothes and jewelry. She has been in this line of work for about 8 years. Prior to this, she had a small stand where she sold fruits and vegetables, but she had to close down after she became ill. After she got better, she decided to start a business that was more flexible. She sells all types of womens items to her friends and neighbors. Carmen needs the loan in order to make a last round of investments before the year closes.
Carmen has three children, two of which are already working. Her youngest child, a nine year old boy, has a mental disability. It is very rough for her to raise him because she has limited access to psychological and medical services, but her son receives all the love and care her family can offer.
",F,475,partner,Retail,0 Ecuador,"Carmen sells cosmetics, clothes and jewelry. She has been in this line of work for about 8 years. Prior to this, she had a small stand where she sold fruits and vegetables, but she had to close down after she became ill. After she got better, she decided to start a business that was more flexible. She sells all types of womens items to her friends and neighbors.
Carmen has three children, two of which are already working. Her youngest child, a nine year old boy, has a mental disability. It is very rough for her to raise him because she has limited access to psychological and medical services, but her son receives all the love and care her family can offer.
This is Carmen's second loan with the Kiva and Mifex program. She hopes she can continue to invest in new products like she did with her last loan. THe profits from her previous micro credit helped her provide her son with some specialized schooling.
",F,850,partner,Retail,0 Ecuador,"Carmita has been selling cosmetics for more than 8 years. She began doing this when a neighbor became a distributor and provided goods for the local community to sell. Her husband gave her $100 in capital in order to get her started. Her business is doing quite well as she already has over 50 clients that purchase regularly. She needs the loan so she may be able to invest in a larger quantity of cosmetics at wholesale prices.
Carmita is 29 years old and has 5 children. It has been difficult for her and her husband to provide the basic necessities for the kids. Thanks to this business, she has been able to make it through some very hard times. Her goal is to make a section of her home into shop for her products.
Mifex offers its clients microinsurance and access to business training and educational programs. For more information about microfinance, Ecuador, and our services, please visit www.mifex.org.
",F,500,partner,Retail,0 Ecuador,"Carmita is a clothes sales woman. She sells clothes from her home and also goes around selling to her friends and acquaintances. She started by using just $150 of her husbands savings to buy clothes and slowly she established a faithful customer base. She is seeking this loan in order to buy clothes at wholesale prices. She also wants to improve her home and make it better fit to display the clothes she buys. She is originally from Manabi and traveled to Guayaquil to seek opportunities and work. Her goal is to improve her home where she, her husband and their two children live.
Mifex offers its clients microinsurance and access to business training and educational programs. For more information about microfinance, Ecuador, and our services, please visit www.mifex.org.
",F,375,partner,Clothing,0 Ecuador,"Carmita is a clothes saleswoman. She sells clothes from her home and also goes around selling to her friends and acquaintances. She started by using just $150 of her husband's savings to buy clothes and slowly she established a faithful customer base.
Carmita is seeking a second loan with Kiva and Mifex in order to buy clothes at wholesale prices. She has started to improve her home and make it better fit to display the clothes she buys. She is originally from Manabi and traveled to Guayaquil to seek opportunities and work. Her goal is to improve the home where she, her husband and their two children live.
",F,850,lender,Clothing,0 Ecuador,"Cecilia has 7 years experience and knowledge in producing ceramic items such as: souvenirs for marriages, quinceaneras, baptisms, graduation and other events. She learned these skills from a friend. Cecilia considers herself to be an enterprising woman who sees a lucrative business behind this art and so decided to open a small shop. Cecilia placed a small workshop in her home and for 5 years, with her friend's help, has sold some models and with her savings she bought the necessary prime materials to begin her business. Cecilia is well known in her neighborhood and friends from within and outside her neighborhood ask for her to take a commission from them. Cecilia sees customers between 7am and 8pm.
Cecilia is asking for a loan in order to expand her business because her demand has increased and she would also like to remodel her store in order to give a better impression to customers.
Cecilia is a hard working person, she is 40 years old and has 2 children, sho says she needs this loan in order to strenghten her business since the lack of capital has held her back from completing certain commissions, where the investment in prime materials is great. Furthermore, she states that investing more would generate higher profits thus giving a better life to her family as well as food, education and safety.
Translated from Spanish by Kiva Volunteer, Kristin Connor.
",F,600,partner,Arts,0 Ecuador,"
Cesar Ayala is 41, married and has 4 children, 3 of whom are in school. His home is made of cement and is only a single story and very simple. His older son helps him with his business and his wife takes charge of household chores. Mr. Cesar is able to send his children to school and provide adequate support for his family with his recent increase in earnings. He very much wishes to improve himself and his home so he might be able to run his business out of his home some day. He also hopes to improve his family's quality of life by securing the outside of his home with a gate.
Cesar has been working as a grocer of fruits and cheeses for 20 years now. He learned this trade as an adolescent working for his uncle. He then took this experience and started his own business. He sells his fruits from a bicycle cart, traveling throughout his neighborhood with his products. He starts working at 8am and finishes at 6pm, with a lunch break from 1pm-3pm, from Monday to Friday and during the mornings on Saturday and Sunday from 8am-1pm. Mr. Cesar used his first loan from Mifex and Kiva to purchase more fruit and to make badly needed repairs to his cart.
Now Mr. Cesar wishes to purchase more fruits with a second loan from Mifex and Kiva. By doing this, he will be able to better tend to his customers and to meet high demand.",M,1100,lender,Food,1 Ecuador,"
Cesar has been a fisherman for over 20 years. He learned the family trade from his father as his assistant since he was 10 years old. After working in a factory for a couple of years, he realized that he wanted to have his own business. He partnered up with his brother to buy a canoe and set up a stand to sell the catches from the day. He wants to buy better fishing tools (a net, fishing rod etc.) because his current tools are worn and outdated.
Cesar is married and has two children. His wife helps him in the business by selling seafood from her home. They are a very close family and they all work together to make the business successful.
Mifex offers its clients microinsurance and access to business training and educational programs. For more information about microfinance, Ecuador, and our services, please visit www.mifex.org.
",M,475,partner,Food,0 Ecuador,"Cesar has been selling clothes and shoes for 9 years. Before opening his own business he taught tennis at a local academy where he used to practice with his friend in his free time.
While Cesar was happy with his job, as time passed he decided to leave the tennis academy so that he could dedicate his life to the teachings of Christ. He began preaching at a local penitentiary to the inmates and prison guards, and one day an inmate was admiring the pants he was wearing, and asked him to sell them to him. At this moment, Cesar realized that even inside the prison system there existed a market for the sale of merchandise. He began to bring goods-clothes, shoes, and accessories- with him when he visited the prison, and little by little he established his business. Cesar now visits the prison three days a week, on Wednesdays, Saturdays and Sundays, from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. He is able to both preach, and make a living. In addition, he has two inmates who help him with his business on the weekends, when the demand is highest.
Cesar would like a loan so that he can invest in more merchandise as he has reached a point where the demand for his products outweighs what he is able to supply. He would also like to expand his business to another area of the prison system, but has not been able to yet due to a lack of capital.
Cesar is 40 years old, and has three children who are in school, and help him with the business in their spare time. He is married, and his wife is a nurse. Cesar owns a motorcycle, but would like to buy a car one day to help him transport his goods. He is confident in his business skills, and he knows that with the help of those around him he will continue to succeed.
Translated from Spanish by Michelle Kreger, a Kiva Volunteer.
",M,475,partner,Clothing,0 Ecuador,"
Cesar is a blacksmith who owns a workshop where he and his three sons make metal doors, window frames and gates. The workshop is a family business that provides the main source of income for the household. Their mother works nearby at her small food market.
This is the second loan that Cesar is requesting from Mifex and Kiva. With the first he invested in large amounts of iron in order to produce at higher quantities. He and his sons got to work and have been able to increase their sales substantially. Cesar is happy that he has been able to provide work and money for himself and his kids. He expresses great gratitude towards Kiva because this is truly a family a business that he and his kids are dependent upon. He will use the second loan for the same purpose as his business continues to flourish and clients increase consistently.
Mifex offers its clients microinsurance and access to business training and educational programs. For more information about microfinance, Ecuador, and our services, please visit www.mifex.org.
",F,1175,partner,Manufacturing,0 Ecuador,"Cesar is applying for his second loan with Kiva. He would like to thank the Kiva community for helping him with the first loan. He has a stand where he sells common Ecuadorian foods to the public. With the capital from his loan, he was able to invest in his business and generate enough profit to set up a similar stand for his wife. They both have been working hard to make their business a success during these last eight months. Now, Cesar not only sells encebollado, he also makes a variety of other typical Ecuadorian foods. With his next loan he hopes he can take the next step for his business and rent a place where he can set up a restaurant. He is very grateful for the support and hopes he can continue to be part of the Mifex and Kiva program.
",M,1000,partner,Food,0 Ecuador,"Cesar sells chickens in his local community. He mainly targets family and friends but he is sure that he can reach new markets. He sells about 20 to 30 chickens a day and is looking to continue improving his sales. Previously he owned a barbecue stand where he sold roasted chickens. He sold the stand in order to invest in a truck that he believed would allow him to purchase and distribute wholesale goods. Unfortunately he bought a lemon and his truck has not provided the business opportunities he hoped for.
Cesar is seeking the loan in order to increase his investments. He wants to begin purchasing poultry at wholesale quantities in order to resell to market vendors and shop owners. He also needs to fix up the spot in his backyard where he raises the live chickens he buys.
Cesar is 55 years old and has 3 children. His wife is a seamstress who helps bring in a complimentary source of income. Unfortunatley, both of Cesars older children (age 28 and 30) have mental disabilities. His kids rely on their mother and father for financial and emotional support. The couple works hard to provide their children with a decent living.
",M,375,partner,Agriculture,0 Ecuador,"Chere sells peeled garlic to stores in her area. She started this business with her sister as a secondary source of income. The business has grown steadily and they make enough to support their family. They purchase garlic from rural farmers, peel and package it, and sell it to small stores around their neighborhood. Chere is 41 years old and has three children, who are all in school. She has a small and humble house and a stable household. She hopes to save money to make improvements to her floor.
",F,275,partner,Food,0 Ecuador,"Clemencia has an auto parts shop in her house. She began her business with her husbands help who gave her $150. She began selling small automobile parts and repairing tires. Now she is still selling auto parts and oil, and other auto products. With help from a previous Kiva and Mifex loan Clemencia was also able to set up a small snack bar adjacent to her business.
Clemencia wants the Kiva loan to buy new products at wholesale prices and improve her profit. She has faith that with new products her business will grow. Clemencia has 2 children and is 3 years old. Clemencia has hope that with the Kiva loan her familys quality of life will improve as she will be able to have more stability and grow her business.
",F,1200,lender,Services,1 Ecuador,"Clemente owns a small business where he sells many different types of products for the home. He sells school and office supplies, home products and also bottled water. Clemente also brings in a considerable amount of profits with his sale of beverages.
Clement plans to use the loan in order to increase and diversify his inventory. By providing more products he is hopeful his clients will visit more often. He plans to take advantage of the better prices one has access to when purchasing wholesale.
Clemente has two children, both of which are in school. He hopes that he will be able to provide his children and save for their future studies.
",M,1050,partner,Retail,0 Ecuador,"Cleris Diana has 3 years of experience with her business. She and her husband decided to get into the office supply business after owning a small food business run out of their home. They work every day of the week from 7:00 AM until 8:00 PM.
The first loan Cleris had with Mifex and Kiva was used to invest in school supplies, gift wrapping, and beauty supplies for hair. Due to the high demand for office supplies, her business was competitive and her overall income increased. Glerys and her husband are very dedicated to their business and their customers appreciate the service and attention they provide.
Cleris Diana is 41 years old and is married. She has 3 children, 2 of whom are still in school. Her husband, apart from helping with the shop, works doing maintenance for a hotel in the city. In order to continue to provide excellent service to her clients Glerys wants to use her second loan to purchase more merchandise. She hopes that with the increase in income, she can run a stable business and continue to provide for her family.
See her first Kiva loan here: http://www.kiva.org/app.php?page=businesses&action=about&id=7333",F,400,lender,Retail,0 Ecuador,"Colon Dumes is a rancher and farmer from a rural town in Ecuador named Salitre. He has lived in the rural area his whole life and he only has a primary education. His two children are already grown up but they work with him on his farm. He is no longer married but is still widely considered as a family man because of the relantionship he maintains with his kids and their children. He will use part of the money from this loan for rice cultivation and the other part to maintain his cattle.
Colon is part of the first Communal Bank in the new Mifex Rural Finance Program. All the members of the Resistencia Communal Bank are part of an Association of Rice Farmers in Salitre named Resistencia. They will use the microloans to prepare the lands and cultivate rice on their farms. Because they form part of a communal bank, they are all each other's guarantors for the loan. This means that if for some reason one person in the group cannot fully repay the loan, the other borrowers and the Resistencia Association are responsible for the amount that is missing. The members of the bank also participate in a program designed to teach and encourage saving among the group. Promoting saving is often forgotten in many microfinance programs, but is imperative for the communities Mifex works with to have capital reserved for future investments or unexpected difficulties.
The loans in this sector will be used to create water deposits that will prevent flooding in the case of heavy rains or store water in case of droughts. They will also be used to treat the land prior to farming, to plant the seeds and purchase fertilizer. The loan repayment schedule is also different from the typical microentrepreneur. Because farmers see the profits from their investments 5 or 6 months after making their initial expenditures, Mifex asks them only to pay 50% of the capital in the first 6 months of the loan. The rest of the debt must be paid in the seventh and final month.
Below is more information about Salitre compiled by the staff at Mifex when evaluating the potential of the sector for the Rural Finance Program.
Salitre is a rural sector in the Province of Guayas known as the capital of Montuvios (montuvio is a cowboy) with approximately 30,000 inhabitants. The main economic activities are herding and agriculture which make up about 80% of the economy. The infrastructure and basic services are poor, especially the roads and water services.
Salitre is highly dedicated to farming rice and cattle ranching. Rice is a crop that yields about every four months. In order to farm rice, the environment must be very humid and there must be a high volume of water. The lack of a structured water system makes it difficult for the small farmers to be highly productive. The best months for cultivating rice are early in the year when it is the rainy season in the coast of Ecuador.
Salitre is a national tourist attraction as many Ecuadorians visit the fresh water Salitre River. There are cottages, small restaurants and water attractions that people come to enjoy.
There is not a single financial institution that provides services to the productive sector of the local economy. The only access to credit comes from loan sharks who charge extremely high interest rates averaging around 20% a month. The locals are also exploited by the intermediaries that buy their products in order to commercialize them in the city and to export abroad. These intermediaries buy crops in advance at very low prices, finance soil at extremely high prices and often provide emergency loans for even higher interest rates than the loan sharks.
Salitre is a dangerous sector considering it is in the rural area. There is a high incidence of robbery of cattle that results in many of the ranch owners owning weapons to protect their property. Because the police are not present in these areas, farmers and ranchers must apply their own laws and provide their own security. In some instances they have formed their own cooperatives and associations to have a community crime prevention effort.
Salitre is in the lowlands of Ecuador and is vulnerable to flooding in the rainy season. In the event of a heavy rainy season, often at its worse when El Nio occurs, the farmers of rice lose many of their crops. All this is due to a lack of infrastructure in the area.
",M,1200,lender,Agriculture,0 Ecuador,"Cratis has been selling soft drinks, bottled water and beer in her neighborhood for 5 years. She invested in merchandise with her first loan from Mifex and Kiva. She also has been selling prepared meals on the weekends in the afternoon to supplement her business. Slowly her income and her reputation have improved in her sector.
Cratis was born in Esmerelda. She is 43 years old with 4 sons, all of whom still depend on her. Her husband abandoned her 15 years ago. She began working in houses after she left her hometown at the age of 14. To this day she has not stopped working; she has fought so that her children could eat every day. She also cares for a niece since her sister lives abroad. This niece has joined her in the business and is a great asset to her. They live in a cane house which she is proud to own.
Cratis is requesting a second loan to invest in more merchandise for business. She hopes to sells snacks, juices, and other types of drinks. For her food vending business, she will purchase more ingredients. She is happy to be able to provide for her family and wants to improve their home and quality of life.
Cratis's first loan from Mifex and Kiva: Business ID 4492",F,425,lender,Food,1 Ecuador,"
Cristbal has a workshop where he does metal work and refrigeration repair. He makes metal doors, gates and windows that are very popular in the community because they provide safety. He also works on refrigerator, automobiles and air conditioner repair. He learned the trades from his father and uncles who were in similar lines of business. He will use the loan in order to buy raw materials for his business. He runs the business out of his home in the backyard. Cristobal has six children he must try to support. His current wife helps him at the business and also has a small business.
Mifex offers its clients microinsurance and access to business training and educational programs. For more information about microfinance, Ecuador, and our services, please visit www.mifex.org.
",M,475,partner,Manufacturing,0 Ecuador,"Cruz and her sister opened this store about 4 years ago. There they sell all types of products to the community ranging from jewelry to office supplies. Cruz and her sister started off by putting together savings and selling just paper, pens and other school supplies. As they grew they began to invest in many different products to sell.
Although the business was going well Cruzs sister married about a year ago and made the decisions to move to a new city. Obviously this has affected Cruz. She must now make monthly payments to her sister in order to repay for the capital she put up. Instead of having two people invest the business now it is only Cruz and even she is limited by the payments.
Cruz is now seeking this loan in order to invest in new products that will be particularly popular during the Christmas season. She is confident in her ability to sell and assures lenders that there is sufficient demand to justify an investment.
",F,725,partner,Retail,0 Ecuador,"Cruz and her sister opened this store about 4 years ago. There they sell all types of products to the community ranging from jewelry to office supplies. Cruz and her sister started off by putting together savings and selling just paper, pens and other school supplies. As they grew, they began to invest in many different products to sell.
Although the business was going well, Cruzs sister married about a year and a half ago and made the decision to move to a new city. Obviously, this affected Cruz. She had to make monthly payments to her sister in order to repay for the capital she put up. Instead of having two people invest in the business, Cruz found herself alone and limited by the payments. She used a loan from Kiva and Mifex to help her get past the tough times and this resulted in a great deal of help for her.
Cruz is now seeking this loan in order to invest in completely new products now that she is finished paying her sister. She is confident in her ability to sell and assures lenders that there is sufficient demand to justify an investment. She is happy to be able t provide for her two children.
",F,1200,partner,Retail,0 Ecuador,"Cruz is a chicken monger who buys poultry wholesale and distributes to the local markets. When he moved to Guayaquil as a young boy he had to work in the streets in order to help his family survive. He has worked as a shoe shiner and a street vendor of many items including candy and fish. He now owns this business that allows him to make a much more stable income. He is requesting the loan because he wants to invest in larger quantities of chicken so he may offer his products to more stores. He is very optimistic about the future for him and his 3 children. His main goal is to improve his home which is made out of bamboo.
Mifex offers its clients microinsurance and access to business training and educational programs. For more information about microfinance, Ecuador, and our services, please visit www.mifex.org.
",M,475,partner,Agriculture,0 Ecuador,"Daisy Orrala sells cosmetics and perfume. She is a certified vendor of Yanbal products, which is a cosmetic line native to Ecuador. She has only been in business for four months, but she has years of experience selling perfumes and such because her mother did the same thing for years. After raising an initial $100 from her personal savings, Daisy she began selling to many of the other young girls whom she goes to college with.
Ms. Orrala needs this loan so that she can continue to replenish the supply she gets every week and meet the demand of the holiday season. Recently, Daisy started selling intimate womens clothing which is becoming a hot item at her store. With this loan she intends to buy more shampoos, conditioners, lipsticks, eyeliners, blush, and a wider variety of perfumes.
Daisy is only 21 years old, but she is a hardworking woman who wants to succeed in the world. She is single and lives with her parents who are also small business owners. Their entrepreneurial spirit inspired Daisy to try something out on her own, and although she doesnt sell Ecuadorian food like her dad or lunch meals like her mother, she plans ahead and invests her money on products that she knows will bring a decent return. Her goal is to become totally self-sufficient, pay for school, and no longer have to depend on her parents for financial support.
Mifex offers its clients microinsurance and access to business training and educational programs. For more information about microfinance, Ecuador, and our services, please visit www.mifex.org.
",F,475,partner,Retail,0 Ecuador,"Daniel Velastegui has 20 years of experience making and selling sandals. He inherited his shop from his father and remembers working in the shop as a boy. Over time he had a family of his own and started a business in masonry with the help of his wife and children. Unfortunately, Daniels father passed away, and he is now responsible for managing both businesses. Mr. Velastegui reports that he has been able to earn enough to feed, clothe, and educate his family, but he has grander visions for expanding his two businesses. This hard-working entrepreneur opens up shop every day a 8 am and closes at 8 pm.
Daniel is a 38-year-old married man from Guayaquil, Ecuador with three beautiful children. Daniels wife mainly takes care of the children and the house, but she does a fair share of the work at Sandalias Daniel. Daniels goal is to become a large distributor of sandals in Ecuador by consistently expanding his business and advertising his products by word of mouth.
Daniel is looking to take out his second loan with Kiva and Mifex. His operation has grown bigger since he received his first loan. He now has a workshop where he, his wife, and two of his brothers manufacture sandals. His investments in raw materials proved worthwhile, as he was able to increase his production and profits. He has been saving some extra money with the thought of renovating his home, but he has been focused on investing in the business and continuing to expand it. He will continue to buy raw materials and tools for his shop.
",M,875,partner,Retail,0 Ecuador,"David has a restaurant inside the market. He began his business with the help of his wife, who encouraged him to buy a location in the market. In the beginning, they only sold breakfasts. Now they offer both breakfasts and lunches.
He will use the loan to buy an industrial kitchen which will make his cooking process much more efficient and easier. With a previous loan he already purchased industrial equipment and more utensils, but he is hoping to do what he can to make the cooking better and add quality to his food.
David is 46 years old and married, with four children who are all studying. Life hasnt been easy for David, working together with his wife to provide food, education, and clothing for his family. David hopes that this loan will help him save up to build his house and to educate to his children.
",M,1200,lender,Food,1 Ecuador,"David has a shop in the local market where he sells plasticwares and a variety of household products. To help him get established in life, Davids parents provided the merchandise he used to start his business. At first he sold plastic products door-to-door. With a lot of effort David was able to obtain a stall at the market, where he now sells plasticwares, school supplies, and toys for kids. To supplement these sales he used a loan from Mifex and Kiva to start a black-and-white photocopy service, which he provides with an old machine that he bought second hand.
David is a 28-year-old single father. He has one son whom he cares for. David depends entirely on this business to support his family. He is requesting a second loan with Mifex and Kiva to stock his shop with all the wholesale items he sells and to maintain his copy machine. He will continue to invest in other products to provide a diverse inventory for his customers. He is sure that with these new products his business will grow. David knows this loan will give his family financial security and will allow him to save for his son's education.
",M,1200,lender,Retail,1 Ecuador,"Deisy has seven years of experience selling vegetables. She started selling them during the holidays when her town held festivals. When the festivals were not going on, Deisy ran a shop out of her home. When customers started coming, she realized that they were also in need of household items, and she started building an inventory similar to that in a small market.
Deisy moved to a part of Guayaquil named Malvinas five years ago when she bought her house. It is there that she works hard every day from 6:30 am until 11 pm.
She is requesting her third loan with Kiva and Mifex. She used the first loan to invest in vegetables and other products. The first loan was so successful that she was able to purchase a new refrigerator with a glass door with her profits. Her second loan was used to buy beverages, dairy products, school supplies, and snacks for kids. She is doing well and hopes that with her new loan she can continue investing in a variety of products.
Deisy is a 26-year-old single mother of three. Two of her children are studying in school. Her husband left her when her children were just infants, so she has had to rely on her family to support her. Her wish is to continue building the business and earn more profit.
",F,950,lender,Retail,1 Ecuador,"Deisy has seven years of experience selling vegetables. She started selling them during the holidays when her town held festivals. When those were not going on, Deisy ran a shop out of her home. When customers started coming, she realized that they were also in need of household items and she started building an inventory that looked something like a small market.
Deisy moved to a part of Guayaquil named Malvinas five years ago when she bought her house. It is there that she works hard every day from 6:30am until 11pm. This is actually her second loan with Kiva and Mifex. Her first loan was used to invest in vegetables and other products. She can now better attend to the needs of her customers by keeping more products in stock and offering the best vegetables she can find. The first loan was so successful that she was able to purchase a new refrigerator with a glass door with her profits. She now wants to use her second loan to buy products that she can display and sell, such as yogurt, milk and beverages.
Deisy is a 26 year old single mother of three. Two of her children are studying in school. Her husband left her when her children were just infants, so she has had to rely on her family to support her. Her wish is to continue building the business and earn more profit.
",F,500,partner,Food,0 Ecuador,"Denny is now requesting her second loan with Kiva and Mifex. She has done very well with her first loan. As planned, she invested the loan in all the materials necessary to make her artisan rugs, including fabrics and special paints.
The results during the first months were wonderful. She was right on time for the busy Christmas season, which allowed her to substantially increase profits. Rather than put her money away or just spending it, Denny continued investing. She bought materials to make other products such as uniforms and woven hand bags. Her new products have allowed her to venture into new parts of town where she has been selling at a great pace.
Denny and her husband have been able to make some small adjustments in their home. She also spent a portion of her money buying better school supplies for her children now that the school year has begun. With her new loan she hopes she can boost the production of her new products. She will buy raw materials in order to make handbags and uniforms of better quality.
",M,1075,lender,Arts,1 Ecuador,"Despite Esteban's age, he still works the lands that were given to him by his father. He is a rice farmer in Baba, Ecuador where he was born and raised. He has had two children, both of whom are grown up and independent. He lives on his farm with his wife and together they make ends meet through rice production. He hopes he can invest the loan by acquiring fertilizers that will help his crops grow better.
This borrower is part of the newest and largest Communal Bank in the recently developed Mifex Rural Finance Program. All of the members of the Centro Agricola de Baba Communal Bank are part of an Association of Rice Farmers in the county of Baba in rural Ecuador. Their association works cooperatively to cultivate rice and commercialize the product after it has grown. As an association, Centro Agricola helps the farmers by providing access to machinery and training services. The farmers from Centro Agricola have received special instruction on financial responsibility and accounting from Codemicro, an organization that specializes in training programs geared towards the rural sector.
The members of Centro Agricola de Baba will use the micro-loans to prepare their lands and cultivate rice on their farms. Because they form part of a communal bank, they are all each others' guarantors for the loan. This means that if for some reason one person in the group cannot fully repay the loan, the other borrowers and the Centro Agricola de Baba Association are responsible for the amount in default. The members of the bank also participate in a program designed to teach and encourage savings among the group. Promoting savings is often forgotten in many micro-finance programs, but Mifex believes that is imperative for the communities we works with to have capital reserved for future investments or unexpected difficulties.
Below is more information about Santa Lucia compiled by Luis Crespo and Robert Edgar of the Mifex team when evaluating the potential of the sector for the Rural Finance Program.
The people of Baba have been organized since the days of Gran Colombia when Ecuador was yet to be a country. The area has always been popular because of the extremely productive lands that gave way to cultivation of cacao for decades. Now Baba is a county in the province of Los Rios in the coastal region of Ecuador. For most of the latter part of the 20th Century it was a cacao and banana-producing sector. Most of the surrounding areas of Baba in Los Rios are owned by large multinational companies such as Dole, but Baba is a sector characterized by small and informal farms.
Rice production has now turned into the main economic activity of the sector as about 80% of the people are rice farmers. Cacao is still very popular in the area, but because of the long cultivation cycle people prefer to invest in rice. The lands in Baba are very fertile though, and most farmers in the sector often grow other crops, such as plantains and soybeans as secondary sources of income. Many farmers also keep livestock as emergency sources of food and income, commonly resorting to selling a chicken or pig if they are in need of cash.
Most of the people in the Baba area are small farmers. They produce about 80 sacks of rice per hectare of land. In order to farm they first must prepare the lands by removing weeds, plowing and leveling the lands. This is the most difficult part for the farmers in Baba, who often lack the necessary machinery to properly plow the lands for rice production. After appropriately preparing the lands, the farmers fill an area with water to form what is known as a paddy field, because rice is a very water-intensive crop. The rice seeds are either dispersed freely (the process is known as boleo in Spanish) or hand sowed. Once the rice has grown, most farmers rent machinery that helps them gather their production.
One of the biggest struggles in the area has been the lack of credit due to the absence of any type of financial institution. Because people do not count on formal financial finance, they have turned to loan sharks for financing. They have been affected by expensive lines of credit that exceed 100% interest a year and can be as expensive as 240%. Intermediaries also exploit the farmers because of their outstanding debt. Farmers also lack skills and knowledge to commercialize their products and pay fair prices for their crops.
The largest risk in the sector is due to absence of watering systems. Although Baba is in the province Los Rios (the rivers) there is severe problem with access to water. The lack of infrastructure in the sector does not allow the small farmers to benefit from the presence of the many rivers in the area. If the winter season is too dry, it is likely that the lands will not be sufficiently fertile for rice production in the summer. On the other hand, if there is too much rain, there are not any drainage systems to prevent flooding and the crops are often ruined. Generally speaking though, Baba is a very productive sector where the lands yield all types of crops including rice, cacao, corn, watermelons, plantains, and soybeans.
The loans in this sector will mostly be used to buy soil, seeds, fertilizer and insecticides. Many clients will use the capital towards renting machinery and equipment necessary to effectively work and prepare the fields. Clients also typically use a part of the loan to buy livestock in order to raise and have as reserves. The loan repayment schedule is different from the typical micro-entrepreneur because farmers see the profits from their investments 5 or 6 months after making their initial expenditures. Mifex asks our rural clients only to pay 50% of the capital in the first 6 months of the loan. The rest of the debt must be paid in the seventh and final month.
",M,1075,lender,Agriculture,0 Ecuador,"Despite his age, Victor Herrera still works the fields of the farm he has lived on for over 40 years. He has always been dedicated to agriculture and he still maintains his farm with the help of his two sons. He is very happy that he will receive a loan that will help him be more productive.
This borrower is part of the newest and largest Communal Bank in the recently developed Mifex Rural Finance Program. All of the members of the Centro Agricola de Baba Communal Bank are part of an Association of Rice Farmers in the county of Baba in rural Ecuador. Their association works cooperatively to cultivate rice and commercialize the product after it has grown. As an association, Centro Agricola helps the farmers by providing access to machinery and training services. The farmers from Centro Agricola have received special instruction on financial responsibility and accounting from Codemicro, an organization that specializes in training programs geared towards the rural sector.
The members of Centro Agricola de Baba will use the micro-loans to prepare their lands and cultivate rice on their farms. Because they form part of a communal bank, they are all each others' guarantors for the loan. This means that if for some reason one person in the group cannot fully repay the loan, the other borrowers and the Centro Agricola de Baba Association are responsible for the amount in default. The members of the bank also participate in a program designed to teach and encourage savings among the group. Promoting savings is often forgotten in many micro-finance programs, but Mifex believes that is imperative for the communities we works with to have capital reserved for future investments or unexpected difficulties.
Below is more information about Santa Lucia compiled by Luis Crespo and Robert Edgar of the Mifex team when evaluating the potential of the sector for the Rural Finance Program.
The people of Baba have been organized since the days of Gran Colombia when Ecuador was yet to be a country. The area has always been popular because of the extremely productive lands that gave way to cultivation of cacao for decades. Now Baba is a county in the province of Los Rios in the coastal region of Ecuador. For most of the latter part of the 20th Century it was a cacao and banana-producing sector. Most of the surrounding areas of Baba in Los Rios are owned by large multinational companies such as Dole, but Baba is a sector characterized by small and informal farms.
Rice production has now turned into the main economic activity of the sector as about 80% of the people are rice farmers. Cacao is still very popular in the area, but because of the long cultivation cycle people prefer to invest in rice. The lands in Baba are very fertile though, and most farmers in the sector often grow other crops, such as plantains and soybeans as secondary sources of income. Many farmers also keep livestock as emergency sources of food and income, commonly resorting to selling a chicken or pig if they are in need of cash.
Most of the people in the Baba area are small farmers. They produce about 80 sacks of rice per hectare of land. In order to farm they first must prepare the lands by removing weeds, plowing and leveling the lands. This is the most difficult part for the farmers in Baba, who often lack the necessary machinery to properly plow the lands for rice production. After appropriately preparing the lands, the farmers fill an area with water to form what is known as a paddy field, because rice is a very water-intensive crop. The rice seeds are either dispersed freely (the process is known as boleo in Spanish) or hand sowed. Once the rice has grown, most farmers rent machinery that helps them gather their production.
One of the biggest struggles in the area has been the lack of credit due to the absence of any type of financial institution. Because people do not count on formal financial finance, they have turned to loan sharks for financing. They have been affected by expensive lines of credit that exceed 100% interest a year and can be as expensive as 240%. Intermediaries also exploit the farmers because of their outstanding debt. Farmers also lack skills and knowledge to commercialize their products and pay fair prices for their crops.
The largest risk in the sector is due to absence of watering systems. Although Baba is in the province Los Rios (the rivers) there is severe problem with access to water. The lack of infrastructure in the sector does not allow the small farmers to benefit from the presence of the many rivers in the area. If the winter season is too dry, it is likely that the lands will not be sufficiently fertile for rice production in the summer. On the other hand, if there is too much rain, there are not any drainage systems to prevent flooding and the crops are often ruined. Generally speaking though, Baba is a very productive sector where the lands yield all types of crops including rice, cacao, corn, watermelons, plantains, and soybeans.
The loans in this sector will mostly be used to buy soil, seeds, fertilizer and insecticides. Many clients will use the capital towards renting machinery and equipment necessary to effectively work and prepare the fields. Clients also typically use a part of the loan to buy livestock in order to raise and have as reserves. The loan repayment schedule is different from the typical micro-entrepreneur because farmers see the profits from their investments 5 or 6 months after making their initial expenditures. Mifex asks our rural clients only to pay 50% of the capital in the first 6 months of the loan. The rest of the debt must be paid in the seventh and final month.
",M,675,lender,Agriculture,0 Ecuador,"Despite his old age, Simon is still a hardworking rice farmer. He has lived in Santa Lucia his entire life, in fact the lands he owns were given to him by his father. For over 50 years Simon has been making ends meet with the rice that his lands produce. He and his wife Victoria have relied on their farm to raise there 3 children who are all adults now. Simon is requesting the loan because he wants to avoid having to borrow from loan sharks in order to buy his supplies. He has been using those informal loans for most of his time in Santa Lucia and he is optimistic about the presence of formal finance.
Simon is part of one of the newest Communal Banks in the recently developed Mifex Rural Finance Program: the Paypayales Communal Bank. All bank members are part of a rice farmers' cooperative in Santa Lucia named Dios Con Nosotros (God is with us). They will use these microloans to prepare their lands and cultivate rice on their farms. As members of a communal bank, they are all the guarantors for each other's loans. This means that if for some reason one person in the group cannot fully repay the loan, the other borrowers and the Dios con Nosotros Cooperative are responsible for the amount in default. The members of the bank also participate in a program designed to teach and encourage savings among the group. Promoting savings is often forgotten in many microfinance programs, but Mifex believes that is imperative for the communities we works with to have capital reserved for future investments or unexpected difficulties.
Below is more information about the commnity of Santa Lucia, compiled by Luis Crespo and Robert Edgar of the Mifex team when evaluating the potential of the sector for the Rural Finance Program. Special thanks to Mario Balazantegui who provided expert insight and contributed to the development of the alliances with the local organizations.
Santa Lucia County has a population of about 33,000 people. The region is fit for rice cultivating because it is not in the lowlands and therefore it is not at risk of flooding. There is also great access to water because of the Daule River, which is accessible to many of the farmers in the area. About 70% of the farmers have basic infrastructure for watering their crops.
Rice production is the main economic activity of the area, as about 80% of the people are rice farmers. Almost everyone is either directly or indirectly involved with the rice production, as they produce, commercialize or participate in activities that add value to the product. Within the county, there is a small town also named Santa Lucia. The town is filled with many small businesses and it serves as the social and commercial hub of the area.
Most of the people in the Santa Lucia area are small farmers. They produce about 100 sacks of rice per hectare of land. In order to farm they first must prepare the lands by removing weeds and plowing. The farmers then fill an area with water to form what is known as a paddy field, because rice is a very water intensive crop. The rice seeds are either dispersed freely (the process is known as boleo in Spanish) or hand sowed. Once the rice has grown, most farmers rent machinery that helps them harvest their crop. A risk factor does exist in rice farming because of drought, but in Santa Lucia this is somewhat mitigated by the access to water form the nearby river.
The biggest struggle in the area has been the lack of credit. Because people do not have access to formal financial services, they have turned to loan sharks for financing. They have been affected by expensive lines of credit that exceed 100% interest a year and can be as expensive as 240%. Intermediaries also exploit the farmers because of their outstanding debt. Farmers also often lack skills and knowledge of how to commercialize their product and get fair prices for their crops.
The loans in this sector will be used to to buy soil, seeds, fertilizer and insecticides. They will also be used to prepare the land prior to farming, to plant the seeds and purchase other materials. The loan repayment schedule is different from the typical microentrepreneur. Because farmers see the profits from their investments 5 or 6 months after making their initial expenditures, Mifex asks them to repay 50% of the capital in the first 6 months of the loan. The rest of the debt must be paid in the seventh and final month.
",M,825,lender,Agriculture,0 Ecuador,"Despite only having an elementary education, Walter Anzoategui has a successful farm. He cultivates the lands he grew up on with his parents. He has taken the lead in the farm due to his father's old age. He has been doing well and is seeking investment capital in order to rent machinery to collect his crops and sell them on his own, avoiding having to deal with a middle man. He is single and does not have children, but he is a very hard worker and aspires to have a family in the future.
Walter is part of one of the newest Communal Banks in the recently developed Mifex Rural Finance Program: the Primero de Agosto Communal Bank. All bank members are part of the Association of Rice Farmers in Santa Lucia, and they will use these microloans to prepare their lands and cultivate rice on their farms. As members of a communal bank, they are all guarantors for each other's loans. This means that if for some reason one person in the group cannot fully repay the loan, the other borrowers and the Primero de Agosto Association are responsible for the amount in default. The members of the bank also participate in a program designed to teach and encourage savings among the group. Promoting savings is often forgotten in many microfinance programs, but Mifex believes that is imperative for the communities we work with to have capital reserved for future investments or unexpected difficulties.
Below is more information about the commnity of Santa Lucia, compiled by Luis Crespo and Robert Edgar of the Mifex team when evaluating the potential of the sector for the Rural Finance Program. Special thanks to Mario Balazantegui who provided expert insight and contributed to the development of the alliances with the local organizations.
Santa Lucia County has a population of about 33,000 people. The region is fit for rice cultivating because it is not in the lowlands and therefore it is not at risk of flooding. There is also great access to water because of the Daule River, which is accessible to many of the farmers in the area. About 70% of the farmers have basic infrastructure for watering their crops.
Rice production is the main economic activity of the area, as about 80% of the people are rice farmers. Almost everyone is either directly or indirectly involved with the rice production, as they produce, commercialize or participate in activities that add value to the product. Within the county, there is a small town also named Santa Lucia. The town is filled with many small businesses and it serves as the social and commercial hub of the area.
Most of the people in the Santa Lucia area are small farmers. They produce about 100 sacks of rice per hectare of land. In order to farm they first must prepare the lands by removing weeds and plowing. The farmers then fill an area with water to form what is known as a paddy field, because rice is a very water intensive crop. The rice seeds are either dispersed freely (the process is known as boleo in Spanish) or hand sowed. Once the rice has grown, most farmers rent machinery that helps them harvest their crop. A risk factor does exist in rice farming because of drought, but in Santa Lucia this is somewhat mitigated by the access to water form the nearby river.
The biggest struggle in the area has been the lack of credit. Because people do not have access to formal financial services, they have turned to loan sharks for financing. They have been affected by expensive lines of credit that exceed 100% interest a year and can be as expensive as 240%. Intermediaries also exploit the farmers because of their outstanding debt. Farmers also often lack skills and knowledge of how to commercialize their product and get fair prices for their crops.
The loans in this sector will be used to to buy soil, seeds, fertilizer and insecticides. They will also be used to prepare the land prior to farming, to plant the seeds and purchase other materials. The loan repayment schedule is different from the typical microentrepreneur. Because farmers see the profits from their investments 5 or 6 months after making their initial expenditures, Mifex asks them to repay 50% of the capital in the first 6 months of the loan. The rest of the debt must be paid in the seventh and final month.
",M,1200,lender,Agriculture,0 Ecuador,"Despite Santos' 66 years of age, he is still a hard-working farmer. He has had three kids, who are all independent now. He works his lands in order to support him and his wife. He has been living on this land for over 40 years. He is proud of his farm because it has allowed him to feed and educate his children. Santos only has a limited education, but through hard work and reliance on his experience, he ensures the investment in rice will be successful.
Santos is part of the newest Communal Banks in the recently developed Mifex Rural Finance Program. All of the members of the Centro Agricola de Santa Lucia Communal Bank are part of an Association of Rice Farmers in Santa Lucia. Their association works cooperatively to help in the commercialization of the product after it has grown. They will use the micro-loans to prepare their lands and cultivate rice on their farms. Because they form part of a communal bank, they are all each others guarantors for the loan. This means that if for some reason one person in the group cannot fully repay the loan, the other borrowers and the Primero de Agosto Association are responsible for the amount in default. The members of the bank also participate in a program designed to teach and encourage savings among the group. Promoting savings is often forgotten in many micro-finance programs, but Mifex believes that is imperative for the communities we work with to have capital reserved for future investments or unexpected difficulties.
Below is more information about Santa Lucia compiled by Luis Crespo and Robert Edgar of the Mifex team when evaluating the potential of the sector for the Rural Finance Program. Special thanks to Mario Balazantegui who provided expert insight and contributed to the development of the alliances with the local organizations.
Santa Lucia County has a population of about 33,000 people. The sector is fit for rice cultivating because it is not in the lowlands and therefore it is not at risk of flooding. There is also great access to water because of the Daule River, which is accessible to many of the farmers in the area. About 70% of the farmers have basic infrastructure for watering their crops.
Rice production is the main economic activity of the area as about 80% of the people are rice farmers. Almost everyone is either directly or indirectly involved with rice production, as they produce, commercialize or participate in activities that add value to the product. Within the county, there is a small town also named Santa Lucia. The town is filled with many small businesses and it serves as the social and commercial hub of the area.
Most of the people in the Santa Lucia area are small farmers. They produce about 100 sacks of rice per hectare of land. In order to farm they first must prepare the lands by removing weeds and plowing. The farmers then fill an area with water to form what is known as a paddy field, because rice is a very water-intensive crop. The rice seeds are either dispersed freely (the process is known as boleo in Spanish) or hand sowed. Once the rice has grown, most farmers rent machinery that helps them gather their production. A risk factor does exist in rice farming because of drought, but in Santa Lucia this is somewhat mitigated by the access to water form the nearby river.
The biggest struggle in the area has been the lack of credit. Because people do not count on formal financial services, they have turned to loan sharks for financing. They have been affected by expensive lines of credit that exceed 100% interest a year and can be as expensive as 240%. Intermediaries also exploit the farmers because of their outstanding debt. Farmers also lack skills and knowledge to commercialize their products and pay fair prices for their crops.
The loans in this sector will be used to to buy soil, seeds, fertilizer and insecticides. They will also be used to prepare the land prior to farming, to plant the seeds and purchase other materials. The loan repayment schedule is also different from the typical micro-entrepreneur. Because farmers see the profits from their investments 5 or 6 months after making their initial expenditures, Mifex asks them only to pay 50% of the capital in the first 6 months of the loan. The rest of the debt must be paid in the seventh and final month.
",M,675,lender,Agriculture,0 Ecuador,"Diana is a business student who is also owns a stand in a local market. She and her mother run the business and sell everything from plastics to perfumes. Diana is applying for her second loan with Kiva and Mifex. With the first loan, she was able to purchase larger amounts of perfumes at much better prices, which has made Diana one of the better known perfume sellers in the market because the affordability of her products. She and her mother are doing great in the business and they are very optimistic about the future.
Although it is difficult to balance the responsibilities from her job and school, Diana continues to work towards her business administration degree. Her mother is of great help to her and she is happy that she is being able to apply many of the concepts she is learning at school to her business. One valuable lesson that the real world has taught her is that capital is hard to come by, and for this reason she is particularly grateful to the Kiva and the lenders who have supported her and her business. She finds the Kiva lending process fascinating and she hopes she can continue to participate in the Mifex program. She hopes to use the second loan in the same way as she used the first, only she plans to explore the possibilities of selling new products such as school supplies.
",F,1200,partner,Retail,0 Ecuador,"Diana runs a small market out of her home where she sells chicken, beef, pork and sausages. She started the business only 6 months ago with the help of her husband who gave her $80 to start off with. She put a sign outside of her home and has been spreading the word within the community. She is now ready to take the next step in her business and begin fixing up her home so it is more attractive to clients. With the loan, she plans on making the lower sector of her house into a store where she can sell other products such as rice and cooking oil.
Mifex offers its clients microinsurance and access to business training and educational programs. For more information about microfinance, Ecuador, and our services, please visit www.mifex.org.
",F,375,partner,Food,0 Ecuador,"Digan is a street vendor of clothes but also has a small business at home. She started the business with the help of her husband who provided $200 in start up in capital. She started selling only childrens clothes but now also provides clothes for men and women. Although the clothes sales do provide for her family, she needs to make more money in order to provide a better standard of living. She wants to invest the loan she receives in household items that she can also sell and provide more profit. She is 42 years old and moved to Guayaquil from a rural sector known as Los Rios. She has one daughter who she wants to educate past the high school level.
Mifex offers its clients microinsurance and access to business training and educational programs. For more information about microfinance, Ecuador, and our services, please visit www.mifex.org.
",F,500,partner,Clothing,0 Ecuador,"Digan sells clothes as a street vendor and through her small business at home. She started the business with the help of her husband who provided $200 in start-up capital. She began selling only childrens clothes, but now also provides clothes for men and women.
Digan is a repeat lender with our program. She used the first loan to improve her product line with items that were not only cheaper, but also in style. The results improved her business greatly both at her home and when she travels. With her next loan she will continue investing in her product line and also make improvements to her store.
Digan is 42-years old and moved to Guayaquil from a rural sector known as Los Rios. She has one daughter who she wants to educate past the high school level.
",F,950,lender,Clothing,1 Ecuador,"Dionicia has owned her breakfast restaurant for 2 years now, although she is by no means new to the restaurant business. She worked in a small eatery for 10 years, and her husband runs a small ice cream shop nearby. In fact, it was Dionicias husband who initially lent her the $100 she needed to get the bare essentials to open her very own restaurant. She is applying for this loan through Kiva and Mifex in order to buy rice, oil, dishes, and sugar. Ms. Mairongo helps her husband in any way she can to advance his business, and he likewise. Their combined efforts have enabled them to own their home and send their kids to school elsewhere in Ecuador to get a better education. Their aspiration is to consolidate the breakfast restaurant and the ice cream store to offer their customers extra value.
Mifex offers its clients microinsurance and access to business training and educational programs. For more information about microfinance, Ecuador, and our services, please visit www.mifex.org.
",F,600,partner,Food,0 Ecuador,"Dionicio has a store where he sells different types of foods and home products. He he started the business with the help of a friend who lent him the start up capital and provided motivation.
Dionicio is requesting the loan in order to buy his products from wholesalers. Currently he does not have enough capital to buy in bulk, therefore his prices are high and his profits suffer. Once he make a significant investment, he hopes to increase his income and save up enough money to finish making his store out of cement.
Dionicio is 50 years old and has only son who is going to school. His home is made out of wood and bamboo, but he is currently working on slowly making parts of it into cement. His main goal is to improve the condition of his home for him and his familys comfort and safety.
",M,850,lender,Retail,1 Ecuador,"Dionicio has lived in Santa Lucia for about 50 years. As most of the other people in the sector, he has gone through life thanks to the fertile lands that produce rice. He has raised 5 children thanks to the help of his rice farming. He is now hoping that he can receive a loan in order to improve his farm and leave his children with more productive lands. He has had 5 children in total and he is happy that they have grown up but still help him on the family's farm.
Dionicio is part of the newest Communal Banks in the recently developed Mifex Rural Finance Program. All of the members of the Centro Agricola de Santa Lucia Communal Bank are part of an Association of Rice Farmers in Santa Lucia. Their association works cooperatively to help in the commercialization of the product after it has grown. They will use the micro-loans to prepare their lands and cultivate rice on their farms. Because they form part of a communal bank, they are all each others' guarantors for the loan. This means that if for some reason one person in the group cannot fully repay the loan, the other borrowers and the Primero de Agosto Association are responsible for the amount in default. The members of the bank also participate in a program designed to teach and encourage savings among the group. Promoting savings is often forgotten in many micro-finance programs, but Mifex believes that is imperative for the communities we works with to have capital reserved for future investments or unexpected difficulties.
Below is more information about Santa Lucia compiled by Luis Crespo and Robert Edgar of the Mifex team when evaluating the potential of the sector for the Rural Finance Program. Special thanks to Mario Balazantegui who provided expert insight and contributed to the development of the alliances with the local organizations.
Santa Lucia County has a population of about 33,000 people. The sector is fit for rice cultivating because it is not in the lowlands and therefore it is not at risk of flooding. There is also great access to water because of the Daule River, which is accessible to many of the farmers in the area. About 70% of the farmers have basic infrastructure for watering their crops.
Rice production is the main economic activity of the area as about 80% of the people are rice farmers. Almost everyone is either directly or indirectly involved with rice production, as they produce, commercialize or participate in activities that add value to the product. Within the county, there is a small town also named Santa Lucia. The town is filled with many small businesses and it serves as the social and commercial hub of the area.
Most of the people in the Santa Lucia area are small farmers. They produce about 100 sacks of rice per hectare of land. In order to farm they first must prepare the lands by removing weeds and plowing. The farmers then fill an area with water to form what is known as a paddy field, because rice is a very water intensive crop. The rice seeds are either dispersed freely (the process is known as boleo in Spanish) or hand sowed. Once the rice has grown, most farmers rent machinery that helps them gather their production. A risk factor does exist in rice farming because of drought, but in Santa Lucia this is somewhat mitigated by the access to water form the nearby river.
The biggest struggle in the area has been the lack of credit. Because people do not count on formal financial services, they have turned to loan sharks for financing. They have been affected by expensive lines of credit that exceed 100% interest a year and can be as expensive as 240%. Intermediaries also exploit the farmers because of their outstanding debt. Farmers also lack skills and knowledge to commercialize their products and pay fair prices for their crops.
The loans in this sector will be used to to buy soil, seeds, fertilizer and insecticides. They will also be used to prepare the land prior to farming, to plant the seeds and purchase other materials. The loan repayment schedule is also different from the typical micro-entrepreneur. Because farmers see the profits from their investments 5 or 6 months after making their initial expenditures, Mifex asks them only to pay 50% of the capital in the first 6 months of the loan. The rest of the debt must be paid in the seventh and final month.
",M,1200,lender,Agriculture,0 Ecuador,"Doa Cristina has had her bazaar (variety store) for the past 7 years. Before this she ran a store which experienced decreasing sales because of competition. For this reason she began to invest in paper products and gifts. Currently her business is doing well and demand for her products has increased.
Cristina is not new to microcredit. She worked with Mifex before and bought all different types of clothing with the micro-loan. She was very successful and now has hopes of buying a photocopier for her business so she can sell copies.
Doa Cristina is 60 years old but her age doesnt stop her from working hard. On the contrary, it keeps her strong and active. She now cares for her children because her children have gone abroad to find jobs and opportunities. She is certain that with the loan she can keep working in her small bazaar and support her family.
",F,1100,lender,Retail,1 Ecuador,"Doenina is a door-to-door saleswoman who offers clothing and other items. She started off by selling earrings and other plastic jewelry. She has been able to expand her business by making investments in clothing and selling these products to the client base she has built.
She is seeking a second loan after she receiving a first several months ago. She wants to continue investing in new merchandise at better prices. She travels out to wholesalers and searches for their best offers, having cash at hand helps her business tremendously during this process.
Doenina is married and has 3 children. She depends on the business to provide the education for her kids while her husband covers most of the other household expenses.
",F,1200,lender,Clothing,1 Ecuador,"Dolores, more commonly known as Simon, has a small chicken farm in the backyard of his home. Prior to starting his own operation, he worked at a chicken farm for about 8 years. With about $400 of savings he was able to buy chicks and feed. He has been working on his own for the last 4 years. He has made a living by selling the chickens he grows to the small local markets and vendors.
Several months ago he received a loan (under the name Simon) that allowed him to diversify the livestock he raises. He now has different types of poultry and also pigs. He hopes to use a new loan to invest in animals that he can sell during the Christmas season.. Simon depends on this business to support his wife and his son.
See Dolores' first loan profile here: http://www.kiva.org/app.php?page=businesses&action=about&id=3237",M,550,lender,Agriculture,1 Ecuador,"Don Angel has borrowed from Kiva and Mifex previously. He has a stand in a local market in Bastion Popular where he sells yucca, plantains and avocadoes. He was able to use the first loan as planned; he invested in more of his products at wholesale prices. Angel was able to witness the immediate effects of the capital as his profits increased.
He and his wife have been steadily making improvements to their home and also saving up. They are now applying for a second Kiva loan in order to set up another point of sale. Their business is going so well they believe they can make additional profit from a new stand. This new stand will be run by Angels wife, who is his business partner and an integral part of their operation. They extend their gratitude to the community that helped them with their first loan, and hope they will continue to be benefactors of the Kiva system.
",M,1200,partner,Food,0 Ecuador,"Don Angel has borrowed from Kiva and Mifex previously. He has a stand in a local market in Bastion Popular where he sells yucca, plantains and avocados. He was able to use the first loan as planned; he invested in more of his products at wholesale prices. Angel was able to witness the immediate effects of the capital as his profits increased.
He and his wife have been steadily making improvements to their home and also saving up. With their second Kiva loan they set up another point of sale. They were confident they could make additional profit from a new stand. This new stand is run by Angels wife, who is his business partner and an integral part of their operation.
After making all their payments punctually and understanding the services Mifex provides to microentrepreneurs, they are applying for a third loan. Their stands are profitable but Angel believes that he can earn more by distributing to nearby stores rather than always waiting for clients to find him. If he has a customer base who order specified amounts from him regularly he can better coordinate his sales and business. Angel also wants to invest in other produce that comes from the coast. They extend their gratitude to the community that helped them with their first two loans, and hope they will continue to be benefactors of the Kiva system.
",M,1200,lender,Food,1 Ecuador,"Don Gustavo sells fruit and other items in the large outdoor markets of Guayaquil. He owns a small parcel of land in his hometown, Rocafuerte Manabi. He pays two of is nephews to maintain the land and grow a small variety fruits. Once a week Don Gustavo travels to his hometown with his two sons in order to pick up the fruit from his farm and buy more from other farms. His wife also sells fruits from their home in Guayaquil. Don Gustavo will use this loan to be able to buy larger amounts of fruits when he travels to Manabi. He also hopes to invest in new products such as cheese and meats.
Mifex offers its clients microinsurance and access to business training and educational programs. For more information about microfinance, Ecuador, and our services, please visit www.mifex.org.
",M,375,partner,Food,0 Ecuador,"Don Miguel has been making sandals since he was a young boy. He learned his craft from his father and has since passed his knowledge of the sandal trade to his wife, whom he works with every day. Mr. Bermeos entire family helps out with the business one way or another, and each individual plays a crucial part in keeping the shop going. Miguel is applying for this loan so that he can purchase raw materials for his sandals, such as leather soles, straps, laminant, and glues. In order to prepare himself for the Christmas holiday, when more buying happens than at any other point during the year, Miguel would like to take out this loan through Kiva and Mifex. The sandal business has been good to Mr. Bermeo. He says that although he is not rich, he is proud that he owns his home and has two boys who study hard in school. One of Miguels dreams is to open a storefront in one of the fairs or markets in Guayaquil, but in order to do that, he says, he will need capital to jumpstart his business.
Mifex offers its clients microinsurance and access to business training and educational programs. For more information about microfinance, Ecuador, and our services, please visit www.mifex.org.
",F,1000,partner,Retail,0 Ecuador,"Don Miguel is a vendor who has recently moved to the city after living most of his life in Quevedo, a town in rural Ecuador. Although Don Miguel and his wife are older, they refuse to be burdens to their children who do not make much money. They purchase fruits and vegetables at wholesale prices in Quevedo and sell them in the city. They also bring goods from the city back to Quevedo, where they can resell them for a profit. He travels back and forth about twice a week and is happy with his business.
This is Miguel's third loan with Kiva and Mifex. In the past, he has used the capital to buy more products to sell and keep in stock. He also invested in a small plot where he now grows oranges and other crops. He has already sold the first crop yield from that investment and was very happy with the profits. He continues to use investment capital in order to buy products for his business.",M,1100,lender,Retail,1 Ecuador,"
Don Miguel is a vendor who has recently moved to the city after living most of his life in rural Ecuador in a town named Quevedo. Although Don Miguel and his wife are older they refuse to be burdens to their children who do not make much money. They purchase certain fruits and vegetables at wholesale prices from his town and take them into the city to be sold. They also bring goods from the city back to Quevedo where they can resell them for a profit. He travels back and forth about twice a week and is happy with his business.
This is Miguel's second loan with Kiva and Mifex. WIth the first loan he was able to invest in a variety of household items that he resold in his hometown. The initial investment allowed him to permanently increase his capital reserves so he could bring in more profits consistently as he was able to purchase more products as investments. He ended up investing in a small plot of oranges in his hometown. He is still waiting to cultivate the profits, but he is very optimistic about this particular investment. Miguel was also able to improve his home by building a bathroom with plumbing inside his home when previously he only had an outhouse. He plans to invest his second loan just as the first one, in household products to resell in his hometown. He wants to continue to improve his home with the profits, beginning by changing the walls which are currently made out of bamboo.
Translated by Chlo Tuot, a Kiva Volunteer.
",M,875,partner,Retail,0 Ecuador,"
Don Miguel is a vendor who has recently moved to the city after living most of his life in rural Ecuador in a town named Quevedo. Although Don Miguel and his wife are older they refuse to be burdens to their children who do not make much money. They purchase certain fruits and vegetables at wholesale prices from his town and take them into the city. They also bring goods from the city back to Quevedo where they can resell them for a profit. He travels back and forth about twice a week and is happy with his business. He is requesting this loan in order to buy more products to sell in his home town of Quevedo.
Mifex offers its clients microinsurance and access to business training and educational programs. For more information about microfinance, Ecuador, and our services, please visit www.mifex.org.
",M,475,partner,Retail,0 Ecuador,"Don Nestor sells fruits like grapes, apples, peaches, avocados, etc. in the market. He has 10 years of experience in this business. His business hours are from 6am to 1pm. He began as a street vendor of several articles and with his savings decided to buy fruits and get a place in the market. He has much experience and good frequent clients.
Don Nestor has lent from Mifex before. He uses his investment capital to buy his fruits wholesale, which not only allows him to have better variety but more competitive prices as well. His oldest son helps him in the business after he comes back from school and is hoping to receive a cart so he can sell in the local neighborhoods.
Don Nestor is 40 years old, he lives with his wife in free union for 18 years. They have 3 children who are in school. They have their own house which is made out of cement and very modest. His wife sells make-up products and helps with the home expenses. They have a very stable relationship. Don Nestor wants to improve his familys quality of life with our loan and help his wifes business succeed.
",M,1050,lender,Food,1 Ecuador,"Don Nstor has had a woodvarnishing shop for the past 20 years and he specializes in making coffins. His experience began at the age of 14 when working with his brothers who taught him the trade, which they had made their source of income. He opened his shop with the help of his brother in law who lent him a small start-up capital, which allowed him to produce the coffins and offer them to clients in the city.
Don Nstor is now on his second loan with Mifex. Just as he did with the first he will buy: wood, nails, fabric, lacquer, and paint. He hopes to continue increasing production and sales thanks in part to the financing he is receiving. He has been highly recommended outside of the city since he has been working with funeral homes in other cities like Quito, Esmeraldas, Santo Domingo, Cuenca and Milagro.
Nstor is a 41 year old married father of three girls. His wife helps him to upholster the coffins. The business is his sole source of income which has allowed him to acquire land where hes building his house and workshop bit by bit. He hopes the business will keep growing and generate work, thus obtaining not only personal/ familial wellbeing, but also that of others.
",M,1200,lender,Manufacturing,1 Ecuador,"Don Ricardo has a small general store in his home, from which he sells articles of necessity and school supplies. He began his business two years ago when he received using the earnings amassed from working at a company.At the beginning he only sold vegetables and dry grains, which he bought on wholesale. These days, he continues to sell groceries, as well as other items. With the advantage of living in front of a school, he decided to sell school supplies and stationary, which attracted more customers.
Ricardo is asking for his second loan through organizations. He did well with his first investing in more merchandise and even setting up a few video game machines that are very popular with the kids. He will use this loan to fix up his store and add more space now that he feels his business is growing.
Ricardo is 28 years old and has four children, one son who has mentally handicapped but is in special care (thanks to the profits from his previous investment) and two who go to school. His home is made of cement, and he is certain that with the prosperity of his business he will be able to give a better quality of life to his family.
Previous Profile: http://www.kiva.org/app.php?page=businesses&action=about&id=12131
",M,1200,lender,Food,1 Ecuador,"Don Ricardo owns a repair shop where he fixes electronics. He specializes in audio and visual equipment but also works on computers and household appliances. He has been working in this type of activity for over 25 years since he was an assistant in his grandfathers shop. Don Ricardo has 3 children who are fully grown, but he and his wife insist on surviving by their own means and working in this shop. One of his sons and a nephew also help him with repairs and by bringing in clients. Don Ricardo will use the loan in order to buy replacement pieces and electrical materials at wholesale prices. This will help his business by reducing costs and increasing productivity as he will have a stock of replacements at his shop and will no longer have to go out and buy these items every time he needs them for higher prices.
Mifex offers its clients microinsurance and access to business training and educational programs. For more information about microfinance, Ecuador, and our services, please visit www.mifex.org.
",M,1175,partner,Services,0 Ecuador,"Don Walter has successfully repaid his first loan, and he is now looking to extend his credit so that he can buy a freezer and other items used to prepare chicken. His mother and wife help run the business when he goes into town to sell his goods. With 30 years of experience, Walter has definitely grown over the years. Originally, he started out by selling a few select items on a table in front of his parents house. Competing lenders in his area charge 20%, and he had to pay daily! There are commercial banks that exist in his area, but they offer consumer loans and production loans if borrowers have guarantees (usually tangible assets). Without these resources, Mr. Casagrande is turning once again to Kiva and Mifex to keep his business growing.
He was afraid of being in debt with a loan. The loan sharks offer money, but the with the steep interest and daily payments, it was impossible for him to have access to credit. He invested the capital in the purchase of new inventory. The capital from Kiva helped him invest high-turnover products in wholesale and, more importantly, in cash. He feels this gave him an advantage in prices, which has helped him financially improve his daily life. Don Walter repaid his loan on time, and is now asking for another loan from Mifex and Kiva to continue investing in his business and providing the services his clients demand like meats and a freezer to keep his goods fresh.
Mifex offers its clients microinsurance and access to business training and educational programs. For more information about microfinance, Ecuador, and our services, please visit www.mifex.org.
",M,1175,partner,Retail,0 Ecuador,"Donato lives on a farm where he grows rice and plantains. He, his wife, three kids and three grandchildren all live in the home he has built over the years. He hopes to invest the loan he receives in fertilizer and pesticides for his crops. With the profits he plans to help his grand children go to school.
This borrower is part of the newest and largest Communal Bank in the recently developed Mifex Rural Finance Program. All of the members of the Centro Agricola de Baba Communal Bank are part of an Association of Rice Farmers in the county of Baba in rural Ecuador. Their association works cooperatively to cultivate rice and commercialize the product after it has grown. As an association, Centro Agricola helps the farmers by providing access to machinery and training services. The farmers from Centro Agricola have received special instruction on financial responsibility and accounting from Codemicro, an organization that specializes in training programs geared towards the rural sector.
The members of Centro Agricola de Baba will use the micro-loans to prepare their lands and cultivate rice on their farms. Because they form part of a communal bank, they are all each others' guarantors for the loan. This means that if for some reason one person in the group cannot fully repay the loan, the other borrowers and the Centro Agricola de Baba Association are responsible for the amount in default. The members of the bank also participate in a program designed to teach and encourage savings among the group. Promoting savings is often forgotten in many micro-finance programs, but Mifex believes that is imperative for the communities we works with to have capital reserved for future investments or unexpected difficulties.
Below is more information about Santa Lucia compiled by Luis Crespo and Robert Edgar of the Mifex team when evaluating the potential of the sector for the Rural Finance Program.
The people of Baba have been organized since the days of Gran Colombia when Ecuador was yet to be a country. The area has always been popular because of the extremely productive lands that gave way to cultivation of cacao for decades. Now Baba is a county in the province of Los Rios in the coastal region of Ecuador. For most of the latter part of the 20th Century it was a cacao and banana-producing sector. Most of the surrounding areas of Baba in Los Rios are owned by large multinational companies such as Dole, but Baba is a sector characterized by small and informal farms.
Rice production has now turned into the main economic activity of the sector as about 80% of the people are rice farmers. Cacao is still very popular in the area, but because of the long cultivation cycle people prefer to invest in rice. The lands in Baba are very fertile though, and most farmers in the sector often grow other crops, such as plantains and soybeans as secondary sources of income. Many farmers also keep livestock as emergency sources of food and income, commonly resorting to selling a chicken or pig if they are in need of cash.
Most of the people in the Baba area are small farmers. They produce about 80 sacks of rice per hectare of land. In order to farm they first must prepare the lands by removing weeds, plowing and leveling the lands. This is the most difficult part for the farmers in Baba, who often lack the necessary machinery to properly plow the lands for rice production. After appropriately preparing the lands, the farmers fill an area with water to form what is known as a paddy field, because rice is a very water-intensive crop. The rice seeds are either dispersed freely (the process is known as boleo in Spanish) or hand sowed. Once the rice has grown, most farmers rent machinery that helps them gather their production.
One of the biggest struggles in the area has been the lack of credit due to the absence of any type of financial institution. Because people do not count on formal financial finance, they have turned to loan sharks for financing. They have been affected by expensive lines of credit that exceed 100% interest a year and can be as expensive as 240%. Intermediaries also exploit the farmers because of their outstanding debt. Farmers also lack skills and knowledge to commercialize their products and pay fair prices for their crops.
The largest risk in the sector is due to absence of watering systems. Although Baba is in the province Los Rios (the rivers) there is severe problem with access to water. The lack of infrastructure in the sector does not allow the small farmers to benefit from the presence of the many rivers in the area. If the winter season is too dry, it is likely that the lands will not be sufficiently fertile for rice production in the summer. On the other hand, if there is too much rain, there are not any drainage systems to prevent flooding and the crops are often ruined. Generally speaking though, Baba is a very productive sector where the lands yield all types of crops including rice, cacao, corn, watermelons, plantains, and soybeans.
The loans in this sector will mostly be used to buy soil, seeds, fertilizer and insecticides. Many clients will use the capital towards renting machinery and equipment necessary to effectively work and prepare the fields. Clients also typically use a part of the loan to buy livestock in order to raise and have as reserves. The loan repayment schedule is different from the typical micro-entrepreneur because farmers see the profits from their investments 5 or 6 months after making their initial expenditures. Mifex asks our rural clients only to pay 50% of the capital in the first 6 months of the loan. The rest of the debt must be paid in the seventh and final month.
",M,550,lender,Agriculture,1 Ecuador,"Dover is 42 years old and is married. He has three sons who are currently studying and help out in the store. His wife also works hard to help at the store preparing cooked foods. When Dover has spare time he supplements his income by teaching bricklayering skills to others. He is requesting a second loan with Mifex to finish his home. He and his wife are eager to pour a cement floor. Dover also wants to purchase shelves in order to sell juices, soft drinks, and other provisions to his clients.
By his own initiative and with the help of his wife, Dover decided to open a local food store after working as a bricklayer for many years. He offers his clients roasted corn [choclos asados], chicken skewers [chuzos] and chicken wings [alitas]. Those close to his wife prepare the products which he sells at the store. His sons are a great help at the store and they are attentive to customer requests.
Dover used his first Mifex and Kiva loan to purchase chairs and tables for his clients. He also built a gate around his house for security purposes. He has increased his opening hours as his food store is quite popular with locals.
Dover would like the Mifex and Kiva community to know that he is a hard worker dedicated to his businesses.
",M,550,lender,Food,1 Ecuador,"Dr. Elsa is the owner of a bazar, which is located in her home. She began her business with money she earned from her orothodontist practice. With the earnings she made from her practice, she was able to invest in merchandise. She works from 7am-9pm. She also continues to practice her profession from her home. She sells gift items, stationary, pens and also has a photocopier where she can make copies. She has been involved in this activity for ten years.
Dr. Elsa wishes to adquire more products for her bazar, because she has been re-furbishing her home and her capital has seen a decrease. What's more, she has to meet the demand for more gift products and to do this, she needs to stock her business and tend to her customers.
Dr. Elsa is 35 years old, has four children, but only 3 are in school. She lives with her husband who helps her with maintenence work in the house. Her 13 year old daughter helps her in the bazar when Elsa is seeing patients. Her house is a two story cement home, which has recently seen some improvement works. The Doctor hopes to work with us and through which, improve the quality of life of her family.
Translated from Spanish by Kiva Volunteer, Kristin Connor.
",F,525,partner,Retail,0 Ecuador,"
Duglas has a farm where he grows rice, corn and plantains. He has been living on this land for his entire life with his whole family. He learned how to work in agriculture from his father who left him with the farm and the responsibility for caring for his brother. He now has two children ages 17 and 18 who are still in school. He wants to invest some of the money in livestock feed as well as rice production.
This borrower is part of the newest and largest Communal Bank in the recently developed Mifex Rural Finance Program. All of the members of the Centro Agricola de Baba Communal Bank are part of an Association of Rice Farmers in the county of Baba in rural Ecuador. Their association works cooperatively to cultivate rice and commercialize the product after it has grown. As an association, Centro Agricola helps the farmers by providing access to machinery and training services. The farmers from Centro Agricola have received special instruction on financial responsibility and accounting from Codemicro, an organization that specializes in training programs geared towards the rural sector.
The members of Centro Agricola de Baba will use the micro-loans to prepare their land and cultivate rice on their farms. Because they form part of a communal bank, they are all each others' guarantors for the loan. This means that if for some reason one person in the group cannot fully repay the loan, the other borrowers and the Centro Agricola de Baba Association are responsible for the amount in default. The members of the bank also participate in a program designed to teach and encourage savings among the group. Promoting savings is often forgotten in many micro-finance programs, but Mifex believes that is imperative for the communities we work with to have capital reserved for future investments or unexpected difficulties.
Below is more information about Santa Lucia compiled by Luis Crespo and Robert Edgar of the Mifex team when evaluating the potential of the sector for the Rural Finance Program.
The people of Baba have been organized since the days of Gran Colombia when Ecuador was yet to be a country. The area has always been popular because of the extremely productive land that gave way to cultivation of cacao for decades. Now Baba is a county in the province of Los Rios in the coastal region of Ecuador. For most of the latter part of the 20th Century it was a cacao and banana producing sector. Most of the surrounding areas of Baba in Los Rios are owned by large mulitnational companies such as Dole, but Baba is a sector characterized by the small and informal farms.
Rice production has now turned into the main economic activity of the sector as about 80% of the people are rice farmers. Cacao is still very popular in the area, but because of the long cultivation cycle people prefer to invest in rice. The land in Baba is very fertile though, and most farmers in the sector often grow other crops, such as plantains and soy beans as secondary sources of income. Many farmers also keep livestock as emergency sources of food and income, commonly resorting to selling a chicken or pig if they are in need of cash.
Most of the people in the Baba area are small farmers. They produce about 80 sacks of rice per hectare of land. In order to farm, they first must prepare the land by removing weed, plowing and leveling it. This is the most difficult part for the farmers in Baba, who often lack the necessary machinery to properly plow the land for rice production. After appropriately preparing the land, the farmers fill an area with water to form what is known as a paddy field, because rice is a very water intensive crop. The rice seeds are either dispersed freely (the process is known as boleo in Spanish) or hand sowed. Once the rice has grown, most farmers rent machinery that helps them gather their production.
One of the biggest struggles in the area has been the lack of credit due to the absence of any type of financial institution. Because people do not count on formal financial support, they have turned to loan sharks for financing. They have been affected by expensive lines of credit that exceed 100% interest a year and can be as expensive as 240%. Intermediaries also exploit the farmers because of their outstanding debt. Farmers also lack skills and knowledge to commercialize their products and pay fair prices for their crops.
The largest risk in the sector is due to absence of watering systems. Although Baba is in the province Los Rios (the rivers), there is severe problem with access to water. The lack of infrastructure in the sector does not allow the small farmers to benefit from the presence of the many rivers in the area. If the winter season is too dry, it is likely that the lands will not be sufficiently fertile for rice production in the summer. On the other hand, if there is too much rain there are not any drainage systems to prevent flooding and the crops are often ruined. Generally speaking though, Baba is a very productive sector where the lands yield all types of crops including rice, cacao, corn, watermelons, plantains, and soy beans.
The loans in this sector will mostly be used to to buy soil, seeds, fertilizer and insecticides. Many clients will use the capital towards renting machinery and equipment necessary to effectively work and prepare the fields. Clients also typically use a part of the loan to buy livestock in order to raise and have as reserves. The loan repayment schedule is different from the typical micro-entrepreneur because farmers see the profits from their investments 5 or 6 months after making their initial expenditures. Mifex asks our rural clients only to pay 50% of the capital in the first 6 months of the loan. The rest of the debt must be paid in the seventh and final month.
",M,1200,lender,Agriculture,1 Ecuador,"Eddy has 19 years of experience selling meat. He learned this trade when he began working with his uncle when he was 12. With all of his experience he decided to use this meat selling business as a source of income. He used his first loan from Mifex and Kiva to repair the cart he uses to sell his goods. He uses this cart to go across the island and sell door-to-door. His investment helped him meet client's demands for various types of meat such as pork and goat.
Eddy, 31, is young and hard working. He sells from 8:30am-12pm and from 4pm-7pm. He puts a lot of effort into what he does. His wife works with him in the business cleaning the meat. They are both devoted to their family's well-being.
Eddy is requesting a second loan to purchase more meat including fillets. He plans to widen his daily sales route and sell in greater volume. He is confident his income will increase with this investment. His goal is to continue improving his business so he can provide for his family and his children's education.
",M,850,lender,Food,1 Ecuador,"Edgar Duarte has been living on the same farm since he was born. His father taught him how to grow rice and he has been working in the fields his whole life. He is very proud to be from Salitre, a small rural town in Ecuador known for its heavy rice production. He is seeking the loan in order to improve the infrastructure on his farm. He has 5 children for whom he works very hard to educate. His personal goals are to provide his children with a much better education than the one he received.
Edgar is part of the first Communal Bank in the new Mifex Rural Finance Program. All the members of the Resistencia Communal Bank are part of an Association of Rice Farmers in Salitre named Resistencia. They will use the microloans to prepare the land and cultivate rice on their farms. Because they form part of a communal bank, they are all each others guarantors for the loan. This means that if for some reason one person in the group cannot fully repay the loan, the other borrowers and the Resistencia Association are responsible for the amount in default. The members of the bank also participate in a program designed to teach and encourage savings among the group. Promoting savings is often forgotten in many microfinance programs, but is imperative for the communities Mifex works with to have capital reserved for future investments or unexpected difficulties.
The loans in this sector will be used to create water deposits that will prevent flooding in the case of heavy rains or store water in case of droughts. They will also be used to treat the land prior to farming, plant the seeds and purchase fertilizer. The loan repayment schedule is also different from the typical microentrepreneur. Because farmers see the profits from their investments 5 or 6 months after making their initial expenditures, Mifex asks them only to pay 50% of the capital in the first 6 months of the loan. The rest of the debt must be paid in the seventh and final month.
Below is more information about Salitre compiled by the staff at Mifex when evaluating the potential of the sector for the Rural Finance Program.
Salitre is a rural area in the Province of Guayas which is known as the capital of Montuvios (montuvio is a cowboy) with approximately 30,000 inhabitants. The main economic activities are herding and agriculture, which make up about 80% of the economy. The infrastructure and basic services are poor, especially the roads and water services.
Salitre is highly dedicated to rice farming and cattle ranching. Rice is a crop that yields about every four months. In order to farm rice, the environment must be very humid and there must be a high volume of water. The lack of a structured water system makes it difficult for the small farmers to be highly productive. The best months for cultivating rice are early in the year when during the rainy season on the coast of Ecuador.
Salitre is a national tourist attraction as many Ecuadorians visit the fresh water Salitre River. There are cottages, small restaurants and water attractions that people come to enjoy.
There is not a single financial institution that provides services to the productive sector of the local economy. The only access to credit comes from loan sharks who charge extremely high interest rates averaging around 20% a month. The locals are also exploited by the intermediaries that buy their products in order to commercialize them in the city and to export abroad. These intermediaries buy crops in advance at very low prices, finance soil at extremely high prices and often provide emergency loans for even higher interest rates than the loan sharks.
Salitre is a dangerous area despite its rural location. There is a high incidence of robbery of cattle that results in the fact that many of the ranch owners owning weapons to protect their property. Because the police are not present in these areas, farmers and ranchers must apply their own laws and provide their own security. In some instances they have formed their own cooperatives and associations to have a community crime prevention force.
Salitre is in the lowlands of Ecuador and is vulnerable to flooding during the rainy season. In the event of a heavy rainy season, often at its worst when El Nio occurs, the rice farmers lose many of their crops. All this is due to a lack of infrastructure in the area.
",M,1200,lender,Agriculture,0 Ecuador,"Edison has a farm where he grows rice and raises cattle. He lives with his wife, his grandparents and his children. He has two kids, a 16-year-old son and an infant daughter. His son helps him on the farm while also going to school. He wants to use the loan to prepare his lands for the upcoming planting season. In the future, he wants to improve his home by making it out of cement, as it is currently out of wood and is not in the best condition.
He is the latest addition to one of the new Communal Banks in the Mifex Rural Finance Program. All of the members of the 10 de enero Communal Bank are part of an Association of Rice Farmers in Salitre named 10 de enero. They will use the microloans to prepare the lands and cultivate rice on their farms. Because they form part of a communal bank, they are all each others' guarantors for the loan. This means that if for some reason one person in the group cannot fully repay the loan, the other borrowers and the 10 de enero Association are responsible for the amount in default. The members of the bank also participate in a program designed to teach and encourage savings among the group. Promoting savings is often forgotten in many microfinance programs, but is imperative for the communities Mifex works with to have capital reserves for future investments or unexpected difficulties.
The loans in this sector will be used to create water basins that will prevent flooding in the case of heavy rains or store water in case of droughts. They will also be used to treat the land prior to farming, to plant the seeds and purchase fertilizer. The loan repayment schedule is also different from the typical microentrepreneur. Because farmers see the profits from their investments 5 or 6 months after making their initial expenditures, Mifex asks them only to pay 50% of the capital in the first 5 months of the loan. The rest of the debt must be paid in the sixth and final month.
Below is more information about Salitre compiled by the staff at Mifex when evaluating the potential of the sector for the Rural Finance Program.
Salitre is a rural sector in the Province of Guayas known as the capital of Montuvios (montuvio is a cowboy) with approximately 30,000 inhabitants. The main economic activities are herding and agriculture which make up about 80% of the economy. The infrastructure and basic services are poor, especially the roads and water services.
Salitre is highly dedicated to farming rice and cattle ranching. Rice is a crop that yields about every four months. In order to farm rice, the environment must be very humid and there must be a high volume of water. The lack of a structured water system makes it difficult for the small farmers to be highly productive. The best months for cultivating rice are early in the year when it is the rainy season in the coast of Ecuador.
Salitre is a national tourist attraction as many Ecuadorians visit the freshwater Salitre River. There are cottages, small restaurants and water attractions that people come to enjoy.
There are not many financial institutions that provide services to the productive sector of the local economy. The primary access to credit comes from loan sharks who charge extremely high interest rates averaging around 20% a month. The locals are also exploited by the intermediaries that buy their products in order to sell them in the city and to export abroad. These intermediaries buy crops in advance at very low prices, finance soil at extremely high prices and often provide emergency loans for even higher interest rates than the loan sharks.
Salitre is a dangerous sector considering it is in a rural area. There is a high incidence of robbery of cattle that results in many of the ranch owners owning weapons to protect their property. Because the police are not present in these areas, farmers and ranchers must apply their own laws and provide their own security. In some instances, they have formed their own cooperatives and associations to have a community crime prevention effort.
Salitre is in the lowlands of Ecuador and is vulnerable to flooding in the rainy season. In the event of a heavy rainy season, often at its worse when El Nio occurs, the farmers of rice lose many of their crops. All this is due to a lack of infrastructure in the area.
",M,1200,lender,Agriculture,0 Ecuador,"Edison has a small diner where he sells breakfast, lunch and dinner. Prior to opening his own business, he worked at a restaurant where he learned the ins and outs of the trade. When he first started his business he only opened to sell breakfast because he worked at night. Once his place became more popular he was able to dedicate his whole time to the business. Edison wants the loan so he may invest in tables, chairs and utensils. He moved to Guayaquil from Manabi in search of better opportunities. He is married and has two children.
Mifex offers its clients microinsurance and access to business training and educational programs. For more information about microfinance, Ecuador, and our services, please visit www.mifex.org.
",M,375,partner,Food,0 Ecuador,"Edison has a small diner where he sells breakfast, lunch and dinner. Prior to opening his own business, he worked at a restaurant where he learned the ins and outs of the trade. When he first started his business he was only open for breakfast, because he worked at night. Once his diner became more popular, he was able to dedicate his whole time to the business.
Several months ago he received a loan from Kiva and Mifex that allowed him to invest in more ingredients and furniture for his restaurant. He now offers a variety of dishes on his menu instead of making just one dish per meal. Edison is requesting a second loan so he may invest in more tables, chairs and utensils and expand his restaurant.
He moved to Guayaquil from Manabi in search of better opportunities. He is married and has two children.",M,850,lender,Food,1 Ecuador,"
Edison has a workshop where he makes beds and bedroom furniture. He has been in this type of business for about ten years. He learned the ins and outs of the trade when he was an assistant for his uncle. While he was an assistant, he saved up enough money to buy second hand machinery. His business now consists of making the beds and frames for most furniture. He sends his product to a furniture retailer who adds the color and finishing touches to his product. He makes about 12 complete bedroom sets a month with the help of his 3 employees.
Edison needs the loan because he wants to invest in wood before the rainy season. During the next couple of months wood will become much more expensive and it will be an added expense to his business. He wants to prepare buy purchasing enough wood to keep in stock until the prices fall again.
Edison is 28 years old and he is single. He lives right next to his mother in a home made out of bamboo like wood. His goal is to improve his mothers home and to continue improving his business.
Mifex offers its clients microinsurance and access to business training and educational programs. For more information about microfinance, Ecuador, and our services, please visit www.mifex.org.
",M,600,partner,Manufacturing,0 Ecuador,"Edison has a workshop where he makes beds and bedroom furniture. He has been in this type of business for about ten years. He learned the ins and outs of the trade when he was an assistant for his uncle. While he was an assistant, he saved up enough money to buy second-hand machinery. His business now consists of making the beds and frames for most furniture. He sends his product to a furniture retailer who adds the color and finishing touches to his product. He makes about 12 complete bedroom sets a month with the help of his 4 employees.
Edison needs the loan because he wants to invest in wood. He received a loan several months ago, before the rainy season, that he also used to buy wood. It helped because the in the months following his loan, wood became much more expensive. Although the prices of wood are back to normal, it is still beneficial to buy in bulk. He also hopes to invest in other necessary materials such as nails and glue.
Edison is 28 years old and he is single. He lives right next to his mother in a home made out of bamboo-like wood. His goal is to improve his mothers home and to continue improving his business.
",M,675,partner,Manufacturing,0 Ecuador,"Edison is a rice farmer from the county of Santa Lucia in rural Ecuador. He has a very small farm, but it suffices to cover the expenses of his family. He is hoping that with this loan he will be able to maximize the production of his fields. He has about 25 years of experience in rice farming. He has three children ages 16, 12 and 5 who are all in school. He hopes he can continue to provide for them so they will be able to receive an adequate education.
Edison is part of one of the newest Communal Banks in the recently developed Mifex Rural Finance Program: the Primero de Agosto Communal Bank. All bank members are part of the Association of Rice Farmers in Santa Lucia, and they will use these microloans to prepare their lands and cultivate rice on their farms. As members of a communal bank, they are all guarantors for each other's loans. This means that if for some reason one person in the group cannot fully repay the loan, the other borrowers and the Primero de Agosto Association are responsible for the amount in default. The members of the bank also participate in a program designed to teach and encourage savings among the group. Promoting savings is often forgotten in many microfinance programs, but Mifex believes that is imperative for the communities we work with to have capital reserved for future investments or unexpected difficulties.
Below is more information about the commnity of Santa Lucia, compiled by Luis Crespo and Robert Edgar of the Mifex team when evaluating the potential of the sector for the Rural Finance Program. Special thanks to Mario Balazantegui who provided expert insight and contributed to the development of the alliances with the local organizations.
Santa Lucia County has a population of about 33,000 people. The region is fit for rice cultivating because it is not in the lowlands and therefore it is not at risk of flooding. There is also great access to water because of the Daule River, which is accessible to many of the farmers in the area. About 70% of the farmers have basic infrastructure for watering their crops.
Rice production is the main economic activity of the area, as about 80% of the people are rice farmers. Almost everyone is either directly or indirectly involved with the rice production, as they produce, commercialize or participate in activities that add value to the product. Within the county, there is a small town also named Santa Lucia. The town is filled with many small businesses and it serves as the social and commercial hub of the area.
Most of the people in the Santa Lucia area are small farmers. They produce about 100 sacks of rice per hectare of land. In order to farm they first must prepare the lands by removing weeds and plowing. The farmers then fill an area with water to form what is known as a paddy field, because rice is a very water intensive crop. The rice seeds are either dispersed freely (the process is known as boleo in Spanish) or hand sowed. Once the rice has grown, most farmers rent machinery that helps them harvest their crop. A risk factor does exist in rice farming because of drought, but in Santa Lucia this is somewhat mitigated by the access to water form the nearby river.
The biggest struggle in the area has been the lack of credit. Because people do not have access to formal financial services, they have turned to loan sharks for financing. They have been affected by expensive lines of credit that exceed 100% interest a year and can be as expensive as 240%. Intermediaries also exploit the farmers because of their outstanding debt. Farmers also often lack skills and knowledge of how to commercialize their product and get fair prices for their crops.
The loans in this sector will be used to to buy soil, seeds, fertilizer and insecticides. They will also be used to prepare the land prior to farming, to plant the seeds and purchase other materials. The loan repayment schedule is different from the typical microentrepreneur. Because farmers see the profits from their investments 5 or 6 months after making their initial expenditures, Mifex asks them to repay 50% of the capital in the first 6 months of the loan. The rest of the debt must be paid in the seventh and final month.
",M,675,lender,Agriculture,0 Ecuador,"Edita is the owner of a convenience store. She began by selling candies from her home. Editas siblings helped her open her store when she separated from her husband. She has also benefited from a previous loan that she received from Kiva and Mifex. She invested in plastics and school supplies, and now her business has improved. Hse is one of the few stores in the area that offers so much diversity in her product line.
Edita will use this next loan to continue investing in new and more affordable products. She also has planned to make some improvements to her home and her store.
Edita is 50-years old. She has an 18-year old daughter and is separated from her husband. She is totally dependant on her business for the support of her family. She is concerned about her daughters education, and she would like to see her become a professional. She is an enterprising woman and she knows that her business will grow, giving her the financial security that she needs.
",F,1200,lender,Food,1 Ecuador,"Eduardo has 10 years of experience repairing all kinds of shoes, suitcases, bags and anything made of leather. He learned this trade with a friend when he was 17 years old. He worked for him for 3 years, and then he switched to work for a company for 5 years. Later on, Eduardo couldnt find a job so he ventured back to his old activity of repairing shoes with a friend. Little by little he became more independent, got married and utilized his shoe repairing to support his household.
Eduardo rents a place and his business is open 7 days a week, from 8:00 AM to 8:00 PM. His children help him when he has to run some errands. With the income from his business, he has been able to support his family and have a house his most precious possession.
He is a repeat borrower under our program. With our first loan, he bought the necessary materials he needed to continue working. Now with this second loan, he hopes he will be able to invest in tools for his business, including a sewing machine for shoes.
Eduardo is 37 years old, has 5 kids and has been separated from his wife for a couple of years now. They intend to get back together, but at the moment he is in charge of their children. Presently, they are helping each other; they have their own house and they are remodeling it.
",M,975,lender,Services,1 Ecuador,"Efran has been repairing bicycles for twenty years. He works every day from 7am until 11pm helping customers fix their bikes, which for many people are their only mode of transportation. He has borrowed from Mifex before, applying the loan so that he could paint his shop and purchase bike components like sprockets, chains, and gears. He will use this loan to buy used bicycles that he can fix and resell. Efrain is 66 years old, and he lives alone. His wife passed away several years ago, and his four children are grown up. They visit frequently and help him run the shop from time to time. His wish is to continue serving more and more customers, helping them with their bike needs.
",M,925,partner,Services,0 Ecuador,"Efren is a rice farmer from Santa Lucia, Ecuador. On his small farm Efren has some chickens and he also cultivates corn. He hopes he will receive a loan because he wants to increase the rice production on his lands. He will accomplish this by planting more seeds and adding fertilizer to the soil. Efren has 4 children; two help on the farm while the younger ones are still in school. Efren has his rice processed and commercialized at his associations facilities, where he also works part time.
He is part of one of the newest Communal Banks in the recently developed Mifex Rural Finance Program. All of the members of the Centro Agricola de Santa Lucia Communal Bank are part of an Association of Rice Farmers in Santa Lucia. They will use the microloans to prepare their lands and cultivate rice on their farms. Because they form part of a communal bank, they are all each other's guarantors for the loan. This means that if for some reason one person in the group cannot fully repay the loan, the other borrowers and the Centro Agricola Association are responsible for the amount in default. The members of the bank also participate in a program designed to teach and encourage savings among the group. Promoting savings is often forgotten in many microfinance programs, but Mifex believes that is imperative for the communities we works with to have capital reserved for future investments or unexpected difficulties.
Below is more information about Santa Lucia compiled by Luis Crespo and Robert Edgar of the Mifex team when evaluating the potential of the sector for the Rural Finance Program. Special thanks to Mario Balazantegui who provided expert insight and contributed to the development of the alliances with the local organizations.
Santa Lucia County has a population of about 33,000 people. The sector is fit for rice cultivating because it is not in the lowlands and therefore it is not at risk of flooding. There is also great access to water because of the Daule River, which is accessible to many of the farmers in the area. About 70% of the farmers have basic infrastructure for watering their crops.
Rice production is the main economic activity of the area as about 80% of the people are rice farmers. Almost everyone is either directly or indirectly involved with the rice production, as they produce, commercialize or participate in activities that add value to the product. Within the county, there is a small town also named Santa Lucia. The town is filled with many small businesses and it serves as the social and commercial hub of the area.
Most of the people in the Santa Lucia area are small farmers. They produce about 100 sacks of rice per hectare of land. In order to farm they first must prepare the lands by removing weeds and plowing. The farmers then fill an area with water to form what is known as a paddy field, because rice is a very water intensive crop. The rice seeds are either dispersed freely (the process is known as boleo in Spanish) or hand sowed. Once the rice has grown, most farmers rent machinery that helps them gather their production. A risk factor does exist in rice farming because of drought, but in Santa Lucia this is somewhat mitigated by the access to water form the nearby river.
The biggest struggle in the area has been the lack of credit. Because people do not count on formal financial services, they have turned to loan sharks for financing. They have been affected by expensive lines of credit that exceed 100% interest a year and can be as expensive as 240%. Intermediaries also exploit the farmers because of their outstanding debt. Farmers also lack skills and knowledge to commercialize their products and pay fair prices for their crops.
The loans in this sector will be used to to buy soil, seeds, fertilizer and insecticides. They will also be used to prepare the land prior to farming, to plant the seeds and purchase other materials. The loan repayment schedule is also different from the typical microentrepreneur. Because farmers see the profits from their investments 5 or 6 months after making their initial expenditures, Mifex asks them only to pay 50% of the capital in the first 6 months of the loan. The rest of the debt must be paid in the seventh and final month.
",M,675,lender,Agriculture,0 Ecuador,"Efren sells encebollado, a popular Ecuadorian dish made with albacore and yucca. He learned to make this while working with a family member who was in the same business. After learning the trade well he decided to start his own operation and bought himself a tricycle cart so that he may sell his product.
Business has gone well for him and his wife who helps him. They hope that with this loan they can buy an additional tricycle cart so that he can hire a family member to sell for him. They have 4 children, all of which are still in school.
Mifex offers its clients microinsurance and access to business training and educational programs. For more information about microfinance, Ecuador, and our services, please visit www.mifex.org.
",M,375,partner,Food,0 Ecuador,"Elena has only had her ice cream shop open for 8 months. Her mother helped her setting up the store and often works with her. She sells ice cream and popsicles to children from a nearby school. She makes most of the ice cream from scratch. With the loan she will buy molds to make more popsicles. She will also invest in complimentary goods such as candies and snacks. She and her husband have one young child and they all live with Elenas mother. They are trying to save money in order to buy their own home.
Mifex offers its clients microinsurance and access to business training and educational programs. For more information about microfinance, Ecuador, and our services, please visit www.mifex.org.
",F,200,partner,Food,0 Ecuador,"Elias has been a salesman for about 40 years. He sells all types of household products from a market where he has had a stand for over 20 years. His son also works in his stand selling chickens and vegetables. They have been able to diversify their product offerings by reinvesting their products into their business. They are requesting this loan because they want to speed up this process and make a large investment that will boost their business. They are interested in purchasing plastic storage containers and kitchen supplies. Elias still has 2 children who live with him and are going to school. He hopes he can pay for them to attain higher educations.
Mifex offers its clients microinsurance and access to business training and educational programs. For more information about microfinance, Ecuador, and our services, please visit www.mifex.org.
",M,600,partner,Retail,0 Ecuador,"Elias owns a small food market in Guayaquil. He started his store with the help of his wife who worked at someone elses store for several years. They decided to open their store with only fresh fruit and vegetables, but they have been expanding their inventory for several years. They now sell other grocery products and are seeking to introduce office supplies into their product line. The business is run out of their home, and Elias has been modifying a new sector as an expansion of the store for these new products. He and his wife depend on this business to feed and educate their family.
Mifex offers its clients microinsurance and access to business training and educational programs. For more information about microfinance, Ecuador, and our services, please visit www.mifex.org.
",M,500,partner,Food,0 Ecuador,"Eliceo has a very humble plot of land that he uses for rice production. Although he does not have much, it helps make ends meet for Eliceo and his parents. He is not married nor does he have children, but he is still very close to his parents as they live together and work the lands. He also works at the local rice processing center.
Eliceo is part of the newest Communal Banks in the recently developed Mifex Rural Finance Program. All of the members of the Centro Agricola de Santa Lucia Communal Bank are part of an Association of Rice Farmers in Santa Lucia. Their association works cooperatively to help in the commercialization of the product after it has grown. They will use the micro-loans to prepare their lands and cultivate rice on their farms. Because they form part of a communal bank, they are all each others guarantors for the loan. This means that if for some reason one person in the group cannot fully repay the loan, the other borrowers and the Primero de Agosto Association are responsible for the amount in default. The members of the bank also participate in a program designed to teach and encourage savings among the group. Promoting savings is often forgotten in many micro-finance programs, but Mifex believes that is imperative for the communities we work with to have capital reserved for future investments or unexpected difficulties.
Below is more information about Santa Lucia compiled by Luis Crespo and Robert Edgar of the Mifex team when evaluating the potential of the sector for the Rural Finance Program. Special thanks to Mario Balazantegui who provided expert insight and contributed to the development of the alliances with the local organizations.
Santa Lucia County has a population of about 33,000 people. The sector is fit for rice cultivating because it is not in the lowlands and therefore it is not at risk of flooding. There is also great access to water because of the Daule River, which is accessible to many of the farmers in the area. About 70% of the farmers have basic infrastructure for watering their crops.
Rice production is the main economic activity of the area as about 80% of the people are rice farmers. Almost everyone is either directly or indirectly involved with rice production, as they produce, commercialize or participate in activities that add value to the product. Within the county, there is a small town also named Santa Lucia. The town is filled with many small businesses and it serves as the social and commercial hub of the area.
Most of the people in the Santa Lucia area are small farmers. They produce about 100 sacks of rice per hectare of land. In order to farm they first must prepare the lands by removing weeds and plowing. The farmers then fill an area with water to form what is known as a paddy field, because rice is a very water-intensive crop. The rice seeds are either dispersed freely (the process is known as boleo in Spanish) or hand sowed. Once the rice has grown, most farmers rent machinery that helps them gather their production. A risk factor does exist in rice farming because of drought, but in Santa Lucia this is somewhat mitigated by the access to water form the nearby river.
The biggest struggle in the area has been the lack of credit. Because people do not count on formal financial services, they have turned to loan sharks for financing. They have been affected by expensive lines of credit that exceed 100% interest a year and can be as expensive as 240%. Intermediaries also exploit the farmers because of their outstanding debt. Farmers also lack skills and knowledge to commercialize their products and pay fair prices for their crops.
The loans in this sector will be used to to buy soil, seeds, fertilizer and insecticides. They will also be used to prepare the land prior to farming, to plant the seeds and purchase other materials. The loan repayment schedule is also different from the typical micro-entrepreneur. Because farmers see the profits from their investments 5 or 6 months after making their initial expenditures, Mifex asks them only to pay 50% of the capital in the first 6 months of the loan. The rest of the debt must be paid in the seventh and final month.
",M,425,lender,Agriculture,0 Ecuador,"Elisa has a small plot of land that she bought about 30 years ago. She lives on the land with her son and his family of three children. They primarily plant rice, but also raise chickens and pigs as a secondary source of income. She hopes to invest the money in making her production greater by buying fertilizer. With her extra income she also wants to help her grandchildren go to school and hopefully make more investments in her land.
This borrower is part of the newest and largest Communal Bank in the recently developed Mifex Rural Finance Program. All of the members of the Centro Agricola de Baba Communal Bank are part of an Association of Rice Farmers in the county of Baba in rural Ecuador. Their association works cooperatively to cultivate rice and commercialize the product after it has grown. As an association, Centro Agricola helps the farmers by providing access to machinery and training services. The farmers from Centro Agricola have received special instruction on financial responsibility and accounting from Codemicro, an organization that specializes in training programs geared towards the rural sector.
The members of Centro Agricola de Baba will use the micro-loans to prepare their lands and cultivate rice on their farms. Because they form part of a communal bank, they are all each others' guarantors for the loan. This means that if for some reason one person in the group cannot fully repay the loan, the other borrowers and the Centro Agricola de Baba Association are responsible for the amount in default. The members of the bank also participate in a program designed to teach and encourage savings among the group. Promoting savings is often forgotten in many micro-finance programs, but Mifex believes that is imperative for the communities we works with to have capital reserved for future investments or unexpected difficulties.
Below is more information about Santa Lucia compiled by Luis Crespo and Robert Edgar of the Mifex team when evaluating the potential of the sector for the Rural Finance Program.
The people of Baba have been organized since the days of Gran Colombia when Ecuador was yet to be a country. The area has always been popular because of the extremely productive lands that gave way to cultivation of cacao for decades. Now Baba is a county in the province of Los Rios in the coastal region of Ecuador. For most of the latter part of the 20th Century it was a cacao and banana producing sector. Most of the surrounding areas of Baba in Los Rios are owned by large mulitnational companies such as Dole, but Baba is a sector characterized by the small and informal farms.
Rice production has now turned into the main economic activity of the sector as about 80% of the people are rice farmers. Cacao is still very popular in the area, but because of the long cultivation cycle people prefer to invest in rice. The lands in Baba are very fertile though, and most farmers in the sector often grow other crops, such as plantains and soy beans as secondary sources of income. Many farmers also keep livestock as emergency sources of food and income, commonly resorting to selling a chicken or pig if they are in need of cash.
Most of the people in the Baba area are small farmers. They produce about 80 sacks of rice per hectare of land. In order to farm they first must prepare the lands by removing weeds, plowing and leveling the lands. This is the most difficult part for the farmers in Baba, who often lack the necessary machinery to properly plow the lands for rice production. After appropriately preparing the lands, the farmers fill an area with water to form what is known as a paddy field, because rice is a very water intensive crop. The rice seeds are either dispersed freely (the process is known as boleo in Spanish) or hand sowed. Once the rice has grown, most farmers rent machinery that helps them gather their production.
One of the biggest struggles in the area has been the lack of credit due to the absence of any type of financial institution. Because people do not count on formal financial finance, they have turned to loan sharks for financing. They have been affected by expensive lines of credit that exceed 100% interest a year and can be as expensive as 240%. Intermediaries also exploit the farmers because of their outstanding debt. Farmers also lack skills and knowledge to commercialize their products and pay fair prices for their crops.
The largest risk in the sector is due to absence of watering systems. Although Baba is in the province Los Rios (the rivers) there is severe problem with access to water. The lack of infrastructure in the sector does not allow the small farmers to benefit from the presence of the many rivers in the area. If the winter season is too dry, it is likely that the lands will not be sufficiently fertile for rice production in the summer. On the other hand, if there is too much rain there are not any drainage systems to prevent flooding and the crops are often ruined. Generally speaking though, Baba is a very productive sector where the lands yield all types of crops including rice, cacao, corn, watermelons, plantains, and soy beans.
The loans in this sector will mostly be used to to buy soil, seeds, fertilizer and insecticides. Many clients will use the capital towards renting machinery and equipment necessary to effectively work and prepare the fields. Clients also typically use a part of the loan to buy livestock in order to raise and have as reserves. The loan repayment schedule is different from the typical micro-entrepreneur because farmers see the profits from their investments 5 or 6 months after making their initial expenditures. Mifex asks our rural clients only to pay 50% of the capital in the first 6 months of the loan. The rest of the debt must be paid in the seventh and final month.
",F,675,lender,Agriculture,0 Ecuador,"Elizabeth has 5 years of experience selling household products. She used to work as a seamstress. Her husband moved to Spain 7 years ago, which was her motivation for beginning to work. She went to work for the sake of her children, who were still young and needed her financial support. She started her own business, and it is going very well. She works every day of the week from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Her daughter helps her in the business as well.
Elizabeth has borrowed from Kiva and Mifex before. She used her first loan to invest in domestic appliances and was very successful. She is applying for a second so she may continue to diversify her product line during the holiday season.
Although Elizabeth is married, her husband lives in another country. Periodically he sends her financial help for the children. She is 45 years old and has 3 children. Two of her children are married and no longer live with her. She is living in her in-laws' home right now. She aspires to be able to renovate the house where she lives in order to open a bazaar (store) there. She hopes to start that business with the earnings from her present business along with the help of her husband.
",F,950,lender,Retail,1 Ecuador,"Elizabeth has been a seamstress for more than 8 years. She makes all types of clothing and often takes custom jobs from her clients. She also has a small shop that she runs out of her home with the help of her 13 year old daughter. Although she prefers that her daughter study and not work in the business, she must recognize the need for money. She is a single mother who has had to face many difficulties after divorcing her husband. She counts on her businesses to help educate and feed her kids.
Mifex offers its clients microinsurance and access to business training and educational programs. For more information about microfinance, Ecuador, and our services, please visit www.mifex.org.
",F,475,partner,Services,0 Ecuador,"Elizabeth has been working as a seamstress for about 8 years. She makes all types of clothing to display from her store, as well as custom jobs for certain customers. Elizabeths daughter helps her run the store, which has generated enough profit to purchase three sewing machines. She learned the trade from her mother and improved her skills with a course she took part of. She needs the loan because she wants to invest in cloth, threads and other materials. Elizabeth is 42 years old and has 3 children. She is a single mother who lives in a very humble home made out of wood. She hopes that this loan will help her business grow so she may continue to educate her kids.
",F,475,partner,Services,0 Ecuador,"Elsa has been separated from her husband for over ten years and she is in charge of raising their only child. For several years her ex-husband would send her money in order to help cover the expenses for her household but now she is fully dependent upon her business. She opened her small store thanks to the support of her aunt who always encouraged her to find a means to sustain herself. From her small store she sells a variety of products ranging from condiments to detergent.
Elsa is a repeat Kiva and Mifex borrower. She has done great with her first loan. Elsa first invested her money in increasing the inventory of her store. Once she made her capital back and increased profits, she went on to make adjustments to her store and home. She finished building a section of the store out of cement and now it is much bigger and accommodates many more goods. She will use her second loan to purchase the goods to fill the new space in her store.
",F,875,partner,Food,0 Ecuador,"Elsa has been separated from her husband for over ten years and she is in charge of raising their only child. For several years her ex-husband would send her money in order to help cover the expenses for her household but now she is fully dependent upon her business. She opened her small store thanks to the support of her aunt who always encouraged her to find a means to sustain herself. From her small store she sells a variety of products ranging from condiments to detergent. She needs the capital in order to increase and diversify her inventory by buying from wholesalers. With the extra profits she hopes to continue to invest in her market and save for the future of her child.
Mifex offers its clients microinsurance and access to business training and educational programs. For more information about microfinance, Ecuador, and our services, please visit www.mifex.org.
",F,475,partner,Food,0 Ecuador,"Elsa lives with her husband and has five children. Her children are all grown up but two still live with her. She is also caring for a close family friend who has a brain tumor, but cannot afford medical care. With her loan she will invest in her rice production. As complimentary crops she farms cacao, mangoes and corn. She hopes that, with the loan, she will be able to invest in her land, making the soil more productive. She also wants to finish a section of her home which is still under construction.
This borrower is part of the newest and largest Communal Bank in the recently developed Mifex Rural Finance Program. All of the members of the Centro Agricola de Baba Communal Bank are part of an Association of Rice Farmers in the county of Baba in rural Ecuador. Their association works cooperatively to cultivate rice and commercialize the product after it has grown. As an association, Centro Agricola helps the farmers by providing access to machinery and training services. The farmers from Centro Agricola have received special instruction on financial responsibility and accounting from Codemicro, an organization that specializes in training programs geared towards the rural sector.
The members of Centro Agricola de Baba will use the micro-loans to prepare their lands and cultivate rice on their farms. Because they form part of a communal bank, they are all each others' guarantors for the loan. This means that if for some reason one person in the group cannot fully repay the loan, the other borrowers and the Centro Agricola de Baba Association are responsible for the amount in default. The members of the bank also participate in a program designed to teach and encourage savings among the group. Promoting savings is often forgotten in many micro-finance programs, but Mifex believes that is imperative for the communities we works with to have capital reserved for future investments or unexpected difficulties.
Below is more information about Santa Lucia compiled by Luis Crespo and Robert Edgar of the Mifex team when evaluating the potential of the sector for the Rural Finance Program.
The people of Baba have been organized since the days of Gran Colombia when Ecuador was yet to be a country. The area has always been popular because of the extremely productive lands that gave way to cultivation of cacao for decades. Now Baba is a county in the province of Los Rios in the coastal region of Ecuador. For most of the latter part of the 20th Century it was a cacao and banana-producing sector. Most of the surrounding areas of Baba in Los Rios are owned by large multinational companies such as Dole, but Baba is a sector characterized by small and informal farms.
Rice production has now turned into the main economic activity of the sector as about 80% of the people are rice farmers. Cacao is still very popular in the area, but because of the long cultivation cycle people prefer to invest in rice. The lands in Baba are very fertile though, and most farmers in the sector often grow other crops, such as plantains and soybeans as secondary sources of income. Many farmers also keep livestock as emergency sources of food and income, commonly resorting to selling a chicken or pig if they are in need of cash.
Most of the people in the Baba area are small farmers. They produce about 80 sacks of rice per hectare of land. In order to farm they first must prepare the lands by removing weeds, plowing and leveling the lands. This is the most difficult part for the farmers in Baba, who often lack the necessary machinery to properly plow the lands for rice production. After appropriately preparing the lands, the farmers fill an area with water to form what is known as a paddy field, because rice is a very water-intensive crop. The rice seeds are either dispersed freely (the process is known as boleo in Spanish) or hand sowed. Once the rice has grown, most farmers rent machinery that helps them gather their production.
One of the biggest struggles in the area has been the lack of credit due to the absence of any type of financial institution. Because people do not count on formal financial finance, they have turned to loan sharks for financing. They have been affected by expensive lines of credit that exceed 100% interest a year and can be as expensive as 240%. Intermediaries also exploit the farmers because of their outstanding debt. Farmers also lack skills and knowledge to commercialize their products and pay fair prices for their crops.
The largest risk in the sector is due to absence of watering systems. Although Baba is in the province Los Rios (the rivers) there is severe problem with access to water. The lack of infrastructure in the sector does not allow the small farmers to benefit from the presence of the many rivers in the area. If the winter season is too dry, it is likely that the lands will not be sufficiently fertile for rice production in the summer. On the other hand, if there is too much rain, there are not any drainage systems to prevent flooding and the crops are often ruined. Generally speaking though, Baba is a very productive sector where the lands yield all types of crops including rice, cacao, corn, watermelons, plantains, and soybeans.
The loans in this sector will mostly be used to buy soil, seeds, fertilizer and insecticides. Many clients will use the capital towards renting machinery and equipment necessary to effectively work and prepare the fields. Clients also typically use a part of the loan to buy livestock in order to raise and have as reserves. The loan repayment schedule is different from the typical micro-entrepreneur because farmers see the profits from their investments 5 or 6 months after making their initial expenditures. Mifex asks our rural clients only to pay 50% of the capital in the first 6 months of the loan. The rest of the debt must be paid in the seventh and final month.
",F,1200,lender,Agriculture,0 Ecuador,"Elsa owns a small food market very well situated on a main street. Elsa started the store with a family member who helped her with $100. At first she only sold candy and snacks, but she has slowly evolved into a small groceries market. Elsa will use her loan in order to continue to invest in new items like dairy products and canned goods. She is sure that with the loan her business activity will increase and she will bring in more profits. Elsa has been divorced for about 10 years. She has a son that still lives at home. She completely depends on the business to meet the needs of the household.
Mifex offers its clients microinsurance and access to business training and educational programs. For more information about microfinance, Ecuador, and our services, please visit www.mifex.org.
",F,875,partner,Food,0 Ecuador,"Elsa Rivera owns a small business selling such goods as clothes, shoes, and cosmetics. Every week she features a new item in her store, something distinct that she knows her customers cannot find anywhere else. Elsa gains loyal customers from the nearby open-air market, festival celebrations, and street traffic. With five years of experience under her belt, Elsa has learned to run a very tight operation.
Elsas parents run a similar shop in Guayaquil, and they were able to provide some clothes to help her get started in her own business. Ms. Rivera will use her second loan to increase the volume of her sales by increasing her stock. She will buy seasonal clothes, such as sweaters and rain jackets, and if she pays in cash, she can benefit from the distributors discounts.
Her husband left his family seven years ago, and Ms. Rivera has done very well as a single mother raising three children. Life continued to throw challenges in Elsas way when her daughter, only 14 years old, had a baby. Rather than complain and quit, this hard-working entrepreneur pulled herself up and put extra effort into her job to raise her children and grandchild.
Elsa is 41 years of age, and although she has experienced many hardships in life, she wants people to know her for working hard and supporting her three children, all of whom attend school and enjoy good health. They live in a modest house which was passed down from Elsas mother, and this house is the focal point of her small business which Elsa is growing into a very profitable venture.
",F,650,partner,Clothing,0 Ecuador,"Elsa started a business three years ago selling candies, beer and sodas. Things were going well and she was able to rebuild her house out of wood instead of bamboo and even buy a new roof. But when she separated from her husband, the business nearly fell apart and she was forced to resort to borrowing from a chulquero, or loan shark. She has now paid this debt but hopes to use new loan money to invest in more candies and beer and restart the service to the payphone she has outside the store. Elsa is 32 years old and has four daughters. She is in a new relationship with a man who supports her and her business. She hopes that, with the rebirth of her business, she will be able to cover the costs of running her home and will be able to send her daughters to school.
Mifex offers its clients microinsurance and access to business training and educational programs. For more information about microfinance, Ecuador, and our services, please visit www.mifex.org.
",F,475,partner,Food,0 Ecuador,"Elsy is a 40-year-old married mother of two. She is a very active woman and has been an entrepreneur since she was very young. In fact, Elsy sold clothes through college so she could afford to go to school. When she got married, her father-in-law sold goods in the towns, and he taught her a lot about sales. With over twenty years of experience in this business, Ms. Triana has found her niche.
With her first Mifex and Kiva loan, she purchased clothing and goods for the home that her clients requested. These tems sold quickly and due to Elsys attentiveness to her clients she has customers who now buy from regularly. Elsy wants to apply for a second loan so that she can expand her line of offerings to include more clothing and beauty products. The end of the year is a season of high sales and she hopes to increase her profits then. The town she lives in throws frequent celebrations and she believes her colorful garments will sell well.
Elsys two children are studying in school. Her husband helps her operate the business when he can, but he has his own job in a factory. On his days off, he is responsible for purchasing clothing and negotiating the prices with the suppliers. Both Elsy and her husband know the business very well, and they are constantly trying to think of ways to improve it. Her family is close-knit and both she and her husband work hard to provide for their children. Elsy wants to help the business grow by making improvements to her home. She is very thankful to Mifex and the Kiva community for their ongoing support.
",F,1200,lender,Clothing,1 Ecuador,"Elsy is a 40-year-old married mother of two. She is a very active woman and has been an entrepreneur since she was very young. In fact, Elsy sold clothes through college so she could afford to go to school. When she got married, her father-in-law sold goods in the towns, and he taught her a lot about sales. With over twenty years of experience in this business, Ms. Triana has found her niche. Her husband helps her operate the business when he can, but he has his own job in a factory. On his days off, he is responsible for purchasing the clothing material and negotiating the prices with the suppliers. Both Elsy and her husband know the business very well, and they are constantly trying to think of ways to improve it. Their strength has allowed them to grow since first starting. Elsy wants to apply for credit so that she can offer other varieties of products, taking advantage of the frequent celebrations that the town throws. She envisions colorful garments for the party-goers as well as continuing the line of clothes she currently sells.
Elsy owns a small store in her neighborhood where she sells foods such as rice, sugar and oil. Her neighbor gave her moral support to open this store because she realized there was not much competition in her sector of the community. Before opening the store she worked in a plastic factory but had to leave her children unattended at home. 5 years ago she decided to start this microenterprise because it would give her the flexibility to be with her family and would also provide for them. She is separated from her husband and is therefore a single mother of 3. She will use the loan to diversify and increase her product offerings.
Mifex offers its clients microinsurance and access to business training and educational programs. For more information about microfinance, Ecuador, and our services, please visit www.mifex.org.
",F,375,partner,Food,0 Ecuador,"Elwar runs a business where he sells basic provisions and supplies. He has been working at this business for about 3 years. He runs the business with the help of his wife who tends to their store. Originally he specialized in selling purified water. He rents these large bottles out to his clients who trade them in for full bottles when they run out. Elwar sends the empty bottles to be filled by a local water company, but he must buy the bottles in order to work with them. The business is particularly important in these communities because water services do not exist.
Elwar invested his first loan in purchasing store supplies, various snacks and other products. He also purchased a glass refrigerated case to display all the different products he carries.
Elwar is from Esmeraldas, a rural town in Ecuador. He is 41 years old and has 3 kids that are in high school. His wife is Colombian and works closely with him. They are a very hard working family and they are optimistic about the future. Elwar is requesting a second loan from Mifex and Kiva to augment his inventory of goods to meet increasing client demand. Elwars most important goal is to have his kids graduate from high school and then college.
",M,850,lender,Food,1 Ecuador,"Elwar runs a business where he sells purified drinking water. He has been working at this business for about 3 years. He runs the business with the help of his wife who tends to their store. Elwar also runs a laundry service from his home. He owns a couple of machines that he rents out to members of the community.
Elwar will invest the loan in purchasing more bottles for the water. He rents these large bottles out to his clients who trade them in for full bottles when they run out. Elwar sends the empty bottles to be filled by a local water company, but he must buy the bottles in order to work with them. The business is particularly important in these communities because water services do not exist.
Elwar is from Esmeraldas, a rural town in Ecuador. He is 41 years old and has 3 kids that are in highschool. His wife is Colombian and works closely with him. They are a very hard working family and they are optimistic about the future. Elwars most important goal is to have his kids graduate from highschool and then college.
",M,475,partner,Food,0 Ecuador,"Emiliano is a blacksmith in need of a loan for metal and tools. He learned the family trade from his father as a youngster, and now he is has his business for over 13 years. He mostly gets jobs making metal gates, doors and windows. These products are in high demand in Guayaquil because of the crime rates. He has three sons who are already adults.
Mifex offers its clients microinsurance and access to business training and educational programs. For more information about microfinance, Ecuador, and our services, please visit www.mifex.org.
",M,375,partner,Manufacturing,0 Ecuador,"Emilio ha vivido en Baba por 35 aos cultivando arroz. En sus tierras tambin tiene otros productos como el pltano y el maz, pero el que es su negocio es el arroz. El tiene 4 hijos que ya son adultos y que lo apoyan a su padre en su actividad de agricultura. El y su esposa viven solos en su casa que es de madera y cementa. El quiere seguir haciendo arreglos en su hogar despus de hacer su inversin en la agricultura.
English:Translated by Nuria Ruiz, Kiva Voluteer.
Emilio has grown rice in Baba for 35 years. In his land he also has other crops like bananas and corn but his main sustenance comes from rice. He has four grown up children that help him with the land. He and his wife live by themselves on their house, made out of wood an cement. He is requesting a loan for agricultural purposes but also to remodel his house that needs some fixing.
This borrower is part of the newest Communal Bank in the recently developed Mifex Rural Finance Program. All of the members of the Rosa de Oro (Golden Rose) Communal Bank are part of an Association of Rice Farmers in the county of Baba in rural Ecuador. Their association works cooperatively to cultivate rice and commercialize the product after it has grown. As an association, Rosa de Oro helps the farmers by providing access to machinery, training services and government assistance. The farmers from Rosa de Oro are very close to each other and cooperate to help one another on their farms.
The members of Rosa de Oro will use the micro-loans to prepare their lands and cultivate rice on their farms. Because they form part of a communal bank, they are all each others' guarantors for the loan. This means that if for some reason one person in the group cannot fully repay the loan, the other borrowers and the Rosa de Oro Association are responsible for the amount in default. The members of the bank also participate in a program designed to teach and encourage savings among the group. Promoting savings is often forgotten in many micro-finance programs, but Mifex believes that is imperative for the communities we works with to have capital reserved for future investments or unexpected difficulties.
Below is more information about Baba compiled by Luis Crespo and Robert Edgar of the Mifex team when evaluating the potential of the sector for the Rural Finance Program.
The people of Baba have been organized since the days of Gran Colombia when Ecuador was yet to be a country. The area has always been popular because of the extremely productive lands that gave way to cultivation of cacao for decades. Now Baba is a county in the province of Los Rios in the coastal region of Ecuador. For most of the latter part of the 20th Century it was a cacao and banana producing sector. Most of the surrounding areas of Baba in Los Rios are owned by large mulitnational companies such as Dole, but Baba is a sector characterized by the small and informal farms.
Rice production has now turned into the main economic activity of the sector as about 80% of the people are rice farmers. Cacao is still very popular in the area, but because of the long cultivation cycle people prefer to invest in rice. The lands in Baba are very fertile though, and most farmers in the sector often grow other crops, such as plantains and soy beans as secondary sources of income. Many farmers also keep livestock as emergency sources of food and income, commonly resorting to selling a chicken or pig if they are in need of cash.
Most of the people in the Baba area are small farmers. They produce about 80 sacks of rice per hectare of land. In order to farm they first must prepare the lands by removing weeds, plowing and leveling the lands. This is the most difficult part for the farmers in Baba, who often lack the necessary machinery to properly plow the lands for rice production. After appropriately preparing the lands, the farmers fill an area with water to form what is known as a paddy field, because rice is a very water intensive crop. The rice seeds are either dispersed freely (the process is known as boleo in Spanish) or hand sowed. Once the rice has grown, most farmers rent machinery that helps them gather their production.
One of the biggest struggles in the area has been the lack of credit due to the absence of any type of financial institution. Because people do not count on formal financial finance, they have turned to loan sharks for financing. They have been affected by expensive lines of credit that exceed 100% interest a year and can be as expensive as 240%. Intermediaries also exploit the farmers because of their outstanding debt. Farmers also lack skills and knowledge to commercialize their products and pay fair prices for their crops.
The largest risk in the sector is due to absence of watering systems. Although Baba is in the province Los Rios (the rivers) there is severe problem with access to water. The lack of infrastructure in the sector does not allow the small farmers to benefit from the presence of the many rivers in the area. If the winter season is too dry, it is likely that the lands will not be sufficiently fertile for rice production in the summer. On the other hand, if there is too much rain there are not any drainage systems to prevent flooding and the crops are often ruined. Generally speaking though, Baba is a very productive sector where the lands yield all types of crops including rice, cacao, corn, watermelons, plantains, and soy beans.
The loans in this sector will mostly be used to to buy soil, seeds, fertilizer and insecticides. Many clients will use the capital towards renting machinery and equipment necessary to effectively work and prepare the fields. Clients also typically use a part of the loan to buy livestock in order to raise and have as reserves. The loan repayment schedule is different from the typical micro-entrepreneur because farmers see the profits from their investments 5 or 6 months after making their initial expenditures. Mifex asks our rural clients only to pay 50% of the capital in the first 6 months of the loan. The rest of the debt must be paid in the seventh and final month.
",M,550,partner,Agriculture,0 Ecuador,"Emilio has a farm where he cultivates rice. He has lived in Baba, Ecuador for his entire life working in agriculture. His education is very limited, but he has been able to raise two children through his rice cultivation. He has over 35 years of experience with this crop and he now has the help of his two sons who work with him. He is planning to use the loan to invest in pesticides and fertilizer for his land.
This borrower is part of the newest and largest Communal Bank in the recently developed Mifex Rural Finance Program. All of the members of the Centro Agricola de Baba Communal Bank are part of an Association of Rice Farmers in the county of Baba in rural Ecuador. Their association works cooperatively to cultivate rice and commercialize the product after it has grown. As an association, Centro Agricola helps the farmers by providing access to machinery and training services. The farmers from Centro Agricola have received special instruction on financial responsibility and accounting from Codemicro, an organization that specializes in training programs geared towards the rural sector.
The members of Centro Agricola de Baba will use the micro-loans to prepare their lands and cultivate rice on their farms. Because they form part of a communal bank, they are all each others' guarantors for the loan. This means that if for some reason one person in the group cannot fully repay the loan, the other borrowers and the Centro Agricola de Baba Association are responsible for the amount in default. The members of the bank also participate in a program designed to teach and encourage savings among the group. Promoting savings is often forgotten in many micro-finance programs, but Mifex believes that is imperative for the communities we works with to have capital reserved for future investments or unexpected difficulties.
Below is more information about Santa Lucia compiled by Luis Crespo and Robert Edgar of the Mifex team when evaluating the potential of the sector for the Rural Finance Program.
The people of Baba have been organized since the days of Gran Colombia when Ecuador was yet to be a country. The area has always been popular because of the extremely productive lands that gave way to cultivation of cacao for decades. Now Baba is a county in the province of Los Rios in the coastal region of Ecuador. For most of the latter part of the 20th Century it was a cacao and banana-producing sector. Most of the surrounding areas of Baba in Los Rios are owned by large multinational companies such as Dole, but Baba is a sector characterized by small and informal farms.
Rice production has now turned into the main economic activity of the sector as about 80% of the people are rice farmers. Cacao is still very popular in the area, but because of the long cultivation cycle people prefer to invest in rice. The lands in Baba are very fertile though, and most farmers in the sector often grow other crops, such as plantains and soybeans as secondary sources of income. Many farmers also keep livestock as emergency sources of food and income, commonly resorting to selling a chicken or pig if they are in need of cash.
Most of the people in the Baba area are small farmers. They produce about 80 sacks of rice per hectare of land. In order to farm they first must prepare the lands by removing weeds, plowing and leveling the lands. This is the most difficult part for the farmers in Baba, who often lack the necessary machinery to properly plow the lands for rice production. After appropriately preparing the lands, the farmers fill an area with water to form what is known as a paddy field, because rice is a very water-intensive crop. The rice seeds are either dispersed freely (the process is known as boleo in Spanish) or hand sowed. Once the rice has grown, most farmers rent machinery that helps them gather their production.
One of the biggest struggles in the area has been the lack of credit due to the absence of any type of financial institution. Because people do not count on formal financial finance, they have turned to loan sharks for financing. They have been affected by expensive lines of credit that exceed 100% interest a year and can be as expensive as 240%. Intermediaries also exploit the farmers because of their outstanding debt. Farmers also lack skills and knowledge to commercialize their products and pay fair prices for their crops.
The largest risk in the sector is due to absence of watering systems. Although Baba is in the province Los Rios (the rivers) there is severe problem with access to water. The lack of infrastructure in the sector does not allow the small farmers to benefit from the presence of the many rivers in the area. If the winter season is too dry, it is likely that the lands will not be sufficiently fertile for rice production in the summer. On the other hand, if there is too much rain, there are not any drainage systems to prevent flooding and the crops are often ruined. Generally speaking though, Baba is a very productive sector where the lands yield all types of crops including rice, cacao, corn, watermelons, plantains, and soybeans.
The loans in this sector will mostly be used to buy soil, seeds, fertilizer and insecticides. Many clients will use the capital towards renting machinery and equipment necessary to effectively work and prepare the fields. Clients also typically use a part of the loan to buy livestock in order to raise and have as reserves. The loan repayment schedule is different from the typical micro-entrepreneur because farmers see the profits from their investments 5 or 6 months after making their initial expenditures. Mifex asks our rural clients only to pay 50% of the capital in the first 6 months of the loan. The rest of the debt must be paid in the seventh and final month.
",M,1075,lender,Agriculture,0 Ecuador,"Emma owns a business in which she sells gifts and knick knacks, which she has done from her home for 10 years. She began with small savings that her husband gave her so that she could invest them. Emma tends her store and her customers every day of the week from 6am to 10pm.
Emma needs a loan in order to buy school supplies, gift items and beach gear. She has borrowed from Kiva and Mifex before, using the money to increase her inventory and also make improvements to her store front.
Emma is 46 years old and has 3 children to care for, 2 of whom are in school. Emma says that with the loan she will invest in the products in demand and with the additional earnings, she will be able to remodel her locale. Emma's husband helps her in her purchasing, which she does in order to supply and expand her store, because she knows that this source of income helps to improve her family's quality of life. He is an orthodontist who works his clinic from a different section of their home.
Previous Profile:http://www.kiva.org/app.php?page=businesses&action=about&id=9913
",F,650,lender,Retail,1 Ecuador,"Emma owns a business in which she sells gifts and knickknacks, which she has done from her home for 10 years. She began with small savings that her husband gave her so that she could invest them. Emma tends her store and her customers every day of the week from 6am to 10pm.
Emma needs a loan in order to buy school supplies and gift items. For the school year and for Mother's day, her customers are asking for things such as: ""Cups Games,"" ""Toasters"", ""Wave Games,"" and others. Because she lacks the liquid capital, she cannot meet her customers' demand, which would increase her earnings.
Emma is 46 years old and has 3 children to care for, 2 of whom are in school. Emma says that with the loan she will invest in the products in demand and with the additional earnings, she will be able to remodel her locale. Emma's husband helps her in her purchasing, which she does in order to supply and expand her store, because she knows that this source of income helps to improve her family's quality of life.
Translated from Spanish by Kiva Volunteer, Kristin Connor
",F,600,partner,Clothing,0 Ecuador,"
ENGLISH
Laura Holguin runs a small business where she sells perfumes and cosmetic products. Part of her time is spent selling products out of her home while the other part is spent traveling around her community making sales to friends and acquaintances. She works from 8:00 AM and as late as 10:00 PM trying to sell her products. She is requesting a loan of $685 in order to buy in bulk and diversify her inventory. She has experience in this type of business for 19 years and her clientele are all inhabitants that live around her neighborhood. Laura was born in Guayaquil, she is 49 years old, and is single mother with 1 son.
SPANISH
Laura Holgun, naci en Guayaquil, tiene 49 aos de edad, es madre soltera tiene 1 hijo, posee casa propia. Su negocio es de Venta de perfumes y cosmticos , el negocio esta ubicado en su casa, tiene una experiencia de 19 aos, sus clientes son todas las personas que viven a su alrededor, y ella sale a las empresas y amigos a vender, ella atiende a partir de las 8:00AM hasta las 20:00PM, ella necesita $ 685,00 para poder comprar ms productos y poder aprovechar los precios de oferta, se pudo observar que es una persona trabajadora, y emprendedora, la misma que sostiene sola su hogar.
",F,700,partner,Retail,0 Ecuador,"Enrique has been a farmer his entire life. He has been on this particular plot of land for the last 16 years. He has had 6 children, two of whom are still in school and live with him and his wife Vilma. On his farm, he also raises pigs and horses as additional sources of income. He plans to invest all of the loan money in his area of expertise, which is rice farming.
Enrique is part of one of the newest Communal Banks in the recently developed Mifex Rural Finance Program: the Paypayales Communal Bank. All bank members are part of a rice farmers' cooperative in Santa Lucia named Dios Con Nosotros (God is with us). They will use these microloans to prepare their lands and cultivate rice on their farms. As members of a communal bank, they are all the guarantors for each other's loans. This means that if for some reason one person in the group cannot fully repay the loan, the other borrowers and the Dios con Nosotros Cooperative are responsible for the amount in default. The members of the bank also participate in a program designed to teach and encourage savings among the group. Promoting savings is often forgotten in many microfinance programs, but Mifex believes that is imperative for the communities we works with to have capital reserved for future investments or unexpected difficulties.
Below is more information about the commnity of Santa Lucia, compiled by Luis Crespo and Robert Edgar of the Mifex team when evaluating the potential of the sector for the Rural Finance Program. Special thanks to Mario Balazantegui who provided expert insight and contributed to the development of the alliances with the local organizations.
Santa Lucia County has a population of about 33,000 people. The region is fit for rice cultivating because it is not in the lowlands and therefore it is not at risk of flooding. There is also great access to water because of the Daule River, which is accessible to many of the farmers in the area. About 70% of the farmers have basic infrastructure for watering their crops.
Rice production is the main economic activity of the area, as about 80% of the people are rice farmers. Almost everyone is either directly or indirectly involved with the rice production, as they produce, commercialize or participate in activities that add value to the product. Within the county, there is a small town also named Santa Lucia. The town is filled with many small businesses and it serves as the social and commercial hub of the area.
Most of the people in the Santa Lucia area are small farmers. They produce about 100 sacks of rice per hectare of land. In order to farm they first must prepare the lands by removing weeds and plowing. The farmers then fill an area with water to form what is known as a paddy field, because rice is a very water intensive crop. The rice seeds are either dispersed freely (the process is known as boleo in Spanish) or hand sowed. Once the rice has grown, most farmers rent machinery that helps them harvest their crop. A risk factor does exist in rice farming because of drought, but in Santa Lucia this is somewhat mitigated by the access to water form the nearby river.
The biggest struggle in the area has been the lack of credit. Because people do not have access to formal financial services, they have turned to loan sharks for financing. They have been affected by expensive lines of credit that exceed 100% interest a year and can be as expensive as 240%. Intermediaries also exploit the farmers because of their outstanding debt. Farmers also often lack skills and knowledge of how to commercialize their product and get fair prices for their crops.
The loans in this sector will be used to to buy soil, seeds, fertilizer and insecticides. They will also be used to prepare the land prior to farming, to plant the seeds and purchase other materials. The loan repayment schedule is different from the typical microentrepreneur. Because farmers see the profits from their investments 5 or 6 months after making their initial expenditures, Mifex asks them to repay 50% of the capital in the first 6 months of the loan. The rest of the debt must be paid in the seventh and final month.
",M,1200,lender,Agriculture,0 Ecuador,"Ernesto is a cattle rancher from Salitre. He wants to invest the money he receives from the loan in pesticides for rice and raising pigs. He commercializes the rice and pigs himself by traveling and selling to the nearby city of Milagro. He has one son who is in school. He wants to buy a truck in the future with the extra money he makes. He also hopes he can continue to provide an education for his 15 year old son.
He is the latest addition to one of the new Communal Banks in the Mifex Rural Finance Program. All of the members of the 10 de enero Communal Bank are part of an Association of Rice Farmers in Salitre named 10 de enero. They will use the microloans to prepare the lands and cultivate rice on their farms. Because they form part of a communal bank, they are all each other's guarantors for the loan. This means that if for some reason one person in the group cannot fully repay the loan, the other borrowers and the 10 de enero Association are responsible for the amount in default. The members of the bank also participate in a program designed to teach and encourage savings among the group. Promoting savings is often forgotten in many microfinance programs, but is imperative for the communities Mifex works with to have capital reserved for future investments or unexpected difficulties.
The loans in this sector will be used to create water deposits that will prevent flooding in the case of heavy rains or store water in case of droughts. They will also be used to treat the land prior to farming, to plant the seeds and purchase fertilizer. The loan repayment schedule is also different from the typical microentrepreneur. Because farmers see the profits from their investments 5 or 6 months after making their initial expenditures, Mifex asks them only to pay 50% of the capital in the first 5 months of the loan. The rest of the debt must be paid in the sixth and final month.
Below is more information about Salitre compiled by the staff at Mifex when evaluating the potential of the sector for the Rural Finance Program.
Salitre is a rural sector in the Province of Guayas, known as the capital of Montuvios (montuvio is a cowboy), with approximately 30,000 inhabitants. The main economic activities are herding and agriculture, which make up about 80% of the economy. The infrastructure and basic services are poor, especially the roads and water services.
Salitre is highly dedicated to farming rice and cattle ranching. Rice is a crop that yields about every four months. In order to farm rice, the environment must be very humid and there must be a high volume of water. The lack of a structured water system makes it difficult for the small farmers to be highly productive. The best months for cultivating rice are early in the year when it is the rainy season on the coast of Ecuador.
Salitre is a national tourist attraction as many Ecuadorians visit the fresh water Salitre River. There are cottages, small restaurants and water attractions that people come to enjoy.
There are not many financial institutions that provide services to the productive sector of the local economy. The primary access to credit comes from loan sharks who charge extremely high interest rates averaging around 20% a month. The locals are also exploited by the intermediaries that buy their products in order to commercialize them in the city and to export abroad. These intermediaries buy crops in advance at very low prices, finance soil at extremely high prices, and often provide emergency loans for even higher interest rates than the loan sharks.
Salitre is a dangerous sector considering it is in the rural area. There is a high incidence of robbery of cattle that results in many of the ranch owners owning weapons to protect their property. Because the police are not present in these areas, farmers and ranchers must apply their own laws and provide their own security. In some instances they have formed their own cooperatives and associations to have a community crime prevention effort.
Salitre is in the lowlands of Ecuador and is vulnerable to flooding in the rainy season. In the event of a heavy rainy season, often at its worse when El Nio occurs, the farmers of rice lose many of their crops. All this is due to a lack of infrastructure in the area.
",M,1200,lender,Agriculture,0 Ecuador,"Ernesto sells and fixes kitchen stoves and other household appliances. He learned the family trade from his father over 25 years ago. He started off with a small stand in the fairs of Guayaquil but now has a larger spot in the markets. His son works with him at the location and his wife sells the products door to door.
He needs the loan in order to buy new and used merchandise. He feels that he can add new products to his business in order to increase sales. With the extra income he plans to improve his home which is now made of wood.
Mifex offers its clients microinsurance and access to business training and educational programs. For more information about microfinance, Ecuador, and our services, please visit www.mifex.org.
",M,475,partner,Retail,0 Ecuador,"Ervin is applying for his second loan with Kiva and Mifex. He is the head of a true family business where he, his parents and his brothers work selling ceviche and other popular seafood meals. He and his brothers travel to the fish markets before dawn in order to buy the freshest fish and seafood. His wife and his mother prepare the meals to sell to the local community by 7 am almost everyday.
With the first loan, Ervin was able to invest his money in food and eventually he used the profits to open a new location with his wife. He is now requesting the loan in order to invest in the new place. Ervin and his wife have three children, but the business support the whole Lino family. Late last year, Ervin was paid a visit by one of the very first Kiva lenders named Tom. Read all about the visit and Ervins business here: http://baddogpip.blogspot.com/2006/12/mifex-neighborhoods-tres-trinitaria.html
Mifex offers its clients microinsurance and access to business training and educational programs. For more information about microfinance, Ecuador, and our services, please visit www.mifex.org.
",M,1200,partner,Food,0 Ecuador,"Esperanza has a small store where she sells basic groceries. She has owned the store for about 3 years, after having to move into a new home because her property was being taken away by the government. She had been working as a domestic assistant for about 25 years until the pain in her legs was too unbearable to continue working. She opened the store in her home and runs it with the help of her granddaughter and children.
Esperanza needs the loan in order to invest in goods for her market. Currently she feels she is very under stocked and she is not selling products that could increase her profits. She has had 9 children, all of which are grown up and independent. She is 69 years old but has been a single mother for 30 years after her husband left her and the children.
Mifex offers its clients microinsurance and access to business training and educational programs. For more information about microfinance, Ecuador, and our services, please visit www.mifex.org.
",F,375,partner,Food,0 Ecuador,"Estela has more than 13 years of experience in the production and selling of clothing. She learned the trade from her mother and set up her own business after saving up money from a job as a housekeeper. She has a very modest workshop that is in need of more fabrics and other materials, but she works long hours in order to make ends meet. As a single mother, she relies heavily on this business and a part time job cleaning houses in order to feed and educate her 2 children. She is seeking her second loan with our program in order to continue buying more materials and improving her shop.
",F,550,lender,Clothing,0 Ecuador,"Esther has a general store where she provides many of the items the community uses in daily consumption. When she started, she only had $100 of capital and could only sell vegetables from a stand. Now her store has items ranging from food to office supplies to cleaning products for the home. She is requesting the new loan because she wants to continue investing in all of her merchandise but also wants to introduce baby products into her sales. She sees that diapers and formula are highly in demand and she wants to take advantage of the business opportunity. Esther moved to Guayaquil from a rural sector named Los Rios. She has three children that she works very hard to educate and to feed.
Mifex offers its clients microinsurance and access to business training and educational programs. For more information about microfinance, Ecuador, and our services, please visit www.mifex.org.
",F,1000,partner,Retail,0 Ecuador,"Esther has a general store where she sells many commonplace household items. When she started, she only had $100 and could only sell vegetables from a stand. Now her store has items ranging from food to office supplies to home cleaning products. She expanded her business using a loan from our institution to purchase more merchandise but also to introduce baby products into her store. She saw that diapers and formula were in high demand and wanted to take advantage of the business opportunity. Esther is now requesting a second loan from Mifex and Kiva to stock her store with merchandise that her clients have specifically asked for. She would also like to purchase a glass case to display her items.
Esther moved to Guayaquil from a rural sector named Los Rios. She has three children that she works very hard to educate and feed. She is thankful to the Mifex and Kiva community for giving her the opportunity to grow and improve her life.
",F,1200,lender,Retail,1 Ecuador,"Esther has a small store where she sells many different types of products for the home. She started her business by borrowing from informal lenders who charged very high interest rates. She is happy that she is now dealing with a financial institution after receiving her first loan with Kiva and MIFEX.
Once she had the money, Esther immediately began investing in many different products. She is now selling clothing and childrens toys from her store. These items have helped her increase profits substantially. She used part of the loan and part of the profits to improve her store as well. She has made her storefront about double the size it was before. She also paved the floor in her home and her store which were dirt before.
There has not only been a noticeable change in the physical appearance of Esthers store, there has also been a change in Esthers view about the future. She is now thinking bigger as she plans to begin selling domestic appliances from her store. Her daughter will start studying at the university in the next couple of months and she hopes she can continue to help her.
",F,1200,partner,Retail,0 Ecuador,"Estrella sells glasses and does eye exams in Guayaquil. After working at an optometrists office for some time, Estrella saved enough money to start her own business. She had to make a $480 investment in the glasses kit that she uses to take peoples measurements. After she takes the measurements and her clients choose the frames, she sends the glasses in to get the correct lens put in. She mostly sells in her community, but also travels to colleges, churches and hospitals selling her products. She is very popular because there are not any optometrists that will go to their clients, especially in these marginalized communities.
She is currently separated from her husband and has the responsibility of providing for herself and her 15 year old child while he finished high school. Her dream is to finish her studies at the university so she can be a certified optometrist.
Estrella is a repeat Kiva and Mifex lender. She invested her first loan very successfully by purchasing new frames and a second display case. She made great profits on her investment and used them to make several improvements to her newly acquired home. Estrellas goal is owning her own store where she can keep more products in stock and she will be able to provide better service. She is planning on building the store in a section of her new house. She was very grateful for the loan and hopes to continue working with Kiva and Mifex.
",F,1200,partner,Health,0 Ecuador,"Estrella sells glasses and doing eye exams in Guayaquil. After working at an optometrists office for some time Estrella saved enough money to start her own business. She had to make a $480 investment in the glasses kit that she uses to take peoples measurements. After she takes the measurements and her clients chose the frames she sends the glasses in to get the correct lens put in. She mostly sells in her community, but also travels to colleges, churches and hospitals selling her products. She is very popular because there are not any optometrists that will go to their clients, especially in these marginalized communities.
She is currently separated from her husband and has the responsibility of providing for herself and her 15 year old child while he finished high school. Her dream is to finish her studies at the university so she can be a certified optometrist. She eventually wants to open her own office. She will invest the money in new frames and a second display case.
Mifex offers its clients microinsurance and access to business training and educational programs. For more information about microfinance, Ecuador, and our services, please visit www.mifex.org.
",F,600,partner,Health,0 Ecuador,"Eulalia is 45 years old and has five children, three of whom are dependent on her and attend school. The older two children help her with her businesses. She is very dedicated to her work and providing for her familys livelihood. They live in a cement house.
Four years ago, Eulalia used her small savings to start up a business selling fish. Every day, she would hawk fish like bass and perch through her neighborhood from 7:00 in the morning until 10:00 at night. Eulalia used to have a restaurant but was forced to close it when she lost her lease. In order to reopen it, she took out a loan with Mifex and Kiva to outfit the restaurant with a few tables and plastic chairs, pots and pans, and to repair her industrial stove. She also bought a tricycle to continue her fish sales while not at home working. She has been able to sell in new areas, find new clients, and earn more money thanks to this mode of transport.
Eulalia is determined to succeed with her restaurant. Her second loan will be used to enclose her eating area with a gate for the security of her clients. She is thankful to Mifex and the Kiva community for their ongoing support.
",F,1050,lender,Food,1 Ecuador,"Eva is married and has one daughter. Her husband works as a baker, and Eva began work 17 years ago making suits for men and women. Her mother sent her to an arts college, and when she left Ms. Toaza was given a sewing machine. From a very young age, she loved to sew, so Eva decided that she would continue with this line of work when she got older. Her customers come to her because they can count on quality and low prices. Eva as well as her husband take turns going to wholesalers so they can purchase things like fabric, thread, utensils. With this $600 loan, Eva is hoping to buy another sewing machine and new fabrics that are popular. Rather than 20% per month, Eva is now able to afford a loan and build her business so that she can improve her familys standard of living.
Mifex offers its clients microinsurance and access to business training and educational programs. For more information about microfinance, Ecuador, and our services, please visit www.mifex.org.
",F,600,partner,Services,0 Ecuador,"Eva is married and has one daughter. Her husband works as a baker. Eva began working seventeen years ago making suits for men and women. Her mother sent her to an arts college and when she finished college she was given a sewing machine. From a very young age, she loved to sew. Therefore, Eva decided that she would continue with this line of work when she got older. Her customers come to her because she provides both quality and low prices. Eva and her husband take turns going to wholesalers to purchase things like fabric, thread, and utensils.
Eva is on her second loan with Mifex. Her first loan went well as she was able to invest in buttons and fabrics. She and her husband have recently moved to a slightly better area where there is less crime and businesses have better opportunities of flourishing. She is hoping that this loan will help her build a new workshop.
",F,1100,partner,Services,0 Ecuador,"Eva sells one of Ecuadors most popular seafoods, crab or cangrejo in Spanish. She and her husband have been in this line of work for about 15 years. She learned from her grandfather who was an expert in catching these animals in the muddy waters along the Ecuador coast. In the picture, you can see Eva and her husband in their canoe along the waters surrounding La Isla Trinitaria, a very poor sector of on the outskirsts of Guayaquil.
The loan will be used in order to invest in a motor for the canoe that Eva uses to catch the crab. She will also invest in other seafood products to sell.
Eva and her husband have 4 children, 3 of which are still in school. The oldest son is already in college and works on his own in order to pay for the costs. She lives with her sister in a house she inherited from her mother.
Mifex offers its clients microinsurance and access to business training and educational programs. For more information about microfinance, Ecuador, and our services, please visit www.mifex.org.
",F,375,partner,Food,0 Ecuador,"Evaristo has been working on his farm for about 8 years. He lives with his wife and his 3 daughters, ages 10, 3 and 3 months. He relies completely on rice farming to feed his family, as his land is only productive for this activity. He was born and raised in Baba and learned to farm rice from his father. He wants to make some improvements to his home such as fixing the roof, which has a bad leak. He also wants to save for his daughters' education.
This borrower is part of the newest and largest Communal Bank in the recently developed Mifex Rural Finance Program. All of the members of the Centro Agricola de Baba Communal Bank are part of an Association of Rice Farmers in the county of Baba in rural Ecuador. Their association works cooperatively to cultivate rice and commercialize the product after it has grown. As an association, Centro Agricola helps the farmers by providing access to machinery and training services. The farmers from Centro Agricola have received special instruction on financial responsibility and accounting from Codemicro, an organization that specializes in training programs geared towards the rural sector.
The members of Centro Agricola de Baba will use the micro-loans to prepare their lands and cultivate rice on their farms. Because they form part of a communal bank, they are all each others' guarantors for the loan. This means that if for some reason one person in the group cannot fully repay the loan, the other borrowers and the Centro Agricola de Baba Association are responsible for the amount in default. The members of the bank also participate in a program designed to teach and encourage savings among the group. Promoting savings is often forgotten in many micro-finance programs, but Mifex believes that is imperative for the communities we works with to have capital reserved for future investments or unexpected difficulties.
Below is more information about Santa Lucia compiled by Luis Crespo and Robert Edgar of the Mifex team when evaluating the potential of the sector for the Rural Finance Program.
The people of Baba have been organized since the days of Gran Colombia when Ecuador was yet to be a country. The area has always been popular because of the extremely productive lands that gave way to cultivation of cacao for decades. Now Baba is a county in the province of Los Rios in the coastal region of Ecuador. For most of the latter part of the 20th Century it was a cacao and banana-producing sector. Most of the surrounding areas of Baba in Los Rios are owned by large multinational companies such as Dole, but Baba is a sector characterized by small and informal farms.
Rice production has now turned into the main economic activity of the sector as about 80% of the people are rice farmers. Cacao is still very popular in the area, but because of the long cultivation cycle people prefer to invest in rice. The lands in Baba are very fertile though, and most farmers in the sector often grow other crops, such as plantains and soybeans as secondary sources of income. Many farmers also keep livestock as emergency sources of food and income, commonly resorting to selling a chicken or pig if they are in need of cash.
Most of the people in the Baba area are small farmers. They produce about 80 sacks of rice per hectare of land. In order to farm they first must prepare the lands by removing weeds, plowing and leveling the lands. This is the most difficult part for the farmers in Baba, who often lack the necessary machinery to properly plow the lands for rice production. After appropriately preparing the lands, the farmers fill an area with water to form what is known as a paddy field, because rice is a very water-intensive crop. The rice seeds are either dispersed freely (the process is known as boleo in Spanish) or hand sowed. Once the rice has grown, most farmers rent machinery that helps them gather their production.
One of the biggest struggles in the area has been the lack of credit due to the absence of any type of financial institution. Because people do not count on formal financial finance, they have turned to loan sharks for financing. They have been affected by expensive lines of credit that exceed 100% interest a year and can be as expensive as 240%. Intermediaries also exploit the farmers because of their outstanding debt. Farmers also lack skills and knowledge to commercialize their products and pay fair prices for their crops.
The largest risk in the sector is due to absence of watering systems. Although Baba is in the province Los Rios (the rivers) there is severe problem with access to water. The lack of infrastructure in the sector does not allow the small farmers to benefit from the presence of the many rivers in the area. If the winter season is too dry, it is likely that the lands will not be sufficiently fertile for rice production in the summer. On the other hand, if there is too much rain, there are not any drainage systems to prevent flooding and the crops are often ruined. Generally speaking though, Baba is a very productive sector where the lands yield all types of crops including rice, cacao, corn, watermelons, plantains, and soybeans.
The loans in this sector will mostly be used to buy soil, seeds, fertilizer and insecticides. Many clients will use the capital towards renting machinery and equipment necessary to effectively work and prepare the fields. Clients also typically use a part of the loan to buy livestock in order to raise and have as reserves. The loan repayment schedule is different from the typical micro-entrepreneur because farmers see the profits from their investments 5 or 6 months after making their initial expenditures. Mifex asks our rural clients only to pay 50% of the capital in the first 6 months of the loan. The rest of the debt must be paid in the seventh and final month.
",F,425,lender,Agriculture,0 Ecuador,"Fanny has a general store where she sells food staples, medicines and various items. Fanny started her business with the help of her husband, who motivated her to open the pharmacy and store with just 200 dollars. When her business first started she sold only pens, notebooks and soft drinks. Now she continues to offer those products, along with clothing, gifts and medicines.
She needs this, her second loan through Mifex and Kiva, to make further improvements to her home and to purchase more merchandise for her business. Her previous loan was utilized to make improvements to her business and to construct her home. As a result, the volume of sales at her store has increased, as have her number of clients and her contacts with distributors and other pharmacies.
Fanny is 53 years old and married. She has four children. She is certain that her business will grow and allow her to move her family ahead. Fanny has hope that this loan will help her save to build a house and give her children an education.
",F,1200,lender,Retail,1 Ecuador,"Fanny makes cleaning products such as chlorine, water softener, and disinfectants. She has been working for five years in this business. Fanny learned how to make these products from a friend. With her savings she began produce the products and her first client was the high school where she worked. Her clients are primary schools, high schools, and her neighbors. She makes her sales during the afternoon, with the help of her daughter. She also has other sources of income because she is an inspector at a high school. She also tutors children with learning difficulties at her home.
She will use this loan in a similar way as she used a previous one and she will buy the raw materials to produce her products in larger volumes: chlorine, creosote, water softener, disinfectants, and acid. Fanny was very successful with the loan she received several months ago and is anxious to continue investing in her business. She now has the flexibility to offer more products and more varieties of fragrances.
Fanny was born in Manab. She is 41 years old. She has two children. The older one is already working and her daughter helps her with the business. Her husband works as a driver for a business and on his days off he helps his wife deliver her products. They are a couple that is very willing to work hard to get ahead, and they are always learning something new. Thanks to their incomes, they have been able to improve their house and increase their business. Their aspiration is to grow their customer base.
",F,550,lender,Retail,0 Ecuador,"Fatima has a stand where she sells typical ecuadorian foods. She has been in this line of work for over 15 years. In order to get started she and her husband had to save money to invest in a cart. She began selling the products right out of her home and she has been very popular for many years. She makes chicken, hotdogs, fries and other foods for people on the go. She is seeking a loan because she needs to invest in a new cart. As one can see from the picture, her old cart is not in good conditions and this hurts the appearance of her business. Fatima is 41 years old and has 4 children, 2 of which are still in school. The other two have already graduated and with their wages from work help out at home. Her husband also works with her as they rely on the business to support their family.
",F,475,partner,Food,0 Ecuador,"Fausto was born and raised in Baba, Ecuador where he has grown up cultivating rice. He has lived on his lands for about 30 years with his family. He has had two children with his wife; both of them are grown but still contribute to the farm. He hopes to invest the loan in buying seeds, fertilizer and pesticides for the upcoming planting season. His goal afterwards is to make some improvements to his home.
This borrower is part of the newest and largest Communal Bank in the recently developed Mifex Rural Finance Program. All of the members of the Centro Agricola de Baba Communal Bank are part of an Association of Rice Farmers in the county of Baba in rural Ecuador. Their association works cooperatively to cultivate rice and commercialize the product after it has grown. As an association, Centro Agricola helps the farmers by providing access to machinery and training services. The farmers from Centro Agricola have received special instruction on financial responsibility and accounting from Codemicro, an organization that specializes in training programs geared towards the rural sector.
The members of Centro Agricola de Baba will use the micro-loans to prepare their lands and cultivate rice on their farms. Because they form part of a communal bank, they are all each others' guarantors for the loan. This means that if for some reason one person in the group cannot fully repay the loan, the other borrowers and the Centro Agricola de Baba Association are responsible for the amount in default. The members of the bank also participate in a program designed to teach and encourage savings among the group. Promoting savings is often forgotten in many micro-finance programs, but Mifex believes that is imperative for the communities we works with to have capital reserved for future investments or unexpected difficulties.
Below is more information about Santa Lucia compiled by Luis Crespo and Robert Edgar of the Mifex team when evaluating the potential of the sector for the Rural Finance Program.
The people of Baba have been organized since the days of Gran Colombia when Ecuador was yet to be a country. The area has always been popular because of the extremely productive lands that gave way to cultivation of cacao for decades. Now Baba is a county in the province of Los Rios in the coastal region of Ecuador. For most of the latter part of the 20th Century it was a cacao and banana-producing sector. Most of the surrounding areas of Baba in Los Rios are owned by large multinational companies such as Dole, but Baba is a sector characterized by small and informal farms.
Rice production has now turned into the main economic activity of the sector as about 80% of the people are rice farmers. Cacao is still very popular in the area, but because of the long cultivation cycle people prefer to invest in rice. The lands in Baba are very fertile though, and most farmers in the sector often grow other crops, such as plantains and soybeans as secondary sources of income. Many farmers also keep livestock as emergency sources of food and income, commonly resorting to selling a chicken or pig if they are in need of cash.
Most of the people in the Baba area are small farmers. They produce about 80 sacks of rice per hectare of land. In order to farm they first must prepare the lands by removing weeds, plowing and leveling the lands. This is the most difficult part for the farmers in Baba, who often lack the necessary machinery to properly plow the lands for rice production. After appropriately preparing the lands, the farmers fill an area with water to form what is known as a paddy field, because rice is a very water-intensive crop. The rice seeds are either dispersed freely (the process is known as boleo in Spanish) or hand sowed. Once the rice has grown, most farmers rent machinery that helps them gather their production.
One of the biggest struggles in the area has been the lack of credit due to the absence of any type of financial institution. Because people do not count on formal financial finance, they have turned to loan sharks for financing. They have been affected by expensive lines of credit that exceed 100% interest a year and can be as expensive as 240%. Intermediaries also exploit the farmers because of their outstanding debt. Farmers also lack skills and knowledge to commercialize their products and pay fair prices for their crops.
The largest risk in the sector is due to absence of watering systems. Although Baba is in the province Los Rios (the rivers) there is severe problem with access to water. The lack of infrastructure in the sector does not allow the small farmers to benefit from the presence of the many rivers in the area. If the winter season is too dry, it is likely that the lands will not be sufficiently fertile for rice production in the summer. On the other hand, if there is too much rain, there are not any drainage systems to prevent flooding and the crops are often ruined. Generally speaking though, Baba is a very productive sector where the lands yield all types of crops including rice, cacao, corn, watermelons, plantains, and soybeans.
The loans in this sector will mostly be used to buy soil, seeds, fertilizer and insecticides. Many clients will use the capital towards renting machinery and equipment necessary to effectively work and prepare the fields. Clients also typically use a part of the loan to buy livestock in order to raise and have as reserves. The loan repayment schedule is different from the typical micro-entrepreneur because farmers see the profits from their investments 5 or 6 months after making their initial expenditures. Mifex asks our rural clients only to pay 50% of the capital in the first 6 months of the loan. The rest of the debt must be paid in the seventh and final month.
",M,550,lender,Agriculture,0 Ecuador,"Felix has a laundry mat in the local community. These businesses are somewhat new in the area, but they have proven to be successful. He started off with 2 washing machines that he rented out. He now has 4 and has become very popular in the neighborhood for his service that is convenient and cheap. He wants to invest in a new machine now that business is on the rise and he has used up all his savings. He works everyday from 6 am until 6 pm while his wife sells candies from his store. Together they have two children, one of which unfortunately has a mental disability. They hope with this loan they can continue to grow the laundry mat and provide for their family.
Mifex offers its clients microinsurance and access to business training and educational programs. For more information about microfinance, Ecuador, and our services, please visit www.mifex.org.
",M,375,partner,Services,0 Ecuador,"Felix raises and sells chickens. He and his wife started this business with only 10 chickens about 6 years ago. At first, they only sold to their neighbors and to people in the immediate community, but now they are suppliers for many stores and stands in the local markets. They wake up at 5 in morning to begin working and distribute until about 4 pm.
Felix needs the loan in order to invest in more chickens. He will buy chicks and also grown chickens because business is doing real well. His goal is to eventually become a wholesale distributor of chickens.
Felix is 41 years old, is married and has 3 daughters. Two of his daughters are in school and the other is still a baby. When his daughters come home from school they help him with the chickens. Felix relies on this business to feed his family and send his daughters to school.
Mifex offers its clients microinsurance and access to business training and educational programs. For more information about microfinance, Ecuador, and our services, please visit www.mifex.org.
",M,500,partner,Food,0 Ecuador,"Felix sells a variety of household products from his tricycle cart. He has been in this line of mobile work for more than 20 years. He began as an assistant for his father-in-law and moved on to start his own operation with the help of his wife. She is an integral part of the business as she helps him purchase and distribute products. He sells to many of his clients on credit and she also helps him with the collection of payments.
Felix has previously taken out a loan with Mifex and Kiva. Thanks to this first loan he was able to invest in sheet sets, crockery sets, plastic tables and chairs, and a variety of merchandise for the home. He was able to fulfill the requests of his clients and since then he has seen his income steadily improve. Felix is requesting a second loan with our institution to stock up on more merchandise for the holiday season. He wants to carry light sets and decorations as well as gifts for the home.
Felix and his wife have 3 kids together. Everyone helps to support the business as much as possible since it is their only source of income. Felixs eldest son is learning the business trade at the same time that he is completing his high school degree. They have been living in their home for over 12 years and they aspire to continue improving it. When they first moved in they lacked most basic services but things have been slowly getting better. Felix hopes to complete their kitchen counter soon with tiles and to install a gas stove.
",M,1200,lender,Retail,1 Ecuador,"Felix sells a variety of household products from his tricycle cart. He has been in this line of work for more than 20 years. He began as an assistant for his father in law and moved on to start his own operation with the help of his wife. She is an integral part of the business as she helps him purchase and distribute products. He sells to many of his clients on credit and she also helps him with the collection of payments.
Felix is seeking the loan in order to continue investing in products for the Christmas season such as lights and decorations. He and his wife have 3 kids together. They have been living in their home for over 12 years and they aspire to continue improving it. When they first moved in they lacked most basic services but things have been slowly getting better.
Mifex offers its clients microinsurance and access to business training and educational programs. For more information about microfinance, Ecuador, and our services, please visit www.mifex.org.
",M,1000,partner,Retail,0 Ecuador,"Fermin is a very hard-working rice farmer from Santa Lucia. Despite his elementary education and old age, Fermin has been able to and continues to run his farm very effectively. It has always provided for him and his 5 children. Although they are all grown up now, his kids still help in the farm and some even still live at home. To them, the ""hacienda"" is more than a home, as it has been in the family for over 40 years and it also puts food on the table. He hopes he can invest in seeds and fertilizer for the next planting season.
Fermin is part of the newest Communal Banks in the recently developed Mifex Rural Finance Program. All of the members of the Centro Agricola de Santa Lucia Communal Bank are part of an Association of Rice Farmers in Santa Lucia. Their association works cooperatively to help in the commercialization of the product after it has grown. They will use the micro-loans to prepare their lands and cultivate rice on their farms. Because they form part of a communal bank, they are all each others' guarantors for the loan. This means that if for some reason one person in the group cannot fully repay the loan, the other borrowers and the Primero de Agosto Association are responsible for the amount in default. The members of the bank also participate in a program designed to teach and encourage savings among the group. Promoting savings is often forgotten in many micro-finance programs, but Mifex believes that is imperative for the communities we works with to have capital reserved for future investments or unexpected difficulties.
Below is more information about Santa Lucia compiled by Luis Crespo and Robert Edgar of the Mifex team when evaluating the potential of the sector for the Rural Finance Program. Special thanks to Mario Balazantegui who provided expert insight and contributed to the development of the alliances with the local organizations.
Santa Lucia County has a population of about 33,000 people. The sector is fit for rice cultivating because it is not in the lowlands and therefore it is not at risk of flooding. There is also great access to water because of the Daule River, which is accessible to many of the farmers in the area. About 70% of the farmers have basic infrastructure for watering their crops.
Rice production is the main economic activity of the area as about 80% of the people are rice farmers. Almost everyone is either directly or indirectly involved with rice production, as they produce, commercialize or participate in activities that add value to the product. Within the county, there is a small town also named Santa Lucia. The town is filled with many small businesses and it serves as the social and commercial hub of the area.
Most of the people in the Santa Lucia area are small farmers. They produce about 100 sacks of rice per hectare of land. In order to farm they first must prepare the lands by removing weeds and plowing. The farmers then fill an area with water to form what is known as a paddy field, because rice is a very water intensive crop. The rice seeds are either dispersed freely (the process is known as boleo in Spanish) or hand sowed. Once the rice has grown, most farmers rent machinery that helps them gather their production. A risk factor does exist in rice farming because of drought, but in Santa Lucia this is somewhat mitigated by the access to water form the nearby river.
The biggest struggle in the area has been the lack of credit. Because people do not count on formal financial services, they have turned to loan sharks for financing. They have been affected by expensive lines of credit that exceed 100% interest a year and can be as expensive as 240%. Intermediaries also exploit the farmers because of their outstanding debt. Farmers also lack skills and knowledge to commercialize their products and pay fair prices for their crops.
The loans in this sector will be used to to buy soil, seeds, fertilizer and insecticides. They will also be used to prepare the land prior to farming, to plant the seeds and purchase other materials. The loan repayment schedule is also different from the typical micro-entrepreneur. Because farmers see the profits from their investments 5 or 6 months after making their initial expenditures, Mifex asks them only to pay 50% of the capital in the first 6 months of the loan. The rest of the debt must be paid in the seventh and final month.
",M,550,lender,Agriculture,0 Ecuador,"Fernando grows rice on his small farm and has a rice peeling business named Don Fernando. He will use the loan to invest in pesticides and fertilizer for the rice he has planted. He is divorced from his wife, but he is still very close to his daughter who is 7 years old. He pays for her education and still helps her out. He hopes to continue supporting his daughter and growing his business.
Fernando is the latest addition to one of the new Communal Banks in the Mifex Rural Finance Program. All of the members of the Buena Suerte de Salitre Communal Bank are part of an Association of Rice Farmers. They will use the microloans to prepare the lands and cultivate rice on their farms. Because they form part of a communal bank, they are all each other's guarantors for the loan. This means that if for some reason one person in the group cannot fully repay the loan, the other borrowers and the Buena Suerte Association are responsible for the amount in default. The members of the bank also participate in a program designed to teach and encourage savings among the group. Promoting savings is often forgotten in many microfinance programs, but is imperative for the communities Mifex works with to have capital reserved for future investments or unexpected difficulties.
The loans in this sector will be used to create water deposits that will prevent flooding in the case of heavy rains or store water in case of droughts. They will also be used to treat the land prior to farming, to plant the seeds and purchase fertilizer. The loan repayment schedule is also different from the typical microentrepreneur. Because farmers see the profits from their investments 5 or 6 months after making their initial expenditures, Mifex asks them only to pay 50% of the capital in the first 5 months of the loan. The rest of the debt must be paid in the sixth and final month.
Below is more information about Salitre compiled by the staff at Mifex when evaluating the potential of the sector for the Rural Finance Program.
Salitre is a rural sector in the Province of Guayas. known as the capital of Montuvios (montuvio is a cowboy). with approximately 30,000 inhabitants. The main economic activities are herding and agriculture which make up about 80% of the economy. The infrastructure and basic services are poor, especially the roads and water services.
Salitre is highly dedicated to farming rice and cattle ranching. Rice is a crop that yields about every four months. In order to farm rice, the environment must be very humid and there must be a high volume of water. The lack of a structured water system makes it difficult for the small farmers to be highly productive. The best months for cultivating rice are early in the year when it is the rainy season in the coast of Ecuador.
Salitre is a national tourist attraction as many Ecuadorians visit the fresh water Salitre River. There are cottages, small restaurants and water attractions that people come to enjoy.
There are not many financial institutions that provide services to the productive sector of the local economy. The primary access to credit comes from loan sharks who charge extremely high interest rates averaging around 20% a month. The locals are also exploited by the intermediaries that buy their products in order to commercialize them in the city and to export abroad. These intermediaries buy crops in advance at very low prices, finance soil at extremely high prices and often provide emergency loans for even higher interest rates than the loan sharks.
Salitre is a dangerous sector considering it is in the rural area. There is a high incidence of robbery of cattle that results in many of the ranch owners owning weapons to protect their property. Because the police are not present in these areas, farmers and ranchers must apply their own laws and provide their own security. In some instances they have formed their own cooperatives and associations to have a community crime prevention effort.
Salitre is in the lowlands of Ecuador and is vulnerable to flooding in the rainy season. In the event of a heavy rainy season, often at its worse when El Nio occurs, the farmers of rice lose many of their crops. All this is due to a lack of infrastructure in the area.
",M,1200,lender,Agriculture,0 Ecuador,"Fernando has 4 years of experience in the food market business. He started off by just selling fruits and vegetables, but he has now included many different products into his store. He is seeking a loan in order to begin selling gas tanks. He sees a major business opportunity in his neighborhood because there is not anyone who provides the gas necessary for kitchens. In poor sectors almost everyone uses stove ovens because they are cheaper and most cost efficient. Fernando is confident that with this investment he will be able to make a big difference in the lives of his 3 kids. One of them has already exceeded local expectations by attending college. Fernando hopes that he will be able to provide for the full education of his children.
Mifex offers its clients microinsurance and access to business training and educational programs. For more information about microfinance, Ecuador, and our services, please visit www.mifex.org.
",M,1800,partner,Retail,0 Ecuador,"Fernando has four years of experience in the food market business. He started off by just selling fruits and vegetables, but he has now included many different products into his store. He has used a previous loan from Kiva and Mifex in order to begin selling gas tanks. He sees a major business opportunity in his neighborhood because there is no supply for the gas necessary in kitchens. In poor sectors almost everyone uses stove ovens because they are cheaper and more cost efficient. He now has a store where he sells groceries and gas tanks and wants to continue making improvements.
Fernando is confident that his business will allow him to make a difference in the lives of his three children. One of them has already exceeded local expectations by attending college. Fernando hopes that he will be able to provide for the full education of his children.
",M,1200,lender,Food,1 Ecuador,"Filomena has been working for 15 years in this business. She sells all types of groceries. She began her business at the time she came to live in Trinitaria Island. She had to close that store for health reasons. Two years ago, she opened it again with the help of her husband, who gave her $200.00 to start over. Her store is in her house. She is open for business from 6:00AM to 10:00PM and her husband helps her when she has to leave.
Filomena was able to make some important improvements to her store with a previous loan. She bought a shelf and many more products to sell. Her clients have taken notice and rely on her more often to buy their groceries. She appreciates the loan and hopes to continue proving she can be a successful business woman and a responsible borrower. She needs a new loan to continue buying more products for her clients to purchase.
Filomena was born in Daule Guayas. She is 55 years old. She has two grown daughters. She is married and her husband works in his own mechanic shop. They are a very close couple who have worked hard ever since they married. With their incomes they have been able to own their house and make improvements to it. It was originally constructed of cane, but now it is of cement. As they are able, they invest in their businesses. They hope to get ahead with their businesses and to keep working.
",F,850,lender,Food,1 Ecuador,"First Loan Use:
Lucila invested in her business increasing her work income. Her husband was also able to improve in his shoe sale business. He was able to purchase many shoe styles.
Business Development:
Demand increased due to the service and the low prices offered. Her husband was able to open another store where he has purchase orders. He is slowly stocking this store.
Personal Information:
Lucilia has also secured a job working as a nurse at a clinic in the city. She works as a nurse from her home. He son is a student and she is slowly fixing her home.
Second Loan Use:
To increase her income and stock her business with different items as well as products like gifts, toys, and stationary.
Translated from Spanish by Sandy Jurez, Kiva volunteer.
",F,950,lender,Health,1 Ecuador,"
First Loan Use:
Adelaida was able to buy the cooking utensils she needed. Sales increased as well as her work hours. She now works from 7am to 7pm, seven days a week. One of her daughters helps her.Adelaida now sells breakfast, lunch and dinner. She was able to increase her noontime business with the sale of stuffed plantain fritters which are in high demand. On the weekends she makes popular dishes to draw more customers.
Personal Information:
Adelaida is 50 years old. She is a single mother. She has two young children that still live with her, yet one of them helps her with her tire repair shop. Her other child is a student. Her home is made of cement.
Second Loan Use:
She needs to increase her work income and she need to purchase all the items for her business such as rice and sugar by the quintal, cooking oil by the box full, as well as other supplies at whole sale price.
Translated from Spanish by Sandy Jurez, Kiva volunteer.
",F,400,lender,Food,1 Ecuador,"
First Loan Use:
Maria increased her work income. She stocked her store with different products, including sweets and drinks. Se also purchased a freezer. She is able to generate additional income for her household, with the sale of water, ice, drinks and soft drinks.Business development:
Her sales improved due to the variety of products she offers. She maintains steady work hours. Her eldest children help her with the store. She has good references in and out of her business sector.Personal Information:
Maria is married and has 6 children, of which 5 of them are students. Her husband works as an employee in a utilities company. Her home is made of cane.
Second Loan Use:
To continue stocking her business with different products and to fix the premises of her store.
Translated from Spanish by Sandy Jurez, Kiva volunteer.
",F,950,lender,Food,1 Ecuador,"
First Loan Use:
Narcisa invested in the purchase of soft drinks, drinks, and sweets. She fixed her freezer, a vital part of her business.
Business Development:
Sales increased, given the variety of products. She has good references within her business sector. She maintains steady work hours.
Personal Information:
She is a single mother of two children. Her home is built from mixed materials. Her children are students.
Second Loan Use:
She will use credit to buy various supplies for example provisions, drinks, soft drinks, and juices in order to sell them.
Translated from Spanish by Sandy Jurez, Kiva volunteer.
",F,700,lender,Food,1 Ecuador,"
Flavio has land mainly produces rice. He uses the land to feed his three children ages 17, 13 and 11. He and his wife work in the fields everyday hoping to have a good crop yield. He will use the loan to buy fertilizer and pesticides, and will make a small investment in land preparation. He was born and raised in Baba, but he hopes his children can gain an education and move to a bigger city. His main short term goal is to make all the lands he owns productive, as certain sectors have not been prepared for farming.
This borrower is part of the newest and largest Communal Bank in the recently developed Mifex Rural Finance Program. All of the members of the Centro Agricola de Baba Communal Bank are part of an Association of Rice Farmers in the county of Baba in rural Ecuador. Their association works cooperatively to cultivate rice and commercialize the product after it has grown. As an association, Centro Agricola helps the farmers by providing access to machinery and training services. The farmers from Centro Agricola have received special instruction on financial responsibility and accounting from Codemicro, an organization that specializes in training programs geared towards the rural sector.
The members of Centro Agricola de Baba will use the micro-loans to prepare their lands and cultivate rice on their farms. Because they form part of a communal bank, they are all each others' guarantors for the loan. This means that if for some reason one person in the group cannot fully repay the loan, the other borrowers and the Centro Agricola de Baba Association are responsible for the amount in default. The members of the bank also participate in a program designed to teach and encourage savings among the group. Promoting savings is often forgotten in many micro-finance programs, but Mifex believes that is imperative for the communities we works with to have capital reserved for future investments or unexpected difficulties.
Below is more information about Santa Lucia compiled by Luis Crespo and Robert Edgar of the Mifex team when evaluating the potential of the sector for the Rural Finance Program.
The people of Baba have been organized since the days of Gran Colombia when Ecuador was yet to be a country. The area has always been popular because of the extremely productive lands that gave way to cultivation of cacao for decades. Now Baba is a county in the province of Los Rios in the coastal region of Ecuador. For most of the latter part of the 20th Century it was a cacao and banana producing sector. Most of the surrounding areas of Baba in Los Rios are owned by large mulitnational companies such as Dole, but Baba is a sector characterized by the small and informal farms.
Rice production has now turned into the main economic activity of the sector as about 80% of the people are rice farmers. Cacao is still very popular in the area, but because of the long cultivation cycle people prefer to invest in rice. The lands in Baba are very fertile though, and most farmers in the sector often grow other crops, such as plantains and soy beans as secondary sources of income. Many farmers also keep livestock as emergency sources of food and income, commonly resorting to selling a chicken or pig if they are in need of cash.
Most of the people in the Baba area are small farmers. They produce about 80 sacks of rice per hectare of land. In order to farm they first must prepare the lands by removing weeds, plowing and leveling the lands. This is the most difficult part for the farmers in Baba, who often lack the necessary machinery to properly plow the lands for rice production. After appropriately preparing the lands, the farmers fill an area with water to form what is known as a paddy field, because rice is a very water intensive crop. The rice seeds are either dispersed freely (the process is known as boleo in Spanish) or hand sowed. Once the rice has grown, most farmers rent machinery that helps them gather their production.
One of the biggest struggles in the area has been the lack of credit due to the absence of any type of financial institution. Because people do not count on formal financial finance, they have turned to loan sharks for financing. They have been affected by expensive lines of credit that exceed 100% interest a year and can be as expensive as 240%. Intermediaries also exploit the farmers because of their outstanding debt. Farmers also lack skills and knowledge to commercialize their products and pay fair prices for their crops.
The largest risk in the sector is due to absence of watering systems. Although Baba is in the province Los Rios (the rivers) there is severe problem with access to water. The lack of infrastructure in the sector does not allow the small farmers to benefit from the presence of the many rivers in the area. If the winter season is too dry, it is likely that the lands will not be sufficiently fertile for rice production in the summer. On the other hand, if there is too much rain there are not any drainage systems to prevent flooding and the crops are often ruined. Generally speaking though, Baba is a very productive sector where the lands yield all types of crops including rice, cacao, corn, watermelons, plantains, and soy beans.
The loans in this sector will mostly be used to to buy soil, seeds, fertilizer and insecticides. Many clients will use the capital towards renting machinery and equipment necessary to effectively work and prepare the fields. Clients also typically use a part of the loan to buy livestock in order to raise and have as reserves. The loan repayment schedule is different from the typical micro-entrepreneur because farmers see the profits from their investments 5 or 6 months after making their initial expenditures. Mifex asks our rural clients only to pay 50% of the capital in the first 6 months of the loan. The rest of the debt must be paid in the seventh and final month.
",M,675,lender,Agriculture,0 Ecuador,"Flerida has a stand where she sells fruit in a local market. She started off with a very small amount of investment capital and with her husbands help learned the trade quickly. She has been doing this type of work for about 10 years along with her husband.
The most difficult part of this business is offering competitive prices to the customer. In order to do this Flerida requested a loan so that she may purchase her fruits at wholesale quantities and prices. She did very well with her first loan and is hoping to take out a second. She will continue to invest in wholesale fruits in an effort to increae her supply and diversify the fruits she sells.
She and her husband have three children together including one who they are currently putting through college. Her dream is to have all her kids attain a college degree.
",F,1200,lender,Food,0 Ecuador,"Flerida has a stand where she sells fruit in a local market. She started off with a very small amount of investment capital and with her husbands help learned the trade quickly. She has been doing this type of work for about 10 years along with her husband. The most difficult part of this business is offering competitive prices to the customer. In order to do this Flerida has requested a loan so that she may purchase her fruits at wholesale quantities and prices. She and her husband have three children together including one who they are currently putting through college. Her dream is to have all her kids attain a college degree.
Mifex offers its clients microinsurance and access to business training and educational programs. For more information about microfinance, Ecuador, and our services, please visit www.mifex.org.
",F,600,partner,Food,0 Ecuador,"Flor del Rocio has a general store where she sells many different products. Her husband was the main reason she started the business as he provided the inspiration and the start up capital. She started with only $30 worth of products in stock but she has been growing progressively. Her husband also sells the chemical products he makes (mostly for cleaning) at their store. They have had to put railings around their home because there have been several robber attempts targeted at their business
Flor needs the loan so she can invest in toys for the upcoming Christmas season. She has had many clients approach her asking for these types of goods. She has 3 kids and is happily married.
Mifex offers its clients microinsurance and access to business training and educational programs. For more information about microfinance, Ecuador, and our services, please visit www.mifex.org.
",F,475,partner,Retail,0 Ecuador,"Flor has 3 kids and is happily married. She has a small store where she sells many different products. Her husband was the main reason she started the business, as he provided the inspiration and the start-up capital. She started with only $30 worth of products in stock, but she has been growing progressively. Her husband also sells the chemical products he makes (mostly for cleaning) at their store. They have had to put railings around their home because there have been several robbery attempts targeted at their business.
Flor is now seeking her second loan with Kiva and MIFEX. She needed the first loan in order to invest in toys for the upcoming Christmas season. Thanks to the loan, her sales and profits quickly rose, providing her with extra investment capital for the beginning of the year. She now wants a second loan in order to fix up the store she has in her home.
",F,850,partner,Retail,0 Ecuador,"Florentino is a poultry distributor in Guayaquil, Ecuador. He travels to the rural sectors in the country in order to buy the chickens he will later sell in the city. He sells to many of the people who own stands in the large markets in the city. He also sells to many people who own the very small stores common in this sector.
Recently Florentino has started to raise his own chickens as well. He also sells some of his poultry live. He is requesting this, his second loan, in order to make his store bigger. He hopes that his clients will be able to walk in and choose their own products, in instead of having them have to ask him while he stands behind a counter.
Florentino has 2 children who are in school. His business is the only source of income in his household. He is a very proud man and a hard worker.
",M,1050,lender,Food,1 Ecuador,"Florentino is a poultry distributor in Guayaquil, Ecuador. He travles to the rural sectors in the country in order to buy the chickens he will later to sell in the city. He sells to many of the people who own stands in the large markets in the city. He also sells to many people who own the very small stores common in this sector. He wants the loan in order to buy dairy products that he can also begin to distribute. Florentino has 2 children who are in school. His business is the only source of income in his old.
Mifex offers its clients microinsurance and access to business training and educational programs. For more information about microfinance, Ecuador, and our services, please visit www.mifex.org.
",M,500,partner,Food,0 Ecuador,"For 13 years, Maria has been selling fried pork pieces and stuffed corn patties of potatoes and pork. She gained experience from her parents who ran a similar business to earn a living. Along with her children, Maria runs the business in front of her house, giving good service to her clients by providing good portions and cleanliness. She attends to her clients from 15:30PM to 20:00PM.
Maria bought a big cart with ample storage room to meet her needs with her first Mifex and Kiva loan. With the growing demand for her product, Maria saw the need to enhance the presentation of her product. She also invested in raw ingredients to cook.
Now Maria would like to continue growing her business by selling breakfast and milk shakes made with fresh fruits. She wants to also invest in plastic chairs and tables to provide her clients with a comfortable place to sit and eat.
Maria is 37 years old and has 2 children that study. In their spare time outside of school, the children help. Although she is married, she is the sole caretaker of her children as her husband works and lives in the mountainous region of Ecuador. Maria currently lives in her brothers house and pays him rent. She is eager to own a piece of land to be able to build a house one day and provide a better future for her children.
",F,1050,lender,Food,1 Ecuador,"For 15 years Maria had made ends meet with her job as a seamstress but about 8 months ago she decided to venture into a new line of business. Maria saw a great opportunity in her community to open a phone center, where the locals could go to her phone booths and make calls. This is a particularly good business in these sectors of Guayaquil because people cannot afford to install phone lines in their homes. Therefore, these phone call centers are very popular throughout Guayaquil, especially because they also offer the ability to make international calls to family members who are overseas which can be very expensive, even for those who do have phone lines.
Marias husband has been extremely supportive in this new venture. They slowly accumulated their savings in order to buy the substantial start up investments necessary to launch this business. Maria now wants to put in two computers that have internet connections. Before she can do this she has to add a gate to her entrance and put in an alarm system in order to deter criminals from robbing her.
Maria has four children, one of which works at the business at night. Their family ties are very strong and they all do their part to help the business. Marias goals include continuing to improve her house which she always tries to keep up.
Mifex offers its clients microinsurance and access to business training and educational programs. For more information about microfinance, Ecuador, and our services, please visit www.mifex.org.
",F,600,partner,Retail,0 Ecuador,"For a living Esther sells school materials and various articles including house decorative items. When her children began growing up, her husband couldn't pay for the schooling by himself so she decided to take out a loan in order to buy certain products. She started out by just displaying them on a small shelf but now has developed a small business. Esther lives in one of the worst neighborhoods of Guayaquil. When she moved to her current location, she was without any basic necessities like food, water, phone, or transportation. After a few years, she obtained the documents for her house and now is happy to be able to bring income to her home. Esther who is 29 years old, was born in Quevedo, is married and her husband works as a chauffer. She also has three children.
",F,600,partner,Retail,0 Ecuador,"For about 8 months Johanna has been selling clothing from a catalogue. She mainly markets to her family, friends and neighbors. Once her customers decide what clothes they want, Johanna goes to the wholesale distributor and purchases the merchandise. She asks her clients for 50% of costs upfront and she must provide the other 50%.
Although Johanna does sell well, her lack of capital is a major restraint to her business. She is requesting this loan in order to be able to purchase samples for her clients to see while she is selling. It would also help to have some liquidity for those clients who are not willing to pay the 50% up front costs.
Johanna is raising her two daughters on her own. Her husband left to Spain about a year ago because he could not find work in Ecuador. She lives with her mother who helps her take care of the children when she is out working. Before her husband left he bought them a large refrigerator so they would be able to sell sodas and other soft drinks out of their home. Johannas mom is the one that mostly tends to this business. Johannas dream is to have her husband come back to help her raise their two daughters.
Mifex offers its clients microinsurance and access to business training and educational programs. For more information about microfinance, Ecuador, and our services, please visit www.mifex.org.
",F,375,partner,Clothing,0 Ecuador,"For almost a decade Natalia has been operating her business of packaging cooked crab meat from her home. She is open for business from 7am to 6pm. Taking advantage of the experience obtained by her relatives, she decided to start the business with the little savings she was able to put away together with her husband. Her business still operates thanks to the dedication and determination of Natalia and her family.
Natalia requests this loan so that she can grow her business. Because of her product's good quality and service, her clientle has increased. The capital she receives from the loans, this being her second, helps her buy bigger quantities of crab at better prices. As she has seen profits increase she hopes to invest in different types of seafood.
Natalia is 50 years old and is married. Her husband works as a seafood salesman, covering the sector where they live. They have 4 children, 2 of whom are studying and help in the business when they have free time. Her house is located a few blocks away from a major avenue. The house's structure is made of cement though some patches of floor are still made of soil from the ground. With the credit, she is aspiring to improve the business and their living condition. She wants to set an example of hard work for her children.
Previous Profile: http://www.kiva.org/app.php?page=businesses&action=about&id=10937
",F,550,lender,Food,1 Ecuador,"For eight years Janett has been selling household products in her community. She started off by just offering plastic ware, but now has expanded to other home products. She also has a secondary source of income where she hand makes dolls she is holding. She buys materials to make these toys in the city and then sells them to her friends and acquaintances.
Janett hopes to receive a loan because she wants to include a wider variety of products in her business. She sees a great opportunity to sell school items now that the new school year has started.
Janett has been seperated from her husband for a year. She is 24 year old and she has two daughters. Although he does not live with them, he is still very supportive and helps them out with money for school. Janett hopes to save enough herself so she can buy her own home. Currently she lives with her ex-husbands parents, developing a good relationship with them despite the differences with her ex-husband.
",F,475,partner,Retail,0 Ecuador,"For more than four years Mr. Alfonso has had a shop where he sells canned goods, groceries, and items needed for everyday living. His business has grown to include more novelty products as well. He started this business after he was no longer able to dedicate himself to his profession as a plumber.
Mr. Alfonso has borrowed from Mifex and Kiva before. He invested his money in improvements to the outside of his store and home. He was also able to invest in more products in order to keep his stock well supplied to meet demand. He is now hoping to receive a new loan so that he may continue to improve the variety of his inventory. He is considering investing in paper goods and office supplies.
Mr. Alfonso is 52 years old and has three children, two of whom are studying. He and his family live in a basic house made of cement. They have a close and stable family.
",M,550,lender,Food,1 Ecuador,"For over 8 years Rosa worked as a maid in upper class homes in Guayaquil until the responsibility with her children did not allow her to leave her home unattended and continue that line of work. Rosa now owns a small shop out of her home where she sells fruits, vegetables and other food items to the general public. This business has allowed her to maintain a close relationship with her 5 children while also bringing in a consistent flow of income. Her ex-husband works as a shoe salesman in La Bahia the local tourist marketplace.
Rosa was able to launch her business with only $100, but she is now in need of more capital in order to make it grow. She has decided not to borrow from loan sharks due to the very negative experiences close friends have had with them and the very positive experiences she has had with Kiva and Mifex.
With previous loans she received Mifex Rosa invested in new products that she purchased at better prices and at larger quantities. She was able to increase the stock in her store in order to provide products on a more consistent basis. Prior to the loan she would have to buy a small amount of products day to day. The loan and the profits generated have given her the flexibility to buy products in larger quantities and reduce the amount of times that she has to travel to the larger markets to buy products. With a second loan she purchased a freezer which allowed her to sell cold products, such as sodas, and also other perishable foods such as meat and chicken. She hopes to receive this new loan in time for the holiday season in order to renovate her business and add new products to her home/store.
She has not been able to make any improvements to her home yet, but she has started saving with the aim to cement her floor, which is now mostly dirt and some pieces of wood. She looks forward to working with Kiva and Mifex in order to achieve her goals.
",F,1200,lender,Retail,1 Ecuador,"For over 8 years Rosa worked as a maid in upper class homes in Guayaquil until the responsibility with her children did not allow her to leave her home unattended and continue that line of work. Rosa now owns a small shop out of her home where she sells fruits, vegetables and other food items to the general public. This business has allowed her to maintain a close relationship with her 5 children while also bringing in a consistent flow of income. Her husband works as a shoe salesman in La Bahia the local tourist marketplace.
Rosa was able to launch her business with only $100, but she is now in need of more capital in order to make it grow. She has decided not to borrow from loan sharks due to the very negative experiences close friends have had with them.
Rosa has already borrowed from MIfex before. She invested the money in new products that she purchased at better prices and at larger quantities. She was able to increase the stock in her store in order to provide products on a more consistent basis. Prior to the loan she would have to buy a small amount of products day to day. The loan and the profits generated have given her the flexibility to buy products in larger quantities and reduce the amount of times that she has to travel to the larger markets to buy products.
Rosa will use the new loan so she may purchase a freezer. The freezer will allow her to sell cold products, such as sodas, and also other perishable foods such as meat and chicken.
She has not been able to make any improvements to her home yet, but she has started saving with the aim to cement her floor, which is now mostly dirt and some pieces of wood. She looks forward to working with Kiva and Mifex in order to achieve her goals.
",F,625,partner,Food,0 Ecuador,"For the past 3 years, Bernardo has been selling tomatoes, onions, peppers and all sorts of vegetables, depending on the season. His business is located at one of the markets and has a lot of activity. After being fired from his last job as a security guard, he couldnt find work. Then, he remembered what he used to do, which was to sell on the streets, and took up that activity once again.
Bernardo opens his business from Monday to Sunday from 5:00 am to 2:00 pm. He also has another stand where his son helps. Thanks to his income, Bernardo has been able to buy a house. He needs loans to supply his stands with vegetables such as potatoes, cabbages and tomatoes; there is a great demand for these products. He has previously worked with Mifex and Kiva for financing and has shown to be a responsible borrower. With his previous loan he bought more products from farmers who sold products in large quantities and at better prices. He also invested in pigs, keeping them in his backyard and raising them to sell during the busy Christmas season when they are high in demand.
Bernardo was born in Vinces. He is 38 and has 3 children. His wife stays at home taking of their children. She also helps with the business. Since he was young, Bernardo worked in the fields as a farmer with his parents. When he turned 20, he decided to go to the city so he could improve his quality of life. There, Bernardo got married and worked on whatever job he could get. Nowadays his business has allowed him to continue educating his children, own his own house and improve it. He wishes for his business to continue growing and for his children to become independent with the business that he has already established, but that is still very small.
",M,700,lender,Food,1 Ecuador,"Francisca has 10 years of experience in jewelry and accessory sales. When her first committed relationship ended, she had to look for a way to give her children a good education and feed them well. She started in clothing sales when some people proposed the clothing business to her. Then one day she received a visit from a person selling jewelry, who was willing to give her the opportunity to leave part of her purchases on credit, so that she could begin to sell them on her own. With a loan of $75 she succeeded in starting her jewelry business. She works from Monday through Saturday, from 1 pm to 6 pm, which leaves her the morning to prepare her children's meals for the day.
Francisca wants this, her second loan, in order to invest in her business. She wants to be able to continue buying wholesale, in cash, which leaves her much more profit.
Francisca is 41 years old with 6 children. Four of her children no longer live with her; the two who live with her are still in school. Her current husband works as a fisherman and helps her quite a bit around the house. She's thinking that with her business she'll be able to make repairs to her house, and improve the home environment.
",F,550,lender,Retail,1 Ecuador,"Francisca has been running this business for about 20 years. She started with the help of a family member living abroad who sent her $2 (50,000 sucres), which at the time went a long way in Ecuador. Her husband passed away 32 years ago, and she was left to raise her 6 children on her own. For a long time she was a seamstress and often worked all night in order to support her family. Today her children are all grown and two still live with her.
She runs this business because her children do not earn enough to support her. She feels proud to be independent and to be able to help her children. She is seeking her second loan with Kiva and Mifex, which she will use to invest in cosmetics. With the first she also expanded her inventory, offering items such as ice cream and fresh bread. The extra profits she realized have mostly gone into savings. The whole family is grateful for the first loan and look forward to continued success.
",F,875,partner,Retail,0 Ecuador,"Francisca has been running this business for about 20 years. She started with the help of a family member that was living abroad who sent her $2 (50,000 sucres), which at the time went a very long way in Ecuador. Her husband passed away 32 years ago and she was left to raise her 6 children on her own. For a long time she was a seamstress and often worked all night in order to support her family. Today her children are all grown and two still live with her.
She runs this business because her children do not generate sufficient income to support her. She feels proud to be able to be independent and to be able to help her children. She is seeking the loan in order to continue diversifying her product line and to make some improvements to the shop. She currently sells a large variety of products for the home and also cosmetics for women.
Mifex offers its clients microinsurance and access to business training and educational programs. For more information about microfinance, Ecuador, and our services, please visit www.mifex.org.
",F,475,partner,Retail,0 Ecuador,"Francisco has 20 years of experience in the photography business. From a young age, his friends encouraged him to take photos, and he liked it. At that time, he bought a camera and started his business with a loan. In addition to that business, he also sells chickens by the pound in the neighborhood where he lives. He combines the two activities. His work starts at 6 AM with the chicken sales, and it ends at 6 PM at one of the schools of the area, taking photographs. He works every day of the week.
Francisco previously had a loan from MIFEX and Kiva which he used to invest in photography supplies and also to purchase chicken meat including internal organs. His income increased with this loan but unfortunately he suffered an illness. As a result, much of his savings and profit when towards medical payments. However, Francisco has recovered and wants this loan to be able to invest in the chicken business and expand it by selling seafood too, since he has plenty of demand in the neighborhood. Also, he wants to buy more photography supplies.
Francisco separated from his wife four years ago. He has 3 children who live with their mother, but he supports them financially. He visits his children weekly and when they are free they come to spend time with him at his home. He hopes that, with the income he earns with his businesses, he will be able to remodel an area in his home for the chicken and photography businesses. He also wants to buy a freezer to store his chickens.
You can view Francisco's first loan from Kiva and MIFEX here: Business ID 7337",M,300,lender,Services,1 Ecuador,"
Francisco has a small ice cream shop. He started the business by selling ice cream on the streets and near bus stops. Slowly he began to move closer to home and sell to the local schools, finally moving the business into his house. He now runs a much larger operation from his home and provides ice cream for five street vendors.
Francisco is very proud of the way his business has grown, but does not want to stop growing. A previous loan enabled him to invest in a new freezer and chairs for his clients. He is requesting another loan so he can buy more stock of ice cream, as he has so many clients he often runs out of his product.
He is 42-years old and has one child with his wife. He will use the extra profits from his investment to fix up his home and save for the education of his children.",M,1200,lender,Food,1 Ecuador,"
Francisco has a small ice cream shop. He started the business selling ice cream on the streets and near bus stops. Slowly he began to move closer to home and sell to the local schools until he moved the business into his home. He now runs a much larger operation from his home, where he provides the ice cream for 5 street vendors while he sells the product out of his home. Francisco is very proud of the way his business has grown but does not want to stop here. He needs the loan in order to invest in a new freezer and chairs for his clients. He is 42 years old and has one child with his wife. He will use the extra profits from his investment to fix up his home and save for the education of his children.
Mifex offers its clients microinsurance and access to business training and educational programs. For more information about microfinance, Ecuador, and our services, please visit www.mifex.org.
",M,625,partner,Food,0 Ecuador,"Francisco has a stand where he sells tortillas and common Ecuadorian foods. He started the business off with only $10 of capital several years ago. This business has provided for Francisco and his 3 children. He depends on the stand to provide food, shelter and education for his family. He is requesting the loan in order to buy chairs and tables to put around his stand. He hopes that his business will continue to become popular and that one day he can open a restaurant.
Mifex offers its clients microinsurance and access to business training and educational programs. For more information about microfinance, Ecuador, and our services, please visit www.mifex.org.
",M,375,partner,Food,0 Ecuador,"Francisco has a stand where he sells tortillas and common Ecuadorian foods. He started the business several years ago with only $10 of capital. He has 3 children, and he depends on the stand to provide food, shelter and education for his family.
He is requesting his second loan through the Mifex and Kiva program. He used his first to buy chairs and tables to put around his stand, and for making improvements to his cart. His second loan will go towards buying new food products to make and for more chairs, tables, utensils etc. He intends to open a restaurant in the future, as his business continues to become more popular.
",M,850,lender,Food,1 Ecuador,"Francisco has been a rice farmer his entire life. He only has an elementary education, because he has been forced to work with his father from a very young age. He has been planting rice for over 20 years and he has been around agriculture his entire life. He and his wife Vicenta have 4 children, two of whom are already grown up and contribute to their father's farm.
Francisco is part of one of the newest Communal Banks in the recently developed Mifex Rural Finance Program: the Paypayales Communal Bank. All bank members are part of a rice farmers' cooperative in Santa Lucia named Dios Con Nosotros (God is with us). They will use these microloans to prepare their lands and cultivate rice on their farms. As members of a communal bank, they are all the guarantors for each other's loans. This means that if for some reason one person in the group cannot fully repay the loan, the other borrowers and the Dios con Nosotros Cooperative are responsible for the amount in default. The members of the bank also participate in a program designed to teach and encourage savings among the group. Promoting savings is often forgotten in many microfinance programs, but Mifex believes that is imperative for the communities we works with to have capital reserved for future investments or unexpected difficulties.
Below is more information about the commnity of Santa Lucia, compiled by Luis Crespo and Robert Edgar of the Mifex team when evaluating the potential of the sector for the Rural Finance Program. Special thanks to Mario Balazantegui who provided expert insight and contributed to the development of the alliances with the local organizations.
Santa Lucia County has a population of about 33,000 people. The region is fit for rice cultivating because it is not in the lowlands and therefore it is not at risk of flooding. There is also great access to water because of the Daule River, which is accessible to many of the farmers in the area. About 70% of the farmers have basic infrastructure for watering their crops.
Rice production is the main economic activity of the area, as about 80% of the people are rice farmers. Almost everyone is either directly or indirectly involved with the rice production, as they produce, commercialize or participate in activities that add value to the product. Within the county, there is a small town also named Santa Lucia. The town is filled with many small businesses and it serves as the social and commercial hub of the area.
Most of the people in the Santa Lucia area are small farmers. They produce about 100 sacks of rice per hectare of land. In order to farm they first must prepare the lands by removing weeds and plowing. The farmers then fill an area with water to form what is known as a paddy field, because rice is a very water intensive crop. The rice seeds are either dispersed freely (the process is known as boleo in Spanish) or hand sowed. Once the rice has grown, most farmers rent machinery that helps them harvest their crop. A risk factor does exist in rice farming because of drought, but in Santa Lucia this is somewhat mitigated by the access to water form the nearby river.
The biggest struggle in the area has been the lack of credit. Because people do not have access to formal financial services, they have turned to loan sharks for financing. They have been affected by expensive lines of credit that exceed 100% interest a year and can be as expensive as 240%. Intermediaries also exploit the farmers because of their outstanding debt. Farmers also often lack skills and knowledge of how to commercialize their product and get fair prices for their crops.
The loans in this sector will be used to to buy soil, seeds, fertilizer and insecticides. They will also be used to prepare the land prior to farming, to plant the seeds and purchase other materials. The loan repayment schedule is different from the typical microentrepreneur. Because farmers see the profits from their investments 5 or 6 months after making their initial expenditures, Mifex asks them to repay 50% of the capital in the first 6 months of the loan. The rest of the debt must be paid in the seventh and final month.
",M,425,lender,Agriculture,0 Ecuador,"Francisco has had a small furniture making workshop in his home for 3 years and has 20 years of experience in the profession. More specifically, Francisco learned about making and decorating coffins because he worked in well-known funeral homes in the city. With his own money from his savings, he started his business. First, Francisco buys plain coffins; then, with his wife, he finishes and sells them. Francisco offers his products to the funeral homes at which he worked and is successful there because they know that he works very responsibly.
Francisco will use the loan to purchase plain coffins, cloth, thread, lace, solvent and other items so that he can meet the needs of his customers both inside the city and outside it, now that people are recommending him because of his good work. He has worked with Mifex before and is a proven hard-worker and responsible borrower.
Francisco is 43 years old and has a daughter. His wife supports him a lot in his business and is in charge of putting designs into the cloth that goes in the bottom of the coffins. Francisco is confident that his investment will help him provide for his customers and thus increase revenues, which will allow him to improve his house.
",M,1075,lender,Manufacturing,1 Ecuador,"Francisco has over 25 years of experience selling veterinary medicine and pet products. Although one would not expect poor family's to have pets they are prevalent in these communities as domestic partners and a source of income. Francisco has been able to take advantage of this with his business which is the only one in the neighborhood to offer food and medicine for animals. With his loan he was able to buy these products at wholesale prices. Once he generated profit from the increased inventory he was able to make improvements to his shop. He now offers seminars and workshops that teach the community how to raise chickens and other animals that can generate revenue. He not only sees this as a service to his neighborhood, he also generates business from the participants of his free courses. Francisco originally opened his business by saving a little bit of money and buying animal food and medicine. His wife and children help out in the store, so this has become somewhat of a family operation for the Ordonezes. With Mifexs courses, Marcos has begun keeping inventory records and basic accounting, so that he can move into the banking mainstream and maintain a better credit profile. He is applying for this second loan so that he can buy hangers, a display case, and reorganize his store.
Mifex offers its clients microinsurance and access to business training and educational programs. For more information about microfinance, Ecuador, and our services, please visit www.mifex.org.
",M,1175,partner,Retail,0 Ecuador,"Francisco manufactures drawers, shelves and book cases. This is the family business passed down to him by his father. Francisco was born in Guayaquil, but his family moved to the Galapagos Islands when he was 10 years old in search for work. After getting married and opening his own business, he and his wife decided to move back to Guayaquil where both of them still had a significant amount of family.
Francisco has always relied on this business to support his family. He makes most of his products after receiving an order because he cannot afford to manufacturer in advance. He has requested this loan in order to buy a new rotary tool that will help him sand and polish his finished products.
Francisco has two children who are already independent. His wife cares for his two grand children and Francisco pays for their meals while the childrens parents are working during the day. This loan will help him continue to support his family.
Mifex offers its clients microinsurance and access to business training and educational programs. For more information about microfinance, Ecuador, and our services, please visit www.mifex.org.
",M,600,partner,Manufacturing,0 Ecuador,"Freddy has a small farm on land that was given to him by his parents. He has been a farmer his whole life and only has a elementary education. He and his wife, Maria, work on the farm where they cultivate rice and produce milk. They do not have children yet because they do not have financial security. He hopes that in the near future he will be able to make his land be more efficient so he can build his family.
Freddy is part of one of the newest Communal Banks in the recently developed Mifex Rural Finance Program: the Primero de Agosto Communal Bank. All bank members are part of the Association of Rice Farmers in Santa Lucia, and they will use these microloans to prepare their lands and cultivate rice on their farms. As members of a communal bank, they are all guarantors for each other's loans. This means that if for some reason one person in the group cannot fully repay the loan, the other borrowers and the Primero de Agosto Association are responsible for the amount in default. The members of the bank also participate in a program designed to teach and encourage savings among the group. Promoting savings is often forgotten in many microfinance programs, but Mifex believes that is imperative for the communities we work with to have capital reserved for future investments or unexpected difficulties.
Below is more information about the commnity of Santa Lucia, compiled by Luis Crespo and Robert Edgar of the Mifex team when evaluating the potential of the sector for the Rural Finance Program. Special thanks to Mario Balazantegui who provided expert insight and contributed to the development of the alliances with the local organizations.
Santa Lucia County has a population of about 33,000 people. The region is fit for rice cultivating because it is not in the lowlands and therefore it is not at risk of flooding. There is also great access to water because of the Daule River, which is accessible to many of the farmers in the area. About 70% of the farmers have basic infrastructure for watering their crops.
Rice production is the main economic activity of the area, as about 80% of the people are rice farmers. Almost everyone is either directly or indirectly involved with the rice production, as they produce, commercialize or participate in activities that add value to the product. Within the county, there is a small town also named Santa Lucia. The town is filled with many small businesses and it serves as the social and commercial hub of the area.
Most of the people in the Santa Lucia area are small farmers. They produce about 100 sacks of rice per hectare of land. In order to farm they first must prepare the lands by removing weeds and plowing. The farmers then fill an area with water to form what is known as a paddy field, because rice is a very water intensive crop. The rice seeds are either dispersed freely (the process is known as boleo in Spanish) or hand sowed. Once the rice has grown, most farmers rent machinery that helps them harvest their crop. A risk factor does exist in rice farming because of drought, but in Santa Lucia this is somewhat mitigated by the access to water form the nearby river.
The biggest struggle in the area has been the lack of credit. Because people do not have access to formal financial services, they have turned to loan sharks for financing. They have been affected by expensive lines of credit that exceed 100% interest a year and can be as expensive as 240%. Intermediaries also exploit the farmers because of their outstanding debt. Farmers also often lack skills and knowledge of how to commercialize their product and get fair prices for their crops.
The loans in this sector will be used to to buy soil, seeds, fertilizer and insecticides. They will also be used to prepare the land prior to farming, to plant the seeds and purchase other materials. The loan repayment schedule is different from the typical microentrepreneur. Because farmers see the profits from their investments 5 or 6 months after making their initial expenditures, Mifex asks them to repay 50% of the capital in the first 6 months of the loan. The rest of the debt must be paid in the seventh and final month.
",M,1200,lender,Agriculture,0 Ecuador,"Freddy has an experience of 7 years preparing and selling candies. He began working with a friend delivering bread. With the money he saved in the activity, he decided to buy an oven and moves to work as an independent with his wife. He has been able to begin building his cement house instead of the bamboo wood he had before. He works daily from 7am to 4pm selling the products and from 6pm to 2am to prepare it.
Freddy wants the Kiva loan to be able to buy products for the preparation of the candy, because at this time he is only delivery to schools and request from stores of the area.
Freddy is 34 years old, has 3 kids, two of them are in school already. Hi wife helps him preparing the candy and also works as a teacher in a school. His wish is to be able to improve his house so he can install his business there, because now he only works making deliveries.
Translated from Spanish by N.D., Kiva Volunteer.
",M,475,partner,Food,0 Ecuador,"
Geoconda is a seamstress who makes sheets and clothing. She has 8 years of experience in this type of activity. She started off as an assistant for someone else and moved on to take a course where she significantly improved her skills. Today she dedicates most of the day to her sewing and also helps her mom at night at her small restaurant. She needs the loan in order to invest in a new sewing machine now that hers is beginning to falter.
Geoconda is 25 years old and has 3 children. One of her kids has already started school and the others are still at young ages. Her husband drives Geocondas mothers car as a taxi in order to bring in some income. Their dream is to purchase their own car and make improvements to their home.
Mifex offers its clients microinsurance and access to business training and educational programs. For more information about microfinance, Ecuador, and our services, please visit www.mifex.org.
",F,475,partner,Services,0 Ecuador,"Georgina is starting a new business based on the skills she learned at the Mifex MERIT Centers. At our training facilities she participated in a course where she learned arts and crafts. Specifically she will be making party and house decorations. She is already selling the products she makes but she her growth is restrained because she cannot afford materials. She is seeking this small loan in order to buy: scissors, glue, a glue gun and other decorative items. Her husband motivated to take the course and supports her in her business venture. She hopes that she can begin to contribute to her family income in order to provide for her 3 children.
Mifex offers its clients microinsurance and access to business training and educational programs. For more information about microfinance, Ecuador, and our services, please visit www.mifex.org.
",F,200,partner,Retail,0 Ecuador,"Georgnia is applying for her second loan with Kiva and Mifex. Before receiving her first loan, she had been proved to be one of the most outstanding students of the course, as she was very dedicated to learning and improving her skills. She started her sandal-making business after three months in the course. Her daughters helped her out with some start-up capital so she could buy supplies and get her business going. She will use the loan to invest in more materials for sandal-making and to also invest in other clothing and accessories that she sells.
Georgina has been living in Guayaquil for about 11 years after leaving her home town of Esmeraldas. She left because she wanted to provide her children with better education and opportunities. Her daughters continue to advance in school and are working towards their college degrees.
",F,700,lender,Retail,1 Ecuador,"Geovanny has been living on Jeor Ranch for over thirty years. There he has been able to cultivate rice and raise cattle in order to support his family. He has two sons who help him on the farm, one is 20 years old and the other is 16. He and his wife hope to make the necessary investments in rice that will ensure that the crop goes well, such as fertilizer and pesticides. With this crop cycles extra profits they hope to save enough money to send their younger son to go to school in the larger city of Guayaquil.
He is the latest addition to the first Communal Bank in the new Mifex Rural Finance Program. All of the members of the Resistencia Communal Bank are part of an Association of Rice Farmers in Salitre named Resistencia. They will use the microloans to prepare the lands and cultivate rice on their farms. Because they form part of a communal bank, they are all each others guarantors for the loan. This means that if for some reason one person in the group cannot fully repay the loan, the other borrowers and the Resistencia Association are responsible for the amount in default. The members of the bank also participate in a program designed to teach and encourage savings among the group. Promoting savings is often forgotten in many microfinance programs, but is imperative for the communities Mifex works with to have capital reserved for future investments or unexpected difficulties.
The loans in this sector will be used to create water deposits that will prevent flooding in the case of heavy rains or store water in case of droughts. They will also be used to treat the land prior to farming, to plant the seeds and purchase fertilizer. The loan repayment schedule is also different from the typical microentrepreneur. Because farmers see the profits from their investments 5 or 6 months after making their initial expenditures, Mifex asks them only to pay 50% of the capital in the first 6 months of the loan. The rest of the debt must be paid in the seventh and final month.
Below is more information about Salitre compiled by the staff at Mifex when evaluating the potential of the sector for the Rural Finance Program.
Salitre is a rural sector in the Province of Guayas known as the capital of Montuvios (montuvio is a cowboy) with approximately 30,000 inhabitants. The main economic activities are herding and agriculture which make up about 80% of the economy. The infrastructure and basic services are poor, especially the roads and water services.
Salitre is highly dedicated to farming rice and cattle ranching. Rice is a crop that yields about every four months. In order to farm rice, the environment must be very humid and there must be a high volume of water. The lack of a structured water system makes it difficult for the small farmers to be highly productive. The best months for cultivating rice are early in the year when it is the rainy season in the coast of Ecuador.
Salitre is a national tourist attraction as many Ecuadorians visit the fresh water Salitre River. There are cottages, small restaurants and water attractions that people come to enjoy.
There is not a single financial institution that provides services to the productive sector of the local economy. The only access to credit comes from loan sharks who charge extremely high interest rates averaging around 20% a month. The locals are also exploited by the intermediaries that buy their products in order to commercialize them in the city and to export abroad. These intermediaries buy crops in advance at very low prices, finance soil at extremely high prices and often provide emergency loans for even higher interest rates than the loan sharks.
Salitre is a dangerous sector considering it is in the rural area. There is a high incidence of robbery of cattle that results in many of the ranch owners owning weapons to protect their property. Because the police are not present in these areas, farmers and ranchers must apply their own laws and provide their own security. In some instances they have formed their own cooperatives and associations to have a community crime prevention effort.
Salitre is in the lowlands of Ecuador and is vulnerable to flooding in the rainy season. In the event of a heavy rainy season, often at its worse when El Nio occurs, the farmers of rice lose many of their crops. All this is due to a lack of infrastructure in the area.
",M,1200,lender,Agriculture,0 Ecuador,"Germania started her business out of a need to earn more income for her family. She started selling makeup and other cosmetics to the teachers at her sons school. Before she knew it, she had a full-fledged business selling cosmetics and other accessories to women. She is now seeking a loan that will help her buy her products at larger quantities so she may make more profit.
Germania is 46 and has three children. She lives in a home made out of wood and bamboo. She is hoping that with the extra profit she can fix the roof and walls.
",F,375,partner,Retail,0 Ecuador,"Giannina Quimi was born in Santa Elena 45 years ago. She runs a small stand selling fast food, but not in the American sense of the word. There are hamburgers and hot dogs, but more local specialties such as salchipapas can be found at her restaurant on wheels. She works every day from 4:00 pm until 11:00 pm.
Quimi says she learned this business when she was an employee in a cafeteria at a college. With six years of experience in this line of work, she has her loyal clients who love her special flavors. Quimi is asking for a second loan that will help her buy a new cart for her son to start a second branch of her business. With her first loan she bought tables, chairs and a radio to play music for her clients.
",F,850,lender,Food,0 Ecuador,"Ginger has one year's experience. Her father helped her in her business by giving her the 80 gas cylinders with which to start her business. She has done very well and has been able to keep and increase her business. At the present time she has 125 cylinders. She works from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. at which time another person is paid to fill in for her until the next day. She rents the business premises where she works.
Ginger will invest her credit in buying more cylinders since there is great demand. Her clients have recommended her because of the great service she provides.
Ginger is single and lives with her mother and siblings. She has been working with her family since she was a little girl. At present, she is studying to teach children and hopes to graduate and start her teaching career.
Translated by Kiva volunteer Maite Barragn
Ginger tiene una experiencia de 1 ao con su actividad. Su papa fue la persona que le ayudo en su negocio. Le dio 80 cilindros de gas con los que inicio. Le ha ido muy bien en este tiempo ya que mantiene su negocio y lo ha logrado incrementar con ms cilindros. Actualmente posee 125 cilindros. Trabaja todos los das de la semana en horario de 8 a.m. hasta las 8 p.m. A partir de las 8 p.m. hasta el siguiente da atiende el negocio otra persona. A la cual le paga por su servicio. El local donde tiene el negocio es alquilado.
Ginger el crdito lo invertir en la compra de mas cilindros ya que su demanda va en aumento. Sus clientes le han referido por la atencin con la brinda su servicio.
Ginger es soltera. Vive con su mama y hermanos. Desde muy pequea ella conoci la actividad ya que trabajaba junto a su familia. Ella esta estudiando para profesora de nios. Esperando algn da graduarse y comenzar a ejercer su profesin.
",F,600,partner,Retail,0 Ecuador,"Ginger is a 37-year-old single mother of 2 children. She sells clothing and bookbags door-to-door in the northern part of Guayaquil. Ginger began her business with the help of her ex-husband, who loaned her $100 to start her business.
Initially, she only sold clothing for women and children. She used her first loan with Mifex and Kiva to invest in different merchandise. Now she continues to sell these items along with men's clothing. Ginger is requesting a second loan because she lacks working capital to buy the merchandise she would like to sell. She believes she can expand her business by carrying womens, mens, and childrens clothing for all occasions. The climate in Guayaquil is tropical (warm and humid), but temperatures drop in the morning and evening, and warmer clothing is often needed. Ginger also wants to sell Christmas gifts during the holiday season.
Ginger has faith that these new products will help her business grow. She is separated and has 2 children in school. She depends completely on her business to support her children's education and their livelihood. They have overcome some difficult financial times with her increase in income. Ginger is confident that his loan will allow her to save for the future and to make improvements in her house.
",F,1200,lender,Clothing,1 Ecuador,"Gladys owns a stand at a local market where she sells a wide variety of products. When she started off in this business she had to sell from a cart in downtown Guayaquil. With a $200 loan from a friend, she was able to set up a stand in a local market. She now sells clothing, make up products and many other items.
Through hard work and perseverance Gladys has been able to make her business a success. She needs this loan in order to continue investing in products to sell from her store. This will be the second time that she borrows from our program. She has proven to be a responsible borrower and a dedicated business woman. Eventually Gladys wants to run the store from a part of her home. She has children but they are no longer dependent on her.
",F,1200,lender,Clothing,1 Ecuador,"Glenda began her business 12 years ago. She sells clothes, notebooks, gifts and costume jewelry. She attends to her customers everyday from 7:00am to 10:00pm. Her business succeeds thanks to Glendas customer service and product quality.
Now on her second loan, Glenda continues to invest in clothing, costume jewelry and more school supplies.
Glenda is in her mid-twenties and is a single mother with one child. Glenda lives with her father and decided to start this business to be able to support her household. She hopes to improve her income to be able to help her family.",F,825,lender,Retail,1 Ecuador,"
Glenda has a small cafe where she sells lunches. She started out by working as a cook in a cafe, but her earnings were not sufficient, so she started her own business with the help of some money given to her by the godfather of one of her children. Now she has a solid clientele and is very well-known in the area for her good cooking.
Glenda used her first loan with Mifex and Kiva to invest in the purchase of bigger pots, an industrial stove, and benches for her business. With this investment her sales increased and she had enough income to enroll her 3 children in school. For that, her children are very grateful. The second loan Glenda is requesting will be used to make improvements to her home and business. She wants all of her customers to feel welcome and comfortable in her caf.
Glenda is 37 years old single mother. She depends completely on this business to support her family. The father of her children abandoned her when the youngest daughter was just three years old. She is very concerned about the education of her children. She is an enterprising woman and she knows that her business will grow and will provide the financial security she needs.
",F,400,lender,Food,0 Ecuador,"Gloria Magallanes was born in Guayaquil, Ecuador. This 40-year-old single mother of three opened her restaurant 10 years ago. Her clients are all regulars from her neighborhood, and they all enjoy the tasty food she offers day-in and day-out. Gloria works from 6am serving breakfast to the morning crowd until 4 pm when she serves lunch.
Gloria was able to use a previous loan from Mifex in order to buy a new refrigerator with a glass door for her business. This improved the appearance of her restaurant and also allowed her to increase the sale of beverages. She hopes to receive a second loan in order to buy more food to prepare for her clients. She also plans on supporting two of her daughters who want to begin making and selling jewelry.
",F,1200,partner,Food,0 Ecuador,"Gloria owns a small restaurant in her local community. Her great food keeps helps her maintain her neighbors and locals as frequent customers. She is a repeat Kiva borrower who is now seeking to further invest in her restaurant. With her first loan she was able to buy larger amounts of food and improve the quality of the dishes she prepared. She also made small changes to her restaurant like increasing the amounts of tables and chairs. Now she wants to make many more cosmetic changes and continue investing in furniture. She also would like to keep buying her ingredients at wholesale prices.
Mifex offers its clients microinsurance and access to business training and educational programs. For more information about microfinance, Ecuador, and our services, please visit www.mifex.org.
",F,650,partner,Food,0 Ecuador,"Gonzalo has a farm where he grows rice and corn. He lives with his wife and a son on their land and they all work on together. He admits he once was not on the right path as he drank excessively. He is now a religious man after suffering an accident where he lost an eye. He hopes to invest his money in fertilizer and seeds for the fields. He is a very hard worker who saves in order to one day send his son to college.
This borrower is part of the newest and largest Communal Bank in the recently developed Mifex Rural Finance Program. All of the members of the Centro Agricola de Baba Communal Bank are part of an Association of Rice Farmers in the county of Baba in rural Ecuador. Their association works cooperatively to cultivate rice and commercialize the product after it has grown. As an association, Centro Agricola helps the farmers by providing access to machinery and training services. The farmers from Centro Agricola have received special instruction on financial responsibility and accounting from Codemicro, an organization that specializes in training programs geared towards the rural sector.
The members of Centro Agricola de Baba will use the micro-loans to prepare their lands and cultivate rice on their farms. Because they form part of a communal bank, they are all each others' guarantors for the loan. This means that if for some reason one person in the group cannot fully repay the loan, the other borrowers and the Centro Agricola de Baba Association are responsible for the amount in default. The members of the bank also participate in a program designed to teach and encourage savings among the group. Promoting savings is often forgotten in many micro-finance programs, but Mifex believes that is imperative for the communities we works with to have capital reserved for future investments or unexpected difficulties.
Below is more information about Santa Lucia compiled by Luis Crespo and Robert Edgar of the Mifex team when evaluating the potential of the sector for the Rural Finance Program.
The people of Baba have been organized since the days of Gran Colombia when Ecuador was yet to be a country. The area has always been popular because of the extremely productive lands that gave way to cultivation of cacao for decades. Now Baba is a county in the province of Los Rios in the coastal region of Ecuador. For most of the latter part of the 20th Century it was a cacao and banana producing sector. Most of the surrounding areas of Baba in Los Rios are owned by large mulitnational companies such as Dole, but Baba is a sector characterized by the small and informal farms.
Rice production has now turned into the main economic activity of the sector as about 80% of the people are rice farmers. Cacao is still very popular in the area, but because of the long cultivation cycle people prefer to invest in rice. The lands in Baba are very fertile though, and most farmers in the sector often grow other crops, such as plantains and soy beans as secondary sources of income. Many farmers also keep livestock as emergency sources of food and income, commonly resorting to selling a chicken or pig if they are in need of cash.
Most of the people in the Baba area are small farmers. They produce about 80 sacks of rice per hectare of land. In order to farm they first must prepare the lands by removing weeds, plowing and leveling the lands. This is the most difficult part for the farmers in Baba, who often lack the necessary machinery to properly plow the lands for rice production. After appropriately preparing the lands, the farmers fill an area with water to form what is known as a paddy field, because rice is a very water intensive crop. The rice seeds are either dispersed freely (the process is known as boleo in Spanish) or hand sowed. Once the rice has grown, most farmers rent machinery that helps them gather their production.
One of the biggest struggles in the area has been the lack of credit due to the absence of any type of financial institution. Because people do not count on formal financial finance, they have turned to loan sharks for financing. They have been affected by expensive lines of credit that exceed 100% interest a year and can be as expensive as 240%. Intermediaries also exploit the farmers because of their outstanding debt. Farmers also lack skills and knowledge to commercialize their products and pay fair prices for their crops.
The largest risk in the sector is due to absence of watering systems. Although Baba is in the province Los Rios (the rivers) there is severe problem with access to water. The lack of infrastructure in the sector does not allow the small farmers to benefit from the presence of the many rivers in the area. If the winter season is too dry, it is likely that the lands will not be sufficiently fertile for rice production in the summer. On the other hand, if there is too much rain there are not any drainage systems to prevent flooding and the crops are often ruined. Generally speaking though, Baba is a very productive sector where the lands yield all types of crops including rice, cacao, corn, watermelons, plantains, and soy beans.
The loans in this sector will mostly be used to to buy soil, seeds, fertilizer and insecticides. Many clients will use the capital towards renting machinery and equipment necessary to effectively work and prepare the fields. Clients also typically use a part of the loan to buy livestock in order to raise and have as reserves. The loan repayment schedule is different from the typical micro-entrepreneur because farmers see the profits from their investments 5 or 6 months after making their initial expenditures. Mifex asks our rural clients only to pay 50% of the capital in the first 6 months of the loan. The rest of the debt must be paid in the seventh and final month.
",M,1075,lender,Agriculture,0 Ecuador,"Graciela has been dedicated to planting rice for more than five years. She has been able to sustain her household with the income from this activity thanks to her hard work and dedication. Although her land can be used to plant other crops, she focuses on rice because of the small investment capital it requires and because of her experience. Graciela will use the loan to invest in rice seeds and fertilizer. She hopes that with this final investment she will be able to maximize the production of the crop.
Graciela is 20 years old and only has one son. She lives alone in her home and does not have much contact with the father of her son. Her home is made out of a mix of bamboo and wood, and she hopes to improve it with any extra profits from her rice production.
",F,950,lender,Agriculture,0 Ecuador,"Grey lives with her parents on their farm. Her parents are too elderly to run and manage the operations of the lands so they have given the responsibilities to their daughter. With the guidance of her parents, Grey is planting rice on the lands and she is gaining much experience. She wants the loan because she needs to invest in seeds and fertilizer. She also wants to avoid borrowing from informal lenders because her parents have told her about the risks of their interest rates. She hopes she can save the profits from the land in order to start a family of her own some day.
She is part of one of the newest Communal Banks in the recently developed Mifex Rural Finance Program. All of the members of the Centro Agricola de Santa Lucia Communal Bank are part of an Association of Rice Farmers in Santa Lucia. They will use the microloans to prepare their lands and cultivate rice on their farms. Because they form part of a communal bank, they are all each other's guarantors for the loan. This means that if for some reason one person in the group cannot fully repay the loan, the other borrowers and the Centro Agricola Association are responsible for the amount in default. The members of the bank also participate in a program designed to teach and encourage savings among the group. Promoting savings is often forgotten in many microfinance programs, but Mifex believes that is imperative for the communities we works with to have capital reserved for future investments or unexpected difficulties.
Below is more information about Santa Lucia compiled by Luis Crespo and Robert Edgar of the Mifex team when evaluating the potential of the sector for the Rural Finance Program. Special thanks to Mario Balazantegui who provided expert insight and contributed to the development of the alliances with the local organizations.
Santa Lucia County has a population of about 33,000 people. The sector is fit for rice cultivating because it is not in the lowlands and therefore it is not at risk of flooding. There is also great access to water because of the Daule River, which is accessible to many of the farmers in the area. About 70% of the farmers have basic infrastructure for watering their crops.
Rice production is the main economic activity of the area as about 80% of the people are rice farmers. Almost everyone is either directly or indirectly involved with the rice production, as they produce, commercialize or participate in activities that add value to the product. Within the county, there is a small town also named Santa Lucia. The town is filled with many small businesses and it serves as the social and commercial hub of the area.
Most of the people in the Santa Lucia area are small farmers. They produce about 100 sacks of rice per hectare of land. In order to farm they first must prepare the lands by removing weeds and plowing. The farmers then fill an area with water to form what is known as a paddy field, because rice is a very water intensive crop. The rice seeds are either dispersed freely (the process is known as boleo in Spanish) or hand sowed. Once the rice has grown, most farmers rent machinery that helps them gather their production. A risk factor does exist in rice farming because of drought, but in Santa Lucia this is somewhat mitigated by the access to water form the nearby river.
The biggest struggle in the area has been the lack of credit. Because people do not count on formal financial services, they have turned to loan sharks for financing. They have been affected by expensive lines of credit that exceed 100% interest a year and can be as expensive as 240%. Intermediaries also exploit the farmers because of their outstanding debt. Farmers also lack skills and knowledge to commercialize their products and pay fair prices for their crops.
The loans in this sector will be used to to buy soil, seeds, fertilizer and insecticides. They will also be used to prepare the land prior to farming, to plant the seeds and purchase other materials. The loan repayment schedule is also different from the typical microentrepreneur. Because farmers see the profits from their investments 5 or 6 months after making their initial expenditures, Mifex asks them only to pay 50% of the capital in the first 6 months of the loan. The rest of the debt must be paid in the seventh and final month.
",F,1200,lender,Agriculture,0 Ecuador,"Guadelia is a 39 year-old from Guayaquil, Ecuador. She has 5 children, but only 3 still live with her. For the last 6 months, Ms. Zambrano has been completely dedicated to her business which she runs out of her home. She spends less time with her children unfortunately, but she is making great progress at work. Guadelias husband helps out with the kids and he drives her into town when she needs to stock up on inventory for the store. Although his income doesnt cover the costs of the family, Guadelia is now doing her part to bring in a second source of income. She wants to give her children the best education possible and thinks that, if she can get a loan through Kiva and Mifex, she can purchase new inventory to attract customers who need more than just one or two items. She plans to grow her shop to the point that anyone can some there to find household goods of all sorts.
Mifex offers its clients microinsurance and access to business training and educational programs. For more information about microfinance, Ecuador, and our services, please visit www.mifex.org.
",F,875,partner,Retail,0 Ecuador,"Guadelia is a 39 year-old from Guayaquil, Ecuador. She has 5 children, but only 3 still live with her. For the last 6 months, Ms. Zambrano has been completely dedicated to her business which she runs out of her home. She spends less time with her children unfortunately, but she is making great progress at work. Guadelias husband helps out with the kids and he drives her into town when she needs to stock up on inventory for the store. Although his income doesnt cover the costs of the family, Guadelia is now doing her part to bring in a second source of income.
Guadelias first loan with Mifex and Kiva went towards purchasing more merchandise for her store. Initially she sold just basic necessities. Now she has added bazaar products and paper goods. The additional profits she made were used to make home improvements.
She wants to give her children the best education possible and thinks that, with a second loan through Kiva and Mifex, she can purchase more inventory to attract customers who need more than just one or two items. She plans to grow her shop to the point that one can find all sorts of household goods there. Guadelia also wants to carry holiday gifts and decorations for Christmas.
",F,1200,lender,Food,1 Ecuador,"He is 31 years old and has two sons. His home is made out of sugarcane stems. He wants to be able to open up another location in a different section in the city so he can increase his family's income.
Mr. Luis is engaged in the purchase of recyclable items. He started this business 6 years ago and he runs it with help from his wife and an employee. Potential clients are those located in the provinces neighboring Guayaquil because his assistant travels by truck there to pick up the products and this way it is easier to make sales. Lately, he has had an increase in sales and his family has enjoyed an increase in income.
He wishes to use the credit to invest in improvements to his business location. He wants to protect his merchandise from the winter weather so he will install a roof over it.
Translated from Spanish by Bertolt Cantalice, Kiva Volunteer
",M,600,lender,Retail,1 Ecuador,"Hector Ochoa has been living on his farm for about 20 years. He has been a rice farmer since he was young. He completely relies on the production from his lands to maintain himself and his family. He still lives on the lands with his parents, who work with him on the farm. He is optimistic about the impact of a loan because he will be able to purchase a new tractor, now that his old one is on the brink of being irreparable.
Hector is part of the newest Communal Banks in the recently developed Mifex Rural Finance Program. All of the members of the Centro Agricola de Santa Lucia Communal Bank are part of an Association of Rice Farmers in Santa Lucia. Their association works cooperatively to help in the commercialization of the product after it has grown. They will use the micro-loans to prepare their lands and cultivate rice on their farms. Because they form part of a communal bank, they are all each others guarantors for the loan. This means that if for some reason one person in the group cannot fully repay the loan, the other borrowers and the Primero de Agosto Association are responsible for the amount in default. The members of the bank also participate in a program designed to teach and encourage savings among the group. Promoting savings is often forgotten in many micro-finance programs, but Mifex believes that is imperative for the communities we work with to have capital reserved for future investments or unexpected difficulties.
Below is more information about Santa Lucia compiled by Luis Crespo and Robert Edgar of the Mifex team when evaluating the potential of the sector for the Rural Finance Program. Special thanks to Mario Balazantegui who provided expert insight and contributed to the development of the alliances with the local organizations.
Santa Lucia County has a population of about 33,000 people. The sector is fit for rice cultivating because it is not in the lowlands and therefore it is not at risk of flooding. There is also great access to water because of the Daule River, which is accessible to many of the farmers in the area. About 70% of the farmers have basic infrastructure for watering their crops.
Rice production is the main economic activity of the area as about 80% of the people are rice farmers. Almost everyone is either directly or indirectly involved with rice production, as they produce, commercialize or participate in activities that add value to the product. Within the county, there is a small town also named Santa Lucia. The town is filled with many small businesses and it serves as the social and commercial hub of the area.
Most of the people in the Santa Lucia area are small farmers. They produce about 100 sacks of rice per hectare of land. In order to farm they first must prepare the lands by removing weeds and plowing. The farmers then fill an area with water to form what is known as a paddy field, because rice is a very water-intensive crop. The rice seeds are either dispersed freely (the process is known as boleo in Spanish) or hand sowed. Once the rice has grown, most farmers rent machinery that helps them gather their production. A risk factor does exist in rice farming because of drought, but in Santa Lucia this is somewhat mitigated by the access to water form the nearby river.
The biggest struggle in the area has been the lack of credit. Because people do not count on formal financial services, they have turned to loan sharks for financing. They have been affected by expensive lines of credit that exceed 100% interest a year and can be as expensive as 240%. Intermediaries also exploit the farmers because of their outstanding debt. Farmers also lack skills and knowledge to commercialize their products and pay fair prices for their crops.
The loans in this sector will be used to to buy soil, seeds, fertilizer and insecticides. They will also be used to prepare the land prior to farming, to plant the seeds and purchase other materials. The loan repayment schedule is also different from the typical micro-entrepreneur. Because farmers see the profits from their investments 5 or 6 months after making their initial expenditures, Mifex asks them only to pay 50% of the capital in the first 6 months of the loan. The rest of the debt must be paid in the seventh and final month.
",M,1200,lender,Agriculture,0 Ecuador,"Heladeria Nieves is a small Ice Cream Shop owned by Nieves Alarcn (appropriately, Nieves means snow in Spanish). At her shop she also sells snacks and candies. She has a good amount of business because her ice cream shop is conveniently located by a school and a childrens park. Therefore most of her clients are kids and young adults. She started this business with only $30 about four years ago. She would like to take out this loan in order to buy ice cream at larger quantities and also to continue to invest in other products that may be attractive to her young clients. She also wants to finish paying off the last $100 she owes for the freezer she stores the ice cream in.
Mifex offers its clients microinsurance and access to business training and educational programs. For more information about microfinance, Ecuador, and our services, please visit www.mifex.org.
",F,375,partner,Food,0 Ecuador,"Helen has been selling clothes as a street sales woman for 4 years. She travels into the rural sectors about three times a week in order to sell there because there are better business opportunities. She has had to work and sell from a very young age because her parents were not in a good financial situation. She started the business with a $50 loan from informal lenders that charge very high interest rates. She is requesting the loan because she wants to invest in clothes for the hot weather and rainy season. Helen is 23 years old, she already has 2 children and she is also pregnant with another. She is currently seperated from her husband because he does not contribute to the household and he she considers him to be irresponsible. This business is currently the only source of income she has and she is very dedicated to it.
Mifex offers its clients microinsurance and access to business training and educational programs. For more information about microfinance, Ecuador, and our services, please visit www.mifex.org.
",F,475,partner,Clothing,0 Ecuador,"Henita has had her business selling school supplies, gifts, and costume jewelry from her house for eight years. Her opening hours are from 7am to 7pm. Without any experience, she decided to start using the small savings her husband had made from his work. She has managed to keep her business going thanks to her constant dedication.
Because Henita was able to buy school supplies, gifts, make-up, and clothes using a previous loan, she grew her small business and she made improvements on her house. Now Henita is requesting a second loan from Mifex and Kiva to further improve the image of her business and to provide better service for her clients.
Henita is 36 years old and is married; her husband works as a cook in a factory near Guayaquil. They have 3 children, 2 of whom are studying and help in their spare time by serving in the shop. Their house is located only a few blocks from the ring road. The structure is mixed, and the floor is made of earth. Her dream is to reinforce the entire house with cement to provide greater security for her family as the area they live in is dangerous and crime-ridden. With this credit, she hopes to improve her business and living conditions, act as an example for her children, and help her husband.
Click here to view Henita's first loan with Kiva and Mifex: Business 10775",F,1200,lender,Retail,1 Ecuador,"
Henry has a small shoe-making workshop. Henry started his business with the help of his wife and with $100 capital. He started off by making sandals for the kids of his family and friends. Now he continues to sell sandals and shoes for people of all ages.
Henry took out a previous loan with our organization. He used the loan to buy many raw materials and increase the quality and quantity of his products. His success allowed him to fix up his workshop and make some improvements to his home. He wants a loan to continue investing in his workshop and raw materials.
Henry is the father of one son, he is married and is 29 years old. He has the hope that, with this loan, he will improve the quality of life for his family and give stability and growth to the business.",M,1075,lender,Retail,1 Ecuador,"
Herleen has been a responsible farmer for 8 years, dedicating himself completely to rice cultivation. Thanks to the teachings of his family, especially his grandfather, he has been able to make an independent living on short growth cycle crops.
Herleen is asking for a loan to be able to plant and produce the aforementioned crops, as they are high yielding in the Daule region. From the planting to the application of fertilizers and herbicides, it is a technical process to reduce risks for the harvest.
Herleen is 24 years old. Because he is single, he hasn't had the opportunity to have children. He lives in a house made of cement and wood and he has lived in this area his whole life. He hopes to invest in agriculture and thereby increase his income, giving him much more economic stability.
Translated by Bianca Vargas, Kiva Volunteer.
Herleen se ha dedicado a la agricultura de manera responsable teniendo ya 8 anos de experiencia, dedicndose netamente a la produccin del cultivo de arroz. Gracias a las enseanzas que heredo de sus familiares especialmente su abuelo, a podido independizarse ganando manejo en el cultivo de ciclo corto.
Herleen pide el prstamo para poder sembrar y producir el mencionado cultivo, ya que en esta zona de Daule es muy productivo y rendidor. Tanto desde la siembra como en la aplicacin de fertilizantes y herbicidas, que hagan el manejo de la forma ms tecnificada y de esa manera reducir riesgos al momento de la cosecha.
En la actualidad Herleen tiene 24 anos de edad, en donde por ser soltero no ha podido tener hijos, su vivienda es de estructura mixta tanto de cemento como de madera, lleva viviendo 24 anos en esta zona. Sus aspiraciones es reinvertir en la agricultura para que de esa manera sus ingresos lleguen a incrementar, dando mucha mas estabilidad a su economa.
",M,950,lender,Agriculture,0 Ecuador,"Herlinda sells cosmetics and perfume throughout her community. She usually travels door to door offering her products but also sells some from her home. She allows her clients to pay her for their purchases in weekly installments in order to maker her products much more accessible.
She is seeking this loan in order to invest in new merchandise. She hopes that with increased capital she will be able to buy wholesale and sell for much more profit. Herlinda has four kids, three of which are still in school. She hopes that by generating more income she can continue to pay for their educations and make improvements to their home.
Mifex offers its clients microinsurance and access to business training and educational programs. For more information about microfinance, Ecuador, and our services, please visit www.mifex.org.
",F,375,partner,Services,0 Ecuador,"Herlinda sells cosmetics and perfume throughout her community. She usually travels door to door offering her products but also sells some from her home. She allows her clients to pay her for their purchases in weekly installments in order to maker her products much more accessible.
Herlinda used her first loan to invest in new products and to fix her home. She is happy with the results as she has been able to witness the growth of her business. She now makes fliers in order to market her products and announce special sales. Her family is now much more involved in marketing her products as they see that she sells quality items at affordable prices. She is very grateful for the loan and hopes she will be able to continue to grow with a new loan she will use to invest in more products.
Herlinda has four kids, three of which are still in school. She hopes that by generating more income she can continue to pay for their educations and make improvements to their home.
",F,550,partner,Retail,0 Ecuador,"Hilario is a shoemaker looking for investment capital for his business. He started working in this activity about 6 years ago when he was hired by a Chilean man. Eventually his boss returned to Chile and left Hilario with all the machines and clients. Since then Hilarios has been working diligently to make the business a success, but he has been restrained because he does not have the capital the previous owner had.
He is now seeking a loan in order to buy his raw materials such as leather and soles. He is looking to significantly increase his production for the upcoming holiday season. Hilario works with his brother and two other employees at his business. He lives in his home with his mother and has four children who live with his ex-wife.
Mifex offers its clients microinsurance and access to business training and educational programs. For more information about microfinance, Ecuador, and our services, please visit www.mifex.org.
",M,600,partner,Retail,0 Ecuador,"Hilda has a small business where she sells CDs and also sells lunches. She started off working by selling as a street vendor. She saved enough money to set up a business in her home and she also decided to invest in the necessary utensils to be able to open a small restaurant. Most of her clients come from a nearby school and market. She is requesting the loan in order to invest in a new grill so she may sell barbecued foods. She has four children with her husband. She is optimistic about the loan and hopes she can use the extra profits to provide a better living for her children.
Mifex offers its clients microinsurance and access to business training and educational programs. For more information about microfinance, Ecuador, and our services, please visit www.mifex.org.
",F,625,partner,Retail,0 Ecuador,"Hilda has a small restaurant and a bazaar selling CDs. She started off working by selling as a street vendor. She saved enough money to set up a business in her home and she also used her loan from Mifex and Kiva to invest in tables and chairs and a grill for her restaurant. Most of her clients come from a nearby school and market. Her restaurant has become popular due to the excellent quality and taste of the food.
She has four children with her husband and they all work in this family-run business. Her children assist with bazaar sales while she runs the restaurant. Hilda is requesting a second loan to invest in merchandise that her clients have specifically asked for. Her dream is to use the extra profits to provide a better living for her children.
",F,1075,lender,Food,1 Ecuador,"Hilda makes lunches and dinners for the employees of a large company. Her son came to her with this opportunity when he found out his company was looking to contract someone. Another one of her sons who lives abroad helped her with the seed capital in order to get the business going. Prior to this she was a maid for a family and she also had to cook. She is now seeking this loan because she has been offered new contracts but cannot afford to buy the raw foods and ingredients to fulfill the orders.
Hilda is 57 years old and has 7 sons and daughters. 2 of them still live at home and help her in her business. Her husband works as a security guard at a large company.
Mifex offers its clients microinsurance and access to business training and educational programs. For more information about microfinance, Ecuador, and our services, please visit www.mifex.org.
",F,250,partner,Food,0 Ecuador,"His entire life Romulo has been dedicated to agriculture. He has worked the lands of his farm to feed and raise his eight children, some who still work with him. He is very proud of what he has done, especially because he cannot even read or write, yet he has always had a means to support his household. He is requesting a loan because he wants to invest in some feed for his livestock and also in machinery that will help him be more effective when planting rice.
This borrower is part of the newest and largest Communal Bank in the recently developed Mifex Rural Finance Program. All of the members of the Centro Agricola de Baba Communal Bank are part of an Association of Rice Farmers in the county of Baba in rural Ecuador. Their association works cooperatively to cultivate rice and commercialize the product after it has grown. As an association, Centro Agricola helps the farmers by providing access to machinery and training services. The farmers from Centro Agricola have received special instruction on financial responsibility and accounting from Codemicro, an organization that specializes in training programs geared towards the rural sector.
The members of Centro Agricola de Baba will use the micro-loans to prepare their lands and cultivate rice on their farms. Because they form part of a communal bank, they are all each others' guarantors for the loan. This means that if for some reason one person in the group cannot fully repay the loan, the other borrowers and the Centro Agricola de Baba Association are responsible for the amount in default. The members of the bank also participate in a program designed to teach and encourage savings among the group. Promoting savings is often forgotten in many micro-finance programs, but Mifex believes that is imperative for the communities we works with to have capital reserved for future investments or unexpected difficulties.
Below is more information about Santa Lucia compiled by Luis Crespo and Robert Edgar of the Mifex team when evaluating the potential of the sector for the Rural Finance Program.
The people of Baba have been organized since the days of Gran Colombia when Ecuador was yet to be a country. The area has always been popular because of the extremely productive lands that gave way to cultivation of cacao for decades. Now Baba is a county in the province of Los Rios in the coastal region of Ecuador. For most of the latter part of the 20th Century it was a cacao and banana-producing sector. Most of the surrounding areas of Baba in Los Rios are owned by large multinational companies such as Dole, but Baba is a sector characterized by small and informal farms.
Rice production has now turned into the main economic activity of the sector as about 80% of the people are rice farmers. Cacao is still very popular in the area, but because of the long cultivation cycle people prefer to invest in rice. The lands in Baba are very fertile though, and most farmers in the sector often grow other crops, such as plantains and soybeans as secondary sources of income. Many farmers also keep livestock as emergency sources of food and income, commonly resorting to selling a chicken or pig if they are in need of cash.
Most of the people in the Baba area are small farmers. They produce about 80 sacks of rice per hectare of land. In order to farm they first must prepare the lands by removing weeds, plowing and leveling the lands. This is the most difficult part for the farmers in Baba, who often lack the necessary machinery to properly plow the lands for rice production. After appropriately preparing the lands, the farmers fill an area with water to form what is known as a paddy field, because rice is a very water-intensive crop. The rice seeds are either dispersed freely (the process is known as boleo in Spanish) or hand sowed. Once the rice has grown, most farmers rent machinery that helps them gather their production.
One of the biggest struggles in the area has been the lack of credit due to the absence of any type of financial institution. Because people do not count on formal financial finance, they have turned to loan sharks for financing. They have been affected by expensive lines of credit that exceed 100% interest a year and can be as expensive as 240%. Intermediaries also exploit the farmers because of their outstanding debt. Farmers also lack skills and knowledge to commercialize their products and pay fair prices for their crops.
The largest risk in the sector is due to absence of watering systems. Although Baba is in the province Los Rios (the rivers) there is severe problem with access to water. The lack of infrastructure in the sector does not allow the small farmers to benefit from the presence of the many rivers in the area. If the winter season is too dry, it is likely that the lands will not be sufficiently fertile for rice production in the summer. On the other hand, if there is too much rain, there are not any drainage systems to prevent flooding and the crops are often ruined. Generally speaking though, Baba is a very productive sector where the lands yield all types of crops including rice, cacao, corn, watermelons, plantains, and soybeans.
The loans in this sector will mostly be used to buy soil, seeds, fertilizer and insecticides. Many clients will use the capital towards renting machinery and equipment necessary to effectively work and prepare the fields. Clients also typically use a part of the loan to buy livestock in order to raise and have as reserves. The loan repayment schedule is different from the typical micro-entrepreneur because farmers see the profits from their investments 5 or 6 months after making their initial expenditures. Mifex asks our rural clients only to pay 50% of the capital in the first 6 months of the loan. The rest of the debt must be paid in the seventh and final month.
",M,1200,lender,Agriculture,0 Ecuador,"Holger is a young farmer who still works the lands with his parents. He and his father operate a farm where they only grow rice. They are in need of capital to purchase the necessary materials to sustain the crop, like fertilizer and pesticides. Holger is not married, nor does he have any children. His short term goal is to make the lands of his family as productive as possible while accumulating some savings. He hopes he can study agronomy in the near future if he has sufficient money and luck.
Holger is part of one of the newest Communal Banks in the recently developed Mifex Rural Finance Program: the Paypayales Communal Bank. All bank members are part of a rice farmers' cooperative in Santa Lucia named Dios Con Nosotros (God is with us). They will use these microloans to prepare their lands and cultivate rice on their farms. As members of a communal bank, they are all the guarantors for each other's loans. This means that if for some reason one person in the group cannot fully repay the loan, the other borrowers and the Dios con Nosotros Cooperative are responsible for the amount in default. The members of the bank also participate in a program designed to teach and encourage savings among the group. Promoting savings is often forgotten in many microfinance programs, but Mifex believes that is imperative for the communities we works with to have capital reserved for future investments or unexpected difficulties.
Below is more information about the commnity of Santa Lucia, compiled by Luis Crespo and Robert Edgar of the Mifex team when evaluating the potential of the sector for the Rural Finance Program. Special thanks to Mario Balazantegui who provided expert insight and contributed to the development of the alliances with the local organizations.
Santa Lucia County has a population of about 33,000 people. The region is fit for rice cultivating because it is not in the lowlands and therefore it is not at risk of flooding. There is also great access to water because of the Daule River, which is accessible to many of the farmers in the area. About 70% of the farmers have basic infrastructure for watering their crops.
Rice production is the main economic activity of the area, as about 80% of the people are rice farmers. Almost everyone is either directly or indirectly involved with the rice production, as they produce, commercialize or participate in activities that add value to the product. Within the county, there is a small town also named Santa Lucia. The town is filled with many small businesses and it serves as the social and commercial hub of the area.
Most of the people in the Santa Lucia area are small farmers. They produce about 100 sacks of rice per hectare of land. In order to farm they first must prepare the lands by removing weeds and plowing. The farmers then fill an area with water to form what is known as a paddy field, because rice is a very water intensive crop. The rice seeds are either dispersed freely (the process is known as boleo in Spanish) or hand sowed. Once the rice has grown, most farmers rent machinery that helps them harvest their crop. A risk factor does exist in rice farming because of drought, but in Santa Lucia this is somewhat mitigated by the access to water form the nearby river.
The biggest struggle in the area has been the lack of credit. Because people do not have access to formal financial services, they have turned to loan sharks for financing. They have been affected by expensive lines of credit that exceed 100% interest a year and can be as expensive as 240%. Intermediaries also exploit the farmers because of their outstanding debt. Farmers also often lack skills and knowledge of how to commercialize their product and get fair prices for their crops.
The loans in this sector will be used to to buy soil, seeds, fertilizer and insecticides. They will also be used to prepare the land prior to farming, to plant the seeds and purchase other materials. The loan repayment schedule is different from the typical microentrepreneur. Because farmers see the profits from their investments 5 or 6 months after making their initial expenditures, Mifex asks them to repay 50% of the capital in the first 6 months of the loan. The rest of the debt must be paid in the seventh and final month.
",M,675,lender,Agriculture,0 Ecuador,"In Guayaquil not many people can afford their own video game consoles like the Playstation or Xbox, yet the kids love to play the games just as they do in the rest of the world. Businesses like Barbaras have emerged that rent playing time on video game consoles from home. Barbara has three TVs and three Playstations with a variety of games that the kids can choose from. She saved up $500 from her part time job in a travel agency to buy the used consoles and televisions. Barbara also sells ice cream and soft drinks to the video game players and kids from a nearby school, and other items such as clothing and makeup.
Barbara planned to use her first loan to increase her inventory of shirts and cosmetics, and eventually save up to buy a new console. She had a setback when a television was stolen from her home. Therefore she did not invest in the console but instead continued diversifying her sales. She is seeking the loan in order to invest clothing and cosmetics.
",F,775,partner,Retail,0 Ecuador,"In order to take a job Jacinto asks for 30% of the costs upfront in order to give him the ability to buy the materials for his work. He his is seeking the loan so he may buy more materials prior to receiving his orders. This will speed up the work and increase the quality of his services. He also wants to put a down payment on a tool he needs in his shop.
Jacinto is 37 years old and has 6 children. His oldest son works and contributes to his household. Through the years, Jacinto has been able to support his family with his work and he has also been able to make improvements to his home. He hopes his business will continue to allow him to do achieve this.
Mifex offers its clients microinsurance and access to business training and educational programs. For more information about microfinance, Ecuador, and our services, please visit www.mifex.org.
",M,375,partner,Services,0 Ecuador,"Ines has owned her clothing store for twenty years. When she first began at the age of 18, she was looking to support herself when her husband left her. She sold fast food, household items, clothes, and womens accessories, so now she is mature enough to be considered a seasoned salesperson. Ines wanted to sell clothes because they were her favorite products to sell, and she thought she could make a decent living selling quality products door-to-door. She did that for a period of time, marketing her items mainly to friends and family, as well as local neighborhoods where she knew most of the people.
This 37 year-old entrepreneur has four children, all of whom still live with her. Two of the children are working and help Ines financially with necessities for the house. Her husband has been working in a factory for the last 15 years, and whenever Ines has to attend to her children or visit her distributors, her husband is able to watch over the business which is open from 8am until 11pm every day.
Ines has borrowed from Kiva and Mifex before. She was able to successfully invest her first loan. She saved her extra profits after purchasing a wide variety of products to sell. Shortly afterwards, she opened a new point of sale that is being run by her children. She is very happy about this because it is bringing in extra income for herself and also providing for her children. The new loan she will take out will be invested in new inventory for her two stores.
",F,600,partner,Retail,0 Ecuador,"Ingrid has a business where she raises and sells chickens. She started off a couple of months ago when her husband gave her $20 to invest in 60 chicks. With another $20 she had in savings she bought the chicken feed and set up her backyard as the raising grounds. The chickens have already been pre-sold to her clients and they will be ready for delivery in early December.
She is looking to take out a second loan in order to invest in 300 more chicks for her operation. She will also need to buy feed and prepare her backyard. Ingrid is a mother of 3 small children. Her husband is a handy man and helped her build the cages for the chicks.
Mifex offers its clients microinsurance and access to business training and educational programs. For more information about microfinance, Ecuador, and our services, please visit www.mifex.org.
",F,475,partner,Agriculture,0 Ecuador,"Ingrid has a business where she raises and sells chickens. She started off a couple of months ago when her husband gave her $20 to invest in 60 chicks. With another $20 she had in savings she bought the chicken feed and set up her backyard to raise the chicks.
She is looking to take out another loan with Kiva and Mifex. With her previous loan she invested in 300 more chicks for her operation. Things went very well as she was able to make a profit. But there was one flaw. Her chickens often suffocated due to the lack of ventilation. She is seeking this loan in order to buy a fan and improve the living conditions in the coop.
",F,825,partner,Agriculture,0 Ecuador,"Ingrid has lent from Kiva and Mifex twice before. She used those loans for investment in her chicken raising activities. Her husband helped her start this business, which yielded respectable profits but was taking away time and space from other more lucrative opportunities. Now Ingrid provides cosmetic services (manicures, facials etc.) and also works with her husband to market the furniture he makes.
Ingrid is requesting her third loan with the organization in order to invest in nails, glue and polish for her husbands workers use to finish the furniture. She will also use part of the loan to invest in supplies for her cosmetic services.
Ingrid and her husband have proven to be a very close knit couple. They have persevered through ups and downs in their business but have always been on time with payments and have found ways to make ends meet. Their utmost priority is to have their children continue their educations.
Previous Profile: http://www.kiva.org/app.php?page=businesses&action=about&id=11912
",F,1075,lender,Manufacturing,1 Ecuador,"Ins sells kebabs of sausage and plantain, roasted beef, rice with vegetable soup, roasted chicken, buns, torillas, and sodas on the street corner next to her house. She has had this business for one year. Her husband gave her $100.00 capital to get started. Everyday she sets out her stove, some tables, and what she has prepared to sell. She sells from 4:00PM to 9:00PM. Her 15 year-old son helps her. She worked from the time she was young cleaning houses. She quit doing this because her children had to stay at home alone, and she was worried about the gangs in the area. Thanks to her work, and that of her husband, they have been able to own their house and the business.
Ines was able to buy more produce and better utensils for her business with a previous loan she received. Eventually, she saved enough of her leftover profits to buy a new piece of tin for her roof which was leaking. She hopes that she can continue borrowing from Mifex so that she can buy more ingredients and make new dishes to sell. She also wants to help her husband buy merchandise to sell around the area.
Ins was born in Esmeralda. She is 42 years old and has four children. Her husband works as a security guard. Ins is a very hardworking and persevering person who has always worked for her family and has always been an important source of support in their home. Ins and her husband hope to get ahead with their jobs and continue prospering, especially in the business and in the education of their children.
",F,575,lender,Food,1 Ecuador,"Inversin de Primer Prstamo:
La Seora Nancy invirti su primer crdito en la compra de mercadera para poder surtir su negocio y gracias a esto sus ingresos han mejorado y hoy en da su tienda es una de las cuatro mas grandes del sector.
Desarrollo de Negocio:
Ha logrado que los clientes visiten ms su local ya que su tienda esta ubicada en una de las calles principales y debido a la demanda del sector tambin su esposo se preocupe por el negocio pues el tambin quiere que su tienda crezca mas y mas cada da.
Informacin Personal:
La Seora Nancy esta contenta con el primer crdito que se le dio ya que esto ha permitido que sus ventas crezcan y que tambin su tienda seas mas visitada por sus clientes por que ha podido tener satisfechos a su clientela.
Uso de Segundo Prstamo:
Ella quiere seguir invirtiendo en su mercadera y tambin realizar ampliaciones en su local para de esta manera poder brindar una mejor atencin a sus clientes.
Translated from Spanish by Eliza Wethey, Kiva volunteer.
",F,1200,lender,Food,1 Ecuador,"
Investment of First Loan: Seor Caola invested his first loan in the purchase of merchandise to be able to supply his store. Therefore, thanks to this, he has drawn more customers to his locations and also with utilities he has been able to make certain adaptations to his house to be able to enjoy a better way of life.
Development of Business: He has achieved better customer satisfaction with his store. His family and his children are always helping to make their business progress. They have also added products such as clothes and shoes.
Personal information: Seor Caola is happy with his first loan since this has made it possible for his clients to know that they can trust him more and also his locations are always visited by his neighbors and his clientele in general.
Use of Second Loan: He wants to continue investing in his merchandise and also to purchase clothes and shoes since various clients have placed orders, and he does not have the necessary capital.
Previous Profile: http://www.kiva.org/app.php?page=businesses&action=about&id=22649
Translated from Spanish by B, Kiva Volunteer.
",M,1100,lender,Food,1 Ecuador,"
Investment of First Loan: Seora Edith invested her first loan in making certain adaptations in her location. In this manner she was able to bring her clients to her store more often and also her merchandise is more secure and comfortable.
Development of Business: She has achieved increased income and also in this manner she has generated a new job since now she had to hire an employee and in the last days she has had very noted growth.
Personal information: Seora Edith feels very pleased. The investment that she has made has given her of a lot of benefit because today her neighbors have seen the development of her business and also her clients have placed their confidence in the products that she sells.
Use of Second Loan: She wants to continue investing in her merchandise and also to buy rice and, in this manner, to better supply her store. She would like to note that her location is one of the two largest of the sector.
Previous Profile: http://www.kiva.org/app.php?page=businesses&action=about&id=16962
Translated from Spanish by B, Kiva Volunteer.
",F,1200,lender,Food,1 Ecuador,"
Investment of First Loan: Seora Italia invested her first loan in making a change in her location since the previous location was very cramped for attending to her clients. As a result she was able to bring more business to her salon and, with the new location, her income has improved.
Development of Business: She has improved the comfort of her customers from the moment that her clients visit her location and this has made her salon become one of the most visited of the sector because of its comfort and service. Therefore her husband was also very incented that the business continue to progress and at present he helps with the purchases for her salon.
Personal information: Seora Italy is happy with the first loan that she was given since this has permitted her to change her location and improve her income and, in this manner, improve also her family economy.
Use of Second Loan: She wants to continue investing in her salon but now she wants to invest in a line of cosmetics, since some clients have from time to time placed previous orders and she is sure that in this manner she is going to be able to offer better service to her clientele.
Previous Profile: http://www.kiva.org/app.php?page=businesses&action=about&id=12575
Translated from Spanish by B, Kiva Volunteer.
",F,1050,lender,Services,1 Ecuador,"
Investment of First Loan: Seora Ivonne invested her first loan in the adaptation of the bars of her facility, which services the needs of the children of the school. This in fact has given the parents of her students a greater sense of security in continuing to send their children to be educated. They see the improvements and adaptations that Seora Ivonne makes so that her school advances and gives adequate attention to her clients that in this case are the children of the sector.
Development of Business: She has achieved a good reputation in that the parents of the families speak very well of her facility to the neighbors of the sector and this has resulted in more children entering to be able to be educated in this place.
Personal information: The Lady Ivonne is happy with the development of her school and also because the neighbors trust in her educational facility.
Use of Second Loan: She wants to continue investing in her school since, with the growth that she has had, ultimately she needs to expand one of her classrooms in order to give better service each day.
Previous Profile: http://www.kiva.org/app.php?page=businesses&action=about&id=12573
Translated from Spanish by B, Kiva Volunteer.
",F,1200,lender,Education,1 Ecuador,"
Investment of First Loan:
Adela invested her first loan to purchase merchandise to supply her business and thanks to that first loan, her income has been good and her sales have improved. As a result, she was able to rebuild a part of her house out of cement.
Development of Business:
As a result of the development of her business, her clients have more trust in the high quality of her products and visit more often.
Personal information:
Adela is happy with the development of her business and it has resulted in her husband being very helpful with her business as well.
Use of Second Loan:
She wants to continue investing in merchandise for her store and also to continue improving upon her house, which will in turn afford her the opportunity to offer more attention to her clients.
Translated from Spanish by Erin Sedloff, Kiva volunteer.
",F,675,lender,Retail,1 Ecuador,"
Investment of First Loan:
Mister Romero invested his first credit in the purchase of merchandise to be able to supply his store, and thanks to this investment his store is visited more frequently.
Development of Business:
As a result of the initial loan, his cliens are more satisfied with his store and his family, including his children, are always helping the store to prosper.
Personal information:
Mister Romero is happy with his first loan because it has allowed his clients to trust in him more and his store is always visited by neighbors and locals.
Use of Second Loan:
He wants to continue investing in merchandise for his store and also to begin to purchase wholesale rice because this is a product that there is a demand for, but he does not currently have the capital to purchase it.
Translated from Spanish by Erin Sedloff, Kiva volunteer.
",M,975,lender,Food,1 Ecuador,"
Investment of First Loan:
Mr. Teofilo used the money from his first loan to purchase merchandise for his store so that his clients would visit his store more frequently.
Development of Business:
As a result, his clients are happier with their visit to his store because they are able to find the majority of the products that they need to buy and they almost always visit his store for all of their needs.
Personal information:
Mr. Teofilo is very happy with the success of his first loan as it has helped him secure more clients and his wife now helps him with his sales. His income has increased and with it, his self-esteem has as well.
Use of Second Loan:
He wants to continue investing in merchandise in order to keep his store stocked because he had problems this past winter and his clients sustained minor inconveniences when it rained.
Translated from Spanish by Erin Sedloff, Kiva Volunteer.
",F,950,lender,Food,1 Ecuador,"
Investment of First Loan:
Vilma used her first loan to purchase books to sell to the alumni of her school. This is an excellent service for alumnus because they would not otherwise have the ability to pay for the books at other libraries. Beyond selling books at reasonable prices, she attends to the alumni with much care and helps them feel confident with their purchases.
Development of the Business:
As a result of her service, parents of the alumnus have more confidence in the products they sell and their income has increased, their sales have grown and their lives and the lives of their family members have improved.
Personal information:
Vilma is happy with the results of the first loan she received because her sales have grown and her school is increasingly visited by new alumni.
Use of Second Loan:
She wants to continue investing in her business and would like to continue to buy material to improve upon the uniforms and ensure her sales continue to grow in time for the school season.
Translated from Spanish by Erin Sedloff, Kiva Volunteer.
",F,1200,lender,Clothing,1 Ecuador,"
Investment of first loan:
Cruz is applying for his third loan. He has been able to increase his income. He has made some changes to his industrial kitchen as well as his tricycle in order to be able to work.
Business development:
Demand has increased due to the service he provides and the great taste of his products. He continues working every day of the week and he is also working in another sector of the city, in this way generating additional income.
Personal Information:
He's married and has three children, who are in school. His wife works in housekeeping. A month ago there was an attempt made against Cruz's life by some thieves who wanted to rob him of his belonging. Thank God he was able to survive and he is recuperating. Despite all of this he continues working and is an example of the desire to better oneself to his entire family.
Second Loan Use:
To increase his income and to fix his tricycles. To employ another person who will help him with sales in another part of town.
Translated from Spanish by Sandy Juarez, Kiva volunteer.
",M,1200,lender,Food,1 Ecuador,"
Investment of First Loan
Jacinta increased her business capital. She was able to attract more clients. She has good references both inside and outside her area.Business Development
She has maintained her work timetable. Her elder children help her by serving in the business. Her husband works collecting used articles in a tricycle he owns. In this way another income for the home is generated
Personal Information
Jacinta currently hires the site where her office is located. Thanks to support from all the family she has managed to maintain this site. Her own little house is rented to other people, who pay a monthly rent. With her work this is adequate to give her and the family security.Use of the Second Loan
She will continue purchasing items and products. Demand is increasing and she hopes to be able to please all her customers with her services.Translated from the Spanish by Katy Long, Kiva Volunteer
",F,1050,lender,Retail,1 Ecuador,"Investment of First Loan
With her previous loan Monica was able to improve her home and increase her merchandise.
Development of Business Monica now has more customers. Because of the increase in merchandise and her excellent service the amount of people who want her products is always increasing.
Personal Information At 24 years old she has already gotten ahead in her business and her family is very happy because she can provide her children with a better education and her home is improving.
Use of Second Loan
She needs this loan to purchase merchandise and other products that are on sale.
Translated from Spanish by a Kiva volunteer.
",F,1200,lender,Retail,1 Ecuador,"
Investment of her first Loan:
With her first credit she has managed to improve her home and increase the merchandise in her business.
Business Development
Now she even sells staples and has also increased the number of new products and is even selling seasonal wrapping paper.
Personal Information
She is 34, separated and has 1 child. Her house is made of concrete and she is striving to finish the construction, her family is happy with the progress that she has made in her business.
Investment of the Second Loan
She needs the credit in order to buy more merchandise at the wholesale price and also to buy some hangers for use in her business.
Translated from Spanish by Eliza Wethey, Kiva Volunteer.
",F,1075,lender,Food,1 Ecuador,"
Investment of her First Loan
With her first loan the client could improve her business since it is well located on a main street; additionally she has begun to sell other products, particularly refreshments.
Business Development
With the increase of her stock, her customer base has also increased which has improved her prices since she is able to sell at more economical prices than other stores.
Personal Information
She is 34 years old with a prospering business; her family is very happy because they know that it may allow her to succeed.
Use of Second Loan
With the new credit she could improve her business and expand its location to better meet the needs of her customers and distribute her goods.
Translated from Spanish by Eliza Wethey, Kiva volunteer.
",F,1200,lender,Food,1 Ecuador,"
Investment of Previous Loans
Lusitania is now applying for her third loan. With the earlier credits she serviced a card which her husband made with which she goes through the streets of her area selling encebollada (a typical Ecuadorian dish). She also invested in utensils and fish. Although she wanted to help her husband with a motorbike, he found a job and so they decided together to improve Lusitanias business.
Business Development
She has increased her work schedule. She works every day of the week from 7am to 7pm. In the mornings she prepares the encebollada and in the evenings she sells roasted tripe. The demand is high thanks to the seasoning she uses and the level of service she offers.
Personal Information
Lusitania is doing well with her family. Her children are continuing their studies. Her husband works as a master-builder. And in his free moments he helps with his wifes rounds. Their little house is of mixed construction: little by little they are improving it.
Use of Second Loan
Purchase of provisions for her business. She hopes to be able to renovate a site inside their home in order to sell her food. Additionally, her wish is to build an egg depository, a business which would be managed by her husband who already has experience in this field.
Translated from the Spanish by Katy Long, Kiva Volunteer
",F,1200,lender,Food,1 Ecuador,"Investment of the First Loan:
Senora Narcisa invested her first loan in the purchase of 2 tricycles in order to increase her sales of ice cream and in this way her income increased every day and she has been able to renovate her home and finish its cement structure.
Business development:
Senora Narcisas income has increased and she has been able to generate new sales stands for her work. Now, she has 2 more employees and her family and husband are more concerned about their business since it has seen such tremendous growth.
Personal Information:
Senora Narcisa is very content about the fact that her last loan proved to be so beneficial to her business. Now even her neighbors are seeing the results of her business development.
Use of the 2nd loan:
Senora Narcisa would like to continue to invest in her merchandise and also to buy a freezer. Given that her sales have increased, the freezer that she has used in the past is no longer sufficient for her needs.
Translated from Spanish by Laura Kirkvold, Kiva volunteer.
",F,1075,lender,Food,1 Ecuador,"Investment of the First Loan:
Edith was able to purchase general supplies for her business. In addition, she purchased a cart for starting up a new business that her son now manages.
Business Development:
Ediths sales have improved. She has been able to attract more customers because of her good service and her tasty food. She keeps to her work schedule, and also employs a woman to help her prepare the food.
Personal Information:
Edith is a single mother. She has two sons: one works and the other is in school. Her small house is built of cement. She receives some money each month from renting out a room inside her home. Edith is gradually making improvements and providing security for her family.
Use of the Second Loan:
Edith will use the second loan to purchase kitchen utensils and electrical equipment for her food business. She will also use it to improve the cart where her son works, selling juices outside the home. Finally, she will use the loan to purchase supplies for selling her lunches.
Translated from Spanish by Chris Knutson, Kiva Volunteer
",F,500,lender,Food,1 Ecuador,"
Investment of the First Loan:
With the first loan the client could buy more raw materials which would allow him to produce more chlorine and also sell it to his customers
Business Development
He currently continues to sell his product faster than ever since he has assistants and a second hand car that he saw the opportunity to buy.
Personal Information
He is 54, separated and his house is made of cement. Jointly with his son they have both decided to improve their quality of life which they plan to do achieve via the prosperity of his business.
Use of the Second Loan:
He will use the credit to increase merchandise and various other commodities, additionally he will improve his home with the increased earnings.
Translated from Spanish by Eliza Wethey, Kiva Volunteer.
",M,1200,lender,Retail,1 Ecuador,"
Irene has a general store where she sells clothes, school supplies, decorations and snacks. She has had this business for about 6 years. Prior to this she was a door to door clothing saleswoman. She set up her business with the intention of continuing her clothes sales, but she found that other items were also profitable and sold faster. She buys most of her products in bulk. This allows her to also travel to rural towns and sell in large quantities to micro businesses there. She is seeking the loan in order to continue investing in wholesale quantities in order to increase her profits.
Irene is a 32 year old mother of 3. Her husband works in a paint factory and helps her with the business in whatever way he can. Her store has allowed her to make significant improvements to her home which only a couple of years ago was still made out of wood.
Mifex offers its clients microinsurance and access to business training and educational programs. For more information about microfinance, Ecuador, and our services, please visit www.mifex.org.
",F,475,partner,Retail,0 Ecuador,"Irene is 32 years old, and the mother of 3. Her husband works in a paint factory and helps her with the business in whatever way he can. Her store has allowed her to make significant improvements to her home, which only a couple of years ago, was still made out of wood.
Irene has a general store where she sells clothes, school supplies, decorations and snacks. She has had this business for about 6 years. Prior to this she was a door to door clothing saleswoman. She set up her business with the intention of continuing her clothes sales, but she found that other items were also profitable and sold faster. She buys most of her products in bulk. This allows her to also travel to rural towns and sell in large quantities to micro businesses there. She is seeking her second loan in order to continue investing in wholesale quantities in order to increase her profits.
",F,925,partner,Retail,0 Ecuador,"Irma has a business of selling household products. She works from her home and sells products door-to-door. She started her business with $150 she saved from her previous job as a domestic worker.
At first, she would only offer her products to her neighbors. Slowly, she ventured into new markets. She is now fairly popular in other areas that are not near her home. She is requesting the loan so that she may increase her inventory and offer her clients new products.
Irma has one son who is in school, whom she supports fully. She and her family live in house made of wood. Her neighbors confirm that Irma and her family are positive influences in the community.
",F,375,partner,Retail,0 Ecuador,"Isabel has 10 years experience in her tailorshop. On her own iniciative, she began to elaborate garments, which she then began to sell. This endeavor went very well and little by little she has been purchasing different kinds of sewing machines for her store. She works every day of the week from 8am to 5pm.
Isabel is requesting this loan in order to purchase a sewing machine, which is currently on sale, and she needs it very much. With this investment, she will be able to improve her earnings and to improve her store. And so she will be able to give a better servive to her customers.
Isabel is a single mother. She is 45 and has 2 children, who are both in high school. She has her own small home which is made of cement. She would like to be able to, little by litte, to improve her quality of life and to remodel her tailorshop so that it looks nicer.
Translated from Spanish by Kiva Volunteer, Kristin Connor
",F,600,partner,Services,0 Ecuador,"
Isabel runs a small stand where she sells poultry. She learned the business from her mother in law who taught her how to prepare the chicken for sale and how to run the stand efficiently. She works from 6 AM to 2 PM everyday which allows her to contribute to her family income and also spend time with her young children.
She currently works with the local loan sharks in order to invest in poultry but has realized that they are taking most of her profits because of their 20% monthly interest rates. She wants the loan in order to free herself from the dependency on informal lenders. She will use the money to buy chicken in larger quantities and store it in the freezer of her home.
Her husband works in another market and has a stand where he sells seafood. They are a close knit family and work to provide the best living they can for their two children. After ten years of living with their parents this couple has finally bought a humble home. They are in the process of fixing it up and will use the extra income generated for this purpose.
Mifex offers its clients microinsurance and access to business training and educational programs. For more information about microfinance, Ecuador, and our services, please visit www.mifex.org.
",F,375,partner,Food,0 Ecuador,"Isabel runs a small stand where she sells poultry. She learned the business from her mother-in-law who taught her how to prepare the chicken for sale and how to run the stand efficiently. She works from 6 AM to 2 PM everyday which allows her to contribute to her family income and also spend time with her young children.
Her first loan allowed her to free herself from the dependency on informal lenders, who charged rates as high as 20% monthly. She will use this second loan to buy chicken in larger quantities and to buy a freezer for her business so she will not have to store the poultry in her home and transport it to her stand.
Her husband works in another market and has a stand where he sells seafood. They are a close-knit family and work to provide the best living they can for their two children. After ten years of living with their parents, this couple has finally bought a humble home. They are in the process of fixing it up and will use the extra income they generate for this purpose.
",F,700,lender,Food,1 Ecuador,"Isaias owns a small store on a corner of a local street in his neighborhood. He has successfully paid back his first two loans through Kiva, and now he would like to step his loan size up to the next level. He is asking for a third loan so that he can buy more items in bulk and pay in cash, which will allow him to receive discounts and charge lower rates to the end consumer. He also wants to acquire more products such as toys, gifts, and basic necessities.
Isaias has over twenty years experience in this business and loves to make Ecuadorian food, such salchipapas, for his clients. Thanks to the efforts he and his wife have put into the business, it has grown steadily. They started out initially selling a couple cases of cooking oil and one large bag of rice out of their home. Since then, they have moved the shop to a separate location and are more confident than ever that their children will be able to attend better schools. Isaias wife has her own business selling breakfasts and shakes. This second income is essential to their family and Isaias helps his wife as much as possible to expand that business. They are seeking this third loan in order to keep diversifying their supply and buying essential products in bulk.
As soon as Isaias received the first loan he took advantage of the liquidity to buy products in bulk. This had a domino effect on his business. He was able to lower the prices of his products and increase his client base. Isaias soon began to purchase many different products to sell to his clients. He was able to take advantage of spikes in demand due to holidays such as Mother's Day. He and his family now have a much more financial security and understand the benefits of credit. They are very thankful for the loan they received and hope they will be able to take advantage of any future opportunities Mifex and Kiva offer.
",M,1200,lender,Retail,1 Ecuador,"Isais owns a small store on a corner of a local street in his neighborhood. He has successfully paid back his first loan through Kiva, and now he would like to step his loan size up to the next level. He is asking for a second loan so that he can buy more items in bulk and pay in cash, which will allow him to receive discounts and charge lower rates to the end consumer. Isais has over twenty years experience in this business, and loves to make Ecuadorian food for his clients like salchipapas. Thanks to the efforts he and his wife have put into the business, they have grown steadily. They started out initially by selling a couple cases of cooking oil and one large bag of rice out of their home. Since then, they have moved the shop into a separate location and they feel more confident than ever that their children will be able to attend better schools. They are seeking this second loan in order to keep diversifying their supply and buying essential products in bulk.
As soon as Isais received the first loan he took advantage of the liquidity to buy products in bulk. This had a domino effect on his business. He was able to lower the prices of his products and increase his client base. Isais soon began to purchase many more different products for his clients. He was able to take advantage of spikes in demand due to holidays such as mother's day. He and his family now have a much higher sense of financial security and understand the benefits of credit. They are very thankful for the loan they received and hope they will be able to take advantage of any future opportunities Mifex and Kiva offer.
Mifex offers its clients microinsurance and access to business training and educational programs. For more information about microfinance, Ecuador, and our services, please visit www.mifex.org.
",M,1175,partner,Retail,0 Ecuador,"It was only shortly after they married 12 years ago that Monica and her husband started this bakery. Their location on the main road of the city certainly helps them attract a steady flow of clients. They are repeat Kiva and Mifex lenders. Thanks to their first loan Monica and her husband were able to invest in the ingredients for bread and also in new products to sell from her bakery. She and her husband now sell yogurt, soda and fresh juice. She is extremely grateful for the loan she received and is now applying for a second one. With this second loan she will invest in a new industrial blender for her bakery. She is also seriously contemplating opening a new bakery under the leadership of her son at a separate location.
Mifex offers its clients microinsurance and access to business training and educational programs. For more information about microfinance, Ecuador, and our services, please visit www.mifex.org.
",F,1175,partner,Food,0 Ecuador,"Ivan has a store in the small town of Baba where he sells all kinds of snacks and beverages. He also makes different types of fast foods to sell to the people of the town. This loan will allow him to fix up his store. He is hoping to make the storefront more attractive to clients by putting in a gate and also by buying a glass display case. He used to be a farm worker, but decided to move to town after suffering through a bad crop year. He still has some land with some family members, but he would prefer to invest the money in his small store.
This borrower is part of the newest and largest Communal Bank in the recently developed Mifex Rural Finance Program. All of the members of the Centro Agricola de Baba Communal Bank are part of an Association of Rice Farmers in the county of Baba in rural Ecuador. Their association works cooperatively to cultivate rice and commercialize the product after it has grown. As an association, Centro Agricola helps the farmers by providing access to machinery and training services. The farmers from Centro Agricola have received special instruction on financial responsibility and accounting from Codemicro, an organization that specializes in training programs geared towards the rural sector.
The members of Centro Agricola de Baba will use the micro-loans to prepare their lands and cultivate rice on their farms. Because they form part of a communal bank, they are all each others' guarantors for the loan. This means that if for some reason one person in the group cannot fully repay the loan, the other borrowers and the Centro Agricola de Baba Association are responsible for the amount in default. The members of the bank also participate in a program designed to teach and encourage savings among the group. Promoting savings is often forgotten in many micro-finance programs, but Mifex believes that is imperative for the communities we works with to have capital reserved for future investments or unexpected difficulties.
Below is more information about Santa Lucia compiled by Luis Crespo and Robert Edgar of the Mifex team when evaluating the potential of the sector for the Rural Finance Program.
The people of Baba have been organized since the days of Gran Colombia when Ecuador was yet to be a country. The area has always been popular because of the extremely productive lands that gave way to cultivation of cacao for decades. Now Baba is a county in the province of Los Rios in the coastal region of Ecuador. For most of the latter part of the 20th Century it was a cacao and banana-producing sector. Most of the surrounding areas of Baba in Los Rios are owned by large multinational companies such as Dole, but Baba is a sector characterized by small and informal farms.
Rice production has now turned into the main economic activity of the sector as about 80% of the people are rice farmers. Cacao is still very popular in the area, but because of the long cultivation cycle people prefer to invest in rice. The lands in Baba are very fertile though, and most farmers in the sector often grow other crops, such as plantains and soybeans as secondary sources of income. Many farmers also keep livestock as emergency sources of food and income, commonly resorting to selling a chicken or pig if they are in need of cash.
Most of the people in the Baba area are small farmers. They produce about 80 sacks of rice per hectare of land. In order to farm they first must prepare the lands by removing weeds, plowing and leveling the lands. This is the most difficult part for the farmers in Baba, who often lack the necessary machinery to properly plow the lands for rice production. After appropriately preparing the lands, the farmers fill an area with water to form what is known as a paddy field, because rice is a very water-intensive crop. The rice seeds are either dispersed freely (the process is known as boleo in Spanish) or hand sowed. Once the rice has grown, most farmers rent machinery that helps them gather their production.
One of the biggest struggles in the area has been the lack of credit due to the absence of any type of financial institution. Because people do not count on formal financial finance, they have turned to loan sharks for financing. They have been affected by expensive lines of credit that exceed 100% interest a year and can be as expensive as 240%. Intermediaries also exploit the farmers because of their outstanding debt. Farmers also lack skills and knowledge to commercialize their products and pay fair prices for their crops.
The largest risk in the sector is due to absence of watering systems. Although Baba is in the province Los Rios (the rivers) there is severe problem with access to water. The lack of infrastructure in the sector does not allow the small farmers to benefit from the presence of the many rivers in the area. If the winter season is too dry, it is likely that the lands will not be sufficiently fertile for rice production in the summer. On the other hand, if there is too much rain, there are not any drainage systems to prevent flooding and the crops are often ruined. Generally speaking though, Baba is a very productive sector where the lands yield all types of crops including rice, cacao, corn, watermelons, plantains, and soybeans.
The loans in this sector will mostly be used to buy soil, seeds, fertilizer and insecticides. Many clients will use the capital towards renting machinery and equipment necessary to effectively work and prepare the fields. Clients also typically use a part of the loan to buy livestock in order to raise and have as reserves. The loan repayment schedule is different from the typical micro-entrepreneur because farmers see the profits from their investments 5 or 6 months after making their initial expenditures. Mifex asks our rural clients only to pay 50% of the capital in the first 6 months of the loan. The rest of the debt must be paid in the seventh and final month.
",M,825,lender,Food,0 Ecuador,"Ivan Romero has been a farmer and a cattle rancher in Salitre his whole life. Although he only has a primary education, he has been able to be successful in cattle ranching and rice cultivation. After working in his father's ranch as a young man, he decided to acquire his own land and start his own family. He has 8 children ages 20, 18, 17, 16, 14, 7, 5 and 1. His older children have already finished their studies and work with him on the ranch while his other kids are still in school. Along with rice cultivation he will also make some investment in cattle with the loan.
Ivan is part of the first Communal Bank in the new Mifex Rural Finance Program. All of the members of the Resistencia Communal Bank are part of an Association of Rice Farmers in Salitre named Resistencia. They will use the microloans to prepare the lands and cultivate rice on their farms. Because they form part of a communal bank, they are all each other's guarantors for the loan. This means that if for some reason one person in the group cannot fully repay the loan, the other borrowers and the Resistencia Association are responsible for the amount that is missing. The members of the bank also participate in a program designed to teach and encourage savings among the group. Promoting savings is often forgotten in many microfinance programs, but is imperative for the communities Mifex works with to have capital reserved for future investments or unexpected difficulties.
The loans in this sector will be used to create water deposits that will prevent flooding in the case of heavy rains or store water in case of droughts. They will also be used to treat the land prior to farming, to plant the seeds and purchase fertilizer. The loan repayment schedule is also different from the typical microentrepreneur. Because farmers see the profits from their investments 5 or 6 months after making their initial expenditures, Mifex asks them only to pay 50% of the capital in the first 6 months of the loan. The rest of the debt must be paid in the seventh and final month.
Below is more information about Salitre compiled by the staff at Mifex when evaluating the potential of the sector for the Rural Finance Program.
Salitre is a rural sector in the Province of Guayas known as the capital of Montuvios (montuvio is a cowboy) with approximately 30,000 inhabitants. The main economic activities are herding and agriculture which make up about 80% of the economy. The infrastructure and basic services are poor, especially the roads and water services.
Salitre is highly dedicated to farming rice and cattle ranching. Rice is a crop that yields about every four months. In order to farm rice, the environment must be very humid and there must be a high volume of water. The lack of a structured water system makes it difficult for the small farmers to be highly productive. The best months for cultivating rice are early in the year when it is the rainy season in the coast of Ecuador.
Salitre is a national tourist attraction as many Ecuadorians visit the fresh water Salitre River. There are cottages, small restaurants and water attractions that people come to enjoy.
There is not a single financial institution that provides services to the productive sector of the local economy. The only access to credit comes from loan sharks who charge extremely high interest rates averaging around 20% a month. The locals are also exploited by the intermediaries that buy their products in order to commercialize them in the city and to export abroad. These intermediaries buy crops in advance at very low prices, finance soil at extremely high prices and often provide emergency loans for even higher interest rates than the loan sharks.
Salitre is a dangerous sector considering it is in the rural area. There is a high incidence of robbery of cattle that results in many of the ranch owners owning weapons to protect their property. Because the police are not present in these areas, farmers and ranchers must apply their own laws and provide their own security. In some instances they have formed their own cooperatives and associations to have a community crime prevention effort.
Salitre is in the lowlands of Ecuador and is vulnerable to flooding in the rainy season. In the event of a heavy rainy season, often at its worse when El Nio occurs, the farmers of rice lose many of their crops. All this is due to a lack of infrastructure in the area.
",M,1200,lender,Agriculture,0 Ecuador,"Jacinta sells clothing from her home and door-to-door. She has been in this line of work for over 20 years. She has had much experience working for clothing factories and stores, but due to the instability of the jobs and the poor pay she decided to start her own business. She is requesting this loan because she wants to buy a new sewing machine that will allow her to manufacture her own clothing. She is a single mother of one child. She and her husband separated after she had a baby with a mental disability that passed away. She is very optimistic about the future of her 4 year old child though.
Mifex offers its clients microinsurance and access to business training and educational programs. For more information about microfinance, Ecuador, and our services, please visit www.mifex.org.
",F,375,partner,Clothing,0 Ecuador,"Jacinto owns a bicycle sales and repair shop. He started his business about 13 years ago with the money he saved from a job he had. He has done well with his business, and he has also been able to turn a small part of his shop into a general store.
Jacinto received a previous loan from Kiva which he used to invest in school supplies for his general store. His investment went well as he was able to diversify his product offerings while generally lowering his prices. This made Jacinto much more competitive in the area and helped him increase the volume of sales. He hopes to use his new loan to continue increasing his stock and possibly to help him begin making some changes to his home.
Jacinto is 42 years old and has two children. His wife is a teacher who works at a nearby elementary school. He hopes that with the profits from his general store he will be able to buy more tools for his bike shop.
",M,950,lender,Retail,1 Ecuador,"Jacinto owns a bicycle sales and repair shop. He started his business about 13 years ago with the money he saved from a job he had. He has done well with his business, and he has been able to also turn a small part of his shop into a general store. Jacinto will use the money from the KIVA loan to invest in a paper, pens and other supplies now that the school year is about to begin. He is 42 years old and has two children. His wife is a teacher that works at a nearby elementary school. He hopes that with the profits from his general store he will be able to buy more tools for his bike shop.
",M,300,partner,Services,0 Ecuador,"Jacinto owns a local stand where he sells fish and fresh seafood. He started the business with some of his savings and used his 18 years of experience to make it a success. Along with his stand he has a job at a local fishing company where he packs and sells the products. He hopes that with this loan he will be able to invest in many different types of seafood that are often requested by his clients. He is a single man who still lives with his mother and three sisters. He plays a major financial role in the household.
Mifex offers its clients microinsurance and access to business training and educational programs. For more information about microfinance, Ecuador, and our services, please visit www.mifex.org.
",M,475,partner,Food,0 Ecuador,"Jacinto Tamayo is a very had working farmer. He never finished his schooling because his parents could not afford to send him away and they needed him to work. He still lives on the same land he grew up on with his mother. He hopes that he can invest in order to make the land more productive so he can support a family of his own in the near future.
This borrower is part of the newest and largest Communal Bank in the recently developed Mifex Rural Finance Program. All of the members of the Centro Agricola de Baba Communal Bank are part of an Association of Rice Farmers in the county of Baba in rural Ecuador. Their association works cooperatively to cultivate rice and commercialize the product after it has grown. As an association, Centro Agricola helps the farmers by providing access to machinery and training services. The farmers from Centro Agricola have received special instruction on financial responsibility and accounting from Codemicro, an organization that specializes in training programs geared towards the rural sector.
The members of Centro Agricola de Baba will use the micro-loans to prepare their lands and cultivate rice on their farms. Because they form part of a communal bank, they are all each others' guarantors for the loan. This means that if for some reason one person in the group cannot fully repay the loan, the other borrowers and the Centro Agricola de Baba Association are responsible for the amount in default. The members of the bank also participate in a program designed to teach and encourage savings among the group. Promoting savings is often forgotten in many micro-finance programs, but Mifex believes that is imperative for the communities we works with to have capital reserved for future investments or unexpected difficulties.
Below is more information about Santa Lucia compiled by Luis Crespo and Robert Edgar of the Mifex team when evaluating the potential of the sector for the Rural Finance Program.
The people of Baba have been organized since the days of Gran Colombia when Ecuador was yet to be a country. The area has always been popular because of the extremely productive lands that gave way to cultivation of cacao for decades. Now Baba is a county in the province of Los Rios in the coastal region of Ecuador. For most of the latter part of the 20th Century it was a cacao and banana-producing sector. Most of the surrounding areas of Baba in Los Rios are owned by large multinational companies such as Dole, but Baba is a sector characterized by small and informal farms.
Rice production has now turned into the main economic activity of the sector as about 80% of the people are rice farmers. Cacao is still very popular in the area, but because of the long cultivation cycle people prefer to invest in rice. The lands in Baba are very fertile though, and most farmers in the sector often grow other crops, such as plantains and soybeans as secondary sources of income. Many farmers also keep livestock as emergency sources of food and income, commonly resorting to selling a chicken or pig if they are in need of cash.
Most of the people in the Baba area are small farmers. They produce about 80 sacks of rice per hectare of land. In order to farm they first must prepare the lands by removing weeds, plowing and leveling the lands. This is the most difficult part for the farmers in Baba, who often lack the necessary machinery to properly plow the lands for rice production. After appropriately preparing the lands, the farmers fill an area with water to form what is known as a paddy field, because rice is a very water-intensive crop. The rice seeds are either dispersed freely (the process is known as boleo in Spanish) or hand sowed. Once the rice has grown, most farmers rent machinery that helps them gather their production.
One of the biggest struggles in the area has been the lack of credit due to the absence of any type of financial institution. Because people do not count on formal financial finance, they have turned to loan sharks for financing. They have been affected by expensive lines of credit that exceed 100% interest a year and can be as expensive as 240%. Intermediaries also exploit the farmers because of their outstanding debt. Farmers also lack skills and knowledge to commercialize their products and pay fair prices for their crops.
The largest risk in the sector is due to absence of watering systems. Although Baba is in the province Los Rios (the rivers) there is severe problem with access to water. The lack of infrastructure in the sector does not allow the small farmers to benefit from the presence of the many rivers in the area. If the winter season is too dry, it is likely that the lands will not be sufficiently fertile for rice production in the summer. On the other hand, if there is too much rain, there are not any drainage systems to prevent flooding and the crops are often ruined. Generally speaking though, Baba is a very productive sector where the lands yield all types of crops including rice, cacao, corn, watermelons, plantains, and soybeans.
The loans in this sector will mostly be used to buy soil, seeds, fertilizer and insecticides. Many clients will use the capital towards renting machinery and equipment necessary to effectively work and prepare the fields. Clients also typically use a part of the loan to buy livestock in order to raise and have as reserves. The loan repayment schedule is different from the typical micro-entrepreneur because farmers see the profits from their investments 5 or 6 months after making their initial expenditures. Mifex asks our rural clients only to pay 50% of the capital in the first 6 months of the loan. The rest of the debt must be paid in the seventh and final month.
",M,825,lender,Agriculture,0 Ecuador,"Jacinto Varas is one of the leaders in the rural community of Baba. He has lived in Baba his entire life and he is not only dedicated to making his farm successful, but also to helping those around him. He is a centerpiece in the Centro Agricola de Baba, which is the association that is forming the Communal Bank in the sector. As a borrower, Jacinto will invest his loan in rice farming, like most of the others in the communal bank. He will use the money to buy seeds, fertilizer, pesticides and also to rent machinery.
This borrower is part of the newest and largest Communal Bank in the recently developed Mifex Rural Finance Program. All of the members of the Centro Agricola de Baba Communal Bank are part of an Association of Rice Farmers in the county of Baba in rural Ecuador. Their association works cooperatively to cultivate rice and commercialize the product after it has grown. As an association, Centro Agricola helps the farmers by providing access to machinery and training services. The farmers from Centro Agricola have received special instruction on financial responsibility and accounting from Codemicro, an organization that specializes in training programs geared towards the rural sector.
The members of Centro Agricola de Baba will use the micro-loans to prepare their lands and cultivate rice on their farms. Because they form part of a communal bank, they are all each others' guarantors for the loan. This means that if for some reason one person in the group cannot fully repay the loan, the other borrowers and the Centro Agricola de Baba Association are responsible for the amount in default. The members of the bank also participate in a program designed to teach and encourage savings among the group. Promoting savings is often forgotten in many micro-finance programs, but Mifex believes that is imperative for the communities we works with to have capital reserved for future investments or unexpected difficulties.
Below is more information about Santa Lucia compiled by Luis Crespo and Robert Edgar of the Mifex team when evaluating the potential of the sector for the Rural Finance Program.
The people of Baba have been organized since the days of Gran Colombia when Ecuador was yet to be a country. The area has always been popular because of the extremely productive lands that gave way to cultivation of cacao for decades. Now Baba is a county in the province of Los Rios in the coastal region of Ecuador. For most of the latter part of the 20th Century it was a cacao and banana-producing sector. Most of the surrounding areas of Baba in Los Rios are owned by large multinational companies such as Dole, but Baba is a sector characterized by small and informal farms.
Rice production has now turned into the main economic activity of the sector as about 80% of the people are rice farmers. Cacao is still very popular in the area, but because of the long cultivation cycle people prefer to invest in rice. The lands in Baba are very fertile though, and most farmers in the sector often grow other crops, such as plantains and soybeans as secondary sources of income. Many farmers also keep livestock as emergency sources of food and income, commonly resorting to selling a chicken or pig if they are in need of cash.
Most of the people in the Baba area are small farmers. They produce about 80 sacks of rice per hectare of land. In order to farm they first must prepare the lands by removing weeds, plowing and leveling the lands. This is the most difficult part for the farmers in Baba, who often lack the necessary machinery to properly plow the lands for rice production. After appropriately preparing the lands, the farmers fill an area with water to form what is known as a paddy field, because rice is a very water-intensive crop. The rice seeds are either dispersed freely (the process is known as boleo in Spanish) or hand sowed. Once the rice has grown, most farmers rent machinery that helps them gather their production.
One of the biggest struggles in the area has been the lack of credit due to the absence of any type of financial institution. Because people do not count on formal financial finance, they have turned to loan sharks for financing. They have been affected by expensive lines of credit that exceed 100% interest a year and can be as expensive as 240%. Intermediaries also exploit the farmers because of their outstanding debt. Farmers also lack skills and knowledge to commercialize their products and pay fair prices for their crops.
The largest risk in the sector is due to absence of watering systems. Although Baba is in the province Los Rios (the rivers) there is severe problem with access to water. The lack of infrastructure in the sector does not allow the small farmers to benefit from the presence of the many rivers in the area. If the winter season is too dry, it is likely that the lands will not be sufficiently fertile for rice production in the summer. On the other hand, if there is too much rain, there are not any drainage systems to prevent flooding and the crops are often ruined. Generally speaking though, Baba is a very productive sector where the lands yield all types of crops including rice, cacao, corn, watermelons, plantains, and soybeans.
The loans in this sector will mostly be used to buy soil, seeds, fertilizer and insecticides. Many clients will use the capital towards renting machinery and equipment necessary to effectively work and prepare the fields. Clients also typically use a part of the loan to buy livestock in order to raise and have as reserves. The loan repayment schedule is different from the typical micro-entrepreneur because farmers see the profits from their investments 5 or 6 months after making their initial expenditures. Mifex asks our rural clients only to pay 50% of the capital in the first 6 months of the loan. The rest of the debt must be paid in the seventh and final month.
",M,1200,lender,Agriculture,0 Ecuador,"Jaime has about 8 years of experience running and owning food markets. Prior to this, he used to be a street vendor, but he decided to switch due to the instability of the work. He started off by only selling vegetables, but now he has diversified his product line to include many different foods and home supplies. He is requesting the loan in order to continue investing in products that keep his clients coming back.
Jaime is 27 years old and has one son who is 6 years old. His wife is expecting a new child in only 2 months, putting pressure on Jaime to generate income for his growing family.
Mifex offers its clients microinsurance and access to business training and educational programs. For more information about microfinance, Ecuador, and our services, please visit www.mifex.org.
",M,475,partner,Food,0 Ecuador,"Jaime has about 8 years of experience running and owning food markets. Prior to this, he used to be a street vendor, but he decided to switch due to the instability of the work. He started off by selling vegetables, but now he has diversified his product line to include many different foods and home supplies.
Jaime is 27 years old and has one son who is 6 years old. When he received his first loan with Mifex his wife was expecting a new child in only 2 months, putting pressure on Jaime to generate income for his growing family. Jaime was extremely happy to receive his first loan and was able to invest in his business before the arrival of his child. The investments he made certainly made it easier for Jaime to handle the costs associated with a new baby. The loan meant a lot for him and his wife. Both feel they were able to provide the very best they could for their new baby. His business continued to do well as he invested in a new glass case. He hopes a second loan will allow him to buy more glass display cases and also more merchandise.
",M,925,partner,Retail,0 Ecuador,"Janet sells various items for the home. She sells cosmetics, perfume, schoolbags, shoes and other items requested by her customers. She has run her business for 8 years. In the afternoons from 3PM to 7PM she walks and sells her merchandise from door to door, not just in her neighborhood but in adjacent secotrs as well. She attends to clients daily from 7 AM to 10PM.
Janet used her first loan to buy school supplies which are always in demand when school is in session. She continues to sell her other items as well and has built a stable client base who know she can fulfill their orders for products.
Janet is 38 years old, married, and has two children, both of whom are studying. Janet considers herself a hardworking woman who is looking for a way to increase revenues in order to be able to support her children. Her husband works outside the home at a company but spends little time at home and is not able to contribute to family finances. Janet wants to improve her business with a second loan. She plans to widen the variety of items she sells. She is confident that she will be able to succeed with the loan and thus meet her goals, which are to tile some of the floors and walls inside her home.
",F,1200,lender,Retail,1 Ecuador,"Janeth owns a small shop where she sells many different products. Most of her sales are cosmetics but she also sells clothing, toys and even prepaid cell phone cards. She is only 22 years old but she is trying to establish her business so she will not have to depend on anyone. She does not have any children and is not married. She was raised by a single mom and she is proud that they have been able to make it as independent women. She will use the loan to invest in new products for the upcoming Christmas season.
Mifex offers its clients microinsurance and access to business training and educational programs. For more information about microfinance, Ecuador, and our services, please visit www.mifex.org.
",F,500,partner,Retail,0 Ecuador,"Janeth sells clothes in a local market for tourists in Guayaquil. Her husband works in the tile industry for a large company but his wage is very low. They have three children but one of them is mentally handicapped and therefore requires more of a financial and time commitment from his parents. Janeth has been a sales woman in this market since she was 20 years old when she began selling at the market named Bahia with her sister. She specializes in selling womens clothing but it is very difficult for her because she only has $50 in working capital. Her busiest days are on the weekends in the market and during the week she tries to sell to locals in her neighborhood. She is seeking the loan in order to buy more clothing in bulk.
Mifex offers its clients microinsurance and access to business training and educational programs. For more information about microfinance, Ecuador, and our services, please visit www.mifex.org.
",F,250,partner,Clothing,0 Ecuador,"Javier Herrera has been a rice farmer his whole life. Although he only has an elementary education, his farming skills have always helped him feed himself and his family. He complements his rice production with cattle ranching. Javier has four children ages 14, 13, 10 and 2. He hopes he can use the loan to increase his productivity. He hopes to be able to provide his children with an education better than the one he received.
Javier is part of the first Communal Bank in the new Mifex Rural Finance Program. All the members of the Resistencia Communal Bank are part of an Association of Rice Farmers in Salitre named Resistencia. They will use the microloans to prepare the land and cultivate rice on their farms. Because they form part of a communal bank, they are all each others guarantors for the loan. This means that if for some reason one person in the group cannot fully repay the loan, the other borrowers and the Resistencia Association are responsible for the amount in default. The members of the bank also participate in a program designed to teach and encourage saving among the group. Promoting saving is often forgotten in many microfinance programs, but is imperative for the communities Mifex works with to have capital reserved for future investments or unexpected difficulties.
The loans in this sector will be used to create water deposits that will prevent flooding in the case of heavy rains or store water in case of droughts. They will also be used to treat the land prior to farming, plant the seeds and purchase fertilizer. The loan repayment schedule is also different from the typical microentrepreneur. Because farmers see the profits from their investments 5 or 6 months after making their initial expenditures, Mifex asks them only to pay 50% of the capital in the first 6 months of the loan. The rest of the debt must be paid in the seventh and final month.
Below is more information about Salitre compiled by the staff at Mifex when evaluating the potential of the sector for the Rural Finance Program.
Salitre is a rural area in the Province of Guayas which is known as the capital of Montuvios (montuvio is a cowboy) with approximately 30,000 inhabitants. The main economic activities are herding and agriculture, which make up about 80% of the economy. The infrastructure and basic services are poor, especially the roads and water services.
Salitre is highly dedicated to rice farming and cattle ranching. Rice is a crop that yields about every four months. In order to farm rice, the environment must be very humid and there must be a high volume of water. The lack of a structured water system makes it difficult for the small farmers to be highly productive. The best months for cultivating rice are early in the year during the rainy season on the coast of Ecuador.
Salitre is a national tourist attraction as many Ecuadorians visit the fresh water Salitre River. There are cottages, small restaurants and water attractions that people come to enjoy.
There is not a single financial institution that provides services to the productive sector of the local economy. The only access to credit comes from loan sharks who charge extremely high interest rates averaging around 20% a month. The locals are also exploited by the intermediaries that buy their products in order to commercialize them in the city and to export abroad. These intermediaries buy crops in advance at very low prices, finance soil at extremely high prices and often provide emergency loans for even higher interest rates than the loan sharks.
Salitre is a dangerous area despite its rural location. There is a high incidence of robbery of cattle that results in the fact that many of the ranch owners owning weapons to protect their property. Because the police are not present in these areas, farmers and ranchers must apply their own laws and provide their own security. In some instances they have formed their own cooperatives and associations to have a community crime prevention force.
Salitre is in the lowlands of Ecuador and is vulnerable to flooding during the rainy season. In the event of a heavy rainy season, often at its worst when El Nio occurs, the rice farmers lose many of their crops. All this is due to a lack of infrastructure in the area.
",M,1200,lender,Agriculture,0 Ecuador,"Jazmin owns a small restaurant in Guayaquil, Ecuador. She has operated this small business for a year now, but she spent many years learning how to run a restaurant from her mother who was in the same line of work all of her life. Jazmin is asking for this loan so that she can buy raw materials and ingredients for her business such as rice, butter, flour eggs, and dishes. She is a single mother of four, and her restaurant is her only source of business. Ms. Sanchez wants lenders to know that she is extremely hard working and entrepreneurial, and her wish is to make the restaurant popular so she can earn enough to send her children to school.
Mifex offers its clients microinsurance and access to business training and educational programs. For more information about microfinance, Ecuador, and our services, please visit www.mifex.org.
",F,600,partner,Food,0 Ecuador,"Jazmin owns a small restaurant in Guayaquil, Ecuador. She has operated this small business for a year now, but she spent many years learning how to run a restaurant from her mother who was in the same line of work. Jazmin used her first Mifex and Kiva loan to purchase raw materials and ingredients for her business such as rice, butter, flour eggs, and dishes. She also renovated the portion of her home she uses as the restaurant. Jazmin attends to her clients closely and they are please with the quality food and service she provides.
As Jazmins business developed she saw another opportunity to augment her income by selling clothing, fashion accessories and perfumes from her home. With her mothers help in the restaurant, she has been able to attend to the sale of these products.
Jazmin is requesting a second loan to further improve her restaurant with drinks. Her clients have requested juices and soft drinks. She is a single mother of four. Ms. Sanchez wants lenders to know that she is extremely hard working and entrepreneurial, and her wish is to make the restaurant popular so she can earn enough to send her children to school.
",F,1200,lender,Food,1 Ecuador,"Jeanina sells sandals and handbags that she crochets by hand. Although she spent eight years working in retail and wholesale clothing sales, she had problems with her legs and was forced to leave her job. Having a business allows her to contribute to her familys income. She would like to use her loan money to buy materials such as wool and decorations, and fashion magazines so that she can get new ideas for things to make.
Jeanina is 40 years old, married, and has three children. Her husband is frequently away from home, as he works as a mechanic on the shipping barges that come in and out of Guayaquil. Little by little, they have been saving up to build a home out of cement, instead of the bamboo one they have now. Jeaninas dream is to establish her business in her home and to provide her children with an education so that they can get good jobs in the future.
Mifex offers its clients microinsurance and access to business training and educational programs. For more information about microfinance, Ecuador, and our services, please visit www.mifex.org.
",F,475,partner,Clothing,0 Ecuador,"Jenny is a door-to-door saleswoman who offers cosmetics and home products. Jenny is hoping to receive her second loan through the Kiva and Mifex program. With her first loan she was able to invest in cosmetic products that were of better quality and allowed her to make more profits. With part of the loan and the profits she bought a glass case where she could display her products. She is optimistic about taking the next step in her business and setting up a store in her home so she can have her clients visit her. It is difficult for her to sell only door to door because she can only show a limited amount of items. After setting up her store at home, she hopes she can safely invest in a wider variety of goods, such as expensive cooking appliances and televisions. Jenny is optimistic about the future and is very grateful to the people who helped her receive her loan.
Jenny is 42 years old and has many years of experience as a saleswoman. She has used this business to help her husband support their three children. She hopes that increased profits will guarantee the education of her children and even allow her to accumulate some savings.
",F,625,partner,Retail,0 Ecuador,"Jenny sells all types of decorations for the home and she also sells clothing for men and women. She has over 10 years of experience in this line of work. Thanks to the support of her husband, who provided start up capital for the business, she has opened a small location in front of her home where she displays her products and merchandise. She opens her store three times a week from 7 in the morning and 7 at night. The other days she travels outside of the city to sell cosmetics and clothing to under served communities where there are sale opportunities. She is 43 years old and has one child, whose father passed away 8 years ago. She is now in a new relationship with a industrial mechanic who is very supportive.
Mifex offers its clients microinsurance and access to business training and educational programs. For more information about microfinance, Ecuador, and our services, please visit www.mifex.org.
",F,600,partner,Clothing,0 Ecuador,"Jenny sells cosmetics from Avon and Yandal. She began selling to her family members when her husband was left unemployed. She thought it was necessary for her to do something that would not be too time consuming. She goes out with her merchandise and takes the products to familiar clients. She lives northeast of the city, in one of the worst neighborhood of Guayaquil. She also sells merchandise from her home, which her husband attained several years ago during land invasions in Guayaquil. Jenny Santos was born in Guayaquil, she is 40 years old and is married to Don Arcngel who works in a factory in which the monthly income is $240.00. They have three children who are all currently in school.
",F,375,partner,Retail,0 Ecuador,"Jeronima has the experience of 12 years, selling various items such as gifts, toys and foodstuffs. She began with some savings that she had thanks to the help of her husband, her gave them to her. On her own iniciative, she decided to sell lunches from her home. This business endeavor went very well and has been strong now for 7 years. She manages her activities with the help of her family. She works every day of the week from 12pm to 3pm.
Jeronima wishes for a loan in order to buy 2 tables and chairs for her dining area. She already has high demand around lunchtime and wishes to provide her customers with a better service.
Jeronima is married, with 4 children, 3 of whom attend school. Her husband is in charge of selling her product from the stand and in the market. She is the cook. Her goal is to give a good education to her children. Little by little, with the earnings she generates, her business will allow her to improve her quality of life.
Translated from Spanish by Kiva Volunteer, Kristin Connor.
",F,600,partner,Food,0 Ecuador,"
Jesenia is 27 years old and works selling clothes in the local community. She started the business with about $400 she had accumulated as savings from a job in a factory. When she started off, she only sold clothes for babies and young children. As the time has passed she has began selling casual clothing for men and women. She hopes that with the loan she will be able to invest in cosmetics and accessories, which are much more profitable than clothing sales. Jesenia already has one child and is pregnant with another. She and her husband are hard workers who want to provide their children with good educations.
Mifex offers its clients microinsurance and access to business training and educational programs. For more information about microfinance, Ecuador, and our services, please visit www.mifex.org.
",F,375,partner,Clothing,0 Ecuador,"Jesenia is 27 years old and works selling clothes in the local community. She started the business with about $400 she had accumulated as savings from a job in a factory. When she started off, she only sold clothes for babies and young children. As the time has passed she has began selling casual clothing for men and women.
She hopes that with this, her second loan, she will be able to continue to invest in cosmetics and accessories, which are much more profitable than clothing sales. Jesenia already has one child and is pregnant with another. She and her husband are hard workers who want to provide their children with good educations.
",F,650,partner,Retail,0 Ecuador,"Jessenia has a small business where she sells many different types of products. At her store, she sells school and office supplies, home products and also bottled water. In this sector clean water is difficult to come by, therefore Jessenia has a very high rate of demand for that product.
Jessenia has lent from Kiva and Mifex before. She hopes to continue investing new capital into a variety of products. Diversity in her business helps attract clients and has proved worthwhile with the success she enjoyed during her last loan.
With this loan Jessenia is confident the situation for her and her three children will improve. She currently lives in a cement home and she saves towards the future of her children.
",F,1075,lender,Retail,1 Ecuador,"Jessenia has a small business where she sells many different types of products. At her store, she sells school and office supplies, home products and also bottled water. In this sector clean water is difficult to come by, therefore Jessenia has a very high rate of demand for that product.
Jessenia hopes to invest the loan by improving the inventory in her store. Although the water sales do well, she is hoping she can generate more income with completely different products.
With this loan Jessenia is confident the situation for her and her three children will improve. She currently lives in a cement home and she saves towards the future of her children.
",F,525,partner,Retail,0 Ecuador,"Jessica owns a small caf where she sells shakes and lunches. She started the business of with her mother after her husband abandoned her and their daughter. She will use the loan in order to invest in a grill so she may be able to sell shish kabobs and other grilled meats. She hopes that this will allow her to open her business at night and generate much more revenue. She is only 24 years old but she plans on having a very successful restaurant.
Mifex offers its clients microinsurance and access to business training and educational programs. For more information about microfinance, Ecuador, and our services, please visit www.mifex.org.
",F,375,partner,Food,0 Ecuador,"Jessica runs a store where she sells music. She started the store with the help of her husband who lost his job and saw the need to create a stable source of income. In Ecuador job security is very low, which is a reason why many families choose to run their own small businesses. Jessica and her husband set up the store in hopes of having some type of economic security. They have 3 children together and they live in a very humble home. With their savings they purchased a small amount of inventory and set up their house as a business. She hopes to buy products in bulk and increase her product line for the upcoming holiday season.
Mifex offers its clients microinsurance and access to business training and educational programs. For more information about microfinance, Ecuador, and our services, please visit www.mifex.org.
",F,625,partner,Retail,0 Ecuador,"Jessica sells clothes, school supplies and various items for the home from a store she established in her parents house. When she was only 4 years old, Jessica began selling small items in the streets around her house and in the Bahia, a market in the center of Guayaquil. At the age of 16, starting with only $1 worth of merchandise, she began to save up and was finally able to open the storefront 7 years ago.
With a loan she hopes to be able to buy more merchandise and take advantage of the increase in demand around the Christmas season. If she does well, her goal is to add new products to the business and buy display cases that better show off what she has to sell. Jessica is 28 years old and unmarried. She lives with her family and says that theyve managed to keep going because they all work together and share the same goals of improving their business and their home.
Mifex offers its clients microinsurance and access to business training and educational programs. For more information about microfinance, Ecuador, and our services, please visit www.mifex.org.
",F,850,partner,Retail,0 Ecuador,"Jesus has been living in Santa Lucia for about 25 years. He has been farming rice since he was a young man since he did not finish school and only had the skills passed down by his father to rely on. With his work he has provided for five children, three of which are still in school (ages 7, 10 and 15). With the loan he hopes to make an investment in seeds and fertilizer to reap more from his lands. Jesus hopes to make some improvements in his home with the extra profits, as well as secure the education for his children.
<Jesus is part of the newest Communal Banks in the recently developed Mifex Rural Finance Program. All of the members of the Centro Agricola de Santa Lucia Communal Bank are part of an Association of Rice Farmers in Santa Lucia. Their association works cooperatively to help in the commercialization of the product after it has grown. They will use the micro-loans to prepare their lands and cultivate rice on their farms. Because they form part of a communal bank, they are all each others' guarantors for the loan. This means that if for some reason one person in the group cannot fully repay the loan, the other borrowers and the Primero de Agosto Association are responsible for the amount in default. The members of the bank also participate in a program designed to teach and encourage savings among the group. Promoting savings is often forgotten in many micro-finance programs, but Mifex believes that is imperative for the communities we works with to have capital reserved for future investments or unexpected difficulties.
Below is more information about Santa Lucia compiled by Luis Crespo and Robert Edgar of the Mifex team when evaluating the potential of the sector for the Rural Finance Program. Special thanks to Mario Balazantegui who provided expert insight and contributed to the development of the alliances with the local organizations.
Santa Lucia County has a population of about 33,000 people. The sector is fit for rice cultivating because it is not in the lowlands and therefore it is not at risk of flooding. There is also great access to water because of the Daule River, which is accessible to many of the farmers in the area. About 70% of the farmers have basic infrastructure for watering their crops.
Rice production is the main economic activity of the area as about 80% of the people are rice farmers. Almost everyone is either directly or indirectly involved with rice production, as they produce, commercialize or participate in activities that add value to the product. Within the county, there is a small town also named Santa Lucia. The town is filled with many small businesses and it serves as the social and commercial hub of the area.
Most of the people in the Santa Lucia area are small farmers. They produce about 100 sacks of rice per hectare of land. In order to farm they first must prepare the lands by removing weeds and plowing. The farmers then fill an area with water to form what is known as a paddy field, because rice is a very water intensive crop. The rice seeds are either dispersed freely (the process is known as boleo in Spanish) or hand sowed. Once the rice has grown, most farmers rent machinery that helps them gather their production. A risk factor does exist in rice farming because of drought, but in Santa Lucia this is somewhat mitigated by the access to water form the nearby river.
The biggest struggle in the area has been the lack of credit. Because people do not count on formal financial services, they have turned to loan sharks for financing. They have been affected by expensive lines of credit that exceed 100% interest a year and can be as expensive as 240%. Intermediaries also exploit the farmers because of their outstanding debt. Farmers also lack skills and knowledge to commercialize their products and pay fair prices for their crops.
The loans in this sector will be used to to buy soil, seeds, fertilizer and insecticides. They will also be used to prepare the land prior to farming, to plant the seeds and purchase other materials. The loan repayment schedule is also different from the typical micro-entrepreneur. Because farmers see the profits from their investments 5 or 6 months after making their initial expenditures, Mifex asks them only to pay 50% of the capital in the first 6 months of the loan. The rest of the debt must be paid in the seventh and final month.
",M,1200,lender,Agriculture,0 Ecuador,"Jhonny has a small business selling fish, pork and poultry. He sells some animals live while selling other metas by the pound. He started off in this business with the help of his father who provided him with a loan about two years ago after Jhonny was fired. When he just started, Jhonny only sold fish that he bought from wholesalers. Today he still sells fish be he also has included many other animals and types of meat.
Jhonny needs this loan so that he can buy a cart or set up a store on a main street. Although he sells well from his home, he is hoping he can take his business to a larger scale from somewhere he can attract new clients more easily.
He and his family of two children live in a small house made out of wood. He is hoping that the loan will provide sufficient profit to make some improvements.
",M,400,partner,Food,0 Ecuador,"Joaquin has a store where he sells snacks and other foods. He was a butcher for a very long time and had a stand at a local market but he had to move the business to his home when the market was shut down. Joaquin suffered a very unfortunate accident where he lost a leg and since then has not been able to continue working as a butcher. Despite this situation he has persisted and has opened a small store with the support of his family. He has three children, two of which are already independent. They have been great for their father and helped him set up two rooms in his home that he rents out for a complimentary source of income.
Joaquin is seeking the loan in order to continue to invest in his business. He will buy products in bulk and also make improvements to the store. This business keeps him motivated and with a high self esteem. His wife is a seamstress who also helps him at the store.
Mifex offers its clients microinsurance and access to business training and educational programs. For more information about microfinance, Ecuador, and our services, please visit www.mifex.org.
",M,475,partner,Food,0 Ecuador,"Jorge has a farm in Santa Lucia, Ecuador. He plants rice and also raises pigs. He has been living on the lands for about 30 years. He primarily relies on rice to feed his wife and two kids, aged 15 and 9. Whenever he is in need of extra capital he goes and sells some pigs in the local market. This has been a great fallback for him and his family. He plans to use most of the money from the loan in rice production. He will purchase pesticides and invest in machinery to help in the collection process.
Jorge is part of the newest Communal Banks in the recently developed Mifex Rural Finance Program. All of the members of the Centro Agricola de Santa Lucia Communal Bank are part of an Association of Rice Farmers in Santa Lucia. Their association works cooperatively to help in the commercialization of the product after it has grown. They will use the micro-loans to prepare their lands and cultivate rice on their farms. Because they form part of a communal bank, they are all each others' guarantors for the loan. This means that if for some reason one person in the group cannot fully repay the loan, the other borrowers and the Primero de Agosto Association are responsible for the amount in default. The members of the bank also participate in a program designed to teach and encourage savings among the group. Promoting savings is often forgotten in many micro-finance programs, but Mifex believes that is imperative for the communities we works with to have capital reserved for future investments or unexpected difficulties.
Below is more information about Santa Lucia compiled by Luis Crespo and Robert Edgar of the Mifex team when evaluating the potential of the sector for the Rural Finance Program. Special thanks to Mario Balazantegui who provided expert insight and contributed to the development of the alliances with the local organizations.
Santa Lucia County has a population of about 33,000 people. The sector is fit for rice cultivating because it is not in the lowlands and therefore it is not at risk of flooding. There is also great access to water because of the Daule River, which is accessible to many of the farmers in the area. About 70% of the farmers have basic infrastructure for watering their crops.
Rice production is the main economic activity of the area as about 80% of the people are rice farmers. Almost everyone is either directly or indirectly involved with rice production, as they produce, commercialize or participate in activities that add value to the product. Within the county, there is a small town also named Santa Lucia. The town is filled with many small businesses and it serves as the social and commercial hub of the area.
Most of the people in the Santa Lucia area are small farmers. They produce about 100 sacks of rice per hectare of land. In order to farm they first must prepare the lands by removing weeds and plowing. The farmers then fill an area with water to form what is known as a paddy field, because rice is a very water intensive crop. The rice seeds are either dispersed freely (the process is known as boleo in Spanish) or hand sowed. Once the rice has grown, most farmers rent machinery that helps them gather their production. A risk factor does exist in rice farming because of drought, but in Santa Lucia this is somewhat mitigated by the access to water form the nearby river.
The biggest struggle in the area has been the lack of credit. Because people do not count on formal financial services, they have turned to loan sharks for financing. They have been affected by expensive lines of credit that exceed 100% interest a year and can be as expensive as 240%. Intermediaries also exploit the farmers because of their outstanding debt. Farmers also lack skills and knowledge to commercialize their products and pay fair prices for their crops.
The loans in this sector will be used to to buy soil, seeds, fertilizer and insecticides. They will also be used to prepare the land prior to farming, to plant the seeds and purchase other materials. The loan repayment schedule is also different from the typical micro-entrepreneur. Because farmers see the profits from their investments 5 or 6 months after making their initial expenditures, Mifex asks them only to pay 50% of the capital in the first 6 months of the loan. The rest of the debt must be paid in the seventh and final month.
",M,925,partner,Agriculture,0 Ecuador,"Jorge has a small farm where he produces rice. He has been living on this land for about 15 years with his wife. He has two children, both of who are in school. He will use the loan to clean and prepare his land in order to make it adequate for rice production. He lives at home with his wife, children, and mother. He is planning to make several improvements to his home because the floor and roof need much work.
This borrower is part of the newest and largest Communal Bank in the recently developed Mifex Rural Finance Program. All of the members of the Centro Agricola de Baba Communal Bank are part of an Association of Rice Farmers in the county of Baba in rural Ecuador. Their association works cooperatively to cultivate rice and commercialize the product after it has grown. As an association, Centro Agricola helps the farmers by providing access to machinery and training services. The farmers from Centro Agricola have received special instruction on financial responsibility and accounting from Codemicro, an organization that specializes in training programs geared towards the rural sector.
The members of Centro Agricola de Baba will use the micro-loans to prepare their lands and cultivate rice on their farms. Because they form part of a communal bank, they are all each others' guarantors for the loan. This means that if for some reason one person in the group cannot fully repay the loan, the other borrowers and the Centro Agricola de Baba Association are responsible for the amount in default. The members of the bank also participate in a program designed to teach and encourage savings among the group. Promoting savings is often forgotten in many micro-finance programs, but Mifex believes that is imperative for the communities we works with to have capital reserved for future investments or unexpected difficulties.
Below is more information about Santa Lucia compiled by Luis Crespo and Robert Edgar of the Mifex team when evaluating the potential of the sector for the Rural Finance Program.
The people of Baba have been organized since the days of Gran Colombia when Ecuador was yet to be a country. The area has always been popular because of the extremely productive lands that gave way to cultivation of cacao for decades. Now Baba is a county in the province of Los Rios in the coastal region of Ecuador. For most of the latter part of the 20th Century it was a cacao and banana producing sector. Most of the surrounding areas of Baba in Los Rios are owned by large mulitnational companies such as Dole, but Baba is a sector characterized by the small and informal farms.
Rice production has now turned into the main economic activity of the sector as about 80% of the people are rice farmers. Cacao is still very popular in the area, but because of the long cultivation cycle people prefer to invest in rice. The lands in Baba are very fertile though, and most farmers in the sector often grow other crops, such as plantains and soy beans as secondary sources of income. Many farmers also keep livestock as emergency sources of food and income, commonly resorting to selling a chicken or pig if they are in need of cash.
Most of the people in the Baba area are small farmers. They produce about 80 sacks of rice per hectare of land. In order to farm they first must prepare the lands by removing weeds, plowing and leveling the lands. This is the most difficult part for the farmers in Baba, who often lack the necessary machinery to properly plow the lands for rice production. After appropriately preparing the lands, the farmers fill an area with water to form what is known as a paddy field, because rice is a very water intensive crop. The rice seeds are either dispersed freely (the process is known as boleo in Spanish) or hand sowed. Once the rice has grown, most farmers rent machinery that helps them gather their production.
One of the biggest struggles in the area has been the lack of credit due to the absence of any type of financial institution. Because people do not count on formal financial finance, they have turned to loan sharks for financing. They have been affected by expensive lines of credit that exceed 100% interest a year and can be as expensive as 240%. Intermediaries also exploit the farmers because of their outstanding debt. Farmers also lack skills and knowledge to commercialize their products and pay fair prices for their crops.
The largest risk in the sector is due to absence of watering systems. Although Baba is in the province Los Rios (the rivers) there is severe problem with access to water. The lack of infrastructure in the sector does not allow the small farmers to benefit from the presence of the many rivers in the area. If the winter season is too dry, it is likely that the lands will not be sufficiently fertile for rice production in the summer. On the other hand, if there is too much rain there are not any drainage systems to prevent flooding and the crops are often ruined. Generally speaking though, Baba is a very productive sector where the lands yield all types of crops including rice, cacao, corn, watermelons, plantains, and soy beans.
The loans in this sector will mostly be used to to buy soil, seeds, fertilizer and insecticides. Many clients will use the capital towards renting machinery and equipment necessary to effectively work and prepare the fields. Clients also typically use a part of the loan to buy livestock in order to raise and have as reserves. The loan repayment schedule is different from the typical micro-entrepreneur because farmers see the profits from their investments 5 or 6 months after making their initial expenditures. Mifex asks our rural clients only to pay 50% of the capital in the first 6 months of the loan. The rest of the debt must be paid in the seventh and final month.
",M,825,lender,Agriculture,1 Ecuador,"Jorge sells home products for a living. He sells them on credit in marginal areas of the city. He started his business with the savings he made while working as a salesman for someone else. When he had the chance to purchase merchandise at wholesale prices, he started his business.
Jorge hopes to continue coming to Kiva and Mifex for financing. With a previous loan he was able to expand his product offerings and organize his store. He now wants to continue investing in more merchandise as the variety helps him increase sales.
Jorge is very happy and he is confident he can continue to improve the quality of life for his family. He has been able to save and provide a better education for his children in the future. He is 34 years old and has four children, three of which are in school.
Jorges previous profile: http://www.kiva.org/app.php?page=businesses&action=about&id=10951
",M,1200,lender,Retail,1 Ecuador,"Jos has 13 years experience with his business of selling groceries. He used to be a bricklayer. With his small savings and on his own initiative, he decided to set up the store. He thought about it because there wasnt this type of business in his neighborhood. Thanks to the store, he was able to buy a small used car which he uses to do deliveries in the mornings from time to time. He was able to buy two lots that he gave to his children to live there. He works everyday of the week from 6 a.m. to 10 p.m.
Jos wants to use the loan to invest in his store. He was left without working capital because his brother suffered a stroke and he is has been helping him through out his recovery.
Jos is married. He has 5 children and only 3 live with him. They are still in school and help him with the store. His wife doesnt work and when Jos needs to go out she is in charge of selling the groceries. Joses wish is to be able to buy two small sugar cane houses for his lots to get an additional income.
Translated from Spanish by Ana Gabriela Clark, Kiva Volunteer.
",M,600,partner,Food,0 Ecuador,"
Jos is married. He has five children and only three live with him. They are still in school and help him with the store. He works everyday of the week from 6 a.m. to 10 p.m. His wife helps him in the business selling groceries when Jos needs to go out. Jose supports his business by making deliveries time to time with his pickup truck.
Jos has 13 years of experience in the business of selling groceries. With his small savings and on his own initiative, he decided to set up a store since his neighborhood needed one badly. His store was already established when he took out his first loan with Mifex and Kiva. He used that loan to increase his inventory of merchandise to include vegetables, grains, and household goods in addition to drinks and other basic provisions he was selling. Business has gone well and Jose has been able to make a profit.
Jose is requesting a second loan from Mifex to invest in more merchandise for his store. The sale of household goods has been particularly profitable and he would like to bring in more of this kind of merchandise to sell. His goal is to provide education for his children so they may have a good future.
",M,1075,lender,Food,1 Ecuador,"Jose has 5 years of experience selling his present product, ""morocho"" (rice pudding). Since he was a kid, he had to earn a living so he sold all sorts of things. At age 15, he left his hometown and came to Guayaquil to live. He got married and kept working as a merchant with his wife. Five years ago, he worked for a company selling morocho from a push cart in the streets. A year ago, Jos became independent and with his savings he made a few changes to his push cart and now he and his wife hit the streets to sell morocho. His wife starts cooking the morocho at 10:00 AM at their home and at 4:00 PM they go to the streets, covering specific routes until 8:00 PM. By then, the pudding is sold out.
Jose received a previous loan from Mifex and Kiva. He used the loan to improve his cart and begin buying the ingredients for the morocho wholesale. His business is doing well and he hopes to expand by bringing his brother into the business. His wife has less time to help him because of a job she holds in the city, but Jose feels that a new cart for his brother will increase profits and also help out a family member.
Jos is 37 and has 4 children. His wife has always been his right hand in every business venture they have tried. Both come from humble homes where they have had to work since they were kids. The couple remembers the many sacrificies they had to make to have their cane house, and that up until a year ago, the house was still above water. Now the house is on firm land, that they created by invesing $500 for the fill. Jose's goal is to advance his business, since it is the households sole source of income.
See Jose's first loan profile here: http://www.kiva.org/app.php?page=businesses&action=about&id=4197",M,1050,lender,Food,1 Ecuador,"Jose has been living in Baba his entire life as a rice farmer. He learned how to work in agriculture from his father who also gave him the lands he lives on now. He has a family of two sons who help him with field work while also going to school. He hopes that he will be able to use the money from the loan to rent machinery that will help him prepare his land for the next season. With the extra profit, he wants to repair his home and invest in livestock.
This borrower is part of the newest and largest Communal Bank in the recently developed Mifex Rural Finance Program. All of the members of the Centro Agricola de Baba Communal Bank are part of an Association of Rice Farmers in the county of Baba in rural Ecuador. Their association works cooperatively to cultivate rice and commercialize the product after it has grown. As an association, Centro Agricola helps the farmers by providing access to machinery and training services. The farmers from Centro Agricola have received special instruction on financial responsibility and accounting from Codemicro, an organization that specializes in training programs geared towards the rural sector.
The members of Centro Agricola de Baba will use the micro-loans to prepare their land and cultivate rice on their farms. Because they form part of a communal bank, they are all each others' guarantors for the loan. This means that if for some reason one person in the group cannot fully repay the loan, the other borrowers and the Centro Agricola de Baba Association are responsible for the amount in default. The members of the bank also participate in a program designed to teach and encourage savings among the group. Promoting savings is often forgotten in many micro-finance programs, but Mifex believes that is imperative for the communities we work with to have capital reserved for future investments or unexpected difficulties.
Below is more information about Santa Lucia compiled by Luis Crespo and Robert Edgar of the Mifex team when evaluating the potential of the sector for the Rural Finance Program.
The people of Baba have been organized since the days of Gran Colombia when Ecuador was yet to be a country. The area has always been popular because of the extremely productive land that gave way to cultivation of cacao for decades. Now Baba is a county in the province of Los Rios in the coastal region of Ecuador. For most of the latter part of the 20th Century it was a cacao and banana producing sector. Most of the surrounding areas of Baba in Los Rios are owned by large mulitnational companies such as Dole, but Baba is a sector characterized by the small and informal farms.
Rice production has now turned into the main economic activity of the sector as about 80% of the people are rice farmers. Cacao is still very popular in the area, but because of the long cultivation cycle people prefer to invest in rice. The land in Baba is very fertile though, and most farmers in the sector often grow other crops, such as plantains and soy beans as secondary sources of income. Many farmers also keep livestock as emergency sources of food and income, commonly resorting to selling a chicken or pig if they are in need of cash.
Most of the people in the Baba area are small farmers. They produce about 80 sacks of rice per hectare of land. In order to farm, they first must prepare the land by removing weed, plowing and leveling it. This is the most difficult part for the farmers in Baba, who often lack the necessary machinery to properly plow the land for rice production. After appropriately preparing the land, the farmers fill an area with water to form what is known as a paddy field, because rice is a very water intensive crop. The rice seeds are either dispersed freely (the process is known as boleo in Spanish) or hand sowed. Once the rice has grown, most farmers rent machinery that helps them gather their production.
One of the biggest struggles in the area has been the lack of credit due to the absence of any type of financial institution. Because people do not count on formal financial support, they have turned to loan sharks for financing. They have been affected by expensive lines of credit that exceed 100% interest a year and can be as expensive as 240%. Intermediaries also exploit the farmers because of their outstanding debt. Farmers also lack skills and knowledge to commercialize their products and pay fair prices for their crops.
The largest risk in the sector is due to absence of watering systems. Although Baba is in the province Los Rios (the rivers), there is severe problem with access to water. The lack of infrastructure in the sector does not allow the small farmers to benefit from the presence of the many rivers in the area. If the winter season is too dry, it is likely that the lands will not be sufficiently fertile for rice production in the summer. On the other hand, if there is too much rain there are not any drainage systems to prevent flooding and the crops are often ruined. Generally speaking though, Baba is a very productive sector where the lands yield all types of crops including rice, cacao, corn, watermelons, plantains, and soy beans.
The loans in this sector will mostly be used to to buy soil, seeds, fertilizer and insecticides. Many clients will use the capital towards renting machinery and equipment necessary to effectively work and prepare the fields. Clients also typically use a part of the loan to buy livestock in order to raise and have as reserves. The loan repayment schedule is different from the typical micro-entrepreneur because farmers see the profits from their investments 5 or 6 months after making their initial expenditures. Mifex asks our rural clients only to pay 50% of the capital in the first 6 months of the loan. The rest of the debt must be paid in the seventh and final month.
",M,825,lender,Agriculture,1 Ecuador,"Jose has owned his rice farm for about 20 years, but he has been working in the fields since he was a young boy. He lives with his three children and two of his grand children. The farm they live on provides food for the whole family. Jose and his sons work the fields diligently in order to provide for the household. They hope to invest in the machinery necessary to prepare the fields for the next cultivation season.
This borrower is part of the newest and largest Communal Bank in the recently developed Mifex Rural Finance Program. All of the members of the Centro Agricola de Baba Communal Bank are part of an Association of Rice Farmers in the county of Baba in rural Ecuador. Their association works cooperatively to cultivate rice and commercialize the product after it has grown. As an association, Centro Agricola helps the farmers by providing access to machinery and training services. The farmers from Centro Agricola have received special instruction on financial responsibility and accounting from Codemicro, an organization that specializes in training programs geared towards the rural sector.
The members of Centro Agricola de Baba will use the micro-loans to prepare their lands and cultivate rice on their farms. Because they form part of a communal bank, they are all each others' guarantors for the loan. This means that if for some reason one person in the group cannot fully repay the loan, the other borrowers and the Centro Agricola de Baba Association are responsible for the amount in default. The members of the bank also participate in a program designed to teach and encourage savings among the group. Promoting savings is often forgotten in many micro-finance programs, but Mifex believes that is imperative for the communities we works with to have capital reserved for future investments or unexpected difficulties.
Below is more information about Santa Lucia compiled by Luis Crespo and Robert Edgar of the Mifex team when evaluating the potential of the sector for the Rural Finance Program.
The people of Baba have been organized since the days of Gran Colombia when Ecuador was yet to be a country. The area has always been popular because of the extremely productive lands that gave way to cultivation of cacao for decades. Now Baba is a county in the province of Los Rios in the coastal region of Ecuador. For most of the latter part of the 20th Century it was a cacao and banana-producing sector. Most of the surrounding areas of Baba in Los Rios are owned by large multinational companies such as Dole, but Baba is a sector characterized by small and informal farms.
Rice production has now turned into the main economic activity of the sector as about 80% of the people are rice farmers. Cacao is still very popular in the area, but because of the long cultivation cycle people prefer to invest in rice. The lands in Baba are very fertile though, and most farmers in the sector often grow other crops, such as plantains and soybeans as secondary sources of income. Many farmers also keep livestock as emergency sources of food and income, commonly resorting to selling a chicken or pig if they are in need of cash.
Most of the people in the Baba area are small farmers. They produce about 80 sacks of rice per hectare of land. In order to farm they first must prepare the lands by removing weeds, plowing and leveling the lands. This is the most difficult part for the farmers in Baba, who often lack the necessary machinery to properly plow the lands for rice production. After appropriately preparing the lands, the farmers fill an area with water to form what is known as a paddy field, because rice is a very water-intensive crop. The rice seeds are either dispersed freely (the process is known as boleo in Spanish) or hand sowed. Once the rice has grown, most farmers rent machinery that helps them gather their production.
One of the biggest struggles in the area has been the lack of credit due to the absence of any type of financial institution. Because people do not count on formal financial finance, they have turned to loan sharks for financing. They have been affected by expensive lines of credit that exceed 100% interest a year and can be as expensive as 240%. Intermediaries also exploit the farmers because of their outstanding debt. Farmers also lack skills and knowledge to commercialize their products and pay fair prices for their crops.
The largest risk in the sector is due to absence of watering systems. Although Baba is in the province Los Rios (the rivers) there is severe problem with access to water. The lack of infrastructure in the sector does not allow the small farmers to benefit from the presence of the many rivers in the area. If the winter season is too dry, it is likely that the lands will not be sufficiently fertile for rice production in the summer. On the other hand, if there is too much rain, there are not any drainage systems to prevent flooding and the crops are often ruined. Generally speaking though, Baba is a very productive sector where the lands yield all types of crops including rice, cacao, corn, watermelons, plantains, and soybeans.
The loans in this sector will mostly be used to buy soil, seeds, fertilizer and insecticides. Many clients will use the capital towards renting machinery and equipment necessary to effectively work and prepare the fields. Clients also typically use a part of the loan to buy livestock in order to raise and have as reserves. The loan repayment schedule is different from the typical micro-entrepreneur because farmers see the profits from their investments 5 or 6 months after making their initial expenditures. Mifex asks our rural clients only to pay 50% of the capital in the first 6 months of the loan. The rest of the debt must be paid in the seventh and final month.
",M,825,lender,Agriculture,1 Ecuador,"Jose is a fruit and vegetable distributor who sells to the small stores and markets in Guayaquil. He borrows his cousins truck for $10 a day in order to be able to pick up the fruit he buys from wholesalers. His father and his uncle taught him how and where to buy the fruit at the best prices. When he was young he would often go along with his uncle when he bought these products and also when he sold them from his tricycle cart. When he was 15 he felt the need to contribute to his familys income and took up the same line of his work as is father and uncle.
He travels to the wholesale markets every morning at 5 AM in order to buy the fruits that are in season. Right now he is buying mostly mangoes, watermelons, oranges, tomatoes and avocadoes. He borrows from the loan sharks in order to buy the fruit he distributes. He is seeking this loan in order to avoid borrowing from them at extremely high interest rates. His long term goal is to buy a home for his wife and two kids. Right now they all live at Joses mother in laws home and he is saving up for a home of his own.
Mifex offers its clients microinsurance and access to business training and educational programs. For more information about microfinance, Ecuador, and our services, please visit www.mifex.org.
",M,375,partner,Food,0 Ecuador,"Jose is a potato and onion wholesale distributor at a local market. He learned the trade from his parents who practice the same business in a different province of Ecuador named Chimborazo. He started off small, but now he is a wholesaler and distributes to many store owners and people who have stands in local markets. He will use the loan in order to invest in new products such as limes, sugar and oil. Jose is from Chimborazo and has two children. He and his wife are very positive about their future.
Mifex offers its clients microinsurance and access to business training and educational programs. For more information about microfinance, Ecuador, and our services, please visit www.mifex.org.
",M,875,partner,Food,0 Ecuador,"Jose is a rice farmer in the rural sector of Ecuador. He has lived in Santa Lucia his entire life. Although he is now separated from his wife, he still maintains close contact with his kids, only one of which is still in school. He hopes that he can invest the money from the loan in increasing his production. Thanks to the help of his farm association he feels that he can commercialize his product well if he has enough to sell.
Jose is part of the newest Communal Banks in the recently developed Mifex Rural Finance Program. All of the members of the Centro Agricola de Santa Lucia Communal Bank are part of an Association of Rice Farmers in Santa Lucia. Their association works cooperatively to help in the commercialization of the product after it has grown. They will use the micro-loans to prepare their lands and cultivate rice on their farms. Because they form part of a communal bank, they are all each others guarantors for the loan. This means that if for some reason one person in the group cannot fully repay the loan, the other borrowers and the Primero de Agosto Association are responsible for the amount in default. The members of the bank also participate in a program designed to teach and encourage savings among the group. Promoting savings is often forgotten in many micro-finance programs, but Mifex believes that is imperative for the communities we work with to have capital reserved for future investments or unexpected difficulties.
Below is more information about Santa Lucia compiled by Luis Crespo and Robert Edgar of the Mifex team when evaluating the potential of the sector for the Rural Finance Program. Special thanks to Mario Balazantegui who provided expert insight and contributed to the development of the alliances with the local organizations.
Santa Lucia County has a population of about 33,000 people. The sector is fit for rice cultivating because it is not in the lowlands and therefore it is not at risk of flooding. There is also great access to water because of the Daule River, which is accessible to many of the farmers in the area. About 70% of the farmers have basic infrastructure for watering their crops.
Rice production is the main economic activity of the area as about 80% of the people are rice farmers. Almost everyone is either directly or indirectly involved with rice production, as they produce, commercialize or participate in activities that add value to the product. Within the county, there is a small town also named Santa Lucia. The town is filled with many small businesses and it serves as the social and commercial hub of the area.
Most of the people in the Santa Lucia area are small farmers. They produce about 100 sacks of rice per hectare of land. In order to farm they first must prepare the lands by removing weeds and plowing. The farmers then fill an area with water to form what is known as a paddy field, because rice is a very water-intensive crop. The rice seeds are either dispersed freely (the process is known as boleo in Spanish) or hand sowed. Once the rice has grown, most farmers rent machinery that helps them gather their production. A risk factor does exist in rice farming because of drought, but in Santa Lucia this is somewhat mitigated by the access to water form the nearby river.
The biggest struggle in the area has been the lack of credit. Because people do not count on formal financial services, they have turned to loan sharks for financing. They have been affected by expensive lines of credit that exceed 100% interest a year and can be as expensive as 240%. Intermediaries also exploit the farmers because of their outstanding debt. Farmers also lack skills and knowledge to commercialize their products and pay fair prices for their crops.
The loans in this sector will be used to to buy soil, seeds, fertilizer and insecticides. They will also be used to prepare the land prior to farming, to plant the seeds and purchase other materials. The loan repayment schedule is also different from the typical micro-entrepreneur. Because farmers see the profits from their investments 5 or 6 months after making their initial expenditures, Mifex asks them only to pay 50% of the capital in the first 6 months of the loan. The rest of the debt must be paid in the seventh and final month.
",M,1200,lender,Agriculture,0 Ecuador,"Jose owns a fish stand at a local market near his home. He has been working in the seafood industry since he was young when he helped his father. When he married his current wife he already had this business which has always helped him support his family. He wakes up everyday at 5 in the morning to buy the freshest fish and take it to his stand. His wife helps him on the weekends which are always busier at these markets.
He needs this loan in order to fix up his stand. He will also buy much larger quantities of fish at discount prices. He believes that this will help him increase his revenue and profit. With the increased money from the loans he plans to also fix up the run down walls and floor of his home. He is also planning on converting the rooms where his kids lived to an apartment he can rent out for a complimentary source of income.
Jose is 56 years old, is married and has three children. His wife has been his right hand for the business as she has always had the capacity to take lead as well as assist. He has three college aged kids who have jobs but who he still helps financially.
Mifex offers its clients microinsurance and access to business training and educational programs. For more information about microfinance, Ecuador, and our services, please visit www.mifex.org.
",M,375,partner,Food,0 Ecuador,"Jose owns a small clothing store. He has also has a weekend market stand set up in the town in Baba. He does well selling clothing because of his low prices. He travels into Guayaquil (the larger city) to buy their clothing from wholesalers at reasonable prices. He is hoping to invest the loan in buying more products so he can offer better variety at cheaper prices.
This borrower is part of the newest and largest Communal Bank in the recently developed Mifex Rural Finance Program. All of the members of the Centro Agricola de Baba Communal Bank are part of an Association of Rice Farmers in the county of Baba in rural Ecuador. Their association works cooperatively to cultivate rice and commercialize the product after it has grown. As an association, Centro Agricola helps the farmers by providing access to machinery and training services. The farmers from Centro Agricola have received special instruction on financial responsibility and accounting from Codemicro, an organization that specializes in training programs geared towards the rural sector.
The members of Centro Agricola de Baba will use the micro-loans to prepare their lands and cultivate rice on their farms. Because they form part of a communal bank, they are all each others' guarantors for the loan. This means that if for some reason one person in the group cannot fully repay the loan, the other borrowers and the Centro Agricola de Baba Association are responsible for the amount in default. The members of the bank also participate in a program designed to teach and encourage savings among the group. Promoting savings is often forgotten in many micro-finance programs, but Mifex believes that is imperative for the communities we works with to have capital reserved for future investments or unexpected difficulties.
Below is more information about Santa Lucia compiled by Luis Crespo and Robert Edgar of the Mifex team when evaluating the potential of the sector for the Rural Finance Program.
The people of Baba have been organized since the days of Gran Colombia when Ecuador was yet to be a country. The area has always been popular because of the extremely productive lands that gave way to cultivation of cacao for decades. Now Baba is a county in the province of Los Rios in the coastal region of Ecuador. For most of the latter part of the 20th Century it was a cacao and banana producing sector. Most of the surrounding areas of Baba in Los Rios are owned by large mulitnational companies such as Dole, but Baba is a sector characterized by the small and informal farms.
Rice production has now turned into the main economic activity of the sector as about 80% of the people are rice farmers. Cacao is still very popular in the area, but because of the long cultivation cycle people prefer to invest in rice. The lands in Baba are very fertile though, and most farmers in the sector often grow other crops, such as plantains and soy beans as secondary sources of income. Many farmers also keep livestock as emergency sources of food and income, commonly resorting to selling a chicken or pig if they are in need of cash.
Most of the people in the Baba area are small farmers. They produce about 80 sacks of rice per hectare of land. In order to farm they first must prepare the lands by removing weeds, plowing and leveling the lands. This is the most difficult part for the farmers in Baba, who often lack the necessary machinery to properly plow the lands for rice production. After appropriately preparing the lands, the farmers fill an area with water to form what is known as a paddy field, because rice is a very water intensive crop. The rice seeds are either dispersed freely (the process is known as boleo in Spanish) or hand sowed. Once the rice has grown, most farmers rent machinery that helps them gather their production.
One of the biggest struggles in the area has been the lack of credit due to the absence of any type of financial institution. Because people do not count on formal financial finance, they have turned to loan sharks for financing. They have been affected by expensive lines of credit that exceed 100% interest a year and can be as expensive as 240%. Intermediaries also exploit the farmers because of their outstanding debt. Farmers also lack skills and knowledge to commercialize their products and pay fair prices for their crops.
The largest risk in the sector is due to absence of watering systems. Although Baba is in the province Los Rios (the rivers) there is severe problem with access to water. The lack of infrastructure in the sector does not allow the small farmers to benefit from the presence of the many rivers in the area. If the winter season is too dry, it is likely that the lands will not be sufficiently fertile for rice production in the summer. On the other hand, if there is too much rain there are not any drainage systems to prevent flooding and the crops are often ruined. Generally speaking though, Baba is a very productive sector where the lands yield all types of crops including rice, cacao, corn, watermelons, plantains, and soy beans.
",M,825,lender,Clothing,0 Ecuador,"Jose Salim Montenegro is a farmer from a rural town named Salitre. He is part of the first Communal Bank in the new Mifex Rural Finance Program. All the members of the Resistencia Communal Bank are part of an Association of Rice Farmers in Salitre named Resistencia. They will use the microloans to prepare the land and cultivate rice on their farms. Because they form part of a communal bank, they are all each others guarantors for the loan. This means that if for some reason one person in the group cannot fully repay the loan, the other borrowers and the Resistencia Association are responsible for the amount in default. The members of the bank also participate in a program designed to teach and encourage savings among the group. Promoting savings is often forgotten in many microfinance programs, but it is imperative for the communities Mifex works with to have capital reserved for future investments or unexpected difficulties.
Salim, as he is most commonly known, owns a ranch named Hacienda Voluntad de Dios. He has more than 20 years of experience in agriculture and ranching. His staple crop is rice, but he also has several cows and bulls. He and his wife have 3 kids who all help their father with the duties on the ranch. Salim hopes to provide them with an education so that they may expand their horizons.
The loans in this sector will be used to create water deposits that will prevent flooding in the case of heavy rains or store water in case of droughts. They will also be used to treat the land prior to farming, plant the seeds and purchase fertilizer. The loan repayment schedule is also different from the typical microentrepreneur. Because farmers see the profits from their investments 5 or 6 months after making their initial expenditures, Mifex asks them only to pay 50% of the capital in the first 6 months of the loan. The rest of the debt must be paid in the seventh and final month.
Below is more information about Salitre compiled by the staff at Mifex when evaluating the potential of the sector for the Rural Finance Program.
Salitre is a rural area in the Province of Guayas which is known as the capital of Montuvios (montuvio is a cowboy) with approximately 30,000 inhabitants. The main economic activities are herding and agriculture, which make up about 80% of the economy. The infrastructure and basic services are poor, especially the roads and water services.
Salitre is highly dedicated to rice farming and cattle ranching. Rice is a crop that yields about every four months. In order to farm rice, the environment must be very humid and there must be a high volume of water. The lack of a structured water system makes it difficult for the small farmers to be highly productive. The best months for cultivating rice are early in the year during the rainy season on the coast of Ecuador.
Salitre is a national tourist attraction as many Ecuadorians visit the fresh water Salitre River. There are cottages, small restaurants and water attractions that people come to enjoy.
There is not a single financial institution that provides services to the productive sector of the local economy. The only access to credit comes from loan sharks who charge extremely high interest rates averaging around 20% a month. The locals are also exploited by the intermediaries that buy their products in order to commercialize them in the city and to export abroad. These intermediaries buy crops in advance at very low prices, finance soil at extremely high prices and often provide emergency loans for even higher interest rates than the loan sharks.
Salitre is a dangerous area despite its rural location. There is a high incidence of robbery of cattle that results in the fact that many of the ranch owners owning weapons to protect their property. Because the police are not present in these areas, farmers and ranchers must apply their own laws and provide their own security. In some instances they have formed their own cooperatives and associations to have a community crime prevention force.
Salitre is in the lowlands of Ecuador and is vulnerable to flooding during the rainy season. In the event of a heavy rainy season, often at its worst when El Nio occurs, rice farmers lose many of their crops. All this is due to a lack of infrastructure in the area.
",M,1200,lender,Agriculture,0 Ecuador,"Jose sells clothing in the rural town of Baba. He and his wife travel to Guayaquil once a month to invest in clothing from the city. They return from Guayaquil and sell to their friends, family and acquaintances. Joses goal is to be able to set up his own stand or store where he can sell because now he and his wife only make house visits or sell door to door. They have three children; one daughter, age 17, and two sons, ages 11 and 6. They are hoping to make some extra money to send their daughter to college in the larger city of Babahoyo so she can continue studying accounting.
This borrower is part of the newest and largest Communal Bank in the recently developed Mifex Rural Finance Program. All of the members of the Centro Agricola de Baba Communal Bank are part of an Association of Rice Farmers in the county of Baba in rural Ecuador. Their association works cooperatively to cultivate rice and commercialize the product after it has grown. As an association, Centro Agricola helps the farmers by providing access to machinery and training services. The farmers from Centro Agricola have received special instruction on financial responsibility and accounting from Codemicro, an organization that specializes in training programs geared towards the rural sector.
The members of Centro Agricola de Baba will use the micro-loans to prepare their lands and cultivate rice on their farms. Because they form part of a communal bank, they are all each others' guarantors for the loan. This means that if for some reason one person in the group cannot fully repay the loan, the other borrowers and the Centro Agricola de Baba Association are responsible for the amount in default. The members of the bank also participate in a program designed to teach and encourage savings among the group. Promoting savings is often forgotten in many micro-finance programs, but Mifex believes that is imperative for the communities we works with to have capital reserved for future investments or unexpected difficulties.
Below is more information about Santa Lucia compiled by Luis Crespo and Robert Edgar of the Mifex team when evaluating the potential of the sector for the Rural Finance Program.
The people of Baba have been organized since the days of Gran Colombia when Ecuador was yet to be a country. The area has always been popular because of the extremely productive lands that gave way to cultivation of cacao for decades. Now Baba is a county in the province of Los Rios in the coastal region of Ecuador. For most of the latter part of the 20th Century it was a cacao and banana-producing sector. Most of the surrounding areas of Baba in Los Rios are owned by large multinational companies such as Dole, but Baba is a sector characterized by small and informal farms.
Rice production has now turned into the main economic activity of the sector as about 80% of the people are rice farmers. Cacao is still very popular in the area, but because of the long cultivation cycle people prefer to invest in rice. The lands in Baba are very fertile though, and most farmers in the sector often grow other crops, such as plantains and soybeans as secondary sources of income. Many farmers also keep livestock as emergency sources of food and income, commonly resorting to selling a chicken or pig if they are in need of cash.
Most of the people in the Baba area are small farmers. They produce about 80 sacks of rice per hectare of land. In order to farm they first must prepare the lands by removing weeds, plowing and leveling the lands. This is the most difficult part for the farmers in Baba, who often lack the necessary machinery to properly plow the lands for rice production. After appropriately preparing the lands, the farmers fill an area with water to form what is known as a paddy field, because rice is a very water-intensive crop. The rice seeds are either dispersed freely (the process is known as boleo in Spanish) or hand sowed. Once the rice has grown, most farmers rent machinery that helps them gather their production.
One of the biggest struggles in the area has been the lack of credit due to the absence of any type of financial institution. Because people do not count on formal financial finance, they have turned to loan sharks for financing. They have been affected by expensive lines of credit that exceed 100% interest a year and can be as expensive as 240%. Intermediaries also exploit the farmers because of their outstanding debt. Farmers also lack skills and knowledge to commercialize their products and pay fair prices for their crops.
The largest risk in the sector is due to absence of watering systems. Although Baba is in the province Los Rios (the rivers) there is severe problem with access to water. The lack of infrastructure in the sector does not allow the small farmers to benefit from the presence of the many rivers in the area. If the winter season is too dry, it is likely that the lands will not be sufficiently fertile for rice production in the summer. On the other hand, if there is too much rain, there are not any drainage systems to prevent flooding and the crops are often ruined. Generally speaking though, Baba is a very productive sector where the lands yield all types of crops including rice, cacao, corn, watermelons, plantains, and soybeans.
The loans in this sector will mostly be used to buy soil, seeds, fertilizer and insecticides. Many clients will use the capital towards renting machinery and equipment necessary to effectively work and prepare the fields. Clients also typically use a part of the loan to buy livestock in order to raise and have as reserves. The loan repayment schedule is different from the typical micro-entrepreneur because farmers see the profits from their investments 5 or 6 months after making their initial expenditures. Mifex asks our rural clients only to pay 50% of the capital in the first 6 months of the loan. The rest of the debt must be paid in the seventh and final month.
",M,675,lender,Clothing,1 Ecuador,"Juan has a small farm where he grows rice and raises cattle. He has been working in agriculture his entire life after being taught by his father. He has four children, only one of which is still in school. His other three children live and work with him on his farm and help him produce rice. He wants to improve his home, because it is made only out of wood at the moment.
Juan is the latest addition to one of the new Communal Banks in the Mifex Rural Finance Program. All of the members of the 10 de enero Communal Bank are part of an Association of Rice Farmers in Salitre named 10 de enero. They will use the microloans to prepare the lands and cultivate rice on their farms. Because they form part of a communal bank, they are all each others' guarantors for the loan. This means that if for some reason one person in the group cannot fully repay the loan, the other borrowers and the 10 de enero Association are responsible for the amount in default. The members of the bank also participate in a program designed to teach and encourage savings among the group. Promoting savings is often forgotten in many microfinance programs, but is imperative for the communities Mifex works with to have capital reserved for future investments or unexpected difficulties.
The loans in this sector will be used to create water basins that will prevent flooding in the case of heavy rains or store water in case of droughts. The loans will also be used to treat the land prior to farming, to plant the seeds and purchase fertilizer. The loan repayment schedule is also different from the typical microentrepreneur. Because farmers see the profits from their investments 5 or 6 months after making their initial expenditures, Mifex asks them only to pay 50% of the capital in the first 5 months of the loan. The rest of the debt must be paid in the sixth and final month.
Below is more information about Salitre compiled by the staff at Mifex when evaluating the potential of the sector for the Rural Finance Program.
Salitre is a rural sector in the Province of Guayas known as the capital of Montuvios (montuvio is a cowboy) with approximately 30,000 inhabitants. The main economic activities are herding and agriculture which make up about 80% of the economy. The infrastructure and basic services are poor, especially the roads and water services.
Salitre is highly dedicated to farming rice and cattle ranching. Rice is a crop that yields about every four months. In order to farm rice, the environment must be very humid and there must be a high volume of water. The lack of a structured water system makes it difficult for the small farmers to be highly productive. The best months for cultivating rice are early in the year when it is the rainy season in the coast of Ecuador.
Salitre is a national tourist attraction as many Ecuadorians visit the freshwater Salitre River. There are cottages, small restaurants and water attractions that people come to enjoy.
There are not many financial institutions that provide services to the productive sector of the local economy. The primary access to credit comes from loan sharks who charge extremely high interest rates averaging around 20% a month. The locals are also exploited by the intermediaries that buy their products in order to commercialize them in the city and to export abroad. These intermediaries buy crops in advance at very low prices, finance soil at extremely high prices and often provide emergency loans for even higher interest rates than the loan sharks.
Salitre is a dangerous sector considering it is in a rural area. There is a high incidence of robbery of cattle that results in many of the ranch owners owning weapons to protect their property. Because the police are not present in these areas, farmers and ranchers must apply their own laws and provide their own security. In some instances they have formed their own cooperatives and associations to have a community crime prevention effort.
Salitre is in the lowlands of Ecuador and is vulnerable to flooding in the rainy season. In the event of a heavy rainy season, often at its worse when El Nio occurs, the farmers of rice lose many of their crops. All this is due to a lack of infrastructure in the area.
",M,1200,lender,Agriculture,0 Ecuador,"Juan has lived off of rice farming almost his life. He is 70 years old and still has the energy to oversee his lands. With the help of his son, who still lives and works the fields with him, his rice farming is still productive. He and his wife Damiana are very happy to receive the loan, especially at their age which makes it particularly difficult to borrow even from informal lenders and loan sharks. He hopes he can invest in his land so they will continue to be productive for the next generation of his family.
Juan is part of the newest Communal Banks in the recently developed Mifex Rural Finance Program. All of the members of the Centro Agricola de Santa Lucia Communal Bank are part of an Association of Rice Farmers in Santa Lucia. Their association works cooperatively to help in the commercialization of the product after it has grown. They will use the micro-loans to prepare their lands and cultivate rice on their farms. Because they form part of a communal bank, they are all each others' guarantors for the loan. This means that if for some reason one person in the group cannot fully repay the loan, the other borrowers and the Primero de Agosto Association are responsible for the amount in default. The members of the bank also participate in a program designed to teach and encourage savings among the group. Promoting savings is often forgotten in many micro-finance programs, but Mifex believes that is imperative for the communities we works with to have capital reserved for future investments or unexpected difficulties.
Below is more information about Santa Lucia compiled by Luis Crespo and Robert Edgar of the Mifex team when evaluating the potential of the sector for the Rural Finance Program. Special thanks to Mario Balazantegui who provided expert insight and contributed to the development of the alliances with the local organizations.
Santa Lucia County has a population of about 33,000 people. The sector is fit for rice cultivating because it is not in the lowlands and therefore it is not at risk of flooding. There is also great access to water because of the Daule River, which is accessible to many of the farmers in the area. About 70% of the farmers have basic infrastructure for watering their crops.
Rice production is the main economic activity of the area as about 80% of the people are rice farmers. Almost everyone is either directly or indirectly involved with rice production, as they produce, commercialize or participate in activities that add value to the product. Within the county, there is a small town also named Santa Lucia. The town is filled with many small businesses and it serves as the social and commercial hub of the area.
Most of the people in the Santa Lucia area are small farmers. They produce about 100 sacks of rice per hectare of land. In order to farm they first must prepare the lands by removing weeds and plowing. The farmers then fill an area with water to form what is known as a paddy field, because rice is a very water intensive crop. The rice seeds are either dispersed freely (the process is known as boleo in Spanish) or hand sowed. Once the rice has grown, most farmers rent machinery that helps them gather their production. A risk factor does exist in rice farming because of drought, but in Santa Lucia this is somewhat mitigated by the access to water form the nearby river.
The biggest struggle in the area has been the lack of credit. Because people do not count on formal financial services, they have turned to loan sharks for financing. They have been affected by expensive lines of credit that exceed 100% interest a year and can be as expensive as 240%. Intermediaries also exploit the farmers because of their outstanding debt. Farmers also lack skills and knowledge to commercialize their products and pay fair prices for their crops.
The loans in this sector will be used to to buy soil, seeds, fertilizer and insecticides. They will also be used to prepare the land prior to farming, to plant the seeds and purchase other materials. The loan repayment schedule is also different from the typical micro-entrepreneur. Because farmers see the profits from their investments 5 or 6 months after making their initial expenditures, Mifex asks them only to pay 50% of the capital in the first 6 months of the loan. The rest of the debt must be paid in the seventh and final month.
",M,550,lender,Agriculture,0 Ecuador,"Juan is married and has a one year old son. He used to work in a factory, but they let him go four years ago. Since money was tight and he had mouths to feed, Juan opened up his own business, which has become a local favorite in Guayaquil. In fact, whenever the Mifex team visits Ecuador, Juan (or Nene as he likes to be called) serves up the best dishes around.
He and his wife work seven days a week managing their restaurant which sells rice & beans, beef, chicken, and chorizo. His wife Betty is the cook, and Nene attends to the clients. It wasnt easy to start the restaurant because they didnt have much capital. However, like many other Ecuadorian businesses, they started out by working from home in order to save money. Through perseverance, things have gone pretty well over the past four years. They have received such high demand that they had to build an extension to their home just to make space for more tables. Not only are customers coming from the local neighborhood, but from all around Guayaquil. Nene and Betty run the restaurant from 6:30 pm until 2:00 am.
Juan and Betty have made great progress with their business over the last several months with the help of a Mifex loan. The chairs and tables they bought were good investments as they allowed their customers to be more comfortable. They also used part of their money to buy meats in bulk. Their business has done so great that they are now offering lunch during the day as well. Juan and Betty's only problem now is that there is too much work and their kitchen and equipment cannot handle the load. They plan on using their next loan in order to purchase an industrial kitchen and continue making physical improvements to their restaurant.",M,700,partner,Food,0 Ecuador,"
Juan owns a restaurant where he sells all the traditional Ecuadorian dishes, including encebollado, ceviche and seco de pello (chicken stew). His restaurant has been flourishing as of late due to the improvements he made to his restaurant, such as investment in tables and chairs. These changes were financed by Juans first loan with Kiva and Mifex. He was able to offer a better environment for his clients and therefore saw business increase. Recently, he was able to buy a new refrigerator in which to store his food along with sodas and drinks. His business has flourished in the last several months thanks to the lenders who provided capital for him. He is now considering opening a new location where he will have access to more clients.
Juan is a father of two children. He and his wife work hard in the restaurant in order to provide for their children. The most important priority for them is providing an education for their kids and making improvements to their household.
",M,1200,lender,Food,1 Ecuador,"Juan was born in Salitre over 70 years ago. He has a small farm that has helped him feed and educate his children for a lifetime. On his farm he grows rice, maize and sweet potatoes. He lives with his wife in their home. He hopes to invest the loan in agriculture so he can continue to feed himself and not depend on others.
He is the latest addition to one of the new Communal Banks in the Mifex Rural Finance Program. All of the members of the Buena Suerte de Salitre Communal Bank are part of an Association of Rice Farmers. They will use the microloans to prepare the lands and cultivate rice on their farms. Because they form part of a communal bank, they are all each other's guarantors for the loan. This means that if for some reason one person in the group cannot fully repay the loan, the other borrowers and the Buena Suerte Association are responsible for the amount in default. The members of the bank also participate in a program designed to teach and encourage savings among the group. Promoting savings is often forgotten in many microfinance programs, but is imperative for the communities Mifex works with to have capital reserved for future investments or unexpected difficulties.
The loans in this sector will be used to create water deposits that will prevent flooding in the case of heavy rains or store water in case of droughts. They will also be used to treat the land prior to farming, to plant the seeds and purchase fertilizer. The loan repayment schedule is also different from the typical microentrepreneur. Because farmers see the profits from their investments 5 or 6 months after making their initial expenditures, Mifex asks them only to pay 50% of the capital in the first 5 months of the loan. The rest of the debt must be paid in the sixth and final month.
Below is more information about Salitre compiled by the staff at Mifex when evaluating the potential of the sector for the Rural Finance Program.
Salitre is a rural sector in the Province of Guayas, known as the capital of Montuvios (montuvio is a cowboy), with approximately 30,000 inhabitants. The main economic activities are herding and agriculture which make up about 80% of the economy. The infrastructure and basic services are poor, especially the roads and water services.
Salitre is highly dedicated to farming rice and cattle ranching. Rice is a crop that yields about every four months. In order to farm rice, the environment must be very humid and there must be a high volume of water. The lack of a structured water system makes it difficult for the small farmers to be highly productive. The best months for cultivating rice are early in the year when it is the rainy season on the coast of Ecuador.
Salitre is a national tourist attraction as many Ecuadorians visit the fresh water Salitre River. There are cottages, small restaurants and water attractions that people come to enjoy.
There are not many financial institutions that provide services to the productive sector of the local economy. The primary access to credit comes from loan sharks who charge extremely high interest rates averaging around 20% a month. The locals are also exploited by the intermediaries that buy their products in order to commercialize them in the city and to export abroad. These intermediaries buy crops in advance at very low prices, finance soil at extremely high prices, and often provide emergency loans for even higher interest rates than the loan sharks.
Salitre is a dangerous sector considering it is in the rural area. There is a high incidence of robbery of cattle that results in many of the ranch owners owning weapons to protect their property. Because the police are not present in these areas, farmers and ranchers must apply their own laws and provide their own security. In some instances they have formed their own cooperatives and associations to have a community crime prevention effort.
Salitre is in the lowlands of Ecuador and is vulnerable to flooding in the rainy season. In the event of a heavy rainy season, often at its worse when El Nio occurs, the farmers of rice lose many of their crops. All this is due to a lack of infrastructure in the area.
",M,1200,lender,Agriculture,0 Ecuador,"Juana started her shrimp selling business with only $100 in capital that her brother lent her. She used the money to invest in shrimp and she slowly started to build a reputation as a vendor in the area.
Juanas business has developed very well over the past few years. She hopes that she will be able to invest in different types of seafood that she can sell. Increasing her current offerings and diversifying her product line can have a significant impact on Juanas business.
Juana is 49 years old and she has two children, who are in school. Her home is very humble and she hopes that she is able to save and fix it up.
",F,275,partner,Food,0 Ecuador,"Juana started in business with selling rice in bulk. Due to lack of capital she had to leave that business and she started her little store selling basic necessities. She works there every day from 6am to 10pm. She also has a new bazaar thanks to the investment of her first Mifex and Kiva loan. She carries fashion accessories, jewelry, and various gifts and displays these in her new glass case.
Juana is requesting a second loan to buy goods for her businesses. The holiday season is here and she is confident her sales will increase. She wants to have more inventory and a better stocked store, and thus provide better service for her clients. She also plans to use part of this loan to finish construction of a cement floor in one of the bedrooms as it is currently a dirt floor.
",F,1200,lender,Retail,1 Ecuador,"Juans priority in this loan is the melon crop. The loan will be used to buy seeds, herbicide, fertilizer and other supplies in order to use a complete hectare in the cultivation of this fruit.
The melon crop yielded the fruits expected, to the point of allowing him to simultaneously sow other alternative crops such as tomatoes; all this without neglecting the production of rice and corn.
Juan is 56 years old and lives in sector 20. He began in agriculture at age of 16. He is married and has seven children, 3 of whom still live with him and are attending school. Their house is made of cement.
Juan will begin growing other alternative crops, because of the good results obtained in the previous crop. He will be taking advantage of the winter crop, buying all the agricultural supplies, renting machinery and arranging necessary labor.
Translated from Spanish by B, Kiva Volunteer.
",M,1200,lender,Agriculture,1 Ecuador,"
Julia has 15 years of work experience. When her husband passed away 15 years ago, she was forced to go to work as a domestic employee to provide for her children. Each day, Julia put aside a portion of the money she earned so that she could eventually open up her own store in her house. Because she wanted her children to grow up alongside her, she took out a loan to launch her own business. Her store is now open from 7 a.m. until 10 p.m., and she works alongside her daughter who lives with her.
Julia would like a new loan so that she can provide for her business that is now low on finances: Recently, Julia's partner had a heart operation, and she paid for many of the expenses. While he is recuperating well, Julia is still low on capital.
Julia is 63 years old, and she has 7 children that help her with the store whenever they can. She would like to be able to improve the facade of her house in order to let more light into the space and bring a better service to her clients. With the help of some credit and her clients, she is sure she will be able to realize her dreams.
Translated from Spanish by Michelle Kreger, a Kiva Volunteer.
",F,475,partner,Food,0 Ecuador,"
Julia has 15 years of work experience. When her husband passed away 15 years ago, she was forced to go to work as a domestic employee to provide for her children. Each day, Julia put aside a portion of the money she earned so that she could eventually open up her own store in her house. Because she wanted her children to grow up alongside her, she took out a loan to launch her own business. Her store is now open from 7 a.m. until 10 p.m., and she works alongside her daughter who lives with her.
Julia has already borrowed from Kiva and Mifex. With her first loan she improved her sales because she was able to buy at wholesale prices and quantities. She will use her second loan to continue buying more products for her small store and fixing its appearance.
Julia is 63 years old, and she has 7 children that help her with the store whenever they can. She would like to be able to improve the facade of her house in order to let more light into the space and bring better service to her clients. With the help of some credit and her clients, she is sure she will be able to realize her dreams.
",F,850,lender,Food,1 Ecuador,"Julio has 8 years of experience in this field. He began working for his father and brother where he was able to acquire the necessary skills. Little by little, he began to make a profit from his work . With this he began to buy his tools. He decided to open his own business on a separate site, which he is currently renting. His brother helps to serve his clients. He works every day of the week from 6:30 in the morning until 7 at night. His business is based in a place where there is good demand for his service.
With a previous loan from Mifex, Julio was able to replace his compressor with a newer, more efficient version. He was also able to purchase old parts and bicycles that he used for repairs and refurbishing. Julio hopes he can continue to invest his capital in buying damaged bikes that can still be salvaged.
Julio is married. He has two children; of these, one is already studying. His wife works from home as a seamstress. In this way she generates another income for the family. A short time ago, Julio took out a loan with which he bought a second-hand truck that he uses to make chartered journeys. And when he has the time, he also sells fruit from his car. He hopes to increase his income in order to give his family a better life.
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",M,950,lender,Services,1 Ecuador,"Julio has a small farm where he raises chickens, ducks and pigs. He then sells them to the local stores and markets in Baba. He also has some rice planted, but his main income comes from the sale of his livestock. He is hoping to receive a loan because he wants to improve the conditions of the places where the poultry is kept. He also wants to make significant investments in new ducks to sell now that he sees that they are popular. Julio has two children, both of whom are still in school and live with him.
This borrower is part of the newest and largest Communal Bank in the recently developed Mifex Rural Finance Program. All of the members of the Centro Agricola de Baba Communal Bank are part of an Association of Rice Farmers in the county of Baba in rural Ecuador. Their association works cooperatively to cultivate rice and commercialize the product after it has grown. As an association, Centro Agricola helps the farmers by providing access to machinery and training services. The farmers from Centro Agricola have received special instruction on financial responsibility and accounting from Codemicro, an organization that specializes in training programs geared towards the rural sector.
The members of Centro Agricola de Baba will use the micro-loans to prepare their lands and cultivate rice on their farms. Because they form part of a communal bank, they are all each others' guarantors for the loan. This means that if for some reason one person in the group cannot fully repay the loan, the other borrowers and the Centro Agricola de Baba Association are responsible for the amount in default. The members of the bank also participate in a program designed to teach and encourage savings among the group. Promoting savings is often forgotten in many micro-finance programs, but Mifex believes that is imperative for the communities we works with to have capital reserved for future investments or unexpected difficulties.
Below is more information about Santa Lucia compiled by Luis Crespo and Robert Edgar of the Mifex team when evaluating the potential of the sector for the Rural Finance Program.
The people of Baba have been organized since the days of Gran Colombia when Ecuador was yet to be a country. The area has always been popular because of the extremely productive lands that gave way to cultivation of cacao for decades. Now Baba is a county in the province of Los Rios in the coastal region of Ecuador. For most of the latter part of the 20th Century it was a cacao and banana-producing sector. Most of the surrounding areas of Baba in Los Rios are owned by large multinational companies such as Dole, but Baba is a sector characterized by small and informal farms.
Rice production has now turned into the main economic activity of the sector as about 80% of the people are rice farmers. Cacao is still very popular in the area, but because of the long cultivation cycle people prefer to invest in rice. The lands in Baba are very fertile though, and most farmers in the sector often grow other crops, such as plantains and soybeans as secondary sources of income. Many farmers also keep livestock as emergency sources of food and income, commonly resorting to selling a chicken or pig if they are in need of cash.
Most of the people in the Baba area are small farmers. They produce about 80 sacks of rice per hectare of land. In order to farm they first must prepare the lands by removing weeds, plowing and leveling the lands. This is the most difficult part for the farmers in Baba, who often lack the necessary machinery to properly plow the lands for rice production. After appropriately preparing the lands, the farmers fill an area with water to form what is known as a paddy field, because rice is a very water-intensive crop. The rice seeds are either dispersed freely (the process is known as boleo in Spanish) or hand sowed. Once the rice has grown, most farmers rent machinery that helps them gather their production.
One of the biggest struggles in the area has been the lack of credit due to the absence of any type of financial institution. Because people do not count on formal financial finance, they have turned to loan sharks for financing. They have been affected by expensive lines of credit that exceed 100% interest a year and can be as expensive as 240%. Intermediaries also exploit the farmers because of their outstanding debt. Farmers also lack skills and knowledge to commercialize their products and pay fair prices for their crops.
The largest risk in the sector is due to absence of watering systems. Although Baba is in the province Los Rios (the rivers) there is severe problem with access to water. The lack of infrastructure in the sector does not allow the small farmers to benefit from the presence of the many rivers in the area. If the winter season is too dry, it is likely that the lands will not be sufficiently fertile for rice production in the summer. On the other hand, if there is too much rain, there are not any drainage systems to prevent flooding and the crops are often ruined. Generally speaking though, Baba is a very productive sector where the lands yield all types of crops including rice, cacao, corn, watermelons, plantains, and soybeans.
The loans in this sector will mostly be used to buy soil, seeds, fertilizer and insecticides. Many clients will use the capital towards renting machinery and equipment necessary to effectively work and prepare the fields. Clients also typically use a part of the loan to buy livestock in order to raise and have as reserves. The loan repayment schedule is different from the typical micro-entrepreneur because farmers see the profits from their investments 5 or 6 months after making their initial expenditures. Mifex asks our rural clients only to pay 50% of the capital in the first 6 months of the loan. The rest of the debt must be paid in the seventh and final month.
",M,950,lender,Agriculture,1 Ecuador,"Julio has lived on his lands for about 40 years. He has 6 children, all of whom are grown. Some of his sons still work with him on the farm during the heavy cycles of rice production. He has depended on his lands for his entire life. He also has some cattle that he raises and uses for milk production. Julio will invest the loan mainly in pesticides and the rental of machinery to pick the rice he has already planted. The loan will help increase his profits as he will not lose as much production as before and it will be easier to collect his product.
Julio is part of the newest Communal Banks in the recently developed Mifex Rural Finance Program. All of the members of the Centro Agricola de Santa Lucia Communal Bank are part of an Association of Rice Farmers in Santa Lucia. Their association works cooperatively to help in the commercialization of the product after it has grown. They will use the micro-loans to prepare their lands and cultivate rice on their farms. Because they form part of a communal bank, they are all each others guarantors for the loan. This means that if for some reason one person in the group cannot fully repay the loan, the other borrowers and the Primero de Agosto Association are responsible for the amount in default. The members of the bank also participate in a program designed to teach and encourage savings among the group. Promoting savings is often forgotten in many micro-finance programs, but Mifex believes that is imperative for the communities we work with to have capital reserved for future investments or unexpected difficulties.
Below is more information about Santa Lucia compiled by Luis Crespo and Robert Edgar of the Mifex team when evaluating the potential of the sector for the Rural Finance Program. Special thanks to Mario Balazantegui who provided expert insight and contributed to the development of the alliances with the local organizations.
Santa Lucia County has a population of about 33,000 people. The sector is fit for rice cultivating because it is not in the lowlands and therefore it is not at risk of flooding. There is also great access to water because of the Daule River, which is accessible to many of the farmers in the area. About 70% of the farmers have basic infrastructure for watering their crops.
Rice production is the main economic activity of the area as about 80% of the people are rice farmers. Almost everyone is either directly or indirectly involved with rice production, as they produce, commercialize or participate in activities that add value to the product. Within the county, there is a small town also named Santa Lucia. The town is filled with many small businesses and it serves as the social and commercial hub of the area.
Most of the people in the Santa Lucia area are small farmers. They produce about 100 sacks of rice per hectare of land. In order to farm they first must prepare the lands by removing weeds and plowing. The farmers then fill an area with water to form what is known as a paddy field, because rice is a very water-intensive crop. The rice seeds are either dispersed freely (the process is known as boleo in Spanish) or hand sowed. Once the rice has grown, most farmers rent machinery that helps them gather their production. A risk factor does exist in rice farming because of drought, but in Santa Lucia this is somewhat mitigated by the access to water form the nearby river.
The biggest struggle in the area has been the lack of credit. Because people do not count on formal financial services, they have turned to loan sharks for financing. They have been affected by expensive lines of credit that exceed 100% interest a year and can be as expensive as 240%. Intermediaries also exploit the farmers because of their outstanding debt. Farmers also lack skills and knowledge to commercialize their products and pay fair prices for their crops.
The loans in this sector will be used to to buy soil, seeds, fertilizer and insecticides. They will also be used to prepare the land prior to farming, to plant the seeds and purchase other materials. The loan repayment schedule is also different from the typical micro-entrepreneur. Because farmers see the profits from their investments 5 or 6 months after making their initial expenditures, Mifex asks them only to pay 50% of the capital in the first 6 months of the loan. The rest of the debt must be paid in the seventh and final month.
",M,1200,lender,Agriculture,0 Ecuador,"Julio has worked for 2 years in computer scanning, printing, and design production. He started this job after gaining experience working in a cybercafe. He also studies graphic design at the university, which has helped him gain a great understanding of this subject. He works every day but does not have a fixed schedule.
Julio is asking for this second loan to buy blank CDs, office supplies and reams of paper for larger quantity printing since there is a great demand from his university colleagues, also allowing him to attend to all his customers. He is also happy to help his parents invest in their beverage-selling business.
Julio is 23 years old. He is single and lives with his parents, helping with some of the household expenses. From a very young age, he started working and helping around the house. He continues to study at the university, but he also contributes to the betterment of his family's life through the income generated by his business. He counts on his older brother's and parents' support. He hopes that, with the loan, his business can grow and his income increase, allowing him and his family a better standard of living.
",M,850,lender,Services,1 Ecuador,"Julio is a native of Salitre, Ecuador, and he has been working in rice farming his entire life. On his farm, he has rice and also some cows and bulls. With the loan, he will buy fertilizer for rice farming as he hopes to increase his productivity. The fertilizer helps increase the yield per plot and it also provides rice of better quality. He dreams of fixing his home, which is made out of wood and is vulnerable to rains. On his farm he also has a couple of horses.
He is the latest addition to one of the new Communal Banks in the Mifex Rural Finance Program. All of the members of the 10 de enero Communal Bank are part of an Association of Rice Farmers in Salitre named 10 de enero. They will use the microloans to prepare the lands and cultivate rice on their farms. Because they form part of a communal bank, they are all each others' guarantors for the loan. This means that if for some reason one person in the group cannot fully repay the loan, the other borrowers and the 10 de enero Association are responsible for the amount in default. The members of the bank also participate in a program designed to teach and encourage savings among the group. Promoting savings is often forgotten in many microfinance programs, but is imperative for the communities Mifex works with to have capital reserved for future investments or unexpected difficulties.
The loans in this sector will be used to create water basins that will prevent flooding in the case of heavy rains or store water in case of droughts. The loans will also be used to treat the land prior to farming, to plant the seeds and purchase fertilizer. The loan repayment schedule is also different from the typical microentrepreneur. Because farmers see the profits from their investments 5 or 6 months after making their initial expenditures, Mifex asks them only to pay 50% of the capital in the first 5 months of the loan. The rest of the debt must be paid in the sixth and final month.
Below is more information about Salitre compiled by the staff at Mifex when evaluating the potential of the sector for the Rural Finance Program.
Salitre is a rural sector in the Province of Guayas known as the capital of Montuvios (montuvio is a cowboy) with approximately 30,000 inhabitants. The main economic activities are herding and agriculture which make up about 80% of the economy. The infrastructure and basic services are poor, especially the roads and water services.
Salitre is highly dedicated to farming rice and cattle ranching. Rice is a crop that yields about every four months. In order to farm rice, the environment must be very humid and there must be a high volume of water. The lack of a structured water system makes it difficult for the small farmers to be highly productive. The best months for cultivating rice are early in the year when it is the rainy season in the coast of Ecuador.
Salitre is a national tourist attraction as many Ecuadorians visit the freshwater Salitre River. There are cottages, small restaurants and water attractions that people come to enjoy.
There are not many financial institutions that provide services to the productive sector of the local economy. The primary access to credit comes from loan sharks who charge extremely high interest rates averaging around 20% a month. The locals are also exploited by the intermediaries that buy their products in order to sell them in the city and to export abroad. These intermediaries buy crops in advance at very low prices, finance soil at extremely high prices and often provide emergency loans for even higher interest rates than the loan sharks.
Salitre is a dangerous sector considering it is in a rural area. There is a high incidence of robbery of cattle that results in many of the ranch owners owning weapons to protect their property. Because the police are not present in these areas, farmers and ranchers must apply their own laws and provide their own security. In some instances they have formed their own cooperatives and associations to have a community crime prevention effort.
Salitre is in the lowlands of Ecuador and is vulnerable to flooding in the rainy season. In the event of a heavy rainy season, often at its worse when El Nio occurs, the farmers of rice lose many of their crops. All this is due to a lack of infrastructure in the area.
",M,1200,lender,Agriculture,0 Ecuador,"Karen has been working with her mother selling gas since she was ten years old. Her mother's separation from her father was Karen's main motive in helping her mother. She received help from her father to begin her business a year ago. She keeps her business open for 24 hours a day if there is demand for her product. She rents the locale where she has both her business and her home.
Karen will invest her credit in buying more cylinders, and she will take advantage of the low price she is being offered so that she will make a larger profit.
Karen is a 20 year old single mother. She has a daughter who is in school. Thanks to her job, her daughter is getting an education. Her mother helps her when she needs it. She hopes to save money to buy herself a plot of land and little by little build her home.
Translated by Kiva volunteer Maite Barragn
Karen desde la edad de 10 aos ya trabaja junto a su mama en la venta de gas. Su mama se separo de su papa motivo que la hizo pensar en ayudar a su mama. Recibe la ayuda de su padre con la que inicia su actividad hace 1 ao. Lo mantiene trabajando todos los das de la semana las 24 horas si la demanda lo amerita. Ella arrienda en este momento el local donde tiene su negocio y en el cual vive.
Karen el crdito lo invertir en la compra de mas cilindros. Aprovechando que le estn dejando cilindros a bajo precio. Con estos ella obtendr una mejor ganancia.
Karen es madre soltera. Tiene 20 aos. Una hija la cual estudia. Ella gracia ha su trabajo ha logrado darle educacin. Recibe la ayuda de su mama cuando lo necesita. Su deseo es poder ahorrar y con ese dinero comprarse un solar. Donde poco a poco ir construyendo su casita.
",F,600,partner,Retail,0 Ecuador,"Karen is a 20 year-old single mother. She has a daughter who is in school. Thanks to her job, her daughter is getting an education. Her mother helps her when she needs it, but Karen is fairly independent. Currently she rents the locale where she has both her business and her home. Because she lives there alone with her daughter, safety and security are primary concerns for her. She hopes to save money to buy herself a plot of land, and little by little build her home.
Karen has been working with her mother selling gas since she was ten years old. Her mother's separation from her father was Karen's main motive in helping her mother. She received help from her father to begin her own business a year ago. With a loan from Mifex and Kiva, she bought gas cylinders. She also used the loan to buy cement so she could build a wall dividing her home from her business.
Karen has been able to meet her sectors need for gas but with demand increasing, she wants to purchase additional cylinders. Her second loan with Mifex will go towards this purchase. In this way, she hopes to expand her client base and make a larger profit. She keeps her business open for 24 hours a day if there is demand for her product.
",F,950,lender,Retail,1 Ecuador,"Karina has spent three years running a business that she started with her own money. She sells clothing, shoes, skirts, and so on. She also sells juices, candies, and many other confections. She sells the clothes on credit and works from eight in the morning to eight at night. Her business is located in her home.
Karina is 35, married, and has three children who go to school. Her husband makes deliveries from a small vehicle they own. Together, they are able to meet household expenses. They live with Karina's mother-in-law, who has given over a part of her home to them.
Karina previously had loans from Kiva and Mifex, which she repaid. She is requesting this loan so she can keep a stock of clothing and shoes to sell to her customers. Karina's plans to expand her business and ensure a better future for the family.
",F,525,lender,Clothing,1 Ecuador,"Karla Salazar is young widow in the town of Salitre. After losing her husband, her parents gave her a small plot of land for her to start working on. She hopes that with this loan she will be able to adequately prepare her small farm for production. Her parents also helped her attain special agricultural training. She hopes this loan will allow her to apply her skills and be a successful independent woman.
The loans in this sector will be used to create water deposits that will prevent flooding in the case of heavy rains or store water in case of droughts. They will also be used to treat the land prior to farming, plant the seeds and purchase fertilizer. The loan repayment schedule is also different from the typical microentrepreneur. Because farmers see the profits from their investments 5 or 6 months after making their initial expenditures, Mifex asks them only to pay 50% of the capital in the first 6 months of the loan. The rest of the debt must be paid in the seventh and final month. Below is more information about Salitre compiled by the staff at Mifex when evaluating the potential of the sector for the Rural Finance Program. Salitre is a rural sector in the Province of Guayas which is known as the capital of Montuvios (montuvio is a cowboy) with approximately 30,000 inhabitants. The main economic activities are herding and agriculture, which make up about 80% of the economy. The infrastructure and basic services are poor, especially the roads and water services. Salitre is highly dedicated to rice farming and cattle ranching. Rice is a crop that yields about every four months. In order to farm rice, the environment must be very humid and there must be a high volume of water. The lack of a structured water system makes it difficult for the small farmers to be highly productive. The best months for cultivating rice are early in the year during the rainy season on the coast of Ecuador. Salitre is a national tourist attraction as many Ecuadorians visit the fresh water Salitre River. There are cottages, small restaurants and water attractions that people come to enjoy. There is not a single financial institution that provides services to the productive sector of the local economy. The only access to credit comes from loan sharks who charge extremely high interest rates averaging around 20% a month. The locals are also exploited by the intermediaries that buy their products in order to commercialize them in the city and to export abroad. These intermediaries buy crops in advance at very low prices, finance soil at extremely high prices and often provide emergency loans for even higher interest rates than the loan sharks. Salitre is a dangerous area despite its rural location. There is a high incidence of robbery of cattle that results in many of the ranch owners owning weapons to protect their property. Because the police are not present in these areas, farmers and ranchers must apply their own laws and provide their own security. In some instances they have formed their own cooperatives and associations to have a community crime prevention force. Salitre is in the lowlands of Ecuador and is vulnerable to flooding during the rainy season. In the event of a heavy rainy season, often at its worst when El Nio occurs, the rice farmers lose many of their crops. All this is due to a lack of infrastructure in the area. Kassandra has had a small diner for over 8 years. She and her husband started off by selling empanadas (beef and chicken turnovers) and they progressively grew from there. Kassandras husband worked as an electrician and a handy man but is now fully dedicated to the restaurant. He built the grill they use to cook their meats himself and has also made other physical improvements to the location on his own. They run their operation out of their home and offer a variety of typical Ecuadorian foods including barbecued meats. They are seeking this loan in order to invest in raw ingredients and foods. Kassandra is 27 years old and does not have any children. She aspires to make improvements to her home and the business with the extra profits. Mifex offers its clients microinsurance and access to business training and educational programs. For more information about microfinance, Ecuador, and our services, please visit www.mifex.org. Kassandra has had a small diner for over 8 years. She and her husband started off by selling empanadas (beef and chicken turnovers) and they progressively grew from there. Kassandras husband worked as an electrician and a handy man but is now fully dedicated to the restaurant. He built the grill they use to cook their meats himself and has also made other physical improvements to the location on his own. They run their operation out of their home and offer a variety of typical Ecuadorian foods including barbecued meats. Kassandra was able to invest her first loan with success. Her and her husbands restaurant business did well because they were able to make more meals. She now does not have to turn away her clients because she no longer runs out of food. Kassandra was also able to make investment in cosmetic products. During the day, she visits friends, families and acquaintances in order to sell her products. She will use her new loan to invest in these new products now that the restaurant is much more stable. Kassandra is 27 years old and does not have any children. She aspires to make improvements to her home and the business with the extra profits. Kennide owns a tire sale and repair shop. After working for several years in a market selling fruit, Kennide decided to pursue the family trade and open this workshop. He learned the ins and outs of the business from his father who has already passed away. He started the business with a loan in order to buy the machinery but he is eager to receive more capital in order to continue to grow his operation. His shop is open from 7 in the morning to 7 pm. He has 2 kids and a wife who is a teacher. Mifex offers its clients microinsurance and access to business training and educational programs. For more information about microfinance, Ecuador, and our services, please visit www.mifex.org. Kleber is a tailor who runs his workshop out of his home. He makes shirts, pants and school uniforms. He is requesting his second loan with Kiva and Mifex. Kleber was able to invest his first loan very effectively. As he planned, he bought new fabrics and many more materials. This allowed him to be more creative in his business and gain some new customers. Also, he has been working very diligently recently because of the upcoming school year. The demand for uniforms is at highest point in the year. Thanks to the profits that Kleber yielded from his first investments, he has been able to invest in the necessary materials to make a good amount of uniforms. Now that Kleber has sufficient materials, he is looking to improve his efficiency. He hopes that with a second loan he will be able to buy a new sewing machine and a cutting machine. His two sons are doing well and Kleber has already registered them for the new school year. Laura has 20 years experience as a seamstress. She began working for someone else, but she began studying and taking courses. With the money she saved she bought a sewing machine and began working in her house. Little by little she got more clientele because of her good customer service. She works every day from 8am to 8pm, and when she has classes she stays working even later. Laura needs a second Kiva loan to continue to buy raw materials like fabric and thread. The upcoming holiday season promises to be busy, and Laura already has orders from clients that she cannot complete because she does not have fabric. Laura is a single mother with 3 kids who are all in school. She has been able to support her home thanks to her work. Her first loan was repaid responsibly and helped Laura purchase a new refrigerator for her family. Laura has a small stand near a local school where she sells lunch and snacks to the students. She started the business with just $100 that a close friend lent her and now she is seeking to expand her activities. Currently she just sells sandwiches and other fast food items to the children, but she now wants to expand her business and sell to the teachers. Therefore she will invest in a tables and chairs and she will also need to make different types of foods. She and her husband have two children. Their dream is to send their kids to college and to improve their home. Mifex offers its clients microinsurance and access to business training and educational programs. For more information about microfinance, Ecuador, and our services, please visit www.mifex.org. Laura is a 36-year-old mother of two children. She has a small drugstore and sells various products out of her home. Laura began her business with the help of her husband, who provided money to start up the drugstore. At the beginning she only sold medicines. Now she offers those products together with school supplies and office supplies. Laura used her first Mifex and Kiva loan to grow her business and to improve the quality of her home. She invested in specific drugs her clients wanted her to carry and also in beauty products and novelty items. Now that Lauras business has stabilized and she has sufficient inventory, she wants to make new improvements to her home using a second loan from Mifex and Kiva. She would like to provide better service to her clients and needs more space in this part of her house to do so. Laura is convinced that this loan will improve the financial standing of her family to enable them to build a new home and save for their children's education. They have seen the positive impact of microcredit in their lives and hope to continue to grow. Laura is a 57-year-old single mother of three children. She has a small boutique in her home. Laura began her business with the financial help of her family. Initially, she only sold costume jewelry. Now she continues to offer those products together with sportswear and formalwear for men and women. She used her first Mifex and Kiva loan to invest in product display materials and to purchase more products for sale, including shoes. Laura depends entirely on this business to support her family, since she is a single mother. She is actually separated from her husband but he is no longer involved in their lives. Her children have seen the gradual improvement in the quality of their lives as Lauras loan progressed, and they are thankful. Laura is requesting a second loan to buy more clothing and fashion accessories for the holiday season. Clients are often looking to buy gifts as well as festive clothing for themselves for the numerous parties and gatherings at years end. She hopes that this loan will give her the financial security to allow her to save for her children's education. Laura sells ice cream in her local neighborhood. She has been working as a saleswoman since she was a young girl. She started selling tortillas and stuffed potatoes from a cart after her mother passed away. Laura worked as a house cleaner in Venezuela for several years in order to pay for an operation her ill son needed. She is now back in Guayaquil and depends on her ice cream sales to feed her family. She is a single mother with 3 children, 2 of which are still dependents and go to school. She will invest the money in a new freezer so she may begin to sell products from her home as well as on the streets. Mifex offers its clients microinsurance and access to business training and educational programs. For more information about microfinance, Ecuador, and our services, please visit www.mifex.org. Lautaro owns a small store where he sells basic school and office supplies. He attained the capital for his business by borrowing $200 from local loan sharks who charge interest rates as high as 20% a month (120% a year). His business has gone well despite his difficulty in accessing capital. He has slowly been introducing new products to his store and has found success. He is requesting the loan because he wants to continue investing in products and he also wants to invest in a new glass display case. Lautaro and his wife have two young children. He completely depends on this business in order to support the family. Mifex offers its clients microinsurance and access to business training and educational programs. For more information about microfinance, Ecuador, and our services, please visit www.mifex.org. Lelia has a small business selling drinks, sweets, and dairy products from her home. She began doing this 10 years ago with her small amount of savings. It took a lot of effort since the father of her three children had abandoned the family. She had to find a way to earn some money to take care of her children. Her first loan with Mifex and Kiva was used to purchase merchandise for her store and to renovate her home. Her business improved and her income increased. Lelia wants to use her second loan to invest in the merchandise her customers are requesting. Lelia is very young (37) and a hard worker. She is open from 6am to 10pm and is dedicated to serving her customers. Lelia has put a lot of effort into raising her three children. She is completely confident that with this loan she will be able to earn more so that she can continue to provide her family with a good life and home. Leonidas es un campesino de Baba, un sector de Ecuador donde predomina la produccin del arroz. El esta solicitando un prestamo para poder invertir en los productos necesarios para sembrar, como las semillas y el fertilizante. El tiene 6 hijos, uno de los cuales todava lo esta apoyando en sus estudios. El resto tambin son arroceros, e inclusivo hay varios que lo ayudan a el en sus tierras. Leonida espera mejorar su vivienda con el prestamo, ya que ahora es de madera y es bien vulnerable a las lluvias fuertes que frecuentan el sector. Translated by Nuria Ruiz, Kiva Voluteer. Leonidas is a peasant from Baba, a region of Ecuador where the main source of income is the cultivation of rice. He is requesting a loan to buy soil, seeds, fertilizer and insecticides. Leonidas has six children , one of which is still studing. The rest of his kids are also rice laborers, some of them help him with the land. Leaonidas plans to also use some of the loan money to do some improvements on his house. His home is made of wood and thus not fitted for the rainy season. This borrower is part of the newest Communal Bank in the recently developed Mifex Rural Finance Program. All of the members of the Rosa de Oro (Golden Rose) Communal Bank are part of an Association of Rice Farmers in the county of Baba in rural Ecuador. Their association works cooperatively to cultivate rice and commercialize the product after it has grown. As an association, Rosa de Oro helps the farmers by providing access to machinery, training services and government assistance. The farmers from Rosa de Oro are very close to each other and cooperate to help one another on their farms.
The members of Rosa de Oro will use the micro-loans to prepare their lands and cultivate rice on their farms. Because they form part of a communal bank, they are all each others' guarantors for the loan. This means that if for some reason one person in the group cannot fully repay the loan, the other borrowers and the Rosa de Oro Association are responsible for the amount in default. The members of the bank also participate in a program designed to teach and encourage savings among the group. Promoting savings is often forgotten in many micro-finance programs, but Mifex believes that is imperative for the communities we works with to have capital reserved for future investments or unexpected difficulties. Below is more information about Baba compiled by Luis Crespo and Robert Edgar of the Mifex team when evaluating the potential of the sector for the Rural Finance Program. The people of Baba have been organized since the days of Gran Colombia when Ecuador was yet to be a country. The area has always been popular because of the extremely productive lands that gave way to cultivation of cacao for decades. Now Baba is a county in the province of Los Rios in the coastal region of Ecuador. For most of the latter part of the 20th Century it was a cacao and banana producing sector. Most of the surrounding areas of Baba in Los Rios are owned by large mulitnational
companies such as Dole, but Baba is a sector characterized by the small and informal farms. Rice production has now turned into the main economic activity of the sector as about 80% of the people are rice farmers. Cacao is still very popular in the area, but because of the long cultivation cycle people prefer to invest in rice. The lands in Baba are very fertile though, and most farmers in the sector often grow other crops, such as plantains and soy beans
as secondary sources of income. Many farmers also keep livestock as emergency sources of food and income, commonly resorting to selling a chicken or pig if they are in need of cash. Most of the people in the Baba area are small farmers. They produce about 80 sacks of rice per hectare of land. In order to farm they first must prepare the lands by removing weeds, plowing and leveling the lands. This is the most difficult part for the farmers in Baba, who often lack the necessary machinery to properly plow the lands for rice production. After appropriately preparing the lands, the farmers fill an area with water to form what is known as a paddy field, because rice is a very water intensive crop. The rice seeds are either dispersed freely (the process is known as boleo in Spanish) or hand sowed. Once the rice has grown, most farmers rent machinery that helps them gather their production. One of the biggest struggles in the area has been the lack of credit due to the absence of any type of financial institution.
Because people do not count on formal financial finance, they have turned to loan sharks for financing. They have been affected by expensive lines of credit that exceed 100% interest a year and can be as expensive as 240%. Intermediaries also exploit the farmers because of their outstanding debt. Farmers also lack skills and knowledge to commercialize their products and pay fair prices for their crops. The largest risk in the sector is due to absence of watering systems. Although Baba is in the province Los Rios (the rivers) there is severe problem with access to water. The lack of infrastructure in the sector does not allow the small farmers to benefit from the presence of the many rivers in the area. If the winter season is too dry, it is likely that the lands will not be sufficiently fertile for rice production in the summer. On the other hand, if there is too much rain there are not any drainage systems to prevent flooding and the crops are often ruined. Generally speaking though, Baba is a very productive sector where the lands yield all types of crops including rice, cacao, corn, watermelons, plantains, and soy beans. The loans in this sector will mostly be used to to buy soil, seeds, fertilizer and insecticides. Many clients will use the capital towards renting machinery and equipment necessary to effectively work and prepare the fields. Clients also typically use a part of the loan to buy livestock in order to raise and have as reserves. The loan repayment schedule is different from the typical micro-entrepreneur because farmers see the profits from their investments 5 or 6 months after making their initial expenditures. Mifex asks our rural clients only to pay 50% of the capital in the first 6 months of the loan. The rest of the debt must be paid in the seventh and final month. Letty owns a carpentry and furniture making business. While she was living with her husband at his mothers house, she learned the business from her brother in law. When her brother in law left to start his own business on the other side of the city, Letty bought all the equipment off of him in order to run the business herself. She hired two workers and brought her husband into the business to help her as well. She knows the trade well, although most of her job entails purchasing the materials and finding buyers for the finished product. Letty needs this loan in order to buy a tool that will allow her to give her products a more professional finish. She hopes that with this investment she can improve the quality of her work and increase sales. Letty and her husband have one child together. He now works at a shipyard in Guayaquil and helps out in the household and in the business. Her dream is to have her own home one day and run her shop out of theire. Letty owns a carpentry and furniture making business. While she was living with her husband at his mothers house, she learned the business from her brother-in-law. When her brother-in-law left to start his own business on the other side of the city, Letty bought all the equipment from him in order to run the business herself. She hired two workers and brought her husband into the business to help her as well. She knows the trade well, although most of her job entails purchasing the materials and finding buyers for the finished product. Letty and her husband have one child. He works at a shipyard in Guayaquil and helps out in the household and business. Her dream is to have her own home one day and run her shop out of there. Lettys business has been doing well over the last few months. She had a boost when she took out her previous loan with Kiva and Mifex, which allowed her to purchase a tool that she used to improve the quality and efficiency of her business. She wants a second loan in order to continue improving her machinery and also to fix up her workshop. Lety has lived in the province of Los Rios her entire life and therefore has always been around agriculture. She lives on a small farm with her husband where they grow rice and a few other crops such as plantains. Lety and her husband feed their family of six with the sales of their rice at the end of both seasons. She is hoping to invest in machinery that will help her plant the crop. This borrower is part of the newest and largest Communal Bank in the recently developed Mifex Rural Finance Program. All of the members of the Centro Agricola de Baba Communal Bank are part of an Association of Rice Farmers in the county of Baba in rural Ecuador. Their association works cooperatively to cultivate rice and commercialize the product after it has grown. As an association, Centro Agricola helps the farmers by providing access to machinery and training services. The farmers from Centro Agricola have received special instruction on financial responsibility and accounting from Codemicro, an organization that specializes in training programs geared towards the rural sector.
The members of Centro Agricola de Baba will use the micro-loans to prepare their lands and cultivate rice on their farms. Because they form part of a communal bank, they are all each others' guarantors for the loan. This means that if for some reason one person in the group cannot fully repay the loan, the other borrowers and the Centro Agricola de Baba Association are responsible for the amount in default. The members of the bank also participate in a program designed to teach and encourage savings among the group. Promoting savings is often forgotten in many micro-finance programs, but Mifex believes that is imperative for the communities we works with to have capital reserved for future investments or unexpected difficulties. Below is more information about Santa Lucia compiled by Luis Crespo and Robert Edgar of the Mifex team when evaluating the potential of the sector for the Rural Finance Program. The people of Baba have been organized since the days of Gran Colombia when Ecuador was yet to be a country. The area has always been popular because of the extremely productive lands that gave way to cultivation of cacao for decades. Now Baba is a county in the province of Los Rios in the coastal region of Ecuador. For most of the latter part of the 20th Century it was a cacao and banana-producing sector. Most of the surrounding areas of Baba in Los Rios are owned by large multinational companies such as Dole, but Baba is a sector characterized by small and informal farms. Rice production has now turned into the main economic activity of the sector as about 80% of the people are rice farmers. Cacao is still very popular in the area, but because of the long cultivation cycle people prefer to invest in rice. The lands in Baba are very fertile though, and most farmers in the sector often grow other crops, such as plantains and soybeans as secondary sources of income. Many farmers also keep livestock as emergency sources of food and income, commonly resorting to selling a chicken or pig if they are in need of cash. Most of the people in the Baba area are small farmers. They produce about 80 sacks of rice per hectare of land. In order to farm they first must prepare the lands by removing weeds, plowing and leveling the lands. This is the most difficult part for the farmers in Baba, who often lack the necessary machinery to properly plow the lands for rice production. After appropriately preparing the lands, the farmers fill an area with water to form what is known as a paddy field, because rice is a very water-intensive crop. The rice seeds are either dispersed freely (the process is known as boleo in Spanish) or hand sowed. Once the rice has grown, most farmers rent machinery that helps them gather their production. One of the biggest struggles in the area has been the lack of credit due to the absence of any type of financial institution.
Because people do not count on formal financial finance, they have turned to loan sharks for financing. They have been affected by expensive lines of credit that exceed 100% interest a year and can be as expensive as 240%. Intermediaries also exploit the farmers because of their outstanding debt. Farmers also lack skills and knowledge to commercialize their products and pay fair prices for their crops. The largest risk in the sector is due to absence of watering systems. Although Baba is in the province Los Rios (the rivers) there is severe problem with access to water. The lack of infrastructure in the sector does not allow the small farmers to benefit from the presence of the many rivers in the area. If the winter season is too dry, it is likely that the lands will not be sufficiently fertile for rice production in the summer. On the other hand, if there is too much rain, there are not any drainage systems to prevent flooding and the crops are often ruined. Generally speaking though, Baba is a very productive sector where the lands yield all types of crops including rice, cacao, corn, watermelons, plantains, and soybeans. The loans in this sector will mostly be used to buy soil, seeds, fertilizer and insecticides. Many clients will use the capital towards renting machinery and equipment necessary to effectively work and prepare the fields. Clients also typically use a part of the loan to buy livestock in order to raise and have as reserves. The loan repayment schedule is different from the typical micro-entrepreneur because farmers see the profits from their investments 5 or 6 months after making their initial expenditures. Mifex asks our rural clients only to pay 50% of the capital in the first 6 months of the loan. The rest of the debt must be paid in the seventh and final month. Leyda has a small beauty shop where she cuts men and womens hair. She started out in this line of work by offering her services at peoples homes, but now she has set up a part of her own house to work from. She has just started selling jewelry and other accessories to her clients as a part of her business. Leyda wants to continue investing in items to sell as complimentary goods from her business. She has noticed that by having people come in for haircuts she can also market these other goods. She and her husband have three kids. She is very optimistic about receiving the loan for her business and the good of her family. Mifex offers its clients microinsurance and access to business training and educational programs. For more information about microfinance, Ecuador, and our services, please visit www.mifex.org. Libia has been running her beauty salon for 2 years. Before becoming involved in this type of work, she was a seamstress who knitted bags and purses. After finding a job as an assistant in a beauty salon, she stopped her work as a seamstress. Today she runs her own beauty salon she took over from a sister in law who moved to the states. The business is a complimentary source of income in her household of 2 children. Her husband is a taxi driver. She will use the loan to buy a manicurists table and a foot massager for pedicures. Her business is run out of her home but is in need of these tools in order to provide improved services to the clients. Mifex offers its clients microinsurance and access to business training and educational programs. For more information about microfinance, Ecuador, and our services, please visit www.mifex.org. Lidia sells clothes in her local community and other areas in Ecuador. She buys the clothing in bulk from a friend who allows her to buy at wholesale prices and quantities. She travels to rural sectors in Ecuador on the weekend in order to sell much of her merchandise. She sees this as a great market because few people travel out there to sell and she has a loyal customer base. She is seeking the loan in order to invest in childrens clothing, shirts and mens pants. She wants to open a store out of her home in the near future in order to facilitate sales. She is a widow with 5 kids who are already grown up, one of them helps her with the business. Mifex offers its clients microinsurance and access to business training and educational programs. For more information about microfinance, Ecuador, and our services, please visit www.mifex.org. Lidys runs a hair salon where she styles and cuts hair. She has been in this line of work for over 15 years. After working in the beauty salon of a family member, Lidys decided to start her own operation with $50 of capital. She opens her salon at 9 in the morning and works until about 8 p.m. She already has lent from Kiva and Mifex. She needed the loan in order to buy better equipment for her operation, such as new scissors, a blow dryer and a hair iron. Lidys has done great with her first loan. She invested in various items that helped her improve her hair styling business. The profits she reaped helped her invest in clothes that she now sells from her salon and also when she travels to the rural sector. She was also able to make some improvements to her home and it is now completely out of cement blocks. Lidys is a 34 year old mother of 5 children. All of her kids are in school thanks to the income she generates from her own salon. She hopes to continue to improve her services and attract a larger amount of clients. Ligia is a local saleswoman of bottled water and soft drinks. In the poor neighborhoods in Ecuador drinking water is scarce. Ligia takes advantage of this situation by providing safe drinking water and other beverages to the members of her community. She uses a tricycle with a platform on the back to sell and deliver these products. She has also discovered that many of her clients would also like the convenience of receiving other products at their door step. Ligias clients most often request chicken and seafood from her. She is seeking the loan in order to invest in these new products for her target market and also the buy the drinking water in larger quantities for a better price. She and her husband have four children. He helps her with this business and also creates hand made sandals to sell. Mifex offers its clients microinsurance and access to business training and educational programs. For more information about microfinance, Ecuador, and our services, please visit www.mifex.org. Liner runs a small store where she sells hardware supplies. She started the business out of her home when her husband found himself without a job. With $200 in start up capital, she began selling basic supplies such as light bulbs and nails. The business is about the three years old and now includes a wider range of products. Liner is now also making photo copies for clients thanks to a loan from Kiva and Mifex that enabled her to buy a copier . Liner is requesting a second loan so she can purchase more merchandise at wholesale prices and quantities. This is a huge advantage for her business because she can offer better prices and products and earn more profit. Liner is 35-years old and has two children that are still in school. Her husband now has a job and supports the business in any way he can. Loan Description Clara has 15 years experience with this business. Thanks to the help and the support from her husband, she has been able to maintain her store. She works everyday from 7 am to 11 pm. Her niece also helps her run the store since she also works at at a clothing store doing customer service. Loan Use She will use the loan to purchase more inventory such as paper supply for gifts, toys, and to fix up her store. Personal Information Clara is married and she has a 3 year old baby. Her husband works as a security guard in a college in the city. Their house is mixed construction. Her wish is to little by little fix up her home and for her business to be profitable. Translated from Spanish by Carolina Zelaya-Kronlund, Kiva Volunteer. ",F,400,lender,Retail,1
Ecuador," Loan Use (first loan): Alexandra bought fabric, thread, and zippers with her first loan. She was able to fix her machines, improving her service and the quality of her products. Business Development:
Her income is increasing due to references. She is able to maintain her work schedule. She has a wider variety of fabrics. She is providing employment since she has one employee. Personal Information:Loan Use and Repayment
Economy of Salitre
Access to Credit
Risks
Communal Banking in Baba
Economy of Baba
Rice Farming in Baba
Access to Credit
Risks
Loan Use
Communal Banking in Baba
Economy of Baba
Rice Farming in Santa Lucia
Access to Credit
Risks
Loan Use
Loan Use (second loan):
She will use the loan to purchase an industrial strength sewing machine for her business. The machine will provide for a better finish on the clothing and because of this her income will improve since the demand will increase. She is sure that with this investment she will be able to reach her goal.
Previous Profile: http://www.kiva.org/app.php?page=businesses&action=about&id=17352
Translated from Spanish by Sandy Juarez, Kiva volunteer.
",F,1200,lender,Services,1 Ecuador,"
Loan use (first loan):
Gladys was able to increase her income. She stocked her business with different items. She also bought drinks, fruit juices, and soft drinks.Business Development:
She maintains the same work hours due to the demand. She has good references from similar businesses. She also makes foam decorations with a material called Fomix and when she has a request for these products that means additional income for her household.
Personal Information:
Gladys is a single mother with two children. Her home is constructed with mixed materials. Thanks to her work she has been able to secure it and make adaptations.
Loan Use (second loan):
To purchase paper products, toys, and gifts, in addition to juices, drinks, soft drinks, candies. She hopes to be able to gain more security for her business.
Previous Profile: http://www.kiva.org/app.php?page=businesses&action=about&id=7347
Translated from Spanish by Sandy Juarez, Kiva volunteer.
",F,700,lender,Retail,1 Ecuador,"
Lorena distributes drinks and dairy products to shops and markets. With her first loan she managed to improve and expand her business and increase her stock. Her sales have grown, and she has attracted a bigger portfolio of customers.
Lorena hopes that with this new loan she will be able to sell products like sausages which her customers are requesting, and with the profits buy a vehicle which she needs for her delivery runs to the shops and markets.
Lorena is 33 years old and has 2 children. She is convinced that with her new loan her business will expand and the quality of life for her family improve. This loan with allow her to save for the future education of her children.
Translated from Spanish by Katy Long, Kiva Volunteer
",F,1125,lender,Food,1 Ecuador,"Lorena has a restaurant and a bakery in her home, where she sells lunch and snacks. She started her business with the help of her sister, who helped her get the initial capital of $150. Like any microentrepreneur, she started small, selling only breakfast. With time she has been able to expand her business, and she now offers both breakfast and snacks during the day.
She has also built a family cabana, which she rents out for social events. Lorena used a previous loan to buy tables, chairs and a grill for events at cabana. After investing successfully in this business, she wants to now improve her bakery. She will make some renovations to her bakery and also buy raw ingredients for her baked goods.
Lorena is 20 years old. She is married with 2 children, one in school. She supports her family with her business. Lorena is confident that this loan will give her economic security and allow her to make improvements to her home and save for her children's education.
",F,1200,lender,Food,1 Ecuador,"Lorenza lives on a farm with her husband and her only child who is now 17. Together they all work to produce rice. She has lived in Baba her entire life and she has survived from her agricultural production. She hopes to take out a loan in order to buy fertilizer and pesticides that will help her nurture her crops. With the profits, she hopes to make some improvements to her home.
This borrower is part of one the new Communal Banks formed in the recently developed Mifex Rural Finance Program. All of the members of the Progresista Baba Communal Bank are part of an association of rice farmers in the county of Baba in rural Ecuador. Their organization, La Asociacion Montubia Progresista, works cooperatively to help their members cultivate rice and commercialize the product after it has grown. Specifically, they help farmers by providing access to machinery and training services. The farmers from Montubia Progresista have received special instruction on financial responsibility and accounting from Codemicro, an organization that specializes in training programs geared towards the rural sector.
The members of La Asociacion Montubia Progresista de Baba will use the micro-loans to prepare their lands and cultivate rice on their farms. Because they form part of a communal bank, they are all each others' guarantors for the loan. This means that if for some reason one person in the group cannot fully repay the loan, the other borrowers and the association are responsible for the amount in default. The members of the bank also participate in a program designed to teach and encourage savings among the group. Promoting savings is often forgotten in many micro-finance programs, but Mifex believes that is imperative for the communities we works with to have capital reserved for future investments or unexpected difficulties.
Below is more information about Baba compiled by Luis Crespo and Robert Edgar of the Mifex team when evaluating the potential of the sector for the Rural Finance Program.
The people of Baba have been organized since the days of Gran Colombia when Ecuador was yet to be a country. The area has always been popular because of the extremely productive lands that gave way to cultivation of cacao for decades. Now Baba is a county in the province of Los Rios in the coastal region of Ecuador. For most of the latter part of the 20th Century it was a cacao and banana producing sector. Most of the surrounding areas of Baba in Los Rios are owned by large mulitnational companies such as Dole, but Baba is a sector characterized by the small and informal farms.
Rice production has now turned into the main economic activity of the sector as about 80% of the people are rice farmers. Cacao is still very popular in the area, but because of the long cultivation cycle people prefer to invest in rice. The lands in Baba are very fertile though, and most farmers in the sector often grow other crops, such as plantains and soy beans as secondary sources of income. Many farmers also keep livestock as emergency sources of food and income, commonly resorting to selling a chicken or pig if they are in need of cash.
Most of the people in the Baba area are small farmers. They produce about 80 sacks of rice per hectare of land. In order to farm they first must prepare the lands by removing weeds, plowing and leveling the lands. This is the most difficult part for the farmers in Baba, who often lack the necessary machinery to properly plow the lands for rice production. After appropriately preparing the lands, the farmers fill an area with water to form what is known as a paddy field, because rice is a very water intensive crop. The rice seeds are either dispersed freely (the process is known as boleo in Spanish) or hand sowed. Once the rice has grown, most farmers rent machinery that helps them gather their production.
One of the biggest struggles in the area has been the lack of credit due to the absence of any type of financial institution. Because people do not count on formal financial finance, they have turned to loan sharks for financing. They have been affected by expensive lines of credit that exceed 100% interest a year and can be as expensive as 240%. Intermediaries also exploit the farmers because of their outstanding debt. Farmers also lack skills and knowledge to commercialize their products and pay fair prices for their crops.
The largest risk in the sector is due to absence of watering systems. Although Baba is in the province Los Rios (the rivers) there is severe problem with access to water. The lack of infrastructure in the sector does not allow the small farmers to benefit from the presence of the many rivers in the area. If the winter season is too dry, it is likely that the lands will not be sufficiently fertile for rice production in the summer. On the other hand, if there is too much rain there are not any drainage systems to prevent flooding and the crops are often ruined. Generally speaking though, Baba is a very productive sector where the lands yield all types of crops including rice, cacao, corn, watermelons, plantains, and soy beans.
The loans in this sector will mostly be used to to buy soil, seeds, fertilizer and insecticides. Many clients will use the capital towards renting machinery and equipment necessary to effectively work and prepare the fields. Clients also typically use a part of the loan to buy livestock in order to raise and have as reserves. The loan repayment schedule is different from the typical micro-entrepreneur because farmers see the profits from their investments 5 or 6 months after making their initial expenditures. Mifex asks our rural clients only to pay 50% of the capital in the first 6 months of the loan. The rest of the debt must be paid in the seventh and final month.
",F,925,lender,Agriculture,0 Ecuador,"Lorenzo has owned this small store for over 10 years. He sells all types of food products from his shop, ranging from rice to snacks for kids. He started this business with $15 (which was worth much more in Ecuador 10 years ago) and only sold rice, sugar, oil and plantains. Although he was one of the first businesses in this area he now faces competition from other stores around him. In order to contest with these businesses Lorenzo is looking to increase and diversify his inventory with this loan. He wants to begin selling chicken, meat, sausages and eggs as well as any other products that may be in demand.
Lorenzo has already lent from Kiva and Mifex and he did great with his first loan. He invested in a variety of products just as he planned. He saw his profits and the demand in the sector increase as his prices became the most competitive. He ended up investing in a second display refrigerator in order to keep the increased inventory fresh while also being able to show it to his customers. He made some small improvements to his home, although most of the profits went to the daily necessities of his wife and family. He wants to continue to invest in products for his store as he continues to grow and provide services for the community.
Translated by Chlo Tuot, a Kiva Volunteer.
",M,1200,partner,Food,0 Ecuador,"
Lourdes has owned her store for about 3 years. She opened the business when she returned from abroad where she worked as a housekeeper in order to accumulate capital. Her first business, a phone center, did not work out and she decided to open this store. Luckily, things have been going well, but she is in need of a loan in order to buy products for her store. She is married and has 2 children. Her husband also helps in her business when he cannot find work.
Mifex offers its clients microinsurance and access to business training and educational programs. For more information about microfinance, Ecuador, and our services, please visit www.mifex.org.
",F,275,partner,Food,0 Ecuador,"Lourdes owns a small diner where she makes breakfast and lunch. She started the business in light of the struggling financial situation she found her husband in. With a small amount of capital, she was able to rent a location for her business and invest in rice, eggs and other ingredients for her meals.
Lourdes needs the loan in order to make improvements to her business. With her previous loan she was able to buy many more ingredients and offer a more diverse menu. She is now looking to also invest in a new freezer for her business.
Lourdes is 46 years old and has 5 children. Only her daughter who is 11 lives with her because she goes to school. Her husband now works and helps support the household. Her dream is to allow her daughter to finish high school and possibly attend college.
",F,1075,partner,Food,0 Ecuador,"Lucia sells automotive products such as the engine seals pictured. She has this business because her husband works for a factory that makes many of these products, which gives her access to purchase these goods at wholesale prices and quantities. She and her husband do much of their business selling to mechanics around the area.
Lucia will use her second loan to invest in a wider variety of stock. This loan will enable her to purchase products from several sources and will bring more diversity to what she offers her customers. The new products she acquired with her first loan served her business quite well. She and her husband have two children, and Lucia's business is a valuable contribution to her family's income.",F,1200,lender,Agriculture,1 Ecuador,"
Lucia sells automotive products such as the engine seals pictured. She has this business because her husband works for a factory that makes many of these products. Therefore, he has access to purchase these goods at wholesale prices and quantities while his wife is in charge of the store that sells them. They do much of their business with mechanics around the area.
Lucia is requesting the loan because she wants to invest in a wider variety of products. She does not to rely only on her husbands factory and she wants to have diversity in her product offerings. This couple has two children together. This business and her husbands job are the main sources of income in this household.
Mifex offers its clients microinsurance and access to business training and educational programs. For more information about microfinance, Ecuador, and our services, please visit www.mifex.org.
",F,375,partner,Services,0 Ecuador,"Lucila is a single mother who sells cosmetics. She travels around the local community from the morning into the evening offering family, friends and acquaintances her products. This work provides the main source of income for her and her family. She has three daughters, two of which go to school. When she goes out in the afternoon to sell, she must leave her younger kids at the care of her older daughter, which is worrisome for her. She hopes to invest the loan in more of her products and eventually open a store from home. Her goal is to become a large scale distributor of the cosmetics.
Mifex offers its clients microinsurance and access to business training and educational programs. For more information about microfinance, Ecuador, and our services, please visit www.mifex.org.
",F,375,partner,Retail,0 Ecuador,"Lucila is a single mother who sells cosmetics. She travels around the local community from the morning into the evening offering family, friends and acquaintances her products. This work provides the main source of income for her and her family. She has three daughters, two of whom go to school. When she goes out in the afternoon to sell, she must leave her younger kids in the care of her older daughter, which is worrisome for her. She has already borrowed from Mifex before. She uses the loans so she can buy her products wholesale for better prices. Her goal is to become a large-scale distributor of the cosmetics and open a store in her home.
",F,700,lender,Retail,0 Ecuador,"Lucrecia has a small variety store where she sells cosmetics and school supplies. She began the business with her husband's help; he motivated her to start the business with 100 dollars.
In the beginning she only sold pens, notebooks, sweets and soft drinks. Now she continues to offer those products, along with clothing and gifts. Her first loan with Mifex and Kiva was used to purchase more inventory. She also used the funds to put an airconditioner in her home which is badly needed during the hot humid months. Her business grew thanks to the variety of products she offers her clients.
Lucrecia is 30 years old and married. She has 4 children, all in school. She is certain that her business will grow and allow her family to get ahead. She is requesting a second loan with Mifex and Kiva to continue investing in merchandise at wholesale prices. During the holiday season she hopes to increase her revenue by carrying gifts and decorations appropriate for Christmas festivities.
",F,1075,lender,Retail,1 Ecuador,"Luiciano was born and raised in Baba, Ecuador. He has worked in rice production since he was young, after learning from his father. He bought his land about 15 years ago. He depends on his rice production to feed and educate his two children who are 6 and 7 years old. He lives with his wife, children, his father and a sister. They all work together in the fields in order to cultivate rice. He will use the loan to invest in seeds, fertilizer and pesticides. He hopes he can improve his home and save for the future of his children.
This borrower is part of the newest and largest Communal Bank in the recently developed Mifex Rural Finance Program. All of the members of the Centro Agricola de Baba Communal Bank are part of an Association of Rice Farmers in the county of Baba in rural Ecuador. Their association works cooperatively to cultivate rice and commercialize the product after it has grown. As an association, Centro Agricola helps the farmers by providing access to machinery and training services. The farmers from Centro Agricola have received special instruction on financial responsibility and accounting from Codemicro, an organization that specializes in training programs geared towards the rural sector.
The members of Centro Agricola de Baba will use the micro-loans to prepare their lands and cultivate rice on their farms. Because they form part of a communal bank, they are all each others' guarantors for the loan. This means that if for some reason one person in the group cannot fully repay the loan, the other borrowers and the Centro Agricola de Baba Association are responsible for the amount in default. The members of the bank also participate in a program designed to teach and encourage savings among the group. Promoting savings is often forgotten in many micro-finance programs, but Mifex believes that is imperative for the communities we works with to have capital reserved for future investments or unexpected difficulties.
Below is more information about Santa Lucia compiled by Luis Crespo and Robert Edgar of the Mifex team when evaluating the potential of the sector for the Rural Finance Program.
The people of Baba have been organized since the days of Gran Colombia when Ecuador was yet to be a country. The area has always been popular because of the extremely productive lands that gave way to cultivation of cacao for decades. Now Baba is a county in the province of Los Rios in the coastal region of Ecuador. For most of the latter part of the 20th Century it was a cacao and banana-producing sector. Most of the surrounding areas of Baba in Los Rios are owned by large multinational companies such as Dole, but Baba is a sector characterized by small and informal farms.
Rice production has now turned into the main economic activity of the sector as about 80% of the people are rice farmers. Cacao is still very popular in the area, but because of the long cultivation cycle people prefer to invest in rice. The lands in Baba are very fertile though, and most farmers in the sector often grow other crops, such as plantains and soybeans as secondary sources of income. Many farmers also keep livestock as emergency sources of food and income, commonly resorting to selling a chicken or pig if they are in need of cash.
Most of the people in the Baba area are small farmers. They produce about 80 sacks of rice per hectare of land. In order to farm they first must prepare the lands by removing weeds, plowing and leveling the lands. This is the most difficult part for the farmers in Baba, who often lack the necessary machinery to properly plow the lands for rice production. After appropriately preparing the lands, the farmers fill an area with water to form what is known as a paddy field, because rice is a very water-intensive crop. The rice seeds are either dispersed freely (the process is known as boleo in Spanish) or hand sowed. Once the rice has grown, most farmers rent machinery that helps them gather their production.
One of the biggest struggles in the area has been the lack of credit due to the absence of any type of financial institution. Because people do not count on formal financial finance, they have turned to loan sharks for financing. They have been affected by expensive lines of credit that exceed 100% interest a year and can be as expensive as 240%. Intermediaries also exploit the farmers because of their outstanding debt. Farmers also lack skills and knowledge to commercialize their products and pay fair prices for their crops.
The largest risk in the sector is due to absence of watering systems. Although Baba is in the province Los Rios (the rivers) there is severe problem with access to water. The lack of infrastructure in the sector does not allow the small farmers to benefit from the presence of the many rivers in the area. If the winter season is too dry, it is likely that the lands will not be sufficiently fertile for rice production in the summer. On the other hand, if there is too much rain, there are not any drainage systems to prevent flooding and the crops are often ruined. Generally speaking though, Baba is a very productive sector where the lands yield all types of crops including rice, cacao, corn, watermelons, plantains, and soybeans.
The loans in this sector will mostly be used to buy soil, seeds, fertilizer and insecticides. Many clients will use the capital towards renting machinery and equipment necessary to effectively work and prepare the fields. Clients also typically use a part of the loan to buy livestock in order to raise and have as reserves. The loan repayment schedule is different from the typical micro-entrepreneur because farmers see the profits from their investments 5 or 6 months after making their initial expenditures. Mifex asks our rural clients only to pay 50% of the capital in the first 6 months of the loan. The rest of the debt must be paid in the seventh and final month.
",M,1075,lender,Agriculture,0 Ecuador,"Luis and his parents own a small store where they sell foods and basic house supplies. He and his mother have been in this type of business for over ten years. He previously owned a shop near the main street of the community, but city officials tore the store and his home down when they expanded the street. Luis and his mother had to start anew and they are now doing well with the business again.
Luis is now on his second loan. His first loan was used to buy more merchandise which he sold not only from his store but in local towns he would travel to. He is now hoping that he can receive a second loan to go towards the purchase of glass cases for his business, which will give his store a much more professional presence. He is separated from his wife whom he has two children with. The kids live with their mother, but Luis is constantly visiting them, and pays child support to help pay for their food and education.
",M,925,lender,Retail,1 Ecuador,"Luis and his wife sell clothing. They have set up a part of their home as a store for their clients to come and visit. During the day, Luis travels to the rural sector of Ecuador in his truck offering his products in the small towns. While he is away, his wife sells the clothing from her home. Luis started selling clothes after losing a job he held in a large company for about 15 years. He bought his a used truck and started investing all of his savings. He now needs the loan because he wants to buy shoes for men and women. HE is 65 years old and has had 2 children with his wife.
Mifex offers its clients microinsurance and access to business training and educational programs. For more information about microfinance, Ecuador, and our services, please visit www.mifex.org.
",M,600,partner,Clothing,0 Ecuador,"Luis and his wife sell clothing. They have set up a part of their home as a store for their clients to come and visit. During the day, Luis travels to the rural sector of Ecuador in his truck offering his products in the small towns. While he is away, his wife sells the clothing from their home. Luis started selling clothes after losing a job he held in a large company for about 15 years. He bought a used truck and started investing all of his savings.
He now needs this, his second loan, because he wants to continue investing in new styles of clothing and shoes. He will also try to invest in a new line of products such as soaps, detergents and other household items. He is 65 years old and has 2 children with his wife.
",M,825,lender,Clothing,0 Ecuador,"Luis has a small piece of land given to him by an association called Voluntad Dios. He produces rice, corn and watermelon on his land. He lives with his wife and his three children. His whole family works towards the production of their land, which has given them food and housing for their entire life. He will invest the loan in increasing the productivity of his land by using fertilizer and pesticides.
This borrower is part of the newest and largest Communal Bank in the recently developed Mifex Rural Finance Program. All of the members of the Centro Agricola de Baba Communal Bank are part of an Association of Rice Farmers in the county of Baba in rural Ecuador. Their association works cooperatively to cultivate rice and commercialize the product after it has grown. As an association, Centro Agricola helps the farmers by providing access to machinery and training services. The farmers from Centro Agricola have received special instruction on financial responsibility and accounting from Codemicro, an organization that specializes in training programs geared towards the rural sector.
The members of Centro Agricola de Baba will use the micro-loans to prepare their lands and cultivate rice on their farms. Because they form part of a communal bank, they are all each others' guarantors for the loan. This means that if for some reason one person in the group cannot fully repay the loan, the other borrowers and the Centro Agricola de Baba Association are responsible for the amount in default. The members of the bank also participate in a program designed to teach and encourage savings among the group. Promoting savings is often forgotten in many micro-finance programs, but Mifex believes that is imperative for the communities we works with to have capital reserved for future investments or unexpected difficulties.
Below is more information about Santa Lucia compiled by Luis Crespo and Robert Edgar of the Mifex team when evaluating the potential of the sector for the Rural Finance Program.
The people of Baba have been organized since the days of Gran Colombia when Ecuador was yet to be a country. The area has always been popular because of the extremely productive lands that gave way to cultivation of cacao for decades. Now Baba is a county in the province of Los Rios in the coastal region of Ecuador. For most of the latter part of the 20th Century it was a cacao and banana-producing sector. Most of the surrounding areas of Baba in Los Rios are owned by large multinational companies such as Dole, but Baba is a sector characterized by small and informal farms.
Rice production has now turned into the main economic activity of the sector as about 80% of the people are rice farmers. Cacao is still very popular in the area, but because of the long cultivation cycle people prefer to invest in rice. The lands in Baba are very fertile though, and most farmers in the sector often grow other crops, such as plantains and soybeans as secondary sources of income. Many farmers also keep livestock as emergency sources of food and income, commonly resorting to selling a chicken or pig if they are in need of cash.
Most of the people in the Baba area are small farmers. They produce about 80 sacks of rice per hectare of land. In order to farm they first must prepare the lands by removing weeds, plowing and leveling the lands. This is the most difficult part for the farmers in Baba, who often lack the necessary machinery to properly plow the lands for rice production. After appropriately preparing the lands, the farmers fill an area with water to form what is known as a paddy field, because rice is a very water-intensive crop. The rice seeds are either dispersed freely (the process is known as boleo in Spanish) or hand sowed. Once the rice has grown, most farmers rent machinery that helps them gather their production.
One of the biggest struggles in the area has been the lack of credit due to the absence of any type of financial institution. Because people do not count on formal financial finance, they have turned to loan sharks for financing. They have been affected by expensive lines of credit that exceed 100% interest a year and can be as expensive as 240%. Intermediaries also exploit the farmers because of their outstanding debt. Farmers also lack skills and knowledge to commercialize their products and pay fair prices for their crops.
The largest risk in the sector is due to absence of watering systems. Although Baba is in the province Los Rios (the rivers) there is severe problem with access to water. The lack of infrastructure in the sector does not allow the small farmers to benefit from the presence of the many rivers in the area. If the winter season is too dry, it is likely that the lands will not be sufficiently fertile for rice production in the summer. On the other hand, if there is too much rain, there are not any drainage systems to prevent flooding and the crops are often ruined. Generally speaking though, Baba is a very productive sector where the lands yield all types of crops including rice, cacao, corn, watermelons, plantains, and soybeans.
The loans in this sector will mostly be used to buy soil, seeds, fertilizer and insecticides. Many clients will use the capital towards renting machinery and equipment necessary to effectively work and prepare the fields. Clients also typically use a part of the loan to buy livestock in order to raise and have as reserves. The loan repayment schedule is different from the typical micro-entrepreneur because farmers see the profits from their investments 5 or 6 months after making their initial expenditures. Mifex asks our rural clients only to pay 50% of the capital in the first 6 months of the loan. The rest of the debt must be paid in the seventh and final month.
",M,1200,lender,Agriculture,0 Ecuador,"Luis has a store where he sells fresh fruit and other food items. Luis started his business with the help of his wife who saved up bout $400 in capital for the market. At first, Luis only sold fruit and vegetables which were the easiest to buy and sell. He now sells many different items including the dairy products he wants to continue to invest in. Luis relies on the business to feed and educate his children. He and his wife have four children. He hopes to one day have an operation large enough to employ his wife and to pay for the schooling of his children at the college level.
Mifex offers its clients microinsurance and access to business training and educational programs. For more information about microfinance, Ecuador, and our services, please visit www.mifex.org.
",M,1125,partner,Food,0 Ecuador,"Luis is a fruit and clothing vendor who sells his products from his tricycle cart. After working in local markets for several years, he decided there was too much competition and preferred to take his fruits directly to the homes of his clients. He has had success because it is more convenient for people to buy fruits when Luis passes by rather than going to the market. He also sells ties, belts, and other clothing accessories. He is seeking a second loan with Mifex in order to invest in new home products and appliances. He used his first loan to fix his cart and invest in more clothing.
Luis is 46 years old and has one son. He and his wife have been able to buy and fix up their home through hard work and savings. He tells us that his wife and son are his inspiration to go out and work hard from 5 in the morning into the evening.
",M,725,partner,Retail,0 Ecuador,"Luis is a fruit vendor who sells his product from his tricycle cart. He found that there was too much competition in the local fruit markets and preferred to take his fruits directly to the homes of his clients. He has had success because it is more convenient for people to buy fruits when Luis passes by rather than going to the market. Two days a week he also sells ties, belts and other clothing accessories. He is seeking a loan in order to fix his cart that was damaged when it got hit by a car recently.
Luis is 46 years old and has one son. He and his wife have been able to buy and fix up their home through hard work and savings. He tells us that his wife and son are his inspiration to go out and work hard from 5 in the morning into the evening.
Mifex offers its clients microinsurance and access to business training and educational programs. For more information about microfinance, Ecuador, and our services, please visit www.mifex.org.
",M,375,partner,Food,0 Ecuador,"Luis is a mechanic who operates his shop out of his home. Hes been working on cars for 20 years since he graduated highschool. He worked in someone elses shop while he slowly saved his money and gradually bought his own tools. He set up his business right out of his home which is conveniently located on a corner street with a steady amount of traffic. He is known in the community for his quality work and his industriousness. He has 2 assistants and also employs another mechanic. He will use the loan to buy tools and make replacement parts
Luis is 42 years old, is married and has 2 children. When he first started his business his house was built from wood, but he has now been able to improve it with cement. He has been steadily improving his home and his business and is hoping he can continue. His dream is to see his kids grow up healthy and get through college.
Mifex offers its clients microinsurance and access to business training and educational programs. For more information about microfinance, Ecuador, and our services, please visit www.mifex.org.
",M,600,partner,Services,0 Ecuador,"Luis Lavayen is 55, married and has 5 children, 4 of whom are adults. Only one son is still in school. This son is about to graduate from his vocational studies as a handyman and wants to help his father with construction around the home. Family life is very important to Luis. His wife Norma helps him in his shop and his children help him with the household expenses. His home is 1 story and made of cement. He also has a car he uses as a taxi occasionally, providing some additional income for his family. His ambition is to grow with us and to give a better future to his family.
Luis is a clothing salesman who now also has his own tailoring shop. He began working from the time he was very young, so that he could feed himself. He travels to and from many different locations within his province using his car, and he currently works with Norma, who has been a big help to him. He works from 8am to 6pm.
Luis used the capital from his first Mifex and Kiva loan to set up his tailoring shop. He bought fabric, thread, buttons and other sewing notions as well as clothing for his ambulatory business. Due to the variety of clothing he carries, sales have improved. He and Norma are also busy in their sewing workshop with customer`s orders.
Luis requests this second loan to purchase more merchandise. Demand is high, and he would like to travel to new provinces to sell his products. He would also like to improve his home studio.
",M,950,lender,Clothing,1 Ecuador,"Luis lives on his farm with his wife and four children. He still has three children who are in school. He supports his family with the income from rice farming on his small, but productive farm. With the loan he receives, he hopes that he can buy machinery that will help him prepare the land he works on. His biggest goal is to be able to buy land of his own because he currently rents the land, and the farm he works on. He hopes he can acquire his own property to hand down to his children one day.
This borrower is part of the newest and largest Communal Bank in the recently developed Mifex Rural Finance Program. All of the members of the Centro Agricola de Baba Communal Bank are part of an Association of Rice Farmers in the county of Baba in rural Ecuador. Their association works cooperatively to cultivate rice and commercialize the product after it has grown. As an association, Centro Agricola helps the farmers by providing access to machinery and training services. The farmers from Centro Agricola have received special instruction on financial responsibility and accounting from Codemicro, an organization that specializes in training programs geared towards the rural sector.
The members of Centro Agricola de Baba will use the micro-loans to prepare their lands and cultivate rice on their farms. Because they form part of a communal bank, they are all each others' guarantors for the loan. This means that if for some reason one person in the group cannot fully repay the loan, the other borrowers and the Centro Agricola de Baba Association are responsible for the amount in default. The members of the bank also participate in a program designed to teach and encourage savings among the group. Promoting savings is often forgotten in many micro-finance programs, but Mifex believes that is imperative for the communities we works with to have capital reserved for future investments or unexpected difficulties.
Below is more information about Santa Lucia compiled by Luis Crespo and Robert Edgar of the Mifex team when evaluating the potential of the sector for the Rural Finance Program.
The people of Baba have been organized since the days of Gran Colombia when Ecuador was yet to be a country. The area has always been popular because of the extremely productive lands that gave way to cultivation of cacao for decades. Now Baba is a county in the province of Los Rios in the coastal region of Ecuador. For most of the latter part of the 20th Century it was a cacao and banana-producing sector. Most of the surrounding areas of Baba in Los Rios are owned by large multinational companies such as Dole, but Baba is a sector characterized by small and informal farms.
Rice production has now turned into the main economic activity of the sector as about 80% of the people are rice farmers. Cacao is still very popular in the area, but because of the long cultivation cycle people prefer to invest in rice. The lands in Baba are very fertile though, and most farmers in the sector often grow other crops, such as plantains and soybeans as secondary sources of income. Many farmers also keep livestock as emergency sources of food and income, commonly resorting to selling a chicken or pig if they are in need of cash.
Most of the people in the Baba area are small farmers. They produce about 80 sacks of rice per hectare of land. In order to farm they first must prepare the lands by removing weeds, plowing and leveling the lands. This is the most difficult part for the farmers in Baba, who often lack the necessary machinery to properly plow the lands for rice production. After appropriately preparing the lands, the farmers fill an area with water to form what is known as a paddy field, because rice is a very water-intensive crop. The rice seeds are either dispersed freely (the process is known as boleo in Spanish) or hand sowed. Once the rice has grown, most farmers rent machinery that helps them gather their production.
One of the biggest struggles in the area has been the lack of credit due to the absence of any type of financial institution. Because people do not count on formal financial finance, they have turned to loan sharks for financing. They have been affected by expensive lines of credit that exceed 100% interest a year and can be as expensive as 240%. Intermediaries also exploit the farmers because of their outstanding debt. Farmers also lack skills and knowledge to commercialize their products and pay fair prices for their crops.
The largest risk in the sector is due to absence of watering systems. Although Baba is in the province Los Rios (the rivers) there is severe problem with access to water. The lack of infrastructure in the sector does not allow the small farmers to benefit from the presence of the many rivers in the area. If the winter season is too dry, it is likely that the lands will not be sufficiently fertile for rice production in the summer. On the other hand, if there is too much rain, there are not any drainage systems to prevent flooding and the crops are often ruined. Generally speaking though, Baba is a very productive sector where the lands yield all types of crops including rice, cacao, corn, watermelons, plantains, and soybeans.
The loans in this sector will mostly be used to buy soil, seeds, fertilizer and insecticides. Many clients will use the capital towards renting machinery and equipment necessary to effectively work and prepare the fields. Clients also typically use a part of the loan to buy livestock in order to raise and have as reserves. The loan repayment schedule is different from the typical micro-entrepreneur because farmers see the profits from their investments 5 or 6 months after making their initial expenditures. Mifex asks our rural clients only to pay 50% of the capital in the first 6 months of the loan. The rest of the debt must be paid in the seventh and final month.
",M,675,lender,Agriculture,0 Ecuador,"Luis owns a fruit stand in a local market. He sells all types of fruits including: watermelons oranges, papayas and mangoes. He has already taken a loan out from Kiva and Mifex before. The loan was of great help to Luis who was finally able to avoid buying from creditors and lending from loan sharks that were abusive. He felt very relieved to be able to invest his own money in the business and has seen a steady increase in profits. With the capital Luis was able to buy more diverse fruits at larger quantities. With this new loan he will continue to buy fruits for his store and keep his business growing.
Mifex offers its clients microinsurance and access to business training and educational programs. For more information about microfinance, Ecuador, and our services, please visit www.mifex.org.
",M,1025,partner,Food,0 Ecuador,"Luis owns a small store where he sells foods and basic house supplies. He and his mother have been in this type of business for over 10 years. He previously owned a shop near the main street of the community, but city officials tore the store and his home down when they expanded the street because the properties were built without a permit. Luis and his mother had to start anew and they are now doing well with the business again. Luis is requesting the loan in order to invest in new products for his store. He is separated from his wife whom he has two children with. The kids live with their mother, but Luis is constantly visiting them and pays child support to help pay for their food and education.
Mifex offers its clients microinsurance and access to business training and educational programs. For more information about microfinance, Ecuador, and our services, please visit www.mifex.org.
",M,475,partner,Retail,0 Ecuador,"Luis Salazar is a farmer from a rural town named Salitre. There, he has a small farm where grows rice and corn. Luis has four children, two of which are all grown up and independent. The other two work with Luis on his farm while living in homes of their own. Luis will use the loan in order to purchase fertilizer and buy seeds. He wants to make the investment primarily in rice seeds now that the rainy season is coming to an end and the lands are fertile.
He is the latest addition to the first Communal Bank in the new Mifex Rural Finance Program. All of the members of the Resistencia Communal Bank are part of an Association of Rice Farmers in Salitre named Resistencia. They will use the microloans to prepare the lands and cultivate rice on their farms. Because they form part of a communal bank, they are all each others guarantors for the loan. This means that if for some reason one person in the group cannot fully repay the loan, the other borrowers and the Resistencia Association are responsible for the amount in default. The members of the bank also participate in a program designed to teach and encourage savings among the group. Promoting savings is often forgotten in many microfinance programs, but is imperative for the communities Mifex works with to have capital reserved for future investments or unexpected difficulties.
The loans in this sector will be used to create water deposits that will prevent flooding in the case of heavy rains or store water in case of droughts. They will also be used to treat the land prior to farming, to plant the seeds and purchase fertilizer. The loan repayment schedule is also different from the typical microentrepreneur. Because farmers see the profits from their investments 5 or 6 months after making their initial expenditures, Mifex asks them only to pay 50% of the capital in the first 6 months of the loan. The rest of the debt must be paid in the seventh and final month.
Below is more information about Salitre compiled by the staff at Mifex when evaluating the potential of the sector for the Rural Finance Program.
Salitre is a rural sector in the Province of Guayas known as the capital of Montuvios (montuvio is a cowboy) with approximately 30,000 inhabitants. The main economic activities are herding and agriculture which make up about 80% of the economy. The infrastructure and basic services are poor, especially the roads and water services.
Salitre is highly dedicated to farming rice and cattle ranching. Rice is a crop that yields about every four months. In order to farm rice, the environment must be very humid and there must be a high volume of water. The lack of a structured water system makes it difficult for the small farmers to be highly productive. The best months for cultivating rice are early in the year when it is the rainy season in the coast of Ecuador.
Salitre is a national tourist attraction as many Ecuadorians visit the fresh water Salitre River. There are cottages, small restaurants and water attractions that people come to enjoy.
There is not a single financial institution that provides services to the productive sector of the local economy. The only access to credit comes from loan sharks who charge extremely high interest rates averaging around 20% a month. The locals are also exploited by the intermediaries that buy their products in order to commercialize them in the city and to export abroad. These intermediaries buy crops in advance at very low prices, finance soil at extremely high prices and often provide emergency loans for even higher interest rates than the loan sharks.
Salitre is a dangerous sector considering it is in the rural area. There is a high incidence of robbery of cattle that results in many of the ranch owners owning weapons to protect their property. Because the police are not present in these areas, farmers and ranchers must apply their own laws and provide their own security. In some instances they have formed their own cooperatives and associations to have a community crime prevention effort.
Salitre is in the lowlands of Ecuador and is vulnerable to flooding in the rainy season. In the event of a heavy rainy season, often at its worse when El Nio occurs, the farmers of rice lose many of their crops. All this is due to a lack of infrastructure in the area.
",M,1200,lender,Agriculture,0 Ecuador,"Lupe works with a Chilean artist who reproduces and enlarges photographs. She finds the clients for him, picks up the pictures and makes the deliveries. She must pay the artist in advance for many of the jobs, which gives her problems due to her lack of liquidity. She is seeking the loan in order to be able to ask for more jobs from the artist. She also wants to invest in a completely separate business. She once raised and sold chickens, and she is hoping to pick up this business again as a complimentary source of income.
Lupe is 45 years old and is married. She has 4 children, 2 of which have jobs but still live with her. Her husband has a part time job and is trying to finish his studies in agricultural engineering.
Mifex offers its clients microinsurance and access to business training and educational programs. For more information about microfinance, Ecuador, and our services, please visit www.mifex.org.
",F,475,partner,Arts,0 Ecuador,"Lusita is 59 years old, and she is a single mother of eight! All of her children have since moved out of the house, but they take with them the many lessons that their mother Lusita taught them. When she left her parents' house many years ago, Lusita dedicated herself to selling goods near the major streets in Guayaquil. In the past she also worked in a restaurant for the Ecuadorian Navy, but when they closed their doors, she moved her business to her home. It hasnt been easy for Ms. Caballero. Her husband left her to raise all eight children, so she had to find part time work outside the home to bring in enough income for the family.
Lusita is requesting her second loan with the Kiva and Mifex program. She wants to continue investing in her store and buying more and better inventory. Her first loan was a success as she was able to increase profits and make some small improvements to her home.
",F,950,partner,Retail,0 Ecuador,"Lusita is 59 years old, and she is a single mother of eight! All of her children have since moved out of the house, but they take with them the many lessons that their mother Lusita taught them.
When she left her parents house many years ago, Lusita dedicated herself to selling goods near the major streets in Guayaquil. In the past she also worked in a restaurant for the Ecuadorian Navy, but when they closed their doors, she moved her business to her home. It hasnt been easy for Ms. Caballero. Her husband left her to raise all eight children, so she had to find part time work outside the home to bring in enough income for the family. Lusita wants to raise $585 so that she can purchase more diverse products like briefcases and bags for businesspeople and consumer items like umbrellas and car accessories.
Lusitania has a cart where she sells grilled meats (mostly carne asada). She has a pretty good amount of sales during the day, but she also must sell uncooked rice to her neighbors in order to make ends meet. She is seeking the loan in order to make significant improvements to her cart. Mainly she wants to build a roof on top of it in order to shield her from the sun and heat. She will also buy meat and rice at larger wholesale quantities and cheaper prices.
Lusitania is 28 years old and has two children. Her husband works in construction and has built the majority of their home. They have two young children who go to school. /
Mifex offers its clients microinsurance and access to business training and educational programs. For more information about microfinance, Ecuador, and our services, please visit www.mifex.org.
",F,600,partner,Food,0 Ecuador,"Lusitania is applying for her second loan with Kiva and Mifex. She owns a stand where she sells typical Ecuadorian dishes, such as ""encebollado"", a fish stew made with albacore and yucca. With her first loan she was able to improve the cart where she sells food. She added wheels and an umbrella to the cart in order to become mobile and travel to crowded places where she could sell. Lusitania did so well she paid her loan off early.
She is requesting this second loan because she wants to help her husband in a new business idea they have. Lusitania has noticed that the new buses from the city have stops that are still far from most people's homes. She wants to invest in a motorcycle cart so her husband can provide this taxi service to the people of the area. They are hopeful that with this loan they will be able to make improvements to their home.
",F,1200,partner,Food,0 Ecuador,"Luz has been running her business for 4 years. She started working in a packaging company, where she managed to save money to start her own business. She was motivated by a friend to start selling cosmetics, perfumes and accessories. She works every day of the week visiting her clients in the area where she lives. She works from 9am to 4pm. Besides, she keeps another business in her house where she sells colas and drinks.
She will invest this, her second loan through Mifex, in purchasing cosmetics and jewelry. She will use another part of the loan to invest in supplying her secondary business in her home with colas, drinks and juices.
Luz is a single mother. She has 5 children who are all studying. She's been able to pull her family through thanks to her work. Her children are very happy with how her mother is facing her responsibility. They have become more involved in the business because they all see that the family can be supported through the revenue generated. She wishes to be able to finish building her house little by little. And in this way provide her children with a better living environment. She hopes she can make their dreams come true, with the support she provides them with.
",F,700,lender,Retail,1 Ecuador,"Luz paid off her first Kiva loan on time, and she has plans for growing her business even more. The growth she has experience over the last six months has been amazing. By giving her access to credit, Mifex and Kiva gave Ms. Quezada the ability to explore new product lines and take advantage of the niche market for party supplies like piatas y sorpresas . With a different fiesta just about every two weeks in Ecuador, Luz has positioned herself as one of the best mom and pop shops in Guayaquil. Geographically, Luz is lucky to be where she is along major thoroughfares in the marginal part of the city. She has over 25 years of experience and originally began her business with $10 selling toys to children. Realizing that she only had gift items and toys for Christmas, she soon began to purchase inventory for other holidays and parties. Her children help lend a hand in running the business, and they all report a better standard of living from six months ago. With the increased income, Luz has been able to afford more food for the family as well as more working capital to invest back into her shop. Now that she no longer has to rely on the chulqueros who charge 20% monthly, Luz is asking Mifex and Kiva for a second loan so she can purchase more supply in cash and take advantage of the rebates and discounts being offered.
Doa Luz is glad that there is organization like Kiva using technology to help the poor in Guayaquil, Ecuador, for in the past, she had no other option but the loan sharks. Not only did she repay her loan on time, but she is now in need of another loan from Mifex and Kiva. She explains that another loan would be a boon for her company, for she would be able to invest more in wholesale products, introducing new product lines, and increasing her income. In addition to managing her business, Doa Luz manages her home and pays for her childrens' schooling.
Mifex offers its clients microinsurance and access to business training and educational programs. For more information about microfinance, Ecuador, and our services, please visit www.mifex.org.
",F,1175,partner,Retail,0 Ecuador,"Mabel has a store that sells all kinds of decorations for childens parties (invitations, trinkets, piatas, balloons), as well as diapers and little gifts for kids. Her business is a year old and it was her husband who encouraged her to have her own store; he helped her with $200 so she could start the business. She rents a place and is open from 8:00 AM to 9:00 PM. Her business has been well received in the area because of the good prices she offers.
This is Mabels second loan with Kiva and Mifex. Her first loan helped her move her store into her home and establish her business. In fact, she had just separated from her husband and the loan definitely helped her get through tough times. Mabel now wants to use her next loan to buy a new glass display case and continue investing in merchandise.
Mabel is 25 years old and has 2 girls. She recently separated from her husband and has been running her business on her own. She feels very proud to be able to do this and hopes that things will continue to go well. She hopes for her business to grow stronger and for it to bring in more income, and above all, she wishes for her little girls to be able to continue their studies.
",F,950,lender,Retail,1 Ecuador,"Mabel is 28 years old and a single mother. Her husband left her a year ago and that motivated her to start and work on her own business and get ahead. She started 2 years ago with very little capital. Mabel runs her business from home.
In her business, she sells clothes and small household items as well as providing beauty services for women. She works every day from 9 a.m. to 10 p.m. Mabel has been able to maintain her business due to her dedication and good customer service.
She needs the loan to buy new products and a display case to better showcase the merchandise that her business offers. In that way, she can take advantage of the opportunity and increase her customers.
She lives with her son on a mixed structured house. Mabel hopes that with the loan, she can improve her business and living conditions and serve as an example of hard work for her relatives and neighbors in the area where she lives.
Translated from Spanish by Maria Ramirez-Gregg, Kiva Volunteer.
",F,525,partner,Retail,0 Ecuador,"
Macario is in the business of selling clothes and other items. He travels around the community and also to the rural sector, specifically targeting friends, family, and acquaintances. Macario has been selling clothes for about 6 years. Although his business is somewhat profitable, it does not always provide enough for him and his family. Therefore, Macario also buys and sells rice. He travels in his truck to rural Ecuador where he buys directly from the rice farmers. He sells the rice to many small stores around Guayaquil. He is on his second loan with Kiva and Mifex and hopes he can expand his inventory to include domestic appliances.
Macario is 53 years old and has 2 kids, only one of which is still living at home. His wife works as a housecleaner and sometimes gets jobs taking care of the elderly.
",M,850,partner,Retail,0 Ecuador,"Macario is in the business of selling clothes and other items. He travels around the community and also to the rural sector, specifically targeting friends, family, and acquaintances. Macario has been selling clothes for about six years. Although his business is somewhat profitable, it does not always provide enough for him and his family. Therefore, Macario also buys and sells rice. He travels in his truck to rural Ecuador where he buys directly from the rice farmers. He sells the rice to many small stores around Guayaquil.
Macario is on his third loan with this organization. He has proven to be a very responsible client who is a savvy investor. With this loan he wants to buy more school supplies as he knows that the new school semester is approaching and kids will be looking to restock.
Macario is 53 years old and has two kids, only one of which is still living at home. His wife works as a housecleaner and sometimes gets jobs taking care of the elderly.
",M,1050,lender,Retail,1 Ecuador,"Macario is in the business of selling clothes. He travels around the community showing locals his merchandise, specifically targeting friends, family and acquaintances. Macario has been selling clothes for about 6 years. Although his business is somewhat profitable, it does not always provide enough for him and his family. Therefore, Macario also buys and sells rice. He uses his truck in the picture to travel to rural Ecuador where he buys directly from the rice farmers. He returns to Guayaquil and sells the rice to many of the small stores around the area.
Macario is 53 years old and has 2 kids, only one of which is still living at home. His wife works as a housecleaner and sometimes gets jobs taking care of the elderly.
Mifex offers its clients microinsurance and access to business training and educational programs. For more information about microfinance, Ecuador, and our services",M,475,partner,Clothing,0 Ecuador,"
Magaly sells clothes in her local community. This type of activity allows her the flexibility to bring in a stable source of income while also giving her time to spend with her children. While she is out selling, her mother takes care of her youngest one while the others are at school. She began in this line of work with only $15 in investment capital.
Magaly is now requesting her second loan with Mifex and Kiva. With her first loan, she invested in buying clothing in bulk in order to increase variety and lower prices. This investment was successful as she was able to attract more clients. Also, to provide incentive she allowed her clients to make payments plans on certain items and she also had sales every so often. All of this helped Magaly gain popularity in the sector and increase her customer base. She is requesting a new loan in order to buy a glass case for her products and fix her home up as a store.
Magaly is 29 years old and has 4 small children. She feels proud to be able to help her family with the extra money she makes. She is very grateful of the help her mother provides, without her she would not be able to run this business and care for her children.
",F,675,partner,Clothing,0 Ecuador,"Magno has a storage area that he uses to sell wood. He started working at a very young age, selling fish, fruit, and whatever else he could to help his family. After moving to Guayaquil, he continued doing what he could to survive, and little by little has been able to build his home and establish his family. His wood business is going well, and he would like a loan to purchase more wood before the rainy season starts and the prices go up owing to greater scarcity. Magno is 49 years old and has 6 children, two of whom work with him in his business. He also rents out his washing machine and raises pigs to generate extra income for his family. He wants to add a second story to his house so that his wife and son can start a business on the ground floor. Magno is proud of what he has accomplished but also feels sad that his sons dont plan to finish high school, something that he would have liked but never had the opportunity to do.
Mifex offers its clients microinsurance and access to business training and educational programs. For more information about microfinance, Ecuador, and our services, please visit www.mifex.org.
",M,600,partner,Construction,0 Ecuador,"Maira has about 4 years of experience catching and selling crab. Her husband has been in the industry since he was 12 years when he used to go out and catch crab with his dad. After marrying, Marias husband taught her the tricks of the trade and they decided to start a business of their own. They now wake up at 5 am to catch the crabs and work until 2 pm cooking and selling them. Maria is requesting the loan in order to invest in other seafood that she may couple with her crab selling. She is confident that the investment will be worthwhile. Maria is 19 years old and only has one 3 year old son. Her and her husband work very diligently and are hopeful that the loan will help them get ahead.
Mifex offers its clients microinsurance and access to business training and educational programs. For more information about microfinance, Ecuador, and our services, please visit www.mifex.org.
",F,375,partner,Food,0 Ecuador,"Manuel Aguirre owns a farm where he grows rice and plantains. He has been living on the land for about 20 years with his wife and five children. He hopes that with this loan he can invest in pesticides and fertilizer for his crops. He also hopes he can continue to support his two youngest children who are still going to school.
This borrower is part of the newest and largest Communal Bank in the recently developed Mifex Rural Finance Program. All of the members of the Centro Agricola de Baba Communal Bank are part of an Association of Rice Farmers in the county of Baba in rural Ecuador. Their association works cooperatively to cultivate rice and commercialize the product after it has grown. As an association, Centro Agricola helps the farmers by providing access to machinery and training services. The farmers from Centro Agricola have received special instruction on financial responsibility and accounting from Codemicro, an organization that specializes in training programs geared towards the rural sector.
The members of Centro Agricola de Baba will use the micro-loans to prepare their lands and cultivate rice on their farms. Because they form part of a communal bank, they are all each others' guarantors for the loan. This means that if for some reason one person in the group cannot fully repay the loan, the other borrowers and the Centro Agricola de Baba Association are responsible for the amount in default. The members of the bank also participate in a program designed to teach and encourage savings among the group. Promoting savings is often forgotten in many micro-finance programs, but Mifex believes that is imperative for the communities we works with to have capital reserved for future investments or unexpected difficulties.
Below is more information about Santa Lucia compiled by Luis Crespo and Robert Edgar of the Mifex team when evaluating the potential of the sector for the Rural Finance Program.
The people of Baba have been organized since the days of Gran Colombia when Ecuador was yet to be a country. The area has always been popular because of the extremely productive lands that gave way to cultivation of cacao for decades. Now Baba is a county in the province of Los Rios in the coastal region of Ecuador. For most of the latter part of the 20th Century it was a cacao and banana-producing sector. Most of the surrounding areas of Baba in Los Rios are owned by large multinational companies such as Dole, but Baba is a sector characterized by small and informal farms.
Rice production has now turned into the main economic activity of the sector as about 80% of the people are rice farmers. Cacao is still very popular in the area, but because of the long cultivation cycle people prefer to invest in rice. The lands in Baba are very fertile though, and most farmers in the sector often grow other crops, such as plantains and soybeans as secondary sources of income. Many farmers also keep livestock as emergency sources of food and income, commonly resorting to selling a chicken or pig if they are in need of cash.
Most of the people in the Baba area are small farmers. They produce about 80 sacks of rice per hectare of land. In order to farm they first must prepare the lands by removing weeds, plowing and leveling the lands. This is the most difficult part for the farmers in Baba, who often lack the necessary machinery to properly plow the lands for rice production. After appropriately preparing the lands, the farmers fill an area with water to form what is known as a paddy field, because rice is a very water-intensive crop. The rice seeds are either dispersed freely (the process is known as boleo in Spanish) or hand sowed. Once the rice has grown, most farmers rent machinery that helps them gather their production.
One of the biggest struggles in the area has been the lack of credit due to the absence of any type of financial institution. Because people do not count on formal financial finance, they have turned to loan sharks for financing. They have been affected by expensive lines of credit that exceed 100% interest a year and can be as expensive as 240%. Intermediaries also exploit the farmers because of their outstanding debt. Farmers also lack skills and knowledge to commercialize their products and pay fair prices for their crops.
The largest risk in the sector is due to absence of watering systems. Although Baba is in the province Los Rios (the rivers) there is severe problem with access to water. The lack of infrastructure in the sector does not allow the small farmers to benefit from the presence of the many rivers in the area. If the winter season is too dry, it is likely that the lands will not be sufficiently fertile for rice production in the summer. On the other hand, if there is too much rain, there are not any drainage systems to prevent flooding and the crops are often ruined. Generally speaking though, Baba is a very productive sector where the lands yield all types of crops including rice, cacao, corn, watermelons, plantains, and soybeans.
The loans in this sector will mostly be used to buy soil, seeds, fertilizer and insecticides. Many clients will use the capital towards renting machinery and equipment necessary to effectively work and prepare the fields. Clients also typically use a part of the loan to buy livestock in order to raise and have as reserves. The loan repayment schedule is different from the typical micro-entrepreneur because farmers see the profits from their investments 5 or 6 months after making their initial expenditures. Mifex asks our rural clients only to pay 50% of the capital in the first 6 months of the loan. The rest of the debt must be paid in the seventh and final month.
",M,825,lender,Agriculture,1 Ecuador,"Manuel Freire is a rice farmer in Salitre. He has been rice farming in the sector his entire life. He is also one of the main leaders of the rural associations there. He is hoping he can receive the loan in order to invest in his lands and buy feed for his livestock. Freire is proud to receive these loans and be part of a communal bank he helped form. He is pictured with a tractor he rented to work his lands.
All of the members of the Buena Suerte de Salitre Communal Bank are part of an Association of Rice Farmers. They will use the microloans to prepare the lands and cultivate rice on their farms. Because they form part of a communal bank, they are all each other's guarantors for the loan. This means that if for some reason one person in the group cannot fully repay the loan, the other borrowers and the Buena Suerte Association are responsible for the amount in default. The members of the bank also participate in a program designed to teach and encourage savings among the group. Promoting savings is often forgotten in many microfinance programs, but is imperative for the communities Mifex works with to have capital reserved for future investments or unexpected difficulties.
The loans in this sector will be used to create water deposits that will prevent flooding in the case of heavy rains or store water in case of droughts. They will also be used to treat the land prior to farming, to plant the seeds and purchase fertilizer. The loan repayment schedule is also different from the typical microentrepreneur. Because farmers see the profits from their investments 5 or 6 months after making their initial expenditures, Mifex asks them only to pay 50% of the capital in the first 5 months of the loan. The rest of the debt must be paid in the sixth and final month.
Below is more information about Salitre compiled by the staff at Mifex when evaluating the potential of the sector for the Rural Finance Program.
Salitre is a rural sector in the Province of Guayas, known as the capital of Montuvios (montuvio is a cowboy), with approximately 30,000 inhabitants. The main economic activities are herding and agriculture, which make up about 80% of the economy. The infrastructure and basic services are poor, especially the roads and water services.
Salitre is highly dedicated to farming rice and cattle ranching. Rice is a crop that yields about every four months. In order to farm rice, the environment must be very humid and there must be a high volume of water. The lack of a structured water system makes it difficult for the small farmers to be highly productive. The best months for cultivating rice are early in the year when it is the rainy season on the coast of Ecuador.
Salitre is a national tourist attraction as many Ecuadorians visit the fresh water Salitre River. There are cottages, small restaurants and water attractions that people come to enjoy.
There are not many financial institutions that provide services to the productive sector of the local economy. The primary access to credit comes from loan sharks who charge extremely high interest rates averaging around 20% a month. The locals are also exploited by the intermediaries that buy their products in order to commercialize them in the city and to export abroad. These intermediaries buy crops in advance at very low prices, finance soil at extremely high prices, and often provide emergency loans for even higher interest rates than the loan sharks.
Salitre is a dangerous sector considering it is in the rural area. There is a high incidence of robbery of cattle that results in many of the ranch owners owning weapons to protect their property. Because the police are not present in these areas, farmers and ranchers must apply their own laws and provide their own security. In some instances they have formed their own cooperatives and associations to have a community crime prevention effort.
Salitre is in the lowlands of Ecuador and is vulnerable to flooding in the rainy season. In the event of a heavy rainy season, often at its worse when El Nio occurs, the farmers of rice lose many of their crops. All this is due to a lack of infrastructure in the area.
",M,1200,lender,Agriculture,0 Ecuador,"Manuel is a blacksmith who makes gates, metal doors and windows. This is the second loan his is seeking from Kiva and Mifex. He was extremely satisfied with the results from the first loan in the amount of $300 received in May 2006. He invested in metal materials that allowed him to work much more quickly and efficiently. His repayments were on time and he proved to be a very responsible borrower. His family testifies to the success of the loan as they have seen a significant increase in income and improvement in their quality of life. Manuel is anxious to receive a larger loan so that he can scale his operation. He no longer wants to bring in clients just on references. His goal is to create a large inventory of his products to display in front of his home in order to attract new customers. He currently runs his operation in his backyard but his long-term goal is to open a workshop outside of his home.
Mifex offers its clients microinsurance and access to business training and educational programs. For more information about microfinance, Ecuador, and our services, please visit www.mifex.org.
",M,800,partner,Manufacturing,0 Ecuador,"Manuel is a farmer in the Santa Lucia County, where he has lived for twenty years. He is 63 years old, but he still has the will to work and provide for his family. He has a 14 year-old that he wants to make sure finishes school. Manuel is hoping to receive the loan in order to improve the production of his lands. He will primarily buy fertilizer and fumigation equipment. He and his wife Benita hope to save for the future of their son.
<Manuel is part of the newest Communal Banks in the recently developed Mifex Rural Finance Program. All of the members of the Centro Agricola de Santa Lucia Communal Bank are part of an Association of Rice Farmers in Santa Lucia. Their association works cooperatively to help in the commercialization of the product after it has grown. They will use the micro-loans to prepare their lands and cultivate rice on their farms. Because they form part of a communal bank, they are all each others' guarantors for the loan. This means that if for some reason one person in the group cannot fully repay the loan, the other borrowers and the Primero de Agosto Association are responsible for the amount in default. The members of the bank also participate in a program designed to teach and encourage savings among the group. Promoting savings is often forgotten in many micro-finance programs, but Mifex believes that is imperative for the communities we works with to have capital reserved for future investments or unexpected difficulties.
Below is more information about Santa Lucia compiled by Luis Crespo and Robert Edgar of the Mifex team when evaluating the potential of the sector for the Rural Finance Program. Special thanks to Mario Balazantegui who provided expert insight and contributed to the development of the alliances with the local organizations.
Santa Lucia County has a population of about 33,000 people. The sector is fit for rice cultivating because it is not in the lowlands and therefore it is not at risk of flooding. There is also great access to water because of the Daule River, which is accessible to many of the farmers in the area. About 70% of the farmers have basic infrastructure for watering their crops.
Rice production is the main economic activity of the area as about 80% of the people are rice farmers. Almost everyone is either directly or indirectly involved with rice production, as they produce, commercialize or participate in activities that add value to the product. Within the county, there is a small town also named Santa Lucia. The town is filled with many small businesses and it serves as the social and commercial hub of the area.
Most of the people in the Santa Lucia area are small farmers. They produce about 100 sacks of rice per hectare of land. In order to farm they first must prepare the lands by removing weeds and plowing. The farmers then fill an area with water to form what is known as a paddy field, because rice is a very water intensive crop. The rice seeds are either dispersed freely (the process is known as boleo in Spanish) or hand sowed. Once the rice has grown, most farmers rent machinery that helps them gather their production. A risk factor does exist in rice farming because of drought, but in Santa Lucia this is somewhat mitigated by the access to water form the nearby river.
The biggest struggle in the area has been the lack of credit. Because people do not count on formal financial services, they have turned to loan sharks for financing. They have been affected by expensive lines of credit that exceed 100% interest a year and can be as expensive as 240%. Intermediaries also exploit the farmers because of their outstanding debt. Farmers also lack skills and knowledge to commercialize their products and pay fair prices for their crops.
The loans in this sector will be used to to buy soil, seeds, fertilizer and insecticides. They will also be used to prepare the land prior to farming, to plant the seeds and purchase other materials. The loan repayment schedule is also different from the typical micro-entrepreneur. Because farmers see the profits from their investments 5 or 6 months after making their initial expenditures, Mifex asks them only to pay 50% of the capital in the first 6 months of the loan. The rest of the debt must be paid in the seventh and final month.
",M,500,lender,Agriculture,0 Ecuador,"Manuel is a street vendor in Guayaquil, Ecuador. He uses a tricycle with a large platform in order to travel around his community selling a variety of items. He generates a good amount of business because his items are very accessible to the people in his neighborhood. His wife helps him by buying the products and sometimes traveling along with him in his daily route. He is seeking a loan in order to purchase his products at wholesale prices and possibly invest in a second tricycle for his wife to use. He works from 8 in the morning until 5 in the afternoon trying to cover as much ground as he can. He and his wife have two children together and they hope that with the profits generated from their investments they can improve their wooden house by starting to build cement sections.
Mifex offers its clients microinsurance and access to business training and educational programs. For more information about microfinance, Ecuador, and our services, please visit www.mifex.org.
",M,475,partner,Retail,0 Ecuador,"Manuel owns a bakery where he works from 6 in the morning to 8 at night. He is fully dedicated to the success of this business because it is the main source of income for his family. He learned the trade from his parents who were also in this line of business. He started the business by saving until he had enough to buy an oven. Although his business is doing well he is in need of a glass display case for his bread. With the loan he hopes to buy this case and the raw materials necessary to increase production. With the extra profit he hopes to fix up his home.
Mifex offers its clients microinsurance and access to business training and educational programs. For more information about microfinance, Ecuador, and our services, please visit www.mifex.org.
",M,500,partner,Food,0 Ecuador,"Manuel owns a bakery where he works from six in the morning to eight at night. He is fully dedicated to the success of this business because it's the main source of income for his family. He learned the trade from his parents who were also in this line of business. He started the business by saving until he had enough to buy an oven.
With a previous loan, Manuel was able to invest in a glass display case for his business and more of the ingredients necessary for baking. He was very happy with his loan as the improvements also helped him sell complimentary goods. With this new loan, he wants to continue investing his business by adding dairy products and deli meats to sell from his bakery.
Manuel's previous profile: http://www.kiva.org/app.php?page=businesses&action=about&id=1740
",M,1075,lender,Food,1 Ecuador,"Manuela has a small shop in her home where she sells school supplies and various articles. Manuela started her business with money saved through giving in-home massages, manicures, and pedicures. At first she only sold paper items and notebooks, but now offers a variety of other items as well.
Manuela has been able to expand the range of items she sells thanks to a Kiva loan she received several months ago. She was also able to buy one more display case. She now also sells lunches from her general store, thereby increasing her income. She hopes that with this new loan she can continue to diversify her product line.
Manuela is 34 years old, married, and has two children. She has faith that, with this loan of $1200, her business will continue to grow and her income improve.
",F,1200,lender,Retail,1 Ecuador,"Marcelo is a rice farmer and cattle rancher in Salitre, Ecuador. He is hoping that with the loans he can begin preparing the lands in his farm for rice farming. He will work the lands and buy fertilizer for his crops. He lives with his two daughters, a son and his wife in a house near the home of his parents. His goal is to level the lands so that they will be more productive for years to come. He is pictured with our loan officer filling out his loan application.
He is the latest addition to one of the new Communal Banks in the Mifex Rural Finance Program. All of the members of the 10 de enero Communal Bank are part of an Association of Rice Farmers in Salitre named 10 de enero. They will use the microloans to prepare the lands and cultivate rice on their farms. Because they form part of a communal bank, they are all each others' guarantors for the loan. This means that if for some reason one person in the group cannot fully repay the loan, the other borrowers and the 10 de enero Association are responsible for the amount in default. The members of the bank also participate in a program designed to teach and encourage savings among the group. Promoting savings is often forgotten in many microfinance programs, but is imperative for the communities Mifex works with to have capital reserved for future investments or unexpected difficulties.
The loans in this sector will be used to create water basins that will prevent flooding in the case of heavy rains or store water in case of droughts. They will also be used to treat the land prior to farming, to plant the seeds and purchase fertilizer. The loan repayment schedule is also different from the typical microentrepreneur. Because farmers see the profits from their investments 5 or 6 months after making their initial expenditures, Mifex asks them only to pay 50% of the capital in the first 5 months of the loan. The rest of the debt must be paid in the sixth and final month.
Below is more information about Salitre compiled by the staff at Mifex when evaluating the potential of the sector for the Rural Finance Program.
Salitre is a rural sector in the Province of Guayas known as the capital of Montuvios (montuvio is a cowboy) with approximately 30,000 inhabitants. The main economic activities are herding and agriculture, which make up about 80% of the economy. The infrastructure and basic services are poor, especially the roads and water services.
Salitre is highly dedicated to farming rice and cattle ranching. Rice is a crop that yields about every four months. In order to farm rice, the environment must be very humid and there must be a high volume of water. The lack of a structured water system makes it difficult for the small farmers to be highly productive. The best months for cultivating rice are early in the year when it is the rainy season on the coast of Ecuador.
Salitre is a national tourist attraction as many Ecuadorians visit the freshwater Salitre River. There are cottages, small restaurants and water attractions that people come to enjoy.
There are not many financial institutions that provides services to the productive sector of the local economy. The primary access to credit comes from loan sharks who charge extremely high interest rates averaging around 20% a month. The locals are also exploited by the intermediaries that buy their products in order to sell them in the city and to export abroad. These intermediaries buy crops in advance at very low prices, finance soil at extremely high prices and often provide emergency loans for even higher interest rates than the loan sharks.
Salitre is a dangerous sector considering it is in a rural area. There is a high incidence of robbery of cattle that results in many of the ranch owners owning weapons to protect their property. Because the police are not present in these areas, farmers and ranchers must apply their own laws and provide their own security. In some instances, they have formed their own cooperatives and associations to have a community crime prevention effort.
Salitre is in the lowlands of Ecuador and is vulnerable to flooding in the rainy season. In the event of a heavy rainy season, often at its worse when El Nio occurs, the rice farmers lose many of their crops. All this is due to a lack of infrastructure in the area.
",M,1200,lender,Agriculture,0 Ecuador,"Marcia is a 38 year old married mother of 3 children. She sells baby clothes, strollers, and toys. She began her business with $100 dollars from a friend. At first, she only sold strollers and toys for babies. Now she sells baby walkers, diaper bags, and a range of baby products. This is a profitable business as very few stores are dedicated to baby products. Marcia saw another opportunity in carrying lotions, shampoo and soaps. She used her first loan to purchase these items in bulk. This benefited her business and helped it grow.
Marcia knows that gifts for babies and children are especially popular during the holiday season. She is requesting a second loan with Mifex and Kiva to invest in these products. Her clients have actually requested them from her so she is confident the profit from these sales will give her family economic security and help her improve her business.
Marcias dream is to make improvement to her home so her family lives more comfortably. She is thankful for the ongoing support of Mifex and Kiva.
",F,900,lender,Retail,0 Ecuador,"Marcia is a wholesale distributor of rice in her area. She started the business with the help of her parents who had the contacts to buy the rice at low prices. At first, she sold to individuals in the community from her home, but she realized there were better opportunities as a whole sale distributor. She is requesting the loan because along with her rice distribution, she wants to open a small store from her home. She will sell rice and other basic groceries to her neighbor and people in the vicinity. Marcia has two kids, but only one of them goes to school. The other is handicapped and therefore taken care and home schooled by Marcia. Marcia wants to continue growing this business because it allows her to be with her family and also provides for them. She hopes that with the increased profits she can provide more for her children.
Mifex offers its clients microinsurance and access to business training and educational programs. For more information about microfinance, Ecuador, and our services, please visit www.mifex.org.
",F,625,partner,Food,0 Ecuador,"Marcos is applying for his second loan through Kiva after he finished paying off his first successfully. He originally started out by borrowing a little bit from his mother so that he could sell chicken out of their house. He realized that he would need to become a member of the market near his house in order to reach his customers. Two years have gone by, and everything is going well for Marcos. His wife and daughter constantly motivate him to work hard because Mr. Ordonez is the only source of income for the family right now. Marcos is applying for a new loan so that he can purchase items in cash at the local markets in order to get great discounts and pass the savings on to his customers. With this money he hopes to buy a refrigerator, as well as more chicken and eggs. Right now he claims that he does not have access to credit from a formal bank because he cannot meet the stringent, and often unforgiving, requirements that they impose. The profits generated from the business help Marcos to pay for personal costs, such as education for his daughter, medicine, and food.
Mifex offers its clients microinsurance and access to business training and educational programs. For more information about microfinance, Ecuador, and our services, please visit www.mifex.org.
",M,1175,partner,Food,0 Ecuador,"Margarita opened Bazar Heidy three years ago and sold cosmetic goods door-to-door. A year ago, she opened a shop out of her home and has been selling the products successfully. She mainly markets bazaar items, stationary, and cosmetics. Every day from 8am until 11pm, she works hard to support her family and is intent on expanding her business to provide them with opportunities that she never had.
She has already borrowed from our organization before. She used the capital to purchase toys, clothes, and seasonal products. Margaritas first loan was a great success. She invested in items that allowed her to establish a great relationship with the distributors. Now, she has a great source of wholesale products. Her profits allowed her to improve her home, especially the part where her business is located. She hopes to use the second loan to invest in cosmetics and perfume.
Margarita is a single mother of four. Although her children are all adults now, two of them still live with her. Her wish is take out this loan in order to have additional sources of income in her business.
",F,700,partner,Retail,0 Ecuador,"Margarita started selling fruit about 5 years ago. She only had $10 worth of products and a table outside of her home when she started. Slowly but surely her business grew, today she runs a small market from a section she prepared in her house.
She needs the loan because she is seeking to buy in bulk at better prices. She wants to invest a larger variety of the fruits she sells as well. Margarita is 41 years old and has 2 children. Her oldest son who is 18 years old helps her with the business. Thanks to this business Margarita has been able to provide her children with an education, food on the table and a roof over their heads.
Mifex offers its clients microinsurance and access to business training and educational programs. For more information about microfinance, Ecuador, and our services, please visit www.mifex.org.
",F,600,partner,Food,0 Ecuador,"Maria and her husband Mario have been living on their land for about ten years now. They have been able to slowly build their home out of hard work, although it is still admittedly in need of much improvement. Maria has a 7 year old daughter who she works hard to feed and educate. Her husband is a field worker who is mostly employed in big farms outside of their town. Meanwhile, Maria tends to their own piece of land with the help of Mario whenever he is out of work or she really needs him. They hope to invest in fertilizer and pesticides to preserve the crops they have already planted.
This borrower is part of one the new Communal Banks formed in the recently developed Mifex Rural Finance Program. All of the members of the Anzuelo Baba Communal Bank are part of an association of rice farmers in the county of Baba in rural Ecuador. Their organization, El Anzuelo Asociacion, works cooperatively to help their members cultivate rice and commercialize the product after it has grown. Most recently, El Anzuelo was able to start a program that improved their members access to watering services.
The members of La Asociacion El Anzuelo de Baba will use the micro-loans to prepare their lands and cultivate rice on their farms. Because they form part of a communal bank, they are all each others guarantors for the loan. This means that if for some reason one person in the group cannot fully repay the loan, the other borrowers and the association are responsible for the amount in default. The members of the bank also participate in a program designed to teach and encourage savings among the group. Promoting savings is often forgotten in many micro-finance programs, but Mifex believes that is imperative for the communities we work with to have capital reserved for future investments or unexpected difficulties.
Below is more information about Baba compiled by Luis Crespo and Robert Edgar of the Mifex team when evaluating the potential of the sector for the Rural Finance Program.
The people of Baba have been organized since the days of Gran Colombia when Ecuador was yet to be a country. The area has always been popular because of the extremely productive lands that gave way to cultivation of cacao for decades. Now Baba is a county in the province of Los Rios in the coastal region of Ecuador. For most of the latter part of the 20th Century it was a cacao and banana producing sector. Most of the surrounding areas of Baba in Los Rios are owned by large mulitnational companies such as Dole, but Baba is a sector characterized by the small and informal farms.
Rice production has now turned into the main economic activity of the sector as about 80% of the people are rice farmers. Cacao is still very popular in the area, but because of the long cultivation cycle people prefer to invest in rice. The lands in Baba are very fertile though, and most farmers in the sector often grow other crops, such as plantains and soy beans as secondary sources of income. Many farmers also keep livestock as emergency sources of food and income, commonly resorting to selling a chicken or pig if they are in need of cash.
Most of the people in the Baba area are small farmers. They produce about 80 sacks of rice per hectare of land. In order to farm they first must prepare the lands by removing weeds, plowing and leveling the lands. This is the most difficult part for the farmers in Baba, who often lack the necessary machinery to properly plow the lands for rice production. After appropriately preparing the lands, the farmers fill an area with water to form what is known as a paddy field, because rice is a very water intensive crop. The rice seeds are either dispersed freely (the process is known as boleo in Spanish) or hand sowed. Once the rice has grown, most farmers rent machinery that helps them gather their production.
One of the biggest struggles in the area has been the lack of credit due to the absence of any type of financial institution. Because people do not count on formal financing, they have turned to loan sharks, paying between 100% and 240% annual interest. Intermediaries also exploit the farmers because of their outstanding debt. Farmers also lack skills and knowledge to commercialize their products and earn fair prices for their crops.
The largest risk in the sector is due to absence of watering systems. Although Baba is in the province Los Rios (the rivers) there is a severe problem with access to water. The lack of infrastructure in the sector does not allow the small farmers to benefit from the presence of the many rivers in the area. If the winter season is too dry, it is likely that the lands will not be sufficiently fertile for rice production in the summer. On the other hand, if there is too much rain there are not any drainage systems to prevent flooding and the crops are often ruined. Generally speaking though, Baba is a very productive sector where the lands yield all types of crops including rice, cacao, corn, watermelons, plantains, and soy beans.
The loans in this sector will mostly be used to to buy soil, seeds, fertilizer and insecticides. Many clients will use the capital towards renting machinery and equipment necessary to effectively work and prepare the fields. Clients also typically use a part of the loan to buy livestock in order to raise and have as reserves. The loan repayment schedule is different from the typical micro-entrepreneur because farmers see the profits from their investments 5 or 6 months after making their initial expenditures. Mifex asks our rural clients only to pay 50% of the capital in the first 6 months of the loan. The rest of the debt must be paid in the seventh and final month.
",F,825,lender,Agriculture,0 Ecuador,"Maria Cedeno sells makeup and other products for the home. She is a door-to-door saleswomen who travels around the community she lives in advertising her products. She started off with the help of her husband who gave her $50 to buy the first batch of cosmetics that included lip stick and eye liners. She sells these products and baby clothing in order to make her business profitable. Maria and her husband have 3 daughters. You can see they live in a home made out of bamboo, but they are very optimistic about the future. She depends on the income from her business in order to provide clothes and food for her children. Her husband is covers the other expenses in the home and is very supportive.
Mifex offers its clients microinsurance and access to business training and educational programs. For more information about microfinance, Ecuador, and our services, please visit www.mifex.org.
",F,625,partner,Services,0 Ecuador,"Maria Guanuchi is part of Mifexs first class of borrowers. Not only has she repaid her first loan successfully, she already knows exactly how she plans to use the money from her next loan. She and her husband started this business over 30 years ago when all they had was $10, and they sold treats to children. As they grew, Ms. Guanuchi and her husband began selling basic household items to customers from the neighborhood. As her only source of income, Maria knows that she has to keep business going well all throughout the year. Luckily, Mifex offers insurance to our borrowers in times of sickness and disaster so they can cope with many of lifes struggles.
Maria is asking for a new loan so that she can be able to purchase more goods in cash and receive discounts from her distributors. This will create more healthy competition and ultimately bring more clients into her store. Because many of the formal banks consider inhabitants of Ms. Guanuchis ""zona"" high risk, they do not loan to them. Maria realizes what an incredible opportunity it is to have Mifex and Kiva administering her loan when no one else will. She intends to buy rice, sugar, and cleaning supplies for her store.
Mifex offers its clients microinsurance and access to business training and educational programs. For more information about microfinance, Ecuador, and our services, please visit www.mifex.org.
",F,1175,partner,Retail,0 Ecuador,"Maria Guanuchi is part of Mifexs first class of borrowers. Not only has she repaid her first two loans successfully, she already knows exactly how she plans to use the money from her next loan. She and her husband started this business over 30 years ago when all they had was $10, and they sold treats to children. As they grew, Ms. Guanuchi and her husband began selling basic household items to customers from the neighborhood. As her only source of income, Maria knows that she has to keep business going well all throughout the year. Luckily, Mifex offers insurance to our borrowers in times of sickness and disaster so they can cope with many of lifes unexpected struggles.
Maria is asking for a new loan so that she can purchase more goods in cash and receive discounts from her distributors. This will create more healthy competition and ultimately bring more clients into her store. Because many of the formal banks consider inhabitants of Ms. Guanuchis ""zona"" high risk, they do not loan to them. Maria realizes what an incredible opportunity it is to have Mifex and Kiva administering her loan when no one else will. She intends to buy gifts, toys, paper goods, beauty products, and drinks for her store.
Marias business has grown substantially she is well known and respected throughout her neighborhood. She tells us she is thankful for the opportunities she has been given and wishes everyone a happy holiday season.
",F,1200,lender,Retail,1 Ecuador,"Maria has 10 years of experience in seafood sales, together with her husband, who taught her the business. He worked with his father from the age of 15. After he married Maria, they succeeded in founding their own business. They work every day from 7 am to 2 pm. They catch crabs, cook them, remove the meat and package it to be sold later.
Before borrowing from Mifex, Maria could not meet the demand with of her clients. After receiving a loan several months ago she has been able to significantly increase her production and keep her clients happy. She is now hopeful of taking out a second loan under the Mifex and Kiva partnership.
Maria is 28 years old. She has 4 children, all in school. Her children appreciate their parents for the effort they put into supporting them and giving them the opportunity to study. They hope to buy their own house, since they currently live with Maria's inlaws.
",F,550,lender,Food,0 Ecuador,"Maria has 5 years' experience with her restaurant business. On her own initiative, she started selling candies at home. Then her grandmother encouraged her to start selling snacks. Thanks to that motivation she doesnt only sell snacks but she also sells lunches. She works everyday from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. and the weekends from 9 a.m. to 12 p.m. Her mother helps her by serving the clients at her eatery. With this business, she has been able to remodel the premises and provide a better service for her customers. She also has a small store that generates additional income. Her younger sisters help her with the sales.
Maria used a previous loan from Mifex to invest in items like tables, chairs, pots, pans and plates. She is now looking forward to buying an industrial kitchen for her business, which will help her drastically improve her working conditions.
Maria is single. She is 34 years old and she lives with her parents, who have helped her undertake her business.
",F,950,lender,Food,1 Ecuador,"Maria has a small general store where she mostly sells office and school supplies. She started off with $200 and bought a display case and a couple of notebooks. She now has a complete line of office supplies including pens, pencils and staplers.
Maria received a previous loan from Kiva and Mifex and used it to increase the diversity of her products and improve the appearance of her shop. She is requesting this, her second loan, in order to continue buying more products for her store.
Maria is a 35-year-old single mother. She feels very happy to have the profits from her business to rely on for food and the education of her child. Her dream is to send her son to college and continue to be successful with her store.
",F,1075,lender,Retail,1 Ecuador,"Maria has a small general store where she mostly sells office and school supplies. She started off with $200 and bought a display case and a couple of notebooks. She now has a complete line of office supplies including pens, pencils and staplers. She will use the loan in order to buy a photocopier so she may sell copies to the general copy. She has observed that these types of businesses have success and that there is no competition nearby.
Maria is a 35 year old single mother. She feels very happy to have the profits from her business to rely on for food and the education of her child. Her dream is to send her son college and continue to be successful with her store.
Mifex offers its clients microinsurance and access to business training and educational programs. For more information about microfinance, Ecuador, and our services, please visit www.mifex.org.
",F,625,partner,Retail,0 Ecuador,"Maria has a small laundromat which provides washing and drying services to the community. She opened her business four years ago with money saved up from her ceramics workshop since demand for ceramics had gone down. Maria decided to put her skills into a laundering service, but she still does ceramic work on the side and makes mementos for baptisms, weddings, 15th birthday celebrations, and graduations, all by order.
Maria used a previous loan to fix a dryer that had broken down and to invest in detergents and other necessary items for the day to day operation. She also used some of the money to buy ceramics making materials. As a new opportunity she decided to purchase video game machines for children who are with their parents to use. Both of her businesses are now doing well and she wished to continue investing. Her sites are set on a new washer with the extra profits she hopes to make.
Maria is 43 years old, single and lives alone. Her family is from Manab-Jipijapa and she came to the city determined to get ahead and help her family as much as she could. This has not been easy for her, she has had to cover her familys expenses. She is an enterprising person who tries everyday to improve her familys wellbeing.
",F,1075,lender,Services,1 Ecuador,"Maria has a small market and bakery. She started the bakery with the help of her husband who provided the oven and moral support. Later she expanded the business into a market where she sells all types of foods. She starts working at 5:30 a.m. and continues into the late evening. From the money she has made with her bakery she has added cement walls to her home which once were only made of flimsy wood.
She is seeking this loan in order to make her market and bakery larger. She receives a good amount of business and sees the need to expand her operation. She is a mother of three children who uses the majority of her income on her childrens well being.
Mifex offers its clients microinsurance and access to business training and educational programs. For more information about microfinance, Ecuador, and our services, please visit www.mifex.org.
",F,500,partner,Food,0 Ecuador,"Maria has a small market and bakery. She started the bakery with the help of her husband who provided the oven and moral support. Later she expanded the business into a market where she sells all types of foods. She starts working at 5:30 a.m. and continues into the late evening. From the money she has made with her bakery she has added cement walls to her home which once were only made of flimsy wood.
She used a previous loan to make her market and bakery larger. She received a good boost in the amount of business she attracted and she started to make new types of pastries and baked goods. She is a mother of three children who uses the majority of her income on her childrens well being.
",F,1075,lender,Food,1 Ecuador,"Maria has a small store where she sells food and other household items. She started the store 4 years ago with the help of her daughter who gave her $150 of her savings from a job. At first she only started selling fruits and other foods but she has slowly been expanding her product line into other items for the home. She has 3 children who all help her run the business and depend on the store as the main source of income. Maria hopes to use the money from this loan to invest in products such as toys that will be popular for the upcoming Christmas season. She also wants to expand into the sale of beef and chicken.
Mifex offers its clients microinsurance and access to business training and educational programs. For more information about microfinance, Ecuador, and our services, please visit www.mifex.org.
",F,475,partner,Food,0 Ecuador,"Maria has a small store where she sells sodas, juices and beer. She already owns two large freezers thanks to the profits the business has generated. She is hoping that with this loan she will be able to buy her drinks wholesale to improve her profit margin and possibly a new freezer.
Maria and her husband have 10 children, 6 of them still live at home. She has been living in this very poor community for many years. Her home was once in very poor conditions and vulnerable to the rising shore, but she has made various improvements thanks to her business.
Mifex offers its clients microinsurance and access to business training and educational programs. For more information about microfinance, Ecuador, and our services, please visit www.mifex.org.
",F,375,partner,Food,0 Ecuador,"Maria has a stand where she sells fresh fruit and juice. Maria used to sell vegetables from her stand, but because profits were not sufficient she and her husband decided to try something different. After being forced to move from their old location because they did not have government permits, they moved the stand to a location closer to their home. Maria and her husband prepare the juice and fruit salad in the mornings. While Maria stays at the stand, her husband travels around the community in his tricycle cart selling the fresh juice and fruit salad.
This is Maria's second loan with Kiva and Mifex. With her first loan she purchased new types of utensils and appliances. She purchased a new blender, sandwich maker and juicer. Although she had planned to invest in a new cart, when time came to make the investment she decided it was a wiser move to reinforce her current stand before venturing into a new point of sale. She is happy with the decision now that she can work much more efficiently and her client base has increased. Her second loan will be directed towards making the investment in a new cart as she planned before.
Maria is 35 years old, married, and has 3 children. They live in her husbands family's house where they pay rent. Marias goal is to save up enough money to buy herself and her children a home.
Translated by Chlo Tuot, a Kiva Volunteer.
",F,950,partner,Food,0 Ecuador,"
Maria has about 2 years of experience in the restaurant business. She decided to start it on her own initiative after being fed up of her work as a housekeeper. With her savings and the help of her brother in law who is a carpenter, she was able to acquire tables, chairs and utensils for her business. She started off by having the business outside of her home, but now she has made space inside to sit her clients. Maria is eager to continue improving her business but she needs a loan in order to make aesthetic improvements. She has 3 children who are all grown up and often help her in the restaurant.
Mifex offers its clients microinsurance and access to business training and educational programs. For more information about microfinance, Ecuador, and our services, please visit www.mifex.org.
",F,375,partner,Food,0 Ecuador,"Maria has been running this store out of her home for about 2 years. Prior to running this business she worked as a seamstress but she did not generate enough income to support her family. She and her husband decided to open it when he was fired from his job. With their savings they invested in products and they have been slowly growing these past years.
Seeing as this is their main source of income they have decided to expand their business. Her husband just finished a baking course and is very optimistic about starting a bakery. They have been making bread for a short time period and they have just invested in a display case. They need the loan for the raw materials necessary to start producing large amounts of baked goods.
Mifex offers its clients microinsurance and access to business training and educational programs. For more information about microfinance, Ecuador, and our services, please visit www.mifex.org.
",F,375,partner,Food,0 Ecuador,"Maria has been running this store out of her home for about 2 years. Prior to running this business she worked as a seamstress but she did not generate enough income to support her family. She and her husband decided to open it when he was fired from his job. With their savings they invested in products and they have been slowly growing these past years.
Maria and her husband decided to open a bakery several months ago with the help of a loan with Mifex and Kiva. They were able to start their bakery and increase the sales of Maria's store. Her husband makes bread every morning and they now own a true family business where their daughter now helps by tending to the store. They plan to invest the new loan in a variety of new soft drinks and snacks that are high in demand.
",F,675,partner,Food,0 Ecuador,"Maria has ten years of experience selling clothing. She began working when she noticed that, despite her husbands hard work, they could not adequately cover the living expenses for themselves and their two daughters. With $100 in capital she bought clothing from a wholesale distributor. She sells to friends and acquaintances in her community. Her husband also helps her sometimes when he is not working. She is requesting this loan because she wants to diversify her products. She is hoping that with the money she can invest in shoes, sandals and warm weather clothing. Her long term goal is to save enough money to buy a car so she and her husband can travel to rural towns and sell goods.
",F,475,partner,Clothing,0 Ecuador,"Maria is 22 years old and has 2 small children. She and her mother run a restaurant that is very popular in their neighborhood. Maria has been around restaurants since she was very young because her mother always ran similar businesses. Now they are business partners and are having great success. Maria also sells shoes, clothes, and home products to many of the clients at her restaurant, and she also travels into large markets in the city to make her sales.
Maria is a single mother. The father of the first left her shortly after finding out she was pregnant, and the father of the second passed away two months after the child was born. Even so, she is hardworking and optimistic.
Maria is taking out her second loan with the Kiva and Mifex program. With the first loan she concentrated on her retail business. She invested in electrical domestic appliances and resold them in her neighborhood and in some rural communities. Selling appliances has been very profitable and successful for Maria. She hopes that the Kiva community will continue supporting her and her family.
",F,625,partner,Retail,0 Ecuador,"Maria is a clothes saleswoman. Everyday she travels around her community on foot offering her products to her friends, families and acquaintances. She started by selling just shorts and blouses, but she has slowly started to integrate all types of different clothes into her line. She aspires to become a wholesale distributor so she will not have to travel door to door in the hot Guayaquil weather. She will also see much more profits as a major supplier. She will use the loan to invest in a large amount of clothing to sell and to provide to other vendors.
Santa is a single mother with 4 children of which 3 are still in school. Her husband left her four years ago because she would not abort her youngest child. She has faced the tough situation with courage, but relies entirely on her business to support her family. It is very important for her to be able to invest in this activity in order to continue to support for her family.
Mifex offers its clients microinsurance and access to business training and educational programs. For more information about microfinance, Ecuador, and our services, please visit www.mifex.org.
",F,475,partner,Clothing,0 Ecuador,"Maria is a noodle distributor for her local neighborhood. She has been doing this for over 4 years with her daughter. Her husband as a great motivator and urged her to begin this line of business. He saved portions from his wages as a driver in a nearby factory and put put up the start-up capital for the business. She needs this loan in order to fix the floors in her storage space which were damaged during government reparations of the street and sidewalk. She needs to have somewhere where she can store her inventory safely and hygienically.
Mifex offers its clients microinsurance and access to business training and educational programs. For more information about microfinance, Ecuador, and our services, please visit www.mifex.org.
",F,725,partner,Food,0 Ecuador,"Maria moved to Guayaquil from Cotopaxi in search of a better life. Although it was difficult to leave her family she felt that she could only provide a better future for her kids if she moved away. When she arrived to Guayaquil things were not too much better though. She lives in one of the worst sectors of the city but she is trying to move forward.
She runs a smalls shop where she sells snacks and other foods. She wants to invest in her store by buying new shelves and purchasing her products in bulk. With the extra profits she will improve her home.
Mifex offers its clients microinsurance and access to business training and educational programs. For more information about microfinance, Ecuador, and our services, please visit www.mifex.org.
",F,1075,partner,Food,0 Ecuador,"Maria owns a small store where she sells many food items. She started off by just selling fruits and vegetables, but eventually her business grew to include dairy products and soft drinks.
Maria has a very stable business that shows the capacity of introducing new products. She received a previous loan with Kiva and Mifex that helped her revamp her store front. She attracted many more clients and she moved on to invest in a wide variety of canned goods and other products. Her customer base is very strong and the producte she plans to introduce promise to continue generating revenue.
Maria is a 28 year old single mother of three children who moved to Guayaquil in search of work and a better for life for her children.
",F,1200,lender,Food,1 Ecuador,"Maria owns a small store where she sells many food items. She started off by just selling fruits and vegetables, but eventually her business grew to include dairy products and soft drinks. She is requesting the loan because she wants to invest in canned goods that are very popular amongst her customers. She does not have the investment capital to go out and buy these goods and make them part of her product line. Maria has a very stable business that shows the capacity of introducing new products. Her customer base is very strong and the product she plans to introduce promise to generate revenue. Maria is a 28 year old single mother of three children who moved to Guayaquil in search of work and a better for life for her children.
Mifex offers its clients microinsurance and access to business training and educational programs. For more information about microfinance, Ecuador, and our services, please visit www.mifex.org.
",F,1125,partner,Food,0 Ecuador,"Maria Pilco was born in Chimborazo, Ecuador. She is married and has four children, all of whom she helps support by running her small business in the Municipal de Bastin Popular a local market for entrepreneurs in Guayaquil. She begins work at 6am and finishes by 5pm. Maria wants potential lenders to know that she has been working in this same business since she was very young when her parents first began teaching her how to run it. Her husband helps run the shop as well, but he focuses more on the purchasing and inventory side. With a $950 loan, Maria hopes to invest in marketing as well as more diverse products. The additional benefit of buying in bulk is that Maria can receive discounts from her suppliers and offer he goods at a lower price to her buyers. Ms. Pilco is part of a lending group formed by Mifex that includes her brother and sister, who have been successful borrowers in the past.
Maria Rodriguez is married and has one son. She is 37 years old and depends on her business to support her family and save money for the future. She remains very optimistic about the future as she has seen positive results and growth from her first microloan.
Maria distributes rice to stores and markets. She started her business with the help of her husband who gave her $200 in start-up capital so she could have her own business. At the beginning she only sold rice retail but now sells it wholesale. She used her first loan with Mifex and Kiva to buy higher quality rice and also to improve the part of her home she uses for business. Thanks to her attentiveness to her clients she now has steady income.
Mara wants to sell other basic foods such as sugar, oil, and beans that her clients are requesting. She will use her second loan to purchase these products at wholesale prices to make a bigger profit.
",F,850,lender,Food,1 Ecuador,"Maria runs a small store out of her home where she sells hand-painted tablecloths, shoes, and hand-knit handbags. She originally went to beauty school but left that profession to get married. When it became clear that her husband did not look after the household finances, she went back to work, this time opening a small hair salon, but later lost everything in a robbery. She learned to make the handbags and shoes she currently sells by watching a neighbor.
She started the business 5 years ago with only $20 of capital. Since then things have been going well, and she would like to expand her business. She hopes to use the loan to be able to buy more of the materials she uses for her crafts and increase her sales during the holiday season.
Marias husband emigrated to the United States two years ago, so she lives alone with her three children. She would like to stabilize their economic situation so that her husband can come home.
Mifex offers its clients microinsurance and access to business training and educational programs. For more information about microfinance, Ecuador, and our services, please visit www.mifex.org.
",F,450,partner,Retail,0 Ecuador,"Maria runs a small store out of her home where she sells hand-painted tablecloths, shoes, sandals and hand-knit handbags. She originally went to beauty school but left that profession to get married. When it became clear that her husband did not look after the household finances, she went back to work, this time opening a small hair salon, but later lost everything in a robbery. She learned to make the handbags and shoes she currently sells by watching a neighbor.
She started the business 5 years ago with only $20 of capital. Since then things have been going well, and she would like to expand her business. She took out a loan from Mifex that allowed her to increase her sandal making operation. Things have been going very well and she was able to invest in cleaning products as well. She is seeking another loan in order to increase the space for her business, invest in new products and buy supplies for her sandal making operation.
Marias husband emigrated to the United States two years ago, so she lives alone with her three children. She would like to stabilize their economic situation so that her husband can come home.
",F,950,lender,Retail,0 Ecuador,"Maria sells cosmetics. Maria began her business with $100 in capital. At the beginning she just sold cosmetics but now she also sells costume jewelry. Maria hoped to establish a store to display her merchandise when she first approached Mifex. After receiving a loan from Kiva and Mifex she was able to set up a store and now sells a variety of other products such as rice and gas tanks.
She will use this new loan to buy more products for her newly created store. Now that she has space and has a steady flow of clients who visit, she feels her business has much growth to achieve. The capital from this loan will certainly help her attain her goal.
Maria is single and 28 years old. Through this business Maria helps her family. Maria hopes that this loan will give her financial stability and allow her to save for her future.
",F,1200,lender,Retail,1 Ecuador,"Maria sells perfumes, cosmetics, shampoo, natural medicines and other vitamins. She learned to be a saleswoman from her parents who are also in the same line of works. She is in need of a loan in order to invest in products. She is especially interested in diversifying her line of natural medicines because her clients are satisfied with the results and they have become very popular items. Maria is 41 years old and has 3 children. Her oldest daughter is married but still lives with Maria at home. Maria has been separated from her husband for 5 years and she has had to play the role of mother and father to her 2 younger children.
Mifex offers its clients microinsurance and access to business training and educational programs. For more information about microfinance, Ecuador, and our services, please visit www.mifex.org.
",F,375,partner,Retail,0 Ecuador,"Maria was born and raised Manabi and is currently 38 years old. Right now Maria is a single mother of a three year old son. Maria is currently living with her parents. Though she finished school, she decided to work on the side selling bed sheets, pots, eating utensils, cups, irons, blenders, etc. She decided to this when she found out she was pregnant and didn't have a husband to help her. As of now, her parents have provided much support, but Maria wants to be more prepared when her son goes to kindergarten. She dreams of owning her own house, and therefore works as much as she can.
",F,375,partner,Retail,0 Ecuador,"Mariana has a small workshop where she makes clothes for women and children. She also buys clothes to sell in her store. She learned this activity from her mother when she was 10. Every week, she would accompany her mother to sell the clothes they had made, going to different areas around their village; Mariana still keeps the sewing machine her mother left her.
Her workshop is in her house and it is open from Monday to Sunday. She has a granddaughter that keeps her company and helps her when she needs to run some errands. She also has other sources of income because she had first aid and nursing training, so she offers her services to the community.
This is Marianas second loan with Kiva and Mifex. She will use this loan to buy more fabrics, thread, lace and all other materials. She also will continue to save for a new sewing machine.
She is 58 years old and has 3 sons, all of which are independent. She does not have a husband because he left her and the kids when they were still very young. She has had to take care of the family; with her income she was able to buy a property and build a house made of cane, which she later improved using cement. At the same time, she has another source of income from a property she is renting out. She wishes to keep on with her work and business since these are her only sources of income.
",F,825,lender,Clothing,1 Ecuador,"Mariano has a workshop finishing and upholstering coffins out of his home. He started this business 5 years ago with a loan sent from Spain by his sister. With that loan Mariano bought unfinished coffins; which he works to finish. His wife creates the interior upholstery of the coffins.
Mariano is a previous recipient of a Mifex and Kiva loan, which he used to purchase these unfinished coffins as well as supplies to paint and decrate them. The loan allowed him to meet market demand for his products.
Mariano is applying for a second loan because demand for his products has increased; his current clients have been referring other potential buyers to him. He needs the loan to buy more unfinished coffins so that he can meet his new clients' demand and generate more income. He was initially completing 3 coffins a week but has since increased his production to 5 coffins a week. Mariano has 3 clients to whom he sells his finished products. His work hours are 8:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m.
Mariano is 23 years old and married with a 3 year old daughter. They live in his mother-in-law's house. He dreams of buying himself a plot of land with the earnings this investment will generate. He hopes to build his own home and provide a better life for his wife and daughter.
",M,1200,lender,Manufacturing,1 Ecuador,"Maribel Molina is 39 and married with 4 children who live with her and help her along with her husband in her business. Her husband says he is happy with his wife and considers her a hard working woman who looks after the well-being of the family. He works as a carpenter specializing in making dressers.
Maribel has run a confectionery and yogurt store from her home for 5 years. She began this activity with savings and a small loan. Her husband and children help her tend to customers between 6am and 8pm at night. Recently she began selling home electronics thanks to a previous loan with Mifex and Kiva.
Marbiel is requesting a second loan with our institution for the holiday season. She wants to invest in more food products for her store and to also carry more kitchen appliances which are popular among her clients. She knows that the investment will allow her to meet her customers' demands. Maribel is confident that the additional earnings will help her to continue making additions to her home, which will provide her children with added security.
",F,1200,lender,Retail,1 Ecuador,"Mariela has a small bazaar in her home. Mariela began her business with the help of her husband, who provided US$150 in investment capital. She began selling purses and backpacks to her friends and family. Now she continues selling purses and backpacks together with other items.
Mariela will use this, her second loan, to invest in a wide variety of products that may be popular during the holiday season. Her first loan was an overall success, as she made all of her payments punctually while also improving the standard of living of her family.
Mariela is a mother of three children, married and 23 years old. Mariela hopes that this loan can improve her family's quality of life and that it will give her stability to grow her business.
",F,1075,lender,Retail,1 Ecuador,"Mario has a stand in the local market where he sells fruits and vegetables. He started the business over 15 years ago after working at a fruit stand with his uncle. With $30 dollars he was able to set up a stand and with money from loan sharks he was able to buy the fruit. He works an early schedule from 5:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. with the support of his wife. This stand is the only the source of income for his family and has provided enough for them to buy a small home and barely enough to send his kids to school. He says that there is certainly enough demand to sell more fruit but he does not have the money to purchase higher quantities. For this reason he has approached Mifex and Kiva for a loan.
Mifex offers its clients microinsurance and access to business training and educational programs. For more information about microfinance, Ecuador, and our services, please visit www.mifex.org.
",M,475,partner,Food,0 Ecuador,"Mario has over 30 years of experience farming rice. Because his parents did not send him to school beyond 5th grade, he must rely on his rice farming knowledge to feed his family. He has two kids, aged 10 and 16. He hopes that he can provide them with better a better future than his by giving them an education. With the loan he will invest in machinery for collecting the raise after it has grown. With the profits he hopes to make improvements to his home.
Mario is part of the newest Communal Banks in the recently developed Mifex Rural Finance Program. All of the members of the Centro Agricola de Santa Lucia Communal Bank are part of an Association of Rice Farmers in Santa Lucia. Their association works cooperatively to help in the commercialization of the product after it has grown. They will use the micro-loans to prepare their lands and cultivate rice on their farms. Because they form part of a communal bank, they are all each others guarantors for the loan. This means that if for some reason one person in the group cannot fully repay the loan, the other borrowers and the Primero de Agosto Association are responsible for the amount in default. The members of the bank also participate in a program designed to teach and encourage savings among the group. Promoting savings is often forgotten in many micro-finance programs, but Mifex believes that is imperative for the communities we work with to have capital reserved for future investments or unexpected difficulties.
Below is more information about Santa Lucia compiled by Luis Crespo and Robert Edgar of the Mifex team when evaluating the potential of the sector for the Rural Finance Program. Special thanks to Mario Balazantegui who provided expert insight and contributed to the development of the alliances with the local organizations.
Santa Lucia County has a population of about 33,000 people. The sector is fit for rice cultivating because it is not in the lowlands and therefore it is not at risk of flooding. There is also great access to water because of the Daule River, which is accessible to many of the farmers in the area. About 70% of the farmers have basic infrastructure for watering their crops.
Rice production is the main economic activity of the area as about 80% of the people are rice farmers. Almost everyone is either directly or indirectly involved with rice production, as they produce, commercialize or participate in activities that add value to the product. Within the county, there is a small town also named Santa Lucia. The town is filled with many small businesses and it serves as the social and commercial hub of the area.
Most of the people in the Santa Lucia area are small farmers. They produce about 100 sacks of rice per hectare of land. In order to farm they first must prepare the lands by removing weeds and plowing. The farmers then fill an area with water to form what is known as a paddy field, because rice is a very water-intensive crop. The rice seeds are either dispersed freely (the process is known as boleo in Spanish) or hand sowed. Once the rice has grown, most farmers rent machinery that helps them gather their production. A risk factor does exist in rice farming because of drought, but in Santa Lucia this is somewhat mitigated by the access to water form the nearby river.
The biggest struggle in the area has been the lack of credit. Because people do not count on formal financial services, they have turned to loan sharks for financing. They have been affected by expensive lines of credit that exceed 100% interest a year and can be as expensive as 240%. Intermediaries also exploit the farmers because of their outstanding debt. Farmers also lack skills and knowledge to commercialize their products and pay fair prices for their crops.
The loans in this sector will be used to to buy soil, seeds, fertilizer and insecticides. They will also be used to prepare the land prior to farming, to plant the seeds and purchase other materials. The loan repayment schedule is also different from the typical micro-entrepreneur. Because farmers see the profits from their investments 5 or 6 months after making their initial expenditures, Mifex asks them only to pay 50% of the capital in the first 6 months of the loan. The rest of the debt must be paid in the seventh and final month.
",M,825,lender,Agriculture,0 Ecuador,"Maritza has 8 years of experience in her business. She learned the trade fron her husband, who worked alongside his brothers from the time he was 12 years old. With her savings he helped her buy the machinery for the repair shop. They currently work together. She sells the lubricants and he repairs the cars. She works every day of the week from 8 a.m. till 6 p.m.
Maritza would like the loan so that she can invest in an additional class of lubricants for cars in order to better serve her clients. Because she does not now carry these lubricants, her husband has to leave his work to go purchase them when they are needed, which takes his time away from the repairs. Their service will be better when they have all the lubricants they need right in the repair shop.
Maritza is 30 years old with 2 children. Together she and her husband have succeeded in moving their business ahead, and now they hope to buy some land, where little by little they will build a home and a new repair workshop. At the moment they are renting both the site of the workshop and their home. They know that with this investment their earnings will increase.
Translated from Spanish by Erin Corcoran, Kiva volunteer.
Maritza tiene una experiencia de 8 aos con su negocio. Actividad que la aprendi de su esposo el cual trabajaba desde la edad de 12 aos junto a sus hermanos. Con los ahorros de ella le ayudo en la compra de maquinarias para el taller. Actualmente ellos trabajan juntos. Ella se dedica a la venta de lubricantes y el repara los carros que llegan al negocio. Trabaja todos los das de la semana desde las 8 a.m. hasta las 6 p.m.
",F,600,partner,Services,0 Ecuador,"Maritza has a general store where she sells a wide variety of products ranging from beverages to office supplies. She started her business with the help of her ex-inlaws who provided her with money to start the business.
Maritza will use the loan to invest in the wholesale purchase of merchandise and thereby to improve her income. She has confidence that her business will grow as it did with a previous investment from a loan from Mifex and Kiva.
Maritza is 24 years old, and separated. She has 3 children, two of which go to school. Life as a single mother has not been easy for Maritza. She has to work very hard to be able to afford her children's education and housing. She hopes that this loan will improve the quality of life for her family. Thanks to the help of the previous loan, she was already able to enroll her kids in better schools the last school year.
",F,1200,lender,Retail,1 Ecuador,"Maritza has a general store where she sells stationary and other office supplies. She learned how to run her store from the experience she gained from helping her godmother at her business. She started off with only pen and paper, but she has been able to grow and include many other products. She is seeking the loan in order to invest in new products that her clients may also want to purchase, like toys and gifts. She will also make changes the physical appearance of her store. She is 41 years old and has 2 children. Thanks to her business she has been able to educate her children and also begin the process of building a home for her family.
Mifex offers its clients microinsurance and access to business training and educational programs. For more information about microfinance, Ecuador, and our services, please visit www.mifex.org.
",F,850,partner,Retail,0 Ecuador,"Maritza has a general store where she sells stationary and other office supplies. She learned how to run her store from the experience she gained from helping her godmother with her business. She started off with only pen and paper, but she has been able to grow and now stocks many other products. She also has a phone booth adjacent to her store. A loan that she received several months ago helped her open her new business.
She will use the second loan to invest in expanding the product range of her store and plans on adding more phone booths to her other business with the new profits she generates.
Maritza is 41 years old and has 2 children. Thanks to her business she has been able to educate her children and is also in the process of building a home for her family.
",F,1200,lender,Retail,1 Ecuador,"Maritza makes a living by making and selling sandals out of her home in La Isla Trinitaria, a very poor sector of Guayaquil, Ecuador. She is just in the beginning phases of growth for her micro-enterprise. She learned the basics of how to make sandals some time ago, but due to her lack of capital she had not been able to establish the activity as a stable source of income.
Several months ago, she decided to approach Mifex and attend the sandal-making courses offered at our offices in order to improve her skills and possibly progress toward a loan. The results have been inspiring. She invested in materials such as leather straps, soles, glue and other items necessary for the process. She also started building a workshop and storefront out of cement blocks and has slowly continued to progress in the construction with the profits from her business. She is now requesting a second loan so she may finish up her workshop and continue investing in materials.
Maritza is a mother of two children. Her daughter is 17 and often helps her in the sandal-making process. Her son is 15 and is still attending high school. The father of her children passed away about 11 years ago. Maritza has been able to support her family with jobs as a domestic worker, but she was not satisfied with the wages and the time she had to spend away from her children. She is now in a new relationship with someone who is very supportive of her new business. She is very optimistic about the future thanks to the loans and support she has received.
",F,425,lender,Retail,1 Ecuador,"Maritza owns a small shop where she sells a variety of items including: school supplies, home decorations, snacks, and soft drinks. Before opening her store she would have find work in house cleaning or door to door clothing sales. She decided to start her own business in order to have a more secure source of income and be able to take care of her son. She got married when she was 16 and got divorced 3 years later. She takes care of her only son by herself with the income generated from her business. She is seeking the loan because she wants to increase inventory and introduce new products like childrens toys.
Mifex offers its clients microinsurance and access to business training and educational programs. For more information about microfinance, Ecuador, and our services, please visit www.mifex.org.
",M,375,partner,Retail,0 Ecuador,"Marjorie visits homes offering her product and services. She is a woman of many trades as she provides not only clothing and cosmetics, but also facials and manicures. She is very popular amongst the women in her neighborhood. She started off doing business with a $200 loan from her sister that she used to invest in womens undergarments. She still sells these items but now offers other types of clothing and cosmetic services. She is requesting the loan in order to continue investing in these items. She also wants to begin selling jewelry and other womens accessories. Marjorie and her husband, who is also a salesman, have two children.
Mifex offers its clients microinsurance and access to business training and educational programs. For more information about microfinance, Ecuador, and our services, please visit www.mifex.org.
",F,1200,partner,Retail,0 Ecuador,"Marlene has a business where she sells household furniture made out of metal. These items are becoming very popular in these poor sectors of Guayaquil because they offer convenient furniture at affordable prices. Marlene is also very popular because she offers her clients the option of financing the products. She currently has 50 clients that she collects payments from. Marlene has 3 children and is married. She is not from Guayaquil, but moved there in search of work and better opportunities.
Mifex offers its clients microinsurance and access to business training and educational programs. For more information about microfinance, Ecuador, and our services, please visit www.mifex.org.
",F,625,partner,Retail,0 Ecuador,"Martha Alvarez owns a small shop selling clothes. Her daughter helps out by keeping track of the money. When she started her business several years ago, Martha borrowed $200 from the loan sharks, costing her nearly 20% a month. Ms. Alvarezs daughters are artisans who make bracelets, earrings, anc necklaces. With their goods combined in one shop, they have an advantage over most other stores.
Martha received a loan several months ago that she used to put up a storefront in her house so she can show off all of her clothes and jewelry. She is doing well by selling a combination of goods she buys wholesale and others she and her daughters make. She will use the new loan to continue investing in materials and merchandise.
This 35 year-old entrepreneur from Guayaquil is married and has six children.
",F,950,lender,Retail,1 Ecuador,"Martha and her husband own a metal workshop where they make stands and furniture. She runs the administrative part of the business while her husband is in charge of production. This operation all got started about 8 years ago. At the time, her husband would only make furniture out of wood, but he got a customer that asked him to make a tv stand out of metal. Because he had some experience with metalwork he took the job. Once he finished, he realized that working with metal was much faster and easier than wood and therefore more profitable.
Today they have four employees (3 of them pictured next to Martha) that work with them and get paid by commission. They sell most of their products in their community and also in nearby rural towns. They need the loan in order to invest in paints and raw materials for their operation.
Martha is 28 years old and has 2 small children. Her husband is a hard working family man who has dedicated most of his time and efforts to this microenterprise. They are very proud of their business and hope it will continue to grow with the help of a loan from the international community.
Mifex offers its clients microinsurance and access to business training and educational programs. For more information about microfinance, Ecuador, and our services, please visit www.mifex.org.
",F,600,partner,Manufacturing,0 Ecuador,"Martha has a small store where she sells various items including school and office supplies, toys for children and snacks. She is hoping that she can receive a loan in order to buy even more products. She particularly wants to focus on items that are attractive to children as her store has become popular with youth.
Martha is 35 years old and has three children, who are studying. Her home is made out of wood and bamboo and needs some work. She hopes she can save to improve her house and for the future of her children.
",F,375,partner,Retail,0 Ecuador,"Martha is 35 years old and a mother of three children. Two of her children are studying in school. Her husband is a construction worker who is very dedicated to his family. Her business is run out of their home and her husband assists her when possible. Marthas dream is to expand her business and increase her income so she can provide for her family and their home. She had been set back financially by medical costs due to one of her daughters accidents, but is now able to start making small savings again.
To earn a living, Martha works as a clothes saleswoman. She mainly sells to the people in her community, including many of her family and friends. She buys the clothes from a wholesale distributor who asks for 50% of the price of the clothes up front. Once she sells, she finishes paying the orders off and invests in new products. Martha used her first loan from Mifex and Kiva to increase her stock of clothing. Her clients were pleased with her inventory and now buy from her regularly.
Martha is requesting a second loan to invest in more inventory to sell during the holiday season. This is a time of high sales so Martha hopes to take advantage of the market. She is thankful for the support Mifex and Kiva have given to her.
",M,700,lender,Retail,1 Ecuador,"Martha is a clothes saleswoman. She mainly sells to the people in her community, including much of her family and friends. She buys the clothes from a wholesale distributor who asks for 50% of the price of the clothes up front. Once she sells she finishes paying the orders off and she invests in new products. She needs the loan in order to buy clothes and toys for the holiday season.
Martha is 34 years old and has 3 children. Her husband is a construction worker who is very dedicated to his family. Recently one of their daughters fell 4 meters and fractured her skull. Although she is almost fully recuperated, it was a difficult financial and emotional burden on the family. They are currently building their home in a piece of land given to them by Marthas mother in law.
Mifex offers its clients microinsurance and access to business training and educational programs. For more information about microfinance, Ecuador, and our services, please visit www.mifex.org.
",F,375,partner,Clothing,0 Ecuador,"Martha is a seamstress who makes childrens clothing. She learned how to sew at a training school. For several years she worked with her sister in law who provided her with the sewing machine. Slowly she started to build her own customer base and she was able to save up to buy her own machine. Today she runs her own operation, although it is very limited. She works in production during the week and then sells her final products during the weekend.
Martha needs the loan in order to purchase cloth and other materials. This is a very busy time of year for her and she wants to take advantage of the increase in demand.
Martha is 56 years old and has 6 children who are all grown up. When she was young, she became a widow and had to take charge of her family on her own. Because of the economic situation, her children had to work from a very young age. Her home is now made out of wood and her dream is to have it built out of cement.
Mifex offers its clients microinsurance and access to business training and educational programs. For more information about microfinance, Ecuador, and our services, please visit www.mifex.org.
",F,275,partner,Services,0 Ecuador,"Martha is asking for a second loan after having successfully repaid her first. It helped her to grow her business and develop relationships with the producers from whom she gets her chickens. With the loan she received she was able to purchase a sign for her stand and also buy poultry in bulk. At the market she has a great location near the entrance and her business has been able to keep up with the demand of clients. Her personality and relationship with her customer is a great plus for her business. She was very grateful to receive the loan from Mifex and Kiva because she no longer had to rely on informal lenders for credit. She feels much more secure financially and hopes she can continue participating in this program.
Her parents left her in charge of their business, and Martha has been a very responsible manager. She says that without the guidance fro her father, who taught her the business, she would be where she is today. When she got married, Ms. Ayllon did not quit the business, but continued so that she and her husband could bring in two sources of income. Starting out by selling 1-2 chickens per day on the street corner, Martha has surely come a long way, selling 20-30 chickens on average. Her day starts at 6 a.m. and she usually finished up selling in the market by 2 p.m. With this second loan Martha wants to purchase utensils and a refrigerator.
Mifex offers its clients microinsurance and access to business training and educational programs. For more information about microfinance, Ecuador, and our services, please visit www.mifex.org.
",F,1175,partner,Food,0 Ecuador,"Martina opened her store with only $60 of start-up capital. She sells basic foods including fruits and vegetables along with other snacks. She learned the trade from her husband who worked as a distributor in markets for a long time. 2 years ago he fell ill and is now paralyzed from the waist down. He tries to help Martina as much as he can in the market, but it is very difficult because he cannot even afford a wheel chair.
Martina is hoping to use this loan to make significant investments in new products. She wants to begin selling meats and eggs. Her home is in very poor conditions as it still made of wood and does not even have a concrete floor. She also has two children who she must provide for.
Mifex offers its clients microinsurance and access to business training and educational programs. For more information about microfinance, Ecuador, and our services, please visit www.mifex.org.
",F,375,partner,Food,0 Ecuador,"Martiza owns little general store. She sells groceries and school supplies. Her husband, who had worked at a market, helped her start the business. They began with $300 in capital, which they invested in adapting her house for the business and purchasing some stock. She has had the advantage of being near a school whose students purchase many of her school supplies.
Maritza is now approaching us for a second loan. She used the first to buy merchandise and display stands for her store. She is hoping that with the next loan she will be able to continue investing in products for her store.
Maritza is 26 years old, married, and has two children. Her husband is her right hand in the business and is in charge of making purchases in the market. She is confident that her sales will continue on their upward trend and she will improve her familys quality of life.
",F,1200,lender,Retail,1 Ecuador,"Mary has 3 years experience selling cosmetics and perfumes. She was motivated to start by her sister, who is in the same line of business and is very successful. With the help of a close friend who lent her money, Mary invested in cosmetics and some perfumes. She sells her goods by visiting the homes of family, friends and acquaintances. Like her, the clients she sells to often lack cashflow and must pay for the products in installments. Part of Marys work is to collect the weekly and biweekly payments owed to her by clients.
Mary received her first loan from Mifex several months ago in order to increase the diversity of the products she sells. She did very well with her loan and felt proud that she was able to make her payments on time while also increasing profits. She is requesting a new loan so she may continue to invest in more products, and maybe even venture into selling clothes in the future.
Mary is 37 years old and is a native of Guayaquil. Her husband has been working at a nearby factory for about 4 years. They have 2 children and live in a home made out of bamboo and concrete. With the help of these loans they are slowly improving their living conditions.
",F,1200,lender,Retail,1 Ecuador,"Maryorie owns a general store where she sells household products and toiletries. She began working as a manicurist out of her home and slowly saved up enough money to buy a display case and inventory. Her store is open from 9 in the morning until about 10 PM. The store is operated from the front part of her home, which is convenient because she can work and take care of her two kids at the same time. She is requesting this loan is order to invest in new products and buy in bulk. Her dream is to have her two kids receive a college level education.
Mifex offers its clients microinsurance and access to business training and educational programs. For more information about microfinance, Ecuador, and our services, please visit www.mifex.org.
",F,375,partner,Retail,0 Ecuador,"Matilde dedicates her life to selling various types of cosmetics of different brands. She goes out to her community to offer her merchandise and expand her client base. She began selling comsmetics when she was single but once she got married she stopped for a while. Because her husbands job is not consistent and reliable Matilde felt obliged to return to selling. Today she has a small store in front of her home. She is very happy because she finds her self contributing to her household income. Matilde was born in Guayaquil and is currently 47 years old. She has two children both of whom are in school, and her husband is a construction worker. She is happy to be bale to send her children to school and to the doctor whenever they are sick. Matilde and her family are very lucky because their home was in very poor conditions but with much effort they have been able to fix it up. She says, their wish is to provide better opportunities for their children so they can have an education and be able to defend themselves later on in life.
",F,500,partner,Retail,0 Ecuador,"Maximiliano has been living on his ranch for over thirty years. There he has been able to cultivate rice and raise cattle in order to support his family. He has two sons who help him on the farm. One is 17 years old, and the other is 16. He also has a young 7-year-old daughter who is going to school. He and his wife hope to make the necessary investments in rice that will ensure that the crop goes well, such as fertilizer and pesticides. With this crop cycle's extra profits, they hope to save enough money to make some improvements to their home. He is pictured with Esther from the Mifex staff.
Max is the latest addition to one of the new Communal Banks in the Mifex Rural Finance Program. All of the members of the 10 de enero Communal Bank are part of an Association of Rice Farmers in Salitre named 10 de enero. They will use the microloans to prepare the lands and cultivate rice on their farms. Because they form part of a communal bank, they are all each others' guarantors for the loan. This means that if for some reason one person in the group cannot fully repay the loan, the other borrowers and the 10 de enero Association are responsible for the amount in default. The members of the bank also participate in a program designed to teach and encourage savings among the group. Promoting savings is often forgotten in many microfinance programs, but is imperative for the communities Mifex works with to have capital reserves for future investments or unexpected difficulties.
The loans in this sector will be used to create water basins that will prevent flooding in the case of heavy rains or store water in case of droughts. They will also be used to treat the land prior to farming, to plant the seeds and purchase fertilizer. The loan repayment schedule is also different from the typical microentrepreneur. Because farmers see the profits from their investments 5 or 6 months after making their initial expenditures, Mifex asks them only to pay 50% of the capital in the first 5 months of the loan. The rest of the debt must be paid in the sixth and final month.
Below is more information about Salitre compiled by the staff at Mifex when evaluating the potential of the sector for the Rural Finance Program.
Salitre is a rural sector in the Province of Guayas known as the capital of Montuvios (montuvio is a cowboy) with approximately 30,000 inhabitants. The main economic activities are herding and agriculture which make up about 80% of the economy. The infrastructure and basic services are poor, especially the roads and water services.
Salitre is highly dedicated to farming rice and cattle ranching. Rice is a crop that yields about every four months. In order to farm rice, the environment must be very humid and there must be a high volume of water. The lack of a structured water system makes it difficult for the small farmers to be highly productive. The best months for cultivating rice are early in the year when it is the rainy season in the coast of Ecuador.
Salitre is a national tourist attraction as many Ecuadorians visit the freshwater Salitre River. There are cottages, small restaurants and water attractions that people come to enjoy.
There are not many financial institutions that provide services to the productive sector of the local economy. The primary access to credit comes from loan sharks who charge extremely high interest rates averaging around 20% a month. The locals are also exploited by the intermediaries that buy their products in order to sell them in the city and to export abroad. These intermediaries buy crops in advance at very low prices, finance soil at extremely high prices and often provide emergency loans for even higher interest rates than the loan sharks.
Salitre is a dangerous sector considering it is in a rural area. There is a high incidence of robbery of cattle that results in many of the ranch owners owning weapons to protect their property. Because the police are not present in these areas, farmers and ranchers must apply their own laws and provide their own security. In some instances they have formed their own cooperatives and associations to have a community crime prevention effort.
Salitre is in the lowlands of Ecuador and is vulnerable to flooding in the rainy season. In the event of a heavy rainy season, often at its worse when El Nio occurs, the farmers of rice lose many of their crops. All this is due to a lack of infrastructure in the area.
",M,1200,lender,Agriculture,0 Ecuador,"Maximo has a home on a piece of land that was given to him by his father. On his land he only has a few chickens and also some pigs. With the loan he hopes to invest in rice for the upcoming season. He will buy seeds, fertilizer, and pesticides. He has two children, both of whom are still at home going to school. He hopes that, with the additional income, he can continue to feed his family and educate his two sons.
He is part of one of the newest Communal Banks in the recently developed Mifex Rural Finance Program. All of the members of the Primero de Agosto Communal Bank are part of an Association of Rice Farmers in Santa Lucia. They will use the microloans to prepare their lands and cultivate rice on their farms. Because they form part of a communal bank, they are all each other's guarantors for the loan. This means that if for some reason one person in the group cannot fully repay the loan, the other borrowers and the Primero de Agosto Association are responsible for the amount in default. The members of the bank also participate in a program designed to teach and encourage savings among the group. Promoting savings is often forgotten in many microfinance programs, but Mifex believes that it is imperative for the communities it works with to have capital reserved for future investments or unexpected difficulties.
Below is more information about Santa Lucia compiled by Luis Crespo and Robert Edgar of the Mifex team when evaluating the potential of the sector for the Rural Finance Program. Special thanks to Mario Balazantegui who provided expert insight and contributed to the development of the alliances with the local organizations.
Santa Lucia County has a population of about 33,000 people. The sector is fit for rice cultivating because it is not in the lowlands and therefore it is not at risk of flooding. There is also great access to water because of the Daule River, which is accessible to many of the farmers in the area. About 70% of the farmers have basic infrastructure for watering their crops.
Rice production is the main economic activity of the area as about 80% of the people are rice farmers. Almost everyone is either directly or indirectly involved with the rice production, as they produce, commercialize or participate in activities that add value to the product. Within the county, there is a small town also named Santa Lucia. The town is filled with many small businesses and it serves as the social and commercial hub of the area.
Most of the people in the Santa Lucia area are small farmers. They produce about 100 sacks of rice per hectare of land. In order to farm they first must prepare the lands by removing weeds and plowing. The farmers then fill an area with water to form what is known as a paddy field, because rice is a very water intensive crop. The rice seeds are either dispersed freely (the process is known as boleo in Spanish) or hand sowed. Once the rice has grown, most farmers rent machinery that helps them gather their production. A risk factor does exist in rice farming because of drought, but in Santa Lucia this is somewhat mitigated by the access to water from the nearby river.
The biggest struggle in the area has been the lack of credit. Because people do not count on formal financial services, they have turned to loan sharks for financing. They have been affected by expensive lines of credit that exceed 100% interest a year and can be as expensive as 240%. Intermediaries also exploit the farmers because of their outstanding debt. Farmers also lack skills and knowledge to commercialize their products and pay fair prices for their crops.
The loans in this sector will be used to to buy soil, seeds, fertilizer and insecticides. They will also be used to prepare the land prior to farming, to plant the seeds and purchase other materials. The loan repayment schedule is also different from the typical microentrepreneur. Because farmers see the profits from their investments 5 or 6 months after making their initial expenditures, Mifex asks them only to pay 50% of the capital in the first 6 months of the loan. The rest of the debt must be paid in the seventh and final month.
",M,825,lender,Agriculture,0 Ecuador,"Mayi Loor runs a very small market out of her home. She sells a variety of items including fruits and hygienic products. She started doing business about three years ago thanks to her husband who contributed $200 in start up capital. He realized that the family badly needed another source of income but he was concerned about his wife working and not being able to care for their 4 small children. The store has been a great solution as Mayi has a stable flow of revenue without having to leave the children alone. Every month her husband tries to give her about $20 in order to invest in the store. Mayi is seeking this loan in order to buy in bulk from wholesalers and to start investing in the physical appearance of the market.
Mifex offers its clients microinsurance and access to business training and educational programs. For more information about microfinance, Ecuador, and our services, please visit www.mifex.org.
",M,375,partner,Food,0 Ecuador,"Mayra has been in the retail business for several years. Some months ago she took out a loan from Kiva and Mifex to make investments for her store. She bought a large variety of items such as clothing and home products.
After some months of selling her new products she decided to shut down her store and dedicate her time to selling door-to-door to friends and acquaintances. She is doing well with her decision and is happy about her progress. She wants a new loan so she may invest in more products, particularly beach items as the warm weather season intensifies.
Mayra is 27 years old. Her husband works as a farm labourer. They have 3 small children, who are still studying. Her house has a mixed structure made of cement and wood; its floor is made of soil. They wish that with the product of their work they can improve their family's quality of life and be an example to the people in the area where they live.
",F,525,lender,Retail,1 Ecuador,"Mayra has been working in cosmetics for about 5 years. Her business has a severe lack of capital that has made it difficult for her to grow. Previously, she had a business making and selling food, but it did not thrive because of her difficulty in raising investment capital. She is requesting a loan in order to invest in cosmetic products to sell from her home. With the extra profit, she hopes she will be able to revive her food making operation.
Mayra and her husband have one son. Her business has helped her feed her family, particularly in hard times when her husband found himself without job. He is now employed at a pharmaceutical manufacturer and is very supportive of her business.
Mifex offers its clients microinsurance and access to business training and educational programs. For more information about microfinance, Ecuador, and our services, please visit www.mifex.org.
",F,250,partner,Services,0 Ecuador,"Mayra is 22 years old, and she is a native of Jipijapa, a province in the Manab region of Ecuador. She is employed as a teacher. When she was a little girl, she began working in the sales world by helping in her parents' business of selling vegetables. Until now, they have preserved that business thanks to the help of Mayra and her brothers, who have learned how to work through their parents.
Mayra budgets her time well when she travels in her car to deliver vegetables to her clients, such as tomatoes, onions, broccoli, potatoes, cauliflower, and more. She has certain cities where she delivers the vegetables, such as Pajan, Machalilla, and Puerto Cayo, among others.
Mayra believes her business is very important because through it, she has been able to fund her education. Although for her brothers, it has not been easy because they had to stop their studies in order to dedicate themselves entirely to the business.
In conversation with Mayra, you can see that she is a person full of strength with great challenges, and because her desire to work is so strong, she plans to complete a new degree course at the university in the future.
We asked her how she would invest her loan, and she excitedly responded that she will invest it in more products to supply her business, which includes trips to the cities of Ambato, Guayaquil, and Portoviejo to buy the products she needs. She will continue selling, without problems, like she was doing before the loan.
Mayra is happy because she now has her regular clients that wait for her in order to receive her vegetables, which are fresh and ready to eat. She credits this to her strong confidence in her self to continue helping her parents. Despite her age, she loves her students and involves herself with them, and she is an excellent teacher. None of this overtakes her dream of getting farther and obtaining more experience in the business world.
Translated from Spanish by Suzy Marinkovich, Kiva Volunteer
",F,775,partner,Food,0 Ecuador,"Melba has a store in her home where she sells basic groceries such as oil and rice. She started off very small when she bought the goods from another market that was going out of business and her business has steadily grown since. She now also sells gas tanks to the local community, which always provides a steady flow of business.
Several months ago she received a loan from Kiva and Mifex. She invested in fresh fruits and vegetables while also making some improvements to her home. Her business has done well since receiving the loan. She has now started to distribute rice to other small markets in the sector. She is seeking a second loan in order to fix up her store. She hopes that she will be able to invest in a luminous sign for her business.
",F,675,partner,Food,0 Ecuador,"Melba has a store in her home where she sells basic groceries such as oil and rice. She started off very small when she bought the goods off another market that was going out of business and her business has steadily grown since. She now also sells gas tanks to the local community, which always provides a steady flow of business. She is looking to invest in fresh fruits and vegetables to sell with the loan from Kiva and Mifex. Her goal is to eventually operate her store separately from her home. She takes care of one daughter by herself and aspires to send her to college.
Mifex offers its clients microinsurance and access to business training and educational programs. For more information about microfinance, Ecuador, and our services, please visit www.mifex.org.
",F,375,partner,Food,0 Ecuador,"Melvis Merchan was born in Manabi, Ecuador and is a 44 year-old single woman. She own a small business, selling various household items in the Municipal de Bastin Popular. She starts work at 6am every day and usually closes her shop around 5pm. Her parents taught her how to operate the store, as they were the previous owners before Melvis took over. In the four years since she has been the proprietor of Bazar Melvis, Ms. Merchan has gained the customer loyalty she needs to now expand. She is asking for a $950 loan so she can buy food-packing items like Tupperware as well as other goods such as cooking utensils, which many local chefs purchase. More than anything, Melvis wants to be free of the chulqueros or loan sharks who charge high interest to poor Ecuadorians. She hopes that with this loan she can grow her business and be able to help her parents who are in need of more medical attention as they get older.
",F,950,partner,Retail,0 Ecuador,"Mercedes has been living her farm for about 20 years. The plot of land she owns was given to her by her parents, whom she still works closely with. On her farm she primarily grows rice, but she also raises cattle and chickens. Whenever she can, she ventures into the larger markets of the city to sell the animals or the rice from her farm. She is optimistic about having a source of investment capital for her production because she will be able to afford seeds and fertilizer that will increase her productivity.
Mercedes is part of the newest Communal Banks in the recently developed Mifex Rural Finance Program. All of the members of the Centro Agricola de Santa Lucia Communal Bank are part of an Association of Rice Farmers in Santa Lucia. Their association works cooperatively to help in the commercialization of the product after it has grown. They will use the micro-loans to prepare their lands and cultivate rice on their farms. Because they form part of a communal bank, they are all each others guarantors for the loan. This means that if for some reason one person in the group cannot fully repay the loan, the other borrowers and the Primero de Agosto Association are responsible for the amount in default. The members of the bank also participate in a program designed to teach and encourage savings among the group. Promoting savings is often forgotten in many micro-finance programs, but Mifex believes that is imperative for the communities we work with to have capital reserved for future investments or unexpected difficulties.
Below is more information about Santa Lucia compiled by Luis Crespo and Robert Edgar of the Mifex team when evaluating the potential of the sector for the Rural Finance Program. Special thanks to Mario Balazantegui who provided expert insight and contributed to the development of the alliances with the local organizations.
Santa Lucia County has a population of about 33,000 people. The sector is fit for rice cultivating because it is not in the lowlands and therefore it is not at risk of flooding. There is also great access to water because of the Daule River, which is accessible to many of the farmers in the area. About 70% of the farmers have basic infrastructure for watering their crops.
Rice production is the main economic activity of the area as about 80% of the people are rice farmers. Almost everyone is either directly or indirectly involved with rice production, as they produce, commercialize or participate in activities that add value to the product. Within the county, there is a small town also named Santa Lucia. The town is filled with many small businesses and it serves as the social and commercial hub of the area.
Most of the people in the Santa Lucia area are small farmers. They produce about 100 sacks of rice per hectare of land. In order to farm they first must prepare the lands by removing weeds and plowing. The farmers then fill an area with water to form what is known as a paddy field, because rice is a very water-intensive crop. The rice seeds are either dispersed freely (the process is known as boleo in Spanish) or hand sowed. Once the rice has grown, most farmers rent machinery that helps them gather their production. A risk factor does exist in rice farming because of drought, but in Santa Lucia this is somewhat mitigated by the access to water form the nearby river.
The biggest struggle in the area has been the lack of credit. Because people do not count on formal financial services, they have turned to loan sharks for financing. They have been affected by expensive lines of credit that exceed 100% interest a year and can be as expensive as 240%. Intermediaries also exploit the farmers because of their outstanding debt. Farmers also lack skills and knowledge to commercialize their products and pay fair prices for their crops.
The loans in this sector will be used to to buy soil, seeds, fertilizer and insecticides. They will also be used to prepare the land prior to farming, to plant the seeds and purchase other materials. The loan repayment schedule is also different from the typical micro-entrepreneur. Because farmers see the profits from their investments 5 or 6 months after making their initial expenditures, Mifex asks them only to pay 50% of the capital in the first 6 months of the loan. The rest of the debt must be paid in the seventh and final month.
",F,1200,lender,Agriculture,0 Ecuador,"Mercedes has been selling clothes for four years. Before opening her own business, she worked for her sister selling seafood. Her sister had always encouraged her to start her own business, and one day Mercedes decided to take her advice. She set out purchasing clothes that she would eventually sell in her own store. Mercedes made her initial purchases with some money she had saved, and with the generous help of her family and friends. Her store is open 1 p.m. to 6 p.m., thus allowing her to care for her house and family in the mornings.
Mercedes would like a loan so that she can invest in her business, which is now without capital. She will use the loan money to purchase clothes for the beach season, and she is confident this investment will improve her business.
Mercedes is married and has five children. Thanks to her work she has been able to provide education to all of them. Her husband is a mechanic in a workshop in the capital. She hopes that in the future she will be able to repair her house and make it cement- a goal that will make all of her and her husband's struggles worthwhile.Translated from Spanish by Michelle Kreger, a Kiva Volunteer.
",F,275,partner,Clothing,0 Ecuador,"
Mercedes has been selling clothes for four years. Before opening her own business, she worked for her sister selling seafood. Her sister had always encouraged her to start her own business, and one day Mercedes decided to take her advice. She set out purchasing clothes that she would eventually sell in her own store. Mercedes made her initial purchases with some money she had saved, and with the generous help of her family and friends. Her store is open 1 p.m. to 6 p.m., thus allowing her to care for her house and family in the mornings.
Mercedes would like a second loan through the Mifex and Kiva lending operation so that she can continue to invest in her business. She will use the loan money to purchase clothes for the colder season and venture into new lines of clothing. She is confident these investments will continue to improve her business.
Mercedes is married and has five children. Thanks to her work she has been able to provide education to all of them. Her husband is a mechanic in a workshop in the capital. She hopes that in the future she will be able to repair her house and make it cement- a goal that will make all of her and her husband's struggles worthwhile.Mercedes has been selling prepared meals door to door for a year. She decided to start this small business because she could do it at home, with her childrens involvement. With 50 dollars she had saved from her previous job, she bought the ingredients and some utensils to make ceviche, a common seafood meal here cooked with lime juice. She works Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays from 4 am to 9 am. Her children help her, one by cooking, the other by delivering, and the third by taking the orders. She works entirely in cash.
She needs a second loan from Kiva to buy new utensils, and pots and pans for her kitchen. Her first loan was used to buy plastic containers, bags, and plastic utensils for her products. She also invested in larger amounts of fresh seafood. Eventually the profits she made allowed Mercedes to also invest in cosmetics which she now sells on the side.
Mercedes is 46 years old, and is a single mother with 3 sons. For 10 years she has been solely responsible for her children because her husband abandoned her. Since she was 10 years old she has worked as a nanny, a cook and a housecleaner. She currently works Monday through Friday mornings cooking and cleaning at another home, which is her other source of income. Her aspiration is to improve her house, which is made completely of cane, with a dirt floor. Her greatest satisfaction is seeing her children in school and knowing that they will soon finish their studies. She does not know how to read or write. She wishes to continue with her business because she sees that it has generated additional income and most importantly because her children help her.
",F,425,lender,Food,1 Ecuador,"Mercis is applying for her second loan with Kiva and Mifex. She is a 42 year-old single mother with 4 children, one of whom still lives in the household. When she took out her first loan, Mercis had a stand a where she sold fish to the public during the morning and early afternoon. Thanks to the extra profits from her first loan, she now also sells food in a market starting around 8 pm. She buys extra fish every morning for her stand and she prepares the food with whatever is leftover. Now that her business is growing, Mercis hopes to be able to invest in the necessary utensils and tables for the business. She hopes that she will eventually be able to own a restaurant with her hard work. Most of all though, Mercis wants to finish raising her last child and live with peace of mind.
Mifex offers its clients microinsurance and access to business training and educational programs. For more information about microfinance, Ecuador, and our services, please visit www.mifex.org.
",F,875,partner,Food,0 Ecuador,"Mercy has been running her business for 16 years. She began selling kitchen utensils like dishes, frying pans, and pots. Her first loan with Mifex and Kiva allowed her little by little to begin selling products her customers specifically requested including perfumes and cosmetics. Being able to satisfy her regular customers' needs helped to stabilize her business. She now also sells natural products. She sells in different, poorer areas from 2pm to 6pm.
Mercy is very content that her increase in income has enabled her to meet the needs of her customers. She is asking for a second loan so that she can purchase more perfumes, toys, gifts, and clothing to sell. She is confident that with the holiday season approaching, business will increase, and she wants to be prepared with more merchandise.
Mercy, 47, is married with 3 grown children but one who is 27 still lives with his father and mother. This son helps her in the business, selling and collecting money. Her husband works as a security guard at an evangelical church. She has been running her business out of their own home for 12 years. Her aspiration is to maintain and continue the growth of her business. She hopes to construct a home in a different sector of Isla Trinitaria with her future income.
See her first Kiva loan here: http://www.kiva.org/app.php?page=businesses&action=about&id=9202",F,550,lender,Retail,1 Ecuador,"Miguel has 7 years' experience in selling seafood, which he learned from his father who took him to work with him from a very young age. Miguel learned and mastered the trade as he gained more experience. He decided to work on his own since he was married and needed to be able to cover the expenses for his household. He works from 4 am to 11 am every day with his wife and a relative who helps them remove the meat from crabs so that later it can be put into tubs and sold.
Miguel wants a loan to be able to invest in different types of seafood. This is his second loan with our program. He hopes that he can give his brother work with the income generated. Miguel is married, 23 years old, and has a daughter six months old. He hopes to be able to earn enough to have his own home, since he now lives with his parents.
",M,550,lender,Food,0 Ecuador,"Miguel is a farmer in the sector of Salitre. On his farm he cultivates rice and soy beans while also raising cattle. He and his wife work very diligently on the farm in order to feed their two kids who are 8 and 13 years old. His wife also makes cheese and sells milk produced from their cows. Primarily though, they sustain their family with their rice production as most people from the area do. They hope to invest in fertilizer and seeds in order to increase their crop output.
Miguel is the latest addition to one of the new Communal Banks in the Mifex Rural Finance Program. All of the members of the 10 de enero Communal Bank are part of an Association of Rice Farmers in Salitre named 10 de enero. They will use the microloans to prepare the lands and cultivate rice on their farms. Because they form part of a communal bank, they are all each others guarantors for the loan. This means that if for some reason one person in the group cannot fully repay the loan, the other borrowers and the 10 de enero Association are responsible for the amount in default. The members of the bank also participate in a program designed to teach and encourage savings among the group. Promoting savings is often forgotten in many microfinance programs, but is imperative for the communities Mifex works with to have capital reserved for future investments or unexpected difficulties.
The loans in this sector will be used to create water deposits that will prevent flooding in the case of heavy rains or store water in case of droughts. They will also be used to treat the land prior to farming, to plant the seeds and purchase fertilizer. The loan repayment schedule is also different from the typical microentrepreneur. Because farmers see the profits from their investments 5 or 6 months after making their initial expenditures, Mifex asks them only to pay 50% of the capital in the first 5 months of the loan. The rest of the debt must be paid in the sixth and final month.
Below is more information about Salitre compiled by the staff at Mifex when evaluating the potential of the sector for the Rural Finance Program.
Salitre is a rural sector in the Province of Guayas known as the capital of Montuvios (montuvio is a cowboy) with approximately 30,000 inhabitants. The main economic activities are herding and agriculture which make up about 80% of the economy. The infrastructure and basic services are poor, especially the roads and water services.
Salitre is highly dedicated to farming rice and cattle ranching. Rice is a crop that yields about every four months. In order to farm rice, the environment must be very humid and there must be a high volume of water. The lack of a structured water system makes it difficult for the small farmers to be highly productive. The best months for cultivating rice are early in the year when it is the rainy season in the coast of Ecuador.
Salitre is a national tourist attraction as many Ecuadorians visit the fresh water Salitre River. There are cottages, small restaurants and water attractions that people come to enjoy.
There are not many financial institutions that provides services to the productive sector of the local economy. The primary access to credit comes from loan sharks who charge extremely high interest rates averaging around 20% a month. The locals are also exploited by the intermediaries that buy their products in order to commercialize them in the city and to export abroad. These intermediaries buy crops in advance at very low prices, finance soil at extremely high prices and often provide emergency loans for even higher interest rates than the loan sharks.
Salitre is a dangerous sector considering it is in the rural area. There is a high incidence of robbery of cattle that results in many of the ranch owners owning weapons to protect their property. Because the police are not present in these areas, farmers and ranchers must apply their own laws and provide their own security. In some instances they have formed their own cooperatives and associations to have a community crime prevention effort.
Salitre is in the lowlands of Ecuador and is vulnerable to flooding in the rainy season. In the event of a heavy rainy season, often at its worse when El Nio occurs, the farmers of rice lose many of their crops. All this is due to a lack of infrastructure in the area.
",M,1200,lender,Agriculture,0 Ecuador,"Miguel is not only a successful farmer, he is the leader of the Primero de Agosto Asssociation that is comprised of Rice Farmers from Santa Lucia. He is one of the main organizers of their communal bank, having the responsibility of organizing the members and being the liaison with Mifex. He is also a very efficient rice farmer who has gained the respect of the community for his dedication to helping others. He will use the loan, like the other members of the communal bank, to purchase the necessary materials to plant and cultivate rice.
Miguel is part of one of the newest Communal Banks in the recently developed Mifex Rural Finance Program: the Primero de Agosto Communal Bank. All bank members are part of the Association of Rice Farmers in Santa Lucia, and they will use these microloans to prepare their lands and cultivate rice on their farms. As members of a communal bank, they are all guarantors for each other's loans. This means that if for some reason one person in the group cannot fully repay the loan, the other borrowers and the Primero de Agosto Association are responsible for the amount in default. The members of the bank also participate in a program designed to teach and encourage savings among the group. Promoting savings is often forgotten in many microfinance programs, but Mifex believes that is imperative for the communities we work with to have capital reserved for future investments or unexpected difficulties.
Below is more information about the commnity of Santa Lucia, compiled by Luis Crespo and Robert Edgar of the Mifex team when evaluating the potential of the sector for the Rural Finance Program. Special thanks to Mario Balazantegui who provided expert insight and contributed to the development of the alliances with the local organizations.
Santa Lucia County has a population of about 33,000 people. The region is fit for rice cultivating because it is not in the lowlands and therefore it is not at risk of flooding. There is also great access to water because of the Daule River, which is accessible to many of the farmers in the area. About 70% of the farmers have basic infrastructure for watering their crops.
Rice production is the main economic activity of the area, as about 80% of the people are rice farmers. Almost everyone is either directly or indirectly involved with the rice production, as they produce, commercialize or participate in activities that add value to the product. Within the county, there is a small town also named Santa Lucia. The town is filled with many small businesses and it serves as the social and commercial hub of the area.
Most of the people in the Santa Lucia area are small farmers. They produce about 100 sacks of rice per hectare of land. In order to farm they first must prepare the lands by removing weeds and plowing. The farmers then fill an area with water to form what is known as a paddy field, because rice is a very water intensive crop. The rice seeds are either dispersed freely (the process is known as boleo in Spanish) or hand sowed. Once the rice has grown, most farmers rent machinery that helps them harvest their crop. A risk factor does exist in rice farming because of drought, but in Santa Lucia this is somewhat mitigated by the access to water form the nearby river.
The biggest struggle in the area has been the lack of credit. Because people do not have access to formal financial services, they have turned to loan sharks for financing. They have been affected by expensive lines of credit that exceed 100% interest a year and can be as expensive as 240%. Intermediaries also exploit the farmers because of their outstanding debt. Farmers also often lack skills and knowledge of how to commercialize their product and get fair prices for their crops.
The loans in this sector will be used to to buy soil, seeds, fertilizer and insecticides. They will also be used to prepare the land prior to farming, to plant the seeds and purchase other materials. The loan repayment schedule is different from the typical microentrepreneur. Because farmers see the profits from their investments 5 or 6 months after making their initial expenditures, Mifex asks them to repay 50% of the capital in the first 6 months of the loan. The rest of the debt must be paid in the seventh and final month.
",M,1200,lender,Agriculture,0 Ecuador,"Millis has a general store where she sells office and school supplies. She started the business with the help of her ex-husband who gave her a glass case for her products and $200 worth of merchandise. She has slowly begun to integrate other items into her product line like toys.
Millis used a previous loan to invest in books and also in a new photocopying machine. She is hopeful that she will be able to use a second loan to buy a computer that she can rent out for the local students to use.
Millis is currently separated from her husband. Currently she is taking night school courses at university in order to pursue a degree in commerce. Her dream is to have professional degree and own a successful business.
",F,1075,lender,Retail,1 Ecuador,"Millis has a general store where she sells office and school supplies. She started the business with the help of her ex-husband who gave her a glass case for her products and $200 worth of merchandise. She has slowly begun to integrate other items into her product line like toys. Millis wants to invest in books and other supplies to sell. Not many people can afford to buy books, but Millis has used payment plans to motivate some potential clients.
Millis is currently separated from her husband. Currently she is taking night school courses at university in order to pursue a degree in commerce. Her dream is to have professional degree and own a successful business.
Mifex offers its clients microinsurance and access to business training and educational programs. For more information about microfinance, Ecuador, and our services, please visit www.mifex.org.
",F,625,partner,Retail,0 Ecuador,"Milton has about 40 years of experience in farming rice. He has lived on his land since he was a young boy, having helped his father with the field work. He has two children, and now he helps take care of two grand children. On his farm he also has a few plantain trees and a few cows. He hopes that with the extra profit he makes from his investment, he can continue acquiring livestock.
This borrower is part of the newest and largest Communal Bank in the recently developed Mifex Rural Finance Program. All of the members of the Centro Agricola de Baba Communal Bank are part of an Association of Rice Farmers in the county of Baba in rural Ecuador. Their association works cooperatively to cultivate rice and commercialize the product after it has grown. As an association, Centro Agricola helps the farmers by providing access to machinery and training services. The farmers from Centro Agricola have received special instruction on financial responsibility and accounting from Codemicro, an organization that specializes in training programs geared towards the rural sector.
The members of Centro Agricola de Baba will use the micro-loans to prepare their lands and cultivate rice on their farms. Because they form part of a communal bank, they are all each others' guarantors for the loan. This means that if for some reason one person in the group cannot fully repay the loan, the other borrowers and the Centro Agricola de Baba Association are responsible for the amount in default. The members of the bank also participate in a program designed to teach and encourage savings among the group. Promoting savings is often forgotten in many micro-finance programs, but Mifex believes that is imperative for the communities we works with to have capital reserved for future investments or unexpected difficulties.
Below is more information about Santa Lucia compiled by Luis Crespo and Robert Edgar of the Mifex team when evaluating the potential of the sector for the Rural Finance Program.
The people of Baba have been organized since the days of Gran Colombia when Ecuador was yet to be a country. The area has always been popular because of the extremely productive lands that gave way to cultivation of cacao for decades. Now Baba is a county in the province of Los Rios in the coastal region of Ecuador. For most of the latter part of the 20th Century it was a cacao and banana-producing sector. Most of the surrounding areas of Baba in Los Rios are owned by large multinational companies such as Dole, but Baba is a sector characterized by small and informal farms.
Rice production has now turned into the main economic activity of the sector as about 80% of the people are rice farmers. Cacao is still very popular in the area, but because of the long cultivation cycle people prefer to invest in rice. The lands in Baba are very fertile though, and most farmers in the sector often grow other crops, such as plantains and soybeans as secondary sources of income. Many farmers also keep livestock as emergency sources of food and income, commonly resorting to selling a chicken or pig if they are in need of cash.
Most of the people in the Baba area are small farmers. They produce about 80 sacks of rice per hectare of land. In order to farm they first must prepare the lands by removing weeds, plowing and leveling the lands. This is the most difficult part for the farmers in Baba, who often lack the necessary machinery to properly plow the lands for rice production. After appropriately preparing the lands, the farmers fill an area with water to form what is known as a paddy field, because rice is a very water-intensive crop. The rice seeds are either dispersed freely (the process is known as boleo in Spanish) or hand sowed. Once the rice has grown, most farmers rent machinery that helps them gather their production.
One of the biggest struggles in the area has been the lack of credit due to the absence of any type of financial institution. Because people do not count on formal financial finance, they have turned to loan sharks for financing. They have been affected by expensive lines of credit that exceed 100% interest a year and can be as expensive as 240%. Intermediaries also exploit the farmers because of their outstanding debt. Farmers also lack skills and knowledge to commercialize their products and pay fair prices for their crops.
The largest risk in the sector is due to absence of watering systems. Although Baba is in the province Los Rios (the rivers) there is severe problem with access to water. The lack of infrastructure in the sector does not allow the small farmers to benefit from the presence of the many rivers in the area. If the winter season is too dry, it is likely that the lands will not be sufficiently fertile for rice production in the summer. On the other hand, if there is too much rain, there are not any drainage systems to prevent flooding and the crops are often ruined. Generally speaking though, Baba is a very productive sector where the lands yield all types of crops including rice, cacao, corn, watermelons, plantains, and soybeans.
The loans in this sector will mostly be used to buy soil, seeds, fertilizer and insecticides. Many clients will use the capital towards renting machinery and equipment necessary to effectively work and prepare the fields. Clients also typically use a part of the loan to buy livestock in order to raise and have as reserves. The loan repayment schedule is different from the typical micro-entrepreneur because farmers see the profits from their investments 5 or 6 months after making their initial expenditures. Mifex asks our rural clients only to pay 50% of the capital in the first 6 months of the loan. The rest of the debt must be paid in the seventh and final month.
",M,1025,lender,Agriculture,1 Ecuador,"Mirella owns a small shop that primarily sells electronic household devices such as hairdryers, electric razors, as well as various clothing lines, and she has been in business for 5 years. Originally, Ms. Mejia opened her store with $50, buying sheets and household items. Gradually, from selling items to her neighbors and saving her profits Mirella was able to rent a small location nearby her house where she operates the business. Sometimes, her husband has to lend her some of his own earnings in order to finance Mirellas growth, but there are obvious limits to that growth when he can only lend $10 at a time. She is applying for this loan through Kiva and Mifex in order to purchase rice cookers, pots, and dishes. This is a critical time for such items since many families will be using these for Christmas celebrations. Ms. Mejia and her husband are a young but entrepreneurial couple; they are proud that they own their humble home and have saved enough money to send their children to school.
Mifex offers its clients microinsurance and access to business training and educational programs. For more information about microfinance, Ecuador, and our services, please visit www.mifex.org.
",F,600,partner,Retail,0 Ecuador,"More than a year ago, Victor took out his first loan with Kiva and Mifex. He wisely invested the money in goods that would make perfect gifts during the busy Christmas season, especifically focusing on cell phone products and accessories. He made a significant profit from his investment. With the money he made, he decided to pursue a new business venture.
Victor has set up an ice cream shop in his parents' home. He also travels around the neighborhood and the main streets of Guayaquil selling his products. He has seen a huge change since receiving his first loan. He now has a business of his own in his parents' house, and he feels much more optimistic about the future. He now hopes to receive a third loan so he may invest in new freezer. He is working towards building his own house nearby and also is savings for this.
Victor still lives at home with his parents and his three children. His goal is to be able to buy a home of his own for his young and growing family.
Previous Profile: http://www.kiva.org/app.php?page=businesses&action=about&id=12558 and http://www.kiva.org/app.php?page=businesses&action=about&id=1464
",M,1200,lender,Food,1 Ecuador,"More than a year ago, when Elena first borrowed from Kiva and Mifex, she had only had her ice cream shop for eight months. Although she has been using some of the capital from her first two loans to invest in her ice cream making operation she was more focused on opening a small market with a variety of goods to offer. She has succeeded in starting her store and is very happy with what she has achieved. .
She is hoping that with the next investment opportunity she can purchase items such as toys, cosmetics and gifts. She has slowly seen her business emerge from an ice cream store into a local grocery market but has hopes that she will be a general store in the near future.
She and her husband have a young child. The family lives with Elenas mother. They are trying to save money to buy their own house.
Previous Profile: http://www.kiva.org/app.php?page=businesses&action=about&id=11919
",F,700,lender,Food,1 Ecuador,"Mr. Sandoval has a cart where he sells a typical Ecuadorian food called Morocho. Morocho is made of corn, condensed milk, and cinnamon. He has been making morocho and running his business for a few years now, selling from about 3 pm until 10 pm. He hopes he can receive a loan because he is anxious to invest in a new cart. The cart he currently owns is not suitable for going out to busy streets where there are more clients. Mr. Sandoval is married and has 2 children who are in school. His short term goals are to finish fixing his home and continuing to educate his children.
",M,600,partner,Food,0 Ecuador,"Mr. Sols began his business 4 years ago with earnings he obtained by the liquidation from a private company job. His sales have increased due to the variety of dishes he has. His two granddaughters help him in his food store located on a highly transited street. He sells lunches and a variety of dishes of the area.
Mr. Solis received a loan from Kiva and Mifex several months ago that he used to improve the outward appearance of his restaurant. He was able to buy a tent for his clients to eat under and a stand for him to sell the food from outside. He hopes that he can now invest in tables and chairs for his business.
He is 63 years old, has 3 children who have each started their own families. Two granddaughters accompany Mr. Sols. His house is made of concrete and his goal is to work on improving his store in order to satisfy his clients.
",M,850,lender,Food,1 Ecuador,"Mrs. Consuelo has a store that she started 16 years ago with her savings. She runs her business out of her house and she attends to her clients everyday of the week. Her daughter helps her in the business. Her store hours are from 6:00 AM to 22:00PM. Consuelo also has a new business that she started with the help of a Kiva loan several months ago. She now offers phone calls service from a new section in her home. She has several booths where clients can make local and international calls. This is a very common business in this sector because many people cannot afford phones in their home.
Consuelo will use this second loan in a similar fashion as the first. She usually buys store supplies and bazaar products: rice, sugar, meats, chicken, detergents, imitation jewelry, and other. With this, Consuelo will be able to assist and satisfy the needs of her clients. She will then use the profits to continue improving the area where she has phone booths.
Consuelo is 47 years old. She has four children of which two are students. Consuelos husband helps her with the business and also works as a taxi driver. Consuelo states that the income generated by her husband has been a big help in financing the business but that any remaining income needs to cover all of the family expenses.
",F,1075,lender,Food,1 Ecuador,"Mrs. Cruz is the owner of a general store. She works at her store from 6am to 10pm. Her business has been run out of her home for 12 years. She began her business with some money her husband gave her and she began to buy products little by little, and even though she is located near a market, she has seen a constant increase in business due to the excellent customer service she provides.
Mrs. Cruz used the capital from her first loan with our institution to increase her product line. Some of the products her clients requested she was able to purchase at a lower cost and passed on the savings them. With her second Mifex and Kiva loan she will invest in paper goods, gifts, toys and beauty products. Whenever she sees a need she tries to stock her store with those products in hopes of attracting more customers.
Mrs. Cruz is 60 years old, married and has 9 children, all of whom are independent. Her husband is a steel-worker and vender, who helps with the household expenses. She also enjoys the help of her children. Her home is clean, well adapted and made of a variety of construction material. She hopes to complete construction of her home in cement to provide greater security and shelter for her family. She hopes to grow with our institution and take advantages of our services through which she can improve her quality of life.
",F,1050,lender,Retail,1 Ecuador,"Mrs. Maclovia has been running a small school with her sister for 4 years. Prior to this she worked for 12 years as a seamstress in a workshop that ended up closing down. After Maclovia received her liquidation money she and her sister, who is a teacher, decided to open up a Christian school. They work from Mondays to Fridays from 6.50am to 2pm.
Maclovia previously received a loan from Mifex and Kiva supporters. She used the money to buy two new computers for her school. She also now sells school supplies to the children. She did very well with the loan and hopes to continue her relationship with Mifex. She is hoping that with this new credit she can make new physical education uniforms for her students.
Maclovia separated from her husband 2 years ago and has one child who studies at her school. With the revenue her business now provides she wants to save enough to purchase the land on which the school stands, which she is currently renting.
",F,1075,lender,Education,1 Ecuador,"Mrs. Marlene is 44 years old and has 5 children. She lives in a cement house and her plan is to expand her shop so that her sons can be involved running it.
Mrs. Marlene and her husband own an auto shop specialized in welding work. They started this business 7 years ago. Her best customer is the local bus fleet because of the existence of a station near the shop. One of her oldest sons also helps her keep it going. An increase in income has been noticed due to the fact that the shop has been redeemed trustworthy by its customers. They can perform any type of welding.
They want to purchase more materials for the shop so she can keep her customers satisfied with her daily work turnout.
Translated from Spanish by Bertolt Cantalice, Kiva Volunteer
",F,500,lender,Manufacturing,1 Ecuador,"Mrs. Martina has a clothes and cosmetic store in a shop she fixed within her house. She started her business when she was able to save about $500 which she made in her previous job as assistant cook. At the beginning she started offering the products she bought at wholesale prices to neighbors and friends within the area where she lived. With the help of some of her relatives and investment capital from a previous Kiva and Mifex loan, she now benefits from a much more diversified line of products. With this loan, Martina expects to be able to purchase more clothing at wholesale prices for the upcoming holiday season and the throughout the beginning of next year. She will deliver her products in nearby provinces and also sell from her improving shop.
Martina is confident that this loan will allow her to grow the business and allow her to continue providing her family with stability. Martina is 32 years old and has 4 children who study. Her house is made of sugar cane and she enjoys of good family stability. She makes complimentary income for her household by cleaning homes.
",F,575,lender,Retail,1 Ecuador,"Mrs. Moraima cooks and sells typical Ecuadorian lunches and snacks such as bollos (fish and chicken long pasties), tortas (cakes), encebollados (fish soup with sour onions), and fritadas (fried pork with plantains). She has about 2 years experience working by herself. She works from Wednesdays to Sundays delivering meals to homes that place orders.
Moraima expanded her business using a Mifex and Kiva loan to purchase bottled water, and articles of clothing that her clients requested. Both she and her clients are happy with her new products and her income has increased. Moraima completed all of her payments and is now seeking a second loan to invest in basic ingredients for her kitchen and for the other items her clients want.
Moraima is a 52 years old mother of 3 children. She lives with her husband and her 14 year old son who is studying. This son also helps her with household chores and meal preparations. Their house is made of cement and very clean. Moraima dreams of having a well-known big restaurant where people can go to enjoy the delicious dishes she creates. She is thankful for the opportunities she has received from Mifex and Kiva and tells us she will continue to make her payments on time.
",F,1200,lender,Food,1 Ecuador,"Ms. Monserrate left Ecuador for Venezuela several years ago in search of better employment and new opportunities. In Venezuela, she has learned how to make purses out of leather and other materials. She returned to Ecuador a few years ago to restart her life in her native country. She used $400 of her savings and the skills she learned abroad to establish a new business making purses.
Ponce is requesting the loan so she may scale up her business and setup a workshop. She wants to invest in raw materials and make purses with new designs that she has created. The loan will help her make more profit and take care of herself and her son, who is currently in school.
",F,725,partner,Clothing,0 Ecuador,"Nancy has 12 years of experience selling fish since she started working with her mother. After her mother died, Nancy took over the business and has been able to keep it. Her business is open from 6:00 am to 2:00 pm at a market near her home. As a secondary source of income Nancy works at a home cleaning for three days a week.
Nancy is requesting a second loan from the Kiva and Mifex program. She responsibly paid her first loan and is hopeful of receiving a second. She will invest the capital in a variety of fish and other seafood.
Nancy is 37 and has 4 children who are currently in school. After being separated for 6 years and living as a single mother, Nancy has made up with her husband who is now very supportive. The oldest son is already 16 and helps her with the business. In the future, with the income from her business, she would like to buy her own house since the one shes living in right now is rented.
",F,550,lender,Food,1 Ecuador,"Narcisa is a cosmetics saleswoman. She started off in this line of work by helping her cousin whose products she would sell in order to receive a small percentage of the profits. Eventually Narcisa began buying products on her own and continue with her sales. She is in need of the loan so she may purchase her cosmetic items at wholesale prices. Particularly she will be purchasing makeup and perfumes which are the hottest selling items. This loan would be perfect before the Christmas season approaches and demand increases for these products.
Mifex offers its clients microinsurance and access to business training and educational programs. For more information about microfinance, Ecuador, and our services, please visit www.mifex.org.
",F,375,partner,Retail,0 Ecuador,"Narcisa is a cosmetics saleswoman. She started off in this line of work by helping her cousin whose products she would sell in order to receive a small percentage of the profits. Eventually Narcisa began buying products on her own and continued with her sales. She then bought cosmetic items at wholesale prices using a Mifex and Kiva loan.
Narcisas clients are content that she is able to find the specific products they request. Because she has consistent customers she is able to sell at a slightly lower price. She is well known in her area and clients often refer her to their friends. Currently, Narcisa is looking to sell rice in bulk at wholesale prices. She is requesting a second loan with our organization to invest in rice as well as more cosmetics. Particularly she will be purchasing makeup and perfumes which are the hottest selling items. This loan would be perfect before the Christmas season approaches and demand increases for all these products. Narcisa is thankful to Mifex and Kiva for their support and for helping her overcome certain difficulties in her life.
",F,950,lender,Retail,1 Ecuador,"Narcisa owns a small restaurant where she sells typical Ecuadorian foods. The restaurant is located at the front of her home and is open from lunch time until about 7pm. She has been in the restaurant business for her whole life because her mother also ran a similar operation when she was young. Narcisa started this business shortly after she married when she realized that the income her husband was brining in would not be enough for her and their two children.
She needs this loan in order to make structural improvements to the restaurant and to also buy tables and chairs. Her goal is to grow her operation and add new items to the menu in order to attract new clients.
Mifex offers its clients microinsurance and access to business training and educational programs. For more information about microfinance, Ecuador, and our services, please visit www.mifex.org.
",F,600,partner,Food,0 Ecuador,"Narcisa runs a small market out of the front of her home. She started her business off by only selling fruits and vegetables with only $20 in capital. She still sells these products but now also includes other items such as sugar, oil and cleaning products. She is requesting this loan because she wants to invest in baby products and more food items. She has a very stable client base and she has noticed that they are in demand for many of these new items.
Narcisa is a single mother of two. She moved to Guayaquil from Portoviejo because her husband was abusive and was not supportive of the family. She completely relies on her business in order to feed and educate her children.
Mifex offers its clients microinsurance and access to business training and educational programs. For more information about microfinance, Ecuador, and our services, please visit www.mifex.org.
",F,875,partner,Food,0 Ecuador,"Narcisa runs a small market out of the front of her home. She started her business off by only selling fruits and vegetables with only $20 in capital. She still sells these products but now also includes other items such as sugar, oil and cleaning products.
Narcisa received a loan from Mifex several months, which she used to improve the outer appearance of her shop. She also added a table where she displays the new fruits he invested in. She wants this new loan so she can continue diversifying her product line and increasing her client base.
Narcisa is a single mother of two. She moved to Guayaquil from Portoviejo because her husband was abusive and was not supportive of the family. She completely relies on her business in order to feed and educate her children.
",F,1200,lender,Food,1 Ecuador,"Neli sells perfumes, cosmetics, and lingerie. She began her business with the help of her brother, who gave her the merchandise she needed to get started. At first she sold only childrens clothing but as time has passed she has been able to increase her product offerings. With the help of a previous loan, Neli began to sell all kinds of clothing along with household appliances and other similar products.
She will use the loan to continue investing in merchandise at wholesale prices. She is certain that with these new products, her business will grow.
Neli is the mother of two children. She is 37 years old and it has been very difficult for her to help her family get ahead. Her business is the only source of income for her household. Neli has the hope that this loan will give her financial security and allow her to continue saving towards her childrens education and to continue building her house.
Neli's previous profile: http://www.kiva.org/app.php?page=businesses&action=about&id=9859
",F,1200,lender,Retail,1 Ecuador,"Nelson lives on a farm that is owned by his father. He and two brothers work the lands with their father, who is now getting older and cannot work as much as he once was able to. On his lands he has cattle and he also grows rice. He hopes that he can continue to make profits with his work so that one day he can save up for his own home. He has three children who live with him, two of whom are still in school. He hopes he can continue to educate his other children, now that his oldest has graduated as an agricultural engineer.
He is the latest addition to one of the new Communal Banks in the Mifex Rural Finance Program. All of the members of the Buena Suerte de Salitre Communal Bank are part of an Association of Rice Farmers. They will use the microloans to prepare the lands and cultivate rice on their farms. Because they form part of a communal bank, they are all each others' guarantors for the loan. This means that if for some reason one person in the group cannot fully repay the loan, the other borrowers and the Buena Suerte Association are responsible for the amount in default. The members of the bank also participate in a program designed to teach and encourage savings among the group. Promoting savings is often forgotten in many microfinance programs, but is imperative for the communities Mifex works with to have capital reserved for future investments or unexpected difficulties.
The loans in this sector will be used to create water deposits that will prevent flooding in the case of heavy rains or store water in case of droughts. They will also be used to treat the land prior to farming, to plant the seeds and purchase fertilizer. The loan repayment schedule is also different from the typical microentrepreneur. Because farmers see the profits from their investments 5 or 6 months after making their initial expenditures, Mifex asks them only to pay 50% of the capital in the first 5 months of the loan. The rest of the debt must be paid in the sixth and final month.
Below is more information about Salitre compiled by the staff at Mifex when evaluating the potential of the sector for the Rural Finance Program.
Salitre is a rural sector in the Province of Guayas known as the capital of Montuvios (montuvio is a cowboy) with approximately 30,000 inhabitants. The main economic activities are herding and agriculture which make up about 80% of the economy. The infrastructure and basic services are poor, especially the roads and water services.
Salitre is highly dedicated to farming rice and cattle ranching. Rice is a crop that yields about every four months. In order to farm rice, the environment must be very humid and there must be a high volume of water. The lack of a structured water system makes it difficult for the small farmers to be highly productive. The best months for cultivating rice are early in the year when it is the rainy season on the coast of Ecuador.
Salitre is a national tourist attraction as many Ecuadorians visit the fresh water Salitre River. There are cottages, small restaurants and water attractions that people come to enjoy.
There are not many financial institutions that provides services to the productive sector of the local economy. The primary access to credit comes from loan sharks who charge extremely high interest rates averaging around 20% a month. The locals are also exploited by the intermediaries that buy their products in order to commercialize them in the city and to export abroad. These intermediaries buy crops in advance at very low prices, finance soil at extremely high prices and often provide emergency loans for even higher interest rates than the loan sharks.
Salitre is a dangerous sector considering it is in the rural area. There is a high incidence of robbery of cattle that results in many of the ranch owners owning weapons to protect their property. Because the police are not present in these areas, farmers and ranchers must apply their own laws and provide their own security. In some instances they have formed their own cooperatives and associations to have a community crime prevention effort.
Salitre is in the lowlands of Ecuador and is vulnerable to flooding in the rainy season. In the event of a heavy rainy season, often at its worse when El Nio occurs, the farmers of rice lose many of their crops. All this is due to a lack of infrastructure in the area.
",M,1200,lender,Agriculture,0 Ecuador,"Nerida works selling cosmetics and clothes to people in their homes. She travels door-to-door offering her products to acquaintances and friends. She began doing this after saving about $100 from a job she had as a maid. She is still in need of investment capital so that she may purchase more products at wholesale prices. She hopes that she can explore the potential of new products and accesories. She is only 22 years old and has two children. They live in a home made out of wood, which she hopes to improve with the profits from her business.
",F,275,partner,Retail,0 Ecuador,"Nestor is a native of Baba, Ecuador where he has cultivated rice for nearly his entire life. On his farm he has a few other crops, but rice has always been his staple. He plans to invest in seeds, fertilizer and pesticides in order to make his lands more productive. He lives in his home with this mother and father who are now too old to work with him.
This borrower is part of the newest and largest Communal Bank in the recently developed Mifex Rural Finance Program. All of the members of the Centro Agricola de Baba Communal Bank are part of an Association of Rice Farmers in the county of Baba in rural Ecuador. Their association works cooperatively to cultivate rice and commercialize the product after it has grown. As an association, Centro Agricola helps the farmers by providing access to machinery and training services. The farmers from Centro Agricola have received special instruction on financial responsibility and accounting from Codemicro, an organization that specializes in training programs geared towards the rural sector.
The members of Centro Agricola de Baba will use the micro-loans to prepare their lands and cultivate rice on their farms. Because they form part of a communal bank, they are all each others' guarantors for the loan. This means that if for some reason one person in the group cannot fully repay the loan, the other borrowers and the Centro Agricola de Baba Association are responsible for the amount in default. The members of the bank also participate in a program designed to teach and encourage savings among the group. Promoting savings is often forgotten in many micro-finance programs, but Mifex believes that is imperative for the communities we works with to have capital reserved for future investments or unexpected difficulties.
Below is more information about Santa Lucia compiled by Luis Crespo and Robert Edgar of the Mifex team when evaluating the potential of the sector for the Rural Finance Program.
The people of Baba have been organized since the days of Gran Colombia when Ecuador was yet to be a country. The area has always been popular because of the extremely productive lands that gave way to cultivation of cacao for decades. Now Baba is a county in the province of Los Rios in the coastal region of Ecuador. For most of the latter part of the 20th Century it was a cacao and banana-producing sector. Most of the surrounding areas of Baba in Los Rios are owned by large multinational companies such as Dole, but Baba is a sector characterized by small and informal farms.
Rice production has now turned into the main economic activity of the sector as about 80% of the people are rice farmers. Cacao is still very popular in the area, but because of the long cultivation cycle people prefer to invest in rice. The lands in Baba are very fertile though, and most farmers in the sector often grow other crops, such as plantains and soybeans as secondary sources of income. Many farmers also keep livestock as emergency sources of food and income, commonly resorting to selling a chicken or pig if they are in need of cash.
Most of the people in the Baba area are small farmers. They produce about 80 sacks of rice per hectare of land. In order to farm they first must prepare the lands by removing weeds, plowing and leveling the lands. This is the most difficult part for the farmers in Baba, who often lack the necessary machinery to properly plow the lands for rice production. After appropriately preparing the lands, the farmers fill an area with water to form what is known as a paddy field, because rice is a very water-intensive crop. The rice seeds are either dispersed freely (the process is known as boleo in Spanish) or hand sowed. Once the rice has grown, most farmers rent machinery that helps them gather their production.
One of the biggest struggles in the area has been the lack of credit due to the absence of any type of financial institution. Because people do not count on formal financial finance, they have turned to loan sharks for financing. They have been affected by expensive lines of credit that exceed 100% interest a year and can be as expensive as 240%. Intermediaries also exploit the farmers because of their outstanding debt. Farmers also lack skills and knowledge to commercialize their products and pay fair prices for their crops.
The largest risk in the sector is due to absence of watering systems. Although Baba is in the province Los Rios (the rivers) there is severe problem with access to water. The lack of infrastructure in the sector does not allow the small farmers to benefit from the presence of the many rivers in the area. If the winter season is too dry, it is likely that the lands will not be sufficiently fertile for rice production in the summer. On the other hand, if there is too much rain, there are not any drainage systems to prevent flooding and the crops are often ruined. Generally speaking though, Baba is a very productive sector where the lands yield all types of crops including rice, cacao, corn, watermelons, plantains, and soybeans.
The loans in this sector will mostly be used to buy soil, seeds, fertilizer and insecticides. Many clients will use the capital towards renting machinery and equipment necessary to effectively work and prepare the fields. Clients also typically use a part of the loan to buy livestock in order to raise and have as reserves. The loan repayment schedule is different from the typical micro-entrepreneur because farmers see the profits from their investments 5 or 6 months after making their initial expenditures. Mifex asks our rural clients only to pay 50% of the capital in the first 6 months of the loan. The rest of the debt must be paid in the seventh and final month.
",M,675,lender,Agriculture,1 Ecuador,"Nilmida has had her business for more than four years. She used to work only cleaning homes, but then she and her husband decided to invest in basic food products and they started to sell meals, which has gone very well. She does this weekdays from 4pm to 11pm. She has managed to keep both business activities going so that she earns more. Each morning she still cleans houses and each afternoon she prepares the meals she is going to sell.
Nilmida is now requesting her second loan through Mifex. She will use this loan in a similar way as she did the first. She will buy kitchen utensils, food, and drinks as the more you buy, the larger the discount, and therefore her earnings will increase.
Nilmida is 41 years old and has 3 children, one of whom helps her with her business. She has managed to create a very hard-working spirit in her family, which all of them still have. Her husband also cleans houses and after work he helps her attend to her clients. Their house is made of sugar cane stalks and the floor is of dirt. She hopes that with the loan and their savings they will be able to continue making improvements.
",F,525,lender,Food,1 Ecuador,"Ninfa Puente was born in Bolivar, Ecuador, but she moved to Guayaquil roughly fifteen years ago. She is married and has two children. She sells fresh ice cream to the community via her mobile cart, as well as the various stationary locations she has opened. She started this business because she believed she could be successful through hard work and perseverance. Her husband has worked at an ice cream factory as a distributor for the last several years.
Working every day of the week, Ms. Puente has been successful so far. Located near a major street, Helados Ninfa receives a lot of traffic. She is asking for this, her second loan, to significantly increase her production and become an ice cream distributor herself.
",F,1200,lender,Food,1 Ecuador,"Nola has 2 years of experience in her own food sales business. She previously worked as head of personnel in a restaurant. One day her boss, who was a Chilean, proposed that he sell her the business and she accepted but had to close it when the landlord raised the rent. Later she went out to the country to rent a site where she could sell food. Sadly, her business burned to the ground. She then worked in people's homes doing domestic chores. Friends told her not to lose heart as a result of her failures, and suggested that she sell food out of her house, since she had experience. A neighbor lent her a table and she bought 4 chairs and started her business. Her son fixed up a place in the house and she started with 8 people. She works every day from 6 am to 3 pm; weekends she works until 10 at night. Her children help her serve the people who come to eat.
With a previous loan Nola bought an industrial kitchen, a gas cylinder and furniture for her restaurant. She did very well with the loan and hopes she can receive a new one so she may fix the floor of her business. She also wants to buy her food ingredients wholesale, which will increase her profit.
Nola is 67 years old. She has 5 children, all grown, who help her in the business. With her earnings, she hopes to be able to buy herself a television for the pub and a freezer to better serve her guests.
",F,850,lender,Food,1 Ecuador,"Norma has a small store where she sells snacks and soft drinks. She owned a store similar to this one for about 8 years with her husband but she had to close it down when they got a divorce. The store she runs now is only 8 months old but is doing well. She has a steady flow of clients and she is looking to invest in candies, cookies and chocolates. She has already spent all of her savings to start up the store and therefore requires a loan in order to make further investments.
Norma has five children who are all grown up and have microenterprises of their own. She is a divorcee who is hoping to get reestablished and be a successful business woman on her own.
Mifex offers its clients microinsurance and access to business training and educational programs. For more information about microfinance, Ecuador, and our services, please visit www.mifex.org.
",F,600,partner,Food,0 Ecuador,"Nury has been working for two years selling a natural product line called Herbalife. She used to be overweight and came into contact with this company as a consumer. She saw results and began selling the products. She was given the start-up capital by her daughter, who works. Nury also prepares foods with these products and promotes them to her friends. She works in her business from 6:00AM to 1:00PM.
Nury took out a previous loan with Kiva and Mifex several months ago. The money went primarily towards her natural goods at first, but the profits were used to increase her restaurant. Both businesses are now doing well and she hopes to use this new loan again to buy more natural products.
Nury was born in Caar. She is 39 years old. She has 3 children, one of whom works and helps with household expenses. Her husband left her 5 years ago, but he provides her with a small amount of money every month. Thanks to the efforts of Nury and her daughters, the family is trying to get ahead. With Nurys profits, they have an income that allows them to cover certain expenses. Nury is an enterprising person who is always looking for something to do. Her aspiration is to strengthen the business and to continue supporting her children in their studies.
",F,675,lender,Food,1 Ecuador,"Olfio Alvarado is a farmer from a rural town named Salitre. He is part of the first Communal Bank in the new Mifex Rural Finance Program. All the members of the Resistencia Communal Bank are part of an Association of Rice Farmers in Salitre named Resistencia. They will use the microloans to prepare the land and cultivate rice on their farms. Because they form part of a communal bank, they are all each others' guarantors for the loan. This means that if for some reason one person in the group cannot fully repay the loan, the other borrowers and the Resistencia Association are responsible for the amount in default. The members of the bank also participate in a program designed to teach and encourage savings among the group. Promoting savings is often forgotten in many microfinance programs, but it is imperative for the communities Mifex works with to have capital reserved for future investments or unexpected difficulties.
Olfio, has been farming for most of his life. He was born and raised in the rural sector and has been making a living out of agricultural production since he was old enough to work. He, his wife and their children all play a vital role in the farm. He mainly produces rice, but he also has cattle as a secondary source of production. He is optimistic about the potential use of this loan.
The loans in this sector will be used to create water deposits that will prevent flooding in the case of heavy rains or store water in case of droughts. They will also be used to treat the land prior to farming, plant the seeds and purchase fertilizer. The loan repayment schedule is also different from the typical microentrepreneur. Because farmers see the profits from their investments 5 or 6 months after making their initial expenditures, Mifex asks them only to pay 50% of the capital in the first 6 months of the loan. The rest of the debt must be paid in the seventh and final month.
Below is more information about Salitre compiled by the staff at Mifex when evaluating the potential of the sector for the Rural Finance Program.
Salitre is a rural area in the Province of Guayas which is known as the capital of Montuvios (montuvio is a cowboy) with approximately 30,000 inhabitants. The main economic activities are herding and agriculture, which make up about 80% of the economy. The infrastructure and basic services are poor, especially the roads and water services.
Salitre is highly dedicated to rice farming and cattle ranching. Rice is a crop that yields about every four months. In order to farm rice, the environment must be very humid and there must be a high volume of water. The lack of a structured water system makes it difficult for the small farmers to be highly productive. The best months for cultivating rice are early in the year during the rainy season on the coast of Ecuador.
Salitre is a national tourist attraction as many Ecuadorians visit the fresh water Salitre River. There are cottages, small restaurants and water attractions that people come to enjoy.
There is not a single financial institution that provides services to the productive sector of the local economy. The only access to credit comes from loan sharks who charge extremely high interest rates averaging around 20% a month. The locals are also exploited by the intermediaries that buy their products in order to commercialize them in the city and to export abroad. These intermediaries buy crops in advance at very low prices, finance soil at extremely high prices and often provide emergency loans for even higher interest rates than the loan sharks.
Salitre is a dangerous area despite its rural location. There is a high incidence of robbery of cattle that results in the fact that many of the ranch owners owning weapons to protect their property. Because the police are not present in these areas, farmers and ranchers must apply their own laws and provide their own security. In some instances they have formed their own cooperatives and associations to have a community crime prevention force.
Salitre is in the lowlands of Ecuador and is vulnerable to flooding during the rainy season. In the event of a heavy rainy season, often at its worst when El Nio occurs, rice farmers lose many of their crops. All this is due to a lack of infrastructure in the area.",M,1200,lender,Agriculture,0 Ecuador,"
Olguita owns a small general store were she sells a variety of items including school supplies and home products. She started this business 3 years ago with her husband. Slowly they saved $300 of the wages he earned from his job as a factory worker. With that money they were able to purchase a used display case and they made preparations so they could launch the business from their home. As an added source of income Olga also makes sandals that she sells locally. With the loan money she will seek to improve her inventory and make minor improvements to the shop. Olga is a 26 year old mother of one and she is happily married. She says she needs her business to return higher profits in order to provide a better living for her son.
Mifex offers its clients microinsurance and access to business training and educational programs. For more information about microfinance, Ecuador, and our services, please visit www.mifex.org.
",F,475,partner,Retail,0 Ecuador,"Olivia has a small general store. She sells many different items including womens clothing, jewelry and toys. She is seeking this loan because she wants to invest in new toys and clothes for the upcoming holiday season. Every year she experiences a boost in sales because of the holiday season and she wants to be prepared this time around. Although she cannot have children due to a medical condition, she helps her sister raise and support her nieces and nephews. She hopes she can continue to grow her business in order to continue to help her family members and make improvements to her store.
Mifex offers its clients microinsurance and access to business training and educational programs. For more information about microfinance, Ecuador, and our services, please visit www.mifex.org.
",F,1075,partner,Retail,0 Ecuador,"Only a year ago Jessica was working as a teacher, but due to the low wages and inadequate conditions she was forced to find a new source of income. With her savings she was able to purchase two washing machines, which she used to provide laundry services to local community members. In the short time she has been working she has already acquired several machines and she is growing rapidly. She has set up a room in her home where people can come in and rent the machines for a fee. She is seeking a loan so that she may invest in a drying machine, now that she has plenty of washers. She is 31 years old and is married. She only has 1 daughter who is 6 six years old. Her husband works as chauffeur and truck driver, and on his days off he helps his wife at the business. Their goal is to save enough money to buy a truck for her husband to make deliveries on his own.
",F,475,partner,Services,0 Ecuador,"Oscar has two children who live with him and his wife. His lands are an inheritance from his father, who he worked the fields with since he was young. On his lands, he has a section for rice farming and another part dedicated to raising pigs. He is hopeful that with this loan he will be able to work the lands to make them more productive. With his increased income, he hopes he can continue to educate his children.
Oscar is the latest addition to one of the new Communal Banks in the Mifex Rural Finance Program. All of the members of the 10 de enero Communal Bank are part of an Association of Rice Farmers in Salitre named 10 de enero. They will use the microloans to prepare the lands and cultivate rice on their farms. Because they form part of a communal bank, they are all each others' guarantors for the loan. This means that if for some reason one person in the group cannot fully repay the loan, the other borrowers and the 10 de enero Association are responsible for the amount in default. The members of the bank also participate in a program designed to teach and encourage savings among the group. Promoting savings is often forgotten in many microfinance programs, but is imperative for the communities Mifex works with to have capital reserved for future investments or unexpected difficulties.
The loans in this sector will be used to create water basins that will prevent flooding in the case of heavy rains or store water in case of droughts. They will also be used to treat the land prior to farming, to plant the seeds and purchase fertilizer. The loan repayment schedule is also different from the typical microentrepreneur. Because farmers see the profits from their investments 5 or 6 months after making their initial expenditures, Mifex asks them only to pay 50% of the capital in the first 5 months of the loan. The rest of the debt must be paid in the sixth and final month.
Below is more information about Salitre compiled by the staff at Mifex when evaluating the potential of the sector for the Rural Finance Program.
Salitre is a rural sector in the Province of Guayas known as the capital of Montuvios (montuvio is a cowboy) with approximately 30,000 inhabitants. The main economic activities are herding and agriculture which make up about 80% of the economy. The infrastructure and basic services are poor, especially the roads and water services.
Salitre is highly dedicated to farming rice and cattle ranching. Rice is a crop that yields about every four months. In order to farm rice, the environment must be very humid and there must be a high volume of water. The lack of a structured water system makes it difficult for the small farmers to be highly productive. The best months for cultivating rice are early in the year when it is the rainy season in the coast of Ecuador.
Salitre is a national tourist attraction as many Ecuadorians visit the freshwater Salitre River. There are cottages, small restaurants and water attractions that people come to enjoy.
There are not many financial institutions that provide services to the productive sector of the local economy. The primary access to credit comes from loan sharks who charge extremely high interest rates averaging around 20% a month. The locals are also exploited by the intermediaries that buy their products in order to commercialize them in the city and to export abroad. These intermediaries buy crops in advance at very low prices, finance soil at extremely high prices and often provide emergency loans for even higher interest rates than the loan sharks.
Salitre is a dangerous sector considering it is in a rural area. There is a high incidence of robbery of cattle that results in many of the ranch owners owning weapons to protect their property. Because the police are not present in these areas, farmers and ranchers must apply their own laws and provide their own security. In some instances they have formed their own cooperatives and associations to have a community crime prevention effort.
Salitre is in the lowlands of Ecuador and is vulnerable to flooding in the rainy season. In the event of a heavy rainy season, often at its worse when El Nio occurs, the farmers of rice lose many of their crops. All this is due to a lack of infrastructure in the area.
",M,1200,lender,Agriculture,0 Ecuador,"Oswaldo has been farming for 25 years and raising cattle for 30. He owns a small plot of land in Santa Lucia, Ecuador, where he cultivates rice and also has some livestock. Oswaldo and his wife Mersy have 2 children, ages 10 and 11. He hopes that with this loan he will be able to buy fertilizer for his rice, a resource he is particularly in need of. Although Oswaldo runs his farm well, he does not have a formal education and has very limited reading and writing skills. He believes his farm will continue to generate profits, especially with this loan, and he will be able to provide his children with the education he did not have the privilege of receiving himself.
Oswaldo is part of one of the newest Communal Banks in the recently developed Mifex Rural Finance Program: the Primero de Agosto Communal Bank. All bank members are part of the Association of Rice Farmers in Santa Lucia, and they will use these microloans to prepare their lands and cultivate rice on their farms. As members of a communal bank, they are all guarantors for each other's loans. This means that if for some reason one person in the group cannot fully repay the loan, the other borrowers and the Primero de Agosto Association are responsible for the amount in default. The members of the bank also participate in a program designed to teach and encourage savings among the group. Promoting savings is often forgotten in many microfinance programs, but Mifex believes that is imperative for the communities we work with to have capital reserved for future investments or unexpected difficulties.
Below is more information about the commnity of Santa Lucia, compiled by Luis Crespo and Robert Edgar of the Mifex team when evaluating the potential of the sector for the Rural Finance Program. Special thanks to Mario Balazantegui who provided expert insight and contributed to the development of the alliances with the local organizations.
Santa Lucia County has a population of about 33,000 people. The region is fit for rice cultivating because it is not in the lowlands and therefore it is not at risk of flooding. There is also great access to water because of the Daule River, which is accessible to many of the farmers in the area. About 70% of the farmers have basic infrastructure for watering their crops.
Rice production is the main economic activity of the area, as about 80% of the people are rice farmers. Almost everyone is either directly or indirectly involved with the rice production, as they produce, commercialize or participate in activities that add value to the product. Within the county, there is a small town also named Santa Lucia. The town is filled with many small businesses and it serves as the social and commercial hub of the area.
Most of the people in the Santa Lucia area are small farmers. They produce about 100 sacks of rice per hectare of land. In order to farm they first must prepare the lands by removing weeds and plowing. The farmers then fill an area with water to form what is known as a paddy field, because rice is a very water intensive crop. The rice seeds are either dispersed freely (the process is known as boleo in Spanish) or hand sowed. Once the rice has grown, most farmers rent machinery that helps them harvest their crop. A risk factor does exist in rice farming because of drought, but in Santa Lucia this is somewhat mitigated by the access to water form the nearby river.
The biggest struggle in the area has been the lack of credit. Because people do not have access to formal financial services, they have turned to loan sharks for financing. They have been affected by expensive lines of credit that exceed 100% interest a year and can be as expensive as 240%. Intermediaries also exploit the farmers because of their outstanding debt. Farmers also often lack skills and knowledge of how to commercialize their product and get fair prices for their crops.
The loans in this sector will be used to to buy soil, seeds, fertilizer and insecticides. They will also be used to prepare the land prior to farming, to plant the seeds and purchase other materials. The loan repayment schedule is different from the typical microentrepreneur. Because farmers see the profits from their investments 5 or 6 months after making their initial expenditures, Mifex asks them to repay 50% of the capital in the first 6 months of the loan. The rest of the debt must be paid in the seventh and final month.
",M,1200,lender,Agriculture,0 Ecuador,"Ovidio has been farming rice on his land for 20 years. He and his family of four children all still live on the farm. He works the fields with his sons, one who is pictured, and they all share in the profits. He also grows watermelons, maize and green peppers on his farm. He will be very happy to receive a loan and hopes he can invest in fertilizers and pesticides to nurture his crops.
This borrower is part of the newest and largest Communal Bank in the recently developed Mifex Rural Finance Program. All of the members of the Centro Agricola de Baba Communal Bank are part of an Association of Rice Farmers in the county of Baba in rural Ecuador. Their association works cooperatively to cultivate rice and commercialize the product after it has grown. As an association, Centro Agricola helps the farmers by providing access to machinery and training services. The farmers from Centro Agricola have received special instruction on financial responsibility and accounting from Codemicro, an organization that specializes in training programs geared towards the rural sector.
The members of Centro Agricola de Baba will use the micro-loans to prepare their lands and cultivate rice on their farms. Because they form part of a communal bank, they are all each others' guarantors for the loan. This means that if for some reason one person in the group cannot fully repay the loan, the other borrowers and the Centro Agricola de Baba Association are responsible for the amount in default. The members of the bank also participate in a program designed to teach and encourage savings among the group. Promoting savings is often forgotten in many micro-finance programs, but Mifex believes that is imperative for the communities we works with to have capital reserved for future investments or unexpected difficulties.
Below is more information about Santa Lucia compiled by Luis Crespo and Robert Edgar of the Mifex team when evaluating the potential of the sector for the Rural Finance Program.
The people of Baba have been organized since the days of Gran Colombia when Ecuador was yet to be a country. The area has always been popular because of the extremely productive lands that gave way to cultivation of cacao for decades. Now Baba is a county in the province of Los Rios in the coastal region of Ecuador. For most of the latter part of the 20th Century it was a cacao and banana-producing sector. Most of the surrounding areas of Baba in Los Rios are owned by large multinational companies such as Dole, but Baba is a sector characterized by small and informal farms.
Rice production has now turned into the main economic activity of the sector as about 80% of the people are rice farmers. Cacao is still very popular in the area, but because of the long cultivation cycle people prefer to invest in rice. The lands in Baba are very fertile though, and most farmers in the sector often grow other crops, such as plantains and soybeans as secondary sources of income. Many farmers also keep livestock as emergency sources of food and income, commonly resorting to selling a chicken or pig if they are in need of cash.
Most of the people in the Baba area are small farmers. They produce about 80 sacks of rice per hectare of land. In order to farm they first must prepare the lands by removing weeds, plowing and leveling the lands. This is the most difficult part for the farmers in Baba, who often lack the necessary machinery to properly plow the lands for rice production. After appropriately preparing the lands, the farmers fill an area with water to form what is known as a paddy field, because rice is a very water-intensive crop. The rice seeds are either dispersed freely (the process is known as boleo in Spanish) or hand sowed. Once the rice has grown, most farmers rent machinery that helps them gather their production.
One of the biggest struggles in the area has been the lack of credit due to the absence of any type of financial institution. Because people do not count on formal financial finance, they have turned to loan sharks for financing. They have been affected by expensive lines of credit that exceed 100% interest a year and can be as expensive as 240%. Intermediaries also exploit the farmers because of their outstanding debt. Farmers also lack skills and knowledge to commercialize their products and pay fair prices for their crops.
The largest risk in the sector is due to absence of watering systems. Although Baba is in the province Los Rios (the rivers) there is severe problem with access to water. The lack of infrastructure in the sector does not allow the small farmers to benefit from the presence of the many rivers in the area. If the winter season is too dry, it is likely that the lands will not be sufficiently fertile for rice production in the summer. On the other hand, if there is too much rain, there are not any drainage systems to prevent flooding and the crops are often ruined. Generally speaking though, Baba is a very productive sector where the lands yield all types of crops including rice, cacao, corn, watermelons, plantains, and soybeans.
The loans in this sector will mostly be used to buy soil, seeds, fertilizer and insecticides. Many clients will use the capital towards renting machinery and equipment necessary to effectively work and prepare the fields. Clients also typically use a part of the loan to buy livestock in order to raise and have as reserves. The loan repayment schedule is different from the typical micro-entrepreneur because farmers see the profits from their investments 5 or 6 months after making their initial expenditures. Mifex asks our rural clients only to pay 50% of the capital in the first 6 months of the loan. The rest of the debt must be paid in the seventh and final month.
",M,950,lender,Agriculture,0 Ecuador,"Pablo has 20 years of experience in furniture making. He started his own business 15 years ago. His carpentry workshop is located in his home and he attends to his clients from 8AM to 6PM. His furniture includes wardrobes, shelves and other pieces his customers request. He used his first loan from Kiva and Mifex to invest in carpentry materials - wood, glue, sealant, sandpaper, solvent and other necessary supplies. Pablo is really well known in his area and people always look for him because he finishes his work on time.
Pablo is 39 years old, married, and has 4 children. Pablo and his wife work hard every day to succeed with their workshop in order to be able to give their children better food and a good education. His wife works in the studio sanding and painting furniture.
Pablo wants to use the revenue generated from his investment to keep adapting his home to suit his shop's needs and to improve their home. They currently live in a house constructed out of cane with an exposed dirt floor. Their hope is to construct their home out of cement with profits from their business.
",M,975,lender,Manufacturing,1 Ecuador,"Pablo has been working as a seafood and fish vendor for over thirty years. After working at a fish-packing factory when he was younger, he decided to deal directly with clients and start his own business. For most of his life, he has also worked in construction and as a handyman, using the income from his jobs to finance his business.
This is now Pablos third loan from Kiva and Mifex. He uses the loan capital to invest in different types of seafood, although his primary product is shrimp. The capital allows Pablo to concentrate on his business more and not have to depend on the jobs he gets as a handyman.
Pablo has five children who are already grown up. He lives with his aging mother and cares for her. He has been slowly fixing up their house with the extra profits he has been making.
Previous Profile: http://www.kiva.org/app.php?page=businesses&action=about&id=16773
",M,550,lender,Food,1 Ecuador,"Pablo has had his own stationery store for a year already. He was able to begin his business thanks to his wife and kids, and some savings which he used to buy a perch and invest in merchandise. Hes been doing well. He works at his business every day of the week from 7 a.m. until 9 p.m. His daughter is the one that attends to customers. His wife also helps the business develop by making weekly purchases.
Pablo would use the loan to invest in the purchase of other products that are unavailable at the store at the moment. He expects to sell products such as juices, ice cream and sodas. He has many orders from people from the neighborhood and he wants to be able to provide the service that they request.
Pablo is married. He is 45 years old. He has four children of whom two work and help with household expenses. His house is built with a mixture of materials. He wishes to finish it one day by saving little by little. His wish is to give his family a comfortable life. Everyone in his family do their best for the good of the house and the business.
Pablo tiene ya con su negocio 1 ao, actividad que la inicio con la ayuda de su esposa y sus hijos. Con un dinero que tena ahorrado compro una percha e invirti en mercadera. Le ha ido muy bien. Su negocio lo trabaja todos los das de la semana. Desde las 7 a.m. hasta las 9 p.m. Su hija es la que brinda la atencin del negocio. Su esposa realiza las compras semanales y de esta manera tambin ayuda con el desarrollo del negocio.
Pablo el crdito lo invertir en la compra de otros productos que no tiene al momento. Adems espera poner negocio de venta de jugos, helados, colas. Tiene pedidos de la gente del sector y espera poder brindarle el servicio que le solicitan.
Pablo es casado. Tiene 45 aos. Cuatro hijos de los cuales 2 trabajan y le ayudan en los gastos del hogar. Su casita es de construccin mixta. Espera poder poco a poco con sus ahorros terminarla. Su deseo es darle una vida cmoda a su familia. Todos aportan para el bien de la casa y del negocio.
",M,525,partner,Retail,0 Ecuador,"Pablo owns a repair workshop with his brother. At their shop they fix all types of domestic electronics such as: microwaves, irons, ovens etc. He has been working in this type of activity for over 18 years and has had this business open with his brother for about 2. Their shop is located near a very busy market that allows them to bring in a stable amount of clients.
Pablo needs this loan in order to purchase scrap metal and other materials necessary for his work. He also wants to purchase new tools and materials that can help him in his business.
Pablo is 51 years old and has 5 children who are all grown up. He is separated from his wife and lives alone in his house. Currently he wants to make improvements to his home and help support his kids in ventures of their own.
Mifex offers its clients microinsurance and access to business training and educational programs. For more information about microfinance, Ecuador, and our services, please visit www.mifex.org.
",M,475,partner,Services,0 Ecuador,"Pablo owns a repair workshop with his brother. At their shop they fix all types of domestic electronics such as: microwaves, irons, ovens etc. He has been working in this type of activity for over 18 years and has had this business open with his brother for about 2. Their shop is located near a very busy market that allows them to bring in a stable number of customers.
Pablo is a repeat lender through the Kiva and Mifex program. He invested his loan in buying spare parts and tools. The results were great, as he was able to decrease the time he took on repairs and increase the amount of items he could work on. As a result he gained a great reputation in the community, which for a repairman is great. Clients frequently bring in business and look to buy products he has repaired. He will use this new loan to buy more spare parts and broken items he can fix and resell.
Pablo is 51 years old and has 5 children who are all grown up. He is separated from his wife and lives alone in his house. Currently he wants to make improvements to his home and help support his kids in ventures of their own.",M,1100,lender,Services,1 Ecuador,"
Pascual is a very hard working farmer from Baba, Ecuador. On his lands he grows rice, maize and beans. He likes to have a variety of products because it allows him to be more flexible when selling and it also accounts for bad weather. He hopes to invest his loan in fertilizer and pesticides. He has six children, three who are still in school and live at home. He hopes he can fix his home by making it out of cement or bricks.
This borrower is part of one the new Communal Banks formed in the recently developed Mifex Rural Finance Program. All of the members of the Progresista Baba Communal Bank are part of an association of rice farmers in the county of Baba in rural Ecuador. Their organization, La Asociacion Montubia Progresista, works cooperatively to help their members cultivate rice and commercialize the product after it has grown. Specifically, they help farmers by providing access to machinery and training services. The farmers from Montubia Progresista have received special instruction on financial responsibility and accounting from Codemicro, an organization that specializes in training programs geared towards the rural sector.
The members of La Asociacion Montubia Progresista de Baba will use the micro-loans to prepare their lands and cultivate rice on their farms. Because they form part of a communal bank, they are all each others' guarantors for the loan. This means that if for some reason one person in the group cannot fully repay the loan, the other borrowers and the association are responsible for the amount in default. The members of the bank also participate in a program designed to teach and encourage savings among the group. Promoting savings is often forgotten in many micro-finance programs, but Mifex believes that is imperative for the communities we works with to have capital reserved for future investments or unexpected difficulties.
Below is more information about Santa Lucia compiled by Luis Crespo and Robert Edgar of the Mifex team when evaluating the potential of the sector for the Rural Finance Program.
The people of Baba have been organized since the days of Gran Colombia when Ecuador was yet to be a country. The area has always been popular because of the extremely productive lands that gave way to cultivation of cacao for decades. Now Baba is a county in the province of Los Rios in the coastal region of Ecuador. For most of the latter part of the 20th Century it was a cacao and banana producing sector. Most of the surrounding areas of Baba in Los Rios are owned by large mulitnational companies such as Dole, but Baba is a sector characterized by the small and informal farms.
Rice production has now turned into the main economic activity of the sector as about 80% of the people are rice farmers. Cacao is still very popular in the area, but because of the long cultivation cycle people prefer to invest in rice. The lands in Baba are very fertile though, and most farmers in the sector often grow other crops, such as plantains and soy beans as secondary sources of income. Many farmers also keep livestock as emergency sources of food and income, commonly resorting to selling a chicken or pig if they are in need of cash.
Most of the people in the Baba area are small farmers. They produce about 80 sacks of rice per hectare of land. In order to farm they first must prepare the lands by removing weeds, plowing and leveling the lands. This is the most difficult part for the farmers in Baba, who often lack the necessary machinery to properly plow the lands for rice production. After appropriately preparing the lands, the farmers fill an area with water to form what is known as a paddy field, because rice is a very water intensive crop. The rice seeds are either dispersed freely (the process is known as boleo in Spanish) or hand sowed. Once the rice has grown, most farmers rent machinery that helps them gather their production.
One of the biggest struggles in the area has been the lack of credit due to the absence of any type of financial institution. Because people do not count on formal financial finance, they have turned to loan sharks for financing. They have been affected by expensive lines of credit that exceed 100% interest a year and can be as expensive as 240%. Intermediaries also exploit the farmers because of their outstanding debt. Farmers also lack skills and knowledge to commercialize their products and pay fair prices for their crops.
The largest risk in the sector is due to absence of watering systems. Although Baba is in the province Los Rios (the rivers) there is severe problem with access to water. The lack of infrastructure in the sector does not allow the small farmers to benefit from the presence of the many rivers in the area. If the winter season is too dry, it is likely that the lands will not be sufficiently fertile for rice production in the summer. On the other hand, if there is too much rain there are not any drainage systems to prevent flooding and the crops are often ruined. Generally speaking though, Baba is a very productive sector where the lands yield all types of crops including rice, cacao, corn, watermelons, plantains, and soy beans.
The loans in this sector will mostly be used to to buy soil, seeds, fertilizer and insecticides. Many clients will use the capital towards renting machinery and equipment necessary to effectively work and prepare the fields. Clients also typically use a part of the loan to buy livestock in order to raise and have as reserves. The loan repayment schedule is different from the typical micro-entrepreneur because farmers see the profits from their investments 5 or 6 months after making their initial expenditures. Mifex asks our rural clients only to pay 50% of the capital in the first 6 months of the loan. The rest of the debt must be paid in the seventh and final month.
",M,1075,lender,Agriculture,1 Ecuador,"Pastora has ten year of business experience. She was a client of the cosmetic distribution business. She secured the necessary capital start her own business selling cosmetics after several years of work. She has been working four years on her own and has developed a loyal clientele base. She also sells colas and other soft drinks out of her home. She works everyday from 8 a.m. until late into the night.
She will use this, her second Kiva loan, to take advantage of bulk purchase discounts. She will also replenish her soft drink inventory and add new jewelry items to her product offerings.
Pastora is 49 years old. She is a single mother to a 28 year old son who is a merchant marine. A couple of years ago, her house burned down and destroyed all of her belongings. This unfortunate event did not destroy her drive. On the contrary, it motivated her to get ahead and with her son's help, she has been able to rebuild her home. The home is constructed of various materials. She hopes to be able to complete the construction of the home and to better secure it.
",F,1075,lender,Retail,1 Ecuador,"Patricia has been running this small store for about 2 years. She is in need of investment capital because she wants to begin selling chicken, beef and eggs. Currently, she can only afford to invest in basic goods such as sugar and oil, but her clients are in demand of many more products. She started the business with the help of her sister in law who has experience in with small stores. Patricia is 45 years old and has 6 children, although only 1 of them still lives at home. She and her husband, who is a construction worker, own their home which is made out of wood and bamboo.
Mifex offers its clients microinsurance and access to business training and educational programs. For more information about microfinance, Ecuador, and our services, please visit www.mifex.org.
",F,275,partner,Food,0 Ecuador,"Patricia has two years of experience selling natural gas for domestic use. She began with a loan of 15 cylinders that her brother gave her. Gradually, she built up her capital and has now more than 150 cylinders of natural gas. She works almost 24 hours a day, seven days a week along with her daughters, who help her in her business. When she runs out of gas, she leaves to get more.
Demand has increased, especially at night, and little by little she is becoming a distributor of the product. With her first loan from Mifex and Kiva, she invested in gas cylinders to meet growing demand. Currently, demand still outpaces her capacity due to the great service she offers. For this reason, she is requesting a second loan to purchase even more cylinders. It is important to her to have adequate stock of cylinders plus a few extra on hand for sale. In this way, she believes she will be able to cover all the needs of her customers.
",F,950,lender,Retail,1 Ecuador,"Pedro has a business selling lottery tickets and magazines. His workplace is situated near one of the hospitals in a suburb of Guayaquil. He works from 7am to 6pm. He obtained his experience in this business working for a relative, selling for him on a very low-percentage commission basis. With this experience and some savings, Pedro started his own business and has managed to keep in business thanks to the constant dedication and effort of Pedro and his wife.
Pedro is asking for a loan in order to expand his lottery sales business, given that many holiday dates are approaching. Thanks to the good quality of his attentive service, he has been able to increase his number of customers, and he wants to make the most of this opportunity for expansion in the lottery sales and magazine market.
Pedro is 37 years old. He is married and his wife works as a CD and lottery-ticket saleswoman, covering the area they live in. They have one son who is studying.
Translated from Spanish by Katy Long, Kiva Volunteer
",M,600,partner,Retail,0 Ecuador,"Pedro has a business selling lottery tickets and magazines. His workplace is situated near one of the hospitals in a suburb of Guayaquil. He works from 7am to 6pm. He obtained his experience in this business working for a relative, selling for him on a very low-percentage commission basis. With this experience and some savings, Pedro started his own business and has managed to keep in business thanks to the constant dedication and effort of Pedro and his wife.
With a previous loan he was able to increase his inventory of magazines and lottery tickets. Thanks to the good quality of his attentive service, the number of customers buying from him has increased and his income has improved. Pedro is asking for a second loan in order to expand his lottery sales business, given that many holiday dates are approaching. This is a particularly good time for lottery ticket sales since the winning amount soars due to popularity.
Pedro is 37 years old. He is married and his wife works as a CD and lottery-ticket saleswoman out of their home while Pedro does his sales on foot in the neighborhood. They have one son who is studying. Slowly, Pedro and his wife are renovating their home. He now has a room out for rent which brings in money for his family's needs. His dream is to install a tiled floor in the back portion of his home.
",M,1200,lender,Retail,1 Ecuador,"Pedro is happy because he was able to recover his investment with the high production in the last rice harvest. He purchased all he needed to optimize every last inch of sown field. His four plots of land were distributed almost perfectly to achieve the desired level.
The product quality, sewing techniques used, use of new fertilizers, and more than 30 years of experience in the rice industry have allowed Pedro to have an excellent harvest last cycle. For him, this has meant hours of effort every day.
Pedro is 52 years old. He is married and has two children; only one of them is in school. His home is a mixed construction. He has lived in the Baba sector for more than 30 years. He has been a farmer since the age of 10 when he helped his parents.
He will purchase seeds and fertilizers. He will pay his workforce. He will rent machinery when necessary. He constructs special pools to achieve a better harvest. He will have to take the rice to be dried and absorb the costs involved with that and with his work.
http://www.kiva.org/app.php?page=businesses&action=about&id=9684Translated from Spanish by Joanne Egnatchik, Kiva volunteer
",M,1200,lender,Agriculture,1 Ecuador,"
Pedro nacio y ha vivido en el sector arrocero de Baba toda su vida. Desde que nacio el y su familia han subsistido gracias al arroz. El ahora tiene una finca desde hace 30 aos donde el tiene varias cuadras de arroz. El quiere invertir en trabajadores que le ayuden a sembrar, ya que no quiere usar la ayuda de hijo para que pueda seguir estudiando. El tiene dos hijos, uno de 11 y el otro de 28 aos.
English Translation:Translated by Nuria Ruiz, Kiva Voluteer.
Pedro was born and raise in Baba. Since his family can remember their worked in the rice fields. Since 30 years ago Pedro has a plot of land where he cultivates rice. He is requesting a loan to hire some laborers that would help him seed. He has a son but he prefers he continues his studies rather than work on the fields. His oldest is 28 years old and the youngest is 11.
This borrower is part of the newest Communal Bank in the recently developed Mifex Rural Finance Program. All of the members of the Rosa de Oro (Golden Rose) Communal Bank are part of an Association of Rice Farmers in the county of Baba in rural Ecuador. Their association works cooperatively to cultivate rice and commercialize the product after it has grown. As an association, Rosa de Oro helps the farmers by providing access to machinery, training services and government assistance. The farmers from Rosa de Oro are very close to each other and cooperate to help one another on their farms.
The members of Rosa de Oro will use the micro-loans to prepare their lands and cultivate rice on their farms. Because they form part of a communal bank, they are all each others' guarantors for the loan. This means that if for some reason one person in the group cannot fully repay the loan, the other borrowers and the Rosa de Oro Association are responsible for the amount in default. The members of the bank also participate in a program designed to teach and encourage savings among the group. Promoting savings is often forgotten in many micro-finance programs, but Mifex believes that is imperative for the communities we works with to have capital reserved for future investments or unexpected difficulties.
Below is more information about Baba compiled by Luis Crespo and Robert Edgar of the Mifex team when evaluating the potential of the sector for the Rural Finance Program.
The people of Baba have been organized since the days of Gran Colombia when Ecuador was yet to be a country. The area has always been popular because of the extremely productive lands that gave way to cultivation of cacao for decades. Now Baba is a county in the province of Los Rios in the coastal region of Ecuador. For most of the latter part of the 20th Century it was a cacao and banana producing sector. Most of the surrounding areas of Baba in Los Rios are owned by large mulitnational companies such as Dole, but Baba is a sector characterized by the small and informal farms.
Rice production has now turned into the main economic activity of the sector as about 80% of the people are rice farmers. Cacao is still very popular in the area, but because of the long cultivation cycle people prefer to invest in rice. The lands in Baba are very fertile though, and most farmers in the sector often grow other crops, such as plantains and soy beans as secondary sources of income. Many farmers also keep livestock as emergency sources of food and income, commonly resorting to selling a chicken or pig if they are in need of cash.
Most of the people in the Baba area are small farmers. They produce about 80 sacks of rice per hectare of land. In order to farm they first must prepare the lands by removing weeds, plowing and leveling the lands. This is the most difficult part for the farmers in Baba, who often lack the necessary machinery to properly plow the lands for rice production. After appropriately preparing the lands, the farmers fill an area with water to form what is known as a paddy field, because rice is a very water intensive crop. The rice seeds are either dispersed freely (the process is known as boleo in Spanish) or hand sowed. Once the rice has grown, most farmers rent machinery that helps them gather their production.
One of the biggest struggles in the area has been the lack of credit due to the absence of any type of financial institution. Because people do not count on formal financial finance, they have turned to loan sharks for financing. They have been affected by expensive lines of credit that exceed 100% interest a year and can be as expensive as 240%. Intermediaries also exploit the farmers because of their outstanding debt. Farmers also lack skills and knowledge to commercialize their products and pay fair prices for their crops.
The largest risk in the sector is due to absence of watering systems. Although Baba is in the province Los Rios (the rivers) there is severe problem with access to water. The lack of infrastructure in the sector does not allow the small farmers to benefit from the presence of the many rivers in the area. If the winter season is too dry, it is likely that the lands will not be sufficiently fertile for rice production in the summer. On the other hand, if there is too much rain there are not any drainage systems to prevent flooding and the crops are often ruined. Generally speaking though, Baba is a very productive sector where the lands yield all types of crops including rice, cacao, corn, watermelons, plantains, and soy beans.
The loans in this sector will mostly be used to to buy soil, seeds, fertilizer and insecticides. Many clients will use the capital towards renting machinery and equipment necessary to effectively work and prepare the fields. Clients also typically use a part of the loan to buy livestock in order to raise and have as reserves. The loan repayment schedule is different from the typical micro-entrepreneur because farmers see the profits from their investments 5 or 6 months after making their initial expenditures. Mifex asks our rural clients only to pay 50% of the capital in the first 6 months of the loan. The rest of the debt must be paid in the seventh and final month.
",M,425,lender,Agriculture,0 Ecuador,"Pedro owns a bike shop and is a previous lender from Kiva. He is very grateful for the first two loans that he has received. All his payments were on time and he was able to repay without any inconveniences. Pedro is hopeful that he will receive a follow up loan so that he may continue to grow his business. When his parents ran the shop Pedro never seemed interested in joining the family business but four years ago he found himself without a job and saw the opportunity to join in. Now he runs the shop on his own and is inspired by the loans that he has received from Mifex and Kiva. He has also invested in two arcade machines that people use to play games on. This small side business has helped him augment his income.
Pedro plans to continue to invest in tools that make him more efficient and to buy bicycles to sell during the holiday season. His location on a main street allows his business to have great exposure and bring in a consistent flow of customers. Pedro has recently hired an employee, an adolescent without a home who he is lending a hand to.
",M,1100,lender,Services,1 Ecuador,"Pedro Ruiz is a farmer from a rural town named Salitre. He is part of the first Communal Bank in the new Mifex Rural Finance Program. All the members of the Resistencia Communal Bank are part of an Association of Rice Farmers in Salitre named Resistencia. They will use the microloans to prepare the land and cultivate rice on their farms. Because they form part of a communal bank, they are all each others guarantors for the loan. This means that if for some reason one person in the group cannot fully repay the loan, the other borrowers and the Resistencia Association are responsible for the amount in default. The members of the bank also participate in a program designed to teach and encourage savings among the group. Promoting savings is often forgotten in many microfinance programs, but it is imperative for the communities Mifex works with to have capital reserved for future investments or unexpected difficulties.
Pedro is a very hard working man. Although he does not have much land, it yields enough to support him and his family. The main crop he makes is rice, although you can also find some other fruits and vegetables growing on his land. His goal is to be able to have enough production to continue financing the education of his kids. He hopes that this capital will go a long way in helping him produce more and commercialize more efficiently.
The loans in this sector will be used to create water deposits that will prevent flooding in the case of heavy rains or store water in case of droughts. They will also be used to treat the land prior to farming, plant the seeds and purchase fertilizer. The loan repayment schedule is also different from the typical microentrepreneur. Because farmers see the profits from their investments 5 or 6 months after making their initial expenditures, Mifex asks them only to pay 50% of the capital in the first 6 months of the loan. The rest of the debt must be paid in the seventh and final month.
Below is more information about Salitre compiled by the staff at Mifex when evaluating the potential of the sector for the Rural Finance Program.
Salitre is a rural area in the Province of Guayas which is known as the capital of Montuvios (montuvio is a cowboy) with approximately 30,000 inhabitants. The main economic activities are herding and agriculture, which make up about 80% of the economy. The infrastructure and basic services are poor, especially the roads and water services.
Salitre is highly dedicated to rice farming and cattle ranching. Rice is a crop that yields about every four months. In order to farm rice, the environment must be very humid and there must be a high volume of water. The lack of a structured water system makes it difficult for the small farmers to be highly productive. The best months for cultivating rice are early in the year during the rainy season on the coast of Ecuador.
Salitre is a national tourist attraction as many Ecuadorians visit the fresh water Salitre River. There are cottages, small restaurants and water attractions that people come to enjoy.
There is not a single financial institution that provides services to the productive sector of the local economy. The only access to credit comes from loan sharks who charge extremely high interest rates averaging around 20% a month. The locals are also exploited by the intermediaries that buy their products in order to commercialize them in the city and to export abroad. These intermediaries buy crops in advance at very low prices, finance soil at extremely high prices and often provide emergency loans for even higher interest rates than the loan sharks.
Salitre is a dangerous area despite its rural location. There is a high incidence of robbery of cattle that results in the fact that many of the ranch owners owning weapons to protect their property. Because the police are not present in these areas, farmers and ranchers must apply their own laws and provide their own security. In some instances they have formed their own cooperatives and associations to have a community crime prevention force.
Salitre is in the lowlands of Ecuador and is vulnerable to flooding during the rainy season. In the event of a heavy rainy season, often at its worst when El Nio occurs, rice farmers lose many of their crops. All this is due to a lack of infrastructure in the area.
",M,1200,lender,Agriculture,0 Ecuador,"Perla started her business with a little bit of capital she had saved, the fruits of her work as a schoolteacher. Perla runs her business all by herself, so she offers high-quality work and she has gained the confidence of her customers.
With a previous loan Perla was able to buy two new salon chairs, one for adults and the other for children. This combined with better hair products and hard work has resulted in some positive results for her salon. Perlas problem is now that she has to work too much because of all the positive references her clients provide. She is considering bringing on a new employee but is glad to have the increased business. Perla wants this new loan so she may continue improving her equipment and the appearance of her salon.
Perla is 52 years old and single. She lives with her sister, who is a single mother and has 2 children who are in school. One of the children, in his free time, works at a hardware store. Perla hopes to improve her business and her income, so she can continue helping support her family.
",F,1075,lender,Services,1 Ecuador,"Personal Information:
Martha has a business where she sells perfume, jewelry, and cosmetics. Martha is in a common law marriage. A month ago she gave birth to a new baby. Her older two children are in school, but they help her attend to the business and make sales when they can. Martha currently lives with her mother.
Investment of the First Loan:
Martha used her first loan to supply her business with different kinds of products. Her mother helped her sell these products.
Business Development:
Marthas sales are increasing. Her good customer relations and the service she offers have helped attract more customers. She continues to maintain her work schedule. Her mother and sisters are also helping her with sales for her business.
Use of the Second Loan:
Martha wants to use the second loan to continue to increase her working capital. She wants to include other kinds of items to sell, specifically: articles of clothing, blenders, irons, and mixers. Her dream is to have a little house of her own, and with the help of God and her business that dream will come true.
Translated from Spanish by Chris Knutson, Kiva Volunteer
",F,300,lender,Retail,1 Ecuador,"
Personal Information:
Dolores has 5 years of experience in her business selling supplies, candy, juices and other beverages. She was able to start her business thanks to her savings from her previous work as a domestic servant. She had wanted to run her own business, and decided to open a storethe store is set up in the home of Doloress mother-in-law, with whom Dolores has a good relationship. In the mornings her mother-in-law works for her on the premises, and in the evenings Dolores manages the store by herself. Dolores works every day of the week from 6:00 AM until 11:00 PM. She is a single mother with three children, all of whom are in school. Her little house is built of cement. She knows that in order to get ahead in life she must increase her revenues and improve her home.
Investment of the First Loan:
Dolores increased her working capital. She was able to supply her business with products she had not previously offered. She now has greater demand.
Business Development:
Doloress clientele has increased because she offers more products. She has had to increase her work schedule because of the increased demand. Her older children now help her at the store.
Use of the Second Loan:
The loan will be used to continue increasing her working capitalshe has enough orders of candy and beveragesand also to gradually continue improving her home for the wellbeing of her entire family.
Translated from Spanish by Chris Knutson, Kiva Volunteer
",F,800,lender,Food,1 Ecuador,"
Peter is a married father of three boys who has dedicated himself over the last 22 years to learning the insect and rodent extermination business. His wife helps him run the business by purchasing many of the supplies. Having worked in a laboratory in the past, his wife knows how to mix the proper chemicals and can spot a deal when it comes. When the company they worked for went out of business, it was Peters wife who encouraged him to open a business with the $10 they had 17 years ago. The Cantuas children help sell their products door-to-door and in the locations in town where customers come to buy things of that nature. Peter is applying for this loan, partly so he can obtain the necessary sanitation registration which costs $100, as well as materials used everyday during business such as sealant and materials for presenting his work. Peter used to borrow from a loan shark, but now he has been given a chance to borrow well below the 15% monthly rates. His whole family helps run the business, and they all have worked hard to build the house they currently live in. They thank Kiva and Mifex for giving them an opportunity at financial independence.
Mifex offers its clients microinsurance and access to business training and educational programs. For more information about microfinance, Ecuador, and our services, please visit www.mifex.org.
",M,475,partner,Services,0 Ecuador,"Piedad has been selling clothing since she was 16 years old due to the financial circumstances in her home. After working in a department store for a small wage, she decided it would be more profitable to buy clothing wholesale and sell on her own. Piedad sells her clothing by traveling around the community offering her products. She targets friends and families as her main client base.
Piedad is a single mother of four children. Three of her children are in school and the youngest one is stays at home with Piedads mother. She lives with her brother and mother who help her as much as they can. Piedads income is used to educate and feed her kids and to contribute the household.
Mifex offers its clients microinsurance and access to business training and educational programs. For more information about microfinance, Ecuador, and our services, please visit www.mifex.org.
",F,375,partner,Clothing,0 Ecuador,"Ramon has been running this business for about 2 years. Prior to this, he had to rely on finding jobs as a construction worker or an assistant to feed his family. He and his wife decided to open their own restaurant because it provided a more reliable source of income. Ramon needs the loan in order to place the business inside of his home. Currently he has his tables and chairs outside, but as the rainy season approaches this is huge inconvenience for his clients. Ramon has two daughters who help the business when they can. He also works as a security guard at night in order to bring in extra income.
Mifex offers its clients microinsurance and access to business training and educational programs. For more information about microfinance, Ecuador, and our services, please visit www.mifex.org.
",M,475,partner,Food,0 Ecuador,"Ramon has three children who help him on his farm. He has lived in Baba, Ecuador for over 30 years where he has made a living growing rice. Although his children are all grown up, they all work the fields together in order to make ends meet for the family. On his farm Ramon also raises plantain trees and a few other secondary crops.
This borrower is part of the newest and largest Communal Bank in the recently developed Mifex Rural Finance Program. All of the members of the Centro Agricola de Baba Communal Bank are part of an Association of Rice Farmers in the county of Baba in rural Ecuador. Their association works cooperatively to cultivate rice and commercialize the product after it has grown. As an association, Centro Agricola helps the farmers by providing access to machinery and training services. The farmers from Centro Agricola have received special instruction on financial responsibility and accounting from Codemicro, an organization that specializes in training programs geared towards the rural sector.
The members of Centro Agricola de Baba will use the micro-loans to prepare their lands and cultivate rice on their farms. Because they form part of a communal bank, they are all each others' guarantors for the loan. This means that if for some reason one person in the group cannot fully repay the loan, the other borrowers and the Centro Agricola de Baba Association are responsible for the amount in default. The members of the bank also participate in a program designed to teach and encourage savings among the group. Promoting savings is often forgotten in many micro-finance programs, but Mifex believes that is imperative for the communities we works with to have capital reserved for future investments or unexpected difficulties.
Below is more information about Santa Lucia compiled by Luis Crespo and Robert Edgar of the Mifex team when evaluating the potential of the sector for the Rural Finance Program.
The people of Baba have been organized since the days of Gran Colombia when Ecuador was yet to be a country. The area has always been popular because of the extremely productive lands that gave way to cultivation of cacao for decades. Now Baba is a county in the province of Los Rios in the coastal region of Ecuador. For most of the latter part of the 20th Century it was a cacao and banana-producing sector. Most of the surrounding areas of Baba in Los Rios are owned by large multinational companies such as Dole, but Baba is a sector characterized by small and informal farms.
Rice production has now turned into the main economic activity of the sector as about 80% of the people are rice farmers. Cacao is still very popular in the area, but because of the long cultivation cycle people prefer to invest in rice. The lands in Baba are very fertile though, and most farmers in the sector often grow other crops, such as plantains and soybeans as secondary sources of income. Many farmers also keep livestock as emergency sources of food and income, commonly resorting to selling a chicken or pig if they are in need of cash.
Most of the people in the Baba area are small farmers. They produce about 80 sacks of rice per hectare of land. In order to farm they first must prepare the lands by removing weeds, plowing and leveling the lands. This is the most difficult part for the farmers in Baba, who often lack the necessary machinery to properly plow the lands for rice production. After appropriately preparing the lands, the farmers fill an area with water to form what is known as a paddy field, because rice is a very water-intensive crop. The rice seeds are either dispersed freely (the process is known as boleo in Spanish) or hand sowed. Once the rice has grown, most farmers rent machinery that helps them gather their production.
One of the biggest struggles in the area has been the lack of credit due to the absence of any type of financial institution. Because people do not count on formal financial finance, they have turned to loan sharks for financing. They have been affected by expensive lines of credit that exceed 100% interest a year and can be as expensive as 240%. Intermediaries also exploit the farmers because of their outstanding debt. Farmers also lack skills and knowledge to commercialize their products and pay fair prices for their crops.
The largest risk in the sector is due to absence of watering systems. Although Baba is in the province Los Rios (the rivers) there is severe problem with access to water. The lack of infrastructure in the sector does not allow the small farmers to benefit from the presence of the many rivers in the area. If the winter season is too dry, it is likely that the lands will not be sufficiently fertile for rice production in the summer. On the other hand, if there is too much rain, there are not any drainage systems to prevent flooding and the crops are often ruined. Generally speaking though, Baba is a very productive sector where the lands yield all types of crops including rice, cacao, corn, watermelons, plantains, and soybeans.
The loans in this sector will mostly be used to buy soil, seeds, fertilizer and insecticides. Many clients will use the capital towards renting machinery and equipment necessary to effectively work and prepare the fields. Clients also typically use a part of the loan to buy livestock in order to raise and have as reserves. The loan repayment schedule is different from the typical micro-entrepreneur because farmers see the profits from their investments 5 or 6 months after making their initial expenditures. Mifex asks our rural clients only to pay 50% of the capital in the first 6 months of the loan. The rest of the debt must be paid in the seventh and final month.
",M,1075,lender,Agriculture,0 Ecuador,"Ramona has a business selling all types of gifts for girls' quinceaeras, baptisms and weddings. She also sells school supplies. She has a couple of years of experience. She took out a loan from a lending institution to start her business. The business is in her home and she tends to it every day of the week.
She took out a previous loan from Kiva and Mifex which she used to invest in more inventory. This new loan will be used to make improvements to her business and her home. She will make the location bigger in order to accommodate more products and clients.
Ramona is 31 years old. She has 3 children. Her husband abandoned her 5 years ago. She was not able to make ends meet with the monthly payments her husband was sending her, so she had to look for another solution. Currently she is both mother and father for her children. Her desire is to grow the business in order to be able to keep her children in school and continue making improvements to her home.
",F,1200,lender,Retail,1 Ecuador,"Ramona has had a small store in her home for about two years. She and her husband also travel around the local area offering their products to the public from a tricycle cart. They mainly sell eggs, cheese and ham, often serving as distributors to other small stores in the area.
Ramona is hoping that she can take out a loan to improve her profits. She will purchase more of her common products at better prices and much larger quantities. She hopes to eventually start delivering these products to all the small stores in the area.
Ramona is 28 years old and she has two daughters who are in school. Her husband is very supportive of her business and helps her invest with leftover income from his job. They hope they can make some improvements to their humble home in the near future.
",F,600,partner,Food,0 Ecuador,"Raquel runs a small shop out of the home of her sister. Twelve years ago she started working in her fathers store who ran a very similar operation. Once she saved up enough money she opened her own shop near her fathers but had to close it down because he did not appreciate the competition. She now works with her sister who has always helped her business aspirations. She sells all types of items ranging from diapers to popular snacks.
She needs the loan in order to invest in a greater amount of products. She is planning to move the location to her mothers home where she believes she can generate more business. Her parents are separated and Raquel is not married.
.Mifex offers its clients microinsurance and access to business training and educational programs. For more information about microfinance, Ecuador, and our services, please visit www.mifex.org.
",F,375,partner,Food,0 Ecuador,"Raquel sells household items from her home. She owned a store for about five years that was very successful until her mother became ill. In order to pay for some of the hospital bills Raquel began selling off many of the items at her business and eventually she found herself closing it down. Raquel has faced extremely difficult challenges since then. Her mother eventually passed away, her husband left her and she was left with no source of income.
Two months ago she decided she needed to get back on her feet by reopening her business from her home. She sells towels, sheets, decorations and has also found success in selling fresh milk. She is seeking the loan in order to invest in new items to sell so she may slowly start to rebuild her business. She has two children who she cares for her on her own and who inspire her to make her business succeed.
Mifex offers its clients microinsurance and access to business training and educational programs. For more information about microfinance, Ecuador, and our services, please visit www.mifex.org.
",F,250,partner,Retail,0 Ecuador,"Reimundo has 30 years experience in shellfish sales, a vocation he inherited from his father, who took him along fishing from the time he was 20 years old. He liked fishing very much and once he was married decided to start his own business with his savings and a loan. He bought himself a tricycle and began to ride through the streets of his neighborhood from 5 am till 11 at night in order to sell all of his product.
Along with selling seafood, Reimundo has also started another business. Several months ago he received a loan through Mifex and Kiva. With this loan he invested in seafood and also started a small store where he sells cleaning products. His daughter helps him overseee the store, which is doing quite well now. He is requesting a second loan so he may continue to invest in his businesses, possibly buying sodas and yogurts to sell from his new store.
Reimundo is 59 years old with 2 children, both in school. His wife also works; she's been working doing domestic chores for 7 years. With their earnings they hope to set up a domestic chores business in their home.
",M,850,lender,Food,1 Ecuador,"Reinalda has worked in the beauty industry for over 23 years. She started off by working as an assistant in a friends beauty salon during the day and attending class at night to finish attaining her high school degree. After learning how to cut hair and give manicures, she began offering her services to her friends and family at their homes. Soon after getting married, her and her husband decided it was best for Reinalda to start her own business out of their home. This business has allowed her to provide a good source of income for her family while also being able to care for her 4 children.
Reinalda is seeking the loan in order to invest in the physical appearance of her beauty salon. As it is, her business and her home are very difficult distinguish. She wants to invest in new furniture and tools in order to make her salon look much more professional.
Mifex offers its clients microinsurance and access to business training and educational programs. For more information about microfinance, Ecuador, and our services, please visit www.mifex.org.
",F,375,partner,Services,0 Ecuador,"Ricardo has a restaurant in the market where he sells breakfast, lunch and snacks. He started his business by borrowing 200 dollars from his brother. He started out selling breakfast only. With a lot of effort he now offers not only breakfast but lunch, snacks, and sweets.
Richard used a previous loan to buy an industrial kitchen. He can now cook at larger quantities and with more ease. He is interested in making his next investment in tables and chairs for his clients.
Ricardo is 56 years old and married. He has 4 children, one of whom one is still in school. He depends entirely on his business to support his family. Ricardo has confidence that this loan will give him economic security and allow him to make improvements to his home.
",M,950,lender,Food,1 Ecuador,"Ricardo has had his experience as a salesman for over 30 years. He is a clothing and garments salesman. He not only sells to individuals, he is also a distributor to other salesman and women in the area. Most of his clients buy on credit because of their lack of liquidity, but Ramon is a very good collector because of his experience. He works diligently from 8 am until 7 pm. Although he is 65 years old, he plans on continuing working for much longer. He feels the need to help his 4 sons establish themselves and start businesses of their own. He will invest the money in wholesale purchases of new products.
Mifex offers its clients microinsurance and access to business training and educational programs. For more information about microfinance, Ecuador, and our services, please visit www.mifex.org.
",M,600,partner,Clothing,0 Ecuador,"Ricardo is a clothing and garment salesman who has more than thirty years of experience as a retailer. He not only sells to individuals, but is also a distributor to other salespeople in the area. Most of his clients buy on credit because of their lack of liquidity. Ricardo is a very good collector because of his experience. He works diligently from 8 am until 7 pm.
Although he is 65 years old, he plans on working for much longer. He feels the need to help his four sons establish themselves and start businesses of their own. He will invest the money in wholesale purchases of new products. Ricardos first and second loans were a success by all measures. He repaid on time and his business grew as well. He was able to invest in a motorcycle that helps him travel around delivering products and collecting payments.
He now works closely with one of his sons who has become involved in his trade. He feels proud that he not only has a flourishing business but also that his family is taking part in it. He is optimistic about his second loan with Kiva and Mifex.
",M,1200,lender,Retail,1 Ecuador,"Ricardo is single and is 21 years old. Currently he lives with his parents and his brother. He is requesting a second loan in order to purchase more office supplies. The profits earned from this will allow him to paint the outside faade of his building and there improve the appearance of his business. Ultimately, Ricardo is saving so he may one day provide Internet access to his clients. He would be the first person in his sector to provide such a valuable service.
Ricardo has one year of experience running his business. He is a recent school graduate. He came up with the idea to create a computer center, when he realized none of his neighbors had computer access. His parents helped him out with a loan, which he used to buy a computer and to create a space for it in his home. Today, he has three computers. He works every day of the week from 8:00 AM to 10:00 PM. He also works in an eatery; when he goes out, his brother is in charge of the business.
Ricardo used his first Mifex and Kiva loan to invest in office supplies for his business. With the profits he earned he painted a sign to place on the outside of his building to promote his business.
",M,950,lender,Services,1 Ecuador,"Rimigio has been a rice farmer and a cattle herder his entire life. He has a very limited education, but he is a very hard worker. Although he is over 65 years old, he does not intend to stop working the lands that have provided for him and his family for decades. He feels fortunate to have the opportunity to attain some financing for his lands. He plans to invest in seeds and some pesticides. The loan will help him avoid borrowing from informal lenders who charge way too much and take a large part of the profits he makes from his crops.
Rimigio is part of the newest Communal Banks in the recently developed Mifex Rural Finance Program. All of the members of the Centro Agricola de Santa Lucia Communal Bank are part of an Association of Rice Farmers in Santa Lucia. Their association works cooperatively to help in the commercialization of the product after it has grown. They will use the micro-loans to prepare their lands and cultivate rice on their farms. Because they form part of a communal bank, they are all each others' guarantors for the loan. This means that if for some reason one person in the group cannot fully repay the loan, the other borrowers and the Primero de Agosto Association are responsible for the amount in default. The members of the bank also participate in a program designed to teach and encourage savings among the group. Promoting savings is often forgotten in many micro-finance programs, but Mifex believes that is imperative for the communities we works with to have capital reserved for future investments or unexpected difficulties.
Below is more information about Santa Lucia compiled by Luis Crespo and Robert Edgar of the Mifex team when evaluating the potential of the sector for the Rural Finance Program. Special thanks to Mario Balazantegui who provided expert insight and contributed to the development of the alliances with the local organizations.
Santa Lucia County has a population of about 33,000 people. The sector is fit for rice cultivating because it is not in the lowlands and therefore it is not at risk of flooding. There is also great access to water because of the Daule River, which is accessible to many of the farmers in the area. About 70% of the farmers have basic infrastructure for watering their crops.
Rice production is the main economic activity of the area as about 80% of the people are rice farmers. Almost everyone is either directly or indirectly involved with rice production, as they produce, commercialize or participate in activities that add value to the product. Within the county, there is a small town also named Santa Lucia. The town is filled with many small businesses and it serves as the social and commercial hub of the area.
Most of the people in the Santa Lucia area are small farmers. They produce about 100 sacks of rice per hectare of land. In order to farm they first must prepare the lands by removing weeds and plowing. The farmers then fill an area with water to form what is known as a paddy field, because rice is a very water intensive crop. The rice seeds are either dispersed freely (the process is known as boleo in Spanish) or hand sowed. Once the rice has grown, most farmers rent machinery that helps them gather their production. A risk factor does exist in rice farming because of drought, but in Santa Lucia this is somewhat mitigated by the access to water form the nearby river.
The biggest struggle in the area has been the lack of credit. Because people do not count on formal financial services, they have turned to loan sharks for financing. They have been affected by expensive lines of credit that exceed 100% interest a year and can be as expensive as 240%. Intermediaries also exploit the farmers because of their outstanding debt. Farmers also lack skills and knowledge to commercialize their products and pay fair prices for their crops.
The loans in this sector will be used to to buy soil, seeds, fertilizer and insecticides. They will also be used to prepare the land prior to farming, to plant the seeds and purchase other materials. The loan repayment schedule is also different from the typical micro-entrepreneur. Because farmers see the profits from their investments 5 or 6 months after making their initial expenditures, Mifex asks them only to pay 50% of the capital in the first 6 months of the loan. The rest of the debt must be paid in the seventh and final month.
",M,925,lender,Agriculture,0 Ecuador,"Roberto has a grocery store where he sells food, candy and school supplies and is located at his home since last year. His business hours are from. 6am to 10pm. Without experience and with small savings from his previous job he decided to begin his own source of income. His business has succeeded thanks to the constant dedication and hard work he and his late wife have given to it.
Roberto needs a second loan from Kiva and Mifex in order to buy more merchandise and to make some improvements to his business appearance. Because he is in a very good location and has few competitors, his clients have requested him to provide them a larger variety of products.
Roberto is 55 years old and just recently became a widower. He has 3 children who are grown and independent. His house is located near the ocean stream and as a cause of this is very unstable. During his last loan term he not only had to deal with the unexpected death of his beloved wife, but also with some bad damage to his home caused by inclement weather. The house is made out of wood and the floor is in the soil, but Roberto still maintains a positive outlook. Despite all of his recent shortcomings, Roberto made efforts to keep his responsibility with his loan from the Kiva community.
",M,850,lender,Food,1 Ecuador,"Roberto has been a fisherman for over 26 years. He learned the trade from his father, who he worked with for several years before starting his own operation. He not only fishes his own products, he also travels to the markets to sell them himself, along with his wife.
Unfortunately Roberto learned about the Mifex program due to a tragic event. Three weeks ago his home burned down in a fire that also took three other households. One of the other homes belonged to the daughter of, Pedro Ramirez , a Mifex and Kiva borrower. Pedro advised Roberto to seek a loan from Mifex in order to restart his life. Roberto will use the loan to replace the fishing rod and canoe that were lost in the fire. Although they are very upset about the loss of their personal belongings and home, they are determined to rebuild their lives. They have two children that also lost all of their clothing and toys in the fire.
Roberto is pictured here in the blue hat, along with the other victims from the fire.
",M,500,partner,Food,0 Ecuador,"Roberto Romero is a hardworking rice farmer. He has owned his lands for about 4 years, deciding to move away from his family's plot shortly after having his first child. Although his farm is small, it provides enough rice to support the household. He learned rice farming from his father, who has been farming for his entire life as well. He and his wife Andrea have two children, one who is 5 and the other who is 2. They are optimistic about the loan and are hoping their lands continue to be productive.
Roberto is part of one of the newest Communal Banks in the recently developed Mifex Rural Finance Program: the Paypayales Communal Bank. All bank members are part of a rice farmers' cooperative in Santa Lucia named Dios Con Nosotros (God is with us). They will use these microloans to prepare their lands and cultivate rice on their farms. As members of a communal bank, they are all the guarantors for each other's loans. This means that if for some reason one person in the group cannot fully repay the loan, the other borrowers and the Dios con Nosotros Cooperative are responsible for the amount in default. The members of the bank also participate in a program designed to teach and encourage savings among the group. Promoting savings is often forgotten in many microfinance programs, but Mifex believes that is imperative for the communities we works with to have capital reserved for future investments or unexpected difficulties.
Below is more information about the commnity of Santa Lucia, compiled by Luis Crespo and Robert Edgar of the Mifex team when evaluating the potential of the sector for the Rural Finance Program. Special thanks to Mario Balazantegui who provided expert insight and contributed to the development of the alliances with the local organizations.
Santa Lucia County has a population of about 33,000 people. The region is fit for rice cultivating because it is not in the lowlands and therefore it is not at risk of flooding. There is also great access to water because of the Daule River, which is accessible to many of the farmers in the area. About 70% of the farmers have basic infrastructure for watering their crops.
Rice production is the main economic activity of the area, as about 80% of the people are rice farmers. Almost everyone is either directly or indirectly involved with the rice production, as they produce, commercialize or participate in activities that add value to the product. Within the county, there is a small town also named Santa Lucia. The town is filled with many small businesses and it serves as the social and commercial hub of the area.
Most of the people in the Santa Lucia area are small farmers. They produce about 100 sacks of rice per hectare of land. In order to farm they first must prepare the lands by removing weeds and plowing. The farmers then fill an area with water to form what is known as a paddy field, because rice is a very water intensive crop. The rice seeds are either dispersed freely (the process is known as boleo in Spanish) or hand sowed. Once the rice has grown, most farmers rent machinery that helps them harvest their crop. A risk factor does exist in rice farming because of drought, but in Santa Lucia this is somewhat mitigated by the access to water form the nearby river.
The biggest struggle in the area has been the lack of credit. Because people do not have access to formal financial services, they have turned to loan sharks for financing. They have been affected by expensive lines of credit that exceed 100% interest a year and can be as expensive as 240%. Intermediaries also exploit the farmers because of their outstanding debt. Farmers also often lack skills and knowledge of how to commercialize their product and get fair prices for their crops.
The loans in this sector will be used to to buy soil, seeds, fertilizer and insecticides. They will also be used to prepare the land prior to farming, to plant the seeds and purchase other materials. The loan repayment schedule is different from the typical microentrepreneur. Because farmers see the profits from their investments 5 or 6 months after making their initial expenditures, Mifex asks them to repay 50% of the capital in the first 6 months of the loan. The rest of the debt must be paid in the seventh and final month.
",M,925,lender,Agriculture,0 Ecuador,"Rodolfo is a rice farmer in the small town of Salitre. He has been a farmer in Salitre his whole life. He and his wife, Luisa, are raising their 1 year old baby. Rodolfo hopes to invest his money in his land in order to improve his home. He is eager to make these improvements using concrete instead of wood which is vulnerable to heavy rains. On his farm, Rodolfo also has livestock, but he concentrates mostly on producing rice.
Rodolfo is part of the first Communal Bank in the new Mifex Rural Finance Program. All the members of the Resistencia Communal Bank are part of an Association of Rice Farmers in Salitre named Resistencia. They will use the microloans to prepare the land and cultivate rice on their farms. Because they form part of a communal bank, they are all each others guarantors for the loan. This means that if for some reason one person in the group cannot fully repay the loan, the other borrowers and the Resistencia Association are responsible for the amount in default. The members of the bank also participate in a program designed to teach and encourage savings among the group. Promoting savings is often forgotten in many microfinance programs, but is imperative for the communities Mifex works with to have capital reserved for future investments or unexpected difficulties.
The loans in this sector will be used to create water deposits that will prevent flooding in the case of heavy rains or store water in case of droughts. They will also be used to treat the land prior to farming, plant the seeds and purchase fertilizer. The loan repayment schedule is also different from the typical microentrepreneur. Because farmers see the profits from their investments 5 or 6 months after making their initial expenditures, Mifex asks them only to pay 50% of the capital in the first 6 months of the loan. The rest of the debt must be paid in the seventh and final month.
Below is more information about Salitre compiled by the staff at Mifex when evaluating the potential of the sector for the Rural Finance Program.
Salitre is a rural area in the Province of Guayas which is known as the capital of Montuvios (montuvio is a cowboy) with approximately 30,000 inhabitants. The main economic activities are herding and agriculture, which make up about 80% of the economy. The infrastructure and basic services are poor, especially the roads and water services.
Salitre is highly dedicated to rice farming and cattle ranching. Rice is a crop that yields about every four months. In order to farm rice, the environment must be very humid and there must be a high volume of water. The lack of a structured water system makes it difficult for the small farmers to be highly productive. The best months for cultivating rice are early in the year during the rainy season on the coast of Ecuador.
Salitre is a national tourist attraction as many Ecuadorians visit the fresh water Salitre River. There are cottages, small restaurants and water attractions that people come to enjoy.
There is not a single financial institution that provides services to the productive sector of the local economy. The only access to credit comes from loan sharks who charge extremely high interest rates averaging around 20% a month. The locals are also exploited by the intermediaries that buy their products in order to commercialize them in the city and to export abroad. These intermediaries buy crops in advance at very low prices, finance soil at extremely high prices and often provide emergency loans for even higher interest rates than the loan sharks.
Salitre is a dangerous area despite its rural location. There is a high incidence of robbery of cattle that results in the fact that many of the ranch owners owning weapons to protect their property. Because the police are not present in these areas, farmers and ranchers must apply their own laws and provide their own security. In some instances they have formed their own cooperatives and associations to have a community crime prevention force.
Salitre is in the lowlands of Ecuador and is vulnerable to flooding during the rainy season. In the event of a heavy rainy season, often at its worst when El Nio occurs, rice farmers lose many of their crops. All this is due to a lack of infrastructure in the area.
",M,1200,lender,Food,0 Ecuador,"Rogelio paid off his first loan through Kiva and Mifex successfully, and now he would like to take out a second microloan. His business is run out of his home, but on weekends he goes out into the local markets to sell with his son, while his daughter watches over the home operation. Mr. Arellana originally opened his business selling rice, sugar, oil, and greens, which are the most basic ingredients customers buy. Working every day of the week, Rogelio manages his business very carefully, and he has gained 20 years of experience. He continues day-in and day-out because he wants to provide for his family. With this follow-on loan, Rogelio plans to continue building and diversifying his inventory, buying items in cash so that he can receive discounts. The presence of formal banks is very small where Rogelio lives, and their application process is very cumbersome. He also does not want to borrow from the chulqueros or loan sharks. With this second loan Rogelio plans to buy rice, sugar, oil, and a display cabinet.
Mifex offers its clients microinsurance and access to business training and educational programs. For more information about microfinance, Ecuador, and our services, please visit www.mifex.org.
",M,1175,partner,Retail,0 Ecuador,"Romelia has a business selling fast foods, such as hamburgers, hot dogs, and French fries. It is located on a main street near her home. She began three years ago with her own savings. Her previous business was selling popcorn and corn all day. With her current business, she sells to customers between 6:00 PM and 10:00 PM every day of the week.
Romelia is requesting a new loan from Mifex and Kiva to continue expanding her business. Her first loan was used to make repairs on her food cart. She has now organized the cart so she can simultaneously cook fries, burgers, and hotdogs. This has allowed her to be more efficient and productive and hence attend to more clients. This new loan will provide her with the working capital she needs to move ahead.
Romelia is 30 years old, has 2 children, and her husband helps her with her business. Her husband has a churro-making business and he sells his churros to students at nearby schools. Their house is under construction and with the loan Romelia is sure she will be able to continue improving it. In this way, she will give security and well-being to her family.
",F,1200,lender,Food,1 Ecuador,"Roosweli, more commonly known as Fredy, has 15 years of experience selling breakfasts. Before that, he used to live in the country, and his brother came up with the idea of moving to the city. He started out working for his brother, and little by little he saved his money. With those savings, he was able to buy a home site here in Isla Trinitaria. Along with his wife, he began selling breakfasts at a place near his home. He works from Monday through Friday from 4:30 AM until 10:00 AM. In the afternoon he also sells juice by the glass.
Freddy has already borrowed from Kiva and Mifex before. He used his loan to improve the floor in his business, which was made of dirt and very unsanitary. He also bought many more products to use when he makes breakfasts. Although he will use part of this loan to invest in his restaurant, most of it will go towards a new business. Fredys dream is to help his daughter achieve her goal of owning a beauty salon. Now that the floor in his home is finished, he plans to help her set up the business right in their home.
Fredy is married. He is 36 years old and has 3 children who are all in school. His wife helps him prepare the breakfasts. He hopes with this investment that his business will create more income so that he can make his home adequate.
",M,1075,lender,Food,1 Ecuador,"Rosa Alay started her business when she was a part-time student in beauty school. She started off by just selling cosmetics and when she graduated beauty school she opened a salon. Several months ago Rosa used her first loan with our program to invest in complementary products for her business. She was able to move her business into her home and display her complimentary products from her store. Instead of closing her store to go out and sell products, she works and sells from her home.
Now that Rosa has a new place for her business, she wants to make investments in equipment she needs, including scissors and salon chairs. With the extra money she makes she will continue to invest in her business and in her home. She lives with her son in this house that was once made out of wood but has been slowly improving because of her savings and hard work.
",F,1200,lender,Services,0 Ecuador,"Rosa Alay started her business when she was a part-time student in beauty school. She started off by just selling cosmetics and when she graduated beauty school she opened a salon. She still sells cosmetics door-to-door from 9 AM 1 PM and she then opens her salon from 2 PM 8 PM. One of her hottest products is a weight loss supplements for women.
Rosa is seeking the loan in order to invest in complementary products for her business. She has noticed that she can make a great deal of profit from the sales of these products in the morning and also while her salon is open. With the extra money she makes she will continue to invest in her business and she will also invest in her home. She lives with her son in a house that was once made out of wood but has been slowly improving because of her savings and hard work.
Mifex offers its clients microinsurance and access to business training and educational programs. For more information about microfinance, Ecuador, and our services, please visit www.mifex.org.
",F,725,partner,Services,0 Ecuador,"Rosa and her husband have a furniture making business. She runs the administrative and sales parts while her husband produces the goods to sell. They started off with about $300 of their savings. They only made chairs and desks at first, but now they have moved into producing all types of bedroom furniture. They well use the loan in order to invest in wood which is getting more expensive at this time of year. Rosa is 37 years old, she and her husband have two children. They completely depend on this business to provide for them and their children.
Mifex offers its clients microinsurance and access to business training and educational programs. For more information about microfinance, Ecuador, and our services, please visit www.mifex.org.
",F,625,partner,Manufacturing,0 Ecuador,"Rosa has 15 years of experience selling personal items and household goods. She was encouraged to start by a friend and her mother-in-law. She has participated in many microbusiness courses, which have helped her to always be responsible with the loans she obtains. She works every day of the week from 7 AM until 9 PM. On the weekends, she travels to the countryside, where she has some customers. Her parents also live there, and they help her out with the business.
Rosa wants this loan in order to be able to offer more products for sale. Flexibility in being able to invest in products is critical for her to be able to make profits. It is much better when Rosa has money to invest in wholesale goods. This will be Rosas second time borrowing from Mifex.
Rosa is a single mother. She has been separated for 6 years. She has 2 children. One no longer lives with her and the other works and helps her out. Her wish is to be able to complete her house and to remodel part of it to accommodate her business, and in that way to increase her income.
",F,300,partner,Retail,0 Ecuador,"Rosa has a business selling clothes to people in their homes. She travels door-to-door offering her products to acquaintances and friends. She is in need of investment capital so she may purchase more products at wholesale prices. The effect on her business will be immediate, as she will be able to dramatically increase her profits and gain popularity in the sector. She is 43 years old and has three children. They live in a home made out of wood, which she hopes to improve with the profits from her business.
",F,275,partner,Clothing,0 Ecuador,"Rosa has a business selling fruits, such as apples, grapes, passion fruit, oranges, tree tomatoes, and others. She and her husband sell her products from a truck. She began in this business 12 years ago with her savings. Before this business, she had a small restaurant in the market. Because of renovations in the market, which were being done by the city, they lost their spot there. Rosa sells fruit on her route every day of the week from 6:00AM until 6:00PM.
Rosa needs more capital in order to buy more fruits. Her sales continue to increase and she needs the working capital to supply her business with more products. With previous loans Rosa diversified the kinds of fruits she offered and was able towards a plot of land she now owns.
Rosa is 43 years old and has one married daughter; she has no dependents. With the improvements the city was making, she also lost her land and her house. She was relocated to another piece of land in a different neighborhood of the island. Due to this situation, Rosa had to construct her house. This created expenses, and her working capital was reduced. Through her profits though she has been saving and purchasing land that will serve as a great spot for her home and hopefully for her restaurant business. Rosa has a small beauty salon where she styles hair and provides manicures. She started this activity about two years ago after quitting her job as a domestic assistant. With $150 she saved from her job she set up a salon in her home.
Rosa started off in the business just cutting men and womens hair. She slowly evolved into styling hair and providing manicures. As a complimentary source of income she sells different cosmetics and other items from her store. She is hoping that this loan will allow her to invest in these types of products that are popular with her clients.
Rosa is 33 years old and has two children. Both of her children are in school and se hopes she can help provide them with a good education.
",F,300,partner,Services,0 Ecuador,"Rosa has been a seamstress for over 35 years. When she was 13 she began studying at an arts and crafts school where she focused on sewing. Rosa already had her own workshop when she finished school thanks to her mother who provided her first sewing machine. When she got married Rosa took her small business to her new home but soon found work at the school she once attended. Three years ago she chose to restart her business as a part time operation. She has now quit her job and found a new business partner, her daughter.
She is requesting the loan in order to get buy sewing materials (threads, fabric etc.) and boost her production. Rosa is 50 years old and has two daughters who are grown up. She hopes that she can be successful in business with her daughter so she may fix up her home which is still only made out of wood.
Mifex offers its clients microinsurance and access to business training and educational programs. For more information about microfinance, Ecuador, and our services, please visit www.mifex.org.
",F,475,partner,Services,0 Ecuador,"Rosa has been selling pharmaceuticals for about 13 years. She decided to set up a pharmacy because there were none in her area. Her business has done well due to the lack of competition, but she has not been able to satisfy the demand of the local area.
Previously, her lack of capital had not allowed her to sell a large variety of products or offer lower prices. She received a loan from Kiva several months ago that allowed her to purchase a variety of goods in larger wholesale quantities. Her business has made very positive strides and received a boost in clients. She hopes that a second loan will help her continue growing and buying premium products at better prices.
Rosa is 38 years old; she is married and has two children. The younger of her children will be starting school this year. Her priority is to provide them both with an education.
Rosa is scheduled to make her last payment on her first loan soon: http://www.kiva.org/app.php?page=businesses&action=about&id=6800",F,1200,lender,Health,1 Ecuador,"Rosa is 47 years old, married, and a mother of four children. Only one of her children is still with her because she is still in school; one of the married daughters helps her with the business. Her husband works as a painter and as a driver; he helps with restaurant during his free time especially over the weekends. Rosas wish is to be able to own a small house, since they are currently renting where they live now.
Mrs. Rosa has two years' experience with her restaurant business. She used to have a store that she had to close due to health problems. On her own initiative, she decided to start selling snacks. Her business started growing and now she also sells lunches and dinners. On the weekends she sells Encebollados, a traditional dish. She works every day from 6 a.m. to 3 p.m. and on weekends from 6 a.m. to 12 p.m. Rosa wanted to create a more comfortable ambience for her clients so she took out a loan with Mifex and Kiva so she could purchase plastic chairs, tables, dishes and utensils. Her customers were thrilled that they had a place to enjoy her food. As a result, she has actually increased her overall volume of sales due to demand.
Rosa requests a second loan so she can complete the construction of her new home. Her dream is to install an industrial stove in her kitchen which will help her be more efficient in her business. Once this happens she wants to increase the size of her restaurant with more table settings for her clients.
",F,550,lender,Food,1 Ecuador,"Rosa is 55 years old and married. She decided to start her own business 10 years ago with part of the settlement from her old job and no experience. Today, she maintains that business thanks to her constant dedication and work. Rosa sells ice cream, yogurt, candies, and beverages at her house. She runs the business every day from 9 a.m. to 12 p.m.
Her business is in a good location. She plans to use this, her second loan, in order to continue diversifying the products she offers. She hopes that she can continue progressing towards having a small market where she can see not only beverages and snacks but also home products such as detergents and utensils.
Rosa's business is located only a short distance from the city bus stop. The home is a mixed structure with a dirt floor. They also have a daughter. Rosa is the main breadwinner of the family. With the loan, she hopes to make improvements to her business as well as their living conditions. She is an example of hard work in her community.
",F,700,lender,Food,1 Ecuador,"Rosa is a mother of three children. In order to contribute to her family income she sells mens clothing in her neighborhood. She started in this line of work about 5 years ago with the help of her mother, who provided the start up capital. Rosa feels that her work is very important because her husband does not have much job security. He is often hired as a skilled worker in factories but his jobs are never stable and he is always at risk of being unemployed.
Rosa did very well with her first loan which she received over the Christmas season. With the extra profit she made from that season she was able to pay back her loan while also making considerable reinvestments into her business. She continues to sell clothing on foot. She has made some small improvements to her home in order to progress towards her goal of making a shop, but she admits she has a ways to go. She hopes she can continue to save and make changes slowly so she can achieve her goal. She is seeking a second loan so she can continue to increase her product line while buying in bulk.
",F,550,partner,Clothing,0 Ecuador,"Rosa is applying for her second loan through Mifex and Kiva. Her first loan had a much bigger impact than she ever imagined. During the loan period her husband was killed in a robbery attempt. The extra capital she had invested in her business allowed her to support her family during the hard time after her husbands death. She is now applying for a second loan in order to continue investing in her business.
She has a small store where she sells many different food items that are popular in Ecuador. She also has started selling clothes door-to-door during the day. While she is out selling her 2 kids and her mother help run the store. Despite the death of the Rosas husband, the family remains close and they are optimistic about the future.
Mifex offers its clients microinsurance and access to business training and educational programs. For more information about microfinance, Ecuador, and our services, please visit www.mifex.org.
",F,1200,partner,Food,0 Ecuador,"Rosa is married. She is 55 years old and has seven children, of whom only the youngest one still lives with her and assists with the business. Her husband works at a lumberyard and helps her with the household income. Not long ago her house was flooded, and with the help of her entire family she was able to fix it. In the future she hopes to be able to remake it out of cement.
Ms. Rosa has 15 years of experience in business. She used to work as a household servant, and also sold clothing to her friends. Little by little, she saved her money, until the time when she decided to start her own business. She bought a cooler and, with the help of her sister, started selling drinks, sodas, and juices. She works every day of the week from 6 AM until 12 PM. She has been doing this for the past two years.
In addition to selling drinks, Rosa purchased a small gas stove so she could cook food and sell it. Her business grew quickly through word-of-mouth references.
Rosa requests a second loan with Mifex and Kiva to continue investing in the various drinks she sells and to purchase dishes and utensils for her food business. These items will help her serve her clients and expand her business.
",F,575,lender,Food,1 Ecuador,"Rosa lives in a farm with her son where work together to produce rice. She is a native of Baba, Ecuador where she learned to grow rice and plantains. On her land she is currently fully dedicated to growing rice, although she does have a small plot where grows soy. She hopes to take out a loan in order to buy fertilizer and pesticides that will help her nurture her crops. Also, she wants to hire a worker because she is no longer able to do the fieldwork herself. With the profits she hopes to make some improvements to her home which she will leave to her son some day.
",F,675,lender,Agriculture,0 Ecuador,"Rosa owns a small business where she sells clothing for men and women. Before setting up a spot in her home as a point of sale, Rosa would travel around her neighborhood selling clothing and other items. Eventually, her age and the years of work caught up to her and she had to quit because of a disease in her liver. As soon as she got better she decided it would be healthier for her to set up a business in her home. She has been successful because of the client base she built throughout her years as a street vendor. She needs the loan to purchase merchandise at whole quantities and prices.
Rosa has 6 children who are already grown up. Her husband works at one of their sons furniture making business as an assistant. Rosa is proud that all her children are hard workers and have their own microenterprises. She is also happy to have the ability to contribute to her family income by way of this business.
",F,475,partner,Retail,0 Ecuador,"Rosa owns a small business where she sells clothing for men and women. Before setting up a spot in her home as a point of sale, Rosa would travel around her neighborhood selling clothing and other items. Eventually, her age and the years of work caught up to her and she had to quit because of liver disease. As soon as she got better, she decided it would be healthier for her to set up a business in her home. She has been successful because of the client base she built throughout her years as a street vendor. She has already borrowed from Kiva and Mifex before, using the capital from the loan to purchase merchandise at wholesale quantities and prices. She plans to use the second loan similarly, and perhaps make some improvements to her store.
Rosa has 6 children who are already grown up. Her husband works at their son's furniture making business as an assistant. Rosa is proud that all her children are hard workers and have their own microenterprises. She is also happy to have the ability to contribute to her family income by way of this business.",F,1200,lender,Clothing,1 Ecuador,"Rosa runs a small store where she sells snacks and other groceries. She is asking for a loan in order to buy her products at wholesale quantities. Currently she cannot buy in large amounts and she sees her profits suffer. Her home is located in a very rough sector of Guayaquil. She lives up a dirt hill which makes it very difficult to transport groceries and merchandise, especially in the rainy season when the hill is muddy. Part of her business is made of cement but she aspires to make many more improvements to her home. She and her husband have three kids and their goal is to provide them with a good education.
Mifex offers its clients microinsurance and access to business training and educational programs. For more information about microfinance, Ecuador, and our services, please visit www.mifex.org.
",F,625,partner,Food,0 Ecuador,"Rosa runs a small store where she sells snacks and other groceries. She used a previous loan with our program to buy her products in wholesale quantities. She was also able to buy school supplies that she sold to students from a nearby school. With the profits from her first investment she bought a used photocopy machine that has also generated business because of the nearby school.
Rosa's home is located in a very rough sector of Guayaquil. She lives up a dirt hill which makes it very difficult to transport groceries and merchandise, especially in the rainy season when the hill is muddy. Part of her business premises is made of cement but she has already many more improvements to her home since receiving her first loan. With this new microcredit she will finish making improvements to her store, such as making a sign and painting the outside. She and her husband have three kids and their goal is to provide them with a good education.
",F,1200,lender,Retail,1 Ecuador,"Rosa sells food from local market in Guayaquil. Her space in the market is quite large, which allows her to sell rice, sugar and other products in large and small quantities. She started the business with only $150 in capital. As time passes she introduces new items to her inventory such as cleaning products, fruits and vegetables. Rosa is hoping that she can use this, her second loan, to buy her products in larger quantities and continue investing in meats to sell from her stand.
She is a single mother with four children, 3 of whom are in school. She is 32 and moved to Guayaquil after living further inland in Azuay. She completely depends on the business to provide a living for herself and her children.
",M,1200,lender,Food,1 Ecuador,"Rosa sells food from local market in Guayaquil. Her spot in the market is quite large, which allows her to sell rice, sugar and other products at large and small quantities. She started the business with only $150 in capital. As time passes she introduces new items to her inventory such as cleaning products, fruits and vegetables. Rosa is hoping that she can use the loan to buy her products in larger quantities and also invest in meats to sell from her stand. She is a single mother with four children, 3 of which are in school. She is 32 and moved to Guayaquil after living further inland in Azuay. She completely depends on the business to provide a living for herself and her children.
Mifex offers its clients microinsurance and access to business training and educational programs. For more information about microfinance, Ecuador, and our services, please visit www.mifex.org.
",F,1075,partner,Food,0 Ecuador,"Rosa Zambranos market has only been operating for 1 year. She started the business with her husband who helped her a great deal in the beginning. Unfortunately Rosa separated from him 5 months ago and has hit hard times. She finds no other option but to borrower from the loan sharks who charge a monthly 20% interest rate that barely allows her to say profits from her sales. She would like to take out the loan to replace the capital from these loan sharks. She will continue investing in basic goods such as rice, oil, chicken and meat. She fears she may lose her business if she does not find an alternative to the loan sharks.
Mifex offers its clients microinsurance and access to business training and educational programs. For more information about microfinance, Ecuador, and our services, please visit www.mifex.org.
",F,250,partner,Food,0 Ecuador,"Rosalba is a single mother of two children. She lives with her mother and father on their lands, after being left by her husband just a year ago. Despite the difficult situation, Rosalba wants to get ahead by investing this loan on her parents land. Since she was young she has been living off of the rice production from the farm, and she is now looking to make investments that will help her family keep more profits. She hopes that with the loan she will one day have a home of her own for her and her children, ages 5 and 1.
Rosalba is part of the newest Communal Banks in the recently developed Mifex Rural Finance Program. All of the members of the Centro Agricola de Santa Lucia Communal Bank are part of an Association of Rice Farmers in Santa Lucia. Their association works cooperatively to help in the commercialization of the product after it has grown. They will use the micro-loans to prepare their lands and cultivate rice on their farms. Because they form part of a communal bank, they are all each others guarantors for the loan. This means that if for some reason one person in the group cannot fully repay the loan, the other borrowers and the Primero de Agosto Association are responsible for the amount in default. The members of the bank also participate in a program designed to teach and encourage savings among the group. Promoting savings is often forgotten in many micro-finance programs, but Mifex believes that is imperative for the communities we work with to have capital reserved for future investments or unexpected difficulties.
Below is more information about Santa Lucia compiled by Luis Crespo and Robert Edgar of the Mifex team when evaluating the potential of the sector for the Rural Finance Program. Special thanks to Mario Balazantegui who provided expert insight and contributed to the development of the alliances with the local organizations.
Santa Lucia County has a population of about 33,000 people. The sector is fit for rice cultivating because it is not in the lowlands and therefore it is not at risk of flooding. There is also great access to water because of the Daule River, which is accessible to many of the farmers in the area. About 70% of the farmers have basic infrastructure for watering their crops.
Rice production is the main economic activity of the area as about 80% of the people are rice farmers. Almost everyone is either directly or indirectly involved with rice production, as they produce, commercialize or participate in activities that add value to the product. Within the county, there is a small town also named Santa Lucia. The town is filled with many small businesses and it serves as the social and commercial hub of the area.
Most of the people in the Santa Lucia area are small farmers. They produce about 100 sacks of rice per hectare of land. In order to farm they first must prepare the lands by removing weeds and plowing. The farmers then fill an area with water to form what is known as a paddy field, because rice is a very water-intensive crop. The rice seeds are either dispersed freely (the process is known as boleo in Spanish) or hand sowed. Once the rice has grown, most farmers rent machinery that helps them gather their production. A risk factor does exist in rice farming because of drought, but in Santa Lucia this is somewhat mitigated by the access to water form the nearby river.
The biggest struggle in the area has been the lack of credit. Because people do not count on formal financial services, they have turned to loan sharks for financing. They have been affected by expensive lines of credit that exceed 100% interest a year and can be as expensive as 240%. Intermediaries also exploit the farmers because of their outstanding debt. Farmers also lack skills and knowledge to commercialize their products and pay fair prices for their crops.
The loans in this sector will be used to to buy soil, seeds, fertilizer and insecticides. They will also be used to prepare the land prior to farming, to plant the seeds and purchase other materials. The loan repayment schedule is also different from the typical micro-entrepreneur. Because farmers see the profits from their investments 5 or 6 months after making their initial expenditures, Mifex asks them only to pay 50% of the capital in the first 6 months of the loan. The rest of the debt must be paid in the seventh and final month.
",F,1200,lender,Agriculture,0 Ecuador,"Rosalba started her first store over ten years ago selling all types of clothing. It was a stable source of income but had to be closed down after five years due to a very unfortunate circumstance. Rosalbas son was diagnosed with a heart condition that required an operation that cost over $8,000. Rosalba and her husband had to sell their business and their home in order to save their sons life. She, her husband and her three kids had to move into Rosalbas mothers home and they had to restart their business with only $200 in capital.
This has been a very tough experience for Rosalba but she hopes that she can improve her business in order to purchase a new home for her family. Her husband is a factory worker but hopes to one day also run the store with Rosalba. She needs the loan in order to invest in new clothing and improve the appearance of her store.
Mifex offers its clients microinsurance and access to business training and educational programs. For more information about microfinance, Ecuador, and our services, please visit www.mifex.org.
",F,1000,partner,Clothing,0 Ecuador,"Rosalia has a store which she has owned for about 8 years. She started her business with money she had saved up and the help of a loan from a family member. She sells a variety of different items ranging from rice to snacks. She is requesting the loan because she wants to turn her food market into a general store. She hopes she can begin to offer other products, specifically focusing on school supplies because the school year is set to start soon. This business is a very important part of Rosalias household. Although her husband works hard as a door-to-door salesman of goods, Rosalia must rely on her store in order to cover the basic expenses. With the loan she will continue supporting her three kids in their studies and she will also try to make improvements to her home.
",F,600,partner,Food,0 Ecuador,"Rosalia has a store which she has owned for about eight years. She started her business with money she had saved up and the help of a loan from a family member. Initially, she sold a variety of items ranging from rice to snacks. She saw opportunities to expand her business into a general store by increasing her line of offerings.
Consequently, Rosalia took out a loan with Mifex and Kiva to purchase school supplies, fashion accessories and novelty gifts. This resulted in greater sales and profits for her especially with school supplies since the school year was beginning at that time.
This business is a very important part of Rosalias household. Although her husband works hard as a door-to-door salesman of goods, Rosalia must rely on her store in order to cover the basic expenses. She works daily from 6AM to 10PM. She has three children who are in school. With Christmas on the way, Rosalia would like to invest in holiday decorations and gifts but she lacks the working capital to do so.
Rosalia is requesting a second loan so she may purchase those products now while prices are still low. In this manner, she can offer a decent price to her clients while still making a profit herself. Rosalias dream is to make more improvement to her home and provide a better future for her family.
",F,900,lender,Food,0 Ecuador,"Rosario has 20 years experience in this business, which she started at the age of 23 when she traveled with her Mother to Peru to buy merchandise. Rosarios mother helped her with $100 of capital which she lent her to start her own business. After that, she got married and left the business for a time, but then realized that she would need to have her own money and that is how she came to get a loan and reactivate her business 5 years later. At this time she decided to sell cosmetics due to a friend's suggestions.
Rosario received a previous loan from Mifex and Kiva lenders which she used to buy more products. Her business is now much more popular as she has a wide variety of goods that other vendors do not carry. She hopes that a second loan will allow her to make improvements to her store, mainly by buying a new glass case for her products.
Rosario is 43 years of age, and has three children, the oldest works and pays for school, and the other two, by means of her business plan to finsh school and then work. She is separated from her husband for the past 8 months, and her main desire now is to be able to buy a car to get around since her work requires her to walk promoting her products, and with a car she could do that and save time.
",F,675,lender,Retail,1 Ecuador,"Rosario has run her business selling snacks and school supplies for the last 7 years inside a small school near her house. Her opening hours are from 7am to 2pm. Seeing the need for a supply of these products in this educational establishment, she was motivated to start her business, and she has managed to keep it afloat thanks to the constant dedication and good service that Rosario has offered during the businesss development.
Rosario is looking for a loan in order to increase the range of products and offer more variety that is already in full swing during the school year. Thanks to the good quality of her products and the attentive service she provides for her customers, she has been able to increase the number of clients. Rosario wants to take advantage of this opportunity to expand her business.
Rosario is 40 years old and married: her husband works as a driver and in his spare time helps her with the business. They have three children, of whom one is studying. Their house is of mixed construction, the floor is earthen. Her hope is that with the profits from her work she will be able to improve the quality of life for her family.
Translated from Spanish by Katy Long, Kiva Volunteer
",F,600,partner,Retail,0 Ecuador,"Rosita sells pots and other kitchenware. She has been working in this line of business for 2 years after being taught the ins and outs of the trade by her brothers. With $50 in capital she bought some merchandise and began selling door-to-door. Rosita is in need of financing in order to increase her product line. She has always had a scarcity of capital and this has restrained her business from growing. She plans to purchase a variety of products from wholesalers in order to increase profits.
Rosita is 30 years old, is married, and has three children. Her husband is very supportive of her activities and helps her buy and transport the goods. They work very hard to provide an education for their children.
Mifex offers its clients microinsurance and access to business training and educational programs. For more information about microfinance, Ecuador, and our services, please visit www.mifex.org.
",F,625,partner,Retail,0 Ecuador,"Rosita sells pots, kitchenware and other products for the home. She has been working in this line of business for 2 years after being taught the ins and outs of the trade by her brothers. With $50 in capital she bought some merchandise and began selling door-to-door.
Rositas business has always been in need of financing. She received a loan several months ago from Kiva and Mifex. She used it to diversify her product line and she has seen positive results. It is now easier to sell and she was able to increase her profits. She hopes to receive this new loan so she may continue to develop her business.
Rosita is 30 years old, is married, and has three children. Her husband is very supportive of her activities and helps her buy and transport the goods. They work very hard to provide an education for their children.",F,1100,lender,Retail,1 Ecuador,"
Roxana works selling home electronics and plastics in the provinces. She started her business with the help of her spouse, who provided $200. At the beginning she only sold basins, buckets, and small utensils for everyday use. She increased her line of offerings by using a Mifex and Kiva loan to purchase clothing, childrens shoes, wallets, sheets, and curtains.
The success of these sales allowed Roxana to finish painting the outside of her cement home. Roxana is married and 21 years old. She depends on her business to get by, along with her husband who is an enthusiastic supporter. Roxana is entrepreneurial and always thinking of ways to capture more clients. She is asking for a second loan with Mifex and Kiva to purchase high quality goods. Her clients have requested specific products from her and she believes she can find these products at wholesale prices. The timing of her loan is important because she needs to buy in anticipation of the holiday season, before prices jump.
Roxana and her husband dream of having a prosperous family one day. They are saving for their future.
",F,1200,lender,Retail,1 Ecuador,"Sabina and her husband sell home products, cosmetics and clothing. Unlike other businesses in her area Sabina does not sell these products out of her home. Instead she is a door to door salesman in her community. This type of business has proven to be successful because many mothers and business owners do not leave their home during the day. Sabina sees this as a business opportunity as she can target these people as potential customers. She also makes her products attractive by allowing her customers to pay in small amounts at a time. She has learned that not all of her clients can afford to buy these items for the full price at the time of purchase, but that they can pay her in small amounts over a two week period. Thus Sabina and her husband have created a business that is convenient and accessible to the community. They are seeking a loan to be able to purchase a larger variety of products for the upcoming Christmas season. They will use the profits to benefit their two children.
Mifex offers its clients microinsurance and access to business training and educational programs. For more information about microfinance, Ecuador, and our services, please visit www.mifex.org.
",F,375,partner,Retail,0 Ecuador,"Sabina sells cosmetics and perfumes. She has been working in this type of activity for several years but needed to stop after having two you children. Two months ago she restarted her business by buying her products on 15 days credit. The problem with this is that she cannot afford to buy a large amount of products and she loses a significant amount of potential profit. She is seeking the loan in order to avoid this and buy in bulk.
Sabina is 40 years old and has 2 kids. Her husband is a construction worker and always contributes to the family. They are from rural Ecuador and have been able to fix up their home through hard work and savings.
Mifex offers its clients microinsurance and access to business training and educational programs. For more information about microfinance, Ecuador, and our services, please visit www.mifex.org.
",F,200,partner,Retail,0 Ecuador,"Samuel has been living on his farm his entire life. He not only inherited his lands from his father, but he also inherited the knowledge of how to grow rice from him. He lives in his home with his wife and one of his children. He also has three sons who live separately, but help him work his lands. He will use the loan to fix his lands for farming. He will also buy fertilizer and seeds for his farm. In the future, he wants to invest in pigs and chickens.
Samuel is the latest addition to one of the new Communal Banks in the Mifex Rural Finance Program. All of the members of the 10 de enero Communal Bank are part of an Association of Rice Farmers in Salitre named 10 de enero. They will use the microloans to prepare the lands and cultivate rice on their farms. Because they form part of a communal bank, they are all each others' guarantors for the loan. This means that if for some reason one person in the group cannot fully repay the loan, the other borrowers and the 10 de enero Association are responsible for the amount in default. The members of the bank also participate in a program designed to teach and encourage savings among the group. Promoting savings is often forgotten in many microfinance programs, but is imperative for the communities Mifex works with to have capital reserved for future investments or unexpected difficulties.
The loans in this sector will be used to create water basins that will prevent flooding in the case of heavy rains or store water in case of droughts. They will also be used to treat the land prior to farming, to plant the seeds and purchase fertilizer. The loan repayment schedule is also different from the typical microentrepreneur. Because farmers see the profits from their investments 5 or 6 months after making their initial expenditures, Mifex asks them only to pay 50% of the capital in the first 5 months of the loan. The rest of the debt must be paid in the sixth and final month.
Below is more information about Salitre compiled by the staff at Mifex when evaluating the potential of the sector for the Rural Finance Program.
Salitre is a rural sector in the Province of Guayas known as the capital of Montuvios (montuvio is a cowboy) with approximately 30,000 inhabitants. The main economic activities are herding and agriculture which make up about 80% of the economy. The infrastructure and basic services are poor, especially the roads and water services.
Salitre is highly dedicated to farming rice and cattle ranching. Rice is a crop that yields about every four months. In order to farm rice, the environment must be very humid and there must be a high volume of water. The lack of a structured water system makes it difficult for the small farmers to be highly productive. The best months for cultivating rice are early in the year when it is the rainy season in the coast of Ecuador.
Salitre is a national tourist attraction as many Ecuadorians visit the freshwater Salitre River. There are cottages, small restaurants and water attractions that people come to enjoy.
There are not many financial institutions that provide services to the productive sector of the local economy. The primary access to credit comes from loan sharks who charge extremely high interest rates averaging around 20% a month. The locals are also exploited by the intermediaries that buy their products in order to commercialize them in the city and to export abroad. These intermediaries buy crops in advance at very low prices, finance soil at extremely high prices and often provide emergency loans for even higher interest rates than the loan sharks.
Salitre is a dangerous sector considering it is in a rural area. There is a high incidence of robbery of cattle that results in many of the ranch owners owning weapons to protect their property. Because the police are not present in these areas, farmers and ranchers must apply their own laws and provide their own security. In some instances they have formed their own cooperatives and associations to have a community crime prevention effort.
Salitre is in the lowlands of Ecuador and is vulnerable to flooding in the rainy season. In the event of a heavy rainy season, often at its worse when El Nio occurs, the farmers of rice lose many of their crops. All this is due to a lack of infrastructure in the area.
",M,1200,lender,Agriculture,0 Ecuador,"Sandra sells fast food such as hot dogs, hamburgers, fried chicken, french fries and sodas from a cart on a street corner near her house. She has 15 years of experience selling fast food but had to stop workng when her kids were young. She started up again six months ago, buying the cart for $100. Sandra would like to use a loan to buy chairs and tables to put around her cart, as well as more sodas to sell. With the extra earnings she hopes this will generate she wants to be able to expand and sell rice and beans as well. Sandra is 43 years old and lives with her husband and four children. She works from 5am to 10pm Thursdays through Sundays, with help from her two daughters. Her husband also has a cart, from which he sells morocho, a type of rice pudding. They both support each other and together were able to build their home out of concrete instead of bamboo. They hope that their business grows so that they have an income and can continue sending their youngest daughters to school.
Mifex offers its clients microinsurance and access to business training and educational programs. For more information about microfinance, Ecuador, and our services, please visit www.mifex.org.
",F,375,partner,Food,0 Ecuador,"Santa is a clothes saleswoman. Everyday she travels around her community on foot offering her products to her friends, families and acquaintances. She started by selling just shorts and blouses, but she has slowly started to integrate all types of different clothes into her line. She aspires to become a wholesale distributor so she will not have to travel door to door in the hot Guayaquil weather. She will also see much more profits as a major supplier.
Santa has taken out a previous loan from our institution, one which she paid completely on time and successfully. She was able to make some improvements to her house and buy better materials for her children to use at school. She expects to use her second loan to invest in newer and better clothing, just as she did with her previous microcredit. Additionally she hopes she can invest in a glass case to display some of her products in her home.
Santa is a single mother with 4 children, 3 of whom are still in school. Her husband left her four years ago because she would not abort her youngest child. She has faced the tough situation with courage, but relies entirely on her business to support her family. It is very important for her to be able to invest in this activity in order to continue to support for her family.
",F,850,lender,Retail,1 Ecuador,"Santa sells clothing and lingerie in the area where she lives and also to friends. Santa originally began her business with a small amount of capital she borrowed from high interest lenders. She was introduced to Mifex and the services the cooperative offers. She thought this would be a wise investment and took out a loan for $375. She purchased display cases for her tems as well as a large suitcase to transport her goods in from market back to her home.
Santa always attends to her clients with great care. She also looks to carry unique tems that will distinguish her stores from others around her. Santa has made all of her payments on time and instead of paying high amounts of interest to a loan shark she has saved that money.
Santa is the mother of three children and is single. She is 47 years old. After separating from her partner who treated her poorly she struggled to make ends meet. However, she values her independence highly. Santa is requesting a second loan to buy gifts that will sell during the Christmas season. Santa is convinced that with this loan she will improve the economic standing of her family.
",F,700,lender,Clothing,1 Ecuador,"Santos Pluas has a small piece of land in Santa Lucia, Ecuador. Although his farm is small, it has been providing for him and his family for about 20 years. He is now seeking to make an investment in order to make his lands become more productive. He wants to invest in fertilizers and pesticides in order to improve the rice he grows. William and his family also raise pigs on their farm, only selling them when they are in need of money. William has his rice processed and commercialized at his associations facilities.
He is part of one of the newest Communal Banks in the recently developed Mifex Rural Finance Program. All of the members of the Centro Agricola de Santa Lucia Communal Bank are part of an Association of Rice Farmers in Santa Lucia. They will use the microloans to prepare their lands and cultivate rice on their farms. Because they form part of a communal bank, they are all each other's guarantors for the loan. This means that if for some reason one person in the group cannot fully repay the loan, the other borrowers and the Centro Agricola Association are responsible for the amount in default. The members of the bank also participate in a program designed to teach and encourage savings among the group. Promoting savings is often forgotten in many microfinance programs, but Mifex believes that is imperative for the communities we work with to have capital reserved for future investments or unexpected difficulties.
Below is more information about Santa Lucia compiled by Luis Crespo and Robert Edgar of the Mifex team when evaluating the potential of the sector for the Rural Finance Program. Special thanks to Mario Balazantegui who provided expert insight and contributed to the development of the alliances with the local organizations.
Santa Lucia County has a population of about 33,000 people. The sector is fit for rice cultivating because it is not in the lowlands and therefore it is not at risk of flooding. There is also great access to water because of the Daule River, which is accessible to many of the farmers in the area. About 70% of the farmers have basic infrastructure for watering their crops.
Rice production is the main economic activity of the area as about 80% of the people are rice farmers. Almost everyone is either directly or indirectly involved with the rice production, as they produce, commercialize or participate in activities that add value to the product. Within the county, there is a small town also named Santa Lucia. The town is filled with many small businesses and it serves as the social and commercial hub of the area.
Most of the people in the Santa Lucia area are small farmers. They produce about 100 sacks of rice per hectare of land. In order to farm they first must prepare the lands by removing weeds and plowing. The farmers then fill an area with water to form what is known as a paddy field, because rice is a very water intensive crop. The rice seeds are either dispersed freely (the process is known as boleo in Spanish) or hand sowed. Once the rice has grown, most farmers rent machinery that helps them gather their production. A risk factor does exist in rice farming because of drought, but in Santa Lucia this is somewhat mitigated by the access to water form the nearby river.
The biggest struggle in the area has been the lack of credit. Because people do not count on formal financial services, they have turned to loan sharks for financing. They have been affected by expensive lines of credit that exceed 100% interest a year and can be as expensive as 240%. Intermediaries also exploit the farmers because of their outstanding debt. Farmers also lack skills and knowledge to commercialize their products and pay fair prices for their crops.
The loans in this sector will be used to to buy soil, seeds, fertilizer and insecticides. They will also be used to prepare the land prior to farming, to plant the seeds and purchase other materials. The loan repayment schedule is also different from the typical microentrepreneur. Because farmers see the profits from their investments 5 or 6 months after making their initial expenditures, Mifex asks them only to pay 50% of the capital in the first 6 months of the loan. The rest of the debt must be paid in the seventh and final month.
",M,1200,lender,Agriculture,0 Ecuador,"Sara is the owner of a tailoring shop, where she creates shirts, pants, and suits. She opened her business with help from her parents, who provided her with equipment. She began by doing repair work on various kinds of clothing. Now she manufactures suits, shirts, and pants. She used her first loan to purchase an industrial sewing machine. This allowed her to increase her production and thereby satisfy her clients. She has begun sewing sportswear and selling articles of clothing that other tailors make.
Because customers like the clothing she creates, Sara wants to invest in higher quality fabric and notions. She would also like to sew swimsuits and beachwear for the upcoming season. Sara hopes to grow her business and to be able to hire on other assistants.
She lives with her partner and has three children. She is 30 years old and she depends solely on her business to support her household. Sara is sure that the loan will give her economic security and will allow her to save for her childrens education.
",F,1200,lender,Services,1 Ecuador,"Sara Medina owns a cosmetic and clothing shop in a part of Guayaquil called La Zona. She even makes breakfast for the children of her customers who come in to shop before they head out to work. Sara first opened her business by borrowing $100 from the chulqueros or loan sharks, and she typically works 7am-7pm. Her goal is to be a consultant for Yanbal, an Ecuadorian beauty supply company that places products in most salons across the country. She would like to use the proceeds from her loan to construct a store next to her home. She knows the fashion and cosmetics industry, so she would like to continue helping customers find the best products. Sara is a 31 year-old married mother of two who loves the business she runs. She says that the best part about her job is that she helps women feel good about themselves when they get dressed up for special occasions. Ms. Medina is asking for this loan so she can purchase more Yanbal products, take a seminar in cosmetic sales, and buy a variety of clothes for her store.
Mifex offers its clients microinsurance and access to business training and educational programs. For more information about microfinance, Ecuador, and our services, please visit www.mifex.org.
",F,375,partner,Retail,0 Ecuador,"Saul is a rice farmer from the Baba area. Like most of the other farmers in the sector, he has been dependent on rice production his entire life. Saul is a proud father of three children who he is raising to value agriculture and hard work. Although he wants his kids to stay close to their roots, he hopes they can attain an education and aim for better things. He is set on sending them to school in the larger city and hopes he can continue saving for the day when they graduate high school. This loan will help him increase his profits by allowing him to make investments to make his lands more productive.
This borrower is part of one the new Communal Banks formed in the recently developed Mifex Rural Finance Program. All of the members of the Anzuelo Baba Communal Bank are part of an association of rice farmers in the county of Baba in rural Ecuador. Their organization, El Anzuelo Asociacion, works cooperatively to help members cultivate rice and commercialize the product after it is grown. Most recently, El Anzuelo was able to start a program that improved their members access to watering services.
The members of La Asociacion El Anzuelo de Baba will use the micro-loans to prepare their lands and cultivate rice on their farms. Because they form part of a communal bank, they are all each others guarantors for the loan. This means that if for some reason one person in the group cannot fully repay the loan, the other borrowers and the association are responsible for the amount in default. The members of the bank also participate in a program designed to teach and encourage saving within the group. Promoting savings is often forgotten in many micro-finance programs, but Mifex believes that is imperative for the communities we work with to have capital reserved for future investments or unexpected difficulties.
Below is more information about Baba compiled by Luis Crespo and Robert Edgar of the Mifex team when evaluating the potential of the sector for the Rural Finance Program.
The people of Baba have been organized since the days of Gran Colombia when Ecuador was yet to be a country. The area has always been popular because of the extremely productive lands that gave way to cultivation of cacao for decades. Now Baba is a county in the province of Los Rios in the coastal region of Ecuador. For most of the latter part of the 20th Century it was a cacao and banana producing sector. Most of the surrounding areas of Baba in Los Rios are owned by large mulitnational companies such as Dole, but Baba is a sector characterized by small and informal farms.
Rice production has now turned into the main economic activity of the sector employing about 80% of the working population. Cacao is still very popular in the area, but because of the long cultivation cycle people prefer to invest in rice. The lands in Baba are very fertile though, and most farmers in the sector often grow other crops, such as plantains and soy beans as secondary sources of income. Many farmers also keep livestock as emergency sources of food and income, commonly resorting to selling a chicken or pig if they are in need of cash.
Most of the people in the Baba area are small farmers. They produce about 80 sacks of rice per hectare of land. In order to farm they first must prepare the lands by removing weeds, plowing and leveling the lands. This is the most difficult part for the farmers in Baba, who often lack the necessary machinery to properly plow the lands for rice production. After appropriately preparing the lands, the farmers fill an area with water to form what is known as a paddy field, because rice is a very water-intensive crop. The rice seeds are either dispersed freely (a method known as ""boleo"" in Spanish) or sowed by hand. When the rice is ready for harvest, most farmers rent the necessary machinery.
One of the biggest struggles in the area has been the lack of credit due to the absence of any type of financial institution. Without access to formal financing, they have turned to loan sharks, paying interest rates ranging from 100% to 240% a year. Intermediaries also exploit the farmers because of their outstanding debt. Farmers lack skills and knowledge to commercialize their products and earn fair prices for their crops.
The largest risk in the sector is the absence of watering systems. Although Baba is in the province Los Rios (the rivers) access to water is problematic owing to a lack of infrastructure. If the winter season is too dry, it is likely that the lands will not be sufficiently fertile for rice production in the summer. On the other hand, if there is too much rain there are no drainage systems to prevent flooding and the crops are often ruined. Generally speaking though, Baba is a very productive sector where the lands yield all types of crops including rice, cacao, corn, watermelons, plantains, and soy beans.
The loans in this sector will mostly be used to to buy soil, seeds, fertilizer and insecticides. Many clients will use the capital towards renting machinery and equipment necessary to effectively work and prepare the fields. Clients also typically use a part of the loan to buy livestock to raise and have as reserves. The loan repayment schedule is different from the typical micro-entrepreneur because farmers see the profits from their investments 5 or 6 months after making their initial expenditures. Mifex asks our rural clients to repay only 50% of the capital in the first 6 months of the loan. The rest of the debt must be repaid in the seventh and final month.
",M,825,lender,Agriculture,1 Ecuador,"Segundo has 23 years of experience in his field. He learned the business when he was very young, while helping his father. His business is located on the street corner outside of his house. He sells fish, pork and beef. He tends to his business every day of the week in 2 shifts, morning and afternoon. Aside from his fish and meat business, Segundo also sells household items when business is slow. His work has allowed him to buy his house.
This is Segundos second loan with the Mifex. He will continue to invest in seafood for his business and will also buy pigs to raise in his backyard. He has also been helping his wife with her business of selling poultry in the local market.
Segundo was born in Los Ros. He is 42 years old with 4 children, all of whom are still in school. His wife helps him in the business when he has to go out. She also has her own business selling chicken in a market. They have both been able to move their businesses ahead through their perseverance and sense of responsibility. With their earnings they bought a cement house. Their greatest satisfaction is that their children are in school and are taking advantage of the opportunity to study. Their aspiration is to strengthen their businesses since they are the only source of income for the family.
",M,675,lender,Food,1 Ecuador,"Segundo has a business where he sells chlorine and bleach. These products are very important to the people in his community due to the lack of infrastructure that breeds unsanitary conditions. They use these products to clean their clothes and homes. Segundo started off in this business with a loan provided by his sister. He used the loan to invest in the products and sell them to the end consumer, but now he has taken the next step and he is distributing to the small stores and markets in the area. He hopes that with this loan he will be able to invest in different types of cleaning products. He is 52 years old and is a widower. He has one son who is physically disabled. Segundo depends completely on his business to support his small family.
",M,1175,partner,Retail,0 Ecuador,"Segundo has a shop where he sells animal feed, medicines and live poultry. He sells products for all types of animals ranging from pigs to ducks. Many people in his community raise these types of animals in their own backyards in order to resell them later for profits. He learned this business while being an assistant for his uncle for ten years. His uncle motivated him to start his own shop about 4 years ago and now he has a spot in his home where he makes his sales.
Segundo needs this loan in order to invest in products at wholesale prices and quantities. He also wants to help his wife set up a part of their business as a small food market. They have been experimenting with the idea with some sales and they see potential for increased profits.
Segundo and his wife are a young couple with one child. They have a humble home made out of cement and they want to continue making improvements to it.
Mifex offers its clients microinsurance and access to business training and educational programs. For more information about microfinance, Ecuador, and our services, please visit www.mifex.org.
",M,600,partner,Agriculture,0 Ecuador,"Segundo is a rice farmer from Santa Lucia in rural Ecuador. He has two children who are 5 and 7 years old. He has been working his lands for about 20 years. Although he does not have much land, it is enough to make ends meet for his family. Segundo also brings in money by raising pigs. He travels to local markets to sell the livestock when ever he is in need of extra money.
Segundo is part of the newest Communal Banks in the recently developed Mifex Rural Finance Program. All of the members of the Centro Agricola de Santa Lucia Communal Bank are part of an Association of Rice Farmers in Santa Lucia. Their association works cooperatively to help in the commercialization of the product after it has grown. They will use the micro-loans to prepare their lands and cultivate rice on their farms. Because they form part of a communal bank, they are all each others' guarantors for the loan. This means that if for some reason one person in the group cannot fully repay the loan, the other borrowers and the Primero de Agosto Association are responsible for the amount in default. The members of the bank also participate in a program designed to teach and encourage savings among the group. Promoting savings is often forgotten in many micro-finance programs, but Mifex believes that is imperative for the communities we works with to have capital reserved for future investments or unexpected difficulties.
Below is more information about Santa Lucia compiled by Luis Crespo and Robert Edgar of the Mifex team when evaluating the potential of the sector for the Rural Finance Program. Special thanks to Mario Balazantegui who provided expert insight and contributed to the development of the alliances with the local organizations.
Santa Lucia County has a population of about 33,000 people. The sector is fit for rice cultivating because it is not in the lowlands and therefore it is not at risk of flooding. There is also great access to water because of the Daule River, which is accessible to many of the farmers in the area. About 70% of the farmers have basic infrastructure for watering their crops.
Rice production is the main economic activity of the area as about 80% of the people are rice farmers. Almost everyone is either directly or indirectly involved with rice production, as they produce, commercialize or participate in activities that add value to the product. Within the county, there is a small town also named Santa Lucia. The town is filled with many small businesses and it serves as the social and commercial hub of the area.
Most of the people in the Santa Lucia area are small farmers. They produce about 100 sacks of rice per hectare of land. In order to farm they first must prepare the lands by removing weeds and plowing. The farmers then fill an area with water to form what is known as a paddy field, because rice is a very water intensive crop. The rice seeds are either dispersed freely (the process is known as boleo in Spanish) or hand sowed. Once the rice has grown, most farmers rent machinery that helps them gather their production. A risk factor does exist in rice farming because of drought, but in Santa Lucia this is somewhat mitigated by the access to water form the nearby river.
The biggest struggle in the area has been the lack of credit. Because people do not count on formal financial services, they have turned to loan sharks for financing. They have been affected by expensive lines of credit that exceed 100% interest a year and can be as expensive as 240%. Intermediaries also exploit the farmers because of their outstanding debt. Farmers also lack skills and knowledge to commercialize their products and pay fair prices for their crops.
The loans in this sector will be used to to buy soil, seeds, fertilizer and insecticides. They will also be used to prepare the land prior to farming, to plant the seeds and purchase other materials. The loan repayment schedule is also different from the typical micro-entrepreneur. Because farmers see the profits from their investments 5 or 6 months after making their initial expenditures, Mifex asks them only to pay 50% of the capital in the first 6 months of the loan. The rest of the debt must be paid in the seventh and final month.
",M,675,lender,Agriculture,0 Ecuador,"Seor Dolores has a workshop for painting and repairing vehicles on a hired site opposite a bus station. He began his business when he branched out independently from the person who taught him his trade: with savings of $500 dollars he acquired his own machinery.
At first, he began repairing cars and carrying out locksmith work like doors and windows. Now he only specialises in the repair and painting of vehicles. With this loan, Dolores hopes to buy a welding machine that he needs in order to repair cars promptly and provide a better service for his customers.
Dolores is convinced that the purchase of this machine will increase the numbers of customers and with this extra income he will be able to construct a better house for his family and provide the economic stability that he has been looking for for so long.
Dolores is 47 years old and has a son who is studying. He is sure that his business will grow and improve his quality of life.
Translated from Spanish by Katy Long, Kiva Volunteer
",M,725,partner,Services,0 Ecuador,"Several months ago Cruz took out a loan from Mifex in order to invest in his chicken raising business. After receiving the loan, Cruz thought very hard about what he wanted to do with his new capital. He decided that the chicken business was too competitive and risky, and therefore he would invest his money in an old trade of his. He fixed up a cart he had in his yard and he began traveling around the city selling typical Ecuadorian foods. His business has been successful, and he has been able to make all of his payments on time.
He is now in search of more capital so he can fix a new cart of his and bring on someone to work with him. Cruz has always been very optimistic about the future for him and his 3 children. His main goal is to improve his home which is made out of bamboo.
",M,950,lender,Food,1 Ecuador,"Silvia has been running her small restaurant for four years. She sells many types of fast foods like chicken kabobs and tortillas. Silvia has been forced to work from a very young age. Before opening up her restaurant she worked selling clothes around her neighborhood. Because of pain in her legs from the years of hard work, she could no longer continue to sell clothes. She decided to start this restaurant which has been successful.
She needs the loan in order to invest in new tables and chairs. She also wants to build a wall to separate her from her business because she is now using only a large piece of plastic.
Silvia is 46 years old and has 6 children, two of which are independent. She has been separated from her husband for about 15 year. He does try to help his children financially, but he does not provide nearly enough to cover all the basic necessities.
Mifex offers its clients microinsurance and access to business training and educational programs. For more information about microfinance, Ecuador, and our services, please visit www.mifex.org.
",F,375,partner,Food,0 Ecuador,"Silvia has operated her beauty salon for six years, her husband having helped her with a small amount of start-up capital. Silvia enjoys this work, attending to her customers in her own home. She cuts hair and gives manicures, pedicures, and facials. She opens from 9:00AM to noon and from 2:00 to 8:00 in the afternoon.
Silvia has previously taken out a loan with our institution. She used the capital to invest in gallons of shampoo and conditioner, nail polish, and to increase the variety of colors of hair dye she carries. Her clients were happy with her new products and now return on a regular basis.
Silvia is requesting a second loan with Mifex and Kiva to redecorate her beauty salon and to further expand her line of beauty products and supplies. The holiday season is here and she knows she will be busy with requests for hair styling, make-up applications, and other beauty services. With the additional income she expects to earn she wants to tile her kitchen counter and make improvements to her home.
Silvia is 39 years old and has 3 children, two of them in school. Her husband drives a municipal bus. Silvia is confident that with this loan she will be able to realize her dreams, to increase her income and continue to earn a livelihood.",F,1075,lender,Services,1 Ecuador,"Since he was 15 years old, Lus had always liked animals. He raised chickens, ducks and pigeons in his house. His neighbors already knew him and began to buy these animals from him. When Lus got married, he continued to work on his business and also specialized in raising exotic animals such as doves, hens and peacocks. He already has a steady stream of clients and places to exhibit his animals, where he also delivers them.
The pens are in the backyard of his house and he checks and attends to the animals daily. Every weekend, Lus goes to the market and stores to offer his products. Besides this activity, Lus cooks at the community kitchens starting from 5:00 PM. These are his only sources of income.
Lus improved the structure of his pens implement a cleaning out system with a previous loan he received. He is now hopeful that he can invest in more exotic types of birds and poultry that are more profitable than the ones he raises now.
He is 37 years old, married with 3 children. His wife works at a company and supports him with the household expenses. Together they have been able to acquire their posessionsespecially the house which they have changed from a house made of cane to a cement one. Theirs is a hard-working and humble family; his wishes are for his children to be able to finish school and so to have their incomes from work to help the family.
",M,550,lender,Agriculture,0 Ecuador,"Sisney Garcia is a 40-year-old married mother who runs a tailor shop for men and women. With 18 years of experience, Sisney reached the point where she needed her own office space to manage all of the business she was getting. Originally, she learned how to be a seamstress from years of working in a factory, but she opened Costuras de Doa Sydney in her own house. Her helper is her only son, who cuts the molds and measures the material. Ms. Garcia works from 8:00 am until 6:00 pm every day of the week. She is asking for this loan so that she can purchase more fabric and thread and set up an exhibit window for her work. Sisney has had to run the business on her own with some help from her son, and she wants lenders to know that she is very entrepreneurial and does not quit.
Mifex offers its clients microinsurance and access to business training and educational programs. For more information about Ecuadorian businesses and our services, please visit www.mifex.org.",F,600,partner,Services,0 Ecuador,"Sofia works as a jewelry and clothes vendor in Guayaquil, Ecuador. She started off a seamstress who worked from home. She was able to save about $100 and invest in jewelry as a new activity. Her husband also helped her accrue these savings with the profit from his aluminum and glass workshop that is also run out of their home. This couple works closely together in order to support each others businesses because these microenterprises are the main source of income in their household of 3 children. Although they have always financed their businesses through their own savings they have come to realize that they need loans in order to increase revenue and profits. They will use these loans in order to invest fabric, clothes and jewelry for Sofia and in glass for the workshop.
Mifex offers its clients microinsurance and access to business training and educational programs. For more information about microfinance, Ecuador, and our services, please visit www.mifex.org.
",F,600,partner,Clothing,0 Ecuador,"Sonia has a small market where she sells school and office supplies, as well as other items. She started off just selling basic supplies but now also sells off-the-shelf food items and beverages. She is seeking a loan in order to invest in inventory for her business and increase her product diversity. She hopes that with this loan she will be able to save enough to make improvements to her home over the next year. She has two daughters, who are in school at the moment. Her husband is a handyman who supports his family and works very hard.
",F,600,partner,Retail,0 Ecuador,"Sonia has been selling various types of products for 18 years; she has been selling cosmetics for 5 years. Her husband has always supported her so that she would be able to work and earn income. She goes out to sell and collect payments from Thursday through Sunday. She carries a register of her sales; each client must pay at least 50% of the purchase up front. This income has been helpful for the household. Sonia needs the loan to be able to buy her products, since she has to pay for them in cash.
Sonia was born in Caar. She came to Guayaquil with parents and siblings when she was 10 years old. She and her siblings had to work from a very young age. Her first job was to take of children. She now has 3 children of her own. Her husband works in a furniture factory. They are a very close family and work hard to combine their efforts for the wellbeing of the whole family. Sonia owns her own home; little by little she is reinforcing it with cement. Her dream is to have a store in her house someday.
Translated from Spanish by Erin Corcoran, Kiva volunteer.
",F,375,partner,Retail,0 Ecuador,"
Sonia runs a small restaurant with her mother. She began her entrepreneurial ventures as a clothes saleswoman. She decided to open up a restaurant with her mother in downtown Guayaquil. Unfortunately, the rent was to expensive there and she had to move the business to her home. She makes most of her money from the lunches she delivers to companies and at construction sites.
Sonia needs the loan in order to buy tables and chairs for her business. She wants to do more than just deliver, her goal is to offer clients a place to stay and eat.
She is a single mother with two children who are in school. Her and her children live with Sonias mother who has always lent them a helping hand. Her dream is to own a home of her own.
Mifex offers its clients microinsurance and access to business training and educational programs. For more information about microfinance, Ecuador, and our services, please visit www.mifex.org.
",F,375,partner,Food,0 Ecuador,"Sonia runs a small restaurant with her mother. She began her entrepreneurial ventures as a clothes saleswoman. She decided to open up a restaurant with her mother in downtown Guayaquil. Unfortunately, the rent was too expensive there and she had to move the business to her home. She makes most of her money from the lunches she delivers to companies and at construction sites.
Although Sonia planned to invest in tables and chairs with her previous loan, she chose instead to buy a bigger pot and other new kitchen utensils. Cooking now is much easier and the quality of food has improved. Sonia provides lunches for many more clients now and she uses the help of her mother to deliver the food to the sites. She also has a second source of income selling clothes which she is very experienced doing. She will use her second loan to buy new foods so she can make more dishes. She also hopes she can use the profits to invest in more clothing to sell.
She is a single mother with two children who are in school. Her and her children live with Sonias mother who has always lent them a helping hand. Her dream is to own a home of her own.
",F,425,partner,Food,0 Ecuador,"Sonnia creates necklaces, bracelets and earrings using different stones and she has been doing this activity for 4 years. She says that once she was fired from her work, she stumbled upon a store where she saw how the owner was making bracelets. The owner invited Sonnia in and let her observe. Her husband lent her $200 and so she started her business.
Sonnia offers her products to stores, friends and people shes been recommended to. She always asks for 50% in advance and the rest is paid after the product is delivered. This is her second loan with Kiva and Mifex. She uses the capital to buy stones, rings and decorations so that she can create more and different models. It is very helpful to have the flexibility of being able to buy these goods in bulk as they become cheaper and also help her work faster.
Sonnia was born in Ancn. She is 44 and has 3 children. Her husband is a carpenter and has been a great support for their home. Their family is humble but very hard working. Both Sonnia and her husband have had to work since they were very young so that they could have the goods they have now. Nowadays, they own a house that they have improved little by little. Their goal is to see their business grow and to make a space in their house so Sonnia can put up a shop where she can exhibit her creations.
",F,700,lender,Retail,1 Ecuador,"Soraida owns a small restaurant where sells lunch and dinner. She started off by making to-go lunches that she would sell to at construction sites. She saw a business opportunity in her own community and set up her home as a restaurant. With the loan money, she will buy a new grill so she can sell chicken kabobs and other barbecued foods.
Soraida is 29 years and has 3 children. Thanks to her business she has been to help her husband provide for their household. Her major goal is to buy a separate piece of land to run her business from.
Mifex offers its clients microinsurance and access to business training and educational programs. For more information about microfinance, Ecuador, and our services, please visit www.mifex.org.
",F,625,partner,Food,0 Ecuador,"Sotero is a tailor who works with his wife to make suits, school uniforms and other clothing articles. This family business is the main source of income for them and their 6 year old child. This is the second time Sotero is seeking a loan from Mifex and Kiva. With his first loan he was able to boost his production for the school year and saw his income increase significantly. He has made a formal agreement with a large distributor for whom he produces a pre-determined amount of clothing articles per week. He also continues to sell to the people in his community. He is now seeking a second loan with Kiva and Mifex in order to purchase a newer and better sewing machine as well as a large amount of fabric. He anticipates a very busy Christmas season and is thus preparing for a major increase in production.
Mifex offers its clients microinsurance and access to business training and educational programs. For more information about microfinance, Ecuador, and our services, please visit www.mifex.org.
",M,1175,partner,Services,0 Ecuador,"Tania has a small caber cafe in the outskirts of Guayaquil, Ecuador. Hhe was able to start the businesss with the help of her parents. Tania and her sister mostly provide word processing services along with copies. There are not many businesses like this in the poor sectors of the city, but slowly the people are coming around to use them.
She hopes that she can take out a loan because she wants to improve on the physical appearance of the business. Right now, there is not a clear division between the cyber caf and her parents home. She wants to build a wall and put in a door to establish the presence of her business.
",F,600,partner,Services,0 Ecuador,"Tania has a small cyber cafe in the outskirts of Guayaquil, Ecuador. She was able to start the business with the help of her parents. Tania provides word processing, Internet and photocopy services. There are not many businesses like this in the poor sectors of the city, but slowly the people are coming around to use them. To supplement her income Tania used her first Mifex and Kiva loan to purchase office supplies and various other articles such as gifts, toys, cosmetics, and fashion jewelry to sell. She also established the presence of her business with the capital from her loan by installing a wall to separate the home from the caf.
Tania has successfully completed payments on her first loan and is requesting a second loan with our organization to purchase ink cartridges for her printer and printing paper. She also has clients requesting womens sandals and shoes and she wants to buy these items.
Tania is a hard working woman. In addition to running her caf and managing sales of her products she is studying at a local university. She is single and lives with her parents and her younger sister. Part of her income goes to her parents and another portion to her sisters education. Tanias family helps her in her work and they all aim to improve the quality of their lives.
",F,1075,lender,Services,1 Ecuador,"Tania has a small store where she sells a variety of items. Her products include shoes, clothes, cleaning products and even toys. She also has a partnership with her mother who lives in rural Ecuador. Tania buys many of her products wholesale and she also distributes to her mothers store. Her business is doing well but she is in need of more capital in order to continue investing in different types of products that will allow her to increase her profits. She and her husband have two children, one of which has a mental disability. The business has allowed her to provide her son with therapy and medicine.
Mifex offers its clients microinsurance and access to business training and educational programs. For more information about microfinance, Ecuador, and our services, please visit www.mifex.org.
",F,475,partner,Retail,0 Ecuador,"Tania has had her small business selling gifts, perfumes, sodas and sweets from her house for 6 years. She began her business with savings that her husband gave her in order to see what they were able to invest, and in this way they have generated more additional income. Tania works in her shop from 6am to 9pm every day of the week.
Tania tells us that she is asking for a loan in order to secure the growth of her business. Demand is growing, thanks to the fact that its the beginning of the school year and so she needs to buy a variety of school supplies, presents and other products that her customers are requesting. Also Tania wants to renovate her shop in order to present a better image and offer abetter service to her customers.
Tania is 31 years old and has 4 children, all of whom are studying. Her husband helps her with the business, as do her children in attending customers. They are all confident that the loan will help them a lot, as they will be able to expand their business and generate better profits, which will allow them to continue improving their home and business site.
Translated from Spanish by Katy Long, Kiva Volunteer
",F,600,partner,Retail,0 Ecuador,"Tania is 31 years old and has 4 children, all of whom are studying. Her husband helps her with the business, as do her children in attending customers. They are all confident that the loan will help them a lot, and they hope to construct a kitchen counter in their home.
Tania has had her small business selling gifts, perfumes, sodas and sweets from her house for six years. She began her business with savings that her husband gave her. Tania works in her shop from 6am to 9pm every day of the week. She initially requested a loan through Mifex and Kiva in order to secure the growth of her business. She invested in a variety of merchandise including snacks, novelty gifts, and accessories. She also purchased a large refrigerated glass display case for soft drinks, smoothies, and yogurt. With such a large selection, her store became popular and she earned a greater income.
The most popular items Tania sells are snacks and clothing. Holidays are arriving and she knows she will be able to sell these in greater volume. She is asking for a second loan so she can invest in more merchandise. The portion of her home that she uses for business has become crowded and she would like to expand that area with part of her loan. This will help her attract more clients and bring better service to them.
",F,1075,lender,Retail,1 Ecuador,"Tanya sells cosmetic products and does manicures from her parents home. Although she is only 19 she has a strong entrepreneurial spirit and hopes one day she can own a full fledged beauty salon. She started working in this line of business when she was 15 years old as she would give manicures to her friends and neighbors. Slowly she built a customer base and decided to start this business.
She uses the money from her business for her personal expenses and to help her stay in school. She attends class in the morning and opens her business from 2 to 8 in the afternoon. She usually finances the cosmetic products from the vendors but has realized that they charge very high interest rates. She is seeking this loan in order to be able to buy products at wholesale prices and to hire someone to work in the mornings. She comes from a household of 5 brothers and sisters and still lives with her parents. Her father works in a factory and her mother is unemployed.
Mifex offers its clients microinsurance and access to business training and educational programs. For more information about microfinance, Ecuador, and our services, please visit www.mifex.org.
",F,375,partner,Services,0 Ecuador,"Telmo owns a small store that he runs with his wife. He has been selling various articles for about 14 years. The store is located in a section of his home. His wife attends to the store during the day while Telmo sells fruits and other articles from a tricycle cart. He needs the loan in order to restock the store at his home. He is recovering from a recent surgery he had on his gull bladder that has not allowed him to have the money to reinvest in his store. He and his wife have twins together. They are hoping that with this loan they will be able to reactivate the business.
Mifex offers its clients microinsurance and access to business training and educational programs. For more information about microfinance, Ecuador, and our services, please visit www.mifex.org.
",M,375,partner,Retail,0 Ecuador,"Teodoro Burgos was born in Quevado, Ecuador and has lived in Guayaquil for nearly fifteen years. He is married with five children and owns a small auto-mechanic shop called Taller Mecnico Burgos. Teodoro rents a location where runs his shop, but he would like to own this building someday.
When he first started out as an apprentice mechanic in another shop, he always dreamed of growing his business to be one of the biggest in Guayaquil. His works hard 9am until 7pm Monday through Saturday.
Teodoro is approaching his second loan with Mifex. With his first loan he purchased materials used in the day-today management of his repair shop: engine compressors, gauges, hoses, pumps, and a heavy-duty set of power tools. He will use a second loan to expand the workshop area to fit more cars and increase his operational capacity.
",M,1200,lender,Services,1 Ecuador,"Teofila Bone has owned her business for two years now. She sells household goods and groceries to people in the north part of Guayaquil. Teofilas husband taught her how to operate the business and built their house on an empty piece of land. He works as a property manager, leading construction of homes on unused land. They typically work from 7am until 10 pm.
Teofila with a previous loan improved the appearance of her business. She now receives many more clients, especially since she had money left over to invest in new products. She is requesting this loan so she may continue making improvements to her shop, hopefully being able to buy construction materials so her husband can increase the size.
Ms. Bone is 56 years old and has lived in Guayaquil her whole life. Now that her children are grown, she focuses most of her time on the business and wants nothing more but to grow into a professional property company with her husband.
",F,550,lender,Food,1 Ecuador,"Teofila Bone has owned her business for two years now. She sells household goods to people in the north part of Guayaquil. Teofilas husband taught her how to operate the business and built their house on an empty piece of land. He works as a property manager, leading construction of homes on unused land. They typically work from 7am until 10 pm. Teofila is asking for this loan so that she can invest in marketing materials and rent a location in the busy bazaar where other poor families can come to buy household items. Ms. Bone is 56 years old and has lived in Guayaquil her whole life. Now that her children are grown, she focuses most of her time on the business and wants nothing more but to grow into a professional property company.
Mifex offers its clients microinsurance and access to business training and educational programs. For more information about microfinance, Ecuador, and our services, please visit www.mifex.org.
",F,500,partner,Retail,0 Ecuador,"Teresa has 20 years of experience selling vegetables because she started working with her mom since she was very young at the markets. Little by little, she was able to open her own business, which helps her make ends meet and provide a good education for her children. Teresa and her husband, who has been a great support, open the business everyday from 6:00 am to 2:00 pm.
Teresa would like to have her second loan so that she can continue to invest in her business. She has previously bought grains and more vegetables, and these products have been welcomed by her clients. She will use this loan to buy larger amount of goods from farmers in the rural sectors.
Teresa is 47 years old. She has 2 sons who are already adults and help her as much as they can. Her husband works as a construction worker and helps her with the business whenever he has free time. They hope they can finish building their house, which is currently made out of cane.
",F,800,partner,Food,0 Ecuador,"Teresa is 62 years old and married with 11 children who are all adults and are constantly taking care of her. She would like to improve the condition of her house and live a better quality of life with her husband.
Teresa has 12 years of experience in her business, which she established with her husband when they relocated to Guayaquil from the countryside. Using money from the sale of their land, they were able to open a store selling gas containers.
Teresas first Mifex and Kiva loan was invested in more containers of gas. Competition was almost nonexistent; she was the only gas-selling business in the area. The store is open seven days a week from 6:00 am to 10:00 pm to meet high demand. Teresa works at the store while her husband rides his tricycle selling gas containers around the area.
Teresas business is both productive and stable. For the holiday season, Teresa is requesting a second loan so she can buy tools and hardware to sell. This would help improve the image of their business.
",F,700,lender,Retail,1 Ecuador,"Three years ago Julia used to work as a nurse in a medical center. Then she got pregnant and her husband left her. With the help of her mother and using some money she had saved, she decided to start a small business selling office and school supplies. She works there every day of the week from 9 AM to 8 PM. When she has to leave to make deliveries, she leaves her mother in charge of waiting on the customers at the shop.
Julia used a previous loan to increase her working capital so that she can include more items in her inventory, such as clothes and electric items. She is hoping that a second loan will help her invest in products that will be popular during this upcoming holiday season, such as childrens toys and decorations.
Julia is 21 years old. She is a single mother with one daughter. At present, she has her business in her mother's home. She also has her own small house made of cane, and she hopes that, with this investment, she can expand business and earn enough money to remodel her little house.
",F,550,lender,Retail,1 Ecuador,"Tirso is a rancher and farmer from Salitre. He has owned his land for over 25 years, but he has lived in the rural area his whole life. Although he has a limited education, he has been able to be successful farming. He is seeking the loan in order to invest in rice now that the rainy season is making the land apt for cultivation. He has five children that he has been able to educate. Two of his children are making their way through college and Tirso wants to keep supporting them.
Tirso is part of the first Communal Bank in the new Mifex Rural Finance Program. All the members of the Resistencia Communal Bank are part of an Association of Rice Farmers in Salitre named Resistencia. They will use the microloans to prepare the land and cultivate rice on their farms. Because they form part of a communal bank, they are all each others guarantors for the loan. This means that if for some reason one person in the group cannot fully repay the loan, the other borrowers and the Resistencia Association are responsible for the amount in default. The members of the bank also participate in a program designed to teach and encourage savings among the group. Promoting savings is often forgotten in many microfinance programs, but is imperative for the communities Mifex works with to have capital reserved for future investments or unexpected difficulties.
The loans in this sector will be used to create water deposits that will prevent flooding in the case of heavy rains or store water in case of droughts. They will also be used to treat the land prior to farming, plant the seeds and purchase fertilizer. The loan repayment schedule is also different from the typical microentrepreneur. Because farmers see the profits from their investments 5 or 6 months after making their initial expenditures, Mifex asks them only to pay 50% of the capital in the first 6 months of the loan. The rest of the debt must be paid in the seventh and final month.
Below is more information about Salitre compiled by the staff at Mifex when evaluating the potential of the sector for the Rural Finance Program.
Salitre is a rural area in the Province of Guayas which is known as the capital of Montuvios (montuvio is a cowboy) with approximately 30,000 inhabitants. The main economic activities are herding and agriculture, which make up about 80% of the economy. The infrastructure and basic services are poor, especially the roads and water services.
Salitre is highly dedicated to rice farming and cattle ranching. Rice is a crop that yields about every four months. In order to farm rice, the environment must be very humid and there must be a high volume of water. The lack of a structured water system makes it difficult for the small farmers to be highly productive. The best months for cultivating rice are early in the year during the rainy season on the coast of Ecuador.
Salitre is a national tourist attraction as many Ecuadorians visit the fresh water Salitre River. There are cottages, small restaurants and water attractions that people come to enjoy.
There is not a single financial institution that provides services to the productive sector of the local economy. The only access to credit comes from loan sharks who charge extremely high interest rates averaging around 20% a month. The locals are also exploited by the intermediaries that buy their products in order to commercialize them in the city and to export abroad. These intermediaries buy crops in advance at very low prices, finance soil at extremely high prices and often provide emergency loans for even higher interest rates than the loan sharks.
Salitre is a dangerous area despite its rural location. There is a high incidence of robbery of cattle that results in the fact that many of the ranch owners owning weapons to protect their property. Because the police are not present in these areas, farmers and ranchers must apply their own laws and provide their own security. In some instances they have formed their own cooperatives and associations to have a community crime prevention force.
Salitre is in the lowlands of Ecuador and is vulnerable to flooding during the rainy season. In the event of a heavy rainy season, often at its worst when El Nio occurs, rice farmers lose many of their crops. All this is due to a lack of infrastructure in the area.
",M,1200,lender,Food,0 Ecuador,"Tomas Segura is a farmer from a rural town outside of the big city of Guayaquil named Salitre. Tomas and his wife Hortencia have lived on these lands for over 30 years. There they have raised three children who are all on their own now. Tomas is seeking to receive a loan so that hey may invest in rice farming. The rainy season is just coming to an end and this is a particularly good time to plant the rice seeds and prepare the lands. The loan will help Tomas avoid borrowing from the loan sharks common to the area. Although he knows they charge exuberant interest rates, Tomas has been forced to borrow from these lenders several times due to his shortage of capital.
He is the latest addition to the first Communal Bank in the new Mifex Rural Finance Program. All of the members of the Resistencia Communal Bank are part of an Association of Rice Farmers in Salitre named Resistencia. They will use the microloans to prepare the lands and cultivate rice on their farms. Because they form part of a communal bank, they are all each others guarantors for the loan. This means that if for some reason one person in the group cannot fully repay the loan, the other borrowers and the Resistencia Association are responsible for the amount in default. The members of the bank also participate in a program designed to teach and encourage savings among the group. Promoting savings is often forgotten in many microfinance programs, but is imperative for the communities Mifex works with to have capital reserved for future investments or unexpected difficulties.
The loans in this sector will be used to create water deposits that will prevent flooding in the case of heavy rains or store water in case of droughts. They will also be used to treat the land prior to farming, to plant the seeds and purchase fertilizer. The loan repayment schedule is also different from the typical microentrepreneur. Because farmers see the profits from their investments 5 or 6 months after making their initial expenditures, Mifex asks them only to pay 50% of the capital in the first 6 months of the loan. The rest of the debt must be paid in the seventh and final month.
Below is more information about Salitre compiled by the staff at Mifex when evaluating the potential of the sector for the Rural Finance Program.
Salitre is a rural sector in the Province of Guayas known as the capital of Montuvios (montuvio is a cowboy) with approximately 30,000 inhabitants. The main economic activities are herding and agriculture which make up about 80% of the economy. The infrastructure and basic services are poor, especially the roads and water services.
Salitre is highly dedicated to farming rice and cattle ranching. Rice is a crop that yields about every four months. In order to farm rice, the environment must be very humid and there must be a high volume of water. The lack of a structured water system makes it difficult for the small farmers to be highly productive. The best months for cultivating rice are early in the year when it is the rainy season in the coast of Ecuador.
Salitre is a national tourist attraction as many Ecuadorians visit the fresh water Salitre River. There are cottages, small restaurants and water attractions that people come to enjoy.
There is not a single financial institution that provides services to the productive sector of the local economy. The only access to credit comes from loan sharks who charge extremely high interest rates averaging around 20% a month. The locals are also exploited by the intermediaries that buy their products in order to commercialize them in the city and to export abroad. These intermediaries buy crops in advance at very low prices, finance soil at extremely high prices and often provide emergency loans for even higher interest rates than the loan sharks.
Salitre is a dangerous sector considering it is in the rural area. There is a high incidence of robbery of cattle that results in many of the ranch owners owning weapons to protect their property. Because the police are not present in these areas, farmers and ranchers must apply their own laws and provide their own security. In some instances they have formed their own cooperatives and associations to have a community crime prevention effort.
Salitre is in the lowlands of Ecuador and is vulnerable to flooding in the rainy season. In the event of a heavy rainy season, often at its worse when El Nio occurs, the farmers of rice lose many of their crops. All this is due to a lack of infrastructure in the area.
",M,1200,lender,Agriculture,0 Ecuador,"Transito has a small business where she sells all different types of home and personal products. She sells different types of foods including fruits and vegetables. She started off in this business with the help of a loan that allowed her to first become a street vendor.
Transito is now a store owner who wants to expand her business. She will use the money to buy more products and diversify her stock. She works very hard to feed and educate her two children.
",F,525,partner,Retail,0 Ecuador,"Transito has a small business where she sells all different types of home and personal products. She sells different types of foods including fruits and vegetables. She started off in this business with the help of a loan that allowed her to first become a street vendor. She has continued to grow her business and improve her shop with the recent help of a Mifex loan that was used to buy more products.
As a store owner who wants to expand her business she wants to continue buying more products and diversifying her stock. She also hopes to buy a glass display case for some of her products. She works very hard to feed and educate her two children.
",F,1075,lender,Food,1 Ecuador,"Ucepio has lived in Santa Lucia his entire life. He has been a rice farmer as far back as he can remember, as his parents had him contributing on the farm as soon as he was old enough to work. He and his wife Eufemia have 5 children, two of whom (ages 17 and 6) still live with them. On his farm, Ucepio farms mainly rice, although there are some plantain trees and there is also livestock. He plans on using the money from the loan to invest in a new crop of rice, which will require seeds and fertilizer for the land.
Ucepio is part of one of the newest Communal Banks in the recently developed Mifex Rural Finance Program: the Paypayales Communal Bank. All bank members are part of a rice farmers' cooperative in Santa Lucia named Dios Con Nosotros (God is with us). They will use these microloans to prepare their lands and cultivate rice on their farms. As members of a communal bank, they are all the guarantors for each other's loans. This means that if for some reason one person in the group cannot fully repay the loan, the other borrowers and the Dios con Nosotros Cooperative are responsible for the amount in default. The members of the bank also participate in a program designed to teach and encourage savings among the group. Promoting savings is often forgotten in many microfinance programs, but Mifex believes that is imperative for the communities we works with to have capital reserved for future investments or unexpected difficulties.
Below is more information about the commnity of Santa Lucia, compiled by Luis Crespo and Robert Edgar of the Mifex team when evaluating the potential of the sector for the Rural Finance Program. Special thanks to Mario Balazantegui who provided expert insight and contributed to the development of the alliances with the local organizations.
Santa Lucia County has a population of about 33,000 people. The region is fit for rice cultivating because it is not in the lowlands and therefore it is not at risk of flooding. There is also great access to water because of the Daule River, which is accessible to many of the farmers in the area. About 70% of the farmers have basic infrastructure for watering their crops.
Rice production is the main economic activity of the area, as about 80% of the people are rice farmers. Almost everyone is either directly or indirectly involved with the rice production, as they produce, commercialize or participate in activities that add value to the product. Within the county, there is a small town also named Santa Lucia. The town is filled with many small businesses and it serves as the social and commercial hub of the area.
Most of the people in the Santa Lucia area are small farmers. They produce about 100 sacks of rice per hectare of land. In order to farm they first must prepare the lands by removing weeds and plowing. The farmers then fill an area with water to form what is known as a paddy field, because rice is a very water intensive crop. The rice seeds are either dispersed freely (the process is known as boleo in Spanish) or hand sowed. Once the rice has grown, most farmers rent machinery that helps them harvest their crop. A risk factor does exist in rice farming because of drought, but in Santa Lucia this is somewhat mitigated by the access to water form the nearby river.
The biggest struggle in the area has been the lack of credit. Because people do not have access to formal financial services, they have turned to loan sharks for financing. They have been affected by expensive lines of credit that exceed 100% interest a year and can be as expensive as 240%. Intermediaries also exploit the farmers because of their outstanding debt. Farmers also often lack skills and knowledge of how to commercialize their product and get fair prices for their crops.
The loans in this sector will be used to to buy soil, seeds, fertilizer and insecticides. They will also be used to prepare the land prior to farming, to plant the seeds and purchase other materials. The loan repayment schedule is different from the typical microentrepreneur. Because farmers see the profits from their investments 5 or 6 months after making their initial expenditures, Mifex asks them to repay 50% of the capital in the first 6 months of the loan. The rest of the debt must be paid in the seventh and final month.
",M,925,lender,Agriculture,0 Ecuador,"Vera is a married mother of three who works in Guayaquil, Ecuador running a small restaurant which serves traditional Ecuadorian breakfast, lunch and afternoon snack called merienda. Ms. Delfina was faced with starting her own business to bring in extra income or else her family would surely go hungry. Because her husband only contributes a modest salary, Vera relied on her mother who lives in New York to send money, so that this young entrepreneur could open her restaurant. It has been twelve years, and slowly Veras place has grown. Her clients are very loyal, as she has them hooked on her tasty breakfasts. Above all, Ms. Delfina says that she loves her job because she gets do to what she loves cook and make people happy. She employs three people who are all single mothers, and they all work together from 7a.m. until 9p.m. at ""La Flipper"" together. Vera is applying for this loan so that she can purchase stock inventory like rice, sugar, oil as well as utensils like dishes and pots. If she buys in cash, she can receive big discounts from the wholesalers, instead of buying each item separately on a daily basis. Vera has taken out loans from loan sharks in the past who charge 20% monthly, and now she has been given a unique opportunity to grow her business and support her family affordably.
Mifex offers its clients microinsurance and access to business training and educational programs. For more information about microfinance, Ecuador, and our services, please visit www.mifex.org.
",F,1175,partner,Food,0 Ecuador,"Vera is a married mother of three who works in Guayaquil, Ecuador running a small restaurant which serves traditional Ecuadorian breakfast, lunch, and afternoon snack called merienda. Ms. Delfina was faced with starting her own business to bring in extra income or else her family would surely go hungry since her husband only contributes modestly to their living expenses.
Vera relied on her mother who lives in New York to send money, so that this young entrepreneur could open her restaurant. It has been twelve years, and slowly Veras place has grown. Her clients are very loyal, as she has them hooked on her tasty breakfast. Above all, Ms. Delfina says that she loves her job because she gets do to what she loves cook and make people happy. She employs three people who are all single mothers, and they all work together from 7a.m. until 9p.m. at ""La Flipper"" together.
Vera purchased stock inventory like rice, sugar, and oil as well as utensils like dishes and pots with her first Mifex and Kiva microloan. Now that her business has expanded, she needs more supplies in the kitchen and she is requesting a second Mifex and Kiva loan to purchase these. If she buys in cash, she can receive big discounts from the wholesalers, instead of buying each item separately on a daily basis. Vera has taken out loans from loan sharks in the past who charge 20% monthly, and now she has been given a unique opportunity to grow her business and support her family affordably.
",F,1200,lender,Food,1 Ecuador,"Veronica has recently completed her third cosmetology course at the Mifex MERIT Centers. She has learned how to cut hair, do make up and give manicures and pedicures. Now that she has the skills, she is ready to start her own beauty salon with the help of this loan. She will first buy the necessary materials for her manicures and pedicures, which include nail polish, soap and clippers. She is 19 years old but could not start her college studies because of financial restraints. She has been married for 2 years and does not have children.
Mifex offers its clients microinsurance and access to business training and educational programs. For more information about microfinance, Ecuador, and our services, please visit www.mifex.org.
",F,275,partner,Services,0 Ecuador,"Veronica owns a small store where she sells a wide variety of items including: snacks, jewelry, appliances and office supplies. She started her business off with only $5 in capital when she only sold tortillas and coffee. Slowly she began to grow and with the help of her mother she was able to open her small store where she sold rice, sugar, chicken, eggs and other foods. Now she sells many different products that are not food and she still prepares tortillas and coffee on the weekends. Veronica is a single mother who lives with her parents who have supported her since she separated from her husband. She hopes to invest in new and diverse products with the loan she receives from Kiva and Mifex. She is also contemplating opening up a second operation selling clothing.
Mifex offers its clients microinsurance and access to business training and educational programs. For more information about microfinance, Ecuador, and our services, please visit www.mifex.org.
",F,375,partner,Retail,0 Ecuador,"Vicente finished his first loan with Kiva successfully. He says that his 10 years of experience have been a huge part of his success over the last six months. He initially began in this business shortly after getting married, and when he went to purchase shoes one day, he realized he could do better than most of the shoe salesmen around town. With $50 he opened up his shop and sold to people walking down the street. Vicentes wife joined him in the store, and they have learned to take advantage of the holidays and weekends because those are the busiest times at the outdoor markets near their house. Mr. Zumba has been especially entrepreneurial, seeking out some of the best artisans in his area to make shoes which he sells. However, this level of customization requires cash up front. The relationship between Vicente and his shoemakers is very close as they rely on him to sell shoes so they can maintain their daily subsistence, and it is important to Vicente so he can have a profitable business.
Mr. Zumba is asking for his second loan so that he buy athletic shoes, artisan-made shoes, as well as two display cases to show off his inventory.
Mifex offers its clients microinsurance and access to business training and educational programs. For more information about microfinance, Ecuador, and our services, please visit www.mifex.org.
",M,1175,partner,Retail,0 Ecuador,"Vicente has a small stand where he sells traditional Ecuadorian dishes. His best dish is encebollado, a stew made with albacore and yucca. Vicente started off as a waiter at a local restaurant, but soon learned how to cook and started his own business. Vicente is looking to take the next step for his business and set up a restaurant. He has already identified the spot he will rent and is looking to make the necessary investments in utensils and chairs.
Vicente is 59 years old and has two children. One of his sons is mentally and physically disabled. He has a speech impediment that makes communication very difficult. Vicente has dedicated his life to providing his son with the best care possible. He wants to save up in order to send him to school for people with disabilities.
Mifex offers its clients microinsurance and access to business training and educational programs. For more information about microfinance, Ecuador, and our services, please visit www.mifex.org.
",M,375,partner,Food,0 Ecuador,"Vicente has a small stand where he sells traditional Ecuadorian dishes. His best dish is encebollado, a stew made with albacore and yucca. Vicente started off as a waiter at a local restaurant, but soon learned how to cook and started his own business. Vicente is looking to take the next step for his business and set up a restaurant.
Vicente is seeking a second loan with Kiva and Mifex. With his first he invested in utensils and he also bought the necessary ingredients to make his most popular dishes. He is anxious to move into a bigger location, but is proceeding carefully. With this loan he will buy new tables and chairs in hopes to move his business somewhere new soon.
Vicente is 59 years old and has two children. One of his sons is mentally and physically disabled. He has a speech impediment that makes communication very difficult. Vicente has dedicated his life to providing his son with the best care possible. He wants to save up in order to send him to school for people with disabilities.
",M,425,partner,Food,0 Ecuador,"Vicente is a repeat borrower on Kiva who owns a bakery and a small market. During his first loan Vicente only sold bread, but the $300 loan helped him expand his business. He was able to buy the raw materials for his baking operation at greatly reduced prices. With the profits from his bakery he eagerly reinvested in his business. He purchased a new refrigerator, bought complimentary goods to sell and now has a full fledged market where he sells a wide variety of products including his fresh bread. He is reapplying for a second loan in order to buy ingredients for Pan de Pascua (Christmas bread) which is very popular during the holiday season. These ingredients include: flour, sugar, yeast, dried fruit and nuts. He will also continue investing in complementary products to sell at his market.
Mifex offers its clients microinsurance and access to business training and educational programs. For more information about microfinance, Ecuador, and our services, please visit www.mifex.org.
",M,800,partner,Food,0 Ecuador,"Victor has been involved in rice farming for about 25 years. Although he only has an elementary education, he has been able to feed his family of four kids and is now raising three very young grand children. He hopes to invest the loan in machinery to improve his efficiency.
This borrower is part of the newest and largest Communal Bank in the recently developed Mifex Rural Finance Program. All of the members of the Centro Agricola de Baba Communal Bank are part of an Association of Rice Farmers in the county of Baba in rural Ecuador. Their association works cooperatively to cultivate rice and commercialize the product after it has grown. As an association, Centro Agricola helps the farmers by providing access to machinery and training services. The farmers from Centro Agricola have received special instruction on financial responsibility and accounting from Codemicro, an organization that specializes in training programs geared towards the rural sector.
The members of Centro Agricola de Baba will use the micro-loans to prepare their lands and cultivate rice on their farms. Because they form part of a communal bank, they are all each others' guarantors for the loan. This means that if for some reason one person in the group cannot fully repay the loan, the other borrowers and the Centro Agricola de Baba Association are responsible for the amount in default. The members of the bank also participate in a program designed to teach and encourage savings among the group. Promoting savings is often forgotten in many micro-finance programs, but Mifex believes that is imperative for the communities we works with to have capital reserved for future investments or unexpected difficulties.
Below is more information about Santa Lucia compiled by Luis Crespo and Robert Edgar of the Mifex team when evaluating the potential of the sector for the Rural Finance Program.
The people of Baba have been organized since the days of Gran Colombia when Ecuador was yet to be a country. The area has always been popular because of the extremely productive lands that gave way to cultivation of cacao for decades. Now Baba is a county in the province of Los Rios in the coastal region of Ecuador. For most of the latter part of the 20th Century it was a cacao and banana-producing sector. Most of the surrounding areas of Baba in Los Rios are owned by large multinational companies such as Dole, but Baba is a sector characterized by small and informal farms.
Rice production has now turned into the main economic activity of the sector as about 80% of the people are rice farmers. Cacao is still very popular in the area, but because of the long cultivation cycle people prefer to invest in rice. The lands in Baba are very fertile though, and most farmers in the sector often grow other crops, such as plantains and soybeans as secondary sources of income. Many farmers also keep livestock as emergency sources of food and income, commonly resorting to selling a chicken or pig if they are in need of cash.
Most of the people in the Baba area are small farmers. They produce about 80 sacks of rice per hectare of land. In order to farm they first must prepare the lands by removing weeds, plowing and leveling the lands. This is the most difficult part for the farmers in Baba, who often lack the necessary machinery to properly plow the lands for rice production. After appropriately preparing the lands, the farmers fill an area with water to form what is known as a paddy field, because rice is a very water-intensive crop. The rice seeds are either dispersed freely (the process is known as boleo in Spanish) or hand sowed. Once the rice has grown, most farmers rent machinery that helps them gather their production.
One of the biggest struggles in the area has been the lack of credit due to the absence of any type of financial institution. Because people do not count on formal financial finance, they have turned to loan sharks for financing. They have been affected by expensive lines of credit that exceed 100% interest a year and can be as expensive as 240%. Intermediaries also exploit the farmers because of their outstanding debt. Farmers also lack skills and knowledge to commercialize their products and pay fair prices for their crops.
The largest risk in the sector is due to absence of watering systems. Although Baba is in the province Los Rios (the rivers) there is severe problem with access to water. The lack of infrastructure in the sector does not allow the small farmers to benefit from the presence of the many rivers in the area. If the winter season is too dry, it is likely that the lands will not be sufficiently fertile for rice production in the summer. On the other hand, if there is too much rain, there are not any drainage systems to prevent flooding and the crops are often ruined. Generally speaking though, Baba is a very productive sector where the lands yield all types of crops including rice, cacao, corn, watermelons, plantains, and soybeans.
The loans in this sector will mostly be used to buy soil, seeds, fertilizer and insecticides. Many clients will use the capital towards renting machinery and equipment necessary to effectively work and prepare the fields. Clients also typically use a part of the loan to buy livestock in order to raise and have as reserves. The loan repayment schedule is different from the typical micro-entrepreneur because farmers see the profits from their investments 5 or 6 months after making their initial expenditures. Mifex asks our rural clients only to pay 50% of the capital in the first 6 months of the loan. The rest of the debt must be paid in the seventh and final month.
",M,550,lender,Agriculture,1 Ecuador,"Victor has been living on his farm for 28 years. He plants rice and also has a small plot for cacao production. He lives with his wife, two sons, and granddaughter. He and his sons work the lands in order to feed the family. He will invest the loan to plant a new plot of rice. He will have to help his sons with the fertilizer and seeds because he is no longer able to work the fields himself. After retrieving the crop Victor does commercialize them using his years of experience in the sector.
This borrower is part of the newest and largest Communal Bank in the recently developed Mifex Rural Finance Program. All of the members of the Centro Agricola de Baba Communal Bank are part of an Association of Rice Farmers in the county of Baba in rural Ecuador. Their association works cooperatively to cultivate rice and commercialize the product after it has grown. As an association, Centro Agricola helps the farmers by providing access to machinery and training services. The farmers from Centro Agricola have received special instruction on financial responsibility and accounting from Codemicro, an organization that specializes in training programs geared towards the rural sector.
The members of Centro Agricola de Baba will use the micro-loans to prepare their lands and cultivate rice on their farms. Because they form part of a communal bank, they are all each others' guarantors for the loan. This means that if for some reason one person in the group cannot fully repay the loan, the other borrowers and the Centro Agricola de Baba Association are responsible for the amount in default. The members of the bank also participate in a program designed to teach and encourage savings among the group. Promoting savings is often forgotten in many micro-finance programs, but Mifex believes that is imperative for the communities we works with to have capital reserved for future investments or unexpected difficulties.
Below is more information about Santa Lucia compiled by Luis Crespo and Robert Edgar of the Mifex team when evaluating the potential of the sector for the Rural Finance Program.
The people of Baba have been organized since the days of Gran Colombia when Ecuador was yet to be a country. The area has always been popular because of the extremely productive lands that gave way to cultivation of cacao for decades. Now Baba is a county in the province of Los Rios in the coastal region of Ecuador. For most of the latter part of the 20th Century it was a cacao and banana producing sector. Most of the surrounding areas of Baba in Los Rios are owned by large mulitnational companies such as Dole, but Baba is a sector characterized by the small and informal farms.
Rice production has now turned into the main economic activity of the sector as about 80% of the people are rice farmers. Cacao is still very popular in the area, but because of the long cultivation cycle people prefer to invest in rice. The lands in Baba are very fertile though, and most farmers in the sector often grow other crops, such as plantains and soy beans as secondary sources of income. Many farmers also keep livestock as emergency sources of food and income, commonly resorting to selling a chicken or pig if they are in need of cash.
Most of the people in the Baba area are small farmers. They produce about 80 sacks of rice per hectare of land. In order to farm they first must prepare the lands by removing weeds, plowing and leveling the lands. This is the most difficult part for the farmers in Baba, who often lack the necessary machinery to properly plow the lands for rice production. After appropriately preparing the lands, the farmers fill an area with water to form what is known as a paddy field, because rice is a very water intensive crop. The rice seeds are either dispersed freely (the process is known as boleo in Spanish) or hand sowed. Once the rice has grown, most farmers rent machinery that helps them gather their production.
One of the biggest struggles in the area has been the lack of credit due to the absence of any type of financial institution. Because people do not count on formal financial finance, they have turned to loan sharks for financing. They have been affected by expensive lines of credit that exceed 100% interest a year and can be as expensive as 240%. Intermediaries also exploit the farmers because of their outstanding debt. Farmers also lack skills and knowledge to commercialize their products and pay fair prices for their crops.
The largest risk in the sector is due to absence of watering systems. Although Baba is in the province Los Rios (the rivers) there is severe problem with access to water. The lack of infrastructure in the sector does not allow the small farmers to benefit from the presence of the many rivers in the area. If the winter season is too dry, it is likely that the lands will not be sufficiently fertile for rice production in the summer. On the other hand, if there is too much rain there are not any drainage systems to prevent flooding and the crops are often ruined. Generally speaking though, Baba is a very productive sector where the lands yield all types of crops including rice, cacao, corn, watermelons, plantains, and soy beans.
The loans in this sector will mostly be used to to buy soil, seeds, fertilizer and insecticides. Many clients will use the capital towards renting machinery and equipment necessary to effectively work and prepare the fields. Clients also typically use a part of the loan to buy livestock in order to raise and have as reserves. The loan repayment schedule is different from the typical micro-entrepreneur because farmers see the profits from their investments 5 or 6 months after making their initial expenditures. Mifex asks our rural clients only to pay 50% of the capital in the first 6 months of the loan. The rest of the debt must be paid in the seventh and final month.
",M,675,lender,Agriculture,0 Ecuador,"Victor is a vendor at local markets and fairs in Guayaquil. He sells a variety of items including cell phone accessories, baseball caps, sunglasses and others. He begins selling at 6 every morning and works until the sunset. He first started doing this type of business when he was ten with his father. He got married when he was 17 and now has a 3 year old daughter. He still lives in his parents home in an apartment they made for him. His goal is to increase his sales in order to one day have a home of his own for his young family. He plans to use the money from this loan in order to invest in new products for the Christmas season.
Mifex offers its clients microinsurance and access to business training and educational programs. For more information about microfinance, Ecuador, and our services, please visit www.mifex.org.
",F,375,partner,Retail,0 Ecuador,"Victor Manuel has a farm where he has raised all nine of his children over the last 40 years. He is a very hard worker as he had to rely on his lands in order to feed his family. He has made efforts to educate some of his kids, but just as his parents could not afford to send him to school past the elementary level, there were times when he could not afford to educate all nine children. He still lives with some of his sons who help him on the farm. They all work the fields together in order to cultivate rice and sell it in the city. He hopes the loan will help him be more productive.
Victor is part of the newest Communal Banks in the recently developed Mifex Rural Finance Program. All of the members of the Centro Agricola de Santa Lucia Communal Bank are part of an Association of Rice Farmers in Santa Lucia. Their association works cooperatively to help in the commercialization of the product after it has grown. They will use the micro-loans to prepare their lands and cultivate rice on their farms. Because they form part of a communal bank, they are all each others' guarantors for the loan. This means that if for some reason one person in the group cannot fully repay the loan, the other borrowers and the Primero de Agosto Association are responsible for the amount in default. The members of the bank also participate in a program designed to teach and encourage savings among the group. Promoting savings is often forgotten in many micro-finance programs, but Mifex believes that is imperative for the communities we works with to have capital reserved for future investments or unexpected difficulties.
Below is more information about Santa Lucia compiled by Luis Crespo and Robert Edgar of the Mifex team when evaluating the potential of the sector for the Rural Finance Program. Special thanks to Mario Balazantegui who provided expert insight and contributed to the development of the alliances with the local organizations.
Santa Lucia County has a population of about 33,000 people. The sector is fit for rice cultivating because it is not in the lowlands and therefore it is not at risk of flooding. There is also great access to water because of the Daule River, which is accessible to many of the farmers in the area. About 70% of the farmers have basic infrastructure for watering their crops.
Rice production is the main economic activity of the area as about 80% of the people are rice farmers. Almost everyone is either directly or indirectly involved with rice production, as they produce, commercialize or participate in activities that add value to the product. Within the county, there is a small town also named Santa Lucia. The town is filled with many small businesses and it serves as the social and commercial hub of the area.
Most of the people in the Santa Lucia area are small farmers. They produce about 100 sacks of rice per hectare of land. In order to farm they first must prepare the lands by removing weeds and plowing. The farmers then fill an area with water to form what is known as a paddy field, because rice is a very water intensive crop. The rice seeds are either dispersed freely (the process is known as boleo in Spanish) or hand sowed. Once the rice has grown, most farmers rent machinery that helps them gather their production. A risk factor does exist in rice farming because of drought, but in Santa Lucia this is somewhat mitigated by the access to water form the nearby river.
The biggest struggle in the area has been the lack of credit. Because people do not count on formal financial services, they have turned to loan sharks for financing. They have been affected by expensive lines of credit that exceed 100% interest a year and can be as expensive as 240%. Intermediaries also exploit the farmers because of their outstanding debt. Farmers also lack skills and knowledge to commercialize their products and pay fair prices for their crops.
The loans in this sector will be used to to buy soil, seeds, fertilizer and insecticides. They will also be used to prepare the land prior to farming, to plant the seeds and purchase other materials. The loan repayment schedule is also different from the typical micro-entrepreneur. Because farmers see the profits from their investments 5 or 6 months after making their initial expenditures, Mifex asks them only to pay 50% of the capital in the first 6 months of the loan. The rest of the debt must be paid in the seventh and final month.
",M,1200,lender,Agriculture,0 Ecuador,"Victor Rivera has 25 years of experience selling shoes and clothes. He started working in the biggest market in Ecuador named Bahia. His boss at a previous business sent him to rural towns to sell his products. When Victor and his wife decided they would go into business together, they based their business model on Victors previous job. They had success early on because they knew exactly which towns were the most lucrative markets, and they offered promotions to the best buyers, whom they knew personally.
Each day they work from 5am until 10pm. They have recently been so focused on sales that they have not had the time to replenish their inventory with new stock, so they sell goods in the morning and then use the proceeds from those sales to buy just enough shoes to still sell in the afternoon. Victors wife is a great salesperson, and she typically sells in the small towns and at the local festivals which occur fairly often.
They have two grown children who help sell their goods, and the family unit has maintained a strong foundation over the years. Their house is their greatest collateral. Victor will used his second loan to continue to increase the volume of shoes and clothing in stock to sell when the Riveras go to market. He is a 48 year-old with four children, who also contribute to the family business. His wife is his right hand, and he could not do anything without her. She is responsible for the finances, taking care of the house, and looking after the children.
Many years ago they lived in Victors mother-in-laws home, but they saved enough money to move out on their own. Their new home was made of cane and they slept on the floor. Now, after working hard, they enjoy a house that is made of concrete, and each child has a room of his own. The Riveras are proud to have gotten out of their previous situation, which was dire poverty. Although they are still poor, they enjoy an average standard of living for the people in their sector. Their wish is to continue growing the business and open a store located next to their house.
",M,1025,partner,Clothing,0 Ecuador,"Victor sells clothes and accessories. He stared the business with the help of a brother who provided merchandise for him to get off the ground. At first he only sold clothes and plastics door-to-door and now he has opened a store where he sells all types of clothing and accessories.
Several months ago, Victor received his first loan from Kiva and Mifex. He did extremely well with the loan as he was able to break into the household appliances market while continuing to buy clothing. The investments in appliances were the most successful as he was able to make significant profits from those items. He immediately invested the profits into his business by fixing up his store with more glass cases, a new sign outside and doors to keep his business safe. Business has been booming ever since. He has also decided to pay the rest of his loan off early in hopes to receive a larger one soon. He plans to continue investing in appliances as he did before. His goal is to save up enough money to open a second point of sale for his products.
",M,1200,partner,Retail,0 Ecuador,"Victoria has had a bazaar for the past 25 years. She opened it with savings from her work in a warehouse where she had the idea of starting her own business. Her bazaar is located inside her home where her children help her attend to customers. She is open for business every day from 6 a.m. to 10 p.m.
Victoria has borrowed from Mifex before, adding more products to her store like candy and school supplies to meet the demand of her customers. After successful investments, she is looking forward to continue diversifying her products and buying clothes and items for the holiday season.
Victoria is 45 years old and is a married mother of two children who go to school. Her husband is a driver who works outside of the city. Victoria says the good thing about her husband is that when hes home he helps her very much with the business, knowing that this is an extra source of income for the family, allowing them to continue improving their house.
",F,1200,lender,Retail,1 Ecuador,"Virgina is part of the first Communal Bank formed by Mifex in the rural town of Salitre. On her farm she cultivates rice and corn with the help of her husband and some of the children she had who are now adults. She hopes that with the loan she will be able to directly invest in rice seeds and pesticides that will help keep the crop healthy. She is also hoping she can purchase chickens for her farm as a secondary source of income. She is pictured at the Mifex offices after filling out her application.
He is the latest addition to the first Communal Bank in the new Mifex Rural Finance Program. All of the members of the Resistencia Communal Bank are part of an Association of Rice Farmers in Salitre named Resistencia. They will use the microloans to prepare the lands and cultivate rice on their farms. Because they form part of a communal bank, they are all each others guarantors for the loan. This means that if for some reason one person in the group cannot fully repay the loan, the other borrowers and the Resistencia Association are responsible for the amount in default. The members of the bank also participate in a program designed to teach and encourage savings among the group. Promoting savings is often forgotten in many microfinance programs, but is imperative for the communities Mifex works with to have capital reserved for future investments or unexpected difficulties.
The loans in this sector will be used to create water deposits that will prevent flooding in the case of heavy rains or store water in case of droughts. They will also be used to treat the land prior to farming, to plant the seeds and purchase fertilizer. The loan repayment schedule is also different from the typical microentrepreneur. Because farmers see the profits from their investments 5 or 6 months after making their initial expenditures, Mifex asks them only to pay 50% of the capital in the first 6 months of the loan. The rest of the debt must be paid in the seventh and final month.
Below is more information about Salitre compiled by the staff at Mifex when evaluating the potential of the sector for the Rural Finance Program.
Salitre is a rural sector in the Province of Guayas known as the capital of Montuvios (montuvio is a cowboy) with approximately 30,000 inhabitants. The main economic activities are herding and agriculture which make up about 80% of the economy. The infrastructure and basic services are poor, especially the roads and water services.
Salitre is highly dedicated to farming rice and cattle ranching. Rice is a crop that yields about every four months. In order to farm rice, the environment must be very humid and there must be a high volume of water. The lack of a structured water system makes it difficult for the small farmers to be highly productive. The best months for cultivating rice are early in the year when it is the rainy season in the coast of Ecuador.
Salitre is a national tourist attraction as many Ecuadorians visit the fresh water Salitre River. There are cottages, small restaurants and water attractions that people come to enjoy.
There is not a single financial institution that provides services to the productive sector of the local economy. The only access to credit comes from loan sharks who charge extremely high interest rates averaging around 20% a month. The locals are also exploited by the intermediaries that buy their products in order to commercialize them in the city and to export abroad. These intermediaries buy crops in advance at very low prices, finance soil at extremely high prices and often provide emergency loans for even higher interest rates than the loan sharks.
Salitre is a dangerous sector considering it is in the rural area. There is a high incidence of robbery of cattle that results in many of the ranch owners owning weapons to protect their property. Because the police are not present in these areas, farmers and ranchers must apply their own laws and provide their own security. In some instances they have formed their own cooperatives and associations to have a community crime prevention effort.
Salitre is in the lowlands of Ecuador and is vulnerable to flooding in the rainy season. In the event of a heavy rainy season, often at its worse when El Nio occurs, the farmers of rice lose many of their crops. All this is due to a lack of infrastructure in the area.
",F,1200,lender,Agriculture,0 Ecuador,"Virginia owns a beauty salon in her local community. She is married to a welder who encouraged her to take a course where she learned how to cut and style hair along with other skills. With the money he has saved up he bought her all the necessary supplies for her beauty salon which they have built in a part of their home. Virginia now wants to invest in new products for her clients such as shampoo, conditioner, hair dye, perfume etc. She is hoping that she will receive this loan because her husband does not have any more money and he has already sacrificed most of the savings set aside to invest in his own business. They have 1 child and they both hope that with this loan they will be able to provide a better future for him.
Mifex offers its clients microinsurance and access to business training and educational programs. For more information about microfinance, Ecuador, and our services, please visit www.mifex.org.
",F,475,partner,Services,0 Ecuador,"Viviana has a business selling crabs, in bundles and in jars. Viviana has experience in this business because it is a family owned business of 9 years. Her parents helped her brothers with the business. Viviana has managed the business following the death of her mother and because her clients call on her. Viviana works 4 days a week and attends to her clients from 7:00 AM to 20:00PM, delivering her products to the various restaurants that request them.
Viviana is applying for a second loan with Mifex and Kiva to buy more crabs, meet and satisfy the demand of new clients, and to increase her business. She used her first loan for the same purpose and thanks to the capital and investment she made, her business took off. Demand for her product still exceeds her supply so she sees more room for growth in her business.
Viviana is 28 years old and has five children of which four are students. Her husband works as a taxi driver and helps her with the delivery of the merchandise to the various selling sites within and outside of her area. Viviana has also told us that as her business grows so does her income, allowing her to give her family a better quality of life in terms of nutrition and education. She hopes she can use the extra income to construct one of the outside walls of her home out of cement.
",F,1200,lender,Food,1 Ecuador,"Viviana is 45 years old and married. She has three children who are studying and help in her business. Her husband works as a guard at a hospital in the city. In the future, she hopes to be able to finish her house in order to give a better life to her family. She is also considering a small side business selling candies and sweets out of her home.
Viviana has 20 years of experience in her photography business. She learned this business from her parents, as she showed an interest in it since she was young. She saved money from her job to buy her own cameras and started her business which allowed her to become independent. Her husband has always helped her, and in his free time he also does photography. She works every day of the week from 8:00 AM until 6:00 PM. She also frequently works in the evenings on weekends for special events.
Viviana wants her second loan from Mifex and Kiva in order to invest in rolls of film and other photography supplies. There have been times when she hasnt been able to work because she lacked film. Her cameras also periodically require maintenance and repair. Viviana used her first loan to buy rolls of film as well. These supplies are expensive but she is still able to make a good income because she faces little competition. With the upcoming holiday season Viviana expects to be very busy with clients requests for photographs.
",F,700,lender,Services,1 Ecuador,"Walter is a plantain farmer from Baba. His land is better for plantain production because of the water and the soil. He also produces some rice, but only as a secondary source of income. Walter has six children, three of which live at home with him. Walter Jr. is pictured with him. He will use the loan for rice farming. His main goal for the future is to make his lands more productive because currently, they are not level and they need work.
This borrower is part of the newest and largest Communal Bank in the recently developed Mifex Rural Finance Program. All of the members of the Centro Agricola de Baba Communal Bank are part of an Association of Rice Farmers in the county of Baba in rural Ecuador. Their association works cooperatively to cultivate rice and commercialize the product after it has grown. As an association, Centro Agricola helps the farmers by providing access to machinery and training services. The farmers from Centro Agricola have received special instruction on financial responsibility and accounting from Codemicro, an organization that specializes in training programs geared towards the rural sector.
The members of Centro Agricola de Baba will use the micro-loans to prepare their lands and cultivate rice on their farms. Because they form part of a communal bank, they are all each others' guarantors for the loan. This means that if for some reason one person in the group cannot fully repay the loan, the other borrowers and the Centro Agricola de Baba Association are responsible for the amount in default. The members of the bank also participate in a program designed to teach and encourage savings among the group. Promoting savings is often forgotten in many micro-finance programs, but Mifex believes that is imperative for the communities we works with to have capital reserved for future investments or unexpected difficulties.
Below is more information about Santa Lucia compiled by Luis Crespo and Robert Edgar of the Mifex team when evaluating the potential of the sector for the Rural Finance Program.
The people of Baba have been organized since the days of Gran Colombia when Ecuador was yet to be a country. The area has always been popular because of the extremely productive lands that gave way to cultivation of cacao for decades. Now Baba is a county in the province of Los Rios in the coastal region of Ecuador. For most of the latter part of the 20th Century it was a cacao and banana-producing sector. Most of the surrounding areas of Baba in Los Rios are owned by large multinational companies such as Dole, but Baba is a sector characterized by small and informal farms.
Rice production has now turned into the main economic activity of the sector as about 80% of the people are rice farmers. Cacao is still very popular in the area, but because of the long cultivation cycle people prefer to invest in rice. The lands in Baba are very fertile though, and most farmers in the sector often grow other crops, such as plantains and soybeans as secondary sources of income. Many farmers also keep livestock as emergency sources of food and income, commonly resorting to selling a chicken or pig if they are in need of cash.
Most of the people in the Baba area are small farmers. They produce about 80 sacks of rice per hectare of land. In order to farm they first must prepare the lands by removing weeds, plowing and leveling the lands. This is the most difficult part for the farmers in Baba, who often lack the necessary machinery to properly plow the lands for rice production. After appropriately preparing the lands, the farmers fill an area with water to form what is known as a paddy field, because rice is a very water-intensive crop. The rice seeds are either dispersed freely (the process is known as boleo in Spanish) or hand sowed. Once the rice has grown, most farmers rent machinery that helps them gather their production.
One of the biggest struggles in the area has been the lack of credit due to the absence of any type of financial institution. Because people do not count on formal financial finance, they have turned to loan sharks for financing. They have been affected by expensive lines of credit that exceed 100% interest a year and can be as expensive as 240%. Intermediaries also exploit the farmers because of their outstanding debt. Farmers also lack skills and knowledge to commercialize their products and pay fair prices for their crops.
The largest risk in the sector is due to absence of watering systems. Although Baba is in the province Los Rios (the rivers) there is severe problem with access to water. The lack of infrastructure in the sector does not allow the small farmers to benefit from the presence of the many rivers in the area. If the winter season is too dry, it is likely that the lands will not be sufficiently fertile for rice production in the summer. On the other hand, if there is too much rain, there are not any drainage systems to prevent flooding and the crops are often ruined. Generally speaking though, Baba is a very productive sector where the lands yield all types of crops including rice, cacao, corn, watermelons, plantains, and soybeans.
The loans in this sector will mostly be used to buy soil, seeds, fertilizer and insecticides. Many clients will use the capital towards renting machinery and equipment necessary to effectively work and prepare the fields. Clients also typically use a part of the loan to buy livestock in order to raise and have as reserves. The loan repayment schedule is different from the typical micro-entrepreneur because farmers see the profits from their investments 5 or 6 months after making their initial expenditures. Mifex asks our rural clients only to pay 50% of the capital in the first 6 months of the loan. The rest of the debt must be paid in the seventh and final month.
",M,950,lender,Agriculture,0 Ecuador,"Walter Salazar is a rice farmer in rural Salitre. He is part of the first Communal Bank in the new Mifex Rural Finance Program. All the members of the Resistencia Communal Bank are part of an Association of Rice Farmers in Salitre named Resistencia. They will use the microloans to prepare the land and cultivate rice on their farms. Because they form part of a communal bank, they are all each others guarantors for the loan. This means that if for some reason one person in the group cannot fully repay the loan, the other borrowers and the Resistencia Association are responsible for the amount in default. The members of the bank also participate in a program designed to teach and encourage savings among the group. Promoting savings is often forgotten in many microfinance programs, but it is imperative for the communities Mifex works with to have capital reserved for future investments or unexpected difficulties.
Walter has been farming rice with his family his entire life. On his plot of land he also has some fruits such as papaya and pineapple. As a second source of income Walter raises cattle. He needs the loan because of the bad water situation in his land. He hopes he can invest in a good watering system in order to improve his production.
The loans in this sector will be used to create water deposits that will prevent flooding in the case of heavy rains or store water in case of droughts. They will also be used to treat the land prior to farming, plant the seeds and purchase fertilizer. The loan repayment schedule is also different from the typical microentrepreneur. Because farmers see the profits from their investments 5 or 6 months after making their initial expenditures, Mifex asks them only to pay 50% of the capital in the first 6 months of the loan. The rest of the debt must be paid in the seventh and final month.
Below is more information about Salitre compiled by the staff at Mifex when evaluating the potential of the sector for the Rural Finance Program.
Salitre is a rural area in the Province of Guayas which is known as the capital of Montuvios (montuvio is a cowboy) with approximately 30,000 inhabitants. The main economic activities are herding and agriculture, which make up about 80% of the economy. The infrastructure and basic services are poor, especially the roads and water services.
Salitre is highly dedicated to rice farming and cattle ranching. Rice is a crop that yields about every four months. In order to farm rice, the environment must be very humid and there must be a high volume of water. The lack of a structured water system makes it difficult for the small farmers to be highly productive. The best months for cultivating rice are early in the year during the rainy season on the coast of Ecuador.
Salitre is a national tourist attraction as many Ecuadorians visit the fresh water Salitre River. There are cottages, small restaurants and water attractions that people come to enjoy.
There is not a single financial institution that provides services to the productive sector of the local economy. The only access to credit comes from loan sharks who charge extremely high interest rates averaging around 20% a month. The locals are also exploited by the intermediaries that buy their products in order to commercialize them in the city and to export abroad. These intermediaries buy crops in advance at very low prices, finance soil at extremely high prices and often provide emergency loans for even higher interest rates than the loan sharks.
Salitre is a dangerous area despite its rural location. There is a high incidence of robbery of cattle that results in the fact that many of the ranch owners owning weapons to protect their property. Because the police are not present in these areas, farmers and ranchers must apply their own laws and provide their own security. In some instances they have formed their own cooperatives and associations to have a community crime prevention force.
Salitre is in the lowlands of Ecuador and is vulnerable to flooding during the rainy season. In the event of a heavy rainy season, often at its worst when El Nio occurs, rice farmers lose many of their crops. All this is due to a lack of infrastructure in the area.
",M,1200,lender,Agriculture,0 Ecuador,"Walter Siavichay is a father of three, and he owns a business, selling all types of goods for the home and library. Since he was very young, he has sold home items, and when he married, he continued to do so with his wifes help. He decided to work out of the home to help his wife Katy raise their children. With over fifteen years of experience, Walter has become well-known throughout this neighborhood. He has been able to purchase an air conditioner, which is always welcomed by his loyal patrons, and is know for his fair prices. His wish is to find capital to fund the growth of his business and start doing custom orders for his clients. Some of the items that customers demand are home furnishings, cookware, tools, and clothing.
When Elena borrowed from Mifex in December, she had only opened her ice cream shop for eight months. Her mother helped her set up the store and often works there with her. She sells ice cream, popsicles and other snack items to children from a nearby school. She makes most of the ice cream from scratch.
With her first loan, she bought molds to make popsicles and invested in snack products. Thanks to the loan, her business has developed into a small store where she sells all types of foods and snacks. She is very happy with her first loan and hopes she can take out a second to invest in cleaning products. She and her husband have a young child. The family lives with Elenas mother. They are trying to save money to buy their own house.
",F,425,partner,Food,0 Ecuador,"When Jenny was 14 she dropped out of school and started working with plants. She now has her own business that helps her provide for her only son. For more than ten years she has been raising flowers and other plants to sell. She is seeking this loan in order to buy flower pots, fertilizer and seeds. Her dream is to get her highschool degree and begin studying agricultural sciences at a college. She is 25 and is happily married. Her home is currently under construction but should be ready soon.
Mifex offers its clients microinsurance and access to business training and educational programs. For more information about microfinance, Ecuador, and our services, please visit www.mifex.org.
",F,1075,partner,Retail,0 Ecuador,"William lives on a farm where he grows rice, plantains, maize and soy beans. He is very proud of his lands, as they are very fertile and they have helped him and his family survive for years. He lives with his mother and father, and they hope to invest in fertilizer and pesticides for their crops.
This borrower is part of the newest and largest Communal Bank in the recently developed Mifex Rural Finance Program. All of the members of the Centro Agricola de Baba Communal Bank are part of an Association of Rice Farmers in the county of Baba in rural Ecuador. Their association works cooperatively to cultivate rice and commercialize the product after it has grown. As an association, Centro Agricola helps the farmers by providing access to machinery and training services. The farmers from Centro Agricola have received special instruction on financial responsibility and accounting from Codemicro, an organization that specializes in training programs geared towards the rural sector.
The members of Centro Agricola de Baba will use the micro-loans to prepare their lands and cultivate rice on their farms. Because they form part of a communal bank, they are all each others' guarantors for the loan. This means that if for some reason one person in the group cannot fully repay the loan, the other borrowers and the Centro Agricola de Baba Association are responsible for the amount in default. The members of the bank also participate in a program designed to teach and encourage savings among the group. Promoting savings is often forgotten in many micro-finance programs, but Mifex believes that is imperative for the communities we works with to have capital reserved for future investments or unexpected difficulties.
Below is more information about Santa Lucia compiled by Luis Crespo and Robert Edgar of the Mifex team when evaluating the potential of the sector for the Rural Finance Program.
The people of Baba have been organized since the days of Gran Colombia when Ecuador was yet to be a country. The area has always been popular because of the extremely productive lands that gave way to cultivation of cacao for decades. Now Baba is a county in the province of Los Rios in the coastal region of Ecuador. For most of the latter part of the 20th Century it was a cacao and banana-producing sector. Most of the surrounding areas of Baba in Los Rios are owned by large multinational companies such as Dole, but Baba is a sector characterized by small and informal farms.
Rice production has now turned into the main economic activity of the sector as about 80% of the people are rice farmers. Cacao is still very popular in the area, but because of the long cultivation cycle people prefer to invest in rice. The lands in Baba are very fertile though, and most farmers in the sector often grow other crops, such as plantains and soybeans as secondary sources of income. Many farmers also keep livestock as emergency sources of food and income, commonly resorting to selling a chicken or pig if they are in need of cash.
Most of the people in the Baba area are small farmers. They produce about 80 sacks of rice per hectare of land. In order to farm they first must prepare the lands by removing weeds, plowing and leveling the lands. This is the most difficult part for the farmers in Baba, who often lack the necessary machinery to properly plow the lands for rice production. After appropriately preparing the lands, the farmers fill an area with water to form what is known as a paddy field, because rice is a very water-intensive crop. The rice seeds are either dispersed freely (the process is known as boleo in Spanish) or hand sowed. Once the rice has grown, most farmers rent machinery that helps them gather their production.
One of the biggest struggles in the area has been the lack of credit due to the absence of any type of financial institution. Because people do not count on formal financial finance, they have turned to loan sharks for financing. They have been affected by expensive lines of credit that exceed 100% interest a year and can be as expensive as 240%. Intermediaries also exploit the farmers because of their outstanding debt. Farmers also lack skills and knowledge to commercialize their products and pay fair prices for their crops.
The largest risk in the sector is due to absence of watering systems. Although Baba is in the province Los Rios (the rivers) there is severe problem with access to water. The lack of infrastructure in the sector does not allow the small farmers to benefit from the presence of the many rivers in the area. If the winter season is too dry, it is likely that the lands will not be sufficiently fertile for rice production in the summer. On the other hand, if there is too much rain, there are not any drainage systems to prevent flooding and the crops are often ruined. Generally speaking though, Baba is a very productive sector where the lands yield all types of crops including rice, cacao, corn, watermelons, plantains, and soybeans.
The loans in this sector will mostly be used to buy soil, seeds, fertilizer and insecticides. Many clients will use the capital towards renting machinery and equipment necessary to effectively work and prepare the fields. Clients also typically use a part of the loan to buy livestock in order to raise and have as reserves. The loan repayment schedule is different from the typical micro-entrepreneur because farmers see the profits from their investments 5 or 6 months after making their initial expenditures. Mifex asks our rural clients only to pay 50% of the capital in the first 6 months of the loan. The rest of the debt must be paid in the seventh and final month.
",M,675,lender,Agriculture,0 Ecuador,"William Mora has a small piece of land in rural Ecuador that he uses in order to cultivate rice. Although his farm is small, it has been providing for him and his family for over 30 years. He is now seeking to make an investment in order to reap more benefits from the land. He wants to invest in fertilizers and pesticides in order to better care for his main crop, rice. William and his family also raise pigs and chicken on their farm, only selling them when they are in need of money. William has his rice processed and commercialized at his associations facilities, where he also works part time.
William is part of the newest Communal Banks in the recently developed Mifex Rural Finance Program. All of the members of the Centro Agricola de Santa Lucia Communal Bank are part of an Association of Rice Farmers in Santa Lucia. Their association works cooperatively to help in the commercialization of the product after it has grown. They will use the micro-loans to prepare their lands and cultivate rice on their farms. Because they form part of a communal bank, they are all each others' guarantors for the loan. This means that if for some reason one person in the group cannot fully repay the loan, the other borrowers and the Primero de Agosto Association are responsible for the amount in default. The members of the bank also participate in a program designed to teach and encourage savings among the group. Promoting savings is often forgotten in many micro-finance programs, but Mifex believes that is imperative for the communities we works with to have capital reserved for future investments or unexpected difficulties.
Below is more information about Santa Lucia compiled by Luis Crespo and Robert Edgar of the Mifex team when evaluating the potential of the sector for the Rural Finance Program. Special thanks to Mario Balazantegui who provided expert insight and contributed to the development of the alliances with the local organizations.
Santa Lucia County has a population of about 33,000 people. The sector is fit for rice cultivating because it is not in the lowlands and therefore it is not at risk of flooding. There is also great access to water because of the Daule River, which is accessible to many of the farmers in the area. About 70% of the farmers have basic infrastructure for watering their crops.
Rice production is the main economic activity of the area as about 80% of the people are rice farmers. Almost everyone is either directly or indirectly involved with rice production, as they produce, commercialize or participate in activities that add value to the product. Within the county, there is a small town also named Santa Lucia. The town is filled with many small businesses and it serves as the social and commercial hub of the area.
Most of the people in the Santa Lucia area are small farmers. They produce about 100 sacks of rice per hectare of land. In order to farm they first must prepare the lands by removing weeds and plowing. The farmers then fill an area with water to form what is known as a paddy field, because rice is a very water intensive crop. The rice seeds are either dispersed freely (the process is known as boleo in Spanish) or hand sowed. Once the rice has grown, most farmers rent machinery that helps them gather their production. A risk factor does exist in rice farming because of drought, but in Santa Lucia this is somewhat mitigated by the access to water form the nearby river.
The biggest struggle in the area has been the lack of credit. Because people do not count on formal financial services, they have turned to loan sharks for financing. They have been affected by expensive lines of credit that exceed 100% interest a year and can be as expensive as 240%. Intermediaries also exploit the farmers because of their outstanding debt. Farmers also lack skills and knowledge to commercialize their products and pay fair prices for their crops.
The loans in this sector will be used to to buy soil, seeds, fertilizer and insecticides. They will also be used to prepare the land prior to farming, to plant the seeds and purchase other materials. The loan repayment schedule is also different from the typical micro-entrepreneur. Because farmers see the profits from their investments 5 or 6 months after making their initial expenditures, Mifex asks them only to pay 50% of the capital in the first 6 months of the loan. The rest of the debt must be paid in the seventh and final month.
",M,425,lender,Agriculture,0 Ecuador,"Willy is a farmer who has worked in agriculture for over 10 years with his parents. He has been able to be successful farming rice which is the main crop in the area because of its fertility and investment price. He will use the loan to purchase fertilizers and pesticides that will help cultivate the rice that he has already planted. He also hopes to put in a new patch of rice.
Willy is 20 years old and has not yet had children. He hopes to start his family when he feels more secure about his future and has constructed a home out of cement. His goal is to accumulate profits and begin to purchase land so his business may continue to grow.
",M,1200,lender,Agriculture,0 Ecuador,"Wilman Salazar is a rice farmer from a rural town named Salitre. He and his wife Blanca have 4 children together, all of which are grown up and contribute to their farm. They own a small number of cows and bulls, as well as chickens and other livestock. Like most people in the area, they depend on rice farming for their income.
Wilman is part of the first Communal Bank in the new Mifex Rural Finance Program. All the members of the Resistencia Communal Bank are part of an Association of Rice Farmers in Salitre named Resistencia. They will use the microloans to prepare the land and cultivate rice on their farms. Because they form part of a communal bank, they are all each others guarantors for the loan. This means that if for some reason one person in the group cannot fully repay the loan, the other borrowers and the Resistencia Association are responsible for the amount in default. The members of the bank also participate in a program designed to teach and encourage savings among the group. Promoting savings is often forgotten in many microfinance programs, but is imperative for the communities Mifex works with to have capital reserved for future investments or unexpected difficulties.
The loans in this sector will be used to create water deposits that will prevent flooding in the case of heavy rains or store water in case of droughts. They will also be used to treat the land prior to farming, plant the seeds and purchase fertilizer. The loan repayment schedule is also different from the typical microentrepreneur. Because farmers see the profits from their investments 5 or 6 months after making their initial expenditures, Mifex asks them only to pay 50% of the capital in the first 6 months of the loan. The rest of the debt must be paid in the seventh and final month.
Below is more information about Salitre compiled by the staff at Mifex when evaluating the potential of the sector for the Rural Finance Program.
Salitre is a rural area in the Province of Guayas which is known as the capital of Montuvios (montuvio is a cowboy) with approximately 30,000 inhabitants. The main economic activities are herding and agriculture, which make up about 80% of the economy. The infrastructure and basic services are poor, especially the roads and water services.
Salitre is highly dedicated to rice farming and cattle ranching. Rice is a crop that yields about every four months. In order to farm rice, the environment must be very humid and there must be a high volume of water. The lack of a structured water system makes it difficult for the small farmers to be highly productive. The best months for cultivating rice are early in the year when during the rainy season on the coast of Ecuador.
Salitre is a national tourist attraction as many Ecuadorians visit the fresh water Salitre River. There are cottages, small restaurants and water attractions that people come to enjoy.
There is not a single financial institution that provides services to the productive sector of the local economy. The only access to credit comes from loan sharks who charge extremely high interest rates averaging around 20% a month. The locals are also exploited by the intermediaries that buy their products in order to commercialize them in the city and to export abroad. These intermediaries buy crops in advance at very low prices, finance soil at extremely high prices and often provide emergency loans for even higher interest rates than the loan sharks.
Salitre is a dangerous area despite its rural location. There is a high incidence of robbery of cattle that results in the fact that many of the ranch owners owning weapons to protect their property. Because the police are not present in these areas, farmers and ranchers must apply their own laws and provide their own security. In some instances they have formed their own cooperatives and associations to have a community crime prevention force.
Salitre is in the lowlands of Ecuador and is vulnerable to flooding during the rainy season. In the event of a heavy rainy season, often at its worst when El Nio occurs, the rice farmers lose many of their crops. All this is due to a lack of infrastructure in the area.
",M,1200,lender,Agriculture,0 Ecuador,"Wilmer is a butcher and owns a small stand where he sells beef. His father taught him the family trade over 35 years ago. Wilmer then helped his father at his shop. Wilmer eventually started his own business but about 8 years ago his store caught on fire. He has not been able to buy a new shop. Therefore, Wilmer has been selling meat from a table and stand that he made himself.
Wilmer is second time borrower with Mifex and Kiva. He used his first loan to buy more meat and improve his home. He was able to fix a room in his house to rent out to a close friend. This enabled him to generate a second source of income.
With his second loan, he hopes to buy different kinds of meat, including poultry and fish. He wants to increase his revenue so he can save money for a new store. His goal is to increase his profits and buy a new refrigerator for leftover meat.
",F,825,partner,Food,0 Ecuador,"Wilson es nativo del sector arrocero de Baba. El vive con sus tres hijos y dos hijos de un compromiso de su esposa que tenia antes. Wilson ha podido mantener su familia gracias a la produccin de arroz y pltano que le da su hacienda. El quiere invertir en fertilizantes y pesticidas para mantener y cosechar estos productos. El tiene la esperanza de arreglar su casita que ahora es de caa y esta vulnerable a las lluvias.
English:Translated by Nuria Ruiz, Kiva Voluteer.
Wilson family has lived in Baba for a long time. His family has always worked in the rice fields and industry in Baba. He lives with his wife and five children, two of his children are from his prior partner. Wilson is been able to provide for his family thanks to the rice and banana production of his plot of land. He is requesting a loan to buy pesticides and fertilizers for his crops and to fix his house. Right now his house is made out of bamboo and thus not very well suited for rainy season.
This borrower is part of the newest Communal Bank in the recently developed Mifex Rural Finance Program. All of the members of the Rosa de Oro (Golden Rose) Communal Bank are part of an Association of Rice Farmers in the county of Baba in rural Ecuador. Their association works cooperatively to cultivate rice and commercialize the product after it has grown. As an association, Rosa de Oro helps the farmers by providing access to machinery, training services and government assistance. The farmers from Rosa de Oro are very close to each other and cooperate to help one another on their farms.
The members of Rosa de Oro will use the micro-loans to prepare their lands and cultivate rice on their farms. Because they form part of a communal bank, they are all each others' guarantors for the loan. This means that if for some reason one person in the group cannot fully repay the loan, the other borrowers and the Rosa de Oro Association are responsible for the amount in default. The members of the bank also participate in a program designed to teach and encourage savings among the group. Promoting savings is often forgotten in many micro-finance programs, but Mifex believes that is imperative for the communities we works with to have capital reserved for future investments or unexpected difficulties.
Below is more information about Baba compiled by Luis Crespo and Robert Edgar of the Mifex team when evaluating the potential of the sector for the Rural Finance Program.
The people of Baba have been organized since the days of Gran Colombia when Ecuador was yet to be a country. The area has always been popular because of the extremely productive lands that gave way to cultivation of cacao for decades. Now Baba is a county in the province of Los Rios in the coastal region of Ecuador. For most of the latter part of the 20th Century it was a cacao and banana producing sector. Most of the surrounding areas of Baba in Los Rios are owned by large mulitnational companies such as Dole, but Baba is a sector characterized by the small and informal farms.
Rice production has now turned into the main economic activity of the sector as about 80% of the people are rice farmers. Cacao is still very popular in the area, but because of the long cultivation cycle people prefer to invest in rice. The lands in Baba are very fertile though, and most farmers in the sector often grow other crops, such as plantains and soy beans as secondary sources of income. Many farmers also keep livestock as emergency sources of food and income, commonly resorting to selling a chicken or pig if they are in need of cash.
Most of the people in the Baba area are small farmers. They produce about 80 sacks of rice per hectare of land. In order to farm they first must prepare the lands by removing weeds, plowing and leveling the lands. This is the most difficult part for the farmers in Baba, who often lack the necessary machinery to properly plow the lands for rice production. After appropriately preparing the lands, the farmers fill an area with water to form what is known as a paddy field, because rice is a very water intensive crop. The rice seeds are either dispersed freely (the process is known as boleo in Spanish) or hand sowed. Once the rice has grown, most farmers rent machinery that helps them gather their production.
One of the biggest struggles in the area has been the lack of credit due to the absence of any type of financial institution. Because people do not count on formal financial finance, they have turned to loan sharks for financing. They have been affected by expensive lines of credit that exceed 100% interest a year and can be as expensive as 240%. Intermediaries also exploit the farmers because of their outstanding debt. Farmers also lack skills and knowledge to commercialize their products and pay fair prices for their crops.
The largest risk in the sector is due to absence of watering systems. Although Baba is in the province Los Rios (the rivers) there is severe problem with access to water. The lack of infrastructure in the sector does not allow the small farmers to benefit from the presence of the many rivers in the area. If the winter season is too dry, it is likely that the lands will not be sufficiently fertile for rice production in the summer. On the other hand, if there is too much rain there are not any drainage systems to prevent flooding and the crops are often ruined. Generally speaking though, Baba is a very productive sector where the lands yield all types of crops including rice, cacao, corn, watermelons, plantains, and soy beans.
The loans in this sector will mostly be used to to buy soil, seeds, fertilizer and insecticides. Many clients will use the capital towards renting machinery and equipment necessary to effectively work and prepare the fields. Clients also typically use a part of the loan to buy livestock in order to raise and have as reserves. The loan repayment schedule is different from the typical micro-entrepreneur because farmers see the profits from their investments 5 or 6 months after making their initial expenditures. Mifex asks our rural clients only to pay 50% of the capital in the first 6 months of the loan. The rest of the debt must be paid in the seventh and final month.
",M,675,lender,Agriculture,0 Ecuador,"Wilson has been selling platanos of all kinds for 20 years now. He learned the business from his father, and he knows the ins and outs of growing, harvesting, marketing, and selling his fruit. His wife helps him run the small store in Guayaquil, Ecuador when she isnt working herself in the breakfast restaurant next door. Wilson is applying for this loan through Kiva and Mifex in order to purchase a larger inventory of platanos, or plantains, and yucca to offer in various markets. Wilson and his wife have two children who also lend a helping hand in the businesses. This unified family is focusing on improving its livelihood by working hard and gradually saving enough money to expand their business so it can accommodate hundreds of customers every day.
Mifex offers its clients microinsurance and access to business training and educational programs. For more information about microfinance, Ecuador, and our services, please visit www.mifex.org.
",M,825,partner,Food,0 Ecuador,"Wilson has been selling platanos of all kinds for 20 years now. He learned the business from his father, and he knows the ins and outs of growing, harvesting, marketing, and selling his fruit. His wife helps him run their small store in Guayaquil, Ecuador, when she isnt working in the breakfast restaurant next door.
Wilson is applying for his second loan through Kiva and Mifex in order to purchase a larger inventory of platanos, or plantains. Wilson sends his appreciation to the lenders who supported him with his first micro credit. He was able to purchase his products with more ease at wholesale quantities, and was able to increase the number of clients that he distributes to. Along with improving his own business, he was also able to use the profits to improve the business of his wife. He looks forward to continuing collaboration with Mifex so he can buy more products and his business will grow.
Wilson and his wife have two children who also have lent a helping hand in the businesses. This unified family is focusing on improving its livelihood by working hard and gradually saving enough money to expand their business so it can accommodate hundreds of customers every day.
",M,1200,lender,Food,1 Ecuador,"Wilson is seeking his second loan with Kiva and Mifex. With his first loan he was able to invest in his furniture making business. He increased his supply of raw materials and he was also able to hire two new employees. Wilson has also just opened a new location from which he hopes to sell his final products. He is very excited about the new store that will be run by his daughter.
Wilson truly runs a family business. His two sons are employees in his workshop along with a couple of other workers. His daughter is helping him at his new location and Wilson is responsible for the oversight of the whole operation. He needs the loan in order to invest in his new store and continue purchasing raw materials. He will also invest in products made out of paja toquilla straw, the same material used for panama hats.
Furniture making has always provided him and his family with enough income for food and housing. Wilson is proud of the progress his business is making. He thanks the Kiva community for providing him with his first loan and hopes to continue receiving support from the international community.
Mifex offers its clients microinsurance and access to business training and educational programs. For more information about microfinance, Ecuador, and our services, please visit www.mifex.org.
",M,1300,partner,Manufacturing,0 Ecuador,"Wilson truly runs a family business. His two sons are employees in his workshop along with a couple of other workers. His daughter is helping him at a new location and Wilson is responsible for the oversight of the whole operation.
Wilson is seeking his third loan with Kiva and Mifex. With his first loan he was able to invest in his furniture making business. He increased his supply of raw materials and he was also able to hire two new employees. Wilson used his second loan to invest in the second store where his daughter works selling artisan woodwork. His third loan will go towards raw materials for both operations
Furniture making has always provided him and his family with enough income for food and housing. Wilson is proud of the progress his business is making. He thanks the Kiva community for providing him with investment capital and hopes to continue receiving support from the international community.
Click for Wilson's second loan with Kiva and Mifex: Business ID 2723
Click for Wilson's first loan with Kiva and Mifex: Business ID 413",M,1200,lender,Manufacturing,1 Ecuador,"
Yadira is a decorator for social events such as birthday parties, weddings and baptisms. She makes most of the decorations herself with skills she has learned. She has been doing this for about 7 years and is doing very well. She has no shortage of clients because her work is well liked. She works with her mother as an assistant.
Yadira will use the money from this loan to invest in supplies for her decorations. She has already borrowed from Mifex before and she invested the money in new and creative decorations. She was able to improve the quality of her work and thus increased her popularity. She also teaches local children how to make balloon decorations at the Mifex Merit Centers. Yadira admits that the business has been her crutch over the last year. Her husband left her and her two children and this business has not only provided financial stability but also helps Yadira stay positive and happy. She thanks the lenders from Kiva for their great support of entrepreneurs.
",F,275,partner,Arts,0 Ecuador,"Yanina has a store where she sells a variety of tems. Mainly she sells basic foods and household necessities such as oil and soap. She also generates a good amount of revenue from her clothing sales. She buys from distributors who purchase their products in Peru for much lower prices. This allows her to offer her products at affordable prices to her clients. She hopes that before the holiday season approaches she can invest in a significant amount of merchandise. Yanin is 43 and is a single mother of one daughter.
Mifex offers its clients microinsurance and access to business training and educational programs. For more information about microfinance, Ecuador, and our services, please visit www.mifex.org.
",M,500,partner,Retail,0 Ecuador,"Yorma is a repeat lender in the Mifex and Kiva program. She has done great with her first loan. She was able to invest in new products that were extremely popular during the end of the year because of the Christmas season. With the profits she made from those months, she was able to put tile on her floor, which was made out of cement before, and she was also able to buy some more mirrors. Yorma's business is now at a new level. Clients visit her more often because of the cleanliness of the shop and wholesalers supply her more because of the quantity of beauty products she sells.
She is very happy with the results of her investments and she is eager to continue growing. In fact, Yorma paid off her first loan ahead of schedule because of her success and her desire to receive further financing. She now wants to buy a high chair that will allow to her cut children's hair. She is hoping she will be able to break into this market as she sees that there are very few shops that focus on kids haircuts. She will also continue investing in hair and beauty products for her clients.
Her four children have benefited from the loan as they have had extra money to spend on clothes and materials for the new school year. Her husband does not help her anymore, as he is now working with Mifex as one of our new loan officers. Yorma feels extremely grateful that she has been able to grow along with our Credit Union and she is sends her appreciation to the lenders worldwide who have supported Ecuadorian entrepreneurs.
",F,950,partner,Services,0 Ecuador,"Yralda Choez was born in Manabi, Ecuador and is 40 years old. She is a married mother of two who sells perfumes, creams, and clothes to her female clients. She tends to the business at her own home and is willing to do business just about any time of day any day of the week. With the help of a previous loan from Mifex, she was able to open this small store from her home. She now wants take out a second loan so she may continue investing in wholesale products and fix up her store with the profits.
Yralda takes advantage of the fiestas that happen in the town and works along side a friend of hers who also runs a clothing business. Her friend supported her financially when it came time to start Cosmeticos Yralda, and her husband stood behind her every step of the way. She now also works with a niece whom she brought in to help her. With five years of experience, she cant complain. Business has been pretty good for Iralda. She has been able to supplement her husbands income with her own.
",F,1200,lender,Clothing,1 Ecuador,"Cesar Hugo is a 58 year old blacksmith who specializes in the production of metal doors, window frames and fences. These products are in high in demand in poor sectors in order to protect businesses and homes from robbery. Cesar has 4 sons who work with him on his business which is operated out of his mothers home. Currently he can only work when he receives an order because he does not have the money to buy materials so that he can make products in advance. He hopes that this loan will allow him to make some doors and gates he can display in order to attract more clients and sell at faster rates. ",M,500,partner,Manufacturing,0 Ecuador,"Absalon has worked in the production and sales of frames and mirrors for 8 years. He began learning the trade from another person 20 years ago. Upon his release from his work with that person he decided to frame a print of a painting and offer it for sale. He sold it to a friend. This moved him to open his own business. Using his savings, and a loan, he was able to rent a space where he began to buy printed works, mount them and then sell the framed paintings. His business grew to the point that he had as many as six people working for him, selling the frames that he created. Unfortunately, competition came to the area. He began manufacturing mirrors, which worked out well for him. Currently, he produces both products without any help, aside from his son who now paints frames. He works seven days a week from 8:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m. His shop is located in his home.Absalon would like to obtain a loan to invest in the production of mirrors which he has stopped making due to his lack of funds.
Absalon is married. He is 40 years old and has 4 children, one of which has begun to assist him in the production of the painting frames. His wife works as a homemaker. With the investment, he would like to once again engage salesman, allowing him to better his business.
Translated from Spanish by James Comstock, Kiva Volunteer.
",M,600,partner,Manufacturing,0 Ecuador,"After successfully paying back her first loan on time, Carmen Rueda would like to step up to the next level and apply for a second loan. The story of this widowed mother is a testament to the power of microcredit, and Mifex thanks her for her continued efforts. Not only has she built economic value for her family but Carmen has given a sense of pride and motivation to them as well. As the head of the household, Ms. Rueda constantly works to feed her children and continue running the business. With the increased profits she realized from her first loan, she was able to buy a rotisserie oven for chicken, allowing her to manage the time better. In the morning Carmen purchases and prepares the food, and in the afternoon she can focus on selling it in her newly refurbished market and even doing deliveries. Carmen also makes tasty food called chifles, which are fried plantains. She makes these especially for the high school and college students who love to eat at her restaurant/market.
Carmen has been able hire a few hired hands to sell her products, helping to distribute the chifles to people around the busy market areas. Ms. Rueda lives in a marginalized sector of Guayaquil, Ecuador with her three children. Her goal over the past six months has been to attract new clients to her store, and Mifex has seen firsthand the change even in that period of time. With more than 13 years experience in this particular line of business, Carmen is a veteran, and her continued involvement in the Kiva microcredit program has brought more growth than ever before. She hopes continued access to credit will help to pay for food, clothing, medicine, and education for her family. Her second loan will go toward buying display cases and other marketing materials to promote the products which have gained somewhat of brand loyalty of her side of town.",F,1175,partner,Retail,0 Ecuador,"Alba sells cosmetics and costume jewelry-door-to door. Albita started her business with $200 dollars of savings. Initially she only sold cosmetics. Now she sells all types of costume jewelry and clothing. Alba apires to sell cosmetic-clothing combos. She will use this loan to invest in merchandise at volume wholesale prices to increase her profits. Alba is married, 37 years old, married with four children. She depends on this business to support her family and to save for the future.
Translated from Spanish by Kiva Volunteer Julie Lerch
",F,625,partner,Retail,0 Ecuador,"Alejandrina has a small store in her house where she sells basic products [such as soap, cooking oil, eggs, etc.] and stationary products. Alejandrina started her business with the help of her husband and with $100.00 of capital. She began by selling school supplies. Now she sells stationary along with basic products. Alejandrina will use her loan to invest in buying whole-sale merchandise so that she can achieve higher earnings. She has faith that with these new products, her business will grow. Alejandrina is the mother of four children and is 33 years old. She hopes that with this loan she will improve the quality of life for her family and that it will give her business stability and enable it to grow.
Translated from Spanish by Jennifer Day, Kiva Volunteer.
",F,1075,lender,Retail,1 Ecuador,"Alexandra has a small store where she sells a variety of foods including snacks and ice cream. She has borrowed from Kiva and Mifex before, using the loan to invest in more toys right before the busy Christmas season. With the profits she generated from her investment, she decided to start a new operation adjacent to her store. She is now selling lunch from a very humble diner next to her mini mart.
Alexandra needs the loan in order buy utensils, tables and chairs for her new business. She is confident that with the help of a loan her diner will flourish, as she already has a loyal client base. She has also noticed that both businesses support one another, as they draw attention to each other.
Alexandra is 40 years old and has 3 children. Her husband is her right hand man in business and in life. They are a very united family and believe firmly in the value of education for the children.",F,550,partner,Food,0 Ecuador,"Alexandra is a single mother of a one child. Her husband left her only a few months after her 10-year-old son was born. Since then, she has been hard at work trying to make ends meet. She started a small business out of the home where she and her mother live. They sell sodas and juices to the local community. Her mother tends to the business during the day, while Alexandra travels around the community selling clothing and shoes. Alexandra is now on her second loan with Kiva and Mifex. She wants to continue investing in sodas, juices, clothing, and shoes at wholesale quantities.",F,850,lender,Retail,1 Ecuador,"Alexandra sells clothing. She began her business with help from her brother-in-law who gave her merchandise to start her business. In the beginning she only sold children's clothing door-to-door. Now she continues to offer children's clothing together with clothing for adult women and men. Alexandra hopes to sell all types of clothing together with other boutique items. She will use the loan to invest in wholesale merchandise and to purchase a display case. She is sure that this new merchandise will help her business grow. Amexandra is a mother of four children. She is 39 years old and has been married for several years. Her husband is her right hand man in the business, and he moved to Guayaquil after living in Los Rios. Her business is the only source of income for her family. Alexandra hopes that this loan will give her financial security to save for her children's education and to continue the construction of her home.
Translated from Spanish by Kiva volunteer Julie Lerch",F,725,partner,Clothing,0 Ecuador,"Amado has had his business constructing coffins for the last 7 years, a trade he learnt from his relatives. Working from his house, he managed to establish his own business thanks to huge effort and saving with his wife: in this way theyve managed to maintain themselves, thanks to Amados constant dedication and his ability to find other sources of employment.
Thanks to the good quality of his work, the number of requests he receives has grown and because of this he needs a loan in order to buy more materials, particularly more wood and other accessories used in the construction and finish of the coffins.
Amado is 29 years old, he is married and his wife works with him, making the upholsteries for the coffins. They dont have any children at the moment, and the house they live in is made of cement and stable. With this loan he hopes to improve his business and living conditions, and set a hard-working example for his relatives, who are continuing to taking advantage of the traditional teaching methods that their ancestors left them.
Translated from Spanish by Katy Long, Kiva Volunteer
",M,600,partner,Retail,0 Ecuador,"Amalia has 20 years of experience in her business. She used to sell clothing, but had to leave that business after her sister died. Amalia took on her sister's expenses, leaving herself without the capital she needed for her business. She has recently taken up selling clothing and cosmetics again, from 10 am till 5 pm every day.Amalia wants to the loan so that she can invest it in working capital for her business, and increase her earnings.
Amalia is a single mother. She has 2 children, both working. They help her quite a bit with the needs of the household. She dreams of fixing up her home and she knows that she will succeed in doing so with the earnings her business generates little by little, and with the help of her children, who look after her.
Translated by Erin Corcoran, Kiva volunteer.
Amalia tiene una experiencia de 20 aos en el comercio. Ella se dedicaba a la venta de ropa, negocio que tuvo que dejar por un tiempo por que una hermana falleci y ella asumi los gastos lo que hizo que se quede sin capital. Nuevamente a retomado el negocio de venta de cosmticos y ropa, en horario de 10 a.m. hasta las 5 p.m. todos los das de la semana.
Amalia desea el crdito para invertir en capital de trabajo para su negocio y poder ir mejorando sus ingresos.
Amalia es madre soltera, tiene 2 hijos los cuales ya trabajan y le ayudan bastante en las necesidades del hogar, ella desea arreglar su casita, y sabe que lo lograra con las ganancias que poco a poco le generara el negocio y tambin con la ayuda de sus hijos que estn pendientes de ella.
",F,375,partner,Retail,0 Ecuador,"Ana has 2 years of experience in her business of sales of home products. She started her business with money that her husband had saved; together they have succeeded in launching the business. They work every day from 8 am to 3 pm alongside their sons, who help them sell. Previously, Ana worked in an office as a secretary for a year. When she left that job, her husband brought up the idea of starting her own business.
Ana wants the loan so she can invest it in the business by buying products her clients order but that she doesn't currently stock, and by having more products in stock in general, in order to generate more income.
Ana is 38 years old with 8 children. Four of her children are currently in school; the other four help her in the business. Her husband has worked for almost 16 years as a cook preparing morocho, a dry cracked corn used in beverages and foods; he enjoys his work. With the loan and the income their business generates, they would like to begin to improve their home, which is currently made of reed. They want to begin to reinforce the house with cement. They also want their children to be able to live a better quality of life. The childen who work with Ana and her husband wish to begin to build their own businesses soon, to follow their mother, who has succeeded in setting an example for them with her hard work and effort.
Translated from Spanish by Erin Corcoran, Kiva volunteer.
",F,375,partner,Retail,0 Ecuador,"Ana has 8 years of experience in her business. She learned about this type of business while working with her mother. She was self-motived in starting her business. She began to sell right outside her home and was pleased with the results. This has motived her to continue in this endeavor but in another location. Right now she sells from a market near her home. She works every day from 5 am to 1 pm. Her children help customers as well. From her home, Ana also sells food and has the help of her children when she is working at the market. Ana wants a loan so that she can buy utensils for her business and be able to supply her store, which lacks adequate funding, with more products. Ana is a single mother of 4. All of them go to school and help her with the business in their free time. The children's father helps meet their needs. Even though Ana and the children's father are separated, they are on good terms. Ana hopes to provide her business with more items and use the resulting higher revenue to help her son buy a computer which he needs for the major he is pursuing in college.
Translated from Spanish by Alison Rives, Kiva Volunteer.
",F,475,partner,Food,0 Ecuador,"Ana sells clothing items from a small store she has in her house. She began the business with $200.00 that she had saved from her previous job. She began by selling to neighbors, offering a good variety of products at low prices. She continues her sales with the same enthusiasm as always, and needs to buy more merchandise due to requests from her clients.
With this new loan she hopes to achieve one of her goals, which is to sell fast food. She has the opportunity to buy a fast food cart, and in the area where she lives no one has a similar business. She is certain there will be much demand.
Ana is sure that by opening the fast food business, and by remodeling her existing business, she and her family will have better living conditions. She is 31 years old, has one son who is studying, and her house is made of cement. With the new focus that shell give to her business, she is sure she will be able to provide her son with a better education.
Translated from Spanish by Jennifer Day, Kiva Volunteer.
La Sra. Ana vende articulos de bazar en un local que tiene acondicionado dentro de su domicilio.Inicio este negocio con $200 que habia ahorrado de su antiguo trabajo.",F,675,partner,Retail,0 Ecuador,"Angel has a well-located bakery in the main street where he sells bread, drinks, cakes, and dairy products. When he first started his business, he only sold bread and pastries; as his business has grown, he has been able to include many other products such as dairy products and cake. His experience as an assistant in a bakery helped him decide to start his own business when the opportunity arose to buy a used oven.
Angel is on his second loan with Kiva and Mifex. He used the previous loan to purchase raw materials and to buy a display case for his products. He hopes this new loan will enable him to buy more ingredients for his baked goods and help him continue to slowly improve the infrastructure of his bakery.
Angel is very confident in the success of his business. He is 42 years old and has two children, one of which is studying. This loan will give him financial security and will allow him to start saving money.
Angels previous loan was registered under his mothers maiden name, Mendoza. This issue has been addressed and this new loan is being processed under the correct name. The profile for Angels previous loan is available at the following link: http://www.kiva.org/app.php?page=businesses&action=about&id=10508
",M,575,lender,Food,1 Ecuador,"Angela has her business in the market where she sells plastic items. Angela began her business with money that she saved when she immigrated to Spain. At first she sold only plastic items. Now she continues to offer these products along with the sale of clothing and lingerie. She hopes to sell a variety of things and buy a vitrine in which to display the merchandise. Angela is sure that with these new products, her sales will increase and this will allow her to continue growing her business and to make larger investments. She is 41 years old, has two children who are studying, and has a cement house. Her children help her in her business. She is very organized in her business and has faith that with her earnings she will improve the quality of life for her family.Translated from Spanish by Jennifer Day, Kiva Volunteer.
",F,1200,partner,Retail,0 Ecuador,"Angelina has a store where she sells basic products. She began her business when she got married and, with the savings of both, they began the business. At first they only sold candy. Now they sell these products along with basic goods and cleaning products. Angelina wants to buy merchandise at wholesale prices and to buy a vitrine to be able to exhibit her products. Angelina is 21 years old, is married, has an 8 month-old son, and lives in a cement house. She wants to save in order to be able to send her child to a good school so he can receive the education that she never had. She is sure that with this loan, her business will grow and she will be able to save for the future education of her children.
Translated from Spanish by Jennifer Day, Kiva Volunteer.
",F,375,partner,Food,0 Ecuador,"Antonio is from the county of Baba, a rice-growing region on the Ecuadorian coast. Antonio has lived in Baba since he was born there 70 years ago. He has a rice farm where he, his wife, Paula, and several of their children work together to harvest the product. He is very happy that he is still a leader in his family and that he can help them earn a living. He wants to invest in fertilizer and pesticides for the rice, products which will make his lands more productive.
Translated from Spanish by Jennifer Day, Kiva Volunteer.
Antonio es del canton Baba, un sector arrocero en la costa ecuatoriana. Antonio ha vivido en Baba desde que nacio hace 70 aos. El tiene arroz en su finca donde el, su esposa Paula y varios de sus hijos trabajan en conjunto para cosechar el producto. El esta bien feliz que todava es un lider en su familia y les puede ayudar sobrevivir. El quiere invertir en fertilizante y pesticidas para el arroz, productos que le harn mas productivas sus tierras y para que tenga mas rendimiento.
This borrower is part of the newest Communal Bank in the recently developed Mifex Rural Finance Program. All of the members of the Rosa de Oro (Golden Rose) Communal Bank are part of an Association of Rice Farmers in the county of Baba in rural Ecuador. Their association works cooperatively to cultivate rice and commercialize the product after it has grown. As an association, Rosa de Oro helps the farmers by providing access to machinery, training services and government assistance. The farmers from Rosa de Oro are very close to each other and cooperate to help one another on their farms.
The members of Rosa de Oro will use the micro-loans to prepare their lands and cultivate rice on their farms. Because they form part of a communal bank, they are all each others' guarantors for the loan. This means that if for some reason one person in the group cannot fully repay the loan, the other borrowers and the Rosa de Oro Association are responsible for the amount in default. The members of the bank also participate in a program designed to teach and encourage savings among the group. Promoting savings is often forgotten in many micro-finance programs, but Mifex believes that is imperative for the communities we works with to have capital reserved for future investments or unexpected difficulties.
Below is more information about Baba compiled by Luis Crespo and Robert Edgar of the Mifex team when evaluating the potential of the sector for the Rural Finance Program.
The people of Baba have been organized since the days of Gran Colombia when Ecuador was yet to be a country. The area has always been popular because of the extremely productive lands that gave way to cultivation of cacao for decades. Now Baba is a county in the province of Los Rios in the coastal region of Ecuador. For most of the latter part of the 20th Century it was a cacao and banana producing sector. Most of the surrounding areas of Baba in Los Rios are owned by large mulitnational companies such as Dole, but Baba is a sector characterized by the small and informal farms.
Rice production has now turned into the main economic activity of the sector as about 80% of the people are rice farmers. Cacao is still very popular in the area, but because of the long cultivation cycle people prefer to invest in rice. The lands in Baba are very fertile though, and most farmers in the sector often grow other crops, such as plantains and soy beans as secondary sources of income. Many farmers also keep livestock as emergency sources of food and income, commonly resorting to selling a chicken or pig if they are in need of cash.
Most of the people in the Baba area are small farmers. They produce about 80 sacks of rice per hectare of land. In order to farm they first must prepare the lands by removing weeds, plowing and leveling the lands. This is the most difficult part for the farmers in Baba, who often lack the necessary machinery to properly plow the lands for rice production. After appropriately preparing the lands, the farmers fill an area with water to form what is known as a paddy field, because rice is a very water intensive crop. The rice seeds are either dispersed freely (the process is known as boleo in Spanish) or hand sowed. Once the rice has grown, most farmers rent machinery that helps them gather their production.
",M,550,lender,Agriculture,0 Ecuador,"Antonio makes backpacks. He began his business after seeing the need to employ himself after being left jobless. At the beginning he made the backpacks by hand and selling them to friends and through his neighborhood. Now he sells the same product as well as school suppplies. He would use the loan to invest in material and to buy an industrial machine so that he could increase his earnings. He has faith that with this loan he will be able to improve his quality of living and will be able to help his business grow. Antonio is 30, married and has 3 children. He is sure that with this loan he will be able to improve his quality of life and be able to save for the future.Translated from Spanish by Kiva Volunteer, Kristin Connor.
",M,875,partner,Retail,0 Ecuador,"Argentina has been selling clothes and shoes for a year and a half. She does it with her daughter, who helps her. She works Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays. She lets her clients buy on credit and carries an account register. Each week she collects payments from her clients. The other days of the week she is a domestic assistant in 3 houses, which is her other source of income. She was able to save and buy the inventory for her small business. Her earnings allowed her to buy her house and add a foundation. Previously it was located over the water.
She needs the loan because she wants to buy inventory for the beach season. With her earnings she hopes to increase her capital and make some repairs to her home.
Argentina was born in Santa Lucia Guayas. She is 49 years old. She has 3 children, one of whom is now independent. She does not have a husband because he abandoned her 15 years ago. Argentina has confronted the full responsibility for the household alone. She had to work with her mother from the time she was very young and now she must continue to work, for her children. Her aspiration is that her business grows and she is able to work full time in clothing sales, because the earnings are better.
Translated from Spanish by Erin Corcoran, Kiva volunteer.
",F,375,partner,Clothing,0 Ecuador,"Argentina sells clothing and cosmetics to the people in her neighborhood. Additionally, in the past few months she has been selling baby clothing, which has been requested by many of her customers. Together with her sister they sell the clothing outside of maternity hospitals in the city.
She needs a loan to buy more merchandise and to be able to offer more products to her customers during the coming holidays.
Argentina is 27 and has 2 children who study. Her house is made of cement and she has a stable home life.
Translated from Spanish by Molly Puglisi, Kiva Volunteer.
",F,650,lender,Clothing,1 Ecuador,"Ariola is a saleswoman in her neighborhood. Primarily she sells bibles to the people from her church and her community. She started off with $50 of investment capital and has slowly expanded her businesses. She also sells clothing and other products targeted towards women. In order to make her products affordable to her clients she takes half of the payment at the time of purchase and charges the rest on a weekly or bi-weekly rate. She is eager to receive a loan in order to buy more products for her clients like more bibles, CDs and clothing. She hopes that she can receive the loan before the busy Christmas season begins. This business is a complementary source of income in her household of 6 children. Her husband works as a bricklayer but he does not make enough money to provide for his family on his own.",F,250,partner,Retail,0 Ecuador,"Armando has a small store wher he sells groceries and makes and sells bread. He started out with a small amount of savings from the salary he earned working at a shop. He learned how to make bread from the previous renter who had this business in this same location. With time and given the demand, he began to sell groceries, drinks, and various other articles.
Armando needs this loan to invest in the purchase of merchandise for his business, because demand will soon be increasing, when school classes begin. He is sure that with this investment he will obtain good earnings, which will enable him to provide economic security for his family.
Armando is married and 34 years old. He has 3 children who are in school. His wife helps him with the business, and they depend on it to support the family. Armando hopes that with this investment he will earn more and can give economic security to the family.
(Translated from the Spanish by Naomi Johnson, Kiva volunteer)",M,500,partner,Food,0 Ecuador,"Arturo tiene su negocio de ebanistera. Desde joven se ha dedicado a trabajar en la madera, haciendo muebles para las casas, especialmente camas. El tiene una casa y tiene ubicado all su negocio. Todos los del sector lo conocen por su trabajo y son ellos que les recomiendan ms clientes. Arturo todos los das atiende el negocio.
Gracias a su trabajo l ha podido mantener su hogar y educar a sus hijos que ya son independientes. l esta solicitando para un prstamo y desea comprar: madera ya que al llegar la temporada de lluvia, sta escasea y es ms cara.
Arturo naci en Manab, tiene 68 aos, con 7 hijos. Su esposa todava lo acompaa. Ella ha sido su gran apoyo en el hogar. Arturo toda su vida ha trabajado y a pesar de su edad lo sigue haciendo. Gracias al esfuerzo de ambos pudieron educar a sus hijos y actualmente ellos tienen sus propios negocios. Su trabajo es su nico ingreso que tiene y no desea ser mantenido de sus hijos. Adems el trabajo lo mantiene activo.
Translated from Spanish by Isabel Tan, a Kiva volunteer.",M,375,partner,Construction,0 Ecuador,"Astolfo has 18 years of experience in this business. He makes roofs for houses, sliding doors, folding screen room partitions, and windows. He learned this business when he worked in a factory. When the factory was liquidated, he bought some of the machinery and started his own workshop. For the past five years he has been running his own business, which is open from 6:00 AM to 6:00 PM, depending on the urgency of the orders he is working on. He has two employees who help him. The business has been growing bit by bit and he has invested all of his earnings in heavy machinery.
He needs the loan to buy raw materials, such as iron. He would especially like to produce windows that he could showcase at his shop.
Astolfo was born in Simn Bolvar-Juian. He is 49 years old and is married. His wife works in the home. Astolfo is a hard-working and responsible person. Thanks to his hard work, he has his own house that is built of cement and he also is the owner of his place of business. He has been able to manage his finances very well. His hope is to maintain his business and that it will prosper so that he will be able to provide jobs to other people.
Translated from Spanish by Jennifer Day, Kiva Volunteer.
",M,600,partner,Construction,0 Ecuador,"Aurora is active in the distribution and sale of rice in 100-pound quantities to stores and markets in the area north of Guayaquil. She has fifty steady clients to whom she provides rice on a weekly basis; she also sells rice by the pound from home. She started her business with a loan of $400 from another institution and with the help of suppliers who sell to her at wholesale prices. With this loan, Aurora aspires to having more capital to invest in her product, purchase more rice and fix up the shop in her home in order to increase her clientele and serve them better. Aurora is very happy and is certain that with this loan her family will improve its standard of living and she will be able to save money for a better education for her son in the future. She is 50 years old and has a son who attends school. She lives in a cement home and enjoys a stable family life.
Translated from Spanish by Leo Duran, Kiva Volunteer.
",F,950,partner,Food,0 Ecuador,"Bachita has her own general store, located in her home. She began it with money that her husband left her when he passed away. She sells school-supplies, sweets, colas, beers and other items. She works from 7am-10pm. She has been involved in this activity for 10 years. Her business is well located because in the area where her home is located, there are no other general stores.
Bachita wishes to buy more gift items and more drinks; because above all else, the demand for drinks is the greatest, as her home is next to an eatery.
Bachita is 35 years old, and a young widow. But 11 years ago, she re-married. Her husband today is a taxi driver and retired from the Armed Forces. He is a support for her and helps her with the household expenses. They have 3 children who all attend school. Their home is a 2 story cement house, but the second floor is still under contruction. Her 13 year old daughter helps her in the mornings to mind the store. She hopes to be able to grow with us and to give a better education to her children.
Translated from Spanish by Kiva Volunteer, Kristin Connor.
",F,525,partner,Retail,0 Ecuador,"Beatriz rents washing machines. Beatriz began her business by financing a debt to purchase two washing machines from a large commerical store. In the beginning she just offered laundry services from her home. Now she continues to provide this service but also rents out the machines from her home. She will use the loan to purchase another machine. She is sure that with this new tool her business will grow and she will be able to continue to invest in it. Beatriz is a mother of four children, married and 38 years old. She is sure that the loan will help her to improve her family's quality of life and her business will grow.
Translated from Spanish by Kiva volunteer Julie Lerch",F,375,partner,Services,0 Ecuador,"Bella has 20 years of business experience. She started by selling roses on Mother's Day and thanks to that work she was able to buy herself a car, but she had to sell it because the child who was helping her became ill. With some of the money from the sale of the car she started a business of reparing automobile batteries which she had to close because the battery acid was harmful to her health. Since then she has been going to small towns to sell cheese. During these trips people have asked her for merchandise. These two enterprises have helped her maintain her home. She sells comsmetics each week day, and the cheese business she does on the week ends when there are fiestas in the small towns. Bella wants a loan to invest in her business for which she has orders, and also to grow her cheese operation so as to generate more income. Bella has been separated from her husband for 20 years, and has 8 children. Only one is at home because he had an accident which resulted in a head injury, which left him with diminished senses, and she took on his care, relying on the help of another son who helps her sell her merchandise. >p<>b< Translated from Spanish by Dwight Davis, Kiva Volunteer.>/b<>p<",F,375,partner,Retail,0 Ecuador,"Bella has a laundry where she provides washing and drying services. Bella started her business by borrowing 200 dollars from the loan sharks to buy a washing machine. In the beginning she only provided her services to friends and neighbors. Now she offers washing, drying and renting of washing machines for her clients' homes. She would use this loan to buy the clothes dryer she needs to keep up with demand for her services. She is confident that with this new tool her business will grow.
Bella is 44 years old. She has 3 children; one of her children is currently in school. She depends on the business to support her family. Bella is confident that this loan will give her family economic security and allow her to make improvements to her home.
Translated from Spanish by Erin Corcoran, Kiva volunteer.
",F,275,partner,Services,0 Ecuador,"Bernardo tiene 3 aos vendiendo: tomate, cebolla, pimiento, toda clase de legumbres segn la poca. Su negocio est ubicado en uno de los mercados y tiene buena concurrencia. Despus de haber sido cancelado de su anterior trabajo como guardia de seguridad no encontraba trabajo. Se acord de lo que antes haca, es decir, venda en la calle y nuevamente retom su actividad.
l atiende el negocio de lunes a domingo de 5:00AM a 2:00PM. Su hijo le ayuda y tambin tiene otro puesto. Gracias a los ingresos del negocio han podido tener su casa. l necesita el prstamo para poder surtir sus legumbres como: papa, col, y tomates. Tiene la suficiente demanda para colocar sus productos.
Bernardo naci en Vinces. Tiene 38 aos. Con 3 hijos. Su esposa se dedica a su hogar atendiendo a los nios. Ella tambin le ayuda en el negocio. Bernardo desde joven trabaj en el campo como agricultor junto a sus padres, a los 20 aos decidi salir a la ciudad para mejorar su condicin de vida. Se cas y tuvo que trabajar en lo que poda. Actualmente su negocio les ha permitido educar a sus hijos, tener su casa y hacerle mejora. Su aspiracin es seguir creciendo y que su hijo se independice con el negocio que ya tiene pero que es muy pequeo.
Translated from Spanish by Isabel Tan, a Kiva volunteer.
",M,475,partner,Food,0 Ecuador,"Betty Delgado has a food stand located in an industrial area where she sells lunches and snacks to factory employees. She will use the loan to improve her stand and accommodate it for her clients by adding chairs and tables.
Betty is a separated, 32 year old woman with two children. She boasts a stable family.
Translated from Spanish by Nathan, Kiva Volunteer.
",F,550,lender,Food,1 Ecuador,"Betty has 3 years of experience running her business. She began to be interested in selling when she helped a friend who sold products in the country. Little by little, Betty started to like this sort of business. So, she asked for a loan, and started her own business. Now on the weekends she goes with a group of other people to sell. She works from 8 until 7. Betty wants a loan so that she can invest in different products that she does not currently sell, like sandwich makers, blenders, irons, and radios. Betty is a single mother of 2. Both children and her granddaughter live with her. One child was born mentally challenged. Betty receives monthly payments from the children's father. She wants to be able to sell from her home so that she can stop traveling and stay with her children. Slowly, she has been able to continue to build her cement home.
Translated from Spanish by Alison Rives, Kiva Volunteer.
",F,275,partner,Retail,0
Ecuador,"Blanca Aidee is the president of the Cochapamba comunal bank in the community of San Miguel Alto, located approximately one half-hour from the city of Cuenca, in the south of Ecuador. She is 33 years old, is married, and has two children who are 15 and 8 years old.
Blanca sells all kinds of fruit. She has a stall in the Open Market of Cuenca. She has been selling fruit for eight years. Her mother also sold fruit but, unfortunately, she passed away a couple of years ago. Blanca works from 8am until 2 or 3pm Tuesday through Saturday. (She spends Sundays and Mondays with her family.) There is a lot of competition in the market, but she says she has regular customers because she treats them well so that they will come back. She also always gives them a yapa (a little bit extra that she gives as a gift).
Blanca needs a loan of $1,100 so she can buy chirimoyas [also known as custard apples], grapes, and apples to stock her stall in the market. She is also planning to buy small animals and blankets for other small business deals that she occasionally does.
Blanca has been a member of Fundacin Espoir for 10 years. She says that she likes earning money and saving. Her goal for the future is to continue working so she can be a good example to her children.
Translated from Spanish by Jennifer Day, Kiva Volunteer
",F,1100,partner,Food,0 Ecuador,"Blanca has a mini-bazaar where she sells gifts for all occasions, materials for painting fingernails, and school supplies. She was motivated to start her business by her mother-in-law, who gave Blanca use of a small space in her store so that she could launch her own business. Her husband helped her procure the products. He works selling the same products in the street.She would use the loan to buy school supplies because the back to school season is about to begin. With the additional earnings, she will be able to expand her business.
Blanca is 22 years old, with one daughter. Her husband works selling school supplies in the street. Although they are a young couple, they are very hardworking and very motivated to get ahead. Blanca dreams that her business will grow and she will be able to own her own parcel of land some day.
Translated from Spanish by Erin Corcoran, a Kiva volunteer.
",F,600,partner,Retail,0 Ecuador,"Blanca has a very well situated store, located on a main street. She started her business with the help of a $200 loan from the loan sharks. At first she only sold rice, sugar and oil. Now she continues to offer those products, along with legumes and ice cream.
Blanca will use the loan to buy additional merchandise with which to expand her store. She has every confidence that the business will grow and she will be able to continue making investments.
Blanca is the mother of 5 children and a widow. She is 35 years old. She depends entirely on her business for the income she needs to support her family. She hopes that this loan will give her financial security and permit her to save for her children's education.
Translated from Spanish by Erin Corcoran, Kiva volunteer.
Blanca tiene una tienda muy bien ubicada en una calle principal. Blanca empez el negocio con la ayuda de un crdito que solicito a los chulqueros de 200 dlares. Al principio solo venda arroz, azcar y aceite. Ahora ella contina ofreciendo estos productos junto con legumbres y helados.
Blanca usara el prstamo para invertir en la compra de mercadera para incrementar su tienda. Ella tiene toda la seguridad que negocio crecer y podr seguir haciendo inversiones.
Blanca es madre de cinco hijos, viuda, tiene 35 aos. Ella depende de su negocio completamente para apoyar a su familia. Ella tiene la esperanza que este prstamo le dar seguridad financiera y pueda permitirle ahorrar para la educacin de sus hijos.",F,1000,partner,Food,0 Ecuador,"Blanca has a year's experience in clothing sales. Previously, because her husband died, she began to work doing domestic chores. Later she worked as a packer. When her sister saw her doing the packing work, she encouraged Blanca to start her own business selling clothes. She was able to finance her business with money loaned by her sister. She has succeeded in moving her business forward, selling to people she knows and to family members from Monday to Saturday, 9 am to 6 pm.
Blanca wants the loan in order to invest it in the business. She has lots of orders for beach clothing since it's that season, but because she lacks capital, she's unable to satisfy those client orders.
Blanca is 53 years old, with 6 children. Four of her children are now adults and help her with what she needs; the other two are still in school. In the future she wishes to fix up her house, and to give a better life to her children.
Translated from Spanish by Erin Corcoran, Kiva volunteer.
",F,375,partner,Clothing,0
Ecuador,"Blgica is a member of the Nueva Generacin communal bank, a relatively new group that meets every two weeks in the Cuba neighborhood in the city of Manta, in the province of Manab, on the coast of Ecuador.
Blgica is 26 years old and lives with her common-law husband and her 2.5 year-old son. She sells sheets, curtains, and natural medicine. Her mother brings her the curtains and sheets from the city of Guayaquil, and the natural medicine is from a catalog.
She sells door-to-door and she also travels outside the city of Manta to sell her products. Her customers are usually her friends and her acquaintances from her old job. She has been working in this business since she was 22 years old. She says that though sales always rise and fall, things are going very well and she sells $30 to $40 of merchandise per week. She likes her work.
She is requesting a loan in order to buy sheets and curtains with new designs and fashionable colors and to increase her stock of natural medicines. She wont invest all of her loan at once in purchases; rather she will spend it bit by bit as needed.
Her goal for the future is to open a store in her house, with vitrines and all. She has been with the communal bank for two loan cycles, and she says its a great opportunity being provided because the interest is low and the twice-monthly payments work well for her.
Translated from Spanish by Jennifer Day, Kiva Volunteer
",F,500,partner,Retail,0 Ecuador,"Bolvar has 5 years of experience manufacturing dressers for storing clothes. He left his native city and came to live near his uncle in Isla Trinitaira in Guayaquil, where he started to work, learned the profession, and slowly became independent. Two years ago her married, and his wife is in charge of buying the wood for the business, which is located in front of the place they live. They don't pay rent because they are caretakers for the place. They have steady clients who order products every week. They charge 50% in advance and the balance upon delivery. They work from Monday through Saturday. They are trying little by little to get ahead, because they are still paying on the used planing machine that they bought.Bolvar needs this loan to buy another planing machine because he always has 2 employees working, and right now they need to take turns. This will permit production to increase.
Bolvar is 19 years old, with one child. His wife helps him in the business, especially buying the wood. They have been married just two years, and since they are very young they are trying to get ahead in their family life as well as their business. Their aspiration is to establish their business well and save to buy a home.
(Translated from the Spanish by Naomi Johnson, Kiva volunteer)",M,475,partner,Manufacturing,0 Ecuador,"Business Description
Pedro has been selling encebollados (Ecuadorian soup) for more than ten years. He started off as an employee in a picanteria (a restaurant specializing in encebollados) until he saved enough money to start his own business. He and his wife prepare and sell food from 4:00 am until 6:00 pm in two shifts, in the morning from their home and in the afternoon from in the city center as traveling vendors.
Use of Loan
Pedro wants this loan to increase his capital by purchasing articles and accessories that he needs for his business such as industrial size pots, plates, spoons and other utensils.
Personal Information
Pedro is a young and enterprising 26 year old. He is coupled and has two children. His oldest, a six year old, goes to school. He has his own home in a shared plot of land. One of his aspirations is to have a permanent stall in the center of the city to sell his product as he is currently a traveling vendor.
Translated from Spanish by Cindy M., Kiva Volunteer.
",M,525,lender,Food,1 Ecuador,"Business Description
Angela sells water bottles and soda to residences. She started this business with the help of her brother who lent her start-up money. Right now she not only delivers water to residences but she also delivers to local shops and restaurants.
Loan Use
Angela intends to use the loan to purchase soda and water bottles at wholesale. With the profits she expects to attain, she will achieve one of her lifes goals: the improvement of her home.
Personal Information
She is 50 years old and lives with a daughter who is a single mother. Her principal goal is to build her house with quality materials and secure a great education for her grandchild.
Translated from Spanish by Marco Alves, Kiva Volunteer.
Betsy started her business two years ago. The products she offers include costume jewelry, school supplies and confections. Her store is open for business every day from 8 am to 9 pm.
Loan Use
Betsy needs a loan in order to purchase new jewelry, gift wrap accessories, toys and some clothing. By expanding her product line, she can present a new image for her business and offer a greater selection of goods to her customers.
Personal Information
Betsy is 23 years old and has a one-year-old son. She is separated from her husband, and uses a portion of her parents house from which to run her business. In addition to offering a wider variety of products, she would like to improve her business by making improvements to her business location..
Translated from Spanish by Mary Lynn, Kiva Volunteer.
",F,400,partner,Retail,0 Ecuador,"Business Description
Johanna has a small second hand store where she also sells products such as sports clothing. The business has been running for more than 5 years in the neighborhood. Business hours are from 8:00 am to 7:00 pm from Monday through Saturday.
Use of Loan
Johanna needs this loan to stock the business by purchasing needed school supplies. There are two schools near her business which will facilitate the sale of the merchandise which she wishes to buy.
Personal Information
Johanna is 25 years old. She is a single mother and lives with her parents. Her mother helps her with the business. She has a two year old daughter who has not yet started school. One of her aspirations is to be able to give her only daughter a good education.
Translated from Spanish by Cindy M., Kiva Volunteer.
",F,300,lender,Retail,1 Ecuador,"Business Description
Martha started her business five years ago. The services she offers include hair cuts and color, manicures and pedicures. Her salon is open for business every day from 8 am to 9 pm.
Loan Use
Martha would like to purchase new equipment for her business, such as a salon chair, a manicure table and small display case. By doing this, she can provide a more services and a better experience for her customers.
Personal Information
Martha is 28 years old. She has two children, one is in school. Her husband works as a driver. She started her business, which she runs from her home, with a small loan from a moneylender. In addition to expanding her salons services, she would like to improve her business by making improvements to her business location.
Translated from Spanish by Mary Lynn, Kiva Volunteer.
",F,525,lender,Services,1 Ecuador,"Business Description
Nancy has 16 years of experience with her business. Thanks to loans and help from her sister she opened her food stall. She works everyday of the week from 8:00 am to 5:00 pm. She gets help with the business from her son and her sister. She runs her business from her home.
Use of Loan
She will invest her loan in the purchase of kitchen utensils and general supplies for her business. Her goal is to be able to sell lunch in the afternoons which is why she wants to make this investment.
Personal Information
Nancy is a single mother. She owns her own home which is made of cement. She has one 15 year old son who goes to school.
Translated from Spanish by Cindy M., Kiva Volunteer.
",F,650,lender,Food,1 Ecuador,"Business Description
Patricia has six years of experience with her business. She was able to establish her business with her savings. She receives much support from her husband who is always by her side. She works everyday of the week from 8:00 am until 5:00 pm. She has a good client base within and outside of her neighborhood.
Use of Loan
She will invest her loan to supply her business with merchandise. She has orders which she hopes to fill.
Personal Information
Patricia is married. She has two children that are in school. Her husband works in construction. Her home is made of reeds. Her goal is to make her home more suitable which will give her greater security.
Translated from Spanish by Cindy M., Kiva Volunteer.
",F,500,lender,Retail,1 Ecuador,"Business Description
Richard owns a bakery which has been in business more than ten years. The business operates in two shifts. The first shift, production, runs from 7:00 pm to midnight. The second shift, sales, runs from 6:00 am through 9:00 am.
Use of Loan
Richard needs this loan to increase his working capital to purchase more products for his store to enable him to offer a greater variety to this clients. He will purchase products wholesale to obtain lower prices.
Personal Information
Richard is 25 years old and is single. He lives with his parents in a home made of cement. One of his brothers helps him with his business. One of his goals is to be able to distribute bread to other neighborhoods in the city.
Translated from Spanish by Cindy M., Kiva Volunteer.
",M,525,lender,Food,1 Ecuador,"Business Description
Yenne has 12 years of experience with her business. Through her ex-husband she learned how to make bread and candy which she now makes with her daughters. She works every day from 6:00 am until 9:00 pm. She has a high demand from her clients within her neighborhood as well as outside of her neighborhood.
Use of Loan
She will use the loan to invest in the purchase of merchandise for her business such as: flour, eggs, butter, soft drinks, juices, cheese and milk.
Personal Information
Yenne is a single mother. She has six children who go to school. One of her daughters is married. All of her children help her take care of the business. Her home is made of cement. Her hope is to improve her business and her home for the welfare of her family.
Translated from Spanish by Cindy M., Kiva Volunteer.
",F,525,lender,Food,1 Ecuador,"Business Description
Gloria has had her business for 10 years. She started with her own money 5 years ago, and her husband helps her to invest in cosmetics. She has also been able to sell clothes. She works weekdays 8am 5pm.
Loan Use
She will use the loan to buy cosmetics in bulk as she receives a good discount. She is also thinking about buying clothes that her clients have asked for.
Personal Information
Gloria is 37 years old and is married with 3 children, all of whom study. Her husband is a driver for a delivery company. They have their house on credit and she would like to finish building it so that her family can live in a better environment.
Translated from Spanish by Liz Harvey, Kiva volunteer
",F,650,partner,Retail,0 Ecuador,"Business Description
Hernn has been selling fried onions, rice with fried fish and chicken for 10 years. He started this business with his own money and he works at it with his wife. They work from 6am 11am. Their business is located in the centre of the city. After selling food, Hernn makes deliveries in a small car in order to earn more money.
Loan Use
Hernn needs a loan in order to buy new kitchen utensils such as plates, saucepans, spoons etc. He needs these as the utensils he has at present are now too old to use. He would like to provide a better service for his clients.
Personal Information
Hernn is 31 years old and is married to Mariana. They have children all under the age of 18, two of which are in high school and two of which are in elementary school. His 2 eldest children help a lot in the preparation of the foods. They have their own house which is made of cement but is not yet finished. They offer each other mutual support in order to keep going and therefore have a better lifestyle.
Translated from Spanish by Liz Harvey, Kiva volunteer
",M,650,partner,Food,0 Ecuador,"Business Description
Maria sells household objects such as presents, work books, glue, combs etc. She also sells water in cups, gallons and bottles. She has been working independently from her home for 6 years. She works every day from 7am 8pm and thanks to the effort of her wonderful children they have kept the business afloat, selling household objects and water.
Loan Use
Maria World like a loan to buy more articles to sell in her bazaar and therefore to make more money and so that her clients will be happy with the range of products she offers. The number of clients that she has has increased so much so that she needs to increase her number of products to keep up, and this is a result of hard work each day.
Personal Information
Maria is 37 years old and she lives with her 4 children who help her with house work and her business. Their house is made of cement and is very solid. Thanks to Marias efforts 3 of her 4 children are studying and, despite the fact that her husband does not live with them, Maria has brought her family forward. Marias dream is to have a large business which will be a source of employment to people who need it.
Translated from Spanish by Liz Harvey, Kiva volunteer
",F,300,partner,Retail,0 Ecuador,"Business Description
Mercy has been selling lunches for one and a half years. She sells around 30 lunches a day and works from 7am 2pm every day. She started her business because her Mother had taught her to work from an early age and this is how she learnt, and she therefore decided to start this business. Her diner is in her house.
Loan Use
Mercy wants a loan to buy a semi-industrial cooker as she does not have one and her current one does not meet her needs as there is more and more demand for her food. She also wishes to buy more tables and chairs.
Personal Information
Mercy is 25 years old, is single and lives with her Mother and sister. They have a single floor house which is made of cement and is not yet finished. Mercy and her sister make these lunches and they both help their Mom to cover the household costs. She is a very hard-working woman and she makes an effort to help her family move forward. She also wishes to, bit by bit, improve their home.
Translated from Spanish by Liz Harvey, Kiva volunteer
",F,400,partner,Food,0 Ecuador,"Business Description
Pablo has been making and selling food for 30 years. He has a basic food store where he sells rice, oil, beans, sugar etc. He started this business when his wife died. He had his own money and decided to invest it in a business. It is open from 6.30am 10 pm Monday Sunday. Weekends he also sells ceviches ad encebollados from 6am 11am.
Loan Use
Pablo would like a loan to buy more supplies such as rice, oil, sweets, diapers etc. These products are in demand in his area and he does not have enough to meet his clients needs.
Personal Information
Pablo is 59 years old and has been a widower for 3 years. When his wife died he was left in charge of the house. He currently lives with his 2 eldest daughters and he helps out with his grandchildren when he can. He has his own house which has 2 floors and is made of cement, although it is not yet finished. His daughters help him out with his business, especially by selling encebollado which is what they did before his wife died. They are very hard-working people despite difficulties which have meant they have had to fight to continue on together.
Translated from Spanish by Liz Harvey, Kiva volunteer
",M,525,partner,Food,0 Ecuador,"Business Description
Santa has had a bakery for 3 years, which she started with her husbands savings thanks to his secular work where he sells bread and perfumes. She helps her husband in the business and it grows every day.
Loan Use
She would like to invest in flour and sugar in bulk and would like to buy a shop window to show off her products as she always worries about giving off a good image to her clients.
Personal Information
Santa is 32 years old and has 3 children all of whom are studying. Their house is made of cement and she would like to see her business grow so that she can earn more money for her family.
Translated from Spanish by Liz Harvey, Kiva volunteer
",F,700,lender,Food,1 Ecuador,"Business description
Sonnia has been buying and selling gas cylinders for 6 months. She does this from her Mothers house as she helps her attend to her clients. She started this business because there is no one selling gas where she lives. She had saved up some money by working part time in a warehouse, and this is how she bought the gas cylinders. She works form 7am 8pm every day.
Loan Use
Sonnia would like a loan in order to buy more gas cylinders as her business is located near a market and she does not have enough to satisfy her clients needs.
Personal Information
Sonnia is 20 years old and she lives with her parents. Apart from her business, she also works in a warehouse selling electro-domestic goods, which allows her to contribute to the household costs. She hopes that with the credit that she can invest in her business so that she can generate more profit to support her parents more. She also wishes to improve their home which is not yet finished and is made of cement and wood. This is how she would like a better future for her and her family.
Translated from Spanish by Liz Harvey, Kiva volunteer
",F,650,partner,Retail,0 Ecuador,"Business Description
Vctor started his business 3 years ago, and he sells basic foods such as vegetables, fruit and sweets. He works every day from 6am 10pm.
Loan Use
Vctor needs a loan to invest in new and existing products. In this way he will be able to offer more variety to his clients, expand his business and offer jobs to his children.
Personal Information
Vctor is 39 years old and has 4 children, 3 of which are studying. His wife works in the business. Victor started with a few savings which he obtained working in fields. For his business he needs a rented store. His house is near his business and is made of a mixture of materials. He hopes to improve and grow along with his business so that he can give a better education to his children and show them that the best gift is education and work.
Translated from Spanish by Liz Harvey, Kiva volunteer
",M,650,partner,Food,0 Ecuador,"Business Description: Primitivo has 12 years of experience with his business. Thanks to his children's help and his job, he was able to accumulate a working capital. He has a business selling home products and renting washing machines. He works seven days a week from 7:00 a.m. to 9:00 p.m. His oldest son helps him with sales in other parts of the city.
Loan use:
He will use the loan to stock his business with merchandise and to repair a few washing machines for his other business.
Personal Information:
Primitive is a widower. He has 6 grown children whom are always looking out for their father. His house is made of concrete. His wish is to continue to increase his capital and bring security to his home.
Translated from Spanish by Libertad Leal, Kiva volunteer.
",M,525,lender,Retail,1 Ecuador,"Business Description:
Mr. Peafiel owns a tailor shop which he opened seven years ago. His wife assists him by attending the clients. Recently, Mr. Peafiels sales have increased significantly. This is due to the fact that he has made agreements with local schools to prepare uniforms for the school children. Mr. Peafiel does all types of work related to clothing.
Loan Use:
Mr. Peafiel would like to use the loan to purchase basic material to complete the various orders that he has, including some school uniforms. Mr. Peafiel does not have the capital necessary be able to fully provide for the current or potential clientele.
Personal Information:
Mr. Peafiel is 48 years old and has one son. His home is constructed of cement. Mr. Peafiels goal is to increase his sale sin order to one day expand his shop.
Translated from Spanish by Casey Unrein, Kiva volunteer.
",M,675,lender,Services,1 Ecuador,"Business Description:
Mr. Snchez began his store a year ago. He is assisted in his business by his daughter. His best clients are individuals that live in his neighborhood. Mr. Snchez sells all types of supplies and, recently, his sales have increased.
Use of the loan:
Mr. Snchez would like to use the loan to invest in additional merchandise in order to better supply his store. Mr. Snchez tries very hard to insure that his clients are satisfied by his service.
Personal Information:
Mr. Snchez is 50 years old and has one daughter. His home is built of bamboo. His goal is to increase his sales and be able to expand his store.
Translated from Spanish by Casey Unrein, Kiva volunteer.
",M,400,lender,Food,1 Ecuador,"Business Description:
Mrs. Blanca began her own business three years ago. She is assisted in her business by one of her children. Her clients are generally her neighbors. Her sales have been increasing recently ever since she began better stocking her store. Her clients appreciate this service and the fact that she sells all kinds of basic goods.
Use of the loan:
Mrs. Blanca would like to use the loan to invest in additional merchandise in order to stock her store even better. Her clients are very demanding and Mrs. Blance strives to be able to please them.
Personal Information:
Mrs. Blanca is 35 years old and has four children. Her home is made of cement. Her goal is to increase her sales.
Translated from Spanish by Casey Unrein, Kiva volunteer.
",F,650,lender,Food,1
Ecuador,"Business Description
Alba is dedicated to the sale of natural juices prepared with medicinal plants such as Aloe Vera and Dulcamaraen in suburban sites. She began this business three years ago with a friends idea who also is dedicated to this business
Loan Use
She needs a loan in order to purchase more natural herbs and order two more wagons so that she may better distribute her product in her areas avenues.
Personal Information
Alba is 34 years old, is married and has three children. Her house is made of cement. Her goal is to grow her business.
Translated from Spanish by Kate Divjak, Kiva volunteer.
",F,925,lender,Food,1
Ecuador,"Business Description
Cristobal is dedicated to the sale of rice at wholesale and retail prices. His main customers are owners of local stores and markets. He began his business two years ago and currently has a list of 15 clients to whom he provides reliable service.
Loan Use
He needs a loan in order to increase his list of clients, which he will achieve when he begins to sell more rice. For this, he needs to purchase more rice.
Personal Information
Cristobal is 56 years old and has two children. He is a widow and lives in a cement home. His goals are to grow his business and have financial stability.
Translated from Spanish by Kate Divjak, Kiva volunteer.
",M,1075,lender,Food,1
Ecuador,"Business Description
Nieves has a sewing shop where she makes T-shirts and active wear for schools in her area. She began this business ten years ago with the help of savings from a previous job. Currently, she continues to create T-shirts and is offering her product to other institutions.
Loan Use
She will use the loan to increase the raw materials for her wholesale cloth business and therefore satisfy her customers demands.
Personal Information
Nieves is 24 years old and is single. She lives in a cement home. Her main goal is to grow her business.
Translated from Spanish by Kate Divjak, Kiva volunteer.
",F,1200,lender,Services,1
Ecuador,"Business Description
Sonia owns a telephone shop and cyber caf with four computers for her customers. She helps them to complete computer work, research, and other tasks that they request. She began this business eight years ago.
Loan Use
She will use the credit to invest in furniture in order to provide better service to her customers.
Personal Information
She is 31 years old and is married with one child. Her home is made of cement. She has economic and family stability.
Translated from Spanish by Kate Divjak, Kiva volunteer.
",F,1200,lender,Services,1
Ecuador,"Business Description
Transito has a pantry well located on a main street. In addition, she currently has a store where she sells novelty items and stationery.
Loan Use
She will use the loan to purchase rice at a wholesale price since it is becoming more expensive and she needs to stock up in order to maintain the prices of her products.
Personal Information
Transito is 41 years old, is separated and has 3 children. She lives in a cement home. Her main goal is to save for her childrens education.
Translated from Spanish by Kate Divjak, Kiva volunteer.
",F,1200,lender,Food,1 Ecuador,"Business Description
Jessica earns a living selling a variety of products for the home. She sells them door to door. She started this business a year ago and now has two employees and her husband's help. Her potential clients are the residents of the different towns in her province. Lately her business has been growing because her husband is exited to help her find new clients.
Loan Use
She wants to use the loan to purchase seasonal merchandise, since she has orders from several clients but not enough capital to efficiently take care of her customers.
Personal Information
Jessica is 31 years old and has 5 children. Her house is made of concrete and her goal is to see her sales go up and expand her advertisement on a national level.
Translated from Spanish by Libertad Leal, Kiva volunteer.
",F,800,lender,Retail,1 Ecuador,"Business Description
Maria has had her store for the past 10 years. At the present time her sales are increasing in part because it is one the of the three largest stores in the area and because Maria has her husband's support and help; he is always very attentive with the customers. She sells groceries and basic products used in everyday life.
Loan Use
She wants to use the loan to purchase rice wholesale since this is a very popular product at her store and its price always varies.
Personal Information
She is 31 years old and has three children. Her house is made of concrete. Her goal is to increase sales and expand her store.
Translated from Spanish by Libertad Leal, Kiva volunteer.
",F,1050,lender,Food,1 Ecuador,"Business Description
Ms. Miriams earns a living selling ""morocho"" (dry cracked corn used in beverages and food) in one of the main streets of the area. She also sells barbecued chicken. She started this business 6 years ago and one of her older daughters helps her. Lately sales have gone up because this is the season where people consume this product the most, specially in the afternoon hours, when she opens for business. Loan Use
She wants to use the loan to purchase tables and chairs in order to have a more welcoming presentation for her clients.
Personal Information
She is 37 years old and has 4 children. He home is made of concrete. He goal is to increase sales so that one day she is able to expand her business. Her dream is that her children take care of the business eventually.
Translated from Spanish by Libertad Leal, Kiva volunteer.
",F,825,lender,Food,1 Ecuador,"Business Description
Edis owns more than 2 hectares (5 acres) of land for growing rice. He has been in farming for more than 12 years. Depending on the weather and the cycle of the varieties of rice, Edis generally obtains up to 4 crops per year.
Use of the Loan
The loan is required for working capital, to buy the necessary supplies for the crop such as seeds, manure, fertilizers, renting of machinery, labor, etc.
Personal Information
Edis is 34 years old and is married. He has 6 children, four of whom are studying in local schools. His home is of mixed construction, that is, wood and cane. One of his goals is to improve quality of life through the education of his children.
Translated from Spanish by Diane Lister, Kiva Volunteer.
",M,700,lender,Agriculture,1 Ecuador,"Business Description
Mrs. Anita has a store that sells novelty products and sport shoes. She started this business 3 years ago. One of her daughters helps her in the store. Her sales have actually increased because we are in the winter season.
Purpose of the Loan
She wishes to use the proceeds of the loan to purchase merchandise since her sales have increased and she does not have enough funds to fill the needs of her customers.
Personal Information
She is 53 years of and has 2 children. She lives in a bamboo shack and her goal is to increase her sales so that someday she could provide a better financial condition for her family.
Translated from Spanish by Laura Bobbit, Kiva volunteer.
",F,400,lender,Retail,1 Ecuador,"Carlo dedicates himself to the distribution of herbs and spices to markets and stores.
He started his business with the help of his wife and with a settlement he received from a company. In the beginning, he only did wholesale of anise and cumin from his small store, but now he also also sells essences and condiments to markets and stores, both wholesale and retail.
He will invest the loan into the wholesale purchase of spices, to be able to compete as there is a lot of competition.
He is 38 years old and has 3 children; one of them works while the others study. His wife is his business partner; his home is made of concrete and his family is stable.
He is confident that with this loan, his business will grow and the quality of life will improve for his family.
Translated from Spanish by Ramn F. Kolb, Kiva Volunteer.
",M,500,partner,Food,0 Ecuador,"Carlos aspires to open a dental clinic in La Isla Trinitaria, one of the poorest neighborhoods in Guayaquil. He lives with his parents who put him through dental school with the help of his brother who owns a small business. Carlos has already used $600 in savings to prepare a room in his house for the business and to purchase some basic dentistry tools. He needs the loan in order to purchase a dentist chair and light as well as other materials. He has studied and practiced dentistry for the last 8 years in rural areas of Ecuador. He now wants to offer his services at affordable prices to the community he grew up with. Carlos believes this is a great opportunity for him and his family to start a business that will provide a service that is not accessible to the people of La Isla Trinitaria. With the profits he also wants to help his younger siblings in the same way his parents and his brother helped him.
Mifex offers its clients microinsurance and access to business training and educational programs. For more information about microfinance, Ecuador, and our services, please visit www.mifex.org.
",M,1175,partner,Health,0 Ecuador,"Carlo's business is the distribution of herbs and spices to markets and stores. He started his business with the help of his wife and with a settlement he received from a company. In the beginning, he only sold anise and cumin from his small store, but now he sells a variety of spices, essences and condiments to markets and stores, both wholesale and retail. Carlo used his first Kiva and Mifex loan to invest in the wholesale purchase of spices, to be able to compete in an intense market. The lower prices he was able to offer as a result of his loan allowed him to earn a greater profit. More clients seek out his products because of the variety he offers. Carlo is requesting a second loan to purchase more merchandise and increase what he can offer to his clients. Ultimately, he wants to distribute to other stores. He is 38 years old and has 3 children; one of them works while the others study. His wife is his business partner; his home is made of concrete and his family is stable. He is confident that with this loan, his business will grow and the quality of life will improve for his family.",M,1200,lender,Food,1 Ecuador,"Carlos has 18 years of experience in his field. He worked alongside his father from the time he was young. He travels through neighborhoods buying used items house to house. He buys and fixes the items so that he can sell them at low prices in the poorer areas. He goes out in the streets looking for goods from 8 am to 2 pm. The business has allowed him to support his family and make some repairs to his home.He needs the loan to buy used items in bulk, so that he can fix and sell them.
Carlos was born in Guayaquil He is 32 years old with 3 children, all still in school. His wife helps him around the house. At the moment they do not own their own home. They are a very humble and hardworking couple who persevere to get ahead. Their dream is that their children finish school and that their business grows, since it is the sole source of income for the family.
Translated by Erin Corcoran, Kiva volunteer.
Carlos tiene una experiencia de 18 aos en esta actividad, desde joven se dedic a trabajar junto a su padre. El negocio de l es recorrer las casas y comprar artefactos y artculos usados. l compra y los arregla para poder venderlos a precios baratos para ciertas zonas pobres. l sale a recorrer las calles de 8:00AM a 2:00PM. El negocio le ha permitido mantener a la familia y hacer ciertos arreglos en la casa.
l necesita el prstamo para comprar en lote sus artefactos y artculos para arreglarlos.
Carlos naci en Guayaquil. Tiene 32 aos. Con 3 hijos todava en la escuela. Su esposa le ayuda en su hogar. Actualmente todava no tienen casa propia. Ellos son una pareja muy humilde y trabajadora que luchan por seguir adelante. Su sueo es que sus hijos estudien y que su negocio crezca porque es su nica fuente de ingresos para el hogar.",M,375,partner,Retail,0 Ecuador,"Carlos has 5 years of experience in his store. Previously he worked selling vegetables at outdoor fairs but he had to stop because of problems with the city. Later he and his wife decided to start a food sales business. On his own initiative he decided to sell the chairs and tables that he had to raise financing, and began to buy stock for his food store. At the moment he rents space close to his home, He works every day of the week from 7 am to 10 pm.
Carlos wants the loan in order to be able to expand his business with products he doesnt currently offer. He is confident that with this investment he will successfully increase his earnings.
Carlos is 63 years old. He is married and has an adult son who helps him with what he needs. His son lives with Carlos and his wife. In the future he hopes to improve his house and to be able to fix up a place in his home for his business, to save what his is spending on rent.
Translated from Spanish by Erin Corcoran, Kiva volunteer.
",M,375,partner,Food,0 Ecuador,"Carlos has had his laundromat for 1 year. Since he was young, he has been a master builder. Because he never had continuous work in the construction field, he decided to start his laundry service. He rents washing machines in his neighborhood. With his own savings he was able to buy his washing machines, some in cash and some on credit. His wife and son help him fulfill his client orders. His business opens at 9 am. His previous work allowed him to finish his house with cement and launch his laundry business.
He needs the loan because he wants to buy 2 more washing machines to meet the demand for his services.
Carlos was born in Los Ros. He is 45 years old with 4 children. His wife helps him around the house and tends to client orders. They are a couple that is always looking for a way to earn income both in the house and outside of it; they are enterprising and responsible. They have their own house and rent to 3 tenants, which brings in additional income. Their dream is to continue with the business and establish it well.
Translated by Erin Corcoran, Kiva volunteer.
Carlos tiene una lavandera desde hace 1 ao. Su profesin desde joven es maestro constructor. En vista de que no tiene trabajo continuo se decidi poner su lavandera donde alquila lavadoras en su zona. Con sus propios ahorros de su trabajo l pudo comprar al contado y a crdito sus lavadoras. Su esposa y la hija le ayudan en los pedidos. Su horario de atencin es de 9:00. Su anterior trabajo le ha permitido hacer su casa de cemento y emprender ste negocio.
l necesita el prstamo porque desea comprar 2 lavadoras ms, por su demanda que tiene.
Carlos naci en Los Ros. Tiene 45 aos. Con 4 hijos. Su esposa le ayuda en el hogar y en el negocio atendiendo los pedidos. Ellos son una pareja que siempre estn buscando como generar ingresos en sus casas como fuera de ella, son personas emprendedoras y muy responsables. Tienen su casa propia y adems 3 alquiles que son otros ingresos. Su ilusin es seguir en el negocio y establecerse bien.",M,475,partner,Services,0 Ecuador,"Carlos sells bread in his own store. He began his business after learning about baking at his former job. At first, he only sold bread along with candies and other sweets. He has two assistants who help distribute bread to local stores.
Carlos approached our organization several months ago in hope of attaining a loan. After receiving the support of Kiva lenders, we were able to provide Carlos with the working capital he needed to invest in a new oven. This, in turn, led to higher production capabilities and more profits. Now Carlos sells all types of dairy products and even some meats. He hopes that a second loan will give him the continued flexibility to make wise investments such as purchasing flour when it is at low prices in the markets.
Carlos is 48 years old, married, and has two sons. He is from Manab, and he moved to Guayaquil to earn a better living. This loan will improve the quality of life for his family and help him grow his business.",M,1100,lender,Food,1 Ecuador,"Carlos sells encebollados (seafood soup), arroz con menestra (rice and beans) and bollos (seafood tamales). Carlos began his business with only $100, and he only used to sell encebollados. Now he is offering more products like ceviche mixtos (mix seafood cocktails) and chuzos (shish kabobs). Carlos wants to have a diner and bbq restaurant because in his area there is non. He would use the Kiva loan to invest buying kitchen tools and chairs to expand his business. He has faith that with this new service he will have several happy clients. Carlos is 47 years old and he and his couple hope that this loan will bring him some economic stability and will be able to save for the future.
Translated from Spanish by N.D., Kiva Volunteer.
",M,725,partner,Food,0 Ecuador,"Carlos sells small electric domestic applianes in urban zones. Carlos began his business through a loan of $100.00. At the beginning he only sold plastics door to door. Now he offers the same service but also electric devices. His ambition is to adapt his home to a place where he can display his products. He is very sure that his customers will be happier with this new service and that their numbers will grow.Carlos is married. He is 38 and has 3 children, 2 who are in school. He is convinced that this loan will improve the economic situation of his family and his business will continue to grow so that he can save and give a better education to his children.
Translated from Spanish by Kiva Volunteer, Kristin Connor.
",M,625,partner,Retail,0 Ecuador,"Carlota Delgado runs a general store out of her house selling basic goods and gifts. She recently added arcade games to her business. She will use the credit to better stock her store and improve the premises of her arcade games. Her goal is to expand her business.
Carlota is 57 years old and married with a cement house.
Translated from Spanish by Nathan, Kiva Volunteer.
",F,1075,lender,Retail,1 Ecuador,"Carmen has 8 years of experience selling soft drinks at $.10 each. She goes out every day of the week at 6:00 AM to sell along the streets with the most traffic, and she comes home at 10:00 PM. Things have gone well for her in this business because she has been able to buy her own land and a wooden house. Her oldest son works with her, and he has been a great support.
She needs this loan in order to buy more soft drinks and a tricycle. With the income generated she will be able to reinvest in the business.
Carmen was born in Bolvar. She is 36 years old, with 2 children. She is a single mother. Ever since she was small, she has worked, starting in the country planting seeds. She also worked selling wood for the city. Because of her children's studies, she had to abandon her native home and to go live in the Isla Trinitaria neighborhood of Guayaquil. From there, she started her current business. Her desire is to strengthen this business. Since it has already permitted her to meet her basic needs, she has great hope that it will prosper.
(Translated from the Spanish by Naomi Johnson, Kiva volunteer)",F,475,partner,Food,0 Ecuador,"Carmen has a store inside her home where she sells school supplies and paper products. She started her business with the help of her sister when she realized there was no such store in her neighborhood. She began by selling notebooks and various other items. Now she continues to sell these items along with candy and toys. Carmen will use the loan to buy products wholesale in order to make a bigger profit. She is 47 years old and a divorced mother of one son but is currently in a relationship. She hopes this loan will improve her familys quality of life and stabilize the growth of her business.
Translated from Spanish by Ari r Vilhjlmsson, Kiva Volunteer.
",F,375,partner,Retail,0 Ecuador,Carmen has lived in Guayaquil for over twenty years where she owns a small grocery store. She is a widow with three children that she cares for by herself. She lives in a remote area of Guayaquil but she knows her business well as she has over 13 years of experience. With the loan she will be able to purchase products in bulk and lower costs.,F,500,partner,Food,0 Ecuador,"Carmen runs a restaurant she started a year ago. She works alongside her husband and lately their sales have increased since the business is located very close to a bus station. They sell all kinds of popular dishes and also lunches and snacks.
Carmen plans to use the loan to purchase tables and chairs for the dining area because she always takes pains to see that her customers feel very well taken care of.
Carmen is 43 years old and has no children. Her home is made of cane, and her goal is to increase her sales and enlarge her restaurant.
Translated from Spanish by Marty Greenstein, Kiva Volunteer
",F,550,lender,Food,1 Ecuador,"Carmen runs her own business selling basic household goods. The business is well-located, being the only one in her area and therefore enjoys high sales. She began her business when she immigrated with her entire family to the province of Manabi due to the El Nio phenomenon. With the help of her husband, she sold vegetables to area residents. She currently sells all types of groceries, basic household products and foodstuffs. Carmen is seeking the loan because she has realized the need to purchase products at wholesale prices due to the increase in her clientele. Being a visionary, she also wants to put up a bazaar; there is a school near her house and her customers have requested it. Carmen is sure that with the improvements she makes to the business along with the purchase of additional merchandise, she can improve her and her family's living conditions. Carmen is 33 years old and has 3 children, 2 of whom attend school.
Translated from Spanish by Leo Duran, Kiva Volunteer.
",F,1100,partner,Retail,0 Ecuador,"Carmen sells various items. She began her business with the support of her sister, who loaned her $200.00. At the start, she only sold school items. Now she continues to offer these, as well as clothing and gifts. Carmen also wishes to sell cosmetics and jewelry. She would use her loan to purchase in these items while they are on sale so that she could make higher returns on sales. She has faith that with these new products, her business will grow and she will be able to continue to invest in merchandise. Carmen is separated and has one son. She is convinced that her business will grow and will allow her to save for the future.
Translated from Spanish by Kiva Volunteer, Kristin Connor.
",F,1075,lender,Retail,0
Ecuador,"Carmen Velez is a member of the La Unin de La Mujer Communal Bank, a large group of women that meets every 15 days at the educational center located in the Santa Mnica, in Manta city, on the coast. This is a rather well-established little bank as it is in its 37th credit cycle.
Carmen is a founding member of the group and has been receiving loans for 10 years. Her older sister is also a member, and the day of the interview the two of them were seated together with one of the small grandchildren of her sister, Nayeli, who accompanied this on this day. They and two brothers live in the same Santa Mnica neighborhood where they grew up.
Carmen is 52 years old, married, and has 2 children; she had 3 but one died. Her two children are grown, married, and have their own families. Four of her grandchildren live with her. She is a very happy, friendly, and good-humored woman. She works with her sister, Mara Norma, selling clothing, and she also has a small business on El Murcilago beach where she sells soda pop and beer to the tourists.
Carmen always works on the weekends at the beach, and depending on the quantity of people present sometimes she works during the week. She has been selling at the beach for 3 years, and even longer selling clothing with her sister. They sell primarily underwear and regularly work in a location called Picoaz in Portoviejo, a city located 40 minutes from Manta city.
The clothing sales rise and fall according to the season, she says, but in general sales go well. She generally doesnt sell in unknown places, because the people can more easily disappear without paying, so she doesnt like to sell to people she doesnt know or hardly knows.
Carmen Narciza is seeking a loan to invest little by little in her businesses, buying beer, soda pop and clothing. She also is planning to finish the installation of a shower in her home.
Translated from Spanish by Cindy Kendall, Kiva Volunteer
",F,1100,partner,Retail,0 Ecuador,"Carmita has 2 years of experience with this business, which first belonged to her sister, who at first hired Carmita to run it, and later sold it to her. She started out making ""encebollado"" (a kind of fish soup), but she found that activity tiring. Then she began selling articles of clothing. At present she combines the two activities. When she has to leave to deliver merchandise, she leaves her daughters in charge of the store. She works every day of the week from 6:30 AM until 10 PM.Carmita wants this loan in order to be able to invest in her little store, which is a bit lacking in capital. She would like to be able to include other products.
Carmita is married. She is 40 years old and has 4 children, one of whom is still in school and also works. He helps a lot with the household income. Carmita's husband works driving a three-wheeler at the local outdoor market. He makes a daily income. Carmita hopes to be able to improve her house with the income that her business will generate.
(Translated from the Spanish by Naomi Johnson, Kiva volunteer)",F,375,partner,Retail,0 Ecuador,"Cecibel has 10 years experience in the retail business. She got her start selling food. She had to her business as her landlady raised his rent. Thus she decided to take a shot at retail. She had help from her husband and together they began to walk around selling toilet paper. Their oldest son helps them with their sales on the streets of the city as well. Cecibel works from 7A.M. to 6P.M. She also sells garments. She has good references in her sector.
She will use her loan to buy more merchandise. She would like to provide her business with a different type of product.
Cecibel is married. She has 8 children, of which only 3 are with her. The others are already married. They are always supporting her with whatever she needs. Her husband rides a bicycle around selling legumes. They rent a living area together. Cecibel's goal is to be able to have a piece of land where they can construct their own home.
Translated from Spanish by Geoff Rubin, Kiva volunteer
",F,525,lender,Retail,1 Ecuador,"Ciria is 50 years old, single, and works selling clothing in outlying neighborhoods and to friends. Ciria began her business with the help of her sister, who loaned her the merchandise to begin her own business. At the beginning she only sold underwear and clothing. With her first loan from Mifex and Kiva she invested in stuffed animals, gifts, costume jewelry and cosmetics. After attending a course offered by Mifex on craft-making, she started making party favors to sell for children's parties. She uses some of her profit for travel expenses and goes to other cities to sell.
Ciria is a hard worker, and she depends on her business to support her family and to save for the future. Working as an ambulatory saleswoman is not only difficult work but also dangerous in certain neighborhoods. Safety is a great concern of Ciria's, and she is requesting a second loan to help her improve her home so she can use part of it for her business and conduct her sales from home.
Ciria's first loan from Mifex and Kiva: Business ID 9300",F,700,lender,Retail,1 Ecuador,"Ciria works selling clothing in the provinces of her neighbohood and to friends. Ciria began her business with the help of her sister who loaned her the merchandise to begin her own business. At the beginning she only sold underwear. Now she sells all types of clothing. Ciria hopes to also sell toys and to earn higher profits so that her business can grow. She would use her loan to invest in the purchase of merchandise and by which turn highe profits. Ciria is single. She is 50 and she depends on her business to support her family and to save for the future.
Translated from Spanish by Kiva Volunteer, Kristin Connor.
",M,375,partner,Clothing,0 Ecuador,"Ciro Barboto is 33 years old and has 3 children, 2 of whom are in school. He lives happily in his cement home (i.e., in a nice, sturdy and comfortable house) with his family.
Ciro has a little store where he sells groceries. His wife helps him with the business. He also has a car which he uses as a taxi. He is requesting this loan to make some improvements on his house and also to purchase more merchandise for their little store.",M,1100,lender,Food,1 Ecuador,"Clara is the young mother of two children: Scarlet, who is 3, and Josue, who is 2. Clara is from Milagro, a zone in the province of Guayas, which lies in the municipality of Jipijapa. From the age of seven, this has been her home, although she first lived in the city of Guayaquil, where she met her husband. They both worked for restaurant chains: she worked in sales at a Chinese restaurant and he worked in a grillroom. After one year, they decided to establish their own business in Jipijapa, where it has been located now for six years. They first established a seafood restaurant, and later thought about constructing a second business. This is when Clara decided to begin a business of selling meats and meat products. For four months, she has begun her day very early, working from 6 a.m. until 5 p.m. from Monday through Saturday and from 5 a.m. until 5 p.m. on Sundays. She gets no rest, given that she is fully responsible for her business and her husband is occupied with the second business, preparing the fish and running the seafood restaurant from 8 a.m., when he opens for business. Clara notes that, thanks to the help of her mother-in-law, she is able to persevere, even though it is not always easy when faced by life's challlenges. One of her daughters was born with a health problem that requires therapy. This has resulted in both financial and emotional difficulties. Clara is considered multi-faceted, she says with a laugh, because she has to take her children to work and has had to improvise a kitchen there to prepare their meals. She says it must be done somehow! At her 32 years, Clara dreams of having her own house, something small but belonging to her and her children. She is seeking a loan for this reason and to invest in her business so that it can grow.Translated from Spanish by Kara Gibson, Kiva Volunteer
",F,900,partner,Food,0 Ecuador,"Clemencia has an auto body shop on her house. She began her business with her husbands help who gave her $150. She began selling small automobile parts and repairing tires. Now she is still selling auto parts and oil, and other auto products. Clemencia wants the Kiva loan to buy new products at wholesale prices and improve her profit. She has faith that with new products her business will grow. Clemencia has 2 children and is 3 years old. Clemencia has hope that with the Kiva loan her familys quality of life will improve as she will be able to have more stability and grow her business.Translated from Spanish by N.D., Kiva Volunteer.
",F,1000,partner,Services,0 Ecuador,"Clmaco has sold fruit in the Caraguay market for 16 years. He works every day of the week and serves his clients with the help of his mother in two shifts: mornings from 5 a.m. to 12 p.m. and afternoons from 2 p.m. to 4 p.m.
With this loan Clmaco will buy various fruit, such as papaya, oranges, melons, grapes, bananas and other tropical fruit. His demand has increased and he needs capital to fulfill the needs of his clients. Clmaco not only sells wholesale, but retail as well.
Clmaco is 42 years old. His 2 children are in school; he is raising them alone because his wife abandoned him. His mother is his support in the household and the business. Clmaco points out that with the new investment in his business his earnings will increase and he will improve his quality of life.
Translated from Spanish by Erin Corcoran, Kiva volunteer.
",M,600,partner,Food,0 Ecuador,"Clorinda lives in the parish of Zhidmad, community of San Jos, located north-east of the town of Cuenca. It is a rural area, 45 minutes from the center of the town. Zhidmad has a varied climate like Cuenca and people farm or raise animals for a living.
Clorinda is 40 years old, married, with 5 children, from 19 to 2 years of age. All her children live with her and she thanks God as the oldest helps maintain the home as she works in Cuenca in housekeeping and share her earnings with her family. Clorinda works two-three days in the city cleaning apartments as well as orchards close to the town, and the rest of the week she looks after her daughters and farms her land. She has few animals only for family use.
Clorinda has lived on her own with her daughters for a year and a half as her husband has gone to work in the town of Guayaquil. The first two months he would come to visit them every fortnight, but now he comes every 7-8 months bringing yuca, oranges, fruits, but does not give money for his children. Clorinda has been a partner of ""Fundacin Espoir"" for many years, this is her sixth or seventh loan. She has requested US$330 to be invested in buying chickens,food and vitamins to raise them. She expects to double or triple the investment over time as she will sell the chickens live or plucked after two or three months depending on their growth.
Translated from Spanish by Lene Struck Christensen, Kiva Volunteer
",F,350,partner,Agriculture,0 Ecuador,"Cratis has been selling soft drinks in her neigborhood for 5 years. She recently began to sell beer, as well. With a small loan that she took out 5 years ago she was able to take out her refrigerator and sell her soft drinks. She also sell school supplies since there is a school closeby.She tends to the business from 3 pm to 11 pm every day. She has additional income because she is raising 3 of her sisters children; her sister has been in Spain for 5 years. Thanks to her earnings she has been able to make improvements to her house, which is made of cane.
She wants the loan to buy cases of cola and beer; she also wants to buy school supplies and continue selling those.
Cratis was born in Esmerelda. She is 43 years old with 4 sons, all of whom still depend on her. Her husband abandoned her 15 years ago. She is a woman who since she left her hometown at the age of 14 began to work in houses. To this day she has not stopped working; she has fought so that her children would eat every day. She is proud of having been able to buy her own house, which took an enormous effort. Her aspiration is that her business grows and her 15 year old niece joins her in the business, since she is a single mother.
Translated from Spanish by Erin Corcoran, Kiva volunteer.
",F,375,partner,Food,0 Ecuador,"Daniel Velastegui has 20 years of experience making and selling sandals. He inherited his shop from his father and still remembers being a young boy working in the shop. Over time he had a family of his own and separated himself somewhat from his father. During that time, Daniel started working in masonry with the help of his wife and children. Unfortunately, Daniels father passed away, and he is responsible for managing both businesses. Mr. Velastegui reports that he has been able to earn enough to feed, clothe, and educate his family, but he has grander visions for growing his two businesses. This hard-working entrepreneur opens up shop every day a 8am and closes at 8pm. Daniel needs this loan so that he can purchase material for sandal-making like leather and thread. He is a 38-year old married man from Guayaquil, Ecuador, and he has three beautiful children. Daniels wife mainly takes care of the children and household duties like laundry and cleaning, but she does a fair share of the work at Sandalias Daniel. Daniels goal is to become a large distributor of sandals in Ecuador by consistently growing his venture and creating word of mouth about his great products.",M,475,partner,Retail,0 Ecuador,"Darwin has a small bakery where he sells bread and sweets. Darwin learned the bakery business with the help of his brother and started the business selling bread from a tricycle. He continues to offer bread along with sweets and milk products.
Darwin would use the loan to buy an oven and a blender, in order to produce more bread to distribute to stores. He has confidence that with these new tools his business will grow.
Darwin has been with his wife for 3 years; she is currently pregnant. He is 25 years old. He is convinced that this loan will improve the economic status of his family and that his business will grow.
Translated from Spanish by Erin Corcoran, Kiva volunteer.
",M,1075,partner,Food,0 Ecuador,"Darwing works making and selling ""encebollados"" (a local dish made with onions). Darwing arrived in Guayaquil five years ago, coming from Milagro where where he did agricultural work. He started out with the help of his cousin, who taught him the business. He makes the encebollados and sells them on the corner in his neighborhood.
Darwing will use this loan to invest in the purchase of tables, benches, and pots that he needs. He is convinced that his sales will increase and improve his quality of life.
Darwing is 30 years old, he is married and his wife helps him in the business. He has one child, 2 years old. He hopes with his earnings to save enough money to expand the business.
(Translated from the Spanish by Naomi Johnson, Kiva volunteer)",M,375,partner,Food,0 Ecuador,"David has a restaurant inside the market. He began his business with the help of his wife, who encouraged him to buy a location in the market. In the beginning, they only sold breakfasts. Now they offer both breakfasts and lunches. He will use the loan to buy industrial-style kitchen equipment and to make improvements to the restaurant. David has faith that his business will grow with the improved service and comfort he will be able to give to his customers. David is 46 years old and married, with four children who are all studying. Life hasnt been easy for David, working together with his wife to provide food, education, and clothing for his family. David hopes that this loan will help him save up to build his house and to educate to his children.
Translated from Spanish by Jennifer Day, Kiva Volunteer.
",M,625,partner,Food,0 Ecuador,"David has a shop in the market where he sells plasticware and a variety of other products. He began his business with merchandise his parents provided to help him get established in life. At first he just sold his plastic products door-to-door. But with a lot of effort David obtained a stall at the market where he sells plastic goods for the home. In addition, he sells school supplies and toys for kids. His business also includes a black-and-white photocopy service which he provides with an old machine that he bought second hand. David will use the loan to invest in wholesale school supplies since the new school year will start soon. He will continue to invest in other products to provide a diverse inventory for his customers. He is sure that with these new products his business will grow. David is 28 years old, single and has a son. He depends entirely on his business to support his family. David is sure that this loan will give his family financial security and will allow him to save for his son's education.
Translated from Spanish by Kiva Volunteer Julie Lerch",M,1200,partner,Retail,0 Ecuador,"David learned how to be a baker from his father. He waited on customers in his mothers business since he was quite young. He got married one year ago, and he and his wife managed to establish his own bakery and shop. David has put into practice what his parents taught him in his business. His sister helped him with merchandise.
Little by little, David has managed to obtain loans, and build up his business so that it now supports his family. He works every day from 5:30 a.m. to 9:30 p.m. His wife helps him serving the customers. He also sells gas cylinders for domestic use. He also used his first loan from Mifex to help his wife sell her products and buy her a display case
With the loan that he is requesting now, David is hoping to take a big step toward buying and renovating his own bakery. He has been saving his profits for a while in order to have enough to money. He hopes he will have enough money to make this personal goal come true.
David is 23 years old. Currently he has no children. Besides helping him in the business, his wife sells cosmetics. David is working his way toward accomplishing his goal of owning of his own bakery. He is optimistic about his investment and hopes he can soon buy a home of his own home for a family with his wife.
",M,675,lender,Food,1 Ecuador,"Decsi Palma is a member of the 3 de Mayo communal bank, which meets every two weeks in Picoaza, a parish that belongs to the city of Portoviejo, in the province of Manab. She lives in the El Milagro neighborhood, just 5 minutes from the center of the parish. She is 41 years old and lives with Cruz Tala, her husband, and 6 children between the ages of 23 and 11. Decsi and her husband work hard every day to provide their children a better life. She says that all of them are studying, except the oldest, who already has a job. Decsi is requesting a loan to buy tools so she can open a woodworking shop in her house. She also has a family business selling vegetables and fruits, in which all members of the family help and do their part to try to make the business grow. She has been working in this business for 4 years. Decsis dream is that her children will get ahead in life, that they will study and become professionals; and, of course, that her businesses will grow so that her children can be independent and feel fulfilled.Translated from Spanish by Jennifer Day, Kiva Volunteer
",F,1000,partner,Food,0 Ecuador,"Deisy has seven years of experience selling vegetables. She started selling them during the holidays when her town would hold festivals. When those are not going on, Deisy runs a shop out of her home. When customers started coming, she realized that they were also in need of household items, so slowly she started building an inventory that looked something like a small market. Ms. Holguin moved to a part of Guayaquil call Malvinas five years ago when she bought her house. It is there that she works hard every day from 6:30am until 11pm. She is asking for this loan so that she can attend to the needs of her customers better by keeping more products in stock and offering the best vegetables she can find. Deisy is a 26 year-old single mother of three, two of whom are studying in school. When her husband left her, her children were just infants, so she has had to rely on her family to support her. Her wish is to continue building the business and earn higher profits.",F,250,partner,Food,0 Ecuador,"Delia sells peanuts, garlic and tamarind. She began her business with savings that she was able to take from a harvest of potatoes that she had on her land. In the beginning, she only sold peanuts. Now she continues to sell that product along with beans, lentils, garbanzo beans, and a variety of dried grains. She will use this loan to invest in the purchase of merchandise at wholesale prices in order to be more competitive in the market and to increase profits. Delia hopes to purchase another stand in the market to sell vegetables. She has faith that this with this additional product her business will grow and she will have economic stability. Delia is 30 years old, and she is sure that this loan will give her security and will allow her to save for the future.Translated from Spanish by James Comstock, Kiva Volunteer.
",F,1200,partner,Food,0 Ecuador,"Denny is a very simple, hardworking woman. She comes from a very poor family, and since she was young she has had to work. More than anything else, Denny says that she is unafraid to venture alone because she has had to fend for herself all her life. Ms. Pin has three children, and her husband works as a security guard at a local business. Denny has learned how to many things, but her specialty is writing manuals for finely-crafted artisan goods. Some of the most beautiful woven rugs and tablecloths come from Manualidades Denny. She sells her goods close to her home where she is well known, and she sells to customers nearby the church. The income she brings in from this business helps to support her familys basic needs, but she is applying for this credit so that she can get raw material: special painting for the engravings, fabrics and the material to elaborate the portfolios. She and her husband wish to continue outdoing themselves and growing to where they can send their children to good schools. Their aspiration is to have their own house and to continue giving their children opportunities. Mifex offers its clients microinsurance and access to business training and educational programs. For more information about microfinance, Ecuador, and our services, please visit www.mifex.org.",F,475,partner,Arts,0 Ecuador,"Description of the Business
Wilmer own two sales locations where he and his wife sell fast food, primarily yogurt and hamburgers. They also own a store tended to by a relative. The businesses are open from 5 PM to 10 PM. The businesses have been operating for 4 years. Wilmer came up with the idea of his business whle working as a driver for an internationally recognized and prestigious fast food company.
Use of the Loan
Wilmer needs the loan in order to make improvements to one of his locations, which lacks a sign. He will also paint the facade, install a cover for proteccion from sun and rain and install fixtures necessary for this type of business.
Personal Information
Wilmer is 34 years old and married. He has one son, 6 years old, who studies in a local school. His wife supports him by taking primary responsibility for the care of the couple's son. His mother-in-law and sister-in -law tend to the clients in his store. One of his aspirations is to have a vehicle from which to sell fast food.
Translated from Spanish by Erin Corcoran, Kiva volunteer. ",M,650,lender,Food,1 Ecuador,"Description of the business:
Mrs Mayra sells basic commodity products, as well novelty items. She started the business with her own savings and right now not only does she sell food, but also stationery products.
Use of the loan:She needs the credit to buy more merchandise and satisfy the needs of her clients, which have continued to increase thanks to the excellent service she provides them.
Personal information:She is 39 years old and has 2 children, she is also constructing their house and her main objective is to have a stable business.
Translated from Spanish by Jimena Almendares Leistner, Kiva Volunteer.
",F,700,lender,Retail,1 Ecuador,"Description of the business:
Mr Arambulo opened his store 4 years ago with the help of his parents and now he works together with his mother. The sales have grown because he can offer his clients all types of basic commodity products and his store has even become one of the 4 biggest in this sector.
Use of the loan :He would like to use the loan in order to invest on more merchandise, he wants to keep his store well provisioned because he always tries to make sure his clients find everything they need in his store.
Personal information:He is 32 years old and is single. He lives in a cement house and his goal is to increase his sales so he can one day bring a higher income for his family.
Translated from Spanish by Jimena Almendares Leistner, Kiva Volunteer.
",M,1050,lender,Food,1 Ecuador,"Description of the business:
Mr Aurelio has a store that sells plastic products. He started his business with the money he got after the settlement of his prior job. In his store, he is helped by one of his older sons and he sells everything that is related to plastic home products. Lately, the sales have increased and he is very happy and working hard because things are working well with the business.
Use of the loan :He would like to use the loan to invest on more merchandise, specially Christmas products as in this time of the year they are increasingly demanded by his clients.
Personal information:He is 50 years old and has 3 children. He lives in a cement house and his goal is to increase his sales because in the future he would like to expand his business and open a second store.
Translated from Spanish by Jimena Almendares Leistner, Kiva Volunteer.
",M,1050,lender,Retail,1 Ecuador,"Description of the Business
Blanca has 6 years of experience with her activity. Thanks to the help of her husband she has been able to make a place in her home to have her business. She works everyday of the week from 7 am to 10 pm. She has a variety of merchandise and in this way be able to satisfy the demands of her clients.
Use of the Loan
To increase the capital for her work. To buy gifts, jewelry, electrical appliances, as well as sodas, juices and drinks.
Personal Information
Blanca is 41 years old and has 2 children. Those that are adults help her with the expenses of the home. Her husband works as a driver and in the way, he is able to support the home. Her house is made of cement. Her goal is to be able to increase her business and provide security to her household.
Translated from Spanish by Lauren Conover, Kiva volunteer.
",F,650,lender,Retail,1 Ecuador,"Description of the Business
Elizabeth has 8 years experience in her food business. She currently works in the mornings selling breakfast in the cafeteria of a school. In the afternoons in her home, she sells snacks. Besides this her son also does computing work in her house. Her daily work schedule is from 6 am to 12 pm. She works everyday of the week.
Use of the Loan
To buy tables, chairs and kitchen utensils. Also to buy paper for the computing work that her son does. She will buy goods for her food business.
Personal Information
Elizabeth is a single mother. She is 35 years old and has six children. Her oldest son is the one that does the computer work, generating income for their home. Her house is made of cane. Her goal is to be able to fix up her home and in this way be able to offer a better service to her clients.
Translated from Spanish by Lauren Conover, Kiva volunteer.
",F,650,lender,Food,1 Ecuador,"Description of the Business
Maribel has 10 years of business experience. Through a friend she was able to motivate herself to sell a variety of merchandise. She was able to get together the capital to begin to sell cosmetics, perfumes and jewelry, She works everyday of the week from 8 am to 8 pm. In the afternoons her oldest son goes around the streets of their neighborhood selling traditional food made of onions.
Use of the Loan
She will invest the credit in buying jewelry, cosmetics and perfumes, as well as household goods in general to sell in her food business and to improve the tricycle that her son uses to sell the food.
Personal Information
Maribel is a single mother. She is 34 years old and has 3 children. They study and are proud of their mother for the work that she does to move the family forward. Her house is made of cement. With her work she has been able to build it little by little.
Translated from Spanish by Lauren Conover, Kiva volunteer.
",F,650,lender,Clothing,1 Ecuador,"Description of the Business
Raul has 27 years of business experience. He has a traveling business. In this way he has been able to capture more clients due to the quality of his articles and his prices. He works everyday of the week from 8 am to 8 pm.
Use of the Loan
He will invest the credit in buying general merchandise. He has several requests for toys for the season. He hopes to be able to satisfy the demands of his clients.
Personal Information
Raul is married. He is 58 years old and has 3 children, which are all adults. His wife works doing the tasks of the home. A little while ago he bought a home that he is fixing up with the income that his business in generating.
Translated from Spanish by Lauren Conover, Kiva volunteer.
",M,650,lender,Retail,1 Ecuador,"Deyse has a small seamstresss workshop in her home. She began the business because she learned this vocation when she left school to work for her parents in their workshop. In the beginning she only did sewing for family and friends. Now she continues to offer this service and makes shirts and uniforms to deliver to the shops and commercial centers of area where she lives.
She would invest the loan in an industrial sewing machine, as a way to improve the quality of her products. She has all the confidence that her business will grow and she will be able to continue reinvesting in it.
Deyse is the mother of 4 children. She is married and 40 years old. She depends on her business to support her family. She has hope that this loan will give her financial security and will allow her to save for her childrens education.
Translated from Spanish by Erin Corcoran, Kiva volunteer.
",F,625,partner,Services,0 Ecuador,"Diana has 3 years of experience with her business. Before that, she sold food from the front porch of her home. She and her husband then decided to get into the office supply business, which they now work at every day of the week from 7:00 AM until 8:00 PM. Also, on Sundays, Diana cuts hair for people she knows, which brings more income into the home.
Diana wants this loan in order to invest in paper products. Right now the school term is beginning and she has a lot of demand for school supplies.
Diana is married. She has 3 children, 2 of whom are still in school. Her husband works doing maintenance for a hotel in the city. Diana hopes, with the income generated from her business, to be able to complete construction on her home. In this way she can provide a better life for her children.
(Translated from the Spanish by Naomi Johnson, Kiva volunteer)",F,275,partner,Retail,0 Ecuador,"Diana is 21 years old, single, and lives in central Cuenca. She will be starting her first year at the State University of Cuenca, where she will be studying clinical psychology. She still lives at home with her parents because she is still financially dependent on them.
Diana has been selling Herbalife (natural medicines) for some time now and is doing very well. She tells us that she has many customers.
Diana is now working on her third loan cycle with the Foundation. The assistance she received enabled her to start her business so that she can become productive, independent, and self-reliant. She will use her loan to purchase more Herbalife products so that she can increase her inventory and provide her customers with a better selection.
Her goal for the future is to complete her studies so that she can become a professional and continue to grow her business.
Translated from Spanish by Ronan Reodica, Kiva Volunteer
",F,1000,partner,Health,0 Ecuador,"Doa Cristina has had her bazaar for the past 7 years. Before this she ran a store which experienced decreasing sales because of competition. For this reason she began to invest in paper products and gifts. Currently her business is going well and demand for her products has increased.Doa Cristina wishes to purchase products such as sneakers, pantyhose, and others to supply the demand from her customers. With the income she wishes to purchase more items for her business.
Doa Cristina is 60 years old but her age doesnt stop her from working hard. On the contrary, it keeps her strong and active. She lives alone since her children are independent. She is certain that with the loan she can keep working in her small bazaar and support her family.
Translated from Spanish by Ari r Vilhjlmsson, Kiva Volunteer.
",F,600,partner,Clothing,0 Ecuador,"Dolores is a married woman with three children. She was born in the Jaramijo province of Manab, a county on the banks of the Pacific Ocean. Years ago, Dolores' husband was a fisherman, but he later decided to change his occupation and currently is a driver.
Dolores told us that when her husband left on a fishing trip she suffered greatly knowing that he was risking his life, but now she is calmer because he works nearby and shares in their family life.
Dolores is a hard worker, and loves to devote herself completely to helping out at home, but she also enjoys great challenges and decided to use some space in her home to start a small business.
From a positive point of view, Dolores made the decision to invest a small amount of money into her own business, which consists of the sale of spare tires and after market automotive accessories. Since, in the place where Dolores lives, most people make their living from fishing, there are very few places where one can find these spare tires.
Dolores emotionally tells us that since she started this business 8 months ago, it has been going very well. The little money she has made so far, she has reinvested in her business, purchasing headlights, water pumps, starters and more.
When asked about her motives for requesting a loan, Dolores responded, "" I hope that with this money I can increase my business and invest in more spare parts. I want to realize my dream to see my children study and be prepared.""
Translated from Spanish by Elizabeth Novesky, Kiva Volunteer
",F,900,partner,Retail,0 Ecuador,"Don Angel has been growing rice for the past 20 years, and thanks to his hard-work and dedication has been able to establish a profitable farm. His expertise is in the cultivation of rice and cattle raising in which he has had many years of experience.Don Angel wants to use the money in order to purchase farming implements that will be used to better manage his crops and to make them more productive.
Don Angel is single with no children, even though he is 42 years old. His house is made out of reed and wood. He has lived in this house since he was a child. His goals are to improve his living conditions by making more profit so that he can buy more cattle and to make improvements to his home!
Translated from Spanish by Carolina Zelaya-Kronlund, Kiva Volunteer.
",F,950,lender,Agriculture,0
Ecuador,"Don Angel is a 29 year-old native of Valencia, Ecuador who, along with his wife, owns a house and cares for his three children. His business is selling platanos and yucca, and he has been honing his skills for 5 years. Pltano y Yuca Don ngel is located in the Municipal de Bastin Popular, a large marketplace where entrepreneurs sell their goods. He works from 4:00 am until 12:00, but he could not operate without the help of his right-hand woman his wife. They both alternate going out to other provinces to stock up on the finest yucca and platanos. They are requesting a loan of $1030 so they can purchase food in cash and receive a discount. Ultimately, this capital will enable them to serve a wider market than just the frequent customers of the Bastion Popular. Our evaluation of their business is that it is sustainable because Don Angel and his wife are hard-working, proven, and responsible. With the help of this Mifex loan these entrepreneurs hope to make improvements on their house and provide a better future for their children.
",M,1050,partner,Food,0
Ecuador,"Don Evaristo has been farming for the past 50 years. He is very experienced when it comes to the cultivation and production of rice.
Don Evaristo would like to make use of this loan by purchasing farming implements to cultivate rice, and to buy herbicides, fertilizers, grains and other necessities in order to appropriately manage his crops.
Don Evaristo is 59 years old, and they have been very tough and grueling working years. He is married and together with his wife they work the land. They have 2 children who are adults. Their home is made out of reed, cement and wood. He wishes to invest in his farming, and to improve his living conditions and to make improvements to his home!
Translated from Spanish by Carolina Zelaya-Kronlund, Kiva Volunteer.
",M,1200,lender,Agriculture,0 Ecuador,"Don Hector repairs and sells tires in a store located in a commercial zone. He has provided services to passers-by for five years now. Don Hector needs a loan so that he can buy more used tires, repair them, and then sell them. He also would like to put other automobile accessories out for sale and maybe wax cars. Hector is 44 years old and has a son who is not in school. His house is made of cement and his main goal is to have a stable business.
Translated from Spanish by Geoff Rubin, Kiva volunteer
",F,1075,lender,Services,1 Ecuador,Don Melecio is a tailor who produces mens suits and other clothing. He has 6 children who he cares for all by himself because of a wife that abandoned the family. His dream is to support his children so that they may receive a college education that will help them make a better life from themselves. Although he has over 25 years of experience the lack of capital does not allow him to produce at higher quantities. He is terrified of the loan sharks but is confident he can handle the loans.,M,500,partner,Services,0 Ecuador,"Don Nstor has had a woodvarnishing shop for the past 20 years and he specializes in making coffins. His experience began at the age of 14 when working with his brothers who taught him the trade, which they had made their source of income. He opened his shop with the help of his brother in law who lent him a small start-up capital, which allowed him to produce the coffins and offer them to clients in the city.
Don Nstor will buy: wood, nails, fabric, lacquer, and paint. He hopes to sell more of his product outside of the city since he has been recommended to funeral homes in other cities like Esmeraldas, Santo Domingo, Cuenca, and Milagro. With his loan he will invest more in raw materials and cover orders from Quito, pleasing his customers and increasing sales which will generate more income.
Nstor is a 41 year old married father of three girls. His wife helps him to upholster the coffins. The business is his sole source of income which has allowed him to acquire land where hes building his house and workshop bit by bit. He hopes the business will keep growing and generate work, thus obtaining not only personal/ familial wellbeing, but also that of others.
Translated from Spanish by Ari r Vilhjlmsson, Kiva Volunteer.
",M,600,partner,Construction,0 Ecuador,"Dover has eight years of experience in business, having dedicated himself to bricklaying work. For his own initiative and with the help of his wife he decided to open a local food store. He worked by himself over week-end from 5 pm to 12 pm. He offers his clients roasted corn [choclos asados], chicken skewers [chuzos] and chicken wings [alitas]. Those close to his wife prepare the products which he sells at the store. His sons are a great help at the store and they are attentive to customer requests.
Dover would like this credit in order to invest in the purchase of provisions and little by little be able to expand his store. He is also looking into the possibility of aslo selling snacks and works every day. One year ago Dover he was shot in the leg, leaivng him without possiblity of working and without receiving pay.
Dover is 42 years old, and is married. He has three sons who are currently studying and help out in the store. His wife also works hard to help at the store. His goal is to be able to expand his store in order to provide better services for his customers.
Translated from Spanish by Chlo Tuot, a Kiva Volunteer.
",M,275,partner,Food,0 Ecuador,"Eddy has 19 years of experience selling meat. He learned this trade when he began working with his uncle when he was 12. With all of his experience he decided to use this meat selling business as a source of income to take care of his family. Eddy asked a friend who sold meat for a loan and 50 pounds of meat and meat products in order to open his business. Eddy sells his products from a cart going across the island to sell door to door. He sells from 8:30am-12pm and from 4pm-7pm. Eddy is asking for a loan in order to increase business due to greater demand. He also wants to fix his cart or buy a new one. Eddy, 31, is young and hard working. He puts a lot of effort into what he does. His wife helps him cleaning the meat so that they can be successful and provide a good life and education for their 3 children.
Translated from Spanish by Alison Rives, Kiva Volunteer.
",M,475,partner,Food,0 Ecuador,"Edgar Pilataxi, originally from Riobamba, Ecuador, is a 39 year old salesman with two children, eight and five years old. Mr. Pilataxi is a homeowner. His business is located in a municipal market, and it has been in operation for seven years. His wife helps him with sales and administrative work from 6:00 am until 6:00 pm. Edgar is in charge of managing some customers weekly credit tabs, although most customers pay cash for his goods on the spot.
About a year ago, Edgar received a loan from Mifex and Kiva that he used to invest in new merchandise for the store. At that time, his business was in his home and his sales were enough to maintain his family. Now, he has moved to a municipal market where his sales are double and business is great. He has already started making some improvements to his home and he is now able to save towards the future of his children. He hopes the second loan will continue helping him with the investments in his store.
",M,1200,lender,Retail,1 Ecuador,"Edilberto sells fruit juices and coconuts as a street vendor. He mainly works around the city buses, taking advantage of the buses that pass through his neighborhood. He started this business at the urging of some friends and his father.He needs a loan in order to buy more products at wholesale prices.
He is 31 years old, separated from his wife and has 1 son. His house is made out of reeds. His main goal is to save for his sons education.
Translated from Spanish by Molly Puglisi, Kiva Volunteer.
",M,550,lender,Food,1 Ecuador,"Edison has 8 years of experience in his cabinetry workshop. He learned his trade working for another person. Later, his father recognized his personal qualities and helped him buy his own tools. Still later, he began to manufacture his own products, with which he has done very well. He currently has other cabinet-makers working for him. His work begins at 8 am and continues till 6 pm. He works every day except Sunday.
Edison is applying for the loan so that he can invest in the chemicals he uses in his business, such as lacquer, paint, diluent, and glue. With another part of the loan, he will invest in wood with which to make his products. His products are in high demand right now.
Edison is 34 years old and married. He has 2 children, both in school. With the fruits of his labor, he has been able to buy a site to house his workshop and is building his house of cement. His wife helps in any way she can in the business, also. He wishes to increase his capital so that he can produce more products and, as a result, increase his earnings.
Translated from Spanish by Erin Corcoran, Kiva volunteer.
Edison tiene una experiencia de 8 aos en su taller de ebanisteria. Oficio que lo aprendi trabajando para otra persona. Luego de esto su padre vio en el sus cualidades y lo ayuda para que se compre sus propias maquinas. Luego de esto comienza a elaborar sus propios productos con los que le ha ido muy bien. Al momento cuenta con personas a su cargo dndoles trabajo. Su labor comienza a las 8 a.m. hasta las 6 p.m. Trabaja todos los das de la semana excepto los das domingos.
",M,375,partner,Manufacturing,0 Ecuador,"Edison has 8 years of experience in his cabinetry workshop. He learned his trade working for another person. Later, his father recognized his personal qualities and helped him buy his own tools. Still later, he began to manufacture his own products, with which he has done very well. He currently has two other cabinet-makers working for him. His work begins at 8 am and continues until 6 pm. He works every day except Sunday.Edison used his first loan with our institution to invest in wood and chemicals he uses in his business, such as lacquer, paint, diluent, and glue. He makes dressers, beds, shelving, and other wooden furniture. Due to his attentive service and excellent prices, his products are in high demand. He is now seeking a second loan from Mifex and Kiva to purchase higher quality wood and tools.
Edison is 34 years old and married. He has 2 children, both in school. With the fruits of his labor, he has been able to buy a site to house his workshop and is building his house of cement. His wife helps in purchasing necessary materials for the business and also is in charge of household activities. He wishes to increase his capital so that he can produce more products and, as a result, increase his earnings. Click here to see Edison's first loan with Kiva and Mifex: Business ID 9769",M,825,lender,Manufacturing,1 Ecuador,"Edita is the owner of a convenience store. She began by selling candies from her home. Editas siblings helped her open her store when she separated from her husband. Edita will use the loan to invest in purchasing school supplies and convenience items so that she can expand her business to include school and office supplies, as she has noted that these products are not offered in her area. She believes that with this investment, her sales will increase. This will allow her to continue helping her daughter with her university studies. Edita is 50 years old. She has an 18 year old daughter and is separated from her husband. She is totally dependant on her business for the support of her family. She is concerned about her daughters education, and she would like to see her become a professional. She is an enterprising woman and she knows that her business will grow, giving her the financial security that she needs.
Translated from Spanish by James Comstock, Kiva Volunteer.
",F,600,partner,Retail,0 Ecuador,"Eduardo has 10 years experience repairing all kinds of shoes, sewing suitcases, bags and anything made of leather. He learned this trade with a friend when he was 17 years old. He worked for him for 3 years, then he switched to work for a company for 5 years. Later on, Eduardo couldnt find a job so he ventured back to his old activity as a shoe repairer with a friend, and little by little he became more independent, got married and his shoe repairing skills is what he has been using to support his household.
Eduardo rents a place and his business is open 7 days a week, from 8:00 AM to 8:00 PM. His children help him when he has to run some errands. With the income from his business, he has been able to support his family and have a house his most precious possession.
He would like to take a loan because his clients are asking him for new shoes and he doesnt have the capital needed to buy the material for the shoes nor to exhibit his products. He has a demand for what he could offer and believes that he will do very well.
Eduardo is 37 years old, has 5 kids and has been separated from his wife for a couple of years now; they intend to get back together, but at the moment he is in charge of their children. Presently, they are helping each other; they have their own house and they are remodeling it.
Translated from Spanish by Isabel Tan, a Kiva volunteer.",M,375,partner,Services,0 Ecuador,"Efran has been repairing cicycles for twenty years. He works every day from 7am until 11pm helping customers fix their bikes, which for many people are their only mode of transportation. He is applying for this credit so that he can purchase bike components like sprockets, chains, and gears, but he is also planning on using the money to improve the outward appearance of his shop. Efrain is 66 years old, and he lives alone. His wife passed away several years ago, and his four children are grown up. They visit frequently and help him run the shop from time to time. His wish is to continue serving more and more customers, helping them with their bike needs",M,475,partner,Services,0 Ecuador,"Eladio has a small shop where he sells office supplies. Eladio started his business 13 years ago when they opened a school in his neighborhood. At first he sold notebooks and other supplies to the school children. Now, in addition to those products, he offers office supplies to the people of the neighborhood.
Eladio needs to invest in the purchase of notebooks and school supplies, which he plans to sell to the students of the school when classes begin next month. He his certain that he will increase his earnings, his business will grow, and his quality of life will improve.
Eladio is 47 years old and divorced. He has 3 children who live with their mother in Spain, where 2 work and the youngest is in school. It is difficult for him to be far from his family, but he he knows it is for their benefit.
(Translated from the Spanish by Naomi Johnson, Kiva volunteer)",M,1075,lender,Retail,1 Ecuador,"Elsa has been working on her business for 3 years. It is a family business where her two twin daughters and husband make the product. Elsa learned the business from her parents and they motivated her to continue working in the field. She buys the prime material from Quito every week. With the primary material she makes brooms and brushes. The business is based on the patio of her house, which is where everything is made. Her husband is responsible for delivering the products in a small second hand truck that he owns. Before she ran a store, but she had to close it in order to look after her daughters. She needs the loan in order to buy greater volumes of bristle, straw and sticks. She was born in Guayaquil and is 40 years old. She has 2 daughters. Her husband works with his truck doing deliveries. They are a humble couple, hard workers and they all work together to make the business work. Thanks to the business, they have a house and little by little they are putting down cement and making the place more suitable for the business. They have a view onto the street. She wants to keep working on the business as it is her only source of income.
Translated from [Spanish] by [Zoe], Kiva Volunteer.
Elsa tiene 3 aos realizando esta actividad. Es una empresa familiar porque sus 2 hijas gemelas y su esposo son quienes elaboran el producto. Este negocio lo aprendi Elsa de sus padres. Ellos la motivaron para que tambin siga esta lnea. Ella compra la materia prima en Quito y le llegan cada semana a la ciudad. Con eso elabora las escobas, cepillos y trape adores. El negocio esta en el patio de su casa all elaboran el producto. Su esposo se encarga de hacer la entrega en una pequea camioneta de segunda mano que tiene. Toda la mercadera que colocan es al contado. Anteriormente ella tena una tienda pero tuvo que cerrar por sus hijas que no poda atenderlas. Ella necesita el prstamo para comprar en mayor volumen: las cerdas de nailn, paja y palos. Elsa naci en Guayaquil. Tiene 40 aos. Con 2 hijas. Su esposo trabaja en su camioneta haciendo fletes. Ambos son una pareja muy humilde, trabajadores, todos trabajan en el negocio apoyndose mutuamente. Gracias al trabajo ellos tienen su casa y poco a poco la estn haciendo de cemento, a su vez estn acondicionando un espacio para el negocio con vista hacia la calle. Su deseo es seguir en el negocio ya que es su nica fuente de ingreso segura.",F,275,partner,Retail,0 Ecuador,"Elsa Rivera owns a small business selling goods from Bahia like clothes, shoes, and cosmetics. Every week she features a new item in her store, something distinct that she knows her customers cannot find anywhere else. Elsa gains loyal customers from the nearby open-air market, festival celebrations, and street traffic. With five years of experience under her belt, Elsa runs a very tight operation. Having been left by her husband seven years ago, Ms. Rivera has done very well as a single mother trying to raise three children. Life continued to throw challenges in Elsas way when her daughter of 14 had a baby. Rather than complain and quit, this hard-working entrepreneur pulled herself up and put extra effort into her job to raise her children and grandchild. Elsas parents run a similar shop in Guayaquil, and they were able to advance her some inventory of clothes to help her get started in her own business. Ms. Rivera is asking for this loan so that she can incrementally increase the volume of her business. She plans to buy seasonal clothes such as sweaters and rain jackets, and if she pays in cash, she cant benefit from the distributors discounts. Elsa is 41 years of age, and although she has experienced many hardships in life, she wants people to know her for working hard and supporting her three children, all of whom attend school and enjoy good health. They live in a modest house which was passed down from Elsas mother, but this house is the focal point of her small business which Elsa hopes to grow into a very profitable venture.",F,375,partner,Clothing,0 Ecuador,"Elvia is a member of the Mujeres Unidas Village Bank, a large group of women who meet every two weeks in the office of Espoir en Jipijapa, a small city on the Ecuadorian coast. She is a 40-year-old married mother of four children, of whom one is grown and three who are still young. For the past five years she has worked as a salesperson at her sisters pharmacy. Before this she worked sewing with another woman.
She is requesting a loan to invest in her husbands business selling housewares such as plastics, cups of china, dishes, etc. He sells these items on credit and also for cash, gets his products delivered to his house, and travels to Puerto Lopez and other places to sell them. He will buy a little bit of everything with this loan in order to have an assortment of merchandise to offer his customers. Since hes worked for 10 years on this business he has a fixed clientele and people know him. Elvia says that her goal for the future is to expand her husbands business and install a building to sell the products.
Translated from Spanish by Laurie Paguio, Kiva Volunteer
",F,1000,partner,Retail,0 Ecuador,"Elvia is involved in the sale of general and paper products. Her business is well-located, being next to a school. She started her business at the suggestion of her sister who runs a school and loaned her $400. Elvias shop is located next to her sister's school; there, she sells paper products to the children. Elvia currently sells all types of bazaar goods and also works at the school's drink stand for extra income. Ms. Elvia seeks the loan to buy more merchandise due to the increasing amount of students over the years, which has provided higher sales. She is also in need of another glass cabinet to better display her products. Elvia is certain that by acquiring more merchandise and another cabinet, she can improve her business's presentation and therefore increase sales. Elvia is 42 years old and has 4 children, two of whom attend school. By improving her business, she hopes to offer her entire family a higher quality of life.Translated from Spanish by Leo Duran, Kiva Volunteer.
",F,800,partner,Retail,0 Ecuador,"Ernesto sells and fixes kitchen stoves and other household appliances. He learned the family trade from his father over 25 years ago. He started off with a small stand in the fairs of Guayaquil four years ago, but now he has a larger spot in the markets. His son works with him at the location and his wife sells the products door to door.
Ernesto is seeking his second loan from Kiva and Mifex. He paid back his first loan completely on time and saw positive results in his business. He needs this new loan to continue investing in new and used merchandise. With these goods he adds new inventory to his business and increases sales. The extra income has allowed him to get started with his plans to improve his home which is now made of wood.",M,400,partner,Retail,0 Ecuador,"Ervin is the head of a true family business where he, his parents, and his brothers work selling ceviche and other popular seafood meals. He and his brothers travel to the fish markets before dawn in order to buy the freshest fish and seafood. His wife and his mother prepare the meals to sell to the local community by 7 am almost everyday.With the first loan, Ervin was able to invest his money in food and eventually he used the profits to open a new location with his wife. His second loan was used to invest in the new place. Ervin and his wife have three children, but the business supports the whole Lino family. He is now asking for a third loan from Kiva and Mifex in order to buy better tables and chairs and fix up the outside of his restaurants.
",M,1200,lender,Food,1 Ecuador,"Esperanza has been selling lunches in an area called Baha for 10 years. Every day she delivers between 80 and 100 lunches. In her house she prepares the meals together with oneif her daughters, and with her other daughter she delivers them to her clients. Thanks to her business she was able to save and buy her house.She needs the loan to buy plastic utensils (containers, silverware and spoons) to deliver the lunches and some pots with which to prepare the food.
Esperanza was born in Guayaquil. She is 48 years old. Her children are grown now; one of them is independent. She is a single mother; she always had to assume responsibility for her household. From the time she was very young she has known what it is to work. She worked alongside her mother and continued to work after getting married. Her satisfaction is that thanks to her business she has her house of cement and cane. Her children continue to study and they help her with the business. Her dream is to continue with the business because it is her only source of income.
Translated by Erin Corcoran, Kiva volunteer.
Esperanza lleva 10 aos vendiendo almuerzos en un sector llamado Baha, todos los das entrega entre 80 a 100 almuerzos. En su casa los prepara junto a su hija y su otro hijo junto a ella entregan los almuerzos en los locales. Esperanza gracias al negocio pudo ahorrar y tener su casa. Ella necesita el prstamo para comprar los utensilios plsticos (tarrinas, cubiertos y cucharas) para entregar y ciertas ollas para la preparacin. Esperanza naci en Guayaquil. Tiene 48 aos. Con 3 hijos ya grandes, uno de ellos ya es independiente. Ella es madre soltera siempre tuvo que vrsela sola en su hogar. Desde muy pequea conoci lo que es trabajar junto a su madre y cuando se caso igualmente. Su satisfaccin es que gracias a su negocio ella tiene su casa mixta (caa y cemento). Sus hijos siguen estudiando y le ayudan en el negocio. Su deseo es seguir con el trabajo porque es su nica fuente de ingreso.",F,375,partner,Food,0 Ecuador,"Esther has a store where she sells all types of food items. She has 3 years of experience. When she married her husband he motivated her to start a bazaar with some savings and loaned her $100. Later she started a food store because she was selling more food than other types of products. Her store is located in her mother's home; she is adapting an area of her own home, across the street, so that she'll be able to move the business there. She tends to the store every day of the week from 7 am to 9 pm. Her mother helps her take care of the business.
She needs the loan to food staples and buy milk products and meat. She has turned around the capital she initially invested in the business, which has allowed her to grow.
Esther was born on Guayaquil. She is 21 years old. She does not have any children. Her husband works as a door to door salesman selling eyeglasses and cases for cell phones. They are a young couple who fight to get ahead. Thanks to her husband's savings they bought a plot of land where they plan to build their house out of cane. Their dream is that their businesses grow, since they are the couple's only source of income.
Translated by Erin Corcoran, Kiva volunteer.
Esther tiene una tienda donde vende toda clase de vveres para la comida. Su experiencia es de 3 aos. Cuando se caso su esposo la motivo a poner un bazar con unos ahorros y presto $ 100, pero luego puso una tienda porque se venda ms estos productos. Su tienda esta ubicada en la casa de su madre, esta adecuando un espacio en su casa para trasladarse que es al frente. Ella atiende el negocio todos los das de la semana de 7:00 AM a 9:00PM, su madre tambin le ayuda atender.
Ella necesita el prstamo para aumentar sus vveres y comprar lcteos y carnes. Con su capital que ella invirti le ha dado la vuelta lo que le ha permitido crecer.
Esther naci en Guayaquil. Tiene 21 aos. No tiene hijos. Su esposo trabaja como vendedor ambulante vendiendo gafas, estuches para telfonos. Ellos son una pareja joven que luchan por salir adelante. Gracias a los ahorros de su esposo ellos ya se compraron un terrero donde piensan construir su casa de caa. Su ilusin es que sus negocios crezcan ya que son sus nicos ingresos para su hogar.",F,475,partner,Food,0
Ecuador,"Eufemia Lopez was born in Guayaquil, Ecuador. She has been selling car parts and accessories for six years now. Her father taught her all about the business since he ran a similar business for most of his life. When she was 20 years old, Eufemia opened Isa Express and slowly she grew the business to where is stands today. Her father helped her financially by giving her the money to purchase a property which happens to be located next to her cousins. The shop is centrally located and attracts a lot of attention from customers. In fact, Eufemia reports that many people come to her simply because they work at the factory next door. They search for my services, and I deliver, she says. Ms. Lopez is asking for this loan to be able to purchase spark plugs, filters, spare electronic parts, and motor oil. Her goal is to be able to repair everything in-house so that the job can get done more quickly for her clients. The attention she gives her customers is personal, and she hopes to receive this loan so that she can afford to pay an employee to work Saturdays, which are the busiest days when it comes to car repair.
Mifex offers its clients microinsurance and access to business training and educational programs. For more information about Ecuadorian businesses and our services, please visit www.mifex.org.",F,1200,partner,Services,0
Ecuador,"Eulegio Herrera is a rice farmer in the rural Ecuadorian coastal county of Baba. He has had his land for 40 years, which is where he lives with his wife, Mariana. He has a very basic level of education, given the economic situation of his parents, which meant that they couldnt send him to high school. He is a very hardworking man who is dedicated to making his land successful. He hopes to receive the loan to be able to invest it in rice seed and fertilizer, which he uses to make the rice grow faster.
Translated from Spanish by Jennifer Day, Kiva Volunteer.
Eulegio Herrera es un arrocero del sector rural en la costa ecuatoriana llamado Baba. El tiene sus tierras hace unos 40 anos donde el a vivido con su esposa Mariana. El tiene un nivel muy basico de educacin dado a la situacin economica de sus padres que no lo pudieron mandar al colegio. El es un hombre muy trabajador dedicado al xito de sus tierras. El espera recibir el prstamo para poder invertir en semillas de arroz y el fertilizante que se usa para que crezca ms rpido.
This borrower is part of the newest Communal Bank in the recently developed Mifex Rural Finance Program. All of the members of the Rosa de Oro (Golden Rose) Communal Bank are part of an Association of Rice Farmers in the county of Baba in rural Ecuador. Their association works cooperatively to cultivate rice and commercialize the product after it has grown. As an association, Rosa de Oro helps the farmers by providing access to machinery, training services and government assistance. The farmers from Rosa de Oro are very close to each other and cooperate to help one another on their farms.
The members of Rosa de Oro will use the micro-loans to prepare their lands and cultivate rice on their farms. Because they form part of a communal bank, they are all each others' guarantors for the loan. This means that if for some reason one person in the group cannot fully repay the loan, the other borrowers and the Rosa de Oro Association are responsible for the amount in default. The members of the bank also participate in a program designed to teach and encourage savings among the group. Promoting savings is often forgotten in many micro-finance programs, but Mifex believes that is imperative for the communities we works with to have capital reserved for future investments or unexpected difficulties.
Below is more information about Baba compiled by Luis Crespo and Robert Edgar of the Mifex team when evaluating the potential of the sector for the Rural Finance Program.
The people of Baba have been organized since the days of Gran Colombia when Ecuador was yet to be a country. The area has always been popular because of the extremely productive lands that gave way to cultivation of cacao for decades. Now Baba is a county in the province of Los Rios in the coastal region of Ecuador. For most of the latter part of the 20th Century it was a cacao and banana producing sector. Most of the surrounding areas of Baba in Los Rios are owned by large mulitnational companies such as Dole, but Baba is a sector characterized by the small and informal farms.
Rice production has now turned into the main economic activity of the sector as about 80% of the people are rice farmers. Cacao is still very popular in the area, but because of the long cultivation cycle people prefer to invest in rice. The lands in Baba are very fertile though, and most farmers in the sector often grow other crops, such as plantains and soy beans as secondary sources of income. Many farmers also keep livestock as emergency sources of food and income, commonly resorting to selling a chicken or pig if they are in need of cash.
Most of the people in the Baba area are small farmers. They produce about 80 sacks of rice per hectare of land. In order to farm they first must prepare the lands by removing weeds, plowing and leveling the lands. This is the most difficult part for the farmers in Baba, who often lack the necessary machinery to properly plow the lands for rice production. After appropriately preparing the lands, the farmers fill an area with water to form what is known as a paddy field, because rice is a very water intensive crop. The rice seeds are either dispersed freely (the process is known as boleo in Spanish) or hand sowed. Once the rice has grown, most farmers rent machinery that helps them gather their production.
",M,550,lender,Agriculture,0 Ecuador,"Eva has a freezer from which she sells juices, soft drinks and beer. She started her business two years ago. Her husband motivated her and loaned her the capital to start selling beverages. Since the business is right in her house, she tends to it from 8 am until 11 pm every day.She needs the loan in order to buy soft drinks and juices; she would like to expand her inventory to include sweets for children.
Eva was born in Guayaquil. She is 37 years old with 2 children. Her husband works as a soldier. He encouraged her to work. She has had to work since she was a little girl and she has not stopped up till today. They are humble and hardworking people with dreams of getting ahead. With their savings and a lot of effort they have succeeded in owning their own home, a cane house that they are remodeling with cement, little by little. Their dream is to strengthen Eva's business because it is something secure for them.
Translated by Erin Corcoran, Kiva volunteer.
Eva tiene un congelador donde vende: jugos, colas y cervezas. Comenz desde hace 2 aos. Su esposo la motivo y le prest algo de capital para que se ponga a vender. Como el negocio esta en su casa lo atiende todos los das de 8:00AM a 11:00PM.
Ella necesita el prstamo para comprar: colas, jugos y desea incorporar golosinas para nios.
Eva naci en Guayaquil. Tiene 37 aos. Con 2 hijos. Su esposo trabaja como soldador. l la motivo a su esposa para que trabaje. Eva tuvo que trabajar desde nia y no dejado de hacerlo hasta ahora. Ellos son personas humildes y trabajadoras deseosas de salir adelante. Con sus ahorros y mucho esfuerzo han logrado tener su casa que es de caa y poco a poco la estn remodelando a cemento. Su ilusin es fortalecer el negocio de Eva porque es algo seguro.",F,375,partner,Food,0 Ecuador,"Eva sells one of Ecuadors most popular seafoods, crab, or cangrejo in Spanish. She and her husband have been in this line of work for about 15 years. She learned from her grandfather who was an expert in catching these animals in the muddy waters along the Ecuadorian coast. In the picture, you can see Eva and her husband in their canoe along the waters surrounding La Isla Trinitaria, a very poor sector on the outskirsts of Guayaquil.
Eva is now asking for her second loan with our organization through Kiva. She used the first to buy a new motor for the canoes she uses to catch the crab. The motor is now in need of maintenance and she needs the new loan in order to fix it. She also will continue investing in diverse types of seafood to sell from her stands. Since receiving her first loan she has employed two new people to help her with her sales.
Eva and her husband have 4 children, 3 of whom are still in school. The oldest son is already in college and works on his own in order to pay for the costs. She lives with her sister in a house she inherited from her mother.",F,700,lender,Food,0 Ecuador,"Evelin has 6 years of experience in the retail business. With the help of a friend she was able to raise the capital to start her business. She works every day of the week from 8A.M. to 6P.M. She has clients near her home and also in other sectors of the city. Demand is great for her products because they are of high quality and low price.
She will invest her loan to buy more merchandise. She will provide her business with another type of product. For the coming season she hopes to sell beach related items.
Evelin is a single mother. She is 25 years old and has two children. One of her children is in school and is happy with the effort that his mother makes. Evelin lives in the house of her inlaws who have supported her in all of her endeavors. Her goal for the future is to increase her income. This way she will be able to obtain a place to live with her children.
Translated from Spanish by Geoff Rubin, Kiva volunteer.
",F,400,lender,Retail,1 Ecuador,"Exito has a mechanics shop for auto body repair and paint jobs. Exito began his business after learning the trade by working in an auto shop with a friend for eight years. At first he just did auto repair. Now he also does auto body repair and auto painting. Exito will use the loan to invest in paints and tools. He's sure that with these new materials his business will grow. Exito is 42 years old, is married and has two children. He depends entirely on this business to support his family.
Translated from Spanish by Kiva volunteer Julie Lerch",M,1075,partner,Services,0 Ecuador,"Fabiola has a lube shop where she offers automotice services such as an oil change and filter replacement. Fabiola began her business with the help of her ex husband. Initially she only provided the oil change service. Now she offers this service and sells automobile accessories and maps. Fabiola will use the loan to purchase lubricant and oil at wholesale volume prices. She is sure that these new products will help grow her business. Fabiola is 26, is separated and has a five year old child in school. She is dependent on her business to succeed and to help her child who is the source of her inspiration.
Translated by Kiva Volunteer Julie Lerch
Fabiola tiene una lubricadora donde presta servicios de cambio de aceites y filtros a vehiculos. Fabiola empez su negocio con la ayuda de su ex esposo. Al principio solo prestaba servicio de cambio de aceite. Ahora ella ofrece servicio junto con venta de accesorios guias de vehiculos. Fabiola usara el prstamo para invertir en comprar lubricante al por mayor y aceite en tanque. Ella tiene la seguridad que con estos nuevos productos va ha tener un crecimiento. Fabiola tiene 26 aos, es separada tiene un hijos de cinco aos que estudia. Ella depende del negocio para salir adelante con su hijo que es su fuente de inspiracin.",F,625,partner,Services,0 Ecuador,"Fanny has a general store where she sells food staples, medicines and various items. Fanny started her business with the help of her husband, who motivated her to start the business with 200 dollars.
In the beginning she sold only pens, notebooks and soft drinks. Now she continues to offer those products, along with clothing, gifts and medicines. She would use the loan to buy a variety of merchandise at wholesale prices. Fanny has faith that her business will grow with the variety of items she will be able to offer her clients.
Fanny is 53 years old and married. She has four children. She is certain that her business will grow and allow her to move her family ahead. Fanny has hope that this loan will help her save to build a house and give her children an education.
Translated from Spanish by Erin Corcoran, a Kiva volunteer.
",F,625,partner,Retail,0 Ecuador,"Fanny makes cleaning products such as chlorine, water softener, and disinfectants. She has been working for five years in this business. Fanny learned how to make these products from a friend. With her savings she began produce the products and her first client was the high school where she worked. Her clients are primary schools, high schools, and her neighbors. She makes her sales during the afternoon, with the help of her daughter. She also has other sources of income because she is an inspector at a high school. She also tutors children with learning difficulties at her home.
She needs the loan to buy the raw materials to produce her products in larger volumes: clorine, creosote, water softener, disinfectants, and acid.
Fanny was born in Manab. She is 41 years old. She has two children. The older one is already working and her daughter helps her with the business. Her husband works as a driver for a business and on his days off he helps his wife deliver her products. They are a couple that is very willing to work hard to get ahead, and they are always learning something new. Thanks to their incomes, they have been able to improve their house and increase their business. Their aspiration is to grow their client base.
Translated from Spanish by Jennifer Day, Kiva Volunteer.
",F,275,partner,Retail,0 Ecuador,"Fausto runs a convenience store that he started a year ago. His wife helps him with the business they are a hard-working young couple and their sales have notably increased. They sell all kinds of items of primary necessity.
Fausto wants to use his loan to purchase more supplies for his store as well as invest in gas, since no other store in the area sells it.
Fausto is 24 years old and has no children. He lives in a cement home and his goal is to increase his profits in order to one day be able to enlarge the store because he and his wife want their children to have a better life.
Translated from Spanish by Marty Greenstein, Kiva Volunteer
",M,825,lender,Food,1 Ecuador,"Felicita Lainez has been in the bread business for 11 years. Her husband also worked in a bread factory for 11 years. When the two got married, they decided to open a small bakery and make fresh bread so that everyone could try their recipe. Felicita operated the business end of things and only a year ago left her job at the factory to start her own venture. However, the Lainezes lack capital to step up production. Running a bakery is perhaps one the most time-consuming businesses because you have to prepare bread for the next day the night before. Felicita and her husband open their doors at 6am every day, but their day starts well before that. This husband and wife team usually sells out by 10am, which is when they take their first break. Then, they start their second shift at 1pm selling bread to the afternoon crowd. By the time they sell out, clean the shop, prepare the dough for the next day, and leave the shop it is 10pm. Felicita does this every day with her partner. Ms. Lainez needs this loan so she can buy certain raw materials like flour, butter, cooking oil, yeast, raisins, nuts, and jelly for the sweet pastries. Felicita is already financing a refrigerator which she uses to keep milk and juices cold. This 26 year-old entrepreneur is married with 2 small children. Together with her husband she has worked hard to grow the business into a profitable enterprise. They currently rent an apartment in Guayaquil and hope that one day they can purchase their own home. The Lainez family dreams big, and they want to own the most successful bakery in town.",F,475,partner,Food,0 Ecuador,"Felix raises and sells chickens. He and his wife started this business with only 10 chickens about 6 years ago. They wake up at 5 in the morning to begin working and distribute until about 4 pm. At first, they only sold to their neighbors and to people in the immediate community, but now they are suppliers for many stores and stands in the local markets. With the help of a previous loan they were able to significantly improve their business and home. They are now distributing to some of the biggest stores in the area.
Felix needs the loan in order to invest in more chickens. He will buy chicks and also grown chickens because business is doing real well. He is close to accomplishing his goal of becoming a wholesale distributor of chickens and wants to continue growing to so he can succeed.
Felix is 41 years old, is married and has 3 daughters. Two of his daughters are in school and the other is still a baby. When his daughters come home from school they help him with the chickens. Felix relies on this business to feed his family and send his daughters to school.
",M,825,lender,Food,1 Ecuador,"Filomena has been working for 15 years in this business. She sells all types of groceries. She began her business at the time she came to live in on Trinitaria Island. She had to close that store for health reasons. Two years ago, she opened it again with the help of her husband, who gave her $200.00 to start over. Her store is in her house. She is open for business from 6:00AM to 10:00PM and her husband helps her when she has to leave.She needs the loan to incorporate dairy products and meats into her inventory. She would also like to make improvements to the interior of her store.
Filomena was born in Daule Guayas. She is 55 years old. She has two grown daughters. She is married and her husband works in his own mechanic shop. They are a very close couple who have worked hard ever since they married. With their incomes they have been able to own their house and make improvements to it. It was originally constructed of cane, but now it is of cement. As they are able, they invest in their businesses. They hope to get ahead with their businesses and to keep working.
Translated from Spanish by Jennifer Day, Kiva Volunteer.
",F,475,partner,Retail,0 Ecuador,"First Loan Investment
With his first loan, our client was able to buy more merchandise and to improve his home, finishing his bathroom which was originally made out of reed.
Business Development
Currently, our client still sells his own products and has also bought two washing machines that he is renting in his sector. This renting business is very profitable since he's the only one renting washing machines in his sector.
Personal Information
His family is currently helping him with the washing machine rental business and his goal is to make his house out of concrete.
Use of the Second Loan
He needs this new loan to buy more merchandise and also to fit out a small business space in his home.
Translated from Spanish by Veronica MR, Kiva volunteer
",M,1075,lender,Retail,1 Ecuador,"First Loan Investment
With the first loan she was able to build a wall and to extend the school; she was also able to sell the uniforms she had requested.
Business Development
Currently she continues selling in the bar for the children attending the leveling course. Her daughter, already a college student, helps her with this business. With the increased profit she is earning at the school, she plans to begin accommodating a room for a computer lab at the school and help students get a getter education.
Personal Information
Monica's children are happy with the expansion and improvements in the school and now they are going to implement a computer lab that they are sure will attract more students to the school.
Use of this Second Loan
She needs this loan to finish accommodating two classrooms and increase the merchandise for her bar.
Translated from Spanish by Veronica MR, Kiva volunteer
",F,1200,lender,Services,1 Ecuador,"First Loan Use:
Ernersto used his first and second loans to purchase merchandise for his business. In this manner his was able to maintain his capital.
Business Progress:
His income has improved because now he has the parts readily available. He does not have to buy the parts all the time, which used to cost him clients and delays. He keeps his work schedule.
Personal Information:
Ernesto is married and has 5 children. His small house is made of mixed materials. His oldest children help with the family's expenses. His wife works selling assorted merchandise such as: clothing, cosmetics, perfumes, etc.
Second Loan Use:
Continue to purchase parts in oder to keep offering timely service to his customers.
Translated from Spanish by Libertad Leal, Kiva volunteer
",M,400,lender,Retail,1 Ecuador,"First Loan's Use:
Nodenca increased her working capital. She has a good reputation and the demand for her products is increasing. She now has her sister's help with sales.
Business Progress:
Her sales have been slowly improving. She maintains her working schedule. She stocked her business with other types of products which generated higher revenue. Her husband also helps her with sales.
Personal Information:
Nodenca is married and has 4 children. They all attend school. Her husband works as a security guard in a company. Her house is made of straw.
Second Loan's Use:
Increase her working capital since she has orders for plastic products and small appliances.
Translated from Spanish by Libertad Leal, Kiva volunteer.
",F,1075,lender,Retail,1 Ecuador,"First Loan's Use:
Roxana invested her first loan in the purchase of uniforms for her school's band and some stationary.
Business Progress:
The school has more students enrolled this year thanks to the great service and education that they provide. They have a good reputation in the area. They also offer leveling courses during the summer break which continues to produce income for the school.
Personal Information:
Roxana is a single mother of 5. Her house is made of concrete. Two of her children study in the same school. Her mother helps her with childcare. Roxana also has a bar, which her mother takes care of. In this manner she is able to provide jobs for her family.
Second Loan's Use:
She will use it to purchase school supplies, uniforms and to make improvements to the classrooms.
Translated from Spanish by Libertad Leal, Kiva volunteer.
",F,1200,lender,Services,1 Ecuador,"Floriano has 10 years' experience with his business, selling various goods in the suburban streets. He first worked selling kitchen utensils which were not yet sold by the competition. His strength at this point is sales of cases for remote controls, cell phones, tv antennas, tv controllers and other accessories for electronic articles. He works every day of the week from 8 am to 6 pm. He always rests one day of the week, since his business is walking.
Floriano would like this credit to invest in other products that he doesn't sell due to lack of capital. He would also like to include baby's clothes in his sales.
Floriano is married. He has 4 children who live with him. One of them works and helps him with home expenses. His wife also works, doing domestic tasks for a family. His wish is to be able to improve his income to give a better education and nutrition to his children.
Translated from Spanish by a Kiva volunteer.
",M,375,partner,Retail,0 Ecuador,"For 9 years Natalia has been operating her business of crab meat from her home. She is open for business from 7am to 6pm. Taking advantage of the experience obtained by her relatives, she decided to start the business with the little savings she was able to put away together with her husband. Her business still operates thanks to the dedication and determination of Natalia and her family.
Natalia requests this loan so that she can grow her business. Because of her product's good quality and service, her clientle has increased. She wants to take advantage of this opportunity to grow the business in the market of sea food sales.
Natalia is 50 years old and is married. Her husband works as a sea food salesman, covering the sector where they live. They have 4 children, 2 of which are studying and help in the business when they have free time. Her house is located a few blocks away from a major avenue. The house's structure is made of cement though some patches of floor are still made of soil from the ground. With the credit, she is aspiring to improve the business and their living condition. She wants to set an example of hard-work for her children.
Translated from Spanish by Luis Lpez Martinelli, Kiva Volunteer.",F,375,partner,Food,0 Ecuador,"For over 8 years Rosa worked as a maid in upper class homes in Guayaquil until the responsibility with her children did not allow her to leave her home unattended and continue that line of work. Rosa now owns a small shop out of her home where she sells fruits, vegetables and other food items to the general public. This business has allowed her to maintain a close relationship with her 5 children while also bringing in a consistent flow of income. Her husband works as a shoe salesman in La Bahia the local tourist marketplace. Although she was able to launch her business with only $100 she is now in need of more capital in order to make it grow. She will invest the money in buying new products at better prices and at larger quantities. She has decided not to lend from loan sharks due to the very negative experiences have close friends have had with them.",F,250,partner,Food,0 Ecuador,"Four years ago Eulalia used her small savings to start up a business selling fish. Every day, she hawks fish like bass and perch through her neighborhood from 7:00 in the morning until 10:00 at night. She would like a loan to buy more fish and to outfit a small restaurant in her home, which has unfinished floors. Eulalia used to have a restaurant but was forced to close it when she lost her lease. To open the restaurant she needs to fix her industrial stove and purchase pots and pans, as well as a few tables and plastic chairs. Eulalia is 45 and has 5 children, 3 of whom are dependent on her and attend school. She raises them by herself as her partner abandoned her some time ago. With this loan she can realize her dream of reopening her restaurant and provide for her family's livelihood.
Translated by a Kiva volunteer.
Eulalia tiene negocio de venta de pesca desde hace 4 aos. Se inicio en este negocio con ahorros propios. Ella transporta su producto en un balde y recorre pie los diferentes sectores por donde vive todos los das de la semana desde las 7: AM a 10: PM. Ofrecindoles variedad de tipos de pescado como: Corvinas, Picudo, Mojarras y otros.
Desea el crdito para poder invertir en compra de mas pescado su demanda se ha incrementado. Eulalia tena antes un restaurante que por motivo de adecuacin de local fue cancelado su contrato de arrendamiento y tuvo que dejar ese negocio. Eulalia quiere activar ese negocio en su casa y necesita mas dinero para poder comprar ollas, arreglar cocina industrial, compra un par de mesas y sillas plsticas.
Eulalia tiene 46 aos 5 hijos de los que solo estn a cargo 3 que estudian. Eulalia los mantiene a sus hijos sola su compaero la abandono hace tiempo. Desea que sea considerada para un crdito y as poder cumplir su anhelo de poner su restaurante. De esta manera generara mas ingresos y podr seguir adecuado su vivienda que esta con piso de tierra.
",F,600,partner,Food,0 Ecuador,"Francisca has 10 years of experience in jewelry and accessory sales. When her first committed relationship ended, she had to look for a way to give her children a good education and feed them well. She started in clothing sales when some people proposed the clothing business to her. Then one day she received a visit from a person selling jewelry, who was willing to give her the opportunity to leave part of her purchases on credit, so that she could begin to sell them on her own. With a loan of $75 she succeeded in starting her jewelry business. She works from Monday through Saturday, from 1 pm to 6 pm, which leaves her the morning to prepare her children's meals for the day.Francisca wants the loan in order to invest it in her business. She wants to be able to buy wholesale, in cash, which would leave her much more profit than she realizes now.
Francisca is 41 years old with 6 children. Four of her children no longer live with her; the two who live with her are still in school. Her current husband works as a fisherman and helps her quite a bit around the house. She's thinking that with her business she'll be able to make repairs to her house, and improve the home environment.
Translated by Erin Corcoran, Kiva volunteer.
Francisca tiene una experiencia de 10 aos en el negocio de venta de joyas y bisutera. Ella tuvo una separacin de su primer compromiso lo que hizo que ella busque la manera de poder darles a sus hijos una buena educacin y alimentacin. Por ende comienza con la venta de ropa ya que algunas personas le propusieron ese negocio. Luego de esto un da recibe la visita de una persona de venta de joyas las que le dan la oportunidad de dejarle fiado una parte de la mercadera para que ella comience a vender. Con un crdito de $ 75 dlares logra iniciar su negocio el cual lo trabaja de lunes a sbado desde las 1 p.m. hasta las 6 p.m. ya que en la maana deja todo cocinado para sus hijos. Francisca desea el crdito para invertir en su negocio y poder hacer compras mayores y al contado lo que le dejara a ella una ganancia mejor de lo que percibe actualmente. Francisca tiene 41 aos, y 6 hijos de los cuales 4 ya no viven con ella y solo dos estn todava estudiando, su actual esposo trabaja de pescador y le ayuda bastante en el hogar, piensa que con su negocio podr comenzar a arreglar su casita y mejorar el ambiente de su hogar.
Mifex offers its clients microinsurance and access to business training and educational programs. For more information about microfinance, Ecuador, and our services, please visit www.mifex.org.
",F,375,partner,Clothing,0 Ecuador,"Francisco has 20 years of experience in the photography business. From a young age, his friends encouraged him to take photos, and he liked it. At that time, he took out a loan with which he bought a camera and started his business. In addition to that business, he also sells chickens by the pound in the neighborhood where he lives. He combines the two activities. His work starts at 6 AM with the chicken sales, and it ends at 6 PM at one of the schools of the area, taking photographs. He works every day of the week.Francisco wants this loan to be able to invest in the chicken business, since he has plenty of demand in the neighborhood. Also he wants to buy photographic supplies.
Francisco separated from his wife four years ago. He has 3 children who live with their mother, but he supports them financially. He hopes that, with the income he earns with his businesses, he will be able to remodel an area in his home for the chicken and photography businesses. He also wants to buy a freezer to store his chickens.
(Translated from the Spanish by Naomi Johnson, Kiva volunteer)",M,375,partner,Services,0 Ecuador,"Francisco has a business selling all sorts of household items: cooking pots, sets of dishes, glasses, silverware, awnings, matched sets of bed linen, DVDs, pans for cooking rice, etc. He has 4 years of experience as the owner of his own business. He learned about the business in his previous work since he was a salesman and collector of debts. He travels through the streets selling his products and keeps a register of his sales and credit. With the money he received when he left his previous job he was able to save enough to buy his first articles for sale. Running his own business has allowed him to generate more income for his household.
Francisco needs the loan in order to buy new products such as blenders, irons and fans, the products with which he has the most success and which are easy to market. The income he generates will allow him to buy additional products.
Francisco is 34 years old with 2 children. His wife works as a teacher at a neighborhood school. They are a very hardworking couple and support each other mutually. He has his own house, although it is still made of cane; he has not yet been able to improve it with cement. He hopes to increase his earnings in order to support his children in their studies. He also hopes to make improvements to his cane house.
Translated from Spanish by Erin Corcoran, Kiva volunteer.
",M,475,partner,Retail,0 Ecuador,"Francisco has a stand in his house where he sells fish. He started his business with 50 dollars of capital. In the beginning he only sold fish. He continues to sell fish along with other seafood, such as scallops, shrimp`and tilapia.
Francisco aspires to establish a freestanding store so that he can better serve his customers. He would use the loan to buy his products wholesale, which would allow him to sell at competitive prices and eventually set up a store. He has faith that with these new products his business will continue to grow.
Francisco is in a committed relationship and has 2 children. His business supports his family, since it is the sole means of paying the household expenses. Francisco has hope that this loan will allow him to enjoy economic stability and to save for his children's education.
Translated by Erin Corcoran, Kiva volunteer.
Francisco tiene un puesto en la esquina de su casa donde vende pescados. Francisco empez su negocio con un capital de 50 dlares. Al principio el solo venda pescados. Ahora contina ofreciendo este producto junto con otros mariscos como concha, camarn y tilapia.
Francisco aspira establecer un local para dar mejor servicio a sus clientes. El usara el prstamo para invertir en comprar su producto a precios de mayorista y as vender a precios competitivos y eventualmente instalar un local. El tiene la fe que con estos nuevos productos su negocio seguir creciendo.
Francisco esta unido, padre de dos hijos. El tiene 34 aos. El por medio de su negocio apoya a su familia ya que es su nica entrada para solventar los gastos familiares. Francisco tiene la esperanza que este prstamo le permitir tener estabilidad econmica y ahorrar para la educacin de sus hijos.
",M,875,partner,Food,0 Ecuador,"Francisco has had a small furniture making workshop in his home for 3 years and has 20 years of experience in the profession. More specifically, Francisco learned about making and decorating coffins because he worked in well-known funeral homes in the city. With his own money from his savings, he started his business. First, Francisco buys blank coffins; then, with his wife, he finishes and sells them. Francisco offers his products to the funeral homes at which he worked and is successful there because they know that he works very responsibly.Francisco will use the loan to purchase blank coffins, cloth, thread, lace, solvent and other items so that he can meet the needs of his customers both inside the city and outside it, now that people are recommending him because of his good work.
Francisco is 43 years old and has a daughter. His wife supports him a lot in his business and is in charge of putting designs into the cloth that goes in the bottom of the coffins. Francisco is confident that his investment will help him provide for his customers and thus increase revenues, which will allow him to improve his house.
Translated from Spanish by Susanna Heinz, Kiva Volunteer
",M,475,partner,Manufacturing,0 Ecuador,Francisco is 48 years old and owns a shop for veterinary and agricultural products. He provides foods and medicines for domestic and farm animals in the neighborhood. He has over 25 years of experience in this business and is seeking loans in order to acquire better quality and higher quantity of products so that he may serve his clients better. He comments that the only access to credit he has charges 10% to 20% monthly interest and is way beyond what he can afford. He hope he can use profits made from his business in order to provide a better living for his two children who he cares for by himself.,M,500,partner,Agriculture,0 Ecuador,"Freddy has a store and a bazar in his home. He began his business with a liquidation that his previous employer gave him. At the start he only sold rice, sugar and beans. Now he sells these along with other general items. He would use his loan to purchase a refridgerator and display windows so that he could be more competitive in the market and have higher earnings. He has faith that with these new products his business will grow and he will have a stable income. Freddy is married and is 45. He is sure this loan will give him security and will allow him to save for the future.Translated from Spanish by Kiva Volunteer, Kristin Connor.
",M,1125,partner,Retail,0 Ecuador,"Gabriela has 12 years of sales experience. She started selling shoes but due to the time and effort this took she slowly stoped this activity. With the help of her husband, she opened a small store out of their home. This business has done very well and now they have expanded to selling fruit. They work every day of the week from 6am to 11pm. They have a cart they use in the afternoon to sell fruit along a route in her neighborhood. She needs a loan to invest in the purchase of additional fruits to meet her growing daily demand and to add to the variety of her products. Gabriela is married, and is 23 years old. Together with her husband she has managed to be successful in her business. Currently they do not have any children but they are thinking about it for the future. They live at home with her parents. Her wish is to eventually buy some land where they can build their own home.
Translated by Kiva Volunteer Julie Lerch
Gabriela tiene una experiencia de 12 aos en el comercio. Se inicio vendiendo zapatos pero por el tiempo que le demandaba y su esfuerzo decide poco a poco ir dejando esa actividad. Con la ayuda de su esposo deciden ponerse una tienda en su domicilio. Dicho negocio le ha ido muy bien que incluso han incluido dentro de esta la venta de frutas. Trabajan todos los das de la semana desde las 6 a.m. hasta las 11 p.m. Tienen un carrito en el cual por las tardes salen a recorrer con la venta de las frutas.
Desea el crdito para poder invertir en frutas ya que su demanda a aumentado en su recorrido diario. Adems surtir su negocio con mas frutas
Gabriela es casada. Tiene 23 aos. Ella junto a su esposo han logrado sacar adelante el negocio. Al momento no tienen hijos pero estn pensando en la posibilidad ms delante de concebir. Viven en la casa de sus padres. Su deseo es poder mas adelante comprar un terreno en donde poco a poco ir construyendo su casita propia.
",F,600,partner,Food,0 Ecuador,"Gabriela has been dedicated to collecting recyclable materials on the streets of her area for four years. She started the business with the help of a friend who advised her and guided her on how to do the work. Currently she roams the area streets with a cart, finding people and buying items that they would normally throw out, and then she takes them to recycle centers close by to sell.Gabriela is a 23-years-old single mother. Her son helps her with the business when he has free time. She lives in a cement home and has a stable family.
Translated from Spanish by Marty Greenstein, Kiva Volunteer
",F,675,lender,Services,1 Ecuador,"Gamarra Victoria owns a small shop selling household items. She was able to open her business thanks to a loan from her husband who sent $300 from Italy where he works. Every day from 7am until 9pm Ms. Gamarra runs her store, which happens to be located in her house. Victoria is applying for this loan so she can purchase marketing material that is going to highlight her product specials and exhibit any goods she might be featuring. With the proceeds of the loan she is hoping to improve the standard of living of her children and save up to pay for their education. She says it is hard living as a single mother, but she has no desire to move to Italy. This 32 year-old entrepreneur who lives in Provincia de los Rios wants nothing more than to succeed in business and give her kids a better life than she had growing up. Mifex offers its clients microinsurance and access to business training and educational programs. For more information about microfinance, Ecuador, and our services, please visit www.mifex.org.",F,625,partner,Retail,0 Ecuador,"Geomar has a tailoring workshop where she sews clothing, particularly sports uniforms and clothing for social events. She has 22 years of experience as a seamstress, and 8 years in her own workshop. She tends to her clients every day from Monday through Sunday, especially when there is a lot of work. She generates additional income by printing images on the clothing. She also take advantage of her freezer to sell ice and colas.
With the loan, she will buy her raw materials: cloth, buttons, elastic, and artwork for the printing. With the additional earnings this investment will generate she hopes to renovate a part of her house for her business and workshop.
Geomar is 40 years old, with 3 children. Her husband has worked as a machine operator for 30 years. She and her husband mutually support each other. They are an enterprising couple; both have worked since they were very young. They have their own cement house. Geomar's dream is to continue working in order to generate more income and improve the business, and for her children to finish school.
Translated from Spanish by Erin Corcoran, Kiva volunteer.
",F,375,partner,Services,0 Ecuador,"Georgia has been taking sandal-making courses for over 6 months with our organization. She has been one of the most outstanding students of the course, as she has been very dedicated to learning and improving her skills. She started her sandal-making business after three months in the course. Her daughters helped her out with some start-up capital so she could buy supplies and get her business going. She will use the loan to invest in more materials for sandal-making and also to buy a glass display case where she can offer her products to the public.
Georgia has been living in Guayaquil for about 11 years after leaving her home town of Esmeraldas. She left because she wanted to provide her children with better education and opportunities. Currently, one of her daughters is in college and the others are finishing their high school studies.",F,375,partner,Retail,0 Ecuador,"Georgina started a new business based on the skills she learned at the Mifex MERIT Centers. At our training facilities she participated in a course where she learned arts and crafts. Specifically, she makes party and house decorations. She was making the products prior to receiving a loan from Mifex, but her growth was restrained because she could not afford materials. She used the capital from Kiva lenders in order to buy scissors, glue, a glue gun and other decorative items.
She has been able to establish her business nicely as she markets her products in the local schools. She has also started passing along the knowledge from the MERIT Centers to others in the community. She is hoping her new loan will allow her to invest in a glass case and new products. She hopes that she can begin to contribute to her family income in order to provide for her 3 children.",F,700,lender,Retail,0
Ecuador,"Giannina Quimi was born in Santa Elena 45 years ago. She runs a small stand selling fast food, but not in the American sense of the word. There are hamburgers and hot dogs, but more local specialties such as salchipapas can be found at her restaurant on wheels. She works everyday from 4:00 pm until 11:00 pm, and Quimi says she learned this business when she was an employee at a bar during college. With six years of experience in this line of work, she has her loyal clients who love her special flavors. Quimi is asking for this $850 loan so that she can buy a new cart and open a stationary location.
Mifex offers its clients microinsurance and access to business training and educational programs. For more information about Ecuadorian businesses and our services, please visit www.mifex.org.",F,850,partner,Food,0
Ecuador,"Ginger sells clothing and bookbags door to door in the north of the city. Ginger began her business with the help of her ex-husband who loaned her $100.00 to start her business. At the start she only sold clothing for women and children. Now she continues to sell these items along with men's clothing. Ginger wishes to also sell electric domestic devices that her current customers ask for. She has faith that this new product would help her business grow. She is separated and has 2 children in school. She is 37. Ginger depends on her business to completely support her children's education. Ginger is confident that his loan will allow her to save for the future.
Translated from Spanish by Kiva Volunteer, Kristin Connor.
",F,725,partner,Clothing,0 Ecuador,"Gioconda owns a small store where she sells home products and beauty products such as cosmetics and creams. She has borrowed from Kiva and Mifex before, putting her loans to use by investing in a better and more diverse line of products. The results of her investment were positive as she was able to make noticeable improvements to her home, specifically the part where she runs her business.
Gioconda is now requesting a second loan in order to continue investing in her growing business. She wants to buy another glass case that will help her market the products that she has acquired. Gioconda has two kids whom she dreams of sending to college.
",F,700,lender,Retail,1 Ecuador,"Gladys Burgos Macas is a member of the 3 de Mayo Communal Bank. They meet every 15 days in Picoaza, a parish belonging to the city of Portoviejo in the Manab province. Gladys has been married for 22 years, and she has two daughters. She sells fast food like hamburgers, hot dogs, chuzos (chicken skewers), potatoes, colas, and water. She and her husband tend the business from 7 p.m. until 2 a.m. from Monday to Sunday. At the moment, they rent their location. She will use the loan she is asking for to buy a refrigerator in order to give her customers better service. She has over forty customers. She is happy about the demand for her food. It makes her continue to grow and improve more every day.Translated from Spanish by Ginny Kalish, Kiva Volunteer
",F,775,partner,Food,0 Ecuador,"Gladys has a small store where she sells convenience products. She started her business with her husbands help; he gave her 200 dollars to set herself up in business with the store. In the beginning she only sold vegetables and staples; now she also sells sausages and canned goods.Gladys would use the loan to buy rice and canned goods wholesale in order to earn more profit.
She has every confidence that with these new products her business will grow. Gladys is the mother of 2 children and married her husband 20 years ago. She is 47 years old. Gladys is convinced that with this loan she will improve her familys economic situation.
Translated by Erin Corcoran, Kiva volunteer.
Gladys tiene una pequea tienda donde vende productos de primera necesidad. Gladys empez su negocio con la ayuda de su esposo quien le dio 200 dlares para que emprendiera en la tienda. Al principio ella solo venda vveres y legumbres, ahora vende embutidos y enlatados. Gladys usara el prstamo para comprar arroz al por mayor y enlatados para as obtener mejores ingresos. Ella tiene la plena seguridad que con estos nuevos productos su negocio va ha tener un crecimiento. Gladys es madre de dos hijos, unida con su esposo hace 20 aos. Ella tiene 47 aos. Gladys esta convencida que con este prstamo mejorara el nivel econmico de su familia.
Mifex offers its clients microinsurance and access to business training and educational programs. For more information about microfinance, Ecuador, and our services, please visit www.mifex.org.
",F,375,partner,Food,0 Ecuador,"Gladys has had experience in this business for the past eight years. With the help of a small loan she opened a store inside her home and started to add office and school supplies bit by bit. She had to dedicate more time to her newly born daughter and then to school. Currently Gladys works from 7 a.m. to 10 p.m. every day of the week.Gladys wants to use her loan to buy school supplies to meet the demand of the people in the neighborhood. This will also increase her income and the wellbeing of her family.
Gladys is 28 years old and is married with two daughters, one of whom goes to school. Her husband is a collector for a company that sells home products outside of the city. He helps her with the business in his free time. They are a very united couple ready to work in order to give their children a better life.
Translated from Spanish by Ari r Vilhjlmsson, Kiva Volunteer.
",F,375,partner,Retail,0
Ecuador,"Gladys Judith is the secretary of the Cochabamba communal bank in the community of San Miguel Alto, located approximately one half-hour from the city of Cuenca, in the south of Ecuador. As secretary, it is her responsibility to take and read the minutes of the groups meetings and to keep them in the communal banks notebooks. Gladys is 23 years old, is married, and has one five year-old child. She works as a domestic servant; she has been working in this for two years. She works Monday through Friday, 8am to 3:30pm. She also has a business selling clothing to her friends and family members. She buys the clothing in the Open Market of Cuenca and her customers pay her in installments.
Gladys is requesting a loan to buy more clothing for women, men, and children in order to satisfy the requests of her customers.
Gladys has been a member of Fundacin Espoir for more than two years, and she says she likes it a lot. She has used most of her loans to purchase clothing; she has also used some of her loans to buy materials to finish building her house, where she lives with her husband and her child. Her dream for the future is to open her own clothing store in the town where she lives.
Translated from Spanish by Jennifer Day, Kiva Volunteer
",F,950,partner,Clothing,0 Ecuador,"Gladys makes a living by selling chickens and eggs. She started with the help of her mother, who gave her $200 with which to start the business. Initially she only sold to her family members and friends, but she gradually expanded her business in order to sell to stores and neighbors.With the help of a loan from MIFEX backed by Kiva supporters, she was able to boost her business growth and increase the amount of chickens she bought. Today, she has a stand in the largest market of her sector and is a strong vendor of poultry and dairy products. She is hoping that a new loan will help her buy a refrigerator with a glass door so she can better display her products and continue growing.
She aspires to sell dairy products like cheese, milk and yogurt. She will use the loan to invest in these products and in chickens. She believes that the business will grow and her profits will increase with the introduction of these new products. She is sure that this increase in sales will allow her to better educate her four children, all of whom are in school.",F,1200,lender,Food,1 Ecuador,"Gladys sells chickens and eggs to nearby stores and to her neighbors. She started her business with the help of her mother who gave her $200 with which to start the business. Initially she only sold to her family members and friends but she gradually expanded her business in order to sell to stores and markets. She aspires to sell dairy products like cheese, milk and yogurt. She will use the loan to invest in these products and in chickens. She believes that the business will grow and her profits will increase with the introduction of these new products. She is sure that this increase in sales will allow her to better educate her four children, all of whom are in school.
Translated from Spanish by Susanna Heinz, Kiva Volunteer.
",F,800,partner,Food,0 Ecuador,"Glenda began selling perfumes and cosmetics two years ago for another person, who paid her a small percentage of the sales she made. She decided to apply for a loan to acquire credit for the purchase of products by Yanbel, a line of cosmetics and perfumes. She has been running her own business for a year as a microentrepreneur. The business has allowed her to generate more income for her family. Now she sells all types of cosmetics, fashion accessories and perfumes, particularly to the ladies of her neighborhood.
Glenda is applying for credit so that she'll be able to expand her business by buying products wholesale. She has noted an increase in demand and wants to be able to satisfy her clients by offering more products, and a greater variety of products.
Glenda is 48 years old. She is raising three children; only two are still in school. Her husband works as a mechanic and helps her in her business. With this investment, they hope to increase the profitability of the business, and as result, to further improve their quality of life.
Translated from Spanish by Erin Corcoran, a Kiva volunteer.
",F,375,partner,Retail,0 Ecuador,"Glenda has a small cafe where she sells lunches. She started out by working as a cook in a cafe, but her earnings were not sufficient, so Glenda started her own business with the help of some money given to her by the godfather of one of her children. Now she has a solid clientele and is very well-known in the area for her good cooking.
Glenda will use this loan to invest in the purchase of bigger pots, an industrial stove, and benches for her business. She knows that with this investment her sales will increase. In this way she will be able to earn more and provide a better education for her children.
Glenda is 37 years old, she is single and she has 3 children. She depends completely on this business to support her family. The father of her children abandoned her when the youngest daughter was just three years old. She is very concerned about the education of her children. She is an enterprising woman and she knows that her business will grow and will provide the financial security she needs.
(Translated from the Spanish by Naomi Johnson, Kiva volunteer)",F,375,partner,Food,0
Ecuador,"Gloria lives in the La Playa neighborhood, which is located in a rural area called Cruz del Camino in the community of Del Valle, 45 minutes from Cuenca. The climate is mild and the fields are good for raising crops. They raise corn, beans, potatoes and vegetable, not in large quantities because the residents go into the city to work, but enough to supply the area and for their own consumption. They also raise animals such as cows, sheep, chickens, geese, guinea pigs and others.
Gloria was born in 1966. Today she is 43 years old, divorced and has 3 children, 17, 15, and 4 years old. The two oldest work but they completed their schooling. Gloria does not really know how long she has been divorced because 15 years ago her husband went to another country and she never heard from him again and he forgot about his family. When she went to get a copy of her childrens birth certificates she found out that she was separated but never knew why. At that time she had only her two children. After about 10 years, she heard from the father of her children and he began to help them financially after the childen demanded it.
She lives in her own house and her two older children help her financially; one works in construction and the other works as a domestic employee in Cuenca.
Glorias business is animals; she goes to the livestock fairs which are held in different towns in Azuay province, such as in Paute, Girn, Azogues and other places. She does this from Wednesday to Sunday. Other days she takes care of her 87-year-old mother who is ill. She also takes care of her animals and her fields. She raises animals such as guinea pigs and chickens, and on Sundays she takes the livestock that she still has left over after the fairs to the open market where small animals are sold. She also sells from her home, on request.
The loan she is requesting will be used to buy more animals and feed for the animals. She currently has 100 free-range chickens (chickens fed organically) and 60 chickens raised on feed. She is very grateful to the Fundacin Espior because they help her business. Her goal is to be able to buy a car so that her son can help her with the business and not have to pay for transportation.
Translated from Spanish by Molly Puglisi, Kiva Volunteer
",F,725,partner,Agriculture,0 Ecuador,"Gloria operates a Bazaar and stationery store out of her home where she sells various items and school supplies. Gloria started her business with a loan for 200 dollars, which she used to buy a display case. Initially she only sold notebooks. Now she also sells gifts and other stationery. Gloria will use this loan to invest in additional merchandise at volume wholesale prices to increase her profits. She is sure that this loan will help her business grow. Gloria is 58 years old and lives with two nephews who are still in school. She depends on this business to support her family. She is confident that this loan will provide the financial security her family needs and to be able to improve the quality of their home.
Translated from Spanish by Kiva Volunteer Julie Lerch
",F,625,partner,Retail,0 Ecuador,"Guillermo sells sportsware for men, women, and children. Guillermo started his business selling clothing door-to-door. Initially he only sold children's clothes, which he continues to sell together with men's and women's clothing. He will use this loan to purchase backpacks and plastic products for resale. He is confident that the addition of these products will help his business grow and he will be able to make additional investments. Guillermo has one son, is separated, 57 years old and originally from Oriundo de Ambata. He is sure that this loan will help to improve his family's quality of life and will help to grow his business. Guillermo se dedica a la venta de ropa sport para damas caballeros y nios. Guillermo empez su negocio vendiendo ropa puerta a puerta. Al principio el solo venda ropa para nios. Ahora ofrece este producto junto con ropa de caballeros y damas. El usara el prstamo para la para comprar mochilas y artculos plsticos. El tiene fe que con la introduccin de estos productos nuevos su negocio se incrementara y seguir haciendo inversiones. Guillermo es padre de un hijos, separado tiene 57 aos Oriundo de Ambato. El tiene la seguridad que el prstamo le ayudara a mejorar la calidad de vida de su familia y su negocio crecer.",M,625,partner,Clothing,0 Ecuador,"Henry has a small shoe-making workshop. Henry started his business with the help of his wife and with $100 capital. Now he continues to sell sandals and shoes for all ages.
Henry will use this loan to invest in materials to make shoes and sandals for ladies and gentlemen. He also aspires to construct a location in his home for the workshop, and to be able to give work to those who need it. He has faith that with these new products, the business will grow.
Henry is the father of one son, he is married and is 29 years old. He has the hope that, with this loan, he will improve the quality of life for his family and give stability and growth to the business.
Mifex offers its clients microinsurance and access to business training and educational programs. For more information about microfinance, Ecuador, and our services, please visit www.mifex.org.
(Translated from the Spanish by Naomi Johnson, Kiva volunteer)",M,500,partner,Retail,0 Ecuador,"Hipolito has a bakery which is well-located on a main street. His products are cakes and sweets which he continually makes and sells. Besides these products he also sells dairy products and products for quick breakfasts.
He will use the loan to buy more ingredients and improve his business, since he would like to expand so that he can better serve his customers.
He is 34 years old and has 3 school-age children. His house is made of cement and his main goal is to have a stable business.
Translated from Spanish by Molly Puglisi, Kiva Volunteer.
",M,950,lender,Food,1 Ecuador,"Holger has a small shop where he offers food staples. He started this business with the help of his wife, who had been helping her parents with their business for ten years. At first they only sold sweets and home cleaning products. Now they also sell groceries and sausages.
Holger aspires to sell baby products and office supplies. He will use this loan to invest in the purchase of merchandise at wholesale prices. He has faith that with these new products his business will grow and his economic stability will improve.
Holger is married and he has two children. He is 36 years old. He is originally from Manab, and he moved to Guayaquil to find a better life for his family. He depends entirely on this business for the education and support of his children. Holger is sure that this loan will give him security and will allow him to save for the future.
(Translated from the Spanish by Naomi Johnson, Kiva volunteer)",M,950,partner,Food,0 Ecuador,"In Guayaquil not many people can afford to buy their own video game consoles like the Playstation or Xbox, yet the kids love to play the games just as they do in the rest of the world. Businesses like Barbaras have emerged where they rent out playing time on video game consoles from their home. Barbara has three TVs and three Playstations with a variety of games that the kids can choose to play. She saved up $500 from her part time job in a travel agency to buy the used the consoles and the televisions. Barbara also sells ice cream and soft drinks to the video game players and kids from a nearby school. She is seeking a loan in order to buy another console and make improvements to her home/business.",F,475,partner,Services,0 Ecuador,"In her business, Angela sells general products including clothing she makes herself. She started her business 4 years ago with 5 years of experience; she used to help her mother in the business. With her own savings, Angela started her business selling fashion accessories, children's clothing, blouses, kitchen utensils, such as sets of glasses, plates and pots, and other products. Angela also makes dresses, blouses and skirts. She tends to her business every day of the week from 6 a.m. to 10 p.m.
Angela wants a loan so that she can invest in more products: school supplies, clothing, and gifts.
Angela is 26 years old with 2 children, both in school. Her husband works in a meat business. Angela's house is currently under construction; she still has a dirt floor. She has confidence that with this loan her earnings will improve and she will be able to finish her floor.
Translated from Spanish by Erin Corcoran, Kiva volunteer.
ngela tiene negocio donde vende productos generales incluyendo confeccin de Ropa. Se inicio con su negocio desde hace 4 aos y una experiencia de 5 aos porque ayudaba a su mama en el negocio. Angela con su propio ahorro dio inicio a su tienda vendiendo bisuteras, ropa de nios, blusas, utensilios para la cocina como juegos de vasos, platos, ollas y otros productos. Adems Angela tambin confecciona vestidos, blusas, faldas. Atiende todos los das de la semana desde las 6: AM a 22: PM.
Angela desea un prstamo para poder invertirlo en mas productos de tiles escolares, ropa y regalos.
ngela tiene 26 aos 2 hijos. Ellos estudian. Su esposo tambin trabaja en un negocio de carnes. ngela tiene su casa en construccin, y su piso actualmente es de tierra. Ella tiene la confianza que con el prstamo sus ingresos mejorara y por ende podr terminar su piso.
",F,600,partner,Retail,0 Ecuador,"Ines has owned and operated a successful store for the last twenty years. She went into business at age 18, when her first husband left her and she needed to support herself. Since that time, she has sold fast food, household items, clothes and womens accessories, and is now a seasoned salesperson for many different kinds of items.Ines always wanted to sell clothes full-time, because she enjoys doing it and it is a good way to make a decent living. Today, she sells items door-to-door in the morning and from her home in the afternoon -- mainly to friends, family and neighbors. Ines used to work until 11pm every day but has been able to cut back on her hours because she has regular clients and can depend on their business.
This 37-year-old entrepreneur has four children, all of whom still live at home. Two of her children work and are able to help Ines support their family. Her husband has worked in a nearby factory for the last 15 years, and whenever Ines has to take care of the children or visit her distributors, he watches over the business, which is open from 8am until 6pm every day.
Ines has borrowed from Kiva and Mifex before, and made good use of her earlier loans, which allowed her to open a second shop that is being run by her children. She is very happy about this because the extra income has allowed her to provide a better life for her family. She has asked for a new loan to buy more clothing, shoes, and fashion accessories to sell to her customers. This is a good time to do it because sales are always strong during the Christmas season. She will also use a portion of the loan to improve her home.",F,825,lender,Retail,1 Ecuador,"Ines has owned her clothing store for twenty years. When she first began at the age of 18, she was looking to support herself when her husband left her. She sold fast food, household items, clothes, and womens accessories, so now she is mature enough to be considered a seasoned salesperson. Ines wanted to sell clothes because they were her favorite products to sell, and she thought she could make a decent living selling quality products door-to-door. She did that for a period of time, marketing her items mainly to friends and family, as well as local neighborhoods where she knew most of the people. Ines has been able to save enough money to rent a space to store all of her clothes, but she is hoping to use part of the loan funds to rent a location where she can sell her products. Ines wants this loan so that she can buy inventory that is seasonal like jackets, sweaters, and pants. This 37 year-old entrepreneur has four children, all of whom still live with her. Two of the children are working and help Ines financially with necessities for the house. Her husband has been working in a factory for the last 15 years, and whenever Ines has to attend to her children or visit her distributors, her husband is able to watch over the business which is open from 8am until 11pm every day.",F,375,partner,Clothing,0 Ecuador,"Ins lives in central Cuenca. She is 32 years old, happily married, and has 3 children (ages 9, 7, and 7 months). Ins says that her family is renting their home.
Her husband is a systems technologist and she works with him at their shop where they sell computer parts, perform maintenance, refill printer cartridges, and offer several other computer and printer accessories. They work from 8am to 7pm, and business has been doing very well because of the excellent service they provide to their customers.
This will be the third year that Ins has been working with the Foundation. She enjoys working with the organization and all the services she has received the advice, discussions, training, motivation, and the low interest rates. With her loan, Ins plans to buy computer supplies, accessories, and parts so that she can maintain an adequate stock and continue providing good service to her customers. She hopes that her business will continue to expand and become a distribution center.
Her future goal is to have her own home where her children can live comfortably.
Translated from Spanish by Ronan Reodica, Kiva Volunteer
",F,550,partner,Services,0 Ecuador,"Ins sells kebabs of sausage and plantain, roasted beef, rice with vegetable soup, roasted chicken, buns, torillas, and sodas on the street corner next to her house. She has had this business for one year. Her husband gave her $100.00 capital to get started. Everyday she sets out her stove, some tables, and what she has prepared to sell. She sells from 4:00PM to 9:00PM. Her 15 year-old son helps her. She worked from the time she was young cleaning houses. She quit doing this because her children had to stay at home alone, and she was worried about the gangs in the area. Thanks to her work, and that of her husband, they have been able to own their house and the business.She needs the loan to make a wooden kiosk that she can locate outside of the house, and for tables and plastic chairs.
Ins was born in Esmeralda. She is 42 years old and has four children. Her husband works as a security guard. Ins is a very hardworking and persevering person who has always worked for her family and has always been an important source of support in their home. Ins and her husband hope to get ahead with their jobs and continue prospering, especially in the business and in the education of their children.
Translated from Spanish by Jennifer Day, Kiva Volunteer.
",F,475,partner,Food,0 Ecuador,"Investment of First Loan
Justino was able to buy more cell phone cards and as a result satisfy his clients. Most of his clients work at a transportation cooperative where he also works during the weekends as a controller.
Business Development
Justino's principal business is the sales of morocho, a typical Ecuadorian dish made with milk and corn. He sells morocho from the two sales carts he has strategically located in the neighorhood from 5 PM to 10 PM, when he usually runs out of product. He works with his wife.
Personal Information
Justino is 34 years old and married. He has 1 small daughter, 6 years old, who attends a local school. The family lives in the upper floor of his mother's house, although they live independently.
Use of this Second Loan
With this second loan Justino will once again buy cell phone cards. He will also paint and improve his morocho carts in order to make a better impression on his clients.
Scroll down to read Justino's previous profile.
Translated from Spanish by Erin Corcoran, Kiva volunteer.
Inversin de Primer Prstamo:
",M,975,lender,Food,1 Ecuador,"Investment of First Loan:Petita invested the first credit in the purchase of tables, chairs, and kitchen utensils and general provisions.
Development of the Business:
Petita sales increased due to the improvement of her service. Within this sector demand has increased. The great taste and seasoning, and low costs of her dishes make people loyal clients. Petita also maintains her working hours. Her daughter and a daughter-in-law help her with the caring of the business. Petita currently delivers lunches to the city center.
Personal information:
Petita is single mother. He has 5 children of which 3 already are adults and help her with the expenses of the home. Their small house is made out of cement, which she has been able to build thanks to her great efforts and hard work.
Use of Second Loan:
To buy general provisions. To improve her retail space and to purchase various merchandise. During her free time Petita generates additional income by selling these products.
Translated from Spanish by Antonella Sacconi, Kiva Volunteer.
",F,950,lender,Food,1 Ecuador,"Investment of first loan:
Blgica increased her work capital with various products. She stocked her business with products such as sandwich grills, dvds, and aluminum pots.
Development of the Business: Her demand increased thanks to the usefulness and low prices of her products. She continues to work 7 days a week in areas around her sector and within her sector.
Personal Information:
She is a single mother and has 3 children who are students. Her small house is made of cane. Through her work she has been able to educate and feed her family. She is most proud of the hard works that she achieves day after day.
Use of the Second Loan: To continue to increase her work capital. To continue little by little to improve her home.
Translated from Spanish by a Kiva volunteer.
",F,700,lender,Retail,1 Ecuador,"Investment of her First Loan:
Lourdes invested her first loan in purchasing merchandise for her business such as sheets, cosmetics, perfumes, gifts.
Development of her Business:
Her sales increased due to little by little expanding to more places. She has great demand in her area. She maintains regular hours of business.
Personal Information:
Lourdes is a single mother. She has 3 children who study. Her small home is made of cement which she built by working and with great effort. In addition she works as a secretary in a store near her home.
Use of her Second Loan:
Continue increasing her working capital. Provide a greater variety and additional items, thereby satisfying her customers requests and orders.
Translated from Spanish by Cindy Kendall, Kiva volunteer.
",F,1075,lender,Retail,1 Ecuador,"Investment of Irene's First Loans
Irene is applying for her third loan. She has stocked her store thanks to the loans she has received. She is very happy, because her sales have increased. She now carries items than were not previously part of her inventory, thanks to her clients' orders.
Business Development
Demand for her products has increased through referrals by satisfied clients. She has maintained the same working hours. She has clients in new sectors she did not serve previously because she lacked the capital to do so. She is improving her store premises with the purchase of a glass display case which will allow her to better display her products.
Personal Information
She remains married, with three children, all of whom remain in school. The older people in the neighborhood help her tend to her store. Her husband works selling paintings in a commercial center in the city. Little by little she is improving her house. She has completed 2 rooms so far, a first step toward making her family more comfortable.
Use of This New Loan
The loan will be used to increase her working capital. This in turn will allow her to work with more varied merchandise, selling from her home and in the streets. Her current clients have placed orders for these items with her and she hopes to be able to fill them.
Scroll down to read Irene's previous profile.
Translated from Spanish by Erin Corcoran, Kiva volunteer.",F,925,lender,Retail,1 Ecuador,"Investment of the first loan: Ana invested her first loan in improving her business with different types of products. And she bought drinks, colas, and juices. Development of her business: Bit by bit her sale have gotten better. She maintains her work schedule. For some time she has had to be operator because they closed her store. She has been able to reactivate her business thanks to the help of her husband and her desire to work. Personal Information: Anan is married. She has 3 children. Two of which are already working and they help her with expenses. Her husband works as a taxi driver with a little car they are paying for. Her little house is made of cement. Use of second loan: To increase the capital of her business. Her desire is to create a place in her home where she can sell gifts, perfumes, and toys.
Translated from Spanish by Fallon Shields, Kiva Volunteer.
",F,450,lender,Food,1 Ecuador,"Investment of the First Loan
The client has a small store well located on a main street where she sells staples and domestic gas cylinders. In addition she delivers rice to other stores and markets in the area.
Business Development
At present she continues to sell her products and has begun to provide credit to responsible and well known people.
Personal Information
She is currently 33, separated and has one daughter. Her home is made from cement. One of the goals she has established is to save for her daughters future.
Use of the Second Loan
She needs credit to buy more goods (such as rice and corn) at a wholesale price.
Translated from Spanish by Eliza Wethey, Kiva Volunteer.
",F,950,lender,Food,1 Ecuador,"Investment of the First Loan
Anatila was able to buy the utensils that she needed to meet her clients' high demand, as she was able to improve a part of her dining room. With the utensils and improved dining room in place, one of her daughters was able to begin helping her tend to the business.
Business Development
Anatila sells breakfasts, lunchs and snacks from Monday through Sunday from 7 AM to 6 PM. The business has been functioning for more than 10 years; Anatila now has her regular clientele. She runs the business in her home.
Personal Information
Anatila is 55 years old. She is the single mother of 4 children, all grown and independent. Her house consists of 2 floors; the upper floor is currently under construction. She has been living in her neighborhood for more than 20 years.
Use of the Second Loan
Anatila wants to expand her business to include sales of lunches to businesses and homes. To do so, she needs to increase her working capital in order to tend to these contracts, some of which she has already negotiated.
Scroll down to see Anatila's previous profile.
Translated from Spanish by Erin Corcoran, Kiva volunteer.",F,525,lender,Food,1 Ecuador,"Investment of the First Loans
Rosa is applying for her third loan. She has successfully increased her working capital while stocking her business with items she did not previously carry in inventory.
Business Development
Demand from her regular clients is good. She continues to travel to the villages around the city. She has maintained the same work schedule. Her eldest son continues to help her with the household expenses.
Personal Information
Rosa is a single mother. Her own hard work and the loans she has received have helped her improve her home. She used the previous loan to improve a section of her house. She is very happy about the help that you provide. Her goal is to be able to improve all of her house and make it a more secure place to live.
Use of This Loan
She will use this loan to continue increasing her working capitl. She has orders for household appliances including sandwich grills, blenders and ovens. She hopes to include items like these in her inventory, as a way to increase her sales.
Scroll down to read Rosa's previous profile.
Translated from Spanish by Erin Corcoran, Kiva volunteer.
",F,400,lender,Retail,1
Ecuador,"Iralda Choez was born in Manabi, Ecuador and is 40 years old. She is a married mother of two who sells perfumes, creams, and clothes to her female clients. She attends to the business at her own home and is willing to do business just about any time of day any day of the week. Iralda takes advantage of the fiestas that happen in the town and works along side a friend of hers who also runs a clothing business. Her friend supported her financially when it came time to start Cosmeticos Iralda, and her husband stood behind her every step of the way. With five years of experience, she cant complain. Business has been pretty good for Iralda. She has been able to supplement her husbands income with her own. She is asking for this loan to buy new perfumes and cosmetic products.
Mifex offers its clients microinsurance and access to business training and educational programs. For more information about Ecuadorian businesses and our services, please visit www.mifex.org.",F,600,partner,Retail,0
Ecuador,Isaas owns a store where he sells items of first necessity such as food and hygienic products. He is 46 years old and has 4 children. His business is well placed in a corner and is accredited by the government but Isaas does not have access to credit. With increased capital he plans to add variety and volume to his inventory in order to increase sales and profits. He also seeks to add an employee who may be able to help him in his sotre. He wants to use the money he makesto provide a better education for his four children.,M,500,partner,Retail,0
Ecuador,"Jacinto has 15 years of experience in ironwork. He started out in construction, then learned ironworking while working for someone else. His boss later sold him some of his tools and Jacinto started up his own workshop. He works every day from 8:00 in the morning until 6:00 in the evening. He also repairs machinery for a grocery store when they call him. Jacinto will use this loan to buy the steel plates, rods and tubes he uses to make door and window grills. His business is growing and he would like to continue to provide good service to his customers. Jacinto is married and has four children, two of whom are working and help with the household expenses. Through his hard work he has been able to finish his family's small concrete home and buy a small truck which he uses for his business.
Translated by a Kiva volunteer.
Jacinto tiene una experiencia de 15 aos con su actividad. Se inicio siendo albail. Poco a poco fue adquiriendo el conocimiento de la cerrajera ya que trabajaba para otra persona la que le enseo todo el oficio. Inclusive esta persona le vendi parte de sus herramientas de trabajo para que Jacinto comience con su propio taller. Trabaja todos los das de la semana en horario de 8 a.m. hasta las 6 p.m. Adems el da mantenimiento a las maquinas de un supermercado. Actividad que la realiza cuando lo llaman.
Jacinto invertir el crdito en la compra de materia prima como lo es planchas, varillas, tubos los que le servirn para elaborar mas puertas y ventanas. Su demanda ha crecido y por ende desea dar un mejor servicio ha sus clientes.
Jacinto es casado. Tiene 4 hijos de los cuales 2 trabajan y le ayudan en los gastos del hogar. Fruto de su trabajo ha logrado terminar su casita de cemento. Su esposa tambin trabaja vendiendo artculos de bisutera y cosmticos. Posee un carrito el cual lo utiliza para su trabajo.
",M,600,partner,Manufacturing,0 Ecuador,"Janet sells various items for the home. She sells cosmetics, perfume, schoolbags, shoes and other items requested by her customers. She has run her business from her home for 8 years. In the afternoons she also goes and sells her merchandise from door to door. She attends clients from 7 AM to 10 PM and goes from door to door from 3 PM to 7 PM in the evening.Janet is requesting a loan to invest in the purchase of school supplies her clients are currently requesting because school is in session.
Janet is 38 years old, married, and has two children, both of whom are studying. Janet considers herself a hardworking woman who is looking for a way to increase revenues in order to be able to support her children. She is confident that she will be able to succeed with the loan and thus meet her goals, which are to continue to educate her children and improve their lifestyle.
Translated from Spanish by Susanna Heinz, Kiva Volunteer.
",F,600,partner,Retail,0 Ecuador,"Jennifer has ten years of experience in the business of selling clothes, a trade she learned through working with her mother. When her mother went to another country, she took over the business, since she already knew the suppliers. That's how she has keep the business going until today. She works every day of the week, from 10:00 AM until 6:00 PM.Jennifer wants this loan in order to be able to buy seasonal articles, as she already has a lot of orders, and in that way to supply her business.
Jennifer is a single mother, she has 2 children who are in school. Currently she is living in her mother's house, because her mother is living in Italy and Jennifer is taking care of the house, hoping one day to be able to have her own little house and to give a better life to her family.
(Translated from the Spanish by Naomi Johnson, Kiva volunteer)",F,375,partner,Clothing,0 Ecuador,"Jennifer started her business 5 years ago with the little capital she obtained from her previous job. Every day she attends to each customer personally, working from 6am-10pm. Her management experience and the quality of products she offers to her customers helps her maintain her business. She sells supplies, pharmaceutical products, and faux jewelry.
Jennifer asks for a loan to invest in the aquisition of new and various products and to finish renovating her shop so that she can better display the products and, thus, improve her services and public attention.
Jennifer is 30 years old and single. Since a young age she worked various jobs and obtained a lot of experience. She had to close her first business, an eatery, because it was a rental establishment. This motivated her, along with her parents, to start a supply store, selling medicines and jewelry, too. The business occupies part of the house, which is under construction. Her goal is to improve her business and profits to continue the construction of her house and to be an example for her brothers.
Translated from Spanish by Marco Alves, Kiva Volunteer.
Jennifer inicio su negocio hace 5 aos con un pequeo capital que logro obtener en base a las ventas de su anterior trabajo. La atencin de su clientela la realiza de manera personal todos los das desde las 6am-a -10pm. Su negocio se mantiene gracias a la experiencia obtenida en el manejo y calidad de productos que Jennifer ofrece a sus clientes. Ella vende viveres, productos farmacuticos y bisuteria.
",F,650,partner,Retail,0 Ecuador,"Jenny has been working in this business for two years. She learned this trade from her current husband (she is divorced from her first husband). She works every day of the week from 6:00 AM to 6:00 PM, purchasing used cans which they clean out and re-sell to hardware stores, which fill them with paint and sell them again.Jenny wants this loan in order to have capital so that they can buy the cans in bulk, at a lower price, so they can make a greater profit.
Jenny is 52 years old, she is married with 9 children, only one of whom still lives with her, as the rest are all married. She hopes little by little to remodel her home, which is of mixed construction, so that in winter there is a problem with things getting wet and damaged.
(Translated from the Spanish by Naomi Johnson, Kiva volunteer)",F,375,partner,Construction,0
Ecuador,"Jenny is a member of the San Martn Community Bank. She is 29 and divorced. She has two children, an 11 year old boy and a 7 year old girl. She is four months pregnant. She does not yet know the sex of the baby; she thinks it might be another girl. Regardless, she is happy to have a boy and a girl, and she will be happy with either of the two options.
Jenny is a stylist in her own beauty salon where she cuts hair, colors hair, and gives manicures to her customers. She has had this business for ten years. Before, she had a place where she took care of customers. But, as she is now pregnant, she cannot work as much as before. The pregnancy has given her a bit of depression, and she has to rest. Therefore, she has decided to close her place for a while and work from house to house for a while. This way she will save on the rent of her local, but she will still keep her customer base.
Jenny has asked for a $550 loan, which she will use to pay her daughters school and pay the rent for her house (she rents from her mother). Her ex husband should pay for their daughters education. But, he is a little behind in paying support, so it falls to Jenny to pay it.
Jennys future goal is to buy a small piece of land where she can build her own house.
She has been getting loans from the Fundacin Espoir for one year. She likes it because it is much easier and they ask for less paperwork than a traditional bank. They help me a lot, she says.
Translated from Spanish by Ginny Kalish, Kiva Volunteer
",F,550,partner,Services,0 Ecuador,"Jenny is a single mother with 3 children. She owns a small shop where she sells snacks and other foods. When her husband left her he gave her $500 for the kids. Combined with her savings Jenny was able to set up her business in the front of her home. At first she relied heavily on the local loan sharks but now she realizes their rates are not fair. As a side job she knits childrens clothing for a local store. Shes been knitting and sewing for over 10 years but her primary source of income is her microbusiness. She needs the loan in order to invest in new products to sell at her shop. She is hopeful that these investments will result in a better life for her and her children.Mifex offers its clients microinsurance and access to business training and educational programs. For more information about microfinance, Ecuador, and our services, please visit www.mifex.org.
",F,475,partner,Food,0 Ecuador,"Jeronima has 12 years of experience selling various items such as gifts, toys and foodstuffs. She began with some savings that she had thanks to the help of her husband. Together they operate this bazaar out of their home and Jeronima attends to her clients from 6AM to 10PM daily. By her own initiative, she decided also to sell lunches from her home. This business endeavor went very well and has been strong now for 7 years. She manages her activities with the help of her family. She works every day of the week from 12pm to 3pm.Jeronima wishes for both of her businesses to expand. Her first loan with our institution was used to buy tables and chairs for her dining area. She already has high demand around lunchtime and wishes to provide her customers with a better service. A part of the loan was invested in stocking her kitchen with basic ingredients such as rice, oil, and tuna. All these products she buys in bulk.
The second loan Jeronima is requesting from Mifex and Kiva will be used to buy holiday merchandise for her bazaar. Her clients are requesting clothing, toys, and gifts for Christmas, and Jeronima knows sale volumes will be high during the season.
Jeronima is married with 4 children, 3 of whom attend school. Her husband is in charge of buying merchandise and helping her as needed. She is the cook as well as the bazaar manager. Her goal is to give a good education to her children. Little by little, with the earnings she generates, her business will allow her to improve her home and their quality of life.
Click here to see Jeronima's first loan from Kiva and Mifex: Business ID 9914",F,1200,lender,Food,1 Ecuador,"Jess has two years' experience. She worked at home doing domestic tasks. She has decided on her own to go to business for herself. She has learned her trade of sewing on her own. What's motivated her with her savings is that she needed to buy a sewing machine. With it, she makes sheets and then goes out to sell them. She works every day from 8 am until after 4 pm.
Jess would like credit to buy more fabric, since she has a lot of orders for sheets. In addition, with the greater income, she would like to buy another machine to continue working and make her products with better quality.
Jess is a single mother. She lives with two grandchildren who are in school. She takes care of them since their mothers work. Her wish is to be able to obtain greater income from the investment she will make with the credit. In addition to improving her home, which is currently made from sugar cane, little by little.
Translated from Spanish by a Kiva volunteer.
",F,275,partner,Services,0 Ecuador,"Jess works selling cosmetics and clothing to his neighborhood and the surrounding areas. Jess started this business with the help of a friend who helped her get started by providing merchandise. At the beginning, she only sold cosmetics. Now she also offers clothing and shoes, and in the future she aspires to sell home electronics also.
She will use the loan to invest in the purchase of mixers and rice cookers, which are the products her customers have asked for. Jess is convinced that with this new merchandise, her business will grow.
Jess is married and has three children, all in school. She is 36 years old, and she depends on her business to support her family and continue providing an education for her children.
(Translated from the Spanish by Naomi Johnson, Kiva volunteer)",F,875,partner,Retail,0 Ecuador,"Jessica is dedicated to selling nutrition products. Her husband helps her with the business and her best customers are people from the surrounding area. She started the store eight months ago, and lately the sales have increased.
Jessica plans to use the loan to purchase more products, since she always takes pains to see that her customers are satisfied.
Jessica is 29 years old and has five children. She lives in a cement home, and her goal is to increase her profits so she'll one day be able to enlarge her store because her dream is for her children to take over the business.
Translated from Spanish by Marty Greenstein, Kiva Volunteer
",F,525,lender,Retail,1 Ecuador,"Jessica sells novel household and paper goods. She started this business with the help of her husband. The business is very well located on the principal street where bus lines also run.
She asks for a loan to purchase more merchandise: clothes, beauty accessories, and faux jewelry, all of which have been solicited by her clients.
She is 43 years old with four children, all of which are in school. Her house is made of cement, and her goal is to save for her children's futures.
Translated from Spanish by Marco Alves, Kiva Volunteer.
",F,700,lender,Retail,1 Ecuador,"Jimmy has 6 years of experience crafting tables, chairs, and chests of drawers. He learned the craft working for his uncle, who had a workshop. His uncle fell ill and mentioned to Jimmy the possibility of his taking over the business. Little by little he paid for the machines, and with the businesss two employees he succeeded in moving the business ahead and paying for his own studies. The workshop, located in his uncles house, functions from 7 am til 6 pm, Monday through Saturday, and Sunday when there is sufficient demand.
Jimmy wants the loan in order to buy raw materials such as wood and to craft orders he currently has in hand.
Jimmy is single and 25 years old. He currently lives with his aunt and uncle. He succeeded in graduating as an Auditor de Central de Gestion (management) and hopes to practice this profession when his business is stable. He needs the loan so that he can invest in and begin to generate earnings. In the future he hopes to be able to become independent from his family and have his workshop in his own home. He believes with his work he will achieve those goals.
Translated from Spanish by Erin Corcoran, Kiva volunteer.
",M,475,partner,Retail,0 Ecuador,"Jimmy works in the production and sale of fertilizers and insecticides. Jimmy started his business learning in a friends laboratory. In the beginning he only produced the product and sold it door to door. Now he offers his products to pharmacies and to pest control for businesses.
Jimmy aspires to have his own laboratory and give work to whoever may need it. He would use the loan to buy fertilizers at wholesale prices. He has faith that with these products his sales will increase.
Jimmy is married. He has 4 children, all of whom are currently in school. He is 39 years old. Through his business he supports himself and his family. His dream is to build his own house and improve his childrens quality of life and grow and thrive in the business.
Translated from Spanish by Erin Corcoran, Kiva volunteer.
",M,375,partner,Agriculture,0 Ecuador,"JOB DESCRIPTION
Vicenta has 2 year experience with her store. She increased her capital thanks to the loans she got. She also works as a merchant during the weekneds. She travels to neighboring towns with her sister. She works at her store seven days a week from 7am thru 10pm. She gets help from her daughter at the store.
USE OF THE LOAN
She will use the loan to purchase goods for the store. She will also supply her store with snacks, drinks and sodas.
PERSONAL INFORMATION
Vicenta is a single mother. She has three kids who attend school. Her oldest daughter attends beauty school. She is about to graduate. Her wish is to be able to get her home ready for her daughter so that she can practice her business from home. This way there will be another income in the family.
Translated from Spanish by Maria Peterson, Kiva Volunteer
",F,525,lender,Food,1 Ecuador,"Johanna tiene ya una experiencia de 6 aos en el comercio. Ella trabajaba en un almacn de venta de electrodomsticos del cual sali ya que sus hijas quedaban al cuidado de otra persona. Todo esto lo hizo una vez separada del pap de las bebs el cual la dej y ella con el dinero que haba ahorrado y un prstamo que hizo logr ponerse un local de venta de comidas rpidas. Lo tiene funcionando desde hace 6 meses en el horario de 5 p.m. hasta las 12 p.m. y le ayuda su hermana.
Johanna desea el crdito para adecuar su hogar para el negocio ya que ahora ella se encuentra alquilando el local lo que le genera un egreso. Tambin quiere ponerse un negocio de venta de colas en su domicilio. Su familia ya la est ayudando en la construccin del local y en un mes estar ya en su casa. Tambin desea poner a disposicin de sus clientes otra clase de platos para servirse.
Johanna tiene 27 aos, es madre soltera de dos nias, las cuales son el motivo para que ella haya salido adelante. Espera que con la inversin todo le vaya mejor y pueda comprarse un carrito de segunda para salir a comprar sus productos.
Translated from Spanish by Isabel Tan, a Kiva volunteer.
",F,375,partner,Food,0 Ecuador,"Johnny has 6 years experience with his business. By means of money that a friend lent him he was able to start working. He has many clients within and outside of his district. He works from 7 A.M. to 12 P.M. traversing the city streets and also meeting with specific clients. He also works in the afternoon as a cleaner in a health center.
He will invest his loan in work capital. He also wants to help his wife gain capital for her jewelry business. Johnny is married and has a baby. In the mornings his wife does domestic chores. Johnny lives in the house of his father in law, which is made of cement with a tin roof.
Translated from Spanish by Geoff Rubin, Kiva volunteer
",M,400,lender,Retail,1 Ecuador,"Jorge has been farming since he was a young boy, but now he specializes in the cultivation of rice. He has 5 years of experience, and he has been able to support himself by learning how to take care and manage his crops in the short growing season.
Jorge would like to use this loan to purchase more farming implements such as herbicides, fertilizers and other necessities in order to appropriately manage his crops and in the end make a profit.
Jorge is 21 years old and he is a hard worker. He is single with no children. He lives in a cozy home made out of wood and cement. Jorge aspires to have more farming equipment and more farming implements so that he can work his land much more productively since due to lack of funds has not been able to do so!
Translated from Spanish by Carolina Zelaya-Kronlund, Kiva Volunteer.
",M,950,lender,Agriculture,0 Ecuador,"Jorge has four years experience in his business of selling sandals as a traveling salesman. Since he was very small, 12 years old, he decided to become more independent of his family. He began to work only to support himself. He recieved the help of a friend, who loaned him the money in order for him to start working. He has had good success. He works every day of the week from 8am until 3pm.
Jorge wishes to invest the loan in the purchase of merchandise on wholesale. With this purchase he can make higher earnings. He hopes to make enough money to begin to travel to other areas to sell his products.
Jorge is separated. He is 57 years old and has one son who is 9, who goes to school. His son spends his mornings with his grandmother and his afternoons with Jorge, doing his homework. His wish is to give his son a better education. He also has a room to rent and wishes to make repairs in it so that the people who rent it can live without inconveniences.
Translated from Spanish by Kiva Volunteer, Kristin Connor.
",M,300,partner,Retail,0 Ecuador,"Jorge sells home products for a living. He sells them on credit in marginal areas of the city. Jorge started his business with the savings he made while working as a salesman for someone else. He had the chance to purchase merchandise at wholesale prices and so started his business.
Jorge aspires to purchase more merchandise as the orders for his products increase; he is planning to visit other towns to offer his products to other clients, and with more merchandise he'll be able to satisfy their demand. With the loan he trusts he can have the capital to invest in new products.
Jorge is very happy and he is confident that this credit can improve the quality of life for his family. He'll be able to save and provide a better education to his children in the future. He is 33 years old and has 4 children, of which 3 study.
Translated from Spanish by Luis Lpez Martinelli, Kiva Volunteer.",M,725,partner,Retail,0 Ecuador,"Jos has 20 years experience in business. Thanks to the help of a brother and the support of his wife, he was able to put together enough capital for a store. It has gone very well for him. The persons in his neighborshood are very grateful for the service he offers. He works every day of the week, from 6 a.m. until 11 p.m.
With a loan, he will invest in supplying his business with more merchandise, as well as with other types of goods which he has not had for sale. Most of the articles in his business are gifts, perfumes, toys.
Jos is married and has 4 children. Three of the children study and are doing well in their respective schools. His wife helps him with housework and also with the business. His house is built of cement.
Translated from Spanish by Molly Puglisi, Kiva Volunteer.
",M,650,lender,Retail,1 Ecuador,"Jos has 5 years of experience selling this product. Since he was a kid, he had to earn a living so he sold all sorts of things. At age 15, he left his hometown and came to Guayaquil to live. He got married and kept working as a merchant with his wife. Five years ago, he worked for a company selling morocho (rice pudding) from a push cart on the streets. A year ago, Jos became independent and with his savings he made a few changes to his push cart and now he and his wife hit the streets to sell morocho. His wife starts cooking the morocho at 10:00 AM at home and at 4:00 PM they go to the streets, covering especific routes until 8:00 PM. By then, the product has already been sold out.
Hes applying for a loan because he wishes to build a push cart for his wife, so she can cover another route, thus increasing their production and income.
Jos is 37 and has 4 children. His wife has always been his right hand in every business venture they have tried. Both come from humble homes where they have had to work since they were kids. The couple remembers the many sacrificies they had to make to have their cane house, and that up until a year ago, the house was still above water. Now the house is on firm land, where they had to invest $500 for the filling. His goal is to get his business ahead, since it is the households sole source of income.
Translated from Spanish by Isabel Tan, a Kiva volunteer.",M,600,partner,Food,0 Ecuador,"Jos offers wholesale and retail sales of seafood (shrimps, fish, crabs) for a living. He has 30 years of experience in this trade. His father was a fisherman and as a child, Jos and his brothers had to learn this occupation so they could put bread on the table. When he got married, he came to Guayaquil-Isla Trinitaria to live with his parents and kept on with his business. He goes out fishing with a group of 5 people in his own motorized canoe, in deep waters around different spots in Guayaquil. He comes home every 2 days. When he comes back with the catch of the day, he sells it straight to the wholesale market. On Saturdays and Sundays, he retails his seafood close to his house because sales are good. The only day they dont go fishing is on Wednesdays because they take a rest. His wife also has a small business where she sells, in the countryside, whatever people request for. Both husband and wife generate income.
Jos needs a loan because he would like to change his fishing nets and his wife needs to buy some of the products her clients have ordered.
He and his wife were born in Naranjito. He is 40 eyars old with 4 small children. Joses wife is his partner and personal support in his work. She also generates income by selling merchandise in the village they were born in. They are a humble, hard-working family that wishes to get ahead for the children. They have been able to get their most precious possession, the house, which used to made out of cane and now its completely made of cement. Their dream is to open a store.
Translated from Spanish by Isabel Tan, a Kiva volunteer.",M,475,partner,Food,0 Ecuador,"Jos sells groceries and vegetables in a store he has built in his house. He began the business when he received a severance pay of $200.00 from his previous job as a security guard. He started out selling to his neighbors and other people from the area. He offers the products at economical prices and also fresh vegetables, which is why his sales have been growing day by day. He has increased the products available in his store, and because of the good service he gives to his customers, they have also grown in number.
With this loan he has the goal of buying more food products and also adding clothing items, which are requested by his clients. He is sure that with additional merchandise and the growth of his business, his family will be able to have a better quality of life.
Jos is 37 years old, has two children who are studying, and his house is built of cane. With his improved business, he hopes to give his family a better quality of life.
Translated from Spanish by Jennifer Day, Kiva Volunteer.
El Sr. Jose se dedica a la venta de abarrotes y legumbres en un local que ha acondicionado en su domicilio, el inicio este negocio cuando recibio una liquidacion de $200 de su antiguo trabajo como guardia des seguridad.",M,825,partner,Food,0 Ecuador,"Josefina has 10 years of experience with this business. She learned the business form her mother by working with her from a very young age. She liked the work, and obtained the capital to start her own business. She works every day of the week from 6:00 AM until 10:00 AM, at a location near her home. Josefina wants this loan in order to be able to buy a secondhand freezer to store her products. Josefina is a single mother. She has been separated form her husband for 5 years. She is 46 years old and has 5 children, three of whom still live with her. The two oldest help her out when she needs it. The children's father works as a taxi driver and he helps her support them.
(Translated from the Spanish by Naomi Johnson, Kiva volunteer)",F,475,partner,Food,0 Ecuador,"Juan is married with one child who is eight years old. He used to work in a factory, but they had to liquidate four years ago. Because money was tight and he had mouths to feed, Juan opened up his own business, which has become a local favorite in Guayaquil. In fact, whenever the Mifex team visits Ecuador, Juan (or Nene as he likes to be called) serves up the best dishes around.
He and his wife work seven days a week managing their restaurant which sells rice & beans, beef, chicken, and chorizo. His wife Betty is the cook, and Nene attends to the clients. It wasnt easy starting the restaurant because they didnt have much capital. However, like many other Ecuadorian businesses, they started out of their home to save money. Through perseverance, things have gone pretty well over the past four years. They have received such high demand that they had to build an extension to their home just to make space for more tables. Not only are customers coming from the local neighborhood, but from all around Guayaquil. Nene and Betty run the restaurant from 6:30 pm until 2:00 am. They are asking for this loan so that they can buy more tables and chairs, as well as prime materials such as rice and cooking oil.
Mifex offers its clients microinsurance and access to business training and educational programs. For more information about Ecuadorian businesses and our services, please visit www.mifex.org.",M,600,partner,Food,0
Ecuador,"Juan Quinto was born in Vinces, Ecuador. He is a forty-year-old married man who also owns a small restaurant. His cooks up specialties like encebollado and lunch dishes like seco de pollo (chicken stew with rice) and lomo salteado (thinly cut beef with onions and tomatoes). Encebollado is a favorite in Ecuador because of the incredible mix of ingredients, including albacore tuna, onions, yucca, and lime, but also because of its hangover-curing powers. Juan works every day from 6am until 3pm, serving local clients who stop in for a hearty lunch. He is asking for this $800 microloan, so that he can purchase cooking items like spices and utensils. Also, Mr. Quinto wants to be free of the chulqueros or loan sharks who generally charge 20% monthly. Juan wants potential lenders to know that he is very hard-working and entrepreneurial. He recognizes the opportunity in front of him and has agreed to pay back his loan in a timely manner.",M,800,partner,Food,0
Ecuador,"Juanas expertise is on the cultivation of rice, thanks to the teachings that she inherited from her family. She has been able to establish a profitable farm in an area where rice is the main crop.
Juana would like to manage her land more efficiently which will make it more productive and it will enable her to grow different varieties of crops. In order to do so, she is requesting a loan. Those who contribute can be assured that their money has been well spent since Juana has successfully ran her farm for 35 years.
Juana is 49 years old. With the help of her husband, they have been able to cultivate their land with persistence and dedication. They only have one son who is an adult. With the help of his parents, he has been able to get an education and hes a well-rounded individual. They live in a house made out of reed. She aspires to have a better crop than last season, and to reduce operation costs by increasing productivity, but the lack of funding has made this very difficult to do. She would also like to make improvements to her home!
Translated from Spanish by Carolina Zelaya-Kronlund, Kiva Volunteer.
",F,675,lender,Agriculture,0 Ecuador,"Juanita buys green bananas and lets them rippen in a storage room. She sells the bananas in her house and also goes around in her tricycle selling to the general stores or to passer-bys. Shes been working on this activity for 1 year. Juanitas whole family works in the business. At home, their business is open everyday and she goes out so sell 4 days a week. Her and her husband used to sell roast chicken and had 8 years of experience doing so but they had to close down because another roast chicken place opened at the mall. This is why they switched activities.
She needs a loan to improve the space she has made for the business and to better showcase her product.
Juanita is 36 and has 2 sons that help her with the business. Her husband works half time at a company and also helps with the sales. With their work, they have been able to save money and buy their house, which used to be made out of cane and now its made of cement. They have also been able to make ends meet. Juanitas family has an enterprising spirit and is very active. Their wish is to give the business a more stable financial base, since it is their only source of steady income.
Translated from Spanish by Isabel Tan, a Kiva volunteer.",F,375,partner,Food,0
Ecuador,"Julia Teresa is a member of the community bank El Arenal, which meets at the office of Fundacin Espoir every two weeks. She lives in the city of Cuenca, a beautiful colonial city in southern Ecuador. She turned 33 years old on the date of this interview. She is married and has two daughters. Her husband is a good man, his name is Lauro, he works as an upholsterer. They live in a rented house. Her daughters are currently attending school ""Juan de Saber"", for her, this is the most important thing.
When Julia met her husband, he already had his own business, but she says she is not married for money but for love. Now she helps him in his workshop by cutting and sewing fabric and foam. Moreover, she has also learned how to reupholster. Her brother-in-law, Segundo, helps them with the work. She works Monday through Friday from 8am to 6pm and until noon on Saturdays. The advantage of this business is being able to work together as a family, says Julia, as well as spending time together on the weekends.
She is asking for this loan in order to buy raw material (such as sponge, cloth, nails and contact cement) and wood for her workshop. We have been very satisfied with her previous loans, and she has always paid on time, even when she was in need. She has been a member of the community bank for one and a half years. She was introduced to the bank by another member and she liked the meeting and decided to join the group. She likes the lessons on how to apply the loans and how to be a responsible member.
Her goal for the future is to own a home, educate her daughters and that her husband remains by her side.
Translated from Spanish by Mariana Hungria, Kiva Volunteer
",F,1000,partner,Services,0 Ecuador,"Julio Bustamante owns a shop in Guayaquil, Ecuador selling meat. He started the business by borrowing some money from his brother, and he has been growing it consistently ever since. Every day Julio works from 7am until 11pm and makes most of his money by selling at the big market near his house. He also supplies some smaller stores with meat. Mr. Bustamante and his wife want to invest in a new grill for filleting the steaks, which he does most often. Julio is 45 years old and was born in Santa Elena. He has one young son, and his family lives in a modest cement house. Julio is hoping that he can generate enough revenue to save up for a car to start doing deliveries to all the stores that purchase meat from him. Mifex offers its clients microinsurance and access to business training and educational programs. For more information about microfinance, Ecuador, and our services, please visit www.mifex.org.",M,600,partner,Food,0 Ecuador,"Julio has worked for 2 years in computer scanning, printing, and design production. He started this job after gaining experience working in a cybercafe. He also studies graphic design at the university, which has helped him gain a great understanding of this subject. He works everyday and does not have a fixed schedule.Julio asks for loan to purchase a scanner and reams of paper for larger quantity printing since there is a great demand from his university colleagues, also allowing him to attend to all his clients.
Julio is 23 years old. He is single and lives with his parents, helping with the some of the household expenses. Since a very young age, he started working and helping around the house. He is studying at the university, but he also contributes to the betterment of his family's life through the income generated at his business. He counts on his older brother's and parent's support. He hopes that with the loan his business can grow and improve his income, allowing him and his family a better way of life.
Translated from Spanish by Marco Alves, Kiva Volunteer.
",M,525,partner,Services,0 Ecuador,"Jury has been farming for the past 6 years. She has learned how to farm from her family. She has been able to support herself thanks to her farming abilities. She only grows rice since it is the most profitable crop in this region.
Jury would like to make use of this loan by purchasing farming implements to cultivate rice, and to buy herbicides, fertilizers and other necessities in order to appropriately manage her crops.
Jury is 23 years old. She has a one-month old baby boy, and lives with her husband in a house made out of solely wood and cement which has remained stable for the past 6 years. Her dreams are to one day buy more land to farm, and to buy more stable and resilient materials to build a more solid foundation for her home!
Translated from Spanish by Carolina Zelaya-Kronlund, Kiva Volunteer.
",F,950,lender,Agriculture,0 Ecuador,"Justino has sold morocho, a typical Ecuadorian dish made with milk and corn, for eight years. He started this business with his own capital. Since a young age, he helped his mother in this same business. His wife also helps with the business. She sells phone cards for cellular phones. Justino works every day from 3pm to 10pm.
Justino asks for a loan to purchase more phone cards, especially since every day he collects more customers, increasing the demand. His capital is insufficient to satisfy all his customer's requests. The loan will help him increase his sales.
Justino is 34 years old and married to his wife Rosa with 2 children, one is a year old and the other is 3. His 3-year-old daughter is in a school near his home. Justino lives in the house of his mother, who gave him, as an inheritance, part of the upstairs of her home. Little by little he is building with cement the upstairs. Thankfully, his business allows him and his wife the ability to further the life of their children, giving them a better future.
Translated from Spanish by Marco Alves, Kiva Volunteer.
",M,525,partner,Food,0 Ecuador,"Katherine has had a pharmacy for the past 7 years. She sells basic medicines and other general items. Her husband also has a store where he sells bulk medication at a bazaar. Since there was nowhere in her neighborhood to buy medication, she opened the pharmacy in her house. The business is going well and is well established at her house. She is the only one in the area that provides service 24 hours a day. Katherine has learned nursing and knows where to put bandages and give injections, and she also earns money for providing those services. She needs the loan to buy bulk medication. Katherine was born in Guayaquil and is 33 years old. She has 4 children, all of whom are studying at school. She separated from her husband 2 years ago. Her husband also helps provide for the children. She is a good worker and is always actively trying to make her life better. The separation from her husband affected her but the work has allowed her to move on. Her business has enabled her to acquire what she needs and to pay for the education of her children. She hopes to continue in a positive path and the business is her only source of income.
Translated from [Spanish] by [Zoe], Kiva Volunteer.
Katherine tiene una farmacia desde hace 7 aos. Ella vende las medicinas bsicas y tambin vende productos de bazar. El esposo de Katherine tiene un negocio de vende medicinas al por mayor en una de las bahas. En la zona donde viven no haba donde comprar medicina puso en su misma casa unas pequeas perchas. Las ventas le fue muy bien porque ahora ya tiene un lugar establecido en su misma casa. Ella es la nica en su medio y atiende las 24 horas. Katherine aprendi enfermera donde tambin pone sueros e inyecciones y son otros ingresos que tiene. Ella actualmente necesita el prstamo para comprar medicinas al por mayor especialmente. Katherine naci en Guayaquil. Tiene 33 aos. Con 4 hijos, todos estn estudiando la escuela. Ella esta separada de su esposo desde hace 2 aos. Su esposo si vela por las necesidades de sus hijos. Ella es una mujer muy trabajadora. Siempre esta activa tratando de hacer algo por mejorar su calidad de vida. Con la separacin de su esposo le afecto mucho pero el trabajo le ayudo mucho ha seguir adelante. Sus negocios le han permitido tener sus bienes y poder apoyar a sus hijos en los estudios. Su deseo es seguir adelante con el negocio ya que es su nica fuente de ingresos.",F,475,partner,Health,0 Ecuador,Katiuska runs a small store where she sells medicines to the locals. She started this business with her ex-husband who worked as a medicine distributor in the city. 2 years ago he left her and the business. She now runs it on her own and is seeking a loan to make it grow. Katiuska wants to invest in new products geared towards infants like formula and bottles. She sees this business as her future and she is happy to be self sufficient. She hopes this loan will allow her to make her business grow without having to borrow from loan sharks who charge extremely high rates.,F,600,partner,Health,0 Ecuador,"Katty has been making soy milk for four years. She learned this skill when she worked for a state-run day care center for children. One year ago she left and began to manufacture soy milk on her own. Currently she produces it in her own kitchen at home and she has a seller who places it. From Monday through Fiday she works on production beginning at 4:00 am, and at 7:00 she goes out to sell. This business has permitted her to have income and to buy her simple house made of cane.
She needs this loan to be able to buy a mill for grinding soybeans, and to buy a freezer with which she will be able to produce more soy milk and place it herself, since she already has clients.
Katty is 37 years old, she has 2 children in school and is a single mother. Since the beginning, she has been in charge of her children, she has her own house, bought through great sacrifice and hard work, and currently she is above water. Her aspiration is that her children study and aren't left without a profession, so she wants to strengthen the business since it is her only source of income. Katty is a very hardworking and responsible woman who struggles each day to improve her quality of life.
(Translated from the Spanish by Naomi Johnson, Kiva volunteer)",F,475,partner,Food,0 Ecuador,"Kenia has a small hardware store in her house. Kenia started the business with the help of a friend who made it possible for her to get merchandise to sell. In the the beginning she sold only electrical supplies. Now she continues to offer electrical products and also offers plumbing supplies.
She would invest the loan in faucets and painting supplies. She has complete confidence that her business will grow and she'll be able to continue making investments in it.
Kenia is the mother of three children. She is 30 years old. She has hope that this loan will give her financial security and allow her to save for her children's education.
Translated from Spanish by Erin Corcoran, Kiva volunteer.
",F,625,partner,Retail,0 Ecuador,"Kenjong owns a small business selling natural juices. Throughout the year he will sell orange, grapefruit, pineapple, and watermelon juices to his customers, as he has done for the last 16 years. When Mr. Pin moved from Manabi to Guayaquil, he was without work for quite some time. Desperate and in need of work, Kenjong was walking near one of the local universities one day and noticed the large number of students buying things from the local vendors. The next day he brought a table, plastic cups, a juicer, and 100 oranges to begin selling fresh-squeezed orange juice to the college kids. Every day from 7am until 10pm for the past two years, Kenjong has been at this location, paying $112 a month in rent. Sometimes in the afternoon his wife will help him run the juice stand, and she has enabled him to get legal advice from a lawyer that she works with. With two sources of income coming in, the Pins lead a modest but fulfilling life. Kenjong thanks God every day because his juice stand has changed his life and given him opportunities that he never had before. He is asking for this loan so that he can open a true location without paying high monthly rent and buy a new juicer, since the one he had for 10 years is wearing down. Additionally, he has plans to open another branch location once he earns enough from his current operation. Kenjong is a 39 year-old entrepreneur with two children and a loving, supportive wife. They own their own house, and thanks to the success he has had at the juice stand, Kenjong was able to reinforce the house with cement. They want people to know that thet are a very hard-working family and that they use their money wisely to plan for future endeavors, such as expanding the business to new branch locations across Guayaquil.",M,600,partner,Food,0 Ecuador,"Kenjong owns a small business selling natural juices. Throughout the year he will sell orange, grapefruit, pineapple, and watermelon juices to his customers, as he has done for the last 16 years. When Mr. Pin moved from Manabi to Guayaquil, he was without work for quite some time.
Desperate and in need of a job, Kenjongs business idea came to him while walking near one of the local universities. He noticed the large number of students buying things from the local vendors. The next day he bought a table, plastic cups, a juicer, and 100 oranges to begin selling fresh-squeezed orange juice to the college kids. Every day from 7am until 10pm for the past two years, Kenjong has been at this location, paying $112 a month in rent. Sometimes in the afternoon his wife will help him run the juice stand after she is done with work.
With two sources of income coming in, the Pins lead a modest but fulfilling life. Kenjong thanks God every day because his juice stand has changed his life and given him opportunities that he never had before. Kenjong is requesting this, his second loan, in order to continue investing in fruit so he may diversify his store and his offerings.
Kenjong is a 39 year old entrepreneur with two children and a loving, supportive wife. They own their own house, and thanks to the success he has had at the juice stand, Kenjong was able to reinforce the house with cement. They want people to know that they are a very hard-working family and that they use their money wisely to plan for future endeavors, such as expanding the business to new branch locations across Guayaquil.",M,1075,partner,Food,0 Ecuador,"Laura has a small boutique in her home. Laura began her business with the help of her family. At first she only sold costume jewelry. Now she continues to offer those products together with sportswear and formalwear. She will use the loan to invest in product display materials and to purchase more products for sale. She is sure that her business will grow and she will be able to make additional investments. Laura is a mother of three children, separated, and is 57 years old. She depends entirely on this business to support her family. She hopes that this loan will give her the financial security to allow her to save for her children's education.
Translated from Spanish by Kiva volunteer Julie Lerch",F,625,partner,Clothing,0 Ecuador,"Laura has a small drugstore and sells various producs out of her home. Laura began her business with the help of her husband who provided money to start up the drugstore. At the beginning she only sold medicines. Now she offers those products together with school supplies and office supplies. Laura will use the loan to grow her business and to improve the quality of her home. She is sure that with these new products her business will grow. Laura is married and a mother of two children. She is 36 years old. Laura is convinced that this loan will improve the financial standing of her family to enable them to build a home and save for their children's education.
Translated from Spanish by Kiva volunteer Julie Lerch",F,625,partner,Health,0 Ecuador,"Lder sells convenience products. He has 14 years of experience in this business. He started out working in a business and was able to save a small amount of capital. With his savings he left his job and was able to buy a plot of land where he could build his house and locate his business. From there he has grown his business. His wife and sons help him. He tends to the business from 6 AM unti 10 PM. His business is very well located and is the only store in the neighborhood. The growth of his business has allowed him to have his own house.
He needs the loan in order to buy more products: rice (wholesale), sugar, oil.
Lider was born in Manab. He is 30 years old. He is married; his wife helps him in the business. They are very enterprising and reponsible people who from a very young age have worked to improve their quality of life. Thanks to their savings they have been able to buy their house, which was originally made of cane and wood and is now made of cement. Their business has also allowed them to give their children an education. Their dream is to continue running the store and grow the business, since it is a secure source of income.
Translated from Spanish by Erin Corcoran, Kiva volunteer.
",M,600,partner,Retail,0 Ecuador,"Lelia has a small business selling drinks, sweets, and dairy products from her home. She began doing this 10 years ago with her small amount of savings. It took a lot of effort since the father of her three children abandoned the family. She had to find a way to earn some money to take care of her family. Lelia not only sells these products, but in the afternoon she also sells empanadas. She is open from 6am to 10pm. Lelia is asking for a loan to improve her business because right now, with school in session, demand has increased. With the loan, she plans to invest in more goods so that she can meet the needs of her clients. Lelia is very young and a hard worker. She is 37 and has put a lot of effort into raising her 3 children. She knows and is completely confident that with the loan she will be able to earn more so that she can continue to provide her family with a good life and home.
Translated from Spanish by Alison Rives, Kiva Volunteer.
",F,600,partner,Food,0 Ecuador,"Lenny sells sheets, comforters, curtains and plastic items. He started his business with the help of his sister who loaned him 100 dollars he initially invested. He began selling sheets door to door. Now he continues to offer sheets, along with towels and other items for the home.
Lenny would use the loan to invest in buying stock wholesale, which would yield better earnings. He has the aspiration to improve his business in order to save and enjoy a better quality of life. He has faith that with this new investment his business will move forward. Lenny is 32 years old and married, with 2 children.
Translated from Spanish by Erin Corcoran, Kiva volunteer.
",M,625,partner,Retail,0 Ecuador,"Leonor works in selling supplies in the market to the south of the city. She started her business with a small amount of capital that her parents helped her with. She started selling vegetables. Now she continues selling these same products, along with other goods like sugar, rice, etc.
Leonor will use the loan to invest in buying more merchandise which will lead to having better income. She is confident that her business will grow. Leonor is 54 years old and has three children. She hopes that with this loan, she will improve her family's quality of life and this will allow her to save to give her children a better education.
Translated from Spanish by a Kiva volunteer.
",F,375,partner,Food,0 Ecuador,"Letty has a school in the north of the city. Letty founded the school with a loan from her famiily for the construction and with help from her husband and local residents because there was no school in that neighborhood. She will use this loan to purchase school supplies to help the parents of her students finance their education. She is sure that with this assistance her students will be motivated and supported since students generally have a hard time financially. Letty is 26 years old, married and has two children. She is dependent on this business to support her family. Letty is sure that this loan will give her family financial security and will help her improve the quality of their home.
Translated from Spanish by Kiva Volunteer Julie Lerch
",F,625,partner,Services,0 Ecuador,"Lider has a small pharmacy in his home. With 20 years of experience running this kind of business, his entire family is dedicated to this line of work, and he has worked with them and in other pharmaceutical businesses. 5 years ago he placed his business in his home so that his wife could work there, and he worked there on his days off. One year ago he left his other job and dedicated himself to his pharmacy. Their location is well placed where there is no competition and the service they offer is good because of his experience. They are open every day of the week, from 7:00 am until 10:00 pm.
He needs this loan in order to place orders for pharmaceuticals and take advantage of discounts, and to stock a display case with items related to babies and toddlers, for example diapers, bibs, milk, and gifts for children, since in that area there are many children.
Lider is 55 years old, with 3 children already in school. He is married, and his wife supports him in the business, especially when he isn't there. They are a very hardworking family. With mutual effort they have been able to buy their house and bit by bit they are remodeling it from cane to concrete block. They hope to grow in this business as it is the only source of income for the household.
(Translated from the Spanish by Naomi Johnson, Kiva volunteer)",M,375,partner,Health,0 Ecuador,"Ligia is a local saleswoman of bottled water and soft drinks. In the poor neighborhoods in Ecuador drinking water is scarce. Ligia takes advantage of this situation by providing safe drinking water and other beverages to the members of her community. She uses a tricycle with a platform on the back to sell and deliver these products. She has also discovered that many of her clients would also like the convenience of receiving other products at their door step.
Ligias first loan was used towards investing in more bottles of water and buying complimentary products like snack items and candy. She was able to increase her client base and saw her profits increase as a result. She will use her next loan in a similar fashion so she can continue to see her business grow. She and her husband have four children. He helps her with this business and also creates hand made sandals to sell.",F,850,lender,Food,0 Ecuador,"Lili is a 26-year-old single mother of two. Several years ago, she went into business for herself selling clothing. Little by little she saved money, and, with her sister, bought a cart with from which she began to sell fast food. Lilli is proud that she thought of buying the cart, because this business was profitable and she enjoyed selling food with her sister.
Thanks to a loan from Mifex and Kiva, Lili was next able to open a small food business inside her home. She used the loan to buy a stove and ingredients, and began serving food to friends and neighbors, who soon began referring others to her. This business is growing because Lili is attentive to her clients and her food is very popular
Now Lilli has applied for a second loan from Mifex and Kiva to expand her business by buying tables, chairs and utensils. She also would like to purchase juices, soft drinks and other beverages to serve with her meals. This will help her provide better service to her customers and improve her income and the life of her family.
Lilis two children, who are both in school, are her reason for living and working so hard, because her work has allowed her to give them the things that they need. She has even begun building own small house, which she is completing little by little, thanks to her success as a businesswoman.",F,700,lender,Food,1 Ecuador,"Lilia has had a wood varnishing workshop for the past three years. Her first business was to sell fruits. One of her sons learned wood varnishing while making dressers. This was an incentive for her to buy machinery and this was how Lilia opened her workshop. Currently she and a brother are in charge of the business which is open every day of the week from 7 a.m. to 6 p.m.
Lilia wants to buy a motor and a sander in order to provide better service to her customers and produce more dressers. This will make better use of her materials and create more jobs for people in the neighborhood.
Lilia is 44 years old and is a married mother of five children. Only two of them are still dependent on their mother, they go to college. Her husband is a fisherman on a tuna boat. He comes ashore every 15 or 21 days and helps her with her business, knowing that she is generating income for the home. The income allows them to continue improving their house, bringing more comfort to their family.
Translated from Spanish by Ari r Vilhjlmsson, Kiva Volunteer.
",F,600,partner,Manufacturing,0 Ecuador,"Linda has a shop where she sells all kinds of presents for parties, costume jewelry and school supplies. She started her business a year ago, making a space for it in her house. She used some of her savings and some money her sister lent her as her initial capital. Lindas 15 year old daughter and her take turns attending the shop. They open everyday from 7:00 AM to 10:00 PM.
Her shop is in a great location. She set up the business because she needed to generate more income for her family. Linda wishes to take a loan to supply her shop with more novelty items and thus attract more clients.
Linda is 30 years old and has one daughter. She had to assume the responsibility of her household, so she worked whenever she could. Despite being alone, she was able to buy a house with the support of her family. Her dream is that her daughter can finish her studies and get a job. And when it comes to her shop, she hopes to be able to expand it and to generate more income.
Translated from Spanish by Isabel Tan, a Kiva volunteer.
",F,475,partner,Retail,0 Ecuador,"Loan Use (First Loan):
Adalina increased her income. She stocked her business with different items, and bought a display case where she displays her best products.
Business Development:She has had to extend her work hours due to the demand. Her young son also helps her with the business. She has improved the faade of her business. She now uses publicity for her business.
Personal Information:Adelina is a single mother and has one son. Her home is constructed with cane. She lives with her sister and they help each other out in anything they need.
Loan Use (Second Loan):To buy school supplies and paper since classes are about to begin. She has purchase orders for these products, and will continue to stock her store with different products and drinks.
Translated from Spanish by Sandy Juarez, Kiva volunteer.
",F,675,lender,Retail,1 Ecuador,"Loan Use (First Loan):
Agripina was able to increase her income. Her daughters help her with her business. She increased her work income by adding fruit products.
Business Development:
Demand increased to the service and low costs she offers. She maintains regular work hours. She bought cooking utensils in order to replace her working materials.
Personal Information:
Agripina has for children, who are all married. They are always keeping an eye out for whatever she may need. Her home is constructed with mixed materials. She hopes to slowly secure her home.
Loan Use (Second Loan):
To increase her income and to purchase provisions and fruit. She hopes to be able to make improvements to her home and in this way provide a better service to her customers.
Translated from Spanish by Sandy Juarez, Kiva volunteer.
",F,850,lender,Food,1 Ecuador,"Loan Use (First Loan):
Joffre continues to run his locksmith and motorbike repair shop and he has started a new business by offering motorbike transportation services within the sector.
Business Development:
His income has increased due to the two businesses he runs. He has a solid demand in the repair shop, as well as in his transportation services. His sons help him by driving to of his motorbikes. He just recently bought a motorbike.Personal Information:
He is married and has three sons, who are in school and help him with his business. His wife works in housekeeping. He has rooms for rent which provide him with monthly income.Loan Use (Second Loan):
He will use the loan to fix the motorbike he bought to provide transportation services and for the maintenance of his other motorbike.
Translated from Spanish by Sandy Juarez, Kiva volunteer.
",M,700,lender,Manufacturing,1 Ecuador,"Lorena has a restaurant in her home where she sells lunch and snacks. She started her business with the help of her sister, who helped her get the initial capital of $150. Like any microentrepreneur, she started small, selling only breakfast. With time she has been able to expand her business, and she now offers both breakfast and snacks during the day. She has also built a family cabana, which she rents out for social events. Lorena would use the loan to buy tables, chairs and a grill for the events. She has confidence that with the loan her business will grow.
Lorena is 20 years old. She is married with 2 children, one still in school. She supports her family with her business. Lorena is confident that this loan will give her economic security and allow her to make improvements to her home and save for her children's education.
Translated from Spanish by Erin Corcoran, a Kiva volunteer.
",F,625,partner,Food,0 Ecuador,"Lorenza sells groceries and vegetables in a shop that she has built in her house. She began this business when she lost her job and with a loan of $150.00 her brother gave to her. She began by selling to her neighbors and friends, offering products at economical prices and also fresh vegetables. She has noticed that her sales have increased over time. She has had to buy more merchandise due to the demand and because of the fact that she trusts her customers to pick out for themselves the products they want to buy.
With the loan she wants to achieve one of her goals, which is to sell more school supplies. She lives near a school and has noticed that there are few stationary stores in her area, which is why she is sure that she will be able to sell many of these items. She is sure that by increasing the amount of merchandise and by improving her business, she and he family will be able to improve their living conditions.
Lorenza is 35 years old, has a son who is studying, and her house is built of cane. She is sure that by improving her business she will be able to build one of cement, and thereby improve her familys stability.
Translated from Spanish by Jennifer Day, Kiva Volunteer.
La sra. Lorenza vende abarrotes y legumbres en un local que ha acondicionado en su casa. Ella comenzo esta actividad cuando quedo desempleada y con un prestamo de $150 que hizo a un hermano logro comenzar su tiendita.",F,550,partner,Retail,0 Ecuador,"Lorenzo has owned this small store for over 10 years. He sells all types of food products from his shop, ranging from rice to snacks for kids. He started this business with $15 (which was worth much more in Ecuador 10 years ago) and only sold rice, sugar, oil and plantains. Although he was one of the first businesses in this area he now faces competition from other stores around him. In order to contest with these businesses Lorenzo is looking to increase and diversify his inventory with this loan. He wants to begin selling chicken, meat, sausages and eggs as well as any other products that may be in demand. Because this is his only source of income he has dedicated his life to his business and is eager to receive a loan that could make it grow.
Mifex offers its clients microinsurance and access to business training and educational programs. For more information about microfinance, Ecuador, and our services, please visit www.mifex.org.
",M,475,partner,Food,0 Ecuador,Lourdes bought this tire repair shop from her uncle two years ago. When he moved to Spain he sold it to her for $1000 and although she did not know much about the business she convinced her mom to support her and her sister in this venture. Today she does not regret the decision to take over. Although she could only do small jobs at first she has learned the trade and now manages the business. She has an employee who does most of the heavy work and manual labor.Lourdes is currently studying business administration at night at a local university. Her sister helps her run the business when she has schoolwork to do and her family is in full support of them. She is requesting the loan because she wants to buy materials in bulk and also wants to offer other products that her clients are demanding. She has already taken out a loan that she used for the same purpose. She found that the capital helps her purchase in bulk which saves time and money. The loans directly help her to dedicate more time to her studies and improve the business profits.,F,950,lender,Services,0 Ecuador,"Lourdes bought this tire repair shop from her uncle two years ago. When he moved to Spain he sold it to her for $1000 and though she did not know much about the business she convinced her mom to support her and her sister in this venture. Today she does not regret the decision to take over. Although she could only do small jobs at first she has learned the trade and now manages the business. She has an employee who does most of the heavy work and manual labor. Lourdes is currently studying business administration at night at a local university. Her sister helps her run the business when she has school work to do and her family is in full support of them. She is requesting the loan because she wants to buy materials in bulk and also wants to offer other products her clients are demanding. She wants to avoid borrowing from loan sharks at all costs because she now knows that their rates and terms are abusive.
Mifex offers its clients microinsurance and access to business training and educational programs. For more information about microfinance, Ecuador, and our services, please visit www.mifex.org.
",F,475,partner,Services,0 Ecuador,"Lourdes is a single mother in charge of caring for two children. Her aunt motivated her to start her own business three years ago, shortly after her husband left her. Today she operates a shop out of her house where she sells kitchen products and other household items. Her first source of finance was her aunt, who lent her $50 so that she could get her business going. With that money she made a down payment to a wholesale seller for pots, silverware and fabrics. She says that she has come a long way in these past three years but still feels the pressure of being the sole provider for her children. She is seeking a loan in order to diversify her product offerings and to make her shop look a little more professional.Mifex offers its clients microinsurance and access to business training and educational programs. For more information about microfinance, Ecuador, and our services, please visit www.mifex.org.
",F,600,partner,Retail,0 Ecuador,"Lucia has owned her restaurant for two years. It is a great local shop, and Ms. Chavez is thankful to be managing the operation. Before opening her own business, Lucia worked with her husband, and they ran a successful shop in the middle of Guayquil. When her husband passed away, she lost not only her best friend but her business partner as well. Lucia got a job cleaning clothes with the hope that, one day, she would be able to open her restaurant once again. Through the encouragement of her niece, this hard-working entrepreneur saved enough money from washing clothes to realize her dream. Every day at 5 a.m. Comedor Lucia opens its doors and closes at 9 p.m. Lucia is applying for this loan so that she can buy chairs and two tables, so that she can acommodate more customers. Also, she will be able to purchase her raw materials more cheaply, and this will allow her to continue offering great meals at low prices. Lucia is a 52 year-old born and raised in Guayaquil, Ecuador. She lives with her mother and her nephew whom she is raising. Her wish is to move the retaurant from the corner of her house to a new location where customers can come from miles around. Mifex offers its clients microinsurance and access to business training and educational programs. For more information about microfinance, Ecuador, and our services, please visit www.mifex.org.",F,250,partner,Food,0 Ecuador,"Lucrecia has a small variety store where she sells cosmetics and school supplies. She began the business with her husband's help; he motivated her to start the business with 100 dollars.In the beginning she only sold pens, notebooks, sweets and soft drinks. Now she continues to offer those products, along with clothing and gifts. She would use the loan to buy a variety of merchandise at wholesale prices. Lucrecia has faith that her business will grow thanks to the variety of products she'll be able to offer her clients.
Lucrecia is 30 years old and married. She has 4 children, all in school. She is certain that her business will grow and allow her family to get ahead. Lucrecia hopes that this loan will help her build her home and give her children an education.
Translated from Spanish by Erin Corcoran, a Kiva volunteer.
",F,625,partner,Retail,0 Ecuador,"Luis Quintero has been an auto repairman for 20 years. He learned the trade from a good friend of his, and after practicing for years, he decided to open his own shop. Although Luis had no experience running a business before, he had the insight to know that it would require savings. His first strategic purchase was a paint machine, and from there Luis was able to get more money to launch a fully-funtioning store out of his home. When business is slow, Mr. Quintero is still able to turn a profit by contracting custom orders with clients, instead of just servicing the walk-in customers. Luis is applying for this credit so that he can revamp his tools and purchase raw materials like paints, scrap metal, airbrushes, tape, and a welding machine. His goal is to bring all of the tools in-house so that he does not have to go out and buy new ones every time a first-time customer comes in. He is a 41 year-old entrepreneur, father, and husband who is very dedicated to his work. Luis wife even helps out in the shop, selling seasonal goods that she makes. She also educates their young daughter, manages the household, and hopes that one day the body shop business blossoms into something larger.",M,475,partner,Services,0 Ecuador,"Luis sells cleaning products for the home. He started his business selling these products door to door. He launched his business selling polish, sponges and clothespins. He continues to sell those products along with cleaning clothes and aluminum cleaner.
Luis would use the loan to buy products wholesale in order to earn more profit. He aspires to one day be a distributor so he could help and give work to other people. He has faith that with additional merchandise in stock his business will grow. Luis is the father of 2 children. He is 37 years old and married. Luis has hope that with this loan he'll improve his family's quality of life and bring stability and growth to his business.
Translated by Erin Corcoran, Kiva volunteer.
Luis vende productos de limpieza para el hogar. Luis empez su negocio vendiendo estos productos puerta a puerta. Se inicio vendiendo lustre, esponja, pinza. Ahora el continua vendiendo este mismo producto junto con toallas de limpieza y aluminio blanqueador. Luis usara el prstamo para invertir comprando estos productos al por mayor y as obtener mejores ingresos. El tiene la aspiracin de llegar a tener una distribuidora, de esta manera poder ayudar y dar empleo a otras personas. El tiene la fe que teniendo mas mercadera en stock su negocio crecer. Luis es Padre de dos hijos, esta casado, tiene 37 aos. Luis tiene la esperanza que con este prstamo mejorara la calidad de vida de su familia y le dar estabilidad y crecimiento al negocio.
",M,500,partner,Retail,0 Ecuador,"Luz has been running her business for 4 years. She started working in a packaging company, where she managed to save money to start her own business. She was motivated by a friend to start selling these products. She works every day of the week visiting her clients in the area where she lives. She works from 9am to 4pm. Besides, she keeps another business in her house where she sells colas and drinks.She will invest this loan in purchasing cosmetics and jewelry. And another part of the loan she will invest in supplying her house business with colas, drinks and juices.
Luz is a single mother. She has 5 children who are all studying. She's been able to pull her family through thanks to her work. Her children are very happy with how her mother is facing her responsibility. She wishes to be able to finish building her house little by little. And in this way provide her children with a better living environment. She hopes she can make their dreams come true, with the support she provides them with.
Translated from Spanish by Luis Lpez Martinelli, Kiva Volunteer.",F,400,partner,Retail,0
Ecuador,"Luz Garcs, born in Bahia de Carquez, has lived in Guayaquil, Ecuador for 10 years now with her parents and brothers. She is 44 years old and has two children. Luzs business sells household items and candy, and it is run out of her house. She has been in business for 15 years and works from 6:00 am until 8:00 pm. When her husband is not driving his taxi, he helps out with the business. Luz would like an $800 loan so that she can buy a display case and buy products that her clientele requests. Ms. Garcs and her husband demonstrated that they can run an efficient business and that they have a proper understanding of financial management. Luz reports that she does not want to be forced to borrow from a loan shark because they charge outrageous interest rates and impede the progress of her business.
",F,800,partner,Retail,0
Ecuador,"Luz lives on 3-44 Cebollar Street, in the city of Cuenca. She is 35 years old, married, and has four children, ages 14, 10, 5, and 3 years old. The oldest of her children is studying in the high school Cesar Dvila. Her younger children are in the school Repblica de Alemania (Republic of Germany). They live in their parent's house, but they are not dependent on them. Her husband is a driver for a business and is the biggest support in the home, being the right-hand man.
Luz makes plush toys. She has worked in this business for 5 years or so. It is a good business because she sells plush toys all year long, and even more during the Christmas months and St. Valentine's Day. She works together with her children.
She has been with the FUNDACIN ESPOIR for six cycles, and she is grateful for the benefits she receives and the good treatment they offer. With the loan that the foundation will give her, she is going to invest in her business, purchasing more material, such as plush, down, fabric, lace, polyester, eyes, etc.
The benefit of working at home is that she can spend all day with her children at her side, and she can take care of her home. Her goal for the future is to have her own house.
Translated from Spanish by Amy McGinty, Kiva Volunteer
",F,275,partner,Arts,0 Ecuador,"Luz owns a store that sells school, office and party supplies. She is a single mother of one child who is currently still in school. She mainly sells notebooks, pens and party items for children and adults. The loans will help Luz purchase increased volume of products in times when demand is high such as carnival, Christmas and other holidays. She has over 25 years of experience in this business.",F,500,partner,Retail,0 Ecuador,"Luz sells clothing, perfume, cosmetics and home products as a street vendor. She started the business four years ago with her savings and with the help of her husband. Both of them currently work in the business.Her main goal is to invest more in the business and to be able to increase her inventory and satisfy her customers.
She is 48 years old, married and has one child. Her house is made of cement, and she has a stable family life.
Translated from Spanish by Molly Puglisi, Kiva Volunteer.
",F,550,lender,Retail,1 Ecuador,"Luz tiene una experiencia de 10 aos en el negocio, actividad que la inici trabajando con su hermana en la venta de legumbres. Luego logr tener su propio capital y de esta manera su propio negocio el que lo logr ubicar en una feria libre cerca de su domicilio. Ya hace 5 aos trabajndolo todos los das en horario de 6 a.m. hasta las 2 p.m.
Luz desea el crdito para poder invertirlo en su negocio, el que actualmente est un poco bajo de capital, esperando poder surtirlo y de esta manera poder obtener mejores ingresos.
Luz es viuda, tiene 48 aos y 2 hijos los que actualmente viven con ella brindndole todo el apoyo que necesita. Espera poder volver tambin a la venta de fritada labor que la realizaba por las tardes luego de terminada su jornada en el mercado, y que la dej por falta de capital.
Translated from Spanish by Isabel Tan, a Kiva volunteer.
",F,375,partner,Food,0 Ecuador,"Mabel has a store that sells all kinds of decorations for childens parties (invitations, trinkets, piatas, balloons) as well as diapers and little gifts for kids. Her business is 1 year old and it was her husband who encouraged her to have her own store; he helped her with $200 so she could start the business. She rents a place and opens from 8:00 AM to 9:00 PM. Her business has been well received in the area because of the good prices she offers, and since her husband works at a printing shop, he brings her all sorts of party invitations.
She is requesting a loan to diversify the decorations for childrens parties she offers and to buy a small display cabinet.
Mabel is 25 years old and has 2 girls. Her husband has been working at the printing shop for 10 years and has always supported her. They are a close-knit family; together they have been able to acquire their posessions, especially the house that they have remodeled into a cement based structure. She hopes for her business to grow stronger and for it to bring in more income, and above all, she wishes for her little girls to be able to continue their studies.
Translated from Spanish by Isabel Tan, a Kiva volunteer.",F,600,partner,Retail,0 Ecuador,"Magno has a storage area that he uses to sell wood. He started working at a very young age, selling fish, fruit, and whatever else he could to help his family. After moving to Guayaquil, he continued doing what he could to survive, and little by little has been able to build his home and establish his family. Eventually, he started a business selling wood panels in Guayaquil. Several months ago he received a loan in order to help him buy the wood to make the panels and he has seen positive results to date. He would like to continue investing in his business with a new loan. He hopes to service some of his machinery and also buy wood in bulk.
Magno is 49 years old and has 6 children, two of whom work with him in his business. He also rents out his washing machines (pictured) and raises pigs to generate extra income for his family. He wants to add a second story to his house so that his wife and son can start a business on the ground floor. Magno is proud of what he has accomplished but also feels sad that his son doesnt plan to finish high school, something that he would have liked to do but never had the opportunity. He continues to work hard in order to provide an education for the rest of his children.",M,1200,lender,Construction,1 Ecuador,"Manuel sells tropical fruits and vegetables in the wholesale market near his home. He has had the business for 23 years and has hever stopped working as this is something he inherited from his parents. His wife and children help in the business.He needs a loan to buy more merchandise and to be able to attend to more customers who ask him for products. Because Manuels products are fresh and of good quality he now has more people coming to his store to buy their vegetables.
He is 40 years old, married and has four children who study. His house is made of cement. His main goal is to have a stable business.
Translated from Spanish by Molly Puglisi, Kiva Volunteer.
",M,1200,lender,Food,1 Ecuador,"Manuela has a small shop in her home where she sells school supplies and various articles. Manuela started her business with money that she had saved through giving in-home massages, manicures, and pedicures. At first she only sold paper items and notebooks. Now she also sells various other items.
Manuela aspires to sell office supplies and to buy a photocopy machine. She is convinced that, with this new service of photocopying, her sales will increase.
Manuela has two children, she is married and 34 years old. She has faith that, with this loan, her business will grow and her income will improve.
(Translated from the Spanish by Naomi Johnson, Kiva volunteer.)",F,1125,partner,Retail,0
Ecuador,"Mara, is a woman dedicated to business. She has been married for 22 years and is the mother of three children. Her husband, Ramn Veliz, works fishing on the high seas, a profession that he has been practicing for many years and that requires of a lot of risk. She relies on a small store in her own house, where she sells basic necessities such as rice, sugar, oil, and salt. She commented to us that she began 5 years ago in a somewhat small way, selling candies, caramels, and cookies. She was saving until she could invest enough money to be able to buy other products. At present Mara feels very good about her store, but she aspires to be able to grow her business. She wants to buy showcases, a freezer and more provisions, but lacks a great detail: the money. Because of this she decided to request a loan of $ 1100 dollars from the foundation ESPOIR and, once she receives it she will be able to invest all that money in the items mentioned previously.
Translated from Spanish by Barbara (B) Brown, Kiva Volunteer
",F,1100,partner,Retail,0 Ecuador,"Marcos is a single father who owns a small store that sells chickens and other meats. He averages about 16 hours of work a day and depends on his family to take care of his daughter. With the money received from the loan Marcos plans to increase his inventory so that he can diversify his products and buy in bulk at lower prices. He plans to use the increased income to provide better health care, education and clothing for his daughter.",M,500,partner,Food,0 Ecuador,"Margarita has 12 years of experience selling meat and pork. She works in this business together with her husband. She has succeeded in taking the business forward little by little with her savings. Currently she sells pork and chickens by the pound. She works only weekends, from 7 a.m. to 12 a.m. She and her husband slaughter the chickens they later distribute to their clients in the food business.Margarita wants this loan so that she can invest in more meat, which will allow her to increase her earnings. She hopes that with the investment she will be able to work every day of the week.
Margarita is married with 4 adult children. She lives with her husband, her mother and a grandchild whom she is raising. Her husband handles the distribution of the chickens and pork. She helps him prepare the carcasses. He also works making deliveries with a cart the couple owns. In addition to her business, Margarita works in an administrative position in a health clinic. She is hoping that with this investment she will be able to improve her life and that of her family.
Translated from Spanish by Erin Corcoran, Kiva volunteer.
",F,475,partner,Food,0 Ecuador,"Margarita oponed Bazar Heidy three years ago and sold cosmetic goods door-to-door. A year ago, she opened a shop out of her home and has been selling successfully ever since. She mainly markets bazaar items, stationary, and cosmetics. Every day from 8am until 11pm this entrepreneur works hard to support her family, and she is intent on expanding her business to provide them with opportunities that she never had. Margaritas daughter once loaned her $200 to buy two glass cases to show off her products at the store, and her traveling business has grown steadily over the years. She is applying for this credit so that she can purchase toys, clothes, and invest offer seasonal products. Margarita is a single mother of four, and although her children are all adults now, two of them still live with her. Her wish is take out this loan in order to bring in other sources of income from her business.",F,375,partner,Retail,0 Ecuador,"Margarita works selling clothing and cosmetics door to door in rural areas. She has a portfolio of fifty clients. Margaritas business started out of necessity when her husband suffered from a 6 month illness. Her relatives helped her with 200 dollars in funds to undertake the opening of her business. In the beginning, she only sold clothes for children and women. Now, in addition to those products, she offers mens clothing, and cosmetics. Margarita hopes to begin offering small appliances such as toasters, mixers and rice cookers as these are the products most frequently requested by her clients. She has faith that with these new products her business will grow. Margarita is married, with two children in school. She is 44 years old. Support for her children and their education comes solely from her business. Margarita is confident that this loan will allow her to save for the future.
Translated from Spanish by James Comstock, Kiva Volunteer.
",F,1200,partner,Retail,0 Ecuador,"Maria and her husband have had a small store in their home for 13 years. With effort, they succeeded in saving a little capital in order to sell food products from the coast and the mountains, such as rice, sugar, meats, oil, tuna, various legumes, and others. They work in the store every day of the week, serving customers from 6 AM to 10 PM.
Maria would like the loan in order to buy a horizontal glass display case so that she can add more variety to her business by offering cosmetics and bazaar items. She would hold direct responsibility for administrating this new business, leaving management of the existing store to her husband. This way Maria will avoid taking capital out of the store. Even better, she will generate additional income and will be fulfilling the needs of her clients.
Maria is married. She is 36 years old. She does not have children, but three years ago the son she had adopted when he was 1 day old died, drowned, at the age of 10. She is not able to have children for medical reasons. Her husband supports her in everything; they are responsible people. Her desire with the loan is to generate higher earnings which will allow her to continue making improvements to her home and give her more security since it is located in a dangerous area.
Translated from Spanish by Erin Corcoran, Kiva volunteer.
",F,600,partner,Food,0 Ecuador,"Maria and her husband have had a small store in their home for 13 years. With effort, they succeeded in saving a little capital in order to sell food products from the coast and the mountains, such as rice, sugar, meats, oil, tuna, various legumes, and others. With a previous loan from Kiva, Maria was also able to begin selling cosmetics and other general store items (such as stationery and toys). They work in the store every day of the week, serving customers from 6 AM to 10 PM.
Maria is requesting her new loan so she may continue to improve her secondary business. She wants to invest in perfumes, clothing accessories like bracelets and earrings, and other types of gifts. She hopes that she will also be able to slowly start improving the appearance of her business.
Maria is married. She is 36 years old. She does not have children, but three years ago the son she had adopted when he was 1 day old died at the age of 10. Her husband supports her in everything; they are responsible people. Her desire with the loan is to generate higher earnings which will allow her to continue making improvements to her home and give her more security since it is located in a dangerous area.
",F,1050,lender,Retail,0 Ecuador,"Maria Baque has owned her business for 3 years. She sells mens and womens clothes door-to-door in a part of Guayaquil called Mapasingue. She originally started out with the help of her son who loaned her $200. Every day she works from 9am until 5pm selling her clothes to neighbors, friends, and shoppers near the local bazaar. Maria has a second source of income from cleaning clothes for a family two days a week. She is applying for this loan through Kiva and Mifex so that she can afford marketing materials and better equipment for transporting her goods in a presentable fashion. The months of November and December are particularly important because most families buy gifts during the holidays and prepare for the new year. This 41 year-old from Manabi, Ecuador has three children and is married to a loving husband who helps out with the business. Mifex offers its clients microinsurance and access to business training and educational programs. For more information about microfinance, Ecuador, and our services, please visit www.mifex.org.",F,250,partner,Clothing,0 Ecuador,"Maria distributes rice to stores and markets. She started her business with the help of her husband who gave her $200 in start-up capital so she could have her own business. At the beginning she only sold rice retail but now sells it wholesale. Mara wants to sell other basic foods such as sugar, oil, and beans. She will use the loan to purchase the products at wholesale prices to make a bigger profit.Maria is married and has one son. She is 37 years old and depends on her business to support her family and save money for the future.
Translated from Spanish by Ari r Vilhjlmsson, Kiva Volunteer.
",F,500,partner,Food,0 Ecuador,"Maria has 10 years of experience in seafood sales, together with her husband, who taught her the business. He worked with his father from the age of 15. After he married Maria, they succeeded in founding their own business. They work every day from 7 am to 2 pm. They catch crabs, cook them, remove the meat and package it to be sold later.
Maria wants the loan so that she can invest it in her business, since she has demand she can't meet for lack of capital.
Maria is 28 years old. She has 4 children, all in school. Her children appreciate their parents for the effort they put into supporting them and giving them the opportunity to study. Maria and her husband wish to be able to buy a refrigerator with the earnings they are able to save. They now have a freezer where they store their seafood products but nothing of their own. They hope to buy their own house, as well, since they currently live with Maria's inlaws.
Translated from Spanish by Erin Corcoran, Kiva volunteer.
",F,375,partner,Food,0 Ecuador,"Maria has 4 years of experience in book sales. Previously she worked selling clothes and accessories. With that work she was able to support her children on her own: she separated from her husband 16 years ago. She began selling books on her own initiative and with the encouragement of her daughter. She works from Monday to Friday, 9 am to 1 pm and 3 pm to 5 pm en her home, where libraries and schools come to pick up the books they need.
Maria wants the loan in order to invest it in the business, since the school year starts in 2 months and she wants to have the products already bought, to ensure delivery and provide better service to her clients.
Maria is 55 years old. She has 3 children, 2 of whom live with her and help her in the business. She hopes to be able to expand her business with another line of books she is unable to buy at the moment, for lack of capital.
Translated by Erin Corcoran, Kiva volunteer.
Maria tiene una experiencia de 4 aos en la venta de libros. Anterior a esto ella se dedicaba a vender ropa y bisutera con el que logro mantener a sus hijos ella sola ya que es separada de su esposo hace 16 aos. Comenzaron con la venta de libro por iniciativa propia y de una hija la que le motivo a vender dicho producto. Esta labor la viene realizando de lunes a viernes en horario de 9 a.m. a 1 p.m. y de 3 a 5 p.m. en su domicilio donde recogen los pedidos de los libros que necesitan las libreras o las escuelas. Maria desea el crdito para invertir en el negocio ya que de aqu a 2 meses comienza la temporada escolar y ella desea tener el producto ya comprado y no demorarse en las entregas y con ello darle un mejor servicio a sus clientes. Maria tiene 55 aos, tiene tres hijas dos de las cuales viven con ella y son las que le ayudan en el negocio. Espera poder tambin surtir su negocio con otra clase de libros que al momento no cuenta para la venta por falta de capital.
Mifex offers its clients microinsurance and access to business training and educational programs. For more information about microfinance, Ecuador, and our services, please visit www.mifex.org.
",F,475,partner,Retail,0 Ecuador,"Maria has 6 years experience with her business. Thanks to the help of her husband she was able to earn revenue. She works from 8 A.M. to 2 P.M. every day of the week. She also sells seafood when her customers request it. Her oldest son helps her with distributing the products. She mainly sells to the people from her own district. Little by little they are referring her to others because of the service she offers.She will invest her loan into her business. She would like to include another type of seafood in her sales. Maria is married and has four children. They are all in school. Her husband is a construction worker. Her house is made of cane. Maria's goal is to expand her business. With her earnings she will begin to fix up her house little by little.
Translated from Spanish by Geoff Rubin, Kiva volunteer
",F,300,lender,Food,1 Ecuador,"Maria has 8 months of experience selling encebollado (a sauteed onion dish with spices) and snacks in the small shop that her husband fixed up in their house. She has always worked and has a lot of experience cooking and washing clothes, which she started doing from the age of 10. She started the business thanks to the encouragement of her husband, who lent her the money. She works from 6 am to 10 pm Her shop is located in a heavily trafficked area. Thanks to their efforts in the business, Maria and her husband were able to buy their home.
She needs the loan to buy her raw materials (rice, oil, vegetables) in bulk as well as 2 plastic tables with chairs.
Maria was born in the city of Esmerelda. She is 43 years old. Her husband works and always supports her. At the age of 5, Maria came to live in Quito and later in Guayaquil. From the time she was an infant her mother sent her to work in houses so that she would be working and earning income. When she married, she continued to work at home: mending, washing and caring for children. She has always been a pillar of strength in her home. They are a humble, hardworking, determined family and always are ready to support themselves for the well being of the family. They have their own cement home. Now the most important thing is that Maria keeps her own restaurant so she can generate her income. She stopped working doing domestic work 9 months ago when her father died.
Translated from Spanish by Erin Corcoran, Kiva volunteer.
",F,275,partner,Food,0 Ecuador,"Maria has 8 years of experience in her business. She began working for another person in a sewing shop. With her savings, she began to attend classes to gain greater knowledge of sewing, and she achieved her goal. Then she began working for hospital where they proposed that she make uniforms for the employees. Until now, she has been combining the two aspects of her job. She works mornings in the hospital and makes uniforms in the afternoons. She works every day of the week.
Maria wants to use the loan to buy fabrics because the demand for uniforms has increased. Additionally, with the savings from her job, she wants to buy an industrial sewing machine, which will allow her improve her to do a better job.
Maria is married. She has 5 children, all of whom are married. She is 61 years old and her children are proud of her for her hard work and her dedication to her job. She has been able to build a cement house. Her children are a great help to her with whatever she needs.
Translated from Spanish by Jennifer Day, Kiva Volunteer.
",F,600,partner,Services,0 Ecuador,"Maria has a small laundromat which provides washing and drying services to the community. She opened her business four years ago with money saved up from her ceramics workshop since demand for ceramics had gone down. Maria decided to put her skills into a laundering service, but she still does ceramic work on the side and makes mementos for baptisms, weddings, 15th birthday celebrations, and graduations, all by order.
She needs the loan to repair her place of business and also to buy and use detergent, fabric softener, and chlorine for laundering. She wishes to improve her service and gain more satisfied clients. She will also use part of the loan to buy raw materials to make certain ceramic pieces she receives orders for. With all of this, Maria hopes her business will grow so that she can keep investing in hard assets (washing machines).
Maria is 43 years old, single and lives alone. Her family is from Manab-Jipijapa and she came to the city determined to get ahead and help her family as much as she could. This has not been easy for her, she has had to cover her familys expenses. She is an enterprising person who tries everyday to improve her familys wellbeing.
Translated from Spanish by Ari r Vilhjlmsson, Kiva Volunteer.
",F,600,partner,Services,0 Ecuador,"Maria has a small store where she sells a variety of items. Maria started her business with the help of her former husband and $100. At first she just sold pens, notebooks, ties, and hair accessories. Now she continues to offer those products, along with clothing, sandals, and gifts. She will use the loan to invest in a variety of merchandise at wholesale prices. Maria has faith that her business will grow with the variety of articles that she will offer to her clients.
Maria is 39 years old, and she is separated from her husband. She has 4 children, all in school. For Maria, life has not been easy, having to take sole charge of her family, giving them education, food, and clothing. She depends completely on her business to get ahead with her family. She has hope that this loan will help her to save for the construction of her home, and to give education to her children.
(Translated from the Spanish by Naomi Johnson, Kiva volunteer)",F,375,partner,Retail,0 Ecuador,"Maria has a small store where she sells a variety of items. Maria started her business with the help of her former husband and $100. At first she just sold pens, notebooks, ties, and hair accessories. Now she continues to offer those products, along with clothing, sandals, and gifts. She will use this, her second loan, to invest in a variety of merchandise at wholesale prices. Maria has faith that her business will grow with the variety of articles that she will offer to her clients.
Maria is 39 years old, and she is separated from her husband. She has 4 children who are all in school. For Maria, life has not been easy, having to take sole charge of her family and giving them education, food, and clothing. She depends completely on her business to get ahead with her family. She has hope that this loan will help her to increase her business so she can save for the construction of her home and give education to her children.
",F,700,lender,Retail,1 Ecuador,"Maria has a small store where she sells sodas, juices and beer. She already owns two large freezers thanks to the profits the business has generated. Six months ago, Maria took out a loan with Mifex that helped her improve her sales and eventually upgraded one of her older refrigerators. She is now hoping that a second loan will help her venture into selling dairy products such as cheese and yogurt.Maria and her husband have 10 children, and 6 of them still live at home. She has been living in this very poor community for many years. Her home was once in very poor conditions and vulnerable to the rising shore, but she has made various improvements thanks to her business.
",F,550,partner,Food,0 Ecuador,"Maria has been selling household objects and basic food products from her home for four years. Her opening hours are from 7am to 7pm as these products are much needed in the area where she lives. Maria was very motivated to start this business and she has managed to maintain it thanks to her dedication and good customer service.Maria would like a loan to increase and vary her range of products as she is located in an area where there is no competition. Given the good quality of her products and customer service her clientele has grown, and she would like to take advantage of this opportunity to expand her business.
Maria is 47 years old and is married. Her husband does seasonal work outside the city but in his free time he helps her with her business. They have three children and they are all studying. Her desire is to improve her familys quality of life with what she earns.
Translated from Spanish by Liz Harvey, Volunteer Translator
",F,700,partner,Retail,0 Ecuador,"Maria has run a cabinetry workshop together with her husband for 10 years. In the workshop they make furniture for the home: beds, chests of drawers, wardrobes, shelves - whatever the client desires. Before marrying her husband, Maria sold clothing in the street. She met her husband while selling clothing; he was selling shoes. Later they sold food on a very busy corner. Her husband had learned to make furniture when he was very young, from his father. On his day off on Sundays he would make the doors and chairs for their house. The neighbors noticed him and began to place orders. Maria and her husband bought carpentry tools and started their cabinetry workshop in the hall that leads into their house. Now they have a large workshop. They deliver to commercial centers and have a showroom of their own, where they exhibit their products. They have 3 employees, who work with them from Monday through Saturday. The workshop has good machines, which allows them to do work of high quality.
Maria needs the loan to buy wood, since during the rainy season (which we are in right now), the price of wood rises excessively. Maria is 43 years old, with 3 children. She is married. Her husband manages all of the production; she handles the distribution of the products and administration. They are a very hardworking couple that has been able to unite their efforts and as a result of their work, they have their house and workshop. Their aspiration is to continue with the business, since it is their sole source of income.
Translated from Spanish by Erin Corcoran, Kiva volunteer.
",F,950,partner,Retail,0 Ecuador,"Maria has three years of experience as a seller of costmetics and jewelry in her own store. She began by working for other persons as a clothes salesperson in the center of the city. This was the motivating factor for her when she decided to begin to save money in order to begin her own shop. Because this work demanded much of her time outside of her house, she did not pay as much attention to her sons as she would like. With the help of her husband she obtained funding and invested in various products. She works every day of the week from 9 am until 6 pm.
Maria would like this credit in order to supply her business with other types of products. A larger supply of products would allow her to have more sales.
Maria is married and the mother of two sons, one of whom is a student. Her husband works in a factory, maintaining/repairing the factory equipment. He helps out his wife as much as he can. She goal is to be able to purchase a small terrain/piece of land, as her family is currently living in her parents' house.
Translated from Spanish by Chlo Tuot, a Kiva Volunteer.
",F,375,partner,Retail,0 Ecuador,"Maria is a 61-year-old mother of five adult children. She has eight years of experience in business. She started out working in a sewing studio. Using her savings, she took classes to improve her skills and to learn how to design clothing. She also started working in the local hospital, and began marketing her skills to the staff there as soon as she finished her studies. The hospital proposed that she make uniforms for its employees. Now she works every day of the week, spending mornings in the hospital and the afternoons making uniforms.
With savings from her jobs and the help of her first Mifex and Kiva loan, she bought an industrial sewing machine, which allowed her to sew more professional-looking garments. Now she has applied for a new loan to buy fabrics, threads and notions because demand for her creations has increased. Besides uniforms, she now sews and sells womens blouses and aprons.
Maria is a hard-working woman who uses every opportunity she gets to grow her business. She supplements her income, for example, by selling juices and soft drinks to customers when they come to her home. Her clients like her warm, friendly manner and like to chat with her while she sews and fits their garments.
Maria also gets help from her children, who are proud of how hard she works and her dedication to her family. They are especially proud of the fact that her hard work has allowed her to build a house, which she plans to secure with a locked gate in the near future.",F,1075,lender,Clothing,1
Ecuador,"Maria lives in Dolorosa sector, Pacha community, 30 minutes from the city of Cuenca. The climate is similar to Cuencas (variable). She is 46 years old and married. Her husband is a construction worker and they have two married daughters and a son who is deceased. She relates that when her son was 24 years old, he had been drinking at his construction work site and fell a distance of 1 meter on his back hitting his head. Because he was drunk he got up and kept drinking. That afternoon, when he returned home, he had a strong headache. His wife knew of his drinking problem so she didnt think much of this incident. Later that night, he was washing his hair and began behaving in a strange way, as if he were crazy. He was taken to the hospital where he was diagnosed with a cerebral hemorrhage due to the earlier fall. He died that same night.
Maria lives in her own home which her daughters have helped her build upon the old one which was just mud and scrap. She also cares for two grandchildren since their mother is out of the country. She knits and crochets scarves which she sells. It takes her from two weeks to a month to complete each item since she only knits when she has free time. She learned how to knit in elementary school and what began as a hobby now is a form of making some money. Each scarf costs her about 8 or nine dollars and she sells them for 20, 25 or 30 dollars depending on the degree of intricacy of the design.
The current loan is to purchase chicks and to build coops so that she can raise the chicks to sell them with her husband because she wants her husband to stay home more and not go out as much because, when he does, he drinks in excess. She is very grateful to the foundation since, as a long-standing member, she has had several prior loans and they have helped her get ahead.
Her goal is to continue working and she asks Espoir foundation for its continued cooperation.
Translated from Spanish by Michael Bujazan, Kiva Volunteer
",F,775,partner,Arts,0 Ecuador,"Maria owns a small shop where she sells sports apparel and clothes. Luckily her business is located along one of the major streets in the north side of Guayaquil, so there is plenty of traffic that passes by her shop. She originally started out with the help of her sister, and they both work together from 9am until 10pm Monday through Sunday. Maria is asking for this loan so that she can buy a wider selection of shoes, jerseys, and soccer gear. This 39 year-old woman is from Empalme, Ecuador and has one child who is grown up now. She hopes that by taking out a loan from Kiva, she will be able to pay for her sons school clothes and help him buy a house in a few years. Mifex offers its clients microinsurance and access to business training and educational programs. For more information about microfinance, Ecuador, and our services, please visit www.mifex.org.",F,725,partner,Clothing,0 Ecuador,"Maria runs a sewing shop that she started four years ago. Her oldest daughter helps her with the work, and her biggest customers are local businesses. She makes and sells every kind of item related to her industry.Maria is requesting the loan to purchase supplies such as fabric and thread, since she has various seasonal orders in and does not have enough capital to buy all the supplies for them.
Maria is 48 years old and has two children. She lives in a cement home and her goal is to increase her sales and enlarge her shop.
Translated from Spanish by Marty Greenstein, Kiva Volunteer
",F,825,lender,Services,1 Ecuador,"Maria runs a small food stand where she sells all types of typical Ecuadorian dishes. Her daughter helped her start this business 2 years ago by buying Maria the small barbecue in the picture. Maria started off by selling just empanadas and shish kabobs, two of Ecuadors more popular foods. She now has a large of variety of foods and dishes that she makes. She used her last loan to invest in the ingredients she needed to make her dishes.
With the profits from her loan she was able to expand her business. She wants to make reparations to her home in order to be able to offer seating for her clients. The first step is to add pavement to her home and make a section for her customers. She continues to save towards this goal. She has started selling various items for the home as a side business while her restaurant continues to grow. She hopes to invest in this business with a portion of her new loan, but will primarily focus on buying more ingredients.
Maria is 40 years old and has 4 children who are already grown up. One of her daughters still lives with her and helps her in the business. Her husband also contributes to the business when he is not working.",F,675,partner,Food,0 Ecuador,"Maria sells cosmetics. Maria began her business with $100 in capital. At the beginning she just sold cosmetics but now she also sells costume jewelry. Maria hopes to establish a store to display her merchandise. She will use the loan to invest in merchandise purchased on sale and therefore be able to offer competetive prices. She believes that these new products will help her business grow. Maria is single and 28 years old. Through this business Maria helps her family. Maria hopes that this loan will give her fanancial stability and allow her to save for her future.
Translated from Spanish by Kiva volunteer Julie Lerch",F,1000,partner,Retail,0 Ecuador,"Maria sells fried chicken and snacks. She started her busines with the help of her son, who is in the US and who sent her US$ 500 as initial investment.
In the beginning, she only sold breakfast and lunch. Now she also offers snacks and grilled chicken. Maria would also like to start selling all kinds of grilled meats.
She will use the loan to invest in the renovation of her restaurant, to buy kitchen utensils and a new oven. She trusts that these new products will allow her business to grow and that it will allow her continue to invest in her merchandise.
Maria is separated and has two children. She is convinced that her business will grow and will allow her to save for the future.
Translated from Spanish by Ramn F. Kolb, Kiva Volunteer.
",F,1200,partner,Food,0 Ecuador,"Maria started out working in a warehouse, which she had to leave because her daughter became ill. At that job, she already had some steady customers, whom she brought merchandise to and billed weekly. After that she started her own business, which she has been doing for 5 years. She works every day of the week from 9 AM until 6 PM.
Maria wants this loan in order to be able to buy wholesale, which will help her improve her income and her business.
Maria is a single mother. She has been separated for 5 years. She is 34 and has 2 daughters. She lives with her children and her mother. She has succeeded in getting ahead for the sake of her children, and she hopes to be able to complete her home for the benefit of her daughters and her family.
(Translated from the Spanish by Naomi Johnson, Kiva volunteer)",F,375,partner,Clothing,0 Ecuador,"Mariana has a beauty salon in her home. She opened her business with the help of her sister who taught her the trade and gave her some start up capital. At the beginning she only did mens haircuts. Now she still offers this service as well as skin cleaning, manicures and pedicures. She would like to make improvements to her salon and is certain that with the new service her clients will be happier and her business will grow.
Mariana is 32 years old, married and has four children who go to school. She is convinced that the loan will improve her familys economic condition and allow her to continue to grow her business to save money and give her children a better education.
Translated from Spanish by Ari r Vilhjlmsson, Kiva Volunteer.
",F,500,partner,Services,0 Ecuador,"Mariana has a small workshop where she makes clothes for women and children. She also buys clothes to sell in her store. She learned this activity from her mother when she was 10. Every week, she would accompany her mother to sell the clothes they had made, going to different areas around their village; Mariana still keeps the sewing machine her mother left her.
Her workshop is in her house and it is open from Monday to Sunday. She has a granddaughter that keeps her company and helps her when she needs to run some errands. She also has other sources of income because she had a first aid in nursing training, so she offers her services to the community.
Mariana needs a loan to buy fabrics, threads, laces and all the necessary materials needed to make clothes. She also would like to put a down payment for a new sewing machine.
She is 58 years old and has 3 sons, all of which are independent. She does not have a husband because he left her and the kids when they were still very young. She has had to take care of the family; with her income she was able to buy a property and build a house made of cane, which she later improved using cement. At the same time, she has another source of income from a property she is renting out. She wishes to keep on with her work and business since these are her only sources of income.
Translated from Spanish by Isabel Tan, a Kiva volunteer.",F,375,partner,Clothing,0
Ecuador,"Marianita lives in Quinta Chica on Chorreras street in the city of Cuenca. She is 44 and married. She and her husband have three children, ages 25, 23, and 22. All of the children are single, work, and go to school. She has her own house, and her husband is a big help at home.
She is a seamstress, and she makes aprons. She also sells womens beauty products like Yanbal cosmetics. Her sales are ambulatory. She goes to all of the markets in the city or where there are fairs. Her work schedule is from 8 a.m. until 12 p.m. every day.
When sales are good she thanks God for the good work day. When sales are bad she is resigned to not bringing all of the food home.
Marianita is a member of the Las Estrellitas Community bank is made up of 11 members who devote themselves to commerce. They live in different places in the city of Cuenca. As they are all good friends, they decided to responsibly form the community bank. They get along very well with each other, and they support each other. They wish for the well being of all of them, and they hope that each one excels.
To make her aprons Marianita buys raw material like fabric, synthetic leather, and thread, etc. She works in a small shop in her house. The loan is to buy material for her business and to buy an Overlock machine, which she really needs. She also wishes to expand her stock of feminine products like cosmetics for her customers.
Her dream is to have a factory in order to be a producer and get ahead.
Translated from Spanish by Ginny Kalish, Kiva Volunteer
",F,675,partner,Manufacturing,0 Ecuador,"Mariano has worked out of a cabinetry workshop in his home for two years. He gained his experience working with family members from the time he was 13 years old. He started his business with a loan sent from Spain by his sister. With that loan Mariano bought unfinished coffins; he works to finish them. His wife creates the upholstery inside the coffins. Mariano has 3 clients to whom he sells his finished products. His work hours are 7:30 a.m. to 6:30 p.m.Mariano is applying for a loan because demand for his products has increased; his current clients have been referring other potential buyers to him. He needs the loan to buy more unfinished coffins so that he can meet his new clients' demand and generate more income.
Mariano is 23 years old and married with a 3 year old daughter. He lives in his mother-in-law's house. He dreams of buying himself a plot of land with the earnings this investment will generate.
Translated from Spanish by Erin Corcoran, Kiva volunteer.
Mariano tiene un taller de ebanistera ubicado en su domicilio desde hace 2 aos. Su experiencia la tiene porque trabajo con familiares desde los 13 aos. Se inicio con su negocio con prstamo que le envi su hermana desde Espaa. Con este prstamo Mariano compro atades Semielaborados siendo su participacin en darles Acabados. Su esposa le confecciona el tapizado interior del cofre mortuorio. Mariano tiene 3 clientes a quienes provee de sus productos terminados. Su atencin es de 7:30 AM a 18:30 PM.
Mariano solicita un prstamo porque su demanda se ha incrementado, debido a que a quienes provee lo estn refiriendo. Razn por lo que necesita crdito para comprar mas atades semilaborados y cubrir la demanda de sus nuevos clientes y generar mas ingresos.",M,600,partner,Manufacturing,0 Ecuador,"Maribel has run a confectionary and yogurt store from her home for 5 years. She began this activity with savings and a small loan. Her husband and children help her tend to customers between 6am and 8pm at night.
Marbiel has indicated that with a loan she can buy between 2-4 liters of yogurt and confectionary items. It is now the school year and mothers use the yogurts to pack in school lunches. Maribel also knows that the investment will allow her to earn higher profits to contribute to her family and will also be able to meet her customers' demands.
Maribel is 39 and married with 4 children, who help her along with her husband in her activity. Her husbands says he is happy with his wife and considers her a hard working woman who looks after the well-being of the family.Maribel is confident that the additional earnings will help her to continue making additions to her home, which will provide her children with added security.
Translated by Kiva Volunteer, Kristin Connor, from Spanish.
Maribel tiene negocio de venta de confites y yogurt en su domicilio desde hace 5 aos. Se inicio en esta actividad con ahorro y un prstamo pequeo. Su esposo e hijos la apoyan en su negocio con la a atencin al publico desde la 6AM a 20PM. Maribel indica que con el prstamo comprara mas yogurt de 2 y 4 litros y confites. Es poca escolar y las madres de familias lo utilizan para el lunch de sus hijos. Maribel adems sabe que incrementando su negocio sus ventas tambin se suben y a su vez generara mas ingresos para la familia y cumplir con la demanda de sus clientes
Maribel es casada tiene 39 aos, 4 hijos su esposo la apoya al igual que sus hijos en su negocio. Su esposo indica que esta contento con su esposa ya que la considera una persona trabajadora que busca el bienestar de su familia. Maribel tiene la confianza que con la generacin de estos ingresos ayudara en seguir adecuando su vivienda y as dar una mejor seguridad a su hijos.
",F,600,partner,Food,0 Ecuador,"Mariela has a small bazaar in her home. Mariela began her business with the help of her husband who provided US$150 in investment capital. She began selling purses and backpacks to her friends and family. Now she continues selling purses and backpacks together with other items. Mariela will use the loan to invest in wholesale merchandise and thereby increase her income. She has faith that these new products will help her business grow. Mariela is a mother of three children, married and 23 years old. Mariela hopes that this loan can improve her family's quality of life and that it will give her stability to grow her business.Mariela tiene un pequeo bazar en su domicilio. Mariela empez su negocio con la ayuda de su esposo quien le facilito un capital de 150 dlares. Se inicio vendiendo bolsos y mochilas a sus amistades y familiares. Ahora ella continua vendiendo bolsos y mochilas y articulos de bazar. Mariela usara el prstamo para invertir en mercadera al por mayor y as obtener mejores ingresos. Ella tiene la fe que con estos nuevos productos su negocio crecer. Mariela es madre de 3 hijos, esta unida, tiene 23 aos. Mariela tiene la esperanza que con este prstamo mejorara la calidad de vida de su familia y le dar estabilidad y crecimiento al negocio.
",F,500,partner,Retail,0 Ecuador,"Maritza is in the beginning phases of starting her micro-enterprise. She learned the basics of how to make sandals some time ago, but due to the lack of capital she has not been able to establish the activity as a stable source of income. About a month ago, she decided to attend the sandal-making courses offered at our offices in order to improve her skills and possibly progress toward a loan.She makes the sandals in a small part of her home, but she is hoping that a loan will help her set up a workshop where she can be more productive. She also hopes she can invest in materials such as leather straps, soles, glue and other items necessary for the process.
Maritza is a mother of two children. Her daughter is 17 and often helps her in the sandal-making process. Her son is 15 and is still attending high school. The father of her children passed away about 11 years ago. Maritza has been able to support her family with jobs as a domestic worker, but she was not satisfied with the wages and the time she had to spend away from her children. She is now in a new relationship with someone who is very supportive of her idea to start a new business. She is very optimistic about the future thanks to the loan and the sandal-making opportunity.",F,250,lender,Retail,0 Ecuador,"Maritza started her business with the help of her ex-inlaws who provided her with money to start the business.Maritza will use the loan to invest in the wholesale purchase of merchandise and thereby to improve her income. She has confidence that her business will grow.
Maritza is 24 years old, and separated. She has 3 children, two of which go to school. Life as a single mother has not been easy for Maritza. She has to work very hard to be able to afford her children's education and housing. She hopes that this loan will improve the quality of life for her family and that it will allow her to save money to give her children a better education.
Translated from Spanish by Ramn F. Kolb, Kiva Volunteer.
",F,625,partner,Retail,0 Ecuador,"Marjorie sells lunch to companies and construction workers. He started her business 6 years ago with the help of her sister who lent her money for starting up. Her sister also helped her to find customers.
In the beginning, she only sold lunch. Now she also sells a-la-carte and afternoon snacks. Marjorie employs 6 persons due to the daily amount of lunches she turns over.
Marjorie hopes that her business will grow and that she can employ more people. She will use the loan to buy an industrial kitchen and kitchen utensils.
She trusts that her increased service allows her business to grow and will improve economic stability.
Marjorie is 33 years old and has four children. For many years, she has been relying uniquely on her business to sustain her family. Marjorie is sure that the loan will give her financial security and allows her to save money for the education of her children.
Translated from Spanish by Ramn F. Kolb, Kiva Volunteer.",F,1125,lender,Food,1 Ecuador,"Marlene is a door to door cosmetics saleswoman. She started her business with the help of a friend, who provided the inventory with which she started the business. In the beginning she only sold perfumes, but now she also offers perfumes along with fashion accessories and make-up.
Marlene aspires to sell all types of cosmetics and accessories. She also hopes to start doing facials in the near future. She would invest the loan by purchasing her merchandise in cash instead of financing from the distributors. She has confidence that her business will grow with these new products.
Marlene is the mother of three children. She is 28 years old and married. Marlene has hope that this loan will give her financial security and allow her to both save for her children's education and continue construction on her home.
Translated by Erin Corcoran, Kiva volunteer.
Marlene es comerciante de cosmticos puerta a puerta. Marlene empez su negocio con la ayuda de una amiga quien le dio mercadera para que empezara su negocio. Al principio ella solo venda perfumes. Ahora ella contina ofreciendo perfumes junto con bisutera y maquillajes.
Marlene aspira vender todo tipo de cosmticos y bisutera adems realiza limpieza de cutis. Ella usara el prstamo para invertir comprando mercadera a realizacin para as poder obtener mejores ganancias. Ella tiene la seguridad de que con estos nuevos productos su negocio crecer.
Marlene es madre de tres hijos. Ella tiene 28 aos esta casada. Marlene tiene la esperanza que este prstamo le dar seguridad financiera y pueda permitirle ahorrar para la educacin de sus hijos y poder seguir construyendo su casa.
",F,625,partner,Retail,0 Ecuador,"Marleny has a shop where she sells all kinds of products for childrens parties, in addition to gift items for all occasions. She started up this business after taking classes, and these days she decorates the piatas herself. Of course, when she doesnt have supplies there is a place where she also buys them already made up at a good price.She needs a loan in order to buy more goods and supplies so that she can continue making the products herself.
She is 34 years old and has three school-age children. Her house is made of cement and her main goal is to have a stable business.
Translated from Spanish by Molly Puglisi, Kiva Volunteer.
",F,950,lender,Retail,1 Ecuador,"Martha Alvarez owns a small shop selling clothes. Her daughter helps out by keeping track of the money. When she started her business several years ago, Martha borrowed $200 from the loan sharks, costing her nearly 20% a month. Ms. Alvarezs daughters are artisans who make bracelets, earrings, anc necklaces. With their goods combined in one shop, they would have an advantage over most other stores. Martha is applying for this loan so she can put up a storefront in her house so she can show off all of her clothes and jewelry. With the proceeds of the loan she is hoping to improve the standard of living of her daughters and save up to send them to private school. This 35 year-old entrepreneur from Guayaquil is married and has six children. Mifex offers its clients microinsurance and access to business training and educational programs. For more information about microfinance, Ecuador, and our services, please visit www.mifex.org.",F,500,partner,Clothing,0 Ecuador,"Martha and her husband own a metal workshop where they make stands and furniture. She runs the administrative part of the business while her husband is in charge of production. They started this operation about 8 years ago. At the time, her husband would only make furniture out of wood, but he got a customer that asked him to make a tv stand out of metal. Because he had some experience with metalwork he took the job. Once he finished, he realized that working with metal was much faster and easier than wood and therefore more profitable.
Today they have four employees (3 of them pictured next to Martha) that work with them and get paid by commission. They sell most of their products in their community and also in nearby rural towns. They have borrowed from Kiva and Mifex before, using their loan to purchase raw materials necessary for their production. They have opened small stores in their home where they sell groceries and other items, but plan to continue pouring their loan capital into their furniture making business which is the most profitable. Martha is 28 years old and has 2 small children. Her husband is a hard working family man who has dedicated most of his time and efforts to this microenterprise. They are very proud of their business and hope it will continue to grow with the help of a loan from the international community.",F,1200,lender,Manufacturing,1 Ecuador,"Martha is a clothes saleswoman. She mainly sells to the people in her community, including many of her family and friends. She buys the clothes from a wholesale distributor who asks for 50% of the price of the clothes up front. Once she sells the clothes, she finishes paying the orders off and she invests in new products. She used her first loan from Mifex to buy clothes and toys for the holiday season. She did well with her investment and is now seeking to make another loan to improve the appearance of her store.Martha is 34 years old and has 3 children. Her husband is a construction worker who is very dedicated to his family. Recently one of their daughters fell 4 meters and fractured her skull. Although she is almost fully recuperated, it was a difficult financial and emotional burden on the family. They are currently building their home on a piece of land given to them by Marthas mother-in-law.",F,700,lender,Clothing,1
Ecuador,"Martha is married and is 37 years old. She is the mother of three children, is a housewife, and is a selfless wife, who works with her husband. She and her husband have a bakery located in the center of the city of Jipijapa in the province of Manab, and they start working very early in the morning, at 3:00 am.
Everyday, they start baking 400 loaves of salty and sweet bread. Once the bread is out of the oven at 5:00 am, her husband begins delivering bread to the houses of their clients to fill their orders. Without a doubt, this is work that requires a lot of dedication because their goal is to sell all of the bread that is produced that day. What is not sold during the day is shared with their family because one of the rules for these bakeries is that the next day, the flour must the fresh. They have never sold day-old bread, since doing this would harm their business.
Martha thinks that in the four years that they have had this business, their family has gotten many benefits, because they have been able to work together as a family. She also said that with their work, they have been able to offer an education to their children. Now, she wants to continue implementing her bakery and invest the money from the loan on raw materials, such as butter, flour, and sugar, among other necessary products.
Translated from Spanish by Avni Shah, Kiva Volunteer
",F,900,partner,Food,0 Ecuador,Martha owns a small stand that sells chickens to the public. She learned the business from her parents and has been in this line of work for over 15 years. Although she earns money from this business and her husband has a humble but stable salary they are often short of money and do not have enough to invest in her business. With the loan money Martha plans to invest in more products and better tools. Currently she begins work at 6 a.m. and usually dedicates 16 hours a day to her business.,F,500,partner,Agriculture,0 Ecuador,"Martiza owns a store and bazaar. She sells groceries and school supplies. Her husband, who had worked at a market, helped her start the business. They began with $300 in capital, which they invested in adapting her house for the business and purchasing some stock. Maritza will use the loan to buy groceries and school supplies at wholesale prices. Her business is located close to her districts schools, which makes for good daily sales. Maritza is 25 years old, married, and has two children. Her husband is her right hand in the business and is in charge of making purchases in the market. She is confident that her sales will increase and will improve her familys quality of life.Translated from Spanish by Susanna Heinz, Kiva Volunteer.
",F,900,partner,Food,0 Ecuador,"Mayra has had a general store in her house for three years. She is open for business from 7am to 10pm. They started the store with the very little money she was able to raise with the help of her husband. She's been able to keep up the business thanks to her constant dedication and the good service Mayra provides to her clients.
Mayra requests a loan to buy new products and increase the variety of products in her store. In this way, she'll be able to take advantage of the good location of her house, since there isn't much competition in the area.
Mayra is 27 years old. Her husband works as a farm labourer. They have 3 small children, who are still studying. Her house has a mixed structure made of cement and wood; its floor is made of soil. They wish that with the product of their work they can improve their family's quality of life and be an example to the people in the area where they live.
Translated from Spanish by Luis Lpez Martinelli, Kiva Volunteer.",F,650,partner,Retail,0 Ecuador,"Melba sells clothing, cosmetics, and lingerie. She started her business with some savings that she got from a settlement from a previous job.
Melba first sold clothing door-to-door to her neighbors in the countryside. Now, her clients are mainly state employees.
Melba would like to start selling small electric appliances that her customers request and to build a clothing store inside her home. She is convinced that her business will grow.
She is 41 years old. Melba depends entirely on her business to pay for her children's education. Melba is confident that the loan will allow her to start saving for the future,
Translated from Spanish by Ramn F. Kolb, Kiva Volunteer.
",F,375,partner,Clothing,0 Ecuador,"Melecio Peafiel is a tailor from Guayaquil, Ecuador. After successfully paying back his first loan, his is asking for a second loan in order to keep growing his business at the rate he has been going the past six months. With his first loan, Melecio bought essential goods like thread, fabric, and a glass case to exhibit his work.
Mr. Peafiels wife acts as his right-hand and helps sew, conduct sales, and purchase wholesale products for custom orders. He was also able to repair one of his sewing machines, which is now used by his wife, who is a seamstress, to help him make suits for his clients. With his increased income, he was able to pay for his son to take a computer course at the Mifex MERIT Center. In fact, his son is putting his new skills to use by offering services to the community, such as typing documents and other computer-related work on a new computer that was installed in his father's shop. He repaid his loan on time, and is now in need of a new loan in order to keep his business growing the way it has been for the past six months. He plans to increase his inventory and stock up on new fabrics like cotton and wool as well zippers, buttons, and measuring tools to satisfy requests from his clientele.
With over 20 years experience making suits, Melecio has come to understand what it takes to be successful. He believes with this extended access to credit, he can continue to provide a better life for his six children, who also help run the tailor shop when they have free time.",M,1175,partner,Services,0 Ecuador,"Melvis has a business selling plastic tems and clothing in the town market. She began by selling things as a street vendor and later had the opportunity to buy a stall in the market with a loan of $200.00. She began by selling to people from the area, and due to the great demand for her products and her good customer service, she has increased her sales. Now, in addition to plastic items, she also sells clothing and lingerie.
With her previous loan, she improved her business and her house. Now she needs a loan to buy clothes that her customers have requested from her. She hopes to buy more merchandise and to order the products that her customers have requested. Melvis is certain that by buying more merchandise and increasing her number of clients, she can give her children a better future.
Melvis is 45 years old, has three children who are studying, and her house is built of cement. Her business grew with her previous loan and she has good family stability.
Translated from Spanish by Jennifer Day, Kiva Volunteer.
La Sra. Melvis tiene unndegocio de venta de articulos plasticos y de bazar en el mercado municipal. Ella inicio su vendiendo articulos de forma ambulante y luego tuvo la oportunidad de comprar un puesto en mercado y se establecio con $200 que presto.",F,1200,lender,Retail,1 Ecuador,"Mercedes has been selling ceviches door to door for a year. She decided to found this small business because she could do it at home, with her childrens involvement. With 50 dollars she had saved from her previous job she bought the ingredients and some utensils. She works in the business Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays from 4 am to 9 am. Her children help her, one by cooking, the other by delivering and a third takes the orders. She works entirely in cash.
She needs this loan to buy pots and plastic containers in which to deliver the orders, and a pair of tables to place in her house.
Mercedes is 46 years old, a single mother with 3 sons. For 10 years she has been solely responsible for her children because her husband abandoned her. Since she was 10 years old she has worked as a nanny, a cook and a housecleaner. She currently works Monday through Friday mornings cooking in her home, which is her other source of income. Her aspiration is to improve her house, which is completely of cane, with a dirt floor. Her greatest satisfaction is seeing her children in school and knowing that they will soon finish their studies. She does not know how to read or write. She wishes to continue with her business because she sees that it has generated additional income and most importantly because her children help her.
Translated by Erin Corcoran, Kiva volunteer.
Mercedes tiene 1 ao vendiendo ceviches a domicilio. Ella decidi poner este pequeo negocio porque lo poda hace en casa y que sus hijos se involucren. Con un pequeo capital de $ 50 dlares que haba ahorrado de su trabajo arranco para comprar los alimentos y ciertos utensilios. El negocio lo atiende los das viernes, sbado y domingo solo por la maana de 4:00AM hasta 9:00AM. Sus hijos la ayudan uno cocina, otro entrega y otro va ha tomar los pedidos de los ceviches. Todo es al contado. Ella necesita el prstamo para comprar: ollas y plsticos (tarrinas) para poder entregar los pedidos y comprar un par de mesas y ubicarlas en su casa. Mercedes tiene 46 aos. Con 3 hijos. Es madre soltera. Desde hace 10 aos ha estado a cargo de sus hijos porque su esposo la abandono. Desde los 10 aos ella ha trabajado de: niera, cocinando, limpiando casa, Actualmente trabaja de lunes a viernes por la maana cocinando en casa estos son otros ingresos para ella. Su aspiracin es mejorar su casa que es de caa totalmente que no tiene piso y vive sobre la tierra. Su satisfaccin ms grande es ver que sus hijos estn en el colegio y que pronto van a terminar sus estudios. Ella no sabe leer ni escribir Ella desea seguir con su negocio porque ve que ha generado otros ingresos y lo ms importante es que sus 3 hijos la ayuda.",F,375,partner,Food,0 Ecuador,"Mercy has been running her business for 16 years. She began selling kitchen utensils like dishes, frying pans, and pots. Little by little she has begun to sell other products that her clientele has been asking for. She sells in different poorer areas from 2pm to 6pm. Mercy is asking for a loan so that she can increase sells and satisfy her clients. Her clients are asking for perfumes and cosmetics which are a new line of products to her business. Marcy, 47, is married with 3 grown-up children of which she takes care of one who is 27. This son helps her in the business selling and collecting money. Mercy says that with more money to invest, she will be able to increase her income and continue to provide for the well-being of her family with a good home, as well as stability for her business.
Translated from Spanish by Alison Rives, Kiva Volunteer.
",F,375,partner,Retail,0 Ecuador,"Miquel has 7 years experience in selling seafood, which he learned from his Father, who took him to work with him from the time he was quite little. That was when he began to like this trade. Later, with his Mother, he decided to work on his own account since he was now married and needed to be able to cover the costs of his home. He works from 4am to 11am every day, along with his wife and a relative who helps them remove the meat from crabs so that later it can be put into tubs and sold. Miguel wants a loan to be able to invest in the business and get more income. He wants to provide work for his brother so that, with capital from him they can, little by little have their own business, that is his present goal. Miguel is married, 23 years old, and has a daughter six months old. He hopes with his work to have his own home, since he now lives with his parents. >p< >b> Translated from Spanish by Dwight Davis, Kiva Volunteer.
",M,375,partner,Food,0 Ecuador,"Monica sells cosmetic and beauty accessories of well known brands in several places away from the city. Monica saved money from her wages as a maid and with her savings she started her business. She had the opportunity to buy cosmetics at wholesale prices and so started her business. Monica aspires to buy more accessories since every day the orders for her products increase. She is planning to expand the business in other towns and offer her products to other clients. With the loan, she trusts she will have more capital to invest in more products and satisfy all of the demand.
Monica is very happy and confident that this credit will improve her quality of life, and will allow her to save and give a better education to her children in the future. She is 23 years old and has two children, one of which is studying.
Translated from Spanish by Luis Lpez Martinelli, Kiva Volunteer.",F,725,partner,Retail,0 Ecuador,"Monica sells gas tanks for household use out of her home. She started her business with a small sum her mother provided. She is the only one operating this type of business, which has a strong demand. Monica will use the loan to purchase more gas tanks. She is confident this loan will help her grow the business. Monica is 24 years old, single and lives with her mother. She hopes that with this loan she can improve her family's quality of life and save to build her own home.
Translated from Spanish by Kiva Volunteer Julie Lerch
",F,375,partner,Retail,0 Ecuador,"Mr Fredy sells household goods by means of payment installments or loans. He started this business with some savings from his previous job. Right now, his wife helps him with the business since many of these goods are delivered to people living in the Ecuadorian Sierra and he is constantly traveling.
He asks for a loan to purchase more goods and, thus, be able to attend to more customers. He has considered creating a small shop in his house so that his wife can also sell the products from home.
Mr Fredy is 35 years old with 4 children, three of which are in school.
Translated from Spanish by Marco Alves, Kiva Volunteer.
Don Fredy se dedica a la venta de artculos para el hogar que los entrega de contado o a crdito. El comenz su negocio con unos ahorros de su antiguo trabajo. Actualmente su esposa le ayuda en el negocio por que el entrega estos artculos en la Sierra de Ecuador por lo que viaja constantemente
",M,550,partner,Retail,0 Ecuador,"Mr Lucas started his supply business in his own house some nine years ago. Due to familial difficulties over the course of six years, his shop deteriorated. He was able to find a new location where he aquired property and built a new house and a new shop. Right now, his business prospers due to this strategic and centralized location.Mr Lucas asks for a loan to purchase more merchandise for his clients living on the outskirts of the city who regularly stop in his shop on their travels to and from the city in search of work. He believes that with more merchandise his profits will increase and his business will prosper.
Mr Lucas is 49 years old and has one child who is in school. His wife helps him with the business. His house is made of cement, and he is certain that with the business' prosperity he will be able to provide the stability for which his family has been looking.
Translated from Spanish by Marco Alves, Kiva Volunteer.
",M,550,partner,Food,0 Ecuador,"Mr Tito works in the manufacture and sale of bricks. He started this business three years ago when, after getting married, his mother-in-law motivated him to start a business. She had a very good understanding of work. Right now, they manufacture many bricks, which they deliver to construction warehouses on the outskirts of the city.
He asks for a loan to purchase more quality material, like sawdust and firewood, to burn the blocks of clay. Mr Tito is convinced that with the increase in production his business will produce greater profits and, thus, prosper.
Mr Tito is 31 years old with 2 children. He hopes his business prospers so that he can secure an education for his children.
Translated from Spanish by Marco Alves, Kiva Volunteer.
El Sr. Tito se dedica a la fabricacin y venta de ladrillos de. Dicho negocio lo comenz hace tres aos cuando se caso y su suegra le motivo a que comenzara el negocio pues ella tenia bastante conocimiento del trabajo. Actualmente ellos fabrican muchos ladrillos que entregan a depsitos vendedores de materiales de construccin los alrededores de la ciudad.",M,675,partner,Construction,0 Ecuador,"Mr. Adolfo and his wife dedicate themselves to the sale of household items. They sell from door to door and on credit. They began this business two years ago with their savings which Mr. Adolfo earned as a security guard. Now they have also begun to sell clothing.
He needs a loan in order to buy more merchandise and clothing that has been requested by his customers. He is 34 years old and has four children that are in school. His house is made of cement blocks with a tin roof. His wife helps him manage their home and their family life is stable.
Translated from Spanish by Geoff Rubin, Kiva volunteer
",M,550,lender,Retail,1
Ecuador,"Mr. Angel is a traveling salesman of watchbands, women's belts and shoes, which in his zone where he works are At first he only sold sunglasses, then watchbands. Now he also sells other items such as shoes and imitation jewelery which his customers request. With this loan, Angel wishes to purchase more merchandise, because his actual stock doesn't always meet his customers' needs, and as he gives them an excellent service and good prices, his products are highly sought after. He is confident that the increase in merchandise will aide him win more satisfied customers and higher earnings. Angel is 36 years old, has five children, three of whom are in school, and his home is made of reed. He is sur that with the progress of his business he will be able to give a higher quality of life to his family and a better education to his children. Translated from Spanish by Kiva Volunteer, Kristin Connor. ",M,675,partner,Clothing,0
Ecuador,"Mr. Antonio owns a well-located diner in a main street, where he sales traditional dishes, lunches and breakfasts. He started his business with the initiative of his wife who motivated him to save $300, since they already owned the kitchen and a few tables.
At the beginning he mostly served breakfasts to people in his neighbourhood. Now, and thanks to his wife's cooking skills, his clientle has increased and he now sales lunches and traditional dishes as well.
With this loan Antonio is hoping to improve the shop so that they can attend better and to more clients, and he is hoping to buy the cooking utensils they are lacking.
Antonio is confident that with the shop's improvements and the purchase of cooking utensils he can increase the clientle and hence provide his family with the stability they need.
Antonio is 51 years old. He has an 8 year old son who is still studying. They live in a house made of cement in a corner of a main street. He considers that with the shop's improvements he can improve the life quality for all his family.
Translated from Spanish by Luis Lpez Martinelli, Kiva Volunteer.",M,1075,partner,Food,0
Ecuador,"Mr. Arias business is to sell recyclable products. He started his business 4 years ago. His cousin helps him in the business. The sales have been growing since his business is in the surrounding areas of the city.
Heis asking for a loan of U$ 675. He wants to remodel the building and invest some of the money from the loan to buy more merchandise, so he can sell more.
Mr. Arias is 30 years old and has 3 kids. His house is built with cane and his goal is to own his own wholesale recyclable products building, so he can help by giving jobs to some other people in the area.
Translated from Spanish by Adriana Pierce, Kiva Volunteer, ",M,675,lender,Retail,1
Ecuador,"Mr. Arias devotes himself to selling lotions, shampoo, and anything else related to cosmetics. He began his business one year ago and his best clients are local stores and malls. His wife helps him with his sales and recently his income has increased.
With the loan he plans to buy more of his products and to add sweets and other goods that customers have requested from him. He has more customers every day, due to the enthusiasm with which he attends to them. He is sure that by buying more merchandise and increasing his number of customers, he will be able to give a better life to his children. Dioncio is 48 years old, has three children who are studying, and his house is built of cane. With economic stability, he hopes to have more family stability. Translated from Spanish by Jennifer Day, Kiva Volunteer. El Sr. Dionicio se dedica a la venta de refrescos cerca de las inticuciones educativas de su sectorde de forma ambulante mediante un triciclo que adquirio con un ahorro de $150 de su anterior trabajo.",M,425,partner,Food,0
Ecuador,"Mr. Fredy has 15 years of experience selling breakfasts. Before that, he used to live in the country, and his brother came up with the idea of moving to the city. He started out working for his brother, and little by little he saved his money. With those savings, he was able to buy a home site here in Isla Trinitaria. Along with his wife, he began selling breakfasts at a place near his home. He works from Monday through Friday from 4:30 AM until 10:00 AM. In the afternoon he also sells juice by the glass.
Fredy wants this loan in order to invest part of it in supplies for the breakfasts. The rest he will use to pave the floor of the part of his home where he prepares the breakfasts to sell. Right now, the unpaved floor is soaking up water and there are lots of mosquitoes due to the wetness.
Fredy is married. He is 36 years old and has 3 children who are all in school. His wife helps him prepare the breakfasts. He hopes with this investment that his business will create more income so that he can make his home adequate.
(Translated from the Spanish by Naomi Johnson, Kiva volunteer)",M,475,partner,Food,0
Ecuador,"Mr. Klever dedicates himself to the sale of juices that he makes himself. His wife helps him run the business. They have been making and selling juices for seven years. They primarily sell to workers in their sector. Mr. Klever needs a loan to buy more raw materials for making juices and buy a new juicer because the current one does not work. He is 42 years old and has a 4 year-old son. His wife helps him manage his home, which is made of cement.
Translated from Spanish by Geoff Rubin, Kiva volunteer ",M,850,lender,Food,1
Ecuador,"Mr. Mantuano has a gift shop that he started 10 years ago and he also sells shrimp on the street. Mr. Mantuanos wife helps him out in the store. The store has a great location and offers all types of novelties. He will use the loan to purchase in-season products, specifically for the beginning of the school year.
He is 56 years old with two children. His house is made of reed and his goal is to increase his sales so as to provide a better life for his family.
Translated from Spanish by Nathan, Kiva Volunteer. ",M,675,lender,Retail,1
Ecuador,"Mr. Surez has a wholesale business of tropical seasonal products. He started his business 3 years ago thanks to a loan from a financial institution. His parents help him in the business and most of his clients are the retail stores in the area. His sales have been increasing lately.
He is asking for a loan of U$ 925 in order to buy more merchandise and to enlarge the building because he grew out of space. Since the sales have increased, he wants to maintain his products in perfect conditions in order to keep his clients happy.
Mr. Surez is a 40 years old single man, His goal is to grow his business so he can help his parents financially .
Translated from Spanish by Adriana Pierce, Kiva Volunteer, ",M,925,lender,Food,1
Ecuador,"Mr. Washinton has a bar where he sells snacks, within a school in his community. This bar originally belonged to his brother-in-law, but after he left, Mr. Washington took charge. At the beginning he sold snacks and later he began to sell bagged lunches, which he prepared alongside his wife. He now sells lunches on commission from various parents who children go to the school and who cannot prepare the lunches themselves. With the loan, he wishes to buy more supplies, as the demand for school lunches has increased and every time he offers higher quality products, his business increases. Washington is sure that with the additional supplies, he will attract more customers and earn higher profits. Washington is 35 years old, has three children and his home is made of reed. He is sure that with the progress of his business he will be able to give his family a better life. Translated from Spanish by Kiva Volunteer, Kristin Connor. ",M,300,partner,Food,0
Ecuador,"Mr. Wilson dedicates his life to the selling and reparing of tires for the vehicles he uses around his location. He began this business several years ago with lots of effort and savings from his former job.
He needs the loan to purchase used tires which he'll repair and resale. With this money he hopes to make life more comfortable for his family.
He is 42 years old, one 4 year-old child who does not attend school yet. His wife helps at home and their home is made out of concrete.
Translated from Spanish by Maria Peterson, Kiva Volunteer. ",M,1075,lender,Services,1
Ecuador,"Mrs Maria has a store where she sells all sorts of every day necessities and also sells folders, stationary, perfumes, and cosmetics. Her business is located on a road with heavy traffic and because of which her sales increase every day. Mrs. Maria began her business three years ago with the money she gained from being a traveling saleswoman, in various sections of the central city, but this job was too tiring and so she decided to begin a business out of her own home. She wants to use part of the credit to buy a glass display case to display her products and to push her merchandise better. The other part she will use to purchase merchandise to meet her customers' demands. Her current goal is to see her business grow and is confident that this will happen with the loan. Mrs. Maria is 26 years old, her house is made of reed and she has a good location for her sales. Translated from Spanish by Kiva Volunteer, Kristin Connor. ",F,525,partner,Retail,0
Ecuador,"Mrs. Adriana dedicates herself to the sale of lunches from a building that is close to her district. She also sells household items on credit. Her children and her neighbor help her with the business.
She needs a loan in order to buy more utensils and repair her kitchen or even buy a new one. Her current kitchen is in disrepair. Mrs. Adriana is 33 years old and has three children, one of which is in schoo. Her house is made of cement blocks with a tin roof and her family life is stable.
Translated from Spanish by Geoff Rubin, Kiva volunteer ",F,525,lender,Food,1
Ecuador,"Mrs. Astromelio is a member of the Rocafuerte Community Bank and is in a group of 21 women who live in the town of Rocafuerte, which is approximately half an hour from the city of Portoviejo. The city is very well-known for the sweets that it sells. The group Rocafuerte is very united, and the women get along very well. The day of the interview with Mrs. Astromelia was the birthday of one of the members, so they served snacks and every member contributed some money to give a gift.
Mrs. Astromelia is 44 years old, is married, and has 4 children, of whom 2 are adults and 2 are younger (15 and 16 years old). Three of her children still live with her. She and her husband have a photography studio, called Arelys Studio, after their daughter Arely. Her husband also works as a teacher, so she takes care of the business during the week while he is in classes. Her daughter also helps them with the business. They started the business because her husbands salary isnt enough for them to meet their basic needs. At first, she didnt like the business very much, but now she enjoys it, even though she says that she is very tired when she comes home at the end of the day. They work at all kinds of events, like weddings and birthdays. They normally work once or twice a week, and they work with both digital cameras and cameras with film.
She is asking for a loan from Fundacin ESPOIR to invest in the purchase of materials for her business, like paper, chemicals, albums and a camera. She says that her dream for the future is to retire so that she can rest. She is also thinking about having some business in her own house so that she doesnt have to leave home to work.
She has been a member of the community bank for years. She is a founding member, and the bank is very experienced. The group has already worked together for 32 cycles. She says that the loans help her a lot. Only once, four years ago, she had a problem of repaying her loan, and apart from this, she has been very punctual.
Translated from Spanish by Avni Shah, Kiva Volunteer Translated from Spanish by Avni Shah, Kiva Volunteer Mrs. Cruz needs a loan in order to purchase more supplies, as her store sees rapid sales, furthermore, she would like to be able to sell to certain loyal customers on credit, and she also hopes to attract more customers. Mrs. Cruz is 60 years old, married and has 9 children, all of whom are indpendent. Her husband is a steel-worker and vender, who helps with the household expenses. She also enjoys the help of her children. Her home is clean, well adapted and made of a variety of construction material. She hopes to work and to grow in all possible ways with us and through which improve her quality of life. Translated from Spanish by Kiva Volunteer, Kristin Connor. ",F,525,partner,Food,0
Ecuador,"Mrs. Diana has a store where she cuts and styles hair. She started this business 7 years ago. Her cousins help her run the business and the store is visited by many customers in the area.
She would like to use her loan to invest in the purchase of accessories to integrate a store into her own home. Mrs. Diana is 23 years old and single. Her home is made of cement and her goal is to finish up this second shop in her house, because the one store she has now is rented. She wants to have two stores so that she can generate a source of employment for her cousins who also have experience with hairdressing.
Translated from Spanish by Geoff Rubin, Kiva volunteer ",F,825,lender,Services,1
Ecuador,"Mrs. Doris and her husband dedicate themselves to the sale of breads that they make themselves. They also make cakes and sandwiches for parties. Mrs. Doris needs a loan to buy more raw materials and other things she needs like a display case. She is 36 years old and has a son in school. Her house is made of wood and her prime objective is to have a stable business.
Translated from Spanish by Geoff Rubin, Kiva volunteer ",F,800,lender,Food,1
Ecuador,"Mrs. Edith Gonzlez has a store where she sells products wholesale. She opened the store three years ago with money she received thanks to her husband who works for a charter bus company. In her store she currently sells rice, gas for domestic (home) usage, chicken and shrimp.
She would like to invest her loan in adapting and enlarging the area where she sell sher merchandise. In reality, the quantity she orders and the space she has is very small.
She is 36 years old and has a son. Her home is made of cement and her dream is to enlarge and widen her store to attract more attention from customers.
Translated from Spanish by Chlo Tuot, a Kiva Volunteer. ",F,1200,lender,Food,0
Ecuador,"Mrs. Elsa Leonor is 59 years old. She is divorced and has four children who are now of adult age. She has nine grandchildren, as well. She is involved in the sale of clothing, purses and shoes, as a peddler merchant. She travels to Guayaquil about fours times a month to purchase the clothing, which she, in turn, sells on credit. She is very friendly, so she has no shortage of customers.
She claims that the peddling nature of the business proves itself more profitable because she does not have to deal with the fixed overhead costs associated with a store. However, the work is quite tiresome. She must walk a lot in order to sell and collect all the payments. She also prepares pastries and cakes for parties. When she gets these orders, she delivers them by the hundreds.
Elsa Leonor has been in this business for about 25 years. She is now requesting a credit in order to be able to travel to Guayaquil to purchase more clothing.
She is a member of the Banco Comunal Nuevos Horizontes, which meets every two weeks in Jipijapa, Manabi, close to the Ecuatorian coast. It is a large group that has been working with the foundation for quite some time. All its members get along very well. Ms. Elisa has been a member of this bank for 6 years. A friend originally introduced her to it and she liked it because it offers easy credit. She has remained with it ever since.
Translated from Spanish by Veronica Martino, Kiva Volunteer
She is a member of the village bank ""New Horizons,"" which meets every 2 weeks in Jipijapa, Manab, close to the Ecuadorian coast. It is a large group that has been working with the foundation for a long time and the members get along well with each other. Flor Maria has been a part of the village bank for 6 years and says that she enjoys it because she goes to the meetings to chat and to ask for loans to finance her small business raising chickens.
Flor Maria has a small store where she sells a variety of products like juice, sweets, shrimp, fish fillets and chicken that she raises in her house. Her shop is four blocks from the church in the heart of Jipijapa. The shop is 3 or 4 years old; she started it after she was done raising her three children. She started selling chickens and when she saw the possibility to expand and start selling other products she took the opportunity. When they were small her children helped her to raise chickens at their home; ""They're chicken-eaters,"" she says, laughing. The chickens she raises are a variety known as ""criolla"" (Creole) and she raises them outside on her terrace with natural foods and without hormones. Although they are of the best quality and very flavorful, she also sells the meat at a cheaper price, usually 5 centavos lower than at other stores.
She is asking for a loan to buy chicks. A box of a hundred chicks costs $60. She will also buy food for her chickens.
She is graduating as a food engineer and is writing her thesis about the use of corn flour in making tortillas for Mexican tacos. She is thinking about starting to sell tacos from her store as another source of income.
Translated from Spanish by Cathy Coffman, Kiva Volunteer
She would like to use this loan to invest on merchandise to offer a bigger supply of goods to her clients.
She is 55 years old and has one son, she has a concrete home and her goal is to expand her store in order to improve her lifestyle.
Translated from Spanish by Maria Peterson, Kiva Volunteer. ",F,1050,lender,Food,1
Ecuador,"Mrs. Maclovia has 4 years experience on her small school. She worked for 12 years on a seamstress workshop that closed. With her liquidation money and with her sister who is a teacher they decided to establish a school. They work from Mondays to Fridays from 6.50am to 2pm.
Maclovia wants the Kiva loan to invest in uniforms that would be sold to their students, as well as school materials.
Maclovia is separated from her husband for 2 years already. She has a kid who studies on the same school, which is of Christian formation. With the revenue her business provides she wants to save to buy the land were it is, as she is renting now.
Translated from Spanish by N.D., Kiva Volunteer. ",F,600,partner,Services,0
Ecuador,"Mrs. Maria has 3 years experience selling groceries. She opened a grocery store with her husband with a family loan. Little by little has been able to get a good clientele. Her business is open 7 days a week from 6am to 8pm.
She wants the Kiva loan to increase her inventory because a little bit ago her father in law passed away and her husband, as older child, paid all the funeral expenses, which reduced their capital.
Mrs. Maria is 35 years old and is married with 4 children, 3 of them are in school already. Her husband is a welder who works under request. Together they have been able to improve their home, and they wish to finish building their home as some of it is still made of bamboo wood.
Translated from Spanish by N.D., Kiva Volunteer. ",F,375,partner,Food,0
Ecuador,"Mrs. Maria has a store that opened four years ago. She began this business thanks to a loan from a local institution. Her two younger sisters help her with the sales. The store is located in one of the commercial areas of the town. Mrs. Maria sells all things related to basic necessities. Lately her business is doing well thanks to the fact that every day she has a variety of products for her clients.
Translated from Spanish by Esther Levandoski, Kiva Volunteer
She needs to purchase more merchandise and to fully stock her store as the area where the store is located is very commercial.
She is 43 years old and has two sons, one of whom studies in a nearby establishment. Her home is made of rods and her dream is to expand her store each and every day.
Translated from Spanish by Chlo Tuot, a Kiva Volunteer. ",F,825,lender,Food,0
Ecuador,"Mrs. Martina has a clothes and cosmetic store in a shop she fixed within her house. She started her business when she was able to save about $500 which she made in her previous job as assistant cook. At the beginning she started offering the products she bought at wholesale prices to neighbors and friends within the area where she lived. With the help of some of her relatives, she is now selling to more people in the area. With this credit Martina expects to be able to purchase more clothing at wholesale prices and deliver it in the provinces and also increase the size of her shop.
Martina is confident that this loan will allow her to grow the business and allow her to continue providing her family with stability. Martina is 32 years old and has 4 children who study. Her house is made of sugar cane and she enjoys of good family stability.
Translated from Spanish by Luis Lpez Martinelli, Kiva Volunteer.",F,375,partner,Clothing,0
Ecuador,"Mrs. Petita and her family dedicate themselves to selling foods and other necessary products out of a small section of her home. She began this business 8 years ago, when she had a little money saved and decided to find a way to help her family with expenses.
She is requesting this loan in order to purchase a copier since her small business is across from a school and many people have asked about this service, and which will help to grow her business.
Mrs. Petita is 42 years old, is married and has 3 children. Their home is made of cement. Her plans are to continue to make her business prosperous in order to secure her family's future. Translated from Spanish by Mayra Gould, Kiva volunteer. ",F,300,lender,Food,0
Ecuador,"Mrs. Ramona Valencia has a business which she began, four years ago, with money thanks to her husband, who has dedicated himself to being a traveling salesman selling corn. Her eldest son helped her attend to customers, sell products of necessity and and ultimately increase her customer base.
She would like to purchase more merchandise and corn for her store and fulfill the already numerous orders from the area.
She is 46 years old and has three sons. Her home is made out of rods and her dream is to expand her business.
Translated from Spanish by Chlo Tuot, a Kiva Volunteer. ",F,550,lender,Food,1
Ecuador,"Mrs. Sabina dedicates herself to the sale of household commodities. She founded this business two years ago. She sells from door to door in various sectors of the city. One of her sisters helps her with the sales and recently her sales have increased.
She wants to use her loan to invest in the purchase of merchandise now that her customers have made various requests for the holiday season and the new year. She does not have sufficient funds right now to satisfy her clients.
Mrs. Sabina is 26 years old and has two children. Her house is made of reeds and her ultimate goal is to increase her sales so that one day she can situate her business right in her home.
Translated from Spanish by Geoff Rubin, Kiva volunteer ",F,425,lender,Retail,1
Ecuador,"Mrs. Sonia has store from which she sells supplies, her locale is located in a commercial center and near to an education center, from which she has many customers. Her husband helps her with her business as well as her eldest daughter after school. She began her business by selling vegetables one year ago, with money from the liquidation of a job she had as domestic worker. Since then, her sales have increased and every day she sees more customers. With the loan, she hopes to buy more merchandise in order to stock her store as her customers increase every day and her location allows her businees to be profitable. Sonia's goal is to have a large locale through which she could make higher earnings and to give a better education to her children. Sonia is 37 years old and has four children, who all go to local schools, her home is made of cement and she has a stable family. Translated from Spanish by Kiva Volunteer, Kristin Connor. ",F,700,partner,Food,0
Ecuador,"Mrtir has two encebollado stores, and his wife works at one of them. He started his business with the help of a loan that he requested from the loan sharks. At the beginning, he only sold encebollados (onion dish). Now he also sells guatita (typical Ecuadorean peanut dish).
Mrtir hopes to grow his business and be able to be an example to other people. He will use the loan to invest in buying an industrial cooker and kitchen utensils.
He has faith that with this new service, his business will grow and its economic stability will improve. He is married and has six children. He is 39 years old and depends only on his business to maintain his household. Mrtir is sure that this loan will provide him security and allow him to save for his children's education.
Translated from Spanish by a Kiva volunteer. ",M,275,partner,Food,0
Ecuador,"Ms Daysi sells articles for the home, servicing her customers door-to-door and through credit. She started this business with the help of one of her brothers, who once worked in this type of business. With 100 dollars, the help of her husband's sisters, and her great attention to her clients, she has been able to survive. She asks for a loan to purchase merchandise at a discount price so that she can supply her customers with better prices and products. Also, she hopes to establish a place in her home where she can display the products she sells door-to-door. She is 27 years old with 3 children, of which two atttend school. Her principal goal is to further her business so that she can assure her children's education. Translated from Spanish by Marco Alves, Kiva Volunteer. ",F,950,lender,Retail,1
Ecuador,"Ms Lola has a sewing shop that she started some 3 years ago. She sells Yambal products at schools and throughout various areas of the city. Lately, she has had many requests from schools and colleges familiar with Lola, and thus, her business has grown every day. She hopes to purchase a sewing machine for her shop and to invest in the purchase of perfumes so that she can offer her customers variety and meet their requests. She is 41 years old with 2 children. Her greatest difficulty is in acquiring the necessary capital to purchase sufficient merchandise. Her goal is to have a spacious place to attend to her customers. Translated from Spanish by Marco Alves, Kiva Volunteer. ",F,850,lender,Retail,1
Ecuador,"Ms Narciza has a business selling ice cream and cooked viscera. She has had this business for ten years, and it has grown noticeably. She started with little capital, and today she has three employees who help her with the distribution of ice cream. Her husband and son also help her. She hopes to purchase two tricycles for the distribution of ice cream, especially since her customers continue to grow and she is the only provider in the area. She is 32 years old with 2 children. Her goal is to grow her business and have her own place from which to sell her ice cream. Translated from Spanish by Marco Alves, Kiva Volunteer. ",F,675,partner,Food,0
Ecuador,"Ms Rosalia lives near a brick factory. She started her business with the help of her sister and father, who learned from their predecessors. Right now, Rosalia helps her children, who also work in the brick business. She asks for a loan to purchase high-quality material necessary for the production of bricks. She hopes to store these until the winter when the rain season begins and makes it difficult for production. She also hopes to attract more customers by improving her business' advertisements. Ms Rosalia is 50 years old and has 4 children, two of which are in school. With the advancement of her business, Rosalia hopes that in the near future she can finish the construction of her cement house. Translated from Spanish by Marco Alves, Kiva Volunteer. La Sra. Rosala tiene cerca de su casa una fbrica de ladrillos. Ella comenz el negocio con la ayuda de su hermana y papa que aprendieron el trabajo de sus antepasados quienes se dedicaban a este negocio desde siempre. Actualmente a Rosala le ayudan sus hijas quienes tambin hacen ladrillos
She has been a partner for quite a while. She is asking for a loan of $1100 to invest in the business. Each head of cattle costs about $250 to $300. The only drawback of the loan is that interest has to be paid and seems high, so her goal is to develop her own capital to invest so that she will not have to pay interest.
Translated from Spanish by Machelle Wilson, Kiva Volunteer Martha wants this loan in order to be able to invest in her products in wholesale quantities, and in that way obtain higher profits.
Martha is a single mother. She is 29 years old and has 2 children, both still in school. Presently she lives with her mother, who is helping her take care of her children while she works. She hopes, with this business, to be able to save toward the purchase of a home site. In this way she will be able to give a better quality of life for her children. For their sake she has succeeded in moving forward and she hopes to continue providing for them.
(Translated from the Spanish by Naomi Johnson, Kiva volunteer)",F,375,partner,Retail,0
Ecuador,"Ms. Rosa has 15 years of experience in business. She used to work as a household servant, and also sold clothing to her friends. Little by little, she saved her money, until the time when she decided to start her own business. She bought a cooler and, with the help of her sister, started selling drinks, sodas, and juices. She works every day of the week from 6 AM until 12 PM. She has been doing this for 2 years.
Rosa wants this loan in order to invest in school supplies, because in her area there is no such business, and also to invest in her current business.
Rosa is married. She is 55 years old and has 7 children, of whom only the youngest one still lives with her. Her husband works at a lumberyard and helps her with the household income. Not long ago her house was flooded, and with the help of her entire family she was able to fix it. In the future she hopes to be able to remake it out of cement.
(Translated from the Spanish by Naomi Johnson, Kiva volunteer)",F,375,partner,Food,0
Ecuador,"Nancy Elena is a member of the Cochapamba communal bank in the community of San Miguel Alto, which is located approximately a half-hour outside of the city of Cuenca, in the south of Ecuador. She is 43 years old, is married, and has 4 children. Her oldest daughter is already married and has her own family. Nancys other children still live with her. They are 21, 12, and 4 years old. Her husband is in the United States, in Brooklyn, working as a mason. He left 5 years ago, when she had just gotten pregnant with her youngest daughter. This was a very difficult time for Nancy, but she is a very strong woman and she pulled through.
Nancy has a business raising guinea pigs. She has been raising guinea pigs for a year, and now she has about 70 of them. She sells them for barbeques and special occasions such as first communions, graduations, and other communal parties. She also has some sheep. Nancy used to have a store in Cuenca, but after she had her daughter, she decided to stay at home to be closer to her family.
Nancy is requesting a loan of $550 to buy feed for her guinea pigs; specifically, she will buy forage. Her goal for the future is start a business outside of her home when her husband returns from the United States. He hopes to come back within two or three years.
Translated from Spanish by Jennifer Day, Kiva Volunteer Nancy needs this loan to invest in the raw materials for the manufacture of her products, and to buy more supplies for selling water. She is sure that her sales will increase and she will be able to provide a better education for her children.
Nancy is 41 years old and she has two children who are in school. She helps support the household with the income from her business. Along with the salary earned by her husband, she is able to keep up with the household expenses. She is sure that with this investment she will be able to earn more and help with a better education for her children.
(Translated from the Spanish by Naomi Johnson, Kiva volunteer)",F,275,partner,Arts,0
Ecuador,"Nancy has a convenience store where she sells basic products. She has the store in a space she fixed up her home, which is also well-placed since it is the only store in her neighborhood. The business was started up with savings from her old job.
She needs a loan in order to invest in the business, and with the earnings she will build a house.
She is 25 years old, married and has 4 children.
Translated from Spanish by Molly Puglisi, Kiva Volunteer. ",F,675,lender,Food,1
Ecuador,"Nancy is 52 years old, she is married, and has 5 adult children who have their own families. She has 12 grandchildren: 10 boys and 2 girls. She has several small businesses: she works as a seamstress, sells cheese, and buys and sells clothing and household items (buckets, washtubs, sheets, etc.). She works in Jipijapa and also in Guayaquil; she works as a seamstress for a plastics factory in Guayaquil and makes clothes for dolls. She can do the work wherever she likes, so she generally works from her house in Jipijapa, where she has several sewing machines. She travels to Guayaquil to deliver her work. She has been doing this for 18 years and she says she loves to sew. She also does work by request, mostly suits and dresses for women. She sells cheese in the following way: she buys around 50 to 70 pounds of cheese at once, at $1.30 per pound, and then divides it into one-pound packages which she re-sells at $1.80.
She is requesting a loan to buy more merchandise, especially household items such as sheets by the dozen. She sells her merchandise on credit. Her goal for the future is buy a piece of land in Guayaquil and build a house so she can live there.
Nancy is a member of the Nuevos Horizontes (New Horizons) communal bank, which meets every 2 weeks in Jipijapa, Manab, near the Ecuadorian coast. It is a big group because it has been working with the foundation for a long time. The members get along together very well. Nancy has been with the communal bank for three loan cycles; she had been a member previously, and she decided to participate again because someone stole one of her sewing machines and she wanted to buy another one. She is glad she came back to the communal bank and she plans to remain a member for a long time. She has never had serious problems in repaying her debts; a few times she has gotten a little behind, but she always pays 100% of her loan by the end of the loan cycle.
Translated from Spanish by Jennifer Day, Kiva Volunteer Nancy desea el crdito para poder invertir una parte en su negocio y la otra volver a lo que ella haca antes que era vender prendas de vestir, negocio que tuvo que dejarlo por falta de capital, deseando combinar estas dos actividades.
Nancy tiene 37 aos, es separada hace 6 aos, madre de 4 nios los que actualmente estn estudiando pero ya el mayor de 16 aos le ayuda en su negocio. Desea a futuro con su negocio y el ingreso que ste genere poder comprarse su casita propia ya que actualmente ella vive alquilando.
Translated from Spanish by Isabel Tan, a Kiva volunteer. ",F,375,partner,Food,0
Ecuador,"Nancy works as a saleswoman, her main product being used clothing. She buys packs of clothes and resells them to friends and neighbors. She began her business with her family's help, who live abroad and sent her her first shipment of clothes. At the beginning, she only sold used clothing items. Now she sells new clothing as well as cosmetics. Nancy hopes to see her business grow and to hire employees. She will use the loan to invest in buying merchandise in bulk and to expand her locale. Her goal is to one day have a mini-boutique. She has faith that her new service will allow her business to grow and for her to gain fincancial stability. She is 32, married, with three children who all attend school. She relys on her store to support her family. Translated from Spanish by Kiva Volunteer, Kristin Connor. ",F,1075,lender,Clothing,1
Ecuador,"Narcisa is a member of the San Martn Communal Bank. She is 47 years old, married and has 4 children, 2 of whom are with her. Until recently she worked as a fare collector for her husbands bus. But recently they installed a machine for collecting fares and her type of work was no longer necessary. So she decided to start a business selling childrens clothing and shoes and has been working at this for a month. She says that is it going well and she likes the work because it allows her to get out of the house and move around the city of Cuenca and surrounding areas. Her customers are mostly people she knows from the transportation company and since she worked there for a long time (12 years) she has a lot of contacts for her new business.
Narcisa requested a loan for $550 to use to buy childrens clothing and shoes. She says that she would like to have a store in the future. Her house is not suitable for selling clothing because is is not located on a main thoroughfare but on a street a bit further away which is not well traveled. It does not make much sense to start a store right now because she has just recently started the business and renting a storefront would be too expensive, but she plans to do it in the future.
Translated from Spanish by Molly Puglisi, Kiva Volunteer Translated from [Spanish] by [Zoe], Kiva Volunteer.
Narcisa tiene un negocio de venta de ropa y maquillajes. Lleva 5 aos vendiendo esta lnea. Desde joven se ha dedicada a vender para poder llevar algn ingreso a la familia. Su capital lo fue reuniendo poco a poco a medida que su esposo le daba para la semana. Ella recorre ciertas zonas que ya las tiene definidas. Entrega a crdito y registra en su cuaderno lo que coloca, cobra cada semana. A partir del da jueves hasta el domingo sale a sus recorridos por la tarde. Gracias a los ingresos de ella y los de su esposo han podido tener su bien ms importante que es su casa.
Ella necesita el prstamo para comprar ropa de temporada y hacer los pedidos de perfumes y maquillaje que tambin coloca.
Narcisa naci en Guayaquil. Tiene 42 aos. Con 2 hijos. Su esposo tambin trabaja como mecnico. l ha sido un apoyo para Narcisa. Ambos son muy responsable en el hogar todo ahorro ha sido para su casa que ahora ya es de cemento. Ellos han tenido que trabajar desde joven para poder subsistir. Lo ms importante para Narcisa es darles los estudios a sus hijos y que puedan defenderse en el futuro. Narcisa desea crecer en su negocio y seguir generando ingresos para su hogar.",F,375,partner,Retail,0
Ecuador,"Narciso has 25 years of experience in his business. He began working for another person, who taught him his trade. Later, little by little with his savings he decided to open his own business and began to have his own customers. His works consists of buying furniture and providing the finishing touches, leaving the furniture looking beautiful. He works everyday of the week in his house: people also contract him to work on location: his hours of business are 8am-6pm. Narciso would like credit in order to invest the money in buying more furniture to finish. He already has several orders but because of a lack of capital he cant satisfy the demand for his products. Narciso separated from his wife 8 years ago. He has one son who lives with his grandmother. Narciso is 43 years old and lives alone in his house. His hope is that he might be able to make his home suitable enough for his son to come and live with him, especially so that he can also start to learn, little by little, his trade. Translated from Spanish by Katy Long, Kiva Volunteer
She needs the loan to expand her inventory to include rice, cooking oil, and sugar, as well as dairy products. She hopes to make physical improvements to the store with the income she will generate.
Narla was born in Machala. She is 38 years old. Her husband works as a security guard. Together they have been able to combine their efforts and maintain a household. Narla began working at the age of 12 and continues to work today, especially in her business. They are a very persistent couple and when they set a goal, they achieve it. They aspire to have their business become well established. With the income they generate from it, they hope to improve their home, which is currently constructed of cane.
Translated from Spanish by Jennifer Day, Kiva Volunteer. ",F,475,partner,Retail,0
Ecuador,"Neli sells perfumes, cosmetics, and lingerie. She began her business with the help of her brother, who gave her the merchandise she needed to get started. At first she sold only childrens clothing. Now she sells childrens clothing and also perfumes and lingerie. Neli wants to sell all kinds of clothing along with things for the home, like irons and pressure cookers, which are the types of things her customers ask her for. She will use the loan to invest in buying merchandise at whole-sale prices. She is certain that with these new products, her business will grow. Neli is the mother of two children. She is 37 years old and it has been very difficult for her to help her family get ahead. Her business is the only source of income for her household. Neli has the hope that this loan will give her financial security and allow her to save up for her childrens education and to continue building her house.
Translated from Spanish by Jennifer Day, Kiva Volunteer. ",F,625,partner,Retail,0
Ecuador,"Nelly has a store where she sells all kinds of food, vegetables and drinks. She started her business 2 years ago. Her mother had the store before and left it for Nelly. Nelly has been able to manage the store well. She works every day from 6am to 11pm. The store is located in a central location.
She needs the loan to buy food, such as: rice, sugar, oil, vegetables, sausages, meat and chicken.
Nelly was born in Guayaquil and is 21 years old. She has 2 children. She is a single mom as her husband left her. She lives with her mother who helps out all the time. Since she was young, she has always worked at the store with her mother. She knows how to run the business and wants to do well to provide for her sons. Despite her youth she is a good businesswoman ready to do well and move ahead.
Translated from [Spanish] by [Zoe], Kiva Volunteer.
Nelly tiene una tienda donde vende toda clase de vveres, legumbres y gaseosas. Ella comenz con el negocio desde hace 2 aos su madre tena la tienda y se la dej a ella. Nelly ha podido manejar el negocio bien. Atiende todos los das de la semana desde la 6:00AM hasta las 11:00PM. El negocio esta ubicado en una de las principales de la zona.
Ella necesita el prstamo para comprar los vveres como: Arroz. Azcar, aceite, legumbres, embutidos, carnes y pollo.
Nelly naci en Guayaquil. Tiene 21 aos. Con 2 hijos. Ella es madre soltera su esposo la abandon. Ella vive con su madre, quien la ha apoyado en todo momento. Desde joven comenz a trabajar en el comedor de su madre. Sabe del negocio y piensa salir adelante especialmente por sus hijos. A pesar de su juventud se ve una persona emprendedora dispuesta a salir adelante.",F,475,partner,Retail,0
Ecuador,"ngel has a well-located bakery in the main street, where he sells bread, drinks, cakes, and dairy.
In beginning he only only sold bread and pastries. Now he sells cakes and dairy products to his community. He started his business because he had the opportunity to buy a bread oven and learned to make pastries in a previous job.
He will use the loan to invest in the purchase of raw materials and to buy a showcase so his products are displayed more attractively and he can give a better service to his customers.
He is confident that with this new product, his business will grow and it will bring financial stability. ngel is married. He is 41 years old and has 2 children of which one is studying. It will give him financial security and it will allow him to save money.
Translated from Spanish by Ramn F. Kolb, Kiva Volunteer. ",M,500,partner,Food,0
Ecuador,"ngel sells tortillas and empanadas in downtown Guayaquil. He started his business with a start up capital of $100 selling tortillas to his neighbors and neighborhood schools. Now he still sells tortillas and other food items like filled potatoes.
ngel will use the loan to change a part of his house into a store. Hes confident that this will enable his business to grow. ngel is 53 years old and married, has one daughter and is raising two grandchildren because their mother died of leukemia.
He hopes that the loan will improve his familys quality of life and allow his business to continue to grow.
Translated from Spanish by Ari r Vilhjlmsson, Kiva Volunteer. ",F,500,partner,Food,0
Ecuador,"Nilmida has had her business for four years. She used to work cleaning homes, but then her and her husband decided to invest in basic food products and they started to sell meals, which has gone very well. She does this weekdays from 4pm to 11pm. She has managed to keep both activities going so that she earns more. Each morning she still cleans houses and each afternoon she prepares the meals she is going to sell.
With the loan she will buy kitchen utensils and food and drink as the more you buy the larger the discount, and therefore her earnings will increase.
Nilmida is 41 years old and has 3 children, one of which helps her with her business. She has managed to create a very hard working spirit in her family, which all of them still have. Her husband also cleans houses and after work he helps her attend to her clients. Their house is made of sugar cane stalks and the floor is of earth. She hopes that with the loan and their savings they will be able to start building it, little by little, of cement.
Translated from Spanish by Liz Harvey, Volunteer Translator ",F,525,partner,Food,0
Ecuador,"Ninfa operates a store out of her home selling basic household products. Ninfa started her business with the help of her husband. Initially she only sold food products and candies. Now she also sells stationery and school supplies. She aspires to expand the business to better serve her customers. She is absolutely sure that these new products will grow her business significantly. Ninfa is married. She is 30 years old with a child in school. She is convinced that with this loan she can improve the financial status of her family and continue to grow her business to save and provide a better education for her daughter.
Translated from Spanish by Kiva volunteer Julie Lerch ",F,1075,lender,Food,1
Ecuador,"Ninfa Puente was born in Bolivar, Ecuador, but she moved to Guayaquil roughly fifteen years ago. She is married with two children, and she sells fresh ice cream to the community via her mobile cart, as well as the various stationary locations she has opened. She started this business because she thought she could be successful. Her husband has worked at an ice cream factory as a distributor for the last several years. Ninfa now earns more than her husband. Working every day of the week, Ms. Puente has been successful so far. Located near a major street, Helados Ninfa receives a lot of traffic. She is asking for this loan to be able to buy another freezer and to increase production of ice cream.
Nola wants the loan in order to buy herself an industrial kitchen and a cylinder of gas. She also wants to buy her food ingredients wholesale, which will increase her profit. Nola is 67 years old. She has 5 children, all grown who help her in the business. With her earnings, she hopes to be able to buy herself a television for the pub and a freezer to better serve her guests. Translated from Spanish by Erin Corcoran, Kiva volunteer. ",F,475,partner,Food,0
Ecuador,"Norma Pilco who was born in Chimborazo, Ecuador has lived in Guayaquil for 15 years. This 37 year-old entrepreneur is married and has two children. In her shop (her home as well) she sells some of the most delicious bread and sweets Guayaquil has to offer. Norma has run her bakery for 12 years after having learned the trade from her parents. Now that she is married, she runs her independent business from 5:00 am until 8:00 pm. Like similar Mifex borrowers, Ms. Pilco receives help from her husband when he is not driving his taxi, but she is responsible for the day-to-day activities of running the bakery. She needs this loan so that she can buy essential ingredients for bread-making and a display case to show off her tasty treats. Norma wants lenders to know that is very responsible and hard-working.
She needs the loan to increase her inventory of natural products so that she can increase her number of clients.
Nury was born in Caar. She is 39 years old. She has 3 children, one of whom works and helps with household expenses. Her husband left her 5 years ago, but he provides her with a small amount of money every month. Thanks to the efforts of Nury and her daughters, the family is trying to get ahead. With Nurys profits, they have an income that allows them to cover certain expenses. Nury is an enterprising person who is always looking for something to do. Her aspiration is to strengthen the business and to continue supporting her children in their studies.
Translated from Spanish by Jennifer Day, Kiva Volunteer. ",F,375,partner,Retail,0
Ecuador,"Nuve Victoria lives on the streets General Torres and Gaspar Sangurima in the center of the city of Cuenca. She is 38 years old, and has four children, aged 18, 17, 14, and 10 years old. All of her children are studying in the high school Manuel J. Calle, and the youngest is in the school Ezequiel Crespo. She has been separated for several years because her husband migrated, leaving her with their young children, living in a rented house.
She has many jobs which have allowed her to get ahead. She works in the EMAC (Empresa Municipal de Aseo de Cuenca) (Municipal Waste Services of Cuenca) from Monday to Friday from 8am to 6pm. On the weekends, she works as a shopkeeper selling a wide variety of clothing. She also sells women's beauty products, such as Yanbal products.
She has had her business 6 years or so, and says that the advantage of working like that is that from her sales she is able to pay her rent and some more expenses of the home. It is her third time working with the foundation, and it gives her a lot of excitement, because she will continue getting ahead little by little. She will invest the loan in the purchase of additional merchandise, such as clothing for women, men, and children, and more Yanbal beauty products. This way she will offer a better service to her customers.
Her dream is to purchase a car in order to give better service to her customers. Translated from Spanish by Amy McGinty, Kiva Volunteer
She will use the loan to buy more supplies and to be able to attend to the requests of all the clients who come to her shop.
She is 48 years old and a widow, and her children are all adults. Her house is made of cement. Her main goal is to make her business grow.
Translated from Spanish by Molly Puglisi, Kiva Volunteer. ",F,550,lender,Services,1
Ecuador,"Olga has been a saleswoman for five years. She used to sell food from her home but had to stop due to health problems. Her husband therefore helped her to start her own business selling various products. He gave her $70 to start off and with it she bought various products which sell well. She works weekdays from 6am to 10pm.
She will use the loan to buy more products for her shop, such as: paper, notebooks and workbooks, pens, presents and household objects. Clients have asked Olga for these products and she hopes that the investment will help to improve her earnings.
Olga is married. She is 52 and has five grown-up children, two of whom help her with her business. Her house is being finished bit by bit. Her husband delivers construction materials for a living. All of her children live with her although 3 of them now have their own families. Her goal is to have a bigger shop so that she can serve her clients better.
Translated from Spanish by Liz Harvey, Volunteer Translator ",F,650,partner,Retail,0
Ecuador,"Oscar Intriago, born in Pichincha, Ecuador, has been a guayaco (a Guayaquilian) for 25 years now. He is married with two children that are in school. He owns a business selling used clothes and doing shoe repair. Oscar was originally a factory worker who did not know how to run such a business, but through the encouragement of a friend, he decided to sell second-hand clothes and exhibit them at his parents house. He chose to locate the business there since so many people pass by everyday. His decision paid off because bit-by-bit more customers started walking through the door. Now, Oscars business is located along a major thoroughfare, and the all of the locals know him for his low prices and quality work. Mr. Intriago has taken courses in shoe repair as well. He needs this loan so that he can purchase material for cloths such as cotton, silk, a new sewing machine, and shoe repair products such as buffers and vices.
Pablo will use the loan to buy wood, glue, sealant, sandpaper, solvant and other supplies needed to meet customers' requests. Pablo is really well known in his area and people always look for him because he finishes his work on time.
Pablo is 39 years old, married, and has 4 children. Pablo and his wife work hard every day to succeed with their workshop in order to be able to give their children better food and a good education. Pablo also hopes that the revenue generated from his new investment will allow him to keep adapting his home to suit his shop's needs.
Translated from Spanish by Susanna Heinz, Kiva Volunteer",M,475,partner,Manufacturing,0
Ecuador,"Pablo has been working as a seafood and fish vendor for over thirty years. After working at a fish-packing factory when he was younger, he decided to deal directly with clients and start his own business. For most of his life, he has also worked in construction and as a handyman, using the income from his jobs to finance his business.
This is now Pablos second loan from Kiva and Mifex. He uses the loan capital to invest in different types of seafood, although his primary product is shrimp. The capital allows Pablo to concentrate on his business more and not have to depend on the jobs he gets as a handyman. Pablo has five children who are already grown up. He lives with his aging mother and cares for her. They hope to be able to fix up their house with the extra profits they make. Mifex offers its clients microinsurance and access to business training and educational programs. For more information about microfinance, Ecuador, and our services, please visit www.mifex.org. Pastora would like this loan i order to purchas two perches/shelves to help in the display of her products. She would also like to supply her store with colas. In addition, she would like to purchase two tables to sell food on during the week-ends. The demand for her products has grown in proportion to the amount of food she has available for sale.
Pastrora is 50 years old, and has been separated from her husband for two years. She has two son and a daughter.
Translated from Spanish by Chlo Tuot, a Kiva Volunteer. ",F,600,partner,Food,0
Ecuador,"Patricia has two years of experience selling natural gas for domestic uses. She began with a loan of 15 cylinders that her brother gave her. Little by little, she has been building her capital and has been able to grow. She currently has 150 cylinders of natural gas. She works almost 24 hours a day, along with her daughters, who help her in her business. She works every day of the week, and when she runs out of gas, she leaves to get more. Patricia wants the loan in order to invest in buying more cylinders of natural gas. Demand has increased, especially at night, and little by little she is becoming a distributor of the product. Patricia is a single mother. She is 50 years old and has 2 daughters. She is currently renting her business space. In the future, she hopes to be able to buy a second-hand cart, which would help her in the business. In this way, she will be able to cover the needs of her customers.
Translated from Spanish by Jennifer Day, Kiva Volunteer. ",F,600,partner,Retail,0
Ecuador,"Pedro has 6 years of experience in the washing machine rental business. From the age of 12 he worked with his father as a fisherman; later he began to sell fish on his own. He decided to leave the seafood business and began to sell cell phone cards in the street, but the city wouldn't let him work. Finally one day his wife encouraged him to buy a few washing machines and to begin to rent them. He liked the idea and with the money they had saved they bought 4 washing machines in cash and started the business. Currently they have 6 washing machines and 2 tricycles with which they move them from house to house. They work from 7 am to 9 pm every day of the week.
Pedro wants the loan in order to buy himself 2 more washing machines. He has lots of demand that he is currently unable to meet.
Pedro is 32 years old. He is married with 3 children, 2 of whom are currently in school. His wife works selling shellfish in the morning and in the afternoon she helps with the washing machine business. About six months ago they bought a small house, since they were living with Pedro's mother. In the future they hope to begin to fix it up in order to give their family a better life. Translated from Spanish by Erin Corcora, Kiva volunteer. ",M,475,partner,Services,0
Ecuador,"Pedro owns a bike shop and is a second time lender from Kiva. He is very grateful for the first loan that he received. All his payments were on time and he was able to repay without any inconveniences. Pedro is hopeful that he will receive a follow up loan so that he may continue to grow his business. When his parents ran the shop Pedro never seemed interested in joining the family business but four years ago he found himself without a job and saw the opportunity to join in. Now he runs the shop on his own and is inspired by the loans that he has received from Mifex and Kiva. He plans to buy a new air compressor for the shop and will continue to invest in tools that make him more efficient. His location on a main street allows his business to have great exposure and bring in a consistent flow of customers. Pedro has recently hired an employee, an adolescent without a home who he is lending a hand to.
Mifex offers its clients microinsurance and access to business training and educational programs. For more information about microfinance, Ecuador, and our services, please visit www.mifex.org. Translated from Spanish by Dwight Davis, Kiva Volunteer. ",F,375,partner,Food,0
Ecuador,"Piedad has 2 years of experiece with her business selling disenfectants for the home. She started the business thanks to the help of her son in law, who gave her the initial capital. She used to work doing housework but she fell ill, and was no longer able to continue with that job. Because she is a hardworking woman, she decided to look for a way to have her own business. People in the industry recommended that she sell disenfectants. This work has gone very well for her. She works every day of the week in her home and at her clients' homes (when asked) from 7 am till 10 pm.
Piedad would like the loan in order to invest the money in her business, since she doesn't have much capital and is thinking about promoting her products in new places.
Piedad is 58 years old. She is separated and lives with her son, who helps her with whatever she needs. She hopes to sell sweets out of her home in the future. She's had the sweets in mind and will being to offer them the moment she receives her loan. Translated from Spanish by Erin Corcoran, Kiva volunteer. ",F,375,partner,Retail,0
Ecuador,"Pilar is a member of the Rocafuerte Community Bank. The group has 21 members who live in the town of Rocafuerte, which is approximately a half hour from the city of Portoviejo. The city is very well known for the sweets they sell. The Rocafuerte group is very united, and the women get along very well with each other. The day of our interview with Pilar was one of the members birthdays. They served snacks, and each member gave a small amount of money to give her as a gift.
Pilar is a 56 year old widow. She has five grown children, and they have their own families. She has ten grandchildren, and four more are on the way.
She sells cheese, peanuts, and spicy sausages from her home. She delivers her products to homes and also to institutions. She has had the business for 15 years. She buys the cheese from her son, who sells it wholesale. The prices change a little day to day, but she normally buys for $1.30 a pound. She sells it for $1.60 a pound. She sells between 80 and 100 pounds each week.
This business has served her well since her husband died. She has income to pay for her necessities and for the household expenses (light, telephone, etc.).
Pilar is asking the Fundacin Espoir for a loan to spend little by little buying cheese. She has many dreams and projects for the future.
Translated from Spanish by Ginny Kalish, Kiva Volunteer Translated from Spanish by N.D., Kiva Volunteer. ",M,1000,partner,Manufacturing,0
Ecuador,"Publio specializes in the cultivation and production of rice which has been profitable. He also raises cattle, but he is more incline into growing rice since this is a very profitable crop in this area.
Publio would like to finish harvesting his land and to better manage his business. This is the main area in how he would make use of this loan since due to lack of funds has been unable to do so. He has 30 years of experience growing rice in which he feels very comfortable in the production and management of such crop.
Publio is 49 years old. He is married. Together with his wife, they have been able to take care of their land responsibly. Due to this effort, they have been able to send their 2 children to school. Their home is made out of solely wood. Publios goal is to one day have more land for farming and to facilitate more jobs to the people in his community!
Translated from Spanish by Carolina Zelaya-Kronlund, Kiva Volunteer. ",M,1200,lender,Agriculture,0
Ecuador,"Quenis Zambrano owns an auto body shop in the middle of Guayaquil. He learned how to fix up and restore cars from a friend when they were 15 years old. Now that he is 45 he has tons of experience and can repair just about anything on a car. Slowly, Quenis bought tools and machines in order to do the repairs and opened a garage next to his house where clients bring their cars. He works every day from 8am until 4pm and continues to teach young apprentices how to do the job just like he was taught many years ago. With his previous loan Quenis bought machinery and raw materials such as metal scraps, bumpers, and tools in order to fix a wider variety of cars. The tools he bought allowed him to be much more efficient in his business and even expand his services. He can now do other metalwork that is not related to autos. Quenis wants a new loan so he may fix up his shop now that he has many more clients. Mr. Zambrano has been a dedicated worker for years now and has been able to make enough money to buy his house and send his young child to school. The profits from this and previous loans are sure to be reflected in the quality of his household.",M,1200,lender,Services,1
Ecuador,"Quenis Zambrano owns an auto body shop in the middle of Guayaquil. He learned how to fix up and restore cars from a friend when they were 15 years old. Now that he is 45 he has tons of experience and can repair just about anything on the car. Slowly, Quenis bought tools and machines in order to do the repairs and opened a garage next to his house where clients bring their cars. He works every day from 8am until 4pm and continues to teach young apprentices how to do the job just like he was taught many years ago. With this loan Quenis plans to buy machinery and raw materials such as metal scraps, bumpers, and tools in order to fix a wider variety of cars. Mr. Zambrano has been a dedicated worker for years now and has been able to make enough money to buy his house and send his young child to school.
Mifex offers its clients microinsurance and access to business training and educational programs. For more information about microfinance, Ecuador, and our services, please visit www.mifex.org.",M,725,partner,Services,0
Ecuador,"Rafaela works selling plastic items for the home. Rafaela started her business with the support of her spouse, who gave her the money to buy a booth in the outdoor market. At first, she only sold basins, buckets, and chairs. Now she also sells small home electronics and clothing.
Rafaela aspires to sell microwave ovens and dishware. She will use this loan to invest in home electronics and plastic items. She has faith tha twith these new products, her business will grow and permit her to continue investing in merchandise.
Rafaela is married, and she has one daughter, who is grown. She is convinced that her business will see growth.
(Tranlsated from the Spanish by Naomi Johnson, Kiva volunteer)
Rafaela se dedica a la venta de artculos plsticos para el hogar. Rafaela empezo su negocio con el apoyo de su esposo quie le facilito el dinero para la compra de un modulo en el mercado.Al principio solo vendia lavacaras , baldes y sillas. Ahora contina ofreciendo estos productos juntos pequeos electrodomesticos y ropa. Rafaela aspira vender microondas y vajillas .Ella usara el prestamo para invertir en electrodomesticos y articulos plasticos .Ella tiene FE que con estos nuevos productos su negocio crecera y le permitira seguir invirtiendo en mercaderia. Rafaela esta casada tiene una hija que es independiente .Esta convencida que su negocio tendr un crecimiento.
She would use the loan to buy school supplies since the school season is starting. With the earnings she generates she will be able to make improvements to her business premises.
Ramona is 31 years old. She has 3 children. Her husband abandoned her 5 years ago. She was not able to make ends meet with the monthly payments her husband was sending her, so she had to look for another solution. Currently she is both mother and father for her children. Her desire is to grow the business in order to be able to keep her children in school and continue making improvements to her home. Translated from Spanish by Erin Corcoran, Kiva volunteer. ",F,375,partner,Retail,0
Ecuador,"Raymundo has a sales stall outside of his home where he sells fish and shellfish in the informal market that occurs there weekends from 6 AM until past 1 PM. He has worked in this business for more than 7 years. The idea occurred to him when he was working as a helper. He decided to put together a little capital, launch his business and develop his own source of income.
Use of the Loan
Raymundo is 64 years old. He is a widow . He has 5 children. Two live with him, though none remain in school, since all five are adults. Raymundo also does bricklaying work the other days of the week. His house is a humble building of cement and wood. One of his aspirations is to finish his small house nicely with the earnings from his business. Translated from Spanish by Erin Corcoran, Kiva volunteer. Raymundo tiene un puesto de venta de marisco afuera de su domicilio donde se forma un mercado informal los fines de semana desde las 06h00 hasta pasados los 13h00. Lleva en le negocio mas de 7 aos. La idea surgi por que el antes trabaja como ayudante, hasta que decidi reunir un pequeo capital y emprender en su actual fuente de ingresos.
Reimundo wants the loan in order to invest it in additional seafood products since he currently only sells fish. He currently lacks the capital to invest in additional products.
Reimundo is 59 years old with 2 children, both in school. His wife also works; she's been working doing domestic chores for 7 years. With their earnings they hope to set up a domestic chores business in their home. Translated from Spanish by Erin Corcoran, Kiva volunteer. ",M,475,partner,Food,0
Ecuador,"Ricardo has a restaurant in the market where he sells breakfast, lunch and snacks. He started his business by borrowing 200 dollars from his brother. He started out selling breakfast only. With a lot of effort he now offers not only breakfast but lunch, snacks, and sweets. Richard would use the loan to buy an industrial kitchen. This new tool would set the stage for the growth of his business, since he would be able to cook in much larger quantities. Ricardo is 56 years old and married. He has 4 children, one of whom one is still in school. He depends entirely on his business to support his family. Ricardo has confidence that this loan will give him economic security and allow him to make improvements to his home. Translated from Spanish by Erin Corcoran, a Kiva volunteer. ",M,725,partner,Food,0
Ecuador,"Ricardo has one year of experience in this business. He is a recent school graduate. He came up with the idea to create a computer center, and told his parents about it. There is no such thing in the are where they live. His parents helped him out with a loan, which he used to make a good place in the home and to buy a computer. Today, he has three computers. He works every day of the week from 8:00 AM to 10:00 PM. He also works in a place where they sell food; when he goes out, his brother is in charge of the business.
Ricardo wants this loan in order to invest in office supplies for his business, and also to paint a sign on the outside of the building so that more people will know it is there.
Ricardo is single. He is 21 years old. Currently he lives with his parents. He hopes will this loan that he will be able to increase his income, so that in the future his can improve the floor of his location, which is very low.
(Translated from the Spanish by Naomi Johnson, Kiva volunteer)",M,475,partner,Services,0
Ecuador,"Ricardo is a clothing and garment salesman who has more than thirty years of experience as a retailer. He not only sells to individuals, but is also a distributor to other salespeople in the area. Most of his clients buy on credit because of their lack of liquidity. Ramon is a very good collector because of his experience. He works diligently from 8 am until 7 pm. Although he is 65 years old, he plans on working for much longer. He feels the need to help his four sons establish themselves and start businesses of their own. He will invest the money in wholesale purchases of new products.
Ricardos first loan was a success by all measures. He repaid on time and his business grew as well. He now works closely with one of his sons who has become involved in his trade. He feels proud that he not only has a flourishing business but also that his family is taking part in it. He is optimistic about his second loan with Kiva and Mifex.",M,925,partner,Retail,0
Ecuador,"Roberto Carlos Ochoa Gomez is a member of the Communal Bank Las Estrellitas, a group composed of 11 members (mostly women) who engage in their own businesses. They live in different areas within the city of Cuenca. The members are all very good friends who decided to get together to form a responsible Communal Bank. They get along well and are supportive of one another because they are concerned about the well-being of the group and helping each other overcome obstacles.
Roberto lives in the area of La Gloria, which is near the streets of Ave. Loja and Pichincha in the city of Cuenca. He is 37 years old, happily married, and has a good relationship with his wife. They produced 5 children (ages 13, 11, 6, 3, and 1). The oldest two children attend Garaicoa School, while the third child attends the November 3 School. They do not own their home.
Roberto is a door-to-door salesman who offers seasonal merchandise (all clothing that is in fashion). His work schedule is from 8am to 5pm, Monday through Saturday. He enjoys his job and does not experience any difficulties with it.
He tells us that the best thing about being a businessman is managing his schedule so that he can spend time with the people he loves the most. He gets along well with the other members of Mi Bankito, who are starting their second loan cycle with Fundacin ESPOIR. They are very happy and grateful for the services provided to them.
Roberto will use his loan to purchase merchandise on his trips to Quito, Latacunga, Guayaquil, other cities around the country. He will bring back more merchandise of better quality, which should give him sufficient inventory to last his business until the end of the year.
He dreams of providing for his childrens future education so that they can become professionals and of saving enough money for retirement.
Translated from Spanish by Ronan Reodica, Kiva Volunteer Romelia needs the loan in order to fix up another cart and to be able to expand her business. Demand has increased and her husband will be helping her. Also, she already has a place to put the new cart. Romelia is 30 years old, has 2 children, and her husband helps her with her business. Her house is under construction and with the loan she is sure she will be able to continue improving it. In this way, she will give security and wellbeing to her family.
Translated from Spanish by Jennifer Day, Kiva Volunteer. ",F,600,partner,Food,0
Ecuador,"Rosa has 15 years of experience in business. She was encouraged to start by a friend and her mother-in-law. She has participated in many microbusiness courses, which have helped her to always be responsible with the loans she obtains. She works every day of the wek from 7 AM until 9 PM. On the weekends, she travels to the countryside, where she has some customers. Her parents also live there, and they help her out with the business.
Rosa wants this loan in order to be able to include other products in her inventory, especially school supplies. She will buy them wholesale, which will increase her profits.
Rosa is a single mother. She has been separated for 6 years. She has 2 children. One no longer lives with her, and the other works and helps her out. Her wish is to be able to complete her house and to remodel part of it to accomodate her business, and in that way to increase her income.
(Translated from the Spanish by Naomi Johnson, Kiva volunteer)",F,275,partner,Retail,0
Ecuador,"Rosa has 4 years of experience selling clothing. From a very young age she helped wash clothing; later she became ill. She had saved some money and so she bought merchandise to launch her current business. She sells all sorts of merchandise, depending on the day, and works 2 hours in the morning and again at 5 pm every day. She records her sales and earnings in a notebook. With her savings and the help of her husband she was able to have the house she lives in.
Rosa needs the loan to buy the clothing, shoes and home decorations that her clients ask for. She aspires to be able to increase her sales and earnings with the loan.
Rosa was born in the city of Esmerelda; when she was 15 she moved to Guayaquil. She is 42 years old with 3 children. Her children are not currently studying. Her husband abandoned her 10 years ago. Despite carrying sole responsibility for her home and family, Rosa has moved her family ahead. Her business has helped her make improvements to her house, which is now made of cement, and made it possible for her children to finish school. Her business is all she has. She aspires to continue to grow her business, in order to increase her earnings.
Translated from Spanish by Erin Corcoran, Kiva volunteer. ",F,475,partner,Clothing,0
Ecuador,"Rosa has a business selling fruits, such as apples, grapes, passion fruit, oranges, tree tomatoes, and others. She and her husband sell her products from a truck. She began in this business 12 years ago with her savings. Before this business, she had a small restaurant in the market. Because of renovations in the market, which were being done by the city, they lost their spot there. Rosa sells fruit on her route every day of the week from 6:00AM until 6:00PM. Rosa needs more capital in order to buy more fruits. Her sales have increased and the working capital she has isnt enough to allow her supply her business with more products. Rosa is 43 years old and has one married daughter; she has no dependents. With the improvements the city was making, she also lost her land and her house. She was relocated to another piece of land in a different neighborhood of the island. Due to this situation, Rosa had to construct her house. This created expenses, and her working capital was reduced. Rosa has faith that with her loan, her income will increase and she will be able to continue improving her house, which still has a dirt floor.
Translated from Spanish by Jennifer Day, Kiva Volunteer. ",F,600,partner,Food,0
Ecuador,"Rosa has been making sandals for years now, and she works very hard to bring in income for her family. This entrepreneur sells her sandals in Guayaquil but also travels outside the city to market her items. She works every day from 9am until 6pm and hopes that she can earn enough to open a professional looking shop in the front of her house. Rosa believes that if she can exhibit the items better and allow people to window shop, she will make more sales and earn higher profits. Ms. Caraguay is 46 years old and has two children. Her family lives in a very poor part of town and their house is made of bamboo canes. Rosas wish is to earn enough money so that she can provide a decent home for her family and educate her children.
Mifex offers its clients microinsurance and access to business training and educational programs. For more information about microfinance, Ecuador, and our services, please visit www.mifex.org.",F,250,partner,Retail,0
Ecuador,"Rosa is a member of the 3 de Mayo Communal Bank. They meet every 15 days in the Picoaza area, which is a parish belonging to the city of Portoviejo in the Manb province.
Rosa is a fighter and a hard-worker who is dedicated to her family. She always thinks of her familys well being. That is why she comes to the foundation to ask for a loan, which will greatly contribute to her established business.
Rosa has been married to Hernn Arteaga for 30 years. They have three children; ages 18, 26, and 28. She sells clothes. For now she sells in a car together with her husband . They travel the streets where they live selling clothes and other articles.
Her house is her own, and it is situated in the center of the region in order to deal with her business. They have lived in this house for ten years. Rosa dreams of setting up her house to also have a business selling clothes there. She makes clothes herself, and she has been a dressmaker for 26 years.
Rosas business is a family business where everyone participates. Her husband makes deliveries and also helps a lot selling clothes. He is a great help and a big advantage.
She will use the loan that she receives to buy fabric, thread, zippers, and buttons, etc. to make clothes and to get some jewelry to compliment the clothes.
Translated from Spanish by Ginny Kalish, Kiva Volunteer
She will use her loan to buy a greater quantity of merchandise so that she can distribute the product to other people who want to work with her.
She is 32, married and has 4 children, 3 of whom study. Her main goal is to grow her business and save for the future education of her children.
Translated from Spanish by Molly Puglisi, Kiva Volunteer. ",F,1075,lender,Retail,1
Ecuador,"Rosa is presently working with her husband to make bread, cakes, and pastries. Since she was a child, she had to work with her mother in the markets, selling vegetables, fruit, and clothes. When she got married, she didn't stop working because she had to support her husband in walking sales. Thanks to the effort of the two of them, they were able to save and bought a piece of land for their home in the Isla Trinitaria neighborhood. The business is located in their home, and they work there every day of the week from 5:00 am to 9:00 pm. In the bakery they also sell other products to go with bread such as: milk, cheese, butter, juice. Rosa also saw the opportunity to sell fast foods, so she goes out every afternoon with her cart and her stove to the corner and brings in more income for her household. Rosa wants this loan because she needs to increase her inventory to make bread. She needs certain utensils, and also wishes to renovate her display case for bread, which will certainly help them increase their income.
Rosa is 59 years old. She has one child who has already finished university. Her husband is her right hand in the business, and he has always supported her in everything. They are a family who come from the mountains, they are very humble, they were never able to go to school which is why they don't know how to read or write but they manage the accounts very well. Their charisma has helped them in dealing with people. Currently they have their house, which at first was made of cane, and bit by bit has been changed to cement. Their greatest satisfaction is to have given their daughter her education. Now she is a professional, who also helps with the business.
(Translated from the Spanish by Naomi Johnson, Kiva volunteer)",F,600,partner,Food,0
Ecuador,"Rosa Jimnez has been running her business for eight years now. She previously lived with one of her cousins who taught her how to sew. When Rosa was able to earn enough money from sewing, she decided she could do more than just cover her necessities. She wanted to begin selling cosmetics, so she moved in with one of her brothers and they began working together selling these products. Her brother loaned her $30 for the business, but that loan was too small to get her started. Ms. Jimenez is asking for this loan so that she can invest in a wider variety of cosmetics like lipstick, face crme, hair products, and nail polish. Rosa will be able to charge her customers lower prices because she intends to pay her distributor in cash, giving her significant discounts. Most importantly, Ms. Jimenez will be able to open up a storefront in her house, as she only sells her items on weekends.
Rosa is a 38 year-old single mother who lives with her brother, who is her right-hand man in the business. Right now they rent an apartment, but her goal is to turn her business into a profitable venture and buy a house of their own.",F,250,partner,Retail,0
Ecuador,"Rosario has 20 years experience in business, which she started at the age of 23 when she traveled with her Mother to Peru to buy merchandise. He Mother helped her with $100 of capital which she lent her to start her own business. After that, she got married and left the business for a time, but then realized that she would need to have her own money and that is how she came to get a loan and reactivate her business 5 years later. At this time she decided to sell cosmetics due to a friend's suggestions. She has maintained that work until the present time, working from 9am until 7pm. Rosario wants the loan to invest in her business and get more income. The company she is dealing with gives rewards to its consultants based on how much they sell each month. Rosario is 43 years of age, and has three children, the oldest works and pays for school, and the other two, by means of her business plan to finsh school and then work. She is separated from her husband for the past 8 months, and her main desire now is to be able to buy a car to get around since her work requires her to walk promoting her products, and with a car she could do that and save time.
>p< >b< Translated from Spanish by Dwight Davis, Kiva Volunteer.>/b<>p<",F,375,partner,Retail,0
Ecuador,"Rosario has 8 years of experience in cosmetic sales. On her own iniciative she decided to work so she would be able to help her household while her husband was out of work. She works every day from 2 pm to 5:30 pm; in the morning she does her chores around the house.
Rosario wants the loan so that she can invest part of it in her business. She also wants to give some capital to her husband so that he returns to his work crafting suitcases. He has the machines he needs for his work but had to leave it because he lacked capital.
Rosario is 29 years old. She is married with 2 sons, one of whom is in school. Her husband is currently working for a longshoreman business and hopes with the loan to be able to manage his own business. They have been renting their home for 9 years and hope to be able to save so they can buy themselves a plot of land and build their own house. Translated from Spanish by Erin Corcoran, Kiva volunteer. ",F,475,partner,Retail,0
Ecuador,"Rosario has owned her small store for about three years. She started off with the help of her husband who provided the first $100 of merchandise for her market. At first she only sold sodas and snacks, but gradually was able to sell many other grocery items including dairy products and vegetables.
Rosario used her previous loan from Mifex and Kiva to buy even more merchandise. With that she was able to increase her client base and stabilize her business. Her market now includes home goods. She is seeking a second loan because she wants to invest in more products to help her business grow.
Rosario has 3 school-aged children who depend on the business for their food and education. She hopes to make improvements to her home in the near future.",F,1200,lender,Food,1
Ecuador,"Rosaura has 10 years experience in the food business. She began selling snacks in the streets but that required a lot of effort, so she decided with the help of her husband to adapt part of their house to sell lunches. A friend of theirs lent them the money with which they bought 1 table and 2 chairs. Now, demand is growing. They work every day of the week between 8am and 3pm. Rosaura would like a loan in order to buy provisions, so as not to have to buy them every day. This would help her a lot, above all by allowing her to save time and money. As well, she would like to allocate some capital to her husband so that he can begin to work. This would help the familys income. Rosaura is 36 years old, and has 4 children who study and help with the business. Currently, her husband works in the business, but his wish is to be able to start working for himself with the help of his wife. They hope they can give their business a better appearance, and they know that with this investment their lives will continue to get better.
Translated from Spanish by Katy Long, Kiva Volunteer Rosita needs a loan in order to buy school supplies and gifts. For the school year her clients have requested supplies from class lists.
Rosita is 39 years old and has two sons that are both students. With this loan, Rosita will invest in more products that will provide greater profits for her and will also be in accordance with client requests and her family's needs.
Translated from Spanish by Chlo Tuot, a Kiva Volunteer. ",F,600,partner,Retail,0
Ecuador,"Rosita has been working as a seamstress out of her home for 20 years. She makes school uniforms, dresses, skirts, and blouses. She opened her business with savings from previous jobs when she began buying the necessary machines. Rosita offers good service to her clientele since not only does she make clothes, but also bags with traditional prints from the Galapagos Islands that she receives by air mail. She makes the bags to fill customer orders, and these customers refer her to others because of her good sewing quality. She is open from 8am to 8pm.
Rosita will use the loan to buy fabric for shirts because she needs to fill orders for physical education uniforms and also to buy other goods that she does not make.
Rosita, 52, is single with 3 children who live in the Galapagos Islands. Her 3 children are grown-up and have their own families. With increased income from the investment, Rosita says that she will continue impoving her home so that she can have a secure life.
Translated from Spanish by Alison Rives, Kiva Volunteer. ",F,600,partner,Services,0
Ecuador,"Rosita has telephone cabins in her house. She began her business with the savings she had from renting apartments and some money that her parents gave her. At first she only had the cabins. Now she sells pre-paid cellular phone cards. Rosita hopes to remodel her business and sell accessories for cell phones. She has the only such business in the area, which allows her a good income. Rosita is 32 years old, is separated from her husband, has 2 children who are studying, and lives in a cement house. Thanks to her business, she has a stable family. As a single mother things are difficult for Rosita, but she has faith that she can support her children. This is why she saves what is left over with the hope of being able to invest in her childrens education.
Translated from Spanish by Jennifer Day, Kiva Volunteer. ",F,1125,partner,Retail,0
Ecuador,"Rosita is a 52-year-old mother of 3 grown children. She has been working as a seamstress out of her home for 20 years. She makes school uniforms, physical education outfits for students, dresses, skirts, and blouses. She opened her business with savings from previous jobs when she began buying the necessary machines. Rosita offers good service to her clientele since she also makes bags with traditional prints from the Galapagos Islands that she receives by air mail. She makes the bags to fill customer orders, and these customers refer her to others because of her good sewing quality. Her business is open from 8am to 8pm.
Rosita used her first loan with our organization to purchase fabric in order to sew sports clothing for students. Based on the amount she sews and sells, she had enough to invest in domestic electric appliances such as televisions, refrigerators, stoves, laundry machines, and more.
Rosita is requesting a second loan to increase her sales of home appliances. Her 3 children are grown-up, live in the Galapagos Islands, and have their own families. They assist their mother with shipping the large appliances she carries from Guayaquil to the Galapagos on cargo ships. With increased income from the investment, Rosita says that she will tile a portion of her home and also start construction on an apartment that she wants to rent out. Roxana will use the loan to invest in sheets, curtains, and children's school shoes. She has faith that with these new products her business will grow.
Roxana is married and 21 years old. She depends on her business to get by, along with her husband. Roxana hopes that this loan will permit her to save toward the construction of a home.
(Translated from the Spanish by Naomi Johnson, Kiva volunteer.)",F,625,partner,Retail,0
Ecuador,"Ruben sells beds, cribs and dressers throughout nearby towns. He began with the help of a friend who supplied him with wood in order to start up the business, and with some of his savings ($300) he was able to purchased tools. He began by catering to the residents of his neighborhood, selling beds at low prices. Currently, with the help of his wife, he travels to different towns in the province where he now has an established clientele. With this loan, Rubn plans to purchase metal beds, which his customers have requested, and particularly bunk beds, which are in high demand. Ruben is certain that by acquiring this new merchandise, he will increase his clientele, thereby increasing his earnings. Ruben is 41 years old and has three children, two of whom attend school. He lives in a cement house. He feels that by advancing his business, his entire family's quality of life will improve.
Translated from Spanish by Leo Duran, Kiva Volunteer. ",M,1100,partner,Manufacturing,0
Ecuador,"Sandy Priscila is a member of the San Martin Communal Bank. She is 25 years old and lives with her common-law husband, with whom she has three children aged 6, 4 and 1. Translated from Spanish by Carolyn McCaffrey, Kiva Volunteer Translated from Spanish by Jennifer Day, Kiva Volunteer. ",F,375,partner,Clothing,0
Ecuador,"Sara is the owner of a tailoring shop, where she creates shirts, pants, and suits. She opened her business with help from her parents, who provided her with equipment. She began by doing repair work on various kinds of clothing. Now she manufactures suits, shirts, and pants. Sara hopes to grow her business and to be able to hire on other people. She will use the loan to investment in the purchase of an industrial sewing machine. She has faith that with this new service her business will grow and her economic stability will improve. She lives with a man and has three children. She is 30 years old and she depends solely on her business to support her household. Sara is sure that the loan will give her security and will allow her to save for her childrens education.
Translated from Spanish by James Comstock, Kiva Volunteer. ",F,625,partner,Services,0
Ecuador,"Segundo has 23 years of experience in his field. He learned the business when he was very young, while helping his father. His business is located on the street corner outside of his house. He sells fish, pork and beef. He tends to his business every day of the week in 2 shifts, morning and afternoon. Aside from his fish and meat business, Segundo also sell household items when business is slow. His work has allowed him to buy his house. He needs the loan to buy a table on which to display his products and to buy a freezer. Segundo was born in Los Ros. He is 42 years old with 4 children, all of whom are still in school. His wife helps him in the business when he has to go out. She also has her own business selling chicken in a market. They have both been able to move their businesses ahead through their perseverance and sense of responsibility. With their earnings they bought a cement house. Their greatest satisfaction is that their children are in school and are taking advantage of the opportunity to study. Their aspiration is to strengthen their businesses since they are the only source of income for the family. Translated by Erin Corcoran, Kiva volunteer.
Segundo tiene una experiencia de 23 aos en esta actividad. Aprendi con su padre desde joven cuando lo ayudaba. l esta ubicado en la esquina de su casa y vende pescado, carne de res y cerdo. Todos los das de la semana atiende en 2 jornadas por la maana y al atardecer. Segundo a parte de su negocio, l tambin se ha dedicado a vender artculos para el hogar cuando esta bajo su negocio. Su trabajo le ha permitido tener obtener su casa.
l necesita el prstamo para comprar una mesa y exhibir su producto, y abonar para un congelador.
Segundo naci en Los Ros. Tiene 42 aos. Con 4 hijos que estn en la escuela y colegio. Su esposa le ayuda en el negocio cuando l tiene que salir. Ella tambin tiene su propio negocio de venta de pollo en un mercado. Ambos han podido salir adelante en sus negocios por su perseverancia y responsabilidad que le han puesto. Con los ingresos generados se compraron su casa de cemento y su satisfaccin ms grande es que sus hijos estudian y estn aprovechando. Su aspiracin es fortalecer el negocio por que son sus nicas fuentes de ingresos.",M,375,partner,Food,0
Ecuador,"Senora Herlinda has been farming for the past 35 years. She is very experienced in farming and in raising cattle. She likes to take advantage of the goodness that nature has to offer.
Senora Herlinda would like to purchase farming implements such as seeds and fertilizers and other necessities in order to grow rice.
Senora Herlinda is 47 years old. She is happily married. Together with her husband they have been able to farm each season. They have 2 children who are going to school. Their home is made out of wood and cement. She aspires to continue farming and to have a better harvest each season, and to become financially stable. She would also like to buy more stable and resilient materials to build a more solid foundation for her home!
Translated from Spanish by Carolina Zelaya-Kronlund, Kiva Volunteer. ",F,950,lender,Agriculture,0
Ecuador,"Senora Yolanda has been farming for the past 30 years. Along with her husband, they have been able to provide for the family with their hard work and dedication. She dedicates solely on the cultivation of rice.
Senora Yolanda would like to use this loan to purchase farming implements that will make it much easier for her to farm, and she would also like to purchase all the products necessary to grow rice, from sowing to harvest. She would also like to make improvements to her home.
Senora Yolanda is 54 years old. She lives in a house made out of wood and cement. She lives with her husband who has been farming for the past 43 years. She has 4 children who are all adults. She aspires to be more profitable in her farming, so that she can improve her living conditions, work conditions and family security!
Translated from Spanish by Carolina Zelaya-Kronlund, Kiva Volunteer. ",F,1200,lender,Agriculture,0
Ecuador,"Seora Agustina is a client of the Community Bank Rocafuerte, a group of 21 women who live in the town of Rocafuerte, approximately half an hour from the city of Portoviejo. The city is well known for the sweets sold there. The Rocafuerte group is very united, and the women get along very well with each other. The day we interviewed Sra. Agustina it was the birthday of one of the members, so some snacks were served, and each woman chipped in some money for a gift.
Sra. Agustina is 46 years old and lives with her two small children (8 and 5 years) and their father. She has a cafe style dining room in her home, a business she opened two months ago. She sells cakes and starch bread each afternoon between 2pm and 7pm, in addition to serving lunch on Sundays. Agustina previously raised chickens,but decided to change businesses, and so far this has been going very well. Some days she sells everything she can produce. Agustina lives in a well-travelled area near a bus stop, and since she moved her ovens outside she has had many more customers, brought in by the smells and sights. She says she learned to cook by guessing, as no one every formally taught her.
Sra. Agustina is asking for a loan from the Fundacin ESPOIR to buy tables and chairs to expand her business. She is also thinking of buying another oven in order to produce more, and this costs $140 cash or $180 in payments.
Sra. Agustina says that she has many dreams for the future, but the greatest is to have her own home (currently she and her family live in the home of her mother-in-law). Her children are growing, and they want their own home. They are already talking about buying the furniture.
Translated from Spanish by Elizabeth Novesky, Kiva Volunteer
Cenaida is 34 years old, married, and has 4 children who are 14, 12, 7, and 5 years old. Her husband is a driver. She sells Yanbal brand cosmetics by catalog, and also buys and sells clothing for men, women, and children. She has been doing this for 2 years.
She started by just selling cosmetics, and she says it is a good business because the income and the incentives are good, and she also has learned a lot.
She goes out to the communities around Manta like Santa Ana and San Mateo to sell her products and deliver them to homes; she already has regular customers.
She is requesting a loan to increase the amount of Yanbal products she has, and to stock up on clothing for women, men, and children. She would also like to start a variety store in her home.
She has had three loans with this bank. She entered when she had just started selling Yanbal, and later she started her second business. She likes to work with this group, and says that the loans have helped her because she is providing more for her family, since her husband lost his job for a while. Now he found a job, but she is continuing to work and contribute to the well-being of her family.
Translated from Spanish by Rebecca Iverson, Kiva Volunteer Translated from Spanish by Tanya Harper, Kiva Volunteer Translated from Spanish by Jessica Kaminsky, Kiva Volunteer Translated from Spanish by Kevin Lenhart, Kiva Volunteer Translated from Spanish by Jessica Kaminsky, Kiva Volunteer Translated from Spanish by Alison Rives, Kiva Volunteer. ",M,375,partner,Retail,0
Ecuador,"Silvia has operated her beauty salon for six years, her husband having helped her with a small amount of start-up capital. Silvia enjoys this work, attending to her customers in her own home. She cuts hair and gives manicures, pedicures and facials. She opens from 9:00AM to noon and from 2:00 to 8:00 in the afternoon. Silvia would like financing to redecorate her beauty salon and to buy some propane tanks. She previously retailed propane and would like to restart that business in addition to the salon. Silvia is 39 years old and has 3 children, two of them in school. Her husband drives a municipal bus. Silvia is confident that with this loan she will be able to realize her dreams, to increase her income and continue to earn a livelihood. Translated by a Kiva volunteer. Silvia tiene su negocio desde hace 6 aos su esposo la apoyo con pequeo capital para dar inicio a su negocio de gabinete. Silvia indica que le gusta esta actividad y atiende en su casa en las tardes a sus clientes. Ella realiza cortes de cabello, limpieza de manos, pies y rostro. Silvia atiende todos los das de la semana en la maana 9: AM a 12: PM y en las tardes desde las 14: PM a 20: PM Silvia necesita capital para arreglar su local para de esta manera poder dar una mejor imagen del mismo. Tambin quiere comprar mas cilindros de gas para reactivar su negocio de venta de gas que lo tenia antes. Silvia tiene 39 aos 3 hijos de los cuales 2 estudian. Esposo labora como chofer en una lnea de transporte urbano. Silvia indica que tiene la confianza que con el crdito ella podr realizar sus anhelos seguir incrementando sus ingresos y as poder seguir adecuando su vivienda y local. The pens are in the backyard of his house and he checks and attends to the animals daily. Every weekend, Lus goes to the market and stores to offer his products. Besides this activity, Lus cooks at the community kitchens starting from 5:00 PM. These are his only sources of income.
Lus needs the loan to improve the structure of his pens and to implement a cleaning out system.
He is 37 years old, married with 3 children. His wife works at a company and supports him with the household expenses. Together they have been able to acquire their posessionsespecially the house which they have changed from a house made of cane to a cement one. Theirs is a hard-working and humble family; his wishes are for his children to be able to finish school and so to have their incomes from work to help the family.
Translated from Spanish by Isabel Tan, a Kiva volunteer. ",F,275,partner,Agriculture,0
Ecuador,"Six months ago Johanna was running a business where she sold clothes in her area. She took out a loan from Mifex so she could invest in more products to sell and stimulate her business. The loan Johanna received for her business had a very surprising effect. She was able to invest in new merchandise as she planned, but once she was able to save enough money she decided to venture into a new and more profitable business. Johanna now owns a small restaurant where she makes lunch and dinner. She is happy with the change in her life as she has been able to make more money. She is now seeking a second loan so that she can invest in her restaurant. Although she has a steady client base, she wants to attract new people by improving the appearance of her business. She will invest in utensils, chairs, tables and other necessary items for a restaurant. Johanna is raising her two daughters on her own. Her husband left to go to Spain about a year ago because he could not find work in Ecuador. She lives with her mother who helps her take care of the children when she is out working. Before her husband left he bought them a large refrigerator so they would be able to sell sodas and other soft drinks out of their home. Johannas mom is the one that mostly tends to this business. Johannas dream is to have her husband come back to help her raise their two daughters.",F,700,lender,Food,0
Ecuador,"Six months ago Victor took out his first loan with Kiva and Mifex. He wisely invested the money in goods that would make perfect gifts during the busy Christmas season, specifically focusing on cell phone products and accessories. He made a significant amount of profit after making his investment. With the money he made, he decided to pursue a new business venture.
Victor has set up an ice cream shop in the home of his parents. He also travels around the neighborhood and the main streets of Guayaquil selling his products. He has seen a huge change since receiving his first loan. He now has a business of his own in his parents' house, and he feels much more optimistic about the future. He now hopes to receive a second loan so he may sell other products from his ice cream shop. He is planning on having a small store where he will sell all types of different products. Victor still lives at home with his parents and his three children. His goal is to be able to buy a home of his own for his young and growing family. She would use the loan to make investments in the new products that she sells, such as perfumes, make-up and accessories, since these are her best-selling products. With these additional earnings she would like to make improvements to the shop in order to attract more clients.
Sonia is 41 years old and has 2 children. She is the only source of income in the household, since her husband abandoned her and left her with full responsibility for the family. Unfortunately one of her sons has a motor disability. She does not have sufficient resources to invest in a special school for him. She aspires to increase her earnings in order to support her children and give them an education. Translated from the Spanish by Erin Corcoran, Kiva volunteer. ",F,375,partner,Services,0
Ecuador,"Sonia has a small grocery shop in her home. She started her business with the help of her sister, who has a supplier in the market and helped her get started in the business. She started out selling vegetables and groceries. Now, in addition to those products, she also sells office supplies.
Sonia will use this loan to invest in wholesale merchandise, and in that way increase her income. She is confident that with those new products her business will grow.
Sonia is separated from her husband and is the mother of three children. She is 43 years old. Sonia hopes that with this loan she will improve the quality of life for her family and that it will help her continue to grow her business.
(Translated from the Spanish by Naomi Johnson, Kiva volunteer)",F,1075,partner,Food,0
Ecuador,"Sonia has a store in the main street where she sells basic goods.
Sonia started her business with her husband's help who had some savings. In the beginning she only sold vegetables. Now she also sells cleaning supplies, dairy products, and deli.
She aspires to expand her business to satisfy customer demand as her store is the only one in the neighborhood. Sonia is convinced that with the expansion of her services, her customers will me satisfied and her bsuiness will grow.
She is married, 30 years old. She has three children of which two are in school. She is convinced that this loan will increase the family's finances and that the business will continue to grow so she can save money and give a better education to her children.
Translated from Spanish by Ramn F. Kolb, Kiva Volunteer. ",F,875,lender,Food,1
Ecuador,"Sonnia se dedica a elaborar collares, pulseras, aretes en pedrera. Hace todo lo que el cliente le pida. Tiene 4 aos haciendo esta actividad. Ella cuenta que una vez que la despidieron de su trabajo comenz a caminar y se detuvo en un bazar y vio como hacan las pulseras, la duea del bazar la invit para que observara y se qued en el bazar viendo. Su esposo le prest $ 200, y comenz su negocio de esta manera.
Ella sale a recorrer a los bazares, amistades y recomendadas. Siempre pide el 50% adelantado y el saldo contra entrega. Ella necesita el prstamo para comprar: piedras, canutillos, argollas y adornos, para poder elaborar mayor modelos.
Sonnia naci en Ancn. Tiene 44 aos y tiene 3 hijos. Su esposo es ebanista y ha sido un apoyo fuerte en su hogar. Ellos son una familia muy humilde pero muy trabajadora. Ambos han tenido que trabajar desde muy joven para poder tener sus bienes. Actualmente tienen su casa que poco a poco la han mejorado. Su aspiracin es crecer en el negocio y arreglar un espacio de su casa para poner su bazar donde pueda exhibir sus creaciones.
Translated from Spanish by Isabel Tan, a Kiva volunteer.",F,375,partner,Retail,0
Ecuador,"Sra. Ercilia is a member of the Mujeres Unidas (United Women) Communal Bank, a large group of women that meets every two weeks at the ESPOIR office in Jipijapa, a small town on the Ecuadorian coast. She is a lovely and friendly woman who enjoys talking with people. Sra. Ercilia is in a common law marriage and the mother of 2 children. Unfortunately, her daughter died at the age of 16. Her son is finishing his high school education at the moment and hopes to continue his studies and become a doctor someday. She is looking at the possibility of sending him to medical school in Guayaquil. Her husband is a technician who spends his time repairing computers, televisions and radios. Lately, he has not had much business due to a lack of customers.
Sra. Ercilia sells shoes door-to-door. She sells womens shoes from a catalog called El Cleo, and her customers place their orders and pay with cash or on credit. She started her business 13 years ago with the help of a loan from Fundacin Espoir. Sra. Ercilia still remembers that her first loan was in the amount of 130 sucres (Ecuador was still using another currency at the time and had not started using the US dollar). Her customers are municipal workers, hospital employees, and teachers. She leaves home every day to take orders and collect payments. Already she has gained considerable business experience, knowing which clients to grant credit and which ones to refuse. As a saleswoman, she says it is better to sell door-to-door rather than from a fixed location because she can go find her clients and collect from them rather than sit in one place all day. She has around 30 regular clients and sells about 2 dozen pairs of shoes each month. Her customers would also request American brand shoes, which she would have shipped to her in a suitcase. However, that did not prove to be profitable, so she prefers to sell through the catalog.
Sra. Ercilia will use her loan to buy more shoes to offer to her clients. She enjoys working because she likes having her own income, which she uses to buy clothes for herself and her son also. Her dream for the future is to open a cevichera in Guayaquil. If her son ends up going to medical school there, then she could visit him all the time and do his laundry. Therefore, it would be a good idea to open a business there as well.
Translated from Spanish by Ronan Reodica, Kiva Volunteer Translated from Spanish by Mary Lynn Malaby, Kiva Volunteer Teresa desea el crdito para poder reiniciar el negocio de ferretera, que se encuentra en el mismo local de venta de gas, dndole una mejor imagen al negocio. Teresa es casada, tiene 62 aos y 11 hijos los que ya son adultos y siempre estn pendientes de ella, esperando poder mejorar su casita y poder vivir mejor junto a su esposo.
Translated from Spanish by Isabel Tan, a Kiva volunteer. ",F,375,partner,Retail,0
Ecuador,"Teresa tiene una experiencia de 20 aos en la venta de legumbres porque desde muy joven trabajaba junto a su mam en las ferias libres. Poco a poco fue haciendo su capital con el cual puso su propio negocio que le ayuda a solventar los gastos de su hogar y darle una buena educacin a sus hijos. Atiende el negocio en horario de 6 a.m. hasta las 2 p.m. todos los das de la semana junto a su esposo que la ayuda bastante.
Teresa desea el crdito para poder invertir en lo que tiene que ver a granos ya que por el momento no tiene esos productos. Adems aspira poner en su domicilio un negocio de venta de colas para poderlo trabajar despus de las 2 p.m.
Teresa tiene 47 aos, tiene 2 hijos los cuales ya son adultos y le ayudan en lo que mas puedan a su madre. Su esposo trabaja de albail y los das que tiene libre le ayuda a Teresa en el negocio. Esperan poder terminar su casita la que actualmente es de caa.
Translated from Spanish by Isabel Tan, a Kiva volunteer. ",F,375,partner,Food,0
Ecuador,"The Ceraturo Communal Bank is a group of 17 women and men who are residents of the Ceraturo Irquis neighborhood of Victoria del Portete, located to the south of the city of Cuenca. This region experiences extreme cold while fog develops in the afternoons, making it difficult for people to travel through the streets and preventing them from leaving their homes.
Member Mara Trnsito Pulla, for the past 3 months, has been living in the house of her sister-in-law who currently resides abroad. Mara is 23 years old, married, and has 5 children (ages 9, 7, 5, 3 and 1 month). Three of the children attend school in Ceraturo. Before joining Fundacin ESPOIR, she and her husband worked on the Victoria del Portete Estate as farm laborers. They milked the cows and worked in the fields. Their work schedule was from 6am to 6pm. At the estate, some of the supervisors were good and while others were bad. However, none of them liked it whenever Mara had to miss work or leave early to take care of her children whenever they became sick. She became a member around June 16th of this year when a neighbor told her about the Foundation and invited her to join. She is requesting a loan of $110 so that she can buy guinea pigs and grass, enabling her to quit her farm job so that she can spend more time caring for her children. Her goal is to start breeding more animals, not just guinea pigs, but also cows, pigs and chickens so that her family can get ahead and become self-sufficient.
Member Rosala Chimbo is 36 years old, married and has a 16 year old daughter. Her husband works in an auto body shop, repairing and painting cars. Meanwhile, she works as a domestic helper and also sells Avon cosmetic products and other brands as well. Her clients are primarily neighbors, friends and acquaintances. She has been selling cosmetics for 8 years. When she was younger she previously worked as a temporary employee, a salaried employee, and also in restaurants. She also takes charge of the domestic duties for her own home. Rosala works from 7:30am to 5pm. She is requesting a loan of $220 to buy Avon products because she sells on credit. Sometimes the company has promotions, so she can pay for the products now and recoup the costs afterwards when customers make their payments. She takes orders from her customers every two weeks, which totals between $100-$120, of which 25% is profit. (That figure is reduced between 5-10% after taking into account the costs of the products.) This is the first time she has taken out a loan. In the future she would like to open her own business, such as restaurant, because she enjoys cooking.
All members have promised to pay their loans on time and in a responsible manner.
Translated from Spanish by Ronan Reodica, Kiva Volunteer Translated from Spanish by Eliana Colunga, Kiva Volunteer
Mrs. Luz is 46 years old, married and has 6 children, 5 of whom live with her. She works from home, raising livestock and cultivating crops. She breeds guinea pigs, chickens, cows, pigs and sheep, and also harvests corn and beans for her familys consumption. She is requesting a loan of $165 to buy food and vitamins for her animals, such as grass and grain for her guinea pigs. In the future, she would like to grow her business, but she cannot believe that she still spends lots of money on her childrens education. Some of them are in college now. ""Hopefully they will turn out to be something in life and succeed,"" she said.
Mrs. Maria Transito is the sister of Mrs. Luz. She is 53 years old, divorced and has 6 children, two of whom live with her. She has two small businesses that help pay for her children's education: selling wood and cheese she makes from the milk of her own cows. She has faced a few challenges in her life including health problems such as arthritis, hearing problems, and vision problems that have made it difficult for her to do much work. She is asking for a loan of $110, which will be used to buy firewood to sell later.
Mrs. Maria is 42 years old, married and has 3 teenage children. She raises animals such as guinea pigs, chickens, pigs and dairy cows. This woman also grows corn, broad beans and kidney beans in her fields. She said that she works hard so that her children can study and make something out of their lives. Maria will use her loan of $110 to buy feed for her chickens and pigs. She said that the money will be enough to feed her animals for 15 days.
The group is committed to pay the loan on time. The members have been very responsible with previous loans.
Note: The lady who appears in the photo on the right is Mrs. Rosa Criollo, the treasurer of the community bank group. She could not attend the meeting when the group photo was made, so a separate photo was taken. The young man sitting on the left is the groups loan officer, Pedro Vasquez.
Translated from Spanish by Ronan Reodica, Kiva Volunteer
Mercedes is 45 years old, in a common law marriage, and has 3 children. Her oldest child attends high school in Paute. Mercedes could only afford to finish elementary school, in contrast to her partner who completed two years of college. Living in a house full of people who are willing to work and help with her business, she is thankful to God for the family that she has. Mercedes has been working at her bakery for quite some time, approximately 7 years. Her loan of $330 will be invested into her business. She works a schedule of 11-12 hours, 5 days a week. Mercedes earns about $20 each week selling bread, which helps tremendously because her family gets to keep the bread that is not sold as a result of competition. This is her first loan with Fundacin ESPOIR. She was invited by her friends to join the group. Her goal for the future is to acquire a location for her bakery since she currently makes bread from home. Mercedes says this will help her to market her bread, along with cakes, pastries, desserts and other delicacies.
Mara is a native of Cuenca and lives in the neighborhood of San Jos de Balsay. She is 44 years old, married, and has 6 children. Her business involves selling whole plucked chickens by the pound. She sells approximately 25 chickens each day at the Paute central market. Her sales double during the holidays, and also on Wednesdays and Sundays. Her work schedule is from 9am to 3pm, Monday through Sunday. She will use her loan of $330 to purchase chicks and raise them until they are ready for sale. Mara is a longtime member, but became inactive for a year because of the distance and her decision to work with another group based in Cuenca. Her goal is to own a large chicken hatchery and purchase equipment for plucking.
Diana is a native of Paute and lives in the neighborhood of Solidaridad. She is 21 years old, single, and 7 months pregnant. Diana completed her education prior to the 4th year of high school before she dropped out because of her pregnancy and for financial reasons. She lives with her parents and contributes to the daily expenses. She has an informal business selling candy in the market and at other locations. Her business has been in operation for about 2 years and she earns approximately $20 each week. She plans to continue her studies after the birth of her child. She will use her loan of $220 to purchase donuts, cakes, and other items for her business. Her goal in life is to complete high school and continue on to college to study either marketing or finance.
Translated from Spanish by Ronan Reodica, Kiva Volunteer
The members of the Cumbe communal bank live in the parish of San Antonio. Almost all of them have known each other since they were girls. They are very good friends, and this is always a very happy and united group. They are willing to work together to achieve a better quality of life for themselves and their families. Following are some stories of the members of the bank.
Seora Gloria Isabel Len Tenecela is a very contributing member of the Cumbe communal bank. She lives in the community of San Antonio in the Cumbe parish. She is 31, married, and has 2 children. Her husband works in construction, which allows him to help his family economically. The house they live in is rented.
Gloria sells cows, pigs, and sheep. She buys them and and resells them the same day or takes them to her home to care for them and raise them a little more and then sells them the following week. She has done this for 4 years, and she tells us that it is going very well. She also raises guinea pigs and chickens.
Gloria has a good friendship with the other members of the group. She has worked with the foundation for 5 years. She tells us that with the loans she has received, she has been able to stabilize herself economically.
With this loan that Fundacin Espoir is offering her, she is going to invest in the construction of a chicken house. Her biggest dream is to have her own home for the comfort and tranquility of her whole family.
Seora Mara Mercedes Morocho Lema is an active member of the Cumbe communal bank. She lives in the Cumbe parish in the community of San Antonio. She is 40 and has 5 children, who are 23, 22, 18, 16, and 14. She had her two oldest children with a man with whom she used to live, but they separated. Now she has a new relationship, and because of this, their father chose to take them to live with him in the city of Quito. Her children don't come to visit her, and she hasn't been able to go visit them because of her current husband. Her 18-year-old son works as an assistant on a truck. Her 16-year-old daughter studies in the Miguel Cervantes school in Cumbe, and her youngest daughter studies in the Marianitas school in the city of Cuenca.
She tells us that at first, the situation with her current husband wasn't good because he treated her badly, and he was very bad. But he changed for the better when he traveled out of the country to work. Being away made him start to value his family. It's been a year since he returned, and he is a different person. He is very caring and stays at home. They live in their own home.
Mara works in agriculture. She sells what she produces in the markets and has enough for their own consumption. She also owns a cow that provides her with milk for her customers. She has also had a supplies store for 10 years. She tells us that it is going very well because she has a fixed clientele.
Mara has been a member of the communal bank for 10 years. She tells us that her loans have benefitted her a lot because they have allowed her to finish building her home and to start her store.
With this loan from Fundacin Espoir, she is going to invest in the purchase of assorted merchandise to supply her store and to offer better service to her customers. Her goal is to have large shed for chickens.
Seora Mara Luzmila Tenecela Guamantario is a charismatic member of the Cumbe communal bank. She lives in the Cumbe parish in the community of San Antonio. She is 49 and has been a widow for 15 years. She became very sad when she told us that her husband was murdered by his friend and she still doesn't know his motive. She has six children, and the oldest ones are married. She currently lives with her 20-year-old son, who works to help her with their home's expenses. Her 15-year-old daugther is a single mother of a 9-month-old boy. They live in a little old adobe house, but it is their own.
Mara works in agriculture and produces papas, vegetables, etc., to consume in their home. If the production is good, they sell part of it in the markets. She also raises chickens and guinea pigs and has a dairy cow. She sells what it produces to the dairy trucks that pass through the countryside. She gets up very eary because she has to distribute her time between the fields and caring for her home and her grandson.
Within the communal bank, the members get along very well. Besides being good friends, they are family. Mara has recieved loans from Fundacin Espoir for 7 years. She is very thankful for the help she has received because it has let her stabilize herself a little economically.
She will invest the loan from the foundation in the purchase of more chickens, feed, and vitamines to grow her business. In this way, she will improve the economic resources of her home. Her dream is to remodel her home because it is in bad shape. Translated from Spanish by Tanya Harper, Kiva Volunteer Translated from Spanish by Fallon Shields, Kiva Volunteer. ",F,1200,lender,Food,1
Ecuador,"The Las Rositas Communal Bank is a group of 10 members who live in the Ingapirca community, about a half hour outside the city of Cuenca in southern Ecuador. The group formed relatively recently less than two years ago, but the members have been very reliable and responsible. The bank practically runs itself without too much help from their loan officer. Translated from Spanish by Carolyn McCaffrey, Kiva Volunteer
Sra. Chocho Illescas Blanca Celestina: Blanca is 27 years old, married, and has three children (ages 9, 7, and 1). The two oldest children attend school in the Yanaturo area. Her husband works in the city as a jeweler. The communal bank gathers at her house every 15 days for their meetings because she is the group president. She currently leases her home, but will own it outright in about two months when she completes the payments. During the week, Blanca spends most of her time on household chores. On the weekends or whenever people ask her, she prepares food at her customers house or in her own home. She learned to cook about 10 years ago when she worked at a restaurant called Balcn Cuencano. Everything she makes is well received because the food is quite tasty.
Blanca is requesting a loan of $440 USD from Fundacin ESPOIR to buy pots, industrial kitchenware, and other materials needed for her work. Her future goal is to finish her house payments and, at the same time, open a restaurant.
Sra. Canelos Guamn Cecilia Del Roco: Cecilia is a native of East Puyo, Ecuador and has lived in Cuenca 23 years. Her husband is 33 years old and also from Puyo. They have four children (ages 15, 10, 8 and 3). The first three children are students, one in high school and the other two in elementary school. Cecilia spends her time sewing, which she has been doing for about 4 months. She is not a professional yet, but is still learning. Sra. Cecilia works with Sra. Pilar Suqui, who is also a communal bank member, and asked to be part of the group. Her first loan was very beneficial because she used her $330 to buy a sewing machine and fabric. Although not yet known for her work, she is learning from Doa Pilar how to make trousers, blouses, dresses, and sportswear. She needs to purchase lycra fabric, which costs $5.80 per yard. Her work schedule runs between 8am-12pm and 2pm-5pm. She also works on the weekends during the morning. She is able to get much accomplished on the weekends because her husband helps with the household chores. He works as a company driver and is off on the weekends. Cecilias goal is to continue learning her craft and open a workshop in her home.
Sra. Illescas Zumba Mara ngeles: Mara is 55 years old, married and has 12 children between the ages of 10 and 20. She doesnt remember the exact ages of each of them. Four of them are in high school, three are in elementary school, and the older ones are working and married. She lives in a rented house because her family cannot complete the construction on their own. Her husband is a farmer, and when he is not working, he helps around the house. She spends her time performing household chores (including washing clothes), raising animals, and cultivating crops. Starting on Thursdays and through the weekend, she washes clothes for neighbors. She charges $1 per dozen garments, $0.50 for blankets, and $0.25 for jackets. Mara is a native of Santa Ana, which is a parish in Cuenca. She has lived in Yanaturo for 18 years. She will use her loan of $330 to buy livestock that she will yoke together to plow her fields. She plans to fight through lifes struggles and hopes to own a house so that she can rest peacefully and not have to worry about the rent each month.
Translated from Spanish by Ronan Reodica, Kiva Volunteer Julia wants this loan in order to increase her working capital so that she can include more items in her inventory, such as clothes and electric items.
Julia is 21 years old. She is a single mother with one daughter. At present, she has her business in her mother's home. She also has her own small house made of cane, and she hopes that, with this investment, she can create a business that will let her remodel her little house.
(Translated from the Spanish by Naomi Johnson, Kiva volunteer)",F,375,partner,Retail,0
Ecuador,"Tomasa sells imitation jewelry and cosmetics in her neighborhood and in rural villages. She got into the business by helping a friend with her sales. At first she only sold jewelry like rings, chains, and bracelets, but now she sells these products as well as cosmetics and purses.
Tomasa hopes to sell electric appliances such as rice cookers, irons, and mixers since her customers are asking for these products.
Tomasa is 37 years old, has 3 children and is separated. It has been hard for her to get ahead in life because she can only depend on her business to support her family. She hopes that this loan will stabilize her business and give her more security in life.
Tomasa se dedica a la venta de bisuteria y cosmeticos en su sector y en pueblos rurales. Ella empezo el negocio ayudando en las ventas de Bisuteria a una amiga. Al principio solo vendia Bisuteria como anillos, cadenas y pulseras, pero ahora continua vendiendo estos productos junto con cosmeticos y carteras.
Tomasa aspira vender productos elctricos como ollas arroceras, planchas y batidoras ya que sus clientes le estan demandando estos productos.
Tomasa tien 37 aos, es separada y tiene 3 hijos. Le ha sido muy duro salir adelante con su familia porque ella depende totalmente de su negocio para mentener a sus hijos. Ella tiene la esperanza que con este prestamo podra establecerse su negocio y tener un poco mas de estabilidad y seguridad en su vida.",F,500,partner,Retail,0
Ecuador,"Two years ago Maria decided to start her own store out of her home. She started off with just $100 in capital and slowly was able to increase her product line and her customer base. She now sells basic foods and snacks for kids. She opens her business every morning and closes late at night. With profits above her expectations, Maria has been continuously investing in her business. Late last year, Maria received a loan so she could invest in meats such as beef and chicken. She was able to invest successfully and make some minor improvements to her store. She is now looking forward to receiving another loan and investing in dairy products. Maria moved to Guayaquil from Esmeraldas, a predominantly Afro community, about ten years ago. She attained her land in a popular invasion of a territory now named Nigeria. She still does not have the paperwork for her home, which is built out of a bamboo like wood. Currently there is no pavement where she lives because the tide brings in the water. She has 5 small children and a husband who works for the local water company.",F,675,partner,Food,0
Ecuador,"Use of the First Loan
Business Development
Personal Information
Use of the Second Loan
Translated from Spanish by Shannon Skoglund, Kiva volunteer. ",M,675,lender,Food,1
Ecuador,"Vernica Yolanda is a member of the Comunal Bank El Arenal, which meets in the office of the Espoir Foundation every two weeks. She lives in Cuenca, a beautiful colonial city in southern Ecuador. She is 23 years old, single, and lives with her parents. She is a medical student, has been studying medicine for five years, and has one year left before she graduates.
Vernica works in the same area as her parents. She began working with them, learned how the business functioned, and then began her own restaurant for food sales. She has a dining room where she sells breakfasts, lunches and snacks. She also sells soft drinks and fast food. She moved to a new locale one year ago, and since she moved business has been much better. The new locale is close to the police station, so it is safe even at night.
Vernica plans to use her loan to purchase the ingredients for fast food meals, which is what she sells the most. She will invest another portion in the purchase of materials useful for her studies. She has been a member of a communal bank for two years and she has received loans of $1000 or $1200 over that time period, but now that she is generating income, she can use her earnings to invest in her business and she doesnt need such high loan amounts. She likes the benefits that the foundation offers her, like the medical office in the same building and the educational seminars that Karina, the credit promoter, offers.
Vernicas goals for the future are to be a medical professional, to start her own family, and to expand her business. Translated from Spanish by Debra Faszer-McMahon, Kiva Volunteer
Victor aspires to sell all types of clothing. He would use the loan to buy cloth wholesale. He has confidence that with a wider selection of types of cloth his business will grow.
Victor is the father of a daughter. He is 52 years old and separated. His business is the only source of income in the household. Victor has hope that his loan will give him financial security. Translated from Spanish by Erin Corcoran. Kiva volunteer. ",M,1075,partner,Services,0
Ecuador,"Victor Rivera has 25 years of experience selling shoes, clothes, and he started working in Bahia, Ecuador. He worked for a boss who had the idea to work on foot and sell shoes in the local pueblos. After breaking off from this small business, Victor and his wife decided they would go into business together, and they followed a similar model from Victors previous job. They had success early on because they knew exactly whichi towns were the most lucrative, and they offered promotions to the best buyers, whom they knew personally. Each day they work from 5am until 10pm. They have recently been so focused on sales that they have not had the time to replenish their inventory with new stock, so they sell goods in the morning and then use the proceeds from those sales to buy just enough shoes to still sell in the afternoon. Victors wife is a great salesperson, and she typically goes to the small towns and local festivals which occur fairly often. They have two grown children who help sell their goods, and the family unit has maintained strong over the years. Their house is their greatest collateral.
Victor needs this loan so that he can increase the volume of shoes and clothing in stock to sell when the Riveras go to market. He is a 48 year-old with four children, who of whom work for the family business. His wife is his right hand, and he could not do anything without her. She is responsible for the finances, taking care of the house, and looking after the children. They saved enough money to move out of Victors mother-in-laws house, which was putting pressure on everyone. Their new home was made of cane and they slept on the floor. Now, after working hard, they enjoy a house that is made of concrete, and each child has a room of his own. The Riveras are proud to have gotten out of their previouos situation, which was dire poverty. Although they are still poor, they enjoy a standard of living that most do not have in Ecuador. Their wish is to continue growing the business and open a store located next to their house.",M,600,partner,Clothing,0
Ecuador,"Victoria Gamarra owns a small shop selling household items. She was able to open her business thanks to a loan from her husband who sent $300 from Italy where he works. Every day from 7am until 9pm, Ms. Gamarra runs her store, which happens to be located in her house.
Victoria is applying for her second loan with Mifex and Kiva. Her first credit was a success as she was able to improve the appearance of her store and invest in products that increased profits and business. She saves a part of her profits in order to improve the standard of living of her children and save up to pay for their education. She says it is hard living as a single mother, but she has no desire to uproot her family and move to a foreign place. This 32 year-old entrepreneur who is from the Provincia de los Rios wants nothing more than to succeed in business and give her kids a better life than she had growing up.",F,1200,lender,Retail,0
Ecuador,"Victoria has had a bazaar for the past 25 years. She opened it with savings from her work in a warehouse where she had the idea of starting her own business. Her bazaar is located inside her home where her children help her attend to customers. She is open for business every day from 6 a.m. to 10 p.m.
Victoria wants to use the loan to add more products to her store like candy and school supplies to meet the demand of her customers. With the added income she plans to invest in more products.
Victoria is 45 years old and is a married mother of two children who go to school. Her husband is a driver who works outside of the city. Victoria says the good thing about her husband is that when hes home he helps her very much with the business, knowing that this is an extra source of income for the family, allowing them to continue improving their house.
Translated from Spanish by Ari r Vilhjlmsson, Kiva Volunteer. ",F,375,partner,Retail,0
Ecuador,"Virginia has 2 years of experience in this business. She used to work as a seamstress, and with the help of her children she has succeeded in starting a business selling school and office supplies. She works every day of the week from 7 AM until 9 PM. Her son helps her with the business and the sales.
Virginia wants this loan in order to be able to invest in school supplies, because the school term is starting here and there is a high demand.
Virginia is a single mother. She has 4 children, of whom only one still lives with her. The others have moved out, but they help her out when she needs it. Virginia has been separated for 10 years. She still has a good relationship with her children's father, and he helps support the youngest child. She hopes with this investment and the income it generates to be able to remodel a place in her home to display her merchandise.
(Translated from the Spanish by Naomi Johnson, Kiva volunteer)",F,375,partner,Retail,0
Ecuador,Virginia has a beauty salon that she started with the help of her husband who gave her the start up capital. She was able to grow in the past 6 months thanks to a loan from the Kiva community. She did quite well with the loan she received. She was able to invest in her beauty salon as she planned. She bought some furniture for her shop and she made some improvements to the physical appearance of the shop. Her business is much more stable now and she is receiving many more clients. Now she is hoping that she can invest in more display cases and secondary products to sell from her store.,F,1000,partner,Services,0
Ecuador,"Viviana has 20 years of experience in her photography business. She learned this business from her parents, since she has liked it since she was young. She saved money from her job to buy her own cameras. She achieved this and was able to become independent. Her husband has always helped her, and in his free time he also does photography. She works every day of the week from 8:00 AM until 6:00 PM. If she has evening events, especially on the weekends, she works then, too. Viviana wants the loan in order to invest in buying rolls of film. There have been times when she hasnt been able to work because she didnt have film. She would also like to be able to repair a camera that has a problem. Viviana is married. She is 45 years old. She has three children who are studying and in their free time, they help her in her business. Her husband works as a guard at a hospital in the city. In the future, she hopes to be able to finish her house in order to give a better life to her family.
Translated from Spanish by Jennifer Day, Kiva Volunteer. ",F,375,partner,Services,0
Ecuador,"Walter is originally from Manab but has lived in Guayaquil for 15 years. He owns a small store where he sells groceries and other food items. He learned the business from his parents who provide some support for him but cannot give him credit. His wife also helps out at the store, but in order to grow he needs a source of capital other than the loan sharks. With the credit he plans to increase and diversify his inventory. Currently his profits average about two dollars a day.",M,500,partner,Food,0
Ecuador,"Werlinton began his business four years ago. He sells delicious coconut and tropical fruit ice cream. His business is open everyday from 8:00am to 8:00pm.
Werlinton needs the loan to buy fruit and supplies needed in the production, maintenance, and sale of the ice cream.
Werlinton is 40 years old and is single with four children. From a young age we was interested in work. His first business was in the production of coconut sweets, a typical delicacy from his country. With the high demand for his sweets, Werlinton came up with the idea to make ice cream from tropical fruits. His house is made out of wood. He hopes to improve his business and income in order to generate work for those who sell his product.
Translated from Spanish by a Kiva volunteer ",M,400,partner,Food,0
Ecuador,"When Dominga was young she worked selling chickens by the pound, but she had to stop because there was too much competition. Twenty years ago she started selling seafood. Her and her husband decided to travel to the coast and bring their products back to the city to sell. She also works selling jewellery and cosmetics. She has managed to combine these two activities and she earns well from them. When she has to travel to buy seafood her daughter attends to her customers. She works weekdays from 9am to 5pm.
With the loan she will buy more jewellery and cosmetics for her clients. She will also buy some dairy products, especially yoghurt, to sell in her local area as people have asked her for this product.
Dominga is married. She is 45 years old and has five children, all of whom are married. Her husband is a merchant sailor and works on a ship. They have a small car and her husband uses it to deliver products when he is free. Her goal is to finish off their house and therefore accommodate her family better. Her and her husband are working hard to achieve this.
Translated from Spanish by Liz Harvey, Volunteer Translator ",F,525,partner,Retail,0
Ecuador,"Wilfredo Armijos, who was born in Loja, Ecuador has lived in Guayaquil for 10 years. This 40 year-old small business owner is divorced and has 3 children. He sells household items and ice cream and has been doing so ever since he arrived in Guayaquil. Wilfredos venture is run out of the home, and his most frequent customers live in the neighborhood. This hardworking entrepreneur opens his shop at 6:00 am and closes at 9:00 pm. He needs a $950 loan so that he can purchase more goods and diversify his product supply. Don Wilfredo is trying very hard to move forward and work himself out of poverty, giving his children opportunities that he never had.
William would like this credit to be able to supply his business with another type of fruit and, in the future, also transfer it to his home where his wife works.
William is married. He has two children. His wife at this time is not working, since she recently had a baby who is 1 month old. Once she is back to normal, she will start to work selling clothes, which is what she has always done. With the investment he will make, he hopes to be able to finish building his house. He hopes to be able to fill it in, and little by little, make it cement.
Translated from Spanish by a Kiva volunteer. ",M,275,partner,Food,0
Ecuador,"Wilmer is a butcher and owns a small stand where he sells beef. His father taught him the family trade over 35 years ago and had him help him in his shop. Wilmer eventually started his own business but about 8 years ago his store caught on fire and he has not been able to buy a new place to sell from. Therefore, Wilmer has been selling meat from a table and a stand that he made himself. He is need of a loan so that he may begin to buy different kinds of meats including poultry and fish. He wants to increase his revenue so he can save money for a new store. His goal is to increase his profits and buy a new refrigerator for leftover meats. For the time being he can only buy amounts he knows he will sell because he does not have sufficient storage for leftovers. He believes that having the flexibility to generate more revenue he will eventually be able to have a store of his own again and he will be able to provide a better living to his three children.
Mifex offers its clients microinsurance and access to business training and educational programs. For more information about microfinance, Ecuador, and our services, please visit www.mifex.org.
Description of Business
Personal Information
User of the Second Loan Translated from Spanish by Cindy Kendall, Kiva volunteer. ",F,700,lender,Food,1
Ecuador,"With her first loan Marta stocked her business with different products including electrical appliances and her sales have gone very well.
Description of Business
Personal Information
User of the Second Loan Translated from Spanish by Cindy Kendall, Kiva volunteer. ",F,700,lender,Retail,1
Ecuador,"With her first loan Cecilia invested in buying soda pop, drinks, juices and candy. She also fixed her refrigerator, a key component of her business.
Description of Business
Personal Information
User of the Second Loan Translated from Spanish by Cindy Kendall, Kiva volunteer. ",F,700,lender,Retail,1
Ecuador,"With her first loan Mrs. Rosalia was able to increase her productivity and hire another worker. She also made improvements on her home. She is still making bricks with her children and now has started another business selling chlorine. Her family is very happy with the growth of the business and they are all working with the goal of buidling a cement house. The home they live in now is very old. Mrs. Rosalia needs a loan so that she can buy more sawdust and chlorine to make more of her products.
Translated from Spanish by Geoff Rubin, Kiva volunteer ",F,850,lender,Construction,1
Ecuador,"With her first loan, Mrs. Gladys was able to improve her business and purchase tables and chairs for her restaurant. She was also able to open a beverage store. Right now she is still working on both of these businesses. Her children help her run them. The whole family is happy right now and look forward to eventually fixing up their home with the profits from their businesses. Mrs. Gladys is asking for a loan so that she can enlarge her store and fix up the front.
Translated from Spanish by Geoff Rubin, Kiva volunteer ",F,1200,lender,Food,1
Ecuador,"With his first loan Exito was able to buy materials to repair cars with special paint and other substances, in addition he was able to make repairs to his shop and buy other car accessories to sell.
Description of Business
Personal Information
User of the Second Loan Translated from Spanish by Cindy Kendall, Kiva volunteer. ",M,1200,lender,Services,1
Ecuador,"With his first loan Don Tito was able to buy raw materials to make bricks. He also hired more workers to produce a higher quality products. With the profits from his business Don Tito has been able to install a small store in his home, which he runs with the help of his mother and daughter. The brick business is very productive because Don Tito hired a new worker. He thus produces a greater quantity and variety of bricks -- that is, bricks of different sizes and textures. His family is very happy and they all work hard with the end goal of building a cement house. Don Tito asks for a loan to buy more store merchandise and also to buy more sawdust for making bricks.
Translated from Spanish by Geoff Rubin, Kiva volunteer ",M,1200,lender,Construction,1
Ecuador,"With his previous loan Jose bought rice, sugar, oil, butter and other wholesale provisions in order to better supply his store. The investment that he made was reflected in the good sales numbers that he made.
Translated from Spanish by a Kiva volunteer. ",M,1200,lender,Agriculture,1
Ecuador,"Yorma is a married mother with four children, and her husband is a salesman. He lost his job recently when the company he worked for shut down. Luckily, the Alvarezes planned ahead and were able to tap into their savings to open a hair salon where Yorma runs the show. Her husband helps out any way that he can by washing customers hair, but this is the only source of income for their family right now. Yorma learned how to cut hair eight ears ago, but only two years ago did start cutting hair professionally. Her daughter who is 17 years old gives manicures and paints nails while her mother cuts hair. Yorma has borrowed from the loan sharks before, but she was hardly able to scrape enough money after having to pay them 20% monthly! This hard-working entrepreneur wants this loan so that buy more products like hairdryers, hair-washing sinks, hair and skin treatments, conditioners, permanent hair dyes, spray, enamel, and acetone. Yorma is hoping that with this loan she will be ready to re-open her hair salon with an improved look and all the tools to make it a professional shop. The months of November and December are usually the busiest, so she is hoping to ramp up quickly before the season starts.
Mifex offers its clients microinsurance and access to business training and educational programs. For more information about microfinance, Ecuador, and our services, please visit www.mifex.org.",F,600,partner,Services,0
Ecuador,"Young Rolando has been farming for the past 7 years. Each day he is gaining more experience in the cultivation of rice which is the most profitable crop in this region.
Rolando wants to use the money to purchase farming implements in order to be more productive in the short growing season.
Currently, Rolando is single with no children. He lives in a house made out of reed. He has live there for the past 25 years. His dreams are to one day have more land to farm and to work on improving his home by making it more stable. He plans to do this with a lot of effort and dedication!
Translated from Spanish by Carolina Zelaya-Kronlund, Kiva Volunteer. ",M,950,lender,Agriculture,0
Ecuador,"Zenovia is a member of the Nueva Generacin communal bank, a relatively new group the meets every two weeks in the Cuba neighborhood in the city of Manta, in the province of Manab, on the Ecuadoran coast.
She is 59 years old and lives with her common-law husband. She has 8 children who are all married and have their own families. She also has 18 grandchildren (plus one more thats on the way) and a great-grandson.
Zenobia and her husband have a small grocery store in their house, a business that they have had for 10 years. She also has a separate business selling Yambal products [a cosmetics company that operates in South America], which she exhibits in a vitrine in her house. She sells to friends, acquaintances, and neighbors in the Cuba neighborhood, where she lives.
She has been selling cosmetic products for 3 years and says that things are going well because she earns a good percentage of the profits in this business. She says that she has regular clients, and that it isnt a good idea to sell to just anyone, because she has to know who can pay their installments and who cant.
She is requesting a loan to invest in buying merchandise to stock her grocery store, and also for some cosmetic products. Her sales are done on credit and her clients pay her in installments after she gives them the products.
Her dream for the future is to travel. She has been to Venezuela, where one of her daughters lives. She liked it there, but she says its not as pretty as Ecuador.
Translated from Spanish by Jennifer Day, Kiva Volunteer Zoila wants this loan in order to buy two more washing machines to increase her business.
Zoila is 44 years old, she is married, with 4 children, 2 of whom are still in school. Her husband has a cart which he uses to transport freight and in that way help the household.
(Translated from the Spanish by Naomi Johnson, Kiva volunteer)",F,475,partner,Services,0
Kenya," Grace trained as a tailor in Kianda and later worked for friend, earning 2000 Kenyan Shillings a month ($31.00). This was a very small income with which to sustain her and her family. She later quit this job and hired a machine for 500 Kenyan Shillings a month. Because her business was not doing well, her father boosted her by lending her 4000 Kenyan Shillings ($62.00) that she used to buy some materials. She has already repaid the loan and had started making boys' shirts. The shirts were selling fast but, unfortunately, she fell sick, was diagnosed with HIV, and had to use all of her savings to buy medication. When she began to feel better, she shifted from sewing to making juice and ice. This business has been so successful that she can no longer meet customer demand. She can only make a given amount because she doesn't have a storage facility. She is now requesting Kiva lenders to grant her a loan of 25,000 Kenyan Shillings ($385.00) so that she can purchase a deep freezer. This will allow her to make ice and store large quantities of juice. She will no longer disappoint her customers and she will be able to provide for the basic needs of her family and also continue taking care of her health. The repayment period for this loan is twelve Months. Disclaimer: Due to recent events in Kenya, the security situation in many communities remains unsettled, affecting many local businesses. Lenders to this entrepreneur should be aware that this loan may represent a higher default risk, and should be willing to accept this additional risk in making their loan. Jane has been running her shop for more than 18 years, realizing a net income of approximately $180 per month. She also has a small farm from which she gets additional income and food for her family. As a member of a dairy farming group, she will greatly increase her income given that she has all other necessary resources. She started her business 9 years ago. Currently she has 2 dairy cows producing 17 litres in the morning & 10litres in the evening. She sells 25 litres per day at $ 29 cents per litre. She also farms horticultural products in her farm. Currently she has planted watermelon & butternuts, which she expects to harvest about 2000kg by end of August. This will give her roughly $200. She sells her fruits to people with groceries and market stall in muranga town as well as sagana market. She employs 3 permanent workers and pays them a total of $77 per month. Back home, she is both the secretary in her local church and at Saint Samuel Small Christian Community. (Jumuiya) Margaret has dairy cows and grows kales, spinach and carrots in her plot near Kanunga shopping centre. Currently, she has 3 dairy cows, which produce more than 30 litres of milk daily. She sells her milk to Kiamba Dairy Cooperative Society. Residents around the area buy her vegetables. Her business cant raise $ 300 at once and thus the need for a loan. Nancy has a dairy cow, which produces10 litres of milk daily. Currently, the cow is about to give birth and the milk will increase to 20 litres per day. She is also a teacher at Kambwe primary school. She sells her milk to a cooperative society at $28 cents per litre and this will give her $5 per day. She runs a retail shop in her own premises at Sagana town. She started her shop 6 years ago and she is also a farmer. She grows vegetables, maize and beans both for sale as well as for home use. Her retail business is doing well and manages to make sales of up to $10 per day. She makes profit of about $58 per month and this supports her family. However, the business is not fully stocked because she doesnt have enough funds. This loan will boost her business because customers tend to buy from well stocked shops. Virginia started her business over 10years ago. She has 3 different businesses namely Jaribu wholesaler & retailers, oceanic bar & restaurant and Coro bar. All her businesses are in Sagana town. Jaribu wholesale/retailers is the business she expects to expand. She makes sales of usd100per day. Her main products are foodstuffs, household items such as soap, salt, rice, wheat flour & detergents. She employs 7 workers in all her businesses and currently they are doing very well. Salydia has been a good member of the group since it was started in 2001. She is a single mother aged 44 years with one child who is in college. She started by selling maize and beans in Sagana market in 1990. In 1998, she realized that people wanted meat but it was not enough in the market. She started rearing cows and goats for sale. In 2001, she borrowed USD.150 bought goats which she later sold and paid the loan back. The small profit she earned was used to pay her childs school fees and home upkeep Jane is an active member Kabuta Ladies in Action a group she joined in 2001. She is married with 2 children who go to primary and secondary School. She started her business with her husband in 2001. The business has grown over the years to be the best in Muranga Town and this has led to the opening of another outlet on another street. On average the butchery sells 100kgs per day and at every end of month the demand is so high and this calls for attention. Alice is a very active member of Nyota Women Group which she joined in 2002. She is married with three children. Alice started her small business in 2002 with assistance from her husband who gave her USD 150 to start. To date she can get USD 10 in a week which is on average good income in her standards. Her children have never missed school, they have enough food and get medical care when they are sick. She is happy to having joined her group because she has been borrowing small loans to push her in her business whenever there is a gap. The group loans she borrowed were paid back promptly because of being a hard worker and trustworthy. Ann is 38 years and married with 3 children. Her children are all of school going age and are attending local schools. Ann is quite active in her group and due to her leadership abilities she was elected the Vice Chairlady Ann has accessed 4 loans from her group of USD 30, USD 60, USD 90 and USD 120. She has used these loans to expand her kiosk and also start the flower farming business. She successfully repaid these loans with the proceeds from her businesses. She makes a profit of USD 75 per month from her kiosk and USD 150 per month from flower sales as she has a ready market. She has been working very closely with her husband in managing the 2 businesses. Dorcus is married with 3 children and is 48years old. She is a nurse by profession and likes farming too. She is an open minded lady and this has enabled her to trying out other income generating activities to increase her income. Dorcus has been a vegetable farmer for the last 5 years. She joined Revelations Women group in 2004 and started by saving USD 10 per month. In February 2005, she borrowed USD 300 and paid it. In November, she borrowed another loan of USD 300 she has repaid too. These loans helped her in educated her children and still struggling to see them through. Eunice is married and has seven children. Her four children are in Primary and another three in secondary school. She is a trustworthy, hard working woman and this is why the group members decided to elect her as their Treasurer. Eunice started her small business in 2001 with the help of her husband who provided start up capital. The business has been growing and at least she is able to pay school fees for her children and provide for her familys basic necessities. She no longer waits for her husband to buy some of the household items and food. Faith was born 34 years back and she is married with two children. She has been the group secretary of Kanunga Hope Women Group since it was started in 2003. Faith joined WEEC in 2003, received training in business management and later, was given a loan of USD 150 which enabled her to start a small business. Prior to this, she used to growing and selling vegetables in Kiambu Town and Westlands Nairobi. Her family has a small piece of land where she grows vegetables however; the income is not enough to meet her family requirements. She is yet to start rearing pigs because they sell like hot cakes. Freshiah is 34 years, married with 2 children. One of her children goes to primary school. Her husband assists her on the farm which has ensured that they get regular income from their activities. She keeps dairy cows and also rears sheep for sale. She started vegetable farming 2 years ago when she joined Githunguri Abigael Mothers group where she was able to access 3 loans of USD 45, USD 75, USD 120 which she successfully repaid back. Currently she is making a profit of USD 50 from sale of vegetables. With ready market for her vegetables, she intends to grow more since she has the land and intends to buy a water pump to irrigate her vegetable farm from a river that flows near her farm. This will ensure that she has vegetables all year round to meet her clients orders. Grace is married with 3 children and is 43 years. Her husband is employed and is currently educating 2 children in University. Due to her strong community mobilization and leadership skills, she holds many leadership positions in church and in the community. She is currently the area zonal chair lady responsible for supervising 8 groups. She has been in her group for 6 years. Grace has one dairy cow, 600 chicken (layers) and a quarter acre of land under horticulture and 2 acres under tea. She gets USD 120 from milk, USD 1000 from sale of eggs, USD 150 from tea and USD 120 from horticulture sales .She started chicken farming early last year from a loan of USD 750 she got from her group has been able to meet her clients orders. With the loan applied for she intends to improve on the housing of the chicken to ensure that they are sheltered from bad weather conditions and also that there is more space for additional chicken in future. Part of the loan will also be used to buy chicken feed in bulk. Grace is the chairlady of Kabuta Ladies in action a post she has held since 2001. She is also a treasurer of her local church in Kabuta and a retired Primary school teacher. She has been in this business for over 20 years and this gives her confidence in soliciting for more funding because she is sure and understands market trends. The group manages a revolving fund and she has been able to pay back two loans of USD 300. Her produce is sold in muranga town as well as to middle men who take it to Nairobi because of the cheap railway transport. Grace is 40 years old married with 3 children. She is an active member of Christian Women Association in her local church. Her contribution to the community is mainly helping the needy people i.e. the elderly, the orphans and HIV\AIDS victims. Grace and the other members makes visit the needy and give them food, clothing and do the homestead chores that are at times left unattended to. They do bible study with the needy and encourage them using bible teachings. Grace has a small retail shop which she operates. She works in the shop together with her younger brother who has completed secondary school. She sells retail items like sugar, salt, soap, etc. She also stocks polythene bags and sells mainly to the market vendors who operate from the nearby Kiserian market. Her dream is to operate a small kerosene depot. She would be buying her stock from the kerosene distributors and selling to the local residents. During the market day she will be selling paraffin to the maasai community who come to the market. ",F,300,partner,Retail,0
Kenya," Jane was born 31 years ago in Kiambu Kenya. She is a single mother with two children. After finishing her secondary level education, she could not continue to college because her father could not afford to pay her tuition and instead he opted to educate other children to at least the same level like hers. Her father gave her USD 60 to start a small business. She bought two piglets which she looked after for 6 months and later sold them. She made a profit of USD 150, it has been her business ever since. In 2003, Jane joined WEEC and received a loan of USD 150. She bought 6 piglets which she looked after for 6 months to make sure they are big enough. Jane paid her loan promptly and made good money, she does not bother the Dad any more and she is able to pay her childrens school fees. Jemima is 43 years old, married with 4 children of her own. Jemima lives with 2 other grown up children One boy is in form two. Jemimas sister in-law passed away and the boy was left under her care. The second boy passed his secondary exams very well. His family could not afford to pay for him tuition to join the University. Jemima decided to sponsor him at University instead of dropping off. She has been taking care of his requirements since then. Jemima has a charcoal stall in Kiserian. Most of the food Kiosks and the households in the area prefer the use of charcoal than kerosene and firewood because it convenient to use and relatively cheaper. Jemima sells charcoal to the local residents. She sells 25 cans of charcoal per day and makes 10 dollars. Some Medium size hotels and Kiosks purchase the Charcoal in Sacks. At times she can sell up to 5 sacks at 8 dollars per sack. Jemima would wish to take orders from the local community when they are holding festivities Mostly churches, weddings and funeral festivities. This will satisfy her clients by stocking at least 60 sacks rather than the current 30 sacks. Lucy is 36 years old and married with 3 children. 2 of her children are in primary school in a nearby private academy. She is also the group secretary. Lucy started her business 3 years ago as a kiosk in Kabati town, which is quite vibrant due to being near a highway. This has however grown to the current general shop selling a variety of commodities. She was able to do this from the loans that she accessed from her group. She has received 4 loans from her group and successfully repaid them back. Her previous loan was of USD 120 was used to buy cereals for her shop to meet the huge demand that was there due to a prevailing drought in the country. She makes a profit of USD 75 per month and intends to add more stock in her business by buying a variety of goods in bulk from wholesalers so as to get a wider profit margin. Margaret is married with 5 children and is 48years old. One of her children is waiting to join college and is currently assisting her at the farm together with her husband. Margaret previously was used to subsistence farming-maize and beans. But she realized that this would not sustain her family and meet her family growing needs. That is when she rented a small farm and started growing French beans and cabbages. This has seen a huge transformation in her life as she is now able to make a monthly profit of USD 300 from her farming. This has enabled her send her children to school and live a decent life. The loan applied for, she intends to expand her farming by purchasing farm inputs-seeds and fertilizers so as to grow more of the cabbages and French beans. She gets orders from as far as Thika town and the buyers usually come to buy from her at the farm and therefore does not incur transport costs. Mary is a single woman, a mother of two children and both in school. Her first born, James Ndungu is in St Joseph Secondary School in Kiambu- Central Kenya. The other is in standard eight, the last class in primary school in Kenya. Mary is very active and hardworking; she serves as the secretary in her self-help group. Mary started her business of selling scrap metal in 2002 in Industrial area Nairobi. She later joined WEEC in 2004. Since then, she has received several loans to boost her business. Her first loan was USD 60 and she paid it very well. Mary currently collects about 200 kgs a day, which she sells to, brokers in Nairobi industrial area. Now that the demand is increasing, she would like to employ another person to help her in collected the scrap metal as well as transporting it to the buyers. Mary is married with three children. Two of her children are in secondary school while the other one is in primary. She finished secondary school level but could not go further because her parents wanted her to get married. She looks forward to giving her children good education which she missed because her parents did not value it so much. Nancy is 46 years old, married with five children. She is very active in women affairs and the group decided to elect her to the post of chairlady. Nancy attended secondary education and this has helped her in directing other women. Nancy started her business two years ago with USD 100 and it has been improving day-by- day. The business has grown to the tune of about USD 900 and continues to grow further. This business enables her to support the family in all household requirements and believes that she will be financially stable in two years to come. Pamela is married and has 5 children. She is a high school teacher and an active member of the Anglican Church and an official of the church council. She is the treasurer of Plains view self help group. Her 5 children are all in school and her husband is employed. To supplement her employment income, Pamela started poultry and dairy farming in her rural home in Gatundu. She has 350 chicken (layers) and 2 dairy cows. She has employed one person at the farm but always ensures she is there when she is free and over the weekends. She sells 11 crates of eggs per day at USD 25 and 25 litres of milk at USD 5 per day. Her total income from farming every month is USD 900. Gatundu is a fast growing area and Pamela would want to increase the number of her chicken to be able to serve this readily available market better. She already has orders that she is not able to meet. She is married with 5 children and is 50 years. 3 of her children have finished school while 2 are in secondary school. Her husband is a retired civil servant and currently assists her on the farm. She has been a group member for 5 years. Grace has been a farmer all her life and therefore has experience in dairy and tea farming. A large acreage of her farm is under tea but has set aside an area where she grows fodder for her cows which are zero grazed. Grace bought her cows from tea proceeds as well as the loans she got from Our Lady of Unity women group. To date, she has successfully repaid 9 loans from her group. Her previous loan was of USD 500. She gets USD 30 per month from sale of milk and USD 220 from tea. With the loan applied for, she intends to buy a water pump so as to be able to get water from a nearby river for her cows. This has been a problem due to the steep terrain of her farm. This will enable her better manage dairy cows and get more milk for sale. She also intends to buy farm inputs-fertilizers and cattle feed. Veronica is married with two Children. She lives with her family in kiserian. Their family owns the plot on which they have constructed their house. Veronica is a strong member of the local PCEA church. Veronica takes care of her niece who is an orphan; she pays for her school fees and other necessities. She promised her that she will look after her until she joins college. Veronica has one dairy cow that gives her 6 liters of milk per day. She supplies the milk to the Kiosks in Rongai. She gets on average $ 2 per day from the sale of milk. This assists her to cater for her day to day expenses. Veronica has a small stall in Rongai where she sells Tomatoes, Carrots, Onions, Kales and Peas. Though much of her stock is bought from the city market, Veronica also sells Kale from her garden. Veronicas stall is a long Tuesso route. This route is the main entrance to Kware slum area-Rongai and many people use the same route. Veronica is able to make a sale of $ 7 per day. Veronica would wish to buy a hybrid dairy cow which will give her more milk. With good livestock management she believes she would be in a position to supply 30litres of milk per day. This will definitely increase her income and will reduce the burden of sourcing school fees for her children in future. Wangui is the chairlady of this group. She is a widow fortunately her last child is in college. She is also the treasurer of rural Electrification project in her area and a retired Primary school teacher. She sells milk in Thika Town and Saba Saba town ship. She sells about 150 litres every day earning about USD.37 per day. She has created a big clientele in Thika because of being honest and maintaining the quality of her milk. Adonijo is 49 years old married with 5 children; two are in a technical college while the other one is in High School. She has been in horticulture farming for more than 20 years and has a good customer base of institutions such as schools and local hotels. Alice is 54 years old, married with 7 grown up children. She is a member of Korea PCEA church and a member of mothers guild. She is a part time preacher and prays for people in jail and frequently visits Tumaini childrens home for street children to encourage them. Alice loves farming; she keeps cows, sheep and has a farm where she grows maize, beans, peas and potatoes. Alice gets her income from selling milk to the neighbors and the nearby hotels. Before the drought period, Alice was selling 15 litres of milk from her 2 cows. Unfortunately, she could manage to buy hey and other feeds in the dry season and this made her sell them. The cows did not fetch much due to poor feeding. Alice had established good clientele and clients tell her that her milk was good unlike others who add in water to earn more. It is from this that she wants to give it a second try, well prepared to handle all calamities. Ann is married with two children. Her source of income is from her secretarial job and selling of milk. She grows vegetables, maize, and beans for home consumption. Her monthly income is about $57; she is striving to save at least $40 a month. This cash inflow is not enough but adequate to improve her business and push her to save more. This will help her to buy another cow. Catherine is 40 years old and married with 4 children. She is a secondary school Teacher at Ndonga Secondary School. At group level, Catherine is the secretary and a devoted Christian. Catherine operates a retail shop which sells clothes, Cosmetics, shoes and ornaments. Her business is progressing very well and on average she gets a profit of about $150 per month. Her children are in school and she does not have problems in raising their school fees because of her business is doing very well. She wants her business to grow and later support her family when she retires from her Teaching service. Dora Mwihaki is 60 years old, married with 10 children. Out of the ten children 8 are independent while 2 still go to school. Dorah is a farmer, grows and sells maize, Potatoes, Beans, coffee, and sells milk too. She started this business 20 years ago and it has assisted her to educate all her children. Her business makes at least USD 125 per month and this assists her to pay school fees for her 2 children and general household requirements. The poor storage facility forces her to sell at cheap prices whereas if she had improved facility, she would be storing her produce until the prices are relatively high. Emily is an active member of Tabby Mothers Women group. She is married and is blessed with two children. She works as a school Matron at Muguru High School. She started to operate a kiosk near the school to supplement her monthly salary as a school matron. The small kiosk has helped her in the day to day requirements of her home while her monthly salary is saved for other developments. The business is on the right track and at least it brings in an average of $120 per month. There is an opportunity for expansion because the number of students is increasing and therefore, the stock should much with the growth of the school. With this trend, she will have no difficulty in educating her children and maintaining good standard of living. Esther is a hard working lady, a mother of 7 and a member of Mercury Women Group. She is a typical subsistence farmer and thats where she gets her income to support her family. She has 3 dairy cows, goats and she sells milk to Kangema town. She also grows tea and has coffee trees on half acre of land. The tea board of Kenya buys her tea at $ 35 per month while coffees income comes twice a year around $80 per harvest. This loan will assist her because she wants a hybrid goat, which will improve the local breed, which grows very fast, and thus, she will realize her returns as soon as possible. Gladwel is a hard working lady and a good member of Mercury Women Group. She is married and has three children who go to school. Two are in primary while others are in secondary school. Her major source of income comes from growing and selling maize, beans, arrow roots, potatoes and vegetables. She also sells milk from her dairy cow. Presently, the market for milk has improved due to the revival of dairy cooperative societies in Kenya. Therefore, buying another cow would be a good investment because of ready market for milk. This will provide daily income for along time. The proceeds from the sale of vegetables and other produce will contribute greatly to the well being of her family and other developments. Grace is 48 years old and has 6 children. Grace has lived in Kware slum area for over 30 years. In 2005, Kajiado county council allocated the Kware plots to the residents who had lived in that area for many years and had built small semi permanent homes. Grace is one among the lucky ones who benefited from this good gesture. Grace has built a house for her family in this plot and has also put up 11 small semi-permanent rooms which she rents at USD 7 per room. Grace wants to build better rooms that can fetch USD 14.7. This means that her income will increase, thus she will have no difficulty in repaying her loan. To supplement her rental income, she has rented a two acre farm where she grows Maize, beans and peas. She sells the produce at Soko Mjinga market in Rongai assisted by her two daughters. After selling the produce she gives them part of the income. In this way her daughters are able to cater for some of their needs. Jacinta is married with 1 child. After leaving college, she got a small job at Kware, Rongai and from the little savings she made, she bought her own sowing machine and started off her own work. She started her business in 1996. She gets tenders from schools for making uniforms ie dresses, shirts and shorts. The business has grown over the years and she bought other machines to coup up with the increasing demand. Jane has been a member of Mercury Women Group since 2002. She is married and has six children, three are already married and the rest in college. Currently, her major source of income comes from selling milk and vegetables in Kangema town. As she sold her milk in town, she was approached by a number of people who wanted local chicken. She gave it a try and the first batch sold out very quickly. She is receiving many orders and this why she wants to put in more funds. The local chicken in the villages cost $1.4; while in town she sells at $3. This is good enough to push her to better living conditions and solving the challenge of paying school. Jane is 53 years old a widow with 5 children. Two are in a local technical college and one in High School. Jane is 56 years old, married with 1 child. She has been a member of Kabuta Ladies in Action since 2001. The group runs a group revolving fund where she received a loan of USD100 in 2003 fortunately paid in time. Her first loan helped her to buy pesticides for her coffee which at the end of the season she sold and made a profit of USD200. She grows and sells tea leaves, cabbages, and potatoes. In addition to vegetables, Jane also sells milk in Gakira which gives her USD 30 as profit in a month. Jane Kamau is 49 years old married with 5 children, 3 in college and 2 in High school. Joyce is a widow aged 50 years with 6 children. Single handedly, she has been able to educate her children where one is in secondary school while three are in college and two have finished college but not yet employed. She is an active member of Anglican Church of Kenya where she is a choir member. Also she is a member of Kabuta Ladies in Action a community based organization whose activities aim at uplifting and promoting income generating activities at house hold level. Joyce is a farmer and grows maize, beans, coffee, Potatoes and Vegetables both for sale and home consumption. More so, she sells milk which gives her about USD 10 per month. Joyce was born 43 years ago in Gathiga, Lower Kabete in Kiambu Kenya. She is married with five children. Her first born is in her final year in Kirigiris Nursing College. Her second born is schooling in Uganda at St Kizito High school while the third born is at St Austin University, Kenya. All others are in primary school. Joyce has been a youth matron for many years. She is a member of Catholic Women Association. (CWA)-Gathiga Catholic Church. Joyce started business by selling porridge in Marigiti in Nairobi; she later opened a retail shop in Mwimuto in Kiambu. The business grew and later they bought a cab which started operating in Nairobi Central Business District. Some years back, she was transporting potatoes from Kinangop Kenya to sell them in Nairobi. While doing her business, she would save by buying dairy cows; right now she has seven and sells milk to Nairobi Hotels. Last week she opened a milk bar on Kirinyaga Road Nairobi and it is doing well so far. Her desire is to satisfy her customers needs to make sure that there is milk all the time. She joined WEEC in 2002 and in 2004 she received a loan of USD 715 and paid it in time. Kemunto is married with 2 children and she is 26 years old. She started her business in 2002. She buys bales of used shoes from Mombasa and Nairobi then, sells to retailers. She sells 4 bales per day and makes profit of about USD 100-170. However, this will increase when all items are bought from Mombasa. She will be earning about USD200 per day. Loyce is a hard workingwoman who has been working with Mercury Women Group since 2004. Joining this group helped her greatly because she learnt the use of savings and starting an income-generating project. Through her small savings, she bought a dairy cow at the beginning of this year in February. She gets 15 litres of milk every day and changing the type of feeds can increase milk. She hopes to increase milk production to at least 20 litres of milk; this will give her $5 per day. She will go an extra mile in improving her standard of living. Lucy is 48 yrs old a widow and has 5 children. Of these children, two are in secondary school; two in primary school while the other is working. Mary attended secondary education and this enables her to get developmental information for her social group. She is married and the couple is blessed with two children. Mary is 38 years of age, married and a mother of four. Her children are all in primary school. She has been a member of mercury women group for the last two years. She saves with group and her savings have accumulated to $225. She sells mainly maize grains, beans, Irish potatoes and vegetables. She earns about $28 a day and this helps her to buy the necessary items to be used at home. She is working very hard to give her children a better life than what she got. Mary is 54 years old, married and has 3 children. She is lucky to have a very small family and now has only one child who is still in college. Mary is an active member of Gathigia Christian International Church and she is the Organizing Secretary. She grows vegetables and sells milk from her own cows. She sells on average10 litres of milk every day, this gives her $2.85. The sales from vegetables are very minimal on average she earns $14 per month. She plans to keep supplying vegetables all through out the year by using irrigation method. Water is rationed and if you have a water tank then, you have the opportunity to store enough for cows and irrigation. Mary is an active member of Karura Mwangaza Women Group. She is married and has three beautiful children. Mary is the group secretary Karura Mwangaza Women Group. She is married with three children; she is an active member and the secretary of her church. Mary Wangui is 53 years old widow with 6 children, one in college, two in High school and others in primary school. Mary Warua is 62 years old, married with 6 children, 2 of them still live with her and provides every thing. Mercy is 40 years old, married with 6 children. Two of her children are already married and have their homes whereas the rest are still in secondary and primary schools. Mercy has been the Treasurer of Kagaa Witeithie Women Group a position she has held since January 2005. She is trustworthy, a dedicated and hard working member of the group. Mercy has a retail shop at Ngurweini trading center. She sells maize flour, rice, sugar, and other household items. She also has a small farmland where she grows maize, beans and vegetables for home consumption and some for selling. In addition, she has a dairy cow and this gives her milk for sell as we as for home consumption. Most of her income comes from her retail shop and others supplement. Her monthly net income is about $73 and this is very low to support her family in future. Monicah is married with four children. Her husband is a lorry driver and distributes cement to various hard wares from Athi Town to Thika Town. Monicah is a choir member of Kirigu Anglican Church and participates in various community work in Kirigu. Monicah is a farmer and sells maize, beans, Potatoes and fruits. She has been in this business for more than 33 years. Every month, she is able to make a profit $57 from selling maize to traders in SabaSaba, Muranga, Thika and Nairobi. Nancy is 39 years old and has 6 children. She is a Lay leader in her church St. Micheal church. Nancy coordinates the womens activities in assisting the needy. Nancy also assists 5 children of her brother in law who died. She pays the school fees for them. Nancy owns a plot at Kware Slum area. She has put up 13 rental rooms and the income per room is USD 12. Nancy wants to put up 7 more rooms. She had bought 56 Iron sheets but due to financial constraints she could not buy the other building materials. Completion of the 7 rental rooms would help Nancy realize more rental income. Therefore paying school fees for all the children will be easier and they will be able to get other necessities at school. To supplement the rental income, Nancy sells Charcoal; she sells 15 sacks in a week. The income from the charcoal is used for buying food and other household items. Nancy is married with three children. She is a member of Mercury Women Group which helps women in mobilization of savings and provides small credit to members. From her savings, she has been able to buy a dairy cow and still continues to save with the group. She sells and grows maize, beans, and vegetables; also, she has a dairy cow which gives her milk for sale and home consumption. In addition, she has two rental rooms in Gatangara-Kangema. She gets $28 from the two rooms and $42 from sell of milk per month. She is working very hard to reach a turn over of at least $100 per month. With this she will have the capacity to save small amounts to help her in supporting her family. Nancy was born 43 years ago. She is married to a good man who supports her initiatives and they have 6 children. Two are in secondary school while the rest are in primary school. She works hard to make sure that her children get good education and the basic necessities of life. She sells milk and Napier grass. Milk sales contribute $28 whereas Napier grass contributes $ 71 per month. With an additional cow, she will have more milk and her income will increase gradually. This will help her to give the necessary support to her family. Pauline was born 38 years ago, she is married and has 4 children; three are in primary and one in secondary school. She is the chairlady of Catholic Pioneer Movement and a good member of the group. She is a farmer by occupation and mainly grows vegetables and cereals. She gets her income from the sell of vegetables, milk and cereals. Milk produced is mainly for sale and a little is kept aside for home consumption. Her monthly income from business is about $87, this is not enough to pay her daughters school fees. However, she can pay back the loan because its spread through out the year. Rebecca is among the first members of Karura Mwangaza Women Group. She is married with four children, enterprising and hard working. Two of her children are in secondary while the other two are in primary. Sarah has been a good member of Mercury Mothers Women Group since 2002. She is hard working and utilizes every opportunity to her disposal. She has managed to educate her children and bought 2 dairy cows. She grows and sells vegetables, beans and maize. Her sales per month total $100 but in a dry season it falls down because of limited water to irrigate the crops. This is why she wants to buy a water tank in order to store enough water. After buying a water tank, her income inflow will remain positive and growth will be realized. Susan is married and fortunately all her children are out of school. Susan is a good member in the group and actively brings in new ideas that promotes its growth. Susan has been a farmer for over 20 years. She grows and sells maize, beans, coffee, and milk from her own cow. Selling of maize, beans and coffee is seasonal; thus, most of her income comes from selling milk because its sold daily. Susan earns $42 and $28 from sale of milk and other produce per month respectively. Though the earnings are little, she is able to cater for her needs; she is not worried about food at home, she gets it from her own farm. This will increase her income and supplement the little she is getting from the farm. She is optimistic the business will succeed because of its uniqueness within the area. Susan started her business in 1986 by selling cosmetics in Nairobi Gikomba Market. She is 34years old, married with 4 children. She is a member of Wamama Development a church founded group which mobilizes Women to startup economic activities. She has a good clientele base that gives her courage to keep moving forward. Her customers include Salons, Small retail shops and to a small extent Individuals. Her monthly gross sales rage from USD735-880. Her target is to increase her sales to at least USD 1000 per month and this can only be done if she gets extra funding. Sylvia is 50 years old married with 4 children, two of them are independent and two still in college and secondary school. Esther is an active member of Mercury Mothers where she is a secretary. She is married and has four children. Her major business activity is growing and selling of maize, beans, avocados and on a small scale coffee. In addition, she has a dairy cow and this gives her some extra income. The monthly sales from avocados and milk total $88, whereas coffee sales of about $70 come in every month. The vegetables also contribute to her monthly income but minimally because they are mainly for home consumption. Esther has been spending so much money on paraffin to light her home and electricity is so expensive and not reliable in her area. Mary is 34 years of age and has one child. She started her business in 2003 by selling food stuffs. As business grew, she started buying vitenge (African Attire) from Tanzania selling them in Nairobi. Over the years, the business has been growing and it has contributed greatly to providing School fees for her siblings as well as providing the basic necessities at home. Patricia is 27 years old, married with one child who is attending nursery school. She has been a treasurer of a savings and credit group called Mary Gorret Kiangunyi for the last four years. She started her business in 1998 with only one piece of welding machine and one person. Currently, she has two welding machines and employs four people. She is planning to open up another branch in Nairobi where the demand for metal works is relatively high. Her average sales per month range from USD 300 toUSD500. She expects to increase her sales when she gets another machine from USD 500 to at least USD 700. Sarah is 28 years old, married with three children. Sarah is a committed member of her church in Nkoroi. They hold meetings for the young single mothers - the meetings have made the young mothers to dedicate their lives to God and start up income generating activities. Sarah also assists her two younger brothers who were left by their mother when she passed away. The two are in primary school at the moment, she provides books and uniforms. Sarah has attended several trainings under WEEC program. Graces group runs a revolving fund and it was started in 2003. She has been the group treasurer for the last 3 years. Sarahs husband was employed as a matatu driver. She asked her husband to save part of his salary and after two years she took a loan added it to the husbands savings and they bought a reconditioned matatu. The husband has been operating the matatu for two years. The income from the matatu has enabled the family to purchase a small plot where they have built their home. Though the matatu is still making some money, Sarah would like to sell off the matatu add more money to the proceeds and purchase a better one. Sarahs basic management course has enabled her keep good track of their matatu business. Esther is married with one child. She was forced to drop out of school to take care of her youngest sister when her mother passed away. With her sisters upbringing and education falling on her at such an early age, she sought for an income generating activity. She joined a womens group and received basic business training courses that WEEC provided for its members. Monica is married with 2 children. She is trained as a hair dresser and has located her business in a very busy area of Rongai centre. Monica joined WEEC program in 2003 and has received training on Group leadership, Basic business skills, and Customer care. Monica wants to make optimum use of her room. She therefore wants to add cosmetics, and also buy stock of the current attires that are fashionable for the youth. When she has many customers, Monica hires trained hairdressers and pays them on commission basis. She is also preparing to start training those who want to become hairdressers but cant afford to pay for fulltime hairdressing course. Ruth is a single mother and 50 years old. Her husband married another wife when Ruth failed to get many children. In 2003 she started a small business of selling green maize. She moved from house to house especially in parklands area selling. This work was very tedious and she decided to get a permanent stall in Rongai. From her proceeds she managed to buy a small plot where she settled with her son. Setuka is married with six children. She joined Umoja women group and became a very active member. Due to the growing market in Isinya town for steers, She took a loan of USD 120 and bought two steers. She paid her loan from the milk proceeds. With last years prolonged drought, her family lost some of their herds. Setuka`s family now sees the need to practice the modern methods of livestock management. Setuka sells steers in cattle markets in Isinya and now she wants to buy 3 medium sized steers. She believes that with the support she receives from her family, the trainings she gets through her group, and the favorable market she will be able to excel in her steers project. Seenoi is married with 4 children. She went through formal education and completed primary level. She is the chairlady of Retuno focal group a group that facilitates community development issues. Seenoi too attended the training on mordern methods of livestock management. She is actively involved in the trainings undertaken to enable her community see the need to change from their traditional methods of livestock rearing that leaves them counting heavy losses during the prolonged dry spells. Seenoi steers project was started off with USD 120 that she received from the Group revolving fund. She raised her steers very well through the training she had received. She also wanted people to learn from her the need to encompass the positive changes. After the fattening period she sold the stork however she only bought two steers because of the dry spell. With the other proceeds she paid secondary school fee for her children. Soyanoi is married with four children. She joined Umoja women group and became a very active member. She actively advocates for the education of the girl child because she did not get the opportunity to go to school. She is a committee member of Inkiito primary school. Jane Wambui Kimani is a 45 year old single woman, with three children . Her children are all grown up and none are in school.
After she completed her O level, she engaged herself in the business of selling second hand clothes in litein market, Kericho, in order to meet her daily needs. Being the sole breadwinner she has to work hard in order to sustain her family. She has been in this business for a very long time and she has a lot of business knowledge. Her business is promising and she needs a lot of stock, although she lacks enough capital and also lacks transport fees. This hinders her from making more money. In order to curb all these problems she is kindly requesting for a loan of US $300 which she intends to spend as follows; US$ 50 to expand her business premise, US$ 50 for transportation expenses, and US$ 200 to purchase more stock for her business. She is a hardworking lady and she will be able to repay the loan.",F,300,lender,Clothing,1
Kenya," Jonathan Kipngeno Koech is 36 years old, and is married with three children. All of his children are in school. He is the sole breadwinner for the family. His wife helps in taking care of the house hold duties.
His business involves buying and selling of milk. He buys milk in large quantities and then sells it to the local dairy and shops. The remaining litres of milk he sells in retail to the neighbours. He has been facing major challenges in this business since it requires a lot when it comes to handling of milk. After his license was suspended for a week by the government due to poor handling of milk, Jonathan has improved his processes a great deal by ensuring that the milk cans are sterilized before use, and are stored in a clean and hygienic environment. Most of the proceeds of his business go towards his family's welfare. He is therefore requesting a loan of US $650. The funds will go towards buying an extra 40 litre milk container and sterilizing equipment and detergents. He is a man on a mission to improve his familys needs. He will be able to repay the loan.",M,650,lender,Food,1
Kenya," Rose Chepkemoi is a 23 year old married woman with two children. One of her children is attending school while the other is still young. She helps her husband in meeting the family's needs. She runs a milk vending business in her neighbourhood. She buys her milk at the local dairy. She began this business about three years ago to help her husband meet the ever increasing family needs and cater to her childrens academic expenditures. She supplies her milk to the local food kiosk. Her business has been picking up steadily as more customers want to buy milk from her due to the high level of hygiene she upholds in handling her milk.
She would like to expand her business to cater to the increasing number of customers but she is not able to do so because her earnings are not sufficient to allow her to meet her expansion plans. Through the help of the Ebony Foundation, she is requesting a loan of US $750. The funds will be used to purchase a bigger milk can to accommodate a larger quantity of milk, milk churn to test for any abnormality in the milk, and sterilizing equipment. She is a good business woman and will be able to repay the loan in good time.",F,750,lender,Food,1
Kenya," Wanjiru is 52 years old a widow and has 6 children. She did her primary education and is the treasurer of Umoja women group. Wanjiru has struggled hard and has managed to educate 4 of her children, 2 up to college. She has been rearing the indigenous goats. When she joined Umoja women group she was trained on modern livestock management. Due to the vegetation devastation in Maasailand women received training and prepared them for a positive change. Wanjiru is happy that the new changes will enable her educate all her children since the steers will give her more income. From rearing of indigenous goats, Wanjiru has now bought 3 steers with a loan of USD 180 that she received from her group and paid it back. Her aim is to reduce the number of goats and engage in selling steers. I am married with three children and am the Chairlady of Konguini Thayu Women group. When I joined the group I did not realise that I have leadership qualities. I have managed to improve the groups activities and empowering other members of the group. I run a restaurant and sell produce in Embu Central Market in Kenya. I have been in this business for more than 20 years and it has enabled me educate my children and my last born in Secondary school. My first loan was Usd.300 and the 2nd one wasUsd.600. All loans were paid promptly because of good profits from my business. ""This business is a member of the Future Fruit Women group. Group lending, also known as solidarity lending, is a mechanism that allows a number of individuals to provide collateral or guarantee a loan through a group repayment pledge. The incentive to repay is based on peer pressure; if one person in the group defaults, the other group members make up the payment amount. - Kiva Staff"" Jane is single and lives in Kiserian. She is 42 years old, a secondary school graduate. She has been in this business of rearing chicken for the last 6 years. The business has been doing well and she sells chicks, layers and broilers in Kiserian town. She is now an established supplier of broilers in the area. ""This business is a member of the Future Fruits group. Group lending, also known as solidarity lending, is a mechanism that allows a number of individuals to provide collateral or guarantee a loan through a group repayment pledge. The incentive to repay is based on peer pressure; if one person in the group defaults, the other group members make up the payment amount. - Kiva Staff"" Beatrice is 42 years old. She is single, has 6 dependants and lives in Matasia. ""This business is a member of the Future Fruits group. Group lending, also known as solidarity lending, is a mechanism that allows a number of individuals to provide collateral or guarantee a loan through a group repayment pledge. The incentive to repay is based on peer pressure; if one person in the group defaults, the other group members make up the payment amount. - Kiva Staff"" Bethua is 40 years old, married and has five dependents. She is educated up to secondary level and she lives in Ole Roimen, Kiserian Town. She is the secretary of this group. ""This business is a member of the Future Fruits group. Group lending, also known as solidarity lending, is a mechanism that allows a number of individuals to provide collateral or guarantee a loan through a group repayment pledge. The incentive to repay is based on peer pressure; if one person in the group defaults, the other group members make up the payment amount. - Kiva Staff"" Peris is 40 years old, married with 6 dependants. She is the chairperson of Future fruit. Peris started dairy farming way back in 1992. From the sale of milk, she was able to construct rental houses. ""This business is a member of the Future Fruits group. Group lending, also known as solidarity lending, is a mechanism that allows a number of individuals to provide collateral or guarantee a loan through a group repayment pledge. The incentive to repay is based on peer pressure; if one person in the group defaults, the other group members make up the payment amount. - Kiva Staff"" Lydia is a 32 year old and is married with four children. She is the treasurer of this group. She has been operating this business for the last two year. The business is growing steadily and sales are improving day by day. She has been getting small loans from the groups revolving fund to finance her business. But, she now feels that she needs a bigger loan since her business is growing rapidly. ""This business is a member of the Kandisi Wisdom Women group. Group lending, also known as solidarity lending, is a mechanism that allows a number of individuals to provide collateral or guarantee a loan through a group repayment pledge. The incentive to repay is based on peer pressure; if one person in the group defaults, the other group members make up the payment amount. - Kiva Staff"" Miriam is married with two children who are in lower primary. She had to start a small business to assist the husband cater for the household expenses as well as household development. In year 2005, Miriam received USD 27 from her husband that enabled her to start a small business of used baby clothes. She used to select assortment of baby jumpers, truck suits, socks that could move fast. This enabled her sales turnover to be high. She ploughed back the profits and this enabled her stock to grow. At the end of 2005, Miriam joined WEEC program. She got USD.55 and added more baby clothes plus baby shoes. Miriam has also received trainings especially on business skills and management; she is able to keep her business records. Miriam saved USD 3 per month and has saved a total of USD 38. So far, her profit per day is about USD 7 per day. ""This business is a member of the Revelations Women group. Group lending, also known as solidarity lending, is a mechanism that allows a number of individuals to provide collateral or guarantee a loan through a group repayment pledge. The incentive to repay is based on peer pressure; if one person in the group defaults, the other group members make up the payment amount. - Kiva Staff"" Fredah is married with one child. She is an active member of Revelation Women Group .She is enterprising and multi skilled, she makes shoes, belts, dresses, trousers and shirts. This business is a member of the Revelations Women Group. Group lending, also known as solidarity lending, is a mechanism that allows a number of individuals to provide collateral or guarantee a loan through a group repayment pledge. The incentive to repay is based on peer pressure; if one person in the group defaults, the other group members make up the payment amount. - Kiva Staff Edith is married with 4 children. She is hardworking and a good member of PCEA church. This business is a member of the Revelations Women Group. Group lending, also known as solidarity lending, is a mechanism that allows a number of individuals to provide collateral or guarantee a loan through a group repayment pledge. The incentive to repay is based on peer pressure; if one person in the group defaults, the other group members make up the payment amount. - Kiva Staff Eunice Muthoni is the current chairlady of Revelation women group. She has been the Women Coordinator of St Stephen Anglican Church of Kenya for the last five years. She is married with 5 children. This business is a member of the Revelations Women Group. Group lending, also known as solidarity lending, is a mechanism that allows a number of individuals to provide collateral or guarantee a loan through a group repayment pledge. The incentive to repay is based on peer pressure; if one person in the group defaults, the other group members make up the payment amount. - Kiva Staff Grace is a pastor of Regeneration church in Thika, Kenya. Through her church ministry, she has traveled to Uganda, Tanzania, Sudan and Rwanda. She has been a member of Revelation women group for the last 4 years. She is a mother of four. This business is a member of the Revelations Women Group. Group lending, also known as solidarity lending, is a mechanism that allows a number of individuals to provide collateral or guarantee a loan through a group repayment pledge. The incentive to repay is based on peer pressure; if one person in the group defaults, the other group members make up the payment amount. - Kiva Staff Jane is married with six children. She joined the group in 2003. She is an active member of the group and the local self help group. This business is a member of the Revelations Women Group. Group lending, also known as solidarity lending, is a mechanism that allows a number of individuals to provide collateral or guarantee a loan through a group repayment pledge. The incentive to repay is based on peer pressure; if one person in the group defaults, the other group members make up the payment amount. - Kiva Staff Lydia is married and has four children. She is the Chairlady of welfare in the same group. She is also a of mothers union member where she is a church treasurer. She has been in the group for the last four years. I am 26 years old, married with three children. I have been selling vegetables in Mukuyu Market for the last four years. As i worked, i faced different challeges in raising enough money to support my family. Also, the little that i saved, it could not last long.I joined a women group which assisted me to save some money with it, which later would be lent to some one. I have used three small loans from this group, the first one was USD.60, then,USD 165 and USD 225. I paid all these loans promptly and i hope to get another to push me forward. I have been able to send my children to school and look forward to a better life. I am 42 years old, married with three children. I am the treasurer of a self help group called Konguini Thayu Women Group. Our major activity is savings and credit done by all members of the group.I have been the treasurer of this group since 2003. I started my business in 1998 and have been able to construct a small shop and bought a dairy cow. Having a big space and on a strategic position at the centre of town coupled with the demand for soft drinks in this part of town, i believe it will be a good venture. This will bring in more income which wilgive me the opportunity to give my children better education and improve my standard of living. I am 46 years old and an active member of Konguini Thayu Women Group and my activity in the group is rules controller which I have held since the group was formed in 2003. Prior to joining the group I did not know that I can enforce group rules and regulations. I sell my rice in diffrent parts of Central Kenya that is in Kagio, Kangari Karatina and Embu. I buy as a wholesaler and sell to other retailers who inturn sell to small towns and individual customers. The group revolving fund is not swift enough to cater for all members at the same time and this calls for external funding to cover the gap. The business currently needs support to maintain the level of stock so that I do not dissapoint my customers because the demand is very high. I am 50 years old and married with four children and a member of the Loans committee in charge of appraising members for group loans in Kongoini Thayu Women Group I have been running this business with my husband since 1970. In addition to the business,we have a dairy cow which produces 15 litres of milk per milking and this supplements our income and also been able to feed my family with the milk at the same time selling to the milk vendors. My first loan was Usd.300 and the second one was the same and I managed to pay promptly I have been a chairperson for a self help group called Kaganda Magdalene Mothers for three years. I am married and have five children. I started my business in 1987 and it is always improving. I sell a variety of household commodities at Kaganda shopping centre in Muranga, Kenya. I have been able to look after my family as well as educating my children. Also, i have been able to repay four small loans which I received from my group. I have been a secretary of Konguini Thayu Women Group for the last three years. Prior to joining the group I could not take minutes but now I have been empowered and been able to take the minutes for the group and come-up with an Agenda. I am married and have three children I have been selling cereals as a business in a small town called Mukuyu in Central Kenya. The business has been progressing very well and the profits I get I have been able to venture into buying and selling sand and stones for building. Judy is hard working and an active member of Kahumbu Hannah Womens Group. Judy is 32 years old, married and has two boys and one girl. Her husband is a fine artist and shares his income with the entire family. Judy started business with a grocery and later an electronics shop in 2000. She sells mobile phones and their accessories; electric cables, iron boxes, Radios, CDs and small CD players. She started with and initial capital of $440 and since then, the business has been growing and today it is worth $1,428. This has been possible because of the business skills and financial support she received with other group members from WEEC. The business takes care of all the necessities at home and school fees for the children. The use of mobile phones increases every day and so do the sales and income. Elizabeth was born in 1968 in Kanunga, Kiambu, Kenya. After finishing college, she did not get a job immediately and decided to start a small business of her own for survival. She later got married and the couple is blessed with four children. The first two are in boarding secondary school while others are still in primary school. Together with her husband, they started another business of selling second hand clothes in Gikomba market in Nairobi. The business picked up very quickly and grew to a level where they were buying 20 bales and selling them to a retailer. She would buy them from Mombasa and sell them to retailers in Nairobi. Having succeeded in this first business of selling used clothing, she gave a try to motor vehicle seat covers, which she bought from Mombasa too. In June 2003 she joined WEEC and was given her first loan of USD 300. In August 2004 she received another loan of USD 1500 which further boosted her business and after a few months, she ordered more from Dubai through a friend. She made some profit and hopes this will help her to buy a car which she can one day sell for more profit. However, Elizabeth maintains her car seat cover business because it is profitable and desires to use this loan to purchase more attractive seat covers. Jane is a single mother of 3 and she is 42 years old. Her first born is in college. The second born is employed in a salon and the last born is in primary school. She is determined to educate all her children up to college level. Jane supplies building materials mostly sand to the people who are putting up residential and commercial buildings at Rongai. To get orders to supply materials, she frequently visits sites and talks to contractors. She buys the sand from those who harvest along the river beds. She hires a lorry and supplies the materials to her clients according to the orders. Jane buys the sand at USD 250 (inclusive of transport) and sells at USD 300. With more people putting up residential houses in Rongai, Jane is able to get many orders to supply the sand. Her working capital is not able to cater for these orders. Jane would like to take a loan of USD 300 to add to her working capital. This will enable her cater for all her orders. Kukuya is a famous lady in Empuyiankat because of being hard working and having the desire to bring change in her area. In 2004, she convinced their chair person to start up an adult education class and to date all members know how to read and write there names. She is a jovial lady aged 52 years, married and has 9 children. Much as she did not receive formal education, she is at the forefront of making sure that all school going age boys and girls in Empuyiankat go to school. Primary education in Kenya is free and she can not see why other parents refuse to send their children to school. She is working very hard to make sure her children finish at least college level education. Because of this, she joined Inkiramat women group in order to access credit which would support her business when it needs more funding. She sells milk, steers and decorations made out of beads in Kitengela town. Kukuya works with her husband and have been in this business for over 20 years. They plan their business in such a way that they are in a position to sell between 4-6 fattened steers at a go. From this sale, they buy other medium size steers and the balance is kept for other activities. This has helped her family to maintain average standard of living and to encourage others to do business and send their children to school. Kakenyua is a married woman aged 49 years and has 4 children. She is a dedicated group member of Osotua women Group a community based organization. She keeps her savings with the group and all members of the group are encouraged to save as a means of accumulating capital. Kakenyua has been in business for over 20 years, she runs a small retail shop in Kepiro Trading centre and the major items sold include among others Sugar, salt, match boxes, maize flour, wheat flour, rice, cooking oil and vegetables. Her daily sales are in the range of $50 to $ 90. Because of having limited funds, she stocks after every two days thus, transport expenses are high and this reduces her profit margin. With a loan of $400, she will stock all the necessary items at least twice a month. She will also stock other items that are not in her shop at present which are frequently asked such as pishori rice. This means that her shop will be a one-stop shopping centre in a rural setting. She will be guaranteed of increased sales and high profit margin as well. Nashipae is married and has 5 children. Nashipae attended the basic business skills training which enabled her to start a small retail shop. She sells cabbages, Kales, Spinach and rice, sugar, maize flour, salt and soap. Though she was affected by the prolonged drought in 2005 and early this year, she was able to cater for the household expenses from her small business. Besides having a small retail shop, Nashipae rears Steers. She wants to restock to the original level and would like to be keeping up to 60 Steers at a time. She has been in this business for a long time and she knows that the capital involved in this case is a lot. She is prepared to start with a limited number of steers and then build her capital by investing back the proceeds after selling the steers. Nashipae would like to start by buying 6 steers at a cost of USD 75 each. Nashipae and her group members believe that the opening of Kenya Meat factory will create a better and steady market for their steers. Nayioma is a single mother of 4 and she is 32 years old. She is the chairlady of Inkiramat women group. Nayioma attends the groups monthly meetings and takes group work very seriously. She encourages other members to work hard, save and prepare for their childrens education. She is a time conscious lady and to discourage lateness during monthly group meetings, she introduced a penalty. She sells milk and steers at Isinya town and to two hotels in Kitengera town. Currently she has only 12 cows and she gets 30 litres of milk per day. This gives her $10 per day. Being a single mother, she has to work hard to increase her income and this is why she wants to start selling steers in order to increase her income inflow. This is the only way she will be able to educate her children and maintain good standard of living. To Nayioma and her group members, the revival of the Kenya Meat Commission is a blessing because its providing ready market for cattle in the whole area. They will be selling their cattle at realistic prices unlike previously where the market was limited and the buyers determining what to offer. With this in mind, Nayioma wants to increase Steers to a point where in future she will be able to rear 20 steers at a time. However, like a river which starts from a small point and then it flows, she would like to start with 3 and then reach 20 or more.
Mr. Arias wants to invest one part of his savings to buy merchandise and use the rest to purchase new products in order to meet the various requests of his clients.
Mr. Arias is 32 years old and has 3 children. His house is made of cement and his primary goal is to expand his business and eventually have a business center in his own home.
Translated from Spanish by Geoff Rubin, Kiva volunteer.
",M,675,lender,Retail,1
Ecuador,"Mr. Dionicio sells soft drinks near schools in his area from a cart that he bought with his savings of $150.00 from his previous job. He began by selling to people passing through bus stations near his home, and eventually began to sell near schools in his neighborhood. Lately, his route has generated steady customers and increased demand for his products.
She wants to use part of her loan to invest in merchandise and the rest she will use to buy a stove. One year ago she began making and selling bread, but the stove that she has is not sufficient to meet the variety of products requested by her clients.
Mrs. Maria is 20 years old and has a son. She is a single mother, her house is made of cement, and her primary goal is to expand her store so that she will be able to keep on caring for her parents now that she is head of the household.
Translated from Spanish by Geoff Rubin, Kiva volunteer.
",F,1050,lender,Food,1
Ecuador,"Mrs. Maria has a store that she opened two years ago. She was able to open her store thanks to the money she earned selling fast food. Maria now sells items related to basic necessities. The number of clients she has is growing and her sales are improving.
She would like to use her loan to invest in merchandise for her store. Her customers always ask for various items and Maria does her best to attend to their requests.
Maria is 36 years old and has two children, one of which is in school. Her house is made of cane and her goal is to expand her business. She wants to give a good future to her children. She is separated from her husband and thus maintains the family herself.
Translated from Spanish by Geoff Rubin, Kiva volunteer.
",F,350,lender,Food,1
Ecuador,"Mrs. Maria Theresa in a member of the communal bank San Martn. She has a partner and five children, three that live with her (two are older and one daughter is still in college). Her two older daughters are married with their own families. Both live in Guayaquil.
Maria Theresa has a small family business with her sister, her husband and her children. They buy bottles, decorate them with paint and varnish and sell them at the weekend market. Her customers buy six bottles for one dollar and they use them for vases or whatever else they wish. She and her family work from Monday to Friday making the products and they sell them in the Free Market (a large market in Cuenca) on the weekend. They also sell plastic products, such as buckets and bowls, which they buy wholesale. She also sells wallets and purses like you see in the photo. Even though these seem like many different businesses, she says that the work isnt that hard because she divides the work among the family members.
Maria Theresa is asking for $550 to buy the necessary materials in order to decorate the bottles, such as paint and varnish. Also she will buy wholesale plastic items. Her future goal is to buy a small piece of land in Cuenca where she will construct a house. Her daughters live in a house she owns in Guayaquil.
Mifex offers its clients microinsurance and access to business training and educational programs. For more information about Ecuadorian businesses and our services, please visit www.mifex.org.",F,875,partner,Food,0
Ecuador,"Nola has 2 years of experience in her own food sales business. She previously worked as head of personnel in a restaurant. One day her boss, who was a Chilean, proposed that he sell her the business and she accepted but had to close it when the landlord raised the rent. Later she went out to the country to rent a site where she could sell food. Sadly, her business burned to the ground. She then worked in people's homes doing domestic chores. Friends told her not to lose heart as a result of her failures, and suggested that she sell food out of her house, since she had experience. A neighbor lent her a table and she bought 4 chairs and started her business. Her son fixed up a place in the house and she started with 8 people. She works every day from 6 am to 3 pm; weekends she works until 10 at night. Her children help her serve the people who come to eat.
",F,500,partner,Food,0
Ecuador,"Nury has been working for two years selling a natural product line called Herbalife. She used to be overweight and came into contact with this company as a consumer. She saw results and began selling the products. She was given the start-up capital by her daughter, who works. Nury prepares foods with these products and promotes them to her friends. She works in her business from 6:00AM to 1:00PM.
Mifex offers its clients microinsurance and access to business training and educational programs. For more information about Ecuadorian businesses and our services, please visit www.mifex.org.",M,375,partner,Clothing,0
Ecuador,"Pablo has 20 years of experience in furniture making. He started his own business 15 years ago. His carpentry workshop is located in his home. His products, more specifically, include wardrobes, shelves and other items his customers request. His wife and his children help him in his business, and they help clients from 7 AM to 6 PM.
Sandy has sold clothing by catalogue for 3 years. She started the business because her friend was doing it and signed her up. Her acquaintances, neighbours and friends order clothing from her and in one week she sells on average $300 of merchandise, of which she earns $50-$80. She sells top quality clothing, so her prices are fairly high.
Sandy sells merchandise on credit and this is why she needs the loan. She requested $440 to pay for her customer orders. She says that the most complicated part of her business is when customers are sometimes slow to pay
.
Unfortunately Sandy currently has a broken wrist from tripping on the stairs. This makes looking after her children a little difficult, especially her little girl who hasnt turned 2 yet.
Her goal for the future is to set up her own boutique clothing store.
They are very warm, kind-hearted women, and are very eager to be one of Fundacin ESPOIRs top communal banks to join Kiva. Most of the members work in agriculture and cattle farming.
For example, Maria is 25 years old and lives with her partner and 5-year-old son. She works at home, looking after her son and raising guinea pigs and chickens. She currently has 40 guinea pigs and 36 chickens. She is requesting a $150 loan to build a chicken coop because if they arent well looked after they die or dont lay eggs. Her future goal is to build a house for her family; she currently lives in the house of her in-laws. She had never taken out a loan before finding out about Fudacin ESPOIR and says that she doesnt know of any other credit institutions in her community.
Maria Asuncin is 35 years old and married with a 5-year-old son. She grows vegetables like carrots, onions and garlic, and also raises animals. She currently has 30 guinea pigs, 15 chickens and one cow. She sometimes sells her produce at the Cuenca market; she travels to the city every two weeks to sell there. She is requesting a $100 loan to purchase carrot and onion seeds, and fertiliser for her land. This is her third loan with her communal bank. She says that she joined the group because it suited her well and her loan officer comes to the town to run the meetings and distribute the loans. Her future goal is to raise a flock of chickens from the city (instead of the country chickens she currently raises). The chickens from the city are a little more difficult to raise, she says, because they are more delicate, but they grow quickly and are better quality, and therefore more profitable.
The other members will use their loans to purchase fertiliser and pigs. The group is very committed to being punctual and responsible in repaying this loan.
Justino invested his first loan in purchasing coal, greens, and cheese - and, of course, in his seafood business.
His sales improved thanks to the service and low cost that he offers. Also, he sells coal out of his home, which brings in additional income. His wife also sells fast food out of a doorway of their home in the afternoons. She has earned good recommendations in their area.
He is married, and has two children. Currently he lives with his mother. The house is made of various materials. His wife helps in with his seafood sales in the mornings.
He will use the credit to purchase seafood, coal, and general merchandise for his wife's business. In addition to fruits, he also sells these goods in the open markets in the city.
",M,950,partner,Retail,0
Ecuador,"Wilfredo has a store where he sells ice cream and other snacks and items. When he first borrowed from Kiva and Mifex his business grew slowly, but in the last several months it has been reaching new heights. Wilfredo now employs 5 people who sell his ice cream on the streets. He has significantly increased his revenue; expanding his business by adding employees. He has also bought two new freezers in order to boost his capacity. His business is doing quite well now and he is very grateful for his first loan. He hopes that he can continue to grow with the support of international Kiva lending community. He plans on investing in tricycle carts so that his employees can cover more ground and he can continue to improve his sales. Although Wilfredo is divorced, he is still very committed to both helping and spending time with his three children. He hopes to continue to save for their future.",M,1200,partner,Food,0
Ecuador,"William has been selling his fruit for 5 years. He started out selling candies, which he left because the income was low. Currently, his work consists of getting on public transportation in the city to sell his fruits to the bus passengers and also by walking with his products. He works every day of the week from 8 am to 6 pm.
The experience and service she offers has made the demand increase. She has many referrals within and beyond her neighborhood. She maintains a work schedule. She receives help from her husband with her business.
She is married, has 2 grown children who watch over her. Her home is made of sugar cane reeds. Her husband works in business, and when he can as a mason.
Purchase articles for their home, items of clothing to sell, and supplies for their food business.
Demand has made her sales increase. She maintains a work schedule. Little by little she is satisifying her customers demands for product. One of her children helps her with her daily sales.
She is married, has 3 children. Her home is made of reeds. Thanks to her work she has been able to secure and furnish her home. Her husband works in a shrimp business outside of the city. He helps her with the household expenses.
Purchase coffee pots, blenders, glasses, cups, clothing items to sell
Because of having a greater variety of products her sales have increased. She has good referrals within her sector. She maintains the hours she is open for sales. Her children help her with the business.
She is married, has 4 children, and her husband works as a fisherman. When he has free time he helps his wife with the business. Their home is made of reeds.
The loan will be used to buy a variety of merchandise to sell, including articles such as sheets, curtains, shoes, pants. She will also expand her business of drinks, soda pop and juices.
Today he continues fixing vehicles and also selling accessories that are asked for by his customers.
Exito is 43 years old, and has been able to help his family and his business get ahead, and he is very happy now that he can provide a better education for his two children and improve his home.
Purchase raw materials and an oxygen-acetylene welder
Development of the Business
Jose's business is in the sale of provisions and agricultural inbestments. In addition to his work as a farmer and as a teacher at the local school. The good relationship that he has with his community fosters their confidence in him when they buy his articles and products.Personal Information
Juan is 49 years old and married. Only his 16 year old son lives with him and his son studies at the local school. His wife helps him in his store. His home is made out of cement. One of his goals is to provide his son with an excellent education.Loan Use/
This new loan will be used to buy seeds, manure, fertilizer and other supplies to supply in part his fellow farmers and he already has orders because the harvest is fast approaching.
Joyce is an active member of Enkakenya Women Group which started five years ago. She is married with two children not yet ready for school.
Joyce attended WEECs livestock programme training and later was given a livestock loan. She has managed to pay it back. Meanwhile, she has been saving small money with the group and this has made her qualify for yet another loan.",F,600,partner,Agriculture,0
Kenya,"This business is a member of Enkakenya Women Group. Group lending, also
known as solidarity lending, is a mechanism that allows a number of
individuals to provide collateral or guarantee a loan through a group
repayment pledge. The incentive to repay is based on peer pressure; if
one person in the group defaults, the other group members make up the
payment amount. - Kiva Staff
Joyce is married with 3 children. She was educated up to primary school level. She was later trained on livestock management. This enabled her to work on improving the cattle for marketing. She is also a devoted member of catholic church.
Traditionally the family has always kept cattle because it has a large area for grazing. Instead of keeping large herds of cattle, Joyce has turned to purchasing of good quality steers and rearing them for 6 months using modern improved methods. She later market the steers at Enkirgirri market at USD 205. Currently Joyce has only 3 steers out of 5 as two died out of prolonged drought.",F,450,partner,Agriculture,0
Kenya,"This business is a member of Naretoi Women Group. Group lending, also
known as solidarity lending, is a mechanism that allows a number of
individuals to provide collateral or guarantee a loan through a group
repayment pledge. The incentive to repay is based on peer pressure; if
one person in the group defaults, the other group members make up the
payment amount. - Kiva Staff
Grace is married with 6 dependants. She was educated up to college school level and an adult education teacher in Isinya. She is the current group treasurer and merry go round in the area. She is a member of Mothers Union where she is the treasurer.
Grace started her business of rearing steers in 1996. She received her first loan from WEEC of USD.450 in 2001. She added 6 more steers. In November 2001 she was given another loan of USD.600 which enabled her to buy 8 more steers. These replaced the six which were sold.",F,1200,partner,Agriculture,0
Kenya,"This business is a member of Naretoi Women Group. Group lending, also
known as solidarity lending, is a mechanism that allows a number of
individuals to provide collateral or guarantee a loan through a group
repayment pledge. The incentive to repay is based on peer pressure; if
one person in the group defaults, the other group members make up the
payment amount. - Kiva Staff
Patricia is an active member of Naretoi Women Group. She is married with 3 children.
Patricia received her first loan from WEEC of USD.300 in 2001. She bought two steers and started her business of making handicraft at home, selling them in Isinya. She then received a loan of USD.600 and bought 4 more steers. To date, she has over 20 steers. She able to pay her children school fees and meet all family requirements. The demand for steers is very high because this area was hit by prolonged drought which forced some cattle keepers to relocate.",F,750,partner,Agriculture,0
Kenya,"This business is a member of Naretoi Women Group. Group lending, also
known as solidarity lending, is a mechanism that allows a number of
individuals to provide collateral or guarantee a loan through a group
repayment pledge. The incentive to repay is based on peer pressure; if
one person in the group defaults, the other group members make up the
payment amount. - Kiva Staff
She is an active lady and has experiences in various businesses such bead work. Hellen is married with four children.
Hellen joined WEEC in year 2001, received a loan of USD300. She started buying and selling Goats and sheep. The business went on well, paid up the first loan and there after, applied for a second loan. She was given a loan of USD.450 which she used to add more stock. She is unable to supply the required number to customers thus a need for more funding to increase stock.",F,750,partner,Agriculture,0
Kenya,"This business is a member of Queen Esther Women Group. Group lending, also
known as solidarity lending, is a mechanism that allows a number of
individuals to provide collateral or guarantee a loan through a group
repayment pledge. The incentive to repay is based on peer pressure; if
one person in the group defaults, the other group members make up the
payment amount. - Kiva Staff
Jacinta is a married woman. She has no professional business training but she is very hard working in her day to day business life. She lives in Kiserian where she operates her business.
Jointly with her husband, Jacinta a business of sale of fruits at Kiserian opposite Ngong stage. The business is both retail and wholesale fruits that are sold are mostly bananas but other types can also be found there.
Jacinta also operates a door to door business of selling used clothes which she buys from Gikomba Market in Nairobi. Her business outlet is Kiserian where most of her clients reside. Her products are mostly ladies wear; dresses, skirts and blouses.
Jacinta has previously taken loans from the group are used to expand both of her businesses.",F,300,partner,Food,0
Kenya,"This business is a member of Queen Esther Women Group. Group lending, also
known as solidarity lending, is a mechanism that allows a number of
individuals to provide collateral or guarantee a loan through a group
repayment pledge. The incentive to repay is based on peer pressure; if
one person in the group defaults, the other group members make up the
payment amount. - Kiva Staff
Lucy Wanjiru is a client of WEEC and a member of Queen Esther Women Group. She is a widow who has been self independent for some years. She lives in Ole Roimen where her business is located. She is a mother and a grandmother to several off springs.
Lucy is a successful business woman with rental houses which bring for her a substantial amount of income. Apart from this she is a farmer who rears goat and also cultivates food crops.
With various loans that have been advanced to her by the group and WEEC, she has been able to build more rooms for rental. These rooms do not have electricity and this reduces the amount of money that is charged.",F,300,partner,Housing,0
Kenya,"This business is a member of Queen Esther Women Group. Group lending, also
known as solidarity lending, is a mechanism that allows a number of
individuals to provide collateral or guarantee a loan through a group
repayment pledge. The incentive to repay is based on peer pressure; if
one person in the group defaults, the other group members make up the
payment amount. - Kiva Staff
Mary comes from Ole Roimen area. She is the chair lady of the group and has shown excellent leadership skills over the duration she has been the leader to the group.
Her business has expanded from operating a community phone to sale of other domestic food stuff. Her customers are those people who reside in the rental houses near by.
Her business is doing well and it has enabled her to pay up her previous loans promptly.",F,300,partner,Retail,0
Kenya,"This business is a member of Queen Esther Women Group. Group lending, also
known as solidarity lending, is a mechanism that allows a number of
individuals to provide collateral or guarantee a loan through a group
repayment pledge. The incentive to repay is based on peer pressure; if
one person in the group defaults, the other group members make up the
payment amount. - Kiva Staff
Phyllis Mugure is a very hardworking. She is married and has five children. She is the assistant secretary of the group.
Phyllis operates three businesses jointly with the husband that is selling water, paraffin and welding. While the husband is mostly based at the paraffin pump which is far from the home stead, she manages both the welding and water supply which are at their area of residence. Her businesses are performing well as she is the only person doing the welding and sale of water business in the area.",F,425,partner,Services,0
Kenya,"This business is a member of the Enkakenya Women Group. Group lending, also
known as solidarity lending, is a mechanism that allows a number of
individuals to provide collateral or guarantee a loan through a group
repayment pledge. The incentive to repay is based on peer pressure; if
one person in the group defaults, the other group members make up the
payment amount. - Kiva Staff
Mokoine is married and a mother of four. She is an active member of Enkakenya where she is the rules controller. She is disciplined and hardworking.
Traditionally, she is a Masai and these are cattle keepers. She joined the group five years ago and has been saving with the group for all this time. She attended livestock training and thereafter was given a loan of USD.300. She bought three steers which she later sold and a profit of USD.150. Currently, she is raising four steers hopefully they will be sold in two months time. There is ready market for them in Nairobi and nearby towns.",F,450,partner,Agriculture,0
Kenya,"This business is a member of the Enkakenya Women Group. Group lending, also
known as solidarity lending, is a mechanism that allows a number of
individuals to provide collateral or guarantee a loan through a group
repayment pledge. The incentive to repay is based on peer pressure; if
one person in the group defaults, the other group members make up the
payment amount. - Kiva Staff
She is married with 5 children. Family owns grazing land. She has acquired business training from WEEC and also attends business forums organized to train on livestock management; she is able to keep livestock records and all business records.
In year 2003, Lucy took USD 441 and bought 3 steers. WEEC organized for training on livestock management for the clients. Since then Lucy has taken up a USD 588 loan and used the amount for buying 4 steers of which she later sold them at USD 883 after. Lucy is now capable of keeping a number of steers due to the trainings she has had modern livestock management.",F,900,partner,Agriculture,0
Kenya,"This business is a member of the Golden Crown group. Group lending, also known as solidarity lending, is a mechanism that allows a number of individuals to provide collateral or guarantee a loan through a group repayment pledge. The incentive to repay is based on peer pressure; if one person in the group defaults, the other group members make up the payment amount. - Kiva Staff
I started work at Princess Salon along church road. The work load was not very much. I had to get a more competitive salon so as to gain experience. I approached Joan and requested her to offer me a job. I knew her salon was doing well. I joined her in 2003.
In year 2004 she introduced me to WEEC programme. I got a lot of training on saving and credit. I save US$ 3 per month. I havereceived 2 loans (Usd 43 & 86). Since I did not have my own I funded my husband`s Mali Mali business. However, since now I am to join Joan as a partner in the salon business, I will use my loan in our plan to get more lines of salon products so as to attract more customers.",F,300,partner,Services,0
Kenya,"This business is a member of the Golden Crown group. Group lending, also known as solidarity lending, is a mechanism that allows a number of individuals to provide collateral or guarantee a loan through a group repayment pledge. The incentive to repay is based on peer pressure; if one person in the group defaults, the other group members make up the payment amount. - Kiva Staff
Joan she is 30 years old. Married with 4 children. She have not gone for any formal hairdressing training However, she have gained good experience in Sedona salon where she was employed for 2 years. From the commission she received she saved to start her own small salon.
In year 2002, she received a loan of US$143 from WEEC. She was able to rent a plot and put up a structure where she operates. She was also able to provide electricity in the room. She did weaving of the hair awaiting to by other equipments to enable her serve her customers.
After completing the loan she took US$286 and bought a Drier and Steamer. This has attracted more customers. She has also been able to employ one lady. Given a loan of US$575 she will be able to expand her business and serve all her customers under one roof.",F,575,partner,Services,0
Kenya,"This business is a member of the Golden Crown group. Group lending, also known as solidarity lending, is a mechanism that allows a number of individuals to provide collateral or guarantee a loan through a group repayment pledge. The incentive to repay is based on peer pressure; if one person in the group defaults, the other group members make up the payment amount. - Kiva Staff
Joyce started by hawking shoes and sandals but due to credit sale the business didnt succeed. She joined a women group where she was given a loan of Usd 208 for 10 months to restart my business. Having the experience on credit sales Joyce sell her goods strictly on cash basis and this has lead to the success of her business. She has acquired a stall where she does her business and can be able to move far and wide to buy her stock.
She has been able to take subsequent loans of Usd 278 and 416 each for a period of 10 months both loans were used to buy more stock.
Joyce has also been able to attend several exhibitions in different countries and this has given her exposure in running and managing the business.
Given the Usd 700 she will be able to buy more stock and meet the rising demand from her customers.
",F,700,partner,Retail,0
Kenya,"This business is a member of the Golden Crown group. Group lending, also known as solidarity lending, is a mechanism that allows a number of individuals to provide collateral or guarantee a loan through a group repayment pledge. The incentive to repay is based on peer pressure; if one person in the group defaults, the other group members make up the payment amount. - Kiva Staff
Patricia does her printing business in her residential house. This enables her to look after her two children and husband who is ill. Due to high demand she has an idea of starting a small workshop in the nearby trading centre.
In year 2002 she joined a women self help group where she got a loan of Usd 139 for a period of 6 months earned a profit of Usd 70 which she ploughed back to the business. She was given a 2nd loan of Usd 277 for a period of 10 months, purchased printing materials and earned a profit of Usd 208. She got a 3rd loan of Usd 139 for a period of 8 months, this was not enough for the business but due to her illing husband she feared that the business would go down.
Patricias business is doing well and she is able to repay loans extended to her and take care of her family when her husband has asthma attacks.
Given a loan of Usd 425 she will be able to expand her business and acquire a stall in the nearby trading centre.
",F,425,partner,Services,0
Kenya,"This business is a member of the Kadisi Wisdom Women Group. Group lending, also known as solidarity lending, is a mechanism that allows a number of individuals to provide collateral or guarantee a loan through a group repayment pledge. The incentive to repay is based on peer pressure; if one person in the group defaults, the other group members make up the payment amount. - Kiva Staff
Jacinta is 43 years old, married with 4 children. She is involved in community work where she takes care of destitute children in the locality by giving free education in her private school.
Jacinta is a dairy farmer in Ongata Rongai. Currently, she has one dairy cow which earns her USD. 100 per month. This has been a reduction due to the prolonged dry season in that area. Under normal climatic conditions, she is able to raise 3 dairy cows and these can give her USD.456 per month. This enables her to take care of her family.",F,300,partner,Agriculture,0
Kenya,"This business is a member of the Melody Mothers group. Group lending, also known as solidarity lending, is a mechanism that allows a number of individuals to provide collateral or guarantee a loan through a group repayment pledge. The incentive to repay is based on peer pressure; if one person in the group defaults, the other group members make up the payment amount. - Kiva Staff
Lucy is a widow with one dependant. Despite being a widow she is very active.
Lucy grows and sells vegetables and poultry farming on a small plot. She started her farming business with a loan of USD 280. She sells her vegetable products to the neighbors and the nearby markets. Due to the prolonged dry spells, the demand for her products has increased since she is among the few using irrigation method of farming.
For poultry, she gets orders from hotels in Nairobi though due to lack of enough capital she is not able to meet the demand from her clients.",F,700,partner,Agriculture,0
Kenya,"This business is a member of the Melody Mothers group. Group lending, also known as solidarity lending, is a mechanism that allows a number of individuals to provide collateral or guarantee a loan through a group repayment pledge. The incentive to repay is based on peer pressure; if one person in the group defaults, the other group members make up the payment amount. - Kiva Staff
Mary Kunyua is married with 3 dependants. She is involved in community work and takes care of the orphans in her locality.
Mary sales fresh milk from her own cows and also buys from farmers in the same area. She distributes it to hotels in Nairobi. The income from her business is basically used in expansion of her business and feeding the orphans.
Lack of a permanent stall for her business has been a major challenge since new customers cant locate her.",F,1000,partner,Agriculture,0
Kenya,"This business is a member of the Naretoi Women Group group. Group lending, also
known as solidarity lending, is a mechanism that allows a number of
individuals to provide collateral or guarantee a loan through a group
repayment pledge. The incentive to repay is based on peer pressure; if
one person in the group defaults, the other group members make up the
payment amount. - Kiva Staff
Rebecca is married with 6 children .She doubles as church secretary and merry go round.
Rebecca received her first loan of USD.300 from WEEC in 2001. She bought her first 2 steers paid well and in 2003 she was given another loan of USD.450 which enabled her to buy 3 more steers. To date Rebecca has a total of 13 steers. This business enables her to educate her children in good schools and provide for the rest of the family.",F,900,partner,Agriculture,0
Kenya,"This business is a member of the Naretoi Women Group. Group lending, also
known as solidarity lending, is a mechanism that allows a number of
individuals to provide collateral or guarantee a loan through a group
repayment pledge. The incentive to repay is based on peer pressure; if
one person in the group defaults, the other group members make up the
payment amount. - Kiva Staff
Elizabeth is married with 15 dependants. She was educated up to primary school level, she is able to read and write. She is the current group secretary. She is also secretary to merry go rounds in her extended family. She is a member of Mothers Union where she is the secretary too.
Elizabeth has a small Farm where she rears 16 Steers. Together with her husband, they started the business in 1998. They have been able to bring up and educate their children. In 2001 she was given a loan of USD 300 by WEEC which enabled them to add 3 more steers.
They make sure that they have reasonable stock to ensure steady supply to the butchery.",F,750,partner,Agriculture,0
Kenya,"This business is a member of the Naretoi Women Group. Group lending, also
known as solidarity lending, is a mechanism that allows a number of
individuals to provide collateral or guarantee a loan through a group
repayment pledge. The incentive to repay is based on peer pressure; if
one person in the group defaults, the other group members make up the
payment amount. - Kiva Staff
Hellen is married with 4 children and 6 dependants. She has been a member of Naretoi women Group for five years. She is a devoted Christian and a member of ACK church.
Hellen was given her first loan of USD.300 by WEEEC in 2001. She Started her business of buying and selling of sheep and goats. She paid very well and was later given another loan of USD.450 in 2003. She is able to buy and sell a minimum of 15 goats and sheep once a week. She is doing very well so far and targets to sell at least 25 per week. This will give her enough income to provide for her family without much strain.",F,450,partner,Agriculture,0
Kenya,"This business is a member of the Naretoi Women Group. Group lending, also
known as solidarity lending, is a mechanism that allows a number of
individuals to provide collateral or guarantee a loan through a group
repayment pledge. The incentive to repay is based on peer pressure; if
one person in the group defaults, the other group members make up the
payment amount. - Kiva Staff
Rachel is married with 4 dependants. She did not have formal education but she was able to educate her children by keeping steers. She is a devoted Christian and a member of Anglican Church of Kenya (ACK) and a Mothers Union member. She is a chairlady of several merry go rounds in Olturoto.
She was given a loan of USD 300 by WEEC in 2001and bought two steers. She later bought She paid very well and qualified for another loan. She sold them and made a profit of USD.200.Her 2nd loan of USD.450 was used for the same business. Right now, she has 10 steers which are about to be for sale.",F,450,partner,Agriculture,0
Kenya,"This business is a member of the Queen Esther Women Group. Group lending, also
known as solidarity lending, is a mechanism that allows a number of
individuals to provide collateral or guarantee a loan through a group
repayment pledge. The incentive to repay is based on peer pressure; if
one person in the group defaults, the other group members make up the
payment amount. - Kiva Staff
Nancy is a member of Queen Esther Women Group and she is married. Nancy has no professional training in business and also farming but uses indigenous farming methods.
Nancy takes farming as her sole business venture. Mostly she cultivates food crops that range from maize, beans and other types of cereal. Her activities have been affected over the last seasons because of the prolonged drought. She has been straggling with irrigation using local means on a small piece of land but it would have been better if she had a water pump.
This is costly and thus would like to buy a dairy cow for zero grazing.",F,300,partner,Agriculture,0
Kenya,"This business is a member of the Queen Esther Women Group. Group lending, also
known as solidarity lending, is a mechanism that allows a number of
individuals to provide collateral or guarantee a loan through a group
repayment pledge. The incentive to repay is based on peer pressure; if
one person in the group defaults, the other group members make up the
payment amount. - Kiva Staff
Salome Wangari is a business woman, married and living in Ole Roimen. Most of her business skills have been learnt through years of practice by which she has acquired various businesses.
Salome operates her business of rental houses located in Ole Roimen area. She has a number of rental houses which provide income for her family. In addition to rental houses, she operates butchery and a shop in the same place.
She sells kerosene, owns a kerosene pump and a grocery store.",F,700,partner,Housing,0
Kenya,"This business is a member of the Queen Esther Women`s Group. Group lending, also known as solidarity lending, is a mechanism that allows a number of individuals to provide collateral or guarantee a loan through a group repayment pledge. The incentive to repay is based on peer pressure; if one person in the group defaults, the other group members make up the payment amount. - Kiva Staff
Muthoni is married, lives in Ole Roimen and the secretary to the group. She was retrenched from one of the insurance companies in Nairobi some time back. There after, she decided to start her own businesses.
She used her small savings to start up a shop at Ole Roimen.
With support from the husband and a loan from WEEC, she built one rental room and the rest is history. As the demand for rental houses increased, she sought support from WEEC again. Due to good loan repayments of the previous loans, she was given another loan of USD 600 which she used to construct additional rental houses.",F,450,partner,Housing,0
Kenya,"This business is a member of the Virtuous Women Group. Group lending, also known as solidarity lending, is a mechanism that allows a number of individuals to provide collateral or guarantee a loan through a group repayment pledge. The incentive to repay is based on peer pressure; if one person in the group defaults, the other group members make up the payment amount. - Kiva Staff
Loyce is a widow with 3 children and 5 dependants. She is a trained nursery school teacher. Through her training she has learnt to be disciplined and committed to her work. She is involved in church activities as a deacon and also the Chairlady of the womens guild in the church.
Her preference of real estate (rental rooms) is because it does not take a lot of her time. She started her small project of 6 semi permanent rooms. From her rental income and loans she was able to put up 12 permanent rooms. She does not use her loans in any other way other than in her said project. To date she has 78 rental rooms. Her business has enabled her to bring up her family and also pay school fees for the five children who had previously dropped out of school for lack of school fees.",F,700,partner,Housing,0
Kenya,"This business is a member of the Virtuous Women Group. Group lending, also known as solidarity lending, is a mechanism that allows a number of individuals to provide collateral or guarantee a loan through a group repayment pledge. The incentive to repay is based on peer pressure; if one person in the group defaults, the other group members make up the payment amount. - Kiva Staff
Margaret is a single lady with two children. She has educated them up to secondary school. Though they have not gotten formal jobs. She has assisted them get into the Jua Kali (informal) sector where they work as Mechanics.
Margaret has been in the Jua Kali sector for the last 15 years. Her experience has made her to be very keen in studying the market trends. She therefore engages in goods that are on high demand. Currently she is engaged in selling Pishori rice. She takes her orders from retail shops, households, festivities like weddings. She joined WEEC programme in 2005. She got a loan of USD 139 and bought more stock. She paid her loan in 10 months.",F,300,partner,Agriculture,0
Kenya,"This business is a member of the Virtuous Women Group. Group lending, also known as solidarity lending, is a mechanism that allows a number of individuals to provide collateral or guarantee a loan through a group repayment pledge. The incentive to repay is based on peer pressure; if one person in the group defaults, the other group members must make up the payment amount. - Kiva Staff
Naomi is a single mother with 5 children and 2 dependants. Naomi is an active member in the community. She is the Coordinator of the umoja road village. She is a leader of the Nambala Women group that has a project of grinding mill.
By joining the women groups in Ongata Rongai Naomi was able to attend short business skills courses. She has experience in different businesses from which she was able to raise capital buy a plot and developed it with rental houses due to high demand. She has 6 semi permanent houses and two are due for completion. She took a loan from WEEC of USD 139 in 2005 and laid the foundation of the two rooms.",F,300,partner,Housing,0
Kenya,"This business is a member of the Virtuous Women Group. Group lending, also known as solidarity lending, is a mechanism that allows a number of individuals to provide collateral or guarantee a loan through a group repayment pledge. The incentive to repay is based on peer pressure; if one person in the group defaults, the other group members must make up the payment amount. - Kiva Staff
Sarah has been involved in community Work both in her local church as a Sunday school teacher and also at village level as a youth counselor. This has enabled her to know many parents in the area.
Her business idea stemmed from the plight of many working parents who have had problems getting house girls who are honest. She therefore decided to start a day care centre. She Charges USD 7 per child per month. The income she gets from her work is enough to pay the room she has rented and also cater for the household expenses. In 2004 She took a loan of USD 139 that enabled her to go for a nursery school course. The course was to prepare her for her new business. In year 2005 She took another loan of USD 139 that enabled her set her business.",F,150,partner,Services,0
Kenya,"This business is a member of the Virtuous Women Group. Group lending, also known as solidarity lending, is a mechanism that allows a number of individuals to provide collateral or guarantee a loan through a group repayment pledge. The incentive to repay is based on peer pressure; if one person in the group defaults, the other group members must make up the payment amount. - Kiva Staff
Sarah is married with 6 children and she is the bread winner. Her last born is disabled and attends special school which is expensive.
She started her business with USD 7.and has since expanded it by ploughing back part of her income. She has attended various business trainings offered by WEEC and this has enabled her to manage her small business.",F,150,partner,Food,0
Kenya,"This description is written by Rowland Amulyoto, a staff member of Village Enterprise Fund who will be representing this business.
Petronilla, 30, was deserted by her husband and now is responsible for upbringing their two children Laura and Kevo without any child support. Her parents died leaving her twin sister and her long ago. A good samaritan could only take them to high school and that is as far as he would go. The two girl twins lost their father's land to neighbors -- girls could not be allowed to inherit the land! They, due to lack of school fees, did not go to college, but rather married early. But all this is behind her. It does not feature in her business struggles.
Betty, as she is called by her customers, demonstrates a customer-minded business lady. She is the most admirable business person in the grocery business in the village. She started with meager resources , has been assisted by VEF-sponsored businesses and women group table banking businesses.
The current capital in her business is Ksh 75,000 or $1000. She can increase her profitablility by improving her stock and creating a new product line in selling air time. Betty is a sure bet for creation of a mini super market given more funds.",F,500,lender,Food,1
Kenya,"This description is written by Rowland Amulyoto, a staff member of Village Enterprise Fund who will be representing this business.
Robert, 40, is married and has 6 children. In addition to his family of 8, he takes care of his mother and 5 brothers. Robert started by planting vegetables and selling at the local market. He then diversified with a tea nursery which is more profitable.
Given a loan of $500, Robert will be able to improve his activities by buying fertilizers, pesticides, a pump and seedlings. The pump will remove the uncertainties of the weather. The current capital in his venture is Ksh 10500 or $150, which does not allow Robert to maximize his potential.
Robert completed high school and has never got employment. He got apprentice training from a tea extension officer. He is a go getter, and his main hobby is teaching music.",M,500,lender,Agriculture,1
Kenya,"This description was written by Richard Mazengo, a staff member for Village Enterprise Fund in Tanzania. He is also a partner representative for Kiva.
Tom Mung'ahu, 45, is married and has 6 children. All these children are attending elementary school. The family has just a little over 1 acre of land on which Tom's wife grows vegetables and maize to help feed the family.
Tom started business in a VEF sponsored group selling firewood. He then decided to start a side business on his own of buying and selling animals. He discovered that slaughtering makes more money, after keeping the animals for some time. This was his ""Aha!"" moment.
Given a loan of $500, Tom can improve his purchase of an stocking of animals to make more profits. The current capital in his business is Ksh 15500 or $220, which does not allow Tom to maximize his potential.",M,500,lender,Food,1
Kenya,"This description was written by Rowland Amulyoto, a staff member of Village Enterprise Fund in Kenya
Benedina, 42, is married and has 4 girls. In addition to her family of 6, she also takes care of her parents and husband's parents. Her husband lost his job long ago and she remains the bread winner.
Mama Janet, as she is fondly called by her customers, started the tailoring business through VEF sponsorship. She has created designs particularly for ladies dresses. She is a trained tailor and ably interprets the tastes of the African fancy wear -- Kitenge.
Given a loan of $500, Janet can improve her profitability by tapping more into the student market from the college 300 meters away.",F,500,lender,Services,1
Kenya,"This description was written by Rowland Amulyoto, a staff member of Village Enterprise Fund in Kenya
Vincent Ondego 40, is married and has 8 children. Beside his family of 10, Vincent cares for his 3 brothers. He is also a church pastor with a responsibility over 17 orphans. Vincent dropped out of school in senior 2 due to fees problems. He got training from Village Enterprise Fund. Vincent started with a VEF grant of $100 in a group of 5. He then diversified by going it alone with brick making.
Given a loan of $500, Vincent is able to improve his profitability by making more bricks. The current capital in his activity is Ksh15,000 or $200. The greatest motivation for his hard work is to raise fees for his 2 children who are joining Form 1 next year.",M,500,lender,Construction,1
Kenya,"
Beatrice sells maize and beans. She also has a dairy cow and sells milk. Due to the prolonged drought that has hit the country; she plans to concentrate on Zero grazing of Dairy cows because she is assured of income daily.
Bethua started her business in 1996 as a sole proprietor. She borrowed before from the groups revolving fund and used the money to expand her business. She operates her small shop at the same place she resides. With proper training on business and credit management, from WEEC, she has been able to run her small business well.
She distributes her milk to hotels both in Nairobi and Kiserian. She also rears chicks for sale. There is potential market for chicks and milk. Withdraws from the business to pay school fees retards business growth.
Fredah got her first loan from WEEC in 2004 of USD 150.
She started selling rice after resigning her job in a leather factory. Her wish was to own a business however small it was in order to be independent.
She sells over 200kgs per month earning her USD 71 as profit.
In addition, her tailoring business brings in extra income. She is to open up a bigger stall in thika town for easy merchandising.
Edith has a banana plantation in Maragua District in central Kenya. She also grows and sells maize and beans. Edith has been in this business for the last two years. She also has a lorry for transport business. It is normally hired to carry building materials in Thika. Thika is an industrial town where construction works is at an increase. This business has built her a house and is about to be completed.
She started her small shop in 2003 after being given her first loan of USD.300 from WEEC.Landless area is a dry area and sodas and other cold drinks sale easily. The population of the area is growing very fast and at times runs out of stock of some items which is not good if you are to attain and retain customers.
In 2005 she received a loan of USD.300 and bought a cow. To date she has two dairy cows. She also practices horticulture farming on a small scale. She sells milk, onions, and cabbages to her neighbors and in Thika town.
Jane started her business of selling cereals in 2003. She was given her first loan of USD.300 by WEEC and had trained in hair dressing. Therefore, she started her own salon in Thika town. The business has grown and handles mores than 10 people a day.
Currently she has two dairy cows. Has been keeping around 500 chicken a business she started in 2004 using the first loan of USD.300 from WEEC. She sells eggs to local market and Nairobi. The demand is high and would like to increase the number of chicken to at least 1000.She is able to provide for her family all the basic necessities.
Peninah is a young lady aged 21 years, married and has one child. She is a strong member of Inkiramat women group. Peninah loves learning new things and makes sure that she attends all trainings normally organized by WEEC. Peninah is hard working and focused. Her business is buying and selling steers and milk to residents of Isinya and Kitengera Town. She sells 35 litres of milk per day and this brings in daily income thus, paying back will not be a problem. Peninah has a manageable family and the surplus income she is making is being saved to build rental rooms. She has a plot of land at Kitengera which she wants to develop as soon as she gets the money. She will be assured of passive income every month which is the right path to financial freedom.
",F,450,partner,Housing,0 Kenya,"Simiton is a Maasai by tribe and they are famous for beadwork and cattle keeping. She was born 33 years ago in Isinya near the border of Kenya and Tanzania. She is married to a hard working and enlightened man who allowed her to do business unlike others who think that Women should not live home for any activity. She sells items made out of beads at Nairobi Maasai market and in Isinya Town. Her husband sells milk and when her business is low then, she helps her husband in buying and immediate selling of milk. Working together has helped them greatly in building a strong family and in sharing responsibilities. Their children are still young; two are in primary where as the other two are still very young for school. So far, they can afford to have good meals, medical care and send their children to school from the proceeds of their businesses. They hope the situation will be better as the countrys economy improves such that the price of milk in rural areas can increase from 28cents to 42 cents like in other Towns.
",F,300,partner,Services,0 Kenya,"She is 50 years old widow with 5 children, 2 are in a technical college and the other in High School.
Grace has been in farming for 26 years and this has been the source of income. She has been able to educate her children up to college level. She has 3 hectares of land with coffee trees and 3 Dairy cows which in aggregate brings a net income of USD180 per month. The milk market has improved and there are better terms of payment of dairy products offered by cooperative societies. She wants to replace in phases her dairy cows which on average produce 8 litres of milk per day with a better breed that can produce approximately 18 litres per day. Once this project is fully implemented she will increase her earnings more than double.
She is 54 years old, a widow with 5 children. Of five children, 3 are independent. One is in college still under her support and the other in secondary school. Both assist her in farming during their holidays.
Gladys has been in this business for 11 years. Also she carries out coffee farming and keeps livestock on a small scale. Her business has been performing very well over the years because of less competition within the area and she has regular customers.
Susan is 56 years old married with 5 children, 2 are still depending on her even after finishing school due to unemployment. She has been in this business for 8 years and deals more with fast moving consumer goods e.g. rice, sugar, maize flour and cereals. Cereals have higher returns and their prices are not as volatile as the rest of the products.
Grace is a very young lady aged 20 years and has 2 children. Grace is hard working and very active in her church where she is a choir member and Womens Guild. She sells used and new clothes at Kagumoini Shopping Centre. She has also a small piece of land where she grows onions and vegetables. She sells most of the vegetables but grows some for home consumption. For clothes to be sold there should always be something new to attract customers thus, the need for a loan to ensure that customers are maintained by stocking new materials.
",F,150,partner,Clothing,0 Kenya,"Abraham is 51 years old. He is married with seven children, three boys and four girls. He lives in the Kibera slums in a village called Otiende. He also cares for two grandchildren from his two married daughters. He decided to take them in because their parents are not able to provide for them.
Abraham is an artisan weaver. In 2000, he founded a women-based group in a village in Nairobi called Kawangware. They called themselves the Huduma Self-Help Group and Abraham taught the women how to make baskets. He found that the business was not profitable enough so he decided to add another idea. In late 2004, he approached his friend John Kakala, who is also a weaver and works with Lavington Community Church. John taught Abraham and the group how to also weave rugs.
Abraham also wanted to open his own shop and make his own goods. From April 2002 February 2005, he worked at the African Inland Mission in Karen. He used part of his earnings to buy small amounts of the material. Now he asks Kiva lenders, through Action Now, to help him expand his business with a loan of 21,000 Kenyan Shillings ($309.00) so that he can buy stock of timber, warp, nails, and wool. If the business goes well, it will make a big difference to his life and family. Abraham will be able to educate and feed his children and grandchildren. And by creating more products, Abraham will be able to sell his wares at popular tourist spots like Nairobi Park, Bomas of Kenya, and the Nairobi show.
Abraham will pay back his loan within a period of 12 months.
Disclaimer: Due to recent events in Kenya, the security situation in many communities remains unsettled, affecting many local businesses. Lenders to this entrepreneur should be aware that this loan may represent a higher default risk, and should be willing to accept this additional risk in making their loan.
",M,300,partner,Arts,1 Kenya,"Albert Birundi Moragori is a 30 year old Kenyan father of six children. Also living with him are the two orphaned children of his late sister, who passed away two years ago.
Albert started his business four years ago after accumulating savings from his previous job. He currently operates a small retail cereal stall, but he would like to expand his business and start operating a wholesale shop. He is the breadwinner for his family, and expanding his stall would enable him to support his children and wife, who has a low-paying job. With the little profit that he gets from the business, Albert still struggles to feed, clothe, and educate his children and pay the rent on his house. But with the help of his loan, he will be able to expand his business and increase his monthly sales.
Disclaimer: Due to recent events in Kenya, the security situation in many communities remains unsettled, affecting many local businesses. Lenders to this entrepreneur should be aware that this loan may represent a higher default risk, and should be willing to accept this additional risk in making their loan.
",M,3475,lender,Food,0 Kenya,"Alfred started his business in 2002. He is a trained engineer and a retired policeman. He operates a small workshop where he sells car and truck batteries, spare parts, and tyres. He also operates a small filling station. He has a total of 3 employees.
With the loan of $750 from PEMCI, Alfred intends to increase his stock of spare parts. Through his business, he has been able to provide employment and a source of livelihood for himself and his family. He is a shrewd businessman who is contributing to the economic activity within his local area and well worth the funding by Kiva partners.
",M,750,partner,Services,0 Kenya,"Alice is married and a mother of five children, three boys and two girls. Four are in primary school and one is yet to join school. Due to a lack of school fees when she was a child, she is a primary school dropout. Her husband is a farmer. This is her first loan with PEMCI.
Alice is a cereal seller, moving from one market place to another during market days. She sells beans, maize, green grams, and millet. She started her business four years ago with money she had saved. Her daily profits range between 200 and 300 Kenya shillings and her inventory could be valued at 20,000 shillings. She uses bicycles to carry her cereals to the market; one is hers and two are hired. Through her business, she has been able to develop her farm. She bought a dairy cow, buys fertilizer for her maize farm, and is able to educate her children too. She is a devoted Christian and an active member of her local churchwomen fellowship.
Given a loan by PEMCI, Alice plans to increase the stock of her cereals to double her daily income. She plans to stock a variety of cereal types that she has been unable to purchase before due to insufficient capital. She hopes that in future she will own open one of the biggest food stores in Malakisi shopping centre.
Disclaimer: Due to recent events in Kenya, the security situation in many communities remains unsettled, affecting many local businesses. Lenders to this entrepreneur should be aware that this loan may represent a higher default risk, and should be willing to accept this additional risk in making their loan.
",F,175,lender,Food,1 Kenya,"ALICE NJOKI GITAU is 46 years old, married, and has five children. One of her children is in senior school while the other four are in junior school. She is the sole breadwinner and lives with her husband, who is bed ridden after an ill-fated accident four years ago. She also takes care of her aged mother. She is an active member and the secretary of Wendani Self Help Group. She lives in Ngorika, a settlement in the Rift Valley part of Kenya, on their five-acre piece of land.
She runs a business in the local market of buying maize and beans from local farmers at wholesale prices and selling to middle men at higher prices, who in turn take the grains to city markets and sell them at very high prices. This business is really not doing well for her and she plans to start farming the beans and maize on her farm. She also plans, instead of selling to the middlemen, to start transporting to the city markets herself. She is requesting a loan of $1150 and plans to use it as follows: $600 to buy maize and beans seeds for her farm $400 to buy more sacks of maize and beans $150 to hire a truck to take the grains to a nearby city market. She is a committed Ebony Foundation member and always repays her loans well.",M,1150,lender,Agriculture,1 Kenya,"
Angela is a young mother of a baby girl and she is 26 years of age. She is a primary school teacher who is not satisfied with the meager monthly salary paid by the government of Kenya. She has been trying to fight this for the last three years, currently she has built two rental rooms at Kitengera and they are rented. The group chose her to be their secretary because of being educated and very hard working. In a bid to increase her income, she would like to rear steers because there is ready market today.
",F,450,partner,Agriculture,0 Kenya,"Beatrice is 47 years married with six children. She is a nutritionist in the village where she lives. She educates other members within the community of the importance of growing and eating vegetables for a healthy living.
She started her business in 2003, grows and sells vegetables. Her main customers come from Muranga town who sell the vegetables as far as the city Nairobi. She is assured of the market because of the high quality of her vegetables. She has been receiving loans from the group but the group is unable to handle the demand because of her demand for a bigger loan.
",F,300,partner,Agriculture,0 Kenya,"Beatrice is a 45 year old widow and mother of four living children. She lives in Sagam Siaya in Kenya. She runs a jaggery business that she started in 2000. She buys her products from Mumias Sugar Factory and then supplies the goods to her customers. She requires $800.00 to purchase more supplies.
Disclaimer: Due to recent events in Kenya, the security situation in many communities remains unsettled, affecting many local businesses. Lenders to this entrepreneur should be aware that this loan may represent a higher default risk, and should be willing to accept this additional risk in making their loan.
",F,800,partner,Food,0 Kenya,"Beatrice is married with three children, two girls and a boy. One of the children is in Form One and the others in primary school. Her husband is a teacher. Beatrice was unable to proceed with education when in primary school due to a lack of school fees. She started her business in 2004 when she got tired of staying at home and solely depending on her husband to provide. To start up her business, her husband gave her the initial capital from his salary. Beatrice sells cereals at Changara trading centre. She gets her stock from Lwakhakha in Uganda and sometimes from local farmers. She buys a two kilogram tin, locally known as gorogoro, at 40 Kenyan Shillings and sells at 45. A sack of maize contains 45 of such tins and usually takes her two days to sell off a sack in the low season. When demand is high, she sells up to three sacks per day. Maize is the main staple food in the area and most of the homes depend on it as food. She hires bicycles to and from the market but hopes to buy her own so as to cut on transport cost. Apart from selling cereals, she is also a small scale farmer and keeps a few domesticated animals.
With a loan by PEMCI, she plans to increase on her stock with two sacks of maize. She hopes to grow her business and open a cereals store at Changara Trading Centre. Her desire to educate her children to higher levels, like universities, is the motivation behind her efforts and hard work.
Disclaimer: Due to recent events in Kenya, the security situation in many communities remains unsettled, affecting many local businesses. Lenders to this entrepreneur should be aware that this loan may represent a higher default risk, and should be willing to accept this additional risk in making their loan.
",M,100,lender,Food,1 Kenya,"Beth was born in 1973 in Kiambu district, Kenya. She is married and has 3 children, all in boarding primary school. She is an active member of Catholic Women Association (CWA) and this helps her in sharing challenges with other women of her faith. Beth sells used clothes and shoes in Gikomba Market Nairobi. She joined WEEC in 2003 and received her first loan of USD 300. She paid it back without any compliant and this made her qualify for another loan. In 2004, she received another loan of USD 700. The money boosted her business she was able to buy a stall where she was operating.
According to Beth, her business is her fourth child. She likes her job very much and currently, she is selling 3 to 4 bales of clothes and shoes daily. She has employed two boys who help her to sell in other markets around Nairobi.
",F,1000,lender,Clothing,1 Kenya,"Bett Kanduiywo is 48 years old and married with two children, both of whom are in local colleges pursuing diploma courses. She has been a dairy farmer for the last 20 years.
Bett would wish to add another cow and build a better cattle shed. She is requesting to be funded with US$600. She will use US$500 to buy the cow and US$100 to reinforce her cattle shed. This will enable her to generate more income to cater to her childrens needs. She is a skilled entrepreneur and she will be able to pay back the loan.
",F,600,lender,Agriculture,1 Kenya,"Caroline is 30 years old. She is married and has three children. Besides her family, she is also taking care of two children from her brother. She lives in the Soweto village of the Kibera slums.
Caroline trained as a dressmaker after a friend offered her an opportunity to learn in her stall. While she continued to learn, Caroline was determined to one day own her business from which she could earn a living. With time, she joined a merry- go-round group and she was granted a loan of 4,500 Kenyan Shillings that she used to start up her own business. She bought a sewing machine and started making clothes for sale. Because she did not have any stock of cloth material, she would wait for the customer to bring their own material so that she could then sew the clothes as requested.
As her business began to grow, customers kept streaming in and within a year she had managed to attract a reasonable number of clients. She also continued to put aside some money from her income and, using the funds she had accumulated, she managed to rent a stall. She then moved her business from her house where she had been working. She also started stocking some cloth materials.
Caroline has seen her business grow and is happy with the way it has progressed. Her intention now is to assist the young people within her locality who do not have any skills. She wants to offer them training in dressmaking and would therefore like to purchase a sewing machine. She is requesting Kiva lenders grant her a loan of Ksh 10,000 ($175.00) to purchase a new machine to use to train her students. This will help reduce the number of idlers that are within her area, thereby reducing over-dependence. Caroline intends to pay back her loan within 12 months.
Disclaimer: Due to recent events in Kenya, the security situation in many communities remains unsettled, affecting many local businesses. Lenders to this entrepreneur should be aware that this loan may represent a higher default risk, and should be willing to accept this additional risk in making their loan.
",F,175,partner,Arts,1 Kenya,"Catherine Njambi Kimani is 32 years old and is a single mother of two children. One of her children is in primary school while the other is too young to attend school.
Today, she owns a shoe shop that is located in the town of Nakuru. She intends to have additional inventory of shoes in order to meet her customer demand. Her young family lives in Rhonda estate in Nakuru in a one-room, rented house. Her greatest desire is to be able to provide for her family and to take her children to school. In order to do this, she must solve her problem of limited capital.
She is requesting a loan of US$ 750 to enable her to meet her potential. Her budget is as below:
US$ 400 to purchase varieties of shoes to stock in the shop
US$ 200 to pay rent for her shop
US$ 100 to pay for municipal council license for the shop
US$ 50 for transporting
She is hardworking and determined to give her children the best education. With her enthusiasm, she will be able to pay back the loan.
",F,750,lender,Retail,1 Kenya,"Charles is a 33 year old married father of two living children. He lives with his wife in Sagam Siaya in Kenya. He started his cereals business in 2006 and specializes in selling dry maize to consumers. His hard work, perseverance, and good reputation, coupled with a well-established client-base ensure that his business will continue to grow despite stiff competition. He has applied for a loan of $700.00 to enable him purchase additional stock of cereals, such as beans, rice, and green grams, which are currently in high demand.
Disclaimer: Due to recent events in Kenya, the security situation in many communities remains unsettled, affecting many local businesses. Lenders to this entrepreneur should be aware that this loan may represent a higher default risk, and should be willing to accept this additional risk in making their loan.
",M,700,partner,Food,0 Kenya,"Charles Macharia is 30 years old and lives in the Kayole area of Nairobi. He is single but cares for his brother and two sisters. Charles lost his mother in 2003 and thereafter his father remarried. Due to some misunderstanding between him and his stepmother, Charles unfortunately moved out and went to stay with his maternal aunt in a part of Nairobi called BuruBuru. He befriended a neighbor there who had a PlayStation cafe and he sometimes went there to help out. Charles liked the work and became determined to start his own cafe. He used his free time to help the owner was able to learn about the daily running of the business. But what he most liked was the smiling faces of the children who were so enthusiastic when playing the games.
He worked with great determination and from what little money Charles earned, he was able to pay the school fees for his siblings. With time he was also able to save 8000 Kenyan Shillings ($130.00) that he used to start his own PlayStation cafe at Kayole. Because the money he had saved was not enough, he approached his father in 2007 for a loan of Ksh 30,000 ($485.00), to be repaid in a year. Fortunately, his father agreed and so Charles bought one PlayStation, two televisions, and four chairs.
Charles has seen a tremendous increase of clients, especially children who are the fans of the games. He is determined to continue to expand his business and is therefore requesting a loan of Ksh 60,000 ($975.00) from Kiva lenders. With the loan, he will be able to purchase an additional PlayStation, two television sets, and five chairs. These will improve his services because he will be in a better position to accommodate additional customers. He will be able to continue taking care of his siblings and also employ one person to assist him with his business and therefore provide an employment opportunity to another member of the Kayole community. The repayment period for his loan will be twelve months.
Disclaimer: Due to recent events in Kenya, the security situation in many communities remains unsettled, affecting many local businesses. Lenders to this entrepreneur should be aware that this loan may represent a higher default risk, and should be willing to accept this additional risk in making their loan.
",M,975,partner,Entertainment,1 Kenya,"Cherotich Kowagen is a 29 year old single lady with two children and two additional dependants - her elderly parents. Both of her children are school going and its not easy for her as a single parent to take care of her children and her elderly parents.
She has been engaged in the business of selling second hand clothes for eight years now. As a single parent she faces various challenges to her business including; lack of sufficient funds to expand her business, high transportation costs of a bale of clothes due to distance, and lack of a license and a permanent premise to do her business.
During this Chrismas season she wants to be able to purchase two bales of second hand clothes because she has established a ready market that she will sell the clothes in. She thus wants a loan of US$550 and her budget is as follows; US $150 for transport, US $350 to buy a bale of second hand clothes and US $50 to get a license. Through the loan she will be able to meet the high demands of her customers. She is a good woman and she will repay the loan in time.",F,550,lender,Clothing,1 Kenya,"
Clement Mochoge is a 30 year old man. He is married and has one child. Together with his wife, they also take care of his younger siblings four brothers and two sisters. He lives in the Kayole area in Nairobi where he also operates his business. Clement was employed by a construction company called Mugoya Construction Company. In 2003, the company retrenched some of its employees and Clement was not spared. With a new life to start, he thought of an idea that could help him. With the savings that he had put aside over time, he opened a small telecommunication business. He bought a landline telephone and offered telephone services in his area. This was of great benefit to the community because people were able to easily access his services at a reasonable price.
Due the use of mobile phones, however, Clement had to move with technology. With the small amount of money that he had earned, he changed from providing landline services and bought a phone that works as a mobile phone (locally known as Simu ya jamii). This community phone operates the same way as landlines but cheaper. With time, he also started selling scratch cards and mobile phones. Clement has not been able to cope with the demand as he only stocks in small quantities. He now wants to expand his business to meet the demands of his customers. However, he lacks enough finances because whatever he earns is divided between his business and his family.
Clement is requesting Kiva lenders to lend him a loan of Ksh 50,000 ($825.00) to purchase stock of airtime and mobile phones in larger quantity. With the loan in hand, he will be able to stock phones of different varieties, ranging from Motorola, Nokia, and Samsung, among others .The loan will also be a benefit to his family as the extra money that he earns will cater for their needs. He thanks Kiva lenders in advance. He intends to pay back his loan over a period of twelve months.
Disclaimer: Due to recent events in Kenya, the security situation in many communities remains unsettled, affecting many local businesses. Lenders to this entrepreneur should be aware that this loan may represent a higher default risk, and should be willing to accept this additional risk in making their loan.
",M,825,partner,Retail,1 Kenya,"Consolata is married with three children in primary schools. She has a diploma in metal works, a very rare and unique qualification for a woman in these parts.
Consolata started her metal work business in 2003 dealing mainly in window frames, gates and other metal equipment. Through her business she has been able to provide employment to three local people.
With the loan of $150 from PEMCI she plans to increase her stock of metal to meet the growing demand for window frames and doors in her local area. Her business has good potential for growth in view of the booming construction industry. She has also been very creative in the fabrication of steel products, which has made her popular in the local area. She is a role model for other women in her community and deserves support to grow.
",F,150,partner,Manufacturing,0 Kenya,"DANIEL G KIMANI is a 30 year old married farmer with five kids : two orphans and three of his own. The orphans are in high school and his three children are in junior grades. He runs a small timber yard with his wife Emily, but the income is not enough to pay school fees. He started farming to supplement his income, but was unable to buy fertilizer; this gave him very low yields. He would like to improve his yield and is requesting a $700 loan. $200 to buy certified seed, and $500 to buy fertilizers. He is focused and will repay the loan.",M,700,lender,Agriculture,1 Kenya,"
Daniel is married with three children. He has not undergone any formal training, although he has attended seminars for youth groups, where he was taught measurers of poverty eradication. He runs a food kiosk in his local area but also sells firewood to supplement his income. He also supplies some local schools with firewood.
With the loan of $150 from PEMCI he intends to expand his firewood business and also increase his stock. Recommended for support by PEMCI partners.
",M,150,partner,Retail,0 Kenya,"DANIEL MUNGAI MACHARIA is 32 years old, married, and has three children. Two of his children are in junior school while his last-born child is in Pri-unit. He is an active member of Wendani Self Help Group. Daniel and his family live in a rented one-room house in Ngorika, a settlement in the Rift valley part of Kenya. Even though he has a two acre piece of land, he lacks money to build. He is the sole breadwinner. He owns a bicycle and uses it as to transport people within his locality. This is very difficult for him and he is not always able to make ends meet and provide for his family. He is requesting a loan of $1200 and plans to use it this way: Use $450 to build a three-room house on his two-acre piece of land for his family. Use $750 to buy beans, maize seeds, and fertilizers for his wife to start farming their piece of land. This will go along way in creating more income from farming and the savings in rent, and will uplift the living standard of his family.",M,1200,lender,Agriculture,1 Kenya,"
Dennis Kipyegon Kirui is a 20 yr old single with two dependants. About one year ago Dennis started a small business of vending milk and stopped depending on his parents who were already struggling to take of him and his siblings. Through the help of his parents he bought 20 litres of milk as his starting capital. He sells milk door to door both in the villages and in the surrounding town. Its has been difficult for him since most of the people living around him own cows hence no need to buy milk. He acquired a bicycle which enables him to travel long distances to sell his milk.
Despite all this he has to be able to help his aging parents in meeting family needs. Dennis has become the family's source of daily needs. This has put a constraint on his business, since the little he earns goes towards the familys financial needs leaving him with little capital to expand his business. He is requesting for a loan of US$ 500 to buy a cooler and a bigger storage container. He is a young energetic entrepreneur and he will be able to repay the loan in good time.",M,500,lender,Food,1 Kenya,"
Dina is a 32 year old mother of nine children. She lives in one of the slums of Kisumu in Kenya and runs a community pharmacy in the area. She started her pharmacy in 2001 and the community knows her personally from her seven years of good work. Dina was trained by KMET as a community health worker and has also been providing home-based care services for people living with HIV/AIDS for these past seven years.
She sells her drugs at lower prices than her competitors and at times gives free drugs to clients who cannot afford them. Her highest selling products are painkillers, antimalarials, family planning drugs, allergy medications, drugs to treat ulcers, worms and skin infections, and various syrups for children to treat malaria and upper respiratory infections. Dina is applying for her fifth loan of $700 to further expand her pharmacy.
Disclaimer: Due to recent events in Kenya, the security situation in many communities remains unsettled, affecting many local businesses. Lenders to this entrepreneur should be aware that this loan may represent a higher default risk, and should be willing to accept this additional risk in making their loan.
",F,700,partner,Health,0 Kenya,"Dorcas was born in Empuyiankat 43 years ago. She was raised in this village and missed to attend formal education because her parents did not see the importance of sending their daughter to school. She got married when she was 17 and she is lucky she has only 6 children. She is a Choir member of PCEA church Empuyiankat. Dorcas is a strong member of Inkiramat women groups and participates in every group activity. The group works with WEEC thus, they have been able to receive trainings on basic business skills and livestock management. After the training, Dorcas started a small retail shop, where she sells Vegetables and other basic household items. Dorcas and her husband also rear steers. On average the family keeps 10 steers and sells 3 every month. Due to the favorable climatic conditions and ready market, Dorcas wants to increase the number of steers to at least 20 in a period of eight months. She would like to buy 4 more medium size steers at a cost of USD450. The fattened Steers will be sold after 3 months and the proceeds will be used to purchase more steers. This will form a good capital base and will put the family in a better financial position.
",F,450,partner,Retail,0 Kenya,"Eliud is a young man who is not yet married. He started his hawking business in 2005 after secondary school. He is also a farmer specializing in tobacco, where he works hand-in-hand with his father. Through his business, he has been able to support his parents to pay school fees for his sibling.
With the loan of $150 from PEMCI, he intends to increase his stock of utensils and kitchenware. This way he will be able to move to different markets, hence expanding his sales and profits. As a youth, Eliud is a good role model for those aspiring to start their own businesses. In view of the unemployment situation, many youth are encouraged to seek self-employment as a way of earning their livelihood. Well worth the support of Kiva partners.
",M,150,partner,Retail,0 Kenya,"Emily is a 45 year old entrepreneur. She lives with her husband and four children, who are all in school. Emily is the proprietor of a cereal business which she started in 2006 and her husband works with the Kenya Airport Authority. She purchases grains, especially dry maize and beans, in bulk during harvesting season when the prices are low and then sells them to her customers when prices improve. She also supplies her goods to schools and colleges.
Emily requires $600.00 to further help her expand her business.
Disclaimer: Due to recent events in Kenya, the security situation in many communities remains unsettled, affecting many local businesses. Lenders to this entrepreneur should be aware that this loan may represent a higher default risk, and should be willing to accept this additional risk in making their loan.
",F,600,partner,Food,0 Kenya,"Emily is aged 24 years; she is married and has 3 children. She is the assistant secretary of Osotua women group and she is responsible for ensuring that all members of the group at least know how to read and write. As of now a good number of members know how to write their names. She sells items made of beads such as necklaces, bracelets, belts, and bags. Her main market is in Nairobi and Kajiado Town. In Nairobi, she sells in three open markets, two in Nairobi central business district and one in Westlands. She makes on average $110 of sales each market day. She is happy so far because the sales are improving day by day.
",F,450,partner,Retail,0 Kenya,"Emma Micheni is a single, 28 year old student living in Nairobi. One year ago, Emma started selling curios. She was inspired by a friend who was unable to find quality gifts at reasonable prices, so Emma decided to start her own curio shop. She started the business with four embroidered shirts worth 2,000 Kenyan Shillings (approximately $30.00). The income she gained from selling those shirts motivated Emma to rent out a stall and sell curios to pay for her living and tuition costs.
Emma now wants to expand her business and attract more customers by adding a bigger, wider variety of stock. Emma kindly requests a loan of 25,000 Kenyan Shillings ($375.00). With this loan, Emma will be able to purchase stock like Kikhoi, batiks, and Maasai belts, among other things. The added income she will earn will help her to not only pay her living and tuition costs so she can continue to go to school, it will also enable her to hire an employee to help in the shop. Emma thanks Kiva lenders in advance for this great opportunity. The repayment period for her loan will be twelve months.
Disclaimer: Due to recent events in Kenya, the security situation in many communities remains unsettled, affecting many local businesses. Lenders to this entrepreneur should be aware that this loan may represent a higher default risk, and should be willing to accept this additional risk in making their loan.
",F,375,partner,Arts,1 Kenya,"Esther Wanjiku is an average Kenyan woman. She is 38 years old and married with two children. She also lives with the two orphaned children of her late sister.
Esther started her second-hand clothing business four years ago after retiring from her teaching profession, which she had been in for over ten years. She now sells ladies' and childrens wear. She purchases bails of clothing each week from Kisii market, which is well-known for its wholesale clothes business. With the little profit that she gets from her business, Esther is still able to clothe, feed, and educate her children and relatives with the help of her husband, who works as a technician in the town of Kisii.
With the help of this loan, Esther would like to diversify her business by bringing in more mens wear to increase her monthly sales. Her long-term vision is to expand her business into a boutique.
Disclaimer: Due to recent events in Kenya, the security situation in many communities remains unsettled, affecting many local businesses. Lenders to this entrepreneur should be aware that this loan may represent a higher default risk, and should be willing to accept this additional risk in making their loan.
",M,825,lender,Clothing,0 Kenya,"Evans is married with four children all in primary school. He has not undertaken any training but hopes to join college soon.
He sells bicycle spare parts to service the large number of bicycles in this local environment. He started his business in 2000 in order to support his family.
With a loan from PEMCI, Evans intends to improve on his stock and be able to supply goods to other shopkeepers in the area. Through his business, he has been able to supply the local bodabodas (cyclists) with cheap spare parts.
",M,150,partner,Retail,0 Kenya,"Evelyn is the chairlady of Osotua women group. She is 33years old, married with 4 children. Her children are still young and all are in primary school. She operates a retail shop in Kipiro trading centre and mainly she sells house hold items which include among others: Sugar, Maize flour, vegetables, salt, and milk jugs. Her business is progressing and its helping her in providing all the necessities at home including medical care. She would like to stock her shop such that clients are not disappointed when they come to buy various household items. This will create customer loyalty a major contributor to business growth.
",F,450,partner,Retail,0 Kenya,"
Ezinah is a nurse/widwife who serves clients mostly from the Manyatta slums of Kisumu. She is the proprietor of Mt Everest Medical Clinic. She offers general curative services, family planning, counseling, and maternal and child health services, and also runs a pharmacy and laboratory.
Ezinah requires $1200.00 to enable her to improve on quality of services in her facility.
Disclaimer: Due to recent events in Kenya, the security situation in many communities remains unsettled, affecting many local businesses. Lenders to this entrepreneur should be aware that this loan may represent a higher default risk, and should be willing to accept this additional risk in making their loan.
",F,1200,partner,Health,0 Kenya,"Finike is married with six children: one in college, two in secondary school and the rest in primary school. She has undergone secretarial training used to work at the divisional headquarters.
Finike started her business as a fishmonger and cereals trader in 1998 in order to improve her sources of income and to support her husband in paying school fees for their children. Through her skills she has also been able to bring some secretarial services closer to her local community.
With the loan of $125 from PEMCI, she plans to increase her stock. Well worth of support from Kiva partners.
",F,125,partner,Food,0 Kenya,"Florence is a new member of PEMCI. She sells cereals at Malakisi Shopping Centre. She started the business three years ago with an initial capital of 3,000 Kenyan Shillings from the sale of her farm produce. Apart from selling cereals, she is also a farmer and gets her cereals for sale direct from her farm sometimes. Other times she gets stock from farmers during harvesting seasons and from the cereals board.
Florence is married and a mother of four children, two boys and two girls, who are all in primary school. Her husband is not employed but does farming. Florence does not have a cereals store but operates her business in an open-air market. She faces challenges when the sun is very hot, during harvesting times when the demand is low, and finding adequate transportation. She hires bicycles to carry the cereals to and from the market. She has not been able to move from one market place to another but hopes she will start soon when her stock grows bigger.
Through her business, she has been able to educate her children and provide for their basic needs. She has also been able to develop her farm. Given a loan by PEMCI, she plans to increase the stock of cereals.
Disclaimer: Due to recent events in Kenya, the security situation in many communities remains unsettled, affecting many local businesses. Lenders to this entrepreneur should be aware that this loan may represent a higher default risk, and should be willing to accept this additional risk in making their loan.
",F,125,lender,Food,1 Kenya,"Franklin Nyamwenge beams with pride as he expresses himself in his request for another loan. Having received his first loan of $200.00 from Kiva lenders in May 2007, Franklin was able to purchase a grinder and a drilling machine that have greatly boosted his welding business and increased his income. Franklin has since paid back his loan and ANK can testify that its proud to have such a committed client. He paid his loan within a period of 11 months as he had indicated and he admits that the loan really boosted his business. He is also very grateful that the Kiva lenders greatly assisted him to develop his business.
Franklin is a 37-Year-old widower with four children to take care of and lives in the slums of Kibera in Nairobi. Though he did not complete his secondary school education, he was still determined to make it in his life and therefore joined his cousin in the city in his metal workshop. While in his cousins workshop, Franklin assisted him in all kinds of work and it is from here that he received the exposure that led him to setting up his own business.
In September 2005, Franklin set up his own workshop with $245.00 compiled from savings and some funds that he received in payment of his first contract that he had completed to make grills, windows, and door grills. His business has since grown due to his hard work and determination and also because of the timely service he gives his customers. He always ensures that he gives his customers what they request and also offers them reasonable prices for the products he makes. He has continued to win many hearts and hence customer demand keeps on increasing.
Franklin intends to continue to grow and expand his business. He now feels that the business needs a welding machine, which he currently doesnt have. Franklin is therefore requesting the Kiva lenders to grant him a loan of Ksh. 30,000 to purchase the machine. He confesses that many of his customers need the services of this machine that he often has to hire in order to complete his work. He believes that he will be able to save more when he gets his own machine, and hence he will be able to better take care of his children and their education. He thanks Kiva lenders in advance as they assist him to grow and develop his business. He believes that anything is possible with hard work and determination. He intends to repay the loan over a period of twelve months.
Disclaimer: Due to recent events in Kenya, the security situation in many communities remains unsettled, affecting many local businesses. Lenders to this entrepreneur should be aware that this loan may represent a higher default risk, and should be willing to accept this additional risk in making their loan.
",M,475,partner,Manufacturing,1 Kenya,"GACHANJA NJIRE is 78 years old, married, and an entrepreneur. He has seven children, six of whom have finished school, and the youngest has just joined university. He has run a boutique with his wife Margaret for the last twenty years and has built a good customer base. Unfortunately, a fire broke out in their shop due to poor electric supply connections, making him incur huge losses. They have had to slowly build up again and still educate their youngest child. He is requesting a $1200 loan to restock their boutique. They are hardworking and will repay the loan.",M,1200,lender,Clothing,1 Kenya,"
Gladwell Muthoni is 34 years old she is married and has two children. Apart from her family, she also takes care of her aged parents and her six siblings. She lives in Pipeline in Nairobi. Gladwell used to work at Export Processing Zones (EPZ) in Pipeline, where she worked as a casual laborer. Her work was to do the finishing on already sewn clothes, like hemming and fixing buttons. However, Gladwell was determined to have her own business and with the money that she had saved from her earnings, she went for training as a dressmaker. The training was offered at a reasonable price by a well-known dressmaker in her area. She attended training in the evenings after work at EPZ.
After becoming equipped with the necessary skills, she quit her job at EPZ and opened her own business with 39,000 Kenyan Shillings she had saved. She bought a sewing machine and cloth materials to start off. The business has been going well but Gladwell has had one problem. She doesnt have an embroidery machine and when she has embroideries to make she must look for someone who can help her for a fee. This has been expensive as well as time consuming. She may find that the owner of the machine is using it and at some point those people who own the machine do not want to lend to someone else.
Gladwell now wants to have her own machine and this is of great importance to her because it will enable her to save time and money. Apart from the machine, she also wants to purchase cloth materials in order to increase her stock. Gladwell is therefore requesting the Kiva lenders to grant her a loan of Ksh 30,000 ($500.00) to enable her to purchase the machine and the materials. With these new additions,cshe will not be have unfinished business. She intends to repay her loan within a period of twelve months.
Disclaimer: Due to recent events in Kenya, the security situation in many communities remains unsettled, affecting many local businesses. Lenders to this entrepreneur should be aware that this loan may represent a higher default risk, and should be willing to accept this additional risk in making their loan.
",F,500,partner,Services,1 Kenya,"Gladys is a 34 year old mother of three school-aged children. She is the proprietor of a beauty salon located in Nyalenda in the Kisumu area of Kenya. She started her salon in 1997 from her small savings.
She requires $500 so that she can move to a bigger space and also purchase cosmetics and other materials for her salon.
Disclaimer: Due to recent events in Kenya, the security situation in many communities remains unsettled, affecting many local businesses. Lenders to this entrepreneur should be aware that this loan may represent a higher default risk, and should be willing to accept this additional risk in making their loan.
",F,500,partner,Services,0 Kenya,"Grace Mutunga is 27 years old. She is married and has three children. In 2003, Grace started selling second-hand clothes in her neighborhood. She started off selling at the salons and shops nearby. She also delivered the clothes to the teachers at neighboring schools. With time she became popular in the area because she had a nice collection that she picked and ironed properly before selling to her customers. As time went by she thought it was wise to relocate her business to the pipeline area, where she is now operating. The area has a middle working-class population, which makes it a good market for her clothes.
Grace rented a small stall and because she is a tailor she also started making curtains. Her products marketed her and many people were impressed with her curtains because they are uniquely designed and sewn. Currently, her business is expanding at a high rate as it has experienced a tremendous increase in the number of customers (especially those who have been relocating due to the skirmishes that gripped the country). Grace now finds that the expansion is inevitable if she is to cope with the situation. But she lacks the funds required to support the expansion. She is therefore requesting Kiva to lend her some funds, to enable her to purchase two embroidery machines and curtain materials among other accessories. She is kindly requesting for a loan of $1200.00 from the Kiva lenders, which will enable her to purchase the above equipments. The repayment period for her loan will be 12 months.
Disclaimer: Due to recent events in Kenya, the security situation in many communities remains unsettled, affecting many local businesses. Lenders to this entrepreneur should be aware that this loan may represent a higher default risk, and should be willing to accept this additional risk in making their loan.
",F,1200,partner,Arts,1 Kenya,"Grace Wairimu Kanyiri is 27 years old. She is married with no children. Though young, Grace takes care of a niece who is in Class Four at Baptist Primary School in Nyeri.
Graces interest in hair dressing started while she was still a young girl and she practiced her skills by plaiting her female relatives' hair. In 2003, after saving about 20,000 Kenya Shillings ($295.00) by selling second-hand clothes, Grace embarked on a journey to own her own salon and finally her dream came true. Grace now owns one of the salons in the Pipeline neighborhood in Embakasi. Her salon offers the best and most affordable services to its clients. It is also known as one of the cleanest, and this fact attracts more and more customers. And each time, Grace is there to give them what they need.
Due to an increase in clients, Grace decided to expand her space. She identified a spacious, nearby stall and she decorated and painted it and moved in. Grace is now requesting a loan of 80,000 Kenyan Shillings ($1,150.00) to purchase additional equipment to support her business. She intends to purchase the following: two dryers, one hair steamer, foot spa massage, one barber seat, and four shaving machines. These will enable her to serve her customers faster, better, and more affordably. She will also employ two more ladies to help her in the salon. She looks forward towards to receiving her loan, and thanks Kiva lenders in advance. The repayment period for this loan will be ten months.
Disclaimer: Due to recent events in Kenya, the security situation in many communities remains unsettled, affecting many local businesses. Lenders to this entrepreneur should be aware that this loan may represent a higher default risk, and should be willing to accept this additional risk in making their loan.
",F,1150,partner,Services,1 Kenya,"Hannah Wangari is a 41 year-old widow left with three children to take care of aged 22, 17 and 11 years respectively. She lives on the outskirts of Nairobi in a town called Ruai.
In 2002, she received Ksh 15,000 from a womens revolving fund group. She decided to do something productive with this money that would bring in more income and add value to her life. Hannah was motivated by some of her nearby friends who operated a poultry business, and she took Ksh 4000 to purchase 100 chicks at Ksh 40 each. With the remaining Ksh 11,000, she bought chicken feed, medicine and charcoal for keeping the chicks warm because electricity is expensive and charcoal is the most affordable source of heat. This has added value to her life not only by enabling her to take better care of her family, but also by giving her the dignity of having a sustainable career.
Hannah is financially burdened with the demands of supporting her family and educating her children. Because of this, she has been unable to expand her poultry business due to a lack of funds. Hannah now understands that in order to expand her business, she needs to add a total of 300 more chicks at a cost of Ksh 15,000, 20 bags of feed at a cost of Ksh 35,000, and chicken medicine and charcoal totaling Ksh 15,000. With a loan of Ksh 65,000, Hannah can add tremendous value to her business, family and community by ensuring the availability of high-quality healthy products that will generate increased income as well. She will also educate community members on how they can start raising chickens as a sustainable livelihood. Her repayment period will be 12 months.
Disclaimer: Due to recent events in Kenya, the security situation in many communities remains unsettled, affecting many local businesses. Lenders to this entrepreneur should be aware that this loan may represent a higher default risk, and should be willing to accept this additional risk in making their loan.",F,1000,partner,Agriculture,1 Kenya,"
HANNAH WANJIRU KAMAU is a 51 year old widow with eight children. She lives in Ngorika, a settlement in the Rift Valley part of Kenya, on their two acre piece of land. Her husband died ten years ago from HIV & AIDS-related illnesses. Since his death, Hannah has not been able to take her children to school due to a lack of school fees and the high hospital bill her husband left behind. Due to the high rate of poverty, four of her girl children opted to get married, yet they do not give any financial assistance to their mother. She lives with all four of her boys who depend on her entirely. Hannahs dream has always been to at see at least one of her children study up to university level, but she cannot afford it. She is an active member of Wendani Self Help Group and a staunch Catholic. The local church has assisted her a lot and pays school fees for Hannahs last-born son. This makes Hannah happy, but it is short term, since the church is only paying his fees up to the junior school level. She is requesting a loan of $800. She plans to use the loan as follows: $200 to lease two more acres of land $600 to buy maize seeds and fertilizer for her farm This will assist her in creating jobs for her sons and also make her able to pay for her sons senior school fees, thus making her dream come true.",F,800,lender,Agriculture,1 Kenya,"
Hellen Nyambura is 58 years old. She is a single mother of five children. She lives on the outskirts of Nairobi in an area Known as Ruai. Hellen started a business sewing sweaters and making school uniforms. She gained her skills after training at a friends stall. She later started her own business with 5000 Kenyan Shillings ($75.00) that she saved from her previous business selling vegetables.
Hellen has been of great importance to her community, especially to parents who have school-going children. She enables them to get access to school uniforms without traveling far to purchase them. Her business has been going very well but she now finds that she has been unable to cope with the huge demand for uniforms. The demand is especially high now because children will soon be returning to school.
She is therefore requesting Kiva lenders grant her a loan in good faith of Ksh 50,000 to buy wool for school sweaters. These will be in great demand as we approach the cold months of July. She will also buy cloth materials for making school uniforms. With the addition of these supplies, Hellen will be able to expand her business and also offer employment opportunities to the people surrounding her. These opportunities will especially important to young ladies who been trained but have been unable to find employment or start their own businesses. Hellen also intends to have at least two trainees at her business, who she will be able to train for a small additional income. The repayment period for this loan is 12 months.
Disclaimer: Due to recent events in Kenya, the security situation in many communities remains unsettled, affecting many local businesses. Lenders to this entrepreneur should be aware that this loan may represent a higher default risk, and should be willing to accept this additional risk in making their loan.
",F,825,partner,Services,1 Kenya,"HEZRON MAINA is a 43 year old married pastor with three children. The eldest is in grade six, the second in grade three, and the other is too young to attend school. Hezron farms while his wife Anna runs the family small cereal business, which is only enough to buy food. They depend on farming to supply the bulk of their financial needs. Hezron has been farming tomatoes for five years now and has built a good customer base. He supplies three medium hotels but despite this, he has not completed building the family house that he has already started. He has recently been contracted to supply a local hospital and a boarding school with tomatoes as well. He does not want to lose these orders but unfortunately, has no capital to expand. He is requesting a $1000 loan. $300 leases more land, and $700 buys fertilizer and seeds. He is responsible and will repay the loan. This will enable him to finish building his house. He also will need an extra person, thus creating a job where the majority are jobless.",M,1000,lender,Agriculture,1 Kenya,"
Hilda is a 41 year-old widow with 3 children. She lives on the outskirts of Nairobi in a place known as Ruai. Hilda lost her husband in a traffic road accident, leaving her with the responsibility of taking care of their children. She did, however, receive compensation from the party at fault for her husbands tragic death, and a fund was established to support the family.
With this compensation, Hilda began to think of ways she could invest and create financial security for the future. She decided to open a shop in Ruai and began selling blankets. As time went on, her business continued to grow and she increased her stock. Hilda also began supplying blankets in bulk to other merchants. Hilda now has reliable customers and she regularly supplies other businesses on the outskirts of Nairobi.
Hilda is now looking for loan so that she can expand her market and take on more clients. This way, her profits will increase and she will be in a better position to support her family. Hilda thanks Kiva lenders in advance and will repay her loan in 12 months.
Disclaimer: Due to recent events in Kenya, the security situation in many communities remains unsettled, affecting many local businesses. Lenders to this entrepreneur should be aware that this loan may represent a higher default risk, and should be willing to accept this additional risk in making their loan.",F,775,partner,Retail,1 Kenya,"
Hyline Kerubo is an average Kenyan woman. She's 29 years old and has three children. She also lives with the orphaned child of her late brother.
Hyline started operating her business two years ago after accumulating savings from her former work place in a local school in Kisii town. She currently operates a small retail vegetable business, selling kale, tomatoes, onions, cabbages, bananas, and mangos to customers in the neighborhood.
Hyline must support her children and her husband, who has a low-paying job. With the help of her loan, she'll be able to purchase more stock of different vegetables and fruits, which will enable her to increase sales. This will also enable her to pay school fees for her children.
Disclaimer: Due to recent events in Kenya, the security situation in many communities remains unsettled, affecting many local businesses. Lenders to this entrepreneur should be aware that this loan may represent a higher default risk, and should be willing to accept this additional risk in making their loan.
",F,2075,lender,Food,0 Kenya,"Irene is 40 years old. She is married and has four children, aged 14, 11, 7, and 4 years respectively. Her business is located at the Gikomba Market in Nairobi. Apart from her family, she also takes care of her elderly parents.
Irene sews and sells clothes at the Gikomba Market in Nairobi. She started her business after going to the Gikomba Market to buy a sweater and saw the many women that owned businesses all over the place. From this she felt challenged and inspired. After further consideration, she made up her mind to start her own business. Because she had no capital, she approached her husband who gave her a capital of Ksh 12,000 ($195.00). With her initial capital, she went back to the market with a friend who helped her locate a stall from where she could operate.
Irene had trained as a tailor earlier on and she managed to purchase a sewing machine with some savings. Using the capital given to her by her husband, she also bought materials and other accessories she required to operate a tailoring business. Since she started, Irenes business has grown and now she finds herself with a problem. For some time now, she has been unable to cope with customer demand because she doesnt have enough stock of materials. In order to deal with this difficulty, she normally waits for her customers to make an order and pay a deposit that she uses to purchase the material. This usually brings about delays in her work and now, she finds that she is losing customers.
Irene is requesting Kiva lenders to support her business by extending to her a loan of Ksh 35,000 that she will use to buy a large stock of cloth materials and accessories. The stock will help her to minimize delays as she will have cloth materials at hand that her customers can choose from. The additional stock will enable her to maintain her flow of customers and she will then be able to expand her business. The repayment period for her loan will be 12 months.
Disclaimer: Due to recent events in Kenya, the security situation in many communities remains unsettled, affecting many local businesses. Lenders to this entrepreneur should be aware that this loan may represent a higher default risk, and should be willing to accept this additional risk in making their loan.
",F,550,partner,Arts,1 Kenya,"It is with a lot of mixed feelings of happiness and sorrow that Jane once again approached ANK for another loan. Over the last year (2007), Jane received a loan of $75.00, with which she purchased two sufurias, jikos, and lids. These helped her to grow her business because she has been able to cook larger portions of food and has therefore been able to have enough food for her customers. She has been very grateful to Kiva lenders for the support they gave her to purchase these items for her business.
Unfortunately during the last years post elections violence that rocked Kenya, Jane, who is a 50 year old widow, lost one of the sufurias that she had purchased with the Kiva loan. This made her very sad. However, she is determined and intends to move on with her life in spite of the difficult circumstances that she has faced.
Because of the initial loan she received from Kiva to build her business, Jane has earned higher profits from increased sales. Using these together with part of a small loan from her womens group (that also receives support from ANK), Jane has been slowly putting up some simple semi-permanent structures on her small piece of land in Kiambiu village. She intends to complete and rent these structures to secure her income. Jane is therefore requesting Kiva lenders to support her in this endeavor by granting her another loan so that she can purchase 40 iron sheets for Ksh. 25,000. Using these iron sheets, she will be able to finish the roofing for her new rental houses. Once she completes the roofing, the houses will be ready for occupancy and so she will rent them out. She believes that these houses will bring in some good income and she will be able to replace the items that she lost in the post-elections violence. She will also continue her food business.
Jane believes that this new loan will have a great impact on her life as she will have a stable source of increased income in addition to her business. With a steady flow of income, Jane will be better placed to support her dependents, who include her two children and her two grandchildren. She intends to repay the loan over a period of 12 months.
Disclaimer: Due to recent events in Kenya, the security situation in many communities remains unsettled, affecting many local businesses. Lenders to this entrepreneur should be aware that this loan may represent a higher default risk, and should be willing to accept this additional risk in making their loan.
",F,400,partner,Housing,1 Kenya,"Jacinta is a 27 year old entrepreneur and mother of four school-aged children. She and her husband live in Kisumu in Kenya. She began her current business selling second-hand clothes three years ago. She specializes in womens clothing: skirts, dresses, and casual and formal tops. She is able to purchase a good variety at wholesale prices. And the prime location of her business on a busy street, three years of experience, and friendly interaction with customers have established a good client base. Her customers return to her shop for her wide selection or to make requests for certain styles.
Jacinta plans to expand her business with her next loan of $600.00. She will use the loan to increase her current stock of second-hand clothes and save the remaining funds in a savings account so that she may continue to purchase new stock even when cash flow slows due to delays in customer payments.
Disclaimer: Due to recent events in Kenya, the security situation in many communities remains unsettled, affecting many local businesses. Lenders to this entrepreneur should be aware that this loan may represent a higher default risk, and should be willing to accept this additional risk in making their loan.
",F,600,partner,Clothing,0 Kenya,"Jackson Mworia is a 36 year-old trained clinical officer. He is the proprietor of Makutano Medical Clinic based in the Meru Eastern part of Kenya. He offers various health services, such as family planning and maternal and child health, and also runs a pharmacy and a laboratory.
Jackson attributes his success to hard work, perseverance, and financial assistance from K-MET/KIVA. He requires $1200.00 to enable him integrate other services into his facility.
Disclaimer: Due to recent events in Kenya, the security situation in many communities remains unsettled, affecting many local businesses. Lenders to this entrepreneur should be aware that this loan may represent a higher default risk, and should be willing to accept this additional risk in making their loan.
",M,1200,partner,Health,0 Kenya,"James Maero Okwaro is a 40 yr old married man, with 5 children. He resides in the populous slums of Mwariki within Nakuru city. Four of his children attend school while the remaining child is still too young to be admitted in school. His wife works as a tailor, she helps in taking care of the family welfare.
James owns a small welding shop where he repairs bicycles, metal doors and window frames. Most of his customers consist of Boda Boda (Bicycle taxi) people thus he is assured of plenty of regular customers. He stared this business five years ago. His earnings from his business go toward providing basic requirements for his family. Due to the increasing number of people engaging in Boda Boda (Bicycle taxi) business, he would like to take advantage of this trend and increase his income. He is requesting for a loan of US $150 to enable him to buy solder and pay his outstanding electricity bill. The extra earnings will be useful to meet his family needs. His is a hard working man and he will be able to repay the loan.",M,150,lender,Manufacturing,1 Kenya,"
JAMES MAINA KAMAU is 35 years old, married and has four children. All of their children are in senior school. James and his family live and farm on their three-acre land in Ngorika, a settlement in the rift valley part of Kenya. His wife is a retired head teacher. Their main occupation is maize and dairy farming, on which they survive. James is an active member of the Wendani Self Help Group. He has received several loans from Ebony Foundation through the group, which he has repaid all on time. He has two dairy cows and now is requesting a loan of $800 to purchase one dairy cow. This will increase his milk deliveries from 25 litres to an average of 26 litres a day. He sells his milk to a local dairy factory. He is grateful because with this he will be able to see all his four children complete their senior education without school fees problems.",M,800,lender,Agriculture,1 Kenya,"
Jane is the 35 year old married mother of five, who are all in school. She lives with her husband in the Sagam village of Siaya. She is a member of Schobac, a community based group. Jane is a full-time farmer who also sells fish to the local community. She buys fish (tilapia) in bulk from Yimbo--one of the beaches--and then sells to most of the hotels in Luanda. Despite stiff competition, increase in fish prices, and high transport cost, Jane has managed her business well. She requires $600.00 to invest in her fish business.
Disclaimer: Due to recent events in Kenya, the security situation in many communities remains unsettled, affecting many local businesses. Lenders to this entrepreneur should be aware that this loan may represent a higher default risk, and should be willing to accept this additional risk in making their loan.
",F,600,partner,Food,0 Kenya,"Jane Mutwa Mutwike is 33 years old. She is single and has no dependents. She lives in Mlolongo town along the major Mombasa highway. Jane started her business way back in 2006 after saving about 20,000 Kenyan Shillings ($310.00) while she was employed as a shop attendant in Kitui town. Because her savings were not enough, she approached her elder sister for a loan of an additional Ksh 20,000. Her sister didnt hesitate to loan her younger sibling the money she needed because she felt that she had a genuine case and therefore she wanted to support her.
With the funds she had accumulated as the initial capital Jane bought a variety of hair and beauty products and started operating her business from her house. She approached several salons in her neighborhood and began to sell her products to them. Most of the salon owners liked her approach and they always bought her products. By selling door-to-door, Jane was able to make a big profit and with it she rented a stall from where she is still operating. She employs someone to work in the stall while she continues to go door-to-door to look for customers and also sell to her loyal ones.
From this effort, her business has grown to the point that Jane now wants to increase her inventory of the hair and beauty products like braids, extensions, and chemicals among other items, and meet the growing needs of her customers. She is therefore kindly requesting a loan-in-kind from Kiva lenders of Ksh 40,000 ($650.00). With this loan, Jane will be able to add much-needed stock, which will grow her business and also translate into a higher income. She then hopes to employ another helper, therefore creating a much needed employment opportunity. The repayment period for this loan is 12 months.
Disclaimer: Due to recent events in Kenya, the security situation in many communities remains unsettled, affecting many local businesses. Lenders to this entrepreneur should be aware that this loan may represent a higher default risk, and should be willing to accept this additional risk in making their loan.
",F,650,partner,Retail,1 Kenya,"Jane Sayo is an average Kenyan woman. She is 43 years old, and married with four children. She also lives with the two orphaned children of her late sister, who perished two years ago.
Jane started her second-hand clothes business two years ago after accumulating savings from her previous job in Eldoret town. She sells ladies wear but would like to diversify by adding mens and childrens clothing as well. Every week, Jane purchases four bales of clothing from a local clothes wholesale market and then sells them to her regular customers. With the little profit that she gets from her business, she is still able to feed, clothe, and educate her children. With the help of her loan, Jane will be able to purchase many bales of clothes and increase her monthly sales.
Disclaimer: Due to recent events in Kenya, the security situation in many communities remains unsettled, affecting many local businesses. Lenders to this entrepreneur should be aware that this loan may represent a higher default risk, and should be willing to accept this additional risk in making their loan.
",M,1025,lender,Clothing,0 Kenya,"Jane was born in an extended family in Kiambu 43 years ago. She is a single mother of two and all her children are now in college. After finishing college, she got a job as a civil servant where she works today. She was able to buy and develop a plot in Thika town, which is the biggest industrial town in Kenya. The cost of living is ever rising and the monthly salary is almost fixed actually its not matching with the economic changes. This forced her to start up a retail shop in Thika Town.
Besides her job and a retail shop, she sells milk at her home in Kanunga, Kiambu. She has dairy cows at the same time practices horticulture farming on small scale. She sells on average 20 litres of milk to Kiamba Dairy Cooperative Society Limited daily. She would like to increase her milk production to 40 litres per day. This will increase her income and enable her invest in other business such as buying shares in profitable companies to look after her in her old age.
",F,1000,partner,Retail,0 Kenya,"JOHN BITEI is an O-level leaver, married with four children. Prior to his current venture, he used to perform clearing & forwarding of cargo trucks at the Kenya-Uganda border. He started his business from capital raised through friends and family in 2003. His first loan of $143 from PEMCI enabled him to move into a permanent location (shop) unlike before, when he was in a kiosk. With a second loan of $300, he plans to increase the stock of parts in his new shop. Mr Bitei is also involved in a network marketing of a Chinese health product TIASH, which supplements his income. He is a well respected member of the local community.",M,300,partner,Services,0 Kenya,"
JOHN MBUI is a 63 year old married farmer. He has ten children who have all finished school, but two are still living with him at home. His wife Lucy is a housewife while he is the sole breadwinner. He supplies the local butcheries with goats for slaughter. He makes an average of $5 per day and supplies goats five days a week. He still struggles to support his two sons living at home. He has an opportunity since people use motorbikes for public transport more than cars in his locality because it works out cheaper. There is a wide market and he would never lack customers. He would like to buy a motorbike to ferry people as a taxi, but lacks the funds. He is requesting a $1200 loan to buy a motorbike. This will create a job for one of his sons. He is hardworking and will repay the loan.",M,1200,lender,Retail,1 Kenya,"
John Ngunjiri is 35 years old and is married with three children ages 8, 4 and 2. In addition to his own children, he also takes care of his late sisters child, who is 15 years old.
John is a carpenter by profession, and he received training in planing machine operation in 1998 in Huruma, a section of Nairobi. Over the years, he took on numerous small jobs and was able to save Ksh. 50,000, which he used to start his own business in 2004. His business is located in the Don Holm section of Nairobi, although he resides in Kayole, which is outside Nairobi city.
Although he initially started with a small clientele base, he has been able to increase the number of customers through the quality of his work. It is due to this much-welcome increase that he is seeking a loan of Ksh 60,000 to buy a second planning machine.
With his purchase of the equipment and goods he will be able to increase his production and accelerate his turnover time by increasing his staff from two to four. Currently, he is hampered by having to rely on one overloaded planing machine. Having only one planing machine slows down productivity of his business and the potential for it to grow and become more profitable.
John is confident that once he purchases the equipment ,he will be able to turn out more of his high-quality products and train others in the community through employment. Finally, this loan will enable John to better provide for his family in a sustainable manner. John thanks Kiva lenders in advance and intends to repay the loan in 12 months.
Disclaimer: Due to recent events in Kenya, the security situation in many communities remains unsettled, affecting many local businesses. Lenders to this entrepreneur should be aware that this loan may represent a higher default risk, and should be willing to accept this additional risk in making their loan.",M,925,partner,Manufacturing,1 Kenya,"
JOSEPH KIAMA KIRIUNGI is 52 years old, married, and has eight children. Five are girls and already married, while the two boys are in senior school and one is expected to join a local university next year. Joseph and his family live in Ngorika, a settlement in Rift valley where their main occupation is maize farming and dairy farming. He is an active member of Wendani Self Help Group, which is a group within Ebony Foundation. They farm on their five-acre farm, which has enabled them to educate their children and cater for their daily upkeep. Joseph farms maize while his wife, with the help of their children, is responsible for dairy cows. They are faced with a big financial responsibility next year because one of their sons is expected to join university. He would like to expand her farming but lacks the capital. He is requesting a loan of $800.
He intends to utilize the loan this way: $200 to lease two more acres of land $550 to buy seeds and fertilizers $50 to employ casual laborers
He is responsible and will repay the loan with no problems.",M,800,lender,Agriculture,1 Kenya,"
JOSEPH KIBIRA WAMBUGU is a 44 year old married farmer with three children. His children are all in junior school. Wambugu and his wife Joyce live in Subukia, which is mainly a farming town, and run a small dry cleaning business. Two years ago Wambugu decided to take advantage of this opportunity and start farming. He joined Ebony Foundation, where hw took a business start-up skills course, and later received funding of $300 from Ebony Foundation, which he repaid. This loan helped him start farming on a one-acre plot. He now wants to expand his farming acres but lacks capital. He is requesting a loan of $800. $120 leases land, $400 buys seed and fertilizers, and $260 goes for ploughing. He has a clear vision and will repay the loan.",M,800,lender,Agriculture,1 Kenya,"
Joseph Mani is 60 years old and is married with 7 children. In addition to his own family, he has 2 of his late sisters children to look after. All of the children are young adults with the youngest being 20 years old.
Joseph is a tailor by profession and he resides in Mathare, a slum area in Nairobi. His business is located in Gikomba Market. Joseph has had a long career in tailoring, which he first developed at the Thika Clothing Mills, where he worked until 1976. After leaving this job, Joseph sought the help of a friend who graduated from the Kabete Technical Institute for further training in tailoring.
With his training, Ksh 15,000 savings that he had managed to gather from the NSSF (National Social Security Fund) and Ksh 20,000 from his coffee farm savings, Joseph was able to buy himself an over-locking machine. This was the beginning of his investment in Jorima Enterprise. With time, business has picked up dramatically, and he finds that his clients orders exceed his production capabilities. It has reached the point that Joseph finds it overwhelming to cater to all his clients orders, and he is forced to pass on orders to tailoring friends, thereby diminishing his profits. His business currently employs four workers.
Joseph projects that with a Ksh 60,000 loan, his productivity levels will increase significantly and he will no longer have to turn customers away. He intends to purchase a second-hand straight machine worth Ksh.22, 000 and a second hand over-locking machine worth Ksh.25, 000. With the remaining Ksh. 13,000, Joseph will purchase more materials to enhance his product line and customer appeal.
Joseph would like to thank Kiva lenders in advance for investing in his business. It will raise his familys standard of living as well as lead to more sustainable employment in the community. Joseph will repay his loan within 12 months.
Disclaimer: Due to recent events in Kenya, the security situation in many communities remains unsettled, affecting many local businesses. Lenders to this entrepreneur should be aware that this loan may represent a higher default risk, and should be willing to accept this additional risk in making their loan.",M,925,partner,Clothing,1 Kenya,"
Josephine is married with six children; three are in primary school and three have finished schooling. She has not undertaken any advanced schooling, though she finished her secondary school successfully.
Josephine started her business in 1976 operating with a cereal board. She has a great deal of experience since she has been in the business for a long time. Through the business she has been able to support her children by paying their school fees, meeting their basic needs and providing food security to the community.
With a loan from PEMCI, she intents to increase her stock to meet the demands of her customers.
",F,150,partner,Food,0 Kenya,"Joshua is the proprietor of Major Medical Clinic based in Kipsaina Kitale. He is a trained nurse/midwife, offering comprehensive reproductive health services in his clinic.
Joshua attributes his success to hard work, perseverance, and financial assistance from K-MET/KIVA. He requires $1200.00 to enable him to purchase stock of drugs in bulk.
Disclaimer: Due to recent events in Kenya, the security situation in many communities remains unsettled, affecting many local businesses. Lenders to this entrepreneur should be aware that this loan may represent a higher default risk, and should be willing to accept this additional risk in making their loan.
",M,1200,partner,Health,0 Kenya,"Joyce Kwamboka is an average young Kenyan. She is married with four children of her own. She also cares for the child of her late sister.
Joyce started her tailoring business three years ago after completing her tailoring course in Kisii Town. Before venturing into the business, Joyce worked on commission for a friend in Getembe market, in the town of Kisii. From this job, she accumulated savings to start her own business. She started with one sewing machine but she has worked hard to expand her business and currently has two sewing machines.
With the little profit she gets from her business, she is still able to provide food, clothing, and shelter and pay school fees for her children. Her greatest joy would be to see her children go to secondary school for higher education, if possible.
With the help of her loan, Joyce will be able to purchase more clothing materials for her business and thus to increase her monthly sales.
Disclaimer: Due to recent events in Kenya, the security situation in many communities remains unsettled, affecting many local businesses. Lenders to this entrepreneur should be aware that this loan may represent a higher default risk, and should be willing to accept this additional risk in making their loan.
",M,4600,lender,Services,0 Kenya,"Joyce Wahu is a 40 year-old widow with 2 children. Apart from her family, she also takes care of two orphans from her sister. She lives on the outskirts of Nairobi in a place called Ruai town.
Joyce is in the business of raising and selling chickens. Early on, she was offered training by Kenchic Limited, a local farm which deals with chicken production in conjunction with KIOF (Kenya Institute of Organic Farming.) After qualifying to raise chickens, she went to seek funds from a merry-go-round womens savings and lending group of which she was a member. She was granted a loan of Ksh. 20,000 from the group to start her business and with these funds managed to purchase chicks, charcoal for heating, a charcoal stove (jiko) and chicken feed.
Despite a few challenges, Joyces business gradually took off. The profits that she made were channeled into loan repayments to the merry-go-round group. Because the merry-goround was not able to fund her with a large amount of capital, she opted to approach an organization known as Kenya ECLOF for more funds. She was granted Ksh 50,000, which she used to expand her poultry business. Joyce built a chicken coop, increased the number of chickens she was raising, and bought feeding equipment, as she had previously fed her chicken using her kitchen wares. Unfortunately, her chicks were struck by avian flu, which was a big blow to her business since she also had a loan to pay and medication to buy for her chickens.
Joyce struggled to pay her loan, but with a lot of determination and hard work she managed to pay back all of her debt and continued raising the few chickens that survived the flu.
Joyce is very proud of her accomplishments as a poultry farmer, and community members recognize the high quality of her chickens. Some even go to her and seek information on how to raise chickens! Joyce gladly offers them training and advice the best way that she can.
Joyce has been unable to expand her poultry business from the current level of 100 chickens to 400 chickens. Through Action Now: Kenya, she is requesting a loan of Ksh 65,000 from Kiva lenders to grow her business. With the loan, she will be able to purchase 400 chickens, buy food and charcoal for heating, which will help boost production and income. Furthermore, she will be in a better position to continue educating community members about poultry nutrition and will offer employment opportunities as her business expands. Finally, she will also be able to take better care of her family. She is thanking Kiva lenders in advance as they assist her in her goals. The repayment period will be 12 months.
Disclaimer: Due to recent events in Kenya, the security situation in many communities remains unsettled, affecting many local businesses. Lenders to this entrepreneur should be aware that this loan may represent a higher default risk, and should be willing to accept this additional risk in making their loan.",F,1000,partner,Food,1 Kenya,"
Joyce Waithira is 25 yrs old. She is married and has one child, aged 3 years. Apart from her family she is taking care of her four siblings who were left under her care after her father died.
Joyces business is located at the Kenyatta Market area of Nairobi. She used to be employed in a salon before she ventured into her current business. She was inspired to start a telecommunication business by her sister-in-law and she thought it was a great idea. She then decided to quit her job and start her own business and with the saving from her previous employment she bought a community mobile phone that the people can use to make a call for a fee, locally known as Simu Ya Jamii.
In 2007, she expanded her business and started selling mobile phone top-up scratch cards and this gave her business a tremendous boost. Since then she has seen a drastic increase in the number of customers, including the ANK office and staff, who have always purchased the credit top-up for the office from her business.
Despite the achievements, Joyce has had one problem. As the earnings that she gets mostly go out to take care of her family and additional dependents, she has been unable to re-invest her profits to expand her business further. She is now requesting the Kiva lenders to grant her a loan of Ksh 50,000 to enable her to purchase additional scratch cards and telephone accessories. This will be of a benefit to her, as she will not be waiting for her supplier to supply her with a new stock after the old supply is completely has finished. This will keep the flow in sales hence grow her business. Joyce believes that the loan will help her in a big way. She will be able to maintain her customers by always having something to sell, unlike previously when she runs out of stock and has to wait for a new supply. She is thanking the Kiva lenders in advance as they help her to grow in the business world. This loan is repayable within a period of 12 months.
Disclaimer: Due to recent events in Kenya, the security situation in many communities remains unsettled, affecting many local businesses. Lenders to this entrepreneur should be aware that this loan may represent a higher default risk, and should be willing to accept this additional risk in making their loan.
",F,800,partner,Services,1 Kenya,"Julius Lomedi is a 43 year old Kenyan father of four children. He also lives with the two orphaned children of his late sister, who perished two years ago.
Julius started his business three years ago after accumulating savings from his previous job. He currently operates a small posho mill (maize grinder) in his neighborhood, and stocks maize that he sells to his customers. He occasionally also sells millet and sorghum to better enable him to support his family. With the little profit that he gets from the business, Julius still struggles to feed, clothe, and educate his children and to pay the rent for his house. But with the help of his loan, he will be able to purchase more bags of maize to sell to his customers and boost his sales.
Disclaimer: Due to recent events in Kenya, the security situation in many communities remains unsettled, affecting many local businesses. Lenders to this entrepreneur should be aware that this loan may represent a higher default risk, and should be willing to accept this additional risk in making their loan.
",F,3075,lender,Food,0 Kenya,"Kakuu is a member of Osotua women group a community based organization that encourages women to start up income generating activities. The group runs a group revolving fund and it has a bank account where members keep their savings. She is 42 years old, married and they have five children. She has been in business since 1984 and she been selling milk in Isinya Town for years. Since then, she is ever on the move finding opportunities to improve her life. She started raising steers in 2002 and the business was doing very well until 2005 when the whole area was almost destroyed by a prolonged drought. The climate since March this year favors farmers and life is back to normal in Maasai land. Kakuu now has three steers in different age groups and she will sell one at a time. She wants to keep six steers and at the end of six months, two will be ready for sell and this will give her good income to pay school fees for her children and to cover other necessities.
",F,450,partner,Agriculture,0 Kenya,"Kamasek is such a hardworking lady who has come along way from selling ghee to raising steers for sale. She is 40 years old and has 6 children, two of them are married and others are in school. At present, she has 5 steers and these will be sold as they mature because they are of different age and size. The bigger the steers, the higher the price and so is the profit. Besides the steers business, Kamasek makes necklaces, belts and bracelets out of beads. These are sold to her group member Emily who sells them to Nairobi markets and Westlands. Also, she sells milk and this gives her daily income that covers the day-to-day expenses at home.
",F,450,partner,Agriculture,0 Kenya,"Kesilai is 45 years old. She is married and has 7 children. She is a trained councilor and she has helped her community to resist and abolish female genital mutilation (FMG) practices. Through various trainings, she has been able to gather a lot of knowledge and she shares it with her group members especially the dangers of this practice and HIV-AIDS. Kiselai is a member of Inkiramat Women group which operates in Isinya as a self help group. Through the trainings she has learnt the importance of savings and greatly appreciates it. The group runs a group revolving fund; Kiselai accessed a small loan of $200 in 2005 and bought two local cows. She started selling milk after some time and up to today, the business is ever growing. She has five cows which are second class cross breeds. She repaid her loan promptly and this encouraged her to apply for another loan. In addition to selling milk, she sells items made of beads at Isinya town. Along with dairy cows, she rears steers for sale. She fattens them and after 6 months, they are sold at Isinya market. She has been able to educate her children, her first born has finished college whereas others are still in secondary school. Her major concern is to get school fees for her children and give them the best education which she did not receive.
",F,450,partner,Food,0 Kenya,"Lawrence Masika is a young Kenyan father, aged 36, with three children. He also lives with the two orphaned children of his late brother, who perished a year ago.
Lawrence started his business four years ago after accumulating savings from an informal rotating savings fund that his group had. (This is commonly referred to as merry go round."") His business is located in the municipality market. His clients are mostly people from the neighborhood who give him furniture orders. Lawrence uses the profits from his business to feed, clothe, and educate his children. With the help of his loan, he'll be able to purchase timber in bulk to make more furniture for his regular clients and increase his business sales.
Disclaimer: Due to recent events in Kenya, the security situation in many communities remains unsettled, affecting many local businesses. Lenders to this entrepreneur should be aware that this loan may represent a higher default risk, and should be willing to accept this additional risk in making their loan.
",M,2350,lender,Construction,0 Kenya,"Lucy Muthoni Njenga is a 42 year old married woman with 3 children. All her children attend school. She supports her husband in meeting the family needs by running a second hand clothes business in an open market within the town centre. She sells an assortment of mattress covers and bed sheets. She has been doing this business for the last ten years and has cultivated a good customer base. As a result of her successful business she has been able to assist in meeting her childrens academic cost and other family needs. Her dream is to see her children get a college education since she was unable to complete her primary level education due to lack of school fees.
She gets her bale of clothes from a local second hand broker. Byuing from an intermediary, results in a high cost of one bale of clothes. Her income is too little to support her family and at the same time allow her to expand her business. She would like to increase her stock to earn more profit but she cannot meet her expansion plan due to insufficient capital. She is requesting a loan of US $300 to help her meet her business expansion plan. The funds will be used to buy two bales of assorted clothes. She is a hardworking business woman she will be able to repay her loan in good time.",F,300,lender,Clothing,1 Kenya,"
LUCY NGENO is 38 years old and married with six children. She lives with her husband Mathew, their six children and three other children (orphans of Mathews deceased sister, who was unmarried) on their two-acre plot. Together, they take care of nine children, who are all in school. Six of them are in senior school and require more school fees. They have been farming a total of five acres (leasing some of them), but they still struggle to maintain and educate their family. Lucy is a woman who reacts to challenges and this saw her start tomato farming. She joined Ebony Foundation in December 2005 and got a loan of $500 to help with her farming. She repaid her loan promptly. She would like to expand her farming even more, but has no capital. She is requesting a $1200 loan. $400 leases more acres, and $800 buys seed, fertilizer and herbicides. She is motivated and will repay the loan.",F,1200,lender,Agriculture,1 Kenya,"
Lucy Wanjiru is an active member of the Gituya Kamukia Women Group. She is 46 years old, married and blessed with six children. She is actively involved in her ACK church acting as Chairwoman. She gives her congregation guidance on spiritual matters, development and any possible way that would improve them. She is a pioneer and mobilizes women to WEEC groups. Her main source of income is dairy and coffee farming. This work earns $150USD per month.
Coffee is an unstable crop, so it does not provide a consistent income. She is requesting a loan to purchase dairy meal, bran, fish meal and vitamins. This will do a great deal to increase milk production and maximize her income. She would like to make her repayments on a monthly basis.",F,150,lender,Agriculture,1 Kenya,"
Lydia Imbune Okhato is a 29-year-old mother of one child. Her husband is employed as a storekeeper in a hotel. Their child attends kindergarten.
Lydia is trained nurse's aide and has three years' experience in that profession, but she stopped working as a nurse's aide when she had her child. Consequently, Lydia began selling mixed categories of second-hand clothes in the vast Kongowea market in Mombasa. These clothes are very popular and sell very well because they are cheaper than new clothes.
Lydia's income, combined with her husbands, is barely enough for the familys household needs. This situation has compelled her to look for ways to improve their income.
Lydia would like to increase her inventory, because stocking a greater variety of clothes will raise her daily sales. Furthermore, she currently has limited capital. She is requesting a loan of US $ 600. This entire sum will be used to buy additional second-hand clothes for sale. Lydia is a capable entrepreneur and will be able to repay the loan within the loan term duration.
",F,600,lender,Clothing,1 Kenya,"Margaret Chizi Tuva is 62 years old. She is a widow with four children. Her business is located at the Kenyatta Market area in Nairobi. She is a chef who offers both indoor catering, which she prepares in her food parlor, and outside catering. Margaret started her business in 1998 with 100,000 Kenyan Shillings ($1,540.00) after she resigned from the central bank of Kenya. With this amount she secured a stall at Kenyatta Market and bought Sufurias, spoons, and cooking jikos. Margaret then became the market's favorite chef and many people queue for her delicious food during lunch hours, including ANK staff members. She also gets outside orders for occasions like weddings, birthday parties, and other functions.
Margaret has one big challenge: she doesnt own her own equipment, which is especially important for outside catering. She needs spoons, plates, chef dishes, food warmers, and other equipment and is often forced to rent them, which becomes quite costly. In other cases, she finds the owners already using the equipment, which causes great inconvenience.
Margaret has been planning to purchase her own equipment for a long time but it has been too costly. She is therefore requesting Kiva lenders grant her a loan-in-kind of Ksh 73,000 ($1200.00) to purchase the equipment. It will then be more convenient to her to operate the outside catering branch of the business. And instead of renting, she will be the one who can lend out equipment. She will also be able to create employment opportunities by employing more people to help her cook. Margaret thanks Kiva lenders in advance and she promises to pay back her loan within a period of 12 months.
Disclaimer: Due to recent events in Kenya, the security situation in many communities remains unsettled, affecting many local businesses. Lenders to this entrepreneur should be aware that this loan may represent a higher default risk, and should be willing to accept this additional risk in making their loan.
",F,1200,partner,Food,1 Kenya,"Margaret is married with five children all in primary school. She has not undergone any formal training. She started her business in 2005 in order to sustain her family. She repaid her first loan successfully with PEMCI, which helped her strengthen her capital base. Through her business she has been able to gain skills in business management and to bring shopping services closer to the local community.
With the proposed second loan, she intends to increase her stock further and improve her income. As a woman who is trying to promote the well-being of her family, she is worth the support.
",F,225,partner,Retail,0 Kenya,"MARGARET NJERI GITHIRE is 48 years old. She is a single parent of two girls who are both in school. Margaret takes care of her late sisters two children and also supports her aging Mother whom she lives with. She is therefore the sole breadwinner to five dependants. She lives in Ngorika a settlement in the Rift valley part of Kenya. She owns a three-acre land where she farms maize and beans. The cost of living is high, especially for her, and she has to increase her income if she is to continue providing basic needs and keep the children in school. She wants to start dairy farming but lacks capital. She is requesting a loan of $1200 and plans to use it this way: Use $800 to purchase one dairy cow, Use $200 to purchase one caf Use $100 to buy fodder, minerals and salts for the cows Use $100 to build and cement the cows shade. This will enable her sell her milk to a local dairy factory and with its income, providede a better life and future to her dependants.",F,1200,lender,Agriculture,1 Kenya,"
Marietta Nzisa is 30 years old. Shes married with one child and expecting her second in February, 2008. She has a cyber cafe that provides internet and photocopying services. She started her business in 2006 after completing a computer course at a technical college. She approached her mother for a loan to start her own business because she did not like to ask her mother for money to buy things like creams and other personal items. Her mother loaned her 80,000 Kenyan Shillings, which Marietta use to buy three computers and rent a stall at Kasarani a town on the outskirts of Nairobi.
Due to the popularity and demand of computer services, Marietta has a growing number of customers and wants to add more computers. Currently, her loyal customers must wait 30 minutes to access a computer. The wait sometimes makes customers leave and this pains Marietta greatly. She is therefore requesting a loan of 80,000 Kenyan Shillings ($1150.00) to purchase three brand new computers. This will be a landmark for Marietta because she will then be able to provide quick and efficient service. She will also train at least one student in a computer course. Students will save by training in her business because they will not have to travel all the way into town.
Marietta thanks the Kiva lenders in advance. The repayment period for this loan is 10-12 months.
Disclaimer: Due to recent events in Kenya, the security situation in many communities remains unsettled, affecting many local businesses. Lenders to this entrepreneur should be aware that this loan may represent a higher default risk, and should be willing to accept this additional risk in making their loan.
",F,1150,partner,Services,1 Kenya,"Martha Adhiambo Omollo is a 22-year-old mother of two children. She is married to a manual laborer. Under her care are her sisters two children who were orphaned after their mother passed on. All the children attend junior school. She earns a living as a tailor at the expansive Kongowea market in Mombasa.
<>She buys second-hand clothes at a cheap price, which she later re-tailors into garments that are more appealing to her customers. These clothes later find their way to wholesalers who sell them all over the region. Over the seven years she has been engaged in this business, she has managed to create a large consumer base that regularly buys from her in bulk. All the proceeds go into catering for her household expenses.She would like to increase her income so that she can take better care of her familys growing needs. Her plan is to have more items available for sale so as to maximize her profits. However, her greatest problem is raising the required capital to purchase more of the used clothes. Therefore, she is requesting a loan of US $ 300 to assist her in buying the items. Her vast knowledge in this business will assist her to make optimal gains out of this venture.
",F,300,lender,Clothing,1 Kenya,"Martha Mueni is 38 years old. She is married and has three children. She lives in the Kayole area of Nairobi. Apart from her family, she also takes care of her her eldest daughters son and her niece, whose parents passed away. Her two brothers, age 22 and 27 years old respectively, also depend on her.
Martha used to work at the airport canteen and was able to save 10,000 Kenyan Shillings ($150.00) to invest through Merry Go Round. She left the airport in 2000 and started a boutique using her savings and the interest from the Merry Go Round group. She rented a premise and bought clothing to sell. Her business has performed well so far. But, unfortunately, because she has so many dependents to support, Martha and her husband have been struggling. They must pay the school fees for all the children and provide for their basic needs. Martha has been unable to increase her inventory to expand the business and adequately meet her customers' demand. Most of her income is used to take care of her dependents.
Martha is requesting Kiva lenders grant her a loan of Ksh 30,000 ($500.00) to enable her to increase her inventory. With this loan, she believes she will be able to increase profits and eventually reinvest in the business. This will also enable her to better provide for her family and continue her business. The repayment period for this loan is 12 months.
Disclaimer: Due to recent events in Kenya, the security situation in many communities remains unsettled, affecting many local businesses. Lenders to this entrepreneur should be aware that this loan may represent a higher default risk, and should be willing to accept this additional risk in making their loan.
",F,500,partner,Clothing,1 Kenya,"Martin is 28 year old poultry farmer. He is married and lives with his wife and one child. His wife works as a social worker with Millennium Development. Martin started his poultry business in 2005. He keeps only local breeds (for meat and eggs), which are preferred most locally and he currently has 100. He requires $500.00 to build a bigger structure, purchase chicken feeds, and add more chicks.
Disclaimer: Due to recent events in Kenya, the security situation in many communities remains unsettled, affecting many local businesses. Lenders to this entrepreneur should be aware that this loan may represent a higher default risk, and should be willing to accept this additional risk in making their loan.
",M,500,partner,Agriculture,0 Kenya,"MARY GAKENIA MAINA is 29 years old. She is a single mother of two children. One of her children is in junior school while the second is 3 years old. She is an active member of Wendani Self Help Group. She lives in Ngorika, a settlement in the Rift Valley part of Kenya, on their one acre piece of land.
She farms maize and potatoes. Potato farming is seasonal and is done four times a year. It gives very competitive prices if planted at the right time and given appropriate attention in terms of water and pests control. She is requesting a loan of $1000 to use as follows: $200 to lease two acres of land $500 to buy potato seedlings, maize seeds and fertilizers $300 to buy a pesticide sprayer and pesticides. She plans to save all the net profit from her yields to offer a better and planned future for her two children, since she is the breadwinner.",F,1000,lender,Agriculture,1 Kenya,"
Mary is a 30 year old entrepreneur. She lives in Kisumu in Kenya with her husband and three school-age children. She set up a fruit and vegetable stall near her home early last year. Her hard work and determination have led to her success within this one year period. She manages her stall during the day and also offers hair dressing services to her established clients in the evenings.
Her profits pay the household expenses as well as her children's school fees. Mary plans to use the funds from her next loan of $600.00 to increase her stock of vegetables, establish a new beauty salon kiosk, and save the remaining amount to use in case of of emergencies.
Disclaimer: Due to recent events in Kenya, the security situation in many communities remains unsettled, affecting many local businesses. Lenders to this entrepreneur should be aware that this loan may represent a higher default risk, and should be willing to accept this additional risk in making their loan.
",F,600,partner,Food,0 Kenya,"Mary is a 50 year old entrepreneur. She is a widow and lives with her eight children in Midhine Siaya in Kenya. She runs a small shop adjacent to her home that she started in 2006. She sells basic commodities, such as bread, rice, flour, cooking oil, sugar, eggs, milk, salt, and soap. She requires $700.00 to add more stock to her shop.
Disclaimer: Due to recent events in Kenya, the security situation in many communities remains unsettled, affecting many local businesses. Lenders to this entrepreneur should be aware that this loan may represent a higher default risk, and should be willing to accept this additional risk in making their loan.
",F,700,partner,Retail,0 Kenya,"Mary Mungusa is 40 years old and is married with 5 children. Apart from her family, she also takes care of her brothers three orphaned children, who are currently in secondary school. Mary lives in Soweto village in the Kibera slums of Nairobi.
From an early age, Mary wanted to be a dressmaker. When she became a young woman, she approached some well-known dressmakers in her neighborhood and asked for training. One of her friends offered her this opportunity, and after her training period Mary became a skilled seamstress. Shortly thereafter, Mary started her own business with an initial capital of Ksh. 5,000 that she received from a merry-go-round savings and lending group. With this money, she purchased a sewing machine and some materials to start off with. Since she did not have enough money to rent a proper stall, she worked from her house. Her business continued to grow and with her earnings she managed to move her business out of her house and into a rented public stall alongside other popular businesses. This site was very good for her since it was in an active shopping area, and because of this, she began attracting more customers. As her business continues to grow, Mary wants to expand even more but she doesnt have access to the necessary funds. With a loan, she wants to purchase a sewing machine and increase her stock of materials. Thus, Mary is requesting a loan of Ksh 15,000 that will enable her to acquire these items and keep her business growing.
Marys dressmaking business is vital to her community as well. As her client base expands, she will be able to employ young people to help her with sewing and also some finishing. She will also be able to offer training to young ladies who want to learn dressmaking (just as she was taught by successful women earlier). Finally, this loan will let Mary take better care of her family and dependents. She is thanking Kiva lenders in advance for their help in pursuing her goal. The repayment period is 12 months.
Disclaimer: Due to recent events in Kenya, the security situation in many communities remains unsettled, affecting many local businesses. Lenders to this entrepreneur should be aware that this loan may represent a higher default risk, and should be willing to accept this additional risk in making their loan.",F,250,partner,Clothing,1 Kenya,"
MARY WAMBUI KARIUKI is 32 years old, married, and has three children. Two of her children are in junior school, while her last-born child is mentally retarded and stays at home. She lives in Ngorika, a settlement in the Rift valley part of Kenya, on their two-acre piece of land. She is an active member of Wendani Self Help Group.
Mary and her husband farm maize and potatoes and are requesting a loan of $900, which they plan to use as follows: $300 to lease three acres of land $500 to buy maize seeds, potato seedlings and pesticides $50 to employ casual laborers $50 pay school fees to a special school for her retarded child.
Mary plans to save her net profits to enable her take care of her children, especially the last born who needs special attention. She repays all her loans well.",F,900,lender,Agriculture,1 Kenya,"
Mary Wambui Ndungu is 31 years old, single and has one dependant. She is the sole breadwinner for her family. She resides within Nakuru town.
As a way of meeting her family's financial needs she runs a second hand shoe vending business within the town centre. Her business is strategically positioned to display her second hand shoes to a large number of people on a daily basis thus guaranteeing her sales of the shoes. She displays an assortment of shoes from ladys wear to the latest mens wear. This gives her a niche over competitors. She has been doing this business for the last five years and she has developed a good customer base. Through her income she caters for her childs education and basic needs.
Her business has been facing challenges especially from the municipal council who has been harressing her, and bad weather since her business is outdoors. She would like to increase her stock but she cannot, since most of her income goes towards her childs academic expenditure. She is therefore requesting for a loan of US $300. The fund will be used to purchase one bale of assorted pair of shoes.",F,300,lender,Retail,1 Kenya,"
Mary Wanjiru has a business that meets her community needs. She sells mostly household consumer goods such as sugar, flour, salt, bread, blue band, cooking fat, soaps, tea leaves and other goods. This business was started six years ago through a loan of $100USD she received from her WEEC program. She started it as a small kiosk with products that could be stored in just one box. Today, the business has grown to a big shop and now she has plans to transform it into wholesale shop.
She needs a small loan to buy sugar because the price has become very high. She is obligated to provide it even if it is sold at a very high price. She has been able to raise and educate her children through the business. She promises to make her repayments on a monthly basis.",F,150,lender,Retail,1 Kenya,"
MARY WANJIRU NJOGU is 56 years old, married, and has seven children. Five of her children are in senior school while two are in grade eight. Mary and her husband live in Ngorika, a settlement in Rift Valley, where their main occupation is maize and dairy farming. They farm on their five-acre farm, which has enabled them to educate their children and cater to their daily upkeep. Mary farms maize while her husband is responsible for dairy farming. Mary and her husband are very hardworking but are faced with unavoidable challenges in educating their children without spending half their school term home due to a lack of school fees.
She would like to expand her farming but lacks the capital. She is requesting a loan of $1000, which she budgets as follows: Use $300 to lease five more acres of land Use $450 to buy seeds and fertilizers. Use $200 to buy fodder, minerals and salts for her three dairy cows. Use $50 for transport and to employ labor. She is responsible and will repay the loan.",F,1000,lender,Agriculture,1 Kenya,"
Mathew Ndaruga Njoroge is a 56 yr old entrepreneur, He is married with seven dependants. None of his children attend school due to lack of fees. He is the sole bread winner of the family; his wife helps in taking care of the house hold. He resides in the densely populated slums of Rhoda on the outskirts of Nakuru city, where he operates a charcoal and bakery business.
He bakes cakes at home and then he distributes them to nearby kiosks. Most of his earnings go towards taking care of his family and the remaining revenue is invested in his business. For the past one year his earnings have dropped due to an increase in charcoal prices after the government imposed a ban on charcoal, because of the increasing rate of deforestation. This has made it difficult for him since his supplier can no long take money in installments. In addition to this, the ever increasing prices of cooking oil and flour has forced Mathew to seek a loan. He is requesting a loan of US $200. The funds will be used to buy three sacks of charcoal, cooking oil and flour. He is a hardworking man and he will be able to repay the loan.",M,200,lender,Food,1 Kenya,"
Mercy Vilita is a 35 year-old lady who is married with two children in primary school, aged 10 and 8. She lives in the Umoja Estate, which is situated along Outering Road. Apart from her family, she takes care of her mother-in-laws upkeep and pays the school fees for her two brothers. This is because her parents are now old and their income is too minimal to provide for her siblings. In 1993, Mercy shared her interest in the work of a friend who was doing embroidery. Her friend was kind enough and taught her slowly and patiently how to embroider. Once she was armed with the skills, Mercy looked for a job and, in 1994, was employed by Ray-Shine along Mombasa Road. She worked there until 1999, when she was retrenched as the company started downsizing staff.
She fell back on her savings of Ksh 4000 ($65.00) and her husband helped to boost her kitty with another Ksh 6000 ($95.00). With the total amount collected, Mercy decided to start up her own embroidery business. With time she managed to grow her business and eventually even managed to open a training school whereby youths come in to learn how to embroider instead of staying idle at home.
Due to the expansion, she now finds that her business needs additional tools and equipment, including sewing machines, cloth materials, needles, and thread. On many occasions, Mercy has had to wait for a student to finish with the machine so that she could start making the order for her clients clothes. For this reason, Mercy is seeking a loan of Ksh 80,000 from the Kiva lenders, which will be repayable over a period of 14 months. Using this loan, she will purchase two embroidery and one sewing machine, cloth materials, and embroidery material threads and rolls.
Mercy believes that the new additions in her business will enable her to expand her business because she will no longer delay orders from her customers, as she has been doing. Mercy says that out of experience, she has learned that customers like to see a business that is booming and moving forward. She therefore believes that the additional stuff in her business will attract more customers. Apart from this, she believes that she will be in a better position to continue supporting her family. Mercy therefore awaits hopefully to receive her loan, and she thanks the lenders in advance for their support.
Disclaimer: Due to recent events in Kenya, the security situation in many communities remains unsettled, affecting many local businesses. Lenders to this entrepreneur should be aware that this loan may represent a higher default risk, and should be willing to accept this additional risk in making their loan.
",F,475,partner,Arts,1 Kenya,"Michael is a 32 year old entrepreneur. He lives in Kisumu in Kenya with his wife and four children, three of whom are in school. He is the proprietor of a small shop that he started three years ago. He sells daily necessities, like bread, sugar, flour, cooking oil and soap.
Micheal's daily income has increased 100% in the last year and he managed to save a bit of his profits. He plans to move his business to a larger and more lucrative location with his next loan of $600.00 and also obtain additional supplies that are in high demand within his community.
Disclaimer: Due to recent events in Kenya, the security situation in many communities remains unsettled, affecting many local businesses. Lenders to this entrepreneur should be aware that this loan may represent a higher default risk, and should be willing to accept this additional risk in making their loan.
",M,600,partner,Retail,0 Kenya,"Michael Otieno is a young Kenyan father. He is 30 years old with two children. He also lives with the orphaned child of his late brother, who perished two years ago.
Michael started his business three years ago after accumulating savings from his former work place, a local petrol station in the town of Kisumu. He currently sells mens shoes but would like to diversify his inventory to include children's and ladies' collections.
As the bread winner for the family, expanding his inventory would allow him to support both his children and his wife, who does not have a job. With the little profit that he gets from the business, Michael struggles to pay the house rent and feed and clothe his children. With the help of his loan, he will be able to add more stock and increase his monthly sales.
Disclaimer: Due to recent events in Kenya, the security situation in many communities remains unsettled, affecting many local businesses. Lenders to this entrepreneur should be aware that this loan may represent a higher default risk, and should be willing to accept this additional risk in making their loan.
",F,1950,lender,Retail,0 Kenya,"Millicent is married with two children in primary school. She is a trained community nurse.
Apart from her nursing career, she operates a self selection shop at the nearby trading centre. She started her business in 2005 in order to supplement her earnings. Through her business, she has been able to support her family's welfare and also the community as a whole since they dont need to go far to do their shopping.
With a loan from PEMCI, Millicent intents to increase the stock of her shop.
",F,75,partner,Retail,0 Kenya,"Miriam Muthoni is a middle-aged Kenyan widow and a mother to two children. She also lives with two orphaned children, whom she must feed, clothe, and educate.
Miriams primary business is fish vending, which started four years ago. She got her initial capital from an informal rotating savings fund (commonly referred to as ""merry go round"") that her group had. She mainly concentrates on selling tilapia, but occasionally sells omena (small fish), which she says boosts her profit margin. Miriam mostly sells her fish on a retail basis to her regular customers. With her loan, however, she will be able to buy more tilapia to increase her sales and eventually expand to wholesale.
Disclaimer: Due to recent events in Kenya, the security situation in many communities remains unsettled, affecting many local businesses. Lenders to this entrepreneur should be aware that this loan may represent a higher default risk, and should be willing to accept this additional risk in making their loan.
",F,3075,lender,Food,0 Kenya,"Mohammed Gatumbi is 22 years old. He is a single man who lives in the outskirts of Nairobi in an area known as Ruai. Mohammed makes ice that he sells to the local residents. He learned his business skills from a friend who had employed him to make ice. With the little that he was earning he managed to save Ksh 6000 ($95.00) that he used to start his own ice making business.
His business has been going well but he has one problem. He does not have a freezer to make ice and must hire one. He is requesting the Kiva lenders to grant him a loan of Ksh 25,000, which will enable him to purchase a new freezer. With the new freezer he will be able to make some savings that he can transfer to his customers, mainly the children within his area. He will also not have to worry about the process of hiring the freezer and traveling while carrying his ice, which often melts along the way.
Mohammed believes that with the loan, he will be able to expand his business and maximize his profits. He will also be able to train his fellow youths in this business, which he believes is a good industry to venture into. The repayment period for his loan will be 12 months.
Disclaimer: Due to recent events in Kenya, the security situation in many communities remains unsettled, affecting many local businesses. Lenders to this entrepreneur should be aware that this loan may represent a higher default risk, and should be willing to accept this additional risk in making their loan.
",M,400,partner,Food,1 Kenya,"Monica is a 46 year old widow and mother of five children. She lives in Sagam Siaya, Kenya. Her husband died in 2006 due to an HIV-related illness. She has supported her family single-handedly by selling ready-made clothes. She started her business in 2007 after her husband's death. She is also a member of an HIV/AIDS support group in Siaya. She requires $500.00 to increase her stock of ready-made clothes.
Disclaimer: Due to recent events in Kenya, the security situation in many communities remains unsettled, affecting many local businesses. Lenders to this entrepreneur should be aware that this loan may represent a higher default risk, and should be willing to accept this additional risk in making their loan.
",F,500,partner,Clothing,0 Kenya,"Mr MICHAEL KIOO is a pastor of a local church (Full Gospel). He is married with 3 children. His eldest girl is married. In addition to his pastoral duties, he is also a farmer specializing in raising pigs. The loan of $225 to Mr Kioo is intended to purchase feed for his growing stock. Once they mature, they are sold to one of the major meat processing companies. The project is intended also to act as a training ground for his church members as a way of empowering them economically. Pastor Kioo is therefore providing an important service to the local community, and this is a project that deserves our support by PEMCI.",M,225,partner,Agriculture,0 Kenya,"
Nancy is a 30 year-old, married woman with one child. She lives in the outskirts of Nairobi in a village called Mlolongo, along the Mombasa Road. Nancy has a salon that she operates in the area where she resides. Since she was a young girl, braiding hair was her hobby and she started off by training herself with her sisters hair. By the time she became a young woman, she was already a professional in hairdressing.
Nancy couldnt get herself a job but she never wanted to just be idle so she started doing people's hair at the plot where she lived. Her relatives were very impressed with her hard work and determination and so they assisted her in starting off her own salon. They first bought her a hair drier worth Ksh 8,000 ($130.00) and then a blow dryer worth Ksh 4,000 ($65.00). With her savings, Nancy rented a small stall and started operating her business. Her neighbors loved her work right from the start and brought in some of their relatives while others brought in some of their friends. Many customers were streaming in everyday. Nancy decided to rent another bigger stall from where she would serve her customers more comfortably but unfortunately the government of the day ordered a demolition of all the houses that had been constructed along the road reserves and her salon was not spared.
This destruction broke her heart because it set her business back in a large way. However, being a person who is optimistic and loves her work, she decided not to give up. She moved to yet another place, reopened her salon, and started again. Although competition is quite high where her salon is now located, Nancy wants to expand her business and therefore intends to begin to stock some hair products, a business line that her competitors dont have. She intends to purchase hair braids and extensions, which she believes will be of great importance to her business because they create a niche. Nancy is requesting a loan of Ksh 20,000 and believes that it will support her business. She also thanks her lenders in advance and promises to repay her loan within a period of 12 months.
Disclaimer: Due to recent events in Kenya, the security situation in many communities remains unsettled, affecting many local businesses. Lenders to this entrepreneur should be aware that this loan may represent a higher default risk, and should be willing to accept this additional risk in making their loan.
",F,325,partner,Services,1 Kenya,"Nancy Muhiu is 53 years old and is married with 4 children. Besides her family, she also takes care of her late daughters 7 year-old child and her late sisters 18 year-old child.
Nancy began her chicken-raising business in her home town of Ruai in 2006, which was her second business venture. Her first entrepreneurial project was selling waste cotton, which she did from 2000 to 2006. Success in the waste cotton business was hard to come by, however, since she encountered many obstacles, including stiff competition and an unreliable client base. Nancy learned a great deal from this first experience though, and is eager to apply her business knowledge to her growing chicken-rearing venture.
Of late, the Kariguri Store where Nancy sells her chickens has enjoyed marked improvements in its clientele base, and Nancy has more orders than she can fulfill. Because of this, she is seeking a loan of Ksh 70,000 to grow her business. She intends to use Ksh 18,000 to buy more chickens, 18,000 to buy feeding containers, 3000 Ksh for chicken medicine, Ksh 4000 for charcoal, Ksh 3000 for paraffin and Ksh 24,000 for chicken food.
Nancy is confident that once she receives a loan she will be able to build a more sustainable livelihood for her family. With the growth of her business and income, she also plans on building a proper chicken coop that is attached to her home, since, at present, her chickens are kept in one room of the house, leaving her family with less space. Nancy looks forward to the opportunity to serve her growing clientele through the increasing productivity of her business, and she thanks Kiva lenders in advance for their assistance. She intends to repay the loan in 12 months.
Disclaimer: Due to recent events in Kenya, the security situation in many communities remains unsettled, affecting many local businesses. Lenders to this entrepreneur should be aware that this loan may represent a higher default risk, and should be willing to accept this additional risk in making their loan.",F,1075,partner,Agriculture,1 Kenya,"
Nereah Atieno is a 45 year old entrepreneur and mother of four living children. She is pictured above (after being involved in an accident). She and her husband live in Siaya, Kenya. She began her current business selling second-hand clothes eight years ago. She specializes in both children's and womens clothing.
Nereah attributes her success to her friendly interaction with customers and additional finance from KMET. She has applied for $600.00 to further expand her business by increasing stock of new and second-hand clothes.
Disclaimer: Due to recent events in Kenya, the security situation in many communities remains unsettled, affecting many local businesses. Lenders to this entrepreneur should be aware that this loan may represent a higher default risk, and should be willing to accept this additional risk in making their loan.
",F,600,partner,Clothing,0 Kenya,"Nicholas Gitonga Muchemi is a 35 yr old entrepreneur. He is married with one dependant. His daughter attends school. He is the sole bread winner of his family. In order to support his family he runs a small vending business within Nakuru city, next to the busy bus station. His business involves selling of airtime from Safari.com and Celtel (two of the major mobile telephony companies in Kenya), cigarettes, matches and sweets. The location of his business allows him to tap into the large pool of customers as people board and alight buses.
Despite him being in a wheel chair, his determination as a businessman has allowed him to take care of his family. He has proved that inability is not disability. His earnings go towards taking care of the family needs and catering for his daughters education. The remaining capital is put back into the business. He would like to increase his stock but he is unable to since the remaining capital is too little to cater to his business expansion plan. He is requesting a loan of US $200 to help him in achieving his goal. The funds will be used to purchase more airtime, a variety of cigarettes, and pay the municipal council for a permit to allow him to do business with the town centre. He is a hard working man and will be able to repay his loan.",M,200,lender,Retail,1 Kenya,"
Nicholas Kiprotich Kipsoi is 38 years old. He is married with six children. All of his children are of school age. He has been practicing dairy farming for the last fifteen years. He opted to engage in dairy farming as a business because all his life he has lived on a farm, so caring for and handling farm animals to him is a passion.
Nicholas supplies his milk to the government milk processing factory. The major challenges in his business are that he lacks enough water to feed his dairy cows and storage facilities for the milk. Therefore, most of the time he is unable to supply fresh milk. Much of his milk produce goes bad, and this results in his business getting losses. His income from the milk sales is hardly enough to cater to his numerous family financial needs.
He is planning to eliminate this pitfall in his business by buying the equipments he needs, but he lacks the resources to do so. He is requesting a loan of US$ 1150. With this amount, he will purchase a refrigerator worth US$ 700, purchase a septic water storage tank worth US$ 250, and he will also purchase hygienic storage cans worth US$ 200. He is a skilled entrepreneur and his business is growing well.
",M,1150,lender,Agriculture,1 Kenya,"Onesmus Mavindu is 30 years old and married with one child. He lives in Komarock town on the outskirts of Nairobi city. Young Onesmus takes care of his aged parents. He also pays the school fees for his 19 year old nephew, who is currently in high school, because Onesmus's sister is unemployed and has no means with which to earn income. His younger 21 year old brother is also dependent on him.
Onesmus started his business in 2006 after attending Universal College where he attained a diploma in pharmacy. He was thereafter employed by a pharmaceutical company know as Peterson. He worked there from 2003-2005. The owner then decided to change his business to the transportation industry, laying off most of his employees, including Mavindu. Since he had saved about 200,000 Kenyan Shilings ($3075.00), Mavindu just moved ahead and opened his own pharmacy in 2006.
His business picked up quite well and has continued to grow. He now has many customers and feels that he is not serving them as well as he would like because he does not have enough stock of all the drugs that his customers require. He is also in need of a microscope, which he can use to diagnose customers and prescribe the right medicines (at the right price). Onesmus is therefore requesting for a loan of Ksh 70,000 ($1,125.00). With this loan, he will be able to purchase additional drugs and a microscope. These will greatly improve his services to his clients. He thanks the Kiva lenders in advance. The repayment period for his loan will be 12 months.
Disclaimer: Due to recent events in Kenya, the security situation in many communities remains unsettled, affecting many local businesses. Lenders to this entrepreneur should be aware that this loan may represent a higher default risk, and should be willing to accept this additional risk in making their loan.
",M,1125,partner,Health,1 Kenya,"Pamela Owiti is a very active 40 year old member of her community. She has lived in one of the slums of Kisumu in Kenya for the past fifteen years. In 1997, she was trained by KMET in home-based care for people living with HIV/AIDS, TB ambassadorship, and community-based distribution of oral contraceptives.
Pamela is very well-known within her community for her compassionate work. Her main business and source of income, however, is a community pharmacy that she's managed for the past fourteen years. Given her reputation and the location of her pharmacy within her community, her business has flourished. The most commonly purchased drugs are those to treat malaria, diarrhea, asthma, and upper respiratory infections. Pamela credits her success to hard work and the assistance she has received from KMET through three previous microfinance loans. She plans to use the funds from her next loan of $700.00 to purchase stock of drugs in bulk.
Disclaimer: Due to recent events in Kenya, the security situation in many communities remains unsettled, affecting many local businesses. Lenders to this entrepreneur should be aware that this loan may represent a higher default risk, and should be willing to accept this additional risk in making their loan.
",F,700,partner,Health,0 Kenya,"PAUL N MWANGI is 48 years old and married with five children who are all in school. Paul was living in Nakuru city with his family and working as a driver until one year ago, when he was laid off work when his company decided to downsize its operations. He bought two acres of land and built a semi-permanent family house as a priority to avoid paying rent. He joined Ebony Foundation in March 2006 and took a business start-up skills course, after which he decided to farm on his remaining piece of land. He received a $400 loan and added his own $300 to buy a water pump for irrigation and started tomato farming. Despite this, he still has problems paying school fees and would like to expand but lacks the capital. He is requesting a $1000 loan. $300 leases land, $600 buys seed and fertilizer and $100 hires labor. This will help educate his children. He is focused and will repay the loan.",M,1000,lender,Agriculture,1 Kenya,"
PETER MAINA is 34 years old and married with two children who are both in junior school. He lives in Subukia settlement, where the main economic activity is farming. His wife Mary runs a general grocer kiosk while he farms maize. He has been farming for the last three years on a three-acre plot. The quantity of his yield directly affects his selling price. A few bags means he has to use a middle man who gets part of his profit, while large quantities means he can market directly to the major buyers, resulting in a higher profit margin. He is an aspiring young farmer and would like to make the highest earnings from his farming. He is requesting a $1000 loan. $200 leases three more acres, $600 buys seeds and fertilizers, and $200 pays for labor to help him plant. He is a focused young farmer and will repay the loan.",M,1000,lender,Agriculture,1 Kenya,"
Peter Mureithi got his first loan of $75.00 in September 2007 from Kiva lenders. He was able to purchase additional stock of jeans with the loan and has since paid back his loan and ANK can testify that it is proud to have such a committed client. He paid his loan within a period of five months as he had indicated, and he says that the loan really boosted his business. He is very grateful that the Kiva lenders assisted him to develop his business.
Due to his hard work, determination, and customer service, Peter has won many hearts and the quantity of customers--including ANK staff--increases each and every day. He ensures that he has what his customers request and offers his stock at reasonable prices. He has so far sold his jeans in Kenyatta market as a hawker but he now wants to graduate his growing business. He now wants to expand his business further by opening a stall that will be his main base of operation. He will increase sales by selling fresh collections from his stall while continuing to deliver jeans to clients.
Peter is requesting that Kiva lenders grant him a loan of 10,000 Kenyan Shillings ($175.00) to increase his stock of jeans. He will purchase different varieties to meet the demands of his customers. Peter will use the profits to take care of his family, educate his child, and also provide for his sister, who is also under his care. He will also be able to take his business to greater heights once he opens a stall. He thanks the Kiva lenders in advance as they assist him to grow and develop his business. He believes that anything is possible with hard work and determination. The repayment period for his loan will be 10 months.
Disclaimer: Due to recent events in Kenya, the security situation in many communities remains unsettled, affecting many local businesses. Lenders to this entrepreneur should be aware that this loan may represent a higher default risk, and should be willing to accept this additional risk in making their loan.
",M,175,partner,Clothing,1 Kenya,"Philip Omurunga is a carpenter who is 34 years old. He is married and has three children. He lives in an informal settlement in the Kayole area of Nairobi. He acquired carpentry skills from a construction company known as Pelican Construction Company. Having qualified with these skills, Philip did not get an opportunity to secure a job with the company. He searched for a job elsewhere but all in vain. He then decided to open his own business making furniture. He didnt have the necessary capital so he approached his brother for a loan and was granted 10,000 Kenyan Shillings ($150.00). He purchased timber, wood glue, velvet, and other items. He used these materials to make seats and the first sale was very good. He paid his debt to his brother and with the balance was able to purchase some additional materials. He continued with a lot of determination but soon he realized that the money he got out of the sales was not enough to expand his business. He needed to purchase materials in large quantities to ease his work making furniture.
Phillip is now requesting the Kiva lenders to grant him a loan of Ksh 70,000 ($1,150.00) tol purchase an assortment of carpentry materials including: timber, velvet for seats, wood glue, and paints. These additions will help him to expand his business and his market coverage. The repayment period for his loan will be twelve months.
Disclaimer: Due to recent events in Kenya, the security situation in many communities remains unsettled, affecting many local businesses. Lenders to this entrepreneur should be aware that this loan may represent a higher default risk, and should be willing to accept this additional risk in making their loan.
",M,1150,partner,Construction,1 Kenya,"Raphael Kioko is 29 years old and married with two children. He resides at the Kayole area, on the outskirts of Nairobi. Apart from his family, Raphael takes care of his aged parents and two nephews, aged 10 and 19 years old. Both his nephews' parents are ailing, one from TB and the other from diabetes, which, due to lack of finances, has been difficult to manage for a long time.
Raphael started his Jamaica Wood Work Furniture way back in 2003 after learning carpentry skills in a small carpentry business where he worked in 1998 and 1999. Having attained the skills he needed, he settled in Kayole and started his own business where he is still operating. He has a spacious shop with room to make and display his finished furniture, allowing customers to choose from a variety.
Since 2003, Raphael has been using a second-hand splitting machine and an old plainer machine, which has been modified to the standards of Kenyas informal carpentry industry. Due to delays caused by these second-hand machines, many of his customers have complained. Raphael is now a worried man because he may end up losing some of his loyal customers. He began to talk to his business friends for advice and, including a Kiva beneficiary who directed him to Action Now Kenya to see what they can do to help him.
Raphael is desperately in need of a brand new splitting machine and a plainer, which he feels will greatly improve his services to his dear customers. He is kindly requesting a loan of 70,000 Kenyan Shillings ($1,125.00). With this loan, Raphael will be able to purchase the new splitting machine and a plainer. The repayment period for his loan will be 10 months.
Disclaimer: Due to recent events in Kenya, the security situation in many communities remains unsettled, affecting many local businesses. Lenders to this entrepreneur should be aware that this loan may represent a higher default risk, and should be willing to accept this additional risk in making their loan.
",M,1125,partner,Construction,1 Kenya,"REBBECA JEPKANGOR is a 42 year-old married woman with six children. Her children are all in high school except two, who are both in grade eight. Rebecca and her husband Jackson live in Subukia, a settlement in Rift valley where their main occupation is maize and dairy farming. They farm on their four-acre farm, which has enabled them to educate their children and cater to their upkeep. Rebecca does maize farming while Jackson is responsible for dairy farming. They face a big financial responsibility next year when their remaining two children join high school next year. She would like to expand her farming but lacks the capital. She is requesting a $750 loan. Her budget is as follows: $200 to lease three more acres, $500 to buy seeds and fertilizers, and $50 for transport. She is responsible and will repay the loan.",F,750,lender,Agriculture,1 Kenya,"
Regina Katumbi is 35 years old. She is a married woman and has two children. Apart from her family, Regina takes are of her two nephews whose father passed away in 2001 due to liver complications. Their mother, Reginas sister, has been ailing from TB, constantly under medication, and has been unable to work to support her children. She also takes care of her husbands cousin, whom she stays with and has managed to teach her knitting so they knit together. She lives in an area known as Mbotela Village located at Jogoo Road in Nairobi.
In 1998, Regina started a dressmaking business. Unfortunately, people preferred to purchase ready-made imported clothes and she found that her business could not withstand this huge competition. She therefore decided to quit dressmaking in 2001. A friend of hers owned a knitting school and so Regina decided to give it a try and learn knitting. Her husband was very cooperative and supported her with the school fees of Ksh 1500 per month. Being a fast learner, Katumbi managed to learn and perfect her skill within a period of three months. After her training, she decided to open her own knitting business that she continues to run.
Reginas business now needs some equipment so that she can move with the pace of her customers. She needs a knitting machine worth Ksh 50,000 and some wool worth Ksh 20,000. She believes that with the knitting machine, her production will be higher and she will be able to meet the needs of her customers. At the same time, she will make higher profits. She says that the problem is not with the customers but with the delays in production. She believes that when the business booms she will be able to better care for her family, and ably take up the heavy family responsibility she has. The repayment period for her loan will be 14 months.
Disclaimer: Due to recent events in Kenya, the security situation in many communities remains unsettled, affecting many local businesses. Lenders to this entrepreneur should be aware that this loan may represent a higher default risk, and should be willing to accept this additional risk in making their loan.
",F,1150,partner,Arts,1 Kenya,"Rose Ntinyari Abachi is 40 years old. She is divorced and has two children. Apart from her children, Rose also takes care of her aged mother. Rose lives in the Kawangware area in Nairobi.
Rose is a long-time business person. She started her business after partnering with her ex-husband, before they divorced. They both contributed 20,000 Kenyan Shillings ($310.00) from their personal savings to start the business. She later started having problems with her husband, who started misusing profits on alcohol. Out of frustration, she decided to quit the partnership and marriage and started a small hardware shop to sustain her life and support her children. The business has been a great support to Rose and her family because out of the little she earns, she is able to take care of her family responsibilities.
Due to limited funds, it's been very hard for Rose to expand her business. She has tried to borrow a loan from the bank several times, but due to the high interest rates and the need for some collateral that she doesnt have, she has been unable to get a loan. Having hit a dead end, while wondering what to do to increase her supplies so as to improve her business, Rose decided to speak with her friend Jacqueline to get clear direction. Jacqueline is an ANK client and had previously benefited from Kiva loans and advised her to come to Action Now Kenya and seek assistance.
Rose is requesting a loan of Ksh 50,000 to expand her business. With this loan, she will be able to purchase more stock for her business, including paints, thinners, nails, and iron sheets. These additional supplies will enable her to meet the needs of her customers and she will also be in a position to get higher profits. This will enable her to take care of her family and also sustain her business. Rose intends to repay her business over a period of 12 months.
Disclaimer: Due to recent events in Kenya, the security situation in many communities remains unsettled, affecting many local businesses. Lenders to this entrepreneur should be aware that this loan may represent a higher default risk, and should be willing to accept this additional risk in making their loan.
",F,825,partner,Retail,1 Kenya,"Rukia is a mother of one. She is a trained tailor. She is self-employed, and her business involves dressmaking and selling the clothes to willing customers. She also sometimes sells maize through the local cereal board. She has been in the business for two years. Her tailoring shop is in the trading centre, hence she is able to gain access to customers.
With a loan from PEMCI, Rukia wishes to increase her stock in the cereal business. Through her business, she hopes to start training young girls on design and tailoring.
",F,50,partner,Services,0 Kenya,"Ruth Wanza Ndumbu is 40 years old and married with three grown children. Apart from her family, she cares for the elderly people in the Samburu district. Ruth started the home because elderly people are left alone when cattle rustlers kill younger people to steel their cattle. Another elderly home is beginning in Machakos town.
Ruth saved 100,000 Kenyan Shillings when she worked at a company called ICDC, and thought of starting a business that would support her home for the elderly. Being a talented tailor, she opened a shop called Kitenge Africa, which means that she specializes in African attire. Her business is located in Nairobi city center along Moi Avenue and, apart from African attire, she also makes and designs wedding gowns. She employs four people who help her make the dresses.
Ruth now feels that she needs more stock to run her business fully and would like a loan of 75,000 Kenyan Shillings ($1100.00). She believes that the money will boost her business resulting in higher profits. She also believes that with her business, she can continue caring for her family and the elderly and also help the new home that starting.
The repayment period will be 12-14 months.
Disclaimer: Due to recent events in Kenya, the security situation in many communities remains unsettled, affecting many local businesses. Lenders to this entrepreneur should be aware that this loan may represent a higher default risk, and should be willing to accept this additional risk in making their loan.
",F,1100,partner,Services,1 Kenya,"Serpine Bosibori is a young Kenyan mother. She is 28 years old with three children. She also lives with the orphaned child of her late sister, who perished two years ago.
Serpine started her business three years ago after accumulating savings from her former workplace. She currently sells ladies' shoes but would like to diversify her inventory by adding children's and mens collections. As the breadwinner of her family, this would enable her to support both her children and her husband, who does not have a job.
With the little profit that she gets from the business, Serpine still struggles to pay the house rent and feed, clothe, and educate her children. With the help of her loan, she will be able to add more stock and increase her monthly sales.
Disclaimer: Due to recent events in Kenya, the security situation in many communities remains unsettled, affecting many local businesses. Lenders to this entrepreneur should be aware that this loan may represent a higher default risk, and should be willing to accept this additional risk in making their loan.
",M,4275,lender,Retail,0 Kenya,"Shania is married and has 5 children. She was born 42 years ago in Osotua, Isinya, and Kajiado district. She operates a restaurant near Saunyi quarry in Isinya and at the same time makes bead items for sale. The beadwork business supplements her income and does not take a lot of time assembling materials to make bracelets and belts. She has started to buy many items from other women because there is ready market by some one who exports them. This requires one to buy in large quantities in order to enjoy advantages of buying in bulk, which include trade discounts and transport economies of scale. She is optimistic her business will generate enough income to improve the living conditions of her family.
",F,450,partner,Arts,0 Kenya,"SIMON THUMBI is 34 years old and married with three children. His children are all in junior school. Simon and his wife Grace have been dairy farming for five years now. They supplied milk to vendors until one year ago when Kenya Cooperative Creameries started buying milk in the area. This has made a big difference, because it provides a stable income. They are building savings for their children's higher education. He would like to buy an extra dairy cow to increase his milk production. He is requesting a $1000 loan to buy a dairy cow and to build a cow shed.",M,1000,lender,Agriculture,1 Kenya,"
Sophie Otembi is a 38 year old lady. She is married and has three children, aged 14, 11, and 6 years. Two are still in primary school while the eldest has just joined high school this year. She stays in a town called Ngong on the outskirts of Nairobi.
In 1992, she was employed by the Kenya Railways Company in Kisumu. She worked with them for five years until 1998, when she left the job to join her husband, who by then was working and living in Nairobi. Instead of staying idle Sophie decided to start a business selling vegetables and this is when she welcomed herself to the business industry. She has with time learned the business tactics by herself, and she has been involved in very many businesses, from selling vegetables, second-hand clothes, and shoes to other commodities. By 1999, Sophie was selling second-hand clothes in, Gikomba, one of the largest market areas in Nairobi.
Come 2004, Sophie decided to do something very different, which would also provide a higher income. She asked her husband to lend her some money and he gave her 20,000 Kenyan Shillings ($300.00). She also approached her best friend, who gave her an additional Ksh 14,000 ($215.00). Using these funds along with her savings from the previous business, she started her current business in poultry farming. When the business started catching up, she repaid the money to her husband and her friend, and continued with her business.
Currently, she finds that the business is not doing very well because she is not able to meet the growing demand of her customers. She needs to bring in an additional 500 chicks and this will cost Ksh 60,000. With the additional chicks, she will manage to satisfy her market and bring in higher profits. She will then be able to better manage her family needs. She will also be able to advise those who are interested in starting up a similar project, because she has more experience. Sophie is therefore asking Kiva lenders--through ANK--for a loan of Ksh 60,000. She is thanks lenders in advance. The repayment period for her loan will be 12 months.
Disclaimer: Due to recent events in Kenya, the security situation in many communities remains unsettled, affecting many local businesses. Lenders to this entrepreneur should be aware that this loan may represent a higher default risk, and should be willing to accept this additional risk in making their loan.
",F,975,partner,Agriculture,1 Kenya,"Stephen is married with four children in primary and secondary schools. He is a primary school dropout and has not undertaken any formal training.
Stephen started his cereals and grocery selling business in 1989 in order to support his family. He is an active member of Angurai Anglican community, in which he is preacher at the Sunday school. Through his business, he has been able to buy a dairy cow that supplies milk for his family and to pay school fees for their children. He is also able to support the extended family and his local church orphanage.
With the loan of $150 from PEMCI, he intends to increase his stock and hence improve his profitability. As an active member of his community, Stephen is a role model who can have a very positive influence on the people around him. He is therefore worth support from Kiva partners.
",M,150,partner,Food,0 Kenya,"Stephen K Kiptoo is 50 years old; he is married with seven children. He also has five other relatives who depend on him to provide for them. All his seven children attend school, and, as a dedicated parent, he would wish to give them a good quality education.
He has a retail shop where he sells various household products. He says the business is profit-oriented and therefore motivates him to work harder every day. His retail shop is on a small scale, and therefore it does not fetch enough income to service all his family's needs. He wants to expand his business by adding more stock; this way he will not be using all his profits on the expansion, but on his family's needs.
He is requesting a loan of US$700. With this amount, he will buy stock worth US$ 500 and reinforce his existing shop with US$ 200. He will be able to earn more income with the expansion.
",M,700,lender,Food,1 Kenya,"SULEIMAN KIMANI MACHARIA is 58 years old, married and has five children. His children have all finished school but three are unemployed and still live at home with him. He is an active member of Wendani Self Help Group. He owns a three-acre farm in Ngorika, a settlement in the Rift Valley part of Kenya, where he lives with his family and also does his farming. His wife sells vegetables in a local market in their area. He would like to expand his farm and run it as a business because it will create jobs for his sons, but he lacks the capital. He is requesting a loan of $800 and plans to use it this way: Use $200 to lease three more acres of land (one acre per son) Use $600 to buy fertilizers and seeds. The sons are all very hardworking and with their father's supervision they will yield good fruit. Suleiman is very cooperative and will repay the loan on time.",M,800,lender,Agriculture,1 Kenya,"
Susan Njoki is a 36 year old single lady with a 13 year old son. Apart from her son she has no other dependents. She lives on the outskirts of Nairobi in a town called Ngong. In December 2002, the Catholic Church gave Susan a contract and paid her 35,000 Kenyan Shillings. She took her time to think of how she could invest her money because she had many options. However, she looked out for an opportunity she could afford and decided to open a retail shop.
Susan was able to stock her shop in small quantities with only what her money could allow. Her business eventually picked up. The demand for her products has been high because she brings in whatever her customers need. However, due to limited funds, she's been unable to stock her shop in bulk and with a better variety to suit the changing needs of the customers. Susan therefore feels that it's very important to bring in additional stock, which she believes will greatly improve customer satisfaction and increase her income.
Susan says she will ensure that her customers wont have to go to the supermarket miles away because they'll be able to get everything they need from her shop. She'll also ensure that her customers get a constant supply of goods. She believes that her business will relieve locals of the burden of going a long distance to look for goods that she could otherwise provide them. She also believes the business will be a big support to her and her son's lives. She will be able to educate him and provide for his basic needs.
Susan is requesting Kiva lenders grant her a loan of Ksh 40,000 ($650.00) that she will use to purchase an assortment of stock, including sugar, maize, wheat flour, cooking oils, and salt. She thanks Kiva lenders in advance for supporting her. The repayment period for her loan will be 12 months.
Disclaimer: Due to recent events in Kenya, the security situation in many communities remains unsettled, affecting many local businesses. Lenders to this entrepreneur should be aware that this loan may represent a higher default risk, and should be willing to accept this additional risk in making their loan.
",F,650,partner,Retail,1 Kenya,"Susan Nyambura is a 26 year old single woman who lives in Kinoo town on the outskirts of Nairobi. Though single, Susan has taken in her 16 year old cousin and pays for her school fees, food, and clothing.
After attending Evelyn School of Design and Fashions from 2001-02 and getting a diploma in fashion design, Susan approached her beloved mother for a loan. Because her mother has a soft spot for her daughter, she loaned her 100,000 Kenyan Shillings. With this capital, Susan started her business in 2003. She bought two sewing machines with motors and various tailoring material, and also rented a stall in one of Nairobi's upmarket areas. After a few rough months, Susan was able to hire two men who specialize in making suits for both ladies and males. Her business picked up after this, and today she has a high number of clients. Part of the reason her suits are so popular is because they are very classic yet also fit into the modern market.
To respond to the high demand, Susan is planning to employ one more trainee. She is very grateful to all Kiva lenders for the sacrifices they make to provide loans to small business owners like her. The repayment period for this loan is 12-14 months. She thanks her lenders in advance.
Disclaimer: Due to recent events in Kenya, the security situation in many communities remains unsettled, affecting many local businesses. Lenders to this entrepreneur should be aware that this loan may represent a higher default risk, and should be willing to accept this additional risk in making their loan.
",F,875,partner,Services,1 Kenya,"Tom Magomere Rumile is 44 years old. He is married and has four children, aged 9, 7, 5, and 3 years respectively. Tom lives in an informal settlement of the Kibera slums. All his children are school-age and attend schools within his community. In 1996, Tom lost his father due to high blood pressure-related complications and then in 1998 he lost his mother to cancer. Starting in 1993, Tom was employed by Water World for 14 years, where he worked as a head housekeeper. Unfortunately, he was laid off in May 2007and was paid 55,000 Kenyan Shillings ($850.00) in terminal benefits. He added this to personal savings of Ksh 30,000 ($460.00) and then sat back to think of what best to do with this capital.
He realized that in the 14 years that he had worked for Water World he had gained a lot of experience in working with children. He therefore decided to start up a start a children's entertainment center. Tom's friend Mark was selling a bouncing castle for Ksh 130,000 ($2000.00). He approached his friend and paid him the $1310.00 he had accumulated as a down payment for the bouncing castle. He then negotiated with Mark to loan him the remaining $690.00, which he would pay back slowly. Truly a friend in need is a friend in deed because Mark accepted this proposal and loaned Tom the remaining money. From then on Tom worked very hard and within a period of 8 months he was able to pay back the remaining money to his friend.
Toms business has since continued to grow and attract more customers. He now feels that his business needs to expand by providing additional services to his customers. Tom desires to put additional equipment to his business and intends to purchase a candyfloss machine worth Ksh 60,000. He believes that with this equipment, he will make a very huge change in his business because he will add variety for his customers. He regrets recently losing a contract with a big company due to lack of this machine. Tom believes that the machine will be of great impact, especially to children, because the machine produces sugar and kids love sugary products. He says that he will be able to send more money home to support his family needs and school fees. Tom thanks Kiva lenders in advance on behalf of ANK for this wonderful project and believes that his request will be considered. He intends to pay back his loan within twelve months.
Disclaimer: Due to recent events in Kenya, the security situation in many communities remains unsettled, affecting many local businesses. Lenders to this entrepreneur should be aware that this loan may represent a higher default risk, and should be willing to accept this additional risk in making their loan.
",M,975,partner,Entertainment,1 Kenya,"Tureto is a member of Inkiramat women group which is located in Empuyiankat, Kajiado District. She is 53 years old and a mother of four. She is an inquisitive person, eager to learn and tries out new ideas as she gets them. Turetos main challenge is raising school fees for her three children who are in secondary school. She sells steers and has been in this business for the last twenty years. Out of her hard work, she has built seven semi-permanent rental rooms in Olturoto town. She gets USD 50 per month from the 7 rooms and this helps her to pay school fees and other household needs. Tureto would like to add 6 more rooms because the trading centre is growing so is the rent. The additional rooms will almost double her income and this will mark the beginning of the end of her financial problems.
",F,300,partner,Housing,0 Kenya,"
Veronica is a 50 year-old, married woman with three children who are attending college. Apart from her family, she takes care of her aged parents. She lives in Kayole but has a business in Gikomba Market. Veronica sews and sells clothes. She has clients who own exhibition stalls and can sell them her clothes in bulk. Veronica started her business after visiting the Gikomba Market and seeing women her age running their own businesses. She was motivated and decided to try it herself.
She had qualified in a course in dressmaking so she thought that it would be better for her to continue with her talent. She shared her ideas with her husband. He wanted what was best for his wife and so he lent her Ksh 10,000 ($160.00). With this money, Veronica first rented a stall and bought a machine and some materials to start off her business. This business has been a blessing and puts food on the table at the end of the day. She has been able to attract more customers and they keep on increasing day by day. Sometimes she is unable to meet her customers demands due to a lack of materials. This forces her customers to pay a deposit so that she can purchase the required materials to make clothes.
Veronica is now requesting the Kiva lenders to grant her a loan of Ksh 50,000 so that she can be purchase materials and other sewing accessories. She believes that this will be of great importance to her business and also her customers because she will not have to demand that they make a down payment in advance. She will also continue taking care of her family and supporting them accordingly. Veronica is thanking her lenders in advance and is willing to make her repayments within a duration of 12 months.
Disclaimer: Due to recent events in Kenya, the security situation in many communities remains unsettled, affecting many local businesses. Lenders to this entrepreneur should be aware that this loan may represent a higher default risk, and should be willing to accept this additional risk in making their loan.
",F,800,partner,Arts,1 Kenya,"WILLIAM CHERUIYOT is a young 28 year old farmer. He has six siblings, two of whom have finished school, but four of whom are still in high school. He lives with his parents on a six-acre plot in Subukia settlement in Rift valley. His father Job has been ailing for two years now and cannot farm like he used to. William now supports his four siblings who are still in school. He bought a motor driven knapsack sprayer that he uses for herbicides and insecticides; he rents out his services to the many tomato farmers in the area. It is a seasonal job, and since no one is willing to wait, he sometimes has lost opportunities. He would like to buy another motor-driven sprayer but lacks capital. He is requesting a loan of $800 to be used to buy this.",M,800,lender,Agriculture,1 Kenya,"
William Kaptich is 64 years old. He is married with eight children. Four of his children have completed their studies, while four are still in school.
William has been a farmer for the last forty years. Farming is a passion to him. He practices both dairy farming and mixed crop farming. He says he has chosen farming as a career because the produce he produces in his farm has a ready market.
His challenge at the moment is that he is not fully utilizing his whole land; this is because he used up all his proceeds form the last harvest to pay his children's school fees and was not able to buy the seeds and fertilizers needed to plant his whole land.
He is requesting for a loan of US$ 900 to be able to purchase the resources needed to plough the whole farm for the next planting season. He will purchase assorted fertilizer stock worth US$ 300, he will hire a ploughing ing tractor with US$ 400, and he will buy seeds worth US$ 200. His initial assessments show that the business will succeed; this is particularly due to the fact that he has received training with Ebony foundation Kenya on how to plan his finances.
",M,900,lender,Agriculture,1 Kenya,"Wilson Mbiyu Karanja is 46 years old and is married with 5 children. Apart from his family, he also takes care of his 7 year-old grandchild. He lives on the outskirts of Nairobi in an area known as Ruai.
Wilson owns a general shop which he opened in 2001. Before then, he was in the business of selling rice and tea leaves. This was extremely demanding work as he constantly had to go out and look for customers. However, Wilson was able to accumulate funds amounting to Ksh 14,000/=, which he used to start a small kiosk. He purchased inventory for the kiosk in very small amounts, allowing him to offer a variety of goods, but only in small quantities.
Wilson's business has thrived and he has expanded his business from a kiosk into a general shop, which he currently operates. At present, Wilson is unable to expand his business further due to insufficient funds. His shop requires adequate stocks of flour, rice, sugar etc. Wilson needs a loan of Ksh 50,000/= to enable him to purchase the inventory that will allow him to expand his business further and maintain sufficient supplies. He is now requesting Kiva lenders in good faith to grant him a loan of Ksh 50,000/= to make his business expansion possible and raise his familys standard of living. The repayment period will be 12 months.
Disclaimer: Due to recent events in Kenya, the security situation in many communities remains unsettled, affecting many local businesses. Lenders to this entrepreneur should be aware that this loan may represent a higher default risk, and should be willing to accept this additional risk in making their loan.",M,775,partner,Retail,1
Kenya,"Agnes is 53 Years old, married with 2 children all in college. She is a teacher by profession and also a farmer. She has 2 dairy cows; they produce 10 litres of milk thus, she earns USD 3 per day. The business has been successful due to the ready market of fresh milk which she sells to the neighboring homes. She wants to start selling shoes to supplement income from milk and her teaching salary. With all income inflows, she believes the expenses of her family will be managed and raise her standard of living.",F,300,partner,Food,0
Kenya,"Eunice is 35 yrs old married with 4 children, 2 are in primary school and 2 in boarding secondary school. She has more than 8 years experience in this business which has been generating an average monthly net profit of 100 USD. Her business has been sustainable due to minimum operational costs as she operates in an open air market. The fact that she moves in various markets, enable her to meet more customers.
",F,275,partner,Retail,0
Kenya,"Florence is 24 years old single with no children.She has been in this business for 3 years and employs 2 casual workers. She prepares chips and traditional foods such as Ugali, mixed vegetables-Sukuma week, and porridge. Chips move very fast and she experiences shortage during peak hours at lunch time. Currently the existing cooker can not allow her meet the demand during these hours.
",F,275,partner,Food,0
Kenya,"Grace is 30 years old, married with 2 children both in primary school.Grace sells milk and calfs a business she has been doing for 5 years with returns of about USD 75 per month. She sells her milk in Kiambugi trading centre and to the neighbors. She is planning to get rid of the existing cows which are of low quality and replace them with high breed whose milk production is far much higher. ",F,275,partner,Agriculture,0
Kenya,"Janet is 36 years old, single with 4 children. Her children attend school, 1 in High School and 3 in primary school.Janet sells milk and she has been doing this business for last seven years. She also sells fodder, vegetables such as cabbages and kales to bring in extra income. The prevailing market conditions in terms of demand for milk, good prices has encouraged her to replace her cows by a better breed which will give her 18 litres per day instead of the previous 8 litres.",F,275,partner,Agriculture,0
Kenya,"Margaret is 34 yrs old, married with 5 children. Her two children are in High School, 2 in primary school while the other is yet to join college. She has been doing this business for the last two years and has recorded tremendous achievement because she has been able to pay farmers on daily basis unlike cooperatives which pays on monthly basis. She has been using plastic Jericans but this has been stopped recently by the cooperatives that they are not hygienic. This has forced milk vendors to buy aluminium cans.
",F,300,partner,Agriculture,0
Kenya,"Winfred is 28 yrs old and single.This is the only business of its kind in Gaitheri trading centre and its services are in demand by the community. This clinic has been in operation for 5 years and members from the community have trust in her and really appreciate her services. ",F,275,partner,Health,0
Kenya,"Ann is married with two children, after finishing secondary level of education, she was unable to continue to college due to lack of fees. Ann joined WEEC in 2004 and started her small business of selling childrens wear in Karura and Wangige Markets. Last year, she started selling belts and chains. She conducts her business door to door, in meeting places and in market places.",F,150,partner,Clothing,0
Kenya,"Bridget is the chairlady of Karura Mwangaza Women Group and a retired primary school teacher. She is married with five children. For many years she has been a chairlady of mothers union and this has increased trust in her from the community around her.Bridget has two dairy cows; they produce between 20-35 litres a day. She sells 30 litres and 5 litres for her home consumption. She supplies milk to a Diary cooperative society and the payments are on time. She is good at book keeping and this assists her in her business as well as helping her group.",F,300,partner,Food,0
Kenya,"Caroline is 27 years old, married with one child. Her husband runs a small butchery in Rongai. She joined WEEC Credit program in 2003. She has attended various business courses organized by WEEC and this has helped her do her job and duties of group secretary. She started a small business of selling second hand blouses in Rongai in 2002. She was given a loan by her group of USD 225 and set up a small semi permanent beauty shop and clothes. The small business is doing well so far and has managed to pay her loan without any problem as well as living decently",F,300,partner,Services,0
Kenya,"Damaris is married with 4 children and her last born is in college. She is a retired civil servant and now her major source of income is from the sale of milk from two cows. Her last born is in her final year at Shine College doing Certified Public Accountants stage 3, she is privately sponsored and this requires a lot of money. Currently she sells 10 litres per day which gives her USD 4 a day. Damaris income is very low to pay for her child school fees and thus need to access a loan which will be paid in installments on a monthly basis. This would be easier for her because her business will not be affected and her cash flow will remain stable. ",F,525,partner,Agriculture,0
Kenya,"Getrude is married and has 3 children; she was born 26 years ago and started business when she was only 16 years of age. She started by selling vegetables from farmers and selling it to customers in Muranga Town. The business to date is doing very well and she has introduced other products, milk and cereals. She wants to use the loan for paying school fees and keep paying back monthly because her business cannot generate $ 125 at once but rather can generate monthly installments to pay back the loan.",F,225,partner,Agriculture,0
Kenya,"Grace is married to a wonderful husband who contributes to the family welfare with $ 42 per month. They have two children and expecting another in a few months to come. She is a mixed farmer; she grows vegetables, maize, beans and bananas. In addition, she sells milk from her own cows and it has helped her a lot in looking after her family and in enhancing her quest for financial freedom.",F,75,partner,Food,0
Kenya,"Jane is married and has two beautiful girls. She joined Mercury Women Group two years ago and the group has helped her in improving her business skills and instilling in her a culture of saving. Presently, she has accumulated savings of $100 and continues to save because she wants to buy a dairy cow when her savings reach $400. She grows and sells maize, beans, and bananas. She has a dairy cow which gives her milk for home consumption and some for sale. Her monthly income from her business is about $50, this is not enough to sustain the family and thus additiional funding will help greatly.",F,75,partner,Food,0
Kenya,"Margaret is 56 years old, married and all her children are independent. Unfortunately, one of her daughters passed away and left three children. Margaret takes care of the three children. Two are in primary school while the oldest one assists her to run the business. She is working hard to educate them up to at least college level. She set her business near the busiest bus stage of Rongai. Her business is located near the bus stop and therefore makes a lot of sales in the evening when the residents going back home from work. However, in the morning she supplies to those who roast\boil maize along the roadside. She buys fresh maize from various markets; Wakulima, Kiserian and Kadisi. ",F,225,partner,Food,0
Kenya,"Mary is an active member of Mercury Women Group. She has been a member of this group for the last four years. She is married and has five children, one in college and others in secondary school. She grows and sells tea Leaves and coffee. She earns $57 from the sale of tealeaves and $23 per month. She has a dairy cow, which gives her milk for sale and home consumption. She gets between10 to 15 litres of milk every day; this gives her on average $3.5 a day. With this income, she will not be in a position of sending her children to college and this is why she is striving to increase her milk production and consequently her income.",F,75,partner,Agriculture,0
Kenya,"Susan is the secretary of Karura Mwangaza Women Group a post she has held for the last five years. She is married with one.Susan joined with her fellow members joined WEEC in 2004 when they learnt that it trains women who would like to start there own small businesses. She got her first loan of $100 in march 2004 after attending training. The loan enabled her to start a retail shop in Ndenderu in Kiambu District. She installed a community phone in her shop, sells Celtel and Safari-com airtime cards and the business is doing very well so far.",F,150,partner,Retail,0
Kenya,"Rosemary is a lady who inspires other ladies in her group because of her work. She is the secretary of Mercury Women Group a post she got without contesting with any one. She is a mother of six; five are independent while the last-born is in college. She encourages fellow group members to educate their children because it is the only everlasting gift a parent can give to a child. She is a farmer and grows bananas, maize, beans and tea on a small scale. She also sells milk from her dairy cows and this is her major source of income. She earns about $ 128 per month from all her businesses. She believes she can increase her income if she applies improved methods of farming.",F,75,partner,Food,0
Kenya,"Salome is a very hard working lady and its from this that she has managed to educate her 5 children to college level. She earns her income from selling vegetables and milk from her farm. She has a diary cow, dairy goats and a banana plantation. She gets about $71 per month from all her business activities. She has a small piece of land but she utilizes it to the optimum. With improved seeds and food supplements for the cows, she is sure that her productivity will increase and thus, increase income will be realized in a short while. ",F,75,partner,Agriculture,0
Kenya,"19 year old Winnie is deaf. She was raped and has a child to show for it. She loves her daughter and sees her as a gift, nevertheless she is forced to find ways of supporting her child and hopes that this loan will give her a jumpstart into securing her future and her child's as well.",F,175,lender,Food,1
Kenya,"Abdalla is a primary school dropout and has had no formal academic or business training. He left school because his parents could not afford his education. He is married and has a two-year-old son. Abdalla operates a home bakery and supplies his products to shopkeepers within his locality by riding on his bicycle. He bakes scones, cakes and mandazis (doughnut).
In one day, he makes a total of 170 dozen items and makes a profit of 10 shillings (US$0.15) per dozen. He works everyday apart from Sundays. This is Abdallas second loan with PEMCI, having completed his first loan successfully. The first loan enabled him to expand his business. He has since employed two young men who work hand in hand with him in preparing the snacks. He uses a bicycle to transport his products to prospective customers. Through his business, Abdalla has been an inspiration to the youths in his community, been able to support his family and pay school fees for his sibling. His wife helps him manage the bakery.
With the proposed second loan of $250, Abdalla plans to purchase modern baking equipment in order to improve the quality and quantity of his products. With this he feels he assured of beating the competition and improving his profits. His long term vision is to one day own a full-fledged bakery producing an assortment of products. Young people like Abdalla are an inspiration to others in the community and deserve our support. Given the high levels of unemployment, cottage industries such as these would be a very good source of employment.",M,250,lender,Food,1 Kenya,"ABDI ATHUMAN ABDI is aged 34 years. He is single with no children. He lives with his parents at their Kongowea home on the northern side of Mombasa city. He is the firstborn in a family of 10. He was unable to attend high school due to lack of school money, since his parents had to cater to the rest of the family. He was forced to look for manual jobs to help his parents who were already struggling. Unsuccessful in securing a job due to his educational background, at the age of 21 year, his uncle introduced him to the business of (khat) a leafy chewing stimulant popular among local men. He was trained on the trade. Later when his uncle was fully convinced that Abdi was ready to start his business, he was given 40 kilos of khat to start up. Since then he has been able to expand his business by distributing khat to other local vendors. Through his hard earned revenue from the business, he supports his other siblings so they can get the education that he missed, as well as helping to support his parents to meet their daily family expenditures. He is left with little capital to increase his stock. He is requesting for a loan of US $800 to expand his business. His budget follows: US $500 to purchase 400 kilos of fresh khat, US $300 to build an extra stand to cater to more customers effectively. He hopes that one day he will start his own family. He is a hard worker and has ability to repay the loan.",M,800,lender,Retail,1 Kenya,Abel is married with seven children. He started his livestock trading business 4 years ago in order to supplement his farming activities. He initially started by trading in chicken locally and gradually expanded his business to goats and has subsequently included cattle. He intends to use the US$400 loan from PEMCI to expand his livestock trade. He is very encouraged by the availability of such services and facilities and he is full of expectations for a bright future. The growth in his business has given him good standing in his community and many now seek his advice. He has become a very strong promoter of PEMCIs services wherever he goes.,M,400,partner,Agriculture,0 Kenya,"Abel Jumba is a 40-year-old man who lives with his wife and 5 children in the Stella B area of the Rongo District in Kenya. His wife is a farmer, and 4 of their 5 children are currently attending school.
Abel runs a community pharmacy, which he started in 2008. He sells painkillers like Panadol and Brufen, among other medications. With the profits from the pharmacy he is able to pay his household expenses. If the business does well, there will also be enough profit to pay for his childrens school fees.
Abel is applying for a loan of KSH 11,250 (USD 150) in order to buy a larger stock of medicine, in order to better serve his communitys health needs and also to increase his profits.",M,150,partner,Health,0 Kenya,"Abigail is 24 years old and married with one child. She is the choir mistress of her local church, very active in her community and eager to work with her neighbors to develop their village, Namelok.
To help support herself and her young family, Abigail belongs to a local women's group that has lent her money to start a small business selling paraffin. She also uses beads to make decorative items that she sells to businesses in the nearby Hilton Hotel.
Abigail believes that for the Maasai community to develop in the same way as other communities, members need to take education seriously. That is why she works very hard to gather the funds her community needs to educate its children.
Abigael is a member of the Olkenkei Women's Group, which has applied for a loan to buy and nurture two calves for six months, and then sell them at a profit. The group will use the proceeds to repay the loan in one lump sum six months after they receive it. The balance will go into a revolving fund that members will use for purposes such as paying secondary school fees for their children.",F,375,lender,Agriculture,1 Kenya,"Abigail Mwongeli is 24 years old and single. She lives in the Makadara estate of Nairobi. Apart from herself, she also takes care of her aged parents. Abigail is trained as a beauty salon services specialist and started her own hair salon in the vicinity of her home in Makueni District, but, due to lack of customers, moved to Nairobi in an area known as Jericho. However, also in Nairobi she experienced difficulties due to competition, since the area is dominated by this type of business. She therefore decided to move to Lumumba estate and to relocated her salon. Later, due to the high cost of living in that area, and because of the high rent that she had to pay for her salon space, Abigail moved her business to Makadara estate and settled there. Thus, Abigail has been running her beauty salon business for the last four years, and it has improved her living standards as well as enabled her to take care of her aged parents. She has also managed to provide training and employment opportunities to young girls in her area. Abigails business continues to receive increasingly more customers due to the good quality of services that she provides. However, she now finds that she is unable to cope with the increasing demand due to lack of propper tools and equipment. Unfortunately, she is not able to raise the required amount to purchase the necessary items, such as two driers, six seats, and an assortment of hair chemicals, oils and braids. Abigail is now requesting a loan of Ksh 50,000 which she will use to purchase these items. The repayment period for the loan will be 12 months. Abigail believes that, with the new equipment, she will be able to satisfy her customers and also attract many more; hence, she will succeed in expanding her business. She also hopes that she will then be able to offer more training opportunities to young women who may wish to venture into the beauty salon business, and that she will be an inspiration to many due to her hard work and determination.",F,725,partner,Services,1 Kenya,"Able is married with eight children, two of whom have finished their primary schooling. He has received some driver's training. He successfully repaid his first loan from PEMCI. That loan helped him create enough business to buy a small piece of land, a bicycle, and some domesticated animals like goats and cattle. He requests a second loan for $300 to continue to expand his business.",M,300,partner,Agriculture,0 Kenya,"Abraham Khainga is a young Kenyan father aged 29 with 2 children. He also lives with 1 orphan child of his late brother who perished 2 years ago.
Abraham started his business 3 years ago, after accumulating savings from his former work place in a local hospital in Bungoma town. He currently deals in mens second-hand shoes but would like to diversify to childrens and ladies collections as well in the future.
As he is the bread winner for his family, it would enable him to support both his children and his wife, who does not have a job. With the little profit that he gets from his business, Abraham still struggles to feed, clothe, and educate his children.
With the help of his loan, Abraham will be able to purchase second-hand shoes in bulk to enable him to boost his sales.
Disclaimer: Due to recent events in Kenya, the security situation in many communities remains unsettled, affecting many local businesses. Lenders to this entrepreneur should be aware that this loan may represent a higher default risk, and should be willing to accept this additional risk in making their loan.",M,2375,lender,Retail,0 Kenya,"Adonija is 48 years old. She is married and has 4 children. She is an active member of St. Peter's ACK church in Gaitheri. She is a primary school teacher in Gaitheri and works with other women in her village to develop her community. She is also a member of Gaitheri Faithful Mothers and was voted as the group prefect. She carries out her duties with a lot of seriousness and has been very instrumental in making the group run as per the laid-down rules. She charges the members who fail to adhere to the rules and is very strict on time keeping. She has assisted in maintaining the group discipline.
Apart from teaching, Adonija rears 2 dairy cows. She has employed a farm hand to assist her when she is in on duty at school. The revolving fund has assisted her to pay school fees for her 3 children who are in secondary and college levels. She has applied for a loan of USD 450 to enable her to pay part of the fees. The group has approved the loan. She will repay the loan within a period of 12 months.",F,450,lender,Agriculture,1 Kenya,"Adrine is 50 years old, married with five children and an active member of a local Christian church. She is also active in the Gacharaigu Home Promoters Group, where she saves money and occasionally takes out small loans that she always repays promptly.
Adrine supports herself by selling produce and dairy products to the people of her community, but she is not currently making enough money to meet her family's everyday needs and educate her children. She has come to us for a loan of $600 to buy a cow, which will allow her to increase her income, meet her family's needs and ensure that her children get an education.
She plans to repay the loan in 12 monthly installments while she uses the additional income made possible by the cow to build a better life for herself and for her family.",F,600,lender,Agriculture,1 Kenya,"Aged 44 years and married with one child, Mary is one of the few farmers rearing pigs in Ruai town on the outskirts of Nairobi. After the Kenya Meat Commission introduced pig-rearing in Ruai in 2005, Mary became one of the pioneer pig farmers and has never looked back.
Mary Wanjru buys her pigs when they are young and rears them until they mature, which takes about a year. She then sells the mature pigs to a nearby slaughterhouse; they in turn produce pork sausages which are in high demand in Nairobi and vicinity. There's always a ready market for her pigs.
Mary Wangari wants to add more pigs, so she is requesting this loan from Kiva lenders, with which she will be able to buy additional pigs and pig feed. This will enable her to sell more pigs, which will translate into more income. She will also be able to sell pig manure to her neighbors. Since the government is advocating poverty eradication measures, Mary's case is one which the government would be proud of. She thanks Kiva lenders in advance for being there for small business owners like her.",F,850,partner,Agriculture,1 Kenya,"Aggrey is married with eight children and his wife is a housewife. Since starting his cereal grains business four years ago, he is able to support his family, and has also managed to support his church orphanage. With the loan of $300 from PEMCI, he plans to open up a new shop at Malakisi trading centre, which will improve his services and broaden his capital base in the cereal grains business.",M,300,partner,Food,0 Kenya,"Aggrey Ochieng is a 25-year-old businessman. Aggrey was not able to complete his high school education due to lack of school fees. His father used to work as a laborer in a hotel in Mombasa but was not making enough to meet his childrens school fees. As a result, Aggrey dropped out in his second year. When his parents moved back to their family land in western Kenya, Aggrey remained behind and started a fruit business selling sweet melons in Kongowea market. He began with very little capital and has gradually increased his capacity. Recently, his two sisters have joined him.
Aggrey now lives with his two sisters in his single-room house, as well as educating the youngest sister who is still in junior grade. His current earnings are not enough to cater to all the needs of his siblings as well as saving for his sisters' high school education.
Aggrey would like to expand his business by increasing his inventory, since there is plenty of demand for his product (sweet watermelon). This will in turn bring in additional income, but he lacks initial funds to get started. Thus, he is requesting a loan of US$ 650. He plans to use US$ 600 to purchase assorted fruits and US $ 50 to pay transport costs. Aggrey is responsible and from the proceeds of his business expansion, he will repay his loan.",M,650,lender,Food,1 Kenya,"Agnes Asiyo is a repeat client & has applied for a second loan with PEMCI. She started her business in the year 1991 with an initial capital of 2000/= Kenya shillings (1USD= 67/= Kenya shillings). She was given as a loan by her husband. Agnes is married with four children, one boy and three girls. The first born has finished his O levels, the 2nd and 3rd are in class seven & the last born in class two. The husband is a farmer. She says that if given a second a loan by PEMCI she will purchase furniture for her hotel so as to meet her customers needs, because her hotel is booked by a NGO called A.D.P (World Vision) - they will be meeting in her hotel starting November 2007, and for the five years followings. The challenges she meets in her business is debts from her customers and also, sometimes during the season of harvesting, people dont eat much in her hotel.",F,225,lender,Food,1 Kenya,"Agnes Icharia is 41 years old. She is married with three children; two are in college while the other is in secondary school. She is a member of Mother Joy Women's Group and a Christian who attends the mass at Lower Kabete Catholic Church. She was elected as a disciplinary master of her group.
Agnes has been a dairy farmer for the last twenty years and besides being a dairy farmer, she practices poultry farming. She is a new member of WEEC and has never borrowed before. Her friend who had joined WEEC in the past informed her about WEEC. She has applied for a loan of USD150, which she intends to use to buy animal feeds for her cows.",F,150,lender,Agriculture,1 Kenya,"Agnes is 22 years old married with one child. Agnes is a choir member of Kiret Naboisho Baptist church. She joined Kiret Naboisho women group and has received 2 loans of USD 58 and USD 85. The small loans enabled her to start her small business of bead ornaments. Agnes is very good in beadwork. She sells her ornaments at Isinya market and at Maasai Rural Training Centre- MRTC. Agnes wishes to buy beads of different varieties to input in her business and sell them to many customers. By making more ornaments, she will be able to sell at Maasai market in Nairobi and at Kajiado market. This will enable her to grow her business and earn more income. She plans to buy beads, Leather, Thread in large quantities. This will reduce the cost and maximize her profits. Agnes is scheduled to attend training in December on basic business management.",F,300,lender,Arts,1 Kenya,"Agnes is 26 years old; she is married with 3 children. Agnes completed her secondary school education and this assists her being a secretary of Inkiramat women group. She maintains proper and accurate records of the group and this helps in operating the revolving fund. Agnes main economic activity is buying and selling of steers. She runs her business with her husband which is not common in the Maaai culture. However, they are not against the culture but believe culture should embrace the wellbeing of people. Agnes is good in selecting small steers for fattening and this has given her an edge over other traders because at the end of 4 months she starts selling and selling quality steers. The land available can raise over 30 cows and this why she intends to use this opportunity to increase the number of steers. With a loan of USD 450, Agnes will be able to buy 4 medium size Steers. She will sell them after 4 months at more than double the price. Agnes also foresees a better market in future whereby the market prices will be steady. She feels that if current developments recorded in the livestock sector continue, she will work hard to meet her target of increasing the Steers to 40 in a very short time.",F,450,partner,Agriculture,0 Kenya,"Agnes is 26 years old; she is married with 3 children. Agnes completed her secondary school education and this assists her being a secretary of Inkiramat Women's Group. She maintains proper and accurate records of the group and this helps in operating the revolving fund.
Agnes main economic activity is buying and selling of steers. She runs her business with her husband, which is not common in the Masaai culture. However, they are not against the culture but believe culture should embrace the wellbeing of people. Agnes has actually worked hard. The land available can raise over 30 cows and this is why she intends to use this opportunity to increase the number of steers.
With a loan of USD 450, Agnes will be able to buy 4 medium size steers. She will sell them after 4 months at more than double the price. Agnes also foresees a better market in future whereby the market prices will be steady. She feels that if current developments recorded in the livestock sector continue, she will work hard to meet her target of increasing the steers to 40 in a very short time.",F,900,lender,Agriculture,1 Kenya,"Agnes is 50 years old and married with 4 children. Her last-born is in high school and another in college. She specialises mainly in farming whereby she grows maize, beans and potatoes in her 5 acres of land. She sells her farm produce in Nairobi where there is a ready market. She also has dairy cows whose milk she sells to a dairy co-operative society. She needs a loan of USD450 to buy fertilizer and seeds. She will repay her loan in monthly installments.",F,450,lender,Agriculture,1 Kenya,"Agnes is 54 years old, married with grown children. She lives in Ikundu village, Maragwa. She is a very active member of the ACK St. Phillips Church in Maragwa district. She is a member of the Mothers' Union Association. Agnes is one of the active members of Karaba Umoja women's group. She encourages other members of her group and shares with them her experience as a dairy farmer. She does not believe in giving up and she trains other members in the importance of being focused and pushing on for what one has set to do. Her group contributions are very good and she sets a pace that the other members wish to emulate and to achieve. She encourages the culture of healthy competition amongst her group members.
Dairy farming is what she spends most of her time doing. Agnes sells an average of 20 liters of milk a day. She has applied for a loan of USD150 for the purchase of animal feed. The loan has been approved. Her repayment period is set to be 12 months.",F,150,lender,Agriculture,1 Kenya,"Agnes is 61 years old. She is married and a mother of 4 grown up children. Agnes is a member of St. Marys Catholic church in Ongata Rongai. She joined the Chabumba Womens Group in 2003. Agnes has been an effective group prefect and has kept the group register and collects the fines for absentees, lateness, noisemaking and for members who sleep during the group meeting without fail. She hands the money to the treasurer that is then added up to the days contribution and later saved or loaned out. The seriousness by which she does her work has made the group members take all group matters very seriously and this has made them a very strong group. Agnes started her sweater making business from loans received from the Chabumba Womens Group. Her business has grown steadily, her clients are mostly pupils from the nearby schools. She now specializes in making school sweaters and casual sweaters when she receives orders from the Rongai residents. Agnes has employed a lady who assists her in making sweaters. This leaves her with ample time to market her products and also to get orders from schools. Agnes plans to include other items in her stock list. She intends to add polythene bags, cake wrappers and cell phone credit vouchers. She is targeting to supply the bags and wrappers to the cakemakers in the town of Rongai and to the mobile cake vendors. She intends to start the expansion with USD 300 that the group has approved for her to take and repay on monthly installments.",F,300,lender,Clothing,1 Kenya,Agnes is a married mother of three. She sells mobile phones and their accesories for a living. Agnes will use the loan of USD 700 to diversify and expand her business.,F,700,lender,Retail,1 Kenya,"Agnes is a single mother of four, three working on their O levels and one in primary school--a very heavy responsibility indeed for a single mother.
Agnes started her business in 1997 with capital from her brothers. Her business is located at the border thus her customers are mostly people from across the border.
Agnes' business is doing well and has enabled her to educate her children. With the $150 from PEMCI, she intents to expand her business. Worth supporting!",F,150,partner,Retail,0 Kenya,"Agnes is a single mother of four, with three undergoing their O levels, and one in primary school. She started her business in 1997 with capital from her brothers contributions. Her business is located at the border, thus her customers are mostly people from across the border. Her business is doing well and has enabled her to educate her children.
Agnes has been happy with her first loan. She was able to beef up her shop with things that she didn't have, yet they are in demand. Agnes has cleared her first loan and intends to get a relatively larger loan, so that she may expand her business further. She would like to borrow $300 more from People Microcredit Investment Bureau to increase the inventory in her shop.",F,300,partner,Retail,0 Kenya,"Agnes is a teacher by profession in one of the primary school in her area. She has 3 children who are in primary school. She also practices subsistence farming. Of late Agnes has been thinking on ways and means of investing money in a business that would bring in returns and she will be able to educate her children well. On doing survey and options she was left with stock exchange market. Reason being she is too involved in school thus may not monitor other kind of businesses well. As for the stock exchange market, she follows the trends from the media and the stock brokers supplementing with the business skills she has received from WEEC. She is hoping to get the loan and she can venture in to stock market. She will repay her loan with her monthly income.",F,150,lender,Services,1 Kenya,"Agnes is a twenty-two-year-old mother, married with two boys. The first-born is in nursery school and the second one is at home. Agnes was unable to continue after primary school because her parents were unable to pay for her secondary education.
Agnes started her store four years ago. It is located at Myanga trading centre, a business centre for the village. She stores basic home necessities like milk, sugar, eggs, cooking fat/ oil, soap and detergents, margarine and bread, to name but a few. She gets the stock for her shop from Bungoma and/or Myanga, where there are some wholesalers.
Serving a customer base of mainly neighbors and people from the village, Agnes is able to take home a profit of Kshs 350/- to Kshs 400/- (Kshs. 67/- equated to 1 USD). Other than this, Agnes also trades in dry corn, famous for making ugali, which is Kenyas favorite food. She buys and sells dried maize in a two kilogrammes tin, locally known as a 'gorogoro'. With her first PEMCI loan through KIVA, Agnes plans to increase her stock.",F,100,lender,Retail,1
Kenya,"Agnes is a widow who has grown children. She looks after her four grandchildren. She grows cabbages and sells them at her local market. She also grows maize and beans, which brings her enough harvest to feed the children and do other business. She is an active member of the St. Consolata Womens Group where she has benefited a lot from small loans and trainings. With her new role of parenting, Agnes has realized she has to start investing for the future of these children and for her own sanity. Her Catholic church has been very supportive of her, once offering counseling because she felt that caring for her grandchildren was too much. The challenge has become an opportunity for today she has entered many income generating activities. She has serviced many small loans which have boosted her business. She wants to buy Kengen shares. She is willing to repay her loan on a monthly basis.",F,225,lender,Food,1
Kenya,"Agnes is an active group member of Njathaini Young Women in action. She has 3 children, two of whom are in primary school. She supports her family through the retail shop she operates for quite sometimes. She started her business 9 years ago. Currently she is servicing a loan which will be fully paid by the end of this month. Due to high demand of her customers, she wants to add stock of sugar, flour, detergents and beverages and she will be able to beat the demand in the market. Her business has been doing well despite the challenge of competition in the area but she is determined to improve her services and attract more custormers.She has proved to the group her capability to pay through the previous loans has she ever secured",F,300,lender,Retail,1
Kenya,"Agnes is married with four children. She has trained on secretarial, computers and an accountant by professional. She is a CCI member.
She started her private computer college eight years ago. She is the Managing Director of the college which has 170 students. Thika is a densely populated town and most school leavers have missed vacancy in her college due to lack of enough computers and training materials. The college has employed 8 members of staff.
",F,750,partner,Services,0
Kenya,"Agnes is married with four children; one is in secondary school and two are still in primary school. She is the secretary of the Inkishumu Women\'s group and the chairlady of the Nanyor Group, which campaigns against F.G.M. (female genital mutilation.) She is also a committed member of the PCEA church. She started her business with two steers which she later sold after six months and bought two more steers. Now she has six steers which are ready for market in January next year. From her business she was able to build rental houses. She has also been able to pay school fees for her children and provide for their basic needs. She is very hardworking and she tries her best to make ends meet for her family. She would like to add more steers to maximize her steer business. She has a mission of building more rental rooms from the income from the sheers. She would like to repay on monthly basis.",F,450,lender,Agriculture,1
Kenya,Agnes is married with grown children. She is an active member of Rurii Shinning mothers. Agnes is a woman who regrets not taking education very serious. She has committed her life in campaigning girl child education. She runs a cereal business of corn and beans. Currently her stock has gone down as much of it was bought by farmers in this season for planting. She believes her current living standard should be better than when she was raising children. Agnes is applying for a loan in order to replenish her stock. She has put a good example in her group in repayment record.,F,150,lender,Food,1
Kenya,"Agnes Kiambi is 23 years old. She lost her mother in 2004 to the dreaded AIDS. She came from a single parent family.
A womens group by the name WOFAK (Women Fighting AIDS in Kenya) knew her mother so they sponsored Agnes for hairdressing and beauty training at the Alternative School of Hairdressing from 2005 to 2006. Agnes was one of the best students and was offered employment at the Blue Yellow Hair Salon in Hurlingham.
Agnes started saving and by the time she left her job to look after her younger sister, who is year years old and HIV positive, she had saved USD 357. With these savings, Agnes bought hair relaxing chemicals, rollers, a blowdryer, towels and some chairs. She then rented a shop from where she has been operating. With her income, she is able to feed, educate and buy medicine for her sister. On a sad note Agnes and her 8 siblings (four brothers and four sisters) were disowned by her mothers relatives after they learned that she was HIV positive. So after burying her mother, Agnes took full responsibility of raising her siblings.
Agnes has been experiencing difficulties due to stiff competition from neighboring salons, which are fully equipped. A few clients have left. Agnes has been trying to do after-sales services, such as offering a free hair wash, in order to retain some of her clients. She senses that if they continue to leave, she will be left with no income to feed herself and her siblings. Agnes is therefore requesting a loan of USD 625 to help her purchase a dryer, steamer, blowdryer, four chairs, training dummy and a 14-inch television set. With this additional equipment, Agnes will be able to compete with her fellow competitors and hopes that with time she will win her clients back. She will also be able to give her customers quick and efficient service and in turn increase her income.
Due to the harsh situation that Agnes went through, i.e. rejection and neglect from her close relatives, Agnes has taken 2 orphaned girls and is training them in hairdressing. She has been able to overcome obstacles in her life and does not want girls in similar conditions to suffer like she did.
After buying the equipment, Agnes will employ two other people. This will translate into higher income that will enable her to support her siblings. Agnes intends to repay the loan in 815 months.",F,625,partner,Services,0
Kenya,"Agnes Koki Muasa is a 33 year old mother of two children. She is not married so the responsibility of taking care of two school-age children falls solely on her. She operates a general store within the city center. The shop sells a wide variety of household goods. She also runs the grocery shop attached to it.
Her shop is attractive to consumers because most of the items are in small convenient quantities and their prices are affordable to the low-income earners in this area. She began this shop five years ago and has seen it grow larger and serves many people in her heavily populated town. The income she earns has enabled her to pay for her familys necessities. The business has been experiencing some cash shortfalls that have grossly affected its performance. She is therefore requesting a loan of US $600 to assist her in adding more stock to her shop so that it can perform at its full potential. This will increase her income base and she will be able to save for her childrens future educational expenses.",F,600,lender,Retail,1
Kenya,"Agnes Mbula Kinyili is 34 years old. She is single and has three children who are all in junior school. She lives in the Kibera slums of Nairobi. Her parents are also depending on her for support. Agnes dropped out of high school, because her parents could not afford to pay for her education. She is involved in the business of collecting recyclable garbage from dumping sites and selling them to a recycling company in Nairobis industrial area. She also makes handicrafts, jewelry and baskets from the recyclable materials. Some of the creative items that Agnes has made are toy cars made of used cable wires and earrings and necklaces made from bull horns. Though her business is doing well, it is small-scale and cannot satisfy the demand. Furthermore, Agnes is not earning enough to support her family. She is planning to expand her businesses by opening a junk yard, where she will be buying recyclable items from other small-scale garbage collectors and selling them to the big recycling factories. However, Agnes lacks funds to initiate her plans. She is therefore requesting a loan of US$1000: she will use US$400 to rent the junk yard, US$450 to buy the initial stocks and US$150 to hire and train two workers who will assist her in both the craft and the recyclable material collecting business. Her business idea is noble because it will help to conserve the environment by reducing pollution in Nairobi.",F,1000,lender,Arts,1
Kenya,"Agnes Menyi Kamau is a 45 year old woman who is married with five children, one of whom is school going while the rest are still underage. The husband is a business man while she is involved in the business of selling mangoes at the main market. The business has been of great help to her since she has been able to educate her child and also take care of her younger ones. She had to drop out of school at high school level due to a lack of fees and thus decided to venture into the mango business. She has been in the business for sometime now and faces various challenges such as lack of enough funds to expand her business, combat high transportation costs, scarcity of fruits because they are seasonal, and lack of a permanent business premise. Agnes wants to expand her business, but lacks the funds to do so which is why she has requested US$600. Her budget is as follows: US$500 to add more stock and US$100 to cater for transport. She is a business oriented woman who is very ambitious and able repay the loan in time.
Disclaimer: Due to recent events in Kenya, the security situation in many communities remains unsettled, affecting many local businesses. Lenders to this entrepreneur should be aware that this loan may represent a higher default risk, and should be willing to accept this additional risk in making their loan.",F,600,lender,Food,1 Kenya,"Agnes Muthoni Kamau is 23 years old and a mother of one. She is still single but anticipating that soon she will be getting married. Agnes had well furnished her house and also operated her beauty salon business from her house. Sadly, fate willed it that she lost everything through a tragic fire that broke out in her neighbour's house and spread to hers. This left her with nothing.
Agnes intends to start all over again but lacks money. She is requesting a loan of US$ 700 which she plans to use in this way: US$ 200 to buy a steaming machine, US$ 150 to buy a hair dryer, US$ 150 to buy chemicals, US$ 50 to add combs and such, and US $ 150 to rent premises and pay local licences. Agnes is a member of Jitegemee Group. She is committed and will repay her loan.",F,700,lender,Services,1 Kenya,"Agnes Muthoni Kamau was born 40 years ago in the Kanunga, Kiambu district. She is married with three children; all of whom are in college in Nairobi. She is a religious person and a member of the Catholic Women Association (CWA). She is an active member of the Banana Hill Blessed Women's Group. For the past 20 years, Agnes has been doing dairy and piggery farming in Kanunga and Njunu. She also works with the Farm House Company. She joined WEEC after being informed by old WEEC members of how WEEC and KIVA have boosted businesses in the Kanunga area. She has applied for a loan of $600, which she intends to use to buy a dairy cow. She is willing to repay this loan within a period of 12 months.",F,600,lender,Agriculture,1 Kenya,"Agnes Mutindi Mukeku is a 35 year old shopkeeper. She is married with two children. Her children are both girls who are of school age. She gets support not only from her shop but also from her working husband. She has been operating a general shop for the last seven years. She has realized that there is a ready market for a green grocery but no one has started one in her area. She would like to start a greengrocer stall just beside her shop. She is requesting a loan of US$450. US$ 150 to be used in purchase of materials to build the stall, US$ 50 to pay for labor and US$250 to buy vegetables and fruits for sale. She is a hardworking lady and has the potential to suceed given the finances.",F,450,lender,Food,1 Kenya,"Agnes Nthenya Mburu is married with five children. She is an active member of St. Ruth women group and of Gaichanjiru High School. She is a farmer and grows beans, maize and vegetables to sell to the local residents. Her main source of income is farming. She has been experiencing problems with the water supply in her farm. She intends to buy a water tank for storing rain-water both for farming and domestic use. She has applied a loan of USD300 to meet this goal. She is willing to repay the loan within 12 months.",F,300,lender,Agriculture,1 Kenya,"Agnes Nyaguthie Mwangi, 39, is married and has been blessed with three children who are going to high school. She owns a small butcher shop in Kahuro town. She has been buying meat to sell in small quantities, (i.e. 20kg per day.) She would like a loan of $150 to expand her business by buying more kilos of meat because her shop is very popular and her selection of meat attracts a lot of customers. Her business has enabled her to educate her children through high school and she is anticipating that once she has paid back her loan and saved some money, she will be able to keep her own cows to sell to other butcheries. She lives at her farm in Githagara where she has a few cows for milk.",F,150,lender,Food,1 Kenya,"Agnes started her business in 1980. It involves selling household equipment both retail and wholesale. She is an active member of PEMCI, and this is her third loan. The previous loans helped her to increase her stock, improve the size of her shop, and become both retailer and wholesaler. Her shop is located along the Malaba Uganda highway, hence her customers are mainly commuters. The business is booming and this has enabled her to pay her loans promptly. She wishes to get a larger loan in order to increase her cigarette stock. She also intends to increase the stock of her new business of selling scrap metal. She is a mother of four, with two in primary and two in secondary school. Her husband is also a businessman, but operates his shop in another town. Through her business, Agnes has been able to support her husband in educating their children and also meeting other family needs. She has also been able to purchase a piece of land for herself, for which she is still paying.",F,300,partner,Retail,0 Kenya,"Agnes Waithera Njogu is 39 years old. She is a single mother of two children; one in secondary school and the other in primary school. She is a member of Gakoiga United women group. She is a farmer where she mainly practices planting of bananas and consequently, she sells these bananas to brokers who are responsible for its distribution to Nairobi. As a result of high demand from customers she intends to purchase organic manure, banana cuttings and also get cheap labour to assist her in planting and cultivating in order to manage these demands. She intends to repay her loan for a period of 10 months.",F,150,lender,Agriculture,1 Kenya,"Agnes Wangechi Michuki, aged 30, is married and has 2 children who are both at school. She has been a business woman for 11 years now, and has always dreamt of expanding her cereal business. Since she started, Agnes has faced tough financial constraints. She has approached many financial institutions for the past 10 years, but never succeeded in getting any financial help. She thanks the government for sponsoring her children's education. Still, Agnes is worried, because, once her children reach the 12th grade, she will be required to pay the fees herself. She has a great responsibility as the family's breadwinner: feeding the family, as well as being the head of the household. Agnes believes that her business will succeed in raising profit, savings, and in paying back the loan. Having approached Ebony for a loan, she feels confident about the expansion of her cereal business - Agnes plans to purchase dry maize from different parts of the country and even from neighboring countries like Tanzania when the local supply is low. In spite of the extensive travel, the profit margin after such an investment is expected to be high. Agnes would like to invest US$750 in the further expansion of her business: she would need US$150 for the necssary transportation expenses and US$600 for purchasing dry maize and empty sacks.",F,750,lender,Agriculture,1 Kenya,"Agnes Wanjera Ngamate is a 30 year old single mother of two children. She resides in a slum in the periphery of Mombasa. She runs her own food kiosk within the city center that sells mostly traditional Kenyan foods. The food kiosk has been operational for two years and it has given her enough income to take care of her familys basic needs. Her food kiosk is aptly situated in the busy city center thus guaranteeing her a steady supply of customers. Office workers, business operators and school children comprise most of her client base and are mostly attracted by her low-cost, high-quality nutritious food. She also has food delivery services to her most loyal customers who have their food delivered right to their places of work. She also offers credit services, which has endeared her to many customers. She would like to expand her business operations and operate a bigger and more hygienic food stall. She is therefore requesting for a loan of US$900: US$400 to buy cooking ingredients, US$200 to buy more utensils and US$300 to buy furniture. She is hardworking and capable of repaying the loan.",F,900,lender,Food,1 Kenya,"Agnes Wanjiru is 62 years old. She is an active member of Kaganda Magdalene Women's Group and contributes to the revolving fund of the group. She lives in Kaganda and attends church services at Kaganda ACK church. She is also an active member of the Mothers Union in the Church.
Her main occupation is farming where she does the cultivation of coffee, tea and vegetable crops. She has a dairy cow that produces 6 litres of milk daily. She has applied for a loan of USD575, with which she intends to purchase a dairy cow. She can foresee increased income if she has another dairy cow. She is willing to repay this loan within a period of 12 months.",F,575,lender,Agriculture,1 Kenya,"Agnes was born in 1965 in Nyakahura, Muranga Kenya. She is married with five children. Two are out of school while two are still in primary and secondary school. Agnes is a religious person and a member of the Catholic Womens Association (CWA) at St. Martins Nyakahura Catholic Church. Agnes joined the group in 2002 and registered with WEEC the same year. She has benefitted a lot from the group. Agnes is a farmer who grows maize, beans, bananas, and raises animals. She has been able to provide for her family although it has been challenging. She sells the surplus of her farm products. She has been in dilemma since her children entered high school, despite the group coming to her rescue with small school fees loans. She has been thinking of how she can supplement her income until she was trained on investing. She is planning to venture into stock market and she believes that she is going to succeed. She is promising to repay her loan on a monthly basis.",F,225,lender,Agriculture,1 Kenya,"Agripina Musavi is a 26-year-old average Kenyan woman who is married with two children.
She has been in the business of selling fruits and vegetables for two years. She got her capital from accumulating small savings with a womens group, a program that is commonly referred to as a merry-go-round. She currently operates a small grocery stall selling fruits and vegetables in the neighborhood where she resides with her family.
Agripina uses the profits from her business to feed, clothe, and educate her children. Her husband also relies on her, as he does not have a job. With the help of her loan, Agripina will be able to increase her grocery stock and also diversify her business to include selling fruit juice. This will help her to increase her monthly sales.",F,2675,lender,Food,0 Kenya,"Akulina Adhiambo is a 37 year-old widow. Her husband died of AIDS in 1999 and she was left with five children to take of. She stayed at her rural home in western Kenya, as is the tradition, after the death of her husband up to the year 2000, when she decided to come back to the city. Her decision was influenced by the difficult conditions in her rural home, compounded by the fact that she was used to the citys lifestyle. She lives within the Kibera slums.
Akulina engaged in various businesses in order to educate her children and to provide them with a good lifestyle. She used to wash clothes for people during the day at Ksh 50.00 (less than a dollar) and in the evenings would roast maize (corn) and also sell groceries. Washing clothes affected her health since it meant being in contact with water quite often.
Besides selling groceries in the evenings, Akulina thought of trying catering services to nursery schools as a way of getting more earnings. She approached a kindergarten school within her community and luckily enough she was given a go-ahead to supply food to both the teachers and children. She used money from the vegetable business to buy the ingredients for cooking and she would borrow the equipment for cooking, that is, a cooking pot and a cooking meko, which she did over a long period. During difficult times she would take the ingredients on credit and pay at the end of the week. She also started to hire the equipment rather than borrowing since the owner was becoming too stringent. Through this business, Akulina has sustained herself together with her children and has managed to pay school fees for her first child who joined secondary school this year (2007) and she also manages to maintain the rest in school as well. Akulina has gained a lot of experience in the catering business and has expanded to supplying food to garages and small businesses within her community. She now wants to have her own equipment and even employ one more person who can help in delivering the food in decent plastic containers, unlike polythene bags which she has been using. She is therefore requesting a loan of Ksh USD 75 to enable her purchase 3 sufurias, 2 plastic packing containers and one jiko which she will repay within a period of 12 months.",F,75,lender,Food,1 Kenya,"Alex intends to take a second loan from PEMCI, having completed his first loan successfully. He sells onions, which he buys directly from farmers in his community. When the supply is low, he gets his stock of onions from Chwele market in Bungoma district, about twenty-five kilometers from his trading centre. He sells both in wholesale and retail. His current stock can be estimated at 4000 shillings. His first loan has enabled him to expand his business and with the profits he was able to repay his loan and develop his farm by purchasing a dairy cow.
He is married and a father of 3 - two girls and a boy. The first born is in class one, and the other two have yet to join school. His wife is a farmer. He is educated up to standard seven, but was unable to continue due to his parents inability to educate him. He is the first born of a family of six.
Given a second loan by PEMCI, he plans to divide it in two, put half of it in his onion business and the other half he plans to use to buy fertilizer for his onions, to increase the yield and quality. He dreams of diversifying his business in the future. He plans to purchase a motorbike to use for transportation (taxi boda boda).",M,225,lender,Food,1 Kenya,"Alex is 29 years old, married and with one child. He is a primary school drop out and was unable to attend high school due to lack of school fees. His wife sells fruits at the local market. They combine their income to provide for the family and to support their parents who are peasant farmers. Alex begun attending Eb-F skill training courses in year 2005.He received a loan of US $ 600 to set up a community pay phone business in June 2005 and he repaid the loan promptly. Currently he operates his business from the streets of Nakuru City and as such he can not expand his business because the local Government does not license street based enterprises. Alex wants to move his business into a permanent room where he can be licensed enabling him expand his business. He is requesting a loan of US $ 1000.His budget is US $ 300 to pay for the room and to refurbish it, US $ 500 to purchase 4 additional pay phones and US $ 200 to purchase airtime for the phones. The business will employ one extra person. Alex is a hardworking person and will be able to repay the loan.",M,1000,lender,Retail,1 Kenya,"Alex is married with three children who are all in primary school. He started his business in 2002 in order to sustain his family. He has not undertaken any training, but is an active member of the Catholic community church youth group, which educates the locals on fighting poverty. Through a loan from PEMCI, he intends to buy onions in bulk from the locals, as it is harvesting period, and sell them in town at a higher price. Through his business, he has been able to provide for his family, employ some school dropouts, and serve the community as a whole by showing them various ways of eradicating poverty and building self-dependency.",M,100,partner,Food,0 Kenya,"Alex Okello is a young Kenyan father, aged 30 with 6 children. He also lives with 2 orphan children of his late sister who perished 2 years ago.
Alex started his business 3 years ago after accumulating savings from his former work place. He currently operates a small posho mill (maize grinder) in the neighborhood. He also stocks maize, which he sells to his customers who want to buy and grind it.
With the little profit that he gets from the business, Alex still struggles to feed, clothe, and educate his children and to pay his rent. With the help of his loan, Alex will be able to expand his business by purchasing maize in bulk and to increase his monthly sales.
Disclaimer: Due to recent events in Kenya, the security situation in many communities remains unsettled, affecting many local businesses. Lenders to this entrepreneur should be aware that this loan may represent a higher default risk, and should be willing to accept this additional risk in making their loan.",M,2300,lender,Food,0 Kenya,"Alexis a single 25 year old father of 2 who has a diploma in food production. Although he prepares his food in a clean and tidy environment, he says that it is hard to be trusted when your shop is mobile. He would like to start up a small cafe with this loan and also diversify his food products.",M,225,lender,Food,1 Kenya,"Alfred is a new member in the Mukwa Women Group that is associated with PEMCI. He is a shopkeeper and cereal businessman at Mukwa market and operates a small semi permanent store. He started his business in the year 2007. His current stock can be estimated as 4000/=. He has stock with a variety of items. He is married and a father of six children. His first born is in class eight, the second born in class four, third one in class three, another one in class two with the last born still at home. His wife helps him at the shop whenever she is done with her home and farm chores. Alfred is a school drop out due to lack of school fees. Alfred says if given a loan by PEMCI, he plans to increase the stock of his business.",M,175,lender,Retail,1 Kenya,"Alfred Rogito Onkoba is 37 years old. He is married with four children. Four of them are in school while one has not reached school age. He dropped out high school at the age of 16 because his parents could not afford his school fees. He enrolled in a local polytechnic where he studied baking. He then started his own bakery, where he bakes cakes, buns, bread, muffins and cookies.
His major strength is distribution> He has employed three cyclists who supply his goods to retail shops and supermarkets in the town where he operates. His products are of high quality and therefore they are in high demand.
Though the business is doing well, he is unable to service all his orders because he lacks the capacity and resources to do so. He needs a loan of US $1200 to expand his business. He will buy three energy-saving ovens with US $600; two distribution bicycles with US $200; and use US $400 to buy more stocks of the baking ingredients. All these resources will enable him to expand his business, generate more income and invest in his children's education.",M,1200,lender,Food,1 Kenya,"Alice Achieng is a 28 year old mother of three children. Alice and her husband live in Rongo, Kenya. She has received and successfully repaid two microfinance loans from KMET. She began her tailoring business in the year 2002. She specializes in both men's and women's clothing. She currently offers training to 4 teenage school drop-outs in dressmaking. To cope with demand she has employed an additional tailor.
The central location of her shop and her many years of doing good business within the community has gained her a good reputation and a wide customer base. She has combined the additional money from K-MET with hard work and perseverance thus building a successful income-generating business. Alice is proud of her accomplishments and that she is now able to contribute to paying household expenses. She requires US $800 to further expand her business, increase the variety of clothes-making materials and purchase tailoring supplies to keep up with the growing demand.",F,800,partner,Services,0 Kenya,"Alice Atieno Ndalo is a 49-year-old lady. She is married and has six children. Two of the children are in school while the other four are not in school due to financial difficulties that Alice is experiencing. Her husband works as a mechanic. They live in a rented, semi-permanent two-roomed house in Nakurus Rhonda estate.
Alice earns a living through selling fish in the estate. She and her husband do not make enough to be able to meet the needs of the family. She gets the fish from the local market on a daily basis so that she can sell fresh fish to her clients. The demand for her fish is high since she sells at an affordable price and her fish is of high quality. At times, she is unable to meet her customers' demands due to lack of stock.
Therefore, Alice is requesting a loan of US$ 650 to be able to stock more fish to meet the needs of her customers. She would also like to open a little shop to sell the fish. Alice is hard-working and will be able to pay back the loan within the loan term stated. The following is her budget plan for loan usage:
US$ 50 for transportation of the fish
US$ 250 to purchase a cooler to store the fish
US$ 100 to rent a shop for selling the fish
US$ 100 to pay for a municipal council license for the shop, and
US$ 150 to purchase enough fish to be able to meet her clients' needs.",F,650,lender,Food,1 Kenya,"Alice is 33 years old. She is married and has 3 young children. Alice is a member of the ACK Church and the Mothers Union Association at the same church. Alice believes in leading a humble and peaceful life, as the bible teaches. She has gained respect from other group members due to her way of handling group issues. She was voted to be the chairlady of Rainbow Womens Group and has shown exemplary leadership skills. She has helped the group move through the initial stage to become more stable and the group members have remained united. Alice earns her income through farming. She grows maize, beans, and kale. She sells the kale at the local market. Alice also keeps 1 dairy cow that produces 3 liters of milk per day. She sells 2 liters to her neighbors. Alice plans to intensify her dairy farming by increasing the number of dairy cows and also by using the dairy feed and other supplements to increase the milk produced per cow. She has applied for a loan of USD 150. The group loan committee has approved the loan and the repayment period will be 10 months.",F,150,lender,Agriculture,1 Kenya,Alice is 34 years old and married with four children. She is educated to 'O' level. Two of her children are in primary school and the other two have not started yet. Alice is an active member of Nashipae Women's Group; she started her business with the help of a WEEC loan in 2004. She bought three steers and sold them after fattening them. She plows her profit back to the business there by increasing her income. After eight years she was able to buy eight steers. This motivated her so much that after two years she bought a piece of land in the Olturoto area. Alice is now a proud businesswoman who is able to save for her children's future. The revival of Kenya Meat Commission has given her the spirit to work even harder to meet the company's demand. She wants to buy eight more steers and sell to the company in large numbers if a loan of $1200 is given to her.,F,1200,lender,Agriculture,1 Kenya,"Alice is 42 years old. She is married with 7 children who are in primary school. She is a member of the ACK Church in Gakoigo. Alices family has rented a house in Gakoigo shopping centre where she has a pottery business. She works together with 10 potters whom she pays on a daily basis as per the pots each potter has made. Per day, Alice makes 300 pots. Alice sells the pots at wholesale price to businesswomen who deliver them to markets in the Eastern and Rift Valley provinces. Most of her clients are taking many pots at a time. Currently, Alice is not able to meet the demand. She has applied for a loan of USD 300 from her group. The Secretariat has approved her loan as per the loan graduation policy. She will repay the loan within a period of 12 months.",F,300,lender,Arts,1 Kenya,"Alice is 50 years old. She is married and a mother of 5 children. Alice is a Christian and a member of Ack Church in Muguru. She is a member of Kangema Free Wonderful Mothers. Through the group she has benefitted from the trainings that are done on the group level by WEEC officers. She has also learned a lot from the group members and has realized the importance of working towards increasing income generating avenues. Though her main economic activity is farming she plans to start a small business in Kangema town selling fruits and vegetables. The fruits, like passion fruit and pears, will be bought from farmers around Kanyenyaini area. Her plan of starting a small business has been appraised by the group and a loan of USD 150 has been approved by the groups loan committee. The loan repayment period will be 12 months.",F,150,lender,Agriculture,1 Kenya,"Alice is 54 years old and is married with 7 grown-up children. She is a member of Nkoroi PCEA church and a member of a mothers guild. She is a part-time preacher and prays for people in jail and frequently visits the Tumaini childrens home for street children to encourage them.
Alice loves farming; she keeps cows, sheep and has a farm where she grows maize, beans, peas and potatoes. Alice gets her income from selling milk to the neighbors and the nearby hotels. Before the drought period, Alice was selling 15 litres of milk from her 2 cows. She managed to change her farming with the loan she got, of which she has repaid 95%. She is very happy, having achieved her first dream of getting cows.
Due to the high demand for milk in her area, she has opted to concentrate on her dairy project. She is willing to repay her loan on a monthly basis.",F,750,lender,Agriculture,1 Kenya,"Alice is 58 years old. She is married, with 4 children who are self-reliant. She is a member of A.C.K. Church. Her economic occupation is mixed farming. She has stocked cows and goats besides planting coffee, beans, Napier, and maize in her farm. She participates actively in Home Promoters women's group where she saves, borrows, and repays on time. She also acts as the group committee member. She is applying for a loan of $600 to purchase a productive dairy cow.",F,600,lender,Agriculture,1 Kenya,"Alice is 64 years old. She is a single mother with 8 grown up children. She is a member of St. Marys Catholic Church in Ongata Rongai. Alice moved to Rongai 30 years ago in search of green pastures in order to raise her children. She settled in Kware area that had been abandoned after exhaustion of the quarries. When plots were allocated, Alice got a plot near the market site. She studied the market and felt a shop for household goods and foodstuffs will do great in the area, since the other shops were far. The shop assisted her to educate most of her children up to secondary level and has also been able to buy a commercial plot to put up rental rooms. In 2001 Alice mobilized women and together they formed Esther K women group. The group was trained and registered under the WEEC programme. With her business background, Alice was a role model to many women and they were determined to start small businesses. Her business has been boosted a lot by the small group loans. She feels that if she can get a loan and build rental rooms, her income will be maximized and she can pay for her two daughters college fees without much hassling.",F,1800,lender,Construction,1 Kenya,Alice is a 30 year old married mother of 5. She has undergone intense training in beauty colleges and has earned a diploma. On top of that she is highly skilled in braiding and has satisfied customers. She hopes that this loan will enable her to start her own beauty shop and fully engage all her skills.,F,175,lender,Services,1 Kenya,"Alice is a 39-year old business lady, married and a mother of three boys. The eldest son is in high school and the other two are in primary school. Her husband is a professional driver and businessman. Alice operates a general store at Malaba town. She started it with a capital of KES 200,000 from her husband. Currently, her stock is valued at 150,000 . She is recovering from theft, where thieves broke into her shop and stole almost all of her stock. She usually sources her goods from Bungoma every Monday of the week. Alices customers usually come from Uganda.
With a loan from PEMCI, Alice plans to increase the stock of her shop. She intends to stock more sacks of sugar, because she says it takes about three days to deplete about fifty bags.",F,500,lender,Wholesale,1 Kenya,"Alice is a 66-year-old widow who has also lost five of her children due to HIV-related illness. She is a hard-working mother, and well known in the community as a farmer. God has blessed her with a fertile piece of land where she grows staple crops mostly used in her community. She harvested bags of maize last season, which she hopes to sell when prices improve. She has another income: cattle rearing. She buys and sells cattle at a profit. The business has not done well, due to limited funds and competition from men who have overwhelmed this venture. She plans to purchase more cattle for sale and also rent additional land where she can grow more crops with US $700 she has applied for.",F,700,partner,Agriculture,0 Kenya,"Alice is married with 10 grown up children. She has been in the lending group for 14 years and she is one of the group beneficiaries. She has used four loans from the group and set a good example of repaying the loans. From the previous loans, she bought a big tank which has saved her time and energy fetching water from the wells which are very far. She is grateful to Kenyanjeru Starlight Women Group and WEEC for giving her loan which have changed her life and created hope for good things in future.
Farming is the activity she concentrates on since she has enough land and water. She grows tea and this gives her USD45 per month and a bonus of USD300 per annum. She also grows vegetables, cereals and rears a dairy cow, she gets 8 litres daily and this gives her USD 45 per month. She has maintained her animal health through the skills she has obtained from the group sponsors. She was advised to feed the animal with Napier grass, dairy meal, bran, molluses, vitamins and minerals and she has been deworming it leading to high milk production. Maintaining a dairy cow on dry season is very hectic because the feeding cost is very high compared to wet seasons.",F,275,lender,Agriculture,1 Kenya,"Alice is married with 4 children, who are in school. She is a member of ACK Church in Mihuti. She is also a member of Mathioya Womens Group. Her main source of income is farming. She grows tea and coffee on her small plot of land and grazes high breed goats. The project, which sustains her, is the selling of milk and goats when the market is good. The income pays the group loans and caters her family expenses. She has a desire to diversify her income generation activity. Alice has applied for a loan that will enable her to buy shares from Kenya Reinsurance Company. She will repay the loan within a period of 12 months.",F,150,lender,Agriculture,1 Kenya,"Alice Kemuma Mohere, a 38-year-old, single mother living in Kibera Slums in Nairobi. She takes care of eight children. Five children are her own and three belong to her relatives from her rural home. All of the children are of school-going age. However, she can only manage to send five to school due to her meager earnings. Two children are in senior school, and three are in junior school (two, five and eight). She owns and operates a tailoring shop by herself. This is her only source of income. Her business involves repairing torn clothes and making new clothes for sale in different markets. Alice is highly skilled in dressmaking and has many satisfied clients. This business sustains her and her family by providing a few of the basic needs, but it is not enough for her family to live comfortably or to pay for all the children's education. Her strategy to increase her income is to expand her tailoring shop to accommodate more customers. She can attract more trade by purchasing modern tailoring equipment and using higher quality fabrics. She also needs an assistant for some of the easier tasks. This would enable her to produce more clothes while helping another person to have employment. She requests a loan of $800: $100 for over-lock machines, $400 for fabrics, threads and hard canvas, $250 for a sewing machine and an ironing machine, $50 hire an assistant.",F,800,lender,Services,1 Kenya,"Alice M. Waithaka is 47 years old and married with five children. She has three children in high school. Almost all her income is used to pay the school fees for her children. She sells secondhand clothes in the open-air market. This is the only source of income for her family. She would like to expand her business by buying more bales of clothes. She believes that this will boost her business. She is requesting a loan of US$300 to buy more bales. She intends to use $200 to buy more stock, $50 for transport, and $50 for other expenses. She is capable of paying the loan.",F,300,lender,Clothing,1 Kenya,"ALICE MUTHONI WANGURA is a 44 years old mother of 6. Three of her children are in school and Alice takes care of two of her late sisters children. Alice is grows organic flowers on one acre piece of land which she sells to traders in Nairobi for the export market. She earns an average of US $ 58 per month from the business. She utilizes the income to provide for her family. Alice has just landed an order to supply Arabicam Flowers. Its a good order as it will increase her family income to about US $ 120 per month. This kind of income will enable her improve her familys livelihood. She is requesting a loan of US $ 1,300 to finance the cultivation. Her budget is: US $ 200 for the land preparation, US $ 400 to purchase seedlings, US $ 200 to purchase natural manure, US $ 150 for pest control, US $ 200 to purchase a water pump, US $ 150 to purchase water pipes and US $ 200 to meet labor and transport costs. She plans to use the income from her business to take her elder daughter to university and to re roof her old house. In future she plans to buy her own pickup to reduce the cost of hiring one every time she has to take the flowers to Nairobi.",F,1300,lender,Retail,1 Kenya,"Alice Naliaka is 38 years old. She lives in the Kitengela area on the outskirts of Nairobi. She is married with four children. Apart from her four children, Naliaka takes care of two step-children aged 15 and 22 years. She is also paying school fees for her brother aged 23 years and in form four.
Alice started her business in the year 1996 after a two-year training course in beauty and hair dressing at a college by the name La-Bella College of Beauty and Hair Dressing. After finishing her course Alice approached her husband with the idea of starting a salon in Kitengela town where they were staying up to now. Her husband was more than willing to help to help her to be her own boss. He loaned her Ksh 50,000 and he also rented the premises where she was to operate for 6 months in advance. She then bought chemicals, chairs, mirrors, and combs, among other items.
The business has been growing ever since due to the increased number of customers as a result of the growing population in this town. Customers flock to her salon because she is an expert in the art of hairdressing. Because of this, Alice wants to stock more chemicals, braids, and weaves, the products her customers are requesting. Alice is seeking a loan of Ksh30000 from Kiva lenders. With this loan, Alice will be able to purchase weaves, braids, and chemicals. She will be able to retain loyal customers whom she feared she will start losing to her fellow competitors.
Disclaimer: Due to recent events in Kenya, the security situation in many communities remains unsettled, affecting many local businesses. Lenders to this entrepreneur should be aware that this loan may represent a higher default risk, and should be willing to accept this additional risk in making their loan.",F,475,partner,Services,1 Kenya,"Alice Ngunju Huuri is 45 years old. Alice worked as a secretary until she was laid off. She lives with her husband, two sons and her grandchild. The grandchild is her deceased daughter's child and is in junior grade 2. Alices husband works as a security officer with a local firm but he does not make enough to meet all his family needs, especially since his two children are unemployed.
Alice used her savings to buy land but unfortunately the land was not productive. This prompted her to start selling re-tailored second-hand clothes to rural folks to meet the challenge of educating her grandchild as well as save to own a house. She would like to increase her stock of clothes to increase her income since these clothes are popular in the village. She feels that she has not exploited the market available but unfortunately she has no capital. She requests a US $600 loan. This will be used to buy an additional stock of clothes.",F,600,lender,Services,1 Kenya,"Alice Nungari Njau is a 45-year-old mother of four children. She is not married and thus is solely responsible for the wellbeing of her family. She resides in a populous slum settlement in the outskirts of Mombasa city. She earns a living operating a food vending business within the town center. The food items she cooks are rice, beans, githeri (a mixture of beans and green maize) and chapatis (made from wheat flour). She has been running this business for eight years and the proceeds have been useful in catering for family needs as well as her childrens educational expenditures. Her customer base comprises of workers in the city center and school children who buy food at her stall, especially during lunchtime.
Currently, Alice is operating from a makeshift structure. She would like to build a small hotel, which would be more hygienic and attract more customers. Alice is therefore requesting a loan of US$700 to assist her in meeting her business expansion plans. The funds will be used to buy more foodstuffs for sale as well as a few utensils. She is a focused woman and capable of repaying the loan.
Disclaimer: Due to recent events in Kenya, the security situation in many communities remains unsettled, affecting many local businesses. Lenders to this entrepreneur should be aware that this loan may represent a higher default risk, and should be willing to accept this additional risk in making their loan.",F,700,lender,Food,1 Kenya,"Alice Nyambura is 33 years old. She is married with three children. She lives with them in three roomed rented house. She would want to see them live a better life in a better house. Therefore she puts all her efforts in her new clothes selling business. She sells a wide variety of new clothes; these are underwear, petty coats, panties vests, fashionable skirts, linen sheets and ladies shirts. Her goods are marketable and are fast moving, this coupled with the fact that she operates in a busy open air market which is near a busy bus station made her choose the business as a way to make a living. She has a stall which is not permanent and does not have enough space for expansion and display. She feels that she needs to beat the competition in the area where she operates; she needs to add more stock and reinforce the stall to be bigger and more accommodative. She is requesting for a loan totaling to US$ 1000. She will purchase new stocks of more variety of clothes with US$ 650, she will rent a more permanent stall with US$ 300 and she will acquire the necessary licenses with US$50. She is committed to uplift her family living standards; she will use the loan efficiently and be able to pay it on time.",F,1000,lender,Clothing,1 Kenya,"Alice Nyambura is an active member of Kirimiga Purity. She is a hard working woman who sells second hand clothes and practices farming. Her main goal in life is to be able to see poverty eradicated from her family. She grew in a family that struggled so much to put food on the table. Out of this experience she made a decision to work very hard and make a differnce for her family. Her familys situation has improved compared to her parents family, but she feels it is high time to make some investments which will increase her income. The investment is through shares the government has started offering to ordinary people with low income rates. Her loan will be used to buy shares from a government parastatal that is doing very well.",F,150,lender,Clothing,1 Kenya,"Alice Ondonga, is a widow, aged 43, with two children. She has a grade 3 certificate in dressmaking. However, she does not own a sewing machine to use her skills. Meanwhile she has been engaged in vegetable and fruit selling to feed her two children. The income she gets from this business is not enough to cater for her family's education needs. Alice wants to expand the business by adding to the stock of fruits, including mangoes, paw paws, oranges, tangerines, avocados, jack fruits, lemons, sweet banana, and sugar cane, various types of berries (both localized and wild), guava, and pineapples. There is a ready market for fruits and vegetables, and the demand is very high. Alice also plans to purchase a sewing machine to complement her efforts and improve her family living conditions. She is asking for a loan of US$800: US$200 to purchase a sewing machine, US$200 to purchase sacks of oranges, tangerines, and Jack fruits, US$100 to purchase boxes of sweet banana and various types of berries (localized and wild), US$100 to purchase 5 crates of Guava, US$100 to purchase 10 boxes of pineapples, and US$100 to pay for transport services.",F,800,lender,Food,1 Kenya,"Alice Onyango Ojala is 30 years old and married with five children. Her husband is employed as a casual laborer. Four of her children are in junior school. She is operating a food kiosk in an industrial area. This is part of the income that caters for her childrens school fees. She would like to expand her business by adding more menu items as has been requested by her customers. She is requesting a loan of US$ 500, which she budgets as follows: US$ 300 will be used to add to the quality and quantity of food and US$200 will be used to buy additional cutlery and do a bit of renovation. She is hardworking and capable of repaying the loan.",F,500,lender,Food,1 Kenya,"Alice sells silver fish, dried Tilapia fish and green vegetables. She started her business in the year 2003. She operates her business at her communitys local trading centre, called Chamasiri. She is an active member of the local church women's group, which deals with poverty eradication.
Through her business, she has been able to assist her husband in educating their children, providing for other needs and bringing services nearer to the community. With a loan from PEMCI, she plans to increase her maize stock and also purchase beans during this coming harvesting season.",F,150,lender,Food,1 Kenya,"Alice sells silver fish, dried Tilapia fish, and green vegetables. She started her business in the year 2003. She operates her business at her communitys local trading centre.
Alice is an active member of her local churchs women's group which deals with poverty eradication. Through her business, she has been able to assist her husband in educating their children, providing for other needs, and bringing services to the community.
With a loan from PEMCI, Alice plans to increase her maize stock and also purchase beans during this coming harvesting season.",F,150,partner,Food,0 Kenya,"ALICE WAIRIMU KIMANI is 37 years old, married and has 7 children. 6 of the children are in school. Alices husband cultivates maize on then familys two acres land while Alice keeps a dairy cow that gives the family milk to drink. The family receives very little income from maize farming as they can not afford the cost of quality seeds and pest control. Besides maize farming is not a very profitable agricultural activity in Kenya. Alices family practice maize farming for food security purpose. Alice and her husband have a heavy responsibility in providing for the family and keeping all of the children in school. They survive by taking manual jobs in other peoples farms. Alice wants to start a dairy farming business that will generate income for the family. She is requesting a loan of US $ 1,800 to start the business. Her budget is: US $ 1,550 to purchase two dairy cows, US $ 150 to construct a cow shade and US $ 100 to purchase feeds and mineral supplements. Alice plans to utilize the income to provide for the family and to expand her dairy farming business.",F,1800,lender,Agriculture,1 Kenya,"Alice Waithera Kamau is 32, single with one child, aged 11. She has eked out their living through running a little restaurant for the past 9 years, supporting herself and her child through this business she calls Samantha Foods. Recently, she moved to the central business district to Jamia Shopping Mall to expand her restaurant. Alice now wishes to fully expand her business to generate more income to support her child. She has requested a loan of US $ 1,200 and is budgeting as follows: US $ 520 to purchase a fruit machine; US $ 200 to purchase a microwave; US $ 250 to purchase a freezer; US $ 30 to purchase a deep fryer; US $ 100 to purchase cutlery for the use of her customers, and US $ 100 to add to her inventory.
Samantha Foods has got enough customers so that Alice can feel justified in investing heavily in her business. She feels sure she can repay her loan in a timely fashion and secure the future for her child.",F,1200,lender,Food,1 Kenya,"Alice Wangari Josan is 39 years old. She is married with six children. She is an active member of St. Monica women's group and a member of ACK Church. She grows maize, beans and variety of vegetables. She is a farmer who does mainly crop farming and pig rearing. Some of her farm produce is consumed by her family, and some is sold to retailers and local consumers at a local market. She has applied a loan of USD 75, which she will use to purchase a pig. The loan committee has approved her loan. She will repay this loan within 10 months.",F,75,lender,Agriculture,1 Kenya,"Alice Wangechi Matheri is 40 years old, and is single with one child. She decided to live independently after going through turmoil in her marriage. Alice went through primary school with a lot of difficulties and did not complete Olevel education due to financial difficulties. Therefore, she wants her son to get the best education ever, and is hustling to get an income to finance his education. She is operating a food Kiosk in a garage centre where most of her clients are mechanics. There is a high demand for her food by the mechanics because her food is cheap and nutritious. Lately, she has not been able to satisfy the increasing number of clients, and she does not have enough capital to increase her production capacity. Given additional capital, she will be able to serve her customers and also increase her customer portfolio. She would also like to prepare more varieties of food so as to stay on top of the competition, and plans to add to her menu with the additional capital. She is requesting a loan of US$700. She will use US$500 to buy foodstuff stocks for the meals she will add to the menu, US$150 to buy more cooking equipment, and US$50 for license expenses. She is a focused lady and capable of implementing her plans, and therefore can pay back the loan.",F,700,lender,Food,1 Kenya,"Alice Wanjiru Nyambura is 31 years old. She is married and a mother of children. She is a Christian follower of Full Gospel church. She is an active member of Ngombe Bora Women Group. To support herself, she practices mixed farming, where she grows coffee and tea and has one dairy cow for milk production. She also has another business of selling second-hand clothes. She has applied for a loan of $600, with which she intends to purchase another dairy cow to increase her milk production. She is willing to repay this loan within one year.",F,600,lender,Agriculture,1 Kenya,"Alice was born 29 years ago, and is married with three children. She is an active member of Maragwa Bora women's group. She is a farmer who grows maize, beans, and vegetables. She is an active member of the Anglican Church of Kenya. She needs a loan of USD150 to set up a cereal business to increase her monthly income. She is willing to repay this loan within 10 months.",F,150,lender,Agriculture,1 Kenya,"Alice was born 31 years ago. She is married with two children, both in primary school. She is a religious person and a member of St. Lukes ACK Church and a member of a Mothers Union. She is among the foundinng members of Wendani Sisters and is the secretary of the group.
Her main source of income is tea and dairy farming, which has really improved the living standards for her and her family. She owns three dairy cows which give her 15 litres of milk daily. She is very determined to give her children a quality education from her dairy and tea farming business. Her farming project has been a strong source of income and she pays the school fees for her children.
She has continued working hard and is very determined to add a better breed of dairy cow. She has a good repayment record from previous small loans she has accessed from WEEC. She has applied a loan of $75, which she intends to purchase dairy feeds. She is willing to repay her loan on monthly basis for a period of 12 months.",F,75,lender,Agriculture,1 Kenya,Alice was born 38 years ago; she is married with 2 children. Her children are in school. Alice is an active member of Gatangara Pluto women group and she has benefited a lot emotionally and financially. She got her first loan from group level and started a small grocery where she was selling vegetables and fruits. The business was performing well until when her husband got sick. She supported her husband to pay medical bill and cater for his diet. The business performance dropped and she has not been able to raise it again. She got another loan from group and she bought 2 dairy cows which has been a pillar to the family. Alice has a semi-permanent house which was affected by heavy rains last month. The roofs were damaged and they leak some water making her family very uncomfortable. She is applying for the loan to roof her house and she will pay the loan through milk sales from her two dairy cows,F,125,lender,Food,1 Kenya,"Alice was born 39 years ago in Kiambu Kenya. She is married and a good mother of three children. She is an active vice chairlady of the group and a committed Catholic Church Christian. All her children are in secondary school. Alice joined WEEC in 2002 together with other members of her group. By the end of November 2006 she had borrowed ten loans she grows vegetables in her plot which is always green. She bought a 100 meters pipe with the loan given by WEEC. Today she sprinkles her vegetables with piped water. She is now proud and has enough money to feed her children and send them to school. With WEEC loans Alice got out of poverty completely. She has helped herself and is now helping others. With a loan of $450, she will be able to grow more vegetables in order to supply Uchumi supermarkets.",F,450,lender,Agriculture,1 Kenya,"Alice was born 40 years ago. She is married with five children. Two are out of high school and in college in Nairobi. The other three are in secondary school. She is the group chairlady and an active member of Catholic Church. She is also the chairlady of the Catholic Womens Association (CWA) at the Rwai Catholic Church in the Nairobi Archdiocese. Alice joined the group in 2003 and registered with WEEC early this year. Alice believes hard work pays. Together with her husband, they started hawking sweets and biscuits in Nairobi town 15 years ago. Laying food on the table was challenging but they did not have a choice. Today Alice and her husband are proud owners of two retail sweet shops and rental houses at Dadora in Nairobi. From their businesses, they earn an average of USD 1000 per month. They have raised and educated their children from income earned from their businesses. Given a loan of USD 450 they will boost and improve their businesses.",F,450,lender,Food,1 Kenya,"Alice was born 49 years ago in Kiambu, Kenya. She is married with 6 girls. Four are out of school and married with families. She is the acting chairlady of the group. She is a mobilizer and a motivator. She is a hardworking businesswoman. For the last few years, Alice has been a vegetable vendor. She wakes up as early as 4 am to buy vegetables to sell to Gikomba market. To Alice, with determination everything is possible. She has raised and educated her girls from income earned from the business that she started with as little capital as USD25. She has been securing small loans and she has been able to build her stock up to USD450. She is very committed when it comes to making repayments and she promises to make her repayments on monthly basis. Given a loan of USD150, Alice intends to expand her business.",F,150,lender,Food,1 Kenya,"Alice Wuala is married with three children. She attends Inkiito Baptist church and she is the treasurer of the Enanyor group. She started her business years ago, and her retail shop business has been doing well. She has managed to stock her shop with most of the necessities. She is now able to take of her family without much struggle. She trained through the WEEC programme, and this has helped her a lot. She now knows the importance of saving and putting the profits back into the business. Alice Wuala is grateful to her trainer and she is a good example to women in her area. The demand for goods in her area is now increasing, forcing her to expand her retail shop by stocking it with different types of goods to meet the demand. She would like to be given a loan of USD450 to buy more stock, and she is willing to repay the loan on a monthly basis.",F,450,lender,Retail,1 Kenya,"Allan is a 27 year old married father of 3. He uses his bicycle as a taxi but says it is tedious and gives him a low income. With this loan he hopes to improve his services by buying a motorbike and from there 'the sky is the limit', he says.",M,175,lender,Transportation,1 Kenya,"Alloys is a 44 year old businessman and a father of three children; two boys and a girl. His two sons are in class seven and five respectively, and the daughter is still at home. He operates a general store at Chwele town center with the assistance of his wife. He trades in products for farming, such as seeds and implements, and household goods ranging from utensils to foodstuffs. Masinde dropped out of school at a tender age due to his parents inability to fund his education; he is a primary school dropout. He started this business in early 2006. Alloys mostly serves residents of Chwele centre and its environs, and many travelers because Chwele is located on one of the main roads to Kitale. With the business as the major source of income, Masinde says he is able to meet the needs of his family. With another loan from PEMCI through KIVA, Alloys plans to increase the variety of products in his shop.",M,1200,lender,Retail,1 Kenya,"Aloys is forty four-years old and a father of three children; two boys and a girl. The boys are in class seven and five respectively and the girl is still at home by virtue of her age. His wife helps him at the store. Aloys is a primary school dropout; he hasnt taken any formal training but learned the business through apprenticeship.
Aloys operates a general store in a rented premises in Chwele town, Bungoma district. His stock of about Kshs 25,000/- consists of goods ranging from household to farm products. He started it early last year and has been going home with a profit of Kshs 300/- to Kshs 400/- at the end of the day. He usually gets his stock twice a week from Bungoma. In terms of clientel, Aloys mostly serves residents of Chwele centre and its environs and many travelers because Chwele is located on one of the main roads to Kitale.
With a young business, he says that he is only able to sustain his family, provide them with basic needs and plow back the rest of the profits into the business. With his first loan from PEMCI, Aloy intends to stock up the shop. He says that the shop still lacks many goods that attract customers and thats where he wants to invest.",M,450,lender,Retail,1 Kenya,Aluoch is a 40 year old widowed mother of 4 who has been processing fish manually since time immemorial. She is an entrepreneurial and hardworking woman who has provided for her family since her husband died. She hopes that this loan will help her apply her skills in fish processing.,F,200,lender,Food,1 Kenya,"Ambrose Makori Nyangau is 30 years old, and is married with three children. He operates a bicycle transport business while his wife sells food at a kiosk. He did not manage to get good education due to a lack of money to pay the school fees. Though he does not have a good educational background to enable him to get employment, this does not limit his ability to employ himself. His ambition is to be a great businessman and employ more people. This will be achieved if he can expand his current business activities. He intends to expand his wifes food kiosk by adding more items to the menu and expand the premises where she operates. He will also buy more bicycles and employ some youth to operate them. He is requesting US$600. He intends to use US$250 to buy the bicycles, US$50 for licenses, and US$300 to expand the mini caf by adding more variety of meals to the menu and renovating it. The couple is organized and capable of paying back the loan.",M,600,lender,Retail,1 Kenya,"Amina Rajab is 57 year old. She is married with four children. Only one of her children is of school-going age, the others have completed their studies. She has five other dependants. For a living, she practices weaving and beading and creates trendy designs for bags, scarves, belts, beaded neckties and bangles. She is requesting a loan to enable her to expand her business to cater to new emerging markets. She is hard working and very talented, making it easy for her to cope with any challenges she faces in her business. The total amount of loan she is requesting is US $625. She will utilize this money by buying two beading equipment sets worth US $200, glass beads worth US $300, threads worth US $50 and canvas for the beaded bags for US $75. She is a creative and innovative artist.",F,625,lender,Arts,1 Kenya,"Amos Luka Ochieno is a 35-year-old married man and has three children. He also takes care of his sister-in-laws brother who completed his high school education in 2006. Amos lives within the Kibera slums of Nairobi with his family, and also operates his mandazi (doughnuts) business there.
Amos was previously employed at a company in the Nairobi industrial area by the name of EPZ that stitches clothes, such as uniforms, and sells them to local companies. Amos worked with EPZ for eight years, although the pay was quite meager. He therefore decided to quit the job and look for something better that could benefit both his family and the community. That is when he decided to start making and selling mandazi within Kibera. He started off his business from his savings of Ksh 15,000 (USD 220), which he had set aside from his previous employment. He used this to buy the basic equipment, such as a jiko (cooking stove), table, frying pan and spoon, and the cooking ingredients he required, such as baking powder, flour, etc. The income has been getting much better over the 9 years that he has operated the business, compared to what he used to get when he was employed. Amos is also a registered member with one of Action Now Kenyas self-help groups that enable members to access small loans to boost their businesses. Amos has so far been able to access credit of about $75 and $85, which he has managed to repay without any problems. He is currently servicing a higher loan of $118, and he reckons that these loans have been a major boost to his business, especially in purchasing of stock.
Amos wishes to expand his business and is requesting a loan of $900. With the loan, Amos will purchase two large cooking mekos and will add more stock to his business. This will enable him to serve his ever-increasing base of customers much better, since his joy is seeing his customers satisfied. He also believes that his income will greatly improve his living standards.",M,900,lender,Food,1 Kenya,"Amos Oduwor Obura is 23 years old married with one child. He is a young man who is determined to earn a living from cooking and selling snacks. He did not manage to finish high school due to lack of school fees. He came to Nakuru town to look for a job and after being a casual laborer for several years, he discovered that people in his area buy snacks from afar and at times there are no snacks in the shops. From his savings, he bought the required equipment to cook the snacks. He started by distributing them to the nearest shops. Within a short time he became very popular for making good snacks and several people approached him to be his middlemen. He has now employed three young men to assist him in cooking while the middlemen distribute the snacks to different areas. He has a higher demand than he can provide for due to lack of money to hire additional labour and buy more cooking equipment and ingredients. He is requesting a loan of $400, which he plans to use as follows: US $200 will be used to buy more improved cooking equipment, US $100 to hire additional labour and US $100 to buy the ingredients. He is young, vibrant and capable of paying the loan.",M,400,lender,Food,1 Kenya,"Anastacia Wamucii is 25 years old. She is single and has one child. She is talented in hair-dressing and beauty therapy. She decided to become a hair-dresser, and is very passionate about this profession. Anastacia runs a small-scale salon in a busy town in Kenya called Nakuru. She has earned a reputation for being the most dedicated and fashion-conscious hairstylist in town. In her salon, she braids synthetic hair additions, neat corn rows, weaves and dreadlocks. Anastacia also cooperates with local tour operators who bring tourist to a nearby game park, so that they tell their clients about the possibility to get African hair styles in Anastacia's hair salon. She does her work with a lot of dedication, and her clients always come back to her whenever they need their hair to be braided. Anastacia's biggest challenge is that she has many clients, but inadequate equipment and staff to meet the high demand. She is therefore seeking funding to enable her to purchase equipment and to recruit and train more employees. She hopes that this way she will be in a better financial position, and that her clients will be satisfied, too. She is requesting a loan of US$1000: US$320 to purchase two hair dryers, US$320 to buy more hair and beauty products, US$160 to renovate her premise and add a beauty therapy room, and US$200 to hire and train three employees. Anastacia is a good marketer and has great customer-care skills. Therefore, she will be able to retain her clients and repay the loan.",F,1000,lender,Services,1 Kenya,"Anderson Muigai Karanja is 22 years old and is married. Having not gone to high school, he has had problems getting employed. He comes from a poor family and all of them depend on him. He has five siblings who are all of school going age. He earns his daily bread from hawking socks, watches, ear rings and necklaces. He has been experiencing health problems in the past eight months and can no longer make enough sales to cater for all his needs. He is requesting US$ 800 to open a shop from which he can be operate from. US$100 will be used to pay the deposit and rent, US$ 250 will be used to build shelves (for placing goods on) and to fit stronger security doors, US$400 will be used to buy stock and US$ 50 to cater for transport costs. He is a hardworking young man who has the will power to work given the resources.",M,800,lender,Services,1 Kenya,"Andrew Kipkurgat Cheruiyot is a 46-year-old married man with six children. All his children attend school. He is the sole breadwinner for his family. To support his family, he started a small business selling milk door to door. He began this business five years ago to create an income to meet his familys financial needs.
Andrew wakes up at 5 a.m. to milk the cows and pack it in 5 litre containers. Then his goes off to his regular customers and any potential customer passing by. Some of the challenges he faces include the high cost of maintenance of his bicycle, which is his main source of transport, as well as a lack of sanitary equipment to handle his products and the quick expiration of milk since he has no proper storage facility.
He is determined to see all his children get a high school education as well as college education, unlike him, who was unable to complete his primary education due to lack of funds for school fees. He wants to expand his operation to increase his income to be able to secure his childrens education. However he cannot raise the funds to achieve this.
Andrew is requesting a loan of US$1050. The funds will be used as follows: US$600 to buy a new cooler to store milk, US$300 for a milk churn to test for any abnormalities, US$100 to buy a bicycle and US$50 to buy milk containers.",M,1050,lender,Food,1 Kenya,"ANDREW SAMBAI is aged 46 years. He is married with four children, all in school. He also takes care of his elderly parents. Andrew worked as a clerk with the municipal council of Kericho, but he lost his job when the council underwent restructuring. Andrew used his terminal pay to start a business selling clothes in a makeshift stall in Lliten market. He also started a small business selling plastic containers for his wife. Recently he has experienced growth in sales as demand for his clothes rises; however, with his large family he needs to generate more income to cater for their requirements and save for the future. To bring this to fruition he needs to inject more capital in the business. He is therefore requesting a loan of US$950 which he intends to spend as follows: US$650 to purchase ladies' dresses, US$150 to purchase gents wear and US$150 to restructure his stall. Andrew is a hardworking gentleman and he will be able to repay the loan.",M,950,lender,Clothing,1 Kenya,"Andrew Thaddeus Ratemo is 30 years old. He is married and has two children. The two children are in school. He is also taking care of his ailing mother, whose leg was amputated because of diabetes.
He earns his living by offering barber services. He operates from his own barber shop. He has also employed two assistants.
Andrew wants to open up a hair salon in the barbershop to diversify his risks, such that when the barber shop is not doing well, the salon will complement it. He will need to add resources worth US$ 800. With this amount he will buy hair dryers worth US$ 320, furnishings worth US$ 120, 2 blow dryers worth US$ 195, and hair care products worth US$ 165. With the expansion, Andrew will earn more money from the business, to be able to cater for his family's needs and his mothers medical needs.",M,800,lender,Services,1 Kenya,"Angela is a young mother of a baby girl and she is 26 years of age. She is a primary school teacher. This is a positive achievement since the women in the Maasai community are greatly marginalized. Angela is the Osutua Women group secretary. She has been trained on record keeping and she records the books every month.
In order to increase her income, she would like to rear steers because there is ready market today. She has applied for a loan of USD 450 to enable her buy 7 young steers.
She will employ a herdsman who will assist her run this project when she goes to work. Angela is determined to have her project grow. The ready market is a positive assurance. She will repay the loan promptly on a monthly basis.",F,450,lender,Agriculture,1 Kenya,"Angelina is 26 years old and married with one child. She lives in Kayole - an outer district of Nairobi. Apart from her child, Angelina also takes care of her four siblings who are orphans. After their mother died in 2003, their father remarried and he no longer gives them any form of assistance. Angelina has been a shop-keeper for the last three months now. She started the business with a capital of $88, which she received from a merry-go-round, and she also added another $44 from her own savings. She rented a room in the Kayole area for which she paid $29 in rent, and then bought items in small quantities, such as a half bundle of maize flour, a half sack of sugar, a sack of rice, a half carton of cooking oil, and many more to sell. This purchasing method went on for two weeks, and then Angelina started buying items in large quantities. She also buys and sells items according to her customers demands. Previously, Angelina also had a business selling second-hand clothes, which was very seasonal, so there were times when she had no money. Angelina decided that she couldnt continue with this business and that is how she decided to open a general shop. Angelinas business ideas were inherited from her family, which is business oriented. Her father also used to own shops and boutiques where Angelina helped in managing. Therefore, operating businesses isnt something new to her. She now hopes that her business will do better with the assistance that Kiva lenders will give to her. Angelina requires a loan of $1,100, and the repayment period will be 8 Months.",F,1100,partner,Retail,0 Kenya,"Angeline is a 43-year-old widow. Her husband died in the year 2000 due to HIV-related illness. She lives with her seven children, four of whom are in school. After her husband's death, she ventured into three businesses in order to sustain herself and her children. She sells cereals, new clothes, and fish, especially sardines (""omena"" in the local language). She attends the Luanda market where displays and sells her merchandise on Mondays and Thursdays, the locals' market days. With the US$700 loan, she plans to buy a large stock of cereals and new clothes which will be in high demand during the Christmas season.",F,700,partner,Food,0 Kenya,"Angeline Omoke is a 51 year old widow. She lives with her three living children at Dunga Beach Kisumu Kenya. She is famous for creating traditional mats made from locally available papyrus reeds. She has been in this business for the last 28 years.
Angeline normally makes an average of 16 to 20 mats a week. The mats are sold at wholesale price (an average of US $1.20 to US $19.00 a mat) to businessmen who buy in bulk to sell elsewhere. She requires US $500 to expand her business.",F,500,partner,Arts,0 Kenya,"Ann is 30 years old and married with 3 children. Two are in primary and the last born is in pre-primary. She is very active in the group being one of the founders, and she demonstrates good record of attendance in the group.
She had an aim of improving her life when she joined the group. She has proven herself right and she has been the pillar to the success of the group, as everyone looks to her for strength. She has also been able to contribute in leadership among women, empowering them and motivating them.
Ann sells used shoes at Ngurueni market and besides this, she grows vegetables and sells cereals for family consumption on her farm. Her business has been doing well despite the fact that she has been experiencing stock outs. By securing a loan, Ann will manage to acquire more stock for her business and she will be on the right track to fulfilling her dream of financial independence.",F,225,partner,Retail,0 Kenya,"Ann is 30 years old and married with four children. She is very active in her village, where she serves as chairwoman of a local church and of a cluster of community groups.
The community has also selected Ann as its project coordinator. In this capacity, she directs vital community work such as building water tanks, buying beehives to facilitate beekeeping, and building dams which allow households to store water during the rainy season so people can water their gardens when the weather turns dry.
One of the most important projects that Ann is working on at the moment is the rearing of steers. The members of the Olkenkei Women's Group have applied for a loan to purchase and raise two calves for six months, and then sell them for a profit. They will use a portion of the proceeds to repay their loan in one lump sum six months after they receive it. They will use the balance of the money to establish a revolving fund that will pay the cost of sending their children to secondary school.",F,375,lender,Agriculture,1 Kenya,"Ann is 31 years old, and is married with 3 children. She lives on her farm in Githembe, Saba Saba. She is an active member of Kahumbu Kwirera women's group and attends the church services at Kahumbu Catholic Church. She grows mixed crops e.g. maize, beans, and bananas. She wants to purchase a dairy cow when she receives a loan USD325. She is willing to repay this loan within a period of 12 months.",F,325,lender,Agriculture,1 Kenya,"Ann is 32 yeas old and is single with two children. Wangui is an active secretary of the Ehatia Women Group. She opened her own hotel in 2003 at the Birika town. With the help of WEEC Ann got a loan of USD 300 and used it to put up a kiosk hotel. The town of Birika has many activities going on, and Ann saw the need of starting a hotel business near the quarry. Her main customers are men who work there. Ann is a good cook and trained her workers how to cook meals which increased her customer numbers. As a result of this, Ann was able earn more profits. Ann gained a lot from her training and from this. She contributed money with her mother and together they bought a piece of land. Ann wants to cook different types of foods in her hotel and she can do this if a loan of USD 600 is given to her.",F,600,lender,Food,1 Kenya,"Ann is 37 years old and married with five children. Two of her daughters are in secondary school, and while it has been very difficult for her family to provide them with an education, Ann is proud of the fact that she has shunned the negative tradition of marrying off girls at an early age.
In addition to raising her children, Ann is very involved in helping develop her village, Namelok. She has led an effort to plant trees, for example, and to date has personally planted 200 seedlings. The local Women's Economic Empowerment Consort encourages members to do this, and as the group has grown it has joined with the local Greenbelt Movement in an extensive tree-planting campaign that has brought about a dramatic improvement in the local environment. Ann is also a member of a local Olkenkei group that helps women come together to discuss matters and solve their problems.
This group has requested a loan of $375 to buy and nurture two calves for six months and then resell them in the local market at a profit. The group will use the income to repay the loan in one lump sum six months after they receive it. They will use the balance of the money they earn to continue their many efforts to improve their community and the lives of the people who live in it.",F,375,lender,Agriculture,1
Kenya,"Ann is 38 years old. She has no children of her own and she is not married. She stays with her brothers two children as her brother is mentally challenged. She educates and provides for the two children and also supports a local children charity from the income she gets from her dressmaking business.
Ann specializes in making school uniforms for children attending local schools. She also makes uniforms for companies.
In the coming year, Ann has been contracted by 5 local schools to make uniforms. This is a big order and Ann needs to buy two more sewing machines and enough fabric to supply the contract. She requests a loan of US $ 1,000. Her budget is: US $ 800 to purchase two sewing machines, US $ 150 to purchase fabric and US $ 50 to purchase accessories.
Ann will employ two people. She will use the income to keep her brothers children in school and to meet her brothers healthcare bills. She hard working and will be able to repay the loan.",F,1000,lender,Services,1
Kenya,"Ann is 42 years old. She is a single lady with 3 children. She is a member of ACK Church in Maragwa. Ann is an active member of Kandara Moonlight Womens Group.
Being a farmer she has greatly benefitted from the groups revolving fund. She is able to save USD 3 per month. Her great joy is that she is able to train her children and youth of the importance of saving a small amount of what one earns per month. This is a discipline she wishes to uphold even in her old age.
Her determination to have the discipline of saving taken seriously by all is so great that the group members take savings as one of their top priorities in their group activities. The groups savings has therefore grown steadily month by month. Ann has managed to develop her farm through the loans she gets from the group. Her plan is to buy a good quality dairy cow.
Ann has attended the trainings initiated by the Ministry of Livestock on livestock management. She has learned how to preserve fodder through the silage method. She also learned the simple method and hygienic method of zero grazing. With a good quality cow and the trainings, Ann is targeting to sell 15 - 20 liters of milk per day. She will sell the milk to the Kenya Cooperative Creameries. Her loan of USD 450 has been approved by the loans committee and her repayment period will be 12 months.",F,450,lender,Agriculture,1
Kenya,"Ann is 45 years old and a mother of five children. She separated from her husband a year ago because of his bad alcohol drinking habits and physical violence. Ann lives with all her 5 children and receives no financial support from her husband in providing for the family.
She received a loan of US$ 750 from Eb-F and used the loan to set up a timber business.
Because Eb-F does not support deforestation, she buys her timber strictly from farmers practicing agro forestry (Growing special types of trees for timber and replacing each mature tree that is cut)
Anne sells timber for fencing, house constriction and for making furniture. She has been able to send all her children to school and to provide other family needs from the income she gets from the business. However two of her daughters will be joining high school next year and because of the high cost of higher school education she wants to improve her business by cutting losses and increasing her profit to be able to keep her children in school and improve her family livelihood.
She wants to roof her business premises with iron sheets to protect the timber from hot sun and rain both of which spoil the timber. She will reinforce the perimeter fence around the premises to keep thieves away and also increase her stock.
Anne is requesting a loan of US $ 1,500. Her budget is: US $ 500 to purchase 60 iron sheets and roofing nails, US $ 200 to improve the perimeter fence and US $ 100 to meet labor costs. She will then use US $ 500 to purchase 14 tons of timber and US $ 200 to purchase tree seedlings for to sell to her suppliers to grow more trees.
Anne pays her loans well and she is capable of servicing this loan.",F,1500,lender,Construction,1
Kenya,"Ann is 58 years old. She is a single mother. She lives with 2 of her children. Her last born is in secondary school. She could not afford to take him to a boarding school so she got a day secondary school that is near her home. Ann works hard. She is determined to educate her son up to college level. She has joined hands with another woman, Sabina, to supply indigenous types of foods to the residents of Kware and Rongai. She buys green maize, peas, and arrow roots from the Kandisi farmers. With more people taking residence in Rongai due to its proximity to the city, Ann realises the need to increase her stock to be able to cater to the rising demand. She has applied for a loan of USD 150 to enable her increase her stock. She will repay her loan within a period of 10 months.",F,150,lender,Agriculture,1
Kenya,"Ann is a 40 years old widow with 4 children who all go to school. She is an active member of the Ushuhuda women group. Ann has benefited from the group through training and small loans.
She gave the example that with her first small loan, she was able to start a salon and a barber shop at Maragwa town centre. Since she is the breadwinner for her family, the income from the business helps to pay for the school fees and upkeep for her children.
She practices farming on the plot where she lives. She would like to buy a dairy cow to increase her income. Its a challenge for her to save up the whole amount for a dairy cow, but she believes that after she gets the loan, she will be able to repay the loan without any hassle. She is willing to make her loan payments over the span of 1 year.",F,300,lender,Agriculture,1
Kenya,"Ann is married with three children. She is an active and dedicated member of the Olkenkei Women's Group. She is a religious person with strong morals and has set a good example for her group. She has benefited from the projects the group has been running in their community. This loan is being applied through the group community project. As a member of women of Olkenkei, Ann Tingisha will nurture the calves they will purchase for six months, and then resell them on the market for appreciated prices. They will use the sales proceeds to repay their loan in lump sum - they will repay the entire principal 6 months from loan initiation.",F,375,lender,Agriculture,1
Kenya,"Ann is married, and a mother of 2 children who are in school. She is an active member of Oserian Group and a lady who believes in patient and hard work. She is an instrument in the community for she has proved this by education campaigns she has always involved herself in. She started her business of rearing steers with only two of them due to finance limitations. She fed them for six months and when they were ready to sell they tripled the buying price. She was able to pay fees for her children and met their basic needs. From the sales, she was also able to buy other 2 young steers which are on their fattening stage and they will be ready for sale by next month. She is applying for the loan to buy more steers after selling the one she is rearing. Its a good business and she is very determined to change the life of her family.",F,450,lender,Agriculture,1
Kenya,"Ann Ndururu is 60 years old and is widowed. She has seven children and also takes care of five of her grandchildren because her children and their parents have no jobs. They live together in a one-roomed house within the Kibera slums of Nairobi and they depend on the little shop that Ann owns for their livelihood.
Ann runs a small grocery store, a business she has been operating for the last two years. The shop is a small extension of her house. She has put in a lot of effort to the point that she has been able to stock up her shop bit by bit. She used to crotchet cardigans for her grandchildren, an activity that attracted one gentleman because of the unique designs she used to make. He asked Ann to crotchet several cardigans for him and paid her USD 285, which she used to start a vegetable / groceries business. Unfortunately, the vegetable business did not last for long because the sun used to scotch her aging skin. She therefore decided to open up a different type of groceries shop where she would not be affected by the weather. She set up the shop with USD 14, money that she had saved from a merry-go-round group (small women groups that contribute and lend money to its members in a revolving manner). Her drive was to ensure that her children and grandchildren do not go without food.
Ann sells assorted household goods in small quantities in order to accommodate her customers slum lifestyle. The goods range from margarine, cooking fat, salt, sugar, cereals among others. Ann buys these goods in bulk and sells them in weights of 50 to 500 grams. She has been using a plastic container to approximate the weights and in many cases she is never accurate. On several occasions, she weighs away from the customers but her customers question the accuracy when she does it in the open.
Given the loan of $100, which is repayable within 10 to 12 months, Ann intends to buy a weighing machine. This will ensure that her customers will get good value for their money, and will not have doubts on the quantity of the goods she sells. It will also enable her to retain her customers since her business will not be branded by the community as one that steals from customers because of the inaccuracy, something that is crucial to stay in business. Her family will also benefit because all the profits gained will help support the household.",F,100,lender,Retail,1
Kenya,"ANN NJERI is a 52 year old married farmer. She has six children who have all finished school. She does farming together with her husband James. Their son died of HIV related complications leaving his wife and two children. Ann lives with her son's family supporting them all alone, for the wife does not work and is sometimes sickly. The family already spent money on their son when ailing for two years before he died. He was the sole breadwinner for his family. Ann wants to start dairy farming to provide milk and make an income for her sons family's daily care and school fees for her grand children but she lacks capital. She requests a US $900 loan.
US $ 800 buy one dairy cow.
US $ 100 transportation.
She is focused and will repay the loan.",F,900,lender,Agriculture,1
Kenya,"Ann Njeri Menya is a 41-year-old married entrepreneur. She has four children; three are in junior grades while the youngest is too young to go to school. She lives in Nakuru suburbs where she runs a milk selling business.
As is the case for many Ebony Foundation clients, her family has two incomes: her husband sells cereals. Ann keeps constant working hours and maintains hygienic conditions in her business and also makes sure she has good quality milk from her suppliers. This has increased the number of people buying milk from her.
Unfortunately Ann cannot meet the demand since most of her profits are used to cover family expenses as opposed to being channeled back into the business. She is requesting a loan of US$ 400 to expand her business: $250 to buy additional milk, $100 to add milk storage equipment, and $50 to pay for transport. The additional income that this expansion will bring will help in educating her children. Ann is an industrious entrepreneur and will repay the loan.",F,400,lender,Food,1 Kenya,"Ann Nyakeru Gichohi is 30 years old. She is married with three children; two are in upper level primary school and the other one is in lower level primary school. She is an active member of Baraka Women's Group. She joined WEEC in 2002 and her WEEC loans have sincerely changed her life.
She runs a cereal shop in her local area. She has undergone training by WEEC on how to manage a business. She started with capital of USD150. Her business has been growing and it is for this reason she can manage a higher loan amount. She also owns a small retail shop worth USD120. Now she has applied for a loan of USD750, with which she intends to purchase household goods in bulk for the retail shop. She is willing to repay this loan within a period of 12 months.",F,750,lender,Retail,1 Kenya,"Ann Nyambura is 28 years old, single mother of one little boy. She is very religious and a person of integrity in her Gatangara Mercury. She works as clerk in a dispensary. She has great passion to start her own clothing business but is limited by funds. Her hope is to get USD300 and top up with her salary of USD100 and start the business by early next year. She believes her family life will take a different direction after starting the new business. She is targeting to locate her business in her area after surveying and found there are only two boutiques. She believes her business will transform and change many women in her group. She is willing to repay her loan in monthly installments",F,300,lender,Clothing,1 Kenya,"Ann Nyambura Kamau is 30 years old and is a married farmer. She has four children, the eldest is in senior school and the second oldest is soon to enter senior school. The other two are in the upper grades of junior school. Ann is an active member of the Wendani Self Help Group in the Ngorika settlement. Ann and her husband are farmers, growing tomatoes and cabbages. They have been supplying their produce to city markets in Nairobi and Nakuru. They got a one year contract to supply a local senior school with vegetables. They face a challenge supplying because they dont produce the quantity needed and have to buy from their neighbors, which reduces their profit. They would like to expand to be able to supply this order individually but lack the capital. They request a US $800 loan. Her budget is as follows: US $300 to lease three more acres and US $500 to buy both cabbage and tomato seeds. She will be able to repay the loan.",F,800,lender,Agriculture,1 Kenya,"Ann Wamaitha Kimani is a 53-year-old married woman who cares for her 3 children and 2 of her sister's children. Her sister can't take care of her two children, and Ann has taken them on as her own, housing and educating them. Ann lives in Mlolongo, an informal settlement along Nairobi-Mombasa highway.
Anns story is one of the phoenix rising from ashes. Ann started her business in 1997 with savings of Ksh 1500 (USD 21). With this samll amount of seed money, Ann started a tailoring business in a wooden structure called a kibanda in Swahili. As fate would have it, Ann was involved in an accident in 1998, which left her with an injured spinal cord and a broken left arm. Ann needed metal plates in her arm and was confined to bed rest for 3 years.
In 2000 she recovered a bit and borrowed Ksh 5,000 (USD 71) from her husband, who was moved by Ann's determination. With this money she bought plastic items (cups, plates, trays, jugs, basins) and sufurias (cooking pots) and started selling food in a small stall. The business did so well that, in July 2006, she managed to rent a shop for Ksh 2,500 (USD 36) in Mlolongo. So far she has taken out three small loans of Ksh. 10,000 (USD 145) from a small NGO society (COSWE), which lends a maximum of USD 145 to people starting out in business. She has so far managed to repay the loans. Through Gods grace and with the small loans she has received, Ann has managed to increase her inventory.
Because the community is getting larger every day, she would like to increase her stock even more and offer new goods, including knitting yarn, baby clothes, blankets, and bedsheets.
Ann is kindly asking for a loan of USD 775 with which to stock her shop and serve the community better. The repayment period is 8-14 months.",F,775,partner,Retail,0 Kenya,"Ann Wambui Njenga is 26 years old. She is married and a mother of a one-year-old child. She is an active member of Queen Esther's Women's Group. Ann sells plastic cups, plates, water jugs, maize, pumpkins, and green vegetables. She foresees that the business will grow. She has started to experience increased customer demands and meeting these demands is becoming a challenge to her. Therefore, she has applied for a loan of $300, which she intends to use to buy five sacks of maize and vegetables. She is willing to repay this loan within a period of 12 months.",F,300,lender,Food,1 Kenya,"Ann Wangare Kamau, aged 43 years, is married with 5 children. She has a hotel business and wants to upgrade it. Her parents were doing the business but 1 year ago gave it to their daughter. Ann's husband was the sole breadwinner but fell ill and now she has to support her family and her ailing husband. Since Ann took over, the place has expanded to cover a larger customer base. She requests a US $1200 loan and budgets as follows: US $400 buys stock (vegetables, flour, etc.); US $400 buys a freezer to store perishables; US $300 for expansion and decoration; US $100 for transport. She is a serious woman and dedicated. She will create employment opportunities within her business.",F,1200,lender,Food,1 Kenya,"Ann Wanjiku is a 48-year-old single woman with four children. Since both of her daughters are single and unemployed, she also supports her three grandchildren aged one, two, and three-and-a-half years. Ann lives on the western side of Nairobi in an area known as Nairobi West.
From 1997 to 2003, Ann was employed as a barmaid. This was where she earned her daily bread and provided for her family. She later quit the job as she saw that she was not making enough progress in her life. She approached her father for assistance in starting her own business, through which she would be able to take care of her family. Her father gave her Ksh 20,000 start-up capital, which he obtained from the sale of a family cow. Ann also had saved Ksh 10,000 and, with the money from her father, she started a kiosk with Ksh 30,000 selling commodities like sugar, flour, cooking fat, and milk. After running the business for eight months, she accumulated enough profit to build her own kiosk, and no longer needed to rent space.
Ann considers this her greatest achievement. Now that she has a place of her own, she is able to take care of her family without so many struggles, and she is also able to run her business smoothly. Ann has one struggle, however. She has been unable to expand her business because she does not have enough capital, since whatever she gets is divided between family upkeep and purchasing more stock, and this has not been so easy. She is now requesting Kiva lenders to grant her a loan of Ksh 35,000 to enable her to buy more stock. This will allow her to earn more profit, which in turn will enable her to expand her business and take even better care of her family.
The repayment period for this loan is 12 months.",F,500,partner,Retail,1 Kenya,"Ann Wanjiku Kamau is a widow aged 51 and has 10 children. They live within the Kibera slums of Nairobi. Ann started her business in the year 2004 after going through training with a European lady by the name of Jacqueline who saw her potential and keen interest in weaving and spinning. She therefore took the initiative and trained Ann Wanjiku free of charge.
After the training Ann went to her rural area and rented some land where she planted maize, beans and potatoes which she was able to harvest and with the money, Ksh 8,000.00 (about US$ 120), Ann Wanjiku bought a spinning machine. She would buy wool in small quantities and thereafter spin and sell her products in order to sustain her children. The business has been going well but due to the number of children that she has to feed, she feels she is going to close the business.
Though Ann has the skills and the machine for spinning, she is not able to do her business of spinning and weaving effectively because she doesnt have the materials required for spinning: wool and combs. She has so far not had access to any form of credit or loan to support her in doing this.
Ann requests a loan of US$ 100, which will enable her to purchase spinning materials. Given this loan, Ann will be in a better position to increase her income, through which she will manage to support and educate her children.",F,100,lender,Arts,1 Kenya,"Ann Wanjira Gichuhi is 28 years old. She is married with three children. All of them are in school. She is a member of the faith Ministries Women association. She is a business lady; she deals auto parts. She sales both new and used parts in her shop. She is located near a group of garages. Therefore she has a ready market for her wares.
Recently there two garages which repair farm equipments that have opened in the area where she operates. Ann wants to be supplying these garages with farm auto spares. She will therefore need to increase her stock to cater for this emerging market. She lacks the financial resources to do so.
She is requesting for a loan of US$ 1200. With this amount she will purchase both new and used farm auto spares. Ann believes that in investing more in her business she will generate more returns to enable her to provide her children with a better education.",F,1200,lender,Retail,1 Kenya,"Ann Wanjiru is a 35-year-old woman who is living positively with HIV. She is married and has a family of four children aged 17, 13, 7, and 6. In addition to her family, she also takes care of her two brothers who are sick and ensures that they get medication. She also takes care of her elderly mother who is diabetic.
Ann operates a second-hand store dealing with second-hand furniture, household goods, and electronics. She lives on the eastern side of Nairobi in an area known as Kariobangi South. She started her business in the year 2000 when she started selling her household goods to add on to her home and facilitate her children's education. This motivated her as she drew many more customers than she had expected. However, she still could not maintain enough stock.
From the sale of household goods she set aside Ksh 20000 to start up the business and the rest she channeled into paying school fees and taking care of her family. Her business picked up very nicely and people started bringing appliances they wanted to dispose of to Ann, which boosted her business considerably as customers kept streaming to the shop to purchase items. One of the things that has kept this business growing is that it is the only one that operates near the Dandora slums in Nairobi where the residents aren't able to purchase expensive new household goods but do manage to purchase second-hand ones that are still in good condition and are also cheap.
Ann wants to expand her business and wants to purchase more of the appliances people are willing to sell, but she doesn't have enough cash. In future, as her current business continues to grow, she intends to purchase washing machines and train women in the slums on how to use them with the goal of offering washing services to the residents. She intends to employ these women, thus reducing idleness and over-dependence within the slum.
Ann's only barrier to all of this is that she doesn't have enough operational capital. Therefore, she is requesting Kiva lenders through Action Now Kenya to grant her a loan of Ksh 65,000 to enable her to meet her needs. She thanks her lenders in advance as they help her achieve her dreams. The repayment period for this loan is 12 months.",F,950,partner,Retail,1 Kenya,"Ann Wanjiru Ngare is 35 years old. She a single mother and has two children. She is a member of Ngombe Bora Women's Group and contributes to the revolving fund in the group. She lives in a rental house in Maragwa town and attends mass in Maragwa Catholic Church.
She works as a casual labourer in a horticultural farm in Maragwa called Nicholas Farm and she has worked there for the last three years. This job has helped her to take care of her children. She has applied for a loan of USD150, with which she intends to start a new green grocer shop near her home. She is willing to repay this loan within a period of 10 months",F,300,lender,Food,1
Kenya,"Ann was born 30 years ago in Isinya, Kenya. She is married with one child who is still too young to attend school. She is an active member of Eserian Women Group. She is a member of the choir, Catholic Church, and a Catholic Women Association (CWA). She joined WEEC two years ago when she took business management and book keeping training.
Ann started her business of poultry rearing 1 year ago after receiving her first small loan. Currently she has 30 chickens which lay an average of 20 eggs daily. She sells her eggs at USD $3 per tray in the town of Isinya. She is hoping to get a loan to increase her stock because she has studied demand and supply and found that eggs are in high demand throughout the year. She plans to repay her loan within a span of one year.",F,300,lender,Agriculture,1
Kenya,"Ann was born in 1963 in Kiambu. She is married and they are blessed with four children. Ann is a committed member of ACK church. In 1996, she started a retail shop in the local shopping centre. She joined WEEC in the year 2002 and has actively participated in all group activities. As per Ann, WEEC loans have transformed her business from a mere retail business to a wholesale business. She is due to complete her loans in this quarter. Two of her sons were admitted to university and the business performance has helped her meet expenses.
She would like to get a loan and stock her wholesale shop so as to meet her increasing customer demands. From there she would make enough income to pay fees and to sustain the business. She is willing to repay her loan on a monthly basis.",F,500,lender,Retail,1 Kenya,"Ann was born in 1963 in Kiambu.She is married and they are blessed with four children. Ann is a committed member of ACK church .In 1996; she started a retail shop in Gathiga shopping centre. She joined WEEC in the year 2002 and has actively participated in all group activities. As per Ann, WEEC loans have transformed her business from a mere retail business to a wholesale business. Ann confesses that poverty is not permanent because herself she has been able to overcome it. After 2 of her sons were admitted to university, her business performance changed due to outflows. She would like to recover from the situation hoping to get a loan and restock her wholesale shop so as to meet her increasing customer demands. From there she would make enough income to pay fees and to sustain the business.",F,300,lender,Retail,1 Kenya,"Ann was born in 1970 in Kiambu, Kenya. She is married with children. Last year she applied for and received a loan of USD 150 from KIVA. Her loan was used to expand her new and second-hand clothing business and open a boutique. The loan assisted her to rent a room in Wangige market where she runs her business today. Talking to Ann at her place of work, she insisted that without the KIVA loan of USD 150, she could not have opened her boutique. She is now looking forward to be given a loan of USD 450 to add stock to her business to meet her customers' needs.",F,450,lender,Clothing,1 Kenya,"Anna Agolla is a 59-year old widow who supports four children in her household. Her husband died in 1972. Despite the loss of husband Anna has raised and educated her four children. She started her charcoal selling business in 1972. Over the last 35 years she has seen her business grow. She purchases in bulk quantity and sells coal at wholesale to retailers. She also sells small quantities to consumers who cannot afford to buy in bulk. With her small savings and two previous KMET loans, Anna was able to build 10 semi-permanent housing units, which she rents out at Kshs 500 (US $80) a month to supplement her coal business. Her hard work, years of experience, and well-established clientele base ensure that her business will continue to succeed. She plans to use the next loan of US $750 to purchase more coal stock.",F,750,partner,Retail,0 Kenya,"Anna Ayayo is a 44-year-old woman who lives in Achutti in the Bware sublocation of Rongo District. In 1981, she married a local school teacher; they now support 7 dependents, and 2 of them are in school.
Anna runs a tailoring and dressmaking business in Achutti Market. She has had this business since 2002; she started with her own savings and has improved the business with additional funds from K-MET. She purchases supplies in small quantities from nearby Migori and sells her sewing creations around locally and from her stall at the Achutti Market.
Anna is requesting a loan of 22,500 KSH (US$ 300) in order to buy more materials and sewing supplies. The profits from her business enable her to pay school fees for her children and pay household expenses, so she would like to expand and be able to make higher profits.",F,300,partner,Services,0 Kenya,"Anna is a 29 year old mother of twoa boy of 9 and a girl of 6. For 13 years she has operated her business as a tailor in Myanga market in the Bungoma District of Western Kenya. With 5 sewing machines and one employee, her business is comprised of a diversity of activities. They include buying clothes second hand, repairing them and then reselling; tailoring dresses and suits for individual clients; selling pre-made uniforms to primary schools; as well as training young women how to be tailors.
Anna is currently training 5 young women in the skill of tailoring. Charging her students 7,000 Kenyan Schillings per year, they work at the 3 extra sewing machines not being used by Anna or her employee. This is of great benefit to the community, as Anna is able to provide young women with the skills they will need to attain employment and open their own tailoring centers. Anna herself was trained at Naitiri Youth Polytechnic, but not all women have the opportunity to attend established institutions.
Anna gives the clothes that she repairs to her husband to sell at the market. The clothing includes Vitenge dresses and Kaunda suits, the traditional clothing in the area. Her greatest specialty that separates her from other tailors, however, is her production of ready made uniforms for primary schools. Whereas other tailors lack the ability to prepare ready made school uniforms, Anna has already established relationships with multiple primary schools that she sells to. Along with being another example of how Anna provides for her community, it also represents a consistent and stable demand for her products.
According to Anna, the greatest challenge to her business has been a lack of capital to meet demand. With her new loan, she will purchase the necessary cloths and threads to expand the capacity of her tailoring shop. With this increased capacity, she hopes to grow profits and continue to pay for her family's basic necessities, including food and childrens school fees.
While primary education is supposedly free in Kenya, there are still many other expenses that families face, including uniforms, books, tests, school upkeep, etc. Moreover, the steep costs of high school education must be completely paid by familieswhich makes secondary education a product of tremendous sacrifice, and in some cases an impossibility. Anna hopes that her business will ensure that her children can attain an education that will help them in the future.",F,150,partner,Services,0 Kenya,"Anna Narutiesha is 25 years old. She lives in the Maasai Mara area, part of a large Kenyan national reserve and popular tourist area. She is married and has five children who are all of school-attending age.
Anna did not go to school herself because her parents could not afford the fees. She therefore was married young and has been raising a family of her own ever since. She would really like her children to go to school and enjoy the opportunities she never had. However, the money she earns from selling Maasai ornaments and shukas (clothes) is not sufficient.
Anna is confident that if she can acquire funds to expand her current business she can achieve her goal of sending her five children to school. She is humbly requesting to be funded with a loan of US $800 to be used as follows: $300 to buy more beads; $350 to buy more shukas (Maasai clothing) & goat skins for leather belts; and $150 to buy beading accessories.",F,800,lender,Arts,1 Kenya,"Anna Nyambura Irungu is a 20-year-old married lady. Her husband owns an electronics shop near their residential area in the outskirts of Mombasa. She owns a similar kind of shop but it is located in the city center. Her shop deals in electronic appliances, cell phone accessories such as phone chargers and batteries. She also offers repair services where she employs a technician to fix broken appliances. She started her own shop after getting proper experience from working in her husbands shop. Their combined income is only enough to cater for their basic family requirements, leaving nothing at the end to reinvest in her business. The business is new but is gradually picking up, since more and more clients are becoming accustomed to her merchandise. The electronic devices she sells are cheap and of good quality, hence are in great demand. Anna is requesting a loan of US$600 to purchase more electrical appliances and cell phone accessories for sale. These funds will help her growing business to become a stable entity, reaping her higher income streams in future.",F,600,lender,Retail,1 Kenya,"ANNAH CHEPNGENO LANGAT is aged 47 years, married, with 5 children all in school; her husband is a peasant farmer. Annah never attended school because the kalenjin culture was against girl child education. To supplement her husbands meagre income from farming and support both her elderly parents and her children, she started a business selling cereals in Liten market. Annah has been in this business for the last 17 years and the business has all along registered tremendous growth. Increased demand for her products has made her always run short of stock. Annah would like to exploit the ready market but unfortunately she lacks funds. She is requesting a loan of US$1200 which she intends to spend us follows: US$1000 to purchase dry maize in bulk, and US$200 to purchase preservatives. Annah is hardworking and will repay the loan.",F,1200,lender,Food,1 Kenya,"Annah Mugure Kamau is 35 years old. She is married with three children, all in public primary school where their father works. When she completed her secondary school the late 1990s, she did not continue with college, as her father could not afford college fees. She decided to marry and join the business world. She is a member of Baraka Women's Group. She joined WEEC in 2002 and has since then benefited from WEEC loans.
Currently, she has three diary cows. She gets assistance from her husband to look after them. She delivers her milk to Kiambu Dairy Co-operative Society at USD 0.3. Given a loan of USD600, she intends to buy another dairy cow. She is willing to repay within a period of 12 months.",F,600,lender,Agriculture,1 Kenya,"Annah Nduku Mwikya is 29 years and blessed with one child for whom she has sole responsibility. She also takes care of her younger sister, and together they live in Kayole, an informal settlement in Nairobi. Annah also takes care of her elderly parents who reside in the country outside of Nairobi.
Annah is currently employed as a waitress in a restaurant in Nairobi, but her income is meager. In addition, Annah also has a stall in Kayole, where she sells a variety of cereals to the members of her community. After she completed school, she went to live with her aunt who was in business and she would often be left to sell cereals on her aunt's behalf. It was here that she learnt how to take care of a business. This responsibility also influenced her to consider starting up her own business. At the same time, she also joined a ""merry-go-round group"" and began to make small savings. A merry-go-round group is a community group where Kenyan women, or sometimes men, contribute a small amount of money to a fund on a regular basis. Each member of the group receives the whole sum at some point during a fixed cycle. It is a type of forced savings in a place where saving money is very difficult for various reasons.
In the year 2002, Annah decided to make the move to start off her own business. Using her savings from the ""merry-go-round group"" amounting to Ksh. 10,000 (about US$ 140), she started to buy Pishori rice from Mwea (the rice production area in Kenya) and then packed it into units of two kilos and sold them from door to door. With the earnings and profits, she increased the stock, and as the business continued to grow, in the year 2003, she moved on and using her salary of about Ksh. 8,000 (about US$ 115) she opened up a stall.
Annah then bought scales and a pressure lamp and began to stock up the stall; the demand continued to grow. The business has been running well since and has greatly helped her to manage her responsibilities. Her younger sister assists her at the stall when Annah is on duty as a waitress, but when off duty, Annah does the sales herself.
Annah would like to receive a loan that will enable her to boost her stock, so that she can meet the needs of all her customers. She is therefore requesting a loan of USD 750, with which she will be able to buy a greater variety of cereals and in larger quantities, hence her customers will not be forced to go out to other shops looking for what they could not get from her shop. The loan will also enable her to increase her profits. She intends to repay her loan over a period of 12 months.",F,750,partner,Food,1 Kenya,"Annastacia Ngina Mumo is 28 years old. She is married and has two children. Apart from her immediate family, Annastacia has taken in two orphaned teenagers, aged 14 and 15, whose parents (Annastacia's brother-in-law and wife) passed away in 2006.
While working at the airport for a vegetable exporting firm, Anastacia managed to save enough money to buy a plot within the town of Kayole, which is in the outskirts of Nairobi. She managed to partially develop the plot into rental housing. A few years ago, the firm she was working for closed. Since then, Annastacia has been living off of the rent received from her rental properties.
Annastacia has a friend who benefited from a Kiva loan. Her friend directed Annastacia to our offices, so that she could also benefit from a Kiva loan. Annastacia wants to complete the construction of her rental houses. She is therefore requesting a loan for Ksh 60,000 ($825.00) from Kiva lenders. This will enable her to purchase building materials like a ballast, cement, iron sheets, timber, nails, steel doors, sand, and building stones to complete her rental buildings. She thanks all Kiva lenders in advance. The repayment period for this loan is 12 months.",F,825,partner,Construction,1
Kenya,"Anne Atieno Olila has a tailoring business with two sewing machines. The business is located in a low income estate on the outskirts of Kisumu town called Nyalenda. Anne, 38 years old, has operated this business for the last 5 years. She buys clothing materials and makes clothes for both genders out of these materials. She intends to buy more clothing materials with the money from this loan so that she can increase her variety and volume.
Anne is married with 8 children and cares for two orphans. Her husband is engaged in the informal sector as a local mechanic. Her husband is not able to support the family with his income alone and Anne has been supplementing the family income with her business. Her children, together with the two orphans, are going to school and this places an extra burden on Anne to help pay for school fees for all of the children. Anne hopes to lighten this burden through increased profits that she hopes to get from her business by buying more clothing materials with the loan.
This is the first loan that Anne is taking together with the whole group. The group is cohesive and the leaders have displayed a high sense of responsibility during training period. Anne has done her duties with a high degree of diligence particularly in ensuring that the group documents are well kept and all the members attend the group meetings. Anne hopes to use this group platform to acquire more loans in future and she hopes to continue investing much of her time in her group secretarial duties to have the group maintain the current cohesion they have so far displayed.
Note: Abednego Ouma is also pictured in the group photo and is a member of the group but is not taking a loan in this cycle.",F,4150,lender,Services,0
Kenya,"Anne Muthoni is a 38-year-old married woman and she is blessed with two children. She lives in Ruai town in the outskirts of Nairobi city. Anne started her business in the year 2005 after staying at home for a long time as a housewife. She detested this condition and she candidly explained how she would depend on her husband for entirely everything, including money to buy sanitary towels, which she hated.
One day in the year 2005 Anne borrowed Ksh 5000 (USD 75) from her husband to enable her to start selling cereals. Her husband was more than willing to give her the money, which she used to rent a stall in Ruai town. From the remainder, she bought stock of a variety of cereals, including beans, maize, green grams and rice. From here she started off her business, and it has been in operation ever since. Her business has continued to grow and has enabled Anne Muthoni to take her children to better schools. The income has enabled her to give her family a decent life. Her business also helped to restore her dignity, and she is therefore happy with herself.
Anne now intends to expand her business and is therefore making a request for a loan of $750. With the loan, Anne will purchase a weighing machine, sieving wire mesh, and a variety of cereals to stock her business. Some of the cereals she intends to purchase include a variety beans, maize, rice, flour, green peas, green grams and chicken feed. For Anne, this will translate into higher income, and she will be able to support her family, and particularly to meet her personal needs. She also hopes that soon she will employ a helper and in so doing, will create employment opportunity for at least one person in her community.",F,750,partner,Food,0 Kenya,"Anne Njeri Njoroge is 30 years old.She is married with two daughters. She runs a computer bureau and does secretarial work. She is an active member of Grace group. Her husband is a teacher in Kiambu district and both meet the family expenses equally. Her computer recently got a mechanical problem and can not operate until it is properly repaired.Her printer has also been having a problem that is beyond repair and she has to purchase another printer. The computer and printer were given to her by her father who used to have an insurance firm but closed it down due to a terminal Illness. Anne does printing work for schools, churches and colleges.She is requesting for a loan of US$600which she intends to use it as follows: Use US$500 to purchase a new printer and another computer. Use US$100 to buy computer accessories for her shop. She is currently using a rental computer because her business is non operational without a computer and printer.",F,600,lender,Services,1 Kenya,"Anne Wamaitha Kimani is a 26-year-old single lady. She is in the business of selling new shoes at Mlolongo town where she resides. She started her business in the year 2000 with capital of Ksh 15,000 (US$ 220), which she saved while under employment at a small retail shop in Rongai town from 1999 2000.
Anne started selling her goods in an open-air space because she didnt have a stall where she could sell. However, luck was on her side, and in the year 2005, Anne teamed up with her cousin Fridah Wanjiku, who is also requesting a loan from Kiva, and together, they rented a stall and agreed to share the rent. Anne deals in the sale of shoes and an assortment of other items, while her cousin deals in the sale of clothes, hence their businesses are complementary. During the holiday seasons like the upcoming month of December, the demand for clothes and shoes is always high because this is when many people buy such things as gifts for their families, both in urban and rural places.
Annes business has been growing because of the high population in her area, and she finds that she always runs out of stock due to the high demand for the items in her stall. She now needs to purchase a stock of mens shoes, ladies shoes, childrens shoes, plastic items, cutlery, and also bedcovers. Anne is therefore requesting a loan of USD 750, with which to increase her inventory. With an increase in her stock, she will be able to increase her profit, resulting in more income. She also intends to employ an additional person to help her around the boutique. The repayment period for her loan will be 10 months.",F,750,partner,Retail,0 Kenya,"Anne Wambui Ndungu is a 35yrs old widow with 3 dependants. Anne is a farmer with 7yrs experience. All her children are in school. The first born will be joining high school this coming January. The remaining siblings are in junior high. Anne owns a one acre piece of land where she struggles to grow maize to support her family. She earns about US $180 a month which is not enough to pay for her sons tuition thus the children are often at home. The remaining capital goes towards the maintenance of the house hold and purchasing maize seedlings. Some of the problems that Anne encounters in her day to day activities are: Lack of capital to buy seedlings and pay her childrens school fee, she is also unable to cater for the daily house hold activities. Apart from that, lack of transport to enable her to sell her product at the nearby cereal board. Anne has resulted in working on other peoples land and at the nearby market as a food vender, to raise enough capital to sustain her family. Anne is requesting a loan of US$ 675, to purchase Fertilizer at US$ 400, Seedlings 6 bags to 10 bags at US$ 135, Labour at US$ 40 And Transportation at US$ 100. Anne is a hardworking lady and she is more than capable to pay her loan back.",F,675,lender,Agriculture,1 Kenya,"Anthony Maina is single man. He is 17 years old and has been running a small scale cafe for the past 2 years. He has been supporting his parents from the cafe income. Anthony is pursuing a course in management in the hospitality industry. With the skills he is learning from the course, he wants to expand his business and start an outside catering service. This will allow him to generate more income to support his parents and his future family. He has requested a loan of US $ 1000, which he will use as follows:
US $520 to purchase a fruit machine commercial juice extractor
US $ 250 to purchase materials for hotel renovation
US $30 to purchase a commercial deep fryer
US $ 100 to purchase cutlery for outside catering such as spoons, forks, stainless steels
US $100 to add stock of foodstuffs
This business is a member of the caterers group; it will be funded through group borrowing. Group borrowing, also known as solidarity borrowing, is a mechanism that allows a number of individuals to provide collateral or guarantee a loan through a group repayment pledge. The incentive to repay is based on peer pressure; if one person in the group defaults, the other group members makes up the payment amount.",M,1000,lender,Food,1 Kenya,"Anthony Maina Kahondo is married with two children. All of them are in junior school. He is a blacksmith and he has been in operation for four years. He builds metal structures such as bridge rails, window panes, door frames and general metal joinery. He also creates arts and craft souvenirs from junk refuse which he gets from his work. There is high demand for his welding services in the area where he operates. His wife sells his homemade crafts in an open air tourist market in their town. But he needs to buy additional equipment to be able to take fuller advantage of the demand of both the welding services and the crafts. He is requesting a loan of $825: $535 for a welding machine, $200 to acquire flammable gas stock for his welding machine, and $100 to hire a casual laborer. Anthony will be able generate more profit and, in time, will provide permanent employment for two more employees. Retooling his business will raise his standard of living and provide employment for people in his area.",M,825,lender,Manufacturing,1 Kenya,"Anthony Musyoka is 26 years old. He is married with one child. He sells polythene bags in Kongowea, a sprawling Market in Mombasa. This business earns him enough to pay for his personal needs. It involves selling the plastic bags to shoppers as well as some vendors who package their wares, like dry cereals, before selling them. This product is popular at the market because it's convenient, inexpensive, and available. Most buyers rely on the bags to carry their purchases since most of the sellers never package their goods. Anthony's customers come to his small table to buy the bags, and he also sells them directly to shoppers at other stalls as they make their purchases. He has just expanded and has started selling to other polythene vendors but he lacks the funds necessary to meet the growing demand. He is therefore requesting a loan of $500. The money will be used to buy additional stock of the fast-moving consumer good. Anthony is responsible and will repay the loan.",M,500,lender,Retail,1 Kenya,"Antony is 38 years old and married with two children aged 6 years and 3 months respectively. He resides along Nairobi-Thika Road at a place called Gumba Estate. Apart from his family, he takes care of his mother-in-law since her husband passed away in the year 2005 after a short illness. In the year 2005 after finishing school, Antony decided to follow his mothers footsteps of printing. He had learned from her for five years. His mom has since retired and has gone to stay back in the rural area.
His mother referred him to some of her clients so that he could serve them. His mother saw the good work ethic in him and decided to give him a loan of Ksh 50,000 so that he could also start his business and earn a living. Antony paid back this loan over a period of 2 years. He now needs to advance his business due to the high demand for the machine that he requires. He requires a laser printer 5100 that is worth Ksh 80,000 and believes that when he gets it, it will make a very huge difference in his business since there is no one around who has it so far. The customers will be happy because they normally have to walk a very long distance to find a place with such a printer so that they can do their printing.
Antony works together with his wife, and at the moment the wife has four permanent clients. The clients have advised her to buy the printer so as to make work easier for them and also to cut down their costs. Antony believes that the business will bring in much more income thus resulting in higher profits. He will continue to take care of his family and send his daughter to a better school.
He will repay the loan in a term of 12 months.
Disclaimer: Due to recent events in Kenya, the security situation in many communities remains unsettled, affecting many local businesses. Lenders to this entrepreneur should be aware that this loan may represent a higher default risk, and should be willing to accept this additional risk in making their loan.",M,1200,partner,Services,1 Kenya,"Antony Otieno Omondi is a single 29-year-old man, who lives in the Kibera community of Nairobi. Apart from fending for himself, he helps in taking care of his single sisters son. Until recently he worked with the KK group of companies situated in Westlands, one of the up-market areas in Nairobi. Being a hard-working man, in November 2006, Antony decided to open a business. He took his time to think of what type of business he could open and decided to replicate his uncles business.
Antonys uncle has a video-show business and Antony believed a similar business could do well in his neighborhood. Antony took Ksh. 5,000 (US$ 75) from his savings, and with this as his capital, he started his own business in November 2006. His business especially appeals to football fans who come to his stall to watch the latest soccer game, and he finds that his stall often gets congested due to the high number of customers. Antony would therefore like to expand his business, and he is requesting, in good faith, a loan of US$ 450 with which he intends to purchase another television set, a new aerial, a TV stand, a cable wire, six video packs, and a cell phone. These are the things he believes that his business needs in order to grow.
The loan will enable him to better serve the community with up-to-date information on sports, entertainment, and news. He also believes that the loan will enable him to stabilize his financial status, thus giving him a chance to open another, different business, hence create more employment opportunities within his community. He will continue to enjoy being self-employed and independent. Antony also believes that expanding his video-show business will reduce boredom in his community, hence giving the youth an alternate activity that will aid in limiting cases of drug abuse.",M,450,lender,Services,1 Kenya,Apollo is a married father of three. He sells household goods and will use the loan to expand and diversify his business.,M,500,lender,Retail,1 Kenya,"ARTHUR NJUNGUNA is a 35 yr old married farmer. He has two children in school. Arthur and his wife Anna are members of Suma group in Subukia settlement in the Rift valley. He has received two loans from Eb-f since January 2006 when he joined this group that he repaid without delay. He used the money to improve his farming method and output i.e. amount of fertilizer per acre and the use of insecticides. This has increased his yield considerably.He now wants to increase his farming from one acre to three acres but he has no funds. He requests a US $ 900 loan. This is his budget: US $ 200 rents more acres of land US $ 600 buys fertilizer, seeds and insecticides. US $ 100 for transport. He is an aspiring young farmer and will repay the loan.",M,900,lender,Agriculture,1 Kenya,"Asha is 42 years old married with three children. She is an ambitious and dedicated entrepreneur. She has been selling sugar, salt, cereals, flour, laundry detergents and soft drinks, in partnership with her husband for the last 14 years at their local market. She is hoping to transform it into a wholesale to be able to meet her customers needs and also be on top of her competitors. She receives her spiritual nourishment from Gitige Catholic Church and is involved in a social group which helps the needy in her community. For example they make sacrificial contributions materially and financially. She is also involved in a church project which assists the elderly, orphans and needy people. She has been in Gitige Sunshine Women group for the last 5 years and has benefited for loans amounting USD10120 which has boosted her business a lot. She hopes to get funding of USD1250, for restocking her business which was affected by school fees she withdrew when her son was joining college in the month of September this year. She has confident of repaying the loan with the monthly income she accumulates.",F,1250,lender,Retail,1 Kenya,"Asumpta Nyokabi is 29 years old and married with one child. Her husband is a taxi driver. They live in the Freehold Estate in Nakuru City with Asumptas parents who are old and umemployed. The taxi business earns the family an average of US $50 per week. This amount only covers the familys rent. Asumpta decided to start a business of selling new clothes to supplement the family income. She approached Eb-f in 2005 and got a loan of US $500 to start the business. The business picked up well and earns the family an extra US $60 per week. Asumpta has been using this income to provide for her family and to care for her aging parents. She wants to expand the business and she is requesting a loan of US $1200. Her budget is: US $400 to stock mens clothing, US $500 to stock womens clothing and US $300 to stock childrens clothing. Asumpta is focused and will be able to repay the loan.",F,1200,lender,Clothing,1 Kenya,"At 64, Nancy believes that she has not yet reached a point in life to give up working. Her 6 children are all independent but she takes care of 2 of her grandsons who give her company. These two grandsons are in primary and she is responsible for all the necessities. She joined WEEC and Kenyanjeru Womens group 5 years ago and this has helped her in various ways. She was able to get a diary cow which she got as a loan in 2005, its fully paid up and she drinks milk as she wants while the balance is sold. She sells 5 litres a day giving her $42 per month. She saves this money to take care of her grandsons. She has tea and coffee not on a large scale but still gives her some $ 50 per month. She also grows beans and maize but they are seasonal. She hopes to increase output when she plants hybrid seeds and the main objective is to accumulate enough money to buy another dairy cow. With milk she will not go wrong because there is ready market because of the revival of Kenya cooperative creameries. Her grandsons will be assured of good education and to herself; she will enjoy her old age.",F,150,partner,Agriculture,0 Kenya,"At 70 years of age, with five children, Joyce Nyokabi beams with a confident smile when she talks about her business. The father of her children deserted her quite some time ago (she can't remember the year) when the children were young. Since then, Nyokabi has known no happiness but has struggled throughout her life, but those struggles have not torn her down. She has been through many ups and downs while she raised her children who are now adults. She also has four grand children aged 15, 12, 6 and 3 years old.
In 2005, a hungry and penniless Nyokabi didn't have anything to feed her children. She therefore went to work in a quarry so that she could at least buy vegetables and flour. Through this arduous and back-breaking experience, Nyokabi received valuable skills needed in the field. After two miserable years she had saved enough to buy her own quarry plot and has since bought another as well.
With these quarry plots, Nyokabi has been able to afford an education for her children. Because the current demand for high-quality building stones is high, Nyokabi wants to expand her operations. Nyokabi is therefore requesting a loan to purchase equipment necessary for breaking and shaping the stones. The impact of this loan will go beyond her and her family, because she will then be able to employ community members and help address idleness and poverty in town.",F,975,partner,Construction,1 Kenya,At 75 Mama Anna Mukute is our most senior client and very active. Mama Mukute sells vegetable and fruits at her local market in Akites to support herself and 5 grandchildren (orphans) left behind by her children who died of HIV/AIDS. Her first loan of $ 43 from PEMCI was repaid timely. She has requested for a second loan of $150 to grow her vegetable business. Mama Mukute is a source of pride to us at her age she is not out begging for handouts to support these orphans to instead works hard. She deserves all the support she can get from us and we are very proud to be associated with her. She is also a source of encouragement and inspiration to other elderly grand mamas facing similar situation. We at Pemci are willing to help such elderly care givers to be self-sufficient.,F,150,partner,Agriculture,0 Kenya,"Augustine started his business in 2002. After his primary education, he was unable to continue with secondary education due to lack of school fees. Thus he opted to start out in business.
At first, Augustine was a cereal seller.Though the business was good, there was stiff competition and he decided to open up a little restaurant when he saw there was an unmet demand. He used the money he had saved from his cereal business as capital and his little restaurant is doing well. His customers are mainly market people so during market days he is quite busy.
Augustine's little restaurant is right at the market centre so his customers have easy access to his services. Through his business, he has been able to offer employment opportunities to two youths who work hand-in-hand with him. He has been an inspiration to the youth in his community and has been able to support his parents and his sibling. He has also been able to purchase cattle and develop his farm.
Augustine is not yet married. With the loan of $75 from PEMCI, he wishes to increase on his stock of foodstuffs for his little restaurant.",M,75,partner,Food,0 Kenya,"Auliliar was born 49 years ago, married with six children. Her three children are married and self reliant. The other three are in high school. These children are her major project as she needs atleast USD750 per annum for school fees. Auliliar is an active member of Gituya Kamukia Women Group and she is the chairlady of that group. Auriliar has a very unique business that has constantly enabled her to raise school fees and pay loan. She sells empty gunny bags to the cereal selling people. She wants to increase the stock in preparation for the harvest season a head and her increasing customer demand.",F,300,lender,Services,1 Kenya,"Ayub Ng'ang'a is married with one son. He runs a building and construction materials business at Kikuyu where he has lived for the past five years. His expected monthly profit is about 20,000 Kenyan shillings ($250 U.S.). His construction supplies business is his only source of income. Ayub was introduced to KADET by a friend who is already a KADET client. With this loan, he intends to buy more supplies for his construction supply shop. Ayub hopes to expand his business to a include more hardware, and to buy a plot of land to build a new store. He also wants to buy a pickup truck to deliver goods to his customers, and later venture into the freight business. Ayub also dreams of opening a home for needy children. About KADET: The Kenya Agency for the Development of Enterprise and Technology (KADET) is committed to economically empowering its clients by providing financial services to rural communities in order to relieve suffering and improve living conditions within those communities.",M,675,partner,Construction,0 Kenya,"Barasa is married with five children, all in primary school. He started his business in 2002 in order to sustain his family. He has not undertaken any formal training, but he is an active member of his local communitys self help group dealing with poverty eradication and fighting against HIV/AIDS. With a loan from PEMCI, he will be able to increase his cereals stock and to open a cereal store. Through his business, he has been able to fight hunger in the community and provide a good example to the others in the area.",M,150,partner,Food,0 Kenya,"Barasa started his business four years ago, with a capital of 5,000 Kenya Shillings, which was the result of the sale of his farm produce. His business involves repairing bicycles, which he operates at his home where he has a bicycle shed. Apart from that, he also buys pepper direct from the farmers and supplies it to the local markets. He is married and a father of two children who have yet to join school. His wife is a fishmonger. Barasa has learned up to O level, and due to the lack of employment, he opted for self-employment in order to sustain himself and his family. He is the first-born in a family of four. Through his business, Barasa has been able to build himself a house, and develop his farm by purchasing a dairy cow and a piece of land. In his day-to-day operations, he meets challenges such as transportation, price fluctuation, and dry seasons when its difficult to get pepper. These he meets by concentrating on the bicycle repairing business. His daily profit ranges between KES 300 and KES 400. Given a loan by Pemci, He plans to increase his business. He plans to purchase more spare parts which he has been unable to do due to lack of enough capital.",M,175,lender,Services,1 Kenya,"Barnabas is a shopkeeper who deals with retail goods. He has been in the business since 2000. He has not undertaken any formal training for his business, but learned through doing. He started his business when he saw that there was a need for his services in the community. He is a member of the community group which deals with the H.I.V./AIDS campaign. He has completed his first loan with PEMCI successfully, which enabled him to build himself a shop. Previously he had rented but now he operates from his own premises. With a second loan from PEMCI, he intends to increase his stock further, to meet the demands of his clients which continue to increase day by day. Through his business, he has been able to build himself a shop, educate his two children and bring services to the community.",M,300,partner,Retail,0 Kenya,"Basil Ekileng is in his third loan cycle with PEMCI but second with Kiva. He is married with three children, all in primary school. Basil has recently completed paying off a previous loan and is seeking another loan of $400. He plans to use the loan to expand his shop from purely retail to include wholesale items.
With expanded capacity, he will be able to buy directly from suppliers and sell to other retailers in the area. This will greatly improve his business stability and also his revenue. Through PEMCI, Basil was also able to buy a posho mill (a hammer mill that grinds maize into corn flour) which his wife operates.
With their combined incomes, the Basil family are on their way to financial stability. We at PEMCI are proud of his achievements and the support we have received through Kiva. The $400 loan will come in handy and the project is worthy of our support. We greatly recommended it.",M,400,lender,Retail,1 Kenya,"Basil is married with three children, one in primary school and two not yet in school. He started his business in 1998, with capital of Ksh.5000 from the sale of his farm produce. This was not enough so he had to sell his next harvest in order to increase his stock. With a loan from PEMCI, Basil intends to convert his shop to a wholesale business so as to meet the demands of other shopkeepers in the surrounding area. Those shopkeepers currently must travel long distances in order to get their stock.",M,150,partner,Retail,0 Kenya,"Beatrice Adikinyi is 38 years old. She is married and has three children who all attend junior school. Her husband does metal work welding but is currently sick, making her the sole breadwinner. She operates a stall in the open air market where she sells re-tailored used clothing as well as travels to the neighboring rural areas to sell to the rural folks who buy the used clothing because of their fair pricing. She alternates selling at the stall to retailers and rural visits, depending on the day. She has gradually built up her customer base that buys regularly from her. Unfortunately sometimes she is unable to meet the demand due to stock shortage. She would like to increase her stock to meet her clients needs but lacks the funds. She is requesting a loan of US $ 1,000. These funds will be used to buy more clothes to be re-tailored.",F,1000,lender,Clothing,1 Kenya,"Beatrice Anne Wangu is a single mother of 2 children who are in college. Beatrice takes care of her other six siblings. To make a living and educate her children, she started a French fries business at Kayole, a densely populated city estate. She has been in the business for the last 9 years and has developed good business management skills. The increased demand for her products has convinced her of the need to purchase two extra deep fryers. Beatrice requests a loan $750, which she intends to use as follows: $500 to purchase two extra deep fryers and $250 to purchase extra tables and seats and also improve the general appearance of her premises. Despite the challenges facing her, Beatrice is determined to prosper in business and improve her living standards.",F,750,lender,Food,1 Kenya,"Beatrice Bochere is a middle-aged Kenyan mother married with 3 children. She also lives with 2 orphan children whom she has to feed, clothe, and educate. Beatrice is the breadwinner for her family, as her husband is currently unemployed.
Beatrices primary business is selling fruits, which she started 3 years ago. She first started by selling fruits for a friend for a commission. She sold in the municipality market in the town of Kisii. From this she accumulated the savings to start her business. Beatrice mostly sells her fruits on a retail basis to her regular clients. With the help of her loan, she will be able to buy more fruits to increase her sales and eventually expand to wholesale business.
Disclaimer: Due to recent events in Kenya, the security situation in many communities remains unsettled, affecting many local businesses. Lenders to this entrepreneur should be aware that this loan may represent a higher default risk, and should be willing to accept this additional risk in making their loan.",M,1325,lender,Food,0 Kenya,"BEATRICE CHEPKOECH CHERUYOIT is aged 39 years. She is married with five children, all in school. Her husband is a tea farmer in Kericho District. Beatrice also takes care of her elderly parents. She never had the chance of attending school because the Kalenjin culture was against girls' education.
Beatrice is a business-minded lady and 7 years ago she realized that her husband's meager income could not support the education of her children, so she started her own business of selling cereals in Liten market. After undertaking a business training conducted by Ebony Foundation, she is now able to manage her business well. The demand for her products has also greatly increased and sometimes she runs short of stock. To counter this, she needs to double her reorder level. She is therefore requesting a loan of US $1200 which she intends to spend as follows: US $1000 buy 60 bags of dry maize and US $200 buy 10 bags of beans. Beatrice is hard-working and she will repay the loan.",F,1200,lender,Food,1 Kenya,"Beatrice Gachambi Muraguri is 46 years old, single, and has two children. Apart from her family, she also takes care of her aged parents. She lives in Jericho, on the outskirts of Nairobi. Beatrices business involves processing and selling amaranth grain, which is used for health improvement. Before starting her own business, Beatrice was employed by researchers from the University of Nairobi who were sponsored by the American Amaranth Institute. Beatrice left the organization in 2004, and, with an initial capital of Ksh 50,000 (US$770) which she had saved while working for the Institute, she opened her own business called Promote Amaranth Services. This business has enabled Beatrice to improve the health conditions of people in the area, especially those who are infected with HIV/AIDS and those who have cancer. Amaranth has a very high nutritional content and can be mixed with other grains to fortify ones diet. People who are chronically ill benefit from amaranth because it acts as a super vitamin. People who use amaranth regularly believe in its healing powers and feel stronger and healthier. Beatrice has been able to convey her own knowledge of the nutritional value of Amaranth plant to about 3,000 people in the area. Due to the high demand for her products, Beatrice's stock of amaranth has become insufficient, and she now needs seven additional bags of the grain which will cost Ksh 6,000 per bag. Beatrice is asking Kiva lenders to assist her in buying the grain, so that she can cater for the needs of her customers. She believes that this assistance will improve both her own living conditions and those of her clients. Beatrice promises to repay the loan in 10 months.",F,600,partner,Health,1 Kenya,"Beatrice is 22 years old; she is married and has two children. One is in primary school and the other is very young. She is an active member of Kagaa Women Group and adheres to the rules and regulations of the group. She sells used clothes and eggs from her small Poultry business which she started in 2004.
From her poultry business, she sells 3 trays of eggs to Ngurueni Market every day. She employs one person who assists her in running her clothes business. She uses her poultry waste as manure on her land and this enriches the soils very much, she has a piece of land where she gets vegetables for the family. Therefore, she does not spend on vegetables.
She wants to buy chickens and buy a bale of first class used clothes. This will increase her returns as well as her income. She is dedicated to her work and believes it will influence other young mothers in her community who think they cant make it in life.",F,300,partner,Agriculture,0 Kenya,"Beatrice is 37 years old. She lives in Ikindu village of Maragwa district. She is married and has 5 children. She is a born again Christian who is strong in her faith. Beatrice is a member of ACK St. Phillips Church. She is also the Secretary of the Mothers Union association in the same church. Beatrice's children are all in school. 3 of the children are in high school. She therefore has to work hard to pay the school fees for her children.
Beatrice is engaged in farming. She grows French beans and makes regular sales so as to get regular income per month. In the evening she visits neighboring farms and buys bananas at wholesale price. She sells the bananas to fruit vendors in Maragwa market during market days.
Beatrice is the Secretary of Karaba Umoja women's group. She keeps the group records properly. Beatrice says this about her group: We have to take our group activities very seriously for us to be able to give our children a better life. Through our Karaba Umoja Women group, we are now able to solve a problem that has been afflicting us for so many years. Our confidence has been boosted. Now we know we can take loans, develop our businesses and repay through our group. This is good. Beatrice has applied for a loan of USD 300 for the purchase of a 3200 litre capacity water tank. Beatrice has to work extra hours to be able to repay the loans she gets from the group. As she puts it, it will solve the water problem in her home. The group has approved the loan. The repayment period will be 12 months.",F,300,lender,Agriculture,1 Kenya,"Beatrice is 39 years old single and with four children. Her husband died from a road accident three years ago. She worked for 8 years as a casual laborer and was later promoted to a supervisor in a flower farm before the death of her husband. After the death of her husband she was forced to leave work and take care of the children. She used her knowledge of flower farming to start a small flower farm on their 2 acres piece of land. She used her husband savings to cultivate flowers on a third of their 2 acres plot. She then took a loan of US $ 400 from Eb-F to cultivate an addition half acre brining the total to acres of Arabicam Flowers. She grows, sells and replants every three months and uses the income to provide for her children who are all in school now. Beatrice now wants to cultivate the remaining one acre and she is requesting a loan of US $ 900 to finance the cultivation. Her budget is: US $ 100 for the land preparation, US $ 200 to purchase seedlings, US $ 100 to purchase natural manure from farmers, US $ 150 for natural pest control, US $ 50 for fuel for pumping water when there are no rains, US $ 150 for hiring casual laborers, US $ 50 for packing cartons and US $ 50 to transport the cut flowers to Nairobi for export. Anne flower farming business has attracted her female friends who also want to start similar ventures. They have requested her to supply them with seedlings. Anne has taken this as a business opportunity and she plans to utilize the remaining US $ 350 from her loan to purchase seedlings for resell to her neighbors at a profit. She plans to use the income from her business to take her elder daughter to university and to re roof her old house. In future she plans to buy her own pickup to reduce the cost of hiring one every time she has to take the flowers to Nairobi.",F,1200,lender,Retail,1 Kenya,"Beatrice is 45 years old. She is married with four children, who are schooling. She is a civil servant in the adult education department. She is a mothers' union leader in ACK Church Kahuro. The salary she gets enables her to pay for the rental of the house they are living in. Beatrice is an active member of Patricia Mothers Kahuro. She wants a loan of $150 to pay school fees and intends to pay back the loan in 10 months.",F,150,lender,Services,1 Kenya,"Beatrice is a 35-year old widow who lives with her three children in the town of Rongo, Kenya. She is well-known in this area because she has been trained in providing home-based health-care services. She is also a successful businesswoman who started selling clothes door-to-door in 1992. She used the funds from her first loan to start her own shop. Business is so good that she has hired one person to help her run the shop and meet the demands of her many customers. Beatrice has applied for a loan of $500 to purchase additional second-hand clothes to sell.",F,500,partner,Clothing,0 Kenya,"Beatrice is a member of Esenyi women's group which is registered with Pemci. This group is composed mainly of people living with HIV/AIDS. It is one of the various groups forming a community-based organization that is supporting and empowering AIDS victims in the area. (PEMCI does not discriminate against people affected by HIV/AIDS; we encourage them to seek financial support that would enable them be active members of their communities rather than depending on hand-outs.)
Beatrice is married with eleven children. She started her business in 1999. With the first loan of $150 from PEMCI, she was able to uplift her business which enabled her complete the small house where she now lives.
As a fishmonger, Beatrice is able to supplement the nutritional needs of the members of her local group and the community at large. She is also a role model to others affected by the AIDS scourge. Well worth Kivas support.",F,175,partner,Food,0 Kenya,"Beatrice is a member of the Esenyi women's group. This group is composed mainly of people living with the HIV/AIDs virus. PEMCI has a non-discriminative policy, and we encourage people living with the virus to become economically active members of their community, and to be self-empowered. Esenyi is part of a different group forming a C.B.O that is fighting AIDS in the division. Beatrice is married with eleven children. She started her business in 1999. With the first loan from PEMCI, she was able to uplift her business and built herself a small shelter where she now lives. With this 2nd loan (her 1st with Kiva) she plans to expand her stock of fish in order to improve her income. From selling fish, Beatrice is able to offer diversity in nutrition to the vulnerable members of her community, especially those living with HIV/Aids. She is also a good role model of living positively.",F,175,partner,Food,0 Kenya,"Beatrice is a mother of three, all of whom are in secondary school. She is a retired teacher. She started her business in 2002 after retiring. She bought the posho mill with her benefits. She is also a fish monger. Her fish stall is just next to her posho mill. She is the chairlady of her local churchs women's organization. She also participates in the countrywide illiteracy eradication programme where she teaches elderly illiterate women of the area. This is her second loan with PEMCI, but her first with Kiva. The first loan enabled her increase her stock, and with the second loan she intends to grow her fish business. She plans to buy fish in bulk directly from the fishermen. Through her business, she has been able to contribute to her church organization. She has also brought milling services to the area as the locals used to go far to get the service. She has brought development in general to the community. She is well worthy of Kiva partners' support.",F,300,partner,Food,0 Kenya,"Beatrice is married and has a child who is in school. She is an active member of Gatangara Pluto and is very committed to the group activities. She is the group secretary and she has won many hearts through her management skills. Beatrice is very determined to alleviate poverty through the work of her own hands. She is a business lady who has a retail shop for household goods. She started this business with a help of small loan from her group and she now it has double the stock of what she started with. Beatrice has stabilized in the business world and she believes if she can stock her shop, her performance will be very healthy. She is able to fetch a profit of US $400 on a monthly basis, which she uses to boost the business. She would like to make her repayments on monthly basis.",F,150,lender,Retail,1 Kenya,Beatrice is married with 4 children in primary school. She started her cereal selling business in 1990 but it has remained small due to a lack of funding. She travels from one market to another buying and selling. She is able to support her family from the business. With the loan of US$150 from PEMCI she intends to increase her stock which will in turn improve her margins. She is also an active member of her local church community.,F,150,partner,Food,0 Kenya,"Beatrice is married with five children, three girls and two boys. One finished secondary school last year, the rest are in primary schools. She has been in business for the last six years. She sells bicycle repair parts, and apart from business, she is also a small-scale farmer. She gets her stock of spare parts from the Uganda, Bungoma and Busia borders. Her business is at Mayanja trading center. She has been of great help in the area since bicycles are the main mode of transport in the region.
Through her business, she has been able to support her husband in educating their children and also meeting other basic family needs. Though she faces many challenges, Beatrice is determined to push hard and see her business grow. She has been able to hire two young men who work hand-in-hand with her at her spare parts shop. With a loan from PEMCI, Beatrice plans to increase the stock of spare parts by buying them in bulk. This will enable her to minimize the number of times she has to go to the towns to get them, hence reducing expenses. She dreams of opening up another spare parts shop at the nearby shopping centre when she gets enough capital.",F,150,lender,Retail,1 Kenya,"Beatrice Kimiti is 53 years old, married and has ten children. She is a member of the Olkenkei Women's Group and the Maasai Young Women's Group. She is also a member of the local Gospel Revival Church, where she has an account that she uses to save money every month.
Beatrice has come to us for a loan on behalf of a community improvement project. She will purchase and nurture two calves for six months, and then resell them for a profit. They will use the proceeds to repay their loan in one lump sum six months after they receive it, and devote the balance of what they earn to improvement efforts sponsored by the people of their community.",F,375,lender,Agriculture,1 Kenya,"Beatrice Moraa Makori is a 35-year-old widow who has four children. She also takes care of her aging mother. The children attend a nearby school and are all in junior classes grades one, two, five and seven. She lives in the densely populated Kibera Slum in Nairobi. To support her family, she runs a small spinning and knitting shop where she makes and sells pullovers, cardigans, baby wear and other woolen clothing. She has six years experience in this business. All earnings from this business go into meeting her familys basic needs. The business is highly lucrative and has potential for growth since very few people in her area are into this trade. Her products are in great demand. But the small size of her business and lack of adequate materials denies her an opportunity to make the gains necessary to expand her operations. In order to take care of the growing needs of her family, she plans to open a larger shop. Given her experience and high business acumen, she will certainly manage this larger shop profitably. Beatrice is requesting a loan of $1000: $200 to build a bigger premise, $100 to hire and train an assistant, $300 to buy spinning machines and other equipment, $400 for more wool. She is happy her plan will provide employment and training for someone in her area.",F,1000,lender,Services,1 Kenya,"Beatrice Munyilu Muindi is 43 years old. She runs a inn where she sells beverages, wines and soft drinks which is her main source of income. She is a single parent and has two boys who are of school going age but they are out of school for lack of school fees. She tries her level best to provide the basic needs for her children despite the low income she earns from the inn. She is a hardworking lady who is determined to give the best to her dependants. She also looks after her aging parents who are sickly and need constant medical check ups and attention. She is therefore requesting a loan of US$ 650 which she will use to expand her business and enable her earn more income. The following is her budget for the loan: Renovations of the inn US$ 150, addition of one employee US$40, rent for the inn US$50, Buy more stock using US $ 410. This will enable her be in a position to take care of her basic needs.",F,650,lender,Food,1 Kenya,"Beatrice Ngiri, 39, is married and has 2 children, aged 18 and 11 years respectively. She is a grade 12 drop-out and has been selling shoes for the last 5 years to support herself and her family. Her business specialty has been children's shoes: sandals, shoes, and slippers for kids. She has many customers but there is room for expansion.
Currently Beatrice wants to add variety to her stock of shoes: childrens sandals, sports shoes, and match her stock with potential children's ages to better satisfy her customers' needs. She is requesting a loan of US $ 650 and her budget is as follows:
$150 to purchase children sandals,
$150 to purchase open shoes,
$150 to purchase sports shoes, and
$200 for transport costs and license fees.
Beatrice is determined to support her family, and she is able to repay the loan.",F,650,lender,Retail,1 Kenya,"Beatrice Njeri Muthama is 35 years old. She is married with four children. One is in preschool, two are in junior high school, and the eldest is in a private high school. She dropped out of high school after her ailing parents were unable to pay her school fees. With this predicament, she approached her aunt, an accomplished wheel spinner, and asked her to teach her the art of making crafts and clothing items out of wool. She has since mastered the art and she is passionate about it. She earns a living by making beautiful items like car seat rags, wall rags, scarves and shawls. Her demand is high considering she has a stall in Nairobis Maasai Market, which is a tourist open air market. Her business is also profitable because she makes the items herself as opposed to buying from middlemen like other traders. She needs to expand her business in order to be able to fully satisfy her market. She is therefore requesting for a loan of US $725. With this money she will purchase another spinning wheel worth US $350, wool stock worth US $300, and starch and bleaching items worth US $75. Beatrice is an entrepreneur with strong business ethics.",F,725,lender,Services,1 Kenya,"Beatrice Njoki is 50 years old, married with 8 grown-up children. She is an active member of Happy Millennium Women group and she contributes very well to the group.
Beatrice does farming as her economic activity. She has planted her farm with bananas, sweat potatoes, maize and beans. She is applying for a loan of USD 150 to buy banana seedlings, planting seeds and fertilizers. She is willing to repay this loan within 10 months.",F,150,lender,Agriculture,1 Kenya,"Beatrice Nyaguthie Gachuru is 30 years old. She is married with three children; two are in primary school while the other is yet to join school. She is an active member of Gitui Smart women group. She is also an active of Gitui Catholic Church. Her main occupation is farming at Muchunguchu Village. She grows coffee, maize and beans. She also owns a dairy cow of which the milk produced is consumed at her home and the surplus of four litres daily. She sells this surplus to the local residents. She saves through the group revolving fund. She intends to purchase a dairy cow to boost the milk production. She has applied a loan of USD600 for buying a dairy cow. She is willing to repay this loan within 15 months.",F,600,lender,Agriculture,1 Kenya,"Beatrice Nyambura Mugo is a 31-year-old mother of two school-going girls. She is in the business of selling clothes and shoes. She lacks job security because the clothing business she started is undetermined, since she lacks enough money to meet all her clients' increasing demands. The little profits she raises goes to the up-keep and educational needs of her daughters.
Beatrice's business is strategically located, and so she has no problem with the clientele. There is a high demand for her goods, but she is not able to meet it. She therefore requests a loan of US$400 to purchase more clothes and shoes, and for transportation costs.",F,400,lender,Retail,1 Kenya,"Beatrice Wairimu is 65 years old. She is a member of ACK Church Gitumbi and also a member of Karaba Umoja women's group. As a result of inadequate supply of water in her residential location, she has concluded that she needs to buy a water tank for storage of water. During the dry season, she fetches water from the bore holes; most times, the water is dirty. She has applied for a loan of USD 300 to enable her to buy a water tank to harvest rain water. She is willing to repay this loan in 12 months.",F,300,lender,Agriculture,1 Kenya,"Beatrice Wanjiru is 50 years old, married and has six grown children. She is farmer who grows vegetables, including terere, cucumber, and beetroots. She sells her vegetables wholesale at the markets and to traders who buy from her farm. She would like a loan for USD 450 to enable her to buy a dairy cow. A dairy cow can produce 15 litres of milk a day, which can be sold at USD 0.43 per litre. With her farming business and a dairy cow, she will be able to pay her loan and save on a monthly basis. She will also be able to pay school fees for two children attending secondary school.",F,450,lender,Agriculture,1 Kenya,"BEATRICE WANJIRU MUGO is a 27 year old married farmer. She and her husband have three children, two in junior school and one in pre-unit level. She is a member of Wendani self help group in Ngorika settlement in the Rift valley. Beatrice and her husband are maize farmers, which is the main economic occupation in the area. They spend most of their income on school fees and medical care since Beatrice has diabetes. They face a challenge to make more money to be able to meet all their familys basic needs and would like to expand their farming. Beatrice requests a US$ 1200 loan. This is her budget; Use US $ 400 to lease four more acres. Use US $ 650 to buy maize seeds and fertilizers Use US $ 150 to contract casual labor. Beatrice is a dedicated Eb-F member and will repay the loan",F,1200,lender,Agriculture,1 Kenya,"Beatrice Wanjiru Mukuna is a 36-year old entrepreneur with three children. Two of her children are in school while the youngest is still too young to be in school. Beatrice is a widow and thus is the sole breadwinner for her young family. She sells charcoal in one of the slums in the suburbs of Nakuru, Kenya.
Beatrices current stock is low; this has in turn brought low income, which has made it a struggle to meet her familys basic needs. She joined Ebony Foundation and has received business development skills training.
Beatrice is requesting a loan of US$ 300 to expand her business. Her budget is as follows: US$ 200 to buy stock; US$ 50 to expand her stall; US$ 50 to pay for a council license. Beatrice is responsible and will repay the loan.",F,300,lender,Retail,1 Kenya,"Beatrice was born 30 years ago in Kihara, Kiambu. She is married with four children. All are in a public primary school in Kihara. Beatrice comes from a poor family. Her parents separated when she was 4 years only. The situation resulted in poor education, forcing Beatrice to get married early after dropping out of school when she was just 16 years old.
Beatrice then joined business world with a mentality of alleviating poverty and making difference in her life. She started running a small business of selling secondhand clothes door to door. She has changed and she now owns a small store where she sells from.
Beatrice is among the first women to join WEEC in Kiambu in 2001. Since then she has serviced several loans which enabled her business grow step-by-step. In 2005 she was able to take a loan of usd 1000 which was repaid within duration of 10 months.
Given a loan of usd 1200, Beatrice will be able to add stock to her business.",F,1200,lender,Clothing,1 Kenya,"Beatrice Wathoni Mwangi is 65 years old. She is married with eleven children, one of whom is in secondary school and ten of whom are self reliant. Beatrice is an active member of Gitui Smart women group. She is a member of ACK Church Ithikui. Her main occupation is farming. She grows arrow roots, macadamia nuts, beans, maize and coffee. She sells the coffee to a local coffee factory. She has one cow and sells the milk produced from it to the local residents.
She has applied for a loan of USD600, with which she intends to purchase another dairy cow. She is willing to repay this loan within 12 months.",F,600,lender,Agriculture,1 Kenya,"Being the sole breadwinner at 28 years of age, Francis wants to offer more opportunities to his 4 children as well as his three young siblings. He has attended college and has a diploma in purchasing and supplies management. This loan will help him to apply his skills to the fullest.",M,175,lender,Retail,1 Kenya,"Ben is married with two children, one in nursery school and the other one still at home. He has not undergone any formal training apart from elementary school. As a way of making ends meet, Ben operates a store together with his wife. They deal in firewood and charcoal, an important source of energy for cooking in Kenya. Charcoal is gotten from burning wet tree stems and branches using smoke, while firewood is the raw product for charcoal which is also used for cooking.
Ben started his business in the year 2004, with a capital of 5000 Kenya shillings from the sale of his agricultural harvest. He gets his stock from Bitobo area, Myanga, Lupida and Siera. In one day, he buys 5 sacks of charcoal which costs him 1500 shillings and gets a profit of 1000 after selling in small quantities, measurable in two-kilogram tins (gorogoro). It takes him 2 to 3 days during the rainy season to clear the stock and four to five days in the dry season. He also takes his products to Malaba town by bicycle where the demand is higher.
Through his business, he has been able to support his family and bring services to the community. His main challenge is capital. He says that his cost of operations is high because he has a small stock. With a KIVA loan through PEMCI, Ben plans to increase his stock to increase his profit margin. Given a loan by PEMCI, Ben plans to increase his charcoal stock by purchasing it in bulk at Turbo, which is quite far form Myanga. In Turbo, charcoal is cheap compared to Myanga. Ben dreams of his business growing to a point where he will be able to purchase a piece of land and send his children to better schools.",M,150,lender,Retail,1 Kenya,"Ben Karanja is 22 years old and the second-born in a family of two. He was unable to finish high school education and took a driving course.
He got employed as a taxi driver in 2005 and was earning an average of US $2 per day. In addition, Ben does manual work as a car washer. He managed to save enough money and bought a used car in April 2007. He left his job as a taxi driver and begun driving his customers using his own car and this has increased his income. His car is not in a very good condition and he therefore not able to take long distance jobs. He would like to over-haul the engine of his car and he is therefore requesting for a loan of US $300 to purchase the spare parts. He is a determined person and would be able to repay the loan.",M,300,lender,Transportation,1 Kenya,"Benard Wanjohi Kagai is 27 years old, married with two children. He did not further his education due to lack of school fees. He therefore decided to start a business to earn a living. His wife is a farmer while he complements the income through his business. He is a shoe-maker at Subukia town, which enables him to earn at least US$ 100 per month. This is only enough to cater for his family's expenditure without saving any amount for contingencies and future educational expenses. He would not like to deny his children education and he is therefore working hard towards their educational welfare.
He is requesting a loan of US$ 600. This will help him expand his business by using US$ 600 in adding more stocks of leather and soles, and US$ 300 for seeds and inputs for farming. According to him, the business is viable since there is a constant flow of clients. He is creative, hardworking and capable of paying the loan.",M,900,lender,Services,1 Kenya,"Benedeta is 35 years old and a single mother of 3 kids who are all attending primary school. She lives with her children and her brother who is deaf and dumb in a rented double room in Kwa Rhoda Slum. Benedeta is an aggressive entrepreneur and sells used second hand clothes in a Local Market. She start the business in year 2004 with US $ 550 that she borrowed from a women group where she is a member. She has since been able to repay the loan and has been using the profits from the business to provide for her family and her brother. Benedeta takes her business to be her fourth child and runs it with a passion. She has many customers from rural areas that buy her goods. She has employed two young men who help her in selling in other markets. Most of the times she runs out of the goods as the customers are many. She wants to increase her stock so that she can always have the goods whenever her customers come. She is requesting a loan of US $ 1,200 to purchase 6 assorted bales of used clothes. This will enable her maintain sufficient stocks for her customers through out the year. She will utilize the income from the business to expand the business, to provide for her family and to help meet her brothers medical bills. Benedeta will be able to repay the loan well.",F,1200,lender,Clothing,1 Kenya,"Benedette is the chair lady of this group. She is a widow; fortunately her last child is in college. She is also the treasurer of the rural electrification project in her area and a retired primary school teacher. She sells milk in Thika Town and Saba Saba township. She sells about 10 litres every day, earning about $0.29 (USD) per litre. She has created a clientele in Thika because of being honest and maintaining the quality of her milk. Wangui bought a cow with her first loan and she has been able to repay 95% of her loan. Due to the milk demand she has not been able to serve her customer too well and meet their demand. Wangui now intends to buy a second cow to increase milk production and meet her customer needs.",F,600,lender,Agriculture,1 Kenya,"Beneta Wanjiru Kanyutu is 37 years old. She is a single mother with four children; one in secondary, one primary and the other two children are still young at home. She is a member of Gakoigo women group. She is a businesswoman who owns a green grocer shop. She gets green vegetables for resale from local farmers. She has managed to educate her children and run her business. She contributes USD3 to her group. She intends to purchase 30 more bunches of bananas to boost her stock quantity.",F,150,lender,Food,1 Kenya,"Benta Ajwang is a 44-year old married mother of 10 living children. She has spent 23 years running her small vegetable kiosks business near Kisumu, Kenya. She has added charcoal to her stock to increase profits. Her hard work, perseverance, good reputation, and many years in business coupled with a well-established clientele base ensure that her business will continue to grow despite competition. Benta has received and paid two previous loans from KMET, which she has used to scale up her business in response to increased demand for her goods. She is requesting a loan of $750, which she plans to use to purchase additional charcoal stock.",F,750,partner,Food,0 Kenya,"Benta Akinyi is a 28-year-old widow with three children aged nine, four, and one and a half. Apart from her family, she also takes care of her brother, who was left under her care when both of her parents passed away. She also supports the children from her husbands first marriage, since their mother passed away from AIDS in February 2007.
From 1995 to 1996, Benta attended vocational training as a tailor at C.C.C.K. in Makina. In 1998 her husband opened a tailoring stall for her at Gatwikira Market. Later, she got a stall at Makina Market. Her husband also lent her about US $170, which she used to buy materials and a sewing machine for her business. Benta is a very skilled tailor and has many customers. Now, she walks for a long distance to hire someone to embroider and hem her clothes. Often, this person is busy, causing delays and wasting her time.
Benta is requesting a loan of US $325 from Kiva lenders so that she can purchase an embroidery machine and an overlock for hemming. This will make her work easier and more efficient, because she will be able to do all of the work on her clothes by herself, saving her time and money. Benta also wants to train and employ girls so that they can also be able to attain skills that can help them in life. The loan repayment period for her loan will be 12 months.",F,325,lender,Services,1
Kenya,"Benta Atieno Opiyo is a 27-year-old mother with 4 children. She operates a retail shop business and has been operating this business for the last 3 years. Benta started this business with start up capital of Ksh 10,000/=.To acquire this start up capital, she had to sell one of the few cows she had and maize that she had harvested. This was a risky venture on her part as cows are a prized possession in this part of the continent. However, her venture paid off and currently the business has a working capital of over Ksh 20,000/=.
Benta's business is located on the outskirts of Kisumu town in an area called Chulaimbo. She hopes to use the money from the loan to increase stock for her business since she feels that there is demand for her products. She hopes that with a larger stock, her profits will increase and she will be able to meet her other needs like paying school fees for her school-going children and replacing the cow she sold to acquire start up capital to start the business. This being a rural set up, the few retail shops in her area are far away from her village and she hopes to take advantage of this to serve clients near her.
She has taken up her leadership role with her sub group with great diligence and ensures that the sub group pays on time and that the group remains united. She has no other source of income as her husband does not earn regular income to fully support the family. This is her first loan with the group.",F,4725,lender,Retail,0
Kenya,"Benta Awuor is 32 years old. She is married with one child who is in junior school. Her husband is an artisan who makes barely enough to meet the basic needs of his family. She started buying old secondhand clothes for resale to assist her husband with some of the familys financial needs. She later started to re-make them into other items and this increased her profits from the clothes. She sells the garments in different markets in the outskirts of the town. Her business has gradually grown to a profitable level. The proceeds are used to take care of the familys basic expenditure as well as the childrens educational fees. The increasing family demands use up most of her earnings leaving her with nothing to re-invest towards the growth of her business; yet the enterprise has potential to bring higher returns if she sells a wider variety other than childrens clothes. However, she lacks the required funds. She is requesting a loan of US $ 1,200 to purchase 10 bales of used clothes to expand her business.",F,1200,lender,Clothing,1
Kenya,"Benta is a 59-year-old mother of 8 living children. She lives with her husband in Nyamasaria Kisumu, Kenya. She is a poultry farmer, a venture she initiated in 2006. She keeps broilers, which grows fast (6 weeks) and are in high demand. She started her business with 100 chicks and now has 450. She sells mature broilers to hotels in town at US $4 a piece. She plans to expand the capacity of her poultry business by building an additional structure that can accommodate more chicks, buy chicken feed, and also employ 1 person to help her run the business. She has applied for US $800.",F,800,partner,Agriculture,0
Kenya,"Benta is the 25-year-old mother of two school-age children who lives in the town of Nyamasaria Kisumu, Kenya. She is also the proprietor of a food kiosk which she opened in 2004. The business is located along the busy Kisumu -Nairobi highway. Every day, she serves over 500 customers and takes in over Kshs 8000 ($129) in revenue. She has applied for a $700 loan to move her business to a larger space to accommodate increased demand from her clients.
Disclaimer: Due to recent events in Kenya, the security situation in many communities remains unsettled, affecting many local businesses. Lenders to this entrepreneur should be aware that this loan may represent a higher default risk, and should be willing to accept this additional risk in making their loan.",F,700,partner,Food,0 Kenya,"Bernadette Wangui is sixty years old. She lives in Githembe in Sabasaba. She is a widow and staunch Catholic. She practices mixed farming in her farm where she plants maize, beans, and bananas. She also rears dairy cows and pigs. She earns an income from the milk and pig sales. Bernadette is a very hardworking woman for her age. She joined Kahumbu Kwirera almost five years ago. She is a responsible and committed person especially in making savings and repayments. Her group loves this member because she is an inspiration to the younger women. She wishes to improve her pig project when she gets a loan of USD 450. She has a dream of rearing pigs in large numbers and repaying her loan promptly.",F,450,lender,Agriculture,1 Kenya,"Bernard Arweya is a 45-year old father of five children (4 sons and a daughter). He lives with his family in one of the slums of Kisumu, Kenya. He initiated his tayloring business in 1989 with the help of a sewing machine that he rented for US$ 2.86 a month. Through hard work, he managed to purchase his own machine in 1990. He specializes in making women's dresses and school uniforms. The central location of his shop, in addition to eight years of successfully doing business within the community, has gained him a good reputation and a wide customer base. With access to the loan, he will be able to expand his business to include a training site (dressmaking) for students. In response to the growing market demand, Bernard plans to purchase 2 new sewing machines and additional dressmaking materials with a portion of his third loan of US$ 570 which he received from KMET.",M,575,partner,Services,0 Kenya,"Bernard Arweya is a 46-year-old entrepreneur who lives with his family in Nyalenda, one of the slums in Kisumu, Kenya. He is the very hardworking and industrious proprietor of a dressmaking business which he initiated in 1989. He specializes in making women's dresses and school uniforms. The location of his shop coupled with many years of doing good business within the community has earned him a good reputation and a wide customer base. With access to the KMET/KIVA loan he will be able to expand his business. He intends to open a new tailoring shop and buy more machines and an additional stock of dressmaking materials with the US $700 he has applied for.
Disclaimer: Due to recent events in Kenya, the security situation in many communities remains unsettled, affecting many local businesses. Lenders to this entrepreneur should be aware that this loan may represent a higher default risk, and should be willing to accept this additional risk in making their loan.",M,700,partner,Clothing,0 Kenya,"Bernard is a primary school dropout and has no formal training. He is not yet married but he supports his younger sisters, one in primary school and the other in secondary school. In 2001, Bernard received the equivalent of $51 from his Uncle to start a hawking business, following failure to raise school fees. With the loan of $150 from PEMCI, he intends to boost his stock in order to improve his income. He is a very confident young man and we believe he has a good future with us.",M,150,partner,Retail,0 Kenya,"BERNARD KIDURA SAID is a 51-year -old businessman, married with three dependents. Two of his children are in school while the eldest is now working. He is the sole breadwinner.
Bernard was not able to finish high school education due to lack of school fees. Twelve years ago Bernard started selling tomatoes at the Kongowea market, located in the coastal town of Mombasa. He buys in bulk and then sells in retail. Through his business he has been able to educate his children and meet most of his family needs.
Despite his success in business, he has encountered various difficulties, from a high rate of tomato spoilage, which lowers their market price, to acute shortage of supply due to bad weather. He plans to expand his business through the help of Ebony, which he recently joined as a member. He is requesting a loan of US$700, budgeted as follows: US$200 to buy 10 new wooden crates for the tomatoes; US$300 to buy tomatoes in bulk; US$150 to rent a cooler to store the tomatoes and US$50 to pay for an assistant to help with the selling of the tomatoes. His dream is to ensure that the remaining children are educated and that their future is secure. He is a skillful businessman and he will be able to repay the loan on time.",M,700,lender,Food,1 Kenya,"Bernard M.Waweru is married with three children. All the three children are in school. They have been performing well and he would like them to further their education to the highest level. He decided to start saving the money he needs for their education by starting a transport business. He now owns a three-wheel motor taxi which operates in and around the town where he lives. This is a good business. Due to the high demand for transport and high returns of the business, he knows he can save money for his children's education by purchasing another taxi. This will also raise his family's living standards and enable both he and his unemployed wife (who is in training to operate the taxi) to run a thriving transport business. He has already identified a seller who is selling the taxi for $1200. He is requesting for a loan of the same amount. Bernard is also involved in research being conducted by a local university to establish the viability of using recycled cooking oil to operate the three-wheeler. He is determined to see his business operate with a cleaner and more energy-saving fuel, so he is happy to be involved involved in the university's initiative.",M,1200,lender,Transportation,1 Kenya,"Bernard Otieno is a 26 year old young entrepreneur who is single with no dependents. He has been living at his parents house. One of his parents works at the Nakuru Municipal Council as a social worker. Bernard joined the Eb-f business startup clinic where he underwent business skills training, counseling and acquired the necessary IT skills to enable him to open his own internet cyber-business. After undergoing the business start up clinic, he formulated a business plan which was assessed by Eb-f. Eb-f then extended funding to enable him to acquire 4 computers, while he raised US $20 to rent a small cubical in Nakuru. Bernard is requesting a loan of US $1,200 to acquire a license at US $200, connect to the internet from Africaonline internet provider at US $700 and purchase chairs and desks at US $300. This is a business with the potential to grow as more people look for places to access the internet. Bernard guarantees that he will be able to repay the loan.",M,1200,lender,Services,1 Kenya,"Bernard Wainaina is 58 years old, married, and has 5 grown children. He stays in Ruai town, on the outskirts of Nairobi. Bernard also takes care of his father who is 90 years od. His father needs constant care since he is bedridden. Bernard makes sure that the helper he has employed is always by his father's side, so that he can feed and bathe him.
Bernard's story is one of sheer determination. In 1967, Bernard was employed in a hotel in Sagana, a town in Central Kenya. He was paid Ksh 20 per month, and he used to save Ksh 10 per month. His employer raised his salary to Ksh 100 per month. True to his determination, he saved money. By the year 1988 he had initial capital of Ksh 30,000.
Bernard, with other businessmen from Central province, relocated to Nairobi, the capital city. Here they sold clothes, which they usually purchased from neighboring Tanzania. This continued until 1989 when they decided to part ways, and everybody started operating individually.
During this year, trade conflicts between the two countries made Bernard decide to operate from Kenya. He started selling second-hand clothes from one of the biggest second-hand markets in Kenya named Gikomba Market. He acquired a stall and started with 3 bales of clothes. Business was usually good since many people liked the second-hand clothes because they were cheaper; some selling for less than a dollar a piece. Bernard combined his clothes selling business with the sale of fruit. Since the fruit was seasonal, he reaped profits from their sale.
Bernard suffered a set-back in his business last December when Kenya experienced the post-election violence. His entire stock of clothes were stolen, and the rest were burned by the youths. Bernard was so distressed, he had to be hospitalized for three weeks, after which he got counseling. Since, he has been selling pineapples at his former stall where he still hopes to resume his second-hand clothes business. Bernard was directed to come to the Action Now offices to see if we could help him. We found his case worth submitting to Kiva lenders.
Bernard is kindly requesting Ksh 40,000 ($550.00) from Kiva lenders. This will enable him to purchase 8 bales of second-hand clothes. The repayment period for this loan is 14 months.",M,550,partner,Clothing,1 Kenya,"Bertha is a 38-year old entrepreneur who lives in Siaya, Kenya, with her husband and six children. She has also trained as a community health worker to provide home-based care to people living with HIV/AIDS in her area. The cereal selling business that she initiated in 1993 was doing quite well until about a year ago when her husband was laid off and she became the sole income earner in her household. To supplement her income, Bertha set up a fruit and vegetable stand near her home.
Her hard work, determination, and excellent skills have led to her success. Her profits pay the household expenses as well as secondary school fees for two of her children. Bertha plans to use the funds from her next loan of US$800 to buy twenty sacks of grains, particularly maize. As the price of this staple food is currently low, she will buy in bulk now to sell at a larger profit later.",F,800,partner,Food,0 Kenya,"Bessy Auma is a 25-year-old entrepreneur and mother of two school-aged children. She and her husband live in Kisumu, Kenya. Her husband works as a security guard in Kisumu town.
Bessy began her current business of selling new clothes in the year 2005. She specializes in both childrens and womens clothing such as skirts, dresses, and casual and formal tops. She periodically travels to Kampala, Uganda, where she is able to purchase a good variety at wholesale prices.
The prime location of her business on a busy street, and her two years of experience and her friendly interaction with customers has enabled her to establish a good clientele base. Her customers return to her shop for her wide selection or to make requests for certain styles.
Bessy plans to expand her business with her loan of US $700. She will invest part of the loan in a trial stock of second-hand clothes and also continue to purchase new ready-made clothes for re-sale.",F,700,partner,Clothing,0 Kenya,"Beth is 62 years old. She lives in Githambo Muranga. Beth is widowed and has been running her home very well. She is a retired teacher and now a full-time farmer. All her children are grown up, but two have completed school and are not yet working. She belongs to the ACK Murarandia church and is an active member of the Mothers' Union. She recently retired the position of Secretary of the Union.
In her farm, she has a lot of tea bushes, which represent a major source of income. She also plants other food crops. She has one cow which produces very little milk, just enough for home use. She now wishes to purchase a high-breed cow when she gets a loan of USD 575 through the group. She contributes very well to the groups revolving fund.",F,575,lender,Agriculture,1 Kenya,"Beth is an industrious married mother of 11 children. She is an active member of Rurii Shinning Group and a mentor to many young women. She has been leading women in various positions like Mothers Union in her place of worship and a treasurer in her group. Her farm has been generating income through growing maize, beans, mangoes, pawpaws, bananas and rearing dairy cows and goats. After harvesting she always make sales of some maize and beans twice a year, mangoes twice, and bananas, pawpaws often. Also she sells milk from her dairy cows and goats. Beth has raised all her children through her farm output and she has educated all of them. She is now focused on dairy goats for their milk is on demand in the area due to its nutritional value. She also wants to buy 3 bags of maize and 2 bags of beans seeds to plant on her land. Her farm has been doing well due to the loans she has been getting thus being able to employ extra hands to assist in weeding and harvesting. Now thats she expect to plant a lot of seeds, she will have to employ many laborers to assist her and she is sure the harvests will be on the higher side. She is willing to repay the loan with installments.",F,1050,lender,Agriculture,1 Kenya,"Beth lives on the outskirts of Nairobi in a town called Mlolongo. She is a 45-year-old widow who supports her six children and three grandchildren.
Beth began her business in 1989, with only about US $1; she had to hide the money she saved for this from her husband, who was a drunkard. For one month she hid money that her husband gave her for food, and she used that to buy rice and beans and sell them to construction workers who passed by her home. After a company saw that she was serving a need of its workers, the company provided her with a kiosk near the airport in order to feed the workers. With the earnings from this business, Beth was able to pay her children's school fees. After a while, another company offered her a kiosk near the City Cabanas area along Mombassa Road, where she still has her small restaurant. By this time, her husband had died, and his family had disowned her and the children because a dowry had not been paid for her. One of her daughters also passed away, leaving three children, hence she has nine dependent youths to support.
Beth is requesting a loan of US $1,175 to expand her business. She has a very popular restaurant that serves the nearby workers from 8:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. She employs four people, and she hopes that with this loan, her business will increase and she will also be able to employ her children (jobs are scarce in her town). She would like to increase her food supply so she can serve more customers. Additionally, she already receives requests to provide catering services for various functions from nearby businesses, and she hopes to buy a car with a subsequent loan in order to expand her catering business. Beth expects to repay her loan in 12 months.",F,1175,lender,Food,1 Kenya,"BETH NJOKI KAMAU is a 56 yr old married professional. She is married with five children; three are in school while two are in collage. Beth has been teaching for the last thirty years in a nearby school to her home in Wanyororo village Nakuru. She started dairy and crop farming to create an extra income to support her already big family and her dependants. This has been a small project but she would like to expand it now as she is about to retire from her teaching profession and all her income is used up to pay for her extended familys education. She is requesting a US$ 800 loan. This money will aid in expanding her farming business and will be used for the following: US $ 300 to hire extra land US $ 100 to buy hybrid seeds US $ 200 to buy fertilizers US $ 200 to prepare land for planting Beth is a hard worker and will repay the loan",F,800,lender,Agriculture,1 Kenya,Beth was born in 1948 in Muranga got married and is blessed with 4 children. Two are out of school while the last two boys are in college. She is the group secretary and she is responsible for meeting attendance in the group. Beth joined WEEC in September 2003 and has since then benefited from 5 loans which helped her to start the business she has to date. She rears dairy cows and sells her milk to a village Dairy Farmers Cooperative society Ltd which buys milk at Usd0.7 per litre. She also makes concrete blocks and sells them to roads construction companies as most roads in Kiambu are being repaired a business she started with loans she secured from the group. Its a unique business and she loves it even though stressing at times. It has helped her to pay fees for all her children. The cost of operation is very high due to capital limitation and she is willing to boost her capital with the loan.,F,450,lender,Construction,1 Kenya,"Bethua is 41 years old. She is married with 5 children. Bethua was one of the Future Fruit members who benefited from the Kiva loans. Bethua has appreciated the financial assistance that she received. Bethua expanded her business by increasing her stock of charcoal. She was able to purchase 15 bags at once. She was also able to add stock to her small retail shop. From her own experience, Bethua said, that year was a good one for me. I was able to cater for most of my day-to-day family expenses. When my mother fell sick and was visiting the hospital everyday, I was able to pay for her fare to the government hospital in town. My mother is now well and I have taken her back home. I felt very happy that I was able to take care of my old mother when she was unwell. Bethua has repaid her loan within a period of 10 months. She has applied for another loan of USD 750. This will enable her to increase the stock at the shop. Most of her loan will be used to buy beauty products that are being marketed by WEEC members from the Church Road Womens Group. In a way, Kiva has brought WEEC members closer together. She is targeting to sell to the salon shops in Kiserian and Ole Roimen. The Future Fruit Women Group has approved the loan. The repayment period will be 12 months.",F,750,lender,Retail,1 Kenya,"Betty is a 50 year old Masaai lady; she is married and has 6 children. A member of Enkiramat Women Group, Betty is one of the members who received training that was done by WEEC. She has improved her relationship with her customers, honouring her promises on time and the community as well. She has benefited from the group revolving fund by accessing two loans and she has been encouraged to save every month. She is able to save USD 2 per month and she paid back her loans in time.
The small loans have enabled her to buy beads and the leather she uses to make her bead decorations. Betty sells her bead items to people in Isinya and Kitengela market every week day, whereas on Saturdays, she takes her items to Maasai Market in Nairobi. Maasai market is her stronghold where she takes her decorations Wednesdays and Saturdays. Her outstanding creativity has caused her clientele base to grow steadily. She is almost finalising her first loan hoping to get the next one. She has promised to repay her loan on a monthly basis.",F,450,lender,Retail,1 Kenya,"Betty is a 50 year old Masaai lady; she is married and has 6 children. Betty being a member of Enkiramat Women group is one of the members who received training that was done by WEEC.
She has improved her relationship with her customers honouring her promises on time and the community as well. She has benefited from the group revolving fund by accessing two loans and she has been encouraged to save every month. She is able to save USD 2 per month and she paid back her loans in time. The small loans have enabled her to buy beads and the leather she uses to make her bead decorations.
Betty sells her bead items to people in Isinya and Kitengela market every week days whereas on Saturdays, she takes her items to Maasai Market in Nairobi. Maasai market is her strong hold where she takes her decorations Wednesdays and Saturdays. Her outstanding creativity has made her clientele base to grow steadily. She needs a loan of USD 450 to buy materials for her beadwork to cover all the orders she received at the beginning of this month.",F,450,partner,Arts,0 Kenya,"Betty Nyaranga is a 30-year old entrepreneur and mother of three school-aged children. She and her husband live in Bware Migori, Kenya. Betty is a very hardworking entrepreneur who runs three businesses all in one location. She initiated her current businesses ( posho mill, retail shop, and a community pharmacy) in the year 2006. All her businesses are the only ones in the area. She used the funds from her first loan to invest in the shop where she sells the daily necessities, like bread, flour, cooking oil and soap. At her pharmacy she sells a wide range of fast moving drugs such as those for painkillers, antimalarials, family planning drugs, and drugs for worms and various syrups for children. Betty has employed three people to assist her in running her businesses. She requires US $ 600 to purchase a new posho mill that can cope up with the demand.",F,600,partner,Manufacturing,0 Kenya,"Biaki is a married mother with 4 grown children. She is an active member of Muringa A.C.K church and in the mothers' union. She is an active member of Gaitheri Faithful Mothers and the zonal chairperson. Through her group she has accessed several small loans which have changed her life. With her first loan she was able to start a small shop in Muringa shopping centre, which she operates to date. With her second loan, she bought a cow which produces milk that she sells in her shop and uses for domestic use.
All her profits end up paying school fees for her children. She is hoping to get another loan and stock her shop to increase her sales. She has cleared her first loan, paid 98% on the second loan and she feels she will manage the third loan on a monthly basis.",F,700,lender,Retail,1 Kenya,"Bidala Hasani Mwakuku is a 46-year-old businesswoman. She is married and has four dependants. All of her children are in school. Her husband, who is a Madrasa (Muslim classes) teacher, helps to pay for the family's expenses with the little income he earns working at the school. Bidala dropped out of primary school when her parents became unable to pay the fees. After many years of working and learning from her mother, a fish monger, Bidala started a small-scale food vending business. She specializes in preparing and cooking fish which she then sells in the highly populated town of Kongowea on the northern coast of Kenya. Through her business, Bidala is able to cater for her family's needs; however, she has little money left to invest in further business expansion. In her work, Bidala has faced many difficulties, such as the increase in the cost of transportation from Kongowea to the fish market, the increase in the municipal council fee, the lack of a good storage facility, and the frequent defaulting by customers who eat on credit. However, she has been able to sustain her business. Now, Bidala is requesting a loan of US$825 which will be spent as follows: US$200 to add to the stock, US$400 to purchase two cooler boxes, US$100 to construct a better stand to serve her customers, US$50 to pay for transport, and US$75 to pay for a permit from the municipal council to allow her conduct her business. Bidala hopes that, with the loan, her business will grow and allow her to take better care of her family's needs and for the future of her children. Bidala's dream is to open a small caf and to make sure that her children receive good education. She is very hard-working and will be able to repay the loan.",F,825,lender,Food,1 Kenya,"Bisansio is married and as yet has no children. He has not undertaken any formal training and he is an active member of the communitys drug awareness team. He started his business in 2003. This is his second loan with PEMCI. He has finished his first loan successfully, which has enabled him to expand his business and he has been able to open another shop and provide employment to his younger brother. With a second loan from PEMCI, Bisansio plans to strengthen his second shop and stock it fully so as to be able to meet the demands of his customers.",M,300,partner,Retail,0 Kenya,"Boaz is a member of one of the new groups with PEMCI. He is married to a farmer and has two little boys. After dropping out of school, Boaz solicited for KES 12,000/= and started a grocery business mid last year. He obtained his first capital from the market sale of his farm produce like Sukumawiki and onions. He says when given a loan with PEMCI, he will increase his stock with different varieties of items to meet his customers needs. He says the problem he has with is capital & transport because he gets his stock from Bungoma town. Once given a loan with PEMCI he plans to provide services to the community.",M,175,lender,Retail,1 Kenya,"Body: Margaret is 56 years old. She is a widow with 8 children. To finance her childrens education and basic necessities, she joined Ole Roimen women group in year 2000 and started saving USD 3 per month in the group account. This enabled her to access loans from the group revolving fund. She got her first loan of USD 300 and built 10 semi-permanent rental rooms. She charges USD 7 per month per room which has enabled her to support her family. Margaret grows maize and beans for her family consumption and in seasons when there is good harvests, sell some to the market. Margaret has been able to cater for the family day to day expenses from her farming and the rental rooms. Her main challenge is the school fees for her daughter who is in secondary school. Margaret requires USD 300 to enable her to pay one year school fees. She plans to repay the loan from the monthly rent she receives from 4 of her rooms. She says this.. Paying the whole years school fees will make my daughter concentrate on her studies without coming back home due to lack of school fees. This will give me time to concentrate on my farming work. To pay the school fees for a whole term leaves my household in great financial stress. Taking a loan and repaying it back on monthly basis will enables me to plan on all my household obligations. Margaret is hardworking and love what she does.",F,300,lender,Agriculture,1 Kenya,"Boniface Kiilu is 31 years old and married with one child. He lives in Mlolongo town along the Mombasa-Nairobi Highway. Apart from his immediate family Boniface also takes care of his mother who lives in a rural area.
Boniface started his retail shop business in the year 2006. This was after he had saved Ksh 15,000.00 (US$ 220) from his previous employment at a company by the name Kapa Oil Refineries. Boniface decided to invest his savings by buying 50 crates of eggs at a market known as Wangige which is located on the outskirts of Nairobi city. He later rented a stall at Mlolongo.
The egg selling business was going on well but people continued impressing on him to open a one-stop shop so that they could be making all their purchases at his shop which would save them time and effort by not having to move from one shop to another.
Boniface's business has been doing well recently due to the rapid growth of the population in this town. For this reason, he is requesting a loan of US$ 825. Given this loan, Boniface will add to the already existing stock at his shop which includes items like beans, rice, sugar, wheat flour, cooking fats and margarine. He believes that nothing will make his customers happier and keep them coming back than having a variety of items in one shop. The repayment period for his loan will be 12 months.",M,825,partner,Food,0 Kenya,"Born 40 years ago, married with a family of 4.She is an active member of Kandisi Women Group and she has benefited a lot from the group. She acquired her first loan and she was able to buy pipes for accessing clean water from her pipes. Now she has piped water which runs from her tap in her homestead. The water piping project has changed her family life and they really appreciate her presence in the group. She was able to drill a borehole and started selling water to the neighbors. It became a source of income and she bought 2 dairy cattle from the income. She now sells milk to the neighbors and to the restaurants around. Her life changed drastically and she has been empowering women to apply for loans and use them positively. One of her son is in secondary school and being the bread winner in the family, its a challenge to get the total fees at once. She is applying the loan in order to pay fees and she can struggle with other expenses. She is willing to repay the loan in installments",F,300,lender,Agriculture,1 Kenya,"Bornes Chepkurui Tonui is 31 years old. She is married with six children, five of whom are in school while one is still underage. Her husband is a retired officer while she is a tea farmer. She lives in Litein together with her family and her co-wife, who has other children. Being in an extended family has made life difficult for her because she has a lot of responsibilities. Her husband being a retired officer makes her the sole breadwinner of her family.
Bornes has been working extremely hard to take care of her fourteen dependants and also pay their school fees. Being a rural woman who is underestimated by the society, she had to come up with ways of raising the living standard of her family on her own. She is a tea farmer and she has a lot of experience in the business. She supplies the tea to the factory. However, the land is too small to sustain her tea farming business and also take care of her family. Bornes has requested a loan of US$1150 to lease a piece of land, to help with transportation, and to buy seedlings, fertilizer, and other farming equipment. She is a self-motivated and ambitious woman and she will repay the loan.",F,1150,lender,Agriculture,1 Kenya,"Bramwel is a new member of PEMCI. He is 45 years old and the first born in a family of five. He is married with two wives and seven children. He has three children with his first wife. His first born child is in form one, the second born is in class eight and the third born is in class two. His second wife has four children. The first born is in class five, the second born is in primary two, the third born is in class one and the last born is still at home. His first wife is a businesswoman who sells molasses. His second wife sells cereals.
Bramwel is a livestock trader who specializes in trading cattle. He operates from the Malakisi, Myanga, Angurai and Chwele markets. He is a wholesaler and currently operates with capital of KES 15,000 ($240 USD). With a loan from PEMCI Bramwell intends to increase the number of cattle he trades.
Bramwel dropped out of school when his parents were unable to continue paying for his fees.",M,175,lender,Agriculture,1 Kenya,"Bramwel is the father of two children. They are all grown up and have finished their education through secondary school. He is a retired National Cereals and Produce Board worker and has been a community development officer for the last twelve years up to date.
He has been in the business of selling cereals of all types and apart from that he also keeps bees for honey and makes bricks too. He gets his cereals from different market places within his community. He sells the bricks he makes at construction sites, and he sells the honey he collects from his beehives locally to the people within his locality. He makes a total of 2,600 KES (Kenya Shillings - about US$40) per day during low demand seasons and about 500 KES (about US$7.50) profit per one bag of maize. He sells a bottle of honey (300ml) for 150 KES (about US$2.25).
Through his businesses, he has been able to educate his children up to secondary school levels, buy a piece of land, and sustain his family. He has been facing problems like fluctuation of prices of cereals during harvesting time, lack of proper storage facilities and also lack of enough capital to meet the demand of his customers, especially during dry seasons.
Given a loan by PEMCI, Bramwel plans to expand on his brick-making business. He has contracts from different people. Next month alone, he has contracts to supply 100,000 bricks, which he sells at 5 shillings per brick making a profit of 2000 KES per 1000 bricks. He also wishes to expand his cereals business.",M,675,lender,Construction,1 Kenya,"Brenda is married with 2 children. She trades in cosmetic products from a room in her house. Her first loan of $285 was repaid well and was used to increase her stock. This second loan of US$450 is to enable her move to a shop in her neighborhood and also increase her stock. Her daily income is expected to double from $15-30 per day with the loan. In addition to selling cosmetics she also trades in cereals, selling mainly to her neighborhood.",F,450,partner,Services,0 Kenya,"Brictor is about 65, married with eleven children, five of them still in school. She is a peasant with no formal training but has experience in guidance and counseling. She is also an active member of a community-based organization: Korisai.
Brictor is a very active member of Jairos Muungano Self-Help Group, registered with PEMCI. Her 1st loan of $150 was repaid in a timely fashion. With the 2nd loan she has applied for, she plans to increase the stock in her business so as to improve her income levels. With her fish mongering business, she is able to supplement the food of the local community whose diets mainly consist of carbohydrates (sorghum and cassava).
At her age, Brictor is a good role model to the rest of the women who should be engaged economically.",F,300,partner,Food,0 Kenya,"Calasto is married with two children, both in primary school. He has not undertaken any formal training and is a primary school dropout. His wife is a housewife. He started his business last year in order to sustain his family. He gets his stock of maize from the cereals board and sells it to the locals at a higher profit. With a loan from PEMCI, he intends to increase his stock of maize. He also grinds all sorts of grain flour at a small fee to the locals. Through his business, he has been able to support his family and buy himself a few goats to keep.",M,50,partner,Food,0 Kenya,"Caleb is thirty years old and resides at Masielo village about five kilometres from Kimaeti centre along the Kenya-Uganda highway. He is married with four children, all in primary school. With the help of his wife, he operates a mini store selling basic stuff: juice, cooking fat and oil, a few painkiller drugs, and wheat flour to name but a few.
Caleb also supplies cereal foodstuffs to the local cafe shops which mostly serve school-going children. Most of these children do not have time to go back home for lunch. Small scale agriculture being a dominant activity in the region, farmers tend to depend heavily on family labor up to late afternoon and so when lunch is thought of, it is later in the day when children are supposed to be back for afternoon classes.
Caleb usually gets his stock from areas of Kimaeti, Mayanja and Malaba and transports it using his own bicycle. With his first PEMCI loan through KIVA, Caleb plans to increase the stock of his shop so that he can reduce the number of times he has to travel to re-stock. He dreams of expanding his store into a BIG wholesale store in the area.",M,150,lender,Retail,1 Kenya,"Carol is a 25 year old single mother of 2 who has great expertise in gardening. Abandoned at an early age, she hopes that this loan will be able to help her apply her skills in gardening and therefore earn an income to secure her children's education.",F,175,lender,Food,1 Kenya,"Carol is a 25 year old unmarried young woman. She has college education and has attended 4 business skills training organized by Eb-F. She started her business in June 2005 with savings from a rotating savings group. She has specialized in selling youth ware and making soft furnishing items for sale in her shop. She chose a location near Nairobi University and numerous Colleges which provide her with a steady supply of the youthful customers and she has managed to build a very loyal clientele and which is increasing. Given the loan she will increase her stock to include shoes and lingerie. Because at the moment she is unable to stock these items, her customers buy these products elsewhere. She will employ two people one, to help at the shop and the other in making the soft furnishing. This will give her time to go marketing and grow the business further. Carol is requesting a loan of U.S $ 600. She will utilize the loan to increase her business stock as follows; U.S $ 210 to purchase 15 pairs of shoes, U.S $ 300 to purchase 10 cartons of assorted Lingerie and U.S $ 90 to purchase 5 cartons of soft furnishing fabric. She is a focused young lady capable of handling and repaying the loan with no problem.",F,600,lender,Clothing,1 Kenya,"Caroline Achieng is 26 years old and single. She lives with her cousin to share the cost of living because of the harsh conditions in their rural home in the western part of Kenya. She has been able to attain education up to high school level. She lives in the Kibera slums.
Caroline is a hairdresser, for two years now. She previously worked at a salon within her community where she would braid ladies' hair on commission. She operated in this manner for two years while making some savings. In March 2006, Caroline decided to open her own salon and from the Ksh 4,000.00 (USD57) savings. She rented a room, bought a blow dryer, three seats and combs. Within the short period that Caroline has operated her own salon, her clients have increased in number and she intends to introduce other ways of satisfying her customers. She wants to start hair weaving, perm straightening, manicure and pedicure. This will not only increase her income to enable her support her family from rural western Kenya, but also attract more customers, especially from manicure and pedicure services. She will also employ two more people in order to serve her clients efficiently.
Caroline is therefore requesting a loan of USD225 to enable her purchase a hair dryer. She intends to repay the loan within a period of 12- 18 months.",F,225,lender,Services,1 Kenya,"Caroline Achieng is an average young Kenyan, married with 3 children of her own and 2 children of her late sister.
Caroline started her tailoring business two years ago after completing her tailoring course in the district of Busia. Before venturing into the tailoring business, Caroline used to work for a friend for a commission fee in the Busia Municipality market, from which she accumulated her savings to start her own business. She initially started with one sewing machine, but she has worked hard to expand her business, and she currently has two sewing machines.
With the little profit she gets from her business, she is still able to provide food, clothing, and shelter for her children and to pay school fees. With the help of her loan, Caroline will be able to purchase one more sewing machine and clothing materials for her business.
Disclaimer: Due to recent events in Kenya, the security situation in many communities remains unsettled, affecting many local businesses. Lenders to this entrepreneur should be aware that this loan may represent a higher default risk, and should be willing to accept this additional risk in making their loan.",F,1275,lender,Services,0 Kenya,"Caroline Akinyi is 21 years old. She lives with her parents in a slum neighborhood next to Kongowea market in Mombasa town. She earns her livelihood by selling re-tailored second-hand clothes whereby she buys old clothes from retailers at the clothes market and remakes them into different children clothings. Sometimes she also makes adult clothes, which she sells at her stall in a market. She does all her tailoring work from the market. The garments she makes are popular among the residents in this low-income neighborhood since they are durable. Her income is largely spent in supporting her parents to cater for the familys basic needs. She would like to expand her client base to increase her income by taking advantage of the high demand for her clothes to make extra earnings. Her main challenge is to raise the capital needed to buy extra clothes to be re-tailored. Caroline is therefore requesting for a loan of US $1,000 to purchase bales of used clothes to expand her business.",F,1000,lender,Clothing,1 Kenya,"Caroline Akinyi Otieno is a 20 year old mother of three. She also has one dependant. She is married and her husband runs a photo studio while she runs a phone accessories shop. She dropped out of school in class six and had to work in several places as a house help before getting married. She is happy to have managed to get a shop of her own and she is able to care for her family well. She has been faced with more expenses of late with all four children attending school. Together with her husband, they have to pay fees for the children. She has decided to expand her shop to make more sales. She is requesting a loan of US$500 to help facilitate this expansion. US$100 will be used to buy building materials to make more shelves, US$50 will cover the labour of making those additional shelves and US$350 will be entirely used to buy more stock for the shop. She is a hardworking business lady and her business has a lot of potential for growth.",F,500,lender,Retail,1 Kenya,"CAROLINE CHEBET KORIR is a 26-year-old divorced mother of one. She dropped out of school due to lack of school fees, but got a job as a casual labourer in a tea farm at the age of 19. Caroline has an excellent saving habit, and this enabled her raise enough capital to start the business of selling cereals at Liten market in Kericho District. She has been in this business for the last 5 years and has developed good customer relations and sound business management skills. Caroline has started experiencing great demand for her cereals, and to meet this she intends to start buying the cereals in bulk from farmers and avoid exploitation by middlemen. She is requesting a loan of US$1000 which she intends to spend as follows: US$700 to purchase extra stock, US$200 to buy a weighing machine and US$100 to buy preservatives. The business is potentially viable and has promising returns, thus confirming Caroline's ability to repay the loan.",F,1000,lender,Food,1 Kenya,"Caroline Chepkemoi Mitei is a 34 year old married woman with four children who are all school going. She lives in Litein, Kericho town. Caroline did not further her education because her parents were against female education.
She also takes care of her elderly parents who live in Litein. To supplement her husband's small income she involved herself in the business of selling milk in Litein market. Her business is viable and she is able to provide for the needs of her family, though she faces problems like the milk going bad due to lack of storage facilities. She lacks enough capital to purchase large quantities of milk from the farms and also rent a permanent business premise. p> She is therefore requesting a loan of US$1200, which she intends to spend as follows: US$300 to rent a permanent business premise, US$500 to purchase a freezer, US$200 to buy more milk, US$100 to pay municipal council fees, and US$100 for transport. Caroline is a committed lady and she will be able to repay the loan.",F,1200,lender,Food,1 Kenya,"Caroline is 27 years old. She is a single lady with 2 young children. Caroline is a member of St Mary Catholic Church in Ongata Rongai. She later moved to Rongai. In 2002 she joined the WEEC programme. She was trained on basic business management skills. She also received her first loan of USD 60, bought second hand shoes and started selling shoes from one estate to another. This work was very tedious, but she had to continue with the work to enable her to cover her expenses.
In 2004 Caroline received her 1st big loan of USD 300. The loan enabled her to open OLESESO, a small Kiosk (named after her late grandmother). Her first challenge was the stiff competition by Hardy Supermarket. To counter it she selected and stocked many fast moving items - Peanuts, Soft drinks and Cigarettes. Caroline had to prolong her working hours to start from 6.00 am and close at 11.00pm. Her business made good profits that enabled her to repay her loan well.
Caroline later faced more competition from other small kiosks that were opened and started stocking the same items. She took this as an opportunity. She approached the Cigarette dealer with an intention of becoming a small scale Stockiest. She took another loan of USD 300 and increased her Stock and was able to supply to the other Kiosks. Part of the loan was used to increase the stock of peanuts. She sells the peanuts to many kiosks in the area. Caroline requires another loan of USD 300. This will be used to increase her stock of the soft drinks and of Peanuts. She has not been able to cover all orders she receives for the supply of Peanuts.",F,300,lender,Retail,1 Kenya,"Caroline is an active member of Aberukore Women's Group which works with PEMCI. She resorted to business after her parents were unable to continue paying her school fees while she was in Form two. She is seventh in a family of ten children. In her business venture, she sells dried fish at Chamasiri Market. She usually gets them from middlemen at Malaba who usually get them from Lake Victoria. Caroline sometimes takes her goods to outside markets such as Malakisi and Angurai markets.
Caroline is married and a mother of five children, her first-born being fifteen years old. She has successfully finished repaying her loan. With that loan, she was able to increase the volume of fish she gets from Malaba.
With another loan from PEMCI through KIVA, Caroline intends to further increase her inventory; she hopes to become a wholesale supplier someday.",F,150,lender,Food,1 Kenya,"Caroline is twenty-five years old, a newly married lady operating a fertilizer store. She has not attended any training after finishing her O Level education. Her husband does a similar business. She started this business two years ago with a capital of around ten thousand Kenya shillings from her parents. With a current existing stock of Kshs. 15,000/=, she trades in two kinds of fertilizers: DAB and Urea. She buys DAB at Kshs 1,200/= and sells it at Kshs 1,400/= while she buys urea at Kshs 800/- and sells it at Kshs1, 000/-.
She acknowledges that the demand for her product is high because most people (about 95%) in her area are farmers. Caroline also cites a number of challenges to her business; she says that she usually runs out of supply around the months of June July, October November. She also says that in her location, the roads are in poor condition which makes transportation very hard and exorbitant. With her first loan from PEMCI through KIVA, she plans to increase on her stock. She hopes that one day her store will grow into a fertilizer depot.",F,100,lender,Agriculture,1 Kenya,"Caroline Njoki is 36 year old entrepreneur, married with two kids. One in grade seven and the other is in grade three. Her husband works as a barber. He earns about US $20 a week. The income was not enough to pay for their childrens school fees and cater for the daily needs of the family since he was the sole bread winner. In 2000 Caroline opened her own general merchant shop selling cosmetics and lanterns on the busy Kenyatta Avenue in Nakuru city. She has established a dependable customer base by selling at wholesale and retail prices to the local street vendors. Now she is able to assist her husband in meeting the family requirements and paying her sons school fee. Her business has enabled her to improve the livelihoods of the street vendors since she is located close to them. Despite all this, she has been unable to raise capital to stock up her shop and expand the existing shop. She is requesting a loan of US $1,500. Her budget is: US $1,300 to purchase stock and US $200 to re-decorate the shop. Her business expansion will mean the creation of more jobs for the unemployed thus assisting the community in improving their living. Caroline is an ambitious entrepreneur with skills and ability to repay the loan.",F,1500,lender,Retail,1 Kenya,"Caroline Wanjiru Wairimu is twenty-five years old. She is married with one child; her child is still young but about to enter school. Caroline managed to get educated to up to secondary level. She started living in Ongata Rongai seven years old after she got married.
Caroline joined WEEC in 2003 after being informed by her husband on what the organisation programme. She received her first loan of USD450 in 2005, which she used to setup a retail shop. She completed repaying this loan last year. She says that after receiving her first loan the life of her infant and her own life has changed greatly.
She has applied a loan of USD300, which she intends to buy household goods and cereal food for the shop. She is willing to repay this loan within a period of 12 months.",F,300,lender,Retail,1 Kenya,"Caroline Wanjiru Wambui is 27 years old. She is married with two children. She is a member of the faith Ministries Women's Association.
She is a mobile phone and mobile phone accessories dealer. She has been a dealer for the last five years. She owns a shop where she stocks her wares. She also distributes her phones to rural areas and to companies. Her business is growing and she is constantly getting orders to supply her goods to people in rural Kenya.
Farmers form her biggest market; their favorites are the internet-enabled cell phones. They use the phones to research about the latest farming trends and inventions. To be able to cater for this market effectively she needs to increase her stock. She asking for a loan of US $1200 to enable her purchase additional stock.",F,1200,lender,Retail,1 Kenya,"Caroline was born twenty five years ago. She is a young mother with a mission of alleviating poverty in womens lives. Caroline is a religious person and a member of Catholic Church in Westlands. Like her colleagues in the group, Caroline joined WEEC after realizing how her friends lives have been changed by KIVA loans through WEEC AND have boosted many businesses in Kiambu and other WEEC operating areas.
Caroline intends to open a beauty shop in Wangige area when given a loan of usd 150 loans. She really wants to be self reliant and help build a family with a solid income. She promises to repay her loan on a monthly basis.",F,150,lender,Services,1 Kenya,"Caroline Yiasi Leparan is married with four children. Caroline is an active member of Nashipae Women Group. Her three children are in primary school. Caroline went up to class 8 before she got married. She attends P.E.F.A church.
Caroline started her business 2 years ago. With the help of her husband, she bought two steers for fattening. After four months of grazing, the steers were sold.
Caroline's business cant cater for her childrens and other household needs, hence the need for a loan of USD 450 to increase the number of steers by three. Caroline targets the Kenya Meat Commission as the best selling point for her steers.",F,450,lender,Agriculture,1 Kenya,"Carolyn is married and a mother of two. She operates a motorcycle transport business to support her family needs. She applied for a loan of $150 from Pemci to buy spare parts for her motorcycle. She plans in the future to get a bigger loan and start a spare part shop. With the motorcycle the local community is able to transport their sick and especially expectant pregnant mothers during emergencies. The old, too, can pay for a ride from Carolyns Motorbike. This mode of transportation has been able to solve a transportation problem for her community. Carolyn is very focused and hardworking and we are proud to be associated with her.",F,150,partner,Transportation,0 Kenya,"Carolyne Achieng is 36 years old and is married with one 5-year-old child. She has two other dependents. Of these three, only one goes to school. Carolyne is a tailor by profession and uses it as a means of earning her livelihood. She specializes in suits and dresses. The business has been successful because of her hard work and commitment. She has built customer loyalty and now wants to fulfill their tastes and preferences by adding more stock. She is requesting a loan amount of US $ 1000: US $ 715 to add more materials, US $ 100 to purchase 25 buttons of size 0 or 1 in brass/bronze and a seam ripper, US $ 100 to purchase bobbin and bobbin case and US $ 85 to purchase sewing machine oil. She has customer demand and, as such, will be able to pay back the loan.",F,1000,lender,Services,1 Kenya,"Carolyne Gachira is 25 years old. She got married recently and has no children yet. She finished grade 12 in school and has been selling used clothes for the last 5 years. She uses the income she gets to take care of herself and her family. Her business specialty has been in clothing: she has been selling skirts and trousers for kids. She has many customers and she feels that she will be able to serve them well by expanding her business. Currently she wants to add stock of children clothing and handbags. Her requested loan is US $500:
US $100 to purchase children suits
US $100 to purchase gowns, gloves and pullovers
US $100 to purchase ladies handbags
US $ 200 for transport services and license fees
This business is a member of the Upendo Group which is borrowing a loan from Ebony. They are using group borrowing. Group borrowing, also known as solidarity borrowing, is a mechanism that allows a number of individuals to provide collateral or guarantee a loan through a group repayment pledge. The incentive to repay is based on peer pressure; if one person in the group defaults, the other group members makes up the payment amount.",F,500,lender,Clothing,1 Kenya,"Carolyne Gaki is 26 years old and a very hard working lady. She earns her living from selling cereals in Nairobi. She is an entrepreneur, since she opted to run her own business due to lack of jobs, despite her studying up to university level .She is married and her husband is also a businessman. She sells the cereals in retail to her customers, although she buys in wholesale from her suppliers. At times, due to lack of capital, she is unable to meet her clients' demand. She would like to increase her stock so as to meet the growing demand for her products. She is therefore requesting a loan of US$ 600. Her budget is: US$ 500 to buy cereals to stock her shop, US$ 50 for transportation of the cereals to her shop and US$ 50 to pay for the municipal council fee. She is capable of repaying the loan.",F,600,lender,Food,1 Kenya,"Carolyne Inziani is a 26-year-old mother of two who lives in the Kibera slums. She also takes care of two of her sisters children. Because her husband is unemployed, Carolyne has the responsibility of being the sole provider for her family. She earns her living by operating a store in her neighborhood that sells fruits and vegetables. Operation costs (transport, rent) of running this small business are high compared to similar large businesses. Her net gains are barely enough to cover her family's needs. Her six years experience as a groceries vendor has shown her that a larger store would enable her to buy in bulk and realize more profit. However, with her large family and small income, she hasn't been able to save enough capital to expand her business. Therefore, she is requesting a loan of $600: $200 to build a larger store with adequate storage and $400 to buy more stock. Carolyne knows her determination, management experience, and loyal customers will make her successful in this venture.",F,1000,lender,Food,1 Kenya,"Carolyne is a 23-year-old single lady who supports two children in her household. She spent one year learning the art of dressmaking and has been offering her tailoring services within her community in Kisumu, Kenya since 2002. She specializes in both womens dresses and mens shirts.
Despite the stiff competition in her area, Carolyne has always been able to attract old and new customers. Her hard work, years of experience and well-established clientele base ensure that her business will continue to succeed.
She plans to use a quarter of her loan of US $500 to purchase new patterns and materials, and also a new sewing machine, as the one she currently has is old.",F,500,partner,Clothing,0 Kenya,"Carolyne is a 40-year-old entrepreneur. She lives with her husband and six of his children in Kisumu, Kenya. Carolyne runs a handicraft business with her husband that they initiated in 1990. The business is situated along a busy road often used by tourists. She uses locally available papyrus reeds that are found along the lake to make baskets, traditional seatts (selling prices ranges between US $55.55 to US $ 285.70) , caps and brooms used by the locals.
Her business has done quite well due to the added advantage of access to loan funds; she has combined the additional money with hard work and perseverance in order to increase her stock of items for sale and build a successful income-generating activity. Carolyne is proud of her accomplishments and now requires US $ 1000 to further expand her business.",F,1000,partner,Arts,0 Kenya,"Carolyne is married with five children. She is a form-two, secondary-school dropout because she lacked school fees. She started her business in 1992 in order to support her family. She is an active member of the local community self-help group. Through her business she has been able to support her children by paying their school fees. With the proposed loan she intends to uplift her stock and be able to save some of the profits to buy herself a piece of land. The amount involved is not large and she should be able to repay the loan without difficulties.",F,125,partner,Food,0 Kenya,"Carolyne Khanakwa is a 33 year old mother of 3 beautiful children. Her youngest is only three months old. Her husband works at one of the local sugar companies, called Western Sugar. Carolyne is a primary school teacher by profession, but is still waiting her posting. She started her transport business in the year 2003 when she bought her motorbike for 100,000 KES (~$1,500 USD). She operates in the Kolanya, Malaba, and Bungoma centres and earns a daily profit of 1,000 KES (~$15).
The emerging challenge to her business is increasing competition. Although she has her personal clients, she says that people from western Kenya have run to invest in the motorbike business, especially teachers. Oil and fuel is also a problem because the person who supplies them has a large client base and often runs out of fuel. If Carolyne does not watch her supply she needs to travel back to Malaba, which is quite a distance from Kolanya.
Carolyne says that if she is given a second loan by KIVA through PEMCI, she plans to buy oil stock and sell to other users.",F,275,lender,Transportation,1 Kenya,"Carolyne Nyamokami Abuga is a 25-year-old married woman. She has three children, and she takes care of her husbands parents. Carolyne sells tomatoes at the main market. She has had this business for the last four years. Her husband transports people on a bicycle for a fee. The amount they earn barely meets their requirements. She would like to buy the tomatoes in large quantities from the farmers and sell them at the local market, but she lacks capital. She is requesting a loan of US$300, of which she will use US$100 to board a lorry to help in the transportation, US$150 to buy tomatoes, and US$50 to lease a place where she can sell the tomatoes. She is a hardworking lady and able to repay the loan.",F,300,lender,Food,1 Kenya,"Carolyne Wanjiru is a graduate of a Swiss hotel management school in Mountreaux, and Daniel Mbugua is trained in accounting and has developed excellent skills in graphic design. The two have joined hands with friends locally and abroad to establish a tour & travel company, Zindua Africa Safaris, that will market numerous related services. They have established the business in Tigoni, Limuru with a small liaison office in downtown Nairobi. Their objective is to take advantage and benefits from the booming tourist sector of the economy.
Both Dan & Carolyne, being young people, are full of plans on how to grow their business working with partners all over Africa, the USA, Europe and Asia. They hope to franchise their concept and one day have Zindua Africa Safaris representatives all over the world.
The business is now 2 months old and they are constrained for capital to buy the items that they require. With the loan of $1200 they plan to hire an expert to help them launch their website, develop some advertising materials and buy a computer & printer. As a way of tackling the unemployment crisis prevailing in the country, PEMCI has been considering providing venture capital to support innovative business ideas, especially among the youth. Zindua Africa Safaris plans to recruit many Kenyan youth and others from all over the world in promoting their business idea. We see promise and we recommend support for this endeavour in anticipation of the great impact that it can have on the youth in this country and in the wider economy and its people.",F,1200,partner,Services,0 Kenya,"Catherine Aoko is 35 years old and is married with 4 children aged 14, 12, 8, and 2 years. Apart from her children, Catherine also has her younger brother and two other young men that she is training to be tailors who depend on her for shelter, food and clothing.
Catherine got her tailoring skills from her husband who trained her so that she would make money from the tailoring business. Being a keen learner, it took her a short while and within a period of 8 months she became the most sought-after tailor in Kibera. She specializes in ladies' clothes while her husband specializes in male suits.
Two years ago Catherines husband got a loan of Ksh 20,000 (USD 285) from a Catholic Church group known as Jikaze Self Help Group, which they used to start off their business that is in operation to date. The husband has since paid back the loan in full.
The business is growing fast, and Catherine now finds that she needs cloth materials to boost her business. Catherine is therefore asking for a loan of USD 150, which will be given in kind to enable her stock her stall. This will greatly increase the number of customers, hence her income will increase too. Catherine promises to train two more people. The repayment period for the loan is 8-14 months.",F,150,partner,Services,0 Kenya,"Catherine is 27 years old. She is married and has a child. They live in a rental house in Sagana town in the Kirinyaga District. She is a committed member and choir mistress of ACK church Sagana. Catherine is also an active member of Good Shepherd Womens Group. She is a determined woman. She runs a business of selling clothes in Sagana town. The profit she makes enables her to pay the rent and cater for her familys needs. She wants a loan of USD 300 to expand her business premises and purchase three bales of clothes. She intends to ewpay the loan in 12 months.",F,300,lender,Clothing,1 Kenya,"Catherine is 32 years old. She is married with three children. She is educated to O level. Two of her children are in primary school while the other one is yet to start. Catherine is an active member of Nashipae Women Group. She started her shop business in 2004 with the help of a WEEC loan. So far her business is doing well and from her income she is able to meet her daily needs and make her repayments in time. Catherine gained a lot from her group training realizing the importance of saving. From her savings she was able to build a good home. Today she encourages her fellow women to be independent, patient and hard working because all of this equals success. Her main clients are people from Olturoto Quarries. She realizes that one can only maintain and meet the customers' needs by stocking a variety of food stuff. She now wants to increase her stock if a loan of $450 is given to her.",F,450,lender,Food,1 Kenya,"Catherine is 33 years old and married with 3 children. All her kids are in primary school which is free. She is a devoted Christian and a leader in a movement which supports farming in her community. She grows vegetables; kales, cabbages, carrots and rears pigs, goats and chickens.
She manages to get USD120 from the vegetables and animals at the end of the month. She is planning to be irrigating her crops with the water she will harvest and this will multiply her income. The community is in the real need of vegetables but water has been inadequate. She believes she will be a mile ahead when she gets the loan to buy a tank because she will face no weather limitations.",F,225,partner,Agriculture,0 Kenya,"Catherine is 36 years old. She is married and has 2 children. She started a hair salon in Kiserian town in 2003. She started by plaiting hair and her main customers were school going children and young secondary school girls. In 2004 she joined church road Women Group that works with WEEC. She attended the initial training before receiving a loan. After the training, she was given a loan of USD 117. She bought braids and cosmetics for hair treatment. She improved her work very well and customers increased and kept coming back. She paid up her loan with ease and received another of loan of $200, which she used to buy a drier and cosmetics. She worked hard and paid it too, right now she has two driers and employs one person who assists her in all the work. Mean while, she is building a semi-permanent house in Rongai and its being funded by the business. She is looking forward to a beautiful home and a prosperous business if this kind of assistance is continuously given.",F,300,partner,Services,0 Kenya,"Catherine is 43 years old. She is married with 5 children. Catherine has lived in Rongai for more than 10 years. She is a catholic and is a member of St Mary Catholic Church in Ongata Rongai. In 2002 Catherine mobilized some women who own businesses along Karathe road and assisted in the formation of Enyuata Women Lending Group. She is a dedicated member and a treasurer of her group.
Her main source of income is rice, where she buys rice from farmers and sells it to the urban centers. She is planning to rent a plot of land where she will be growing her own rice for selling instead of buying. Her expenses for renting the plot is adding uptoUSD400 and this include period of 1 year, seeds, weeding and spraying, and transporting. Before her project takes root, Catherine will continue buying rice from her relatives to enable her repay her loan.",F,600,lender,Food,1 Kenya,"Catherine is 49 years old. She is a single lady and has one child. Catherine moved to Ole roimen in 1999. She bought a small plot and constructed her permanent residence. Catherine was introduced to Ole roimen by her neighbors who had already joined as members. This was her first time to work with a rural women group and therefore thought it was like any ordinary merry go round. She was surprised at the formal organization of the group work. She received her dividends at the end of the year and she was very happy. Catherine has also benefited from the revolving fund credits. She started her poultry project with the group loans. So far, she has been able to keep 100 birds in a small house. Her plan is to construct a big poultry house and accommodate 500 other laying birds. She wants to do poultry keeping as a full time job. She intends to market and sell the eggs in Ole Roimen and Kiserian town.",F,1200,lender,Agriculture,1 Kenya,"Catherine is 54 years old. She is a single mother and has two children in college. An active member of the Judea Womens Group, Catherine moved to the Shauri Moyo area of Nairobi in 2004 to start a Milk & Bread business with a small loan she received from her group. Since then, she has been delivering milk and bread to areas around Shauri Moyo, and she currently employs two young men who help her deliver items to retail shops each morning. To make their work easier, Catherine recently invested in two bicycles. Her wish is to be able to sell to a wider area than just the town centre. To do this she requires USD 750 to buy more crates of milk and bread to sell. With the income generated from her new sales, she will be able to buy extra bicycles and employ more people to assist her distribution team. Catherine is very determined to make ends meet for her family.",F,750,lender,Food,1 Kenya,"Catherine is 56 years old. She is married and has six children. Catherine is a member of St. Emmanuel ACK Church in Gatangara and Gatangara Venus Womens Group. She is a full time farmer. She grows maize, beans, bananas, potatoes, and peas. She has been able to raise her children through the income she generates from her farm. She has been very faithful to her work and has dedicated all her time to her farm. Due to preparation for the coming long rains, she is planning to buy fertilizers and seedlings and employ extra casual labor. She is hoping to get a loan to supplement her small savings to buy the materials. She is willing to repay her loan within a span of one year.",F,75,lender,Agriculture,1 Kenya,Catherine is a 45-year-old woman. She is married and has five children. She is a committed member of St. Emmanuel ACK church in Weithaga. She participates in the church activity and has been actively involved in its growth. Catherine practices mixed farming as a means of earning a living. She has planted coffee in one section of her farm whereas on the the rest she has planted maize and beans. She also plants onions for sale. Catherines participation in the group meeting is remarkable. Her loan repayment record is also commendable. She has applied for a loan of $150. This will assist her to develop her farm and put more land under cultivation of onions and other vegetables. She will repay the loan within a period of 10 months. The loans committee has approved the loan as per the loan graduation policy.,F,150,lender,Agriculture,1 Kenya,"Catherine is a hardworking farmer and dedicated member of the Kirimiga Purity Group. She made a request for a loan to buy shares in early January 2007. The group recommended her due to her good repayment record. She practices subsistence farming which earns her an income of USD 225 per month. The money she earns is used to provide for the familys basic needs, school fees and to service her loans. She feels that investing in shares is a good way to assist her husband in sourcing funds for their house project. They have plans to build a permanent house once the children are all out of school. She hopes that share investments will be a bridge to cross over to a good life.",F,150,lender,Agriculture,1 Kenya,"Catherine is a mother of five. She started her business in 2001, when she saw there was need for her services in the community. She has not undertaken any training and learned her business through doing. She sells all types of cereals, which she gets direct form the farmers during harvest seasons and sells at a higher price in the local trading centre. Through her business, she has been bale to educate her children, improve her living standards and also be an inspiration to the other women. With a loan from PEMCI, she intends to increase her cereals stock in order to meet her customers' demands, which are increasing by the day.",F,75,partner,Food,0 Kenya,"Catherine is married with 3 children. She started her shop in 2000 after selling some farm produce. Initially she ran a small eating-place but later opted for a shop. The shop supplements what she gets from her farm. Catherine is confident that with additional funds from PEMCIs loan of US$ 150 she will be able to stock her shop and improve her profits. The shop serves the local community in her area. Community members dont have to commute long distances to buy their basic requirements such as oil, sugar, salt etc...",F,150,partner,Retail,0 Kenya,"Catherine Mutaai is married with one child, three years old. She is an active member of Namunyak women's group and an active member of P.C.E.A Noosuyian Church. Catherine started her business two years ago with two steers. After six months, Catherine sold one of the steers and bought two extra steers. Catherine's business is still new; she has three steers. She wants to increase her steers to six.",F,450,lender,Agriculture,1 Kenya,"Catherine Mwangi is 32 years old. She is married with four children, all of whom are in primary school. She is an active member of St. Monica women group and a member of ACK Church. She grows maize, beans and variety of vegetables. She is a farmer who does mainly crop farming and pig rearing. She has eight piglets. Some of her farm produce is consumed by the family, and some is sold to retailers and local consumers at a local market. Catherine has applied a loan of USD 75, which she will use to purchase a pig. The loan committee has approved her loan. She will repay this loan within 10 months.",F,75,lender,Agriculture,1 Kenya,"Catherine Mwangi is an 18 year old aspiring business woman. She finished high school 2 years ago. She scored an average of C+. Unfortunately she had school fees arrears which her parents could not pay and so she couldnt access her certificate. Her dream was to pursue information technology at Egerton University, which is located about 500m from Njoro town, but she couldnt due to a lack of money and her high certificate. Catherine was one of the young entrepreneurs who benefited from the Eb-f youth initiative. Under the youth initiative program she received business start up skills training. After the training she formulated a business plan in which she was provided with a set of community pay phones. She located her business at the busy Langa Langa bus terminal in the middle of Nakuru city. This has ensured a sustainable source of customers and at the same time enabled the common man to communicate at a cheaper rate. Now Catherine earns about US $30 a week. This has enabled her to meet her daily needs and pay her high school debt. Apart from that she can now assist her parents. It has been one year and a half since she started her business. Through continuous skill improvement training workshops at Eb-f, Catherine has sharpened her business focus and she is requesting a loan of US $1,600. Her budget is: US $800 to purchase two sets of community pay phones, US$600 to buy mobile phone airtime, and US $200 for other fees. Apart from providing employment Catherine will be able to provide a source of cheap communication for the poor, enabling the common man to keep in touch with the rest of the world. Catherine is a hard working young entrepreneur with the ability to repay the loan.",F,1600,lender,Retail,1 Kenya,"Catherine Ndigai Karanja is 36 years old. She is married, with three children; all of them are in primary school. After she completed her secondary education in the late 1990s, she joined a secretarial college and after completing this course she got a job where she worked for one year. She got married and joined her husband in selling motor vehicles spare parts. In 2002, she joined WEEC and last year she opened a salon. She has benefited from the loan she got of $600, with which she bought chemicals for the salon. She has applied for a loan of $1200, which she intends to use to buy three hair driers and pay school fees for her children. She is willing to repay this loan within a period of 12 months.",F,1200,lender,Services,1 Kenya,"Catherine Ndigai was born 36 years ago in Lower Kabete. She is married with three children; two are in upper level primary, and the other is in lower level primary in Lower Kabete primary school. After she completed her secondary school, she joined a secretarial college in Nairobi and trained on basic computer packages. She got a job and worked for 1 year before she got married and joined her husband in selling automobile spare parts in Kirinyaga road, Nairobi.
In the year 2002, Catherine joined WEEC and has really benefited from WEEC loans. Last year, she managed to set up a small beauty salon in her Yaya center; as a result, there has been high demand for her services. She has applied for a loan of USD 600 which she intends to use to buy chemicals for her beauty shop. She is willing to repay this loan in 12 months",F,600,lender,Services,1 Kenya,"Catherine Nyambura Kimani is aged 40 years. She is single with three children aged 17, 13, and 11 years respectively. She ekes out her living through clothes selling. From the savings she made from her bride price, she decided to start a business in order to support her children when she separated from her husband. She has been in this business for more than 7 years with seasonal attire.
Currently, Catherine is interested in expanding her business to support her young family and even employ more staff to assist her supply clothes to her clients. From the income she will invest for the childrens education. Her loan request amount is US $750. Her budget is: US $200 to purchase a new set of toddlers clothes, US $150 to purchase American boxer shorts, US $100 to purchase a front mirror, US $100 to pay municipal license and US $200 to renovate and expand her structure. Catherine is a hard worker and will be able to repay back the loan and support her family.",F,750,lender,Clothing,1 Kenya,"Catherine Salau is 26 years old. She is married with four children. She is the secretary of Enanyor Women's Group. She started her beadwork business three years ago, and sells her beadwork products at Isinya town. Some of the income generated from this business is used to educate her children. She intends to expand her market area to Nairobi. She has applied for a loan of $450, which she intends to use to buy beads in bulk in order to produce more beadwork to take to Nairobi. She is willing to repay this loan within a period of 12 months.",F,450,lender,Arts,1 Kenya,"Catherine W. Miano is a 32 -year-old, married entrepreneur. Catherine has two children who are in junior school in the lower grades. She lives in a two-room house with her family.
The family runs a charcoal-selling business as their only source of income. Catherine is determined to improve her familys living standard. She has a natural business sense and is always seeking new markets .She managed to get an order to supply two small hotels with charcoal, but unfortunately her family lacks funds to fill this order.
Catherine is requesting a loan of US$ 600. This is her budget: US $ 500 to buy charcoal stocks and US$ 100 for transport. Catherine is responsible and will repay the loan.",F,600,lender,Retail,1 Kenya,"Catherine Wachuka Githaiga is 47 years old and is married with three children. Her husband is a businessman and she sells fruits and vegetables near her residence. Catherine did not complete her high school education due to lack of school fees, and she began her business to improve her standard of living. The business has greatly raised her financial status. The income derived from the business is used to take care of her three children, who are all unemployed.
Catherine gets her produce from the wholesale market and then transports it to her makeshift stall. She doesnt have a permanent business location to sell the produce and that leaves her very frustrated. To reduce her challenges she has the passion to expand her business. She wants to buy the produce directly from the farmers she has identified and also lease permanent business premises. She would also like to buy more crates to prevent damage and spoilage of her produce. Catherine, however, does not have the required money and is therefore requesting a loan of US$1200. Her budget is: US$100 for transportation, US$200 to lease permanent business premises, US$200 to buy crates, US$100 to get a license, and US$600 to add more stock. Catherine is a hardworking woman and capable of repaying the loan in time.",F,1200,lender,Food,1 Kenya,"Catherine Waithera is 55 years old with 6 grown-up children. She is a religious member. She is an active member of Happy Millennium women group.
Catherine earns her living through farming. She has planted her farm with bananas, maize and beans. She has applied for a loan of USD150, with which she intends to purchase seedlings and fertilizers for her farm so as to increase the farm's produce. Catherine is willing to repay this loan within a period of 10 months.",F,150,lender,Agriculture,1 Kenya,"Catherine Wambui is 34 years old, and is a single mother of two children. Her first born daughter is in high school, while the second born is in primary, joining high school in the coming year. Her business is the only source of income to cover all these expenses. She sells shoes and bags in the open air market, and has been doing this for a long time. She is planning to expand her business by adding more stock of bags and shoes. This requires a total of US$750 to buy 3 bales of shoes and 2 of bags. This expansion will generate more income to cover her childrens educational needs. She is a hardworking woman who is capable of repaying the loan.",F,750,lender,Retail,1 Kenya,"Catherine Wambui is a 25-year-old mother of three. She sells old clothes from door to door and her husband is a tout in a local town. Catherines mother was a single mother, and Catherine did not have time to know her better since she passed away when Catherine was fifteen. She had to live with her aunt and help with household work. This did not give her room to further her education and before long she got married. As for now, she is the sole breadwinner of the whole family, including their siblings, and the only source of income is her daily sales. She is sure that with this she cannot send all her dependents to school. All she is praying for is to get some money and expand her business so it can earn her more. She would like to be funded with $1100, of which $700 will be used to buy new clothes, $100 to lease a stall in the local town, $200 to buy secondhand clothes, and $100 to pay for a license. She wants to secure both the high- and low-income earners. Catherine has a passion for this work and given a chance, she can make something good out of her life",F,1100,lender,Clothing,1 Kenya,"Catherine Wambui Runo is a 41-year-old married entrepreneur with one child who is in sixth grade junior school. She lives with her husband in Mombasa, the Kenyan coastal town, where she makes her daily living by selling second-hand clothes, specializing in women's blouses. She runs a small stall where she displays her clothes on the walls. She was introduced to this business by her sister in-law when she got married.
She has been running the business since 1993. The profit from her business is used to cater for her immediate family needs. This makes it difficult to expand and her business has remained the same with little stock increase over the years. She would like to expand and increase her profits but lacks funds. She requests a US$ 600 loan. Her budget is as follows: US$ 300 to by stock; US$ 150 to refurbish her stall; US$ 100 to pay for the license; and US$50 for transport. She is responsible and will repay the loan.",F,600,lender,Clothing,1 Kenya,"Catherine Wanjiru is 33 years old and is married with two children. She takes care of her nephew aged 20 who is attending the Kenya Polytechnic, a technical college located in the town centre of Nairobi, and her ageing mother who stays in their rural home in Central part of Kenya. Catherine lives in Kitengela Township. Catherine started her business in the year 2000.This was after her elder brother loaned her Ksh. 20,000 (USD 295). She used part of the money to rent a small room for Ksh 300 (USD 4) per month. The business grew very well and she managed even to educate her younger brother and sister up to college level. As the business grew, she landed a contract in the year 2004 to run the police canteen at a place known as Kamukunji, where she has been operating to date. The business has been very good and Catherine now wants to increase her stock for the business. She has approached three of the leading Micro finance banks in Kenya but she found that the interest rate they charge is too high; hence she felt that she couldnt afford the loans. Catherine therefore thought it wise to come and try her luck with KIVA, hence she approached ANK for support. She is kindly requesting for a loan of USD 1200 to enable her to purchase an assortment of stock for her retail shop which serves the police within the Kamukunji Police Station. Some of the items she intends to purchase include: Sugar, cleaning detergents, cereals like maize, rice and beans. She also wants to buy maize flour, wheat flour, and cooking fat. Apart from the foodstuff, she would also like to introduce a range of cosmetics, which her customers have been asking for. She is confident that the additional stock will enable her to provide her clients with a wide range of assorted goods, which will be a welcome move. This will in turn translate into more income for her family. She intends to repay the loan over a period of 12 Months.",F,1200,lender,Retail,0 Kenya,"Cathrine is a married with 7 children. 2 of her children are in high school and the others have finished. She is an active member of St Juliet women group and has left an impact in her group. She empowers women to work hard and achieve the best to eradicate poverty. She has educated her children with the income she has been getting from tea plantation in her farm. To her, she is self employed and respects her work very much. Tea is paid monthly where she gets around USD150 and this has sustained her even though stressing at times. She would like to add fertility on her land to enhance its production. She has a prove of this that the last time she bought organic manure, she was able to pick more tea leaves and she was able to pay her bills. She is a lady who has sacrificed her life for the benefit of her children education.",F,150,lender,Agriculture,1 Kenya,"Cecilia is married with two young children. She is a member of the ACK church in Mihuti. Cecilia is a member of Mathioya Women Group. She practices dairy farming whereby she keeps a dairy cow and sells milk to Kenya Co-operative Creameries. Cecilia has also trained in dressmaking and has a small dressmaking business in the Kangaema shopping centre. Cecilia is a strong official of the Mathioya Womens Group. She is the group secretary and keeps accurate records. Being in the Womens Group Secretariat, she has benefited from various trainings that are scheduled by WEEC for the women group officials. She assists the organization in enlightening members on the importance of keeping up with new global trends. Cecilia has applied for a loan of USD 150 to buy shares from the financial market. She is keeping with the current trend in the market and will buy shares from Barclays Bank. Cecilia says that currently the financial market is doing well and she is assured of some income from her shares.",F,150,lender,Services,1 Kenya,"Cecilia Mwende Njogu is 28 years old. She sells shoes in Nairobi to earn a living. She is married and has two children, both in school. She would like to be able to provide for her family comfortably but she makes less income. She specializes in selling sports shoes for different ages. She has been in this business for some time now and she knows what her clients want. Her challenge is lack of capital which means that she does not have enough shoes stock to meet the rising demand from her clients. She believes that if she adds to her stock, she will be able to make more profit, thus improving her livelihood. She is requesting a loan of US$ 600: US$ 500 will be used to purchase used shoes, US$ 50 to pay for the municipal fee and US$ 50 for transportation of the shoes. She is a hardworking lady and determined.",F,600,lender,Retail,1 Kenya,"Cecilia Njeri is 44 years old. She is married with four children. She is an active member of Kaganda Magdalene Women's Group and contributes to the revolving fund of that group. She lives in Kaganda where she practices farming and attends the church service at Kaganda ACK Church.
She has planted coffee, tea and other food crops. Cecilia operates a green grocer business at Kaganda. She has applied for a loan of USD300, with which she intends to purchase extra potatoes, tomatoes, cabbages, kales, carrots and other vegetables. She is willing to repay this loan within a period of 12 months.",F,300,lender,Food,1 Kenya,"Cecilia was born in 1955 in Kiambu, Kenya. She is married and a mother of three children, two of whom are in college, the other is still in primary school. She is the group treasurer of WEEC, and since joining the group in 2003 she has executed her duties as treasurer diligently and responsibly. Cecilia is due to complete her first loan of USD735 this month. Together with her husband, she used this loan to open a pub and guesthouse at Kanunga in 1995. Her business has allowed her and her husband to raise and educate their children. Cecilia is very good at marketing, and she has been able to interact with many people while also converting them into customers. She knows how to handle all types of people and she treats them with dignity and respect, attracting many to come back time and again to her pub and guest house. With the loan of USD 450, Cecilia intends to buy more drinks to cater to her growing number of customers. She is willing to repay her loan on monthly basis.",F,450,lender,Food,0 Kenya,"Cecilia Weveti is a volunteer member of the Runyenjes Group in Runyenjes, Kenya. The group has received training from K-MET on home-based patient care services and is also part of the K-MET microfinance program.
She owns a retail shop in Gitare town near Runyenjes, Kenya. Her shop is in her own shamba (farm) and was built in 1985. She sells oils, food stuffs, flour, cabbages and bananas to the foot traffic that comes by her place on the way to town. Business used to be good, but because of the current drought and food shortage in Kenya, it has gone down. People do not have money to buy the products and have to buy on credit.
Cecilia has applied for a loan of approximately 275USD in order to add more stock and keep her business afloat until she receives payment from the customers who have bought items on credit.
Cecilia is married to a retired provincial administrator. Together they have 4 children, all of whom have finished school, though some are still dependents, since they attend college.
Cecilia wants to see her business grow and says that she is sure this loan from K-MET will help her to succeed.",F,275,partner,Food,0 Kenya,"Cecily Wambui is a married lady with one child. She runs a new clothes shop in the city of Nairobi. Some of her clients are walk-in customers, and others are regulars. Cecily has been in this business for the past two-and-a-half years and has never borrowed from any financial institution before. This will be her first loan from KADET, to which she was introduced by a friend. She will use this loan as working capital to buy more new clothes to resell. In the future, Cecily hopes to expand her business to a larger shop and open others within the city center. About KADET: The Kenya Agency for the Development of Enterprise and Technology (KADET) is committed to economically empowering its clients by providing financial services to rural communities in order to relieve suffering and improve living conditions within those communities.",F,675,partner,Clothing,0 Kenya,"Celestine Awino Odero is a 48-year-old married entrepreneur. She has three children, two of whom are in school. They live in a one-room house with her husband. He is a charcoal vendor who can barely meet the family's daily needs.
Celestine supports her husband by selling charcoal while he does the supplying. The family struggles to buy food, pay for education and accommodation. She would like to expand her business and increase her family's income to be able to pay school fees and improve the family's living standard. She is requesting a loan of US$700. Her proposed budget is as follows:
US $ 500 to buy more sacks of charcoal
US $ 150 to rent a permanent shop, and
US$ 50 for a government license.
Celestine is a member of Maono and is known as a responsible person who will be able to repay the loan.",F,700,lender,Retail,1 Kenya,Celina has eight children. She never went to any formal school. She is a very active member of her group and gets her spiritual nourishment from Lenchani Methodist church. She is firmly involved in spreading the Gospel. She started her business six years ago with the help of her eldest son. It has been a real challenge to raise her children from one source of income and she has even tried to maintain the stock which now has 6 steers. The business has enabled her to educate her children and also build some rental houses. She is very determined to build other rental rooms after establishing the steers project. She is hoping to get a loan and buy 3 steers which she will sell after six months. She has mentored many disadvantaged families for she has proved the point of working hard to make ends meet.,F,450,lender,Agriculture,1 Kenya,"Celina is 34 years old. She is married with 6 children who are in primary school. Celina is a Christian by Faith. She is involved in the activities especially preaching to the youth. She is a member of St. Agnes Women group and has influenced the group to keep relating their activities to the bible teachings. Celina has a small retail shop. She stocks mainly maize and wheat flour, sugar, cooking fat and other edibles such as vegetables that she buys from the nearby farms. Celina has applied for a loan of USD150 for buying maize and wheat flour, sugar and cooking fat. The loans committee has approved this loan. Celina will repay the loan within a period of 10 months.",F,150,lender,Food,1 Kenya,"Celina is 43 years old. She is married and has four children. Celina is a member of PCEA church in Nkoroi. Celina joined the Oloika Progressive Womens Group in 2003 and since then has been a very strong member. She is in the group secretariat, and has worked hard to see to the growth of the group. Celina has accessed several loans through her group that have enabled her to run a small poultry business. She cares for local hens and sells their eggs to her neighbors, and at the local shopping centre.
Celina describes her business as, A wonderful project. I always have a minimum of 20 hens at one time. The market for the eggs is always available. This project enables me to pay my savings of USD 3 every month. With the profits I am able to pay the school fees and loans that I have been securing through the group."" Currently Celina has 8 hens that lay eggs every day. She intends to buy more hens after the December holidays to meet the cost of educating her children, and to help cater to their basic needs. She believes that after paying the fees, she will be at peace, and will not have to struggle as hard with the poultry project. She is willing to repay her loan on monthly basis.",F,300,lender,Agriculture,1 Kenya,"Charity is 38 years old. She is married with five children. She is a Choir Mistress in Muguru ACK church. She is a dedicated church member and always makes time to go for the weekly prayers. Charitys family owns a small plot of land in Kangema. The plot of land is not enough to cater for the family food and other needs.
The pressure to raise her family of 5 made her move out in search of a way to raise income. She wished to start a business at the local Gakira market; however, she had no capital to start the business. Her earnest wish to do something for her family prompted her to mobilize other women from her village to start a revolving fund group. The group was registered with WEEC as Tabby Mothers Women's group in the year 2000. They did trainings on how to run a savings and credit group.
Charity was able to start her small business of potatoes and vegetables with her first loan of USD 57. The loan enabled her to buy 3 sacks of potatoes, and she had a float of USD 14 for buying fresh kales from the farmers every day. Charity has been in the business for the last 5 years as she explains: ""My business has expanded within the 5 years. I am able to keep records for my business and plan for its expansion. I do not buy 3 sacks of potatoes any more. I have good orders and my revolving fund group supports my work. I am now able to cater for most of my family expenses. I even took my child to St. Phillips Secondary School.""
Charity has applied for a loan of USD 450 after completion of her loan of USD 360. The group has approved her application. She plans to buy more sacks of potatoes since she has received an order to supply potatoes to the local secondary school. She will repay the loan within a period of 12 months.",F,450,lender,Food,1 Kenya,"Charity is married with four children; three are in primary school and one is in secondary school. She is educated to zero level and worships at the Presbyterian Church of East Africa. Charity is an active member of the Namunyak Womens Group. She started her business of beadwork in 2003 with the help of her husband. She later joined the Namunyak Womens Group and has really benefitted from small WEEC loans. Since she joined WEEC, she has been able to stock her business with a variety of beads. Her husband has been supportive and they have been able to work as a team. Small loans from WEEC have empowered her and she has no regrets about taking a loan. She has been able to build a better house and feels that there is a lot to be done with her business. Her main customers are from the town of Kajiado, which is her residential area. If given a loan of US $450, Charity wants to expand her business by extending her sales in Nairobi and Mombasa, increasing her stock, and selling to tourists. She is willing to repay her loan on monthly basis.",F,300,lender,Arts,1 Kenya,"Charity Waitherero Mucheru is aged 30 years married with two children aged 12 and 7 years respectively, both are schooling. Charity reached grade 12 but never continued with education due to lack of school fees. She ekes out a living by doing the business of selling French fries, chips and groceries. Among the products she sales in her grocer shop are edible goods which are available locally and traditional diet such as bananas, cassava (cassava is a vegetable which looks like sweet potatoes, it is a common staple food in Kenya because it is a drought resistant food and is easily available), potatoes, pumpkin, sweet potatoes. Her goal is to support her family from the business returns. She will do so by expanding the business and adding more stock. To do this she is requesting a loan amount of US $ 500. Her budget is:
US $100 to purchase a sack of potatoes
US $ 100 to purchase a sack of cassava
US $ 100 to purchase bunch of unripe bananas
US $100 to purchase pumpkin bags
US $ 100 as transportation cost
Charity is a member of the Upendo Group which is borrowing a loan from Ebony. They are using group borrowing. Group borrowing, also known as solidarity borrowing, is a mechanism that allows a number of individuals to provide collateral or guarantee a loan through a group repayment pledge. The incentive to repay is based on peer pressure; if one person in the group defaults, the other group members makes up the payment amount.",F,500,lender,Food,1 Kenya,"Charity Warigia Wanjie is 40 years old. She is married with four children; two are in primary school, one in secondary school and the other one is in college. She is an active member of Gitui Smart Women's Group and of Gitui Catholic Church. She grows nappier grass, arrow roots, beans and coffee. She has two goats and one cow. The milk produced is sold to the local residents. She has applied a loan of USD600, which she intends to purchase another dairy cow to boost the milk production. The loan committee has approved her loan. She is willing to repay this loan within 15 months.",F,600,lender,Agriculture,1 Kenya,"Charity Waringa Mutwari is 40 years old. She is married with four children; three are in primary school and the other two are in secondary school. She is an active member of Baraka women's group, where she is the group secretary. She is a dairy farmer with three dairy cows. She gets an average milk production of 60 litres daily. She has a business of selling animal feed. She has applied a loan of USD1200 to buy animal feed for her cows and for the business. She is willing to repay this loan within 12 months.",F,1200,lender,Agriculture,1 Kenya,"Charles Kaunda is an average father aged 36 and married with 3 children. He has been running his business for two years. He got his capital from small savings commonly referred to as a merry-go-round from a local welfare group. His business is located next to a bus terminal, and most of his clients are people traveling from one destination to another. Charles uses the little profits he gets from his business to feed, clothe, and educate his children. With the help of his loan, Charles will be able to diversify his business and start selling fresh fruit juice along with the grocer business. Disclaimer: Due to recent events in Kenya, the security situation in many communities remains unsettled, affecting many local businesses. Lenders to this entrepreneur should be aware that this loan may represent a higher default risk, and should be willing to accept this additional risk in making their loan.",M,1475,lender,Food,0 Kenya,"Charles Mumbo is 34 years. He is married and has one child. He also takes care of two of her sisters children, Millicent 18 years and Nelly 17 years, both in high school. He assists in paying their school fees. The sister succumbed to illness in the year 2004. She was not legally married. Charles only managed to get education up to high school level. Due to the increased unemployment in Kenya and lack of fees for college, he only managed to get a casual job in the juakali sector. Through this he learned various skills, including the spraying of cars. He worked in the garage for seven years. All this time he had been saving a bit of the little money he got as wages. It is while working at the garage that he together with his colleagues came up with the idea of opening their own garage. With their little saving and their varied skills, they managed to buy simple basic tools to start up. It is then that they opened Walsam garage at a road reserve near Fort Jesus in Kibera slums. They have been operating there for the last three years. Charles and his friends have had constraints in their tools at work. They have no spraying machine at the garage. They are forced to hire a machine at a cost of USD 7 for every vehicle they spray. Besides that, they have to book the machine a day in advance. Sometimes they do not get the machine, which forces the vehicles to stay longer at the garage, which often results in loss of business. A loan of USD 200 in kind, in form of a vehicle spraying machine will them to maintain more customers. He intends to train other boys within the Kibera slums on vehicle repair skills. This will reduce their chance of getting into crime and drugs as well as opening up for them employment opportunities. The loan is repayable within 12 18 months.",M,200,partner,Services,0 Kenya,"Charles Mwangi Thuo is 28 years old and married with two children. The family lives together in a one roomed house. For the last five years, Charles has been employed in the business of selling bicycle spare parts. Sometimes, he buys spares from people who want to get rid of some parts of their bicycle and from these activities he began specializing in selling second hand bicycle spare parts. However, Charles has not been able to earn enough from this business to take good care of his family.
Currently he would really like to expand his business now that an opportunity has arisen. The municipal has shifted the bicycle taxi stage to a place fewer than 100metres from his spare shop. With his experience, Charles is assured of a lot of work now that he is the only person with that kind of business in the entire neighborhood.
He is requesting a loan of $600 which he will use in the following way:
$150 to paint and put shelves in the shop
$100 to buy a bicycle that he intends to use to transport some minor parts from a nearby town to his place of work
$350 to buy some new bicycle parts.
Charles is a hardworking and aggressive entreprenuer and will be able to repay the loan.",M,600,lender,Retail,1 Kenya,"Charles Njogu Riri is a 35-year-old married man with two children, all attending school. His wife operates a small grocery shop in their home, which gains her a small income to meet some of the family necessities. Charles dropped out of school due to lack of school fees and joined the Kenya Tea Development Association where he was employed as casual laborer. With the small amount of income he got from the tea factory, he started the business of selling ties in Nakuru town, where he also lives with his family. The business has been able to generate promising income, thus enabling him to meet his family needs, but he also faces challenges like lack of funds, and he doesnt have a business premise to operate his business. He is therefore requesting a loan of $1000 which he plans to spend as follows: $500 to buy more ties; $200 to get a business premise; $200 to cater for transport costs and $100 to pay the council fee. Charles is a hardworking man, and he will be able to repay the loan.
Disclaimer: Due to recent events in Kenya, the security situation in many communities remains unsettled, affecting many local businesses. Lenders to this entrepreneur should be aware that this loan may represent a higher default risk, and should be willing to accept this additional risk in making their loan.",M,1000,lender,Clothing,1 Kenya,"Charles Omondi is 49 years old, and is living with HIV within the Kibera slums of Nairobi. He is married and has two wives, one living with him in Kibera, and the other living with his aging mother back in his home village in Busia District, in the Western Province of Kenya. In total Charles has 11 children, two of which with his first wife, now deceased. Three of his children - all daughters - are married, but the other 8 children, together with his wives and his mother all depend on him. Charles started his hotel in 1999, after he got some savings money from his grocery shop, still in Kibera. He did this in order to diversify his business, and he has continued to run both businesses since. He works together with his wife in this business, and has also employed two employees to assist with the workload. Some of the favorite foods that he serves in his hotel include mandazi (similar to doughnuts), chapatti (a kind of unleavened bread made from wheat flour), beef stew, fish, ugali (A paste made from a mixture of maize meal and water), beans and githeri (made from a mixture of maize and beans boiled together then fried). Charles is a member of the Agape group of Action Now Kenya, within the Kibera slums, and has so far received loans of $57 and $85, which he used to buy stock for his hotel. Charles also received $115 from his group, which he used to buy 2 bags of cement and sand to plaster the walls of the hotel for better presentation. Charles has also been trained by ANK on living with HIV/AIDS, and has learnt about small business management and operation, together with loan management. Given the loan of $225, which is repayable within a period of 8 14 months, Charles intends to completely refurbish his hotel by fabricating a new set of chairs and tables which will be designed to save space through the sitting arrangement. This will be the first phase where two tables, with six seats each, will be fabricated. Once the loan is repaid, he intends to borrow an additional loan to make another two tables, to ensure that he has a sitting capacity of 24 people at any one time. Currently his hotel can only sit about 10 customers, yet he feels that there is space to accommodate more people. Through this support, Charles will be assured of additional income, due to the extra business created through the sitting arrangement in the hotel. Charles also hopes that in future as the business continues to expand, his hotel will create additional job opportunities for more people within the Kibera slums. He also intends in future on expanding by buying a television set and video machine, through which to attract more customers, and to also provide some educational information for his customers.",M,225,partner,Food,0 Kenya,"Charles Wangombe Mungai is 25 year old. He lives in Malindi with his younger brother who is in senior school grade three. Charles is a member of Rugongo youth group, which is involved in taking care of orphans, and HIV AIDS affected families, among other income earning activities To earn a living he operates a bicycle taxi service which he has been operating for the last four years. Earnings from this venture go into paying his brothers school fees and the remainder is spent on personal needs and other social responsibilities. He would like to increase his income base so that he can adequately cater for his growing needs.
He plans to do this by buying a new motorized bicycle. This will enable him to make more trips per day and cover longer distances with little effort. The returns to this investment will be large enough to improve his lifestyle. To achieve this, Charles is requesting for loan of US $ 600 to buy this bicycle and US$ 200 to pay for the necessary licenses.",M,800,lender,Retail,1 Kenya,"Chrispine Opolla Opowo is a 37-year-old widower who lives within the Kibera slums. He has four children (one boy and three girls) who depend on him. He also takes care of his sister, who he is supporting in the course of education by paying her school fees. He also takes care of his mother and grandmother back at home. Chrispine Opolla Opowo runs an automotive paint shop where he sells paints.
Chrispine was encouraged by his sister to get into business -- particularly the paint business, because of its uniqueness -- after studying the area in which he wanted to start the business. He started in 1999 using his savings of Ksh 10,000 (USD 150) from his previous employment at a transport company. His sister also supported him by giving him a grant of Ksh 10,000, which he was not required to pay back. Chrispine is still determined and his business is doing well despite the peak and low seasons that affect businesses.
Now Chrispine wishes to expand his business, and therefore intends to buy a spraying machine and stock of different colors and brands of paint worth USD 1,075. The loan, given in the form of paints and stock, will increase his income level to meet his familys needs. His customers will be satisfied because they will be able to get a wide range of products and services under one roof, saving them time and energy. The repayment period for this loan will be 12 months.",M,1075,lender,Retail,0 Kenya,"Christabel Auko is 60 years old. She lives with her husband, who is a retired government employee, and two of her remaining children (many of her children died of HIV- and Aids-related illness) in Nyamasaria Kisumu Kenya. She normally puts on a gloomy face as she narrates her story. Christabel takes care of 13 grandchildren, orphaned as a result of the HIV epidemic. She was trained as a Community Health Worker in 1988, and now provides home-based care services to six clients (HIV clients). Besides her community work, she runs three different businesses: a hotel, which was initiated in 1966, a tailoring business, started in 1972, and a coca-cola kiosk, where she has sold coca-cola products since 2004. She requires US $700 to expand her coca-cola kiosk, and purchase products in bulk.",F,700,partner,Food,0 Kenya,"Christabel is a 33-year-old entrepreneur with five school-aged children. She lives in Kisumu, Kenya, where she opened a second-hand clothes shop in 2004. She specializes in womens clothing: skirts, dresses, casual apparel and bed sheets. From time to time, she travels to Nairobi, where she buys a good variety of items at wholesale prices. Her shop is on a prime location along a busy street. That, plus her three years of experience and her friendly attitude, have allowed her to establish a good clientele base. Christabel has applied for a loan of $800 to expand her business.
Disclaimer: Due to recent events in Kenya, the security situation in many communities remains unsettled, affecting many local businesses. Lenders to this entrepreneur should be aware that this loan may represent a higher default risk, and should be willing to accept this additional risk in making their loan.",F,800,partner,Clothing,0 Kenya,"Christabel omendo is 65 years old. She is a widow with three children. Two of her children have already cleared their O level education. One of them is still in high school and is due to complete his studies this year. Cristabel sells dry fish and sardines. Her business is lucrative and the market where she is located is always streaming with customers. Her customer care skills are good and her customers rarely go to other sellers to buy fish after they have bought from her. She wishes to expand her business by adding more stock, buying the fish products directly from the main fish market in Kenya, and selling the fish to other small retailers in her town. She is requesting for a loan of US$ 900, with which she will buy dried sardines and other dried fish for US$700 and use US$ 200 for transportation costs.",F,900,lender,Food,1 Kenya,"Christine Adhiambo is an average Kenyan woman, aged 27, and married with 2 children. She has been in the grocery business (fruits and vegetables) for two years. She got her capital from the small savings she obtained from participation in various women's savings cooperatives. Her business is located at a Kisumu bus terminal, and most of her clients are passengers who travel to various destinations.
Christine uses the profits from her business to feed, clothe, and educate the children, as her husband does not have a well-paying job. With the help of her loan, Christine would want to diversify her business to include juice-selling along with the green grocer business.
Disclaimer: Due to recent events in Kenya, the security situation in many communities remains unsettled, affecting many local businesses. Lenders to this entrepreneur should be aware that this loan may represent a higher default risk, and should be willing to accept this additional risk in making their loan.",F,650,lender,Food,0 Kenya,"Christine Adhiambo Owino is 25 years old, married with two children who are in school. Her husband is a local construction worker, and they live in one of the sprawling slums in Nakuru town. Christine is a fishmonger. She gets her fish from Port Victoria in the western part of Kenya. She supplies her fish to her customers for wholesale prices, and it is mainly on order, while the remaining fish she sells at retail near her residence. To supplement her income she sells green vegetables that she purchases from the local market in Nakuru. As a young woman who has so many dependents, life has been difficult for her for she is the sole breadwinner. The money she earns is never enough to cater for the whole family, and that leaves her a very frustrated woman. Besides, she faces many challenges including high transportation costs of the fish from Port Victoria, which is very far from Nakuru, and lack of funds to expand this business. Christine has the desire to expand her business, and that is why she is requesting $1000. Her budget is as follows: $500 to add more stock; $200 to lease a permanent business premise for security; $100 to get a license; $200 for transport costs. She is a focused woman who will repay the loan in time.
Disclaimer: Due to recent events in Kenya, the security situation in many communities remains unsettled, affecting many local businesses. Lenders to this entrepreneur should be aware that this loan may represent a higher default risk, and should be willing to accept this additional risk in making their loan.",F,1000,lender,Food,1 Kenya,"Christine Akoth is a 31-year old widow who lives with her four school going children (she lost her husband due to an HIV-related illness) in Rongo town Kenya . She has taken and successfully repaid two previous microfinance loans from KMET. She sells second hand clothes along Rongo Homabay road. She initiated her business in1998 with US $15. Her business has since grown with a daily income of US $50. She is now planning to move to a more spacious place due to increased clientele. Christine is a community-health worker trained in home-based care by KMET in 2005. She is, thus, well-known within her community for her health-care work. She requires US $600 to further purchase more stock of second hand clothes and pay rent for her new shop.",F,600,partner,Clothing,0 Kenya,"Christine Atieno is a 33-year-old entrepreneur and mother of four school-aged children, including a pair of twins. She and her husband live in Kisumu, Kenya.
Christine was unable to complete her college studies due to family circumstances, and thus tried selling grains as her first business. The cost of transportation, however, substantially limited her profits. Shortly thereafter, she began her current business of selling second-hand clothes. She specializes in womens clothing: skirts, dresses, casual and formal tops, and is currently in the process of learning dress-making.
Christine periodically travels to Nairobi, where she can purchase a large variety of clothes at wholesale prices. The prime location of her business on a busy street, her eight years of experience there, and her friendly interaction with customers have enabled her to establish a good clientele base. Her customers return to her shop for her wide selection and to make requests for certain styles. Christine requires US $ 800 to expand her business and purchase additional clothing.",F,800,partner,Clothing,0 Kenya,"Christine Awuor Amito is a 28-year old woman who lives in Rongo, Kenya, where she runs a poultry business. She raises the chickens at her residence and sells them from a chicken coop stand near the Rongo matatu stage. (Matatus are large vans that function as buses, so a matatu stage is similar to a bus station.)
Originally, Christine raised poultry for domestic use, as food for her husband and herself. When she discovered that there is a high demand in the area for poultry, Christine decided to make what was a side project into a major business. Christine employs one woman to help sell the chickens. Local restaurants are her main customers, though individual consumers are also strong buyers.
A large cock will sell for around 600 Schillings while a medium one will sell for 300. The poultry business is booming and Christine can barely keep up with demand, selling about 30 chickens in a day. She wants to be able to expand into a bigger business, with a bigger coop and more chickens. Christine is requesting a loan of $150 USD in order to expand her current chicken coop and purchase more poultry. It is cheaper to raise the animals rather than purchase them, so she wants to be sure to have enough chickens in order to be able to be selling a large amount, while still producing enough eggs to raise chicks from.",F,150,partner,Agriculture,0 Kenya,"Christine chepchirchir Too is 37 years old; she is married with four children. All of her four girls are in school.
Christine's biggest dream is to provide for her childrens education without fail, but of late she has been experiencing problems with paying their tuition fees. This is because the income she generates from her garage business is not sufficient to take care of all her needs.
Christine is requesting a loan of US$ 1200. She is planning to expand her business by buying auto parts, renovating her garage, and employing two more mechanics. With US$ 900 of this amount, she will purchase assorted auto spare parts; with US$ 300 Christine plans to employ two more casual mechanics.
With this much-needed input of capital, she will be able to serve more clients and generate more income which will enable her to pay for her daughters education without strain.",F,1200,lender,Services,1 Kenya,"Christine Chepkorir Sang is 60 years old, and married with seven children. One of them is school going while the rest are older. Christine never had a chance to go to school. Despite her lack of education, it did not deter her from starting a grocery in Litein market. She started the business three years ago and it has helped her a great deal in supporting her family, since most of her children are married and with no source of income. She tries her best to ensure that the children get a better life.
However she has to undergo a lot of challenges in her business including a lack of a permanent business premise where she can sell the vegetables, a lack of sufficient funds and a lack of a license for her business. She also buys the groceries from the market which costs a bit more, thus she wants to be able to buy the groceries directly from the farmers to sell to the consumers. She wants to expand her business so that she can earn a lot of money from it and thats why she has requested a loan of US$1050. Her budget is as follows; US$600 to buy a variety of vegetables, US$150 to cater for transportation, US$100 to get a license to run the business and US$200 to construct a permanent stall. She is a hardworking old woman and she will repay the loan in time.",F,1050,lender,Food,1 Kenya,"Christine Chepkorir Sang is 69 years of age. She is married with seven children; she also lives with her five grandchildren. None of her children are in school. She ekes her living by selling tomatoes and cabbages. She has been in this business for the last 10 years. She has always been inspired to support her children and complement her husbands income. He is a peasant farmer.
To continue supporting her children and grandchildren, she needs to expand her business. To realize this goal, she is requesting a loan of US$1,000. Her budget is as follows: US$600 to purchase seventy crates of tomatoes, US$200 to purchase 10 bags of cabbages, US$100 to pay for transportation and US$100 to purchase an extra weighing machine. Despite her age, Christine still has the energy to continue doing business. Her motherly attitude has earned her a good number of customers, and this confirms her ability to repay.",F,1000,lender,Food,1 Kenya,"Christine is 37 years old, married with two children. Both children are secondary school. She is the group treasurer and sets a good example to other group members. She has been rearing dairy cattle for the last 10 years and they produce an average of 15 litres of milk per day.
She also has a green grocery store where she sells fruits, kales, carrots, tomatoes and onions. She was able to boost the kiosk after getting her first loan from WEEC and she had already finished paying.
Christine wants to concentrate on her dairy cows and add one more to the group. She has managed to feed them and they have been doing well in productivity. She is ready to pay the loan with the income she gets from her milk income monthly.",F,300,lender,Agriculture,1 Kenya,Christine is a businesswoman with three children. To supplement and support her business she is also a cook at Okimaru primary school in Teso District. With the loan of $225 she plans to boost her shoes stock to enable her meet her customers demand in her rural area community. PEMCI is proud to be associated with the work that Christine is doing by creating small employment opportunities and meeting the village market demands in her community.,F,225,partner,Services,0 Kenya,"Christine is divorced and a mother of 4, two boys and two girls. Her husband abandoned them when the children were very small. She relied on the goodwill of her church members for survival. Until last year when she received her first loan of $150 from PEMCI, Christine was virtually destitute. She had no home and her children were scattered all over. When she approached us for a loan to start a business, we were skeptical of her ability to repay. She however came across as a very committed lady who just lacked the chance to make something of herself.
Christine used the loan to start a business selling vegetables, buying produce from farmers markets and bringing it to Malaba Township. She does this three times a week while the other days she sells from her stocks.
Our faith in Christine has paid off beautifully. She has successfully repaid her first loan and is now seeking a second, higher amount of $250. With this loan she intends to build a small shed to sell her vegetables out of. Christine also delivers vegetables to little local restaurants and her stocks have been falling short of the demand. With the cash available she will be able to buy sufficient stocks, cutting down on commuting time and transport costs which add to her overhead.
We are happy with the progress that Christine has made within a very short time with us. Through her, PEMCI has received a lot of queries on financing from women in the area. She is a good ambassador for PEMCI and a role model to other women. Her dream is to save enough money to build herself a small home one day. We recommend her for support from Kiva partners.",F,250,lender,Food,1 Kenya,"Christine is married and has 2 children. She is a member of St Marys Catholic Church in Ongata Rongai. Christine is a member of the Small Christian Community, an association known for its kind gestures of visiting and assisting the sick, the orphans, the old and those who have lost their loved ones. Christine is also a member of Church Road Womens Group. This is a WEEC group that is young but has very active clients. All the group members have small businesses. The most unique feature about Church Road Womens Group is that the members allocate time during the group meeting to discuss the countrys economy putting much emphasis on the market trends. This has assisted them in buying goods that are in demand. It has also made the women very close to one another. Christine owns a small exhibition shop in the city centre. She sells new clothes from Turkey. She has a good market for her products and her main plan is to increase her stock and to have more variety of clothes. To actualize her plan, Christine has applied for a loan of USD 750. On the basis of the business appraisal done the group has approved the loan and the repayment period will be 12 months.",F,750,lender,Clothing,1 Kenya,"Christine Karabu is a 21-year-old, married entrepreneur. Her husband is a businessman. She earns her livelihood by selling onions, garlic, and plastic bags. She lives in a slum residence in the outskirts of Mombasa town. For the last ten years she has been selling vegetables at the vibrant Kongowea market, first as an apprentice to her aunt who later on passed that business to her and diversified to another business.
Christine has experience in this type of trade and her earnings cater for her upkeep as well as assisting her family back in the rural area. She has built up a big customer base and she has regulars who will always buy from her. However, the business has been running at a barely profitable level given the high prices of the vegetables charged by the farmers as well as increased costs because of poor roads from the farms to the market.
Christine is requesting a loan of US$ 1200 to enable her to boost her business. These funds would be used to purchase more garlic and onions so that she can be able to continue meeting the demands of all her customers. This will enable her to meet her needs during these lean times. Christine is responsible and will repay the loan.",F,1200,lender,Food,1 Kenya,"Christine Ndinda Mwendo is 36 years old. She is a single mother of 3 children and lives in a low-income neighborhood in Mombasa. Her children attend junior school. She earns her living by running a small business at the expansive Kongowea Market. The business involves selling potatoes to customers at the market. She sells both retail and wholesale, depending on the season and the abundance of the potatoes from the farmers. Her host of clients includes individual household buyers as well as a few small hotel operators. Potatoes are a commonly eaten food in this area; hence, they are highly demanded by consumers. This in turn creates a steady and regular supply of clients for the potatoes, earning her secure income streams. The earnings have been useful in catering to her family's daily needs, as well as paying for her childrens educational expenditures. Christine would like to increase her income base so that she will be able to uplift her familys lifestyle and move to a better housing facility. She intends to do this by expanding her business operations and operating at a larger scale. She also sells in the open-air market. She would like to operate from a stall because of the harsh weather conditions. She is therefore requesting a loan of $600 to assist her in achieving her plans. Christine is a hard worker and is capable of repaying the loan.
Disclaimer: Due to recent events in Kenya, the security situation in many communities remains unsettled, affecting many local businesses. Lenders to this entrepreneur should be aware that this loan may represent a higher default risk, and should be willing to accept this additional risk in making their loan.",F,600,lender,Food,1 Kenya,"Christine Njeri Ndungu is 37 years old. She is married with four children; all of her children are in secondary and primary school. She joined Baraka Women's Group and WEEC in 2002 and since then she has serviced seven loans.
She ventured into the business world 15 years ago immediately after she completed her secondary education. She is a businessperson dealing with the sale of second-hand clothes. She started at Gikomba market and now she has shifted to the rural area near her residential location. She is a farmer and practices both dairy farming and crop farming. She grows variety of vegetables like kale, cabbages, etc. She has two dairy cows and the milk produced is sold to Kiambu Dairy Farmers Co-operative Society Ltd at USD0.3 per litre.
She has applied for a loan of USD1000, which will buy another dairy cow and 20 bags of cereals and other household goods for her retail shop. She is willing to repay this loan within a period of 12 months.",F,1000,lender,Agriculture,1 Kenya,"Christine Oswago, 33, lives in the village of Achuth in the Rongo District of Kenya. Christine is married to an accountant at the Kenyatta National Hospital. They have 3 children, 2 of whom are currently attending school. Christine runs a posho mill (a machine that grinds maize into flour) in Achuth, which she started in 2001. On a daily basis, Christine raises between 300-400 KSH. There is stiff competition in the area, as there are other posho mills around. In 2003, Christine started a second small business selling household items to the local community. She buys her inventory in bulk from Nairobi, where it is less expensive. With her two businesses, Christine is able to support her family by paying school fees and taking care of domestic expenses. Christine is rigorous in saving money so that she may soon purchase a parcel of land on which to start a poultry project. She is applying for a loan of KSH 22,500 ($USD 300) in order to have enough start-up capital for her dream of a poultry business. With the loan money, Christine will purchase at least 50 broiler chicks to raise and later sell.",F,300,partner,Agriculture,0 Kenya,"Christine Sorora is married and a mother of two. She is a member of St. Mary Catholic Church in Ongata Rongai. She is a member of a small Christian community, an association known for its kind gestures of visiting and assisting the sick, orphans, elderly, and those who have lost their loved ones. She is a member of Church Road women's group. She owns a small exhibition stall in the city centre, where she sells new clothes. She is getting more demand for fashionable clothes from her customers, and has applied for a loan of $750 to buy these clothes. She is willing to repay this loan within a period of 12 months.",F,750,lender,Clothing,1 Kenya,"Christofah Opiyo is a 42 year old who is married with three kids. The first born is in high school, the second born is in grade 6 and the last born is at home because he cannot go school. He is the sole bread winner and caters for all his family s needs. He works as a mason in Nakuru city. He has no fixed job so he earns an income depending on where he finds work. He wants to start his own business to ensure that his family has a stable source of income compared to his unstable wages as a manual labourer. Its very difficult to get milk in his neighborhood and people have to walk quite a distance to get milk. This is a ready market and he would like to start a milk kiosk. He is requesting for a loan of US $1,000. His budget is: US $400 to buy a freezer, US $200 to buy milk churns and US $400 to buy milk from farmers. He is a hardworking man and will be able to repay the loan.",M,1000,lender,Food,1 Kenya,"Christopher is a father of six children, all of whom are in primary school. He started his business in 1982 when he saw that there was a need for it in the community. He makes fertilizer which he then sells to maize farmers in his community. He is also a farmer. Through his business, he has been able to provide employment to one person whom he works hand in hand with. He has also helped farmers achieve greater and higher quality yields. With a loan from PEMCI, he intents to increase his stock of fertilizer and meet the demands of his clients by expanding his operations.",M,150,partner,Agriculture,0 Kenya,"Christopher is married with 12 children. He is retired driver with one of the local sugar companies. The loan of $450 is to provide him with working capital to operate a Jaggery in his home village of Myanga. In addition to using cane from his farm, the jaggery will also buy cane from other local farmers providing the farmers with an alternative market for their cane other than the large sugar company which sometimes take a long time before paying them. The mill employs 5 youths, full time and some of his children when they are not in school. The jaggery will bring benefit to the community in general in addition to being a source of livelihood for his family.",M,450,partner,Food,0 Kenya,"Christopher Kabiltah Gatimu is aged 35 years. He is married and has three children, all in school. He ekes out his living through selling green vegetables and fruits. He has been in this small business enterprise for a period of seven years, after failing to secure a job in electrical profession. He is currently based in Gikomba market, where he uses his daily returns to support his family. During this period he has seen an increase in demand for his products. But the returns of his business are not enough to support, educate and invest in his family. He is therefore requesting a loan of $1200: $200 to purchase red almonds and avocados; $200 to purchase green kale; $400 to purchase white and green cabbages; $100 for an annual license; $100 for transportation; and $200 to purchase two wheelbarrows, which will help him ferrying his fruits and vegetables, therefore reducing his transport cost. Christopher is convinced that he needs to expand his business to meet the high demand and therefore support, educate and invest in his family. With his determination and enthusiasm he will be able to repay the loan.",M,1200,lender,Food,1 Kenya,"Christopher Kasyoka is a 27-year-old married man with a 2-year-old child. Apart from his immediate family, he also takes care of his aged parents by providing for their basic needs. He lives in the outskirts of Nairobi in a town called Mlolongo. In the year 2002, Christopher's mother gave him Ksh 2000 as pocket money. He wanted to do something with the money that would generate additional income. Earlier he had trained himself how to burn charcoal; therefore, he decided to start a charcoal business. He went to the market and purchased ten bags of charcoal. Within eleven days, he had sold his entire stock, so he went back and purchased 16 bags. After eight days, he had sold all of his charcoal. He then purchased twenty bags, and within twelve days had sold all of his charcoal. Now he consistently sells 150 bags of charcoal within two weeks.
Christopher feels that he needs a boost to move beyond the level at which he is currently operating. He is requesting a loan to buy 113 bags of charcoal at Ksh 400 each. He says that a loan of 45,000 ($625.00) will be greatly appreciated because it will increase the profit of his business. His customers will increase because they will not have to look for other places to purchase their charcoal as his place will always be stocked.
He will increase his profit as well as continue to provide for his family. He will also be well-prepared to pay school fees for his daughter, who is almost starting school. Christopher is thanking his Kiva lenders in advance, and he hopes that his loan will be disbursed to him. He is therefore willing to repay back his loan in a period of 12 months.",M,625,partner,Retail,1 Kenya,"Christopher Maina is 55 years old. He is married with five children all over 18 years old and entirely dependent on him. All the children have finished school. Christopher is a grade 12 dropout, but has specialized as an architecture and technician for the last 22 years. For the last two years, Christopher has been engaged in a shopkeeping business as a means to eke out his livelihood. From the income, Christopher has not been able to support his family at large because of the little returns he gets from the business. Christopher is requesting a loan to stock his shop in order to support his family and send his children to college so they can have a better future. He is asking for a loan amount of US $900. His budget is: US $300 to purchase bale maize flour, US $200 to purchase wheat flour, US $100 to purchase sugar, US $100 to purchase rice, US $100 to purchase cooking fat leaves and US $ 100 to pay for his municipal license. Christopher is responsible and will repay the loan and support his family",M,900,lender,Retail,1 Kenya,"Clarah Chepngeno is 24 years old; she is married and currently has no children. She is taking care of her mother in law and she is also paying school fees for her niece who is in secondary school. She is engaged in the business of selling retail items like utensils and clothes. Clara prefers the business because it has a ready market. She wishes to expand her stock levels and increase sales to be able to cater for the family's needs and make savings at the same time. Therefore Clara is requesting a funding of US$1200 for the purchase of addition stock. Unlike many married ladies of her age, she refuses to stay at home and depend on her husband. Instead, she has stepped up to start her own business and supplement her husband's income.",F,1200,lender,Retail,1 Kenya,"Clarence Vincent Obuya is 24 years old. He lives at his parents residence in a sprawling slum neighborhood in the town of Mombasa. Despite being under his parents care, he is determined to make it on his own and be independent. He supplements his parents' income using earnings from his water vending service that he runs within the slum residence. He began this business three years ago after being unable to find formal employment after he completed school. His activities include delivering the water in cans to the customers premises. He uses a wheel-cart to ferry the water cans from door to door. This service is quite essential in this slum area since the majorities of the residents do not have tap water at their premises, and have to purchase water from vendors. He saves some of his earnings and plans to enroll in college in future. He has a large number of clients who place orders for water delivery on a daily basis. His main problem in this business is that he has to hire the wheel-cart and this consumes his profit. He is therefore requesting a loan of $350 to assist him in purchasing his own wheel cart and more water cans.",M,350,lender,Services,1 Kenya,"Clisentia is a 32 year old married woman with one child. She lives with her family in one of the slums of Kisumu, Kenya. Her business, which she started in 2000, offers a variety of staples such as bread, rice, flour, sugar, cooking oil, along with other items often used by her customers.
Her hard work, perseverance, good reputation and many years in business, coupled with a well-established clientele base ensure that her business will continue to grow. She has applied for a loan of $800 US to help her purchase additional stock of essential commodities.",F,800,partner,Retail,0 Kenya,"Collins Nyanumba Moindi is a 22-year-old single man residing in Nakuru. He earns his living by selling second-hand clothes. Collins began the business five years ago, since he couldnt make it to college. He is now prepared for the festive season targeting his clients who have greater trust in him. His earnings have been geared towards expansion of his business to generate volume of his merchandise and to save for his future college education. He believes that education is very important. Since his parents could not afford to pay for his school fees, he would like to save enough money and go to college.
It is in this regard that he wants to expand his business by requesting a loan of US $400; US $300 to purchase a bale of clothing; US $50 to pay for the municipal license; and US $50 to pay for transport. Collins is a focused, energetic young man as such he will be able to repay the loan.",M,400,lender,Clothing,1 Kenya,"Collins Omondi Mboga is a 34-year-old business entrepreneur, married with three kids. Two are school-going while one is still under that age. He is a graduate in electrical engineering, and because of lack of employment in Kenya, Collins decided to start a business of selling auto parts. He has been in the business for thirteen years now, and it has greatly improved his living standards. Besides the above-named business, his skills and knowledge in engineering have helped him a great deal. He is an electrician in Nakuru town and he serves many clients. His clients are mainly the mechanics and those with personal vehicles. He does electrical work and helps bring electricity to homes, schools, commercial shops and buildings. Collins is a very hardworking man who is business oriented. The business has been his main source of income, and from the returns he has been getting, he has been able to provide for his family. However, sustaining the business has been difficult for him since what he earns is barely enough to cater for everything. He also faces various challenges, including lack of capital to expand the business and high transportation costs of spare parts from Nairobi city about 250 kilometers from Nakuru town. Collins has the desire to expand the business, and that is why he has requested $1100. With the money he will be in a position to buy in bulk, thus reducing cost of transport and also earning discounts. His budget is as follows: $200 to cater for transport; $700 to add more stock; $100 to get a municipal license; and $100 to pay rent. Collins is an educated and ambitious man, and he will repay the loan on time.
Disclaimer: Due to recent events in Kenya, the security situation in many communities remains unsettled, affecting many local businesses. Lenders to this entrepreneur should be aware that this loan may represent a higher default risk, and should be willing to accept this additional risk in making their loan.",M,1100,lender,Retail,1 Kenya,"Collins Omondi Ohanga is a 24-year-old budding entrepreneur. He started his own small business within the expansive Kongowea Market in Mombasa. His business involves selling the plastic bags to shoppers within the market. This business, although small, earns him enough profit for his personal needs. The product he offers to the shoppers at the market is quite essential since most buyers rely on the bags to carry their purchases. Some of his major clients include shop owners and cereal sellers who use the plastic bags as packaging material. He walks through the market delivering the bags to his clients as well as looking around for potential shoppers in need of the bags. He would like to diversify his business and sell a wide range of household products. Collins is requesting a loan of US$750 to buy environmental friendly bags and $50 for transport.",M,800,lender,Retail,1 Kenya,"Colnerious Gitonga Gituma is 31 years old and is married with one child. He also has to take care of all his family members since neither his mother nor his father work. He comes from an unproductive land area where farming does not do well and he therefore has to purchase food for them. He also has the responsibility of taking care of his brothers who are all in school. He owns a small scale shop where he supplies products to hawkers. He is requesting a loan of US$700 to expand his business; US$200 to increase the size of his shop and renovate it, US$200 to buy wrist watches in wholesale, US$ 200 to buy jewelery and US$100 to pay laborers and for transport. He is hardworking and will be able to improve his living standards if given this amount.",M,700,lender,Services,1 Kenya,"Consolata is 46 years old and married with 3 children. All of her children are in secondary school. She is a religious person and practices her morals in her social life. She is an active member of the Rurii Shinning Womens Group. She is a mentor to many women in her group and has influenced many with her hard work. Consolata is a farmer who rears dairy cows and goats. She also grows maize, coffee, beans and vegetables. Her farm is her only source of income and she has been able to, although challenging, educate her children with the small income generated from selling the surplus. Since her lastborn joined high school this year, she intends to add a high breed dairy cow to boost her income so she can afford to pay the fees without much hassle. She promises to meet her loan repayments on a monthly basis.",F,150,lender,Agriculture,1 Kenya,"Consolata is a 54 year old entrepreneur and mother of six school-aged children. She lives with her family in Kisumu, Kenya. She began her current business of selling second-hand clothes in 2005. She specializes mainly in womens clothing: skirts, dresses, and tops. She travels periodically to Nairobi, where she can purchase a good variety of merchandise at wholesale prices. The prime location of her business on a busy street, her many years of experience and friendly interaction with customers has enabled her to establish a solid clientele base.
Consolata is requesting a loan of $ 800 US to expand her business, invest in a trial stock of new ready-made clothes, and increase her stock of second-hand clothes.",F,800,partner,Retail,0 Kenya,"Consolata Wanjiku was born 38 years ago in Kanunga, Kiambu. She is married with two children; the firstborn is in college while the other is in Kanunga secondary school. She is an active member of the Banana Hill Blessed Women's Group and was elected group secretary. She operates a tailoring business at Banana Hill trading centre. Back at home, she has 3 dairy cows, which produce an average of 50 litres of milk daily. She sells her milk at Kiambaa Dairy Farmers Co-operative Society Ltd. at $0.27 per litre. She is known by her good book keeping practices. She has applied for a loan of $600, which she intends to use to purchase cloth materials in order to make more clothes. She is willing to repay this loan within a period of 12 months.",F,600,lender,Services,1 Kenya,"Cosmas Kenyatta is 39 years old and very hard working and entrepreuneurial minded. He earns his living by operating a retail shop in Nakuru and purchasing wholesale from his suppliers. At times due to lack of capital, he is unable to meet his clients demand. He has stocked his products in small quantities because he can not afford large quantities. He would like to increase his stock so as to meet the growing demand for his products. He is therefore requesting for a loan of US$ 400: US$350 to buy stock for his shop and US$50 to pay for the municipal council fee.",M,400,lender,Retail,1 Kenya,"Crispinus started his business in 1990 with capital from the sale of his farm produce. His business includes buying cattle from the nearest markets and selling them at a higher price to farmers or at slaughter houses. Through his business, he has been able to educate his twelve children up to secondary school levels. With the proposed loan of $300 he intends to increase his stock. With sufficient funds he is able to buy more animals, saving on time as these animals have to be transported long distances. He plans to increase the number of animals moved at a single time in future. Livestock trading is a lucrative business and worth supporting.",M,300,partner,Agriculture,0 Kenya,"Cyprian Abuga Okibo is 27 years old. He is married but has no children. He earns his living operating a retail shop but the profit is hardly enough to support his business and his family. Cyprian would like expand his business to be able to provide for his family comfortably. His main challenge is lack of capital to purchase stock to meet the rising demands of his customers. He is requesting a loan of US$ 400, of which US$350 will be used to purchase stock and US$50 used to pay for the municipal fee. With determination, he wil be able to pay back the loan over 18 months.",M,400,lender,Retail,1 Kenya,"Cyrus Nganga Daniel is a 25 year old itinerant trader living a slum in the outskirts of Mombasa. He began trading immediately after junior school because he lacked funds for senior school expenses. The business involves moving around the city center on foot selling mobile phone accessories to prospective clients. Such accessories include batteries, holding cases and straps. He earns barely enough to cover his basic needs and at times he is forced by financial constraints to use his business running capital. Furthermore, he also has to pay daily business operating fees to the council authorities. Such conditions are a hindrance to the growth of his business and he can only operate the business at a barely profitable level. He would like to expand his operations and open a stall that would be stock more items, thus earning him higher gains. He is requesting for a loan of US$750: US$400 to buy a wider assortment of phone accessories, US$300 to rent a stall and US$50 to pay the license. He is determined and capable of repaying the loan.",M,750,lender,Retail,1 Kenya,"Damaris Wairimu is 25 years old and married to Milton Obote with whom she has one child. She has been selling clothes for about two years now. This will be her first loan from Kiva partner KADET. Damaris was introduced to KADET by a friend who is a long-time KADET client. Her business is located at Huruma estate in Eldoret town. Damaris sells ladies' handbags, ready-made clothing, and men's and women's shoes. She intends to use this loan to buy more stock to expand her business and make more profit. She hopes to be able to someday expand her business to a wholesale operation, and diversify into other business activities and hence maximize her income and profits. About KADET: The Kenya Agency for the Development of Enterprise and Technology (KADET) is committed to economically empowering its clients by providing financial services to rural communities in order to relieve suffering and improve living conditions within those communities.",F,275,partner,Clothing,0 Kenya,"Damaris was born in 1975 in Kiambu. She is married with two children. One is in lower primary school in lower Kabete Primary while the other child is still a toddler. Damaris is a religious person and a member of Deliverance Church Mwimuto. She is also the secretary of the church. Damaris joined Torch Women group and WEEC in 2002. Being brought up in a poor family, Damaris did not make it to college. Her father could not afford college fees. She therefore opted to enter into business of selling second hand clothes at Gikomba Market in Nairobi. After two years in that business, she got married to Mr. Njenga, a pastor in Deliverance church. She therefore changed business to dairy farming. Currently she has three dairy cows which produce an average of 60 litres of milk daily. She sells her milk to Kabete dairy Farmers Cooperative Society ltd at USD 0.3 per litre. She needs a loan of USD 300, Damaris to add more cash and buy a dairy cow.",F,300,lender,Agriculture,1 Kenya,"Dancan Muswera is a young Kenyan father aged 30 with 4 children. He also lives with 1 orphan child of his late sister who perished 2 years ago.
Dancan started his business 3 years ago after accumulating savings from his former work place. He currently operates a small posho mill (cereal grinding mill) but would like to diversify into selling cereals like maize and wheat, along with running the posho mill.
Being the primary bread winner for his family, it would enable him to support both his children and wife, who has a low-paying job. With the little profit that he gets from the business, Dancan still struggles to feed, clothe, and educate his children and to pay his house rent. But with the help of his loan, Dancan will be able to expand his business and increase his monthly sales.
Disclaimer: Due to recent events in Kenya, the security situation in many communities remains unsettled, affecting many local businesses. Lenders to this entrepreneur should be aware that this loan may represent a higher default risk, and should be willing to accept this additional risk in making their loan.",M,2600,lender,Food,0 Kenya,"Daniel Asembo is 28 years old, married, and has two children. He is also taking care of three orphans whose parents (who were his relatives) died of AIDS last year. His children and the two orphans are all in school. He sells refreshments, snacks and candy to travelers in a bus park. Recently the bus park where he operates was expanded to accommodate more buses - now there are more passengers passing through the bus park. Daniel would like to expand his business in order to meet the increasing demand for his wares. Yet, due to his financial commitments, he has been unable to expand his business. Specifically, Daniel would like to open a new and more eye-catching stall. He also wants to start selling fresh snacks like pies, hot dogs and fish fingers. He is therefore requesting a loan of US$1000. With this money he will purchase a mobile trailer cum kitchenet worth US$730, buy food stocks worth US$170, and use US$100 to hire another employee.",M,1000,lender,Food,1 Kenya,"Daniel is 30 years old and the only income earning member of his family of three brother and three sisters. His elder brother is unemployed while the rest are in high schools and colleges. Daniel started the fruits and vegetable business in year 2005 with a US $ 450 loan form Eb-F which he has repaid in full. He uses the income from the business to feed, pay schools fees and meets other needs of the family. Daniel gets his fruits and vegetables directly from farmers who practice organic farming. Because of the excellent quality of his products he has been contracted by a local hospital to be supplying 1,000 kilos of fruits and vegetables each week for the next one year. Daniel is the requesting a loan of US $ 850 to enable him stock an assortment of fruits and vegetables to supply the hospital. His budget is: US $ 550 to purchase fruits and vegetables from small scale farmers, US $ 150 to purchase packing materials and US $ 150 to meet transportation cost from remote farms. He will employ his elder brother to help him with the business and he hopes to be able to marry and bring up a family once the business picks up. Daniel is an aggressive entrepreneur and will be able to repay the loan promptly.",M,850,lender,Food,1 Kenya,Daniel is a father of four. He repairs and welds metal products for a living. He will use the loan to expand and diversify his business in order to provide for his family's needs.,M,800,lender,Manufacturing,1 Kenya,"Daniel is a mobile phone and electronics parts hawker/vendor. He conducts his business along the busy Kenya-Uganda highway and sells most of his products to truckers and other travelers. He is married with 4 children. Since leaving school, he has done all sorts of businesses to earn a living. The loan of US$450 is intended to help him expand his hawking business and eventually open a little shop. With sufficient cash he also plans to travel to the city of Nairobi, where he can buy electronics cheaper and hence improve his profitability. He eventually hopes to become a wholesaler. Daniel was introduced to us by his brother-in-law, who is a long-term client of PEMCI and also his guarantor. This loan would be of great advantage to this young man with big ambitions.",M,450,partner,Retail,0 Kenya,"Daniel is a new member of PEMCI. He is married and has no kids; his wife is hand in hand with him. It is now three years since Daniel started his business with capital of about KES 3,000/= which he earned from his hard labor. He is a fruit vendor that moves from point to point selling fresh fruits to people. Daniel is a hard working man that gets his stock from Kitale sometimes and from Tororo Uganda. His main challenge is when the season goes down, his stock tends to deteriorate. He uses public means called matatu to transport his goods from the markets. His capital now ranges at KES 4,000/=. He gets his daily profit between KES 800/= and 700/=. If given a loan by PEMCI, he plans to increase his stock aand get a shed where he can station himself to sell his fruits. He dreams of having a vegetable shop. Daniel is a school drop out caused by a lack of school fees. He plans to buy a big piece of land for his family and build them a home..",M,175,lender,Food,1 Kenya,"Daniel is married with four children, three boys and one girl. Two are still in secondary school while two are involved in the family business. Daniel is training as a truck driver but has also been in business for the last thirty years. He operates a store where he sells maize, beans, tomatoes and onions as well as manufactured retail goods. Daniel also operates a hardware shop, side-by-side with the other shops.
To support business, Mr Kamau ventured into Southern Sudan in 2004 where he also operates a hardware shop selling mainly construction materials such as iron sheets, nails, cement, etc. Although the demand for the goods is high in Southern Sudan, Daniel has been faced with challenges when it comes to expanding his business due to lack of capital. The other challenge that he faces is the high cost of transporting goods into Southern Sudan.
With the proposed loan of US$ 475, Daniel intends to increase his stock of goods for Sudan and hence be able to supply his customers with all the commodities that they need in the required volume. In view of the contribution that Daniel is making towards the reconstruction of Southern Sudan, we highly recommend the loan for funding through Kiva.",M,475,partner,Retail,0 Kenya,"Daniel is twenty nine years old and married with one child. He operates a taxi in Eldoret town. Most of his customers hire him for his services both within Eldoret town and in its outskirts. He has been in the taxi business for two years. Daniel is intending to expand his business to serve customers outside Eldoret town. He also intends to graduate to transporting farm produce from the rural sector to urban places. Finally, he hopes to sponsor his wife to go back to college and further her studies in food science at Egerton University. Daniel believes that with this loan he will be able to increase his income thereby contributing to improvement of his family status. About KADET: The Kenya Agency for the Development of Enterprise and Technology (KADET) is committed to economically empowering its clients by providing financial services to rural communities in order to relieve suffering and improve living conditions within those communities.",M,525,partner,Transportation,0 Kenya,"DANIEL KAREI is a 34 yr old married truck driver with five children. His children are all in school in junior grades. They live in a small house in the suburbs of Nakuru city. Daniel is semi literate. He dropped out of school before going to high school due to lack of school fees. He was employed as a driver until two years ago when he bought a lorry with his own savings and started a transport services business. His wife does not work and he has to work hard to provide for his family maintenance and pay school fees. Daniel would like to a start a green grocer wholesale shop as a family business. His lorry will be transporting vegetables from the farms to his shop. This will help him maximize profit to increase his income. This is to pay for their childrens education especially when the two eldest join senior school next year.
Daniel requests for a US $ 1200 loan and plans to use it as follows:
US $ 1000 stocks the business
US $ 100 pay for a license
US $ 100 for decoration i.e. shelves etc
He is focused and will repay the loan.",M,1200,partner,Agriculture,0 Kenya,"Daniel Kimaita is a 44-year-old general practitioner who runs his own private facility in Kibirichia Meru, in the eastern part of Kenya. He is married and lives with his wife and two school-aged children in Meru.
He trained and qualified as a nurse at Meru Medical Training College in 1987, and then worked in a goverment hospital. In the year 2000, his used his small amount savings to establish a clinic at Kibirichia market in Meru.
The clinic serves between 15 to 25 patients a day. To cope up with the increased number of patients, he has employed 1 person to help him run the facility. He offers a number of services, including family planning, curative and preventive medicine, a laboratory and a pharmacy.
Daniel Kimaita attributes his success to support from K-MET. He has been able to expand his facility, increase the number of services he offers, and improve the quality of care he provides. To further expand his facility, he is applying for a loan of US $1200.",M,1200,partner,Health,0 Kenya,"Daniel Kioko is 37 years old, married and has one child. He lives in the town of Athi River in the outskirts of Nairobi. Daniel has been a photographer for five years. His decision to be a photographer was influenced by the remoteness of his community and the uniqueness of the business.
Daniel started taking photos using a small camera and would walk from place to place looking for clients. He would also target major events such as weddings, and it is from these small beginnings that he saved about Ksh 25,000 (USD 400) to open up his own studio in February 2006. With the savings, he was able to pay rent for a small room, and he also bought some of the basic requirements in a studio, including linen for providing background for the photos, picture frames and a bigger camera.
The quality of Daniels photos is outstanding and this is attested to by his increasing number of clients. Daniel now seeks to expand his business by purchasing more items to enhance his service, since he is receiving more clients day by day. Daniel has noted that since his operational capital is limited, he is forced to frequently travel to Nairobi to buy additional stock of the various items he needs to use often, as he is only able to buy these in small quantities.
Daniel is therefore requesting a loan of $750, which will be repaid over a 12-month period. This will enable him to purchase some of the items that he uses frequently. Some of the items he intends to buy include bigger picture frames, film, an extra camera and linens. The new additions will enable him to give much better service to his clients, since he will not waste so much time in traveling to the city. This will help to increase his income, firstly because he will be better able to meet the needs of his customers, and secondly, because the bulk purchases will help him by saving on the amount of money he uses to travel to the city to buy additional stock.",M,750,partner,Services,0 Kenya,"DANIEL M KIBE is a 41 yr old married farmer with one child. Daniel is a university graduate in administration but unfortunately he could not get a job. He started farming as self employment doing dairy and crop farming. Daniel was introduced to horticulture by a friend who is already doing the same successfully. He has already planted samples which have done well. He would now like to start his own horticulture project but lacks funds. He request for a US $ 1200 loan for the following: US $ 300 to prepare land US $ 700 to buy seeds US $ 100 for transport and US $ 100 for labor He has a brilliant farming idea, in fact he is the chairman of Kio group, and he has been educating the other members on new farming trends. He is responsible and will definitely repay the loan.",M,1200,lender,Retail,1 Kenya,"DANIEL MACHARIA KAMAU is a 58 year old married farmer with six children. His children have all finished school, but three are unemployed and still live at home with him. He owns a three-acre farm where he does his farming. His wife Mary sells vegetables in their local market in Subukia. They live in a rented house even though he has land to build. He would save money in terms of rent if he had his own house. He would like to expand his farming but lacks the funds. He is requesting a loan of $800. $200 leases three more acres, and $600 buys fertilizers and seed. They are a hardworking couple and will repay the loan. This will create work for their unemployed children and enable him to build.",M,800,lender,Agriculture,1 Kenya,"Daniel Nganga is a 34 year old entrepreneur who is single with one dependent. He pays school fees for his nephew whose mother suffers from cancer. After finishing high school he was fortunate to enroll in Kenyatta University where he pursued a degree in computer engineering. After that he started a small computer repair shop on the busy Maralel Rd. in Nakuru where he specializes in selling computers, CD writing, typesetting and computer repairs. His business has been doing well as more people are becoming computer literate and as more computers are purchased by individuals and institutions. He has two working computer stations where his customers needs are catered to and a repairing booth where he mostly spends his time repairing computers. He has managed to employ two employees. He faces challenges such as payment of licenses, purchasing new and used computers and computer spare parts. He is requesting a loan of US$ 1,200. His budget is: US $1,000 to purchase computers and US $200 to purchase hard discs. He is capable of repaying the loan.",M,1000,lender,Services,1 Kenya,"Daniel Ngigi is a 31-year-old married man, blessed with two children. He is a charcoal wholesaler. His business is located in the Zambezi shopping centre in Muguga and his customers buy from him either wholesale or retail. He has been in this business for the past year and he makes a profit of Kshs. 30,000 per month. His dream is to establish a bigger store that will be able to handle more stock in his charcoal business. A need to expand Daniel's business has come about and, after asking around, his brother introduced him to KADET where he can access a loan. About KADET: The Kenya Agency for the Development of Enterprise and Technology (KADET) is committed to economically empowering its clients by providing financial services to rural communities in order to relieve suffering and improve living conditions within those communities.",M,275,partner,Retail,0 Kenya,"Daniel Ngugi Kirika is 32 years old. Daniel left school when in Grade 12 and has been making a living selling lemons in an open-air market. His business has been somewhat profitable but not enough to support his career and aspirations of marrying this year. He therefore request a US $ 550 loan to add stock to his business. He plans to spend the loan in the following way:
US $ 200 to purchase sacks of lemons
US $ 150 to pay for the municipal license fee as well as to expand and renovate his stall
US $ 100 to purchase assorted green lemons
US $ 100 for transportation services",M,550,lender,Food,1 Kenya,"Daniel Ragira Monene is 33 years old and married with three children. He operates a transport business using bicycles. His wife also operates a grocery shop. Income from these two businesses is not enough to cover his family's expenses and send some money to the extended family in the rural area. He is intending to add more stock to the grocery shop and add more bicycles. This will create more employment to other youth friends and generate more income for his family. He is requesting a loan of US$500 to bridge the gap between his future plan and the current situation. He intends to utilize US$250 to buy the bicycles, US$50 for licenses, and US$200 to add more stock to the grocery shop. The couple is hardworking, focused, and has ambition. They are capable of paying back the loan.",M,500,lender,Food,1 Kenya,"Danson has four children--two whom are adults and two young ones. He has received training from the Kenya Dairy Board and LandOLakes in the handling and processing of milk products. His business involves buying raw milk from farmers about 75 Km from Malaba town and transporting it to Malaba, where it is pasteurized and distributed to customers.
Currently he is able only to handle 500 litres of milk while his facility is able to process at least 1200 litres. This is his first loan with PEMCI and he intends to use the funds to increase his raw-milk handling capacity. Danson sells milk within Malaba town and as far as into neighboring Uganda. The demand for milk is high as this region does not produce milk.
His objective is to turn his facility into a mini-plant and to diversify into milk products such as yoghurt. He employs four other people in the dairy, in addition to his wife and himself. This project has the potential for growth and is worthy of the support of Kiva and its partners.",M,450,partner,Agriculture,0 Kenya,"Danson is 30 years old married and with a kindergarten baby boy. He lives with his younger brother who is a school leaver in Nakuru town. He is a university graduate in commerce and he opted to start a Car wash business. He has operated this business for the last 5 years ands he earns an average of US $ 70 per week. He uses the income to provide for his family, to pay school fees for his brother who is attending college and to provide for his sick mother. His wife is a student in a local college pursuing diploma in fashion design. Due to the over rising increase of velvet fitted motor vehicles Danson has also diversified and started hovering car seats and other car detailing cleaning activities. Danson requires same specialized equipment to be able to benefit from this new market. He requests a loan of US $ 1,800 to purchase the equipment. His budget is: US $ 800 to purchase two hovering machines, US $ 400 on engine washer pressure machine, US $ 450 on washing shampoos, wax and stain removal chemicals and US $ 150 on tyres puncture repair box kit. He plans to employ two people one to work with him at the car wash and the other to be doing mobile marketing and outreach to homesteads to hover their carpets, blankets and sofa sets. It is from the earned profits he plans to complete paying for his wives college fees, save enough to start a design shop for her and also take his brother for a course in a local polytechnic. He is aggressive in business and pays all his loans on time.",M,1800,lender,Services,1 Kenya,"Darius Ndungu Gitonga is a 30-year-old married entrepreneur. He has one child who is still too young to be in school. Darius is educated but he could not find employment. He started selling fruit in a small way. He now has a family and needs a higher income. Darius has a good customer base but his revolving stock remains constant since all his profit is used to cater for his young family.
Darius would like to add stock and increase his revenue but he lacks funds. He is requesting a loan of US $ 500: US$ 400 to buy more stock, and US $ 100 to expand his stall. The increase in income will assist this family to prosper. The couple is cooperative and are members of Ebony Foundation's Ponda Mali group. Darius will repay the loan.",M,500,lender,Food,1 Kenya,"David is 26 years old and a father of two. The eldest child is four years old and will start schooling in January 2007.His wife is unemployed and David is the sole breadwinner for the family. He operates a small dairy shop where he sells milk to residents of Section 58 in Nakuru City. He buys the raw milk from Farmers at the nearby farms. In January 2006 David attended a business skills training organized by Eb-F and discovered the concept of business diversification and adding value to raw products. He begun to produce a traditional milk based health drink called mursik a kind of fermented milk preserved using charcoal and flavored using local herbs called Mutata The health drink proved an instant hit with the surrounding community and enabled David increase his dairy milk sales from 50 litters to 120 litters and his net profit from US $ 4 per day to US $ 17 per day. David receives his milk supply from farmers three times a week and therefore he has to preserve the milk in a refrigerator. He owns a small domestic refrigerator which was able to handle the 120 litters of raw milk he used to buy at a time. This refrigerator is no longer able to handle the 280 litters of milk that he needs to stock. He needs to purchase a deep freezer that can accommodate more milk He also needs to pack his health drink in hygienic containers and he would want to begin processing milk yogurt to increase his sales further. David requests a loan of U.S $ 1,800 and his budget is: US $ 750 to purchase a large deep freezer, US $ 500 to purchase packing containers and to print labels, US $ 250 to purchase yogurt preparation materials and equipment and US $ 200 to purchase more milk. David is focused and hand working and is able to repay the loan.",M,1800,lender,Food,1 Kenya,"David is 37 years old and is married with 2 children ages 8 and 3 respectively. He lives on the outskirts of Nairobi in an area known as Kawangware. In addition to his family, he also takes care of his elderly parent and his younger brothers. David always dreamed of starting his own business, and in 1992 he opened a small kiosk in his neighborhood out of which he sold snacks and soft drinks. But due to harassment by the City Council, David was forced to close down his kiosk often since he did not have enough money to pay the levies demanded of him. He was earning very little and he needed it all to support his family. Despite these difficulties David didn't lose hope and continued with his small business, hoping one day to expand. After describing his hardships and ambitions to a close friend, he received a loan to expand his business. He moved from his small kiosk and rented a bigger room. He then stocked items like flour, cooking fat, and sugar, among other goods. He also managed to secure a license. David's business has grown steadily and he is now able to sustain his family and he has no more struggles with the City Council. David's biggest concern now is meeting customer demand, since he has not been able to add stock since the price of commodities has recently shot skyward. Through Action Now: Kenya and Kiva lenders, he is requesting a loan to increase stock in his shop and increase profitability as he moves goods more quickly. He will also be able to better maintain a customer base since he will always have what they require and in large quantities. The loan will be paid back within 12 months.",M,375,partner,Retail,1 Kenya,"David is a 28-year-old young man. He is married with three children, one boy and two girls who are all in primary school. He has been trained in timber mlling on which he always attends seminars and workshop organized by the local environmentalist group. He has been in business for the last five years selling timber and making furniture like chairs, tables and many other things. He always gets his products from Kocholia Nakwana Mweyenga and Lupida from which he buys the tree and then splits it. He makes $5 per day in timber sales and he makes 3 beds, four tables and one set of chairs per week.
Through his business, he has been able to support his family needs and boost carpentry work in the community, which he alone provides in the whole area. However, he is faced with a lot of challenges in his business due to the high cost of the power saw, which he hires to split timber. This eats up a lot on the profits from his business.
With the loan from PEMCI, he plans to increase his stock of timber and buy some new equipment for furniture making, like saws and chisels. This will ease his duties at work. He hopes in future to be able to buy his own power saw and open up a workshop for training carpenters and making furniture.",M,100,lender,Manufacturing,1 Kenya,"David is a very active member of PEMCI who is in his fourth loan cycle. He recently completed his third loan of $450 with PEMCI/Kiva ( #2641) successfully and has applied for a follow-up loan of US$700. The previous loans enabled David to expand his livestock business to include cattle, goats, sheep and chicken.
Before joining PEMCI he used to sell cattle only. David moves from one market to another during different market days in the week carrying out his livestock trade. He buys and sells livestock even in the neighboring country of Uganda. Presently, he operates a stock worth Kshs 37,000. His weekly profits range between Ksh2,000-2,500 per market day depending on the season.
Providing shelter is a major issue in the local communities. With the help from PEMCI, David has used the proceeds from his business to purchase a piece of land where he plans to put up a family home. He has also been able to support his wife in establishing her own line of business selling fish products. His wife is a fishmonger.
With the proposed loan, David plans to increase his stock by purchasing young animals which he fattens on his new piece of land and sells at a profit once they have achieved the right weight. With this new approach he will be able to buy young animals at very low prices which will improve his profit margins.
David has also been hiring young men to assist in his business by which means he is transferring his skills and wealth of experience to the young generation. In an environment where training opportunities are scarce, he is providing a good service to the local communities. Our joy is to see David prosper and become a role model for his community. We are proud of his achievement so far and we shall continue to support him to greater heights. He is well-worth our support and consideration.",M,700,lender,Agriculture,1 Kenya,"David is married with 4 children, 2 are in primary school. He started business 3 years ago and he received first loan of $ 143 from Pemci which he paid very successfully. He has requested for a second loan of $450 to enable him buy more cattle for trading during the festive season. He also supplies the local community with meat and milk. The income from this business has enabled him to support his family and purchase more land. He is planning to build rental houses in future.",M,450,partner,Agriculture,0 Kenya,"David is married with four children, all of whom are in primary school. He has not undertaken any training. In 2002 he started his business, which was initially buying and selling cattle. This did not make enough profit for him to sustain his family thus he started selling timber which he does currently. With the proposed loan through PEMCI, he hopes to buy a power saw, which he will use to split his own timber instead of hiring a saw. This will give him an edge over the competition and improve his profit margins. He will also be able to hire out the power saw to other millers, which would bring him some additional income. We believe he has the ability to repay the loan with no difficulty.",M,300,partner,Construction,0 Kenya,"David Maingi is 26 years old and married. He is also a born again Christian and stays at Kinanie town in Athi River District, 80 kilometers from Nairobi. It is a common saying among people that when the business bug strikes a person there is no turning back. David Maingi is a case in point. In 2004, David took half a sack of beans and another half of maize to Kinanie market. He was able to sell his goods within two hours of his arrival at the market, which gave him the confidence and funds he needed to start his own business. David continued to take his cereals on a bicycle to Kinanie Market each day, until late 2004 when David secured a stall at the market. This was a milestone in Davids life after many days of praying and fasting. David now devotes most of his time to running the stall and his business is doing very well. Recently too, Kinanie has started to expand and the population is growing at an alarming rate, which is an encouraging sign to the people in the business sector. Davids stall is a beehive of activity as people scramble to buy his cereals, which are always fairly priced. David now needs to expand his business and is seeking a loan of USD825 to purchase a larger variety of cereals including maize, beans, rice, dried peas, green grams, black eyed peas, etc. By expanding his range, he believes that he will have enough stock to meet the demands of all his customers, and will no longer have to turn away customers due to lack of stock. The repayment period for his loan will be 12 months.",M,825,partner,Food,0 Kenya,"David Mugo Wanjiru is 25 years old. He could not afford high school fees. He decided to come to Nakuru town, Kenyas fourth largest urban area, to try and make a living. He worked as an employee in different places before finally saving enough to start his own shop.
David now earns his daily living from his shop which stocks general merchandise. He has not yet married and he says he does not intend to marry soon because he already has many expenses which he has to meet. He takes care of his mother and siblings who live in their rural home. He has been operating the shop for a year now and it makes him great returns.
David is now requesting a loan of US$ 300 to buy more stock for his shop: $ 100 to buy a fifty kilogram bag of sugar, $100 to buy a ninety kilogram bag of flour ,and $100 to build more shelves in his shop. David is a very hardworking young man and will pay the loan.",M,300,lender,Retail,1 Kenya,"David Mungara Thuku is a 30 year old businessman who is married with two children both in schooling; one is in primary school and the other in nursery school. He is the family's sole bread winner since his wife is unemployed and he also supports his elderly parents. David is engaged in the business of selling compact discs in a strategically located stall in Nakuru town. The business has a rich clientele and he has effectively employed efficient business management skills that he acquired through training facilitated by the Ebony Foundation. He plans to open a branch in one of the sprawling estates. To realize this he is requesting a loan of USD800 which he has budgeted for as follows: USD200 to pay for a few months rent for the new premises, USD400 to buy extra stock of compact discs, and USD200 to put up shelves. This idea will with time create employment for his wife and other people. David is hard working and will be able to repay the loan.
Disclaimer: Due to recent events in Kenya, the security situation in many communities remains unsettled, affecting many local businesses. Lenders to this entrepreneur should be aware that this loan may represent a higher default risk, and should be willing to accept this additional risk in making their loan.",M,800,lender,Retail,1 Kenya,"David Mutiso is 50 years old, married with three children, though they are now grown and have their own families. He lives in Kianda village within the Kibera slums of Nairobi. Mutiso takes care of six children from his younger sister who is ailing. He also takes care of his aging mother. David has done carpentry work since 1975, which he continued with up to the year 1998 when he started his shop. This was after building a commercial building which houses his shop. He started his business with a capital of Ksh 10,000 (USD142) which he found not to be enough. A microfinance bank by the name K-Rep loaned him another Ksh 10,000 (USD142). He paid the loan within a period of one year, but due to the high interest rate charged by the bank, he pulled out after successfully repaying the loan. His business has grown so rapidly and so has his customer base. Due to this he would like to stock up his shop so that there will be no customers going unsatisfied because of lacking an item from his shop. Some of the items he will buy as part of the stock include: corn flour, cooking fat, sugar, beans, and rice. David requests a loan of USD 900, which if he receives in kind (in form of stock) will enable him serve his community better, and as a good will gesture, David intends to employ two young men who are orphans to help in running the shop. The repayment period for this loan will be 8-12 months.",M,900,lender,Retail,1 Kenya,David Mwangi Karanja is 32 years old. He lives with his two children and his wife who is a vegetable vendor in a two room semi-permanent house. He says he has lived in worse living conditions before and it is through his hard work that he has reached where he is. He would want his family to live in better conditions though which is why he works so hard in his mechanic business. He is known to a substantive number of clients. These clients refer other clients to him as they trust his workmanship and experience. He co-owns the garage with seven other mechanics; this allows them to cost share the rent costs. He lacks equipment to operate his business and usually borrows these from his neighbors. This causes delay in his work. He also lacks auto spare parts for his work causing further delays. He is humbly requesting a loan of US$ 600 to purchase equipment worth US$ 400 and buy auto spares stocks worth US$ 200. He will be able to improve his business with the loan.,M,600,lender,Services,1 Kenya,"David Mwangi Kimani is 33 years old and married with one child, who attends school. David's wife is a dressmaker, and the couple pools their incomes from their respective jobs to support their family. David hopes to expand his business of selling pineapples in Gikomba market to take care of his family's needs and expenses.
David has requested a loan of US $ 650, which he plans to spend in this way:
US $ 300 to purchase unripe pineapples
US $ 300 to purchase ripe sack of pineapples
US $ 50 to pay municipal license
David is a committed client and will repay the loan",M,650,lender,Food,1 Kenya,David Mwangi Wachira is 45 years old married with one child who is in school. His education background is O-level. He could not secure employment and he therefore decided to do farming in order to earn a living. This earns him US$200 per month.
He intends to expand his farming by practicing dairy farming on his farm. He is therefore requesting a loan of US$ 900. This amount will be utilized in buying one more cow at US$ 400 and US$ 500 for general farming. The expansion will help him create employment and earn him more income to educate his child.,M,900,lender,Agriculture,1 Kenya,"David Mwaura Njoroge is 29 years old, married, and has 3 children: two are in school and one is yet to start. His wife is currently unemployed. David would like to see his children educated in good schools, and is therefore working hard to expand his retail business. He is a general wholesaler with four years of experience in the business. He owns a shop and occasionally sells his wares in the open air markets in rural areas. David would like to expand this business and increase his market share by stocking more goods that have a high demand and are unique to the market. He predicts that the expansion would also increase his net income. He is requesting a loan of US$1000: US$900 for adding more stock and US$100 for acquiring extra storage space. David has a quire eye in spotting unexplored opportunities and works hard for his children.",M,1000,lender,Retail,1 Kenya,"David Njogu Ngugi is a single 23 year old man. He is a roadside vendor. He sells affordable and durable utensils, towels, and handkerchiefs. He sells fast moving goods, which are available in the market and are in high demand from customers. His stock varies from time to time, for example he will have umbrellas during the rainy season and sunglasses during the hot season. The roadside where he operates is not a very permanent business premises, and he usually has problems with the local authorities because they require him to operate at least in a stall.
He is planning to construct a stall, therefore, he will attract more customers and be able to add more variety of stock to his business. The stall will allow him to accommodate more goods and it is a step towards eventually opening a shop for his business. David is humbly requesting to be funded with US$700. He will use US$400 to purchase stock, US$250 to build a good stall, and US$50 to pay the local authority license fees. He is a natural entrepreneur with a lot of enthusiasm; he will be able to repay the loan.",M,700,lender,Retail,1 Kenya,"Davidson Mose Nyagwano is a 25-year-old single man. He is a budding entrepreneur who runs a retail shop (locally called a kiosk) within Nakuru town. He sells an assortment of goods which include soft drinks, candy and bananas. The location of his business has created a huge client base. At the moment he is not able to meet the rising demand. Since he has no dependents, all the profit accrued from the business is pumped back into the business. He has been doing this for some time now. Davidson understands business ethics and has good customer care skills. It is on this basis that he is requesting a loan of US$400 to increase his stock. He is a hardworking man and capable of repaying the loan.",M,400,lender,Retail,1 Kenya,"Davies Koech is a 33-year-old married man with four kids. Three of his children are in school while the youngest is too young to attend school. He is the sole breadwinner for his family, and he operates a food vending business. The foods cooked and sold include githeri (a mixture of beans and soft maize), chapati (made from wheat flour), and the famous Kenyan staple food Ugali (made from maize flour).
He has been operating this business for the past three years and the proceeds go to his family's needs and his children's school expenses. His customers consist of the street vendors, bus drivers and low-income earners who eat at his hotel, especially during lunch time. Despite his success in business he has encountered various difficulties, from the ever-increasing prices of food to lack of customers. He plans to expand his business but lacks the required funds.
Davies is requesting a loan of US$1000: US$500 will go toward buying modern cooking equipment, which will be more hygienic and attract more customers, and US$500 to buy more ingredients that will add more food items to his current menu.",M,1000,lender,Food,1 Kenya,"Deborah is 48 years old, married with 4 children. Deborah is a dedicated member of the PCEA church in Nkoroi. She is the secretary of Womens guild, Treasurer to the Brigade, Deacon at District level and Parish level. In all those activities her main calling is to assist the less fortunate. She dedicates her time to visiting the sick, elderly and prison wardens where she combines efforts with other church members for performance. She is the chairlady of Oloika Progressive due to her leadership skills and this has improved group performance. Deborahs main activity is farming. She owns a plot of land where she grows maize, beans, potatoes and peas. She has a dairy cow that gives her 10 litres of milk per day. She sells 9 liters and leaves one liter for her family. Most of her income comes from the sale of milk. She allocates part of the income for repaying her group loans and school fees for her children. She has another child who is joining high school next year and fees will increase. She feels if she can get a loan, she will be able to pay the fees and repay the loan with milk sales of every month.",F,450,lender,Agriculture,1 Kenya,"Deborah is single with no children. She has no formal training. She started her shop with a little support from her family. Deborah completed her first loan with PEMCI successfully. She is also an active member of the local community self-help group, which deals with poverty eradication.
Her first loan enabled her to improve the stock of her shop and increase her earnings. With a second loan of $175, she intends to increase her stock further and, if possible, convert it to wholesale. As a young girl, Deborah is a great inspiration to others in her locality and worthy of our support.",F,175,partner,Retail,0 Kenya,"Demeteria is married with two children, both grown up and married. She started her business last year to support herself. She finished her first loan successfully. This is her second loan with PEMCI. Her first loan enabled her to increase her stock and even open up a cereal store at her home. She takes the cereals to the market during market days in addition to her fish business. With the second loan of $225 she wishes to increase her stock further and also buy tobacco from the local farmers in her community and sell it to the factory at a higher price since its the season of harvesting tobacco.",F,225,partner,Food,0 Kenya,"Dickson Mwicigi is a 34 year old entrepreneur who is married with two children. All his children are in school with the first born in grade four while the last born is in kindergarten. He and his wife purchase eggs from farmers and then supply them to wholesalers in the nearby cities of Eldoret and Kisumu. The wife buys the eggs from the farmers while the husband transports them to the wholesalers and the local hotels in Nakuru city. This business is challenging due to the fragile nature of the eggs but Dickson and his wife have mastered their business by ensuring that they increase the number of crates which provide a spongy effect, protecting the eggs from breaking. He and his wife supply up to 3,000 eggs a week and this has enabled him to secure a wide customer base. Despite the success of the business he faces many challenges such as a lack of storage facilities, the high cost of transportation and insufficient crates to hold the eggs. He is requesting a loan of US $1,000. His budget is: US $ 600 to purchase more eggs and US $400 to purchase more crates. Dickson is able to repay the loan.",M,1000,lender,Food,1 Kenya,"Dina Abayo is a 65-year-old widow and mother of four children. She lives in Kisumu, Kenya. Dina started her business selling fish in 1961. With the profits, Dina set up four housing units (mud-walled houses), which she rents out at Kshs 500 (approximately US $15) a month. Her monthly income totals US $200. Dina's business is in a prime location on a busy street. Her years of experience and the friendly relationship she has with customers, plus three previous loans from KMET, have enabled her to establish a good clientele base. Dina plans to expand her business with her next loan of US $800. She will use the loan to invest in purchasing a stock of dry fish and to build more housing units.",F,800,partner,Food,0 Kenya,"Dina Auma is 50 years old and has eight children. She started selling cereal 11 years ago and, despite stiff competition, has seen her business grow over the years because of her hard work, experience and ability to attract a well-established client base. Dina sells a wide range of cereals, including beans, dry maize, rice, millet and sorghum. The profit from the sale of these food staples, which are easy to store and handle, help her pay school fees for her children and other household expenses, as well as set aside money she can use when business is slow. Dina plans to use three quarters of her loan to purchase beans and rice to sell to her customers, and put the remainder aside as savings to use in case of unforeseen circumstances.",F,500,partner,Food,0 Kenya,"Dismas is a new member of PEMCI in the Masielo Self Help Group. He is married and has five children; one boy and four girls. His wife is a farmer. He completed three grades in school and dropped out due to lack of money from his parents to pay for his school fees. He is the first born in a family of nine children.
Dismas runs a wholesale store at the Masielo Trading Tentre. He usually gets his stock from Bungoma town. His current stock is estimated to be worth KES 19,000 ($300 USD). If given a loan by PEMCI Dismas plans to increase the stock of his store and diversify the products he trades. He dreams of diversifying his business with a retail outlet. He plans to purchase a motorbike for transport. The bike is locally known as boda boda.",M,175,lender,Wholesale,1 Kenya,"Dodofiko is married with two children, all at home but ready to join nursery school. He started his business in 2001. He has some schooling. He is an self-employed driver, and he owns a motorbike which he uses for transporting people. This is the only means of transport in the area. He also operates a kinyozi where he has employed a barber. He requests a loan of $150 from PEMCI, which will enable him to restock his barbershop and repair his motorbike for better operation.",M,150,partner,Transportation,0 Kenya,"Dorah is 55 years old. She is married with 6 grown children. She is an active member of the mothers' union in ACK church and in her group. She is a farmer who grows maize, beans and arrowroots for selling. The money she gets enables her to cater for her needs. She has a cow which produces 10 liters of milk per day. She wants to buy another cow which will produce 15 litres of milk per day. She intends to pay her loan in monthly installments.",F,450,lender,Agriculture,1 Kenya,"Dorcas is 29 years old and married with 3 children. All her children are in public school under the free education program. She is a very active member of her group and she joined the group after seeing how the members were benefitting.
Since she joined, she has adhered to group rules and regulations and she has been paying group contributions timely. She is a nursery school teacher and has a vegetable business which supplements her salary. She pays the school fees for her children with the income she accumulates monthly.
By the end of the month, she is able to get USD100. She has been having a burden of paying school fees for her children and she wonders what will happen after they join high school and the fees only get more expensive. She also wants a loan to pay for her own school fees to join part time college and advance her education for her to get a high paying job. After completion, she is assured of supporting her children and they will get quality education. She believes in investing in education above anything else and she is willing to repay the loan in increments every month.",F,150,partner,Food,0 Kenya,"Dorcas is 49 years old. She is married with 3 children. She is an active member of the ACK church and works closely with the church in uplifting the living standards of different communities.
Her personal calling is to counsel the youth - especially the downtrodden. She counsels the parking boys in Thika town - she gives the young boys food at times when they are hungry, and solace, especially when they are faced with difficult situations. The parking boys see her as their mother, and she has acquired the name Auntie Dorcas.
She also gives refuge to women who face domestic violence. She visits rural groups and gives training on the dangers of early marriages for girls, female genital mutilation and the scourge of HIV-AIDS. Though she is a trained nurse and works in a hospital, she finds time to carry out community work and to assist the needy at the community level.
Still, Dorcas also does farming in her small plot of land. She gets enough food for her family and for feeding those who visit her - especially the women who run to her house in the night due to domestic violence.
To reach to more women, Dorcas joined Revelation women's group. She is the Patron of this group. Through the group, WEEC has been able to outreach to more women in the area.
Dorcas has applied for a loan of USD 150 to pay school fees for her daughter. The loans committee has approved the loan and her repayment period will be 10 months.",F,150,lender,Health,1 Kenya,"Dorcas is 49 years old. She is married with 3 children. She is an active member of the ACK church and works closely with the church in uplifting the living standards of different communities.
Her personal calling is to counsel the youth especially the downtrodden. She counsels the parking boys in Thika town and the young boys always get food at times when they are hungry and get solace from her, especially when faced with difficult situations. To the parking boys they see her as their MOTHER and she has acquired the name AUNTIE DORCAS.
She gives refuge to the women who face domestic violence. She visits rural groups and trains them on the dangers of early marriages for girls, female genital mutilation and the HIV/Aids scourge.
While she is a trained nurse and works in a hospital, she gets time to carry out community work and to assist the needy at community level. In addition, Dorcas farms on her small plot of land. She gets enough food for her family and for feeding those who visit her, especially the women who run to her house in the night due to domestic violence.
To reach more women Dorcas joined Revelation Women Group. She is the Patron of this group. Through the group, WEEC has been able to reach out to more women in the landless area.
Dorcas applied for a school fees loan of USD150, which she is currently paying on a monthly basis. Now, she has applied for an Enterprise loan of USD750 to enable her dig a water borehole. Her plan is to irrigate her small plot of land throughout the year to enable her to grow various types of vegetables for her family, for the people who are hungry and for the market. She intends to repay her loan in monthly installments.",F,750,lender,Agriculture,1 Kenya,Dorcas is a married mother of four. She sells grocery for a living and will use the loan to diversify and expand her business.,F,400,lender,Food,1 Kenya,"Dorcas is a single mother of two children in primary school. She started her business in 2004 after separating from her husband. She received her initial capital from the proceeds of her tobacco harvest. With her first loan of $143 from PEMCI, she has increased her stock in order to improve her income and broaden her capital base in the business. The income generated from the business is used to support her family, especially the children.",F,150,partner,Food,0 Kenya,"Dorcas is a thirty four year old lady, who is married with four beautiful girls. The elder one is in primary seven, the second born is in primary four, the third born is in primary two, and the last born is in baby class. She runs Arise and Shine Boutique in Malaba town, a few meters from PEMCI offices.
She started her business in 2005 with capital of about $300 from her husband. She sells new ladies', children's and mens clothing, after buying them from Kampala Uganda. Her customers are mainly truck drivers who buy them as gifts for their loved ones, and also general travelers, because she is strategically located on the main road to Uganda.
She says she goes home with an average of ten dollars every day in profit from her business.
With her first loan from KIVA through PEMCI, Dorcas plans to stock her business with a diversity of products so that she meets the needs of her different customers.",F,1200,lender,Clothing,1 Kenya,"Dorcas is married with 4 children. She is the vice chairperson of the group and an active member of her local church. Her first born operates a salon business and the other three are in school. She gets income from selling milk from dairy cows which she has been rearing for the last ten years. The business has helped her to raise and educate her children even though sometimes she stretches to supplement the income. She is planning to buy high quality feeds for the animals which are available in the market. Its a reality that when animals are well fed, they increase the productivity level leading to increased income. She plans to repay the loan in installments",F,300,lender,Agriculture,1 Kenya,"Dorcas Wairimu is 35 years old, married, and has 3 children. All of her children are in school except one who is still too young to be in school. She is the breadwinner of the family since her husbands job is not very stable. She operates a caf in an open air market, and also delivers fresh food to clients who are too busy to come to her caf. There is a high demand for her sweet food and at times she is not be able to satisfy the high demand. Her customers also demand other kinds of foods, which are not on her menu at the moment. She is, therefore, planning to expand her caf by providing fruit salads to the clients. This will enable her to get more income. The increased income will enable her to save for her childrens school fees. She is requesting a loan of US$600. She will use US$300 to purchase the foodstuffs needed to add more meals to her menu, US$100 to renovate her caf and buy more utensils, US$100 to hire two assistants to help her in the cooking and delivery of the food, US$50 to acquire the necessary licenses from the local government, and she will get a gas burner worth US$50. She is hard working and capable of repaying the loan.",F,600,lender,Food,1 Kenya,"Dorcas Wanja Ngugi is a 35 year old single mother of two children, who are both in school. Dorcas reached grade 8 and was unable to continue because she lacked the school fees. Dorcas sells curtains, fabric (commonly known as ""vitenge"") and bedcovers from Tanzania, a neighboring country. She has had this business for some time and the returns are impressive. She would like to purchase her goods in bulk because transport costs are expensive but can't afford to do this without more capital. Though Dorcas was not able to go to college she has attended a business training course organized by the Ebony Foundation. She is requesting a loan of US$1200: $400 to buy curtains, $300 to buy fabric, $400 to buy bedcovers and $100 for transport. Dorcas is a budding entrepreneur. She is a very hardworking lady and wants to save money for her children's education.",F,1200,lender,Retail,1 Kenya,"Dorcas was born in Empuyiankat 43 years ago. She has grown up in this village and missed formal education because her parents did not see the importance of sending their daughters to school. She got married when she was 17 years old and she is lucky she has only 6 children. She is a choir member of PCEA church Empuyiankat. Dorcas is a strong member of Inkramat women's groups and an active member who participates in every group activity. The group works with WEEC, thus they have been able to receive trainings on basic business skills and livestock management.
After the training, Dorcas started a small retail shop, where she sells vegetables and other basic household items. Dorcas and her husband also rear steers. On average, the family keeps 15 steers and sells 4 every month. Due to the favorable climatic conditions and ready market after the reopening of the Kenya Meat Commission by the Kenya Government, Dorcas wants to increase the number of steers to at least 26 in a period of eight months.
She successfully repaid her Kiva loan of USD 450 and she would like to buy 6 more medium-sized steers at a cost of USD700. The fattened steers will be sold after 4 months and the proceeds will be used to purchase more steers. This will form a good capital base and will put the family in a better financial position.",F,700,lender,Agriculture,1 Kenya,"Dorene is twenty-three years old, single with no children. She is a college graduate and also the secretary of her women's group. She has demonstrated a lot of commitment to the group's activities. Despite her young age, Doreen is very hardworking and has a desire to succeed in life especially through business. She started her business of selling GNLD products a year ago immediately after college. When asked why she decided to venture into the world of business at such an early age and being educated, she had this to say: `my desire is to become a renowned business woman not only in Kenya but the entire region and I believe with KIVA this dream is realistic.' She now needs a loan of USD 150 to buy more GNLD products.",F,150,lender,Retail,1 Kenya,"Dorine Adhiambo Okelo is a 27-year-old mother of two children. Her husband works as a carpenter. Their children attend junior school. Under her care is her younger sister who is currently pursuing a tailoring course.
She earns her living by selling re-tailored second-hand clothes. The business is located inside her home premises in a slum residential area in Mombasa. Her business activities include buying old second-hand clothes, which she uses to cut up and make new garments. Primarily, she makes childrens items, which she sells in bulk to retailers in various markets. She began this business nine months ago. All her earnings combined with her husbands all go to catering for the familys basic needs and nothing is left for business growth purposes.
Dorine would like to increase her income by taking advantage of the high demand for the items she sells by producing more clothes for sale. She therefore is requesting a loan of US$700 to assist her in her business expansion plans. The funds will be used to purchase a sewing machine and more clothes for re-tailoring. She will now be able to offer employment to her sister and see to the development of her business. She is hardworking and capable of repaying the loan.",F,700,lender,Services,1 Kenya,"Dorine used to work in Kenyas capital, Nairobi, a busy industrial center. She was employed by an embroidery firm and learned how to use a variety of embroidery machines. Always ambitious, Dorine put aside a small portion of her salary every month to save for her own embroidery machine. She planned to move to a place near her rural home where she knew that embroidery work was not offered when she was able to purchase her own machine.
Once she became the proud owner of an embroidery machine in 2003, Dorine moved her business to Riat Market. In 2006, she used some of her savings from her embroidery business to start a new shoes business alongside her embroidery business. By 2007, she had accumulated enough money to start a new clothing business alongside her embroidery and new shoes businesses.
Although she is only 25, Dorine would like to start training other young women to embroider. In order to do this, she needs to buy another machine. A nice machine costs $230 dollars. She has over $70 in the bank. When she gets her loan, she plans to combine her savings and her loan and buy a new embroidery machine. Shell take students in the morning and evening. With the profits from her business and the monthly fee her students will pay her, shell be able to pay back her loan.
Her additional profits will be used to send her two young children to private schools. As a single mother, Dorines business success is the only way her children will be able to attend school. This new sewing machine will ensure that she is able to continue paying their school fees.",F,4000,lender,Clothing,0 Kenya,"Dorothy Agoch is a 39-year old entrepreneur. She lives in Kisumu, Kenya with her husband and seven children. She specializes in making the local favorites, chapattis (fried flat bread) and mandazzis (fried sweet dough). She has been in this business for the last 8 years and her business income has increase from the initial $3 to $6 a day. The location of her business, within the community for many years, has gained her a good reputation and a wide customer base. Her business has done quite well with the advantage of loan funds, which enabled her to increase her stock and materials. With hard work and perseverance, Dorothy has created a successful income-generating business. She is proud of her accomplishments and that she is now able to contribute to paying household expenses and school fees for her children. Dorothy has requested a $600 loan to further expand her business.",F,600,partner,Food,0 Kenya,"Douglas Ndungu, aged 46, is married with 5 children. He has an educational background of grade 7. He runs a beef butchery shop. His business was affected by the Rift Valley Fever disease and the sales went very low and sometimes none at all. Despite this, he has to educate and maintain his family, which is becoming more and more difficult with no source of income. He has been a member of Eb-F, where he has received several loans and repaid them promptly. He would now like to start tomato farming but lacks capital. He requests a US $1200 loan and budgets as follows: US $300 hires land; US $600 buys tomato seed, fertilizer and insecticide; US $300 for plowing. This will give him income soon as it takes only three months to mature. He is focused and will repay the loan.",M,1200,lender,Agriculture,1 Kenya,"Douglas Yungo is 41 years old and is living with HIV within the Kibera slums. He is also a widower. He has three children and also takes care of three orphans who were left in his care by his brother who died due to HIV related complications. In the year 2004, Douglas was privileged to go through two days training on local manufacture of detergents and shampoo, which was conducted by the Methodist Church in Kibera. The training showed how and where to get the ingredients for detergent and shampoo making. Douglas got $5 grant in kind from a friend, which he used to buy the ingredients he needed. He was able to make 20 litres of the detergent. He packed and sold this in plastic containers of 250 and 500 grams that he had collected from a nearby bar within Kibera for $1.50. He also decided to give samples of the detergent he had made to the neighboring organizations, schools and churches in order to advertise his products. It is now two years since he started selling the detergents and shampoo at Fort Jesus, Kibera. He has a wider market, ranging from his neighbors, the schools and churches within Kibera. Douglas uses a wooden stick and plastic containers (basins) to mix his ingredients. He produces 80 litres of the detergent and shampoo in a week and sells in small quantities. He packs in containers of 20, 10 and 5 litres which he sells to his clients in schools, churches and organizations. He also packs in containers of 100 500 grams that he sells at an affordable price ($1.50) to his neighbors. He usually stores the little amount that remains in the plastic containers that he uses to mix the ingredients because of the shortage of storage containers. Douglas sees that his business is expanding and has a wider market. Given the loan of $ 75, he plans to purchase 30 plastic containers of 20 litres each to enable him store and pack his detergents and shampoo. Douglas has recently been approached by a group of women and youth who have been sponsored by a health clinic within the Kibera slums, to teach them on the process of making the detergent and shampoo. Douglas sees this as a move that will not only increase his income but also positively impact his community, which is characterized by idleness especially among the youth. Douglas also plans to transfer this skill to his children. The loan is repayable within 6 12 months.",M,75,partner,Manufacturing,0 Kenya,"Dr Beatrice Bonyo an Obstetrician gynecologist is one of the senior member and a consultant to the other junior network members of the KMET Network. She has applied for the loan to purchase a modern X-Ray machines costing US $ 10,418. She is ready to top up the balance from her savings to purchase this very essential equipment to improve the quality Reproductive health services at her facility.",F,2000,partner,Health,0 Kenya,"Dr. Andrew Otieno (standing second left with clinic staff) is a general practitioner managing his own private facility in Kisumu, Kenya. He is 44 years old and lives with his wife and six school-aged children. He was employed by the government for the first three years of his career. He then worked at a private hospital for six years before starting his own practice in 1997. He ran his current facility on a part-time basis using it primarily for admissions, while his main practice remained in the center of town. He gradually focused his efforts on building a larger out-patient facility at this location and eventually shifted his client base here three and a half years ago. Besides general curative services and an observation ward, his facility offers a pharmacy, a laboratory and maternal and child health services. Dr. Otieno attributes his success to hard work, perseverance and assistance from KMETs/KIVA's previous three microfinance loans. He has been able to expand his facility, increase the number of services he offers and improve the quality of care he provides. Dr. Otieno also carries a very good reputation from his many years of good work in Kisumu. His practice continues to grow as he attracts more corporate clients as well as private patients. Dr Otieno plans to purchase additional of drugs in bulk with US $1200 he has applied for.
Disclaimer: Due to recent events in Kenya, the security situation in many communities remains unsettled, affecting many local businesses. Lenders to this entrepreneur should be aware that this loan may represent a higher default risk, and should be willing to accept this additional risk in making their loan.",M,1200,partner,Health,0 Kenya,"Dr. Andrew Otieno is a general practitioner managing his own private health facility in Kisumu, Kenya. He is 43 years old and lives with his wife and six school-aged children. Dr. Otieno was employed by the government for the first three years of his career. He then worked at a private hospital for six years before starting his own practice in 1997. He ran his health facility on a part-time basis using it primarily for admissions, while his main practice remained in the center of town. He gradually focused his efforts on building a larger out-patient facility as a part of this practice, and eventually shifted his clientele there two and a half years ago. Besides general curative services and an observation ward, his facility offers a pharmacy, a laboratory, and maternal and child health services. Dr. Otieno attributes his success to hard work, perseverance and assistance from KMETs previous two microfinance loans. He has been able to expand his facility, increase the number of services he offers, and improve the quality of care he provides. Dr. Otieno carries a very good reputation from the many years of good work he has been doing in Kisumu. His practice continues to grow as he attracts more corporate clients as well as private patients. As he plans to further expand his facility, he has applied for a loan of Kshs 84,000 (approximately US$1.200) to purchase more advanced laboratory equipment, primarily, a calorimeter, in order to accommodate a greater variety of patients and more difficult cases.",M,1200,partner,Health,0 Kenya,"Dr. Bakunda is a 60-year-old general practitioner who runs his own private facility in Kakamega, in Western Kenya. He is married to two wives and has six children. He was employed by the government for one year then worked at a private hospital for two years before starting his own practice in 1980 in Kisumu, Kenya. He ran his initial facility for seventeen years.
Dr Bakunda gradually focused his efforts on building an ultra-modern facility. With his small savings, plus 500,000 Kenyan Schillings (approximately US $7142) he received from KMET, he eventually shifted his clientele base to a more spacious facility in Kakamega, Kenya two and a half years ago. Since then he has never looked back and is proud of his success.
To cope with a large increase in patients over the last two years, he has taken on an additional 12 staff members. His practice continues to grow as he attracts more corporate clients as well as private patients. He attributes his success to hard work, perseverance, and financial assistance from KMET. He has been able to expand his facility, increase the number of services he offers, and improve the quality of care he provides. To further expand his facility, he requires US $1200.",M,1200,partner,Health,0 Kenya,"Dr. Bonyo is 51 years old and lives with her husband and four children. She is an obstetrian/gynacologist and manages the Milimani Martenity and Nursing home in Kisumu, Kenya. She was employed by the government for fourteen years right after she graduated from university. Dr. Bonyo then opened her own private hospital in 2000, where she focused her efforts on building a larger out-patient facility. Besides general curative services and check-ups, her facility has a pharmacy, an x-ray machine, a laboratory, and maternal and child health services. Dr. Bonyo attributes her success to hard work, perseverance, and assistance from KMET through three previous loans that have allowed her to expand the clinic, increase the number of services it offers, and improve the quality of care it provides. Dr. Bonyo also carries a very good reputation from her many years of good work in Kisumu. Her practice continues to grow as she attracts more corporate clients as well as private patients. To further expand her healthcare facility and partly cover the costs of an ultra-sound machine, Dr. Bonyo has applied for a loan of US$1,200.",F,1200,partner,Health,0 Kenya,"Dr. Joseph Owola is the 51-year-old proprietor of Joe Medical Clinic in Bungoma, Kenya. He is married and lives with his wife and eight children. His wife is employed as a nurse at Bungoma District Hospital. After completing his training he was posted to Nyanza Provincial Hospital where he worked for three years before venturing into private practice. His clinic, located along the Kakamega-Bungoma road, serves more than 100 clients a day. To cope with increased clientele, Dr. Owola has employed four nurses to help him in the clinic. He offers a wide range of services including family planning, curative and preventive treatment, a laboratory and a pharmacy. He attributes his success to support from the KIVA/KMET partnership. He has been able to expand his facility, increase the number of services he offers and improve the quality of reproductive health services. To further expand his facility, he requires $1,200.
Disclaimer: Due to recent events in Kenya, the security situation in many communities remains unsettled, affecting many local businesses. Lenders to this entrepreneur should be aware that this loan may represent a higher default risk, and should be willing to accept this additional risk in making their loan.",M,1200,partner,Health,0 Kenya,"Dr. Nathan Matasi is an obs/ gynecology practitioner managing his own private facility in Kitale, Kenya. He is 47 years old and lives with his wife and four children. He initially set up a small clinic in the center of town but gradually moved to a larger facility to cope with increased clientele from the initial 10 clients a day to 30.
Dr. Matasi offers a wide range of health services including general medicine, family planning, maternal and child health services. He also has a pharmacy and a laboratory.
Dr. Matasi attributes his success to hard work, perseverance and assistance from KMETs two previous microfinance loans. He has received and fully paid back a total of Kshs 500,000 (approximately US $ 7140). As he plans to further expand and integrate other services in his facility, he has applied for a loan of US $ 1200.",M,1200,partner,Health,0 Kenya,"Dr. Odongo is an obs/ gynaecology practitioner who runs a reproductive health Centre in Nakuru, Kenya. He is 50-years old and lives with his wife and thirteen children (6 of whom are biological and 7 adopted - they are all currently in school). He trained as a medical doctor in 1981, after which he worked with the government for eleven years. He resigned from the government and started his own private facility in 1992. His facility has gradually expanded in the recent past owing to the previous microfinance loans he has received from KMET. He has been able to incorporate a number of other health services to his offering and improved the quality. Dr. Odongo carries a very good reputation from his many years of good work in Nakuru and his clientele base has grown from the the initial 5 per day to 15 per day. He now requires an additional US $1,200 to further expand his clinic.",M,1200,partner,Health,0 Kenya,"Dr. Owola is an obstetrics/gynecology practitioner managing his own private facility in Bungoma, Western Province, Kenya. He is 50 years old and lives with his wife and eight children. His wife is employed as a nurse in a government facility. After his training he was employed by the government and posted to Nyanza provincial Hospital in Kisumu, where he worked for three years. He then resigned from government and started his own private facility.
He has applied for a loan of Us $1,200 to renovate his facility, purchase additional furniture, increase the number of beds primarily for admissions, and to purchase a stock of drugs in bulk.",M,1200,partner,Health,0 Kenya,"Dr. Wotto is a general practitioner managing his own private facility in Machakos, Kenya. He is 53 years old and lives with his wife and two children. He trained as a medical doctor from 1974 to 1979 and initially worked with the government for 10 years.
In 1989 Dr. Wotto set up his own clinic in Machakos town (pictured). He offers a wide range of services including general curative services, family planning, and maternal and child health services. He also runs a pharmacy, a laboratory, and a theatre.
Dr. Wotto attributes his success to hard work, perseverance, and assistance from KMETs previous two microfinance loans. He needs another US $1200 to purchase stocks of drugs and integrate other services into his facility.",M,1200,partner,Health,0 Kenya,"Duke Guto Mose is a 26-year-old married man with two children. One is in junior school while the other is too young to be in school. Duke operates a bodaboda business (bicycle transport services). His wife sells vegetables by the roadside to supplement the meagre income her husband makes from his transport business. They live in a one-room house but they would like to change this and save for their childrens education. Duke plans to open a kiosk where his wife can sell her vegetables. This will enable her to increase her stock. Currently, she closes early, especially if its raining, since she has no cover. This will increase their sales and thus their income. He requests a US$450 loan: $30 will be used to lease the kiosk, $50 to install shelves, $320 to buy stock, $20 for transport, and $30 for their home use. He is focused and will repay the loan.",M,450,lender,Food,1 Kenya,"DUNCAN KARIUKI MURAGE is a 28 year old van driver. Duncan lives with his wife and their three children as well as both his parents. He is employed as a casual laborer driving a public service vehicle.
Duncans meager earnings cannot support his family's daily needs and still send his children to school. He is under a lot of financial strain trying to make ends meet for his family. His wife stays at home.
Duncan would like to open a general merchandise shop for his wife to increase their income and enable them meet their family responsibilities, but he lacks the necessary funds. He requests a loan of US$ 1200 : US $ 900 to buy stock; US $ 200 to put in shelves and decorate; US $ 50 to get business license; and US $ 50 to transport stock to the shop.",M,1200,lender,Retail,1 Kenya,"DUNCAN MWANGI is a 44year old married farmer. He lives with his wife and five children. Two of his children could not finish school for lack of school fees. The girl got married at an early age and the boy does manual labor. This made Duncan and his wife Naomi start building savings to educate the three younger siblings. They joined the Suma group who introduced them to Eb-f where they started a savings plan. Duncan got a loan and bought a dairy cow, which provided income and also provided milk for the family. He was cooperative and repaid his loan while he continued to build his savings with Eb-f. The local dairy firm covers a large milk collection area. This makes it difficult to conserve the milk before collection later in the day because high temperatures sometimes making the milk go bad. The dairy firm has approved his proposal to start a milk collection depot but he lacks capital. Duncan requests for a US $1200 loan to buy a milk cooler. This will create a job as well as an income to educate his children. He is an aspiring farmer and will repay the loan.",M,1200,lender,Agriculture,1 Kenya,"During the month of May 2006, James Owiso, 37, got his first loan from Kiva lenders for USD 200. With this loan from Kiva lenders, James Owiso was able to purchase a weighing machine worth Ksh 3000 (USD 40). He also wanted to purchase a fridge, but the balance was not enough to purchase it. The balance of the loan was returned to Kiva so that after he finished repaying the loan for the weighing machine, he could apply for another loan from Kiva lenders to purchase the fridge.
Thankfully, the weighing machine has helped him a lot, since he doesnt have to borrow a weighing machine like he used to. Also, he has attracted more customers due to his sincerity with the measurement of goods with the machine.
James has finished repaying his loan, and Action Now Kenya can testify that he has a good record in repaying his loan. Furthermore, he needed no remainders on his repayment date; and he has never defaulted.
For now James Owiso does not need the fridge because of the frequent blackouts in Kibera where he works. In Kibera, most of the power was disconnected due to illegal connection of power, so it will take a longer period before power is restored. James looks forward to getting an additional loan of Ksh.30,000. With this loan, he will be able to purchase stock for his shop, including items like utensils, blankets, stationery, etc. These are the items which are high in demand.
The repayment period is 12 months.
Disclaimer: Due to recent events in Kenya, the security situation in many communities remains unsettled, affecting many local businesses. Lenders to this entrepreneur should be aware that this loan may represent a higher default risk, and should be willing to accept this additional risk in making their loan.",M,450,lender,Retail,1 Kenya,"Edith is a 20 year old single mother of twins. She is educated up to O level, having had children at an early age. She wants to ensure that her children never lack the basic necessities. This loan would help her to set up a proper kiosk and diversify her menu.",F,175,lender,Food,1 Kenya,"Edith Mwando is 20 years old. She is the first-born in a family of three. Her father is pastor of a small local church and earns just enough to feed his family. Edith is jobless and would like to start her own business in order to support herself and help her father in catering for the family.
Edith graduated from college with a diploma in Information Technology and she is very talented in programming, website design and development. She has been doing web development jobs for small enterprises in Nakuru, Kenya and she now wants to establish a web design and development business. She does not have access to a computer and other accessories required in such a business. She is requesting a loan of US$ 350 to purchase a used computer. Edith is focused and will be able to repay the loan.",F,350,lender,Services,1 Kenya,"Edith Nduta Ngugi was born 38 years ago. She is married with four children; the first-born is in school at Consolata Shrine College where she is doing an accounting course. The other three children are in secondary school. She is a committed Christian and a leader of many local groups. She joined WEEC five years ago and since then she has enjoyed and benefited from WEEC loans. Currently, she has five dairy cows, which produces an average of 60 litres of milk daily. She sells the milk to Kiambaa Dairy Co-operative Society at the rate of $0.29. Edith practices poultry farming where she has 300 chickens which demand a lot in terms of their feed. She has therefore applied a loan of $1200, with which she intends to purchase a dairy cow and animal feeds for her dairy cows.",F,1200,lender,Agriculture,1 Kenya,"Edith Wanjiru Kamau is married with two children who are all in junior school. After completing her high school education, she obtained a diploma in textile and fashion design because she has a passion and talent for this work. Until last year, she successfully ran a tailoring shop in a busy rural shopping center in a district called Molo in Kenya. But she was forced to close down due to insecurity in the area. The insecurity was caused by violent tribal clashes between different communities. She decided to shift her business to Nakuru, a town which is more stable. She enjoys making people look good and feel confident by creating both traditional, authentic designs and modern trendy designs. Though she has already started her new business, she lacks some crucial equipment and the right locality to be fully operational. She is requesting a loan of $1200: $1000 to purchase electric sewing machines and $200 to rent and redesign her tailoring shop. She believes that her business will do well in couple of months. This will enable her to repay the loan. She is hardworking, focused and very organized.",F,1200,lender,Clothing,1 Kenya,"Edward Murage Muya, age 33, is married with 2 children. He is unemployed and wants to start a tangible business. Through Eb-F he has received mentoring and the skills to help him run a sustainable business that will assist him to care for his family and run the business. This is the proposed budget of US $900: US $100 to pay rent; US $500 to buy materials for a small kiosk; US $220 buys goods for the kiosk; US $80 for transport and contingencies. He is a serious man and deeply focused and will repay the loan.",M,900,lender,Food,1 Kenya,"Edwin is 32 years old, married, with three children .He operates a retail shop business that is located in Muhoroni, a suburb within Kisumu town. He has been operating this business for over three years. He started the business with a start up capital of Ksh 10,000, which he acquired through a loan from a microfinance institution. Currently, the business has a working capital of over Ksh 20,000.
The post election violence that rocked Kenya severely affected the western part of the country where his business is located. Forced to close down due to the violence, Edwin is now seeking a refinancing loan and an extension on his loan period in order to rebuild his business. His business is steadily picking up and he is working hard to maintain good customer relations with his key clients. He intends to expand his shop in a more stable environment in order to cushion the effects of any business shocks that might come up in future.
As group leader, he has displayed superior leadership qualities, able to sustain group cohesiveness throughout the crisis period. He particularly serves as a motivating force to the other group members, encouraging them to forge ahead with reconstruction and expansion of their businesses despite the chaos left by the crisis. He is very much aware that as the group leader he should demonstrate by example, ensuring that his business succeeds so that other group members can emulate.",M,3475,partner,Retail,0 Kenya,"Ejidia Nyambura Muragu is 39 years old. She is married with 2 children; one is in the final year of primary school, while the other in secondary school. She is an active choir member of the ACK church and also a member of St. Jude women's group.
She intends to buy 40 local chickens for eggs. It is for this reason she has applied for a loan of USD 150 to make this a reality. She hopes to sell the eggs to the local residents and at a local market. She is willing to repay this loan in a period of 12 months.",F,150,lender,Agriculture,1 Kenya,"Eliana Wairimu Wachira is 45 years old and mother of three. She is married and together with her husband she sells ""mitumbas"" (second-hand clothes) and used shoes. Despite having to take care of two children who are still in school, she also has two grandchildren to look after.
It was Eliana who started this business; later she asked her husband who didn't have a job to come and give a helping hand. The business has been prosperous given that they are the only ones in that neighborhood with that kind of shop.
Eliana would like to expand her business so as to be able to take better care of her family. She also intends to send her remaining school-aged children to a better school but all this will be possible only if she earns enough. With all her projections, she is requesting a loan of US$ 1200. Her budget breakdown is as follows:
$400 to buy two bales of secondhand jackets and shirts,
$200 to buy a bale of secondhand shoes,
$500 to buy a bale of secondhand carpets, and
$100 to renovate her place of business.",F,1200,lender,Clothing,1 Kenya,"Elicba was born 34 years ago, and is a single mother of one child. She is a member of Gatangara Mars. She is a farmer who raises oxen and grows vegetables. She wants to start a vegetable business with a capital of USD150. Meanwhile, she has been selling milk and the few vegetables she has left over after feeding her family. The loan will enable her to increase her vegetable stock and thus increase her income. She is willing to repay this loan within the loan term.",F,150,lender,Agriculture,1 Kenya,"Elidah Wanjiku.is 45 years old, married with 3 children. She is a religious woman. She is an active treasurer of Happy Millennium Women group and contributes very well to the group. She earns her living through business selling green grocery items. She buys vegetables including potatoes, kale, spinach, tomatoes, onions, and carrots.
Elidah is applying for a loan of USD 150 to do this. She is willing to repay this loan within 10 months.",F,150,lender,Food,1 Kenya,"Elijah Ratemo is 32 years old married with two children. He has two more children depending on him. He dropped out of school due to lack of school fees. He decided to start his own business of selling charcoal and vegetables in the slum area where he lives.
The business is doing well and still expanding, though he does not have enough capital to cater for his clients' demand for his goods. He has realized that there is a ready market for the products and it's therefore prudent for him to expand the business.
He is requesting US$ 1050 to expand. He intends to add more stock with US$ 900 and build a few structures with US$ 150 to accommodate the new stock. He is hard-working and capable of repaying the loan.",M,1050,lender,Retail,1 Kenya,Elishipah Njambi Waweru is 26 years old. She is married with 3 children; all of which are in primary school. She is a group member of Ngurueni Junior women group and a Catholic Church member. She is a farmer by profession. She has five goats and two dairy cows that produce five litres of milk where she sells her surplus to her local community. She has applied for a loan of USD150 to purchase a pig. She is willing to repay this loan in a period of 10 months.,F,150,lender,Agriculture,1 Kenya,"Eliud Njuguna Nduta 36 years old and married with two children. Both his children are in school and his wife is a housewife. Eliud sells milk to the neighborhood in the morning and evening. He buys the milk from farmers who have dairy cows and sells from door to door.
Despite trying to sell off all the milk by the end of each day, he often has some leftover and to him this is a loss because it will have spoit by the next day . He also has no decent containers for the milk and this makes some potential customers shy away from buying his milk.
Eliud really wants to get rid of these setbacks by buying a fridge and more decent containers, for which he needs money. He is requesting a loan of $550 which he will use in the following ways:
$400 to buy a special type of milk cooler used mostly by people selling fresh milk
$150 to buy decent containers.
Eliud is hardworking and determined to reach his goals and will be able to pay back the loan.",M,550,lender,Food,1 Kenya,"Eliud Ouma owns the Purple Hut salon located on a retail street in the town of Kangemi. His clients are primarily middle-class women. He offers plaiting, haircuts and sets, manicures and pedicures. His business challenges are lack of capital and strong competition in the area. He is using the proceeds of 20,000 Kenyan shilling loan to increase his stock of beauty products. His business goals are to have a larger salon in Kangemi and to establish some satellite branches. Eliud has a wife and a 3-year-old son. He describes himself as smart, hardworking and successful. He serves as the chairman of the Carnivore 2009 borrowing group.",M,275,partner,Services,0 Kenya,"Elizabeth Atieno Onyango is 30 years and is married to a mechanic. She lives in the Kaptenbwa slum with her husband. Most people in the area use paraffin stoves to cook and for light. Elizabeth has specialized in paraffin selling and has a very established clientele. She buys paraffin on a large scale then sells to customers depending on their demand. She buys the paraffin from a petrol station in town and transports it to her shop.
She is requesting a loan of US $300. With the loan she intends to expand her business. With US $230 she will buy more paraffin, US $50 will be used to buy more storage tanks and US $20 to transport paraffin from town to her premises. She is a hardworking lady and is very determined to make ends meet.",F,300,lender,Retail,1 Kenya,"Elizabeth Bambi Nzioka is 37 years old and mother of eight. She is married and seven of the children are of school-going age. Elizabeth sells water in their neighborhood whereas her husband is a security officer. Before she got married, she used to help her parents run their grocery. Elizabeth and her husband encounter difficulties providing the basic necessities for their children.
Elizabeth has identified a place where she can open a little grocery store, and given that she has a sufficient background in this business, she feels sure of utilizing the potential. Her problem however is lack of capital so she is requesting a loan of US$ 500. She intends to lease the grocery shop with $100 and use the remaining $400 to stock the shop. She also intends to continue with her work of selling water just outside the shop. With the increased income she will be in a position to repay the loan and also have enough to cater for family needs.",F,500,lender,Food,1 Kenya,"Elizabeth Denga is a 51 year-old widow who supports four children in her household. She has two school-aged children still living at home and is also raising two of her orphaned grandchildren.
Elizabeth spent two years learning the art of dressmaking and has been offering her tailoring services within her community in Kisumu, Kenya since 1986. She specializes in womens dresses and mens shirts. Despite the stiff competition in her area, Elizabeth has always been able to keep old customers and attract new ones. She constantly updates her materials to keep up with the current fashions, offers a wide selection of patterns, and maintains a good stock to meet her customers demands.
She plans to supplement her income with small sales of beans and rice from her tailor shop. The profit from the sale of these staple foods, which require very little care, will help pay for school fees and other household expenses, especially during the slow season when orders are low.",F,600,partner,Services,0 Kenya,"Elizabeth Denga is a 52-year-old widow who supports four children in her household. She specializes in making womens dresses and mens shirts. Elizabeth is well-known for her dressmaking skills in the community, and this has attracted old and new customers. She constantly updates her materials to keep with the current fashions, offers a wide selection of patterns, and maintains a good stock to meet her customers demands. Her hard work, years of experience, and well-established client base ensure that her business will continue to succeed. Elizabeth plans to expand her business to include sale of new fast-moving ready-made clothes. She plans to use half of her next loan of US $700 to purchase a stock of ready-made clothes and also to invest part of it in buying new patterns and materials.
Disclaimer: Due to recent events in Kenya, the security situation in many communities remains unsettled, affecting many local businesses. Lenders to this entrepreneur should be aware that this loan may represent a higher default risk, and should be willing to accept this additional risk in making their loan.",F,700,partner,Clothing,0 Kenya,"Elizabeth is 40 years old. She is married with 5 children; two are in primary school, 2 in secondary school and the other in college. She is an active member of St. Jude women group and a C.W.A member in the local Catholic Church. Elizabeth is a farmer by occupation. She has one dairy cow that produces 3 litres of milk per day and which she sells at USD0.3 per litre. She also grows cereals and vegetables which she sells them. This gives her an average income of USD50 per month. She needs USD150 as loan to add up what she has to purchase a dairy cow. She is willing to repay this loan in a span of one year and on a monthly basis.",F,150,lender,Agriculture,1 Kenya,"Elizabeth is 48 years old. She is married with 5 children. She is an active member of St. Jude women's group which she joined after being encouraged by her colleagues and advised on the importance of that group and what it does to empower women.
Elizabeth is a farmer who plants peas, mangoes, avocados and vegetables for both home consumption and for commercial purposes. She sells her produce at a local market near her homestead. She also has two pigs. She plans to intensify pig rearing and sell to Farmers Choice and therefore she has applied for a loan of USD 150 which she intends to use to buy two piglets. She is willing to repay this loan over a period of 12 months.",F,150,lender,Agriculture,1 Kenya,"Elizabeth is 48 years old. She is married with four children. She is the chairlady of Mothers Union in Githagara church. She is also an active member of Cecilia Mothers Kahuro. Elizabeth is a hardworking woman who grows sugarcane, arrowroots, sweet potatoes, tomatoes, cabbages and peas. She sells her produce to the nearby market and the profit she makes enables her to pay school fees for her children. She wants a loan of $150 to buy chemicals to prevent her produce from being destroyed by worms. She intends to pay back the loan in 10 months.",F,150,lender,Agriculture,1 Kenya,"Elizabeth is 49 years old. She is separated from her husband, and has eight children. She also takes care of her grandchild since her mother is unemployed and unable to raise her. Elizabeth lives in the Kibera slums of Nairobi. Elizabeth started her business of selling second-hand shoes back in 1984 when she separated from her husband, who was not taking care of the family, but was instead misusing the family resources and the small amount of income that was available. Elizabeth approached a friend and borrowed some money from her to start a business. The friend gave her Ksh 2000 (USD $31), which she used to buy twenty pairs of shoes to start her business. Elizabeth was going on well with her business until mid this year when her house caught fire from a neighboring house, and everything in her house burned, including her stock of shoes and the money she had saved, Ksh 6000 (USD $88), which she intended to use to expand her business. Elizabeth is now requesting Kiva lenders, through Action Now Kenya, to lend her Ksh 10,000 to restart her business. She is also targeting the coming festive season in December, which she believes will uplift her business status due to increased demand for shoes and the high sales expected. She believes that she will make a reasonable profit which she will use to feed her family and also expand her business. Elizabeth is also requesting a grace period of two months, that is December 2007 and Jan 2008, in order to use any profit gained during this time to rebuild her stock of shoes. She will start to repay her loan in the month of February 2008. The repayment period for this loan will be 12 months.",F,175,lender,Retail,1 Kenya,"Elizabeth is 50 years old. She is married with 4 grown children. She is a choir member of ACK church in Gatangara and is the chairlady of Gatangara Pluto women's group, a new but very active group. She has been trained on group leadership and she has shown good leadership skills. Her positive approach to the group activities has enabled the group to follow its constitution and to maintain a strong revolving fund.
Elizabeths main economic activity is farming. She grows cabbage, sukumawiki, passion fruit & bananas for sale at the local Gakira market. She earns USD 3 per day. Elizabeth is able to save USD 3 per month with her group and pay up the loans she gets from the revolving fund.
Elizabeth plans to intensify growing of vegetables and to grow more passion fruits. She has attended a two-day seminar, scheduled by the Ministry of Agriculture, on how to tender plant nurseries. She has applied for a loan of USD 150 to enable her buy good quality seeds, watering equipment and to tend the farm in readiness for planting. The loans committee has approved the loan. Elizabeth will repay the loan within a period of 10 months. The success of the project will have a positive impact on Elizabeths income level.",F,150,lender,Agriculture,1
Kenya,"Elizabeth is fifty years old, married and a mother of five children. Three of the children are grown up, out of school, and self reliant. Two children a son and a daughter are still in high school. She is a very religious and hardworking woman. She attends Anglican Church Nyakahura where she is a choir member. Elizabeth is small scale farmer. In her plot she grows maize, beans, potatoes and she rears two dairy cows. Her husband is a casual worker. She relies on the farm to feed her family, she sells milk which supplements her husbands earnings to pay for their children's school fees and also savings at group level. She is a committed and active member of st Consolota Women Group, demonstrated by her group meeting attendance. Elizabeth wants to do extensive investment for old age and she feels that if granted a loan of USD 225 she will venture in stock exchange market which will boost her savings to a great extent.",F,225,lender,Agriculture,1
Kenya,"Elizabeth is married and has 12 children.1 is in college, 4 are waiting to join college, 4 are in high school and 3 are in primary school. She is happy with her big family but its very challenging to meet their basic needs. She is a lady with a vision for her family and she believes all of the children will be successful. She prays and hopes that God will give all what it takes for them to be educated. She is in farming full time. She has a tea plantation farm that earns her USD150 per month. She also grows maize, beans and vegetable for family consumption. In addition she earns USD50 from her cows milk. This income is enough to meet all the school fees needed and therefore requests for a top up of USD450. She has paid the same amount in twelve month and knows she will manage to pay this other one through milk sales.",F,450,lender,Agriculture,1
Kenya,"Elizabeth is married with 5 children who have their own families. She is a founder member of St Consolata and has contributed a lot to its present performance. She feels very energetic and believes she can achieve any goal she sets to accomplish. She is an active farmer who raised her children through the little income from her land. She has 2 dairy cattle which has been a great pillar in her income generating activities. She takes care of orphaned grandchildren who are all in primary school under the free program. One is finishing this year and was accepted to join high school next year. Elizabeth believes she will mold them to be role models to other Aids orphans who are in the same situation. She has felt the free primary education impact, and she is very determined to pay high school fees even though challenging. She is willing to repay her loan through the milk sales on monthly basis.",F,400,lender,Agriculture,1
Kenya,"Elizabeth is married with six children. She is an active member of Nanapae Women Group. She is also an active member of Ole Polos Methodist Church and a choir member. All her children are in a public primary school where education is free.
Elizabeth started her business of steer rearing four years ago with a loan given by WEEC. Her husband also assisted her with some money which enabled her to buy three steers. She later added another two steers. One year later she took another loan and build up a small kitchen near her main house.
Last year she lost three steers due to an extended drought and is left with two steers. She was advised to venture into another business sector incase of another such natural disaster. She started a small bead hawking shop after selling her 2 steers. The bead business has been growing with increased demand. She is seeking a loan with which she would buy 2 steers and then after some time sell them for double the price and plough the profits back to the beads business. She would be comfortable paying her loan on monthly installments.",F,450,lender,Agriculture,1
Kenya,"Elizabeth is single and an active member of Kandisi Wisdom Women Group. She has been a member of Women Fighting Aids in Kenya (WOFAK) since 2003.She trains the youth in HIV/AIDS related matter to minimize the spread of this scourge.
She has a small retail shop where he sells phone accessories, and operates a payphone. As a trainer with WOFAK, she is given an allowance of USD.4 per day 3 days a week. Late last year, she had her business in Nairobi unfortunately; thieves broke into her shop and cleaned it.",F,210,partner,Retail,0
Kenya,"Elizabeth Kamau is a widow with three children; two in primary school and the other in secondary school. She is an active member of Elatia women group. Through a lot of hard work, she has been able to buy a house for her family.
She started a restaurant business in 2003 at Birika town with the help of her late husband. Her primary customers are the workers at stone-mining quarry, who pay her on a weekly basis. Because of increased demand, Elizabeth intends to build a permanent business structure in order to provide more comfortable surroundings for her customers while they are enjoying their meal, which will enable her to attract more customers. She has applied a loan of $450 to make this dream a reality. She is willing to repay this loan within a period of 12 months.",F,450,lender,Food,1
Kenya,"Elizabeth Komen is a 23-year-old entrepreneur. Elizabeth finished her ""o-level"" education and did a course in computers but could not get a job. She is not one to be put down easily, so she joined a group of spinners where she has learnt to spin fleece into wool.
There is a ready market for wool, and being a natural entrepreneur, Elizabeth would like to exploit this market . She needs a spinning wheel and enough fleece to start, but lacks funds. She is requesting a loan of US$ 800. This is her budget: US$ 500 to buy a spinning wheel, US$ 250 to purchase fleece and US$ 50 for transport.
Elizabeth is a visionary and will be able to repay the loan.",F,800,lender,Arts,1 Kenya,"Elizabeth Muyeki is 32 years old. She is married with three children. She went to school until the secondary level before enrolling at a computer course at Maasai Rural Training Centre. Elizabeth is very passionate about education and she has enrolled her two children in a primary school near her village. She has good leadership skills and she is the secretary of the group. She started her business three years ago, for which she bought two cows. She has been selling milk in Isinya: 12 litres a day at 28 cents per litre. Her business has helped her pay school fees for her children. She would like the loan of $450 so that she can expand her beadwork business to Mombasa and Nairobi where there are many tourists visiting.",F,450,lender,Arts,1 Kenya,"Elizabeth Njeri Itibi was born in 1967. She is married with five children. Two of her children are in college, two are in secondary school, and one is in primary school. She is a religious person and a member of the Catholic Women Association (CWA). She is an active member of the Morning Sunshine women's group. She joined WEEC in 2003 and was elected as the group secretary; a position she holds up to date. She assists in book keeping. She runs a retail shop at the Njunu shopping centre. She also rears dairy cows and currently, she has two dairy cows, that produce an average of 30 litres of milk daily. She sells her milk to the Kiambaa Dairy Farmers Co-operative Society Ltd at $0.29 per litre. She has applied for a loan of $900, which she intends to use to buy one dairy cow and some animal feed. She is willing to repay this loan within a period of 12 months.",F,900,lender,Agriculture,1 Kenya,"Elizabeth Njeri Mungai is a 35 year old entrepreneur who is married with two kids. All her kids are in school, the first born is in grade 6 while the last born is in grade 2. Her husband works as a bus driver on the Mwariki - Langa Langa route in Nakuru City. Due to her husband working long hours and making little income, Elizabeth decided to start her own business of slaughtering and selling meat to the local butcher and supermarkets. This has helped cater for the familys basic needs and pay the pending school fee arrears. Elizabeth wants to expand her business and is requesting a loan of US $1,000. Her budget is: US $900 to purchase more livestock for slaughter and US $100 to meet veterinary costs. She is a focused woman and will be able to repay the loan according to the time period given.",F,1000,lender,Food,1 Kenya,Elizabeth Sekeyian is married with four children. She is a supervisor of a flower farm at Isinya. She went up to form four before she got married. and is an active member of the Namumyak women group. Elizabeth also attends Noosuyian Baptist church. Two of Elizabeths children are in primary school. She started her business in 2002. She keeps 2 dairy cows which she bought with the help of WEEC loan and sells her milk at Isinya and Kitengela. The profits pay for her children's school and meets their basic needs. Elizabeth wants an additional loan of USD $150 to enable her to buy cow feed. She believes in hard work and is limited by animal feeds. She promoses to repay her loan on a monthly basis.,F,450,lender,Agriculture,1 Kenya,"Elizabeth Tapkelal is a 52-year-old married mother of five children. She resides in the sprawling slums of Kibera. Her husband works as a casual manual laborer within the slum. Only one of her children is in school (senior school grade two). The rest are unemployed and are still living with her. To supplement her husband's earnings, she runs a small business selling groceries and tap water for as much as $.50 for fifty-liter container. The income earned from her small business is insufficient to meet her familys growing needs. Her business is strategically situated within the slum, and it attracts a lot of customers. She sees great potential for future growth of her business, due to the fact that the slum houses are not connected with tap water and residents have to purchase water from vendors. Also, the slum population regularly consumes the vegetables and fruits she stocks. She plans to expand her business operations to capture this greater market potential and generate more income to help her family. In addition, she will also create employment for her children. She wants to open up more water taps and add to the volume of her stock. To accomplish her goal, Elizabeth is requesting a loan of $1,200: $300 to build a larger premise, $250 to pay for two water meters and pipes, $650 to buy more vegetables and fruits. Her determination to improve her familys welfare will steer her business to rapid growth so she will be able to repay the loan.",F,1200,lender,Food,1 Kenya,"Elizabeth Wakonyo is 47 years old. She is a single mother with three children; two in college and the other in secondary school. She joined WEEC 2002 and through this relationship she has benefited a lot from the organization. She is a religious person and a member ACK Church Mwimuto.
She has been selling second-hand clothes at Gikomba for the last 10 years. She sells these clothes at wholesale prices and deals with shirts, jeans and t-shirts. She earns an average profit of USD36 per bale but this depends on the type of clothes. She has applied a loan of USD600, with which she intends to purchase five more bales of clothes. She is willing to repay this loan within a period of 12 months.",F,600,lender,Clothing,1 Kenya,"Elizabeth was born forty-one years ago in Ngong, Nairobi. She is married with three children. She studied up to second year of secondary school. She works as a cook at Plainsview Academy where her children also go to school. She has resided at Nkoroi for the last fifteen years. Elizabeth has been trained in dressmaking and she does dressmaking as a part-time job. She has been previously given two loans from KIVA for her children's school fees and she has no outstanding balance at the moment. She now requires USD675 to pay this school fee.",F,675,lender,Services,1 Kenya,Elvin is a 28 year old single father of 3 who has a degree in Pharmacy. He is an inventive man with great ideas for the future and hopes that this loan will help him to purchase a proper laboratory in which he will conduct his research and possibly even find a cure for cancer!,M,250,lender,Health,1 Kenya,"Elvis Gichuru is a 50-year-old man who is married with 3 children, ages 26, 24, and 21, respectively. He resides and works in Kibera, Nairobi.
Elvis is a carpenter by profession who started his business in 1980. He obtained his carpentry experience from doing small jobs. Through patience and hard work, Elvis acquired the training and skills needed to venture into his own private business.
He began by making doors at the location that would eventually become his place of business. With Ksh 1,000, he invested in his carpentry skills. This saw him expand the building that he started in 1986 into a permanent workplace.
As his client base has grown, Elvis now intends to expand his workshop to accommodate larger client orders. He is confident that with a Kiva loan of Ksh 35,000, he will be able to purchase timber worth Ksh 20,000 and electronics such as bulbs, extension cables, and wires and sockets for Ksh 15,000.
Elvis also believes that with his improved business, his customers from the immediate community will benefit by being able to receive their orders in good time, as they themselves will not have to bring their own timber for their orders.
Elvis thanks Kiva lenders in advance, as he wishes to repay the loan in 14 months.",M,500,partner,Construction,1 Kenya,"Emily Dama is married with five children; two are in college, two in secondary school and the other is in primary school. She also went to college where she pursued her studies. She is an active member of Namelok Women's Group. She also attends church services at Baptist Church Noosuyian.
Emily started her beadwork business four years ago. She sells her beads at Maasai market in Nairobi and sometimes at Mombasa. Emily's business has assisted her to acquire a small concrete house and to build a rental house at Isinya town. Emily has twelve goats.
Emily got an order to sell beads and therefore she has applied for a loan of USD300 to buy beads. She is willing to repay this loan within a period of 12 months.",F,300,lender,Arts,1 Kenya,"Emily is 27 years old. She is married and has 2 children. Emily is the Treasurer of Church Road Women's Group. Her group has done well in 2006 with all the members having taken business loans and being able to repay them well. This is one group that has greatly encouraged the WEEC officers. For Emily 2006 was a year of great happenings. Emily was one of the beneficiaries of a KIVA LOAN. Her plan was to add stock from the 3 bags of second hand shoes that she was buying before to 8 bags. The loan that she received was utilized as per the application. Emily was able to increase her stock to 8 bags. The income she has generated from the increased sales has enabled her to rent her own stall. This is a great achievement for Emily for now she has more space for her business. Emilys clientele has also increased. Apart from the retailers from Kenya and Uganda, she now sells to the Chagga people of Tanzania. The other achievement is that she has been put in the list of those who have ready capital to purchase when the shoe consignment arrives. In her own words Emily states You people should come and see the work that you have enabled me to do. Thank you so much for your kind consideration and may God bless you abundantly. I am now fully employed. Soon I will need an extra hand for support. I will be leaving her to continue selling while I travel mostly to Mombassa to buy goods. For now my immediate plan is to buy more stock of shoes. Emily has applied for her second big loan. She has kept her repayment rate at 100%. The group has approved her loan of USD 750 that will be repaid within a period of 12 months.",F,750,lender,Retail,1 Kenya,"Emily is 38 years old. She is married with 2 children. She is an active member of Tabby Wonderful Mothers group.Sheis a primary school teacher. To increase her income, she has developed her plot of land. She grows maize and vegetables. She also has a dairy cow that gives 10 liters of milk. Her plan is to buy a high breed dairy cow that would give 20 liters of milk. The milk product has a good market as one liter of milk is going for USD 0.25. High quantity of milk will in effect increase the milk income. Emily will repay the loan in installments on a monthly basis",F,450,lender,Agriculture,1 Kenya,"Emily is a 38-year-old single woman who lives in the Kibera Slums in Nairobi. She takes care of three orphans from her sister, who died of stomach cancer in January 2006.
Emily has a small business selling second-hand curtains at an open-air market in Kibera called Toi market. She started this business in 2003. She had her own savings of about US $294, and with this money she was able to buy bales of second-hand curtains. At that time, one bale cost about $59. Emily then sublet a small stall that belonged to her friend, for which she had to pay only $12 per month. Later, her brother helped her to get her own stall, which she rents for $44 per month.
Emily is now asking for a loan of US $250 so that she can boost her business, maintain her stock, and make a profit. Since it is more costly to buy one bale compared to two or more, Emily believes that she can increase her business revenue by taking out a loan and buying multiple bales of curtains. With more stock, Emily will also be able to attract more customers. She will also be able to make more profit and thus make ends meet. And she will be able to pay her nephews school fees. At Toi market, the competition on curtains is not very high; therefore, those in need of curtains always come to her. She is also looking forward to expanding her business and eventually moving to a bigger stall, where she can accommodate all her wares. Being a businesswoman, she says that if all goes well she will consider starting another kind of business apart from what she is doing right now, in order to increase her income. She hopes that Kiva lenders will consider her. Emily is planning to repay the loan within a period of 10 months.",F,250,lender,Retail,1 Kenya,"Emily is aged 24 years; she is married and has 3 children. She is the assistant secretary of Osotua women group and she is responsible for ensuring that all members of the group at least know how to read and write. As of now a good number of members know how to write their names.
She sells items made of beads such as necklaces, bracelets, belts, and bags. Her main market is in Nairobi and Kajiado Town. In Nairobi, she sells in 3 open markets, 2 in Nairobi central business district and one in Westland. Her current sales are good and she is optimistic about increasing her sales as she continues venturing into new markets. She is happy so far because the sales are improving day by day.
Her plan is to hire additional people to assist her in making more decoratives items to sell. She has applied for a loan of USD 450 and will repay on a monthly basis.",F,450,lender,Arts,1 Kenya,"Emily is married and the mother of a one-year-old boy. She started a business selling firewood, charcoal and kerosene at the Myanga trading centre in 2005. Her customers are mainly hotel entrepreneurs and fishmongers. She gets her stock of firewood from several timber splitters and charcoal from hawkers. She gets kerosene from filling stations in Bungoma town.
She buys twenty liters of kerosene for 1,200 Kenya shillings(US$18) and sells at 1,500 (US$22), making a profit of 300 shillings (US$4) per 20 liters. It takes her about two days to sell the kerosene. Her profit from firewood sales ranges between 300 and 400 shillings (US$4-5). She also buys sacks of charcoal at 500 shillings (US$8) each and sell them in local tins called debe at 120 shillings (US$2) each. She earns a profit of about $1.50 per sack.
Through her business, Emily has been able to contribute to her local community self help group without missing an installment, pay her house rent and meet her familys basic needs. She plans to use proceeds from this loan to expand her stock and her proposal is recommended by PEMCI for your support.",F,100,lender,Retail,1 Kenya,"Emily Kiteyia Sitat is 58 years old. She is married with seven children; all of her children have gone to college. She is an active member of treasurer of Naeku women group and an elder of Baptise church Noosuyian. Emily is also a member of Nasaru group where she is campaigning against female genital mutilation.
Emily started her business six years ago. She started with USD58 as the initial capital. Emily took her first loan from WEEC and employed the women to make bead products for sale. Her business helped her to buy six steers and a small piece of land where she stays.
Emily wants to buy more beads in bulk for the business with a loan of USD450. She will use the additional inventory to service visiting tourists from Mombasa. She is willing to repay this loan within 12 months.",F,450,lender,Arts,1
Kenya,"Emily Moinket is an active secretary of Namunyak women's group. She is married with four children. All of her children are in secondary school. With the help of her business she has been able to send her children to boarding school. She has a business that is situated in Isinya market where she sells Lesos, Beads, and bead products. She also has another steer business which she started back in 1998; she has 12 steers, up from 3 steers that she started with. Emily went ahead and applied for a loan from WEEC of USD450 and increased her bead work. If given the present loan she will be able to increase her steer stock.",F,600,lender,Agriculture,1
Kenya,"Emily Naisoi Taineh is married with five children. She is an active member of Namunyak women group and is an assistant secretary of this group. She is also the chairlady of Lekishon group, which fought for the right of children in Kajiado district. With the help of her business, she has managed to send her children to boarding school. She started a salon business in 2002 and currently, she is experiencing high customer demand. It is for this reason that she has applied for a loan of USD450 to purchase 2 hair-dryers and 3 blow-dryers. She is willing to repay her loan for a period 12 months.",F,450,lender,Services,1
Kenya,"Emily was born 42 years ago. She is married to a wonderful husband and they are blessed with 2 children. She is a committed member of Kenyanjeru Starlight and it has assisted her to access loans and save some money. Emily had put most of her land to cultivating coffee and a small portion was left for growing the familys food crops. Emily had this to say about the coffee market For several years the market situation in the coffee industry has been so..low not improving at all its quite discouraging. The income I have been receiving from the sale of coffee has been the sameVERY LOW! For years life has been quite challenging, however, she managed to educate her two children who are yet to join High School.
Since 2004, Emily has been surviving on loans from her group and she set up a retail shop at Gacharageieni shopping centre and its doing very well. Emilys daily sales are between USD 115 160 and she says there is an opportunity for business growth. The sales are highest towards the end of the month and also during the market days. Emily would like to increase the sales by adding stock of those goods that go very fast such as rice and wheat flour.",F,150,partner,Retail,0
Kenya,"Emily was born 43 years ago in Isinya, Kenya. She is married with seven children; three are in secondary school while the other four are in public primary school in her town, Isinya. She is the group treasurer and assists her group in keeping accurate records. With her colleagues from her group, they joined WEEC in 2002 and the group has been active ever since.
Emily started rearing dairy cattle four years ago with a loan given by WEEC. Previously, she used to keep steers, but she realized that there might be another opportunity. She noticed that there was not an adequate supply of milk in her village, so she decided to rear dairy cows.
Emily practices Zero Grazing. This is a system of feeding cattle or other livestock in which freshly cut forage is brought daily to animals that are permanently housed instead of being allowed to graze. Her two dairy cows produce an average of ten litres daily. She was trained by WEEC on business management and by Kenya Dairy Board Team on dairy management. Due to a prolonged drought in the Kajiado District last year, Emily lost one dairy cow. She is now in need of USD 450 to replace her dairy cow. She sells her milk at Isinya town. She would like to repay her loan within a span of 12 months",F,450,lender,Agriculture,1
Kenya,"Emily was born in 1973. She is a widow and a mother of four all of which are schooling. She is a member of royal church of Rongai. She joined a womens group two years ago and she learned to cope with her financial matters after losing her husband in 2000.
She owns a garage and 2 rental houses in Rongai. Due to population increase in her area, she has taken this as an opportunity to build 2 more temporary rental rooms in order to pay for her children school fees.
She believes the money she earns from these temporary rooms they will help her to build permanent rooms. She requires a loan of USD 450 complete her rental houses and she is willing to repay her loan in 10 to 18 months on monthly basis.",F,450,lender,Housing,1 Kenya,"Emmah is 46 years of age, she is married with 3 children: One is self reliant and the other one in college. She is an active member of Gituya A women group. She is a farmer who rears pigs and cows. She also grows flowers and passion fruits for sale. She sells 10 litres of milk daily from her cow. She has been able to find market for her products. She supplies flowers for decorations in various offices, sells passion fruits at the neighboring industrial town i.e.Thika, sells her milk in a dairy cooperative at $0.2 where they are paid on monthly basis and sell her pigs to the local slaughtering house. She is a very unique lady and she has diversified to several income generating activities to set a good example to other village women. She has been able to raise her children through income from her land and she feels she still have a wide room to improve and increase. She owes her success to WEEC members who enlighten her on various trainings and to those who has ever given her any kind of fund. Due to previous rain season, she was left in a mess and 2 pigs have calved down. Its a challenge to meet the cost to add on she will be paying college fees for her children. With a loan she feels she will make to face the costs and repay on monthly basis.",F,450,lender,Agriculture,1 Kenya,"Emmy Chepkorir Langat is aged 25 years and married with two children in school. Her husband runs a small hotel in litein market. After completing ordinary level education, she didnt further her education because her parents - who are peasant farmers - could not afford to pay for her fees.
Emmy, despite the fact that she has a limited education, is a serious entrepreneur who started the business of selling tomatoes in liten market two years ago. She gets tomatoes in bulk from farmers after paying half the price and then pays the balance after selling. Unfortunately, the credit term increases the price because most farmers prefer being paid upfront. To counter this and have all the profit, she is requesting a loan of US$1100, which she intends to spend as follows: US$700 to purchase 40 crates of tomatoes, US$100 for transportation, and US$300 to expand her stall. Emmy is dedicated, and she will be able to repay the loan.",F,1100,lender,Food,1 Kenya,"EMMY CHEROTICH is a 32-year-old business lady, married with four children, all in school. She dropped out of school due to lack of school fees. Her husband works in a small printing firm in Kericho town. All along they have been barely making a living. Despite the fact that she is financially strained, Emmy is business-minded. To support her family and educate her children, she started the business of selling fruits in a stall at Litein market two years ago. The business has continued to grow, and currently she is blending juice and also selling fruit salad. Her current premises is not spacious and so she is not able to serve many customers at any given time. To change this scenario she plans to move to a more spacious place. She is therefore requesting a loan of US$1200 which she intends to spend as follows: US$800 to pay three months' rent for the new premises, US$200 to buy three extra juice blenders, and US$200 to purchase extra tables and chairs. Emmy is hard-working and she will be able to repay the loan.",F,1200,lender,Food,1 Kenya,"Ephraim muchoki is 32 years old. He is married with one child. His son is going to preschool. Ephraim has been using his income to provide for the less fortunate members of his extended family. He pays fees for three of his cousins whose parents are poor and cannot afford to pay for their fees. Ephraim is also a member of the Anglican Men's Association. He is a used shoes dealer. He sells used shoes in a busy market which next to an equally busy footpath. This is a profitable business and he has a good number of customers. He wishes to diversify his business and stock used ladies handbags too. This will allow him to earn more profits to be able to provide for his daily family needs.
He is requesting a loan of US$ 900. With it he will buy stocks of used ladies handbags with US$ 700 and US$ 200 he will renovate his existing stall to hold the new stock. He is very determined to succeed and he will be able to pay the loan.",M,900,lender,Retail,1 Kenya,"Eric Munene Gachara is a 26 year old entrepreneur. He started his own small business about two years ago using his own capital. His business involves selling green maize at the expansive Kongowea Market in Mombasa. He was motivated to start this business after failing to secure employment in the formal sector immediately after he completed college.
Green maize is a commonly eaten food in this area and is inexpensive. Thus, he is guaranteed ample consumers who regularly buy from him. His customers consist of small hotel owners and individual household buyers. Most of his income goes towards catering for his personal expenses. He would like to save some of his income to cover his future educational expenses. He plans to increase his income base so that he can cover such expenditures. This he intends to do by expanding the scope of his business operations so as to increase his earnings. He is therefore requesting for loan of US $ 550 to assist him in achieving his plans. Eric is a very focused businessman and will probably make good out of this investment.
Disclaimer: Due to recent events in Kenya, the security situation in many communities remains unsettled, affecting many local businesses. Lenders to this entrepreneur should be aware that this loan may represent a higher default risk, and should be willing to accept this additional risk in making their loan.",M,550,lender,Food,1 Kenya,"Erick is a married 37 year old father of 5. He did an apprenticeship in his younger years and took over when his father died. Since he has to suppurt his mother, siblings, wife and children on his meager salary, he hopes that with this loan he will purchase the necessary machinery to establish a shoe-making business that will supply him with income to support his extended family.",M,175,lender,Services,1 Kenya,"Erick Otieno Osiga is 22 years old. He was born in Siaya District where he schooled up to class eight. Due to lack of funds, he was not able to go to high school. He later got a job in an electronics shop at Nakuru. His employer sponsored him to undertake a general electronics repair course. He now owns an electronics repair shop which he has been operating for the last 3 years. He is married and has two children who are too young to attend school. He wants to expand his shop to increase profits, and so that he can support his children comfortably once they start attending school. He is asking for a loan of US$400. US$200 will be used to buy spare parts for radios and televisions, and US$200 will be used to buy general electronics for sale.",M,400,lender,Retail,1 Kenya,"Eroo is married with ten children, and all are in primary school. She is a primary school dropout and has not undertaken any form of training. She started working as a businesswoman in 1999 in order to support her family in meeting their basic needs. As a fishmonger, she trades from market to market within her locality.
With this loan of $200 from PEMCI, she will increase her stock, which would cut down on the number of trips she has to make each week to the buying centers. This would lower her transportation cost and improve her profit margins.
To supplement her income further, Eroo also works as a local massage lady, mainly treating those suffering from bone-related illnesses. This enables her to play a very important role in her community as a healer. Eroo is well-worth the support from Kiva.",F,200,partner,Food,0 Kenya,"Ester is 65 years old. She is married and has children who are now grown up. Ester is a Christian and a member of the ACK church in Gakoigo. She is also in the Mothers Union group. Ester plays a significant role in encouraging the youthful mothers. She gets wary of the fact that the young generation tends to make very hasty decisions, especially in their marriage. She encourages them to pause, think and pray for any positive changes they wish for their families. She reminds the young married women that patience pays. As the chairlady of Maragwa Ushuhuda women group, she goes by Proverbs 31, about the virtuous woman.
To earn a living, Ester practices mixed farming. She grows maize, beans and bananas and also keeps dairy cows. She earns her income from the sale of green bananas, maize and beans. She also sells milk to the area residents.
Ester plans to expand the dairy farming so as to increase the milk she takes to the market. She has applied for a loan of USD 300 to enable her buy a good quality dairy cow. The loans committee has approved her loan which she will repay within a period of 12 months.",F,300,lender,Agriculture,1 Kenya,"Esther Achieng Osio is a 28-year-old entrepreneur. She has been in business for the last four years. Her trade involves selling clothes at a stall strategically placed along a busy street in Mombasa. Here, she is guaranteed plenty of clients. She sells new undergarments. These are mainly ladies underwear with a few mens items. She arranges her display attractively, thus drawing plenty of passers-by. This business provides her with income but it is hardly adequate for all her basic requirements. She would like to increase her income so that she can uplift her lifestyle. She plans to do this by stocking larger volumes of garments at her stall. However she has been unable to raise the required capital due to the high cost of living. She is therefore requesting a loan of US$600 to assist her in achieving her targets. The funds will be used to purchase more undergarments for sale.",F,600,lender,Clothing,1 Kenya,"Esther Adhiambo Arodi is 37 years old. She is married and with six children. She also intends to take two of her brother's sons, whom the brother is not able to take care of since he is disabled. She has been operating a food kiosk for the last 5 years near her homestead. Mary is the sole breadwinner in her family which requires her to work very hard including on holidays.
Mary has a lot of customers and would like to expand her business. Mary is requesting to be funded with US$700. She is intending to use US$500 to add to her foodstuff stock and US$200 to expand and renovate her premises. This will help her increase her cash flow and at the same time provide sufficient capital to take good care of her family and provide a better future for them. She is a very hard working lady who will repay the loan without any problems.",F,700,lender,Food,1 Kenya,"Esther Ayiemba is an average Kenyan woman aged 40 and married with 4 children. She also lives with 2 orphan children of her late brother.
Esther started operating her second-hand clothes business, commonly referred to as Mutumba, nine years ago because the income of her husband, who is a cobbler, was too little to support all their family's needs.
Esther is now able to purchase at least 5 bails of second-hand clothes every week to sell to her regular customers. With the little profits that she gets from the small-scale business, Esther is able to feed, clothe and educate her children. With the help of her loan, Esther hopes to purchase more bails of second-hand clothes to increase her sales.
In the future, Esther would like to open up a boutique in her home town of Luanda, in the Western part of Kenya.
Disclaimer: Due to recent events in Kenya, the security situation in many communities remains unsettled, affecting many local businesses. Lenders to this entrepreneur should be aware that this loan may represent a higher default risk, and should be willing to accept this additional risk in making their loan.",M,1150,lender,Clothing,0 Kenya,Esther is 25 years old. She is married with one child. She is a member of the Gaichanjiru Catholic Church. She is also a member of the St. Agnes Women Group. Esther is now able to make monthly savings of USD $3. She also accesses small credits from the revolving fund. This has enabled her to start developing her farm. She has applied for a loan of USD $100 that will enable her buy animal feeds and dairy supplements for her dairy cow that is 8 months in calf. She will also buy Hybrid seeds for planting this season and a bag of fertilizer. She will repay the loan within a period of 8 months. This is as per the group regulations. The loan committee has approved the said loan.,F,150,lender,Agriculture,1 Kenya,"Esther is 25 years old. She is single with one child. She is a member of Deliverance church in Ongata Rongai. When she completed her secondary school, Esther got a job as a sales girl in a curio shop at Citi Market in Nairobi. Her main Focus was to save enough money to enable her to pay for a course in hair styling. The best option for her was to go for evening classes so as to continue working. After completion of her course she continued working as a sales girl to save enough to purchase salon equipment. She later established a small salon and left the sales job. Esther later joined Church road women's group and started funding her business with the credits received from the group. Essy salon moved to a new location. It has also grown. Esther has employed a young lady to carry out the salon work, the salon is now also offering Mens Hair cuts since a young man was employed to carry out that job. The newest activity is the Beauty Shop Esther runs the beauty shop as she oversees the running of the whole business. Esther has applied for a loan of USD$300. The loan will be used to buy more beauty products and cosmetics. The application has been approved and the loan will be repaid within a period of 12 months.",F,300,lender,Services,1 Kenya,"Esther is 26 years and single with a baby boy schooling at a local primary school. She is the chairlady of Ngurueini Ngatha Women group despite being the youngest. She takes all the responsibilities and mobilizes women to join hands and develop in all spheres of life.
Esther is very involved in the community. She is also a youth secretary in her local church. She owns a salon, which is at the market and also sells vegetables. Most of her clients are church members whom she says respond positively towards her services. She wants to buy more equipment to be able to handle a larger number of customers.
She has a strong belief that she will get clients after purchasing all the equipments needed for a modern salon and this will lead to increased income. Out of the income, she will be able to support her child, repay the loan and pay the group contributions without much hassling. On average, she gets about $130 per month from the two businesses. She sets a good example to other community youths that they can make it in life as long as they have a positive attitude towards life and are willing to work hard.",F,225,partner,Services,0 Kenya,"Esther is 30 years old, married with 2 children. Her children are in school. She is a religious person and an active member of Canaan women group. She has benefited a lot from group trainings and the experience she has received from WEEC. She has tried her best to implement her skills on her plot of land. Esther grows vegetables, flowers, and fruits for sale and for domestic use. She has reduced the hassle to meet family basic needs through the income generated from her farming practices. She also has a grocery shop which supplements her farm income, and she works as a casual laborer 2 days a week to sustain her grocery kiosk when there is no favoring weather for her vegetables. She earns USD$250 from her farm and her hard work, and she feels there is still a lot that needs to be done on her land to improve its fertility. She is planning to expand her grocery shop which earns her the better portion of income and from there she will be able to buy manure and farm inputs for her land. She is a committed and responsible mother who has maintained a good record of repayment at the group level.",F,125,lender,Food,1 Kenya,"Esther is 34 years old. She is a married and has one child. Esther has a successful story to tell. KIVA granted her a loan of $450. She ploughed the loan into her business and has had a successful 10 months. Esther was able to open a second point of business. The first business point is being manned by her younger sister. Esther now concentrates on the new business, which incorporates the selling of fruits, vegetables and boiled food stuff like beans. Her husband has opened a new business of making furniture.
Esther thanks all who have assisted her in making this positive change in her familys life. To thank God for it, she has taken a young girl from a poor family into her care. She has enrolled her in a nearby school and the young girl now lives with Esther's family.
Esther has applied for a loan of $750. The loan will assist her to expand her business by stocking cereals and charcoal. She will invest in the familys furniture business. The new loan will assist her family to increase their income, to meeet their daily household expenses, to care for the two young children and help her youngest sister to enroll in college. Her loan application has been approved. She will repay the loan within a period of 12 months.",F,750,lender,Food,1 Kenya,"Esther is 35 years old. She is married with four children, all of which are in primary school. She is a dedicated Catholic. Esther is the group secretary of the Kanunga Womens Group, and she always does her work diligently. She rears two dairy cows that yield a total of 20 litres of milk daily. She sells her milk at the Kiambu Dairy Cooperative Society at USD0.2 per litre. She also grows vegetables and sells them to local residents.
Esther joined WEEC in 2002, and last month she cleared her most recent loan of USD300. She used this loan to buy dairy cows. The cows have transformed her life. Due to feeding challenges, she would like to buy more cows in large quantity before they increase in price so as to maximize their milk production rate in the coming dry season. She believes that from the dairy project, her children will be able to acquire quality education. She is also determined to improve their living standards. Esther is willing to repay her loan on a monthly basis.",F,300,lender,Agriculture,1 Kenya,"Esther is 42 years old and married with four children. Esther, being a Maasai, was lucky that her father gave her a college-level education. Two of her children are in high school and two are in primary school. This is very good for her to take her children to school. She is a member of Nyota Women's Group and attends church in a local village.
She started her business three years ago and her main customers are people working in town and in a quarry, which is nearby. She sells African foods, which are maize and beans. She has a plot of land and would like to build her own hotel instead of renting and also build rental houses to get more income. She wants to expand her business by buying more chairs, tables, plates, spoons and cups. This will enable her to accommodate more customers. Her profits will enable her to pay school fees, save and pay her loan on a monthly basis.",F,450,lender,Food,1 Kenya,"Esther is 60 years young, married and has 5 grownup children. She is an active member of Gatangara Pluto. Her main source of income generating activity is farming. She has raised and educated her children through farming and small loans at group level. She has a good record of repayment and she feels she is strong economically because of the group motivation. She grows coffee, maize, beans, bananas; paw paws and raises animals. She has been accumulating US$80 on a monthly basis from milk sales and coffee, maize and beans are for consumption. Esther uses oxen to plough her land and since the one she had has grown weak, she would like to buy another young one to feed it and take the position of the old ox. She feeds her animals with highly nutritious feed and they are very different compared to neighbors. She would like to pay her loan on monthly installments",F,150,lender,Agriculture,1 Kenya,"Esther is a married mother of 4 children. Her first born is in high school while the others are in primary school. She is a dedicated member of Kanunga Catholic church where she leads the women's choir. She is an active member of the Morning Sunshine women group. She is a primary teacher and uplifts the lives of young ones at a local school. Due to pressure of school fees, Esther ventured into AN animal rearing project where she keeps pigs, dairy goats, and dairy cows. She has borrowed small loans at a group level and has been very faithful when it comes to repayments. She has mentored many women in her group. She is very determined to give her children the best education through her farming. She has promised to repay her loan on a monthly basis.",F,600,lender,Agriculture,1 Kenya,"Esther Khisa is a cereals dealer requesting a second loan with PEMCI after completing the first one successfully. The first loan enabled her to expand her business stock, and now she is able to move from one market place to another. Esther hires bicycles locally known as boda boda to carry her cereals to the market. This is the main challenge in her business. Bicycles are the main means of transport. Of the different types of cereals she sells, maize (corn) is the mostly demanded. She buys a two kilogram tin locally known as gorogoro at KES 45 and sells at KES 50. A sack normally contains 45 of such tins. On a busy day, she sells two to three sacks; on a less active day, half or one sack.
Esther is a primary school drop-out and a mother of four children. Her husband is a teacher. She has not undertaken any formal training. She learned her business through participating. She is a committed Christian and a chairlady of the women's fellowship in her local church. If given another loan by PEMCI, she plans to increase her stock of cereals further especially for this period of hunger. She plans to buy four sacks of maize. She hopes that in future she will be able to buy her own bicycles to help her carry her cereals to the market.
Disclaimer: Due to recent events in Kenya, the security situation in many communities remains unsettled, affecting many local businesses. Lenders to this entrepreneur should be aware that this loan may represent a higher default risk, and should be willing to accept this additional risk in making their loan.",F,250,lender,Food,1 Kenya,"Esther Kirigo Mwangi is 27 years old. She is married with one child who attends Junior School. She is a businesswoman who owns a poshomill (a place for grinding maize grains into whole maize floor) in Nakuru town. She also sells a variety of cereals. She buys maize in large quantities and mills it, after which she packs the flour into small quantities depending on customers' needs and sells it on both a retail and wholesale basis.
She has been in the business for the last three years, during which time she has seen it grow tremendously, generating more returns. Her husband works as an animal feed manufacturer. He has been of great support to her, but she still would like to expand her shop further. There is no other person operating a cereal shop in her area, so she has the market to herself. Her secret to success is satisfying her customers, and she wants to maintain this ability in order to remain the best. She intends to expand her business by stocking more cereals.
Esther is requesting a loan of US$850. She will use $200 to buy 5 bags of rice, $50 to buy 5 bags of greengrams, $400 to buy 15 bags of maize (for use at the poshomill and also for resale), $100 to buy 5 bags of beans, $50 to employ an assistant in her business, and $50 to transport her stock to her business premises. Her determination will enable her to pay back the loan comfortably.",F,850,lender,Food,1 Kenya,"ESTHER LABOSO is a 46-year-old widow with 5 children who are all in school. She takes care of her elderly mother. To educate her children and also provide for their basic needs, Esther sells dry maize to individuals and institutions in Kericho. She has been in this business for the last 10 years and has acquired business management training from Ebony Foundation. She wants to expand her business and also sell to other retailers in the area. To succeed in this noble idea she is requesting a loan of US$1200, which she intends to use as follows: US$800 to purchase extra stock, and US$400 to expand her store. Esther is determined and she is of good character, hence her ability to repay the loan.",F,1200,lender,Food,1 Kenya,"Esther Magiri is aged 26 years old. She is married with two children; one in primary school and the other still young yet to join nursery school. She is a member of Ngurueni Junior women group and also a member of Recovery Gospel church. She is a young entrepreneur who has ventured into the business of selling cereals. Through her innovative ideas of attracting new customers and maintaining the existing customers by providing incentives, she has ensured that she has created a vibrant cereals business. As a result, she feels that she cant manage the growing customers need. Therefore, she has applied for a loan of USD150 to enable her to purchase five bags of cereals. She is willing to repay this for a period of 12 months.",F,150,lender,Food,1 Kenya,"Esther Mugechi is a hardworking lady from Nyakahura in the Muranga district. She practices farming as a way of earning a living for her family. She has seven children, which is not any easy family to raise in this century. She has managed to work as a team with her loving husband. She borrows loans from her St. Consolata group to pay school fees. With her crops and assistance from her husband they service the loans on time. Currently with the new regime in Kenya, the stock market is now open to the common man. Esther has been able to obtain training on how to invest. She hopes to get a loan of USD 225 to buy shares from Scan Group. ""At least for the first time I will be taking a loan to affect me directly,"" she said. She is very committed to paying her loans on a monthly basis.",F,225,lender,Agriculture,1 Kenya,"Esther Muthoni is 45 years old. She is married with four children. She is an active member of St. Monica women group. She is also an active of St. Peter Catholic Church. Esther grows maize, beans, bananas and variety of vegetables. She is a farmer, specialized in crop farming, and now she intends to begin pig rearing. Her farm produce is consumed in part by her family, and she sells the remainder to retailers and local consumers at a local market.
She has applied for a loan of USD75, with which she intends to purchase a pig. The loan committee has approved her loan. She is willing to repay this loan within 10 months.
",F,75,lender,Agriculture,1 Kenya,"Esther Muthoni is 52 years old. She is married with three children. Two are in high school and one is in pre-school. In Kenya high school education is usually expensive. Apart from tuition fees, parents are required to buy school books and laboratory equipments for their children. For many, fees are normally in arrears and the dropout rate is usually high. So most of what Alice earns goes to her sons education needs. She earns her living from her tea business. She supplies tea to major institutions like colleges, high schools, polytechnics and company cafeterias. The beauty of her business is that she does door to door deliveries. So far her client portfolio is good and stable. She wishes to expand her market to cater more institutions. With this she will be able to earn more and pay for her sons' fees comfortably. She is requesting for a loan of US$ 1000 to carry out the expansion. She will use US$ 850 to purchase the needed stocks and US$ 150 for the transportation costs.",F,1000,lender,Food,1 Kenya,"Esther Muthoni is a single mother of two; she is 35 years old. Her two children are in elementary school. She sells new clothes in a busy open air market. Usually the clothes sold in open air markets are imports from China and Malaysia. These are easily affordable clothing items which low income earners can buy. At the moment Esther is buying clothes from middlemen who sell them in her town. She would like to buy the goods directly from the main importer in Nairobi, which is Kenyas capital in order to maximize her business profits. To do this she must buy the goods in wholesale. She lacks the resources to do so. She is requesting a loan of US$ 1,000. She will purchase more inventory with US$ 800 and transport the wares with US$ 200. She is hard working and she will definitely pay back the loan.",F,1000,lender,Clothing,1 Kenya,"Esther Njeri Karanja is 38 years old, married with four children. Her daughter has just graduated from high school and is waiting to enroll in college or university depending on the availability of money to finance her education. Esther has promised her daughter that as soon as she gets money she will send her to college because she would love to see her prosper in life and be independent. For now the daughter is assisting Esther at her market stall. The rest of Esther's children are in junior school and one is enrolling in high school next year.Esther sells fruit in the open air market. She has been doing this business for a long time. She would like to diversify her business to sell seasonal fruit when there are limited avocados from the supplier. (This is the only fruit she sells at the moment.)
Esther is requesting a loan of $400 to add to her stock of avocados and buy other kind of fruit. She will use $300 for aditional stock, $50 for transport, and $50 to pay for a council license.
The income from this business will help Esther send her daughter to college and save fees for high school. Esther is a member of Muungano group. She is well organized and capable of repaying the loan.",F,400,lender,Food,1 Kenya,"Esther Nyokabi is 42 years old, married, and blessed with 4 children. She is a religious person and a leader of the women in her church. She is a farmer by occupation, and she grows food crops such as maize, vegetables, tea, and rears dairy cows. The tea earns her USD$40, dairy cows USD$40 and the vegetables USD$20 averaging her monthly income to USD$100. Esther has tried to educate her children and feed them although sometimes it is challenging. She has proposed to venture in to the stock exchange market to see whether she can provide quality education for her children. She believes through her hard work, her family life will be transformed. Her target is to be in the business and buy more shares after selling the first round that she will remain in the business increasing the number every time. Shes willing to repay her loan within the span of one year.",F,150,lender,Agriculture,1 Kenya,"Esther Wacuka Waweru is 24 years from Naivasha, Kenya. She is single and she dropped out of school in grade 9 after her parents died due to HIV/AIDS. Esther is a member of Fountain of Hope, which is a community-based organization whose main aim is to empower women. She is a trained peer educator and has been successfully undergoing rehabilitation to get away from prostitution (she has been a prostitute for the last three years). Esther has a small used clothing retail shop. She wants to expand her business in order to earn more money, save money and pursue a technical course in tailoring and dressmaking. She is requesting for a loan of $650 as her budget: $150 will be used to expand the leased shop; $400 will be for stocks of used infants' and womens' clothing; $100 will be for transportation. With this she is sure she can improve her standard of living as well as educate herself.",F,650,lender,Clothing,1 Kenya,"Esther Wahu Mungai was born in 1976 at Ndumberi, Kiambu. She is married with two children; the first-born is in Mungai Chengecha primary school while the other is a toddler. Esther is a religious person and a member of Kanunga Catholic Church Women Association. Her parents were poor and could not afford to take her to the secondary school immediately after her primary school education.
Esther opened a green grocer at Waguthu trading centre. She joined Morning Sunshine women's group in December, 2003 and was among the first women in Kiambu to register with WEEC. She is now able to raise and educate her child from income earned from dairy farming and her green grocer business.
Since 2003, Esther has serviced seven small loans which have boosted her business very much. Esther now intends to improve her green grocer by purchasing a variety of vegetables and fruits in bulk and also expand the business premises. Therefore, she has applied for a loan of $900, which will make this a reality.",F,900,lender,Food,1 Kenya,"Esther Waithera is 34 years old, and is married with two children. The two children are both in elementary school. She is also taking care of four of her relatives. She practices both horticulture and dairy farming. Her horticultural farming involves growing fruit and flowers. In her dairy farming business she has a cow, which produces milk for sale. Both her farming ventures are operating on a small scale basis. It is her wish to see them grow to the next level so that she can earn more income, and be able to provide her siblings and dependants with a good education. A loan in the amount of US$900 will assist her to carry out the upgrade. She will purchase a cow with US$500, purchase good quality fertilizer worth US$200, and buy assorted seeds worth US$200. She is a hard working mother and farmer and she will definitely repay the loan.",F,900,lender,Agriculture,1 Kenya,"Esther Wambui Mucugia is 50 years old. She comes from Kiambu district but she and her husband bought a plot in Kandisi where she lives with the family. She is married with two children. Her husband used to work with Kenya Railways before he was involved in an accident and developed a back problem. Since then Esther has been the sole breadwinner of the house and through her hard work, the family always get their needs met. She buys metallic pots from Uganda, which she supplies to her customers that is schools and hotels. Her business is improving and the key challenge she is facing is inadequate capital to grow. She has applied a loan of $300 with which she intends to buy more metallic pots. She is willing to repay this loan within 12 months.",F,300,lender,Retail,1 Kenya,"Esther Wangui is 35 years old, married, with 4 children. 2 of her children are in secondary school and the others are in primary school. She is a Christian who practices morals in her life and she has inspired many women in her Canaan group. Wangui is a committed farmer who has relied on this activity since she got married. Her farming methods have been influenced a lot by the trainings she has acquired from WEEC. She practices horticultural farming where she grows tomatoes, carrots, spinach, cauliflowers, and irrigates different kinds of vegetable seedlings. Esther is willing to plant more seedlings this time round to pay for her children\'s school fees for the second term. She would like to add different varieties of vegetables in her land. She is wiling to make payments of her loan on monthly basis.",F,125,lender,Agriculture,1 Kenya,"Esther Wanjiku Kimani is 44 years old and married with three children who are ages 26, 24 and 21 years; all are in school. Esther dropped out of school at grade 12 and never continued her education due to lack of income; she ekes out a living by selling fruits and an extension of grocery. Among the products she sells in her grocery are edible goods of local availability and traditional diet, such as banana, pumpkin, pawpaw.
From the business returns she wishes to support her family. She is requesting a loan amount of US $550. Her budget is: US $100 to purchase a sack of oranges, US $100 to purchase a bag of pawpaw, US $100 to purchase bunches of ripe bananas, US $100 to purchase pineapple fruits, US $100 to purchase melon and US $50 for transport. Esther is hardworking and capable of paying back the loan.",F,550,lender,Food,1 Kenya,"Esther Wanjiku Kirunga is 29 and is married with two children who are both too young to go to school. Her husband is a small business trader here in Mombasa. She supplements her husbands income by selling vegetables, i.e., carrots and kale (sukuma, a local green vegetable) to the suburbs nearby the market. She has been in this line of trade for the last three years.
Esther sells the vegetables at a market in Mombasa. Here, she has a large number of customers who regularly buy from her since she sells the vegetables in most convenient quantities and at pocket-friendly prices. Her earnings are largely consumed by the ever-increasing needs of her family. At times she is forced to operate with very little stock when her capital runs low since she hardly has a surplus income to put back into the business.
Esther is therefore requesting a loan of US$ 1200 to assist her in running her business at a cost-effective level. These funds will enable her to buy more of the fruits and vegetables for sale at her stand. Hence, she will be able to adequately meet some of her family's basic needs. Esther is industrious and will repay the loan.",F,1200,lender,Food,1 Kenya,"Esther Wanjiku Nderitu is a 45 year old mother of six. She is married and all her six children are of school going age. She has been farming for the last 23 years. She has particularly been doing dairy farming. She has been getting good returns from milk and meat but not enough to meet her needs. She wants to start keeping chickens. She has learned that they have much return in a short duration. Her only challenge is seeing the chicks grow to age but can overcome it by regularly consulting the veterinary.She is requesting a loan of US$ 900. She intends to use US$400 to buy 500 chicks, US$200 to do finishing of the chicken shed and feeding equipment, US$200 to buy chicken feed and mineral salts and US$ 100 to buy vaccination for the chicks. She has much experience in farming and is very hardworking.",F,900,lender,Agriculture,1 Kenya,"Esther Wanjiru Chianda is 39 years old and a single mother of three girls. Only one of the girls attends school because the family does not have enough money to pay school fees for all three girls. Esther is a widow who makes a living selling green vegetables, potatoes and oranges. The income she earns from this helps her support her family, pay school fees for her children and improve her family's life.
Esther wants to expand her vegetable business to support her family. She has requested a US $650 loan to be used as follows:
US $ 200 to purchase sacks of potatoes
US $ 300 to purchase fresh green oranges
US $ 150 to pay insurance, renovate and expand her stall and pay for her operating license",F,650,lender,Food,1 Kenya,"ESTHER WANJIRU is 26yrs old single. she lives with her parents and her younger sister who depends on her. Her sister is in grade 7 in Menengai primary school. She pays school fees for her younger sister. She has a well established a boutique in Nakuru city within the town centre where is a renowned sales woman. Over the years her customer base has expanded this has resulted in her importing more stock from Uganda and the neighboring countries. Despite this she has difficulties raising capital to import the much needed stock this has resulted in delays and sometimes loss of customers. She requests for a loan US$1,800 to increase her stock. This loan will help educate her sister and give her a better future, also will provide employment for the extra staff needed at the boutique hence reducing the unemployment rate. Esther is skillful and hardworking. She will be able to repay the loan.",F,1800,lender,Clothing,1 Kenya,"Esther Wanjiru Karanja is 60 years old. She is mother of two children and also lives with her grandchild whom she takes care of. She is an active member of Wash women's group.
Esther lives in Kiserian and practises small-scale subsistence farming, growing maize, beans and potatoes. She sells her farm produce at the local Kiserian Market.
Esther has great interest in business. She was introduced to WEEC by a friend who had accessed a loan of USD300. After training Esther became interested in getting a loan. She has applied for a loan of $150 with which she intends to set up a second-hand clothing resale business among the Maasai people. Esther is willing to repay this loan within 10 months.",F,150,lender,Clothing,1 Kenya,"Esther was born 28 years ago in Ndumberi, Kiambu. She is a single mother of one child. She is a dedicated mother of Kanunga Catholic church and a choir member. She is an active member of Morning Sunshine Women Group. After finishing high school, she joined a beauty college, where she successfully trained on beauty course. She was able to set up a small salon and a beauty shop. She is very hardworking and very determined to succeed in life and educate her child through her salon business. She has quality work and has gathered good number of customers but limited by her equipment. Her business has been uplifted by small WEEC loans and she has some equipment which she operates with. She has a good record of repayment and has promised to repay her loan within a year.",F,750,lender,Services,1 Kenya,"Esther was born 53 years ago, is married and with 4 children. She is an active member of St Agata women group. She is a religious person and a responsible person. She demonstrates this by leading a women organization in her place of worship. Her main source of income has been dairy cow and goat project. To her village, milk from dairy goats has a high demand due to its nutritional value. She has been able to build a big shed for the goats from milk sales, and she is ready to handle 3 more goats in her farm. She feeds her animals with greens from her farm making reducing the upkeep cost. She is an industrious lady who takes serious action in eradicating poverty. She is planning to set this dairy rearing as one project in her farm in the near future.",F,250,lender,Agriculture,1 Kenya,"Esther was born in 1939 in Kiambu Kenya. She is a window with five children among which four are married with families .Two of her children are outside country in search of quality studies. Having been born during the colonial time she never acquired formal education rather she spent most of her time looking after her young brothers and sisters. After marriage, Esther ventured in business industry and started a retail shop in Wangige market. She was able to raise and educate her children from income earned from the retail shop. She closed down her shop, and topped the savings she had with a group loan and was able to build 5 rental rooms which has been the only source of income. She secured her 2nd loan and bought 2 dairy cows which have contributed a lot in her life. She sells milk to a local dairy cooperative Sacco at USD 0.8 per liter where she supplies 18 litres daily. She is an active lady who eats the sweat of her hands and she feels great when working. Feeding her animals has been a challenge since she has to employ casual laborers to get the Napier grass from the farm and commercial feeds from the stores. To reduce the cost, she is planning to buy feeds in bulkiness for her to be at peace when animal feeds cost will increase due to dry season ahead. She will repay her loan on monthly basis.",F,300,lender,Agriculture,1 Kenya,"Esther was born in 1939 in Kiambu, Kenya. She is a widow with five children, among which four are married with families. After her marriage, Esther ventured into the business industry and started a retail shop in the local market. She was able to raise and educate her children with income earned from the retail shop. She has built 5 rental rooms, which has been her only source of income.
She secured her second loan and bought 2 dairy cows, which have brought her additional income since the dairy industry was revived by the current government. She sells milk to a local dairy cooperative Sacco at USD0.28 per liter, where she supplies 30 litres daily.
She is due to complete her loan in this quarter. She needs another loan to buy a dairy cow to boost her income. She wants to repay the loan on a monthly basis.",F,650,lender,Agriculture,1 Kenya,"Esther Wayua Muasya is a 35 year old mother of three children. Her husband works as a clearing and forwarding agent for a local company in the town of Mombasa. Two of her children attend secondary school while the third attends high school. To supplement her husbands income, she operates a produce stand in the suburbs where she resides. She began this stall five years ago and has seen it grow to serve many people in this densely populated suburb. She sells different varieties of fruits and green vegetables. She would like to capitalize on the high demand by supplying other small stall owners with produce. By doing so, she will be able to increase her earnings and improve her familys living standards. However, she has been unable to do so since she cannot raise the required capital. Therefore, she is requesting a loan of US $600 to assist her in the expansion of her business. US $350 will be used to buy assorted fruits and US$250 to buy vegetables. She is industrious and will repay the loan.",F,600,lender,Food,1 Kenya,"Eunice Akinyi is 31 years old, married and has 4 children aged 14, 10, 6 and 2. She is in the onion business as a means of earning a living and to support her family using the meager income she is receiving. The business has been successful because its profitable. There is always a ready market and constant buyers for her products, mainly the red onions. Eunice would like to expand her business by increasing her supply to enable her to pay for school fees for her secondary school-aged children and increase her family income. She is requesting a loan amount of US $900: US $800 to purchase red onions and US $100 for transportation. She is hardworking and capable of repaying the loan.",F,900,lender,Food,1 Kenya,"Eunice Atieno Mlachake is a 27-year-old mother of four. Atieno sells tea and food in a local open-air market, after which she hawks it trying to find clients who can buy. By not having a permanent premises to store the foodstuffs, it get spoiled making her incur losses at times. She is also constantly harassed by the municipal authorities and would like to construct a permanent stall to cut costs. She is requesting US$500 of which US$200 will be to construct a stall, US$100 to buy more utensils, and US $ 200 to buy foodstuff. This will be of great help to her as it will significantly improve her income and her living standards",F,500,lender,Food,1 Kenya,"Eunice Atieno Odipo is 41 years old and married with 5 children. She also looks after 13 dependents: 10 are orphans. Three children are from his brother, who together with his wife died of AIDS in 2002. Another seven children are from another brother who had two wives, of which one passed away. The brother is currently on antiretroviral drugs (drugs that boost immunity of people living with HIV/AIDS). She is also living with her grandmother and her nephew (whose mother is Eunices sister) and depends on her for clothing and education. Eunice started her business in 1995 after having finished a hairdressing course from Pilkington College in Kampala, Uganda. There she got a certificate in hairdressing. After completion of her course, her husband bought her a dryer, blowdryer, rollers, five chairs, a sink and hair-relaxing chemicals so that she could start a salon. Her husband told her that he had loaned her the items so she had to pay him back. Since Eunice had already saved Ksh. 35,000 (USD 500) through the selling of clothes and shoes in 1993 and 1994, she had no problem repaying the items within two years. The business was doing well until February this year when a fire broke out at her business premises. Seemingly good samaritans, who came in the pretext of helping her, stole her possessions including her dryer, blowdryer, sink, plastic chairs, mirrors and hair chemicals. They ransacked her salon completely. They even took away the door to her salon. She is repairing the damage done to her salon. Eunice is asking for a loan of USD 300 which she will repay within a period of 8-15 months. Eunice intends to replace the items which were stolen and hopefully continue to support her large family.",F,300,partner,Services,0 Kenya,"Eunice Cherotich is 31 years old and married with three children, who are all attending junior school. She has two other dependants, who are her elderly parents. Her husband has no source of income. Because of lack of school fees she was not able to finish her high school education. She started her fruit selling business ten months ago and the business has started to pick up very well. Some of the fruits she sells include pineapples, oranges, mangoes, avocadoes and apples. Her fruits always run out very early. The money she earns goes to taking care of her parents and paying school fees for her children and thus she does not make sufficient funds to expand her business.
During this festive season she wants to make a lot of money because she knows people will be buying a lot of juice and fruits. It is with this in mind that she wants to buy a juice blender and more fruits. She is requesting a loan of US$1000 and her budget is as follows; US$250 to buy a fresh juice blender, US$100 to cater for transport, US$600 to buy more fruits and US$50 to get a license. Eunice is a business oriented woman who is ready to make a lot of money and is capable of repaying the loan in time.",F,1000,lender,Food,1 Kenya,"Eunice Daniel is married and the mother of six children. She is a determined and hardworking woman who is committed to provide all of her children with better lives and quality education.
Eunice is working hard to achieve this dream by being an active member of the Olkenkei Women's Group. The group helps members secure loans and other forms of assistance to raise livestock, which is the main way that people in this region support themselves.
Eunice and the women's group have come to us for a loan as part of a community improvement project. She would like to buy two steers, raise and nurture them for six months and then sell them at a profit. They will repay the loan in one lump sum six months after they receive it, and use the balance of the money they earn to continue their work of community improvement.",F,375,lender,Agriculture,1 Kenya,"Eunice is 40 years old, married and has 6 children. Two of her children are in college and the rest in secondary school. She has raised her children single handedly because her husband is bedridden. Eunice runs two businesses, a retail shop and a stone quarry. She started business in 1993; she employs 3 casual laborers who assist her mainly in the stone quarry. The retail shop sells house hold commodities such as sugar, rice, salt, soap, wheat flour, maize flour to mention but a few. She earns about $150 per month; this in relation to her expenses is not enough. Therefore, she will have to use a loan to keep her business running. She has been able to build a permanent house and looks forward to building rental rooms when her children finish school.",F,300,partner,Retail,0 Kenya,"Eunice is 40 years old. She is married and has 6 children. Eunice is a member of the Anglican Church of Kenya and Kenyanjeru Starlight women group. The reason for joining this group was get a way of accessing loans to help her find solutions to her financial challenges. It was/is difficult to get a loan without being a member of a CBO especially if you have no collateral. She has accessed group loans twice and was able to pay promptly. Eunices main economic activity is buying fruits in bulk and selling to fruit vendors in town mainly Githurai market. Her customers come from as far as Baba Ndogo, Kasarani, Mwiki and Korokocho. Eunice is a reliable supplier and this has made her business grow in terms of customers and profits. She checks on her main customers frequently and takes orders before she goes to the villages to buy the produce. This ensures that she sells most of her products within a day or two. While in the market, she lists the products that are highly demanded and tries to identify areas where to get them. Eunice business operates on a cash basis and therefore has to maintain a reasonable amount of cash to run the business smoothly. Massive cash withdrawals from her business would make her fail to serve all her customers, the profits will shrink and eventually it might lead to business closure.",F,150,partner,Food,0 Kenya,"Eunice is 49 years of age. She is married and blessed with 6 children. Eunice is an active member of Rurii Shinning Women Group and very committed in group meetings. She has benefited a lot from the group through trainings and small funds. Eunice mobilizes women to join WEEC for she has learnt how to alleviate poverty through the skills she has acquired. Her main source of income is farming where she grows cereals, vegetables, fruits and coffee. She is raising her 6 children through farming and she hopes to educate all of them. More so, she has been assisted a lot by small group loans to pay school fees. Eunice is very committed to her farm work and she has purposed to add one dairy cow to boost her total income. She sells 6 litres of milk every day at usd0.3 and she supplements her income with vegetable, fruits sales. She is willing to meet her repayments on monthly basis.",F,150,lender,Agriculture,1 Kenya,"Eunice is a 25-year-old mother of two children. Eunice and her husband live in the Nyalenda slums in Kisumu, Kenya. She began her tailoring business in the year 2006. She has been able to build a successful business due to her hard work and perseverance. She specializes in both men's and women's dresses. The central location of her shop and her many years of doing good business within the community have earned her a good reputation and a wide customer base. She is proud of her accomplishments and proud that she is now able to contribute to paying the household expenses. She requires US $600 to further expand her business. She wants to increase the variety of her clothes-making materials and purchase tailoring supplies to keep up with the growing demand.
Disclaimer: Due to recent events in Kenya, the security situation in many communities remains unsettled, affecting many local businesses. Lenders to this entrepreneur should be aware that this loan may represent a higher default risk, and should be willing to accept this additional risk in making their loan.",F,600,partner,Clothing,0 Kenya,"Eunice is a 34-year old mother of six school going children. She lives with her family in Rongo town, Kenya. She is a beneficiary of two previous microfinance loans from KMET. She was initially employed as a dress maker until 2006 when she initiated her own business. She started this by hiring a sewing machine at US $45 a month. Through hard work, she managed to purchase her own machine in August 2006 and now has four. She specializes in making women dresses and school uniforms. The central location of her shop in a busy town coupled with many years of doing good business within the community, has gained her a good reputation and a wide customer base. With access to KMET loans shes able to expand her business to include training site (dressmaking) for school dropouts within the community. She intends to acquire an additional stock of dressmaking materials with a portion of the US $800 loan she has applied for.",F,800,partner,Clothing,0 Kenya,"Eunice is a 40-year-old mother of 6 children (2 in school). She lives with her husband at sagam village, Siaya District Kenya. She runs cereals and dairy farming businesses, initiated in 2002 and 2004 respectively. She normally buys dry maize in bulk during harvesting season, when prices are low, and sells in future when the price is high, thus making high profits. She supplements this with dairy farming where she is able to sell 20 litres a day. She applied for US $800 with which she plans to invest part of the loan to the purchase of cereals like beans and rice, and also buy local dairy breeds that can boost her daily milk production.",F,800,partner,Agriculture,0 Kenya,"Eunice is a widow living with her six children at Dunga Kisumu Kenya. Besides selling dry fish she also sells cereals and has been doing so for fifteen years. She normally buys dry maize, rice, and beans in bulk during harvesting season when prices are low and sells when the prices increase.
She plans to invest part of the loan for USD $600 to purchase more cereals such as beans and rice and save part of it to use in case of emergencies.",F,600,partner,Food,0 Kenya,"Eunice is married with four children of which two are in secondary school and the other two in primary school. She is a college graduate in secretarial studies. Eunice is the groups chairlady and also an active member of A.C.C church at Lenchani where she participates in all church activities. She is also an active member of Nasaru entoyie group which deals with poverty eradication among the Maasai community. Eunice started her business with three steers by the help of a small group loan. From there her business has gown rapidly and now she has 7 steers. She is planning to market her steers at the newly revived Kenya Meat Commission (K.M.C) factory. From these sales, she will top up with the loan and buy 3 more. She is promising to meet her repayments on a monthly basis.",F,450,lender,Agriculture,1 Kenya,"Eunice makes construction bricks. She has been in the business since 2003. She supplies orders at construction sites. She has not undertaken any formal training for her business, but has learned through observation. She also provides transportation for the bricks. Through her business, she has been able to educate her children, buy cattle, especially dairy cows, and also provide the community with her services. With a loan from PEMCI, she intends to expand her network of operations and provide better transportation of bricks to her clients.",F,125,partner,Construction,0 Kenya,"Eunice Makonjo Mamati is a member of a womens group called Amka, a Swahili word meaning ""wake up."" She intends to take a second loan from PEMCI. She started her business in the year 2005 by making bricks worth five thousand Kenya shillings (~$75 USD). Her services selling bricks are very important to the community. However, marketing her bricks can be a challenge; bricks can stay for about three months before sells them.
Eunice is married with three little boys; the first born is in class two, the second in nursery and the third boy is not yet in school. Her husband works with the forest department.
With her first loan, Eunice was able to increase her business of brick making, which enabled her to start another business selling cereals. She says that in her village, Netima, there is a high demand for cereals, and when given a second loan, she will increase her stock of cereals.",F,125,lender,Construction,1 Kenya,"Eunice Nyokabi Thiongo is 45 years old. She is a single mother of three. Her eldest child has been admitted to a German university and is due to report in September this year. The other two, aged thirteen and ten, are still in school. Eunices core business is an auto-spares dealership where she sells both new and used parts. She has been involved in the business for five years now and has a substantial client base. She compliments the business by selling fresh snacks like green boiled corn and sweet potatoes which have a high demand in the area where she operates the business. The auto spare business is currently performing under par, and Eunice would wish to venture into the farm auto spare parts dealership business, where there is a more lucrative and profitable market. She is requesting a loan of US$1175, of which US$1120 would be used to acquire initial farm auto spares stock and US$55 would be used to expand her fresh snack business. According to her projections, she would be able to make enough profits to cover her childrens education expenses. Eunice is hardworking, focused and with great interpersonal skills.",F,1175,lender,Retail,1 Kenya,"Eunice started her business in 2005. She sells manufactured goods. She has not undertaken any formal training. She is an active member of her communitys H.I.V/AIDS awareness campaign. Through her business, she has brought services closer to the community as well as been an inspiration to others in her area. With a loan from PEMCI, she plans to increase her shops stock and be able to provide a variety of goods to her customers.",F,150,partner,Retail,0 Kenya,"Eunice Wambui is 39 years old, married, and has four children. She lives in Kariobangi North, Nairobi. Eunice received a 6-month training as a tailor in her friend's business premises. After the training, she was hired as a tailor, working with clients who would bring her their own materials that she would then use to make clothes for them. But, because her salary was very low, Eunice decided to quit the job, and, with US$ 45 worth of savings, she bought a sewing machine and started her own business. So far, the business has been going very well, and Eunice has also had an increase in the number of customers. However, due to lack of funds to purchase additional equipment for tailoring, she has been unable to meet the growing demand. Eunice therefore decided to borrow from Action Now Kenya to which she was directed by Kiva. Eunice hopes that now she will be able to get the assistance that she needs, and is asking for a loan of Ksh 50,000 which she intends to repay in 12 months. With this loan, Eunice will be able to expand her business by increasing the stock of sewing cloth materials. The expanded stock will also allow her to provide a wider variety of final tailoring products to her clients.",F,725,partner,Services,1 Kenya,"Eunice Wangui is 38 years old and married with three children; two are in primary school while the other is in secondary school. She is a dedicated Christian of Lower Kabete Catholic Church where she is a choir member. She is also a member of Mother Joy Women's Group.
Eunice practices crop farming and she later sells her produce at Wangige Market. She grows vegetables and cereal crops. She has been doing this for the last ten years. However, she has always had the fear of borrowing and that is why she has never joined this organisation. After training by WEEC, she was convinced that this was not a bad idea at all. Therefore, she joined WEEC and Mother Joy Women's Group. She has applied for a loan of USD150, which she intends to use to buy 20 baskets of vegetables to increase the stock for her green grocer shop.",F,150,lender,Food,1 Kenya,"Eunice Wanjiru is a 38 year old single mother of four children living in Nairobi. Two children are of school age and the rest are under age. To make a living and support her family, she started a green grocer business. She has established a good clientele base and demand for her products is greatly increasing. She intends to get out of her make shift stall and rent a permanent shop. To realize her vision, she is requesting a loan of US $900 which she intends to use as follows: $200 to pay annual rent; $200 to build shelves and $500 to increase her stock. With the increased stock she will be able to support her family and provide better education for them. She is able to pay back the loan.",F,900,lender,Food,1 Kenya,"Eunice Wanjiru was born in 1967 in Njunu, Kiambu. She is married with four children. Two of her children are in secondary school while the other two are still in primary school. She is a religious person and an active member of the Morning Sunshine women's group. She joined WEEC in 2003, and since then she has greatly benefited from the WEEC loans she has accessed. She has been a dairy farmer since late 1990s. Currently, she has three dairy cows producing an average of 50 litres of milk. She sells her milk to the Kiambaa Dairy Farmers Co-operative Society Ltd at $0.29 per litre. The income generated has enabled her to put up six rental houses on her plot. She has applied for a loan of $900, which she intends to use to purchase a dairy cow and animal feed to increase the milk production so as to meet her customers demands. She is willing to repay this loan within a period of 12 months.",F,900,lender,Agriculture,1 Kenya,"Eunice was born 23 years ago in Western Kenya; she is married with one child who is underage. She is a dedicated member of Kawangare Catholic Church and a choir member. Together with her colleagues, they formed and registered with WEEC after being told by their colleague, Catherine Ndigai, a Torch Women Group member, how WEEC and KIVA have given loans to local residents. A happy mother of one child, she became interested and joined WEEC. She was elected the group secretary due to her good record keeping record.
She runs a second-hand clothes selling business at Kawangare, the business she has been engaged for the last 6 years. Given a loan of USD 600, she intends to buy 4 bales of second-hand clothes to boost her business.",F,600,lender,Clothing,1 Kenya,"Eunice was re-elected as the group chairlady. Eunice has set a tradition of putting God first in all the group's undertakings. The activities start with a word of prayer, followed by the testimonies of what the Lord has done for them. The bible reading follows and the revolving fund pace is eventually set. The seriousness of the group towards the Lord has made them perform well in their group undertakings.
To earn a living, Eunice has a retail shop she opened at her home in the landless area. Her client-base is quite large and it has kept on growing since the landless area is a growing residential area. With her first Kiva loan, Eunice bought a refrigerator. She is now able to make more sales from soft drinks. Eunice has made 95% of her repayments on this loan. She has put in her new application for a loan of USD750. She plans to buy more stock, especially of soft drinks, cereals and other foodstuff. The loan committee has approved her loan. She will repay the loan on a monthly basis.",F,750,lender,Retail,1 Kenya,"Evaline is 30 years old, and married with 2 children. One child is in school. She lives at Nyakagumo village in Maragwa. She is an active member of the ACK church and is in the church choir. She is also the prefect for the group Karaba Umoja and executes her duties very well. Evalyne is a farmer, and in her farm she plants mainly bananas and keeps dairy cows. She also plants maize and beans. Her income is mainly from the sale of milk. She sells 12 litres of milk a day and gets enough for her family to use. She intends to buy animal feed when she gets the loan of USD 150. She will repay the loan within a period of 12 months.",F,150,lender,Agriculture,1 Kenya,"Evaline Nyagona is an average Kenyan woman aged 40 who is married with 2 children. She also cares for 2 orphan children of her late sister. Evaline started her second-hand clothing business 8 years ago after working as a house helper for 10 years.
Evaline deals in ladies' and childrens wear. She purchases her bails of clothes every Sunday from Kibuye market which is well-known for its wholesale clothing business. With the little profit that she gets from her business, Evaline is still able to clothe, feed, and educate her children and relatives with the help of her husband who works as a mechanic in Kisumu town.
With the help of her loan, Evaline would like to diversify her business. Evalines long-term business vision is to expand her business into a boutique.
Disclaimer: Due to recent events in Kenya, the security situation in many communities remains unsettled, affecting many local businesses. Lenders to this entrepreneur should be aware that this loan may represent a higher default risk, and should be willing to accept this additional risk in making their loan.",F,4325,partner,Clothing,0 Kenya,"Evalyne is a member of the Amka (Swahili word meaning Arise) Women's Group. She is married and has ten children. Other than operating a grinding mill, Everlyne also sells corn to customers who want corn flour. She has been doing this business since 2004. She operates the grinding mill at the local Netima trading centre and charges fifty cents for grinding a kilogramme of grains. With the corn business, she usually buys supplies from farmers in times of harvest and stores them until they become scarce. When the grains are scarce, they rise in price and Evalyne can sell her supplies for a higher profit.
Through her business she has been able to educate her children and bring the grinding mill service to the community. Hers is the only one in the area. With another loan from PEMCI, she intends to increase her cereal stock in order to meet the demands of her customers.",F,175,lender,Food,1 Kenya,"Evalyne is a mother of ten. She has been in business since 2004, operating a posho mill at the local community trading centre. Apart from the posho mill business, she also sells maize. She gets her stock of maize direct from the local farmers during harvesting season when the crop is plenty. She stores the maize and sells it later at an increased price. Through her business, she has been able to educate her children, bring services to the community since hers is the only posho mill at the centre, and also improve her living standard. With a loan from PEMCI, she intends to increase her cereal stock in order to meet the demands of her customers.",F,75,partner,Food,0 Kenya,"Evalyne is a single mother of four, all in school. She trained at Joy Medical Centre and afterwards opened a chemist shop where she works to date. She started her business in 2002 when she saw there was an unmet demand for the service in her community. There are only two chemists in the trading centre, hers included, so she has a good number of customers.
Her existing stock right now can be estimated at Kshs. 7,000/= in drugs form. She gets her stock of drugs from Bungoma town. Apart from her business, Evalyne is also a small-scale farmer specializing in planting maize and beans. Through her business, she has been able to educate her children, develop her farm and sustain her family. She has also brought services near to the community. With the proposed loan of $150 from PEMCI, she wishes to increase her stock of drugs and buy fertilizer for her maize farm. We recommend her loan for support by Kiva lenders.",F,150,partner,Health,0 Kenya,"Evans is married with four children all in primary school. He has not undertaken any training but hopes to enroll in college soon. He started his business in 2000 in order to support his family. He also sells bicycle spare parts.
With the proposed loan from PEMCI, Evans plans to improve his stock to be able to supply goods to other shopkeepers in the area. Through his business, he has been able to supply the local boda-bodas (bicycle transporters) with easy access to spare parts. Boda Boda bicycles are an essential mode of transport in this area and very popular. Evans is providing an important service to the community in facilitating movement of goods and people. Well worth the support of PEMCI and Kiva partners.",M,150,partner,Services,0 Kenya,"Evans Muiruri Githumbi is a single, 26 year old man. He is a mixed crop farmer. He plants both commercial crops and subsistence crops. Commercially, he plants maize and beans, and on a subsistence level he plants kale and cabbage. He says he chose this business because he grew up on a farm where both of his parents were hardworking farmers. From the proceeds he gets from his business he supports his ailing mother who can no longer work on the farm. He is operating on a small scale at the moment as he lacks enough seeds and irrigation equipment for his farming. He is requesting a loan of US$700. With this amount he will purchase good quality fertilizer worth US$300, he will buy assorted seeds worth US$200, and he will also buy irrigation materials worth US$200. He is a young, energetic, and focused man who is destined to succeed in the future.",M,700,lender,Agriculture,1 Kenya,"Evans Nyangau is 30 years old and married. His wife also runs her own business. He earns his living and supports his family by operating a retail shop in Nakuru. Evans' greatest challenge is lack of capital to stock enough products to be able to meet his clients' increasing demand. Evans wants to make enough to be able to provide for his family. His biggest desire is to be able to meet his clients' demand and to expand his customer base by purchasing facilities that will help him in his business. He mainly gets his products from wholesalers. To meet his dream, he is requesting for a loan of US$ 400: US$ 350 for stock and US$50 to pay for the municipal council fee. Evans is a hardworking man who is determined to give the best to his young family and capable of paying back the loan.",M,400,lender,Retail,1 Kenya,"Evans Omanwa is aged 32 years, married with two children and two other dependents. Only one is in junior high school. Evans believes the most valuable gift he can ever give his family is education, so he works hard to provide for their education as well as their basic needs.
To earn a living Evans is a retailer of various edibles on Ngotho Road in Nairobi. He sells fresh juice, milk, chocolate, sodas, cakes, buns, sweets and sweetened dumplings, etc. His shop is popular because it's clean and he has good customer care skills.
Evans wishes to expand his retail business and add more inventory. He feels that by starting to expand his shop he will generate more income and be able to cater for his children's educational needs more comfortably. He feels he will be able to sell goods at affordable prices and attract more customers.
Evans is requesting a loan of US$ 1000 to implement his plan. He intends to purchase goods for resale with US$ 700; US$ 300 will be for general business expansion.",M,1000,lender,Retail,1 Kenya,Evans Omondi is a single man who repairs and welds metal products for a living. He wishes to use the loan of USD 750 to expand and diversify his business in order to provide for his family's needs.,M,750,lender,Manufacturing,1 Kenya,"Evans operates a metal workshop at the communitys local trading centre. He has undertaken training in welding up to grade 3. He started his business in 2006, after completing his training. He makes doors, window frames, and gates. Through his business, he has been able to provide employment for two people. He has also helped the community by bringing services closer to them at a cheaper rate. With a loan from PEMCI, he intends to increase the stock of welding materials so that he can meet the demand of his clients, which he has not been able to meet due to lack of capital.",M,75,partner,Manufacturing,0 Kenya,"Evans started his business in 1996. He is a primary seven school drop out, due to lack of school fees. He is the fourth born in a family of ten. After dropping out of school, he opted to start a business in order to sustain himself and also assist his parents in educating his sibling. He sells Maize (dry) at Mayanja trading center where he has a store that he shares with others in the community. He obtained his initial capital from the sale of farm produce (onions) amounting to Ksh2,500 equivalent to $4. This enabled him to buy 2 sacks of maize at that time. Evans is married with three children 2 girls and 1 boy all in primary school. He normally buys his maize stocks directly from the farmers avoiding middlemen. The profit margins on each 90 Kilo sack of maize ranges between Ksh160-180after deducting transportation costs. In a single day he makes sells of between 4 to 10 sacks which is a very good income in these parts of the world. His wife assists him in running the business. With the proposed loan of $150 he plans to increase his stock of maize cereals. He intends to purchase 25 more sacks of maize during this harvesting period when prices are lowest and sell slowly over time. By buying directly from the farmers and cutting off the middlemen, Evans expects to net in a high profit margin than normal. We recommend him for support by Kiva partners.",M,150,lender,Food,1 Kenya,"Evans started his business in 1996. He is a primary seven school drop out, due to lack of school fees. He is the fourth born in a family of ten. After dropping out of school, he opted to start a business in order to sustain himself and also assist his parents in educating his siblings. He sells Maize (dry) at Mayanja trading center where he has a store that he shares with others in the community. He obtained his initial capital from the sale of farm produce (onions) amounting to Ksh 2,500 equivalent of $4. The money he earned was enough for him to purchase 2 sacks of maize. Evans is married with three children 2 girls and 1 boy all in primary school. He normally buys his maize stock directly from the farmers avoiding middlemen. The profit margins on each 90 Kilo sack of maize ranges between Ksh160-180 after deducting transportation costs. In a single day he sells between 4 to 10 sacks which is a very good income in this part of the world. His wife assists him in running the business. With the proposed loan of $150 he plans to increase his stock of maize cereals. He intends to purchase 25 more sacks of maize during this harvesting period when prices are lowest and sell them slowly over time. By buying directly from the farmers, and cutting out the middlemen, Evans expects to net a higher profit margin than normal. We recommend him for support by Kiva partners.",M,150,lender,Food,1 Kenya,"Evans Wanyonyi is 40 years old, married, and has four children. He repairs motorcycles in Chekulo, a small town in the Western Province, and has been in this business for the last ten years.
Evans is taking out his first loan from KADET Ltd and was introduced to KADET by an existing client. He is going to use this money to buy more parts and inventory for his motorcycle repair shop, which will enable him to improve his business by repairing all the motorcycles that are brought to him. Evans also hopes to employ one person to help him manage the business.
About KADET:
The Kenya Agency for the Development of Enterprise and Technology (KADET) is committed to economically empowering its clients by providing financial services to rural communities in order to relieve suffering and improve living conditions within those communities.",M,150,partner,Services,0 Kenya,"Evelyn and her husband, David, have four children, all in primary school. David works with the divisional extension office in Animal Production at Angurai division.
He started the kerosene business in 2002 for Evelyn, who was then a housewife. This arose from the high demand for kerosene in his area. The business is doing well and this is his second loan with PEMCI, the first loan having been paid successfully. The first loan enabled them to open a store from which they run their business. With the proposed loan of $375 through Kiva, the couple intends to open a mini-market to complement their kerosene business, since there is none in the area.",F,375,partner,Retail,0 Kenya,"Evelyn Anuma is a young Kenyan woman aged 30 with 3 children. She also lives with 2 orphan children of her late brother who perished 2 years ago.
Evelyn started her business 3 years ago after accumulating savings from her former work place. She currently operates a small retail shop in the neighborhood where she resides with her family, located in Busia district. She would like to expand her business and start operating a wholesale shop. As she is the primary bread winner for her family, it would enable her to support both her children and her husband, who has a low-paying job. With the little profit that she gets from the business, Evelyn still struggles to feed, clothe, and educate her children and to pay her house rent. With the help of her loan, Evelyn will be able to increase her shop's stock to enable her to boost her monthly sales.
Disclaimer: Due to recent events in Kenya, the security situation in many communities remains unsettled, affecting many local businesses. Lenders to this entrepreneur should be aware that this loan may represent a higher default risk, and should be willing to accept this additional risk in making their loan.",F,2225,lender,Retail,0 Kenya,"Evelyn is 40 years old and married with 3 kids. She is in the Karura Hope women group and her life has been changed by the first KIVA loan she received last year which she is completing this quarter. Before she received the loan, she used to sell 9 litres of milk daily to local residents. After receiving the loan she bought iron sheets, five cement packets, one lorry of sand, some ballast and animal feed for her cows and improved her cow shed. Today she sells a daily average of 40 litres of milk to the Kiamba Dairy cooperative society, which is affiliated to the Kenya Cooperative Creameries at a cost of USD 0.28 per litre. Her daily farming has really grown. Evelyn intends to buy another dairy cow and a tank of water for home consumption and for her cows. She intends to repay in monthly installments.",F,900,lender,Agriculture,1 Kenya,"Evelyn is 40 years old and married. She is very responsible in the group and is a lady with influence. She joined Karura Hope women group after seeing how her friends lives have been changed by the loans they were getting. She has fulfilled part of her dream by acquiring her first loan and started clothes and shoes business. The business was a bit challenging because she used to hawk her goods in offices and residential areas. She was very determined to set a store where she can be operating from instead of hawking. When she saved the income for sometimes, she got another loan and she was able to move to a semi-permanent place. From here, she was able to accumulate income which enabled her to buy 3 dairy cows. She now supplies 9 litres of milk per day to the area residents at USD 0.3 per litre. It has been a good project that she has put a lot of effort to maintain. She would like to buy feeds for her animals and put up a good shed for zero grazing. She believes they will maximize production rate and she will be able to repay the loan.",F,300,lender,Agriculture,1 Kenya,"Evelyn is a married woman with seven children; two boys and five girls. The last born is still at home while the others are all in primary school. Her husband is owns a small drug shop where he sells by himself.
Evelyn started her tailoring shop nine years ago with an existing stock of about Kshs. 20,000/= where she offers tailoring services and on the side sells sweaters, textile materials, shoes, slippers and finished products from her workshop. She tailors Kaunda suits, ladies clothes and school uniforms. She hopes that her shop will continue to sustain her and her family and educate her children.
The major challenge to her business is insecurity in the area. Her shop has been broken into a couple of times which has affected her business negatively. With KIVA loan through PEMCI, Evelyn plans to boost up her stock. She also plans to hire a night guard so as to beef up her security.",F,75,lender,Services,1 Kenya,"Evelyn is a member in one of PEMCIs groups called the Bumula Women's Group. She operates a store at the Bumula Trading Centre where she sells food and beverages. She purchases her stock from Malaba. The cereals she sells are sourced cheaper from Uganda. She gets already processed cereals from Bungoma at times as well. When supply is low she buys from Busia. Evelyn sells her goods retail. Her current stock is estimated to be worth KES 25,000 ($400 USD).
Evelyn is married and blessed with three children. Her first born is in class three, the second born is in class two and the last born is in class one. Her husband operates a butchery in the Bumula Market.
Evelyn completed her first loan successfully. She intends to take another loan from PEMCI. Her first loan enabled her to expand her business and earn more of a profit. She says when given another loan she plans to buy dry corn and use the remaining capital to increase her inventory further.",F,275,lender,Retail,1 Kenya,"Evelyn is a repeat client with PEMCI and is requesting a third loan. She sells cereals at Malakisi Trading Centre. The first and second loans enabled her to increase her stock of cereals. With the profits, she was able to hire a piece of land where she grows her own cereals to sell. She has also been able to purchase a dairy cow. Her stock is estimated at KES 4000. Her business was affected by the post-election skirmishes which forced it to go down for a while. Now she is back at work as everything is back to normal; however, her stock is down giving her less profit than before. With a loan from PEMCI, she plans to restock her shop so that she does not lose her customers.
Evelyn is married and a mother of eight children. The first two children are finished with secondary education and waiting to join college. The other six are still in school. Evelyn is illiterate and learned her business through observation. Her husband is unemployed but survives on odd jobs. Through her business, she has been able to help her husband by educating their children and meeting the general needs of the family. She is an inspiration to the elderly like her in the community.
Disclaimer: Due to recent events in Kenya, the security situation in many communities remains unsettled, affecting many local businesses. Lenders to this entrepreneur should be aware that this loan may represent a higher default risk, and should be willing to accept this additional risk in making their loan.",M,325,lender,Food,1 Kenya,"Evelyn is a single mother of 7 children. Her husband passed away leaving her 3 sons and 4 daughters. 2 daughters are married. The rest of the children are dependent on the little income that she generates. She operates a posho mill, which she runs in addition to selling maize and cassava for milling. With the loan of $150 she plans to purchase additional stock of maize and cassava for sale. Her business is doing quite well and the additional investment is expected to improve her income. With this additional income, her welfare and that of her children, will improve further raising the overall status of the local community.",F,150,partner,Food,0 Kenya,"Evelyn is married with eight children, all in primary school. She hasnt undergone any formal training. She started her business in 1998. She successfully completed her first loan from PEMCI and now requests a second loan for $150 which will enable her to increase her stock and begin a milk business. Her business talents have gained her recognition in her community, and she is now the head of the Malakisi women group",F,150,partner,Food,0 Kenya,"Evelyn is the chairlady of Osotua Women Group. She is 33 years old, married with four children. Her children are still young and all are in primary school. She operates a retail shop in Kipiro trading centre. She sells household items, which include among others: sugar, maize flour, vegetables, salt, milk jugs and plastic buckets. Her business is progressing and its helping her in providing all the necessities at home, including school expenses.
She would like to stock her shop so that clients are not disappointed when they come to buy various household items. She has achieved part of her dream through her first Kiva loan. She has managed to repay most of that loan and is almost clearing the loan balance. She has big dreams of building her own business room where she will move her shop instead of renting. Her children nowadays are not sent back home because she could not pay their fees. She has proven a positive repayment pattern and promises to make prompt payments every month.",F,900,lender,Retail,1
Kenya,"Evelyn is the Treasurer of Kahumbu Kwirera Mothers. She is a hard working lady, a widow with six children all working.
She sells milk from her two dairy cows and bananas. She sells ten litres of milk every day giving her USD.2.5. There is a ready market for milk in Maragua, as well as Thika, which calls for increase in supply.",F,450,partner,Food,0
Kenya,"Evelyn is the Treasurer of Kahumbu Kwirera Mothers. She is a hard-working lady and a widow with six children, all of whom are working. She sells milk from her two dairy cows, and bananas. She sells ten litres of milk every day, giving her $2.50 a day. There is ready market for milk in Maragwa as well as Thika, which calls for an increase in supply due to the increased demand for more milk. Evelyn wants to buy another high-bred cow that will produce more milk for a constant supply of milk. She has already attended WEEC training on livestock, which will enable her to increase milk production. She has completed paying her first KIVA loan and wants $600 to buy another dairy cow, which will enable her to increase her milk production and hence increase her income to $10 per day. The increased income will enable her to pay school fees for her children. The loans committee has approved her loan.",F,600,lender,Agriculture,1
Kenya,"Evelyn Nyamboke Obara is 24 years old, is married, and has three children. Two of them are in school while one is still too young. Due to lack of finances, Evelyn barely got to high school. She stayed home and after some time she could not accept the fact that her friends were in school while she was still at home. She resorted to early marriage. She admits that she did not plan her moves well but there is no time for regret. She sells charcoal in an open air market, to both individuals and hotels. Charcoal is a source of energy commonly used in Kenya. She sometimes runs out of stock because she does not have a high enough stock level. She intends to get additional charcoal stock from the source which gives her a better margin than buying from middle men. She has been in this business for some time and she understands well the trends which will earn her more revenue. She forecasts an increase in income if given a loan to boost her business. She is requesting a loan of US$550. She will use US$400 to buy more stock, US$100 for transport, and US$50 to cover business licenses. This will help her explore more markets, increase her income, and hence her standard of living. She is focused and capable of paying back the loan.",F,550,lender,Retail,1
Kenya,"Evelyn Wasike is twenty-nine years old and married to a cattle trader. They have four children; the first-born is eleven years old, the second is ten, the third is seven and the last is two years old. Three of her children go to a nearby primary school while the last one is still at home. Evelyn is a primary school drop-out and has not undergone any formal training.
Evelyn started her mini store business four years ago with a start-up capital of about Kshs 5000/- (approximately $75) and now operates with a stock of over twenty thousand Kenya shillings. She trades in foodstuffs like milk, sugar, corn flour, beans, ground nuts, and other assorted cereals. She gets her products from Bungoma market, Myanga market, Malaba market and sometimes Uganda.
She says that her customers mostly come from around Bumula village. The major challenge to her business is sourcing for the goods. She says that the wholesale stores are very far away which makes it hard and costly for her to operate the business. With her first PEMCI loan through KIVA, Wasike plans to increase her stock and bring in other products that customers ask for but she doesnt have.",F,100,lender,Food,1 Kenya,"Evelyne Kaguli lives in the Rongo District of Kenya. She is 34 years old, married to a police officer, and has 3 children. Evelyne wants to start her own business a grocery and cereals stall in her community. As she lives near the border to Tanzania, Evelyne will buy the supplies for her stall from Tanzania and from the Kenyan town of Migori. In order to start her business, Evelyne has applied for a loan of $150. With the loan money, she will purchase the initial inventory of groceries and cereals for the new stall.",F,150,partner,Food,0 Kenya,"Everlyne is married with five children all in primary school. She has not undertaken any training. She is an active member of her local community's poverty eradication self-help group. She started her business in 2000, which involves selling second hand clothes, in order to support her family. Her husband is not employed. With a loan from PEMCI, she wishes to increase her stock and be able to take her clothes to different markets. Through her business, she has been able to bring services closer to the locals. She has also been able to contribute materially to her community.",F,50,partner,Clothing,0 Kenya,"Everlyne Khavere is a married woman, aged 31 years. She was born in a poor family and was not in a position to get sufficient education. As a result of this she had to drop out at grade six and start working as house help. Everlyne was devastated by the fact that she could not get money to cater for the necessities, especially since her employer gave her salary in kind; for instance, she would be given 2kg maize after working the whole day.
One time a friend offered to help her start a business of selling dried fish and sardines. The capital was small but due to her determination, she was able to get a lot of customers. Her problem is that she does not have place of her own and also is not in a position to supply to all her customers. She is requesting a loan of US$650, of which US150 will be used to lease a house, US$200 to buy a refrigerator, US$200 for stock and US$100 for transport. With this, she is sure of improving her standard of living and also educating her children.",F,650,lender,Food,1 Kenya,"Ezekiel started his matatu (public service vehicle) transport business seven years ago with a second-hand vehicle. Through hard work and determination, Ezekiel is able to feed, clothe, and educate his family of two wives and eight children.
Ezekiel operates his business along the Kisumu Busia highway and is currently planning to buy another second-hand matatu (public service vehicle) to diversify his business. With the help of his loan, Ezekiel will also be able to buy public service vehicle spare parts which he hopes to sell to generate more income for his family. His long-term business vision is to own a fleet of many public service vehicles.
Disclaimer: Due to recent events in Kenya, the security situation in many communities remains unsettled, affecting many local businesses. Lenders to this entrepreneur should be aware that this loan may represent a higher default risk, and should be willing to accept this additional risk in making their loan.",M,3475,lender,Transportation,0 Kenya,"Ezinah Inyanje is a 58-year-old nurse who lives with her husband and their four children in Kisumu, Kenya. Two of her children are joining University by September this year.
Ezinah trained as a nurse in the year 1969. After training, she worked in government hospitals for 35 years. In 2005, she opened her own clinic (Mt Everest Medical Clinic) in Manyatta, one of the most densely populated slums of Kisumu. In her clinic she offers general curative services, family planning, counseling, and maternal and child health care services, and also has integrated a pharmacy and laboratory within the clinic. She, in collaboration with K-MET, sells safe motherhood vouchers to expecting poor mothers, which enables them to access reproduction health services in certain medical facilities.
Ezinah attributes her success to hard work, perseverance, and assistance from K-METs microfinance loan. She has been able to renovate her facility, purchase a stock of drugs, and improve the quality of care she provides. Ezinah plans buy drugs and equipment for her pharmacy with the US $1200 loan.",F,1200,partner,Health,0 Kenya,"Faith Naserian is 30 years old and married with three children. Two of the children are in primary school and one is in secondary school. She is an active member of the Nasinya Womens Group. Faith started her beadwork business two years ago after accessing small loans from the group. She has been empowered from the income generated and purchased six goats. She created a job for her husband which is to look after these goats. She has continued with her business and it has been the primary source of income in her family. She is hoping to get a loan of USD 450 to expand her business and expand her target group. Faith is targeting Isinya and Nairobi residents for her beads and she has done her research. She is very determined to invest all the profit she is going to earn back into the business. She is willing is to repay this loan within a period of 12 months.",F,450,lender,Arts,1 Kenya,"Faith Nyambura is 39 years old. She is a widow with one daughter in school. She is from Mutarakwa Muranga District in Central Province and earns her living selling fruits in Gikomba market in Kenyas capital, Nairobi. Faith commands a good number of customers in Gikomba and wishes to expand her business in order to accommodate the growing number of clients on a daily basis. She is requesting a loan of US$825 to expand her business. Her loan budget is as follows: US$270 to purchase bags of avocado fruit; US$250 to purchase bags of oranges; US$150 to purchase boxes of green apples; US$100 to purchase crates of mangoes; US$55 to pay for transport services. Faiths business is viable, because of her excellent marketing and communication skills to her clients. Therefore she deserves to expand the business to meet the customers demand and sustain her family needs. She is capable of paying back the loan.",F,825,lender,Retail,1 Kenya,"Faith was born 40 years ago, married and is blessed with four children. She believes in a divine power from God follow the positive teachings.1 of her child is at University of Nairobi, the rest are in high and primary school. She works in her family farm to feed and earn some money to assist her husband to respond to the many demands they have. She is currently having two dairy cows where she sells milk to a cooperative Sacco and earns USD150 per month. She also has coffee plantation which is not reliable but out of it she gets around USD200 per annum. For consumption she grows maize, beans, vegetables and potatoes. Faith has very intelligent children and has the responsibility of seeing they get quality education through borrowing loans from her group. She and her husband have agreed to borrow a loan of USD600 for school fees for next term and they will team up to pay.",F,600,lender,Agriculture,1 Kenya,"Fanice is married with six children who are both in primary school. She has not undertaken any formal training, but she learned the business through observation. She started the business in 2005 after she saw there was a need for such a business in the area. Her main customers are market women and men. Though the business is doing well, she needs a loan from PEMCI to renovate the place in order to attract more customers. Through the business, she has been able to bring services to the market people and employment to two young men.",F,50,partner,Food,0 Kenya,"Farestone Kuria Mwangi is 46 years old. He is married and has seven children and seven other dependants, of whom four are attending school. Five of his own children are in junior school while the other two are in college. He has been practicing dairy farming for twenty years. He has become very experienced in animal care. He has managed to increase the dairy cows output by feeding them with suitable feeds which produce more milk and products such as cheese and yogurt. As hardworking as he is the produce from the dairy farm is not sufficient enough to provide for the family at a satisfactory level. He is determined to give his dependents a better future. This calls for a major financial breakthrough. He wishes to expand his farming in order to cater to new emerging markets outside town. He is therefore requesting US $500. The following is the loan expenditure plan: quality breed dairy cow for US $300; build a shed for the cows for US $50 and purchase of the best feeds for the cows for US$ 150. This will raise his and his dependents standard of living by a big margin.",M,500,lender,Agriculture,1 Kenya,"Felicina is an active member both in group and her church where she is a prayer leader. She is married with nine children, four are working while other four are in college and one in secondary school. She has been in business for more than twenty five years. She has a stall at Githma market. She has been able to educated her four children who are already working but the conditions have changed and for the business to keep running normarlly, some funding is needed.",F,300,partner,Food,0 Kenya,"Felicina is an active member both in the group and her church, where she is a prayer leader. She is married with nine children; four are working, four are in college, and one is in secondary school. She has been in business for the last three years. She has a stall at Githima market, where she sells vegetables and milk. She earns an income of $10.00 in a day but she needs to increase her income through buying a dairy cow since the trade of milk has improved after the revival of a dairy cooperative by the government. Buying a dairy cow will enable her to increase her income, which will allow her to educate her children and repay her loan.",F,600,lender,Agriculture,1 Kenya,"Felicitus Mutanga Muindi is 29 years old, is single with one child. She is the only one taking care of her three young brothers and sisters. She therefore has a lot of financial commitments. She operates a butchery in the centre, which is the only source of income for her family. She is intending to add more varieties of meat to meet customers' demand in the area. She has been supplying mutton, and would like to start selling beef and pork. She also wants to expand her premises to enable her to sell ready to eat meat. She requires a US$700 loan to accomplish her business plan, which she budgets as follows: US$400 to buy cows and pigs for slaughter, and US$300 to purchase cooking equipment. She projects an increase in capital and a consequent improvement to her living standards. She is hard working and a good planner. She is capable of repaying the loan.",F,700,lender,Food,1 Kenya,"Felista Wanjira Njogu is 53 years old. She is married with 12 children; where 8 of them are in primary school and the other 4 are in college and in secondary school. She is an active member of Gakoigo women group. She is a businesswoman and also a farmer. She cultivates bananas, French beans, maize and beans which are mainly for resale. She sells her produce at a local market. She joined WEEC in 2004 where she got a loan of USD60 to setup a business of selling bananas. She intends to buy 30 bunches of bananas to enable her to meet her customer demands. She is willing to repay this loan in a period of 10 months.",F,150,lender,Agriculture,1 Kenya,"Felista Wanjiru is 47 years old. She is married with four children. She lives in Kaganda, Muranga. She lives on her farm where she practises farming. She has planted coffee, tea and other food crops. She has dairy cows that produce 10 litres and sells this milk at USD 0.3. She has applied for a loan of USD300, which she intends to use to set up a green grocer shop. She is willing to repay this loan within a period of 12 months.",F,300,lender,Agriculture,1 Kenya,"Felix Odhiambo Ojore is a 26 year old married man with no children. He lives in Nakuru where he operates a business selling spare parts like engine oils, fuel pipes, lubricants, and filters, among others. After he took his O level exams he did not further his education due to a lack of school fees. He ventured into the business of selling spare motor parts. Felix has been in this business for three years now. He has also gained business skills through the business clinics organized by the Ebony Foundation. Felix gets his product supply from Nairobi and Dubai. He also sells his products to targeted customers, mechanics and companies. However the business has been frustrating because he lacks funds to buy stock. Thus he is requesting a loan of US$1200 which he intends to use as follows: US$1100 to add more stock and US$100 to cater for transport expenses. Felix's business is viable and he will be able to repay the loan.
Disclaimer: Due to recent events in Kenya, the security situation in many communities remains unsettled, affecting many local businesses. Lenders to this entrepreneur should be aware that this loan may represent a higher default risk, and should be willing to accept this additional risk in making their loan.",M,1200,lender,Services,1 Kenya,"Felix Odhiambo Ojore is a married man, aged 26. He got married early this year and his wife is soon expecting a baby. Felix has to work hard to ensure that when his wife has the baby he has sufficient money to take care of both of them. He is sure that with the amount he earns from his present work he can not meet all his family expenses.
Felix wants to expand his current business and is sure of higher revenue if he is able to do so. His tough problem is his lack of funds. He believes that receiving a loan of US$ 500 will help him earn more income so as to better provide for his family. With the loan he will add spare parts worth US$ 400 to his inventory, and he plans to use US$100 to improve the premises.",M,500,lender,Retail,1 Kenya,"Festo Oluoch Odongo is 35 years old. He is married and has one child but also has two dependants who rely on him for basic needs and school fees. His wife was a tailor but has stopped since the birth of their child. Festo sells small dried fish both wholesale and retail. He has to travel to the lakeside every week to buy the small fish which he later sells to his already established clients. He has been in the business for 10 years and it has always brought him sufficient returns. Over the years, his clients have been increasing and he cannot handle the large number of clients he has. He is requesting a loan of US$400 to help buy more stock. He intends to travel to the lakeside twice per week and get more bags of the small fish than before. US$50 will cover the transport, US$280 will cover the purchase, and US$70 will cover the cost of increasing his store space.",M,400,lender,Food,1 Kenya,"Fidelis Owino Onyango is 34 years old and married with three kids who are all in school. Fidelis runs a battery repair and a small barber shop. His wife is a homemaker taking care of the family. The whole family live in a two-room house for they cannot afford better housing. Fidelis struggles a lot to take care of his family and would like to supplement his small income by starting a business for his wife, which is selling farm produce in the market , but he lacks funds. He requests a US $400 loan: US$ 300 buys stock and US $ 100 to rent a stall.",M,400,lender,Food,1 Kenya,"Filistus Eliseba is 39 years old. She is married with five children and two other dependants. Two of her children attend school while other three and the two dependants are not attending school due to lack of school fees.
Filistus runs a makeshift food cafe. Her specialty is traditional dishes which she prepares every day. Her customers are mainly hawkers and casual laborers. Many people are low health conscious and as such, the demand for traditional food is high. With the great demand of her food, however, Filistus is not able to accommodate many people at a go. She would like to move from her makeshift place to a permanent place but she lacks capital. She is requesting a loan of US$1050. The following is her budget for the loan:
$400 to buy foodstuffs for her caf,
$200 to rent permanent premises for her caf,
$200 to furnish the caf,
$100 to pay for an operating license,
$50 for transport, and
$100 to employ two people to help her run the caf.
Filistus is a hard worker and will be able to repay the loan.",F,1050,lender,Food,1 Kenya,"Flora Adhiambo Othiambo is 31 years old, married with five children, four girls and 1 boy. She is the only child in her family and her parents depend on her. Her father is diabetic and it is her responsibility to buy his medications.
Flora has been in the business of selling dry fish and sardines for the last 8 years. She got the idea from her mother who was also in the same business some years ago. Flora has a problem because the amount she earns is not sufficient, especially since her girls are to join secondary school. She really wants to expand her business and is requesting US$900. She is planning to use US$300 to buy stock, US$200 for transport, US$100 for lease and US$300 for school fees.",F,900,lender,Food,1 Kenya,"Flora is married with three children. She was fortunate, being a Maasai girl, in being able to reach high school level. Flora is an active member of Nyota Women's Group and attends church in Olturoto. She started her hotel business two years ago. She would like to expand her business and buy some chairs and tables to accommodate more customers. From the profits of the hotel she intends to buy a plot of land so that she can build a permanent home for her family and rent some houses to make more income. This will enable her to pay school fees for her children, save on a monthly basis and pay her loans on time.",F,450,lender,Food,1 Kenya,"Flora Muthoni is 43 years old, married, with 6 children. She is a member of Bethsaida women group. She is a real Christian who fellowships at the Anglican Church. She demonstrates her faith by being a member of the Mothers Union and visiting the less advantaged in the society. She is a farmer who rears dairy animals and grows a cash crop - tea - in her farm. She sells her dairy milk at an area Cooperative, Saco, and she is able to earn USD$22, while tea earns her USD$5 on a monthly basis. Besides tea and dairy farming she plants food crops such as beans and vegetables for family consumption and when there is a good harvest she sells the surplus. She is focusing on dairy farming due to the fact that the government supports the industry and the market for farmers milk is available with good prices. She is promising to meet her repayments on a monthly basis.",F,150,lender,Agriculture,1 Kenya,"Flora Wanjiku is 55 years old. She is married with two children, whom are self-reliant. She is the treasurer of Full Gospel church in Kenya Njeru. She is an active member of Ngombe Bora Women Group. She is a farmer who grows coffee, tea, maize, beans and kale. She has a calf, which she intends to replace with a dairy cow and therefore, she has applied for a loan of $600 to purchase a dairy cow. She is willing to repay this loan within a period of 12 months.",F,600,lender,Agriculture,1 Kenya,"Flora was born in 1973 in Kiambu, Kenya. She is single with one child who is in nursery school. After completing her secondary education in 1990s, she joined a college and trained on salon and beauty therapy course. After the college, she started a salon business but she was limited by capital. From her place of worship, they were mobilized as 15 women from her home area , and formed a group in 2002 and registered with WEEC the same year. They have benefited a lot from loans and trainings give by WEEC program.. She has been able to buy blow-dryers, combs, manicure sets, hair chemicals and nail polishes. She feels good when attending group meetings as she counts herself as an achiever. She is hoping to get a loan of USD 300 and she will buy chemicals for her salon to be armed enough stock for next year preparations",F,300,lender,Services,1 Kenya,"Florence Amuruoni is 38 years old and a single mother .She sells vegetables and fruits at the outskirts of her town. Florence is the only person with that type of business in the whole of her neighborhood. This has actually been an advantage, especially since she is close to garages and most of the mechanics have fruits as a substitute for breakfast.
Florence would like to add variety of fruits but as she has no capital, she is requesting a loan of US$ 350. US$ 250 will be used to add a variety of fruits to her inventory and US$ 100 to buy a commercial juice blender for making fresh fruit juice. Florence is sure of getting steady customers and that her inflows will substantially increase, placing her in a better position than before.She will definitely be able to repay the loan.",F,350,lender,Food,1 Kenya,"Florence Auma Okello is 43 years old and married with six children. Three of the children are in junior school and three are in high school. Her husband is a driver while she is a business lady selling fish in the main market. This helps her pay the school fees for her children and send some money upcountry to her old parents. She has been in this business for a long time.
Though she has some orders from several hotels she can not supply them due to lack of finances to buy the stock. If she got US$ 600 she would be able to meet these orders and generate more income. She buys fish from the brokers/middle men and supplies them to the market. She has been doing this for several years and understands the business well. She will utilize US$400 to buy more stock of fish form the lake side, US$100 for transport and US$100 for storage and other expenses. She believes that with additional income she can save more for her childrens education and at the same time raise her living standards and those of the fishermen she is buying from. She is hardworking and capable of repaying the loan.",F,600,lender,Food,1 Kenya,"Florence Chepkemoi is an active, 52 year old lady who is married with three children. She resides in the town of Kitengela on the outskirts of Nairobi. Apart from her family, Florence takes care of her sisters son as her sister passed away when he was 11 years old. Florence has taken care of him through adulthood, even to the point of assisting him with the dowry he must pay for his new wife. Florence also has to buy some medication for her elderly parents. Florence is in the transportation business and owns a matatu (private mini-van that serves as transportation means for most Kenyans). Florence bought her matatu in 2005, after her husband loaned her $1,176, which she combined with another $1,250 that she had saved from her restaurant business. She still operates this caf, known as Florida Cafe. With a total of $2,426, Florence bought the vehicle and has been operating on the Kitengela-Nairobi route. The business was going well until early this year when she noticed a lot of smoke coming from the vehicle. After consulting her mechanic, she was advised to have an engine over-haul so as to get her matatu back into business. She approached many banks, but due to the high interest charged by the banks, Florence had no option but to take her vehicle off the road. This affected her so much that she had to be hospitalized due to the stress from seeing her vehicle grounded. Florence approached her friend, Regina Ndumi, who benefited from a Kiva loan earlier this year. Regina gave her the information for Action Now Kenya. Florence is requesting a loan for $1,200. With this, she will be able to buy spare parts like rings, pistons, and engine mounting, among others for her matatu. This will enable her to do an engine over-haul. With the engine over-haul, Florence will be able to put her vehicle back on the road, thus improving her income. Florence thanks Kiva lenders in advance, and pleads with them to hear her appeal for a loan. The repayment period for this loan will be 12 months.",F,1200,partner,Transportation,1 Kenya,"Florence is 43 years old. She was born in Kiambu. She is married with three children. One has completed college and is married with a family. The other two are in college in Nairobi. Florence is a dedicated Christian and a member of Kirangare Catholic Church. Florence joined Dressmaking College immediately after completing her secondary education and graduated in two years. She started her dressmaking business at her shop in Wangige Market. In the year 2000 she joined her neighbors to form the Kugema Womens Group, which was registered with WEEC in the same year. Apart from dressmaking, Florence also rears dairy cows and chickens and practices horticulture farming.
Florence's life has been transformed by the eight loans she received from WEEC. Through these loans and hard work, she has been able to educate her children without significant struggle. Florence believes that hard work always bears fruit and that her family will benefit. She wishes to expand her dressmaking business and buy a dairy cow. She would like to be given a loan of 1200 USD to be repaid within a period of 12 months.",F,1200,lender,Agriculture,1 Kenya,"Florence is 53 years of age, married with 3 kids. She is a member of St Jude women's group and is very responsible in group meetings. She is a member in Presbyterian Church of East Africa and sings in the choir.
She is a farmer by occupation - she plants cereals and vegetables, which earns her an average of USD 40 per month. She also rears 2 dairy cows, which produce 8 litres of milk per day. She also sells green vegetables to the local community from her farm.
Florence really tries to provide for her family, although it is challenging. She is a hard-working lady who believes that one day, her dream of supplying farm products to big markets will come true. To achieve this, she wants to improve her farming methods.
She promises to repay her loan on a monthly basis.",F,150,lender,Agriculture,1 Kenya,"Florence is a Kenyan aged 47. She lives in Gitumbi village of Maragwa district. She is married with 6 children. She belongs to Karaba women's group and is a very active member. She contributes very well to the group's revolving fund. She is also a member of the local Anglican Church and participates in many church activities.
Florence is a farmer and plants mainly bananas and other crops. Her major source of income is the sale of bananas and French beans. She hopes to buy a large water tank for her home when she gets the loan of USD300 through the group.",F,300,lender,Agriculture,1 Kenya,Florence is a nurse midwife who serves a community living within the Kakamega forest in western Kenya. She has been trained in comprehensive Reproductive health services. As a community based service provider she intends to improve the quality of the services offered through integration of laboratory services. She has applied for a loan to enable her purchase the necessary equipment and supplies for the laboratory services.,F,2000,partner,Health,0 Kenya,"Florence is married with 4 children. She has been in the group for 4 years. Florence has worked tirelessly for the last 4 years with the other members, for the growth of the group. As the treasurer of the group she has worked with honesty and dedication. The strong Women Secretariat has seen the group soar to the third stage of group development. The members are all looking forward to moving forward to the performing stage in group development. The group has done amazing work using the group revolving fund.
In her economic activities, Florence keeps dairy cows and sells milk both in the landless area and in Thika town. She bought one high quality dairy cow with her first Kiva loan. She was able to increase the milk she supplies to 25 litres per day.
Florence has been enlisted as one of the WEEC members to go for an intensive training on livestock management, since her dairy project is one of those that are developing well. She has also applied for a loan of USD750 to buy another dairy cow and get capital to complete her dairy farming project. She will be able to buy enough hay during the dry period and other dairy supplements. The loans committee has approved her loan as per the group loan graduation schedule. Her repayment record is good. She will repay her loan in installments.",F,750,lender,Agriculture,1
Kenya,"Florence is married with four children. She has been in the group for 4 years. Currently she is the group treasurer. She is a treasurer of Revelations women group and another self help group. They buy household utensils for members and distribute amongst themselves.
Florence keeps dairy cows and sells milk at Landless and Thika town. She has also a retail shop in Gatundu-Makongeni area. Due to high demand of milk, she would like to increase supply by buying more milk from vendors as well as buying another dairy cow.",F,600,partner,Agriculture,0
Kenya,"Florence is married, but does not have children. She is a trained nurse and the proprietor of Mombasa Royal Medical Clinic based in Shinyalu Kakamega, Kenya. The clinic offers general curative, family planning, child welfare, and laboratory services. The locals appreciate the quality of services provided in Florence's facility. Florence is asking for a loan of US$1,200 to further expand her clinic.",F,1200,partner,Health,0
Kenya,Florence is one of the clients challenged by an elderly woman in her group who invested in shares almost ten years ago and has stabilized her life. Florence is a farmer by occupation and has never tried this kind of business but has made a choice to improve her life through this business. She has already cleared a USD 150 loan she was servicing and wants the same amount of money to venture in new business.,F,150,lender,Agriculture,1
Kenya,"Florence Olango is a very active 48-year old member of her community. She has lived in one of the slums of Kisumu, Kenya, for the past thirteen years. She is a widow and heads a household of five school-aged children, two of whom are orphans due to AIDS. She was trained by UNICEF as a community health worker in 1993. In 1997, she received training from KMET for home-based HIV/AIDS care, TB ambassadorship, and community-based distribution of oral contraceptives.
Florence is very well-known within her community for her compassionate work and also as a politician. She is the womens representative for the Liberal Democratic Party in Kisumu District, where her principal role is to speak to women, raise awareness, and encourage their involvement in the political process to fight for their rights. As an expert in the art of making traditional baskets, Florence initiated a basket-weaving income-generating project for a group of women within her community five years ago, and she continues to lead and support this group. Her main business and source of income, however, is her community pharmacy which she has managed for the past eight years.
Thanks to her reputation and the location of her pharmacy within the community, her business has flourished. The most commonly purchased drugs in her pharmacy are those to treat malaria, diarrhea, asthma and upper respiratory infections. Florence credits her success to hard work and the assistance she has received from KMET through two previous microfinance loans. She plans to use the funds from her next loan of US$600 to expand both of her businesses. She will invest in a bulk stock of drugs for her community pharmacy and will purchase basket-weaving materials.",F,600,partner,Health,0 Kenya,"Florence Waithera Kuria is a 29-year-old business entrepreneur, married with two children who are both school-going. Her husband owns a cereal shop, while she sells spare parts at a local garage in Nakuru town. Some of the products sold include oil filters, universal joints, hub bolts and nuts, break fluid, battery acid, engine oil, drive shafts and adhesives, among others. Despite the fact that she is a school dropout, that did not deter her from achieving her childhood dreams. She has good customer relationships, and that has attracted a lot of clients including mechanics and owners of personal vehicles. She has been in the business two years, and it has helped her a great deal. She has been able to provide for her family and also take care of her parents. But she has faced many challenges, including lack of money to expand the business, post-election violence that has reduced the number of customers, high transportation costs of the spare parts, and lack of a permanent business premise. Florence is thus requesting $1200 and her budget is as follows: $100 to cater for transport; $150 to lease a permanent business premise; $750 to add more stock (inventory); $100 to get a license; $100 renovate the new premises and build shelves. She is a committed businesswoman who will repay the loan on time.
Disclaimer: Due to recent events in Kenya, the security situation in many communities remains unsettled, affecting many local businesses. Lenders to this entrepreneur should be aware that this loan may represent a higher default risk, and should be willing to accept this additional risk in making their loan.",F,1200,lender,Retail,1 Kenya,Florence Wambui is aged 30 years and married with 5 children. Florence has been struggling for a long time in the rural area and thats when she started a business selling fruits at the Mukuyu Market to enable herself to feed and take her children to school. Florence is a very hard working women and thats why she needs a loan of USD450 to expand her business of fruits and cereals. She will be able to repay her loan over a 12-month period and save a little money on a monthly basis for emergencies. She would like to build a better house with the profits she will be getting from her business.,F,450,lender,Retail,1 Kenya,"Florence Wangui Kimani a 52 year old farmer. She is married and has five children. Having dropped out of school in form two, she decided to go to faming. She and her husband have been practicing farming since they married. Recently, Florence started goat rearing,that is, keeping goats for milk. The greatest advantage with this is that there is a very ready market and very few are doing it. She is requesting for a loan of US$800. With this loan, she intends to use US$200 to expand the shed in which the goats stay. US$300 to be used in buying 10 additional goats ,US$200 to buy goat feeds and mineral salts and US$100 to be used in transporting the feed up to her farm. She was the pioneer of goat rearing in her village and a role model to many. Her goats are giving her relatively high returns and she is capable of paying back the loan and at the same time improve her financial position.",F,800,lender,Agriculture,1 Kenya,"Floric (in a white coat) is a 45 year old trained nurse. She is a single mother of two daughters. Floric became a registered nurse in 1984. She worked with the government hospital for three years before starting her own clinic in 1989 . Her clinic is situated in the Runyenjes Embu District. She offers a variety of services including general services, family planning, child welfare and operates a laboratory. The community appreciates the quality services that her facility provides. She requires US $1200 to further expand her clinic.",F,1200,partner,Health,0 Kenya,"For the last three years, Maximillian has operated a home bakery at his Moding residence. His customers are mainly shopkeepers around Moding and Angurai trading centre. He bakes 80 dozen short cakes and scones each day. He sells them to shopkeepers at a wholesale price and also sells retail to his neighbors. He works alone because he doesnt yet have enough capital to hire somebody to help him.
His main challenges in the business are transportation and competition. He gets orders from other trading centers. But his only means of transportation is by bicycle, so he is unable to deliver the baked goods quickly.
The shopkeepers normally pay him after selling the baked goods, so its not on a cash-on-delivery basis. His current stock is worth about 10,000 shillings. Each dozen sells for 40 shillings, and his profit is 10 shillings. (Approximately 67 Kenya shillings equals 1 USD.)
Maxmilian is requesting his second loan from PEMCI. With this loan, Max plans to hire another person to assist him in delivering while he does the baking. He also plans to purchase modern baking equipment in order to increase the output and quality of his products. The first loan enabled him to expand his field of operation.
Maxmilian is a father of seven children, three girls and four boys. All his children attend primary and secondary school. His wife is a farmer.",M,375,lender,Food,1 Kenya,"For two years, Sela has operated a kiosk in Mukwa selling goods. Apart from operating the kiosk, she is a trained primary school teacher. While she is working (teaching) her daughter operates the kiosk for her. Her stock is estimated at 7,000 KES or $105 USD. She makes a profit of between 200 to 300 shillings a day ($3 - $5). Her customers are mainly her neighbours and people of Mukwa.
Sela is married and a mother of four children - 2 boys and 2 girls, all of whom are in school. The first born is in University, the second is in form three and the last two are in primary school. Her husband is employed by the Ministry of Agriculture.
Sela purchases her kiosks stock at the Mayanja shopping centre and the confectioneries at Salama Bakery in Bungoma Town. Her business is challenging; she overcomes debts, transportation issues, and shortages of cash which makes it difficult for her to stock a variety of goods.
Given a loan by PEMCI, Sela plans to increase her inventory by stocking a variety of goods, which she has been unable to do. Her business has enabled her to give a hand to her husband in educating their children and providing for basic needs of the family. She has also been able to develop her farm and bring services to the community.",F,150,lender,Retail,1 Kenya,"Francis has fully repaid his first loan with Kiva, which he took with PEMCI in February, 2007. He has requested another loan of US$1200 to enable him to expand his business further. Francis is 47 years old and has 5 daughters between the age of 9 20, and four of them are in either primary or secondary school. He lives with his daughters and his wife, whom he fondly refers to as a business and life partner. One day, Francis hopes that he will be able to pay for all of them to go to college.
His first loan with Kiva enabled him to rapidly expand his business beyond just clothing to include shoes as well. Utilizing some business savy, Francis provides the newest and best goods by going directly to the importers in the capital city of Nairobi, so he buys them at the best price. In turn, he brings the clothes and shoes back to this rural community, which could not get these goods otherwise. He wholesales these items to retail shops in Malaba and other towns. He also operates an open-air shop in Kitale where people from around the area come to buy in bulk for resale.
This strategy has been integral to his success as a competitive supplier. Additionally, with the success of his distribution business, he has been able to buy a plot of land, and he dreams of earning enough to build a house there.",M,1200,partner,Clothing,0 Kenya,"Francis Irungu is a 33 years old father of one child. He lives in the coastal town of Malindi. His wife is unemployed and stays at home looking after the house. He has professional training in computer hardware repair and maintenance. He has however not found any employment in this field and has been forced to seek self-employment. Currently he operates a bicycle taxi service ferrying passengers around the town for a small fare. He is planning to open his own computer repair shop and also open a small resaurant for his wife to sell food to residents.
He therefore wants to increase his earnings to build up his savings so that he can achieve this. He wants to buy a new motorized bicycle. With this bicycle he will be able to make more trips per day and carry more passengers. This will certainly earn him more income, which will boost his savings bringing him closer to his dream. Francis is requesting for a loan of US $ 600 to assist him in buying the bicycle and US$200 for paying for the necessary license fees.",M,800,lender,Retail,1 Kenya,"Francis is 37 years old and married. They have three children. He owns a welding shop located in Old Uganda Road at Road-Block estate in Eldoret town.
His seven-year-old business of buying, repairing, and painting metallic items has been fairly successful. He joined KADET to access a business loan so he can grow his business. He will do so by purchasing a variety of metallic goods like plates, tubes and welding rods.With the profit he gets from the business, Francis intends to better educate his children and feed and clothe his family.
About KADET
The Kenya Agency for the Development of Enterprise and Technology (KADET) is committed to economically empowering its clients by providing financial services to rural communities in order to relieve suffering and improve living conditions within the communities.",M,475,partner,Manufacturing,0 Kenya,"Francis is a 42-year-old businessman seeking his first loan. He has sold small goodsmostly small pocket radios, watches, and tea flasks for four years from his shack in Soroti Town, Uganda. While he is a Kenyan, he chose to locate his shop in Soroti because he can get a higher price there.
With his loan from Kiva, he hopes to increase the value of his stock from 25,000 to 55,000 Kenya Shillings (1 USD is about 67 Ksh). He believes that a bigger stock helps to captivate customers and win them over from the competition. Francis expects his daily profits will increase from 300-400 Ksh/day to 500-700 Ksh/day.
Francis is married with four children. His wife helps him with his business, two of his children are in primary school, and two are in secondary school. He hopes that the profits from his loan will help him to continue to pay for the education of his children.",M,450,lender,Retail,1 Kenya,"Francis is an active member of PEMCI and this is his second loan, having completed his first loan successfully. He sells cereals of all types, depending on the season. He gets his stock directly from farmers during harvesting seasons and sometimes he gets them from Edoret town or Malaba, Uganda. His daily profits range between 200 and 500 Kenya shillings, depending on the season. He is married and a father of three children, two are in primary school and one yet to join school. His wife is a business lady.
With his first loan, Francis was able to increase his stock of cereals and with the profits he was able to purchase a dairy cow, pay school fees for his children, and generally meet the familys basic needs. Francis trades at different trading centers during market days. He keeps his stock at home and carries a given amount to the market using a bicycle as its the only means of transport.
Given another loan by PEMCI, Francis wishes to increase his stock further and if possible be able to open up a cereals store at one of the trading centers. This will make his work easier and reduce the costs of operation.",M,300,lender,Food,1 Kenya,"Francis is married with six children, all in primary school. He has been doing his rope business for the last fifteen years. These ropes are used by livestock buyers to tie the animals into submission after buying them. He gets the ropes mostly from the neighboring country, Uganda, where they are plentiful, and distributes them to different market centers back home including Malaba, Malakisi, Angurai market and sometimes also Myanga, where he strongly relies on retail customers.
He trades in two different types of ropes; manila ropes used for tying cattle and sisal ropes which are used for tying goats and sheep. Manila ropes at Ksh. 55/= and sells at 100/= and ordinary ropes made from sisal at 15/= and sells each at 20/=. He makes an average profit of 600/= (about 8$) per day.
He is challenged by stiff competition from other rope sellers but he tries to be on top of them by distributing the ropes both wholesale and retail. Through his business, Francis has been able to support his school-age children, build a house for his family and support livestock traders with a constant rope supply.
With his second KIVA loan through PEMCI, Francis hopes to increase his stock so that he can have a slot in other market centers that he never visits, such as Amukura and Mayanja. His hope is in the education of his children. ""My dream is to educate my children up to the University level which I never reached, he lamented in Kiswahili as he stood up to leave the office.",M,200,lender,Agriculture,1 Kenya,"Francis is married with six children. He started his business in the year 1992. He has not taken any formal training in rope making. He received an equivalent of $143 as loan from PEMCI to increase his stock which he repaid successfully. With the second loan of $150 he plans to boost his business further and hence his earnings. Ropes play a bigger part in the lives of the local communities as they are used for animals, housebuilding, clothlines etc. He carries the ropes fro one market to another benefitting the local communities.",M,150,partner,Arts,0 Kenya,"Francis is thirty-five years old, married with four children who are in primary school. He is an O Level (middle school) drop out with no formal training. He started Saramana Bar five years ago and now operates with a stock worth about $ 300. He supplies his customers with a local brand of beer and liquor, sourcing his drinks from a depot in Amagoro (about five kilometers away). Francis makes a profit of five Kenya shillings per bottle and sells an average of one hundred bottles a day, hence an average profit of five hundred Kenya shillings (about $8) a day.
To help with work, Francis employs two waitresses while he stays at the counter. To supplement his income, he also offers guest house services. He has ten rooms where each goes at Kshs 150/- (about $2) a night.
With this loan, his first PEMCI loan financed through KIVA, Maina plans to increase his working capital to Kshs 30,000/- (about $ 450). Francis is the only one with this kind of business in the area and thus has a big client base. He also plans to open up a little cafeteria beside the pub so as he can serve some of his hungry customers.",M,150,lender,Food,1 Kenya,"Francis Kajilwa Mulema is a 38-year old married man with 5 children. All of his children go to school, and he is the sole bread winner for his family. Francis is a street vendor involved in selling second-hand shoes. His business is located at the public bus terminal which has provided him with a high number of customers. He has not been able to meet his customers' needs since the money he earns is used to take care of his family and pay the town council for street vending. This leaves his business with little revenue to operate, which means customers that would be his go to his competitors. Francis is requesting for a loan of US$600: US$300 to purchase 2 bales of shoes, US$100 for transport, US$100 to buy material to extend his stand and US$100 to pay the municipal council for his license. He has the ability to repay the loan on time.",M,600,lender,Retail,1 Kenya,"Francis Karume Muthoni is 34 years old and married with three children, two of whom are in school while the other is still too young for formal education. He works repairing bicycles and cutting keys; his wife is a tailor.
Francis is requesting a loan to expand his business. His plan is to expand the business to include the sale of spare bicycle parts. He is requesting a loan of US$ 300 to be used as follows: $200 to buy spare parts, $50 to build a place to house the stock, and $50 for transport costs and other business expenses.
Francis believes that the expansion will improve his familys financial status and enable him to afford his childrens school fees which will only increase as they get older. He is a dedicated client of Ebony Foundation and will repay the loan.",M,300,lender,Services,1 Kenya,"Francis Karume Muthoni is a 34 year old business entrepreneur who is married with three children, all of whom are school-going. His wife operates a community phone at their home while he repairs bicycles and sells bicycle spare parts. He has been in the business for quite a while now and has gained a lot of experience. Some of the bicycle spare parts he sells include cycle marts, tool boxes, locks, ignition switches, bicycle seats and padlocks. He also repairs broken padlocks and keys. Francis has one employee that helps him with his job. Being a high school drop out because of a lack of fees, he learned mechanical skills from a friend who owns a mechanic's workshop. From there he decided to open his own business, which is doing well now. The business has been of great help to him since it has improved the living standards at home and also helped him to be able to pay his employee.
However he faces various challenges including insecurity and lack of money. His business premise is not permanent and thus it makes it hard for him to transport his properties to the nearest garage. He thus wants to buy a container for storage, which is also safer to avoid theft.
He is requesting a loan of US$1000 and his budget is as follows:
US$300 to buy a container, US$100 to cater for transport, US$100 to get a license, US $500 to add more stock.
He is a good and committed man and he will repay the loan on time.
Disclaimer: Due to recent events in Kenya, the security situation in many communities remains unsettled, affecting many local businesses. Lenders to this entrepreneur should be aware that this loan may represent a higher default risk, and should be willing to accept this additional risk in making their loan.",M,1000,lender,Retail,1 Kenya,"Francis Kimani is forty-seven years old and doing well with his business. He is married and has got five beautiful daughters in primary and secondary school.
Kimani runs a clothes wholesale store in Malaba and Kitale. With the help of his wife, who stays at the shop at Malaba, Mr. Kimani is able to go to Nairobi to buy the stock for the shop. He also takes the clothes to Kitale where he displays them at an open air market for sale at both retail and wholesale prices.
Kimani has successfully completed his second loan on time. He says that with accessibility to loans, he is now able to sustain his business throughout the year. He says that the peak season of his business is December, festive season, when almost everyone tries to get clothes for their loved ones. With another loan from PEMCI through KIVA, Mr. Kimani plans to stock more clothes at the shop to match the increasing demand.",M,1200,lender,Clothing,1 Kenya,"Francis Kiplangat Kosimbei is a 20 year old single young man. He takes care of his parents who have no source of income, together with his other siblings. He did not complete his high school education because his parents were not able to pay school fees for him and thus he started farming and also operates a barber shop. He is involved in mixed farming at a small scale level. Some of the crops he grows include vegetables, maize, beans and potatoes. Although they are small scale he is able to sell what he harvests and the money he earns is what he uses to meet his family demands.
He has one year of experience in both farming and running the barber shop. He has established a ready market and thus he supplies his products to mostly women at the nearest market centres, in various homes and hotels. Being a very young man, Francis has the desire to lead a happy life in the future. He also wants to ensure that his siblings complete their studies so that they can contribute to the economic development. But the means of getting these achievements is out of his reach because of insufficient funds to expand the business, lack of a license to run the business and lack of modern shaving machines.
Francis is requesting a loan of US$1200; US$200 to buy new shaving machines, US$100 to buy chairs for the barber shop, US$300 to lease a piece of land, US$100 to pay for casual laborers and US$500 to buy certified maize and bean seeds and fertilizers for planting. He is confident he will make a profit and he will repay the loan in time.",M,1200,lender,Services,1 Kenya,"Francis Mugo Njenga is 32 years old, married, and has two boys who are in junior school. He runs a business of selling and supplying onions to hotels, boarding schools, hospitals and colleges. His business centres on a commodity that is almost a necessity to those who can afford it when preparing any meal and thus it is a business of great value. Francis business is not without its challenges, however for example, it is too expensive in terms of hiring to transport the onions from the farmers to the end users or to hire labour for drying (a process that consumes much of his capital).
Francis is an active member of Eb-F groups and is now requesting a loan of US $1000 which he budgets as follows:
Use US $500 to assist in paying the third last installment for his pickup car for transportation. This car will be of great use as it is will lower his transportation costs because he will have to do fewer trips.
Use US $500 to add sacks of onions.
He is committed and will repay the loan",M,1000,lender,Food,1 Kenya,"Francis Mwangi Kingangi is 36, married with one child, aged 18 months. His wife is pursuing a course in hotel management. Francis ekes out his living running a butcher shop. He is an experienced butcher with a background in business management for a period of six years. Francis sells beef: steaks, chops, and African sausage or mutura. His business is successful for there is a high demand for beef, but he would like to expand it to fully meet his customers' needs. He is therefore requesting a loan of US$ 1000 with the following budget:
US$ 300 to purchase a deep freeze,
US$ 100 to purchase a barbecue stove,
US$ 100 to pay his municipal license and fees, and
US$ 500 to add to his inventory of meat.
In view of the high demand for his meat, Francis has the potential to pay back the loan.",M,1000,lender,Food,1 Kenya,"Francis Ndirangu is a widower who is 40 years old. He has four children who are all in school. They all have high hopes of academic achievement.Francis, therefore, feels that he must work hard towards their education. He has other costs to meet apart from their education.He sells new clothes in an open market. To expand this business,he has come up with a viable business idea of designing clothes and tailor-making them to suit different classes of people. His work is unique because he blends traditional African wear with modern trendy designs. It is an idea that most people in the town where he operates have not discovered and this will gain him a competitive edge. He has hopes of being a major supplier of the clothes in the market. His only challenge is that he does not have enough capital to start this business. He is requesting a loan of US $1200. Out of this he will use US $700 to purchase six sewing machines, US $200 to hire and renovate the tailoring workshop and US $300 to buy the fibers and seaming materials.",M,1200,lender,Clothing,1 Kenya,"Francis Wandere is a 50-year-old husband and father of eleven children. He lives with his two wives in one of the slums of Kisumu, Kenya. He is a well-known member of the community, probably due to his good work. Francis has trained as a community health worker and has been providing home-based care for people living with HIV/AIDS for the past seven years. He also runs several income-generating activities, including poultry farming and fishing, and also grows various produce on a small scale. His vast knowledge and experience, positive attitude and kindness have earned him a good reputation within his community. His well-established businesses have been quite successful due to his loyal and wide clientele base. Francis requires $700 to further expand his poultry farming.
Disclaimer: Due to recent events in Kenya, the security situation in many communities remains unsettled, affecting many local businesses. Lenders to this entrepreneur should be aware that this loan may represent a higher default risk, and should be willing to accept this additional risk in making their loan.",M,700,partner,Agriculture,0 Kenya,"Francis Wanjoge Gichuni is thirty five years old. He is married and has three children. All his children are of school age. He is the sole breadwinner of his family since his wife is a housewife.
He earns his income from transporting goods for traders using a mini-lorry; he has been doing this for the past ten years. His children need school fees, proper medical care and the basic needs, all of which require a huge sum of money, which Francis hardly makes.
He is requesting a loan of US $900 to expand his business to enable him to care for his family in a more comfortable way.
The loan will be used as follows: US$ 300 will be used to buy spare parts for the mini-lorry; US$ 350 for the overall make-over and repairs; US$ 250 for labor.
This will ensure that his children get a better education, which has been Francis desire.",M,900,lender,Transportation,1 Kenya,"Francisca Koki Nzioki is 35 years old. She is a widow and a mother of two children. Her children are both in high school. When her husband was alive, she used to be a housewife and depend on him for the familys daily needs. From her teenage days, Francisca used to spin crafts and clothing as a hobby. With this experience, she collected her savings and started a wool-spinning business, where she spins rags, shawls, quilts and door mats for sale. Her products are in high demand because they are unique in the sense that she blends different colors to produce authentic designs. She has also established links with a South African craft seller, who gives her orders and exports her wares to the biggest curio market in Africa. She is requesting for a loan of US $725 to expand her business to cater to the export demand. She is going to buy wool worth US $250, a spinning wheel worth US $350, bleach and starch worth US $65 and packaging material worth US $60. She is a hardworking lady and a go-getter. The loan will go a long way to help her realize her dream of educating her children and gaining financial stability.",F,725,lender,Services,1 Kenya,"Francisca Mwikali Musyimi is a 41-year-old single woman with three children. She also takes care of her aged mother. She lives in Mlolongo town. Francisca entered this male dominated business after closing her salon business due to a directive from the Government of Kenya in 2005 to demolish buildings that had been built along the Nairobi Mombasa Highway. These demolitions greatly affected the many businesses that had flourished along the road. This directive also personally affected her very much, since she had invested a lot of money into her salon business, but she did not give up. Armed with Ksh 50,000 (USD 755), which she had as savings, Francisca decided to move into another business, and she started buying cement, timber and iron sheets. With part of her savings, she also was able to rent a yard where she is operating to date.
Francisca also has several plots of land that she had purchased earlier, but she had not yet developed them. As her business picked up, she decided to begin constructing residential rooms for rent on these plots. However, one thing that has been hindering her efforts is the lack of enough construction materials to enable her to complete her construction project. On the other hand, due to the increasing population in this growing town, the demand for rental houses continues to go up, and people like Francisca are finding it hard to meet the demand. For this reason, Francisca is kindly asking for loan of $850 so as to purchase construction materials like cement, iron sheets and building blocks, to enable her to complete the houses that she has started constructing.
With this kind of assistance, Francisca will be happy that she will have helped someone get a place to call home. She intends to repay the loan within a period of 12 months.",F,850,partner,Construction,0 Kenya,"Franklin is a 37 year old widower with four children living in the Kibera slums of Nairobi. Having not completed his secondary school education, Franklin decided to come to Nairobi from his home in the Kisii district to try his luck in the capital city. Fortunately, he had a cousin who owned a metal workshop. He was able to assist with tasks at the workshop which gave him work exposure. After about 6 months he left and was employed at a firm named Joaki Enterprises within the city. That was in 2000. Franklin was lucky and got a contract to make windows and doors for Ksh 17,000 (USD 243). With this kind of money, he decided that it was time to be on his own. Through his savings and the money he earned from the contract, Franklin started his own workshop in September 2005. Since then the business has been doing well and has enabled him to put his eldest daughter into a boarding school in Kakamega, the western part of Kenya. The only impediment to Franklins business is that he doesnt have a grinder and drilling machine. Quite often he borrows from neighboring workshops, which are sometimes not willing to loan their equipment. Time and money is wasted negotiating for the equipment. Lately he has been losing business due to the lack of machines. Therefore Franklin is kindly asking for a loan of USD 200 to enable him to purchase the grinder and drilling machines. The new additions to his business will allow him do his work quickly and efficiently. This will bring back his clients and he will get contracts to make windows, doors and other welding related work. Franklin sees this as a way of creating job opportunities and intends to employ two more people to help him at the workshop. This is because he envisions that he will have more work from additional contracts. The repayment period for the loan is 8-15 months.",M,200,partner,Manufacturing,0 Kenya,"Franscicah Mopel is 46 years old. She is married with six children. Franscicah went to primary and secondary school and then she proceeded to college to study community development. From this, she has been able to help her colleagues to identify problems that they face as women. She also tries to formulate solutions to these problems. She is the treasurer of the Namelok Womens Group and also a chairlady of A.I.C in the Kajiado District. She started her retail shop business two years ago. She obtained a loan of USD 225 from WEEC to enable her to increase her capital base. Later, she also obtained USD 900 that she used to pay school fees for her children and also to increase her stock for the shop. Although the business is doing well, she is having difficulty in managing the burden of paying school fees for her children. Through what she has experienced, she would like to venture into the hotel business. She has selected the business and analyzed the demand availability in that area. She has applied for a loan of USD 1200 to open up a hotel business so she will be able to her pay her expenses promptly.",F,1200,lender,Retail,1 Kenya,"Frashier is a hard working and industrious woman. She was born 42 years ago, married and has 4 children. Two of them are in secondary school while the 2 are in primary level. She is an active member of Muringa Anglican Church of Kenya. She is involved in the mothers union where they serve the young women and counsel youths, couples. She is also an active member o Gaitheri Faithful Women Group and is the vice chairlady. She has been getting her income from a retail shop specializing on household goods for the last 10 years. She started it as small kiosk of household but currently due to small loans she has acquired from the group; it is both retail and a wholesale shop of small quantities. She is looking forward to restock it by diversifying her products to suit the Christmas spirit. She makes a profit of USD 150 per week, which gives her confidence of increase once restocked and even the capacity to repay the loan she will receive. In addition to this business, her husband is a full time farmer who earns almost USD 220 per month and is always willing to support her wife in terms of loan repayment because it is for the good of their family.",F,750,lender,Retail,1 Kenya,"Frasiah is 45 years old. She is married with two children, who are in primary school. She is a chairlady of Mothers Union in ACK Mihuti church. She is an active member of Gondo Rahab Women Group. Her contribution in her group is very good and prompt. Frashiah is a farmer, who grows coffee, beans, maize, bananas, arrowroot and kale to cater to her family's needs. She is also a determined person who has a cow, which produces four litres of milk daily. She therefore applies for a loan of $550 to buy another dairy cow, which can produce more milk. She is willing to repay this loan within a period of 12 months.",F,550,lender,Agriculture,1 Kenya,"Fred is a 35-year-old man, married with five children; two girls and three boys, all in primary school. He operates a ""bodaboda"" business (transporting people using motor bicycles and bicycles) where he has employed a rider. He spends most of his time in his major business of farming and selling corn and beans at their groups store, which initially belonged to the national cereals and produce board that left the management to the locals, headed by Mr. Fred himself. His wife operates a retail store at home. Fred also serves as community coordinator, where he communicates the community group's issues to PEMCI and takes back the feedback. He also helps keep his group members together using different dynamics.
He started his transport business in the November, 2005 with one motorbicycle and up to now he is able to count a number of experiences gotten from the transport industry. He says that he is able to take home about $7 after every day of business, after deducting all the costs of operations. His rider operates around Myanga to Malakisi, Lupida, Kimaeti, Mungatsi. These are centres adjacent to his home area, Myanga.
With this second loan from KIVA through PEMCI, Fred plans to buy another motorbicycle to add to his fleet. He cites ""bodaboda"" as a very important mode of transporting passengers and goods, since there transport vehicles (""matatus"") are very scarce on these routes. With us, he says his vision is to get a truck for transporting his products to the market centres.",M,1200,lender,Transportation,1 Kenya,"Fred is a married man with three children who all depend on him. He currently specializes in selling sugar cane, mainly to school children. This small loan will enable him uplift his business.
Fred also plans to diversify into kiosk business to sell sweets and other small kiosk items prefered by school children. We are proud to be associated with this humble beginning and our desire is to see Fred established as a businessman. Well worthy of our support.",M,100,partner,Food,0 Kenya,"Fred is married with six children, all in primary school. Though he couldn't afford formal training, he worked hard as a farmer. But he needed more income, so he began a small business to supplement his earnings. He is requesting a loan to buy more stock for his cereals business, which will allow him to better support his family and meet their needs.",M,150,partner,Food,0 Kenya,"Freda Njoki Muriithi is 38 years old and a mother of three children. She is married and lives together with her husband in the house they built themselves. All Fredas children are girls and two of them are in school.
Fredas husband is a businessman and sells grocery items at a local market. Whereas Freda provides for family expenses, her husband strives to pay school fees. It has been very hard for them because they now work at a place far from where they live. Most of the money they earn goes to transport, leaving them with very little.
Freda now wants to expand her beauty salon and is sure that this would increase her turnover. Her problem though is insufficient capital and so she is requesting a loan of US$650.
She plans to use US$250 to buy two blow driers, US$300 to buy a hair treatment steaming machine, and US$100 to put in some shelves and repaint her salon. She is a member of Jitegemee group within Ebony Foundation.",F,650,lender,Services,1 Kenya,"Freda Odondi is a 37-year-old married mother of one. She also has three other dependents: her sister's children, for whom she has been caring since her sister died of breast cancer about two years ago. She currently runs a clothing boutique that has been in operation for 1 year and 8 months. This will be her first business loan from KADET or any other source.
With the 60,000 KES loan, Freda plans to buy children's and women's wear from Kampala, Uganda. This will enable her to better satisfy the needs of her customers, many of whom place special orders through her. As a supplement to her income, Freda also tenders in fabric design for various companies.
Freda hopes to become a wholesaler in the future and would like to move her business to Mombasa's central business district, where she can attend to diverse customer needs.
About KADET:
The Kenya Agency for the Development of Enterprise and Technology (KADET) is committed to economically empowering its clients by providing financial services to rural communities in order to relieve suffering and improve living conditions within those communities.",F,800,partner,Clothing,0 Kenya,"Frederick Otwele Malala is a 26-year-old father of 2 children. His wife is unemployed, and she stays at home looking after their children. They reside in a low-income area within Mombasa. He earns his living selling onions at the sprawling Kongowea Market. He deals both in wholesale and retail sales. His client base is made up of mostly individual clients.
Over the 4 years Frederick has been operating this business, he has managed to create plenty of loyal customers who often purchase from his stall. This has assured him steady income streams that have been quite useful in providing for the basic needs of his family. He would like to increase his income base so that he will be able to adequately provide for the increasing needs of his young family, such as education and medical care expenses.
Frederick intends to raise his scale of operations and trade in larger volumes of onions, since they are in high demand. However, he has been unable to do so because he cannot raise the capital required for such a venture. He is therefore requesting a loan of $500 to assist him in purchasing more stocks of onions for sale. He is capable of repaying the loan.
Disclaimer: Due to recent events in Kenya, the security situation in many communities remains unsettled, affecting many local businesses. Lenders to this entrepreneur should be aware that this loan may represent a higher default risk, and should be willing to accept this additional risk in making their loan.",M,500,lender,Food,1 Kenya,"Fredrice Nzioka Kilonzo is 26 years old and owns a hotel in Kaptembwa. He has been operating the hotel for the last 2 years and has been getting good returns. Competition has since increased and his customers now have a variety of hotels to choose from. He has really been trying to cope with the ever rising competition and at the same time have enough to cater for his needs and those of his aging parents. He is requesting a loan of US$300 to be used in expanding his hotel.
His budget includes, but is not limited to, US$150 to furnish the hotel, US$100 to buy more dishes and add food stuffs in bulk, and US$50 to employ an assistant. He is a hardworking young man and deserves the funding.",F,300,lender,Food,1 Kenya,"Fredrick Makhand is a young Kenyan father aged 37 with 5 children. He also lives with 1 orphan child of his late sister who perished 2 years ago.
Fredrick started his business 3 years ago after accumulating savings from his former work place. He currently operates a small retail cereal stall selling maize, rice, and green grams (lentils) but would like to expand his business to a wholesale unit in future.
Being the primary bread winner for his family, it would enable him to support both his children and his wife, who has a low-paying job. With the little profit that he gets from the business, Fredrick still struggles to feed, clothe, and educate his children and to pay his house rent. With the help of his loan, he will be able to purchase cereals in bulk to enable him to boost his business sales.
Disclaimer: Due to recent events in Kenya, the security situation in many communities remains unsettled, affecting many local businesses. Lenders to this entrepreneur should be aware that this loan may represent a higher default risk, and should be willing to accept this additional risk in making their loan.",M,3075,lender,Food,0 Kenya,"Freshiah is an active woman who practices farming for her livelihood. She grows maize, beans, vegetables, and keeps dairy cows and goats. Her income from the farm has enabled her to pay school fees and service her loans within the Kirimiga Purity Group. Freshiah has been keen on the stock market and its operations. With media publicity and WEEC trainings, she was able to learn how the market works and that there will be an initial public offering from Kenya Reinsurance, a government parastatal, in January 2007. Therefore, she is requiring some money to invest in the stocks.",F,150,lender,Agriculture,1 Kenya,"Frida Kabura Kuria is 69 years old. She is married with seven children; all of whom are self reliant. She is an active member of Gitui Smart women group and of Gitui Catholic Church. Her main occupation is farming at Gitui Village. She grows nappier grass, arrow roots, macadamia nut trees and coffee. Farming is her main source of income. She has applied a loan of USD600 with which she intends to buy a diary cow. She is willing to repay this loan within a period of 15 months.",F,600,lender,Agriculture,1 Kenya,"Fridah Kemunto is a single mother aged 35 years. She resides in the vast Kibera slum, the biggest slum in East Africa. She has six dependents in total. One child is her own while the rest are relatives. All are in junior school ranging from class one to class seven.
She has taken secretarial training in which she has five years working experience. She has also engaged in her own business ventures for the last ten years. She owns and runs a small retail shop within the slum. She started this business as a result of failing to secure employment upon completion of her secretarial course; this was due the economic situation in Kenya. The business has been doing quite well due to its unique nature. In her retail shop she sells goods in small quantities which the slum dwellers can afford. The income she generates has not enabled her to cater for her needs and her dependents'.
Due to her growing needs, over time she plans to expand her current retail shop to increase her revenue. She is banking on her long time existing customer base as well as her skills in running a profitable retail shop. This will translate to better life for her family. Fridah is requesting a loan of US $750 to expand her operations. She intends to use US $500 to purchase more stock, US $ 200 to acquire larger premises, US $50 trade license fee.",F,750,lender,Retail,1 Kenya,"Fridah Onyango is a 70-year-old widow who lives in Sagam Siaya Kenya. She has four living children (initially had 5 but 1 died). Fridah has struggled and spent all her finances raising her children after the death of her husband. She is a hard-working mother who spends much of her time taking care of her only hope: a dairy cattle she acquired in 2002. This has really made a difference in my life!!! she says. Besides producing milk, it has also given birth to six calfs. It produces not less than 30 liters of milk a day, which she sells to the community. Fridah hopes to purchase high-yield dairy cattle that will produce more than 40 litres of milk a day with the US $700 she has applied for.",F,700,partner,Agriculture,0 Kenya,"Fridah Wanjiku Kimani is a single lady of 21 years. Fridah resides in Mlolongo, a town located along the busy Nairobi-Mombasa highway. Though young compared to other businesswomen, Fridah has always been business-minded. In the year 2005, with an initial capital of Ksh 2000 (US$ 30) that she saved while employed at a Nairobi boutique, she teamed up with her cousin, Anne Wamaitha, and rented a stall in Mlolongo. Together they share the rent and Fridah deals in teen and childrens wear while her cousin deals in shoes.
Fridah says that she cannot complain about her business, since it has greatly improved and she is thankful that she began her business of selling clothes. With the holiday season approaching (November and December), there is a high demand for clothes and shoes as many families leave the Nairobi area and spend the holidays with their families in the rural areas. Clothes and shoes are usually bought as gifts, which are then shared with the members of the extended family during Christmas.
Fridah and her cousin are looking forward to this busy shopping season and Fridah is praying that a Kiva lender will respond to her request for a loan, to enable her increase her inventory and therefore, increase her sales. Fridah is requesting a loan of US$ 750 to help her in purchasing new children's wear, babies clothing, blankets, and plastic items such as cups, plates, etc. This new stock will greatly boost her business and also her income. The repayment period for this loan is 10 months.",F,750,partner,Clothing,0 Kenya,"Furundis has four hectares of land that she uses to grow maize and beans. She expects a strong harvest considering the rains have been sufficient. She wants to top dress the maize and spray insecticides on the crops to prevent caterpillars from destroying them. She is also doing the final weeding and then will wait to harvest. Her only limiting factor is funds as everything needs money. If she gets a loan of $150USD she will buy fertilizer, pesticide, and pay the casual laborers. She expects a great harvest of almost 70 sacks of maize in March 2007.",F,150,lender,Agriculture,1 Kenya,"Gabriel Mburu Mbatia is a 31-year-old married man. He lives in the coastal town of Malindi. He has a young daughter aged two years. His wife is unemployed. To earn a living operates a taxi service where he ferries passengers from point to point within the town. He uses a bicycle to offer these services. All his earnings are used in providing the basic needs for his family. Gabriel arrived in Malindi two years ago and ever since he has been doing this business. He is a member of Rugongo youth group. He joined this group that comprises of fellow youths who are doing similar businesses. Among the activities they undertake are taking care of orphans and supporting families affected by the HIV AIDS pandemic. He wants to increase his income so that he be able to cater adequately for his personal needs and his groups social obligations.
He is requesting for a loan of US $ 800. He intends to use US$600 to buy a new type of bicycle that is fitted with an engine and US$200 to pay for the necessary lincese fees. This new technology bicycle is easy to operate and requires less energy. This venture will certainly earn him more income since such taxi services are quite popular",M,800,lender,Transportation,1 Kenya,"Gabriel Ndegwa Kiarie is 24 years old and married. Currently the couple has no children but his wife is expecting. They are a young couple trying to put their life together in anticipation of raising a family.
Gabriel did not manage to attend college because he could not afford tuition. He operates a bicycle taxi in Nakuru town, Kenyas fourth largest urban area. His wife is unemployed. Gabriel plans to open a business for her from the returns he gets from his bicycle taxi business. In order to be able to do this, Gabriel would like to expand his business and thus generate more income. He is requesting funding to buy more bicycles. He intends to employee three young men as bike operators.
Gabriel is requesting US$ 400 to be used as follows: $300 to buy the bicycles, $50 to pay the annual operating licenses and the union registration for the young men, and $50 to cover labor expenses and other costs. He is capable of repaying the loan.",M,400,lender,Transportation,1 Kenya,Geoffrey is married with four children. He started his business in 1998 he greatly depends on his business for up keep of his family. With the loan of $175 he will be able to restock his shop on which it supplies the community members with items like cloths etc. It would then generate enough profit to support his family.,M,175,partner,Retail,0 Kenya,"Geoffrey Mageto is a 25 year old single man. He lives in town while his parents live in the rural area. He has been employed as a bicycle transport operator by one of his friends. He is taking care of his brothers and sisters in the rural area by sending the money to them at the end of the month. All his peers are now married, but for him he may not be able to take care of both his wife's and his family's financial obligations. With his experience and the capital to buy his own bicycles, he believes he can operate a business. He is also yearning to be an employer. He is therefore requesting a loan to facilitate the purchase of 3 bicycles. He will employ other people to operate the bicycles. This will help him generate more income to take care of his family, and even prepare for his marriage and at the same time his future. He is requesting US$400. He will use US$300 to buy the bicycles, US$50 to cover the initial wages for the two employees, and US$50 to pay for public transport licenses.",M,400,lender,Retail,1 Kenya,"Geoffrey Mwaura is 36 years old and married to Ann Wanjiru. They have three children who are all in school. Geoffrey has been in the motorcycle transport business for four years and, on the side, has a small household goods shop in Naivasha town that is managed by his wife.
This is Geoffrey's second loan with KADET. He would like to buy more goods to restock his small retail store. He has plans to expand both his businesses and increase his income to a level where he can easily send all of his children through school and have a financially stable future.
The Kenya Agency for the Development of Enterprise and Technology (KADET) is committed to empowering its clients economically by providing financial services to rural communities in order to relieve suffering and improve living conditions within those communities.",M,225,partner,Retail,0 Kenya,"Geoffrey Omondi Onyango is a 30-year-old business enterprenuer. He is single but takes care of his three siblings. Geoffrey is involved in the business of selling spare parts.Geoffrey had to drop out of school at the high school level due to lack of school fees. But his determination and hard work have made him to what he is now. A born business entrepreneur, Geoffrey does not depend on selling the parts alone; he has another source of income as an electrician in Nakuru town. Geoffrey is a very business-oriented man. He has been in the business for eight years now, and he has gained a lot of experience. He has good customer relations and thus he enjoys a wide range of clientele. His customers are both mechanics and owners of vehicles, while most clients who need electrical work done are at the homes, schools, and business premises, among others. He purchases the parts from Nakuru town. Being the only breadwinner of the family, his business has been of great help to him, since he has been able to provide basic necessities to his family. But Geoffrey faces many challenges, including lack of capital to expand his business and also buying the parts from Nakuru is a bit expensive, thus less profit. He wants, however, to purchase spare parts from Nairobi so that he can expand the business. And that is why he is requesting a loan of $1200. His budget is as follows: $100 for transport; $900 to add more stock; $100 to get a municipal license; $100 to pay rent. He is a good and committed man, and he will repay the loan in time.
Disclaimer: Due to recent events in Kenya, the security situation in many communities remains unsettled, affecting many local businesses. Lenders to this entrepreneur should be aware that this loan may represent a higher default risk, and should be willing to accept this additional risk in making their loan.",M,1200,lender,Services,1 Kenya,"Geofrey Makasi is a young Kenyan father aged 38 with 4 children. He also lives with 2 orphan children of his late brother who perished a year ago. Geofrey started his business 4 years ago, after accumulating savings from an informal rotating savings fund which his group used to have. This is commonly referred to as merry-go-round.
Goefrey stocks maize, millet, and sorghum which he sells to his customers from the neighborhood. With the profits that he gets from his business, he is still able to clothe, feed, and educate his children. With the help of his loan, Goefrey will be able to purchase cereals in bulk to enable him to increase his business sales.
Disclaimer: Due to recent events in Kenya, the security situation in many communities remains unsettled, affecting many local businesses. Lenders to this entrepreneur should be aware that this loan may represent a higher default risk, and should be willing to accept this additional risk in making their loan.",M,1225,lender,Food,0 Kenya,"George Arum is a 29 year-old husband and father of three school-aged children. He lives in Nyalenda, one of the slums of Kisumu, Kenya and runs a community pharmacy in his area. His pharmacy (pictured) has been his only source of income since completing his secondary education. George was one of the first community health workers trained by KMET and has tirelessly provided home-based care services for people living with HIV/AIDS for the past three years.
People living in this community are very poor, thus making him sell his drugs at very subsidized prices. The community appreciates his services and you will often hear him being called daktari (Kiswahili word for Doctor). He stocks a range of drugs such as painkillers and medications for malaria, family planning, allergies, ulcers, worms and skin infections, and various syrups for children. He has a word of kindness to KMET for extending credit to him and enabling him establish his business. This has earned him a good reputation within his community.
George has received and fully paid two previous loans from KMET. He has applied for a loan amounting US $600 to further expand his pharmacy and purchase drug stock in bulk.",M,600,partner,Health,0 Kenya,"George Arum is a 30-year-old father of three children. He lives with his family in Nyalenda. He is a member of West Kolwa Community Based Service Providers group, a K-MET initiative. He was trained by K-MET in home-based care services for people living with HIV/AIDS. He is the proprietor of a community pharmacy located in Nyalenda, where he sells a wide range of drugs such as painkillers, malaria medications, family planning, and children's syrups. He has received and fully paid three previous microfinance loans. He appreciates K-MET/ KIVA for the financial assistance. He requires an additional US $800 to purchase an additional stock of drugs in bulk.",M,800,partner,Health,0 Kenya,"George Githinji is 22 years old and lives in Malindi town. His parents are small-scale farmers who grow simple food crops. He dropped out of secondary school due to lack of school fees. To fend for himself, he begun operating bicycle taxi services. This mode of transport has a large demand in this town since a large majority of residents do not have personal cars. His siblings school fees largely consume his earnings leaving him with little for his personal use. To increase his income base he intends to acquire a new technology bicycle that operates on motor engine. Thus he will be able to earn more since he will be faster and will be consuming less energy. With this larger income he will be able to pay his siblings school fees and set some aside as he plans to attend a technical college in future. Someday de wants to be a motor vehicle mechanic.
To achieve this he is requesting for a loan of US $ 600 and US$ 200 to pay for the necessary license fees. George is a hardworking and determined young man and has the ability to succeed.",M,800,lender,Retail,1 Kenya,"George is 32 years old, has three school-aged children and lives with his wife in the town of Kisumu, Kenya. He runs a second-hand clothes store in a busy market located on Kisumu-Nairobi road. George specializes in selling both men's and and women's clothing. He has applied for a loan of $800 to expand his business.
Disclaimer: Due to recent events in Kenya, the security situation in many communities remains unsettled, affecting many local businesses. Lenders to this entrepreneur should be aware that this loan may represent a higher default risk, and should be willing to accept this additional risk in making their loan.",M,800,partner,Clothing,0 Kenya,"George is a family man with six children who are all in primary school. He is the treasurer of a local group in the Jairos area. George has not undergone any form of training but is a shrewd and smart businessperson. He has repaid two previous loans with PEMCI in a timely manner. He started trading in cattle, goats and sheep in 1996 as a way of making ends meet, and with time has been able to support his family. With the proposed additional loan of $300, he plans to increase his stock of animals to trade so as to increase his turnover and income. With additional funds, he will be able able to visit more market places in a week without having to wait until he has sold off the old stock. With less pressure for cash, he is also able to hold his animals and only sell when prices are good. Hence, the performance of his business is expected to improve with additional liquidity. With the income he generates, he is able to educate his children and take care of their needs. He has proven to be a good client and we highly recommend him for funding.",M,300,partner,Agriculture,0 Kenya,George is a married father of two. He repairs and welds metal products for a living. He will use the loan to expand and diversify his welding business in order to better provide for his family's needs.,M,750,lender,Manufacturing,1 Kenya,"George Kariuki Mbugua is 48 years old and a father of 4 children who are all in school. George also takes care of his sickly and aged parents. To meet the needs of his family, George started a dairy farming business at Ngecha, 15 km west of Nairobi, Kenya. He has six dairy cows that produce about 150 kilos of milk daily. He sells dairy products which include fresh milk, meat and yogurt. The business has great potential because of the high demand for dairy products and meat in Nairobi. To expand his current business, George is requesting a loan of $950, which he intends to use as follows: $750 to purchase a deep freezer and $200 to buy animal feed and mineral salts. The loan will greatly improve Georges income and his family's living standards.",M,950,lender,Agriculture,1 Kenya,"George Mutiso is a 27 year-old man who is married with one child. He lives on the outskirts of Nairobi in a town called Mlolongo. He has no other dependents. In the year 2005, he was employed by a Property Management Company. His employment there didnt last for long; unfortunately, the company collapsed and George had nothing else to do other than to go home. With the salary that he was earning, George had managed to save Ksh 20000 (USD 286) which he used to start a barbershop business. He used the money to buy a shaving machine.
After some time, he noticed that people had a problem communicating since not everybody owned a mobile phone. With the earnings that he made, he bought a community phone in order to curb this situation. The business thrived, but, due to a lack of funds to support the business, it almost collapsed. He used his own talents and skills of patience and hard work and started repairing spoiled mobile phones, selling blank CDs and selling scratch cards. After a period of six months, his business started booming and customers started flowing into his shop. The problems that George faced after losing his job made him innovative.
George now wants to expand his business and wants to buy two shaving machines, one smoother, and also a photocopying machine. The total amount is $450. He believes that, if this loan is given to him, he will be able to boost his business and attract more customers. From the increase in profits, he will be able to better provide for his family and educate his child.
The repayment period for his loan will be 8 months.",M,450,partner,Services,0 Kenya,"George Mwanga Onguso is 44 years old and married with two school-going children; one girl and one boy. George has been earning his living as a cab driver in Nairobi city for the last 22 years. It was in the course of this business that he met Madam Heather York, who works with EarthLink Network, and who introduced him to Ebony Foundation.
George is struggling to make ends meet because he has to pay to hire a car which he uses for his cab service. This is becoming a strain on him because the car's owner needs his car and so George must look elsewhere. To support his children, George would like to buy his own car so that all the income he receives is fully used to improve his familys living conditions. He already has clients in Nairobi City and its environs.
Therefore, George is requesting a loan of US $1,200 with which to buy a used car. George is an outgoing, hardworking person whose vision is to support his family and is capable of repaying the loan.",M,1200,lender,Transportation,1 Kenya,"George Njogu is a 37-year-old married man with two children. His primary business is showing videos and satellite TV in a small theater, and he and his wife also have a bread-distribution business. He has been in the business for eight years and is currently making a profit of about 11,500 Kenyan shillings ($150 U.S.) a month. George was introduced to KADET by the chairman of the KADET borrowing group he joined. George's business is situated in an area with a high population of young people who like watching football on DSTV. He would like to use his loan to expand his video showroom to accommodate more viewers who are growing in numbers. He hopes to open a hardware business in the future. About KADET: The Kenya Agency for the Development of Enterprise and Technology (KADET) is committed to economically empowering its clients by providing financial services to rural communities in order to relieve suffering and improve living conditions within those communities.",M,675,partner,Entertainment,0 Kenya,"George Okwany is a young Kenyan father aged 30 with 2 children. He also lives with 1 orphan child of his late brother who perished 2 years ago.
George started his business 3 years ago after accumulating savings from his former work place in a local petrol station in Busia town. He currently deals in mens second-hand shoes but would like to diversify to children's and ladies' collections as well.
Being the bread winner for his family, it would enable him to support his family better. With the little profit that he gets from the business, George is still able to provide his family the basic needs of life. With the help of his loan, George will be able to purchase more second-hand shoes to enable him boost his business sales.
Disclaimer: Due to recent events in Kenya, the security situation in many communities remains unsettled, affecting many local businesses. Lenders to this entrepreneur should be aware that this loan may represent a higher default risk, and should be willing to accept this additional risk in making their loan.",M,2325,lender,Retail,0 Kenya,"George Onyango Joech is 26 years old. He is married and has two children, both of whom are in school. His wife carries out a business of selling new ladies shoes, which lessens the burden of George being the sole breadwinner. He didnt complete his 'O' level education, so he involved himself in the business of selling motor spare parts like drive shafts ,lubricants, automotive rubbers, sealed beams, filters, and bearings, among others in Nakuru town, where he also lives together with his family. George has been in this business for six years and he has gained many business skills and experience. He purchases his products from Nairobi and sells them to mechanics and other auto spare-parts shops. The business is viable but he faces challenges like lack of funds and transport costs are high. Therefore, he is requesting a loan of US$1000 which he intends to utilize as follows:
US$750 to add more stock, US$50 to pay the municipal council fee, and US$200 to pay for transport expenses.
George is hard working and he will be able to repay the loan.
Disclaimer: Due to recent events in Kenya, the security situation in many communities remains unsettled, affecting many local businesses. Lenders to this entrepreneur should be aware that this loan may represent a higher default risk, and should be willing to accept this additional risk in making their loan.",M,1000,lender,Services,1 Kenya,"George Oyoo is a 26-year-old married father of two school-going children. He lives with his family in Nyalenda slums in Kisumu, Kenya. He operates a motorbike taxi business which he initiated last year. His taxi is able to generate a daily income of Kshs 800. He has applied for $800 to enable him to pay part of the purchase price of a new motorbike.
Disclaimer: Due to recent events in Kenya, the security situation in many communities remains unsettled, affecting many local businesses. Lenders to this entrepreneur should be aware that this loan may represent a higher default risk, and should be willing to accept this additional risk in making their loan.",M,800,partner,Transportation,0 Kenya,"George Wadenya Ochiel is 35 years old, married with four children. Two of them are in junior school while the two are still too young to be in school. George is paying school fees for his niece who is now in high school. George does bicycle repair and sells bicycle spare parts while his wife has a grocery shop in the same area. He would like to expand his business by adding more stock of spare parts while his wife would like to start selling fruits in her grocery. They are therefore requesting a loan of $400 to expand their businesses. They project an increase in income from the additional stock. They intend to utilize $150 on addition of fruits for the grocery, $150 for a stock of spare parts and $100 for transport of this stock and other expenses. They are a united couple, very hardworking and capable of paying the loan.",M,400,lender,Retail,1 Kenya,"Gerald Kilonzo Nzioka is 36 years old. He is married and has one child who is in primary school. His wife is a primary school teacher and assists in the provision of basic family needs. Gerald's wife lives with her son in Machakos while Gerald lives in Nakuru, where he operates his business. Gerald started this business immediately after he finished his high school education and has been in the business for many years. He has familiarized himself well with the business. The business has been profitable and he has been able to cater to his family's needs.
He sells potatoes in Nakuru market. He purchases the potatoes from farms thus incurring high transport costs especially during the rainy season. He is therefore requesting a loan of US$800 which he intends to spend as follows:
US$600 to buy more sacks of potatoes, US$ 100 to cater for transport expenses and US$100 to pay the municipal council fee.
Gerald is a determined man and he will be able to repay the loan.
Disclaimer: Due to recent events in Kenya, the security situation in many communities remains unsettled, affecting many local businesses. Lenders to this entrepreneur should be aware that this loan may represent a higher default risk, and should be willing to accept this additional risk in making their loan.",M,800,lender,Food,1 Kenya,"Gilbert is 26 years old and lives with his mother and sister in Nakuru town. He is a high school graduate and is currently enrolled for a computer application course at a local college. He attends classes in the evening. Her mother is employed as a secretary in a local school while his sister is in primary school. Gilbert was very close to his late grandmother who used to sell fruits and vegetables at the local market. When she passed on, Gilbert requested the family to allow him to continue the business at the market. He has been operating the business for 12 months now and has managed to double the sales. He is using the income from the business to supplement his mothers earnings in providing for the family. Because of his entrepreneurship drive Eb-F has assisted him win a tender to supply fruits and vegetables to a Tourist Hotel based in Nakuru. Gilbert requests a loan of US $ 300 to purchase 25 bags of assorted fruits and vegetables. He will use the income to pay for his college fee and to help his mother buy a piece of land to build a family home.",M,300,partner,Food,0 Kenya,"Gilbert is a leader and member of Nguvu Self-Help Group. He is 31 and married with four children. Gilbert has been operating a small retail shop on the main road of Suneka town for four years. He started his shop after saving money from his former job for several years.
Gilbert is a kind and hardworking man. From the profits he is able to feed, clothe, and educate his children. With the assistance of the loan, Gilbert will increase stock for his shop. He is excited to purchase some new items, which he believes will generate more income. Gilbert is beaming with optimism about the busy economic season that runs from September through January in Kenya. His long-term business goal is to open up a wholesale unit in the future.
In addition to his retail shop, Gilbert has diversified into livestock. He owns one dairy cow and ten chickens. Selling the milk and eggs add another stream of income towards his overall profits.
Disclaimer: Due to recent events in Kenya, the security situation in many communities remains unsettled, affecting many local businesses. Lenders to this entrepreneur should be aware that this loan may represent a higher default risk, and should be willing to accept this additional risk in making their loan.",M,2475,lender,Retail,0 Kenya,"Gilbert is a repeat client with PEMCI. He is requesting another loan after repaying his first within the stipulated period of six months. The loan enabled him to relocate his business to an area with potential and now the business is doing better. He operates a shop at Bumula Trading Centre, about twenty kilometers from the PEMCI Malaba office. His main customers are market people. His daily sales range between eight hundred and two thousand shillings, out of which he gets a profit of between KES 150 and KES 300. He stores a variety of goods though he has been unable to stock some due to lack of enough capital. With another loan by PEMCI, he plans to stock these goods.
Gilbert is married and a father of four children, three girls and a boy. Two are in primary school and two are yet to join school. His wife is a housewife. He hopes that in the future his business will grow to be a supermarket.
Disclaimer: Due to recent events in Kenya, the security situation in many communities remains unsettled, affecting many local businesses. Lenders to this entrepreneur should be aware that this loan may represent a higher default risk, and should be willing to accept this additional risk in making their loan.",M,275,lender,Retail,1 Kenya,"Gitau is 32 years old. He is married and has three children. He lives with his family and his aging parents. Gitau was employed as an agriculture Extension officer by the Kenya Government until year 2001 when he was retired as part of the Governments costing cutting measure. He used his termination benefits to purchase a used pick up track and a modest stock of farming inputs and he started his business of mobile van selling of the inputs to farmers. Most of the small scale farmers find it very expensive and time consuming to travel to towns to purchase farming inputs and Gitaus mobile shop was a welcome relief to farmers in Nyandarwa region of Central Kenya. Due to insufficient capital, Gitaus is unable to supply a number of products required by the farmers and as a result his van is always half full. Gitau is requesting a loan of US $ 1,600 to enable him purchase sufficient stock of farming inputs. US $ 550 to purchase 10 sprayers, US $ 600 to purchase 15 small manual water pumps and US $ 450 to purchase assorted veterinary drugs. Gitau has a good market and he will be able to repay the loan.",M,1600,lender,Agriculture,1 Kenya,"Gladwell is 39 years old and married with one child. She is a committed Christian. Gladwell has benefited a lot from the group as it has enabled her to get a loan and she she and her husband bought a plot of land, which they are now trying to develop.
She has a business of selling different spices like pilau masala, garlic, ginger and many others. Also she has a payphone where she offers the services to Kangema people. She is able to get about USD221 monthly from her businesses. The payphone business is very competitive and thus, she wants to concentrate more on her spices business instead.
When she gets a loan, she wants to add stock of spices and this will boost her income and she will be able to develop her commercial plot in the near future if and only if financial assistance is accessible.",F,225,lender,Food,1 Kenya,"Gladys business involves collecting scrap metals. She operates her business mostly in Kisii and Malaba towns. After collecting a reasonable amount, she transports them to Nairobi where she sells at the metal manufacturing industries. She started her business in 2002, when she saw there was need for her services in the society. She got her capital from her husband who is an employee at a local tourist hotel. She is a mother of four children who are all in primary school. Through her business, she has been able to keep the environment clean, she supports her husband in meeting familys basic needs and at times pay school fees for her children. With a loan from PEMCI, Gladys wishes to increase her stock. A unique business for a woman entrepreneur and worth of support.",F,300,lender,Manufacturing,1 Kenya,"Gladys Chepkorir is a 39 year old who is married with six children. Her husband is engaged in small businesses to sustain the family. In support of her husbands effort, she runs a small scale farm where she plants various food like maize, beans, cabbages, carrots and kale.
Her farm is located on the rich highlands of a rural village on the outskirts of Kericho town (famous for producing the best Kenyan tea). Her business is seasonal and it depends on the weather patterns. In order to curb this issue she is planning to acquire hybrid seeds that can adapt to any type of weather and ensure that at the same time the yields are high. But she is unable to do that since hybrid seeds are costly.
She sort help from Ebony Foundation to meet her plan for improving her farm. She is requesting a loan of US$1200. The funds of US$300 will be used to purchase hybrid maize seeds and beans, US$400 to buy fertilizer, US$400 to lease land and US$100 to pay casual laborers. She is a hardworking farmer and she will be able to repay the loan.",F,1200,lender,Agriculture,1 Kenya,"Gladys is 35 years old. She is married and has 3 children. She is a member of St. Consolata. Her women's group has worked hard raise the living standards of its members. It has been a great struggle for the members, especially after the collapse of the coffee industry, since most of the members of St. Consolata were coffee farmers.
To encourage the group members, WEEC held seminars with an objective of sensitizing the members about the importance of generating viable business ideas and taking advantage of good business opportunities. The members took this training very seriously and for several years now have come up with many diversified business ideas. WEEC supports these ideas by assisting the groups to fund the members.
Gladys and other members from the Muranga branch came up with a new idea of buying shares from companies that are quoted on the Nairobi Stock Exchange. Since this is a new business idea, the WEEC members invited an Agent to train the women. Gladys was one of the members. After the training, the members who decided not to buy shares were asked why they made this decision. Gladys had this to say: ""For many years I have been involved in farming. However, buying shares can be a very risky investment since one doesnt know when one can gain or loose."" Therefore, she decided to improve what she knew better by buying fertilizers and more animal feeds that will enable her to increase her farm produce. ""This is what I want to do. Gladys has applied for a loan of USD225 which has been approved by the Group Secretariat. The loan will be repaid within a period of one year.",F,225,lender,Agriculture,1 Kenya,"Gladys is 35 years old. She is married and has 3 children. She is a member of St. Consolata. This womens group named after St. Consolata has worked hard towards raising the living standards of its members. This is reflected in the growth and well being of their families. It has been a great struggle for the members, especially after the collapse of the coffee industry since most of the members of St. Consolata were coffee farmers. To encourage the group members WEEC held seminars with the objective of sensitizing the members on the importance of generating viable business ideas and taking advantage of good business opportunities. The members took these trainings very seriously and for several years now have come up with many diversified business ideas. WEEC supports these ideas by assisting the group in funding their members. Gladys and other members from Muranga branch have come up with a new idea of buying shares from companies that are quoted on the Nairobi Stock Exchange. Since this is a new business idea that the WEEC members want to venture into, WEEC facilitated training and invited an agent to come and train the women. Gladys was one of the members who attended. After the training, the members who decided to buy shares were asked why they made this decision. Gladys had this to say, for many years I have been involved in farming. This is a very tedious job. Now I have an opportunity that will make money work for me instead of me always working. This is what I want to do. Gladys has applied for a loan of USD 225 which has been approved by the group secretariat. The loan will be repaid within a period of one year.",F,225,lender,Agriculture,1 Kenya,"Gladys is 36 years of age, married with 5 children. Her children are all in school - 3 in secondary and 2 in primary school.
She is a member of the St Jude women's group. She is a Christian and a member of the Anglican Church. Gladys is a teacher in a local school, where she earns USD 75 per month. Besides teaching, she practices dairy farming and grows vegetables. She grows maize and beans, mostly for domestic use.
The farm earns her earns an average of USD 20 per month. She manages to pay her children's school fees, although it is straining her very much. She is very hard-working and is determined that her children will get quality education.
She has shown her commitment to repayment by receiving group loans in the past to pay for school fees. Now she wants to buy a dairy cow, which will increase milk production, leading to a better income.",F,150,lender,Agriculture,1 Kenya,"Gladys is 53 years old. She is a widow. She has 5 grown-up children. Gladys is a member of Kiambugi ACK church. She is also a member of the Mothers' Union in the same church. Gladys's main calling is to assist the less fortunate members of the society, especially the children who come from poor families. She helps them to get education assistance from the community.
Gladys is also a member of Gaitheri Graceful women's group. This group has enabled its members to each save USD 3 every month. The members appreciate the role the credit component has played in their lives; for example, Gladys has been able to run a butcher shop. This business requires substantial capital. Gladys has received several loans from the group to enable her run her business. She delivers the meat to the nearby boarding primary and secondary schools.
Gladys wishes to buy 4 medium-sized steers. She will employ a farm hand to assist her to rear the steers. She intends to rear them for a period of 9 months and to slaughter and sell them at her slaughterhouse. She has applied for a loan of USD600 to enable her buy the steers. The loans committee has approved her loan. She will repay the loan within a period of 12 months.",F,600,lender,Agriculture,1 Kenya,"Gladys is 65 years old. She is married with grown children. She has two grandchildren who live with her. She belongs to the ACK St. Phillips Church in Maragwa. Gladys is the chairlady of Karaba Umoja women's group. This is a group whose activities have been recognized and admired by the villagers of both Ikindu and Gitumbi. The group members have a very positive attitude towards their group work. Gladys is well respected as a leader who has moved her group to the 3rd stage: in-group development.
Gladys earns her living through mixed farming. She plants a lot of bananas and also practices livestock rearing. She also buys and sells bananas on wholesale to the traders who come all the way from Nairobi. She sells milk to the Kenya Cooperative creameries. Gladys plans to buy more bunches of bananas from the surrounding farmers to be able to meet the orders that she gets. She plans to increase her capital base. She has applied for a loan of USD150. Her group has approved the loan. She will repay the loan within a period of 12 months.",F,150,lender,Agriculture,1
Kenya,"Gladys is an active member of Gituya Kamukia Women Group. She was born 42 years ago, and is married with six children.
Gladys is a businesswoman who supplies agro products to the farmers. This is a seasonal business. In addition to this she sells second hand clothes in order to have a continuous flow of income. Her second hand business is one that has very many customers especially during this period of Christmas. She is able to offer clothes at affordable prices especially for the poor masses. She wants a loan for boosting her second hand business. She wants to buy 3 bales of clothes. She is able to raise and pay school fees through he clothe business. She would like to meet her payments on monthly basis.",F,150,lender,Clothing,1
Kenya,"Gladys is married with 2 children. She is a strong member of the Mihuti ACK Church. Gladys is a member of the Mathioya Womens Group and she has benefitted greatly from the groups revolving fund. Gladys is a farmer who rears a dairy cow and grows maize and coffee. Since the land is a small plot, her regular income is from the milk from her cow. With the current awareness of investing in shares Gladys believes the new idea will assist her not only in diversifying her investment but also will assist her in generating some more income for her family. She is interested in buying shares of the Safaricom Company. The group has approved her loan of USD 150 as per her good repayment records.",F,150,lender,Agriculture,1
Kenya,"Gladys is married with 3 children. She is an active member of Namelok women group. She is also an assistant pastor at Olepolis Methodist Church. She has contributed a lot to her community by supporting the disadvantaged, bright children in her village.
She has a steer rearing business which she started with 4 steers through WEEC loan. After feeding them for 5 months, she sold them at double buying price and was able to buy more steers and build 2 rental rooms. Today, Gladys rears 11 steers and she plans to increase the number by 3. She is targeting to sell them after 5 months to the meat industry which was revived by the government. She would like to repay her loan on monthly basis.",F,450,lender,Agriculture,1
Kenya,Gladys is the mother of one child. Her child is in primary school. She is the family bread winner and she has proved herself right through her hard work. She is a dedicated member of the Gataragwa Womens Group. She earns her income from a dairy farming project which she started through a small loan granted to her from WEEC. She sells her milk to farmers in the Dairy Cooperative Saco at a rate of USD 0.2 per litre. She is paid on a monthly basis. Gladys is very determined to be involved in the new business area of share brokering this year. She has benefited a lot from WEEC trainings on the shares market and she is willing to implement her skills in the business. She believes her child will get a quality education. She promises to pay her loan with milk sales.,F,150,lender,Agriculture,1
Kenya,"GLADYS MBUGUA is 34 years old. She is a single parent of 4 children who are all in school. Gladys takes care of her late brothers three children and also supports her aging parents. She is therefore a breadwinner to 9 dependants.
Gladys buys fruits and vegetables in bulk from Farmers in rural areas then transports and sells the fruits and vegetables to retailers at Wakulima Market in Central Nairobi (The capital of Kenya). She does one lorry trip per week which costs an average of US $ 1,000. She makes a profit of US $ 196 per lorry trip and utilizes the income to provide for her family and to support her brothers children and her parent.
The cost of living in Nairobi is high and Gladys has to improve her income if she is to continue keeping the children in school and to provide the basic needs to the family.
She wants to increase her trips from one to two per week. She has enough Farmers to supply the second trip and enough retailers to buy the produce. What she lacks is the capital to finance the second trip. She is requesting a loan of US $ 1,600 and her budget is as follows: US $ 1,000 to finance the second weekly purchase of a lorry load of fruits and vegetables, US $ 200 to expand her storage facility in Nairobi and US $ 400 repair her pick up vehicle to assist in gathering the fruits and vegetables from farmers. This will increase her income to an average of US $ 400 per week and will enable her provide for the family and save to expand the business. She will employ two more people enabling two other families earn a living.",F,1600,lender,Food,1
Kenya,"Gladys Moitori is an active member of Namunyak women's group. She is married with four children. Two of the children are in secondary, while the other two are in primary school. She started her steer business six years ago with four steers. Now she has twenty steers. Gladys' business has grown well, however, most of her profits are spent on her children's school fees and the five-room house that she is building. In 2001, Gladys took a loan of USD450 from WEEC and increased her steers to fifteen. If she is given this loan, she would now like to purchase eight more steers.",F,900,lender,Agriculture,1
Kenya,"Gladys Mwari is 38 years old and married but has no children, although she help support her sister, her sister's daughter, her sister-in-law and her parents-in-law. Gladys runs a knitting business in Kariobangi South where she also resides. She started the business by hiring a machine and found enough orders to earn her income and pay for the cost of hiring the machine. Later she was given the machine in order to help her earn more money. Through the savings this engendered she managed to hire a stall near her home. Gladys learned this trade without attending college or any technical training program but learned through reading books; she also went through a three-day machine training program.
Gladys is now requesting this loan to purchase a knitting machine and a supply of thread. The equipment and materials will increase her earnings and hence improve her life and those depending on her.",F,225,partner,Arts,1 Kenya,Gladys Nyambura Murigi is 25 years old. She is single with 2 children; one still young and at home and the other in primary school. She is a member of ACK church and also a member of Gakoigo women group. She has invested in the business of selling bananas. She buys 50 bunches of ripe bananas for resale per week. She owns a stand at Tuesso market where she conducts her business operations. She has applied for a loan of USD300 which she intends to purchase 200 bunches of ripe bananas in order to cope with the high customer demand. She is willing to manage a repayment period of 10 months.,F,300,lender,Food,1 Kenya,"Gladys Peter is 27 years old and married with two children. Gladys Peter is a hardworking woman, who would like to see her fellow women thrive in her area, and therefore was appointed assistant chairlady of the group. She has been working hand in hand with her women ensuring that they encourage each other. Gladys Peter started her steer business three years ago and it has been growing slowly due to a lack of stock, and savings to meet her daily requirements for the family. She believes that in business one must aim high and have a target. Due to the revival of the Kenya Meat Commission in July of this year, she wants to sell her steers to the factory. She can only do this if she is given a loan of USD450 to increase her flock by three steers to meet the factory's demand, and at the same time still sell to her normal customers.",F,450,lender,Agriculture,1 Kenya,"Gladys Wangari Maina is 48 years old. She is married with four children; two have finished their high school education and two are in secondary school. She is an active member of the Gatangara Venus Womens Group. She practices farming, which is her main source of income. She grows vegetables and cereal crops mainly for commercial purposes, although her family consumes a portion. She manages to save an average of USD10 per month. However, she has difficulty in paying for her childrens secondary school education. For this reason, she intends to buy high quality seeds which will produce more farm produce. If given this loan, she is willing to repay it within a period of 12 months.",F,75,lender,Agriculture,1 Kenya,"Gladys Wanja is 69 years old. She is married and the mother of ten children, who are all self-reliant. She is devoted member of Ngombe Bora women group. She is a farmer who practices mixed farming. She grows beans, maize, coffee and bananas. She also has one cow and two goats. She has applied for a loan of USD600 to purchase a dairy cow in order to boost the milk production. She is willing to repay this loan within 12 months.",F,600,lender,Agriculture,1 Kenya,"Gladys was born in 1974 in Kiambu, Kenya. She is married with 2 children. One is in lower primary while the other one has not yet started school. She is an active and committed member of Kirangari Wendani women group. After finishing high school, she was not able to advance her education due to financial constraint in her family. She joined WEEC in 2001 and since then she has benefited a lot from trainings and small loans. She started a green grocer business with the loans creating a job opportunity for her husband who was not working. The business has really transformed her family life and she is ever grateful to Kiva. They work as a team with the husband and they have been getting orders from hypermarkets in the country of supplying vegetables and fruits. She feels with a loan of USD 450 it will boost her business and they will be able to meet the orders from the customers.",F,450,lender,Agriculture,1 Kenya,"Gladys was born in 1974 in Kiambu, Kenya. She is married with 2 children. One is in lower primary while the other one has not yet started school. She is an active and committed member of Kirangari Wendani Women Group. After finishing high school, she was not able to advance her education due to financial constraints in her family. She joined WEEC in 2001 and since then she has benefited a lot from trainings and small loans. She started a green grocer business with the loans, creating a job opportunity for her husband who was not working. The business has really transformed her family life and she is ever grateful to Kiva. She works as a team with her husband and they have been getting orders from hypermarkets in the country for supplying vegetables and fruits. She feels with a loan of USD 900 it will boost her business and they will be able to meet the orders from the customers. She intends to repay her loan in monthly installments.",F,900,lender,Agriculture,1 Kenya,"Gladys was born on 10th August, 1972, in Western Kenya. She is married with one child who is in form one at Bogori Girls' High school in Western Kenya. She is a member of Kawangware Catholic Church and a choir member.
Gladys joined the group and WEEC in March 2007 after being informed by her colleague how WEEC and KIVA have boosted many businesses in the area. She has applied a loan of USD 750, with which she intends to buy two standing driers, two blow driers and chemicals. She is willing to repay this loan within a period of 12 months.",F,750,lender,Services,1 Kenya,"Godfrey Kamau Ndungu is 51 years old, married to Diana Ndungu who is a house wife. The two have nine children, three of whom are in primary school, three are in secondary school, while the others have completed their studies. Though Godfrey attained only basic primary education, he is a born entrepreneur and has been successfully retailing electronics, accessories, utensils and crockery for the last 7 years. However, he would wish to add more stock to his retail business in order to more fully satisfy the market needs. Godfrey also feels that, by getting the goods himself from industries and not using middlemen, he will be able to earn a higher profit. He is therefore requesting US$1175: US$1100 to acquire more stock and US$75 to establish a supply channel. This way he hopes to generate more income to be able to satisfy his nine children's financial needs.",M,1175,lender,Retail,1 Kenya,"Godfrey Njeru Kithaka is 35 years old. He is married with one child who is still too young to be in school. His wife is a housewife taking care of her familys chores. He runs a stall in the extensive Kongowea market selling small electronics such as radios, ironbox, and blenders among others.
Godfrey fell sick last year and was out of work for a period. He used his savings to pay for medical expenses; his wife also gave birth at the same time adding more medical expenses on their meager finances. He was not able to stock his shop as before and is now struggling along. Being the sole breadwinner is not easy for him since he has to meet all his family needs and keep the business alive. He requests a US $600 loan. The loan will be used to buy additional electronics stock. He is committed and will repay the loan.",M,600,lender,Retail,1 Kenya,"Gorety Achieng Otieno is a 25-year-old single lady. She resides in the sprawling town of Nakuru together with her family members. Being in a large family, life has not been easy for Gorety because she has to take care of her siblings and her elderly parents, which makes life unbearable for her. She is engaged in the business of selling second-hand clothes at the local market and this business has helped her to be able to provide basic needs for her family. She has always had the passion to ensure that her siblings complete their studies so that they can become self-dependent. Although hard-working, she barely made enough to properly care for her family.
With training from Ebony she opened a stand in the local market. She sets herself apart from other stands with her parasol for shade, and she always has cold water on hand amenities much appreciated by her customers, as it gets quite hot in town during the day. Depending on the season, she might also sell other designs of second-hand clothes. Selling in the market leads to being able to feed the kids, which makes it possible for them to go to school,"" she says. ""It also means that we can make large investments as a family. She also faces various challenges including high demand and less supply and also high transportation costs. She however wants to expand the business and thats why she is requesting a loan of US $400; US $350 to buy a bale of second-hand clothes and US $50 to pay for transport. She is a hardworking, self-driven woman and she will be able to repay the loan on time.",F,400,lender,Clothing,1 Kenya,"Grace .A. Ashali is 45-years old and a mother of five children. She lives in the Kibera Slums in Nairobi. Three of the children are of school-going age, and the others are too young for school. Her husband is unemployed. Their upkeep comes from rent collected from two temporary houses they own within the slum. To supplement this income she runs a small business selling charcoal and vegetables. This business has a lot of potential for growth given the large population within the slum that buys such goods regularly. There is also a huge demand for cleaner, more energy-saving fuels which are replacing charcoal to reduce deforestation. Fuels such as recycled cow dung coal, coffee husks, and brickettes. She would like to take advantage of this emerging opportunity and expand her current business operations. Her reputation as a good trader who has a good supply of new fuels would definitely result in higher sales and increased net profit. Then she will be able to afford to take all of her children to school when they are of age. Grace is requesting a loan of $825: $625 to purchase more stock, $200 to build better premises with adequate storage space. Grace's wonderful interpersonal skills enable her to retain her clients and gain a competitive edge.",F,825,lender,Retail,1 Kenya,"Grace Achieng Ochieng is 38 years old. She is married with seven children aged 12, 14, 16, 18, 20, 22 and 24 years old respectively. Six of the children are not in school and Grace is deeply concerned about their future, having herself left school in Grade 8. She ekes out a living by selling fish but this business does not bring enough returns to support her large family.
The need to earn more to support her family prompted Grace to approach Ebony Foundation. She wants to expand her business and support her family, cater for the family's needs and expenses. She has requested a $650 loan which she plans to use in the following ways:
US $ 200 to purchase a small freezer
US $ 300 to purchase a shoal of fresh fish from the Burmese market
US $ 150 to pay for a municipal license
Grace is a hardworking woman and willing to support her family fully while repaying the loan.",F,650,lender,Food,1 Kenya,"Grace Aluoch is 40 year-old entrepreneur who lives with her husband and six children in Rongo, Kenya. She has also trained as a community health worker to provide home-based care to people living with HIV/AIDS in her area. Grace, called mama mdogo by her co-wives children, runs a fish selling business at a market in Rongo town. She is the sole income earner in her household and depends on her business to feed and clothe her children and pay their school fees. Her hard work, determination, and excellent people skills have led to her success. She manages her stall during the day and provides home based care services to people living with HIV/AIDS in the evenings. Her profits pay the household expenses as well as secondary school fees for three of her children. Grace plans to use the funds from her loan of Kshs 40,000 (approximately US $575) to incorporate the sale of cereal into her business.",F,575,partner,Food,0 Kenya,"Grace is 32 years old and married with 3 children. She an active member of AIPCEA church in Muringa and the chairperson for the youth in her local church. She has a passion to serve the community and is actively involved in most of the church activities.
Grace also takes care of two orphaned children. She lives with the two children and also caters for their educational needs. She is a founding member of Muringa Jehovah Jire women's group and holds the position of the group assistant secretary. She records the group cashbook and does her work with a lot of dedication.
Grace runs a dairy project at home together with her husband. They have two cows that give 7 litres of milk per day. She sells 5 litres and leaves 2 litres to be used at home. To generate more income, Grace runs a small kiosk that sells fresh fruit and vegetables.
Grace has applied for a loan of USD 150 to buy a water tank. The loans committee has approved the loan and she will repay within a period of 10 months. The purchase of a water tank will be of great assistance to Grace. Currently, she is forced to walk for long distances in search of water, especially during the dry season.",F,150,lender,Agriculture,1 Kenya,"Grace is 45 years old, married and a mother of 6 children. 2 are in high school, 3 in primary school and 1 is independent. She is a dedicated member of St.Lukes ACK Church, a member of a Mothers Union and a Sunday school teacher where she uplifts the lives of young ones at her local church. She is among the founder members of Wendani Sisters. She is an active member of Wendani Sisters and the chairlady of the group. Grace is a mixed farmer who grows vegetables, fruits, cereals and carrots as well as rearing dairy cows, sheep and goats. Her farming project has been the primary source of income for her family and she pays the school fees for her children. She has continued working hard and is very determined to add a hybrid dairy cow breed to her tea and vegetable farming efforts. She sells her produce at the local market. She has been very happy for the small loans which has boosted her project and have given her an opportunity. She hopes to get a loan of USD 150 to buy high quality fertilizer and seeds. She has promised to repay her loan on monthly basis for a period of 12 months.",F,150,lender,Agriculture,1 Kenya,"Grace is 48 years old and has 6 children. Grace has lived in the Kware slum area for over 30 years. In 2005, Kajiado county council allocated plots of land in Kware to the residents who had lived in that area for many years and had built small semi-permanent homes. Grace is among the lucky ones who benefited from this good gesture from the government.
Grace has built a house for her family on this plot and has also put up 11 small semi-permanent rooms, which she rents at USD7 per room, per month. Grace managed to build 2 permanent rooms, which provide a total of USD95. This means that her income has increased and she made her repayments on time.
To supplement her rental income, she has rented a two acre farm where she grows maize, beans and peas. She sells the produce at Soko Mjinga market in Rongai, assisted by her two daughters. After selling the produce she gives them part of the income. In this way her daughters are able to cater for some of their needs.
Grace bought land near a school and wants to rescue teachers by building rental rooms nearby and a loan of USD1000 will help her to do this. She promises to pay over a period of 1 year.",F,1000,lender,Housing,1 Kenya,"Grace is 50 years old. She is married and has 4 grown children. She is a member of Gatangara ACK Church and a member of the Mothers Union in her local church. She is a committee member of Gatangara Pluto. The committee oversees the activities of the executive office to ensure that they carry out the group work as per the constitution laid down by its members.
Grace earns her living through farming. She grows coffee, maize and beans. With the coffee prices being very low for many months, Grace shifted from relying on coffee as her main income generating point and opened a retail shop in the Gatangara shopping center. Her group has assisted her in stocking-up through the loans she gets from the revolving fund. She plans to start stocking cereals, such as rice, beans, and green grams. She has applied for a loan of USD 750 to buy the stock. The loans committee has approved the loan after appraising her business. She will repay the loan within a period of 10 months.",F,750,lender,Retail,1 Kenya,"Grace is 55 years old, married and has three children. She is an independent mother who has always worked hard to ensure that her family does not miss its daily bread. She is also a committed and active member of the Gacharaigu Home Promoters Group, where she saves money, borrows when she needs funds and always pays her loans back on time.
Grace lives in the village of Gathiga, where she grows grass, maize and beans for sale to the local people and also tends two cows and a herd of goats. Grace is not currently earning enough money to support her family, and would like to increase her income by securing a loan of $600 to buy a dairy cow. This cow will allow her to support her family and ensure that everyone has enough to eat.",F,600,lender,Agriculture,1 Kenya,"Grace is 58 years old. She is a widow and has 6 children. Grace is a member of ACK Church in Gakoigo, and a member of the Mothers Union group.
Grace joined Maragwa Ushuhuda women's group at its inception and has since benefited through loans from the group's revolving fund. Through the fund, she has also been able to make regular savings of USD 3 per month.
""At first,"" says Grace, ""I never thought saving a small portion of my income per month could have such great significance in my family life. Now I know that it is so important to save regularly, even if one has many commitments. Regular saving is a good discipline. It makes one be in a position to plan ahead.
Grace earns her income through farming. She sells five litres of milk per day to the Kenya Cooperative Creameries. She also plants maize, beans, bananas and vegetables both for her family and for the market.
Her main problem is finding water for her crops. She intends to solve the problem by buying a water tank of 3,200 litres capacity to enable her harvest rainwater during the rainy season. She has applied for a loan of USD 300. The loan will be repaid within a period of 12 months.",F,300,lender,Agriculture,1 Kenya,"Grace is a community health based distrubutor who has been trained by KMET as a volunteer to improve contraceptive access to underserved women. She has applied for a loan to improve her poultry stock, chickens feeds and medicine/vaccines.",F,425,partner,Agriculture,0 Kenya,"Grace is a Kenyan single mother aged 37 with 4 orphan children of her late brother. Being the sole breadwinner for her family, Grace is left with the challenge of taking care of the children and has to ensure that they are properly fed, clothed, and sheltered. She got divorced from her husband three years ago and lost two of her own children immediately after.
Grace first started by working as a waitress in a hotel for a friend, who also introduced her to a local women's savings group that she later joined. She started saving the little money she got at the hotel and from the women's group. The accumulated savings enabled Grace to start a small charcoal business from her home.
She eventually started growing her business gradually and then started the cereals (maize, rice and green grams, or mung beans) business about four years ago. With the little profits that she gets from the cereals business, Grace is grateful that she can still put food on the table and give her children the basic necessities.
With the help of her loan, Grace intends to increase her stock of cereals and eventually hopes to expand her business to a wholesale unit. Her long-term business vision is to open up a tailoring business as she is also a trained tailor!
Disclaimer: Due to recent events in Kenya, the security situation in many communities remains unsettled, affecting many local businesses. Lenders to this entrepreneur should be aware that this loan may represent a higher default risk, and should be willing to accept this additional risk in making their loan.",M,3450,lender,Food,0 Kenya,"Grace is a married lady. She is a member of PCEA Church Nkoroi and a deacon in her local church and was selected to be on the church committee. Grace loves the work she does for the church very much and is happy to talk about her church activities. This year has been a good year for Grace. Being the secretary of Oloika Progressive, she has been vocal in advocating for the need for the group to follow the constitution and this has made the group a very strong revolving fund group. At the closure of the year, WEEC had a day of thanksgiving and invited the group members to come for the prayers. The organization also recognized 4 groups that best run and manage their revolving fund. Oloika Progressive was voted as the best group. Grace was chosen as the guest speaker because of how she tackles women issues and empowers the women. The group set their meeting day for December 27, 2006 to celebrate their achievement. The same day they approved the applications for school fees loans for their group members. Graces application of USD 375 was approved. She will repay the loan within a period of 10 months.",F,375,lender,Agriculture,1 Kenya,"Grace is a window with 5 grown up children. She is a religious person and an active member of Judea Women Group. She takes care of her 2 grandchildren whom she adopted after they finished their primary education due to financial constrain from their parents. She has a responsibility to pay their fees, from her own experience as she was married at an early age and she dint get the opportunity to get quality education. She believes the girls will be able to secure good jobs after they finish their studies and she cant wait to watch them being responsible mothers. She is a business lady who specializes on different varieties of fruits. She sells fruits in wholesale to retailers from a market known for its many varieties of fruits and fresh vegetables. She starts her business at 5.00 am and by 12.noon she is done with the stock. She mainly sell her fruits to the roadside fruitsellers.On average, she is able to make USD29 daily. She has been in this business for some years and she has already established her own customers. She wants the loan to buy more fruits varieties due to increase demand in urban centers. She is a very hard working lady who is set to face challenges and change them to be opportunities. She has passion for her work and believes her granddaughters will reap the best from her work.",F,1000,lender,Agriculture,1 Kenya,"Grace is an active member of the group and that is why she has been able to access group loans. She has been paying her loans promptly. She has reared 10 steers which she is planning to sell at the Kenya Meat Commission, which is a ready market for the steers since its revival. She needs a loan of USD 600 to buy three more steers to boost her income in order to pay school fees and repay her loan. She will repay her loan in monthly installments.",F,600,lender,Agriculture,1 Kenya,"Grace is in a very unique business not often operated by women in this part of the world. As such, she is viewed by many women in her community as a role model. Grace is a widow with six children. Five children are in secondary school, and one is working as a teacher. She is a high school dropout and hasnt undergone any training.
She started her business in 1994 to support her family and school-going children after her husband died. This is her second loan with PEMCI, but her first with Kiva. The first loan of $150 was used to equip her meat shop with essential equipment. With this second loan of $300, she plans to diversify her business into buying and selling cereals such as maize, beans, millet and other fodders.
Through her business, she has been able to promote her church's women's projects in the community. The women's groups are able to plant and export cereals. With time, other members of their A.C.K. church's women's group have been able to gain knowledge and skills and can now impart the skills in their own farms.
Grace is well educated for her community and is concerned in the uplifting of women's affairs. We see her as a key resource person for any other future interventions that PEMCI may wish to undertake with its partners in these communities. Grace is well-worth the support of Kiva partners.",F,300,partner,Food,0 Kenya,"Grace is married with 3 children who are in primary school. She is an active member of Rurii Shinning Women group. She is a very hard-working farmer who has managed to transform her family through farming, assisted a lot by small loans form the Rurii group. She grows maize, beans, sorghum, cow peas, and black peas. She also grows paw paws for export and mangoes. To produce a high quality product, she wants to top dress her crops with fertilizer (especially the maize) and spray all her flowering fruit trees to prevent fruit loss. To achieve this she is applying for a loan to boost her financially. She would like to repay her loan in installments.",F,150,lender,Agriculture,1 Kenya,"Grace is married with 8 children who are adults. She feels young and energetic to work extremely hard even though having adult children. She has been a member in Royal women group for the last six years. She is a committed Christian worshiping in the Anglican Church of Kenya and serving in the mothers union. They are involved in community work as a women leader and she empowers women to fight poverty through hard work. She has been relying on her farm for income by growing coffee, tea, bananas, and she rears dairy cows. She lost her cows two months ago due to fever outbreak and was left with two calves. To her staying without a dairy cow is a history because milk has been the only source of income since she can remember. She is applying for USD300 to replace her cow which she believes will make a difference as the cost of getting milk for consumption and domestic needs will be met.",F,300,lender,Agriculture,1 Kenya,"Grace is married with children some of whom are schooling. She is very religious and of humble character. She has been the leader in Karura Hope Women group and a real demonstrator of facts. She joined the group after realizing she could not save enough to cater for her family needs and to buy a dairy cow. She was very determined to change the direction of her life and start a new life with improvement. After attending business management training offered by WEEC in the group, she was able to start a green grocer but her target was a dairy cow. She worked hard and saved some income topped it up with a group loan and she was able to buy a dairy cow. Her cow has been a source of joy in her family for it was their first time to rear one. The cow has calved twice and now the first born is about to calf. Feeds is a challenge because she has a small portion of land thus she rely on buying Napier grass and commercial feeds throughout the year. She believes if she can get a loan and buy feeds for the three cows, even after more cows are born it wont strain her much feeding them. She will repay the loan with monthly sales.",F,300,lender,Agriculture,1 Kenya,"Grace is married, a mother of 4 children who are self-reliant. She is an active member of Gatangara women's group and has been in the group since its registration as a formal group. She has benefited a lot from group loans and trainings. All her children went to school by the help of a loan for school fees. She is a fulltime farmer and she likes it because she has been able to run a kiosk with the sales from her farm. She grows grains, fruit, coffee and rears a dairy cow. Her kiosk is performing well with time, she sold off a bit of land and employed an extra farmhand. She would like to buy more stock for her shop and she feels she has been molded, empowered, by WEEC trainings and that now she can handle the two lines of businesses. She is very committed when it comes to making repayments for she has a fine glimpse of how loans have transformed her life.",F,150,lender,Retail,1 Kenya,"Grace is the chairperson of the Kabuta Ladies in Action group, a post she has held since 2001. She is also a treasurer of her local church in Kabuta and a retired Primary school teacher.
She has been in retail business for over 3 years selling grains and cereals. Her experience gives her confidence to request more funding because she understands her market well.
She needs a loan of USD 600 to expand her business and increase her income. She intends to sell her produce in Muranga town as well as to middle men who take it to Nairobi by way of cheap railway transport. The loan committee has approved her loan. She intends to pay the loan in 12 months.",F,600,lender,Retail,1 Kenya,"Grace Jerotich Chemboi is 40 years old and single. She is taking care of her two brothers, one in high school and the other in college.
She has quite a big burden given that she deals in second-hand clothes only. She has realized that people are changing to new clothes and she is therefore intending to start selling new clothes. This will not only generate more income but also diversify her risk portfolio so that when sales on one the side of new clothes are low there is an alternative source of income from the used clothes and vice versa.
She is requesting a loan of US$1000 to purchase stock. Of this amount, US $600 will be for buying new clothes stock and US $400 for new shoes inventory for the business.
She is very hard working, focused and with great interpersonal skills. This has helped her get many customers. Her plan is to stock new clothes and shoes that her customers have been requesting. She is capable of paying the loan.",F,1000,lender,Clothing,1 Kenya,"Grace Kamene Ndugu is 50 years old. She is a mother of five children, three of whom have completed their studies and two are in a private high school. She has been practicing commercial wool spinning for four years now. She picked the wool spinning trade because it is easy to master and requires limited capital to start a business.
She spins creative and unique items like handmade dolls, teddy bears, floor mats, wall hangings and sofa throws. She is of the opinion that if she has more capital she will be able to expand her business. Furthermore, there is an association of spinners in the slums where she resides which is establishing a single cottage industry entity.
The association will make it easier for the spinners to market their products, especially internationally. Therefore, she wants to take advantage of this opportunity by boosting her production. She is requesting a loan of US $675. With this amount, she will be able to purchase wool stock worth US $300 and a spinning wheel worth US $350. She will spend US $25 to hire an assistant, who will help her in her workshop.",F,675,lender,Arts,1 Kenya,"Grace Masila is a 45-year-old trained nurse. She is married and lives with her husband and two daughters in Mbiuni Machakos, Kenya.
Grace qualified as a registered nurse in 1984. She was also trained as a mid-wife at Pumwani maternity hospital in 1986. She worked for two years as nurse with Aghakan hospital.
In 1992 Grace went into private practice with the opening of her own clinic at Mbiuni market. The clinic, the only one in the area, serves over 4,000 clients. Grace offers general curative services, family planning, child welfare, and laboratory services. The community appreciates the quality of services provided by her facility.
Grace, who has received two previous loans, attributes her success to KMET for extending credit and enabling her to expand her clinic. She requires another US $1200 to further expand her clinic.",F,1200,partner,Health,0 Kenya,Grace Muthoni Ndirangu is 43 years old. She is married 3 children. She is a member of the ACK church and also a member of Gakoigo women group. She is a businesswoman who has ventured into the banana selling business. She usually buys 60 bunches of ripe bananas from local farmers and sells these bunches to brokers at a wholesale price. She joined WEEC two years ago and she has benefited a lot from this association. She has applied a loan of USD300 which she intends to purchase 100 bunches of bananas so as to cope with the high customer demand. She is willing to handle a repayment period of 10 months.,F,300,lender,Food,1 Kenya,"Grace Muthoni Nganga, 40 years old, is a single mother of three children and also takes care of two orphans who are HIV (+) positive. The family lives in the Kibera slums. Only 2 of the five children are in junior school, classes 3 and 5. The rest stay at home unattended, since Grace cannot afford daycare as she goes about her daily duties. She has her business where she manufactures candy, bakes muffins and makes potato chips. She earns her livelihood by selling these products to retail shops and schools around the slum. This business is tiresome, as she has to walk very long distances each day and earns barely enough to cater for her family, mostly for the orphans who constantly need medication and nutritious foodstuff. Grace plans to increase her sales by purchasing more stock and renting a stall within the town center. She expects to get more customers at this location and to establish supply links with supermarkets within Nairobi. She has experience in this type of business and expects to earn US$350 per month. She is requesting a loan of US$1000. This will be used as follows: US$400 for the initial rent payments for the premises, US$100 for business license fees, and US$500 to buy stock. Grace is a born entrepreneur who has strong business ethics and who will be able to pay the loan.",F,1000,lender,Retail,1 Kenya,"Grace Wacera is 35 years old and married with three children. One of them just joined high school while the rest are in junior school. Her husband is a casual laborer and earns a small amount to maintain his family.
Wacera sells secondhand clothes in the open-air market. She deals mainly with t-shirts. This is a business she has been doing for a long time. She has calculated the returns from selling skirts and has realized that, with enough capital, she can add to her income by selling skirts and t-shirts.
Since she cannot raise this amount of income soon, she is therefore requesting a loan of $550 to buy the bales. She intends to use $450 to buy two bales of skirts and one bales of T-shirts, $50 for transport, and $50 for storage and other expenses. She is a good marketer and has a supportive husband. She will utilize the loan well.",F,550,lender,Clothing,1 Kenya,"Grace Waguma is 49 years old, married, and now a mother of two children (she used to have three more, but they died). She has spent twenty-three years running her small vegetable kiosk in the outskirts of Kisumu, Kenya. Grace has also started a cereal business to maximize her profits. Her hard work, perseverance, good reputation and many years in business, coupled with a well-established clientele, ensure that her business will continue to grow despite tough competition. Grace has received two previous loans worth US$572 from KMET - she used them to scale up her business in order to meet the growing demand. She has now applied for a loan of US$725 which she plans to use to purchase an additional stock of cereals to sell during the upcoming dry period when the community faces the risk of famine.",F,725,partner,Food,0 Kenya,"Grace Waguma is a 50-year-old married mother of two living children. She has spent twenty-three years running her small vegetable kiosk in the outskirts of Kisumu, Kenya. She has integrated her business to include cereals to enable her to maximize her profits. Her hard work, perseverance, good reputation and many years in business coupled with a well-established client base ensure that her business will continue to grow despite stiff competition. Grace has received three previous loans from KMET/KIVA which she has used to scale up her business in order to cope up with the demand. She has applied for a loan of US $700. She plans to purchase an additional stock of cereals and vegetables and save the balance to use in case of unforeseen circumstances.
Disclaimer: Due to recent events in Kenya, the security situation in many communities remains unsettled, affecting many local businesses. Lenders to this entrepreneur should be aware that this loan may represent a higher default risk, and should be willing to accept this additional risk in making their loan.",F,700,partner,Food,0 Kenya,"Grace Wairimu Ndungu is aged 37 years old. She is single with two children. She is a member of Ngurueni Junior women group and an active Christian at a local Catholic Church. She practices farming as her main economic activity. She cultivates mainly vegetables which is mostly meant for sale but also she uses this for domestic use. She also has four goats, two pigs and 15 chickens. As a result, she manages to earn an average of USD30 per month from the sale of vegetables and other animal produce. She intends to buy two pigs, which she will sell after fattening them, and hence generate more income from this business. It is for this reason that she has applied for a loan of USD75. She is willing to pay this loan in a period of 10 months.",F,75,lender,Agriculture,1 Kenya,"Grace Waiyego is a member of the Easter Mother s Group in Kahuro. She is 39 years of age and married with 2 children, who are both in high school. She lives on her land where she engages in subsistence farming to sustain her family. Grace has been raisiing traditional cows, which do not produce enough milk to sell and ultimately feed her children. She would like a loan of USD 300 to buy a dairy cow, which will produce 20 litres a day. She will be able to sell the milk at USD 0.28 per litre. With the milk payments, she will be able to repay the loan and save some money to buy proper feeds and veterinary services for her cow.",F,300,lender,Agriculture,1 Kenya,"Grace Wambui Kamau is 29 years old married with one child. She is a member of sisters group which is meant to empower women. She is a business lady dealing with second hand shoes. She has been into this business for a while and it is a major source of income for her family. The group has discovered it can cut costs by buying the shoe bales from the source. This way they will be able to save on cost and get quality shoes to sell to their customers. They have a good plan with the group and they would like to implement it as soon as possible. The only barrier to this is capital. She requires a total of US$ 750 to accomplish her plan. She intends to buy the bales with US$ 500, US$ 200 on transport and US$ 50 on other expenses.",F,750,lender,Retail,1 Kenya,Grace Wambui Maina is a 23-year-old married woman with two children. One of the children is in school while the other is still too young. She operates a food kiosk and her husband is a driver of a public service vehicle.
Grace's food kiosk is doing well because her clients work around the area of her business. She would like to expand her business by adding to the menu and improving the kiosks physical structure. She projects an increase in income from this expansion because she already has an established client base and there is a market for her products.
The only factors limiting her enterprises growth are lack of space and a low supply of food. She is requesting a loan of US$ 300 to be used as follows: $100 to add to the menu and $ 200 to improve the kiosk. Grace is hardworking and capable of repaying the loan.,F,300,lender,Food,1 Kenya,"Grace Wambui Muthui is a 27 year old married farmer. She has three children who are all in school. She lives in the Ngorika settlements in the Rift valley with her husband. She is a member of the Wendani Self Help Group. Her husband is ailing and depends on Grace. Grace farms potatoes on their three-acre plot to meet the familys daily needs and to educate her children. Unfortunately her husband needs special medical care and the family has used most of the little savings they had. Yet Grace still has to educate and cater for to her familys upkeep. She would like to expand her farming but lacks the funds. She requests a US $700 loan. Her budget is as follows: US $200 to lease two extra acres of land, US $200 to buy potato seeds, and US $300 to buy herbicides and insecticides.",F,700,lender,Agriculture,1 Kenya,"Grace Wambui Ngatho is a 62 year old and a widow. She has six children and seven dependents. She is the sole breadwinner and all her dependants are of school going age. Apart from her husbands pension her other income generating activity is farming. She has specialized in pig keeping since it has high returns. Early this year she was ailing and since she had no money to pay for her medication, she had to sell most of her pigs to pay for hospital bills. She now wants to add more pigs but has limited financial sources. She is requesting for a loan of US$ 800.US$500 will be used to purchase five pigs, US$ 200 will be used to buy pig feeds and mineral salts and US$100 will be used to payfor the transport cost to the farm.She is an active member of Kiyo group. She is a hardworking farmer and has the capacity to repay the loan.",F,800,lender,Agriculture,1 Kenya,"Grace Wanjiru is aged 35 years and is married with four children aged 16, 13, 12, and 10; all are in school. Grace is a passionate business woman. She ekes out her living through tomato-selling. She is experienced in the tomato selling business as a means of livelihood. Her husband lost his job at the defunct Kenya Railways Corporation, so Grace uses her income from this business to support her family especially her children who are so dear to her.
Grace wishes to expand her business by increasing her inventory. She feels sure that by expanding, she will generate more income and be able to cater for her four children, especially send them to school. With enough tomato stocks, she will be able to attract more customers. She is requesting a loan of US $ 1,100 and her budget is as follows: US $ 300 to purchase durable tomato crates; US $ 700 to purchase tomatoes; and US $ 100 will be used for transportation.
Grace is a member of Ushindi Women's Group and will be able to repay the loan in a timely fashion. The members of Ushindi Group are beneficiaries of group-lending methodology, also known as solidarity lending. This is a mechanism that allows a group of individuals to provide collateral or guarantee a loan through a group-repayment pledge. The incentive to repay is based on peer pressure: if one person in the group defaults, the other group members make up the amount owed.",F,1100,lender,Food,1 Kenya,"Grace Wanjiru Mungai is a 57years old widow and a grandmother of 4 with 4 other dependants. She is a maize farmer with an experience of 39 yrs. Two of her younger grand children are in school. Grace has about 3 acre piece of land in which she grows maize and peas. She earns about US$ 45 per week which goes towards buying medicine for 3 of her grand children who suffer from Aids past on by their deceased parents and the remaining amount goes towards buying of seedlings, paying for outstanding bills at the local market and maintenance of the home stead. Some of the problems facing Grace are unreliable weather resulting in poor harvest which greatly affects her income, lack of money to buy fertilizer, buying of medicine for her grandchildren and lack of enough capital for transporting her produce to the nearest market. Grace wants to increase the amount of peas she grows because they are more profitable. She is requesting a loan of US$ 675.Her budget is: US $ 300 to purchase seedlings, US $ 155 to purchase organic, US $ 130 to purchase a water pump and US $ 90 to cater for Labour and Transportation. Grace is a hardworking lady and shes got the will and the energy to work hard and repay the loan.",F,675,lender,Agriculture,1 Kenya,"Grace was born 27 years ago in Wangige Kiambu. She is married with three children. All are in lower primary school in Lower Kabete Primary school in Kiambu. Grace was born and raised in a large and poor family. Her father was a peasant farmer and could not give them a very good education. After completing her secondary education in 2000, she got married and was blessed with a child the same year. Grace started selling fruits in an open air at Wangige Market in 2001. Her business grew step by step and after two years in business she was able to rent a small store where she increased her stock.
She joined the group and registered with WEEC January 2007. Since then her business management skills has really had an impact on her business. The other training she has received from WEEC has allowed her business to grow.
Given a loan of USD 150, she plans to increase her stock to meet her customers need.",F,150,lender,Food,1 Kenya,"Grace was born 32 years ago in the Muranga District. She is married with two children. Both are in lower primary school. She has been a member of the Dawamu Womens Group since 2003. After she got married, she did not have official work and she ventured into the business world and started selling sweets in the streets of Nairobi. Her lucky day came when she joined the Dawamu Womens Group. She was trained in business and loan management by WEEC. She started with a loan of USD 40 and bought more varieties of sweets. From the sales, she was able to start a kiosk selling snacks and since then her business has been the pillar in her family. Her shop is next to a bus station in Nairobi and targets travelers and demand is very high. She is hoping to get a loan and stock a range of snacks and soft drinks. She feels her past experience has taught her to be very committed in repaying the loan.",F,450,lender,Food,1 Kenya,"Grace was born 42 years ago in Gikuni Kiambu. She is a happy mother of three children. The first born girl is in college while the other two are still in secondary school in Nyeri District. After completing secondary school late 1970s, Grace joined secretarial college and after two years of training, getting a job was a hassle and so she opted for farming.
Grace is a religious person and an active member of Nyathuna Catholic Church. She is among the first women to join WEEC in Kiambu in 2001. Since then she has serviced several small loans.
Grace is a known farmer at home and she has made a real difference in her family life. She is a dairy and poultry farmer. Currently she has three dairy cattle and five hundred chicks.Her grade cows produce an average of 60 litres of milk daily. She sells her milk to Limuru Dairy Farmers Cooperative Society Limited at usd 0.3 per litre while her chicken are sold to Ken Chick Kenya at usd 4.2 per chick.
Given a loan of usd 1200 she will buy another dairy cow and add more chicken.",F,1200,lender,Agriculture,1 Kenya,"Grace was born 49 years ago. She is married and the couple is blessed with six children. She was not lucky to join secondary school like others, but fortunately she finished primary school and thus, she knows how to read and write most words.
She owns a stone quarry where she gets blocks used for building residential and commercial houses. She sells these blocks in Kiserian, Kajiado and Isinya Town. With the help of the loan, which she is almost finishing, she now transports building blocks with ease. Due to the growth of the construction industry, the demand for building materials is increasing and now she would like to be given a loan of USD 900 to hire three more lorries so that she can meet the customers demand. She is willing to pay the loan monthly.",F,900,lender,Agriculture,1
Kenya,"Grace was born 49 years ago. She is married and the couple is blessed with six children. She was not lucky to joining secondary school like others but fortunately she finished primary school and thus, she knows how to read and write most words.
She owns a stone quarry where she gets blocks used for building residential and commercial houses. She sells these blocks in Kiserian, Kajiado and Isinya Town. Transportation of blocks is difficult when you are hiring than using your own lorry. Grace works hard such that in two years she is able to buy her own Lorry.",F,450,partner,Transportation,0
Kenya,"Grace was born in 1950 in Kiambu, Kenya. She is married with five children. Two are still in school and the other 3 are grown up and independent. She is among the first members to join WEEC groups in Kiambu. She has played a great role to reach out and form groups in the area. Due to her hard work, she was elected the Zonal Chairlady for her area. She has been the groups chairlady since 1999. She is an active member of the Agrican Church of Kenya, the chairlady of Kihara Church and a member of the choir.
Grace ventured into business world some years ago. She rears dairy cows, practices horticulture farming on a small scale and operates butchery in Kihara. She has raised and educated her children from income earned from her businesses.
Given a loan of USD 1200, she will add capital to her butchery and improve her farm from the income she will make. She is comfortable repaying her loan on monthly basis.",F,1200,lender,Food,1
Kenya,"Grace was born in 1979 in Lower Kabete Kiambu. She is married with one child who is in lower primary school at a private school in Nairobi. Due to a lack of money she dropped out of school in form three and got married. She is an active member of the Presbyterian Church of East Africa (PCEA) Mwimuto. She joined WEEC in October 2002 and since then has serviced several loans. She sells cereals at Gikomba Market. When she got her first loan from the group, she was able to buy different cereals and repay her on time. According to Grace, WEEC loans have really boosted her business. She started with one bag of maize and today her shop full of cereals. She had never thought of doing without a loan at any time. She was able to transfer her child from a public school, which is free, to a better private school. She is hoping to get a loan and aspires to higher levels of business performance.",F,300,lender,Food,1
Kenya,"Gregory Mwangi Murima is 43 years old, married, with three children who are all in school. They live in Mombasa. Gregory attained a high level of secondary school but was unable to go to college because he lacked the funds. He sells consumer goods, specializing in belts, mens hats, and electronics accessories. He has been in this business for some time and finds it more successful than having a stall because he goes to his clients' houses rather than waiting for them to come to him. Currently, the demand for his goods is greater than what he can supply, because he lacks the capital to increase his inventory. Gregory is requesting a loan of US$1000: $800 to buy electronics accessories and $200 to buy more belts and mens hats.",M,1000,lender,Retail,1
Kenya,"Gregory Njeru Mbogo is a 26-year-old businessman. He is married with two children - one is in school while the other is too young. He lives in Rhoda slums in the suburbs of Nakuru town, Kenyas fourth largest urban area. He is a tailor specializing in mens and womens clothing and school uniforms.
Gregory and his wife would like to start a ready-made production line, which will give them a steady income. This is because they can supply to both wholesale and retail shops as opposed to individual orders only which can sometimes be irregular. They have approached a shop that has approved their sample but they lack funds to venture into this.
Gregory is requesting a US$ 500 loan to be used entirely to purchase various fabrics. This will give Gregory and his family the financial security which they currently lack. The couple is hardworking and will repay the loan.",M,500,lender,Services,1 Kenya,"Hajira is hard-working business lady in central Malaba. She is married with four children who are all in primary school. She is an active Member of Malaba HIV Aids Activist group in the business community. She operates a small supermarket, local video show, and barber shop which are all located in Malaba. Her main customers are the truck drivers who hang out in the hotels and bars which surround her business. She employs four workers who help her in running the business. She also works hand in hand with her husband in running the business. Her husband runs a canteen which he opened recently near Magharibi Lodging in Malaba.
Hajira has been operating her business for the last ten years. She makes a profit of $11 per day, and she spends up to $20 per day in her business. She gets her commodities for the supermarkets from Busia, Bungoma, and Nairobi, which suppliers transport for her to Malaba. Through her business she has been able to acquire skills and experience in business management, join hands with other women in fighting HIV /Aids in Malaba, and buy herself a piece of land on which she hopes to construct a house in the future. She has also been faced with many challenges like high competition in the area.
With the loan from Kiva through Pemci, she plans to increase the stock of the supermarket and increase the momentum of her business growth. She also intends to make available on her store shelves anything that any customers would request and in the end be on top of her competitors.",F,450,lender,Retail,1 Kenya,"Hamida is a 28 year old married mother of an 8 year old daughter in primary school. Her husband works at the sheriff center and Hamida started her business in 2001 in order to support her family. All year she sells tomatoes that she buys from local farmers and in August she sells maize and beans as they are being harvested. She is the chairwoman of the local community self help group called Yetana (translates as ""supporting one another"") which educates the locals on poverty eradication. Twice a week, Hamida travels over 60 km to sell her produce on the busy route between Busia and Malaba. With the loan of $ 150 from PEMCI, she plans to increase her tomato stock, and to also buy cereals during this harvest season to sell later. Hamida hopes that with an increase in profit she will be able to purchase a chicken and sheep to feed her family and sell eggs. She strives to give her daughter a better life than she had, including supporting her through a high level of education. With her business, she has been able to supply the community with fresh vegetables and also provide for her family. Hamida is a well spoken, friendly business woman who is worthy of the support of Kiva partners.",F,150,partner,Food,0 Kenya,"Hannah is 34 years old. She is single mother of one child. She is an active member of St Jude women's group. She is also a member of Christian Church International. She is a teacher by profession, earning about USD 75 per month. She also rears dairy cows and grows vegetables. Her farming earns an average of USD 30 per month.
Hannah wants to invest for her child. She would like to see her child become self-reliant by receiving high quality education. To achieve her mission, she will need to be very committed in her farming. She has seen an opportunity - in her area, vegetables are very marketable.
She is applying for a loan to buy a water pump, so that she can practice irrigation without so much struggle. She is very much ready to meet her repayments on a monthly basis.",F,150,lender,Agriculture,1 Kenya,"Hannah is 43 years old. She is married with 4 children. Hannah is a member of the Anglican Church. She has been a mentor to many young mothers due to her strong faith. She encourages the young mothers to soldier on and not to give up doing their best for both their families and for the community. The group often asks Hannah to assist the officials to solve any dispute amongst the members.
Hannahs economic activity is farming. She grows maize and beans and rears one dairy cow that produces 6 liters of milk per day. Hannah sells most of the farm produce at the busy Kagunduini Market. The income she gets assists her to pay her loans and to save USD 3 per month with the group. The loans have assisted her to pay the secondary school fees for her 2 children.
Hannah plans to buy another dairy cow to be able to increase the quantity of milk she sells per day to 12 liters. She has applied for a loan of USD 150 to buy another cow. The loans committee has approved her loan. Hannah wants to take advantage of the good milk price offered by the Kenya Cooperative Creameries for the milk product. She will repay the loan within a period of 12 months.",F,150,lender,Agriculture,1
Kenya,"Hannah is 45years married, with eight children. Her children are in school which is a big challenge but she believes education is the background of good living standards. She is very religious and an overseer of Ngutu Baptist Church. She is farmer by profession. Since her young age especially in school, she had an urge to alleviate poverty through farming which many people look down upon. She grows maize, beans, vegetables, coffee, Napier grass (both for sale and her cows consumption) and fruits such as passion, bananas, and avocados. She has been a mentor to many women in her group and has been training them on various ways of improving farming methods. Hannah has only one cow (an Ashier by breed) due to financial limitations, which is low in production and would like to get another upgraded cow (Friesian). This will increase her income making her pay school fees without much hassling.",F,600,lender,Agriculture,1
Kenya,"Hannah is a 50 years old married woman with children who are all grown up. She is one of the founding members of Ushuhuda women group. She has mentored many women in her group with a lot of hard work and dedication. Hannah is a religious woman who practices her faith in her neighborhood.
She has been able to improve production on her land through the small loans secured from the group. She grows beans, maize, bananas and rears 3 dairy cattle. She works very hard on her farm because she knows that it helped her when she was raising her children. She would like to build a permanent water tank because the current water tank leaks. It is very challenging for her to save up enough money to purchase materials for the tank. She hopes to get a loan for the water tank and will repay the loan with income she earns every month.",F,300,lender,Agriculture,1
Kenya,"Hannah is a married mother with 6 children. 3 are in primary school, 1 in secondary school, 2 have completed school. She is an active member of Wendani sisters and she is happy she joined WEEC. She is a dedicated member of St.Lukes ACK Church, a member of a Mothers Union and Sunday school teacher and she is among the founder members of Wendani Sisters.
Hannah is a full time mixed farmer who rears goats, sheep, dairy cows, and chickens as well as tea farming. She sells her farm produce to the local residents at the nearby market. She is very active and feels very empowered by small group loans she has received from WEEC. She has really changed the face of her family life and education, but feels a lot still needs to be done to give her children the opportunities they deserve. She is planning to use the loan to buy dairy meal and chicken feed worth USD75. She has promised to repay her loan on monthly basis for a period of 12 months.",F,75,lender,Agriculture,1
Kenya,"Hannah is single lady with 3 children. All of her children are in school. She has been very active in her lending group and follows the groups rules and regulation. She has benefited a lot from the loans since the time her husband passed away. Her main source of income is mixed farming where she grows tea leaves and keeps dairy cattle. She has been able to improve the feeding method of her daily cattle through the loans she has been getting from the lending group. Her moral support has been from the group members and she owes them a lot. Also she applies the knowledge she acquires from the group trainings to her farm. From her farm, she is able to get about USD40 per month. She is planning to buy bulls which she will feed for 6 months and then sell for triple the price.",F,150,lender,Agriculture,1
Kenya,"Hannah Nasieku Wakahiu was born in 1968. She is married and a mother of two children; the first born has just joined secondary school while the other is in primary school. Hannah started a green grocery business near her home. She also has two dairy cows. She sells bananas, avocados, pears, kale, cabbages, and also charcoal. She starts her busy day by going to the market to get the supplies for selling that day. Her husband is a mason. She was introduced to WEEC and Kiva by a friend. She has been trained on loan policies. She has applied for a loan of $300, which she intends to use to buy more fruits and vegetables for her grocery shop. She is willing to repay this loan within 12 months.",F,300,lender,Retail,1
Kenya,"Hannah Njeri is 49 years old, and a single mother of three. Two of her children are in secondary school, and her third attends the Canaan Day School. She has a small restaurant where she sells food and soft drinks. She also sells plastic kitchen wares to help meet her family needs. These two businesses have been the pillar of her family income, and Hannah dedicates much time and energy to them. Her wish is to be able to pay fees for her children without much hassle. If her business has enough stock, she is able to do this. Hannah is very determined to give her children the best education possible. She is willing to repay her loan in installments.",F,75,lender,Food,1
Kenya,"Hannah Njeri Wainaina was born in 1960 in Kiambu, Kenya. She is married with four children; two have finished their high school education and two are in college. She is a committed member of Kugema Women Group and has been attending group meetings for the last seven years. She is also a member of the small St. Samuel Christian community in Kirangari Catholic Church. For the last 20 years, she has been practicing dairy farming in zero grazing. Currently, she has four dairy cows, which produce an average of 40 litres daily. She sells her milk to Limuru Dairy Farmers Co-operative Society Ltd at USD0.3 per litre. At her plot near Gikuni Shopping Centre, she also keeps chicken and practices horticulture farming. She sells her produce at Wangige Market and Nairobi Hotels. Given a loan of USD 1200, she plans to buy another dairy cow and expand her horticulture farming. She plans to repay the loan within 12 months.",F,1200,lender,Agriculture,1
Kenya,Hannah Wambui Kamau is 35 years old. She is married with three children; two are in primary school in Kabete and the other is in secondary school. She is an active member of Torch Women's Group and also a choir member of her local Catholic Church. She participates in women groups with the motive of helping one another which are usually called merry-go-rounds. She is farmer who has planted vegetables for domestic and commercial purposes. She sells her vegetables to retailers at Wangige market and at Gikomba market at a wholesale price. She joined WEEC in 2002 and since then she has benefited much from this partnership. She would like to buy organic manure and build a temporary business premises if she gets this loan. She is willing to repay this loan in a span of one year and on a monthly basis.,F,150,lender,Agriculture,1
Kenya,"Hannah Wambui Kimani is a 44 year old single mother of five children and two dependants. Three of her children are in secondary school, while the other four are in junior school. All of them depend on her for their basic needs. She is a food vendor and is currently running a food kiosk.She has been in this business for the last 5 years. Her menu includes nutritious African traditional foods like arrow roots, sweet potato stew, cowpea stew, amaranth vegetables and green peas. She wants to expand the food kiosk into a caf. This will enable her clients to be able to eat their food comfortably and will also increase her client base.The expansion is beyond her capability due to different financial commitments. If funded, she will generate more income. She will also create employment for many jobless youths in her area. She requires funding of US $900. With this amount she will purchase food stocks with US $300, she will purchase utensils and the restaurant supplies with US $200. US $200 will be used for hiring two assistants and US $100 for getting the necessary trading licenses from authorities.US $200 will be allotted for renovating her old premises and adding more furniture. Her willingness to work hard makes her stand out from her peers.",F,900,lender,Food,1
Kenya,Hannah Wanjiku is 48 years old. She is a single mother of three. Two of her children are in school while one is waiting to join a local polytechnic in four months time. She sells high quality tea leaves which she buys from the Kenyan highlands. She has been doing this for the last 5 years. Her products are very marketable because they are packaged well and they are affordable. She is requesting for a loan of US$ 600 to increase her inventory levels. She will purchase stock worth US$ 500 and use US$ 100 to rent a stall for her wares. With these resources she will be able to expand her business and earn more income with which she will be able to pay her children's fees.,F,600,lender,Retail,1
Kenya,"Hannah Wanjiku Mugio is 46 years old. She is married with five children; two have already completed their college education and the other three are currently in college and secondary school. She is a dedicated member of the Kaspat Catholic Church and the Catholic Womens Association (C.W.A). She joined the Maono Mapya Womens Group in 2002 and has since taken eight loans, two of them being school fees loan (Elimu loan) with which she educated her children. She has been a dairy farmer for the last 20 years. Currently, she has three dairy cows which produce an average of 50 litres of milk. The milk produced is sold to the Kiambu Dairy Co-operative Society at USD 0.3 per litre. Dairy farming has enabled her to raise and educate her children. She has applied a loan of USD600, with which she intends to purchase a dairy cow. She is willing repay this loan within a period of 12 months.",F,600,lender,Agriculture,1
Kenya,"Hannah Wanjiku Njorio was born 1976 in Kiambu. She is married with four children who are all in primary school. She is a dedicated Christian of the Kanunga Catholic Church Women Association. She is an active member of the Morning Sunshine women's group. She joined WEEC in 2003 and since then she has accessed seven loans. She runs a cereal shop. She also rears dairy cows and currently she has two cows, which produce an average of 30 litres of milk daily. She sells her milk to the Kiambaa Dairy Farmers Co-operative Society Ltd at $0.29 per litre. She has applied for a loan of $900, which she intends to use to buy six bags of maize and six of other cereal foods. She is willing to repay this loan within a period of 12 months.",F,900,lender,Housing,1
Kenya,"Hannah Wanjiru Mbau is 48 years old. She is married with 8 children. While 2 of them are self-reliant, she has the burden of educating the others with one in polytechnic, one in secondary school and the others in primary school. As a result of the new Kenyan government that introduced free primary school education, she has less burden in educating her children that are in primary school. She is a member of ACK with Mother union group and also a member of Ngurueni Junior women group.
Her main economic activity is farming. She keeps three pigs, one dairy cow, one goat and ten chickens. She also grows beans, maize and green peas. Out of what she does, she gets farm produce, which she sells them at a local market and also some are used for domestic use. She has applied for this loan to enable her to purchase one pig and also pay school fees for her child in secondary school. She is wiling to pay this loan in a period of 12 months.",F,150,lender,Agriculture,1 Kenya,"Hannah Wanjiru Wambui is 38 years old. She is married with two children; one is in primary school and the other is in secondary school. She is a member of the Gatangara Venus Womens Group and of St. Emmanuel ACK Church. She is a farmer and grows potatoes, bananas, sweet potatoes, kale, cabbage, maize, beans, etc. She manages to save USD4 per month from the sale of her farm produce after catering for her expenses. She has applied for a loan of USD75, which she intends to purchase good quality maize and bean seeds for planting during the coming rainy season. She is willing to repay this loan within a period of 10 months.",F,75,lender,Agriculture,1 Kenya,"Hannah was born 39 years ago in Kiambu, Kenya. She is married with three children who are all in a primary school in Nairobi. Hannah is a religious person and a member of Mwimuto Catholic Church choir. She joined Torch Women Group in 2002 and registered with WEEC the same year. Since then she has serviced several loans. Hannah is very hard-working. She entered business world after getting married. She started by selling second-hand clothes at Gikomba Market in Nairobi. After several years in that business, she changed and started rearing poultry and dairy cattle. Currently, Hannah has at least 50 chickens and four dairy cows, which produce an average of 30 litres of milk daily. She sells her milk to Limuru Dairy Processors Limited at USD0.3per litre. She buys one-day-old chicks from Ken Chic Kenya Ltd, which provides her with medicine and feeds. She sells her chickens to the same company at USD4.5. To her, WEEC loans have really boosted her businesses of selling farm products to the local people in her area. Given a loan of USD900, she will be able to buy a dairy cow and add more chickens.",F,900,lender,Agriculture,1 Kenya,"Hannah was born 39 years ago in Kiambu, Kenya. She is married with three children, who are all in a private primary school in Nairobi. Hannah is a religious person and a member of the Mwimuto Catholic Church choir. She joined Torch Women Group in 2002 and registered with WEEC the same year. Since then she has serviced several loans. Hannah is very hard working. She entered into the business world after getting married. She started by selling second hand clothes at Gikomba Market in Nairobi. After several years in that business, she changed and started rearing poultry and dairy cattle. Currently, Hannah has at least 600 chickens and four dairy cows, which produce an average of 100 litres of milk daily. She sells her milk to Limuru Dairy Processors Limited at USD 0.3 per litre. She buys one day old chicks from Ken Chick Kenya Ltd., which provides her with medicine and feeds. She sells her chicken to the same company at USD 4.5. To her, WEEC loans have really boosted her businesses and her children have never been sent home from school due to a lack of payment of school fees. Given a loan of USD 900, Hannah plans to buy a dairy cow as her milk business is doing well after the revival of Kenya Cooperative Creameries by the government. She promises to meet her repayments on monthly installments.",F,900,lender,Agriculture,1 Kenya,"Harriet Muthoni is 24 years old. She is a single woman with no children. She is the youngest member in her group, which is Rainbow Womens Group. She is an active member of her group and also the youth group in her church. She was chosen to be the leader of the church youth group. Harriet operates a cosmetic beauty shop which she started one year ago with the help of her friends through an association called merry-go-round. This association has the objectives of helping each and every group member by contributing money to a member on a rotating basis. She has applied for a loan of USD 125 to help her buy cosmetic products to increase the variety of available products for sale. This will reduce the number of disappointed customers. She is willing to repay the loan in a period of 10 months.",F,125,lender,Retail,1 Kenya,"Harrison Maina Munge is a single 23 year old. He left school in the first term because he lacked funds for school fees. Harrison would love to go back to school. He is currently selling second-hand trousers in Mombasa. Harrison feels that his youth helps him spot his clients' trends and this makes his business popular. Part of his income goes to his parents, who are peasant farmers and live in the country. Harrison is a determined young man and hopes that increasing his capital, combined with increased demand, will give him more profit. He plans to save some of the profit so that in a years time he will be able to pay for his college education. He would love to pursue a diploma in business administration and has set a goal of one year to save for enrollment in evening classes. Another goal is to move his business to a new location. He is requesting a loan of US$650: $400 to add inventory, $200 to rent a stall and $50 to pay the municipal license.",M,650,lender,Clothing,1 Kenya,"Harun Ndungu Nganga is a 28 yr old married entrepreneur. He has three children, two are in junior school grades 4 and 2 respectively. The other is an infant. Harun is the sole bread winner in his family. He runs his small business at the open air market where he lays his merchandise on the ground. Harun has a limited income for he has very little stock and his family survives on a hand to mouth existence. He is determined to change this by increasing stock, and building shelves in his stall, with a future plan of moving to a permanent shop. He requests a loan US$600 to be used as follows: US$400 to buy stock, US$150 to build shelves and tables, and US$50 to pay for transport.
This will improve his standard of living and educate his children. He has clear goals and will repay the loan.",M,600,lender,Retail,1 Kenya,"Hazariah is a 35-year old married father of 2 living children. He has spent one and a half years running his small grocery stall in Rongo market Kenya. His hard work, perseverance, good reputation coupled with a well-established clientele base ensures that his business will continue to grow despite stiff competition. Hazariah requires US $600 to purchase an additional stock of of vegetables and supplement it with charcoal selling to generate more income",M,600,partner,Food,0 Kenya,"He is married with four children all in primary school. He started his business back in 1996 when he saw there was a need for it, as bicycles are the common means of transport in the area. He got his skills from a mechanics shop he used to work in. With a loan from PEMCI, he intends to increase his stock of repair parts, some of which he has not been able to buy as they are a bit expensive. Through his business, he has been able to provide employment to three young men, he has brought services closer to the locals, and best of all he is able to sustain his family.",M,100,partner,Services,0 Kenya,"Helen is 31 years old single and with four children, three girls and one boy all in a local primary school. Apart from her children, Hellen also takes care of two orphans from her sister who died in the year 2003 after being diagnosed with HIV/AIDS Virus. In the year 2006 she joined a womens group called Miracle womens group whereby, they were dealing with the business of making beads. She asked for loan of Ksh 4000 (USD 60) from the group and after she was given she decided to start off a business of selling materials locally known as Vitenge.With the income generated from the sale of vitenge she was able to pay back her loan within a period of three months and added a small stock, while she used the rest of the money to deal with the family matters. Hellen has noted that the demand for the material is high because where she resides she is the only one who sells these type of cloth material. She is now requesting for a loan of Ksh 15000 so that she can use it to purchase additional vitenge materials, in order to increase her stock for sale. She also believes that the materials will enable her to gain more profits, hence she will be in a better position to meet the family needs, and to take care of her children, together with those from her sister. She will also be able to pay her house rent. The repayment period for her loan will be 12 Months",F,250,partner,Clothing,1 Kenya,Helen is 62 years old. She lives in Githambo and is an active member of Mukumu Helen Women's Group. She is married with 6 children who are all grown up and independent. She is member of ACK Githambo church and is an active member of the Mothers' Union.
Hellen is a retired teacher and is now a full-time farmer. She has a large tea farm and plants food crops. She also keeps dairy cows. Her main income is from tea and the sale of milk. She wishes to purchase a better cow when she gets a loan of USD 575 through the group. This will help her increase her milk production for sale. She contributes very well to the group's revolving fund.,F,575,lender,Agriculture,1 Kenya,Helen is a married mother of four. She struggles from day to selling plastic drums and bottles. She is also a great advocate for a clean environment. She hopes that this loan will enable her to set up a place where she can recycle plastics.,F,600,lender,Services,1 Kenya,"Helen Moraa is a 37-year-old married lady and has two children. She also looks after 3 dependents. The parents to two of these dependents (who are cousins to Helen) have for a long time had an unstable relationship, so she took it upon herself to look after the children because she noticed that they were suffering. The other dependent, who is a female, had a misunderstanding with her parents and was asked to leave home so as to get married, but instead she decided to come to the city to live with Helen and her family. Helen lives within the Kibera slums in Nairobi.
Helen and her husband operate several small businesses together within Kibera and one of them is a general shop. They started the shop after her husband was laid off from his employment four years ago. Helen and her husband used savings and some of the benefits from his employment to start the shop, which has had its peak and low seasons, as is the nature of businesses. This has not, however, killed their spirit, since they are business-oriented people. Helen is also a registered member with one of Action Now Kenyas self-help groups that enable members to access small loans to boost their businesses. Helen feels that these loans have greatly helped her in stocking up her business. She has so far been able to access small loans of up to about $120.
Helen would like support in stocking up her business. She is requesting a loan of $250 to enable her to purchase a weighing machine and stock for her shop. Some of the items she would like to buy include groceries like sugar, cooking fat, salt, rice, baking flour, etc. Given the loan, she hopes to attract more customers than before, since she will have enough stock to meet their needs. She will thus be able to better provide for her family and also increase her income.",F,250,lender,Retail,1 Kenya,"Helen Njeri Mwangi is 41 years old. She is married with five children; two are in primary school, one in secondary school and the other two are in college. Helen is an active member of Gitui Smart women group. She is also an active member of Gitui Catholic Church where she attends mass and participates in the church activities. Working as a farmer in the Gitui Village, Helen grows sweet potatoes, arrow roots, beans, maize and coffee. She also owns a dairy cow. She sells the produce locally to the local residents. She intends to borrow a loan of USD600 to buy a dairy cow. Her application for a loan has been approved by the loan committee and she is willing to repay the loan within a period of 15 months.",F,600,lender,Agriculture,1 Kenya,"Helen Seremeti is 27 years old, married with two children. One of her children is in primary school while the other one has yet to start. Helen is an active member of Enanyor Women's Group. She is a hardworking woman who wants a better life. She started her beadwork business three years ago, and the business has been doing well, enabling her to meet some of her daily needs. The beads business is in demand because of the tourists and the local women like them for decorating their houses. Due to this demand, Helen would like to be given a loan of USD 450 to buy more varieties of beads, which will allow her to generate more profit and save to meet all of the daily needs and also extend her business to tourists visiting Nairobi.",F,450,lender,Arts,1 Kenya,"Helena Wanjiru is 58 years old. She is the mother of five. All of the children are in school. Helena is a business lady in the highly populated open air market, gikomba in Nairobi. She sells onions and tomatoes for a living. Helena has been selling onions and tomatoes for the last four years now. She has been experiencing growth in her business and a rise in demand for her onions and tomatoes. The rise in demand and the insufficient income she gets has made her request a loan of US$1000 so that she is able to expand her business. Despite her age, Helena possesses good business skills and excellent customer relations. Her budget is: $300 to buy onions, $300 to buy tomatoes, $200 to buy storage facilities, $100 to put up a structure to house her products and $100 to buy transportation facilities (two pulling karts). Helena is hardworking and capable of repaying the loan.",F,1000,lender,Food,1 Kenya,"Hellen Angogo is a K-MET Community Health Worker Volunteer who lives in Bware, in the Rongo District of Kenya. She is 48 years old and a single mother with 2 children. Both children are currently attending school. Hellen earns a living by selling secondhand clothing and tealeaves in the town of Migori on market days. She has been in this business since 2001 and usually travels to Nairobi and Mombasa to buy her inventory. With the profits from her sales, Hellen pays for the school fees for her children, as well as all other household expenses. Hellen has applied for a loan of $200 in order to replenish her stock of second-hand clothing and increase the variety of clothing items.",F,200,partner,Clothing,0 Kenya,"Hellen Aoko is 39 years old. She is married and has four children. She also takes care of three dependents, one being her sisters grandchild, and her two younger sisters. Hellen has been selling mandazi, a Kenyan snack that resembles doughnuts, since 1992 when she moved into the Kiambiu slums. Her husband gave her Ksh. 1,000 ($15), which she used to start off her business. She learnt the skills of making mandazi from her neighbour in 1992, since then she has been just a housewife. Her husband, who at the time was working as a clerk, is now a shoemaker, also within the Kiambiu slums. His small business however doesnt bring in much proceeds, so the support from his wifes business is highly appreciated. Hellen, often referred to as Mama Dadi by fellow group members, has been a member of the Vumilia women group of Action Now Kenya and has so far received loans of $85 and $115, which she has used to buy more stock for her business, and it also helped her to pay part of the school fees for her children. Hellen has also gone through the ANK training on business management and operation, and also on loan management. Hellen seeks a loan of $200, which she will receive in kind; in the form of an energy saving meko (a cooking stove locally made for deep frying purposes, and uses less firewood). She sees that this meko will enable her business to grow because she will use less firewood than is required for the regular three stone open fire that she is currently using, hence she will spend less money to purchase firewood, which apparently is very expensive. In return, these savings will allow her to make bigger mandazis to attract her customers, and this will translate it into higher profits. The other aspect is that this stove will be used inside an enclosed stall, therefore, there will be less dust and ash blowing onto the snacks than now, where it is done in an open place within the slums. This will ensure that there are fewer cases of diarrhea or cholera that will be linked to the sale of her mandazis. By using this meko also, Helen will be abiding with laws that have recently been issued by the area chief. Hellen intends to pay back the loan within 12 18 months.",F,200,lender,Food,1 Kenya,"Hellen Denga is married with one child and lives with her husband in Kisumu, Kenya. She started her charcoal-selling business in 1982. She buys the coal in bulk and sells to retailers. She has been in this business for the last 25 years. The prime location of her business, many years of experience, and her friendly interaction with customers has helped her increase her business greatly. Hellen is planning to expand her business with a loan of $600 to purchase more charcoal in bulk to meet the increased demand.",F,600,partner,Retail,0 Kenya,"Hellen is 35 years old and married with six children. Two children are in secondary school and three are in primary school. She started a business of beadwork three years ago. Her business has enabled her to buy two steers and also built a gallsheet house of two rooms. Hellen sells her beads in Isinya. She wants a loan of $450 to increase her stock of beads so that she can start selling in Nairobi and Mombasa respectively. The business will enable her to pay her loan, pay school fees for her children and save on a monthly basis for emergencies.",F,450,lender,Arts,1 Kenya,"Hellen is a 29-year-old lady who is married to Patrick Kariuki. Together they have been blessed with two children. She has been in the men's clothing business for the past three years. Hellen's business is situated in the busy Nairobi city center. She travels regularly to Turkey to restock her business. Before joining KADET, she was able to get a bank loan which she paid off. Then she was introduced to KADET by her friend, and this loan of 50,000 Kenyan shillings will be her first. Hellen's current income bracket is 80,000 Kenyan shillings per month. She hopes to open two more shops and create job opportunities for other people as her employees. About KADET: The Kenya Agency for the Development of Enterprise and Technology (KADET) is committed to economically empowering its clients by providing financial services to rural communities in order to relieve suffering and improve living conditions within those communities.",F,675,partner,Clothing,0 Kenya,"Hellen is a middle-aged married woman with 5 children of her own. Her late sister's 3 orphans also live with her.
Hellen started her business nine years ago after working for her aunt helping around the house. With the little money that she got from her earnings, Hellen was able to save money and start a small second-hand clothing business. She gets her stock from the famous Kibuye market in Kisumu Town and sells to customers who are mostly from the local neighborhood.
With the little profits that she gets from the business, Hellen is still able to feed, clothe, and educate her children. With the help of her loan, Hellen will be able to purchase more bails of clothes which she hopes will increase her sales. Her long-term business vision is to open up a boutique in her home town in Luanda, Western part of Kenya.
Disclaimer: Due to recent events in Kenya, the security situation in many communities remains unsettled, affecting many local businesses. Lenders to this entrepreneur should be aware that this loan may represent a higher default risk, and should be willing to accept this additional risk in making their loan.",F,1525,lender,Clothing,0 Kenya,"Hellen is married with two children. She is an active member of the Olkenkei Women's Group. She is very dedicated to her group. She has benefited from the projects the group has been running in their community. This loan is being applied through the group community project. As a member of women of Olkenkei, Hellen will nurture the calves they purchase for six months, and then resell them on the market for appreciated prices. They will use the sales proceeds to repay their loan in lump sum - they will repay the entire principal 6 months from loan initiation.",F,375,lender,Agriculture,1 Kenya,"Hellen Mumbi is a 37-year-old single entrepreneur with four kids. Her three children are all in school junior grade 8th, 6th, 3rd while the youngest is too young. She earns her living by running a food sales business. The business is situated within the sprawling Kongowea market, which is the biggest market in east Africa. Her main clients are the clothes salespeople who are all around her. She sells tea as well as solid foods; i.e. rice, githeri (a mixture of maize and beans) and assorted stews at low prices, since her clients are low-income earners. Sometimes some customers like to eat on credit that she allows, but they have to pay later at the end of the day. This has made her popular since most of them will have money before the day ends.
Some of her customers come to work very early even without breakfast and have requested that she start making full breakfast for them; i.e. eggs, chapattis, pancakes, bread and tea. Unfortunately she has no surplus money to start. She would like to see her business grow to become a hotel in the future.
She requests a US$ 750 loan to be used as follows; US$ 300 to buy the necessary ingredients like flour, eggs, milk and sugar; US$ 200 to buy a pan for eggs, an extra thermos flask/cups and necessary cutlery; US$ 150 to expand her stall; and US$ 100 to buy furniture. Hellen has clear goals and will repay the loan.",F,750,lender,Food,1 Kenya,"Hellen Wanjeri Karugu is 40 years old, married, and has four children. Three of the children are in school: one is in college, one in senior school and one in grade 7. The fourth child is out of school and helps the mother in the family business. Hellen also has two other dependants. Her husband Joseph is self-employed, working on the familys four-acre piece of land. Hellen, having had no chance to go to school, works very hard to ensure that her children get education. She has a great passion for farming - she grows maize and tomatoes on her shamba. In addition, Hellen has opted to open a salon at a nearby shopping centre. At the salon, she is able to make an extra income which, combined with income from the farm, has allowed Hellen to pay school fees for their children. She also employs three ladies and one gentleman, but, since the business is boming, Hellen plans to expand the salon even further. There is a high demand for haircare in her locality, which Hellen is currently unable to meet, because she lacks some equipment. This makes her lose customers to her competitors. Hellen is looking for money to buy more salon equipments and assorted chemicals. The business expansion will also create employment to her daughter who is really talented in hairdressing. Hellen is requesting a loan of US$800: US$350 to purchase hair-driers, US$100 to buy a blow-drier, US$300 to buy assorted hair chemicals, and $US50 for other miscellaneous expenses. Hellen is very determined and will be able to pay the loan.",F,800,lender,Services,1 Kenya,"Henry Gachigua Muturi is 60 years and has seven children. Having quit school in high school, he had no alternative but to practice farming. He had been brought up in a faming community and needed no training. Realizing there was not much return in farming, he decided to go into the butchery business. With the butchery, he has been able to meet his needs with not much struggle and suffering.
Henry now wants to expand his butchery to cater for diverse customer needs and is requesting a loan of US$ 600. He intends to use US$ 400 to expand the butchery which includes buying tables and seats so that his clients can not only buy take-away meat but also have some meat prepared at the butchery. US$ 200 will be used to hire more employees to assist him in rendering his services. Henry has the potential and any assistance that shall be given to him will change his life.",M,600,lender,Food,1 Kenya,"HENRY GACHIRI MWANGI is a 56 years old father of three. One of his children is still in school and in addition Mwangi educates three of his grand children as their parents are unemployed. Mwangi is a small scale dairy farmer who owns two cows. One of the cows is in calf leaving one milk producing cow. Mwangi is currently receives about 27 litter of milk from the cow per day earning the family an average of US $ 49 per week. He spends about 40% of this income to take care of the cows leaving the family with about US $ 29 per week. Mwangi wants to improve this family income by purchasing more dairy cows. He plans to begin making yogurt and other milk products to enhance his income. He is requesting a loan of US $ 1,800 to purchase two dairy cows and to improve his cow shade. This will increase the family income to US $ 100 enabling him provide for his family and save enough to start a yogurt making business. Mwangi is a focused farmer who has won numerous awards for his outstanding farming practices. He will be able to repay the loan.",M,1800,lender,Agriculture,1 Kenya,"Henry has been in the tailoring business for over 5 years. He started with a borrowed sewing machine, which he used for two years before buying his own machine. During this period, he had to pay back part of his profit sto the owner of the machine while he saved money to buy his own. Due to hard work, he expanded his business until now he has 3 sewing machines.
He is 40 years old and married with 8 children. He has 3 orphans, his late brother's children, that he also takes care of. He uses profits from this business to take care of his family. Two of his children are in secondary school and their school fees have been paid with this money. He intends to use this money to increase the clothing stock for his business.
Henry believes that the determination that has enabled him to grow his business and enabled him to expand from renting a sewing machine to owning 3 of his own, will enable him to expand his business to a large size with more sewing machines. He also believes that he has carved his own niche due to his good and stylish finishings.
Henry is the Chairman of his group and he believes he will use his strong leadership skills to ensure the group pays on time and gets subsequent loans so that he can benefit from more loans to further increase his business size and hence profits. The group has maintained a good attendance rate, coming to meetings on time during training, and are quite cohesive.",M,4850,lender,Services,0 Kenya,"Henry Ndungu Waweru is a 33 year old father of one child. His wife is unemployed and stays at home taking care of family issues. He earns his livelihood selling new shoes at a stall strategically located along a busy street in the populous Mombasa city. In addition, he has academic training in business and marketing skills, which are quite essential in the successful running of his business. He has been running the business for nine years and uses his income to cater for his familys needs. Being the sole breadwinner for his family, he uses all his income towards providing basic requirements.
At times Henry is forced to use some of the business running capital for family expenses. This has hindered the proper growth of his business because he cannot re-invest any of his income into the business. He is requesting a loan of US$750 to assist him in stabilizing his business activities thus enabling him to achieve growth. The funds will be used to purchase more shoes for sale. He is capable of repaying the loan.
Disclaimer: Due to recent events in Kenya, the security situation in many communities remains unsettled, affecting many local businesses. Lenders to this entrepreneur should be aware that this loan may represent a higher default risk, and should be willing to accept this additional risk in making their loan.",M,750,lender,Retail,1 Kenya,"Hezron Kamau Gichuru is a 33-year-old married father of two children. The children live at their rural home with their mother and attend school there. He lives in Mombasa in a slum adjacent to the expansive Kongowea market where he works.
He trades in different types of fruits depending on their season. Currently he sells watermelons. He has been in this business for the last two years and has managed to create a large customer base who regularly buy from him. He sees a potential in this business where if he had more watermelons for sale he would make larger sales since the fruit is in high demand. However, he has been unable to do so since he cannot raise enough capital to increase his fruit stock.
Hezron is requesting a loan of US $600 to enable him to purchase more of the fruits for sale. He will use US$500 to buy more fruits and US$100 for transport. His hardworking nature will assist him to make a success out of this venture enabling him to grow the business to his desired level. Hence he will be able to afford better housing as well as repay the loan.",M,600,lender,Food,1 Kenya,"HEZRON NGETICH is 42 years old. He is married and is a father of two kids both in primary school. He is a founder and active member of Tumaini mens group which encourages unemployed men to start small business ventures to improve their families livelihood. Hezron is very supportive to members of his group who are unable to read or write and even takes them through adult education at his free time. To provide for his family, Hezron bought a wheelbarrow and a stock of fruits in year 2004. He hawks the fruits from one point of the city to the other and in a good week he earns about US $ 45 which he uses to keep his children in school and to provide for his family. His dream is to see all his children attain university education and to start a business for his wife. Age is catching up with Hezron and he may not be able to keep hawking for long as this involves a lot of walking. He wants to start a fruit kiosk from where he can continue selling fruits. He is requesting for a loan of US $ 1,600 to set up the kiosk business. His budget is: US $ 450 to construct a metal kiosk, US $ 300 to purchase furniture, US $ 300 to purchase a fruit juice refrigerator, US $ 350 to increase his stock of fruits and US $ 200 to acquire licenses. This expansion will improve his family income to about US $ 80 per week and will enable Hezron keep his children in school and save enough to start a business for his wife in future. Hezron will be able to repay the loan.",M,1600,lender,Food,1 Kenya,"Hilda is 28 years old, single and a mother of two boys. She lives with her 2 years old nephew who lost both her parents from HIV/AIDS. Hilda runs a fish den where she cooks and sells fish, Ugali (A local maize meal) and traditional vegetables in a food kiosk. She has been operating this business for the 5 years. She earns an average of US $ 40 per week from the business. She utilizes the profits from the business to provide for her family and her nephew. She is a member of Ugana women group which contributes money each month to support a local HIV/AIDS children orphanage. Hilda has developed superior fish cooling skills and this has greatly increased the number of her customers. She wants to improve the quality of her service by moving from her current open air shade to a permanent room where she can serve more customers in a hygienic manner. She is requesting a loan of US $ 1,500 to enable expand the business. Her budget is: US $ 200 to meet the initial premises rent (Three months), US $ 200 to decorate the premises, US $ 400 to purchase furniture, US $ 200 to purchase a refrigerator, US $ 100 to purchase fish stock, US $ 100 to purchase utensils, US $ 200 to acquire the required licenses and US $ 100 to stock soft drinks. She is capable of repaying the loan.",F,1500,lender,Food,1 Kenya,"Houglias is 65 years old. She is married and a mother of three children who are self-reliant. She is a member of A.C.K. Church. Her economic occupation is mixed farming at Gacharaigu. Her farm is planted with maize, beans, macadamia nuts, and coffee. She has also stocked cows, goats, and chicken. She is also an active member of Gacharaigu Home Promoters women's group where she is a committee member. She actively saves, borrows, and repays in her group. She is applying for a loan of 600 dollars to purchase a more productive dairy cow.",F,600,lender,Agriculture,1 Kenya,"Hudson is a married man with nine children, all in primary school. He has not undergone formal training, but has apprenticed in radio repair. He started his business in 2002 after he began earning money by selling second-hand and new clothes on public buses while he was employed as a bus conductor. Now he does radio repair along with selling clothes, and he has trained three boys in radio repair since he started. With loan from PEMCI, he plans to buy radio spares to sell to his clients. He will also buy more stock for his clothes business. By making his radio service available to the local people and providing inexpensive, decent clothes to his customers, he is able to support his family's needs.",M,125,partner,Clothing,0 Kenya,"Huzna Habiba Ismael is a 33-year-old business lady. She is single with one child who is in school. She lives in Nakuru town. Being a single mother, Huzna had to start up a business so that she can provide basic needs for her child and thus she started to sell second-hand clothes. Initially she had thought of expanding her business by selling shoes. Huzna recognized a greater demand in the newly constructed market and, with subsequent training from Ebony, she launched her business selling second-hand clothes. She set about gathering the clientele base, knowing them, and getting orders from them. Huzna puts her family first. Her profits go toward paying for clothing, bedding, food, meeting school fees and medical expenses.
Ebony wishes to give Huzna the ability to invest in her child's future. She has been in the business for a long time now and thus she deals with many clients from different areas of the town. Her determination to achieve has made her project a lot of profit from the business especially during the Christmas season. She, however, encounters challenges in her daily business including high transportation costs from the market where she buys the clothes, competition from other sellers, lack of permanent premises, and price fluctuations for bales of second-hand clothes. Because she is a business-oriented lady she wants to expand her business during this high peak season, she has requested a loan of US $400: US $350 to buy a bale of second-hand clothes and US $50 to pay for transport. She is a good woman and she will repay the loan on time.",F,400,lender,Clothing,1 Kenya,I am a mother of 5 children. I sell used clothes to earn a living. I will use the loan to diversify and expand my business so that I can provide for my family's basic needs with ease.,F,200,lender,Clothing,1 Kenya,I am a mother of 7 children. I sell cereals to earn a living. I will use the loan to diversify and expand my business so that I might be able to provide for my children's basic needs with ease.,F,350,lender,Food,1 Kenya,"I am 23 and a single girl. I sell sugarcane to earn a living. I need the money to expand my business, to pay my college fees, and increase my skills in business management.",F,250,lender,Food,1 Kenya,I am 28 years old. I run a small kiosk selling petty household foodstuffs. I am married with 2 children. I intend to use the loan to build my skills and increase my income.,M,150,lender,Food,1 Kenya,I am a father of 4. I sell maize for a living. I will use the loan to expand and diversify so as to be able to cater for my familys needs with ease.,M,250,lender,Food,1 Kenya,I am a mother of 4. I sell used clothes for a living. I will use the loan to expand and diversify so as to be able to cater for my familys need with ease.,F,400,lender,Clothing,1 Kenya,"I am a 20 year old single girl. I am manual payphone operator. I need the money to expand my business, to meet my college fees, and increase my skills in business management.",F,250,lender,Food,1 Kenya,I am a 25-year-old father of one. I intend to diversify my business to include clothes.,M,150,partner,Clothing,0 Kenya,I am a 26-year-old single mother of one. I do my business to meet the basic needs of food and shelter for my family. I want the loan to enable me to earn a profit of US $1 a day.,F,150,lender,Food,1 Kenya,I am a 27 year-old mother of 3. I sell sugarcane for a living. My life will improve because I will be able to cater for my children's basic needs with ease. I will use the loan to diversify into fruit selling.,F,350,lender,Food,1 Kenya,I am a 27-year-old father of 2. I sell second-hand clothes. I take care of 2 other children. My life will improve because I will be able to pay the school fees for my brother in secondary school.,M,200,partner,Clothing,0 Kenya,I am a 27-year-old father of 2. I take care of 2 other children. My life will improve because I will be able to pay the school fees for my brother in secondary school.,M,150,lender,Food,1 Kenya,I am a 27-year-old father of 2. I take care of 2 other children. My life will improve because I will be able to pay the school fees for my brother in secondary school.,M,150,partner,Retail,0 Kenya,I am a 27-year-old mother of 3. I sell cooked food for a living. My life will improve because I will be able to cater for my family's basic needs more easily. I will use the loan to diversify and expand my business.,F,250,lender,Food,1 Kenya,I am a 28-year-old father of 2. I sell roasted corn. I do my business to meet the basic needs of food and shelter for my family. I want the loan to enable me to earn a profit of US $2 a day.,M,125,partner,Food,0 Kenya,I am a 28-year-old widower. I am HIV positive. I have 1 child. I intend to use the loan to build skill and increase my income.,M,150,lender,Services,1 Kenya,I am a 28-year-old. I am married with 2 children. I intend to use the loan to build skill and increase my income.,M,175,partner,Services,0 Kenya,I am a 29-year-old widower with two children. I am a vehicle mechanic. I am HIV positive. I intend to use the loan to build skill and increase my income.,M,225,partner,Services,0 Kenya,I am a 31-year-old father of one. I take care of 3 other children. My life will improve because I will be able to pay the school fees for the 2 in secondary school. I want the loan to enable me to earn a profit of US $3 a day.,M,150,partner,Food,0 Kenya,I am a 32 year old mother of 4. I sell masai cloths. I take care of other 2 children. I will grow my business expend products and earn more.,M,225,partner,Clothing,0 Kenya,I am a 32-year-old father of 4. I take care of 3 other children. My life will improve because I will be able to pay the school fees for my brother in secondary school.,M,175,partner,Food,0 Kenya,I am a 32-year-old married man with 3 children. My business is located in the outskirts of Kisumu. I intend to diversify my business to include clothes.,M,25,partner,Retail,0 Kenya,I am a 32-year-old mother of 3. I take care of 3 other children. My life will improve because I will be able to pay the school fees for the 3 in secondary school. I want the loan to enable me to earn a profit of US $2 a day,F,175,partner,Clothing,0 Kenya,"I am a 32-year-old mother of 4. I take care of 2 other children. I run a video library store. I need to computerize my records and accounts. I will grow my business, purchase more products, and earn more.",F,275,lender,Services,1 Kenya,I am a 32-year-old single mother of 2. I do my business to meet the basic needs of food and shelter for my family. I want the loan to enable me to earn a profit of US $2 a day.,F,325,lender,Food,1 Kenya,I am a 32-year-old single mother of two. I do my business to meet the basic needs of food and shelter for my family. I want the loan to enable me to earn a profit of US $2 a day.,F,150,partner,Food,0 Kenya,"I am a 33-year-old married man with 3 children.I have a food kiosk. My business is located in the outskirts of Kisumu. With the loan, I intend diversify and improve my business.",M,175,partner,Food,0 Kenya,I am a 33-year-old mother of four. I take care of 2 other orphared children.The loan will improve My life because I will increase my income which will enable me to pay school fees for the 2 children in secondary school. I loan to enable me to earn a profit of US $3 a day.,F,175,partner,Retail,0 Kenya,"I am a 34-year-old mother of 2. I am a petty trader, dealing in small house goods. I take care of 2 other children. My life will improve because I will be able to pay the school fees for the 2 in secondary school. I want the loan to enable me to earn a profit of US $3 a day.",F,150,partner,Retail,0 Kenya,I am a 56-year-old grandmother of 15. I sell fruits. I take care of 9 grandchildren. Their parents passed on due to HIV/AIDS. I do this business to meet the basic needs of food and shelter for my grandchildren.,F,150,partner,Food,0 Kenya,"I am a father of 3, aged 34 years. I also take care of my parents and nephews. I sell second-hand men's clothing. I wish to earn more money through diversifying my business.",M,150,partner,Clothing,0 Kenya,"I am a father of 3, aged 34 years. I am a painter. I also take care of my parents and my brother's children. I wish to earn more money through dairy farming.",M,225,partner,Agriculture,0 Kenya,"I am a father of 3, aged 34 years. I am a painter. I also take care of my parents. . I wish to earn more by diversifying and advertising my business to the building industry.",M,175,partner,Construction,0 Kenya,"I am a father of 3, aged 34 years. I sell secondhand men's clothes. I also take care of my parents and 3 children of my late brother. I wish to earn more money through diversifying my business.",M,200,partner,Clothing,0 Kenya,"I am a father of 3, and I take care of my parents. I was educated up to high school. I sell my books in a poor neighborhood. I will expand my bookshop and equip it with new books of the new syllabus introduced.",M,350,lender,Retail,1 Kenya,"I am a father of 4, aged 40 years. I also take care of my parents and my brother's children. I sell household products. I wish to earn more money through farming.",M,225,lender,Agriculture,1 Kenya,I am a grand mother of 36. My 4 daughters died of HIV/AIDS. I am the main breadwinner. I sell fish to earn a living. I will use the loan to expand my business and meet the basic needs of my dependents and be able to pay for their school fees.,F,400,partner,Food,0 Kenya,I am a grandmother of 32. My 4 daughters and 1 son died of HIV/AIDS. I am the main breadwinner. I sell food stuffs. I will use the loan to expand my business and meet the basic needs of my dependents and be able to pay for their school fees.,F,200,partner,Food,0 Kenya,"I am a grandmother with 23 grandchildren. My 4 daughters died of HIV/AIDS. I sell school boxes. I do my business in Bumala, in Busia district. I am the main breadwinner for my family. I believe this loan will help me increase my business skills and educate my dependents.",F,200,partner,Retail,0 Kenya,"I am a married woman, a mother of 5. I sell cooked food. I will use the money to expand my business so that I meet my familys needs with ease.",F,250,lender,Food,1 Kenya,"I am a married father of 3. I am a barber, and I will use the money to expand my business so as to be able to meet the demands of my family.",M,250,lender,Services,1 Kenya,"I am a married father of 4. I am the main bread winner. I transport people from one end to another to earn a living. I will use the loan to expand the business, meet the basic needs of my family, and be able to pay for their school fees.",M,275,lender,Transportation,1 Kenya,I am a married father of 4. I sell household goods for a living. I will use the money to expand my business so as to be able to meet the demands of my family.,M,250,lender,Retail,1 Kenya,I am a married father of 4. I transport people and goods from one end to another for a living. I will use the money to expand my business so as to be able to meet the demands of my family.,M,300,lender,Transportation,1 Kenya,"I am a married father of four. I sell household goods for a living, and I am the main breadwinner.
The loan will help me expand to a more viable business.",M,400,lender,Retail,1 Kenya,I am a married father of four. I sell household goods for a living. I am the main breadwinner.
The loan will help me expand to a more viable business.,M,400,lender,Retail,1 Kenya,I am a married man a father of 4. I do my business in Matayos in the Busia district. I am the main bread earner. I believe the loan will help me to increase my business skills and educate my dependents.,M,200,partner,Retail,0 Kenya,I am a married man a father of 4. I sell second-hand books. I am the main breadwinner. I believe the loan will help me increase my business skills and educate my dependents.,M,250,partner,Retail,0 Kenya,I am a married man and a father of 3 children. I am the main bread earner in the family. I transport goods and people for a living. I will use the loan to diversify and expand my business so I can provide the basic needs for my family.,M,300,lender,Transportation,1 Kenya,"I am a married man and a father of 3. I am a carpenter , I will use the money to expand my business so I can meet my familys needs with ease.",M,250,lender,Construction,1 Kenya,I am a married man and a father of 4. I am a secondhand seller of clothes. I will use the money to expand my business to other quarters in order to meet the demands of my family.,M,200,lender,Clothing,1 Kenya,I am a married man and a father of 6. I am a secondhand dealer in bags. I will use the money to expand my business and be able to pay school fees for my children.,M,200,lender,Clothing,1 Kenya,I am a married man and a father of five. I sell household goods to earn a living.
I believe the loan will help me expand my business and be able to cater to my familys needs more easily.,M,375,lender,Retail,1 Kenya,I am a married man and a father of four. I am a cobbler and the main breadwinner of the family. The loan will help me expand my business and be able to cater to my familys needs with greater ease.,M,300,lender,Services,1 Kenya,I am a married man and a father of four. I am a cobbler and the main breadwinner.
The loan will help me expand my business and be able to cater to my familys needs more easily.,M,450,lender,Services,1 Kenya,I am a married man and a father of seven. I am the main breadwinner of the family. I deal in second-hand electronics and phone repair. I believe the loan will help me increase my business skills and educate my dependents.,M,300,lender,Services,1 Kenya,I am a married man and a father of six. I am the main bread earner. I deal in secondhand books.
I believe the loan will help me increase my business skills and educate my dependents.,M,375,lender,Retail,1 Kenya,I am a married man and father of 6. I shoot pictures to earn a living. I will use the money to expand my business and be able to pay school fees for my children.,M,250,partner,Services,0 Kenya,I am a married man and father of 7. I do my business in Bumala in the Busia district. I am the main bread-earner for my family. I deal in and repair second-hand electronics. I believe the loan will help me increase my business skills and educate my dependants.,M,250,partner,Retail,0 Kenya,"I am a married man, a father of 2. I refine and dig boreholes for earn a living. I believe the loan will help me expand my business and be able to cater for my familys needs with ease.",M,225,lender,Services,1 Kenya,"I am a married man, a father of 3 children. I am the main bread earner. I sell groceries for a living. I will use the loan to diversify and expand my business so as to be able to provide basic needs for my family with ease.",M,400,lender,Food,1 Kenya,"I am a married man, a father of 3 children. I am the main bread earner. I sell groceries for a living. I will use the loan to diversify and expand my business so as to be able to provide basic needs for my family.",M,375,lender,Food,1 Kenya,"I am a married man, a father of 3. I am a cobbler and the main breadwinner. The loan will help me expand my business and be able to cater for my familys needs more easily.",M,350,lender,Services,1 Kenya,"I am a married man, a father of 3. I am a mechanic and the main breadwinner. The loan will help me expand my business and be able to cater for my familys needs with ease.",M,425,lender,Services,1 Kenya,"I am a married man, a father of 3. I am the main bread earner. I deal in second-hand books. I believe the loan will help me increase business skills and educate my dependents.",M,350,lender,Retail,1 Kenya,"I am a married man, a father of 3. I sell belts for a living and am the main breadwinner. The loan will help me expand my business and be able to cater for my familys needs more easily.",M,400,lender,Clothing,1 Kenya,"I am a married man, a father of 3. I sell cereals for a living. I will use the money to expand my business so that I meet my familys needs with ease.",M,450,lender,Food,1 Kenya,"I am a married man, a father of 3. I sell cooked food for a living. I will use the money to expand my business so that I meet my familys needs with ease.",M,400,lender,Food,1 Kenya,"I am a married man, a father of 3. I sell petty goods such as shoe shiners, etc., for a living. I will use the money to expand my business so that I meet my familys needs with ease.",M,375,lender,Retail,1 Kenya,"I am a married man, a father of 3. I sell sugar cane for a living. I intend to use the loan to expand and diversify my business so as to enable me to pay school fees for my children with ease.",M,300,partner,Food,0 Kenya,"I am a married man, a father of 3. I sell used books and papers and am the main breadwinner. The loan will help me expand my business and be able to cater for my familys needs more easily.",M,375,lender,Retail,1 Kenya,"I am a married man, a father of 3. I sell used clothes for a living. I intend to use the loan to expand and diversify my business so as to enable me to pay school fees for my children with ease.",M,200,partner,Clothing,0 Kenya,"I am a married man, a father of 4 children. I am the main bread earner. I sell cooked food for a living. I will use the loan to diversify and expand my business so as to be able to provide basic needs for my family more easily.",M,250,lender,Food,1 Kenya,"I am a married man, a father of 4 children. I am the main bread earner. I transport people and goods from one end to another for a living. I will use the loan to diversify and expand my business so as to be able to provide basic needs for my family.",M,250,lender,Transportation,1 Kenya,"I am a married man, a father of 4. I repair watches for a living. I intend to use the loan to expand and diversify my business so as to enable me to pay school fees for my children with ease.",M,250,partner,Services,0 Kenya,"I am a married man, a father of 4. I sell cabbages for a living. I intend to use the loan to expand my business.",M,200,partner,Food,0 Kenya,"I am a married man, a father of 4. I sell cheap electronics spare parts for a living. I intend to use the loan to expand and diversify my business so as to enable me to pay school fees for my children with ease.",M,250,partner,Retail,0 Kenya,"I am a married man, a father of 4. I sell household goods for a living. I am the main breadwinner. The loan will help me expand to a more viable business.",M,350,lender,Retail,1 Kenya,"I am a married man, a father of 4. I sell second-hand shoes for a living. I intend to use the loan to expand and diversify my business so as to enable me pay school fees for my children with ease.",M,200,partner,Retail,0 Kenya,"I am a married man, a father of 4. I sell used books for a living. I am the main bread earner. I believe the loan will help me increase my business skills and educate my dependents.",M,200,partner,Retail,0 Kenya,"I am a married man, a father of 5. I am a cobbler and the main breadwinner. The loan will help me expand my business and be able to cater for my familys needs more easily.",M,350,lender,Services,1 Kenya,"I am a married man, a father of 5. I make rubber stamps to earn a living. I will use the loan to expand my business and enable me to cater for my family with ease.",M,250,partner,Arts,0 Kenya,"I am a married man, a father of 5. I sell charcoal for a living. I intend to use the loan to venture into a new business so as to enable me to pay school fees for my children with ease.",M,300,partner,Retail,0 Kenya,"I am a married man, a father of 5. I sell small candy to earn a living. I believe the loan will help me expand my business and be able to cater for my familys needs with ease.",M,400,lender,Retail,1 Kenya,"I am a married man, a father of 6 children. I am the main bread earner. I sell groceries for a living. I will use the loan to diversify and expand my business so as to be able to provide basic needs for my family with ease.",M,350,lender,Food,1 Kenya,"I am a married man, a father of 6 children. I am the main bread earner. I sell groceries for a living. I will use the loan to diversify and expand my business so as to be able to provide basic needs for my family with ease.",M,375,lender,Food,1 Kenya,"I am a married man, a father of 6. I sell second-hand handbags for a living. I intend to use the loan to expand and diversify my business so as to enable me to pay school fees for my children with ease.",M,200,partner,Clothing,0 Kenya,"I am a married man, father of 2, and I sell used shoes to earn a living. I believe the loan will help me expand my business and be able to cater for my familys needs with ease.",M,250,lender,Retail,1 Kenya,"I am a married man, father of 3 children. I am the main bread earner. I sell maize flour for a living. I will use the loan to diversify and expand my business so as to be able to provide basic needs for my family.",M,375,lender,Food,1 Kenya,"I am a married man, father of 3. I am a secondhand dealer in clothes. With this loan from Kiva, my life will greatly improve and Ill be able to pay my children's school fees with ease.",M,200,lender,Clothing,1 Kenya,"I am a married man, father of 3. I sell cheap electronics for a living. I am the main breadwinner for my family. The loan will help me expand my business and be able to cater for my familys needs with ease.",M,250,partner,Retail,0 Kenya,"I am a married man, father of 3. I sell maize for a living. This loan will greatly improve my life because Ill be able to pay my children's school fees with ease.",M,200,partner,Food,0 Kenya,"I am a married man, father of 3.I am a cobbler and the main bread winner for my family. The loan will help me expand my business and be able to cater for my familys needs with ease.",M,200,lender,Services,1 Kenya,"I am a married man, father of 4 children. I am the main bread earner. I sell sugarcane for a living. I will use the loan to diversify and expand my business so as to be able to provide basic needs for my family.",M,375,lender,Food,1 Kenya,"I am a married man, father of 4. I am a cobbler and the main breadwinner for my family.
The loan will help me expand my business and be able to cater for my familys needs with ease.",M,250,lender,Services,1 Kenya,"I am a married man, father of 4. I am a trader dealing in cooking appliances. With this loan from Kiva, my life will improve because I will be able to pay school fees for my children and meet their basic needs with ease.",M,200,lender,Retail,1 Kenya,"I am a married man, father of 4. I do welding to earn a living for my family.
I believe the loan will help me expand my business and be able to cater for my familys needs with ease.",M,300,lender,Manufacturing,1 Kenya,"I am a married man, father of 4. I sell cheap electronics to earn a living for my family. I am the main breadwinner. The loan will help me expand my business and be able to cater for my familys needs with ease.",M,250,partner,Retail,0 Kenya,"I am a married man, father of 4. I sell second-hand bed-cover sheets. My life will improve because I will be able to pay school fees for my children and meet their basic needs with ease.",M,450,lender,Arts,1 Kenya,"I am a married man, father of 4. I sell second-hand bedcover sheets. This loan will improve my life because I will be able to pay school fees for my children and meet their basic needs with ease.",M,200,partner,Arts,0 Kenya,"I am a married man, father of 4. I sell used shoes to earn a living.
I believe the loan will help me expand my business and be able to cater for my familys needs with ease.",M,300,lender,Retail,1 Kenya,"I am a married man, father of 5. I am a tailor.
I believe the loan will help me expand my business and be able to cater for my familys needs with ease.",M,300,lender,Services,1 Kenya,"I am a married man, father of 5. I sell used clothes to earn a living for my family. I believe the loan will help me expand my business and be able to cater for my familys needs with ease.",M,250,partner,Clothing,0 Kenya,"I am a married man, father of 5. I sell used shoes to earn a living for my family. I believe the loan will help me expand my business and be able to cater for my familys needs with ease.",M,200,lender,Retail,1 Kenya,"I am a married man, father of 6. I transport commuters from one place to another to earn a living. I will use the money to expand my business and be able to pay school fees for my children.",M,375,lender,Transportation,1 Kenya,"I am a married man, father of 6. With this loan from Kiva, my life will improve because Ill be able to meet the basic needs of my children and pay their school fees.",M,200,lender,Clothing,1 Kenya,"I am a married man,a father of 3. I am a butcher and the main breadwinner. The loan will help me expand my business and be able to cater for my familys needs with ease.",M,400,lender,Food,1 Kenya,I am a married man. I am head of a 5-family household. I am a carpenter and the main bread earner. I intend to expand and diversify my business in order to cater for my familys needs.,M,400,lender,Construction,1 Kenya,"I am a married man. I am head of a family of 3. I am a carpenter and the main bread earner.
I intend to expand and diversify my business in order to cater for my familys needs.",M,400,lender,Construction,1 Kenya,I am a married mother of 2 children. I sell cereal for a living and I will use the money to expand my business so that I meet my familys needs with ease.,F,225,lender,Food,1 Kenya,I am a married mother of 2. I sell cooked food for a living. I will use the money to expand my business so that I meet my familys needs with ease.,F,400,lender,Food,1 Kenya,I am a married mother of 2. I sell groceries to earn a living. I believe the loan will help me expand my business and be able to cater for my familys needs more easily.,F,375,lender,Food,1 Kenya,I am a married mother of 3 and I sell cereal for a living. I will use the money to expand my business so that I meet my familys needs with ease.,F,250,lender,Food,1 Kenya,I am a married mother of 3 children. I am the main bread earner. I sell charcoal for a living. I will use the loan to start another business in the food sector so as to be able to provide basic needs for my family.,F,250,lender,Retail,1 Kenya,I am a married mother of 3 children. I am the main bread earner. I sell used cloths for a living. I will use the loan to diversify and expand my business so I can provide basic needs for my family with ease.,F,250,lender,Clothing,1 Kenya,I am a married mother of 3 children. I sell used shoes for a living. I will use the money to expand my business so that I meet my familys needs with ease.,F,250,lender,Retail,1 Kenya,I am a married mother of 4 children and I sell groceries to earn a living. My life will improve because I will be able to pay school fees for my children and meet their basic needs with ease.,F,275,lender,Food,1 Kenya,"I am a married woman, a mother of 5. I own a cyber caf. I believe the loan will help me expand my business and be able to cater for my familys needs more easily.",F,400,lender,Services,1 Kenya,"I am a married woman, a mother of 3. I sell cooked food. I will use the money to expand my business so that I meet my familys needs with ease.",F,250,lender,Food,1 Kenya,"I am a married woman, a mother of 5. I sell small candy to earn a living. I believe the loan will help me expand my business and be able to cater for my familys needs more easily.",F,350,lender,Retail,1 Kenya,I am a mother of 4 and the main breadwinner in my family. I am a trader dealing in household equipment. I will use the money to expand my business and to pay school fees for my children.,F,200,lender,Retail,1 Kenya,I am a mother of 5.I had taken a loan of 25$ that i have already repaid.I intend to take another loan of 150$ . I sell used clothes for a living. I will use the new loan to expand and diversify the business.,F,500,lender,Clothing,1 Kenya,"I am a orphan, age 18, the firstborn in a family of 4. I am the main breadwinner. I sell used clothes to earn a living. I will use the loan to expand the business and meet the basic needs of my family and be able to pay for their school fees.",M,400,lender,Clothing,1 Kenya,I am a retailer of bakery products in Kisumu Town. I am married with 4 children. I will use the loan to assist me in purchasing a microwave. My clients demand hot food and because I only retail the product I need to install a microwave. I will retain more customers and also make more money to feed my children and ensure that they remain in school.,M,25,partner,Food,0 Kenya,"I am a single father of 3, and I transport goods from one end to another for a living. I will use the money to expand my business. I also want to meet the demands of my basic family life.",M,275,lender,Transportation,1 Kenya,I am a single father of four. I sell groceries to earn a living.
The loan will help me diversify and expand the business so as to be able to pay school fees for my children.,M,425,lender,Food,1 Kenya,I am a single girl aged 19 and I am a tailor. I need the money to expand my business and be able to meet my college fees and increase my skills in the business sector.,F,200,partner,Services,0 Kenya,I am a single girl aged 20. I am a tailor. I need the money to expand my business and be able to meet my college fees and increase my skills in the management of a business.,F,250,partner,Services,0 Kenya,I am a single girl aged 21. I am a hair dresser. I need the money to expand my business and be able to meet my college fees and increase my skills in the management of a business.,F,375,lender,Services,1 Kenya,"I am a single girl, aged 20. I am a hair dresser. I need the money to expand my business and be able to meet my college fees and increase my skills in the management of a business.",F,400,lender,Services,1 Kenya,"I am a single man aged 25. I take care of my siblings. I had to drop out of school after my father died. I hope to educate my 3 brothers and sisters, after which I will also go back to school.",M,150,lender,Clothing,1 Kenya,I am a single man and head of a 5-family household. I am a petty trader and am the main bread earner. I dropped out of school to take care of the siblings after the death of our parents due to HIV/AIDS in 2003.,M,200,partner,Retail,0 Kenya,I am a single man and the head of a 5-person household. I am the main breadwinner. I have a business selling second-hand books. I dropped out of school to take care of my siblings after the death of our parents from HIV/AIDS in 2000.,M,250,lender,Retail,1 Kenya,"I am a single man, a father of 2. I own a printing shop for typing and printing business. I believe the loan will help me expand my business and be able to cater for my familys needs more easily.",M,350,lender,Services,1 Kenya,"I am a single man, first-born in a family of 4. I sell groceries to earn a living. The loan will help me diversify and expand the business so as to be able to pay school fees for my siblings.",M,350,lender,Food,1 Kenya,"I am a single man, head of a household of five people. I am a Petty Trader and the main bread winner. I deal in the selling of second-hand books. I dropped out of school to take care of my siblings after the death of our parents due to HIV/AIDS in 1997.",M,200,partner,Retail,0 Kenya,"I am a single man, the first born in a family of 6. I sell meat to earn a living. The loan will help me diversify and expand the business so I can pay school fees for my siblings.",M,250,lender,Food,1 Kenya,"I am a single man, the first born in a family of 6. I sell small retail goods, such as match boxes, cigarettes, etc. to earn a living. The loan will help me diversify and expand the business so as to be able to pay school fees for my siblings.",F,375,lender,Retail,1 Kenya,I am a single man. aged 21. I dropped out of school due to lack of school fees. I will use the money to expand my business and be able to pay for college fees.,M,150,partner,Services,0 Kenya,"I am a single man. Am head of a 4-family household. I am a carpenter and the main bread earner.
I intend to expand and diversify my business in order to cater for my familys needs.",M,350,lender,Construction,1 Kenya,I am a single man. I am head of a 6 family household. I am a petty trader. I am the main bread earner. I dropped out of school to take care of my siblings after the death of our parents due too HIV/AIDs in 2005.,M,25,partner,Food,0 Kenya,I am a single man. I am head of a five-family household.
I am a Petty Trader. I am the main bread earner. I deal in the selling of secondhand books.
I dropped out of school to take care of my siblings after the death of our parents due to HIV/AIDs in 1998.,M,400,lender,Retail,1 Kenya,"I am a single man. I am the head of a 6-person household. I am a petty trader, and I am the main bread-earner. I dropped out of school to take care of my siblings after the death of our parents from HIV/AIDS in 2005.",M,150,partner,Food,0 Kenya,I am a single man. I am the head of a 6-person household. I am the main bread-earner. I dropped out of school to take care of my siblings after the death of our parents due to HIV/AIDS in 2005.,M,175,partner,Services,0 Kenya,I am a single man. I dropped out of school due to lack of school fees. I am the breadwinner in my family. I believe the loan will help me diversify and expand the business and be able to meet our basic needs with ease.,M,200,partner,Clothing,0 Kenya,I am a single man. I sell school boxes. I dropped out of school due to the loss of my parents to HIV/AIDS and I take care of my siblings.,M,200,lender,Retail,1 Kenya,"I am a single mother of 2. I sell used clothes for a living. I am the main breadwinner, and the loan will help me expand my business in order to meet the demands of the family.",F,450,lender,Clothing,1 Kenya,I am a single mother of 3. I am a hairdresser. I will use the money to expand and diversify my business as to be able to pay school fees for my children.,F,250,lender,Services,1 Kenya,"I am a single mother of 4, and I sell used clothes for a living. I am the main bread winner for my family.
The loan will help me expand to a more viable business so as to meet the requirements of my family.",F,250,lender,Clothing,1 Kenya,"I am a single mother of 4, I sell used clothes for a living. I am the main breadwinner, and the loan will help me expand my business in order to meet the demands of the family.",F,450,lender,Clothing,1 Kenya,I am a single mother of 4. I am a hairdresser; I will use the loan to expand my business to other quarters in order to meet the demands of my family.,F,250,lender,Services,1 Kenya,I am a single mother of 4. I sell fish to earn a living. I will use the money to expand my business so as to be able to meet the demands of my family.,F,400,lender,Food,1 Kenya,I am a single mother of 4. I sell cereals to earn a living. I will use the loan to expand my business to other quarters in order to meet the demands of my family.,F,350,lender,Food,1 Kenya,I am a single mother of 4. I sell groceies to earn a living. The loan will help me diversify and expand the business so as to be able to pay school fees for my children.,F,400,lender,Food,1 Kenya,I am a single mother of 4. I sell used clothes to earn a living. I will use the money to expand and diversify my business as to be able to pay school fees for my children.,F,450,lender,Clothing,1 Kenya,I am a single mother of four. I sell used clothes for a living and am the main bread winner of the family. The loan will help me expand my business so it will be more viable. This will help me meet the needs of my family.,F,250,lender,Clothing,1 Kenya,"I am a single parent, a father of 2. I transport people and goods from one end to another to earn a living. The loan will help me diversify and expand the business so as to be able to pay school fees for my children.",M,300,lender,Transportation,1 Kenya,"I am a single parent, father of 2. I am a carpenter.
I believe the loan will help me diversify and expand the business so as to be able to pay school fees for my children.",M,300,lender,Construction,1 Kenya,"I am a single parent, father of 2. I repair bicycles to earn a living. The loan will help me diversify and expand the business so as to be able to pay school fees for my children.",M,350,lender,Services,1 Kenya,"I am a single parent, father of 3. I sell ice cream to earn a living.
The loan will help me diversify and expand my business so as to be able to pay school fees for my children.",M,250,lender,Food,1 Kenya,"I am a single parent, father of 3. I repair bicycles to earn a living. The loan will help me diversify and expand the business so as to be able to pay school fees for my children.",M,350,lender,Services,1 Kenya,"I am a single parent, father of 4. I am a carpenter.
I believe the loan will help me diversify and expand the business so as to be able to pay school fees for my children.",M,250,lender,Construction,1 Kenya,"I am a single parent, father of 4. I sell sugarcane to earn a living.
The loan will help me diversify and expand the business so as to be able to pay school fees for my children.",M,250,lender,Food,1 Kenya,"I am a single parent, father of 4. I sell groceries to earn a living. The loan will help me diversify and expand the business so as to be able to pay school fees for my children.",M,350,lender,Food,1 Kenya,"I am a single parent, father of 4. I sell groceries to earn a living. The loan will help me diversify and expand the business so as to be able to pay school fees for my children.",M,450,lender,Food,1 Kenya,"I am a single parent, father of 5. I repair bicycles to earn a living. The loan will help me diversify and expand the business so as to be able to pay school fees for my children.",M,425,lender,Services,1 Kenya,"I am a single parent, father of 5. I sell small retail goods, e.g. sweets, cigarettes, to earn a living. The loan will help me diversify and expand the business so as to be able to pay school fees for my children.",M,375,lender,Retail,1 Kenya,"I am a single parent, mother of 3. I sell groceries to earn a living for my children and me. The loan will help me diversify and expand the business so as to be able to pay school fees for my children.",F,250,lender,Food,1 Kenya,"I am a single parent, mother of 3. I sell groceries to earn a living. The loan will help me diversify and expand the business so as to be able to pay school fees for my children",F,400,lender,Food,1 Kenya,"I am a single parent, mother of 3. I sell small retail goods, e.g. match boxes, cigarettes, etc., to earn a living.T he loan will help me diversify and expand the business so as to be able to pay school fees for my children.",F,425,lender,Retail,1 Kenya,"I am a single parent, mother of 3. I sell small retail goods, e.g. sweets and cigarettes, to earn a living. The loan will help me diversify and expand the business so as to be able to pay school fees for my children.",F,400,lender,Retail,1 Kenya,"I am a single parent, mother of 4. I sell groceries to earn a living for myself and my children. The loan will help me diversify and expand the business so as to be able to pay school fees for my children.",F,200,partner,Food,0 Kenya,"I am a single parent, mother of 4. I sell groceries to earn a living.
The loan will help me diversify and expand the business so as to be able to pay school fees for my children.",F,250,lender,Food,1 Kenya,"I am a single parent, mother of 4. I sell sugarcane to earn a living. The loan will help me diversify and expand the business so as to be able to pay school fees for my children.",F,400,lender,Food,1 Kenya,"I am a single parent, mother of 8. I sell fish for a living. I believe the loan will help me diversify and expand the business so as to be able to pay school fees for my children.",F,400,lender,Food,1 Kenya,"I am a single parent, the father of 3. I sell small retail goods such as sweets, cigarettes, cooking pans, etc. to earn a living. The loan will help me diversify and expand the business so as to be able to pay school fees for my children.",M,350,lender,Retail,1 Kenya,"I am a single woman, a mother of 4. I sell cooked food. I will use the money to expand my business so that I meet my familys needs with ease.",F,275,lender,Food,1 Kenya,"I am a single woman, a mother of 4. I sell cooked food. I will use the money to expand my business so that I meet my familys needs with ease.",F,400,lender,Food,1 Kenya,"I am a single woman, a mother of 4. I sell cooked food. I will use the money to expand my business so that I meet my familys needs with ease.",F,450,lender,Food,1 Kenya,"I am a single woman, a mother of 4. I sell cooked food. I will use the money to expand my business.",F,250,partner,Food,0 Kenya,"I am a single woman, a mother of 4. I sell groceries. I will use the money to expand my business so as to be able to meet the demands of my family.",F,400,lender,Food,1 Kenya,"I am a single woman, a mother of 6. I am a tailor. I intend to use the loan to diversify and expand my business to enable me to pay for my childrens school fees.",F,250,partner,Services,0 Kenya,"I am a single woman, mother of 4. I sell second-hand clothes. This loan will improve my life because Ill be able to meet the basic needs of my children and pay their school fees.",F,250,partner,Clothing,0 Kenya,"I am a single woman, mother of 6. I sell second-hand clothes. This loan will improve my life because Ill be able to meet the basic needs of my children and pay their school fees.",F,250,partner,Clothing,0 Kenya,"I am a single woman, mother of 2. I sell second-hand clothes. With this loan my life will improve because Ill be able to meet the basic needs of my children and pay their school fees.",F,200,partner,Clothing,0 Kenya,I am a widow and a mother of seven. I sell groceries for a living.
The loan will help me diversify and expand the business so as to be able to cater to my familys needs more easily.,F,400,lender,Food,1 Kenya,I am a widow and mother of 5. My husband died of HIV/AIDS. I sell cereals for a living. I will use the money to expand my business and be able to pay school fees for my children.,F,200,partner,Food,0 Kenya,I am a widow and mother of 5. My husband died of HIV/AIDS. I sell household equipment for a living. I will use the money to expand my business.,F,250,partner,Retail,0 Kenya,I am a widow and mother of 6 children. I am the main bread earner. I sell smoked fish for a living. I will use the loan to diversify and expand my business so as to be able to provide basic needs for my family with ease.,F,225,lender,Food,1 Kenya,"I am a widow, a mother of 2. I sell groundnuts to earn a living. The loan will help me diversify and expand the business so as to be able to pay school fees for my children.",F,400,lender,Food,1 Kenya,"I am a widow, a mother of 3. I sell cereals to earn a living. The loan will help me diversify and expand the business so as to be able to pay school fees for my children.",F,400,lender,Food,1 Kenya,"I am a widow, a mother of 2. I sell cooked food for a living. I will use the money to expand my business so that I meet my familys needs with ease.",F,400,lender,Food,1 Kenya,"I am a widow, a mother of 3. I sell cooked eggs for a living. I intend to use the loan to venture into a more organised food-selling business, selling varieties of dishes so as to be able to meet my family's needs.",F,250,partner,Food,0 Kenya,"I am a widow, a mother of 3. I sell groceries to earn a living. I will use the money to expand and diversify my business as to be able to pay school fees for my children.",F,200,partner,Food,0 Kenya,"I am a widow, a mother of 3. I sell sugarcane and groceries to earn a living. I will use the money to expand and diversify my business so as to be able to pay school fees for my children.",F,250,lender,Food,1 Kenya,"I am a widow, a mother of 3. I sell used clothes to earn a living. I will use the money to expand and diversify my business to be able to pay school fees for my children.",F,400,lender,Clothing,1 Kenya,"I am a widow, a mother of 4, and I sell household goods like hand-woven grass brooms for a living. I will use the money to expand my business so that I can meet my familys needs with ease.",F,250,lender,Retail,1 Kenya,"I am a widow, a mother of 4. I sell fish to earn a living. I will use the money to expand my business so as to be able to meet the demands of my family.",F,400,lender,Food,1 Kenya,"I am a widow, a mother of 4. I sell cassava to earn a living. I will use the money to expand my business to other quarters in order to meet the demands of my family.",F,250,partner,Food,0 Kenya,"I am a widow, a mother of 4. I sell cereals to earn a living. The loan will help me diversify and expand the business so as to be able to pay school fees for my children.",F,400,lender,Food,1 Kenya,"I am a widow, a mother of 4. I sell cooked food for a living. I intend to use the loan to venture into a more organised food-selling business, selling varieties of dishes so as to be able to meet my family's needs.",F,200,partner,Food,0 Kenya,"I am a widow, a mother of 6. I sell cereals to earn a living. I will use the money to expand my business to other quarters in order to meet the demands of my family.",F,200,partner,Food,0 Kenya,"I am a widow, a mother of 6. I sell cooked food for a living. I intend to use the loan to venture into a more organised food-selling business, selling varieties of dishes so as to be able to meet my family's needs.",F,300,partner,Food,0 Kenya,"I am a widow, a mother of 7. I sell fruits for a living. The loan will help me diversify and expand the business so as to be able to cater for my familys needs with ease.",F,450,lender,Food,1 Kenya,"I am a widow, mother of 4. I sell fruits for a living. I will use the money to expand my business so that I meet my familys needs with ease.",F,350,lender,Food,1 Kenya,"I am a widow, mother of 7. I sell mangos to earn a living for myself and my children. The loan will help me diversify and expand the business so as to be able to cater for my familys needs with ease.",F,250,partner,Food,0 Kenya,I am a widower and a father of 2. I am a carpenter and I will use the money to expand my business so that I meet my familys needs with ease.,M,250,lender,Construction,1 Kenya,"I am aged 30 years. I am married with 2 children. I take care of 5 other orphaned children. I am based in rural Kisumu. I hope that this loan will be able to support me and provide food and education for my children as a I will earn $80 US a month. I hope to use my earnings to improve my skills as a carpenter and expand production.",M,150,lender,Retail,1 Kenya,I am an orphan. I sell snacks part-time to earn money for buying food and clothes. I need the money to expand my business and be able to meet my school fees.,M,200,lender,Food,1 Kenya,I am an orphaned teenager. I sell used clothes part-time in order to cater for my needs and pay my school fees. I believe the loan will help me achieve my dreams of finishing school.,M,300,partner,Clothing,0 Kenya,"I am based in Kisumu town. I am aged 27 years, single and first-born in a family of 6. I am the sole breadwinner as both my parents are dead. I am applying the loan to enhance and expand the business. I will acquire skills in carpentry and furniture marketing. It will also increase my income and enable me to educate my siblings.",M,175,lender,Retail,1 Kenya,"I am in a group of 25 widows who have been contracted to supply fertilized eggs to a hatching project in Ugunja. If we successfully supply the eggs, we will be loaned chicks to rear and supply eggs to the same project. The loan will be used to purchase five fowls: 1 cock and 4 hens. This will enable me to supply fertilized eggs to the hatching project after 21 days at a cost of 0.45 USD per day. Apart from supplyings eggs, fertilised eggs are recommended for people living with HIV /AIDS and all of the group members are living positively.",F,25,partner,Agriculture,0 Kenya,"I am in a group of 25 widows who have been contracted to supply fertilized eggs to a hatching project in Ugunja. If we successfully supply the eggs, we will be loaned chicks to rear and supply eggs to the same project. The loan will be used to purchase five fowls: 1 cock and 4 hens. This will enable me to supply fertilized eggs to the hatching project after 21 days at a cost of 0.45 USD per day. Apart from supplyings eggs, fertilised eggs are recommended for people living with HIV /AIDS and all of the group members are living positively. This loan will ensure that I meet my basic needs.",F,25,partner,Agriculture,0 Kenya,I am married and father of 2. I sell used clothes and shoes for a living. I am the main bread winner for my family.
The loan will help me expand my business in order to meet the needs of the family.,M,300,lender,Clothing,1 Kenya,"I am married with 4 children. I have been burning bricks for the last 7 years. However, environmentally it is very destructive. I now want to hire a brickpress to press bricks with mixture cement. The new technology is in great demand. The new bricks are interlocking and make construction costs go down by 50%.",M,150,lender,Construction,1 Kenya,"I am married, father of 6. I sell used socks for a living, and I am the main breadwinner for my family. The loan will help me expand to a more viable business.",M,300,partner,Clothing,0 Kenya,"I am widow, mother of 3. My husband died of HIV/AIDS. I am the main breadwinner. I will use the loan to expand my business and meet the basic needs of my dependents and be able to pay for their school fees.",F,400,lender,Food,1 Kenya,"I am widow, mother of 3. My husband died of HIV/AIDS. I sell groceries to earn a living. I am the main breadwinner. I will use the loan to expand my business and meet the basic needs of my dependents and be able to pay for their school fees.",F,250,lender,Food,1 Kenya,"I am widow, mother of 6. My husband died of HIV/AIDS. I am the main breadwinner. I will use the loan to expand my business and meet the basic needs of my dependents and be able to pay for their school fees.",F,250,partner,Food,0 Kenya,I do business in Kisumu Town. I have 3 children and am a single mother. I want the loan to expand my business and purchase clothes for the season. School is currently openning and many customers want to buy school uniforms for both primary and secondary schools.,F,100,partner,Arts,0 Kenya,"I do my business at the Kisumu Bus Park. I am married with 5 children, 3 of them are in secondary school. I need this loan to help me expand my business to include all types of clothing so that I may make more money to enable me to pay for and feed my children.",F,125,lender,Arts,1 Kenya,"I sell small food stuffs like beans, rice, and flour outside my house in Manyatta, Kisumu. I am married with 2 children. I wish to get a loan to pay for an annual license and purchase more cereals.",F,25,partner,Food,0 Kenya,Iam a single father of 4 and I sell household goods for a living. I will use the money to expand my business and to be able to meet the demands of my family.,M,300,lender,Retail,1 Kenya,"Iam a single woman and mother my 'husband' deserted me with 4 children. I deal in second hand bedcovers, The loan will improve my deversity to other products such as bed sheets and blankets. I believe the loan will greatly help me in earm more income at least 2$ a day.",F,200,lender,Arts,1 Kenya,"Imelda is a widow with four children all in primary school. She is a primary school dropout and has not undertaken any formal training. She started her business in 1996 in order to sustain her family. She has specialized in selling onions. She gets them directly from the farmers, and also sometimes from her farm. She sells them both on a retail and wholesale basis. With a loan from PEMCI, Imelda wishes to increase her stock and improve her status. Through her business, she has been able to build herself a house, buy some goats to keep, and educate her children.",F,75,partner,Food,0 Kenya,"Imelda is an active member of the Khaka Self Help Group at the Mayanja market on Bungoma-Chwele highway. Being a widow and a mother of six children; two boys and four girls, Imelda needs her grocery stall for survival supplemented with some peasant agriculture. With the proceeds from her business, she has successfully completed her first loan, improved her business, her welfare and that of her family. She has been able to increase the volume of her produce sales and the variety by including some cabbages, corn, tomatoes and onions, which only she specializes in. She usually gets most of her stock from different farms within the locality. Nasipwoni is happy that finally she has been able to purchase a cross breed cow for herself. She will now be able to supplement her income by selling the milk. She also says that the cow acts as her security which can be disposed of at anytime for hard cash. With another loan from KIVA through PEMCI, Imelda intends to build a temporary business premise where she sell from.",F,175,lender,Food,1 Kenya,"In Kisumu, Kenya, numerous small restaurants, which are known locally as ""hotels"", line the sides of the streets. Regina Adhiambo Cosmas is the 36-year-old owner of one such hotel. From options of tea, bread, or porridge for a light breakfast, to heartier meals of fish, meat, or vegetables, Regina feeds her community what she calls ""fast food"".
The hotel is poorly built, and Regina longs to improve the building. She would like to take out a loan of $250 USD in order to plaster the walls and pay for structural improvements and maintenance, which will make the hotel more stable and her business more attractive to customers.
Regina is a single mother of four children; one is just out of high school, while the other three are in primary school. She wants to use some of the profits from her business to pay for her children's education: college for her eldest, and school fees for the younger three.",F,250,partner,Food,0 Kenya,"Ireen Luvandale is an average young Kenyan woman; she is married and has four children of her own, as well as one child left by her late sister.
Ireen started her tailoring business two years ago, after completing a tailoring course in the town of Bungoma. Before venturing into the tailoring business, Ireen used to work for her aunt for a commission in Bungoma Municipality market, from which she accumulated the savings to start her own business. She initially started with one sewing machine, but she has worked hard to expand her business; she currently has two sewing machines, and she would like to purchase another sewing machine to allow her to train women who would like to be tailors also.
With the little profit that she makes from her business, she is still able to provide food, clothing, and shelter for her children. With the help of her loan, Ireen will be able to purchase another sewing machine and also buy some material to make clothing.",M,3100,lender,Services,0 Kenya,"Irene Akoth Ngong is 37 years old and is the mother of six children. She lives in Mombasa town and earns her living selling used clothes at Kongowea market. Five of her children attend junior school while the youngest will join in two years time. Her husband is employed as a civil servant.
She began this business eight years ago and has seen it grow from a small stall selling a few clothes to a larger one stocking a variety of ladies clothes. Recently, she has experienced a growth in sales as demand for her wares is growing steadily. With these earnings she supplements her husbands income in providing her familys basic needs. However, with her large family, she needs to generate more income to cater for their future requirements. She sees an opportunity in her clothes business where if she adds more stock she will definitely make higher profits, thus increasing her earnings. Her major challenge is raising the required capital to do this. Therefore, she is requesting a loan of US $ 650: US$ 300 to buy ladies dresses, US$150 to buy blouses and US$ 150 to buy skirts and US$ 50 for transport.
Irene has good business skills and will make optimum gains out of this venture, enabling her to repay her loan as well as build her business.",F,650,lender,Clothing,1 Kenya,"Irene Gakii Kanuri is a 28-year-old mother of two young children. Her husband is a small-scale businessman. She supplements her husbands income with earnings from her clothes stall that is located inside Kongowea market. The stall has been operational for two years and she stocks a variety of new clothes for sale. She began her own business after a brief working stint in the hotel industry where she acquired good customer relations skills that are quite essential in her current business. This has helped her to attract and maintain a wide client base.
She uses most of her earnings for basic needs and is thereby left with few funds for re-investment in her business. Thus the business is forced to run on a limited profitable level without any prospects for future growth. She would like to increase her scale of operations and take advantage of the high demand, but she lacks the necessary funds for such a venture. She is therefore requesting for a loan of US$550 to assist her in her expansion plans. US$350 is budgeted for purchase of more clothes stock; US$150 to diversify her business of selling kikoys and US$50 for refurbishing her stall to accommodate the new inventory. With high demand and many customers, Irene has the potential of repaying the loan.",F,550,lender,Clothing,1 Kenya,"Irene is 43 years old. She is married and has 3 children. she is a strong believer, and her main calling is to help those in need. Her small shop has saved many a family from going hungry. In fact her clients have deep respect for her since most of them have received credits sometimes especially for food when they are low in cash. During the group meetings Irene stresses to the members the fact that we should always be sensitive to the plight of others. Irene also takes time off to visit the sick. She took care of her sick mother for many years before she finally passed away. She encourages those who are taking care of the sick to do so with all their love. She believes that God showers such people with a lot of blessings. Irene is the treasurer of Blessed Ann women group. Though her level of education is up to primary; her honesty, dedication to the group work has prooved her to be very outstanding lady. She has attended several leadership skills seminars organized by WEEC for the Women Group Secretariat. Irene requires USD 300 to buy more stock the loan she is intending to repay on monthly basis.",F,300,lender,Retail,1 Kenya,"Irene is an industrious woman who runs tailoring and boutique business. Her business is offering quality service to her community and is very unique in her area due to her good work. She has plans of expanding and diversifying her products by next year. This will be used to add the latest clothing fashions and designs in the market. Irene has a ready market that she needs to tap new customers. Besides this business she has become a role model and leader to her fellow women as she is doing subsistent farming of growing vegetables, maize, beans, potatoes, bananas, avocadoes, tea leaves and dairy cow. She tries her level best to improve the life of her family. She is ready to face challenges and turn them to opportunities in her daily work. Servicing her loan will be a bit bearable on monthly basis.",F,150,lender,Services,1 Kenya,"Irene Malik is married with three children. She is an active member of Nashipae Women Group. Irenes two children are in primary school, and she attends P.E.F.A church at Orturoto.
Three years ago, Irene started operating a small shop at Orturoto town with the help of her husband. Her business is supplying a small amount of income, with which she cant manage to buy more household goods and pay her childrens school fees.
Irene therefore wants to expand her business premises in order to accommodate more customers. Her business cant cater for her childrens and other household needs, hence the need for a loan of USD 450 to increase her stock and expand.",F,450,lender,Retail,1 Kenya,"Irene Ngige is 22 years old. She is single and lives with her 45-year old ailing mother who she takes care of. She also has two other siblings -one in secondary school and the other in primary school - and both of them depend on Irene to pay their school fees. She has been in the retail business for three years now. She sells general household wares like utensils, towels, clothing items, pocket-size radios and electronics accessories. Being an entrepreneur that she is, Irene wishes to explore new markets, especially the rural areas' open air markets. This will help her diversify the business and be able to earn more profits. She is requesting a loan of US$ 600, of which US$ 500 is to enable her to add more stock and US$ 100 - to rent another premise. She will thus be able to generate more income to enable her to cover her mothers medical bills and her siblings' school fees.",F,600,lender,Retail,1 Kenya,"Irene Sein Sonkei,36, is married with four children who are still in primary or secondary school. Irene is the chairlady of the Naropil women's group as well as the chairlady in their church P.C.E.A. Irene sells beads at the Maasai market in Nairobi and sells milk produced by her three cows in Isinya town. She has used the profits from her businesses to pay school fees for her children and to buy five goats. Irene believes that there is a potential market in Mombasa to sell beads to tourists that come to Kenya. She has applied a loan of $450 to enable her to buy beads in bulk. She is willing to repay this loan within 12 months.",F,450,lender,Arts,1 Kenya,Irene was born 31 years ago in Kiambaa. She is married with four children. Two are in upper primary school while the others are in lower. She is a religious person and a member of Kanunga Catholic Church and a member of a Catholic women's association. She joined WEEC in 2003 and was a founder of the Morning Sunshine women's group. She is the chairlady of the group. Her main source of income is dairy farming and it has really raised her living standards. She is very determined to give her children a quality education from her dairy business. She would like to buy another dairy cow to maximize milk production sales. She has a good repayment record from previous small loans she has accessed from WEEC. She is willing to repay her loan on a monthly basis.,F,750,lender,Agriculture,1 Kenya,"Irene was born in 1962,she is a single mother of 4 and has a grandchild. She is areligious person who beleives in devine power.Irenes children are not employed and she is the bread winner or her family. She is a strong member of women of faith group and a great teacher of strong anchor to people in her community. She brings to members the truth of HIV/AIDS epidemic that some people have not realized. She advocates for positive living, stigma reduction and influences behavior changes. For business, Irene largely deals with buying of mosquito nets and water gaurd from the factory of production and supply in small quantity. She Irene insist that even after listening to media and having the facts about the water borne diseases and the malaria epidemic, people are still slow in acting to counter the problems. She has taken the initiative and sells water guard and mosquito nets to the middle level class that is not covered by the government plan of free mosquito nets as a way of reducing poverty among the disadvantaged. She is doing good business and a unique one. She requires USD 75 which will be able to buy more nets to sell and this she believes she has alleviated some poverty.",F,75,lender,Clothing,1 Kenya,"Isaac Gitonga is a 38 year old who is married with two children. One child is in school. The first is in kindergarten and the younger one is only six months old. His parents had a farm where they farmed tomatoes. This cultivated a passion for farming in Isaac that led him to buy a farm and start farming tomatoes on his own. He has been farming for six years now. When farming in the dry season he uses the irrigation method. He would like to expand his tomato farm and requests a US $1,200 loan. His budget is US $700 to buy seedlings, US $500 to buy a water irrigation pump and pipes. Running the extra pump will create a new job. He is a focused farmer and will repay the loan.",M,1200,lender,Agriculture,1 Kenya,"Isaac is married with four children, all in primary school. In 1996, he started his business which includes selling second-hand clothes. He gets the clothes from Nairobi.
Isaac completed his first loan with Pemci of $159 successfully. He is a committed member of his community-based development group which mobilizes the community for poverty eradication. Through his business, he has been able to sustain his family, buy himself a piece of land, and contribute to the group. He has also gained knowledge and skills. With this second loan of $375 he plans to increase his stock further to take advantage of the growth in his business.
Isaac has a very progressive mind and his success will be an encouragement to his local community, especially the youth and numerous school leavers/dropouts. We believe that by working with individuals like Isaac, Pemci can use them as a development catalyst, thus achieving one of our key goals. Well worth the support of Kiva.",M,375,partner,Clothing,0 Kenya,"Isaac is married with four children. All of his children are in primary school. He started his business of selling second hand clothes in 1996. He buys his clothes from Nairobi. Isaac completed his first loan successfully. He is a committed member of his community-based development group, which mobilizes the community toward poverty eradication.
Through his business, Isaac has been able to sustain his family, buy himself a piece of land, and contribute to the group. He has also gained knowledge and skills. With a second loan from PEMCI, he intends to increase his inventory.",M,500,lender,Clothing,1 Kenya,"Isaac Kamau is 27 years old and married with one child. Though he did not get the best education he would like his child to achieve the best. He is therefore working hard to give his children the best education. He is a member of a sisters group which is meant to empower women though he is a man. He is a businessman dealing with second hand shoes. He has been into this business for a long time. It is a major source of income for his family. The group has discovered that by buying the shoe bales from the source, they can reduce costs. This way they will be able to save on cost and get quality shoes to sell to their customers. They have a good plan and they would like to implement it soonest possible. The only barrier is lack of capital. He requires a total of US$ 750 to accomplish his plan. He intends to buy the bales with US$ 500, US$ 200 on transport and US$ 50 on other expenses.",M,750,lender,Clothing,1 Kenya,"Isaac Kuria Mbugua is 37 years old and married with three children, all of whom are in school. His wife works at a flower farm. Isaac is a scrap man; he buys scrap metal from people in rural areas and sells them at a profit to scrap traders in bulk. Isaac finds it difficult to buy sufficient scrap which can earn him better profit since he does not have enough capital and secondly, the cost of hiring a lorry for transportation is too high. He therefore has to use his bicycle to transport scrap metal in smaller amounts.
He also would like to move to at least a two-roomed house as he feels very irresponsible living with his three boys in a single-roomed house. All this requires money which he doesnt have. Isaac would like to set up his own scrap shop as he has already identified a dealer who is interested in buying from him.
He is therefore requesting a $550 loan to be used in the following ways:
$150 to lease a shop
$300 to buy more scrap
$100 to renovate the shop
He is very sure this will improve his living standards and also earn him enough to comfortably repay the loan.",M,550,lender,Manufacturing,1 Kenya,"Isabella is married with three children who are in primary school. She is a dedicated member and a secretary of Kioneki Kieru women group. She is a member of Mihuti Anglican Church of Kenya and she serves in the church choir and she has a talent in singing. Isabella has two dairy cows. One is milked and the other is almost to calve down. For these cows to produce enough milk, they need proper feeding and even regular medical checkup. Isabella intends to buy all the required animal feeds in order to increase her income through the milk she will sell. Currently she is selling 20 litres of milk in a Cooperative Sacco where they are paid monthly. She is able to earnUSD212 on milk sales. She is saving some income for her firstborn who will enroll in high school next year. She is assured that after she feed her animals well, she will get enough income to repay the loan and pay the school fees with the help of her husband.",F,200,lender,Agriculture,1 Kenya,"Isabella Nyambura is 36 years old. She is married with four children. Two are in primary school and the other two are in secondary school. She is an active member of Ngombe Bora Women Group and Full Gospel church of Kenya in Kenya Njeru, where she is acting as the secretary. Isabella is a farmer who grows kale, tea, maize, beans, arrowroot, bananas and sweet potatoes. She has a dairy cow with low milk production. Therefore, she intends to purchase another dairy cow with the capability of producing an average of 13 litres of milk a day. She has applied for a loan of $600, which was been approved by the group loan committee. She is willing to repay this loan within a period of 12 months.",F,600,lender,Agriculture,1 Kenya,"Isabella was born 36 years ago in Kangema. She is married with three children, two are school at Mihuti Primary School while the firstborn is at Watuha Secondary School in Kangema. Isabella was elected as the Women Group Secretariats discipline mistress three months ago. She helps them maintain discipline in the group. She is also an active member of Mihuti Anglican Church. Isabella joined WEEC in 2003 and has since then serviced six small loans. Being a proud mother of three children, Isabella does not regret joining WEEC. She is a living testimony of how WEEC changes lives. Isabella grows cabbage, kale, carrots and a variety of green vegetables on her farm. She sells to two secondary schools in Kangema and the Gakira Market. She wants to improve her farming by buying quality seeds.",F,150,lender,Food,1 Kenya,"Isaiah is a newly recruited member in Akimorkina- Kolanya. He is married with four children, three of whom go to school. His last born is still too young to go to school.
Isaiah has been a livestock trader since 1997. He buys animals from farmers in need of money at a fair price and sells them to the market. Most people in rural parts of western Kenya usually buy sheep, goats, cattle, and fowls when they have money at their disposal. They then sell them when they are faced with an emergency and need money. To supplement his supply, Isaiah usually buys the animals from Myanga Market, Chwele Market, Angurai and Amukura Market. To get the money to start his business Isaiah tilled tobacco, dried and sold it. This raised KES 10,000 ($160 USD), which he used to start buying the animals. His stock is now worth KES 20,000 ($320 USD).
Isaiahs wife is a farmer who milks cows. This generates an average of fifteen liters a day, which provides an average income of KES 300 ($5 USD) per day.
Isaiah cites brokers as a major challenge to their business. These middlemen tend to greatly influence the prices of the animals and even though they do not own any of the animals, they tend to go home with commissions similar to the profits the traders make. This upsets Isaiah. Another challenge is trading in stolen animals. If this is suspected of Isaiah, his money may be held up while the issue is being sorted out.
If given a loan by KIVA through PEMCI, Isaiah plans to increase the number of animals he trades in the market each day. He hopes this will increase his profits.",M,175,lender,Agriculture,1 Kenya,"Isaiah Odhiambo Odipo is a 37-year-old business entrepreneur who is married with two children, both of whom are in junior schools. He lives on the outskirts of Kericho town. He is the sole breadwinner of the family. Isaiah is a primary school dropout because they couldn't afford the fees; this made him to rise up as a man so that he can be able to take care of his family and his elderly parents.
Isaiah has been a fish monger for seven years now, and thus he enjoys a wider market from the people in his community. He sells fresh fish transported from Lake Victoria; as such he supplies many customers. However, he has many challenges in his business including high transportation costs to get the fish from Lake Victoria to Kericho and insufficient funds to add stock because the little he earns is used to meet his familys needs.
It is in this regard that he is requesting for a loan of US$1000 to expand his business. His budget is as follows: US$600 to add more stock, US$150 to buy baskets and crates, US$150 to expand his stall and US$100 for transport. Isaiah is a determined man and he will be able to repay the loan in time.",M,1000,lender,Food,1 Kenya,"Jacinta is 27 years old married and a mother of one child. She is an active member of the local womens group and she has really benefited from the group's small loans and business trainings. Her husband works as an electric engineer in Rongai and he has been the only bread winner in the family.
After Jacinta was trained on business management, and having done a course of hair dressing she was empowered to start a beauty salon business. She is very determined to give quality services after setting up the salon.
She is seeking a loan of USD 300 to buy equipment for a hair salon and is willing to repay her loan on monthly basis. She believes her family living standards will be improved by the loan.",F,300,lender,Services,1 Kenya,"Jacinta is 40 years old. She is married and has 5 children. She is a member of Gathige Catholic Church and is in the Christian Women's Association.
Jacinta is a cook at a nearby secondary school. She also farms maize and beans. She has one dairy cow that produces 3 litres of milk that is mostly used at home.
After joining St. Agnes Women's Group, Jacinta has benefited from the savings and credit scheme that is set as the revolving fund product. She now saves USD 3 per month and is able to access small credits for development of her home. She has applied for a loan of USD 75 that will be used to buy animal feeds and other supplements to improve dairy cow milk yield. She will also buy high quality seeds and fertilizers in preparation for the coming rainy season. Jacinta has already tilled her land in preparation for planting. She will repay the loan within a period of 7 months.",F,75,lender,Agriculture,1 Kenya,"Jacinta is 54 years old; single and has 5 children. Jacinta went up to level 3 in her primary education. Having 5 young children, she could not afford the life in Kiserian town, therefore decided to move to Ole roimen area that is in the outskirts of Kiserian town. After surveying the area, Jacinta approached an old lady who had settled in Ole roimen many years ago and whose family owned a big piece of land. The old lady allowed her to put up a semi-permanent room in her farm and to farm a small piece of land for the family food. In 2003 Jacinta initiated the formation of Ole roimen w g. drawing members from the farming community in the area. Jacinta was elected as the chairlady of the group and attended much training on leadership. Jacinta attended a crucial training on NEEDS ASSESSMENTS. that made her identify the business she is in to this day. Since her children were still young she felt that their major necessity was food. Her plan after taking her 1st loan was to rent a piece of land near the seasonal rivers to grow enough food for her family. She was able to sustain her family with food and sell some at Kiserian market. Jacinta has borrowed various loans from the group revolving fund that has enabled her to buy a water pump, dig a borehole that she uses during the dry periods and plastic pipes that takes the water to all parts of her plot. Jacintas work has enabled her to educate her children through secondary school and one is in university. To pay the University fee for the three years Jacinta plans to rent another plot to increase her yield. Though she has been doing much of her farm work, she intends to hire a farm hand to assist in the farming and marketing of her produce. She is targeting to sell the vegetables at urban centers where the demand is high. To implement her plan she requires USD 450.",F,450,lender,Agriculture,1 Kenya,"JACINTA KARIUKI is a 48 yr old married entrepreneur. She lives with her husband in a rented house with their three children who have all finished school. She has a transport business that she runs together with her husband. They have their own lorry offering transport services. This helped educate their children and left them savings that Jacinta and her husband used to buy a residential plot after paying for their children's education. They would like to build a family house but lack capital. This will save the money they pay in house rent and allow them to save for their old age. Jacintha requests a US $1200 loan. US $ 1000 buy raw materials: cement, ballast and sand US $ 200 for labor. She is responsible and will repay the loan.",F,1200,lender,Construction,1 Kenya,"Jacinta Njeri Magondu is 50 years old and is a widow. She has five children, four of whom are of school-going age; some are in college. She is a trained nurse. She also owns some rental houses which support her in meeting her diverse needs.
Despite the fact that Jacinta has really tried to meet all her expenses, she still has problems paying school fees for her children. She now wants to venture into a new business that she thinks will add to her monthly returns and thus improve her financial status.
Jacinta is requesting a loan of US$ 700 to add to her capital and start a cereal-selling business. She has a well-projected market and she is expecting to increase her income if she manages to start the cereal shop. She intends to use US$ 200 to buy 10 bags of maize, US$ 100 to buy 10 bags of millet, US$ 200 to buy 5 bags of wheat, US$ 100 to buy 5 bags of beans, and US$ 100 to transport the cereals to her shop. Jacinta is a hardworking woman who believes that the sky is her only limit.",F,700,lender,Food,1 Kenya,"Jacinta Nyarua Muiruri is married with eight children. She is an active member of St. Ruth women group. She is also a member of Gaichanjiru High School. She is a farmer and grows beans, maize and vegetables. She sells her farm produce to the local residents. Her main activity is farming which is the main source of income. She has been experiencing problems with the water supply in her farm. She intends to buy a water tank for storing rain-water both for farming and domestic use. She has applied a loan of USD300 to meet this goal. She is willing to repay the loan within 12 months.",F,300,lender,Agriculture,1 Kenya,"Jacinta Ruguru is 40 years old. She is married with four children. She is a member of PCEA Women's Guild and an active member of Kandisi Women's Group, where she is acting as the secretary. She has benefited a lot from this group.
She joined WEEC in 2004 and got her first loan to buy water pipes and dig a borehole. She now sells water to local residents living near her homestead. From the sale of water, she managed to earn income to buy two dairy cows and as a result, she is selling milk. She got another loan in 2006, which she used to pay school fees for her son in secondary school.
She says a big thanks to WEEC and KIVA for helping her. Her group members admire her through her actions and considers her as a role model of the group. She has applied for a loan of USD750 to buy 400 poultry. She is willing to repay this loan within a period of 12 months.",F,750,lender,Agriculture,1 Kenya,"Jacinta Wangui Maina is 30 years old. She is married with two children and both are in primary school. She is an active member of the Rainbow Womens Group and is also a member of the Catholic Womens Association (CWA). She has benefitted from the merry-go-round group that she has formed with her female friends in her locality. She is a farmer and considers farming her source of income. She joined WEEC after being introduced to it by friends. She has planted beans, maize and vegetables. The surplus crops she has, she sells in a local community. She earns an average of USD 30 monthly. She has applied for a loan of USD 125, which was approved by the group committee, in order to buy seedlings and organic manure. She is willing to repay this loan in a period of 10 months.",F,125,lender,Agriculture,1 Kenya,"Jacinta Wanjiru is 28 years old. She is married and a mother of three children, all in primary school. She is a new and active member of Ngombe Bora women group. She is also an active member of ACK Ngutu church. She operates mixed farming with coffee, beans, maize and bananas. She has a dairy cow, which produces an average amount of six litres per day. Because of increased demand for milk, she has decided to purchase a dairy cow through the help of WEEC/KIVA loans in order to increase milk production. The group committee has approved the loan and she is willing to repay this loan within 12 months.",F,600,lender,Agriculture,1 Kenya,"Jacinta Wanjiru Nganga is 48 years old. She is a single mother of two children; one is in secretarial college in Nairobi and the other is in upper-level Kibubuti primary school. She is a religious person and a member of the choir at her local Catholic Church. Her father is a former Kiambu Municipal Council mayor and her mother passed away last year after a long illness. Thus she been left with the responsibility of taking care of her family and her father. She joined WEEC in 2002 and since then she has serviced several loans including one of USD 600. She is an active and hardworking woman and she believes that with determination everything is possible. She is a farmer who plants maize and rears chickens and dairy cows through zero grazing. During one season, she usually harvests an average of 20 bags of maize. The farm produce is used for domestic consumption and the surplus is sold at the local market. The milk is sold to the Kiambu Diary Farmers Co-operative Society. She has applied for a loan of USD 750 and intends to buy a dairy cow.",F,750,lender,Agriculture,1 Kenya,"Jacinta was born in 1964 in Kanunga, Kiambu. She is a single mother with three children. The first born is out of school while the other two are still in primary and secondary school. Jecinta is a religious person and participates in all church activities. She is the group chairlady since the group formed in 2002. She has a shop where she sells household beverages, laundry detergent, cereal and vegetables. Since then, she has serviced eight small loans. This month she finished paying a loan of USD 600. She has raised and educated all her children out of her income and group loans. She understands the benefits of loans for she has witnessed transformation in her life. She also keeps dairy cows. Jacinta was born in a business-oriented family. All her brothers are in business. Like her brothers, she started running a small business of selling charcoal and was then encouraged by her brothers, who believe that one can get out of poverty if one works hard enough. Given a loan of USD 450, Jacinta intends to add stock to her household shop.",F,450,lender,Retail,1 Kenya,"Jackline Akoth, is 27 years old. She is married with three children aged 5, 7, and 9. She also takes care of three dependents, aged 12, 14 and 16. Jackline finished grade 8, but never proceeded with her secondary education since her parents had passed away and she had to take care of her other siblings. To eke out a living and support the family she started a grocery shop business. She mainly deals with eateries and sells mobile phone scratch cards. She has seven years experience in business skills and management. She wishes to expand her business by increasing stock to meet the needs of her increasing clientele. This will allow her to generate more income to meet her family's needs. She requests a loan in the amount of $950: Scratch Cards $200 Sacks of sugar $200 Sacks of Rice $300 Soap and Detergent products $100 Transportation $100 License Renewal Fee $50",F,950,lender,Retail,1 Kenya,"Jackline Bonaderi Omari lives in the Kibera slum settlement in Nairobi. She is married to a carpenter, and they have three children. She also lives with her younger brother. The children go to a nearby community school run by a local church. They are in junior classes one, three and five. To supplement her husbands earnings, Jackline has been running a small grocery store. She sells fruits, vegetables and household goods. Income from this store is only sufficient to cater for her familys needs, but not enough to afford good housing and a better school for her children. Jackeline's store is conveniently located at a busy bus terminal, and her customers mainly include the passengers coming or going to town. Business at the terminal runs eighteen hours a day. The demand for her merchandise is very high, as it is in small, convenient quantities and at affordable prices. To maximize earnings, Jackeline wants to have more stock available for sale. She also needs to hire someone to assist her at running the shop and keeping it open for longer hours a day. Increased sales will raise her familys income, enabling it to afford better housing and a good, government-run school for the children. Jackeline is therefore requesting a loan of US$1000 to assist her achieve this objective. US$200 will be spent on building larger premises with ample storage space, US$100 on hiring an assistant, and US$700 - on purchasing more stock. The strategic location of her shop will also help in raising the sales, and thus she will be able to repay the loan.",F,1000,lender,Retail,1 Kenya,"Jackline is a 23-year-old entrepreneur who lives in the town of Kisumu, Kenya with her husband and child. She runs a shop that opened in 2000 and sells basic commodities such bread, flour, cooking oil, sugar, Kerosene, milk and soap. She has applied for a loan of $800 to increase her supply of items in high-demand among her customers.
Disclaimer: Due to recent events in Kenya, the security situation in many communities remains unsettled, affecting many local businesses. Lenders to this entrepreneur should be aware that this loan may represent a higher default risk, and should be willing to accept this additional risk in making their loan.",F,800,partner,Food,0 Kenya,"Jackson is a 24-year-old entrepreneur who lives in the town of Kisumu, Kenya. He runs a small kiosk which he opened in 2003. He sells basic, fast-moving commodities such as bread, rice, flour, cooking oil, sugar, eggs, milk, salt and soap. He has applied for a loan of $800 to buy additional stock in bulk to sell to his customers.
Disclaimer: Due to recent events in Kenya, the security situation in many communities remains unsettled, affecting many local businesses. Lenders to this entrepreneur should be aware that this loan may represent a higher default risk, and should be willing to accept this additional risk in making their loan.",M,800,partner,Retail,0 Kenya,"Jackson is a young married man with one nursery level child. He has formal training in mechanics and carpentry. He started his business in 2002 to meet his family's financial needs.
This is Jacksons second loan with PEMCI and his first with Kiva. The first loan of $150 was used to grow his business and was repaid in a timely manner. With this loan, he was able to open a yard for selling firewood to the local community. Firewood constitutes the main form of cooking fuel and is becoming scarce due to deforestation. Hence, Jackson is providing a vital service to his local community to meet their fuel needs.
With the experience and advantages derived from the first loan, Jackson has now requested another loan - this time of $450 - to boost his timber business further, and to enable him to buy timber and diversify into furniture-making. The business now employs two people who sell firewood in the local markets.
His success in business has made him a local role model for young people. To support his community, he teaches local youth skills in mechanics. This young man is truly worthy of our support, and we hope to find and encourage many more business people like him.",M,450,partner,Retail,0 Kenya,"Jackson is married and with one child. He took his undergraduate training in Veterinary science at Nairobi University. His passion has always been to use his knowledge and skills in helping peasant farmers. In January 2005, he started Nakuru Dawa Centre- a business dealing with the supply of Agricultural and veterinary products to peasant and small scale farmers. His services included Artificial insemination (AI) and veterinary services. He received a loan of U.S $ 1200 from Eb-F to set up the business and he has since repaid the loan in full. He has since attended numerous training sessions organized by various manufacturers of agro-vets products. He has also been attending the business skills improvement trainings organized by Eb-F. Jackson requests a loan of US $ 2,000 to stock assorted agricultural and veterinary products including seeds and natural pesticides which will be in high demand from farmers in the approaching rainy season. Peasant farmers who constitute 70% of Jacksons market are unable to go to the city to buy the inputs due to transport cost. With the increased stock Jackson will be able to operate a mobile unit that will take the inputs to the farmers and to small rural based shops. He has already carried out a pilot test of this mobile agro-vet service to the farmers. This is untapped market niche and will increase his sales by 60%.He is capable of handling the loan amount and refund it without a problem.",M,2000,lender,Agriculture,1 Kenya,"Jackson Kitonin is a return client who belongs to the Malakisi Self Help Group. He has successfully repaid his first loan and is looking forward to another loan. With a loan of KES 30,000 ($480 USD), Jackson has been able to buy another power saw for his timber yard. He has been able to increase his stock of timber and his hardware.
With initial capital of KES 10,000 ($160 USD) he started his business in 1994. He raised this capital by selling vegetables and tomatoes from his farm. Jackson's stock is now worth KES 70,000 ($1,110 USD).
Jackson has a family with one child. His wife operates a shop at home. He dropped out of high school and began training in welding. He now sells timber locally and is also a carpenter. Jackson buys his stock from the village locally. He buys a mature tree that has fallen and splits it with his power saw to produce timber to sell. Jackson faces logistical challenges from his timber business. The transport cost is high, which narrows his profit margin.
As his production increases, Jackson plans to take another loan of KES 35,000 ($525 USD). He hopes to add a services that will help his clients plan for their timber needs. We at PEMCI wish him all the best in his business endeavors.",M,575,lender,Construction,1 Kenya,"Jackson Muchiri Ngari is 20 years old and a church pastor. His education is of an elementary level. Jackson is not yet married and has to depend on his parents for most of his expenses. Jackson was brought up with a religious background and was born again at the age of fifteen. He was very close to the pastors, and really wanted to spread the word of God. He really had the call and before long he was taken to be a pastor. Since then Jackson has been a pastor who depended on individuals' generous contributions. This is partly due to his inability to access sufficient education, which would have allowed him to start his own business.
He would like to start selling second-hand clothes, which are really marketable in his area. He is requesting a loan of US$700 of which US$450 will be used to purchase five bales of second-hand clothes, US$200 to secure a premises and be able to hire one person who will be at the business when he has to attend church meetings, and US$50 for transportation. He is very determined and is confident of improving his living standard.",M,700,lender,Clothing,1 Kenya,"Jackson Mworia 35 year-old community health nurse who runs a clinic in Meru, Eastern Province, Kenya. He wore a smile on his face when he heard the news that he can access a loan to improve the quality of services at his clinic. He runs a rural clinic that serves also as a point of referral for other clinics. So many clients now come to Mworias clinic that two other clinics that used to operate within the same area have had to relocate to different sites, due to their reduced number of clients. He intends to use the loan to establish a fully equipped minor surgery theatre, renovate, and create more space.",M,1200,partner,Health,0 Kenya,"Jackson Ruto Kipchirchir is 39 years old. He is married with three children and has three other relatives depending on him. Six of the children and dependents are in school.
Jackson has been a teacher for the last ten years. To complement his meager earnings, he is engaged in commercial dairy farming. He is able to juggle the two by waking up early for milking and attending to the cows and later going to teach. During the day, his wife who is a housewife takes care of the cows. The business, he says, has a lot of potential because there is plenty of grazing land and conditions are favorable for such activities.
Jackson is requesting a loan of US$ 1000 to be able to expand his business. With US$ 500 from this amount he will buy a cow and with US$ 200, reinforce his cow shed. He will buy cattle feed with US $300. Unlike other teachers, Jackson is able to think outside of the box. This is evident from the fact that he is running the dairy farming business successfully.",M,1000,lender,Agriculture,1 Kenya,"Jacob Githonga K. is 60 years old. He is married with four children, and all of them have completed their studies and are also farmers. After being a public service driver for thirty years, he retired and settled in the farming business. His main crops are beans and potatoes. He usually plants his crops twice a year and consequently harvests them twice a year. Last year his second harvest was less than normal, so he did not earn enough income. This planting season he has inadequate farm inputs, and he recognizes that this is going to be a setback for his business. He is requesting a loan of US$700. With this amount he will purchase good quality fertilizer worth US$300, he will buy assorted seeds worth US$200, and he will also lease some additional land for farming with US$200. The old man is young at heart and is constantly improving his farming methodologies. The loan will help him continue with the business for which he has a passion.",M,700,lender,Agriculture,1 Kenya,"Jacob is 19 years old and an orphan. He lost his parents from HIV in year 2003.He together with his younger brother were left under the care of their 87 old grandmother. Their grandmother was too old and weak to provide for the two orphans and Jacob was forced to drop out of school to become the family breadwinner. He left their rural home in Kisumu (Western Kenya) and went to Nairobi in search of a job. He did not have bus fare and hiked lift from well wishers. He arrived in Nairobi two days after. Nairobi being a big city scared him very much. He knew nobody there and he did not know where to go or what to do. He cried loudly attracting people passing by. One kind woman felt messy on him and approached him. Jacob shared his predicament and lucky enough the woman worked for an Orphanage that cared for HIV orphans. She took Jacob to the Orphanage where he remained for two years. At the Orphanage he was taught dress making and tailoring and when he graduated in year 2005, he received a loan of US $ 850 from Eb-F to set up his tailoring business in a Nairobi slum. He has since repaid the loan. Jacob is a very creative fashion designer and within one year he was able to win many customers and especially the Youths. He took in his younger brother after their grandmother passed away. The brother is now attending a computer college and Jacob meets all the costs. When he is not in college he helps Jacob at the business. Because of his creative designs and good workmanship, Jacob has more customer than his current equipment can handle. He wants to add another sewing machine and an over lock machine to enable him make ladies dresses. He will employ one other person. He is requesting a loan of US $ 1,200. His budget is: US $ 400 to purchase a sewing machine, US $ 450 to purchase an over lock machine, US $ 320 to purchase assorted fabric and accessories and US $ 30 to purchase an additional iron box. Jacob has many customers and will be able to repay the loan.",M,1200,lender,Services,1 Kenya,Jacob is a self-employed young businessman who started his business in 2002 after dropping out of school due to lack of school fees. He is single and lives with his parents. He is an active member of a local youth group who have motivated each others entrepreneur skills. With the help of a Pemci loan he is wishes to increase his stock and use the profits to support his siblings. Through his business Jacob has been able to act as a role model to other youth to start up business ventures to support themselves. Their goal is the eradication of poverty and crime in the community.,M,150,partner,Retail,0 Kenya,"Jacob operates a kiosk at Sihilila centre located on the Great North road. He gets his stock from the towns of Malaba and Bungoma. He has been in business for the last four years. His main challenges in the business are competition and transportation. He has to use a bicycle to transport his purchases from wholesalers in Malaba. The bicycle is the only means of transport, known locally as boda boda, even when carrying heavy goods. Though he has his own bicycle, sometimes its not enough and he has to hire boda bodas to help him. He competes by stocking a variety of goods. Also his home is in Sihilila, so he has an advantage because most of the customers are his neighbors.
Jacob is 25 years old and single. He was forced to drop out of high school due to lack of school fees. Thats when he decided to start a business of his own. With the proceeds that he gets from the business, he pays school fees for his younger sister and also meets his familys basic needs. Jacobs current stock is worth approximately 16,000 Kenya shillings. His daily profits range between three hundred and five hundred shillings.
Jacob successfully repaid his first loan from PEMCI. With a second loan from PEMCI, Jacob plans to further increase his inventory. He plans to purchase a sack of sugar, medicine (pain killers), and kerosene. He has been unable to stock these due to little working capital.",M,150,lender,Retail,1 Kenya,"Jacqueline Muthoni is 43 years old, is married, and has four children. She lives in the Kawangware area in Nairobi. Besides her immediate family, she takes care of her 22-year-old sister-in-law, whose mother died. Because Jacquelines husband is the eldest in his family, it is therefore his responsibility to take care of his sister, till she finds a job in order to support herself.
Ever since she can remember, Jacqueline had been interested in becoming a tailor. To accomplish this, she joined a training class at Redeemed Gospel Church at Huruma in Nairobi for classes and practical training, which lasted for two years. After training, she started her business in 1996 with about US $147, which she borrowed from her sister. She has since paid that off. She started by making petticoats, which she sold from house to house for a period of six months. The business picked up very well, and with this income she built a stall of her own in Kayole, where she could carry out her business more effectively. She later expanded her business and started making clothes and curtains. And she started offering training; at the moment she has three trainees. Jacqueline was doing well, but unfortunately, her stall was broken into and two of her sewing machines were stolen. Because of this, she had to rent two machines for four months, at about $7 per machine per month. This eventually became too much of a burden and made her business shrink, and she even lost customers. Later she moved from Kayole to Kawangware, and with the money she got after recovering from her loss, she bought a sewing machine.
Jacqueline is now asking for a loan of US $475 to enable her to buy materials and a sewing machine. She says this will enable her to get more students and will also enable her to get back her customers and be able to finish her orders on time. The repayment period for her loan will be 10 months.",F,475,partner,Services,0 Kenya,"Jael is a member of PEMCI; she is a mother of ten, three of whom are still in school. She has no training because she dropped out of school and got married at an early age. She is married to a teacher at the Angurai primary school. She started her business five years ago after getting the capital from the sale of milk products. She trades in fruits and dry cereal food stuffs and has a dairy cow on the side as a supplement to her business. She has a stock of a bout KES 12,000/=. With her business, Jael usually goes home with a profit of between KES 500/= and KES 1,000/= every day. She gets her stock of cereals from the Moding and Malakisi trading centres. With another loan from PEMCI, she intends to increase her stock by adding corn and beans. She says that fluctuating market trends usually affects her business most especially in the dry season when buyers become few as a result of little disposable income due to famine.",F,275,lender,Food,1 Kenya,"James Gachuhi Muriithi is 33 years old and married with three children. After completion of his 'O' level education he engaged himself in the business of selling shoes in Nakuru town. James has been in this business for some time now and has good business skills. The business is promising as he specializes in ladies shoes. With the proceeds he is able to cater to his familys needs. He faces numerous challenges in the business like lack of capital and a permanent business premise. He would like to expand his business but lacks the funds to do so. It is in this regard that he is requesting a loan of US$700: US$500 to buy more shoes, US$100 to pay the municipal license and US$100 to pay for transport. James is a hardworking businessman and he will be able to repay the loan.
Disclaimer: Due to recent events in Kenya, the security situation in many communities remains unsettled, affecting many local businesses. Lenders to this entrepreneur should be aware that this loan may represent a higher default risk, and should be willing to accept this additional risk in making their loan.",M,700,lender,Retail,1 Kenya,"James is a 30 year old dedicated and hardworking man. He has 4 children and is married. He wants to expand his business and hence enlarge his market.'A truck would do me good,' he says. 'All these fresh supplies wouldn't just rot here waiting for people to buy them.'",M,225,lender,Food,1 Kenya,"James is a member of PEMCI, this is a second loan and he paid the first one successfully. He sells new clothes at Malaba trading centre. He gets his stock from Nairobi and/or Webuye. He started his business 15 years ago. He got his first capital from his salary then when he was working with Bata Shoes manufacturing company in Limuru in the central part of Kenya. He started his business with KES.5, 000/= and slowly grew as time went on. His daily sales have grown to between KES. 5,000/= and KES 10,000/= when the business is good but when it is bad, he makes KES 2,000/= and KES.3,000/= when the business is at its off peak, this is usually between January and April. The challenges he meets is that competition is high andduring January & February most people take their children to school so he get a loss during that time. James says that if given a loan with PEMCI, he will increase his stock. He is a school drop out due to school fees. Apart from being a business man he is Reverend of Deliverance church, a local church in the area. James is married and a father of 6 children, he dreams to have a boutique soon and move from the open air market.",M,1200,lender,Clothing,1 Kenya,"James is in his early fifties and is married with five children: two are still dependent on him, one is in college, and the youngest is in high school. James started a new business selling clothing within the Teso District. He moves from one marketplace to another on different market days. Wednesdays and Saturdays he operates from Malaba market, Tuesdays he goes to Amukura, Thursdays to Lukolis, and Fridays to Kocholia. These are adjacent towns to Malaba. As he goes out, his wife usually stays behind at their stall and supervises their poultry project. James also serves as a preacher in one of the local churches.
James says that business is slowly picking up after about four months of slump caused by the post-election violence. He is asking for a loan so that he can increase the stock of his wares. James is thankful that his business has allowed him to send his children to school including sending his daughter to one of the local universities.
Disclaimer: Due to recent events in Kenya, the security situation in many communities remains unsettled, affecting many local businesses. Lenders to this entrepreneur should be aware that this loan may represent a higher default risk, and should be willing to accept this additional risk in making their loan.",M,825,lender,Clothing,1 Kenya,"James is married with six children, two girls and four boys. One is still in secondary school but the rest are all working. He is a trained pastor with a local church (Deliverance Church of Kenya). He also operates a clothing business together with his wife. He started his business in 1991 as a second-hand cloth seller, then later started selling new clothes.
James buys new clothes from Nairobi and Kitale at wholesale prices and in turn sells them in Malaba at retail price. He supports his family through the business, paying school fees and meeting other basic needs like food and clothing. The business also enables him to meet the emergency needs of the congregation at his church.
James believes that with this loan of $775 he will be able to increase his stock and renovate his business premises to attract more customers.",M,775,partner,Clothing,0 Kenya,"James is thirty eight years old and is married to a business lady. Together they have three children: two are boys and one is a girl. The boys are big and in high school while the last born is in baby class. The wifes business is a grocery with a specialty in selling ground nuts from Uganda.
James started his pig business three years ago with quite a good capital of approximately $1300, but now operates with $500 slightly above the original capital. His business deals with buying pigs from western Kenya and mostly parts of eastern Uganda, and transporting them to Farmers' Choice Company in Limuru Kenya where they are slaughtered and processed into sausages and other pig products. Farmers Choice is the only processing plant of the kind in East Africa. From the sale, James gets a profit ranging from $14 to $29, although he also incurs losses sometimes.
Just like any business person, James cites a few problems with his business. He says that it is quite difficult for him to go out sourcing for pigs, especially in Uganda. He has to go from home to home and sometimes to further towns like Mbale and Tororo, looking for peasant farmers who rear pigs and are ready to sell. Initially, he transported the pigs to Kenya illegally through the river and if they were caught they could be heavily penalized and/or even lose their animals to the authorities. However, they did pay for a permit at a cost of about $447 and now he freely transports them through the right channels.
With his first loan from KIVA through PEMCI, James plans to increase the number of pigs that he takes to Limuru per trip. He says that with a larger number he will be able to cut his overhead costs, since the major transport cost to the factory is fixed.",M,750,lender,Agriculture,1 Kenya,"James Kedenyere Eboya is a 26-year-old single man. He is a business entrepreneur involved in the business of selling auto parts at a local market in Nakuru town. Besides that, he is an electrician and his work involves carrying out repairs and fixing of electronic equipment. Kadenyere dropped out of school at high school level due to lack of fees. To raise his living standards he decided to venture into the business of selling auto parts at a local market in Nakuru town. He sells auto parts and he mainly purchases them in Nakuru town. But that is very expensive, unlike when he buys them in bulk from Nairobi. The reason he doesnt purchase them from Nairobi is because of high transportation costs, thus making it hard for him to get to Nairobi. The returns he gets from his services and the business have helped him to take care of his siblings and his elderly parents. His siblings are now in school and James is a very happy man, although the happiness is short-lived because at his current status he can only afford to take his siblings up to primary level in school. He now has the hopes and dreams of opening a larger auto parts shop, which from its income he will manage to take his siblings to high school and college. He does not have the money, however, and that is why he is requesting for $1000. He plans to use the money as follows: $700 to buy more stock; $100 to get a license; $100 to cater for transport; $100 to pay rent. He is a good and committed man, and he will repay the loan in time.
Disclaimer: Due to recent events in Kenya, the security situation in many communities remains unsettled, affecting many local businesses. Lenders to this entrepreneur should be aware that this loan may represent a higher default risk, and should be willing to accept this additional risk in making their loan.",M,1000,lender,Retail,1 Kenya,"James Kingori Ndegwah aged 40 years, married with 3 children and 2 dependents, all school children. James is an A-level graduate with 15 years professional sales experience. His business mainly deals with buying and selling milk products like yogurt, ice cream, flavored yogurt, low-fat yogurt, sherbet and milk shakes.
From his business profits he is able to support the family. Currently he wants to increase his milk supplies to the factory to an 80% margin. He is requesting a loan of 1200. His budget is: US $ 300 to purchase a medium sized freezer; US $ 200 to purchase and install a low-cost plastic bio-digester; US $ 200 to purchase a milk storage can; US $ 500 to purchase a computer to facilitate office coordination.
He projects sufficient business growth and he will manage to make more savings and pay all 3 employees on time, and continue feeding the whole family and educating all the children the best way possible. Apart from the expansion of his milk products business, his greatest ambition is to export the products, buy a plot of land and build a house.",M,1200,lender,Food,1 Kenya,"JAMES MUNENE NGURE 42 years of age married with seven dependants whereby only four of his children go to school. One child is in form one, and the other three in primary level. Both he and his wife are maize farmers and they have practiced maize farming for 15 year. The maize business was earning them an average of US $ 480 per annum. In year 2004 he borrowed some US $ 850 from Eb-F and bought an additional one acre of land. He begun planting potatoes for sale and this increased the family annual income to US 1,000. James needs to double this income in order to provide fully for his family and especially to keep his children in School. James wants to purchase two dairy cows that will enable the family sell milk to a local milk processing factory. James is requesting a loan of US $ 1,750 to start the dairy farming business. His budget is: US $ 1,550 to purchase two cows, US $ 100 to construct a cow shade, US $ 100 to purchase cow feeds. The proceeds from the milk sales will increase his family annual income by US $ 1,500 and James will be able to educate all his children and improve their livelihood.",M,1750,lender,Agriculture,1 Kenya,"James Munyi is 41 years old and a father of 3 children who are all in school. In addition he takes care of her sisters child who died from HIV/AIDS. James is a high school graduate and took a vocational training in Electrical installation. He was employed in a refrigerator repair workshop where he learnt the servicing of domestic refrigerators and cold rooms. He remained in this employment until year 2003 when the workshop closed down after a fire accident. James remained unemployed until June 2004 when he received a loan of US $ 500 from Eb-F to start his business. He bought a tool kit and various refrigerator replacement parts and begun servicing and repairing refrigerators at Section 58 in Nakuru. He works on an average of four pieces per week and the income has enabled him provide for his family and his sisters child. James is a good saver and by December 2005, he had saved enough to buy a quarter acre piece of land. He managed to put up a small family house and has since moved his family from a rented house into his own house. James now wants to purchase two dairy cows for his wife Pauline. The cows will produce milk which Pauline will sell to earn an income. Pauline will look after the cows and manage them as a business. James is therefore requesting a loan of US 2,000 to buy two dairy cows, to build a small cow shade and to purchase feeds. The two cows will produce an average of 35 litters of milk dairy earning the family an income of US $ 10 per day. This income will supplement the income from James workshop. James is a good planner and he will be able to repay the loan well.",M,2000,lender,Food,1 Kenya,"James Mwangi Maina is 25 years old and married with 2 children. James lives in a town called Ruai on the outskirts of Nairobi. James is a businessman. He runs a general shop which is situated at the Ruai Center. James started off as a waiter in a hotel from the year 2002-2003, but he decided to quit the job due to poor working conditions including a very low salary. In the year 2004, he started a green grocery stand with savings which he earned from his previous job. Through the profits that he earned from the grocery, he expanded his business and started selling cereals and stocking items like sugar, flour and salt.
James's business has been doing well, although he finds that he has been unable to increase his stock due to lack of finances since he has a business to run and also a family to support. As a result, his business has come to a standstill while he has been wondering where he can get money since the few banks that he tried to approach charged high interest rates that he felt he could not pay. While still wondering about this, he noted that his friend and neighbor, Mary Wamaitha, who is a beneficiary of a Kiva loan, had suddenly raised her business from nowhere, and it was growing fast. He therefore inquired how she had managed to do it so quickly, and she informed him about Kiva. He was greatly impressed. Mary went further and brought him to the ANK offices so that he could also receive support.
James is kindly requesting a loan of US$650 which he will use to stock his shop with cereals like maize, peas, beans, rice, sugar, and flour, among other items. He believes that, with this loan, he will be able to expand his business and increase the number of customers he has. This way, he will be better able to support his family. Since he is a young person, he also hopes that he will be able to expand his business up to a wholesale level over time.
The repayment period for this loan will be 9 months.",M,650,partner,Retail,0 Kenya,"JAMES MWAURA is a 51 yr old farmer. He is married with six children who are all in senior school grades. James is the one who was educating his younger siblings and he started his own family much later. He still cares for his aged parents as well. James has been struggling to educate his children. There were many times that they would be sent home for lack of school fees. He is the sole breadwinner and has to meet education payments as well as maintain his family's needs. He joined the Suma self help group which introduced him to Eb-f where he got a loan to buy a dairy cow. James repaid his loan on time. This has provided him with a reliable income since there is a ready market for milk. James would like to build on this and add another cow to increase the amount of milk for selling but lacks the capital. He requests for a US $ 700 loan to buy a dairy cow. He is focused and will repay the loan. This will help to educate his children and improve their life with this additional income.",M,700,lender,Agriculture,1 Kenya,"James Mwaura Macharia is a 27 year old married man with no children. He is involved in the shoe selling business. He has been in this business for a short time and is still gaining experience. However the business has been a major challenge to him because of competition from other business men within Nakuru town. As he has not been able to stock a variety of shoes, he is losing clients. He would like to expand his business but lacks the capital to do so. It is in this regard that he is requesting a loan of US$600: US$500 to buy more stock and US$100 for transport. James is a determined businessman and capable of repaying the loan.
Disclaimer: Due to recent events in Kenya, the security situation in many communities remains unsettled, affecting many local businesses. Lenders to this entrepreneur should be aware that this loan may represent a higher default risk, and should be willing to accept this additional risk in making their loan.",M,600,lender,Retail,1 Kenya,"James Ndegwa is 46 years old, married with one child. He lives and operates a butchery at Embakasi Division along the North Airport Road, within Nairobi. James started his business in the year 2004. This was after he researched butcheries in Embakasi Division and found that there was only one butchery in the whole neighborhood. Being a business-minded person, James therefore decided to take a risk and open his own butchery. In order to do this, he sold his old pick-up truck for Ksh.250,000 (US$ 3,680).
Using this money as his initial capital, James constructed a small stall on an undeveloped piece of land that he had purchased earlier. During this time, many residents in the neighborhood encouraged James to open the butchery quickly, since the only other butchery operator used to cheat his clients by selling less meat, since he purposely used faulty scales. Some of the customers also suspected that they were eating un-inspected meat, which during this time may have included donkey meat and some wild game, which is illegal in Kenya.
Due to James' honesty and friendly nature, many customers flock to his butchery, where he sells high quality meat. Apart from that, the area where his business is located is highly industrial, hence many company workers flock to his butchery to have some ""nyama choma"", ""mbuzi choma"" or ""kuku choma"", (these are traditional Kenyan delicacies of roasted beef, roasted goat meat and chicken respectively) together with ugali (a thick paste made from corn flour) and chips (potato fries), which James introduced some eight months ago upon the request of his customers.
Due to the increased number of customers, James intends to expand his business so as to satisfy his customers demand for beef, chicken and fish. James is kindly requesting a loan of US$ 1,200). Given this loan, James will be able to purchase a deepfreeze for storage purposes, a chips warmer, and chairs and tables, which will help him to cope with the increasing demand for quality meat. He promises to provide his loyal customers with better services. The repayment period for his loan will be 10 months.",M,1200,partner,Food,0 Kenya,"James Njoroge is 32 years old. He is married and has two children. Njoroge went to school up to high school but did not complete his studies due to lack of school fees. He left his rural Home in Thika District of Kenya and went to Nakuru City where he trained as a motor vehicle mechanic in a street garage. He began repairing cars in year 2000 earning an average of US $ 20 per week. He utilized this income to buy furniture for his rented single roomed house and to support his younger siblings attend school. His is a focused person and by year 2005 he had saved some US $ 2,857 which he used to purchase a used motor vehicle. He had learnt driving and promptly started a Taxi business. The business is doing well earning him an average of US $ 40 per week. He uses the income to provide for his family and to pay school fees for his younger brothers and sisters. Njoroge wants to buy a second car to expand his taxi business. He has already identified the car which is being sold at US $ 3,000. He has already saved some US $ 1,430 and he now requests for a loan of US $ 1,800 to purchase the car. His budget is: US $ 3,000 to purchase the car and US $ 230 to service the car and obtain the necessary licenses. Njoroge will employ one person to operate the second car. This will increase his earning by US $ 50 per week and he plans to utilize the income to build a house for his family, to provide for his family and to continue supporting his younger siblings attend school.",M,1800,lender,Transportation,1 Kenya,"James Obol Oteke is a 41-year-old, married entrepreneur. His four children are all in school. James has a carpentry and joinery shop where he makes furniture, e.g. tables, seats, chairs, etc. He is the sole breadwinner in the family, since his wife stays at home.
James gets a lot of clients but sometimes they request ready-made furniture, which he rarely has in stock. He would like to buy lumber to work on so as to be able to offer ready-made furniture, instead of waiting for clients to place an order and put up a deposit. Unfortunately, he lacks funds, so he is asking for a loan of US$ 550. His budget is as follows: US$ 400 to buy lumber; US$ 100 for transport; US$ 50 for family use. This will help him exploit the ready-made furniture market, which he has currently been unable to do. James is focused and capable of repaying the loan.",M,550,lender,Manufacturing,1 Kenya,"James Oduor Owiso is 36 years old. He is married with three children aged 14, 9, and 4 years. He also takes care of his aging mother, and his ailing 31 year-old sister who is HIV positive. James has also adopted a young boy who happens to be an orphan and used to live in the streets. The pressure of taking care of his family compelled him to become innovative and in 1996, he started his own business of making shoes and selling them to retailers. His business prospered and he managed to make some savings from the business. However, a misfortune befell him and he was taken ill in 1997, and his business collapsed because of financial problems.
James did not give up. He later convinced his uncle to loan him Ksh 7,000 (USD100) to add to the Ksh 10,000 (USD 143) he had previously saved in order to start a general shop. His uncle willingly loaned him the money and James was able to start the business. He also repaid his uncle the loaned money. Unfortunately, in 2004, James was involved in an accident. He suffered serious injuries that put him on bed rest for two years and his business was affected yet again.
Now James is determined and able to work hard in order to keep his business active. He strongly believes in himself and that his business will expand into a wholesale shop regardless of all the problems he has encountered in the past.
Given a loan of USD 200 in kind, James will purchase a fridge and a weighing machine. This will enable him to preserve milk for a longer period and therefore will maximize the sales rather than it's going to waste. A weighing machine will enable him to sell products in correct quantities. He will be able to win back his customers who had left, thus earning a higher income to support the people depending on him. The repayment period will be 12 - 18 months.",M,200,lender,Food,1 Kenya,"James Onunga Muua is a 40 year old entrepreneur who is married with one dependant. His eldest and only child is in high school while his wife works at a local market selling vegetables. Onunga works as a carpenter specializing in making household furniture. He owns a small workshop in the Ponda Mali slum in Nakuru. He employed three workers who help run the workshop. Through his hard work he has established a sizable number of clients. Through the years he has perfected his skills as a carpenter hence increasing demand for his products. Onunga is requesting a loan of US $1,000 to purchase assorted raw materials for his business to include timber, varnish, wood glue and lumber jacks. This will help improve his familys living conditions and enable him expand his business. He is a remarkable entrepreneur and a hardworking man. He will be able to pay the loan.",M,1000,lender,Manufacturing,1 Kenya,"James Pius Omoyo is 49 years old. He is married with five children. All of them are in school. His eldest son is pursuing a mechanical engineering program in a local polytechnic, which demands higher fees than normal courses because of the practical lessons.
James is a weighing machine technician. He is trained in the skill of repairing and maintenance of weighing machines. The business is unique in the town where he operates, and he only has two competitors. He is occasionally subcontracted by the government to inspect and certify whether businesses have the correct weighing equipment. Lately he has been having too much workload. He is planning on employing an assistant and buying equipment to aid his operations. He will need a loan of US$ 950 to accomplish this. He is a skilled craftsman and he is hardworking.",M,950,lender,Services,1 Kenya,"James started his bread supply business in 2004. He supplies bread from Kisumu (united) and Bungoma (sunshine). He buys from the bakers and supplies to retail shops at different trading centres. He is a standard six drop out due to lack of school fees. He is married and a father of two children who have yet to join school. His wife is a housewife. Apart from this business, he is also a farmer.
Through his business, he has been able to sustain his family, develop his farm, and also brought services to the community. He is a born again Christian and an active member of his local Pentecostal church. His current stock can be estimated as 12,000 shillings.
Given a loan by PEMCI, he plans to increase the stock of his supplies. He normally gets 15-20 crates, but after getting the loan he plans to get 30-35 crates, as he already has orders for that amount. His profit per crate is 60 shillings and he sells around 18-20 crates, depending on the day.",M,150,lender,Food,1 Kenya,"Jane Achieng is 40 years old, married with five children and living within the Kibera slums of Nairobi. Jane has three other dependants whose parents died of HIV/AIDS. Jane used to wash clothes for people as a way of earning a living to enable her supplement the little income her husband was getting from casual jobs. Jane started her business 12 years ago after saving Ksh 2.000, USD 28 through selling of groceries. She realized vegetables were going bad quickly and most of the businesses around were green grocer shops and so the stiff competition drove Jane to start another business and thats when she thought of frying fish. The business has been running on smoothly. Right now the demand for fish is quite high following the previous ban by the government on eating un inspected beef, as a result of the outbreak of the dangerous rift valley fever (a disease that affected cattle) in Kenya, and left people with no other option but to shift their beef eating habit to eating fish. Jane is requesting for a loan of (USD 325) which given in kind will enable her purchase a deep freezer, frying pan and frying spoon. This will make a big difference in her life because she will be able to purchase large quantities of fish so that she can meet the demands of her customers. In a case where the fish stock remains from the sales of the day, she will be able to preserve them in the deep freezer, which will save her a lot of money since fish goes bad quickly if not preserved. She will also save time and money on the frying pan and spoon since she hires them for Ksh 30 daily (less than a dollar). Jane promises fresh fish always and this will translate into more income for her. The repayment period for this loan is 10 -16 months.",F,325,lender,Food,1 Kenya,"Jane Achieng is a 45 year-old widow who has 6 children, 2 of whom are in school. Jane has a retail kiosk in the Rongo District of southwest Kenya. She specializes in selling kerosene and cooking oil and has been running the kiosk for less than a year. As a widow, Jane relies on the profits from her kiosk to support her family. She uses the money she makes for all household expenses. The retail kiosk is a young business, and Jane is looking to increase her stock. To do so, she has applied for a small loan of KSH 5,250 (approximately USD 75). With the loan money, Jane will purchase additional items to sell at the kiosk, as well as increase her stock of kerosene and cooking oil.",F,75,partner,Retail,0 Kenya,"Jane Biyaki Nyamenge is 35 years old and a married mother of four children. She lives in the vastly populated Kibera slum settlement in Nairobi. Her husband is unemployed. All of her children attend junior school in grades one, two, four and six. She owns a small grocery business selling charcoal, water, and fresh fruits and vegetables. This business has been in operation for the last nine years and is the main source of income for her family. However, Jane's earnings are not enough to meet her familys increasing needs. Her business is doing well, since she has plenty of regular customers. Demand for her charcoal is high, because this is the commonly used fuel in the slum. Fruits and vegetables, too, sell quite well. Also, the water-vending business generates a lot of money, since many residents do not have tap water at their homes. Still, Jane needs to increase her earnings to be able to provide all the necessities for her family. To achieve this, she intends to expand the scope of her business. She wants to open up more water taps and stock larger volumes of fruit, vegetables, and charcoal. Jane is requesting a loan of $1000: $250 to buy and install two water meters and pipes, $750 to buy more charcoal, vegetables and fruits. She is a business-focused woman and will definitely be able to repay the loan.",F,1000,lender,Food,1 Kenya,"JANE F.N.KELLONYE is a 42-year old, farmer married with four children who are all in school. Jane and her husband joined Eb-f through Suma Self Help Group membership in Subukia and got a loan to start farming after her husband was let go from the company he worked for. They repaid this loan on time. This has helped put their children back in school and meet their basic needs. They would like to expand their farming as well as to use an irrigation method in dry season to ensure an income through all the seasons. They request a US $ 1200 loan. This is their budget US $ 700 buys a motor water pump. US $ 200 hires some extra land. US $ 300 buys water sprayers and pipes. They are determined and will repay the loan. This will help educate their children and improve their life.",F,1200,lender,Agriculture,1 Kenya,"Jane is 27 years old, married with 2 children. She is the secretary of Oserian Group a position she has been holding for 2 years. She is also a treasure in a youth group in her church where she coordinates educative activities like awareness of Hiv/Aids, campaigning for girl child education and against girl child circumcision. They demonstrate this by acting and through songs. Jane runs a small business of selling kales, potatoes, tomatoes, onions, cabbage, and fruits. She was helped by her husband with a starting capital of USD35 but after a year, she has a standing stock of USD200 because of her hard work. She has also applied the skills she ever trained by WEEC and she has skills of accountinevery coin in and out of her business. She is planning to buy more goods for the preparation of festive season, an added an advantage she has is of having a unique business in the area. She is also planning to start selling milk for the sake of dry season where many of her neighbors normally take their animals to other areas due to weather limitation in the month of January, thus they will be buying milk for consumption. She believes after adding the stock in her business, she will get enough money to buy milk for sale.",F,450,lender,Agriculture,1 Kenya,"Jane is 30 years old single and a mother of one baby girl. She is a University Graduate in Commerce. For the last years, she has looked for a job without success and she now decided to utilize her University knowledge to start and operate own business. She plans to start a small food store not very far from where she lives with her mother and four of her other siblings. She has done thorough survey and no such business exists within that locality. People living there have to for 3 kilometers to buy wheat/maize flour and other cereals. She intends to tap that market and is requesting a loan of US$ 850 start the business. Her budget is: U.S $ 550 to buy 5 bags of maize flour, 3 bags of wheat flour, 3 bag of beans, 2 bag of green grams, 4 bag of dried maize, 2 bags of white rice, 2 bag Porridge flour, a weighing scales and weighing stone, and use U.S $ 150 to pay the premises rent for 3 months and U.S $ 150 to make shelves, stands and repaint the store. The business will make enough money to take care of her family and she plans to establish several other similar shops within her locality. She is ambitious and hard working and she will be able to repay the loan.",F,850,lender,Food,1 Kenya,"Jane is 35 years of age and married with 2 children in primary school. She lives on 1 acre of land in Gathukiini village. Jane is an active member of ACK Gathukiini church where she is also the youth counselor, a post that she holds with a lot of dignity and intelligence. She loves working with the young people, holding seminars and other youth programs that help them to grow upright with good morals. She is a member of Wathenge Stepping Stone women's group where she is a committee member. She works as a school matron at a nearby St. Ann boarding primary school where she reports on duty at night & whenever needed.
Jane has acquired other loans from the group revolving fund, which she actively contributes to. She used the money to put up a farming project where she bought 100 chickens and 2 dairy goats that give her milk for home use. Jane needs a loan of USD 290 to add to her poultry stock. She wants to buy 40 broilers and sell them after six month, which will give her more income. She also wants to build more chicken pens to accommodate the new stock & employ somebody to help her to manage the work. The loan committee has approved the loan & the repayment period is 10 months.",F,575,lender,Agriculture,1 Kenya,"Jane is 38 years old. She is married. She has three children. She is a member of ACK Gitongu church. She earns her living by renting plots from the farmers who have big farms. She uses the rented plots to grow maize, beans, and Napier grass. She is thus able to feed her children and to generate income from the sale of milk for paying back the loans she accesses in the St. Victoria Ngutu Women Group. The group is very crucial for Jane for it has enabled her to send one of her sons to secondary school.
Her current loan of $300 will assist her to rent an extra plot of land and to buy two high quality dairy goats. She has also joined the livestock group that has been organized by WEEC mainly for special trainings on good livestock management. The loan committee has approved the loan. Jane will repay the loan within a period of 12 months.",F,450,lender,Agriculture,1 Kenya,"Jane is 39 years old, single with 2 children. She is a member of women of faith group and strongly empowers women to fight against poverty through small businesses.Janes has a business of selling blouses and shirts in Wangige, Gilgil, Ngong market. The days when she is in her home area, she sells them door to door.Jane has plan of changing her business due to the government determination to revive the textile industries, she sees a situation where the cloth materials will be affordable, since she was trained tailor,She wants to take advantage of the new development and establish her own tailoring shop. She requires USD 75 to buy materials. She owns a machine that she will use to start her new business. Jane believes her new business will enable her feed her children and cater for other household expenses.",F,75,lender,Services,0 Kenya,"Jane is 40 years of age, and she is married. She is an active member of Wathenge Stepping Stone and the acting treasurer to the group, a post she has held with dignity and faithfulness for the last two years. She is an active member of Gathukeini ACK church. Jane works as a secretary at Wathenge coffee factory where she earn a living for her family. Jane owns 2 dairy cows where she earns a total income of USD 75 per month through sale of milk. She lives on a 2-acre piece of land.
Through the loan she acquired from the group, she has managed to develop her home through farming of vegetables. Jane wants a loan of USD 575 to enable her to start a pig-rearing business to enable her to generate more income. Her loan has been approved by the loan committee and the repayment period will be 10 months.",F,575,lender,Agriculture,1 Kenya,Jane is 42 years old she is married she is a member of the Gaichanjiru Catholic Church. Her main economic activity is farming. She grows maize and beans for sale. She is determined to educate her grandchild whom she lives with. She takes care of her education expenses. Jane joined St. Agnes Women group to be able to get credit benefits especially the Education loans. She saves regularly USD $3 per month and has benefited with the credits advanced to the group members. Jane has applied for a loan of USD $150 to pay for the childs fees. She will repay the loan within a period of 10 months.,F,150,lender,Agriculture,1 Kenya,"Jane is 42 years old, a single mother with 3 children. Two of her children are orphans that she takes care of. Her only son is grown up and out of school. Jane is a faithful and an active member of Gaitheri Mothers. She is an active treasurer of the group, a post she has held with dignity and faithfulness.
She owns a shop at Gaitheri shopping center where she works to earn her living. She also sells milk in her shop which is in high demand and the supply is very low.
She wants to add stock in her retail shop with the loan she is applying to get. She has a plan of educating her adopted children until they become independent. She saves USD 3 monthly and this has helped her to repay 99% of her first loan. She is willing to repay her loan on a monthly basis.",F,750,lender,Retail,1 Kenya,"Jane is 42 years old. She is married and has 3 children. Jane is a member of the Pentecostal church. She is a strong member of St. Jude women's group. She participates in the groups revolving fund and has saved regularly.
The revolving fund has assisted her to develop her farm through the loans she has received. She is able to buy quality maize seeds, beans and peas. She sells the produce to the local community. Jane has applied for a loan of USD 150 to enable her to buy a dairy cow. Her target is to have milk for the family and for selling. She targets to sell 6 liters to the Kenya Cooperative Creameries. She will repay the loan within a period of 12 months.",F,150,lender,Agriculture,1 Kenya,"Jane is 43 years old. She is married and has 4 children. She is a member of the Deliverance Church. Through her Church teachings, Jane has developed a great character of helping people who are in need. She has assisted WEEC to instill the culture of prayers before the start of all group activities. This is a culture that is now firmly accepted as the norm in Karaba Umoja women's group. Jane is a farmer. She has divided her farm in two parts. In one section she grows bananas, and this is the part where she generates her income. In the other section she practices mixed farming by growing maize and beans. She also keeps a cow and several goats. Jane has benefited from the revolving fund by accessing credit mainly for the purchase of cow feeds and other supplements. This has enabled Jane to tap another source of income generation through the sale of milk. Jane has applied for a loan of USD 300 for the purchase of a water tank. She feels the 3200 litre water capacity will greatly assist her in storing enough water for the household and for watering her animals. She plans to increase the amount of water she harvests during the rainy season to solve the problem of water shortage. Her loan has been approved and her repayment at group level will be 12 months.",F,300,lender,Agriculture,1 Kenya,"Jane is 45 years of age and married with 5 children. She is an active religious person and a secretary of the Ngurueini women choir. She gets her income from hawking food in the Ngurueini market, to masons at construction sites, and farmers around that area as well.
Her business is quite challenging although taxing. She earns about USD200 monthly after she deducts the expenses. She is planning to increase the amount of maize flour she buys per day because she has so many orders from her clients. She can not supply the food alone to various sites and thats why she would like to employ another person.
The area is growing very fast and this assures her of getting more customers. She is determined to pay her loan in time and see her business grow.",F,225,partner,Food,0 Kenya,"Jane is 45 years old married and a mother of six children. Five of her children are out of school and the last born is still in primary school. She practices subsistence farming though she sells milk from her single dairy cow. Her husband is unemployed and they together join hands in developing their farm. Jane is a choir member at the Anglican Church Nyakahura. She is among the ladies who have benefited most from WEEC because all her children attended private school through a school fees loan. Jane is a role model to many women in the area since she encourages them to work hard to improve their living standard. Given a loan of usd 225, Jane plans to buy shares from the Nairobi stock exchange. She plans to pay back her loan on a monthly basis.",F,225,lender,Agriculture,1 Kenya,"Jane is 47 years old and married with three children. One of her children is in secondary school. She has two dairy cows, whose milk she sells at the dairy cooperative. She sells 40 litres a day at 28 cents per litre. She needs a loan of $600 to buy another dairy cow to boost her income. The income will enable her to repay her loan and pay school fees. She will repay her loan in monthly installments.",F,600,lender,Agriculture,1 Kenya,"Jane is 48 years old and a teacher by profession. She is married with 6 children; three of them are in primary school, 1 in college and the other in secondary school. She has a dairy cow and also grows maize, beans, Potatoes & Vegetables for sale as well as for home consumption. Her cow produces 8 litres per day, therefore she earns USD2.35. In addition to earnings from milk, she sells vegetables and she gets USD220 per month.
Maize being the main food for Kenyans, there is market for maize in whichever form it is. Also her milk has ready market because she supplies her fellow teachers.",F,450,partner,Food,0 Kenya,Jane is 49 years old and married with 4 children. She is an active member of Gaitheri Confident Mothers where has been trained on savings and loan management. She does her monthly savings of USD 3 every month. Jane previously acquired other loans to pay school fees for her children and also bought a dairy cow that gives her USD 6 per day through the sale of milk. Her dairy business allows her to meet her family's basic needs and also part of school fees.
She has almost finished her loan and it wont be a hassle repaying her second loan on a monthly basis. Her daughter is in nursing college and Jane is applying for the loan to pay her school fees. She believes in educating her children for their future.,F,750,lender,Agriculture,1 Kenya,"Jane is 50 years old, a single mother of 5 children. She is a member of Catholic Church in Dandora Estate. She is very active in Women of Faith group and a counselor to other women. She is a tailor and has accessed 2 loans of USD 21 from her group. She has bought textile materials for school uniforms. However she is not able to meet all the orders she gets from her customers, due to capital limitation. The group has guaranteed her taking a higher loan of USD 75 as her previous loan repayment record is good. Apart from the tailoring work, Jane is also a volunteer in community work .She likes learning through community work and she believes knowledge is power. She has enhanced her knowledge by attending workshops and trainings at community level. She is busy making visits to HIV/AIDS patients and orphans. During her visits, she counsels the HIV/AIDS affected families and get a chance to interact and build her capacity socially. After the loan, she believes to be in another level of business performance. She is willing to repay her loan in installments",F,75,lender,Services,1 Kenya,"Jane is 50 years old, a widow with 5 grown up children. She is a member of St. Mary`s catholic church in Ongata Rongai. Jane is the treasurer of Kinando women group. She is a strong group official and has greatly assisted the organization (WEEC) during the group training session since most of her group members level of education is very low. Jane joined her group in year 2003. Her main objective was to access education loans to enable her pay for her 2 daughters who had joined secondary schools. Her last born daughter completed her secondary level this year. She had been paying back her loans from the income she gets from her 4 rental rooms. In the next season, Jane planning to start a small poultry project. Since she already has a poultry house, the USD 300 will be used to purchase chicks, feeds and vaccine. The new project will assist her to increase her income level. Since her children have completed the secondary education, she is encouraging them to take up part time jobs to enable them.",F,300,lender,Housing,1 Kenya,"Jane is 50 years old. She is married with 4 grown children. She is an active member of Kamwiyono powerful women group and an active member Pentecostal church of Muringa. She is a church elder in her church.
Jane is a farmer; she keeps 2 dairy cows and 3 dairy goats and she earns her living through milk sale. Jane has acquired a loan from her group previously, and she has repaid 98%. She bought her dairy animals with her first loan and she can now provide basic needs for her family.
Due to a water shortage, Jane has really faced rough time fetching water for her animals with cans in the dry season and she is very determined to buy a water tank to conserve water during the dry season. She is planning to plant Napier grass to feed her animals, and she can achieve this when she gets a tank. She is willing to repay her loan on a monthly basis.",F,450,lender,Agriculture,1 Kenya,"Jane is 50 years old. She is married and has 6 children. She is a member of St. Consolata. Her women's group has worked hard towards raising the standards of living of its members. They have always maintained that these standards MUST be reflected in the growth and wellbeing of the members families. It has been a great struggle for the members, especially after the collapse of the coffee industry, since most of the members of St. Consolata were coffee farmers. Their mission is to encourage the group members. WEEC holds seminars with the objective of sensitizing the members to the importance of generating viable business ideas and taking advantage of good business opportunities. The members have taken this training very seriously and for several years now have come up with many diversified business ideas. WEEC supports these ideas by assisting the group to fund the members.
Jane and other members from the Muranga branch have come up with a new alternative to farming; that is, rearing of chickens. If given this loan, Jane will be able to buy chicks from Kenchic, feed them to their maturity, and sell their products and the chickens themselves.",F,225,lender,Agriculture,1 Kenya,"Jane is 50 years old. She is married and has 6 children. She is a member of St. Consolata. Her womens group named after St. Consolata has worked hard towards raising the standards of living of its members. They have always maintained that this MUST be reflected in the growth and well being of the members families. It has been a great struggle for the members, especially after the collapse of the coffee industry since most of the members of St. Consolata were coffee farmers. To encourage the group members WEEC held seminars with the objective of sensitizing the members to the importance of generating viable business ideas and taking advantage of the good business opportunities. The members took these trainings very seriously and for several years now have come up with many diversified business ideas. WEEC supports these ideas by assisting the groups in funding the members. Jane and other members from Muranga branch have come up with a new idea of buying shares from companies that are quoted on the Nairobi Stock Exchange. Since this is a new business idea that the WEEC members want to venture into, WEEC facilitated training and invited an agent to come and train the women. Jane was one of the members. After the training, the members who decided to buy shares were asked why they made this decision. Jane had this to say, I want to start trading in shares. I will take the first loan and then buy stocks. But I will also work out a plan of building capital through small savings. I want to make short term investments in shares. This looks to be an interesting business that we had not been aware of.",F,225,lender,Agriculture,1 Kenya,"Jane is 50 years old. She is married with 3 grown children. She is an active prefect of Tabby Wonderful Mothers group. She is a determined woman who grows arrowroots, sweet potatoes, French beans, maize, and beans for selling. The profit she makes enables her to cater for her needs. Due to high demand of her produces in the market, she intends to apply for a loan for of USD 450 to expand her business by buying more vegetables and cereal crops in bulk to cater for the time before harvest time. She intends to pay the loan in monthly installment.",F,450,lender,Food,1 Kenya,"Jane is a 29-year-old single lady. She is a dairy farmer, rears pigs, and also runs a brokerage for garbage services in Uthiru, Nairobi. She has been doing dairy farming for the past two years. This is Jane's second loan from KADET. With her first loan she bought a cow and three piglets. Jane needs to pay school fees for her younger sister, Rose, who is in her second semester. Rose is taking a course in early childhood education. Their father paid for the first semester but now Jane has offered to pay for the second semester. About KADET: The Kenya Agency for the Development of Enterprise and Technology (KADET) is committed to economically empowering its clients by providing financial services to rural communities in order to relieve suffering and improve living conditions within those communities.",F,400,partner,Education,0 Kenya,"Jane is a married, mother of 2 children who are yet to be in school. She is a committed member of Gatangara Pluto. She is a young mother who joined the group out of seeing how others benefited. She grows maize, beans, and vegetables for family consumption.She has a small business of selling cereals and its the only source of income in the family. She would like to buy a bull and feed it for 3 months and she will sell it double the buying price. She is very hard working and believes her family life will be changed by the loan and business. She is willing to repay the loan on monthly basis",F,150,lender,Food,1 Kenya,"Jane is a member of the Khaka self help group loan with PEMCI and has completed repaying her first loan successfully. She is married with five children who are all in primary school; three of her children are girls and two are boys. She sells vegetables at the Mayanja market in the Bungoma District. She usually sources her stock at the Chwele market when the market is full of supply but when it becomes scarce, she goes to the Cheptais market. She is a retailer in the market and has been operating with a stock of around KES 5,000/=. With the first loan from PEMCI, Jane was able to increase her business stock to around KES 8,000/=. Her husband works as a manager at Naivasha. (vidiback). Jane ihad to drop out of school due to her parents inability to educate her. She is the second born in a family of seven. Jane says if given another loan by PEMCI, she plans on increasing her business stock. She looks forward to buying a dairy cow for her small farm.",F,175,lender,Food,1 Kenya,"Jane is a mother of 3 children. Her first born is in college, the second one in secondary school and the last born in primary school. She is very dedicated to her family despite the struggle to improve the lives of her children. She has really mentored many women in her area through her hard work. Janes son turned blind at the age of ten and this made her to think twice on how she will get a school to cater for his education. She started hawking Githeri (mixture of maize and beans), porridge, and tea on market days to business people. Her business has really helped her to achieve part of her dream. Due to an increase in demand, she is planning to put up a shelter to serve her customers better and to start cooking other varieties of food. Jane has a plan of building her family a stone house after her children finish school. She is willing to pay back her loan on monthly basis.",F,450,lender,Food,1 Kenya,Jane is a single mother of one child and was born thirty-one years ago. She is a dedicated member of Gatangara Mars Women's Group. She joined the group for the purpose of enhancing her business through loans and also making savings for future use. Jane does farming and sells groceries in Githiga Market. She desires to put up a green grocery store since she has been operating in the open market. To achieve this she needs a loan of USD150. She is willing to repay this loan within a period of 10 months.,F,150,lender,Food,1 Kenya,"Jane is an active member of the Kirimiga Purity Group and is married with four children. Two have completed school while the other two are still in school. She is a farmer who has specialized in coffee and dairy cows. These are two projects that are promising in terms of their monthly income. In addition to these she grows maize, beans, vegetables and potatoes for her consumption and when there is supplus she sells. She is one of the clients who has been interested with investment, especially in the stock market. She has done a lot of research in order to start investing early in January 2007. She is hoping to have a great future after investing in shares.",F,150,lender,Agriculture,1 Kenya,"Jane is married and is blessed with five children who are in school. She is very active in her group and takes group meetings very seriously. She is a strong member of the group and has made an impact on many women. Jane is a full time farmer who grows cereals and vegetables. She also rears 2 dairy cows which she bought with small loan from the group. Although challenging, she has been able to pay school fees for her children. She would like to diversify and venture into the shares business. She is hoping to get a loan and promises to repay on a monthly basis.",F,300,lender,Agriculture,1 Kenya,"Jane is married mother of five,all of whom are in primary school. Jane is a full time farmer who rears pigs, cows, and chickens. The profits from her farming activities has really changed the face of her family life and children's education, but Jane feels that there is more to be done. She is an active member of Morning Sunshine and she is happy that she joined WEEC. She is very ambitious and has been greatly helped by the loans she has received in the past. She is planning to use the proceeds of her loan to buy piglets and feed for them. Her pig project has been unique in her area. The demand for pigs is very high but she only has limited resources. She is intending to increase the number of pigs so that she can meet the demand.",F,900,lender,Agriculture,1 Kenya,"Jane is married with 2 children They young one is in primary school while the older one is in secondary school. Jane is a strong and active member of Kabuta In Action Women Group which she joined in 2001.
The group has assisted her to fund the family butcher shop business. The butcher shop has been doing very well. On average the shop sells 200kgs per day and at every end of month the demand is so he she can't meet the demand.
In order to match with the demand for meat at every end of month, she wants to increase the number of cows slaughtered from the current 6 to 8 in the last week of every month. She has applied for a loan of USD 900 to cover the cost of buying good quality cows. The loans committee has approved her loan and she is now hoping it will be funded. Jane will repay the loan on a monthly basis.",F,900,lender,Food,1 Kenya,Jane is married with 3 children who are in school. She is a member of ACK Church in Mihuti. Jane is also a member of Mathioya Womens Group. This is a group that has enlightened Jane in so many fields through trainings that are organized by WEEC. Jane has taken the new rule that the group has adopted of assisting the members in diversifying their investments very positively. She feels that the farming community should have ways of cushioning the losses they get during the drought period or when the floods destroy most of the crops and they are left with nothing to fall back on. Investing in shares at this time when the countrys economy is moving upwards is quite attractive. She is happy to try another way of increasing her familys income other than farming. She is interested in buying Safaricom shares. The group has approved USD 150 to assist her in buying shares. She will repay the loan within a period of 12 months.,F,150,lender,Agriculture,1 Kenya,"Jane is married with 3 children. Two of them are in secondary school while one is in primary school. She is a committed member of the Mathioya Womens Group and has set a good example in the group. She earns her income from dairy farming and growing cereals on her farm. She tries her best to meet the school fees and basic needs for her family. She is willing to start a business with shares, which has changed many lives in her country. She is very determined to educate her children and give them the best education. She is planning to make her repayments from monthly milk sales. She believes the stock market will have a significant impact in her life.",F,150,lender,Agriculture,1 Kenya,"Jane is married with 4 children. She has been the chairperson of her group since 2003. She has a retail shop which she started three years ago. Her business has grown steadily due to the high demand of her products.
To meet this increased demand, she intends to buy additional household goods and foodstuff to expand her wholesale business. She has applied for a loan of USD 900 to meet her objectives. She intends to pay the loan in monthly installment.",F,900,lender,Retail,1
Kenya,"Jane is married with 5 children in her family. She has benefited a lot from the group loans and training. She has utilized her skills on her land where she practices mixed farming. Since the training, she has been able to rear her dairy animals providing them with essential balanced feeds. Also her small portion of land has been productive enough that she can get some vegetables for sales. She has been relying on her farm in terms of income, and she is thinking of practicing zero grazing as a project in the near future for the benefit of her childrens education. Due to pressure of paying school fees next year she would like to top up her savings with the loan and pay the school fees. She is a hard working lady who believes God will bless the little she has. She is expecting to repay her loan using milk sales she makes on monthly basis.",F,150,lender,Agriculture,1
Kenya,"Jane is married with five children, all in primary school. She has not undertaken any formal training. Her husband is a company employee. She started her business in 1992 in order to supplement her husbands income. Her business includes selling green vegetables, particularly the ones in season. She buys in bulk and sells both in wholesale and retail. With a loan from PEMCI, Jane intends to increase her stock in order to improve her profits. Through her business, Jane has been able to help her husband in educating their children, provide them with some basic family needs, and also develop their farm.",F,100,partner,Food,0
Kenya,"Jane is married with five children. All her children attend a public primary school in Isinya, Kenya. She is an active member and also the treasurer of the Nanapae Women group. She is also the treasurer of the merry go rounds in her area. Emily joined her group in 2002 and registered with WEEC the same year.
Jane started a bead work business four years ago with the initial capital amount of USD 100 loaned by WEEC. She makes beautiful belts, mats, dresses, shoes and earrings. She conducts business at the open air market in Isinya .Her stock has now increased from USD 100 to USD150. Jane is seeking a loan of USD 450 to add additional stock to her business.",F,450,lender,Arts,1
Kenya,"Jane is married with grown up children. She is a strong Christian and a member of ACK Church in Mihuti. She is a member of Mathioya Womens Group. She is a farmer and grows tea, coffee and rears a dairy cow. Jane has benefitted from her group. She gets small loans from her group that has enabled her to improve the management of her livestock business. She is able to buy animal feed and get modern veterinary services for her cow. She generates most of her income from milk sales. Jane has applied a loan of USD 150 that will enable her to buy shares from Kenya Reinsurance Company. The shares will be floated on the market in January 2007. The group has approved the purchase of the shares through their new rule passed in their December 2006 meeting. Jane will repay the money in 12 monthly installments.",F,150,lender,Agriculture,0
Kenya,"Jane is one of PEMCIs best clients. She has had two loans so far with a good repayment record. She is forty seven years old, married with four children. She is based in the Malaba air market where she displays and sells her stock of new clothes. The days that are not market days in Malaba, she usually takes her goods to either Lukolis market, Amukura or Kocholia markets depending on which day of the week it is. Each of these markets has their specific day of operation. With repeat loans from PEMCI, Jane has been able to maintain a bigger stock for her business. This has now enabled her to increase her turn over and profit margins which range between KES 500/= and 1,000/= per day. Although she initially thought that with more capital she would have reduced the number of times she goes to Nairobi for wares, this has not been the case. The business still demands that she makes at least one trip every week to the city which is about five hundred kilometers away. Besides this, she is still happy because her trip is ever worthwhile.
With another loan from PEMCI, Jane plans to increase her stock further so as to increase her profits.",F,825,lender,Clothing,1
Kenya,"Jane Jepkoech is 33 years old. She has one child who is in school. She also takes care of her elderly parents; together they all live in Kericho town. In order to meet her family's needs, Jane started her own business of selling rice and nets (blinds) around estates of Kericho town.
Being the sole breadwinner, Jane works very hard to be able to provide for her family's needs. Jane got her business knowledge from her education as an O level lady and through various business-development clinics organized by Ebony Foundation. She has been in this business for a long time and she has gained much experience in this field; however she experiences problems like lack of enough capital to purchase more stock and lack of transport.
In order to solve these problems, Jane is requesting for a loan of US$1000 which she intends to use as follows: US$600 to purchase more rice for sale, US$300 to buy more nets, and US$100 for transport expenses. Jane is a hardworking woman and she will be able to repay the loan.",F,1000,lender,Retail,1 Kenya,"Jane Kabura is 45 years old. She is married with four children. She is a member of St. Emmanuel ACK church in Weithaga. She is an active member of Weithaga Star Women Group. She earns her living through farming. She has a small plot of land that she utilizes. She grows maize, beans, bananas and sweet potatoes. She accesses small loans through the group for developing her farm. She has applied for a loan of $150. The loan will enable her to buy fertilizers, seeds and seedlings. She will also buy dairy feeds and dairy supplements for her cow. The loan will assist her to increase her income through the listed activities. The loans committee has approved the loan. She will repay the loan within a period of 10 months.",F,150,lender,Agriculture,1 Kenya,"Jane Kavata is a 43-year-old born-again widow and mother of five children. She lives in Mlolongo town along the Nairobi-Mombasa highway. In addition to her children, Jane has several other dependents, among them the beloved 13-year-old nephew who she took in after his father disappeared without trace 10 years ago. She also takes care of her aged mother-in-law, who is on medication and needs special food.
Jane started a business selling vegetables in 2001. After two years, she found that the business was not bringing in enough profit, so she decided to close it and sell a small piece of land worth Ksh. 25,000 ($385). With this capital, Jane, who is an expert tailor, bought a sewing machine. She then rented a stall for her new enterprise and began working with a lot of determination. Due to her hard work and skill, she became popular and her business gained more customers. When her stall proved too small, she moved to the bigger one she operates today. Here, she also trains two orphans at no charge. After their training is complete, they will be employes in one of the Export Processing Zones (EPZ) around Mlolongo and Athi River.
Jane has applied for a loan of Ksh 73,000 to buy three sewing machines and school uniform materials, because she now has orders for uniforms for the primary and nursery schools in her area. The repayment period for this loan will be 14 months.
Disclaimer: Due to recent events in Kenya, the security situation in many communities remains unsettled, affecting many local businesses. Lenders to this entrepreneur should be aware that this loan may represent a higher default risk, and should be willing to accept this additional risk in making their loan.",F,1200,partner,Services,1 Kenya,"Jane Kisai is 26 years old and married with four children. She is very active in her community, where she is a member of the Olkenkei Women's Group, the Maasai Young Women's Group and an assistant secretary of a local Gospel Revival church.
She has come to us through the Olkenkei Women's Group for a loan of $375 to buy and nurture two calves for six months. After that time is up, she will sell the calves for a profit, use the proceeds to repay their loan in one lump sum, and devote the balance of the money they earn to community improvement projects.",F,375,lender,Agriculture,1 Kenya,"Jane Malia Kasina is 48 years old and is married with five grown children. She lives at Mlolongo Town along the Nairobi-Mombasa highway. Jane started residing in Mlolongo in 2002 after her husband retired from a company known as Doshs Hardware. They pooled together their income, which included her husbands retirement benefits.
First, they built a rental house comprising of six rooms. These rooms were immediately filled with tenants since the demand for housing was very high at the time. Since her husband had several plots that he had purchased while still in employment, all they had to do was to build the rooms and tenants would occupy them. She managed to take her six children through secondary education with the money from rent.
Since the demand for rental houses is still on the increase in this area, Jane wants to finish the construction of a rental house, which she has been unable to finish. She has approached several banks for a loan, but the interest charged by those banks is too high for her. A friend of hers informed her about the Kiva loans, and Jane therefore came to the Action Now Kenya offices for help.
Jane is requesting a loan for Ksh 70,000 repayable in 12 months from Kiva lenders. She promises to pay without delay. She thanks her lenders in advance.
Disclaimer: Due to recent events in Kenya, the security situation in many communities remains unsettled, affecting many local businesses. Lenders to this entrepreneur should be aware that this loan may represent a higher default risk, and should be willing to accept this additional risk in making their loan.",F,1050,lender,Housing,1 Kenya,"Jane Moraa Mochama is 40-years old. She is married with four children and three other child dependents. The children are all in junior school grades one, two, three, four, seven, and two are in eighth grade. Jane and her family live in Kibera Slums. She is a member of Amua, a woman's self-help group. Jane runs a retail shop and sells assorted merchandise along Otiende Road Nairobi. Paying school fees for all the children is a burden, and it is becoming increasingly difficult to keep them in school and still meet the family's daily needs. Jane would like to expand her business and increase the family income by adding more varieties of merchandise and services. She requests a loan of $1200: $500 to purchase basic foodstuffs (assorted cereals, Soya beans, groundnuts, green grams, and brown rice), $300 for various nutrition-enhancing flours (bean flour, oat flour), $200 for assorted merchandise (mobile accessories, airtime cards from both local mobile services providers), $100 for a table and shelves for the extra stock, $100 for transport.",F,1200,lender,Retail,1 Kenya,"Jane Muthoni Mwangi is 35 years old. She is married and has three children, all still in school. She is an active member of Ngombe Bora Church and a member of ACK Church.
She is a full-time farmer in Nyakaguma village, Maragwa where she grows bananas, maize, beans, French beans and watermelon. She gets income from the sale of bananas, French beans and other food crops that come from her farm. Due to lack of an adequate water supply, she intends to purchase a water tank that will act a storage container for rainwater. She has applied for a loan of USD300, which she is willing to repay within a period of 10 months.",F,300,lender,Agriculture,1 Kenya,"Jane Mwikali Kisina is a 26-year-old entrepreneur and is married with 1 dependent. Her daughter is 1 year old. Her husband sells second-hand clothes at the busy Kongowea Market. Jane holds a certificate in business management from Mombasa Polytechnic, but she was unable to continue after she had her first child and also because of a lack of money for her school fees. Two years ago, with the help of her husband, Jane started baking bread, mandazis, and chips. Her customers basically comprise manual laborers, neighbors, and school children who pass by to buy chips and mandazis.
Through her business she is able to help her husband with the little she earns. Her business has not fully achieved its potential; this is because most of her time she spends with her daughter, who is still nursing. Jane would love to have a permanent area were she could run her business, but due to insufficient funds she has not been able to achieve this. She is requesting a loan of $650: $150 to buy raw materials to construct a stand, $50 to buy potatoes, $100 to buy baking flour, $200 to buy sugar and 4 trays of eggs, $100 to buy cooking oil, and $50 to buy a bigger frying pan. She is a woman with vision and determination. Jane is able to repay the loan.",F,650,lender,Food,1 Kenya,"Jane Nduta Kamau is a 30-year-old married lady. She has three children. One goes to school, and the other two are still too young. Jane is a business woman who sells loose tea. She has been engaged in this business for quite some time. As she is more mature and her business has grown, Jane would like to get a permanent place where she can sell the tea leaves. Going around hawking them from morning to evening is taking a toll on her health.
Jane gets the loose tea from middlemen who get it from Kericho town. Her husband is a casual labourer at a posho mill (a place where corn is ground into flour) within Nakuru town. The income they make is not enough to meet their basic needs. Jane feels that bypassing the middlemen and purchasing the tea leaves directly from the tea factories, she can make more profit, but she lacks capital to purchase direct. She is therefore requesting a loan of US$ 850.Her budget for the loan is as follows:
$500 to buy a stock of tea leaves,
$200 to rent and furnish a place where she can sell the tea,
$100 to pay for the municipal license, and
$50 for transportation.
Jane is a hardworking woman and she will repay the loan.",F,850,lender,Retail,1 Kenya,"Jane Ngina Mugure is 34 years old and a married woman. She has one child who is of school-going age and she takes care of her aging parents. Jane is in the business of selling eggs and local detergents and her husband is a salesman. All of them live together in a three-room house.
Jane would like to expand her business by rearing more laying hens. With them, she is assured of higher profitability. She is requesting a loan of US$ 400 of which she will use US$ 200 to buy layers, US$100 to buy layers' mash and feeding equipment, and US$ 100 to renovate a place to keep the hens.
Jane is a member of Jitegemee group within Ebony Foundation. She is committed and will repay the loan.",F,400,lender,Agriculture,1 Kenya,"Jane Njeri is a 25-year-old single lady. She resides in the outskirts of Nakuru town together with her extended family. Being a school-drop out due to lack of school fees, Jane decided to earn a living by operating community phones to meet the daily requirements of her family, since she is the sole breadwinner.
She has been in this business for over two years and she has gained much experience. The business has been profitable though she faces many challenges. The main ones are lack of enough money to expand the business and pay the municipal council their fee. Jane has the desire to expand her business and also get a permanent premises. She is requesting a loan of US $350 which she intends to spend as follows; US $200 to buy two more phones; US $50 to pay for a license; and US $100 to add more airtime. Jane is hardworking lady and will repay the loan.",F,350,lender,Retail,1 Kenya,"Jane Njeri Mburu is 35 years old and married with four children, all attending school. Her husband is a driver and she has a business selling cereals at the local market. Jane's business supplements her husband's income and together they are able to care for their children and the extended family. With only 1 year's experience, Jane has gained many clients because of her exceptional customer service. Life in the slums is difficult. Jane wakes up early every morning, prepares her children for school, and then goes to the market where she purchases cereals. Sometimes the cereal supply is low and she cannot meet her customers' demands. In general, her earnings fluctuate due to scarcity of the cereals, lack of a permanent location for her business, and less capital to sustain her business. To face her challenges, Jane wants to purchase the cereals directly from the farmers. She also wants to establish a permanent business location. For this purpose she is requesting a loan of $750: $100 for transport, $100 to lease a permanent business premise, $50 for a license, and $500 to increase stock. Jane is a hard-working woman and she will be able to repay the loan on time.",F,750,lender,Food,1 Kenya,"Jane Njeri Njuguna is 38 years old. She is married with three children; one in college and another in secondary school. She lives in Nyakaguma village, Maragwa district, at her farm. She attends the local Catholic Church.
Jane also runs a business of trading bananas from her farm, and purchased from local farms. She sells these bananas when ripe to travelers in the open-air market at the bus stage. She hopes to buy a dairy cow through the group if she gets a loan of USD300. She contributes well to the group revolving fund and abides with the group regulations. She is willing to repay this loan within a period of 12 months.",F,600,lender,Agriculture,1 Kenya,Jane Njoki is 40 years old. She is married and have five grown up children. She is a member of Ngutu Catholic Church. She is the secretary to St. Victoria Ngutu women group. She has worked hard with the other officials to see the group moving to the third stage in-group development. The group has made an impact in the community because of development record that has been witnessed. Jane has applied for a loan of USD 450. She intends to buy a water tank of 4000 litres capacity. This will enable her to harvest water during the rainy period to solve the water shortage problem she experiences during the dry spell. The loans committee has approved the loan. Her repayment period will be 12 months.,F,450,lender,Agriculture,1 Kenya,"Jane Njoki is 62 years old and is married with 7 children. Jane never went to school but due to her hard work has managed to educate all her children. Jane is an active member of the Namelok women group and of the Baptist church Kipayu. She started her steers business in 2002 and with the WEEC loan and sales, she steers after the grazing period. She managed to buy 3 more steers. Due to her determination, she has 12 steers now and the profit she receives enables her to pay her childrens' school fees and to repay her group savings. Jane wants a loan of USD 450 to buy 3 steers for her business.",F,450,lender,Agriculture,1 Kenya,"Jane Njoki is 62 years old. She is married, and has 7 children. Jane never went to school, but due to her effort and will, she educated all her children. Jane is an active member of the Namelok Womens Group and a member of Baptist church Kipayu.
She started her business of steers in 2002 and with the help of WEEC loan and sales, she steers after the grazing period. She has managed to buy 3 more steers. Due to her determination, she now has 12 steers, and the profit she earns enables her to repay her group savings and educate her children. Jane wants a loan of USD 450 to buy 3 steers for her business.",F,450,lender,Agriculture,1 Kenya,"Jane Njoki Kabera is a 30-year-old entrepreneur. She resides in Mombasa and runs a clothing stall within the town center. Her stock consists of mainly infant clothes and undergarments. She began the business 6 years ago and it has given her enough profit to provide for her basic needs. Her stall is aptly located at a busy market where she is assured of plenty of customers who come to purchase her items. She buys the garments directly from the manufacturers and sells them at retail to her clients. The trade is performing well given the current high demand for the clothes. They are inexpensive and durable, making them appealing to many of the residents, who are mostly low-income earners. However, living in the town is expensive and she faces difficulty maintaining steady growth in her business since she is at times forced to spend some of the capital on other non-business related personal matters. Having a small variety of clothes has caused her to lose many potential clients. Jane is requesting a loan of $650 to buy more clothing stock so she can increase her profits. She is committed to repaying the loan.",F,650,lender,Clothing,1 Kenya,"Jane Njoroge, 43, is married with four children; two are in secondary school and the other two children are in college. Jane managed to go to up to secondary school education. Jane is the chairlady of the Elatia women's group. She started her business five years ago, a small restaurant. Her main customers are workers working at a nearby stone-mining quarry. In 2004, she got a loan from WEEC which she used to construct a temporary premises to operate her restaurant in Birika. Since then, there has been an increase in demand for food in her restaurant. It is for this reason that she has applied for a loan of $750, which she intends to use to buy more chairs, tables and to expand the business premises. She is willing to repay this loan within a period of 12 months.",F,750,lender,Food,1 Kenya,"Jane Nyambura is a 22-year-old married lady with three children. One of the children goes to school while the other two are still too young to attend school. Jane is in the business of selling prepared food at a makeshift stall. She also sells charcoal. She uses a lot of charcoal to prepare the food she sells, so she saw an opportunity to venture into the charcoal business. The demand for charcoal has increased which has made her want to invest more in it but she lacks capital. The food Jane sells is renowned for being fresh, and as such, demand for it is high.
With the onset of the rainy season, Jane wants to move from the makeshift place to permanent premises. She is therefore requesting a loan of US$ 1050. This is her budget for the loan:
$400 to buy foodstuffs for her caf,
$100 to rent a permanent place,
$100 to furnish the caf,
$100 to pay for the municipal license,
$200 to buy sacks of charcoal for resale,
$100 to pay for a storage facility for the charcoal, and
$50 for transportation.
Jane has the potential to succeed and will be able to repay the loan.",F,1050,lender,Food,1 Kenya,"Jane Nyambura Mwangi is 40 years old. She is married with eight children; two are in secondary school, five are in primary school, and one is still a young child. She is an active member of St. Monica Women's Group. She grows maize, beans and variety of vegetables. She is a farmer who does mainly crop farming and pig rearing. She has four pigs. Some of her farm produce is consumed by the family, and some is sold to retailers and local consumers at a local market. She has applied a loan of USD 75, which she will use to purchase a pig. The loan committee has approved her loan. She is willing to repay this loan within 10 months.",F,75,lender,Agriculture,1 Kenya,"Jane Nyambura Wanjahi is a 50 year old widow and the mother of seven children. Three of them are in school while four have completed their studies. She has a grocery store and also runs a doughnut making company. She has plans for her doughnut business; she would like to expand it by increasing her production capacity. This would eventually become a fully fledged bakery. She also wants to boost her distribution capacity by employing two assistants. She is requesting a loan of $1000. With this amount she will buy an energy-saving oven (which uses charcoal as opposed to electricity which is expensive) worth $400, she will rent spacious room for production purposes with $200, she will buy the ingredients worth $250 and she will hire two assistants with $150. Eventually she will add more varieties of baked products. She is destined to succeed; she says courage and determination are her driving force.",F,1000,lender,Food,1 Kenya,"JANE NYAWIRA MWANJE is 45 years old and a mother of three children. Two of her children are in school while the third one will be joining school in January 2007. Jane is a maize farmer in Nyandarwa District of Central Kenya. She has practiced maize farming for the last 10 years. She also grows vegetables which she sells at the local market. Jane earns and average of US $25 per week from her small farm. She utilizes the income in providing for her family. Jane would like to expand her farming business by growing more vegetables and potatoes which she can sell at the local market. She is requesting a loan of US $800. Her budget is: US $290 to purchase organic fertilizer, US $150 to purchase seeds, US $150 for pest control and top dressing, US $60 to purchase a sprayer and US $150 to pay for labor costs. This will increase her family income to an average of US $60 per week, enabling her to keep her children in school and continue providing for her family. Jane is a hardworking woman and will be able to repay the loan.",F,800,lender,Agriculture,1 Kenya,"Jane Nyawira was born 32 years ago, got married and has five children. Her husband is a Radio technician who was retrenched sometimes back. Jane is a member of Independent Church of East Africa and actively involved in a youth programme which entails organizing for outreach activities on church issues. She has been very active and a lady with influence at Kioneki Kieru women group. She gets her income from a green grocer which she has been operating for one year after the husband lost his job. The business has enabled her to pay school fees and meet other family financial demands though straining at times. She has received USD205 in the past as a loan from her group and paid very well. She has applied for USD300 to expand her business which has been drained by the school fees she has been paying. She believes once her business is restocked with varieties of vegetables, she will make enough sales in the coming festive season and she will pay fees without much stress.",F,300,lender,Food,1 Kenya,"Jane Ongere is a 44-year old community health worker (CHW). She lives in one of the slums of Kisumu, Kenya, with her husband and seven children (3 sons and 4 daughters). In 1988 Jane started her butchery business. In 2002 she received training by KMET in providing home-based HIV/AIDS care, and was given a drug kit which she was to sell for no profit. Through hard work, perseverance, and the help of two previous KMET microfinance loans, Janet managed to expand her business and build a successful community pharmacy. Being the only pharmacist and community doctor in the area, she provided drugs to people who lived long distances away. Jane's reputation and friendly approach to her customers has earned her respect in the community. Jane has requested a loan of Kshs 50,000 (approximately US$ 714) to further expand her pharmacy and butchery business.",F,725,partner,Health,0 Kenya,"Jane Ongere is a 46-year-old community health worker (CHW). She lives in Kisumu, Kenya, with her husband and seven children (3 sons and 4 daughters). In the year 1988 she started her butchery business. In 2002 she was then trained by KMET in home-based HIV/AIDS care. Through hard work and perseverance aided by four previous KMET/ KIVA microfinance loans, Jane has managed to expand her business and build a successful community pharmacy. Her reputation and friendly approach to her clients and customers has earned her respect in the community. Jane requires an additional US $800 in order to further expand her pharmacy and butchery business.
Disclaimer: Due to recent events in Kenya, the security situation in many communities remains unsettled, affecting many local businesses. Lenders to this entrepreneur should be aware that this loan may represent a higher default risk, and should be willing to accept this additional risk in making their loan.",F,800,partner,Health,0 Kenya,"Jane Otiende is a volunteer member of the Schobac group in Siaya, Kenya. The group has received training from K-MET on home based care patient services and is also part of the K-MET microfinance program. She owns a tailoring shop in Sagam Siaya, Kenya. Her shop is in her home, which she opened in 1983. She makes dresses for men, women and children, which she sells to various market places. She is able to generate Kshs 8000 in profits. Besides tailoring, she grows crops such as maize and beans. Currently, she has over 20 bags of maize which she intends to sell when prices go up. Jane has applied for a loan to add more stock of tailoring materials and invest the remaining amount in her farm. Jane is married to a retired prison warden officer. They have 5 children, all of whom have finished school, though some are still dependents because they are attending college.",F,500,partner,Services,0 Kenya,"Jane Saire is 37 years old, married with four children. Her three children are in primary school, while the other one has yet to start. She is an active member of Enanyor Women's Group, and wants to see the lives of women changed and female children able to attend school like any other child. Jane Saire started her beadwork business three years ago. She has been selling her products in Isinya town due to lack of enough beads stock. Jane Saire is planning to extend her beads business to Maasai market and to the tourists in Nairobi. In order to do this, she would like to be given a loan of USD450 to increase her stock and pay school fees for her children.",F,450,lender,Arts,1 Kenya,"jane Wacui is young at heart hardworking, determined and has proved to be one of the most committed women in Brave Naomi women group. She is the group secretary and has held the group together through her constant training on the importance of being entrepreneur. She has tailoring business in Mukuyu town in Muranga district Central Kenya. Her business offer school uniform and pullovers. She also designs clothes for weddings, suits and other types as per her clients needs. Jane would want a loan to enable her pay school fees for one of her child and a needy child who are in high school. Her business is at a position to repay the loan as she has now completed another loan of 750 usd which she had received from her group. Jane has been involved in charity work by trying to see to it that those children that are orphaned /needy have education opportunities. She will be paying school fees for this one child who is disadvantaged together with her own son. She is one lady who has make a difference in her area.",F,300,lender,Services,1 Kenya,"Jane Wairimu Nduati was born thirty eight years ago and has six children all in school. She practices farming in Maragwa District. She grows maize, beans, and bananas. She has been buying and selling bananas in Maragwa as her main business. This business has proved to be good but is not bringing in enough income to support her family. Jane would like to raise a dairy cow from which she will sell milk to the Kenya Creameries Cooperative. (K.C.C) and this will guarantee her monthly income. To achieve this she is applying for USD300. She is willing repay this loan within the loan term.",F,300,lender,Agriculture,1 Kenya,"Jane Wairimu Wachira is 47 years old. She is married, and her husband is a casual laborer at Nairobi industrial area. Jane has 5 children, and one of them is an adopted orphan. She also takes care of her aging parents. Jane could not educate her 2 children due to lack of school fees.
To support her family, she started a green grocery shop at Sinai, a slum in Nairobi, 3 years ago. Her business has a lot of potential given the fact that Sinai is a densely populated slum. To increase her sales, she is requesting a loan of $400. She intends to use the loan as follows: $100 to put up another vegetable stall a few kilometers from hers and employ one person and $300 to increase her stock. Jane is determined to prosper in her business and raise their living standards. She is a hard-working woman and believes she will be able to pay the loan.",F,400,lender,Food,1 Kenya,"Jane Waithera Kimani is a 69 year old widow. She is the mother of ten children. Seven of her children have already completed school (they are casual laborers in flower farms who earn a minimal wage and their job security is not guaranteed), and the rest are in school. She is also taking care of two of her grand children. She is a door to door saleslady (or a ""hawker""). She sells items like ornaments, sunglasses, handkerchiefs and watches to people at their homes and their work places. She would like to open a stall in a market near a busy bus park to be able to attract more customers and to have a common place where her customers can get to her. Stalls are usually more affordable than permanent shops which have high rent rates. She will also need to add more supplies of her stock so her shop will be able to cater to the increased demand. She is requesting a loan of $1000 to get the resources she needs. She will rent out the stall with $200, she will renovate the stall by adding display counters and shelves with $100, she will buy more stocks with $600 and pay the necessary license fees with $100. She wants to help her family meet their needs comfortably and this business expansion will give her the income needed to do that.",F,1000,lender,Retail,1 Kenya,Jane Waithira Mwangi is 28 years old. She is married with two kids; both of which are in primary school. She is the group secretary of Ngurueni Ngatha and an ACK church member. She is a farmer who practices both crop and livestock farming. She has five goats and two dairy cows that produce five litres of milk. She sells her surplus to her local community. She has applied for a loan of USD75 to purchase a pig. She is willing to repay this loan in a period of 10 months.,F,75,lender,Agriculture,1 Kenya,"Jane Wakuiyu Kangethe is 33 years old. She is married with three children; all are in primary school. She is an active member of St. Monica Women's Group and of Catholic Women Association (CWA). She grows maize, beans and variety of vegetables. She is a farmer who does mainly crop farming and rearing her two pigs. Her farm produce is consumed by the family and the rest is sold to retailers and consumers at a local market. She has applied a loan of USD75, which she intends to purchase a pig. The loan committee has approved her loan. She is willing to repay this loan within 10 months.",F,75,lender,Agriculture,1 Kenya,"JANE WAMAITHA is 29 years old, married and with two children. She is the last born in a family of six and her parents are peasant farmers in Bahati location of Nakuru District. Jane is a college graduate having studied media and communication. After graduating from college in year 2003, Jane decided to set up a community communication business. She begun by setting up a community cinema business where she would lease movies and show them to the community at a fee. She then expanded the business to include a video library where people lease movies from her shop at a fee. She always pays the loyalty fees and she does not deal with pirated items. Jane majors on educative moves that have relevant themes like risks of HIV/AIDS, how to abstain, how to accept, handle, care and live with both the infected and affected. The business has been doing well and Jane makes an average of US $ 60 per week. Jane now wants to expand the business to include a book store and a book leasing library. She is requesting a loan of US $ 2,000. Her budget is: US $ 1,000 to purchase assorted education books, journals and magazines, US $500 to purchase furniture for the reading space, US $ 300 to decorate the library and build shelves and US $ 200 advertise and acquire necessary license. This will increase her income to an average of US $ 100 per week. She plans to utilize the income to keep her children in school and to expand her business further. Jane is hard working and will be able to repay the loan.",F,2000,lender,Retail,1 Kenya,"Jane Wambui Munene is 45 years old and a single mother of four. She had been living with her daughters in a single room before the elder daughter helped her buy a little farm and build a house.
Jane Wambui did not have a good academic background so life has been too difficult and it has been very hard for her to secure a good paying job. Jane didnt like the idea of being idle the whole day so she decided to start her business of selling fruit. To her amazement, people liked her services and customers would arrive only to find both the fruit salad and the juice sold out.
Jane is really pleased with her work and would like to expand her business. She is requesting US$500 which she budgets as follows: US$ 100 to buy more fruits and US$ 100 to buy a big commercial blender/juicer (used for making fresh juice) and US $ 300 to purchase a medium-sized refrigerator for cooling and storage. By doing this, she will be in a position to better take care of herself and free her daughter of that responsibility.
Jane is a member of Jitegemee Group within Ebony Foundation. She is a hard working woman and will be able to repay the loan.",F,500,lender,Food,1 Kenya,"JANE WAMBUI MWAURA is a 37-year-old married with two dependents. All her children are in primary school. She never got the chance to attend high school after her primary level because her parents could not pay for her school fees. She is the sole breadwinner since her husband lost his job about 4yrs ago. She sought casual jobs in order to feed her family; unfortunately she was unable to get a job since she had not attended high school. She started her own business selling food in a make shift stall at Kongowea market. Managing her business at first was a challenge since she understood nothing about planning and budgeting, but after a while she has mastered her skills and this has enabled her to provide her family with basic needs. The main problem she encounters in her business is that some of the customers eat on credit and pay later, thus holding her meagre capital. Sometimes food goes bad since she doesnt have a fridge or a cooler to store the food. As a result, she has not been able to expand her business to cater for the increasing number of customers. She is requesting a loan of US$600. Her budget is as follows: US$200 to buy cooler box, US$150 to buy a modern cooking Jiko, US$150 to restructure her stall at Kongowea Market; US$50 to buy additional utensils and US$ 50 to pay annual council levy. The photo here is a picture of her food kiosk. Her business locality looks promising and most definitely she will be able to repay the loan.",F,600,lender,Food,1 Kenya,"Jane Wamwere is 28 years old and a single mother of two boys ages 6 and 9. Both children are in school in classes one and three respectively. Jane was brought up in a productive agricultural region; she therefore developed a keen interest in selling farm produce. After finishing her studies, she started selling produce with the little capital base she got from her savings and donations from family members.
Jane has been in the produce business for the last eight years, and that is how she has been eking her living. She has been experiencing growth and rise in demand for the produce that she sells despite the rise in prices of agricultural products due to varying climatic conditions. Due to demand she is now specializing in selling green peppers and watermelons. Jane has good business relations and good customer care skills. She is requesting a loan of US$1100: US$500 to increase her stock, US$300 to put a structure where she will be operating, US$200 to buy transportation facilities, and US$100 to renew her license. Jane is an active businesswoman and she is wholly committed to repaying the loan.",F,1100,lender,Food,1 Kenya,Jane wandiga was born in 1966 and a single mother of 2. she is a catholic and joined women of faith- group whose objective was to empower active women who were active but limited by financeThe women were trained how to save and borrow small loans by WEEC and their lives took a different direction. After the training we realized that we have potential and able to borrow and start small businesses. Jane is a tailor and has taken 3 loans of USD 21. She has bought materials for school uniform. She wants to take USD 75 to buy more materials because demand for school uniforms is high. She is a lady with a positive altituted and she believes she will make it in this life.,F,75,lender,Services,1 Kenya,"Jane Wangari Muhuhu was born in 1969. She is married with three children. All of her children are in secondary school. She is an active member of the Morning sunshine women's group. She joined WEEC in 2003 and she is the discipline mistress of the group. She has made the group grow in strong way. Jane practices dairy farming and currently, she has two dairy cows that produce an average of 30 litres of milk. She sells her milk to the Kiambaa Dairy Farmers Co-operative Society Ltd at $0.29 per litre. The income generated has enabled her to pay school fees and build rental houses. She has applied for a loan of $900, which she intends to use to add two more rental houses. She is willing to repay this loan within a period of 12 months.",F,900,lender,Housing,1 Kenya,"Jane Wangari Mutagia is a 35-year-old married woman whose two children are not currently in school because her family is not able to pay their fees.
For the last seven years, Jane has worked in an open-air market selling fruit. Demand is high, but her income is not what it could be because she regularly runs out of produce to sell to her customers. She would like to increase her income to better support her family and someday allow her children to return to school. Jane has come to us for a loan of $800 to meet this goal. She will use $600 to buy more fruit to sell in her shop, $100 to renew her shop's license and the remaining $100 for transportation.
Jane is a hard working woman, and we are very confident that she will be able to repay the loan.",F,800,lender,Food,1 Kenya,"Jane Wangari Ndungu is 36 years old and married with one child. She lives in Nakuru town and is the sole breadwinner as her husband is currently unemployed. She is a business entrepreneur and owns a hotel in Nakuru town which she has been operating for a long time and has gained a lot of experience. Her busiest time is at lunch time when she has to serve different people from different walks of life. Her cooking skills are renowned which has created a huge client base for her. This has led her to start thinking of expanding her business. However, the challenge is a lack of funds to meet rising demands. To expand her business, she is asking for a loan of US$ 400 which she intends to use as follows: US$350 to buy more cooking ingredients and US$50 to employ someone to help her. Jane is confident and determined that she will be able to repay the loan.",F,400,lender,Food,1 Kenya,"Jane Wangari, aged 50 years, is recently widowed, having lost her husband in January 2007. She has two children and two grand-children, who all depend on her, because her children are only able to get casual jobs once in a while. Jane sells cooked foods, within the Kiambiu slums, including beans, black beans and githeri, a mixture of maize and beans boiled together. Jane previously had an embroidery business which collapsed after one of her sons was involved in a road accident, where she spent all she had including business money on his medical expenses. This son eventually died, leaving Jane and her other children absolutely poor. Jane had previously borrowed some money from one of the big Micro-finance institutions in Kenya, to enable her to run this business. Due to the medical problem in the family, she was unable to continue with the loan repayments, hence could not borrow again, since she was now viewed as a risky client. Jane started off her current business in early 2006, after she borrowed a tin of beans from a businessman, who allowed her to cook and sell the beans, then later make the payments for the borrowed tin of beans. From the same proceeds, she managed to buy her first tin of beans, which she continued to cook, hence setting up the business. Jane is now a member of the Vumilia group of Action Now Kenya, in the Kiambiu slums, where she has so far accessed two levels of loans, of Usd. 57 and Usd. 85, both of which she used to increase her stock, and which she has since repaid successfully. Currently Jane has only one sufuria (cooking pot) of her own, while the other two she has are borrowed, and the owner has actually been asking her to return them. Jane therefore seeks to buy two sufurias of a bigger size than what she is currently using, together with two jikos (cooking stoves) big enough for the pots she will buy. The biggest benefit to Jane will be that she will be able to return the borrowed pots, and also acquire bigger pots that will enable her to make more food, as is required by her customers. She also intends to introduce the sale of boiled green maize (corn) and green grams, which her customers have been requesting her to make. As part of goodwill, Jane reserves the bean stock she gets from the boiled beans and githeri, to give to some of the women within the Kiambiu slums, who are too poor to buy food. They use this stock to make a stew for the family meal, hence their children dont have to sleep hungry as long as Jane is there. A loan of $75 which will be given to her in kind (i.e ANK will purchase the two pots and cooking stoves for her), will assist her not only to achieve her objective of preparing more food, but will also enable her to have more stock to serve to more people in need. The repayment period for this loan will be between 4 8 months.",F,75,partner,Food,0 Kenya,"Jane wangeci Maritu is 30 years old. She married with three children aged 12, 7 and 5. All are in school. Jane reached grade 12 but didn't continue with education due to lack of income; she ekes out a living by selling second hand shoes. Among the types of shoes she sells are: sandals, boots, and sports shoes for kids. From the business returns she supports her family. She wishes to add more stocks in order to make more sales. She has requested a loan amount of US $ 500. Her budget is:
US $ 300 to purchase boots
US $100 to purchase sandals
US $100 to purchase stocks of sports shoes
This business is a member of the Upendo Group which is borrowing a loan from Ebony. They are using group borrowing. Group borrowing, also known as solidarity borrowing, is a mechanism that allows a number of individuals to provide collateral or guarantee a loan through a group repayment pledge. The incentive to repay is based on peer pressure; if one person in the group defaults, the other group members makes up the payment amount.",F,500,lender,Retail,1 Kenya,"Jane Wangui Ngwareni is a 38 year old mother of two children. She assumed all the responsibilities for her family upon her husbands demise a few years ago. She earns her living selling shoes and clothes along a busy road within Mombasa. Her merchandise consists of a variety of both men's and ladies' clothes and footwear. She displays her wares on a small stall along the sidewalk where buyers come to make their selection. The items are stylish and fashionable, and thus are well liked by the customers. Her business has been operational for seven years and her earnings have been useful in providing for her basic needs.
Jane's type of business experiences a great demand especially during holidays and festive seasons. Her main problem has been raising capital to keep the business running at a profitable level since most of her income is used to cater for her personal needs. She also incurs high costs for the space on which her stall is located as well as paying a daily business license fee. She requests a loan of US$650 to invest towards the growth of the business. The funds will be used to purchase more clothes and shoes for sale.
Disclaimer: Due to recent events in Kenya, the security situation in many communities remains unsettled, affecting many local businesses. Lenders to this entrepreneur should be aware that this loan may represent a higher default risk, and should be willing to accept this additional risk in making their loan.",F,650,lender,Clothing,1 Kenya,"Jane Wanjiku Kimani is a mother of five, and the eldest is in secondary school in form three. She is a committed member of Chambumba Women's Group. For a long time she relied fully on her husband, who is a mason, until she started a business of selling vegetables at Soko Mjinga market in Ongata Rongai. She has been experiencing increased customer demand because Ongata Rongai's population has been increasing for the past few years. She has therefore applied for a loan of USD150 to help her buy more vegetables for her open-air green grocery. She is willing to repay this loan within 10 months.",F,150,lender,Food,1 Kenya,"Jane Wanjiku Maina is 38 years old and single with two children. One of the children is in junior school while the other one is in high school. She sells secondhand jackets and socks. She has been in this business for five years now. She would like to add more stock to her business. In particular, she is planning to buy a bale of shorts and ladies trousers. She is therefore requesting a loan of US$350 which she plans to use as follows: US$250 will be used to buy one bale of shorts and another bale of ladies trousers, US$50 for transport and US$50 other business expenses. She is a focused lady and capable of paying the loan.",F,350,lender,Clothing,1 Kenya,"Jane Wanjiku Njoroge is 40 years old. Jane has four children. Two of the children are still in school while the rest have completed school. She is separated from her husband. Jane specializes in selling and electronics and second hand clothes. From the earnings she gets from her business, she supports her young daughter who got a child right after school. Her eldest child sells electronics while she sells the second hand clothes. Jane was not able to finish her high school education and she would not like the same to happen to her children. She has three years of business experience. Her customer base is growing rapidly. She would like to inject more money in her business but lacks the means to do so since the catering for her familys basic needs takes too much of the money. It is in this regard that she is asking for a loan amount of US$700. This will be used to boost her business. She is a focused woman and capable of repaying the loan.
Disclaimer: Due to recent events in Kenya, the security situation in many communities remains unsettled, affecting many local businesses. Lenders to this entrepreneur should be aware that this loan may represent a higher default risk, and should be willing to accept this additional risk in making their loan.",F,700,lender,Retail,1 Kenya,"Jane Wanjira is 32 years old, married, and has three children. Her husband is a driver with a local bus company and barely makes enough money to support the family. Wanjira's first business was selling cows, which she closed down in 2001. Using the funds she got from selling the cows, she financed her college education course in hair dressing. She borrowed some money from her husband, which she used to acquire a dryer, a steamer, and a blow dryer. With these resources she started up Jawabu Salon.
So far, Jane has managed to employ one hair dresser, whose services together with her own have helped to retain and attract more customers. Due to this increase in customers, she realizes the need to expand her business to meet the demand in her home area in Githunguri in Ruai. The business prospects are good, especially during the December holidays when her business booms. Jane is especially looking forward to this December's increase in business.
Over the years she has lost a lot of customers to her competitors because she has limited business equipment. With regards to this problem, she is requesting a loan from Kiva lenders for Ksh 50,000 ($700.00), which she will repay within a period of 12 months. With this loan, she will purchase an additional dryer, steamer, blow dryer, and increase her stock of cosmetics. This will enable her to reap more profits from this additional investment.The benefits will not only be enjoyed by her family, but they will trickle down to the families of additional hair dressers she will employ.",F,700,partner,Services,1 Kenya,"Jane Wanjiru Mbugua is a 44-year-old single mother with one child who is in junior grade 6. She lives in a single room with her daughter close to the Kongowea market in Mombasa city, where she sells second-hand clothes, specializing in ladies tops and blouses. She has been doing this for 10 years now. Jane has to meet all the family needs, being the sole breadwinner; pay school fees, healthcare as well as other basic needs from her earnings.
She is a natural entrepreneur and is popular. This has increased her customer base. She would like to expand her business to meet her clients needs but lacks capital. She requests a US $ 500 loan: US$400 will be used to buy three bales of ladies' tops and blouses and US$100 to be used for transport. This will increase her earnings enabling her to save for her daughters high school education, which is only two years away. She is industrious and will repay the loan.",F,500,lender,Clothing,1 Kenya,"Jane was born 30 years ago in Lower Kabete, Kiambu. She is single with one child who is in a private primary school in Kiambu. She is a religious person and an active member of Lower Kabete Catholic Church. After completing her secondary education in late in 1990s, she joined a beauty college in Nairobi where she graduated after two years. She passed her exams very well and got started her own salon. It has been a matter of services and hardworking in her job. She really tries to give her customers quality services.
She has a plan to buy high quality equipment which will enhance the quality in her salon. Due to her hard work, Jane had managed to buy two dryers and some business assets within the last six months. She is promising to make her repayments on a monthly basis.",F,150,lender,Services,1 Kenya,"Jane was born 30 years ago in Nyathuna in Kiambu. She is married with 3 children. She completed her secondary education in the late 90's and joined a secretarial college in Nairobi for two years. She later worked for one year and was not satisfied with the money she was earning and decided to shift to the business world. She joined WEEC in 2000 and was among the first women in Kiambu to join the program. Her first born is in form two in Kirangari High School while the last two boys are in upper primary school. Jane, together with her chairlady, has worked hard to make the group strong and cohesive.
For the last 10 years she has been engaged in dairy, poultry and horticulture faming. Currently she has 5 grade cows and about 50 chickens. The cows produce an average of 50 litres daily and she sells this to Limuru Dairy Farmers Co-operative Society, Ltd., which is affiliated with Kenya Co-operative Creameries (KCC), at USD 0.3 per litre. She also supplies eggs and horticulture products to hotels.
Jane is very happy because it is from these business earnings that she has managed to raise and educate her children and she is seeing her life changing. Jane wants to increase her production of milk by adding another dairy cow and animal feeds if a loan of USD 1200 is given to her. She intends to make her repayments on monthly basis within a period of 12 months.",F,1200,lender,Agriculture,1 Kenya,"Jane was born 38 years ago and a single mother of three children two of whom are in primary school now. She is very active and responsible in Gatangara Pluto women group. She runs a salon business and grows beans, maize, and bananas for family consumption. She started her saloon business with a small loan she received from WEEC. It is doing well as it has been supporting her family but she needs extra source of funds to pay school fees for one of her son who will be joining high school by next year. She is requesting for USD150 for secondary and she will be left struggling to pay for the others who are in primary school.",F,150,lender,Services,1 Kenya,"Jane was born 42 years ago, is married and has four children. She is strong member of Weithaga Stars women group and a religious person who believes in divine power. She is an industrious woman who farms coffee, bananas, French beans, and keeps dairy cows and goats as the main source of income. They work in their farm with her beloved husband. She has two children who are in high school. Education is the only precious gift Jane and her husband can offer to their children. The income they get from their farm is always not available to pay for school fees and she borrows a loan to top up and left repaying when the children are back to school. Jane is able to fetch around USD200 on monthly basis. She is requesting for loan of USD 300 which will enable her to clear the fees and be left to service the loan and even save for the next term. This will give her peace and give her children comfort in their studies without being sent home as it is the culture of schools when there are fee balances. She is very lucky to have bright children and she feels education is the precious thing she can afford to give her children.",F,300,lender,Agriculture,1 Kenya,"Jane was born 46 years ago, is married and has been blessed with two children. She is an active member of Gituya Women Group and has contributed a lot to its present performance. She has served as a group secretary for the last three years because the women have realized the potential in her. Also she is a dedicated member of Anglican Church of Kenya, where she is a senior member of mothers union. Her main source of income is farming. She keeps dairy cows, beef cattle and pigs. The dairy cow earns $100, she sells her beef cattle on quarterly base at a price of $450 and pigs are also sold on quarterly base depending with their age. She has recently sold four piglets and used the money to pay school fees. Jane wants a loan to renovate animals shed, and buy enough feeds for the pigs as they are will calve in the next month. At the same time she will buy dairy meal, vitamins and other protein nutrients feeds in order to increase milk production.",F,750,lender,Agriculture,1 Kenya,"Jane was born 50 years ago, married and has 10 children. 4 of them are in secondary school, 3 have finished high school and the rest are in primary school. This is quite a heavy burden but Jane with her husband have learnt to work as a team in their farm to feed the family. She joined Kamwiyono Powerful women Group with an aim of substituting some of the income they get from their farm. She earns approximately USD300 per month from the vegetables, fruits, and milk sales they make. This money can barely pay for all the childrens school fees. Most of the time she borrows a loan for fees and left repaying with her farm sales when the children are already in school. Currently, she has cleared school fees loan for the term and she is hoping to get another for the next term of USD 750and she will top it up with vegetable, fruit and milk sales for next month. Jane believes she will do what she can to educate her children despite the financial challenges. God has enabled her to take all her children to school and she has set a good example of hard work in her area",F,750,lender,Agriculture,1 Kenya,"Jane was born 55 years ago, is married and has 4 children. Her children have cleared high school and 2 are in college. She has been the group chairlady since its formation in 2002. She is a responsible member and has demonstrated this through her leadership skills. She has benefited a lot from group trainings and small loans which have allowed her to educate her children through secondary education.
She has a small plot of land where she practices subsistence farming. She is planning to buy another dairy cow since the trade has favoured her because of the revival of the dairy industry, where she takes 15 litres a day for USD0.28. She is very determined to feed the cow with high-yield feeds for a high milk production rate. She will repay her loan on a monthly basis.",F,650,lender,Agriculture,1 Kenya,"Jane was born 55 years ago, is married and has 4 children. Her children have cleared high school and 2 are in college. She has been the group chairlady since its formation in 2002. She is a responsible member and has demonstrated this through her leading skills. She has benefited a lot from group trainings and small loans which has allowed her to educate her children through secondary education. She has a small plot of land where she practices subsistence farming and rear 3 goats. She is planning to sell the goats and to up the money with the loan to buy a dairy cow. She is very determined to feed the cow with high yield feeds for high milk production rate. To her, dairy cow will be a crossover in her life.",F,300,lender,Agriculture,1 Kenya,"Jane was born in 1978 in Kiambu Kenya. She is married with two children. She is a dedicated Christian and a member of Catholic Women Association (CWA).She joined WEEC in 2002 and has since then serviced 2 small loans granted by WEEC. In 2004 , she bought a dairy cow which produces an average of 10 litres daily. She sells her milk to Kiambaa Dairy Cooperative Society Ltd at the rate of USD0.7 per litre where they are paid on monthly basis. Her family life has been transformed and she hopes it will be better after adding another daily cow. To her she promises to meet her repayments on monthly installments.",F,300,lender,Agriculture,1 Kenya,"Jane was born in 1946 in Kanunga Kiambu. She is widowed with four children. All her children are working and studying in Dallas in North America. Her husband died of brain cancer in 2003. He was a banker in Kenya Commercial Bank. All Jane's husband's benefits went to off-set hospital bills at the Nairobi hospital where he was hospitalized and costs were very high. She joined WEEC in 2002 and was the chairlady until 2006 when she retired. She is a role model to many young women. She is a mobiliser and a motivator. She played a great role in forming and mobilising Kiambu Groups. Jane keeps dairy cows in Zero grazing. Currently she has five dairy cows. She sells her milk to Kiambaa Dairy Cooperative Society at USD 0.3 per litre of milk. She intends to buy a dairy cow when given a loan of USD 750.",F,600,lender,Agriculture,1 Kenya,"Jane was born in 1947 in Kiambu Kenya. She is married and a mother of 4 children, 3 of which are in universities within Africa. The last born is taking mass communication studies here in Kenya. She is a retired primary school teacher. Jane joined WEEC in the year 2002 and she asserts that her membership to WEEC has been of great benefit. Mentioning a few ,she says that the loans granted to her has helped her complete 10 rental rooms in Mwimto, Kiambu which has helped her to raise the school fees for her children. She also practice farming and rears 3 dairy cows. Jane needs a loan of USD 450 to buy another dairy cow to boost her milk supply to be able to raise fees for the next year. She is very determined to work hard and give her children the best she can. She prefers repaying her loan on monthly basis",F,450,lender,Agriculture,1 Kenya,"Jane was born in 1947 in Kiambu, Kenya. She is married and a mother of 4 children, 3 of which are in school. She is a retired primary school teacher. Jane joined WEEC in the year 2002 and she asserts that her membership to WEEC has been of great benefit. Mentioning a few reasons, she says that the loans granted to her have helped her complete 10 rental rooms in Mwimto, Kiambu, which have helped her to raise the school fees for her children. She is to complete her loan in this quarter.
She also practices farming and rears 3 dairy cows which produce 50 litres that sell at USD 0.28 per litre. Jane needs a loan of USD 750 to buy another dairy cow and animal feed to boost her milk supply to be able to raise more for the fees. She is very determined to work hard and give her children the best she can. She prefers repaying her loan on a monthly basis.",F,750,lender,Agriculture,1
Kenya,"Jane was born in 1952 in Kiambu Kenya. She is married with five children. Two have completed high school while the other two are in college. She is a devoted Catholic Church follower. She joined WEEC in the year 2002 and has actively participated in all group activities. She has been granted six small loans and has set a good example in repayments. Jane has lots of praises to WEEC for what they have done for her towards poverty eradication. She grows vegetables which she sells in wholesale at Gikomba and the local market. She has purposed to plant more seedlings to maximize her produce. She is very hardworking and she wants to grow varieties of vegetables and fruits. Her preference is to plant broccoli, Lettuces, green pepper, godgets and French beans. She is hoping to get a loan to implement her plans.",F,450,lender,Food,1
Kenya,"Jane was born in 1955 in Kiambu, Kenya. She is married with six children. The youngest two boys are in college in Nairobi. The others are married and out of school. With other group members from her group, they joined WEEC in 1999. They were among first members to join the program. She is a dedicated member of ACK Church.
She has been a farmer since 1974. She rears chicken, pigs and dairy cattle. Together with her husband they also practice horticulture farming on a small scale. Jane is always proud to be a WEEC member because she feels that WEEC loans have changed her from nobody to somebody. She has really moved out of poverty. Given a loan of USD 1200 she will buy one-day old chicks, chicken feed and medicine.",F,1200,lender,Agriculture,1
Kenya,"Jane was born in 1964 in lower Kabete; Kiambu Kenya. She is married with four children. She is a dedicated member of Presbyterian Church of East Africa. (PCEA) Mwimuto.she is also the group secretary and helps her group to keep good and accurate records. After completing her secondary school education, Jane got married and ventured into the business world. She operates a retail shop in Mwimuto. She also grows Maize, beans, cabbages and pumpkins on her plot. Jane joined WEEC in 2002 and has been trained in group and business management and revolving fund operations. She is now a happy woman as she is able to keep her business records. She has raised and educated her children from income earned from her businesses. She is hoping to get a loan of USD 750, to stock her retail shop and improve her farming through the income after sales.",F,750,lender,Retail,1
Kenya,"Jane was born in 1966 in Lower Kabete Kenya. She is married with five children. Two are in college while three are in secondary and primary school. She is the secretary of the Torch women's group and is an active member of Mwimuto Catholic Church. Jane joined WEEC in 2002 and has since then serviced six small loans among them, USD 235, 400 and 450 for school fees. To Jane WEEC loans have really improved her life, being born to a poor family. She can now be counted among middle class families, if not well-to-do.
She started poultry farming after being trained by WEEC in business management and poultry farming. She buys and sells chicks from Ken Chick Company, which provides her with pesticides and feed. She keeps at least 300 chicks at any one time. She buys at 40 cents and sells at US$4.20 after feeding them for some time. Given a loan of US$750, she will improve her chicken coop and add more chickens.",F,750,lender,Agriculture,1
Kenya,"Jane was born in 1966 in Western Kenya. She is single with two children who are in a secondary school in Western Kenya. She is a committed member of Kawangware Catholic Church and a choir member. Like her fellow colleagues, she joined WEEC after being told by her colleague, Catherine Ndigai Karanja, a Torch member, how WEEC and KIVA have boosted many businesses in the area.
Jane sells second-hand clothes at Kawangware Shopping Centre, outskirts of Nairobi. She has been in that business for the last 15 years. Given a loan of USD 600, she intends to add 3 more bales of clothes and improve the premises. She is willing to repay this loan within a period of 12 months.",F,600,lender,Clothing,1 Kenya,"Jane was born in 1969 in Kiambu. She is married with five children, two in secondary school and the other three still in primary school. She is a dedicated member of Kapsabet Catholic Church in Kanunga and a member of Catholic Women Association (CWA) Nairobi Archdiocese. Jane has been the group secretary since its formation in 2002. She assists the group in keeping good updated financial records. For the last twenty years, Jane has been a dairy farmer. She also raises pigs. Jane has raised and educated all her children from income earned from her two businesses. Jane also grows vegetables in her plot on a small scale. She sells her milk to Kiambaa Dairy Cooperative Society LTD at USD 0.3 per litre of milk. Given a loan of USD 600, Jane intends to buy a dairy cow to increase her milk production.",F,600,lender,Agriculture,1 Kenya,"Jane was born thirty three years ago, is married and has three children in primary school. She practices farming at Ngurueni Division. She grows beans, maize and rears four pigs. The pigs business, which she proposed to the group members to embark on, has been very good. She would like it to grow so that buyers will buy more from their zone. She would like to buy 2 piglets to add on her herd. She is willing to repay this loan within a period of 10 months.",F,75,lender,Agriculture,1 Kenya,"Jane was born thirty-eight years ago and is married with nine children in primary school and one in secondary school. She is an active member of St. Monica Ngurueini Women's Group. Jane is a farmer who raises maize, beans and rears four pigs and three goats. She sells her products seasonally. She is the process of selling off her pigs and is requesting a loan of USD75, with which she wants to purchase an extra pig once she sells off the pigs. She is willing to repay this loan within a period of 10 months.",F,75,lender,Agriculture,1 Kenya,Jane was given her first loan and paid it back successfully. She is now in need of another loan to buy more chickens for her poultry stock. She would like to buy their feed and medicine as well. She is very determined to work hard and has set a good example to her group members. Jane is very focused and her life has improved. She is very grateful to the lender who provided funding to her farming business. She is willing to repay her loan within the period of twelve months.,F,1200,lender,Agriculture,1 Kenya,"Jane-Mary is a trained tailor. She started her business in 2001, a year after finishing her training. She operates a tailoring shop at her local communitys training centre. Hence she has access to the customers who are mostly market women. She also makes school uniforms. At the same premises, she sells fresh fruits in order to supplement her tailoring income. Through her business, she has brought tailoring services to her community. With the loan of $75 from PEMCI, she wishes to expand her tailoring shop and purchase materials in order to meet the demands of her customers which are increasing day by day.",F,75,partner,Services,0 Kenya,"Janerose is an active member of the PEMCI family. She is married with 9 children, all attending school. Her business involves supplying milk in the village and nearby markets. With this business, she helps her husband meet the demands of the family. She has been in the business for four years. She has dairy cows, though they are local breeds. She also buys milk from other farmers and sells it at the nearby markets. With a loan from PEMCI, she plans to increase her production by opening a dairy product shop. Through her business she has gained a great deal of knowledge and skill to the benefit of her fellow women.",F,450,partner,Agriculture,0 Kenya,"Janerose is married with Eight children that are all in school. Her husband is a retired labour officer. She started her Business in 1999 and depends on it to support her familys needs. With the help of her first loan of $90 from PEMFI, she was able to stock her business and support all her Children in Primary School. With the second loan of $150 from PEMCI, she will boost her stock in order to improve her income and service to her local community and also start an animal trading business.",F,150,partner,Food,0 Kenya,Janerose is Married with Eight children. All are in school. The husband is a retired labour officer. She started her grains and flour Business in 1999 to support her familys needs. With the help of her first loan of $90 from PEMFI she was able to stock her business and support all her Children in Primary School. With the second loan of $150 she plans to boost her stock further to improve her income and service to her local community. She also plans to start an animal feed Business to broaden her income base. She hopes to get a bigger loan in future to support her grain selling business. She has a big vision of her future.,F,150,partner,Food,0 Kenya,"JANET ACHIENG MAGERI is a 23-year-old business entrepreneur, married with one child. She lives in a two-roomed house together with her family, and while her husband is an electrician, she is engaged in the business of selling maize on a large scale. She has been in the business for more than three years and thus she has gained a lot of experience and she is also well conversant with the business. Despite the fact that she has to undergo various problems such as: shortage of maize especially during dry seasons, price fluctuations, inadequate funds, and transportation problems due to poor roads thus hiking of fares, Janet has been able to go through all odds to ensure that she meets the basic needs of the family.
Janet however wants to grow more in her business and thus some of the ideas she has are to purchase maize direct from the farmers and also she wants to venture into the business of selling second-hand clothes so that in case of price fluctuations in maize, she can be able to sustain both businesses and her family. She is requesting a loan of US$ 1000.She has her budget as follows: US$ 150 to cater for transport, US$ 300 to buy more maize, US$ 200 to purchase second-hand clothes, US$ 150 to cater for transport, US$ 100 to get licenses for running the business, and US$ 100 to secure a place for selling the second-hand clothes. Janet is a good business lady and she will be able to repay the loan on time.",F,1000,lender,Clothing,1 Kenya,"Janet is 29 years old. She is married with 3 children. Janet is the youngest member of St. Jude women's group; however, she is very actively involved in the savings and she takes her loans and pays very well. She is encouraged by the older women who are very proud of her. Janet leads the group in prayers and songs before the settle for the group work. She is good in her part.
Janet is involved in farming. She grows maize and beans for home use. She sells vegetables that she grows at the local market. Her plan is to intensify the vegetable farming. She has applied for a loan of USD 150 to buy high-quality seeds, fertilizers and watering cans. She intends to prepare more seedbeds to enable her sell the seedlings to other farmers and plant the rest in her farm. Her loan has been approved. Her repayment period will be 12 months.",F,150,lender,Agriculture,1 Kenya,"Janet is 34 years old. She is married and has three children. Janet is a trained secretary having taken a course in computer applications. In year 2004, Janet teamed up with her husband to start a secretarial and computer bureau. The business involves typing and printing various items for customers including letters, business cards and events programmes. Other services include photocopying and lamination of documents. The couple earns an average of US $ 65 per week from the business. They utilize the income to provide for the family and to support two orphans at a local children orphanage. Due to establishment of more small offices near Janets business premises in Nakuru City, demand for her services has doubled in the last six months. Janet wants to expand the business in order to meet the increasing customers demand. She now requests a loan of US $ 1,500.Her budget is: US $ 800 to purchase a computer, US $ 400 to purchase a photocopier, US $ 150 to purchase a printer, and US $ 150 to purchase additional stationary. This will increase the family income by US $ 70 per week and will enable Janet keep her children in school and save enough to purchase a piece of land to build a family home in future. She is capable of repaying the loan well.",F,1500,lender,Services,1 Kenya,"Janet is a 27-year-old married lady with two children. She lives in Mlolongo, a small town located along the Mombasa-Nairobi highway.
Janet was previously employed at Sana Industries in Nairobis industrial area. While still under employment, she did a part-time business making shower caps and petticoats at home, and selling these to her fellow employees. During this time, Janet was saving money, and so in 1999 she left her employment and rented a stall in Mlolongo town to start her own business. She chose Mlolongo town because her brothers lived there, and she had also conducted her own research and found that there were few tailors, yet the population was still growing. For this reason, she also decided to settle there, a decision she has not regretted to date.
Janets initial capital was Ksh 20,000 (USD 300), which she had saved from her previous employment, which she used to buy a sewing machine and an assortment of fabrics. Together with her husband, who is also a tailor, Janet continues to make clothes for her ever-increasing number of customers. Janet needs to expand her tailoring business and is therefore requesting a loan of $750. Janet will use this loan to have an increased stock of cloth materials, and this will enable her to employ another assistant and hence create employment opportunity for one person in her community. She also believes that this loan will greatly increase her income.",F,750,partner,Services,0 Kenya,"Janet Onyinga is a 44-year old dedicated community health worker (CHW). She lives in one of the slums of Kisumu, Kenya with her husband and eight children. Prior to 2002, she earned her income by selling second-hand clothes. She was then trained by KMET in home-based HIV/AIDS care and was given a small stock of drugs as a start up kit. Through her own initiative and hard work and supported by KMET Janet intends to use the loan to expand her business at the community pharmacy. As there is no chemist in her area, people come from quite a distance to buy drugs from her pharmacy. She moved her business to this more prominent and spacious location (pictured) two years ago in order to meet the growing demand. Her friendly demeanor and approach to her clients and customers has earned her respect and a good reputation. The community likes her work and has grown accustomed to her, thus ensuring the successful continuity of her business.",F,500,partner,Health,0 Kenya,"Janet Otunge is a 39-year old entrepreneur and mother of five school-aged children. She and her husband live in Rongo, Kenya. Janet began her current business of selling second-hand and new clothes 2004. She specializes in womens clothing: skirts, dresses, casual and formal tops. She periodically travels to Nairobi, where she is able to purchase a good variety at wholesale prices. The prime location of her business on a busy street, her 3 years of experience and her friendly interaction with customers has enabled her to establish a good clientele base. Her customers return to her shop for a wide selection or to make requests for certain styles. Janet plans to expand her business with her next loan of US $800. She will use the money to invest in a trial stock of new ready-made clothes, increase her current stock of second-hand clothes and put the remaining funds into her savings so that she may continue to purchase new stock even when cash flow slows due to delays in customers payments.",F,800,partner,Clothing,0 Kenya,"Janet Wangari Gakumo is a 43 year-old married woman. Her husband works as a casual laborer in a ship in Mombasa on the Kenyan coast. She lives with her unemployed daughter and the rest of the family in a relatively modest residence in Mombasa town. To earn a living, she runs a stall at the food market selling in wholesale and retail to customers. She sells fruits and vegetables such as passion fruits as well as potatoes. She has been doing this business for the last four years and her earnings have managed to supplement for all her familys basic needs. The items sold are popular as she sells in the main market in Mombasa supplying the whole of Mombasa. Recently, the business has been performing poorly. She would like to increase her income so that she can make more gains out of this trade and enable her to operate at a profitable level. Janet is requesting a loan of US $1,000 to enable her to buy more stock of vegetables and fruits. The proceeds will enable her to meet her familys basic needs and help her complete her home-building project as well as repay the loan. She is focused and will repay the loan.",F,1000,lender,Food,1 Kenya,"Janet was born 40 years ago in Muranga, Kenya. She is married with six children. Three of them are out of school while three are in secondary school. She is a dedicated member of the Mihuti Catholic Church. She actively participates in all church and group activities. She is also a member of the Mothers Union. Janet joined the group in 2003 and registered with WEEC the same year. For Janet, loans received from WEEC have really boosted her business of dressmaking and dairy farming. She also grows maize and beans. In her three acre piece of land, she has also planted coffee as a cash crop which is not very reliable. She has raised and educated her children from income earned from dressmaking and farming. Given a loan of USD 150, Janet intends to buy more materials for making dresses.",F,150,lender,Clothing,1 Kenya,"Janet was born 59 years ago in Kiambu, Kenya. She is married with five children who are all in college. The last born boy is schooling in Makerere University in Uganda. Janet is a retired civil servant and a small scale farmer. After retiring in 2002, she joined WEEC. She started rearing pigs and her business grew step by step, as she was able to take bigger loans. In 2004 she took a loan of USD1000 which was repaid within 10 months and she was able to buy more pigs. Her business now the pillar in her family and it has enabled her to pay school fees for her children although straining. Maintaining pigs in a good health, one has to have proper feeds and medicine which helps them to grow in good state. To her getting cash to purchase this is a bit difficult. She is hoping to get the loan and buy the medicine and feeds which will maintain them in good health that they will be marketable after 4 months. She would like to meet her repayments on monthly basis.",F,300,lender,Agriculture,1 Kenya,"Janiffer Wangui is 38 years of age. She is married and has 3 children. Janiffer is an active member of ACK church and her faith is extended to her group, where she has become a spiritual leader. She encourages the women during their group meetings and even visits them in their home. She has been a great inspiration and a good example to other members of her group.
Janiffer is an active member of Muringa Jehovah Jeri women's group. She contributed during its formation by enlightening the women about the importance of joining the revolving fund groups. She is regarded with a lot of respect.
To generate income, Janiffer practices farming. She has a cow that provides her with 5 litres of milk that she sells at Gaitheri market center.
Janiffer has a plan of starting a small milk shop, where she buy milk from the other dairy farmers at wholesale prices and selling to the local community. She intends to put up her business near the market. During the market days, she will boil some of the milk and sell it to the marketgoers who go to the market very early in the morning.
She has applied for a loan of USD 300. The loans committee has approved her loan, and her repayment period will be 12 months.",F,300,lender,Food,1 Kenya,"Japheth is a 36-year-old married man with three children. He also supports his nieces and nephews and a brother who is now in high school.
Japheth began his business career in a very small way, by frying mandazi (a kind of doughnut that is a favorite in Kenya). One day he approached the foreman at a construction site near where he was making mandazi and asked whether he could cook and serve lunch to the workers at the construction site. He did this for one year and started to put aside some savings. He later approached the same construction company and asked to whether he could serve lunch to the workers at another site. He continued this service until construction was completed eight months later.
While still serving meals, he approached the construction company and expressed an interest in supplying stones used in the construction. They agreed, and he banked a profit of about Ksh. 110,000 (USD 1570). He began to buy stones from a nearby quarry and supply them to the Lalji Company. When construction ended and the company closed down, he had managed to set aside Ksh. 400,000 (USD 5715), which he used to buy a second-hand printing machine. He has been running his printing business for the last five years.
Japheth now would like to expand his business by buying a computer, printer, and scanner. Currently he outsources the computer work and typesetting. This ends up being quite costly, so he doesnt realize much profit from just the printing. Eventually he will be able to pass on the savings to his clients, increasing his business and benefiting the community. Japheth is requesting a loan of USD 1200, which he will use to buy the equipment. He intends to repay it over a period of 1218 months.",M,1200,lender,Services,1 Kenya,"Jared Ouma Bwana is 20 years old. Born in a polygamous family with many children, he hardly went to high school due to financial problems. When he could not get to school he decided to come to town and seek employment. He found a Good Samaritan who taught him how to do bicycle repairs. It is a booming business in this area because bicycles constitute a large percentage of the public transportation in his area. His ambition is to get out of poverty by utilizing all of the opportunities available. Currently, he does not have enough capital to buy the equipment required for repairs, but he has many clients. He also wants to start operating a bicycle transport business. He will employ his friend who is unemployed. He is requesting US$400. He will use US$150 to buy more equipment, US$100 to buy bicycles, US$100 to buy bicycle parts, and US$50 to pay the local government license fees. He is a young talented guy, well-natured, and will soar to great heights. He will be able to pay back the loan from his income.",M,400,lender,Services,1 Kenya,"Jasyline is 24 years old married and has 2 children. She is a spiritual person. At community level Jacyline is a strong member of the religious based group that assist children from very poor families. The group provides these children with food, clothing and at times they pay school fees for those who have passed and are selected to join secondary schools. The group offers moral support and spiritual to children. Jasyline is also the secretary of Kiret Naboisho w g. Through the group she has attended various trainings on leadership. The training has enabled her to maintain proper books for her group. Through the group revolving fund Jasyline has been able to save USD 3 per month. She has in turn accessed credit that she has invested in her beadwork business. Jasyline makes USD 142 per month from the sales of her ornaments. With a loan of USD 300 Jasyline would be able to double her sales. She intends to increase her selling points to include Isinya and Maasai market in Nairobi",F,300,lender,Arts,1 Kenya,"Javan Kibitok is 46 years old, married with five children. All five are in school and are performing well. He has great passion for dairy farming and has been in this business for 12 years now. He would like to expand his business by adding another cow to the ones he has. This is because recently he acquired orders from outside town to supply milk, cheese, and yoghurt.
Javan is requesting US$ 500: this will cover the cost of acquiring a high-yield milk cow. With additional income Javan will be better able to cater for his family financial obligations, especially the education of his children.",M,500,lender,Agriculture,1 Kenya,"Jecinta is 34 years old mother of two boys aged 10 and 7. The children are attending primary school. She and her husband operate a business which supplies livestock fodder to farmers. They set up the business after receiving a loan of US $ 350 from Eb-F. Jecinta handles marketing and sales while her husband deals with sourcing and supplies. They own a half acre piece of land from where they operate the business. They are based in Engashura -a peasant settlement in Rift Valley where land sizes are small and below one acre. Because of this small size of land people are not able to practice large scale farming and majority of the residents are involved in milk production through small zero grazing units (Keeping a few dairy cows in enclosed shades and feeding them to get milk for sell).The farmers have to buy fodder to feed the cows and Jecinta is one of the few traders supplying the fodder to the peasant farmers. They are currently supplying 10 households with the fodder but they have an additional 20 house holds in their waiting list. Jecinta and her husband want to take the opportunity to supply these additional house hold and she is requesting for a loan of US $ 650.Her budget is US $ 200 to extend her fodder holding shade, US $ 400 to purchase an additional 8 tones of fodder and US $ 50 for transport. Jacinta will use the income generated to keep her children in school and to meet her ailing mothers medical bills. The couple is hard working and will be able to pay back the loan.",F,650,lender,Agriculture,1 Kenya,"Jecinta Muthoni Kamau is 45 years old and married with six children. Two of them are still in school while four have completed their studies. She is a business lady operating a green grocery stall in an open air market. She has been doing this for a long time, as she was left to take care of her children by her husband, who resorted to drinking. She has now been left with two children to educate. She appreciates that she is independent and she is working hard not to ever beg. She has not been able to expand her business because she uses what she earns to pay school fees. The fact that education is more expensive now motivates her to work hard to ensure that her two children get the best. She is requesting a loan of US$550. She will use US$450 to buy more stock, US$50 to pay for the local government authority license fees, and US$50 to reinforce her stall. She already has pending orders from schools and institutions, and she will use the money to finance these orders. She is hardworking, organized, and capable of paying back the loan.",F,550,lender,Food,1 Kenya,"Jecinta Waithera Mwangi is 25 years old, single with two children. Both her children are in Junior School. She is the sole bread winner for her family. Jecinta lives in a two-bedroom house with her children. She is also taking care of her aged mother and father.
Jecinta would like to expand her business but money is the limiting factor. She is currently selling avocados and would like to start selling a variety of fruits. She would also like to add to her stock of avocados. She is requesting US$ 375.
$ 100 will be used to add more stock of avocados, $130 for other fruits, $145 to cater for transport, storage, arranging shelter for her stall, and other expenses. The loan will allow her to boost her income and hence raise her living standards. She is determined and capable of repaying the loan.",F,375,lender,Food,1 Kenya,"JEDIDAH WAIRIMU KINGORI is 47 years old, she is married and a mother of 8 children. Five of the children have completed school but only two have been lucky to get employed. The other three still depend on Jedidah for their upkeep. Jedidah and her family are maize farmers and they have been cultivating the crop for the last 20 years. The family owns some 5 acres of land in Nyandarwa District of Kenya but due to insufficient capital, they cultivate only 2 acres. The amount of maize they cultivate is mostly for the family consumption and the family survives by doing manual jobs at other peoples farms. Jedidah wants to cultivate the remaining three acres to earn a living for the family and to enable her keep the three children in school. She is requesting a loan of US $ 800.Her budget is: US $ 300 to purchase farming inputs, US $ 150 to plough the land, US $ 200 to expand her granary and fence the farm and US $ 150 to meet labor costs. She is a hard working woman and will be able to repay the loan.",F,800,lender,Agriculture,1 Kenya,"Jemimah Mwerezi is a 37-year-old mother of three. She is married and lives together with her three children in a three-roomed house. Mwerezi is a tailor and her husband makes sofa sets. Mwerezi was using her neighbors sewing machine, and on realizing that she was doing quite well the neighbors came and took the machine. She was left with most of her clients clothes unfinished. Her husband was also disadvantaged since he too used the same sewing machine to make the sofa set covers. The saddest part of it is that all their work was done in their sitting room since they had no money to lease a place. Both Mwerezi and the husband see no future since currently neither of them is working and they would like to do something about it. She wants to buy a sewing machine to continue with her work and at the same time lease a place which they can both use for their work. Since both had customers they are certain of making enough returns. She requests to be funded with $1200 to restart their business. She is intending to buy two sewing machines worth $350 each and sewing accessories worth $300, and to lease a premise worth US$100 and pay $100 for an operating license. They are very hardworking and able to repay the loan.",F,1200,lender,Services,1 Kenya,"Jeneth Nasiali is 42 years old and is married. She has six children and looks after three orphaned dependents from her sister. She lives within the Kibera slums. Jeneth learned tailoring skills in 1995 through training at the Makina Market (a market area within Kibera with several businesses, including tailoring). After the training period was over, Jeneth continued to work at the place she was training in order to perfect her skills. She was later loaned Ksh 6,000 ($87) by her husband to start a tailoring business which she promised to pay after her business picks up. She has so far managed to settle this loan.
Jeneth currently hires a sewing machine for Ksh 1,000 (USD15) per month to use in her business. It is becoming increasingly expensive to hire and, worse still, the machine she hires may not always be in good condition and therefore she incurs extra expenses in doing the repairs. Jeneth currently operates her business from her home, as she is in the process of acquiring a rental place for her business.
Jeneth now wants to acquire a machine of her own for independence. The cloth material and the machine will help to boost her business through attracting more customers to her stall, which is the place she desires to move to after acquiring the machine and the material in kind. Jeneth is hard working and determined to make her business successful. She does not believe in losing hope. She believes that the sky is the limit for her. She hopes to create job opportunities through employing people from her community to help in her stall.
Given a loan of USD 175, which is repayable within 8 14 months, Jeneth will acquire a sewing machine to support her business.",F,175,lender,Services,0 Kenya,"Jeniffer Ngendo Ndungu is a married woman who lives with her husband and one child in their two-roomed house. She sells charcoal at a local market while her husband sells fruits in a different market.
Jennifer has been in this business for the last three years and has created a large clientele base most of whom buy in small quantities. Jeniffer would like to move to a better place due to constant harassment by municipal country officers. They want her to pay the same municipal charges as people with large stalls and this means she might end up making a loss rather than profit. On the other hand she is sure that if she gets a better stall she will earn enough to take care of her family better and even pay what is due to the municipal country.
Therefore, Jeniffer is requesting a $400 loan to lease a stall worth $100 and use the additional $300 to buy more charcoal. Jeniffer is a hardworking lady and is able to repay the loan",F,400,lender,Retail,1 Kenya,Jennifer is 33 years old and is married with 2 children. She is an active member of the Naserian women group as assistant secretary. She is also a choir mistress of a baptist church. She wants to start a beadwork business in the Kapiro shopping centre and decided to apply for a loan of USD 150 for that purpose. She intends to pay the loan back in a span of one year.,F,150,lender,Arts,1 Kenya,"Jennifer is 33 years old. She is married with 2 children. She is also an active member of the Naserian Womans Group, and is the assistance secretary. In addition, she is a choir mistress of the Baptist Church. She wants to start a beadwork business at Kapiro shopping centre, and she has decided to apply for a loan of USD 150 for that purpose. She intends to pay the loan in a span of one year.",F,150,lender,Arts,1 Kenya,"Jennifer is a farmer. Jennifer is one of the few clients that have relied on the stock market to alleviate poverty in their families. She buys shares and sells them when they make profit. Her husband has supported her and they have been able to educate their four children up to college level through this business. There are companies that are floating their shares in January 2007 and Jennifer is planning to buy. Besides this business she grows beans and other cereals on large scale and rears 2 dairy cattles. Her harvest is due in March 2007, which will earn her approximately USD1000 plus milk sales. Mean while she will use her milk income to service the loan she will receive. She believes she will domineer in this business and make a difference in her family life. She would like to make her repayments on monthly repayments.",F,150,lender,Retail,1 Kenya,"Jennifer Muthoni is 47 years old and married. Muthoni reached grade 12 but never continued with her education due to lack of school fees. She ekes out a living by selling fruits. Among the products she sells are edible goods that are locally available and traditional fruits such as avocados. At the moment, she is selling avocados because they are in season. From the business returns she wishes to support her family. She is requesting a loan amount of US $550: US $400 to purchase a sack of avocados, US $ 100 to transport them and US $ 50 to renew her municipal license. She is able to repay the loan. .",F,550,lender,Food,1 Kenya,"Jennifer Saida Mulei is a 30-year-old, married woman with three children. Her children are all in school, junior levels four, five and two. She lives with her husband in Kibera slums where she is a member of the METAMETA self help group. Her family includes her elderly parents, and they all live in a two-room house. The parents are ill and need special medication, which costs a lot of money. The two rooms are too small for this family of five. To increase their income, they bought a vehicle so they can offer public transport services in their area. They used their savings for renovating the interior of the vehicle, but they cannot start their business until seat belts are installed. They lack the funds for this last needed work, so Jennifer is requesting a $725 loan: $550 to purchase the seat belts and $175 to fit the seat belts. This will enable them to operate a commercial vehicle and increase their income so they can improve their living standards, educate their children, and continue to help the partents.",F,725,lender,Services,1 Kenya,"Jenniferr Wairimu Njoroge is aged 45 and is married with three children. She is a businesswoman and engages herself in the business of selling charcoal. At the same time she buys timber in bulk and sells it to those who buy in bulk and use them to prepare furniture. Wairimus husband has been a tout for the last four years but left the job four months ago after seeing that his wife is doing well in her business. As a result of this she was left to be the sole breadwinner of the entire family. Wairimu has to do all the household work and at the same time work to provide for her family needs. Despite having her own children, Wairimu takes care of her diseased sisters children also. Life has been so hard on her and she feels that she would rather provide capital to her sister's children to start a business. Though she already has a stall where they can start selling mitumba (used clothes), her capital is insufficient. Thats the reason why she is requesting to be funded with $900. She is planning to buy four bales of used clothes (for men, women, and children) for $530. She will also spend $70 to renovate the stall and $300 to buy thirty sacks of charcoal. This will help her better provide for all her dependents. She is capable of repaying the loan.",F,900,lender,Retail,1 Kenya,"Jeremiah Kimei Cheruiyot is 62 years old, married, with five children. He has nine other children he is taking care of whose parents died from a long illness. Most of them are hard working and he is farming with them. He is an administration chief in the area where he lives. He also does livestock raising and cash crop farming. He depends on the income from these two activities to educate his children and other dependents. His farming business has also created employment for his four dependents.
He is constantly researching on how to improve farming in order to generate more income and create more employment. He feels that he will be able to improve his farming by adding more high bred livestock and using quality seedlings. He is requesting to be given a loan of US$1200 to implement the plan. He intends to add two more cows with US$600 and expand his cash crop farming by buying farm inputs worth US$ 200 and seeds and pesticides worth US$ 400. He is very hardworking and determined and capable of repaying the loan.",M,1200,lender,Agriculture,1 Kenya,"Jeremiah Miruka is 30 years old. He is married, and has three children aged nine, six and three years. He also takes care of his brother in law who lives together with his family. They reside in Kayole, an informal settlement on the Eastern side of Nairobi. Jeremiah started his hardware shop in March 2007. Before this, he was employed in a hardware store since 2004, after which he decided to open his own shop. Jeremy (as his friends call him) was not new to business, since he had tried his hand at running his own business immediately after he had completed his high school, back at home in Kisii, in Gucha District. There, he started a small shop at his home where he sold an assortment of fruits and vegetables. However, he felt that he could do more in order to get a higher income, and that is when he decided to come to Nairobi to build his business. While in Nairobi, he lived with his uncle, and he immediately started off another shop selling potato chips (fries) and bananas. Once this business picked, he left it for his wife to run, and it continues to run today. He often helps his wife in the shop in the evenings before closing for the day. Jeremy now runs a hardware shop that he started off early this year, using some savings amounting to Ksh. 200,000 (USD 3075) that he had put aside from his chips business, together with some of the money he got from his previous employment in the hardware shop. As the business grows, Jeremy has found that he needs to have more stock in his shop, since there is an overwhelming demand from his customers who are mainly carpenters, drawn from the environs of Kayole. Since his operational capital is quite low, he finds that he is not able to buy goods in big bulk, hence he misses out on good discounts. At the same time, he is forced to travel often to the centre of Nairobi City in order to provide what his customers require. Jeremy is therefore requesting a loan of USD 1175, with which he intends to buy additional stock for his business, including wood, ply wood, paints, veneer, block boards, velvet materials, cushions and nails. He believes that this loan will enable him to have a higher operating capital, and hence enable him to buy more things in bulk. He will also spend less on transport, and of course will receive better discounts. He intends to repay the loan within a period of 8 months.",M,1175,partner,Agriculture,0 Kenya,"Jeremiah Mwangi Kibe is 30 years old, married with 3 children. He has a primary education background that requires further mentoring after getting assistance from the programme. He ekes out a living through farming where he tries to sustain his family through farming seasonally. That is not enough to provide for his family. He has a driving license but has never been employed due to unequal structures like education level and therefore his driving is part-time and the pay is meager. He would like to expand his farming to create more income for his family but lacks the funds. He requests a US $800 loan. This is his budget: US $200 to hire more land; US $400 to buy fertilizer and seeds; US $100 for labor; US $100 for transport.",M,800,lender,Agriculture,1 Kenya,"Jeremiah Waweru is a young Kenyan father aged 36 with 4 children. He also lives with 2 orphan children of his late brother who perished 2 years ago.
Jeremiah started his business 4 years ago after accumulating savings from his former work place. He currently operates a small retail shop in the neighborhood where he resides with his family, located in Bungoma district. He would like to expand his business and start operating a wholesale shop in future.
As he is the primary bread winner for his family, it would enable him to support both his children and his wife, who has a low-paying job. With the little profit that he gets from the business, Jeremiah still struggles to feed, clothe, and educate his children. With the help of his loan, Jeremiah will be able to increase his stock and boost his monthly sales.
Disclaimer: Due to recent events in Kenya, the security situation in many communities remains unsettled, affecting many local businesses. Lenders to this entrepreneur should be aware that this loan may represent a higher default risk, and should be willing to accept this additional risk in making their loan.",M,4150,lender,Retail,0 Kenya,"Jerioth is 27 years old. She is not married and lives with her three children in a rented single room house. Her parents are peasant farmers and Jerioth pays college fees for her 24 years old brother and her 26 years old sister. Jerioth dropped out of primary school for lack of school fees and was employed in a local hair dressing salon as a cleaner. She had a passion to learn hair dressing and pleaded with her employer to teach her. She is a quick learner and within six months she had learnt the skill and was promoted from doing cleaning work to a hair dresser. She remained in this employment until August 2004 when she left the City to take care of her sick mother back in the rural area. When her mother recovered, Jerioth decided to start her own business. She approached Eb-F and received a loan of US $ 650 to start a hair dressing business in her rural area. The business did not do well because most people in the rural area could not afford such services. Eb-F advised her to consider moving the business to Nakuru City. In February 2005, she relocated the business to Section 58 in Nakuru and because of her creative hair designs, she has attracted many female customers to her salon. Jerioth has employed two people in her business but due to lack of enough equipment she is unable to attend to all her customers on time. Her business experiences a long queue and she has to work up to very late leaving very little time for her children. Jerioth would like to increase the hair dressing equipment in her business to enable her serve more customers faster. She is requesting a loan of US $ 1,200.Her budget is US $ 421 to purchase 2 blow driers, US $ 556 to purchase 2 steam driers and US $ 223 to purchase materials. She will employ one more person. She is a good entrepreneur and will be able to service the loan with out a problem.",M,1200,lender,Services,1 Kenya,"Jerusa Andisi Shamala, 43, is a widow with five children aged 30, 22, 25, 18 and 15 years. All are not in school. She earns her living selling fruits in Kawangware market. Jerusa has a good number of customers and wishes to expand her business in order to accommodate the growing number of customers on daily basis.
Jerusa is requesting a loan of US $ 850. Her budget is as follows:
$270 to purchase avocados,
$240 to purchase oranges,
$140 to purchase boxes of green apples,
$100 to purchase crates of mangoes, and
$100 to pay for transport services.
Jerusa's business is viable because of her marketing and communication skills. She has been able to create demand for her fruits but she needs to expand the business to be able to cater for her family's needs. She is quite capable of repaying the loan.",F,850,lender,Food,1 Kenya,"Jerusa Apiyo is 38 years. She is married with six children. She also takes care of her sisters two children who were orphaned after their mother died of AIDS. Jerusa started her tailoring business in 1992. She has been operating her business from Raila Estate within the Kibera slums. She got the training from her friend whom she used to assist at her business. Her friend was happy due to her willingness to learn and determination to do tailoring. Whenever she would have many orders like for weddings or school uniforms, Jerusa would assist her at a commission of Ksh.25 (Slightly less than half a dollar). She also taught Jerusa some embroidery skills. With this little earning and her determination, she managed to save enough money to buy a piece of material for making clothes. She also borrowed a loan of USD 214 from K-rep, a micro-finance institution in Kenya. With this, she added more materials and was able to hire a sewing machine that she uses to date. After a while, she was unable to continue borrowing from them because the repayment rates were too steep for her to keep up. Jerusa has been experiencing a hard time in her business due to the increasing fee for renting the machine. Given a loan of 150 USD she will buy her own machine, which she will use for both tailoring and embroidery. It will enable her buy more materials with her savings. She will also be able to make uniforms to the school going children within Kibera slums at a lower cost, and she will also employ one assistant in her business. She also hopes that in future, she can get additional loan to enable her buy an extra machine to be used by her assistant, rather than to continue to rent the machine. The loan repayment period will be 6 12 months.",F,150,lender,Services,1 Kenya,"Jerusha is 36 years old, single with one baby boy who is in Primary School. She is very active, ambitious and does not mind not having a ""white collar"" job. She has a business where she sells used clothes in the nearby markets; also she has rented a plot of land where she grows maize, beans, vegetables and she rears a dairy cow. She works very hard to meet the family basic needs and pay fees for her child. Her income is not stable but she hopes it will improve when she restocks her business. She will be able to meet the demands of her customers. On a monthly basis she is able to get a net profit of about USD100 and this basically covers a small portion of her family needs. She has the will and the courage to improve her living condition and she is optimistic that she will pay the loan.",F,150,lender,Clothing,1 Kenya,"Jerusha is 50 years old. She is married with 5 children. She is a member of the St. Emmanuel ACK Church in Gatangara and Gatangara Venus Womens Group. Jerushas economic activity is farming. She grows bananas, maize and beans. She has been trained on the importance of the savings and credit scheme. Jerusha saves USD3 per day. She accesses credit from the revolving fund to develop her farm. Jerusha has applied for a loan of USD 75. She will buy hybrid maize seeds, fertilizers and beans for planting. Her loan repayment record is good. The loans committee has approved the loan. She will repay it within a period of 10 months.",F,75,lender,Agriculture,1 Kenya,"Jescar is a middle-aged, single mother with 6 children of her own and 3 orphans from her sister who died 4 years ago. As a single mother, Jescar has to struggle hard to ensure that she puts food on the table. She started her second-hand clothes business 5 years ago after working for a hospital in Nairobi as a cleaner. With the accumulated savings that she got from her earnings, Jescar was able to start her business with two bails of clothes. She now purchases 6 bails of second-hand clothes every week to sell to her regular customers, who are mostly women.
With the little profits that she earns, Jescar is still able to feed, clothe, and educate her children who are still quite young. With the help of the loan, Jescar will be able to purchase more bails of second-hand clothes to enable her to increase her business sales. Her long-term business vision is to diversify her business to a wholesale unit.
Disclaimer: Due to recent events in Kenya, the security situation in many communities remains unsettled, affecting many local businesses. Lenders to this entrepreneur should be aware that this loan may represent a higher default risk, and should be willing to accept this additional risk in making their loan.",F,1175,lender,Clothing,0 Kenya,"Jesinta Wambui Gatimu is a 42 year old single mother of three boys. All her children go to school. Being a single parent, the responsibility of taking care of the family belongs to her. Jesinta has been involved in the fruit business for sometime now. She buys fruit, mostly oranges and mangoes from the wholesellers at the market then resells them to consumers. Her makeshift stall is located on one of the streets within Nakuru town. She sets her stall up every morning and packs everything up late in the evening. She would really like to rent a permanent premise, but lacks the funds to do so. The makeshift premise has meant that she cannot increase her stock because if she does not manage to sell all the fruits during the day, she is forced to look for storage facilities which she cannot afford at the moment. She would also like to buy more fruits to sell. She is requesting a loan of US$600: US$350 to buy more fruit, US$200 to rent a premise and US$50 to pay for a license. She is hardworking and capable of repaying the loan.
Disclaimer: Due to recent events in Kenya, the security situation in many communities remains unsettled, affecting many local businesses. Lenders to this entrepreneur should be aware that this loan may represent a higher default risk, and should be willing to accept this additional risk in making their loan.",F,600,lender,Food,1 Kenya,"Jessica Adhiambo is a 41-year-old single parent. She has five children, three of whom have completed school while two are still in school. Jessica sells oranges in Kongowea, the vibrant populous market in Mombasa. She trained as a tailor but could not find employment.
Jessica is centrally located, and given the large numbers of buyers in this market, she never lacks customers. On a good day she is always back home early. Despite her success she has been unable to expand her business and increase her revenue. This is mainly because she is always revolving the same small capital, since all her profit is used to meet family expenditures.
This is the start of tourist high season in Mombasa and Jessica would like to take advantage of this opportunity and increase her stock. With more sales she will increase her income. She is therefore requesting a US $600 loan. With the increased revenue she will comfortably meet her household demands and repay her loan.",F,600,lender,Food,1 Kenya,"Joan is 33 years old, married and has two children. Her family depends on a small piece of land where she grows vegetables and beans. Joan has benefited from the group and WEEC by accessing small loans and this has increased her capacity to look after her family without relying on her husband. She is a dedicated agri-business woman; she applies the business skills she has attained over the years from group trainings to make money from what she produces. The following gives her income: sale of milk, tealeaves and vegetables from her small farm. For some time, she has been selling Napier grass from a rented small piece of land. From her farming, she is able to earn about USD150 monthly but this is not enough to sustain her family. Right now she plans to rent a bigger plot of land to plant more Napier grass vegetables for sale. As the business grows, she wants to buy another dairy cow to increase milk production. Joan is optimistic that she will get a break through and live a happy life.",F,225,partner,Agriculture,0 Kenya,"Joan Wangui Kimorugo is 26 years old. She is married with two children. One of the children goes to school while the other is still young. Joan is a charcoal vender in Pondamali, a densely populated area in Nakuru town. Her husband Masek is a businessman who deals in reselling of cereals. With their joint efforts, they are able to pay rent for the single room they live in, but it is a challenge to meet the family's needs.
Joan has been able to attract many customers since she is a hard worker. Charcoal is in high demand and she believes that if she invests more money in the business, she will be able to make enough profit to better support her young family. She is therefore requesting a loan of US$ 750. Below is her budget for the loan:
$ 400 to buy sacks of charcoal,
$ 100 to pay for storage facilities,
$ 50 for transport, and
$ 200 to boost her husbands business.
Joan is very serious and she will be to repay the loan.",F,750,lender,Retail,1 Kenya,"Joan Wanjiku Mwaura is 65 years old. She is married with four children and all of her children have finished their studies. She is an active member of Kazi Bora Women's Group. She joined adult education in the 1980s where she learned how to read and write. She did not go to school. She is a member of Kanunga Catholic Church and a chairlady of St. Samuel small Christian community. She likes her colleagues from her group who have joined WEEC since 2002, and she contributed to informing them about WEEC and how they can benefit from it. In January 2007, she finished paying a loan of USD600 given by WEEC. She is a member of the loan committee.
Joan has been a dairy farmer for the past 30 years. She has raised and educated her children from the income she earned from dairy farming. Currently, she has three dairy cows. She sells her milk to Kiambu Dairy Farmers Co-operative Society Ltd at USD0.3 per litre. Given a loan of USD1200, she will buy another dairy cow and animal feed. She is willing to repay this loan within a period of 12 months.",F,1200,lender,Agriculture,1 Kenya,"Joash Ouma Opondo is aged 33 years and married with 2 boys, all of them in school. His education background is up to O level, while his professional background is a tennis coach. He earns his living as a tennis coach in the neighboring Kibera suburbs. For Joash, coaching as a career and profession has been his passion and the only source of income where he can supply his daily bread as the family's sole breadwinner. Now he wants to educate his two boys and support his family.
He wants to expand his business by buying more tennis equipment, since where he conducts his lessons, which is a community recreational centre, lacks the necessary equipment needed for coaching. From experience, he says it is a game liked by the young in Kibera Estate and the neighboring environs. Joash is likely to succeed because he will also introduce the sports in schools and colleges around therefore boost his income. He requests a loan amount US $ 1,200 start an indoor table tennis and lawn tennis training programme. The budget is: US $ 100 to purchase books for the library and theory class US $ 1000 to purchase the tennis rackets, balls, training strings, tennis bags, accessories, backpacks, apparel US $ 100 to modify the premises The business is viable.",M,1200,lender,Services,1 Kenya,Joe is a married father of 4. He has struggled to keep up with an employment job but living in the urban area it is costly for him to maintain his family. He hopes that this loan will help him to apply his training in tailoring thus earning more income.,M,200,lender,Services,1 Kenya,"Joel chamdany chepkoech is 44 years old. He is married with four children. He is also supporting three other relatives whose parents are poor. His children are all in private school. He earns his living from selling charcoal and farming. His core business is in charcoal selling. He choose the charcoal selling as a business because it has a high profit margin after sales and it has minimal expenses.
Currently he has been buying the charcoal from middle men, who get the charcoal from forests in rural Kenya. This has been reducing his profit margins greatly, because the middlemen sell the charcoal to him expensively. He wants to be buying the charcoal directly from its source and the same time increase his stocks in order to be efficient in his business.
He is requesting for a loan of US$ 850, with this amount he is planning to buy stocks of charcoal with US$ 600, he will rent a room which he will store the stocks with US$ 100 and he will transport the stocks with US$ 150. With an increase in his income he will be better able to afford to educate his children.",M,850,lender,Retail,1 Kenya,"Joel Kimani Karanja is 45 years old. He is loving father of four children. Two are in elementary school while two are in high school. He managed to get the basic tertiary education. But with the skills he has shown in his dairy - zero grazing farming, one can hardly tell. He has two healthy, good-natured cows, which produce high quality milk. Therefore his produce has a ready market all year round. At the moment his challenge is that he lacks adequate commercial feed for the cows, and this is because he does not enough capital for the business. And as the cows are growing they need more feed. He is humbly requesting to be funded with a loan of US$700. He will purchase more commercial feed to sustain him through six months with US$600, and he will vaccinate the cows with US$100. He is an inspiration to many farmers around him. His business will be boosted by the loan.",M,700,lender,Agriculture,1 Kenya,"Joel Mwangi Macharia is a 39-year-old married businessman. He has four children; two of them are in school and two are still too young to go to school. He runs a carpentry shop while his wife sells Mali Mali. Despite this, they live in a one-room house in Ponda Mali slums (Nakuru, Kenya).
Their living standards are very low but Joel would like to see this change. He would like to set up his wife in a stall where she can have a better customer retention as opposed to her mobile sales as a peddlar. This will increase her income and assist Joel to improve his familys living standards but unfortunately he has no funds. He is requesting a loan of $500. His budget is as follows: $400 to purchase Mali Mali stock; $100 to acquire a stall.
Joel Mwangi is a good entrepreneur and will be able to repay the loan.",M,500,lender,Retail,1 Kenya,"Joel Otieno is a 38-year-old father of three children. Joel lives with his family in Rongo, Kenya. He started his dressmaking and tailoring business in 1988. Through his hard work he has managed to acquire two sewing machines. He specializes in making women's and mens clothes. The central location of his shop, together with nineteen years of doing good business within the community, has earned him a good reputation and a wide customer base.
Joel successfully repaid one previous microfinance loan from K-MET. With a second loan of US $ 700 from K-MET, he can expand his business to include a training site for students to learn dressmaking. He intends to purchase 2 more sewing machines and increase his stock of dressmaking materials so he can meet the growing demand of customers.",M,700,partner,Clothing,0 Kenya,"John Atieno Abuonji is 34 years old. He is married and has four children. Three of his children are in junior school and the other one is too young and has not yet started attending school. His wife sells phone accessories and her proceeds are used to cater for their family expenses.They have rented a double room in Nakurus Ponda Mali estate where they live with their children.
John sells phone accessories and also repairs phones. He acquired his phone repair knowledge from a friend who is trained in that skill. He has been in the business for the last four years and it has been giving him sufficient returns to be able to cater for the rent of his accessories shop and for his family house. He is able to support his children in terms of their basic needs. He also takes care of his aging parents who live in their rural home, Siaya.
John's business has been doing well and he now wants to expand. He has identified a convenient place where he can open another accessories shop. He has also studied the market viability and he is sure of getting a ready market. There are not many people doing the same kind of business in the area and he is sure he will be able attract customers.
John is requesting a loan of US$ 500 to start up the new accessories shop. He intends to use $100 to furnish his shop, $50 for transport cost to purchase inventory, and $350 to buy phone accessories for various kinds of phones. He intends to do phone repairs from both shops as demand dictates.
John hopes that he will be able to get more returns from this expansion of his business and be able to educate his children in better schools. He also hopes to move to a bigger house with his family.",M,500,lender,Retail,1 Kenya,"John Emamai Ejakait is thirty nine years old and married with four children. He is an O Level dropout from school because his family could not afford school fees. This problem stems from the polygamous nature of the Teso community. His father has many children and is unable to meet all their needs.
To meet his daily needs, John runs a chain of two butcheries in Malaba. To supplement his income, John is assisted by his wife who runs a small caf in the area. John usually buys as many cattle as he can afford from far parts of western Kenya and Eastern Uganda, including from Soroti District, Kumi and Mbale. He slaughters one cow per day until he has now more cows. He then begins the process again. He prefers to buy castrated bulls because they tend to weigh more and therefore generate more profit. With more than ten years of experience, John says that he now understand the seasons of his business and the prevailing challenges.
With a loan from PEMCI, John intends to increase the number of cattle that he buys each month. He says this will increase his profits this festive season and also make his trips to purchse cattle more productive.",M,825,lender,Food,1 Kenya,"John is married with three children, all in primary school. He completed his secondary schooling but has not undertaken any formal training.
John started his business in 1999 and meanwhile has employed seven people who work hand-in-hand with him. His business is doing well since its located on a busy street. Through his business, he has been able to provide for his family and also provide employment to other people.
With this loan of $450 from PEMCI, John intents to increase his stock and improve his bakery. His clients come from as far as Uganda. The demand for his products is high and we are confident of his ability to service the loan. Worthy of support from Kiva partners.",M,450,partner,Food,0 Kenya,"John is married with three children, all in primary school. He is a high school dropout and operates a home bakery and is assisted by his wife. He is a repeat client who started this business in 1999 and employs seven people who work hand-in-hand with him in one way or the other.
His business is doing well since its located at one of the busy streets of Malaba. He makes Kaimati (local doughnuts) and supplies them to his several clients, including mini-shops, cafeterias and households, using a bicycle. This is the most common means of taxi (transport).
With his business, he has been able to provide for his family and also provide employment to other people. With a second loan from PEMCI, he intends to increase his stock and improve his bakery.",M,275,lender,Food,1 Kenya,"John is thirty-nine years old, and is married with two boys who are in classes three and two. His wife stays at home but is currently training to be a hair dresser. She wants to open a salon so that she can supplement on her husbands income, and and most important ly, to stay busy. John says, ""An idle mind is the devils workshop.""
As a side business to his work as a builder, John sells firewood to some business people in Malaba. He sells it to milk sellers who use it to pasteurize their milk; fish mongers who deep-fry the fish in their canteens; and sometimes to caf owners who use firewood, which is the cheapest source of fuel. John gets his stock of firewood from different places within the district. He usually gets the waste from loggers, gathers the scraps of wood until they fillsa truck, and transports the wood to Malaba. John has been able to provide one the cheapest source of cooking energy to the community and also helps minimize waste from trees cut down for lumber.
Currently, Johns does not own a store, but uses his compound as the site for displaying his product. The price he charges for the wood is based on the quantity that his customer buys. He also offers a discount to those customers that come to get the firewood themselves. He does this to motivate customers to come get the wood rather than delivering it to them. He employs a young man who delivers the wood to his loyal customers.
With a loan from PEMCI, John plans to increase his stock by making more trips to get wood. He says that the demand is there and his problem is being able to supply enough firewood.",M,75,partner,Retail,0 Kenya,"John Kahanya Murage is 36 years old and is married with two children. He lives in the Embakasi constituency of Nairobi city. John started his business in 2005 after getting his initial capital of Ksh.30,000 (USD 460) from savings, which he earned doing a part-time accounting job at a company known as Georgia Kenya Export.
With the initial capital, John purchased stock for a mini-shop, including items like margarine, flour, sugar, salt, milk, bread, juice, snacks, candies, and cereals such as maize (corn), beans, green grams, rice, etc. Fortunately he did not have to pay rent for the shop because the building belongs to his father and allowed him to operate free of charge. Because of his fathers good will, John was able to stock his shop with goods and also purchase a scale, which is handy in any shop for weighing of items like sugar and cereals.
The business has continued to grow over the last two years and the number of customers has increased as well -- so has the demand for new products like fresh meat, vegetables and dairy products. John has to meet his customers demands if he is to remain in business. He has therefore decided to start stocking these items, which are in very high demand in his area. The only impediment to this is a lack of coolers, which he will need in order to keep the products fresh. John is therefore requesting a loan of USD 1200, which will enable him to purchase the two coolers that he needs to expand his business and satisfy his customers' needs. The repayment period for this loan will be 10 months.",M,1200,partner,Food,0 Kenya,"JOHN KAMAU CHEGE is a 43 years old father of five children. Four of his children are in school while the first born is employed as a Kindergarten teacher. John in addition takes care of his aging parents and two of his nephews. John is a maize farmer in Nyandarwa district of central Kenya. He has been growing maize on his 4 acres piece of land for the last 14 years. John earns about US $ 50 per month form his farm which he uses to provide for his family. Two of his children are in high school and they spend a lot of time at home because John is sometimes unable to make sufficient income to pay school fees. John wants to start a potatoes growing business which will generate more income than maize enabling him keep her children in school. He is requesting a loan of US $ 1,200 to start the potatoes business. His budget is US $ 500 to purchase farming inputs, US $ 250 to plough the land, US $ 200 to purchase a water pump, US $ 100 to purchase irrigation water pipes and US $ 250 to expand his granary and meet initial labor costs. This will increase the family income to an average of US $ 200 per month. John plans to utilize the income to keep his children in school and to expand his farming business.",M,1200,lender,Agriculture,1 Kenya,"JOHN KAMAU is a 44 year old married farmer with four children. He is a member of the Suma self help group in Subukia in the Rift valley. He attended Eb-f entrepreneur lessons where he sharpened his business skills. He received a loan and bought a water pump for irrigation on his plot where he grows tomatoes to increase his yield. This was to be able to sell direct to the wholesaler to improve his earnings. John has realized that selling crops from the farm through a middleman robbed the farmer of his hard earned income.It would be better taking it direct to the ready markets in the cities i.e. Nakuru. Unfortunately you need to have bulk to sell to the city markets and make the highest profits. He would like to buy from his neighbors to have bulk and sell direct to the market but lacks the capital. He requests a US $ 1000 loan. US $ 800 buy tomatoes from his neighbors US $ 200 transport. This will give the farmers better prices and an extra income will help John educate his children. He is responsible and will repay the loan",M,1000,lender,Agriculture,1 Kenya,"John kipkoech Tallam is 56 years old; he is married with six children. The eldest of them has finished university, two are in local universities, while three are in senior school.
He earns a living through farming. He has also invested in real estate. Currently he is constructing rental houses for low income earners. These are two-roomed houses which are rented by casual laborers and construction workers who cannot afford to live in apartments. The construction of the houses has stalled due to lack of funds. He is in dire need for funding to enable him to complete the rental houses for which there are ready clients waiting. He is therefore requesting US$ 1200. He will purchase the building materials with US$ 1000 and cater for labor costs with US$ 200. He intends to utilize the income from this rental houses in repayment of the loan and expansion of the dairy farming and to pay for his childrens school fees. He is very hardworking, focused and determined. He is capable of paying the loan.",M,1200,lender,Housing,1 Kenya,"John Kiragu Nyagwech is 39 years old and married with six children. Three children are in high school, while three are in primary school. This calls for a large financial commitment from both him and his wife. He operates a bicycle transport business in Nakuru Kenya. He owns three bicycles, which he has employed young men to operate. This earns him a net income of up to US$3 per day. This is not enough to cover all of the expenses. Recently he decided to open a green grocery for his wife to operate in order to generate more income to cover his family's needs. He is requesting a loan to expand both his grocery business and his transport business. This will help him generate more income for his family and create more employment for youth who have not been able to get employment. He is requesting a loan of US$400. He will use US$100 to buy more bicycles, US$200 to buy more stock for the grocery, and US$100 to cover transportation and acquire licenses for both businesses from the local government authorities. He is hardworking, determined, and capable of repaying the loan.",M,400,lender,Retail,1 Kenya,"John Kirugu Gitira is a 65 year old man. He is married with three children, all of whom have finished schooling. John did not come from a rich family hence was unable to get sufficient education. After completing his elementary schooling, John was unable to continue his studies due to lack of school fees. As a result he opted to start dairy farming.
Apart from farming, John also sells meat in a butchery that he owns. John is contemplating expanding the butchery business to include a mini restaurant, but lacks sufficient capital. He is requesting US$ 700 of which US$ 400 will be used to buy slaughtered cattle, US$ 200 to renovate his premises and US $ 100 to purchase a weighing scale. With this he will be in a better position to provide for his family.",M,700,lender,Food,1 Kenya,"John Kungu Njuguna is a 29-year-old small-scale businessman. He works his trade at the sprawling Kongowea market in Mombasa. His business involves buying and selling different varieties of fruits at his stall. At present he sells watermelons. These he sells both as whole fruit or in slices depending on the preference of the consumer. His customers include small hotel owners and individual buyers.
He began this business one year ago after failing to get employment in the welding and iron-beating industry in which he had trained. John has been operating this venture on a barely sustainable level since he lacks adequate capital to stock enough fruit that will enable him to reap higher profits. He plans to expand his operations to stock a wider variety of fruits to capture more customers and eventually earn more.
He is a determined young man with good business skills and will certainly make this a success; hence, he will be able to move to better housing, an improvement from the slum where he currently resides. He is requesting a loan of US$600: US$500 to buy fruit and US$100 for transport.",M,600,lender,Food,1 Kenya,"JOHN MAINA NJUGUNA is 45 years old, married and has six children. Four of the children are attending School. John is a casual laborer while his wife works on contract basis as a cleaner in a local children orphanage. John was a successful maize farmer in Molo District of Kenya. This changed in year 1992 when Kenya was holding its first multi party election. The charged political environment resulted in ethnic fighting. John had to free the fighting and he lost his farm and house. He freed with his family to Kasuku in Nyandarwa District. John is one of the 100 victims of the fighting that are settled in Kasuku area and who have been receiving financial support form Eb-F to re start income generating activities. John lives on a half an acre farm where he cultivates maize and survives by doing manual work on other peoples farms. John would like to start a dairy farming business to enable him generate income and provide for his family. He wants to buy 2 cows to provide his family with milk for sale. John is requesting for a loan of US $ 1,800 to start the dairy farming business .His budget is; US $ 1,600 to purchase two cows, US $ 100 to construct a cow shade and US $ 100 to purchase cow feeds. He has identified the two dairy cows and expect to receive an average of 30 litter of milk from the cows. This will earn his family an average of US $ 54 per week. This income will enable him provide for his family and save to expand his dairy farming business. John guarantees to pay the loan back. He is hard working and will be able to repay the loan.",M,1800,lender,Agriculture,1 Kenya,"John Mongare is 37 years old and married, and has four children who attend a local primary school. Apart from his immediate family, he takes care of his orphaned nephew. He lives in the Kibera slum in Nairobi. John started his business in 2002 after he was laid off from a pharmaceutical company where he had been employed for 13 years. After this John decided to start a general shop with his savings of Ksh 40,000 in order to sustain his livelihood and that of his family and dependents. He started with small quantities of flour, sugar and cooking oil. So far, the business has been of great importance to the community that he serves, since he provides them with daily basic necessities while also ensuring that the customers are satisfied. John has one problem: he has been unable to expand his business due to lack of funds, since most of his profits are used to take care of his family. He is now requesting a loan of Ksh 20,000 to enable him to add stock to his business. He will stock additional quantities of flour, sugar, cooking oil and paraffin. The stock will be of great help to his business. He expects he will be able to retain his customers and attract many more, since he will always have whatever they want. He will also be able to take care of his family and educate his children and dependents. He thanks Kiva lenders in advance. The repayment period is 12 months.",M,275,lender,Retail,1 Kenya,"John Muchina Kamau is a 42 year old entrepreneur who is married with three dependents. The first born is in grade 7, the second born is in grade 2 and the last born is too young to attend school. He is the sole bread winner, his wife caters to the household. After he finished high school he immediately joined his father, who was a food vendor. After acquiring the necessary skills John opened his own cafe within the town centre of Nakuru city. For the past 10 years he has catered for all his family needs despite his business facing many challenges. About a month ago, John s hotel caught on fire and he lost everything from his business to his livelihood. All his employees also lost their source of livelihood. Through the help of relatives John was able to raise funds to rebuild his hotel. He has managed to employ two more waiters. John is requesting a loan of US $1,200. His budget is to purchase a potato peeler at US $300, fridge at US $400, deep freezer at US $200, microwave at US $200 and toaster at US $100. John intends to upgrade his hotel and employ five more waiters, improving his livelihood and those of his employees. John has shown skill, determination and that he can make it through the tough times, thus he is able to repay the loan.",M,1200,lender,Food,1 Kenya,"John Muthinji is married and has four children. With this loan, he intends to improve the restaurant business he runs next to his butcher shop by buying more furniture to accommodate more customers.
This is Johns first loan from KADET. Before KADET, he was not able to borrow a loan from any other source. He was introduced to KADET through a friend who is already a KADET client. He hopes to be so successful that he can own a chain of butchery and restaurant shops in the near future.
About KADET: The Kenya Agency for the Development of Enterprise and Technology (KADET) is committed to economically empowering its clients by providing financial services to rural communities in order to relieve suffering and improve living conditions within those communities.",M,400,partner,Food,0 Kenya,"John Njenga Kamau is aged 42 years, married, with five children and four dependents all in school. John is a grade 7 drop-out. His parents died and left him the burden of taking care of his siblings and this meant he could not proceed with school.From that time he has been doing business to support the family. For more than 20 years now he has been running a household goods retail shop. It started off as a small shop and it has grown into a mini-supermarket. It has been profitable but not to satisfactory levels to sustain his family needs and business needs.
He is requesting a loan of US $ 1200 to expand his business, and add more household goods and services. Apart from the expansion of his business, John has 7 employees and wants to purchase a commercial van for transport. With this, he will be able to pay his loan feed the whole family and educate them all. His budget is:
US $ 900 for goods (fast movable consumer goods); US $ 100 for insurance/license fee; US $ 200 for room expansion and modification.
During his free time he participates in his church and is able to mix freely with members of his community. His radiance is contagious and has enabled him get business contacts which have been beneficial to his business.",M,1200,lender,Retail,1 Kenya,JOHN NJERU is a 30 yr old married entrepreneur with one child. The girl is still an infant. His wife is at home full time taking care of the baby and household chores. He is the sole breadwinner for his young family besides which he also supports his cousins education her parents having died of AIDS related complications four years ago. She also lives together with his family. He runs a second hand clothing business that he started two years ago after finishing college. He earns US $6 per day buying second hand clothes in bales as a wholesaler and sells to retailers. He chose this after lacking a job in the market and has mastered it well. He would like to expand his business to help his young family and his cousins higher education but lacks capital. John requests a US $1200 loan. This will all be used to buy more bales of second hand clothes. He is a responsible young entrepreneur and will repay the loan.,M,1200,lender,Clothing,1 Kenya,"JOHN NJOROGE MUIRU is 39 years old, married and with four children. Two of his children are in school while the remaining two will begin attending school in January 2007.John takes care of his two younger sisters who are attending high school. The family owns a five acre piece of land in Nyandarwa District of Central Kenya where John and his wife have practiced mixed farming for the last 15 years. They cultivate potatoes which earn the family an average of US $ 144 per month. They have two dairy cows but only one is being milked at the moment earning the family an average of US $ 200 per month. John recently attended Eb-Fs skill training workshop on farm based produce processing where he was exposed to various ways of adding value to his farm produce. He then attended a milk processing course at a vocational training college where he learnt Yogurt making. He then begun experimenting on making Yogurt from the milk his cows produced. The Yogurt had an instant ready market within his neighborhood. One litter of raw milk supplied to the local processing factory earns farmers about US $ 0.26. By converting the milk to yogurt, John increased his earning per litter of milk from US $ 0.26 to US $ 0.43. The business has been very successful and John is currently unable to meet the market demand for his product. He wants to expand his business by purchasing two breeders dairy cows that will give him an additional 45 litters of milk to process. He is requesting a loan of US $ 2000.His budget is: US $ 1,600 to purchase two breeders cows, US $ 200 to purchase a solar powered milk cooler, US $ 100 to improve the cow shade and US $ 100 to purchase Yogurt packing materials. This will give him sufficient income to provide for his family. John is a focused entrepreneur and will be able to repay the loan.",M,2000,lender,Agriculture,1 Kenya,"John Opiyo is a father of three children. He is a carpenter, and he wishes to use the loan to expand his business so that he can better support his family.",M,875,lender,Manufacturing,1 Kenya,"Johnson Wanjohi Ndiritu is 31 years old. He resides in a sprawling slum in the environs of Mombasa. He earns his living by selling electronic goods such as extension cables, plugs, and sockets, at a stall situated in the city center. The appliances include both new and used devices. He earns enough to sustain his well-being but he cannot afford to reinvest towards the development of the business. This is due to the high cost of living in the city. He has been in this line of business for three years and is now knowledgeable on the market trends. He envisions a situation where if he had more goods to sell he would increase his average sales. The major obstacle he faces is raising the necessary financial resources. He is therefore requesting a loan of US$600 to assist him in business expansion plans. The funds will be used to purchase more electronic appliances for sale.",M,600,lender,Retail,1 Kenya,"Johnstone is a 32-year-old father of one. He is a Kenyan who grew up in Malaba, a border town with Uganda that serves as the gateway to East and Central Africa. For the past 13 years he has sold stationery supplies, including calculators, bibles, chalk, markers, and pens. He has been successful in growing his business to a wholesale level in which he sells directly to bookshops in Tororo and Nbale, eastern Uganda. Selling directly to businesses on order has been a much more profitable endeavor for his enterprise.
Currently, his business' greatest challenge is a low stock. He often cannot fill the entire orders from businesses, which hinders him in competing against other suppliers. With his first loan from Kiva, Johnstone hopes to be able to address this obstacle. He is expecting to double his profits from about 500 Kenya Schillings/ day to 1000 Ksh/ day (1 USD is about 67 Kenya Schillings). He hopes that by growing his business now, he will be able to save and pay for the future education of his four-year-old boy.",M,300,lender,Wholesale,1 Kenya,"Johnstone Kyalo Mativo is a 31-year-old married man with one child. He lives in Mlolongo, an informal settlement along the Mombasa-Nairobi highway. Kyalo also takes care of his aging mother and two children from his paternal uncle, who is unemployed and cannot take care of them. Kyalo has to make sure that his uncles children go to school, are clothed, and eat healthy food daily.
Kyalo started his business in 2005 after 4 years of working at the Kulshan tailoring shop in Nairobi. During this period (2000-2005), Kyalo was employed by an Indian national, and his job was to sew round buttonholes. After some time, Kyalo realized that sewing round buttonholes was a dead-end job, and he approached a colleague, asking to be trained as a tailor. His colleague accepted, provided Kyalo paid for the training. Kyalo trained for 3 years and became an expert tailor.
In April 2005, Kyalo decided that it was no longer worthwhile to stay in his job, and he left to start his own business. Armed with Ksh. 15,000 (USD 214) that he had saved over time, Kyalo bought a second-hand sewing machine and some cloth, and he started tailoring skirts and dresses for small girls. He took these dresses to the open-air market, where they sold like hot cakes. The business is doing well.
Now Kyalo wants to expand his business, because he gets more clients every day. He now employs 3 helpers, creating employment opportunities in the community.
Johnston Kyalo is kindly asking for a loan of USD 525. With the loan, he intends to purchase more cloth and other materials, including zippers, hooks, thread, canvas, shoulder pads, buttons, and lining materials. He hopes to set a shining example of self-employment. He intends to pay back the loan, within 8 to 14 months.",M,525,partner,Services,0 Kenya,"Joina was born in 1967 in Nyanza province. She is married with 6 children; 4 of them are out of school and married with families. One is still in secondary school while the last-born is still in public primary school. She is a dedicated member of Kawangware Catholic Church. Together with her workmate, they formed the group and registered with WEEC after being told by their colleague WEEC and Kiva have boosted businesses in the area. She was elected the group treasurer due to her leadership qualities of keeping good records.
Joina works in their salon at Valley Arcade, given a loan of USD 750, she intends to boost the business by adding more driers and chemicals due to high demand in the area.",F,750,lender,Services,1 Kenya,"Jonah Ndirangu Kariuki is a 42-year-old man, married with two children. He lives in Kitengela town in Athi River, in the Eastern Province of Kenya. Jonah started singing while in school. His music teacher noticed his musical talent and nurtured him to the point where he became a seasoned singer by the time he was through with his music lessons.
After school Jonah married Bilha Njeri who also is a gospel singer. Together, in the year 1995, they released their first album by the name of Ngai oiga ni oiga meaning if God says he has said it, which consists of 12 songs. This album sold like hotcakes and with the proceeds Jonah was able to rent a shop in Kitengela and buy a generator which up to now he uses to preach the word of God and advertise his cassettes.
Jonah has a soft heart for children and has started a childrens home in Ruai town, on the outskirts of Nairobi. The childrens home, Fire Ministry Childrens Home, takes care of 45 orphans. Apart from the orphans at the childrens home, Jonah takes care of his sister and her 2 children because she is sick and unable to take care of them. He also takes care of the 5 orphaned children of his sister-in-law who died of HIV/AIDS in the year 2000.
Well aware of advances in music production used to recorded on CDs and DVDs, Jonah wants to go HI-TECH with his music. Therefore he is requesting a loan of US$1200. Given this loan, he will purchase a keyboard, amplifier, two speakers, and a microphone. With this equipment, he will be in a better position to produce music on CDs and DVDS and through this, he will earn more income. This will enable him to spread the gospel and provide for his very big family. The repayment period for the loan will be 8 months.",M,1200,partner,Entertainment,0 Kenya,"Jonathan Ombaya Okola is 29 years old; he is married and has one child who is in primary school. He also takes care of his younger brother who is in a local polytechnic school. Jonathan has been in the carpentry business for five years now. Carpentry is his passion, and he wishes to explore new and innovative furniture designs which require much more expensive raw materials but also yield higher returns. He is therefore requesting a fund of US$1000: US$800 to buy raw materials and US$200 to renovate his old workshop to accommodate a show room.",M,1000,lender,Manufacturing,1 Kenya,"Joseph Chacha Ngare is 45 years old and a father of four. He has been a farmer for the last 26 years. Despite two of his children being of age, they still depend on him for their upkeep. Josephs interest in farming is partly attributed to his parents, who were recognized for their outstanding abilities in farming. They had a big farm, so his parents didnt have to lease any land. Joseph is the first born in their family and had to help a lot with farm work. Six years ago his brother was disabled through a tragic road accident. According to their culture, it is one's obligation to take care of all of the dependants when the parents are not in a position to do so, and Joseph assumed responsibility for his brother's children. Since then, he has never been in a position to provide sufficiently for his family. He is requesting to be funded with US$1200, of which US$900 will be used to buy 2 dairy cows, US$180 to buy seeds and fertilizers, and US$120 to buy mineral salts and feeds for the cows. With this loan he is sure of making good use of the farm given to him by his father, and will make enough income to provide for the family's basic needs. He is a determined farmer and will repay the loan.",M,1200,lender,Agriculture,1 Kenya,"Joseph Cheruiyot Chemjor is 51 years old. He is married to Esther and together they have eight children. Seven of their children are going to school, while one is still too young for school.
Joseph is pastor of a local church; he is also a commercial dairy farmer. He says that he grew up on a farm, therefore handling animals is an art he has mastered. Joseph says the major challenge he has in his business at the moment is that he does not have enough storage equipment. He usually experiences water shortages at his farm, due to the fact that there is no piped water in the area where he lives so he relies solely on rain water and equipment to store it. He also has to store the milk he produces.
Joseph is requesting a loan of US$ 600. He hopes to purchase a good water storage tank with US$ 200. He will purchase hygienic milk storage tanks worth US$ 200 and use the remaining US$ 200 to purchase high nutritional cow feed.",M,600,lender,Agriculture,1 Kenya,"Joseph Cheruon Kaptich is 70 years old; he is married with eight children. All of his children have completed school. Joseph's wife is sickly and cannot work on their farm anymore, therefore the task of running their mixed crop and dairy farming business is on him. Joseph is a skilled carpenter and has been in the profession for over thirty years. The carpentry business does not earn enough income to enable him to cater for his family's needs, so he wants to concentrate on farming which is more profitable and has good returns which will enable him to provide for his family's needs comfortably. Joseph is requesting a loan of US$ 600. With this amount he will purchase fertilizer worth US$ 300. He will plough the land with US$ 200 and buy seed with US$ 100. He is able to multitask effectively and he will succeed in this new venture.",M,600,lender,Agriculture,1 Kenya,"Joseph Gitundu Nganga is a 29 year old man. He sells a variety of fast moving items along a busy road. He has chosen the location as there are many middle income pedestrians who use the road. At the moment he has stocks of shopping bags, plastic shoes (used by many people as shoes, regular shoes, as opposed to the western countries where they are used as bathroom accessories, and therefore they are in high demand) and plates. Joseph is planning on building a wooden stall, like those used by many business people doing the same thing as he does. This will ensure that at least he has a stable ground for his operations, since at the moment he is spreading his wares on the ground, which subjects them to dust during the dry season and mud during the wet season. He is requesting a loan of US$ 800.
With this amount he will build the stall with US$250, he will purchase more stock worth US$500, and he will pay US$50 for the local government trading license fees. The business is good and assessments indicate that he will repay the loan.",M,800,lender,Retail,1 Kenya,"Joseph is 30 years old and married. H e stays with his wife, their two children and his two sisters. His parents who were peasant farmers are now very old and Joseph shoulders the responsibility of taking acre of them and educating her two sisters. Joseph went to school up to class 7 and dropped out for lack of school fees.
He left their rural home and went to Nakuru City in search of manual jobs. He was unable to get any job and ended up leaving on the streets for two years. One day some Christian Missionaries came preaching to Street families and encouraged the street kids to join a Christian rehabilitation centre. Joseph has always had a passion to learn and he readily accepted the missionaries offer. He joined the rehabilitation centre in June 1998 and stayed there for two years where he was trained on organic farming (Growing food crops using natural fertilizers and natural pest control as opposed to using chemicals).
He left the rehab in June 2000 and was given a token of US $ 70 to help him start an income generating project. He decided to put his organic farming skills into practice on his parents half acre piece of land. He used the US $ 70 to buy vegetable seeds, a wheelbarrow, a folk and a spade and he begun his organic farming business. He used cow dug thrown away by dairy farmers as manure for his vegetables and harvested rain water during the rainy season to irrigate his vegetables during the dry periods. The vegetables did very well and Joseph begun selling them to his neighbors and to traders in Nakuru City.
In 2001 he married Jane and the same year they had their first child. Jane was fascinated by the whole concept of organic farming. She encouraged her husband to lease more land to expand the venture and by 2003 the couple was growing organic vegetables on 2 acres of leased land. In year 2004 Jane joined Eb-F and her field officer encouraged her to consider expanding the organic farming concept to other peasant farmers as a business. She shared the concept with Joseph who readily accepted the concept. Joseph too joined Eb-F and together with Eb-Fs field officers begun promoting the organic farming concept to surrounding peasant farmers. The farmers formed farming groups and begun attending organic farming training sessions organized by Eb-F and conducted by Joseph and volunteer students from the nearby Egerton university. Eb-F extended a loan of US $ 600 to Joseph to enable him produce the vegetable seedlings which he later sold to the farmers groups to enable the groups begun growing organic vegetables. The venture proved very successful and Joseph and Jane were able to purchase their own 1 acre farm from the income. In October 2005, they begun experimenting on organic banana farming and the market has proved to be enormous. Through Eb-Fs Farm Gate Marketing programme Joseph has been contracted to supply organically grown bananas for Export from year 2007. To enable him get the required quantity Joseph has to contract other farmers to grow the bananas.
He is therefore requesting for a loan of US $ 1,800 to produce the seedlings for sell to the farmers, purchase enough organic manure, install a water storage tank and purchase a manual water pump.
Josephs business is helping him continue providing for his family and take his two sisters to college and will enable 10 other peasant farmers generate income. He will be able to repay the loan well.",M,1800,lender,Agriculture,1 Kenya,"Joseph is a father of three. He underwent training in electronics repair after which he opened his business. This was inspired by the fact that there were no such services at the local community trading centre and residents had to go far to get electronics repair services. This was in the year 2004, and since then, he has been in the business which he says is booming. Through his business, he has been able to support his family, educate his children and best of all bring services to the community at a fair price. With a loan from PEMCI, he intents to purchase repair parts and expand his business and also purchase other equipment which he had been unable to do so because he had insufficient funds.",M,150,partner,Services,0 Kenya,"Joseph is a new member at PEMCI. He operates a retail/ wholesale store at one of Malabas busiest streets close to the border. He graduated as an agriculturalist at one of the local Universities and decided to enter the business world after failing to get a job in his field of study. Apart from selling other general wares, Collins specializes in local aluminum molded pots. He usually makes them by himself and when he depletes his supply, he sources them from his other associates in the same business. He usually gets aluminum metals from Uganda where they have plenty of scrap metal. These aluminums are molten into liquid form under very intensive fire manually generated from hot charcoal that is constantly blown by a hired person. When it liquiifies, it is then poured into shaped molded holes, cooled and filled to bring out a pot. His customers usually come from distant parts of Uganda and the rift valley province of Kenya. He is married and a father of two children who are yet to enter school. His wife stays at home. Through his business he has been able to sustain his family, develop his farm and bring pot services to the community making it cheaper for the people in Malaba to afford.. He is a born again Christian and an active member of his church. His current stock can be estimated as KES 150,000/=. Joseph says if given a loan with PEMCI he plans to increase his stock of aluminium.",M,1200,lender,Retail,1 Kenya,"Joseph is married with five children all in primary school. He started his business in 1995. It includes buying maize in bulk direct from the farmers and selling it at a higher price in the urban market centre. He works together with his wife. He has not undertaken any training. Through a loan from PEMCI, Joseph intends to increase his maize stock. Through his business, he has been able to support his family and send his children to school.",M,150,partner,Food,0 Kenya,"Joseph is married with two children, one in primary school and the other still at home. He finished his secondary school successfully and wishes to join college in two years. He started his business in 2005 in order to sustain his family. His business includes buying cereals from farmers and selling them at the local markets during market days. Through his business, he has been able to help his parents pay school fees for his younger brothers. He is requesting a loan from PEMCI so he can increase his cereals stock during this harvest season and improve his income.",M,75,partner,Food,0 Kenya,"Joseph is physically handicapped, married with four children. He does tailoring and selling of finished tailored clothes at Angurai Market. Through his business, he is able to support his family. The loan from PEMCI of US$150 will enable him stock some fabrics which he can make and sell ready made garments. The loan will empower him to be more self-sufficient despite his handicap.",M,150,partner,Services,0 Kenya,"Joseph K. Thairu, aged 41 yrs, is married with 4 children. His children are all in school, junior grade five, four and two. Thairu is a hard-working person he has been a hotelier for 7 years. The trading centre where his hotel is has grown a lot since he started his hotel. He now wants to start selling French fries to expand his business. He has entrepreneurial spirit but lacks funds to help him expand. Joseph is trying to improve his living from a poverty existence and educate his children to higher levels. He requests a US $800 loan. This is his budget: US $200 buys an industrial potato peeler; US $500 buys an industrial deep frying cooker; US $100 for transport. He is focused and will repay the loan.",M,800,lender,Food,1 Kenya,"Joseph Kamau is a 45 years old father of three children. Two of his children are in school while one is not yet in school because Kamau is unable to raise the high school fees at the moment. Kamau owns a one acre piece of land in Nyandarwa District of Central Kenya where he has been growing maize. The land size is small to produce profitable harvest and he lacks sufficient capital to finance quality farming. Kamau wants to diversify into dairy farming which requires less land and is more profitable. He is requesting a loan of US $ 1,600 to purchase two dairy cows. This will enable him keep all his children in school and save enough to expand the business. He will be able to repay the loan.",M,1600,lender,Agriculture,1 Kenya,"Joseph Kibebe Muiruri is 47 years old and from Mombasa. He is married with five children, four of whom are in school. Joseph sells second-hand trousers mostly within the city center. He works hard selling used trousers and mobile-phone accessories. Joseph feels that if he had gone to school, he would be able to provide for his family comfortably. It is with this in mind that he walks under the scorching sun looking for clients so that his children can go to school and have a brighter future. His main challenge is avoiding the municipal council guards because he has not been able to afford a municipal license. Joseph has attended a business-skills training course organized by Ebony Foundation and he would like to move to the designated stalls within the city to display his wares. He is requesting a loan of US$650: $400 to increase his inventory, $200 to rent a stall, and $50 to pay for the municipal license.",M,650,lender,Clothing,1 Kenya,"Joseph Kihoro is a 44 year old who is married with three kids. Two of them are in school, the eldest is in grade 8 and the second is in grade 4. The youngest is a toddler. He lives with his elderly parents. He has been running a metal products business for three years now where he makes window frames, doors and recently he started making beds. He does his work in an open air shade and has a small storage store. He has received an order to make beds for a local high school in Nakuru city but lacks the capital to do a bulk order. He requests a US $800 loan. He needs US $600 to purchase raw materials and US $200 to improve his working premises. He will be creating employment as he will need two assistants. He has a clear business vision and will repay the loan.",M,800,lender,Manufacturing,1 Kenya,"Joseph Kimani is 22 years old. He lives in the vibrant tourist town of malindi. He dropped out senior school four years ago due to lack of finances. His two younger brothers face a similar fate since his parents are unemployed and their only source of income is growing and selling vegetables. To fend for himself, Joseph started a bicycle taxi service, which he has been operating for the last four years. He earns barely enough to cater for his needs. He however sees a potential in this taxi services since they are quite popular among the residents of this town and he could certainly earn more income. Then he will be able to support his siblings in paying for their education requirements. He also plans to attend a technical college to study motor vehicle engineering.
To achieve this, he plans to buy a new technology bicycle that runs on an engine. This will be more efficient and he would carry more passengers per day. He therefore is requesting for a loan of US $ 600 to buy this bicycle and US$ 200 to pay for the necessary licenses.",M,800,lender,Retail,1 Kenya,"Joseph Kirugumi Nyota is a 46-year-old married man and he lives with his wife. He has three children aged fourteen, eight and three. Joseph is both a dairy and crop farmer, an occupation he has been in for the last 10 years. In addition to having the wife and kids to take care of, his old parents also wait for a helping hand from him. He has been finding it hard to take the kids to better quality schools since he has insufficient funds, keeping in mind that he is the sole bread winner.
Joseph would like to expand his business but has no funds. He is therefore requesting for US$900 and plans to use it as follows: US$400 to buy more cows, US$200 to improve his cattle shed, US$150 to buy seeds for planting and US$150 for transportation. This will help increase his cash inflows and hence allow him to take the kids to a better school",M,900,lender,Agriculture,1 Kenya,"JOSEPH MACHARIA MBUGUA 42 years of age married with five (5) dependants whereas only two of his children go to school. The elder Son is in high school and the second one is in primary level. The other three are at home due to lack of fees. Macharia was a successful dairy farmer in Molo District. He owned five acres of fertile land and had 10 dairy cows that produced sufficient milk for sell enabling Macharia meet all his familys needs. This changed in year 1992 when Kenya was holding its first multi party election. The charged political environment resulted in ethnic fighting. Macharia lost his farm, his house and all his cows and freed with his family to Kasuku in Nyandarwa District. Macharia is one of the 100 victims of the fighting that are settled in Kasuku area and who have been receiving financial support form Eb-F to re start income generating activities. Macharia now owns one dairy cow that gives the family 12 litters of milk daily. The family consumes 2 litters and sells the remaining 10 litters. This earns the family some US $ 18 per week. This amount is insufficient to provide for the family and to keep all the children in School. As a result Macharia and his wife grow vegetables and take some other manual jobs like cultivating other peoples farm for a fee. In year 2005 Macharia received a loan of US $ 850 from Eb-F to purchase one acre piece of land. He wants to plant fodder and purchase more dairy cows to enable him receive and sell more milk. Macharia is requesting for a loan of US $ 1500 to purchase two dairy cows and two buy one month worth of cow feeds. He will buy the cows from a local Breeder called Ngoga Farm. These are improved breads that will give the family an average of 35 litters per day earning the family an extra US $ 60 per week .This income will enable Macharia provide for his family and take all his children to school.",M,1500,lender,Agriculture,1 Kenya,"Joseph Muchoya Mutua is 24 years old and is married with one child. He is also the firstborn in his family and has to take care of his siblings, six of whom are of school-going age. Joseph's mother is a single parent and has no other source of help than her son.
Joseph owns a semi-permanent shop where he sells small electronic items (like pocket-size radios), caps, and bags. He intends to get a better shop and buy more stock to be able to earn more income. He is requesting a loan of US$ 800 to help him expand his business.
US$ 300 will be used to rent and furnish his shop, US$ 200 to pay for the local authorities' licenses, and US$ 300 to buy stock.
Given this loan, Joseph will be able to improve his business and thus earn more profit to meet all his family's needs effectively.",M,800,lender,Retail,1 Kenya,Joseph Muchua Waweru is a 42 year old man. He resides in Nakuru together with his wife and five children. His wife is a housewife leaving him as the only breadwinner. His four children are of school going age and one is too young to go to school. He sells water in the areas where water is a real problem. He does this using his bicycle. The average water containers (of 20liters) which he can carry at a time are six. It is tiresome but he is a strong man. He has been doing this for the last six years and he is well versed with the market. He is intending to expand his business by acquiring a cart will enable him carry more containers of water and serve more customers in the same area. It is also less tiresome. He is requesting for a loan of US$ 400 to be used in expanding his business. He intends to use it as follows: US$ 300 to be used in buying a new cart for transporting water and US$100 to buy more water containers.,M,400,lender,Services,1 Kenya,"Joseph Mugure Njeri is a 19-year-old male. He is single with no dependents. He ekes out his living through making rubber stamps. His business involves designing, calligraphy writing, cutting rubber materials to make logos, and engraving text especially to his customers' specifications.
From his returns, Joseph has not been able to accumulate savings to pursue his education, since the work has been at the micro level. Since his parents could not afford to send him to school, he would like to expand his business. This will enable him to make more money as such save some for college fees.
He approached Ebony Foundation Kenya to secure a loan of US $400: US $200 to add plastic pane materials; US $150 to purchase an engraving knife set; and US $50 to pay the municipal annual fee. Joseph is an entrepreneur and wants to save in order to go to college and also be able to repay the loan.",M,400,lender,Services,1 Kenya,"Joseph Mungai Wanjiru is a 24-year-old single young farmer. Joseph is from a single-parent family. His mother was only able to educate him through basic level. For lack of school fees, he discontinued his education.
Joseph has worked hard to overcome the barriers around him. He got employment as a shop attendant and funded himself to start farming on a small scale, growing maize and beans to support his single mother. He wants to expand his farming but lacks capital.
He requests a US $ 800 loan: To buy fertilizers, hybrid maize, peas and beans, US $450 To rent more acres, US $400 For plowing, US $150
He is a capable young farmer and will repay the loan.",M,1100,lender,Agriculture,1 Kenya,"Joseph Mureithi Njoroge is a 48 year old businessman married with four children aged between nine and twenty years. All the children are in school. To support his family and his ailing elderly parents Joseph started a business of repairing wrist watches in a stall at Nakurus central business district. His wife is unemployed. He has been in this business for nine years and his faithfulness to customers has greatly increased his clientele base. The profits generated from the repair services are sometimes not able to meet the family needs for him to save something for the future. To counter this Joseph intends to start selling watches and to realize this he is requesting a loan of US$600 which he intends to use as follows: US$400 to buy assorted watches and US$200 to pay the annual municipal council fee. Joseph is hardworking and he will be able to repay the loan in time.
Disclaimer: Due to recent events in Kenya, the security situation in many communities remains unsettled, affecting many local businesses. Lenders to this entrepreneur should be aware that this loan may represent a higher default risk, and should be willing to accept this additional risk in making their loan.",M,600,lender,Services,1 Kenya,"Joseph Musungu Ojiambo is 26 years old, married, and expecting his first child soon. He also takes care of his old parents in upcountry. He operates a general merchant store in the area. His wife assists him in the running and management of the store, while he deals with the stocking of the store. Joseph choose this type of business since he did not get the opportunity to go to college due to lack of school fees. Through the income he earns from the store, he is able to cater for his family. With his wife about to give birth, Joseph is forced to use the business savings, and this has resulted in reduction in stock for his business. Josephs dream is to expand his business and ensure that the future of his yet-to-be-born child is secure. He is requesting a loan of $ 400, which he plans to use as follows: US $ 350 to buy more stock for the grocery shop and US $ 50 for transport and other expenses. He is a committed member of Hakika group within Eb-F.",M,400,lender,Retail,1 Kenya,"Joseph Mwangi Gitau is a 35 years old father of two. Both his children are attending school. They are both in public junior school. His wife is unemployed at the moment. Joseph earns a living by selling general wares. He is mobile retailer; this means he carries his wares around the town where he operates for customers to buy. Some of the items which he sells are sun glasses, watches, ladies jewelry and handbags. Although the business is good he is unable to make enough profits to cater for his daughters education fees. His wife would also like to start working, so he started saving for her to start a business but the savings up to date are not enough.
He would like to expand his business by adding more variety of merchandise. This will allow him to get more profits to help with his family's needs. He is requesting for US$ 800 to be able to carry out this plan. With US$ 500 he will buy the extra stocks and US$300 he will renovate and rent a shop in a good location.",M,800,lender,Retail,1 Kenya,"Joseph Mwangi Karanja is a 40-year-old married entrepreneur. He has four children; three are in school. He lives in a two-room house with his family. Nyabura, Joseph's wife, sells fruit. Despite having two incomes, the family struggles to pay school fees.
Mwangi is a timber dealer. The challenge he has in his business is insufficient capital. If he could expand the two businesses, they could earn enough to improve their living standards and pay school fees. He is requesting a loan of US$ 550: US$ 300 to buy more timber, US$ 200 to buy fruit, and US$ 50 to pay for a council license. Mwangi has a clear vision and will repay his loan.",M,550,lender,Construction,1 Kenya,"Joseph Mwema is married to Judith Achieng and is the proud father of one child. He has been selling secondhand clothes for the last three years. Joseph was introduced to KADET by a friend who is a client. Joseph operates his business in Huruma estate in the outskirts of Eldoret town and near to bigger towns as well. With this first business loan from KADET, he intends to purchase assorted men's, ladies' and children's wear. In future, Joseph hopes to grow his business to a wholesale outlet fully equipped and diversified with even school-boarding facilities. He also wishes to improve his living standards by buying a permanent residential plot for his family. About KADET: The Kenya Agency for the Development of Enterprise and Technology (KADET) is committed to economically empowering its clients by providing financial services to rural communities in order to relieve suffering and improve living conditions within those communities.",M,800,partner,Clothing,0 Kenya,"Joseph Ndungu Kaniu is a 34 year old single father of two boys and two girls. All the children are in school, but the family often faces situations where money is very tight. Life within the city centre has been very expensive for Joseph and his family.
Therefore, he wants to expand his business by supplying green vegetables in huge volumes to increase his returns and be able to support his family and educate his children. Joseph is requesting a loan of US $ 450 which he budgets as follows:
US $ 200 to purchase a sack of green vegetables
US $ 150 to pay annual municipal license
US $ 100 to purchase a bicycle for transportation
Joseph is a committed group member and will repay the loan.",M,450,lender,Food,1 Kenya,"Joseph Njoroge is 42 years old, and is married with three children. All of them are in school: one is in high school while two are still in junior school. His wife is a housewife. He has a bicycle which he uses for transport business, and he would like to expand the business by buying more bicycles for transport. He intends to employ youths to operate the transport business. He would like to educate his children well without them having to be sent home from school to get fees. In future he would like to open a grocery shop for his wife from the returns he gets from the transport business. He is requesting a loan of US$300 to add three more bicycles. He intends to buy bicycles using $250 and use $50 for licenses. This loan will raise his living standard by boosting his income. He is well organized and capable of repaying the loan.",M,300,lender,Transportation,1 Kenya,"Joseph Njoroge Waitete is 39 years old, married and a father of two. The first child is in junior six while the second child is four years old and will start schooling in January 2008. His wife is unemployed and Joseph is the sole breadwinner for the family.
He sells passion fruit in the market and supplies it to schools and hospitals. He would love to start something small for his wife and wants to add more sacks of passion fruit, but lacks funds. Once he has more passion fruit, he can include his wife in the business. He is requesting a loan of US $ 450 which he plans to use as follows:
US $ 400 to enable him to add more stock and use US $50 to pay for an extra council license for the additional space in the market. With this his wife will be in a position to support the running of the family and improve their livelihood. He is determined and will repay the loan.",M,450,lender,Food,1 Kenya,"Joseph Nyagah is a 27-year-old young entrepreneur. Joseph is newly married; he got married in September, 2006. He lives in a single room in Mombasa town suburbs with his wife. Joseph runs a second-hand clothes business and his wife sells tomatoes in Kongowea market. Though they still have no children, Joseph supports his parents back at their rural home.
He would like to improve their living standards by moving into a bigger house from a single room and improving their diet. Unfortunately, despite each of them running a business, this has been elusive. He would like to expand his second-hand clothes business by supplying to small traders who can then retail the clothes, but he lacks the funds. He requests a US$ 650 loan: this will be used as follows: US$400 to buy 3 bales of second-hand clothes (dresses); US$100 to boost his wifes tomato business; US$50 for transport and US$100 to pay for storage facilities. He is responsible and will repay the loan.",M,650,lender,Clothing,1 Kenya,"Joseph Obuya Njaga is 56 years old, married with 10 dependents. Eight of his children are in school while two are at home since he is unable to raise school fees for them to attend university. His wife works at the local market selling fish. They both contribute towards the welfare of the family. Joseph works as a water vendor in his home area on the northern side of Mombasa.
About two years ago when Mombasa was hit by a water shortage, Joseph decided it was time for him to start a business of selling water since it was in high demand. He dug a well outside his compound and installed a water pipe that was connected to the well and at the same time connected to the municipal water pipe. This ensures a constant supply of water for his customers. Business has been good as increasing numbers of people in his area buy water from him. He would like to be able to serve many customers and also reduce the cost for the precious commodity.
He is requesting a loan of US$600: US$400 to purchase a 20-watt generator to pump water from the well to the tap; US$100 to buy more water containers; and US$100 to pay for the pending water bill arrears. He is a noble man and will be able to repay the loan in due time.
Disclaimer: Due to recent events in Kenya, the security situation in many communities remains unsettled, affecting many local businesses. Lenders to this entrepreneur should be aware that this loan may represent a higher default risk, and should be willing to accept this additional risk in making their loan.",M,600,lender,Services,1 Kenya,"Joseph Okudo is a young Kenyan father, aged 30, with 6 children. He also lives with 2 orphan children of his late sister who passed away 2 years ago. Joseph started his business 4 years ago after accumulating savings from his former workplace in a local hospital in Kisumu town. He currently operates a small retail cereals business of maize, rice, and green grams (mung beans) that he sells to his customers in the neighborhood. Being the sole breadwinner for his family, Joseph has to support his children and his wife, who has a low-paying job. With the little profit that he gets from the business, Joseph still struggles to feed, clothe, and educate his children and to pay his house rent. With the help of his loan, Joseph will be able to purchase more bags of different grains to enable him to increase his sales. He also hopes to open up a cereal wholesale unit from the business profits. Disclaimer: Due to recent events in Kenya, the security situation in many communities remains unsettled, affecting many local businesses. Lenders to this entrepreneur should be aware that this loan may represent a higher default risk, and should be willing to accept this additional risk in making their loan.",F,1875,lender,Food,0 Kenya,"Joseph Onyango is 40 years old, married, and has five children. His wife is busy in the house taking care of one of their sons who is mentally retarded and disabled, leaving Joseph as the sole bread winner. He runs a small dressmaking business. Through the help of his credit officer from Eb-F, he was able to recently get an order to supply a local supermarket with 60 childrens garments every month for the next year. This will highly increase his profits and assist him in taking his disabled son to a special school. He requests a loan of U.S $550 to supply the order. His budget is: U.S $200 to purchase an electric leather sewing machine, U.S $300 to purchase fabric and U.S $50 to purchase threads and pins. He is a devoted businessman who has always repaid his loans well and on time.",M,550,lender,Services,1 Kenya,"Joseph Onyango is a 35 year-old married man with no children. Apart from his wife, he also takes care of his two brothers aged 15 and 20 years old. He pays school fees for them, feeds them, and clothes them. All three of them are orphans whose parents died of AIDS in 1998.
Back when he was still a young man, Joseph showed a lot of interest in cooking. He therefore approached his step-sister and asked her if she could train him in cooking. She agreed, and Joseph began to acquire skills through his training. In 1995, Joseph was given Ksh 1,000 (USD 15) by his uncle as pocket money. He took his time and thought of something progressive that he could do with this money. Because he knew how to cook and loved doing it, he decided to cook mandazi (donuts) and sell them to the people of Laini Saba, a village in the Kibera slums.
With his investment of Ksh 1,000, Joseph went and bought a half bundle of wheat flour, some sugar, and cooking oil, and thats how the business started. Currently, Joseph runs his business outside, on the roadside but when it rains he cannot make or sell mandazi. Also, the demand for mandazi has grown, so he needs to purchase a larger quantity of ingredients in order to fulfill the demand.
Joseph is now requesting a loan of Ksh 30,000 from the Kiva lenders through ANK so that he can boost his business. With the loan, he will buy stock to make more mandazi and find an enclosed space where he can operate his business comfortably. He also plans on employing more people to help him because of the high demand for mandazi in the area. This will help the business to bring in more profit, thus enabling him to provide a better quality of life for his wife and siblings.
The repayment period for his loan will be 12-14 months.
Disclaimer: Due to recent events in Kenya, the security situation in many communities remains unsettled, affecting many local businesses. Lenders to this entrepreneur should be aware that this loan may represent a higher default risk, and should be willing to accept this additional risk in making their loan.",M,500,lender,Food,1 Kenya,"JOSEPH OTIENO ODERO is a 30-year-old business entrepreneur, married with two children who are all school-going. His wife is unemployed and they live in one of the estates in Nakuru town. He is a bicycle operator (a boda boda) in Nakuru town, and his work involves carrying of passengers to their various destinations. He is a high school dropout, and due to lack of money, he decided to start operating a boda boda as it is the easiest way of getting money. There are various people in the same business, and thus competition is very high.To curb the competition, he plans to buy four more bicycles, which he will lend out and also start a small food kiosk for his wife. This will go a long way in improving the living standards of his family. He does not have the money, however, and that is why he has requested for $800. His budget is as follows: $300 to purchase two more bicycles; $200 build a kiosk for his wife: $200 buy stock (inventory) for his wife; $100 to pay the municipal fee. He is a hardworking man who will repay the loan in time.
Disclaimer: Due to recent events in Kenya, the security situation in many communities remains unsettled, affecting many local businesses. Lenders to this entrepreneur should be aware that this loan may represent a higher default risk, and should be willing to accept this additional risk in making their loan.",M,800,lender,Transportation,1 Kenya,"Joseph Otieno Osiolo is a 25-year-old man. He is married with two children and lives within the Kibera slums of Nairobi. Apart from his wife and two children, Joseph takes care of nine orphans too. Four children from his brother and five from his sister, who are both victims of the AIDS pandemic. Joseph earns his livelihood by operating a salon and barbershop in Raila, a small village within the Kibera slums. It has been in operation for the last 7 years. Joseph received hair dressing skills from his fathers salon and barbershop in Ahero, in the Western part of Kenya, where he worked for 2 years. He would blow dry (straightening) and perm (chemical application for straightening) ladies hair and give haircuts to men. Joseph pooled his savings of Ksh 2,000.00 ($29) with his fathers kind donation of 3,000.00 ($43) to rent a room, buy a blowdryer and a shaving machine. He says he is happy seeing his clients beam with joy after doing their hair. Josephs fame in Kibera is known and right now he is turning away a good number of his clients because the hairdryer and blowdryer he has cannot meet the growing demand of his many customers. Therefore Joseph is requesting a loan of $175, to be repaid within 8 months, which he will use to buy a hairdryer and a blowdryer. Both of these tools will translate into more income for his business. This will in turn create job opportunities for more people, therefore alleviating poverty within his community.",M,175,partner,Services,0 Kenya,"Joseph Ouko Onyango is a 34 year-old father of three children. He also takes care of four orphans left under his care when their parents died. His wife runs an open-air food vending service in the slum residence they live in. He earns his livelihood by selling re-tailored second-hand clothes. He buys the clothes cheaply from the retailers and makes a variety of clothing items from them ranging from adults clothing to childrens. Some of these clothes he sells to other retailers who purchase in bulk. The rest he sells in nearby rural town centers on their respective market days. His items are popular, especially in the rural areas due to their durability and their low prices. Joseph would like to expand his operations so as to make extra income out of his business given the high demand for his wares. With this income, he would be able to take better care of his family since they would now have a larger combined family income. To attain his expansion plans, he is requesting a loan of $400 to assist him in buying more of the used clothes for re-tailoring. He is a skilled entrepreneur and will certainly achieve his desired business targets, enabling him to earn sufficient gains that will help in uplifting his lifestyle and also in repaying the loan.",M,400,lender,Services,1 Kenya,"Joseph Ruhari Njoroge is aged 23 years. He is married with one child who is still not in school. Joseph earns his living through selling second-hand pullovers. He supports his family through the meager returns. Joseph understands his clients so he is able to source stylish second-hand pullovers. Due to the fact that he was not able to attain a university education, he is determined to work hard and provide for his family. His son is still too young to go to school but he is already planning to save for his college fees.
The returns he has been getting from his business presently are used to support his family. In order to make his dreams come true he would like to expand his business but he lacks capital. He is requesting a loan of US $400: US $300 to purchase a bale of pullovers; US $50 to pay for transport; and US $50 to pay the annual municipal fee. Joseph is hardworking, responsible and wants to fully support his family. He will pay back the loan.",M,400,lender,Clothing,1 Kenya,"Joseph Timau is forty years old. He is a father of three and a guardian of two of his siblings. Having been forced to drop out of school when his parents died when he was a teenager, Joseph started doing casual work in the farms around his town. He saved enough money over the years to set up a business. He ventured in the business of selling baby clothes in the open air market. He entered into this business because infant clothing sells quickly and the business required little capital to start up. He would like to diversify his business by selling mens clothes like khaki pants and jackets, trendy summer shirts, caps and hats. This is because there has been a high demand for the products and he would like to take advantage of this opportunity. He will also need a more reinforced and permanent stall to be able to display his wares attractively. He is therefore requesting to be funded with US $800. He will need US $600 in order to stock these highly sellable clothes and US $200 to renovate his stall and get a trading license.",M,800,lender,Clothing,1 Kenya,"Joseph Waithaka Ndirangu is a 36 year old entrepreneur married with two children who are all in school. He dropped out of school because his parents who are peasant farmers could not raise school fees. Joseph hawks ties in Nakuru town while his wife is a casual laborer in one of the local hotels. He has been attending business training clinics organized by Ebony Foundation and this has greatly improved his marketing skills. He plans to move to a more permanent place since he always has confrontations with the municipal council who keep hawkers out of the central business district. To make this noble idea come to fruition, he is requesting a loan of US$800 which he has budgeted as follows: US$300 to pay rent for a new premise, US$300 to buy an assorted stock of ties, and US$200 to pay the annual municipal council fees. With this new set up Joseph, who is a committed businessman, is confident he will be able to continue supporting his family and repay the loan.
Disclaimer: Due to recent events in Kenya, the security situation in many communities remains unsettled, affecting many local businesses. Lenders to this entrepreneur should be aware that this loan may represent a higher default risk, and should be willing to accept this additional risk in making their loan.",M,800,lender,Clothing,1 Kenya,"Josephat Njoroge is a 35-year-old man, married, and has one child. He lives in Kiserian, a town situated on the outskirts of Nairobi, the capital city of Kenya. Njoroge started selling snacks in 1998. He borrowed Ksh 12,000 (USD 185) from his mother as his initial capital. Due to his determination he has been able to pay back the money lent to him by his mother, and he has also educated his sister in-law up to O level. He went a step further by taking her to a computer college. Josephats decision for business expansion was influenced by his wife who works with a leading communications provider company in Kenya, Safaricom. After much discussion with his wife, they resolved to open a cyber caf. They have already purchased a photocopier machine and in order to expand their business, they would like to purchase a computer. They have already rented a small stall and the sister in-law is doing photocopying work while they wait for the purchase of the computer. Josephat Njoroge is therefore requesting for a loan of USD 475. Given this loan in kind, which is repayable within 8-12 months, Josephat Njoroge will purchase a computer so as to support his business in the fast growing town and hopes to record higher income and provide better services to the people of Kiserian.",M,475,partner,Services,0 Kenya,"Josephine is 29 years old and a single mother. She has one child who stays with her mother because Josephine has been unemployed and could not be able to provide for the child. She recently started a business of selling chicken to local hotels and individual buyers at the Municipal Market. She learnt the art of chicken dressing from her grand father who use to trade at the same market before retiring. She started her business by stocking chicken given to her on credit by her mothers friends. She sells the chicken then pays the creditors leaving some income for her. Sometimes she is unable to get the birds on credit and sometimes the Friends do not have the birds. On such occasions she is unable to supply the hotels and therefore earns no income. Josephine is requesting a loan of US $ 675 to buy a stock of 300 birds. This will enable her meet the demand from her customers without depending so much on her mothers friends. The income that she will earn will enable her take her son from her mother and provide for him herself. She will be able to take him to school and to meet her own up keep. She will employ one other person to help her with the chicken dressing while she concentrates on marketing. She has enough customers and she will be able to repay the loan.",M,675,partner,Food,0 Kenya,"Josephine is 39 years old and is married with four children. She lives in Kibera Slums, in Nairobi, Kenya.
Josephine learned to do tailoring work in 1986 and began working in Kenyatta Market in 1987. Kenyatta Market is home to many tailoring shops and is a popular place for people to buy clothing. Josephine got frustrated by her employer, since he often refused to pay her for her services. At this time she had two young children and was walking with her children on her back every morning from the Kianela village in Kibera to Kenyatta Market, about a one-hour walk.
Josephine decided to start her business because her husband was not earning enough money to support the family. She started her own business from a collection of group money that served as a loan for her. She borrowed about US $44 and bought a roll of material for about $37. She then rented a machine that she still has today, which she pays $4 a month to rent. From her earnings over time, she managed to purchase another machine. However, it is very slow and does not help her produce a lot of clothing.
A loan of US $225 will allow Josephine to purchase a better sewing machine, which will enable her to increase her production and hence expand her sewing business. She plans to transport her products to villages outside of Nairobi, where she knows there is a need for clothes. Josephine also recognizes that with a faster machine she will be able to serve her customers more satisfactorily. Josephine plans to repay this loan over a period of 12 months.",F,225,lender,Services,1 Kenya,"Josephine is 45 years old and mother of three, all girls. Two are in secondary and one in primary school. She has been in business for the last 25 years, since 1981.
Josephine used to buy new clothes from Kisumu and Nairobi and sell at Malaba town where she had a clothing stall. Her business grew bigger and she involved her husband who works hand in hand with her. Over time she started getting orders from other towns like Kitale. That is when she decided to become a supplier (sell in bulk) rather than sell retail.
Josephine has since closed her shop in Malaba and now concentrates on supplying in bulk to her customers in Kitale and sometimes Eldoret . This has made her face competition especially in Malaba where she started. In a week, she goes to Kitale 3 times at most and 2 times during low demand. She also buys clothes and shoes from Kampala in the neighboring country of Uganda. Her husband does the buying while she does the supplying.
With proceeds from their first loan with PEMCI, they were able to set up another stall in Kitale. They estimate their monthly profits between 18,000 and 30,000 Kenya shillings (US$ 250-$ 450). With this proposed loan of $1200 from PEMCI, Josephine plans to increase her stock of shoes and clothes. The business is now entering its busiest seasons (after the farming season) and she would like to fully capitalize on the opportunity. With more funds she will be able to purchase larger quantities which will enable her to cut her operating costs by minimizing the number of trips her husband makes to Kampala and Nairobi.
Josephine dreams of opening a clothing wholesale shop in Kitale to run along side her supplying business. Through their business she and her husband have been able to educate their children and to buy a place of their own. Jospehine is a hard working and focused woman who is an inspiration to other women in the society. Our support to her business is well deserved.",F,1200,lender,Clothing,1 Kenya,"Josephine is 47 years old, she is married, and has four children, one son whom they adopted. Josephine is married to a pastor, so apart from her tailoring work, she also works part time to assist her husband with church work. Apart from her children who are now grown up and in various colleges, Josephine also has two dependent children that she supports through paying their school fees back at home. Being the wife of a pastor also requires her to offer support to the members of their church and she therefore also supports two single mothers and one widow who is also her employee.
Josephine started her dress-making business in order to sustain her family in 1992, after she received a loan of Ksh7,000 (USD100) from a local NGO. This loan was to be shared amongst three people and was meant to be used to start a business. The three started a small business in partnership, but within a short time, the other two partners requested that Josephine take over the loan repayment, and to employ and pay them on commission. Josephine later attended a two-year course training in embroidery, tie-dye and fashion design. With the new skills learned, Josephine began to make bridal wear, African attire and even began to make curtains.
Since then, her business has expanded from a small stall which three people shared, to the four stalls that she now owns in the Jericho market, one of the market areas in Nairobi. Josephine now seeks additional support in the form of a loan to enable her to buy bridal wear materials in bulk. For this, she seeks a loan of USD725 repayable within 6 12 months. Purchase of these materials will enable her to cut the cost of the materials that she buys in small bits. This will also enable her to give reasonable prices to her customers, and will at the same time ensure that she gets higher income. This will improve the situation at her business, and will help her to continue to maintain her staff.",F,725,partner,Services,0 Kenya,"Josephine is 49 years old. She is a single mother with three grown-up children. She also has a grandchild that is left to her care when her children go out in search of casual jobs. The three children have finished school but it has been very difficult to secure permanent jobs. She has a retail shop where she sells household goods. Josephine joined the Women of Faith group as a fellowship group. For her the group has empowered her and molded her confidence to face life even when things looked so dark. During the 2nd & 3rd quarters of being in the group, Josephine had medical problems that made her absent for some of the Wednesday meetings. However the group never forgot her in their prayers. The 4th Quarter was good for her, she was well and able to operate her shop. The group had assisted her in restocking by giving her a loan of USD 21. She has a good record of repayments and a loan of USD 75 has been approved to her. She also plans to sell fruits outside her retail shop. She promises to pay her loan in installments.",F,75,lender,Retail,1 Kenya,"Josephine is a mother of three children who are all in primary school. She started her business in 2004 as a retail shop, and later changed to selling new clothes when she realized that there were many competitors in retail shops. She has not undertaken any formal training for the type of business she is doing. She gets her stock of clothes from Nairobi and Kampala. Her husband is not employed, and through her business she has been able to support her family and also buy some cattle to keep. She has also been able to develop her farm. She has also brought services closer to the community. With a loan from PEMCI, she intends to increase her stock and buy it in bulk, which will reduce time and costs given that she has to travel distances of over 500 kilometers once every week.",F,225,partner,Clothing,0 Kenya,"Josephine K. Munyambu is 39 years old. She is married and has three children, all of school-going age. She has five other dependants who were abandoned by their parents when they were young. Josephine lives with her family in the Kibera slums. Her husband is a small scale carpenter and hardly makes enough money to cater to the family needs. Josephine runs a salon (part time) and sells crafts. She started the salon business because she has the talent to plait and braid. She is also skilled in making neat dreadlocks. To diversify her risks she is involved in the business of buying and selling crafts. The crafts are mainly those made out of junk by reformed street children. They range from earrings made out of cow hoofs to toy cars made out of used wire cables and sculptures made from banana leaves. The income she earns from doing this is not enough to sustain the huge familys needs. She would like to expand her business to achieve a financial breakthrough. She is requesting a loan of US $725. She will buy a hairdryer worth US $160, tongs worth US $155, chemicals and hair care supplies worth US $70, a blowdryer worth US $35 and hire an assistant with US $55. For the crafts business she will purchase US $250 worth of stock.",F,725,lender,Services,1 Kenya,"Josephine Lillian Adega is a 39-year-old married mother of four children who are all in school. She lives in Kibera Slums, the biggest slum in Africa. Her first child is in senior school grade three, and the rest are in junior school grades eight, six and three. Her husband is a casual laborer in a factory in Nairobi city. She operates a small tailoring shop. She also collects garbage from industries and households surrounding the slum, which she recycles. She uses the recycled paper to make baskets and crafts. After completion of her tailoring course, she is ready to take her tailoring/dressmaking business to a larger scale. She also wishes to employ two assistants to help her in the waste paper recycling business. Because of the small scale of her operations, she doesn't have adequate funds for reinvestment. She has not been able to realize the full potential of these businesses, though she has managed them successfully on a small scale. Josephine can increase her revenue by expanding her tailoring shop and recycling business. With higher production, she can offer cheaper goods and increase average sales. The dense population in the area provides a ready market for her end products. She is requesting a loan of $1000: $200 for two sewing machines, $500 for high quality fabric and other tailoring necessities, $150 for larger premises, and $150 to hire two assistants for the recycling business. Josephine's main goal in life is to better her familys life through her own efforts. The loan will aid her in achieving her goals. She will also be able to offer employment to two people in her area.",F,1000,lender,Services,1 Kenya,"Josephine Nyanchama Mutwere is 38 years old and married. She dropped out of grade 12 and has been had a kale business for the last five years to take care of her and the family. Her business specialty has been in fresh kale. She has many customers and there is room for expansion. Currently she wants to add to her stock of kales, and also introduce tomatoes and onions. She would also like to raise her stall up to a higher level to make her customers comfortable as they choose their vegetables. She is requesting a loan of US $500: US $200 to purchase sacks of fresh kale, US $200 to purchase tomatoes and onions, US $50 for transport services and US$50 for license fees. She is determined to support her family through the kale business and is capable of repaying the loan.",F,500,lender,Food,1 Kenya,"Josephine Wangari is 40 years old. She is married with 3 children. She is a member of ACK Church Gitumbi and a member of Karaba Umoja women's group. As a result of inadequate supply of water in her residential location, she has concluded that she needs to buy a water tank for storage of water. During the dry season, she fetches water from the bore holes; most times, the water is dirty. She has applied for a loan of USD 300 to enable her to buy water tank to harvest rain water. She is willing to repay this loan in 12 months.",F,300,lender,Agriculture,1 Kenya,"JOSHUA MWANGI is a 43 yr old married farmer with three children. Joshua's parents are poor and they were not able to educate him. He has had to rely on manual labor, earning the minimum wage US $1 per day. This has made his life very difficult. His uncle sympathized with his plight and gave him a sales job in his cereal store, earning slightly better wages. He also introduced him to the Suma self-help group (he is also a member) and he joined Eb-F, where he received a loan and bought a dairy cow. Joshua repaid his loan on time. The dairy cow calved and now he has two dairy cows. This has provided a stable small income. His uncle is still helping him educate his children. Joshua would like to personally educate his children but does not have enough income. He requests a loan of US $1200 to purchase one dairy cow and buy fodder and mineral salts. This will go a long way in increasing his net income.",M,1200,lender,Agriculture,1 Kenya,"Joshua Mwaniki Munyori is 29 years old, married with one child. He has three other dependents. Though he does not have a firm educational background, he has made it in business. He sells meat in Subukia town, which generates US$ 5400 per month during peak periods.
He intends to expand his business in many ways, one of them by buying the livestock and rearing them. He may later expand by opening a new butchery somewhere else. He is requesting a loan capital of US$ 1075. US$675 will be used to buy more livestock, and US$ 400 will cater for general expenses associated with the expansion. The expansion will help him generate more income and create more employment to the neighboring community. He is focused with great ambition and he is capable of utilizing the loan properly.",M,1075,lender,Food,1 Kenya,"Joshua Obongo is a 38 year-old trained nurse. He is married and lives with his family in Kitale, Kenya.
Joshua who has been in private practice since completing his training and he depends entirely on his clinic for his livelihood. His clinic is located in one of the remote parts of Kenya where a good percentage of the population lives below the poverty line. The community appreciates the quality of services provided at his facility. Joshua has applied for a loan of approximately US $ 1,200 to further expand his clinic.",M,1200,partner,Health,0 Kenya,"Josiah Naik Anzoka is 37 years old. He is married and has three children. Two children are of school-going age and one is too young. Josiah lives with his family in Nakurus Kaptembwa slum. He and his wife operate a small kiosk and at the same time do small-scale farming. His income is mainly from the kiosk since the maize he plants is seasonal and he has to wait for a long period before harvesting. He has been having problems raising school fees for his children. The kiosk he owns is very small and he would like to expand it so that it generates more returns. He is requesting a loan of US $300, which he plans to use as follows: US$200 shall be used to buy more stock and US$100 shall be used to expand the kiosk so that it is able to hold more stock.",M,300,lender,Retail,1 Kenya,"Josphine Njeri Mwithiga is a 31-year-old mother of two. Her children are attending school. She is married, and her husband is a businessman. She owns an animal feed shop in Shabab estate in Nakuru town. Her biggest business catch is that hers is the only animal feed shop not only in Shabab but also in the neighboring towns. She targets the small-scale farmers living in town, especially those keeping layers and boilers. Farms from the rural area also purchase animal feed from her shop. She has been in the business for the last three years, during which time she has gone through the ups and downs of business and become familiar with her customers' interests. She intends to add stock to her shop to cater to the diversified needs of her clients.
Josphine is requesting a loan of US$700. She intends to use $250 to buy 10 bags of layer feed, $200 to buy 10 bags of boiler feed, $100 to buy hen vaccinations, and $150 to buy hen feeding equipment. Most of her customers have kept hens or intend to start keeping hens. When she purchases this stock, she will be able to meet the needs of her clients and increase her sales.",F,700,lender,Agriculture,1 Kenya,"Josphine Waithera is 38 years old. She is married with three children who are all in school. She lost her parents at the tender age of seventeen. After that she dropped out of school to take care of her siblings. She is a very hardworking lady from a very humble background. She has refused to wallow herself in self pity. With encouragement from her husband, she set up her own business where she sells new clothes in the open market. To diversify her business she is planning to start a wholesale business. She has saved quite a sum of money and is requesting to be funded to help her achieve her goal soon. She is requesting a loan of US $1200. US $1000 will be used to buy new clothes stocks and US$200 will enable her to rent a more permanent premises. She wants her children to continue schooling in good schools. She has the experience and the zeal to work hard to achieve a financial breakthrough, which she has been longing for for so many years.",F,1200,lender,Clothing,1 Kenya,Joyce Alivisa is 38 years old; she is married with five children. Four of them are in school and one has just passed his O-level exams. Joyce is also taking care of three other children. Her husband is a low-income earner and at times they are not able to meet the family's financial needs.
Joyce is a business lady in an open air market selling fish. She has been in this business for seven years now. She is requesting a loan to expand her business by stocking more fish and a variety of fish products like fish fillets. She has been running out of stock at times due to lack of capital to buy enough for her customers. Joyce requires US$ 600 to buy more stock and a variety of fish in order to meet her customers needs.,F,600,lender,Food,1 Kenya,"Joyce Chepkemoi Chepkwony is aged 37 years. She is a widow with six children, all in school. Joyce ekes out her living through selling new clothes. She started the business five years ago after the demise of her husband with the mutual fund they had accumulated from tea farming.
Currently from the sales the profits have been too little to educate, feed and clothe the six children single handedly. To increase her profits she needs to inject more capital into the business. She is therefore requesting a loan of US $1,200 and her budget is as follows: US $400 to purchase materials and pay for labour for renovating her structure; US $600 to purchase assorted clothes; US $100 to pay the municipal fee; US $100 for transportation.
Joyce is a hardworking, determined mother who is capable of repaying the loan and continuing to support her children.",F,1200,lender,Clothing,1 Kenya,"JOYCE CHEPKOECH SIGEI is a 42-year-old mother of four children, all in school. Her husband hawks clothes in Liten Kericho town. Joyce didnt further her education after completing standard eight, due to lack of school fees. She was employed as a casual labourer in one of the tea farms in Kericho. After working for two years she decided to start her own business selling used clothes. She has been in this business for the last ten years. The money she earns is not sufficient to cater for her family expenses because she buys her clothing stock from local retailers. She is sure that if she could buy these clothes from wholesalers in bulk she would be in a position to minimize cost and increase her profit margin. To make this possible she is requesting a loan of US$800, which she intends to spend as follows: US$600 to buy a bale of assorted clothes, and US$200 to pay the annual municipal council fee. Joyce is business-minded and she will be able to repay the loan.",F,800,lender,Clothing,1 Kenya,"Joyce is 41 years of age and married with 3 children. Two are in high school and the last born is in primary school. She is the assistant chairperson of Ngurueini Ngatha Women group and one of the founding members. She is a church elder, a youth counselor and also a local community developer.
Joyce is a business woman; she sells cereals, cooking oil, sugar, salt, bread, soap and detergents. Her business has been performing well but she finds it hard to meet her familys basic needs. Monthly, her business generates about USD300 but this is not enough to cater to all her family's needs and to buy a water tank.
She needs the tank to save her from walking a long distance to fetch water and she will be able to harvest rain water. She is hard working and paying the loan in installments will not be a big hassle.",F,225,partner,Food,0 Kenya,"Joyce is 43 years old. She is married and has two children. Joyces business has been funded by KIVA a step which turned around her life. At this point we wish to thank KIVA for helping us to know our clients and their businesses better. Kiva has moulded her family life and she owes her success to it. She has mentored many women and empowered many to start small businesses. Moving back to Joyces story She started by selling beauty products. Her stock was so small such that there was no need of renting a business stall. Her business was therefore done from her one room rented house. She joined Golden crown women group where there was a theory of saving and she started saving USD 3 per month from her business. As a member of the group, Joyce was able to access loans for her business. In year 2005, she got her first loan and was able to rent a business premises and buy more stock for her business. She registered her small business under the name PAJOVIC AGENCIES. She went ahead and took membership of East Africa Jua Kali organization. When she got her first Kiva loan of USD 700 she was able to start participating major exhibitions in Kenya, Uganda and Tanzania. She is one of the potential and active women who are limited by finances. Joyce wants to do an exhibition in Zambia next year. She has started planning for it. Since she has employed a sales girl who runs the PAJOVIC stall, she plans to take a loan to set her next exhibition. She requires USD 1400 for her new project. Joyce has been selected as the guest speaker of WEEC`s end of year Thanksgiving Prayer Day on 22 -12 2006. For Joyce and her business we say THANK YOU to you (KIVA) and to you LENDERS and a MERRY XMAS to you ALL.",F,1400,lender,Arts,1 Kenya,"Joyce is 45 years old. She is married and has 3 children. She lives in Gitumbi village in Maragwa District. Joyce is a member of ACK St. Phillips Church in Maragwa.
Joyce is also a member of Karaba Umoja women's group. When asked about her group, Joyce had this to say: I am very proud to be a member of Karaba Women's group. When our meeting day comes, I put on our group uniform and match to the group meeting. I feel like I am going to a bank. You see, this is where I save my money every month. I also get credit when the group approves so I have to work hard to keep my record clean. The group is a very serious one and any member who does not work as per our rules is disqualified to take higher credits. Nobody wants to make jokes of this revolving fund, and you see we are able to do things in our homes that we could never have dreamed of doing. It is good. We encourage the young mothers to join groups and make their family lives better. This requires hard work and dedication, but it is worth it.
Joyce says, Now I have completed a small loan, and I have made an application of USD 300 for the purchase of a water tank for my home. My application has been approved. I am going to pay my loan within a period of 12 months.",F,300,lender,Agriculture,1 Kenya,"Joyce is 48 years old. She is married with 4 children. She is an active member of Tabby Wonderful Mothers. She is a choir member of ACK church. She is a hardworking woman who grows vegetables for selling and gets a profit of USD 100 per month, thus enabling her to pay the school fees for her children.
Due to high demand for her produces in the market, she intends to apply for a loan of USD 450 to expand her business. She will put more land under cultivation and invest in production of more fresh vegetables. She will use the loan to buy the seeds and seedlings, fertilizers and plastic boxes to assist her to deliver the produce to the market. The loan committee has approved her loan. She will repay the loan in installments on a monthly basis.",F,450,lender,Agriculture,1 Kenya,"Joyce is 60 years old. She is married with grown-up children. She is a member of Karunge ACK church in Ngutu. She is a member of the Mothers' Union. Joyce is the Treasurer of St. Victoria Ngutu. She has been the group Treasurer for the last 4 years. She is very dedicated to the group work and writes down all the payments and the balances after loans are given out. Her straight record assists the WEEC office in reconciling the group accounts with ease.
Joyce is a farmer. She dedicates most of her time to her dairy project. She has two good quality cows that are her main source of income. On average, she sells 20 liters of milk per day. Her monthly income from Kenya Cooperative Creameries where she sells the milk assists her to make her monthly group savings of USD 3 and to repay her loan installments. She is able to cover her household expenses and to employ one farm hand.
Joyce plans to buy another dairy cow to be able to increase the quantity of milk she sells per day. She attended a seminar on better methods of livestock management that was scheduled by WEEC for their members who plan to engage in dairy farming as a way of generating income. Her loan application of USD 600 has been approved. She will repay the loan within a period of 12 months.",F,600,lender,Agriculture,1 Kenya,"Joyce is a nurse/midwife managing her own private facility in Meru, which is in eastern Kenya. She is 56 years old and lives with her husband and three children. She was certified as a nurse/midwife in 1974. She worked at Meru District Hospital, a government facility, until 2006 when she retired and opted to start her own clinic. Her clinic is located in the middle of a market, which is where she draws most of her clients. She offers a wide range of health services including general medical services, family planning, maternal and child health services. She also runs a pharmacy and a laboratory at the site. Joyce attributes her success to hard work, perseverance and financial assistance from K-MET. She needs a loan of US $1200 to purchase additional stocks of drugs and also integrate other services into her clinic that are in high demand.",F,1200,partner,Health,0 Kenya,"Joyce is a widow with four children all in Primary school. She is hard working and very active in group activities.
With the husband they started with two rooms in 2004 and in June 2005 they added two more to be four all together. She gets USD.88 every month and in addition she sells bananas, maize and vegetables.",F,300,partner,Agriculture,0 Kenya,"Joyce is a widow with four children, all in primary school. She is hard working and very active in group activities. She has a business of 4 rental houses that she started two years ago. She gets USD88 every month and in addition she sells bananas, maize and vegetables.She needs a loan of USD600 to renovate her rental houses and add more stock of bananas, maize and vegetables. This will enable her to pay school fees and repay her loan. She will repay her loan in monthly installments.",F,600,lender,Retail,1 Kenya,"Joyce is married and a mother of three. She is a teacher by profession. She teaches at Oloyiankaleni Primary School in Kajiado District. She is the treasurer of Osiligi Womens group. She is also an active member of Retuno community-based organization which campaigns against female genital mutilation among the Maasai girls. She started a small shop in the year 2000 with a small stock of Usd 70 at Oloyiankalani trading centre. After two years, her business had expanded to a stock of over Usd 100 due to the increased demand.
With bright prospects in her business, in 2005 Joyce was granted a loan of Usd 150 from WEEC. This has really boosted her business and as of now her capital stands at Usd 300. Thanks to KIVA and WEEC, she now needs a loan of Usd 900 to buy more stock to meet her customer's needs.",F,900,lender,Retail,1 Kenya,"Joyce is married with 5 children; 3 are self reliant where as the last 2 are in secondary school. She is very active member of Gituya A women group. She practices farming as her main source of income. She has 3 cows which produces 40 litres, 3 dairy goats producing 6 litres per day and has chicken (layers) and sells 300 trays per month. She is able to make USD400 net profit on monthly basis. Rearing chicken has been a challenge in her area due to lack of electricity. Now thats she is planning to get another crop, she wants to be set because they consume a lot of fuel at night and she feels if she install electricity the cost will be minimized. She feels that very soon her farming project will be very different after having power in her farm. She has set a good repayment record in her group since she started accessing small loans. She prefers paying on monthly basis.",F,900,lender,Agriculture,1 Kenya,"Joyce Kibura is an active member of Kirimiga Purity. She is a woman of great dreams and she has been able to educate her children from her farming income. She has been working hand in hand with her husband. She grows maize, beans, potatoes, peas, vegetables and coffee for a cash crop. In addition to these she keeps two dairy cows from which she takes 15 litres to Farmers Dairy Company (K.C.C) everyday. Joyce has agreed with her husband to start investing their money as that is the only way they can gain retirement benefits since they are self-employed. The loan she is applying for will go towards this noble idea that she has been sharing with her husband. She intends to become a shareholder of the Safaricom Company.",F,150,lender,Agriculture,1 Kenya,"Joyce Muringi Kimotho is 25 years old. She is a single woman with two children who are still underage. She is a business entrepreneur involved in the business of selling mango fruits at the main market in Nakuru town. Having dropped out of school at a high school level due to poverty, Joyce decided to start the business so as to be able to provide basic needs to her family. She also wanted to ensure that her children are well educated since education is the key to success. Joyce has always been a business oriented woman and now she has the desire and passion to expand her business. She however faces many challenges like lack of capital and competition from other business people in the same business. She would like to buy the fruits directly from farmers, which is cheaper.
She is requesting a loan of US$600: US$400 to buy more mangoes, US$100 to renew her municipal license and US$100 to cater for transport.
She is a determined young lady and she will repay the loan.
Disclaimer: Due to recent events in Kenya, the security situation in many communities remains unsettled, affecting many local businesses. Lenders to this entrepreneur should be aware that this loan may represent a higher default risk, and should be willing to accept this additional risk in making their loan.",F,600,lender,Food,1 Kenya,"Joyce Muthoni Mwangi is 34 years old. She is married with three children. She lives in Nyakaguma village, Maragwa district. She is an active member of Ngombe Bora Women's Group and an active member of Maragwa ACK Church. She is a full-time farmer and in her farm she has planted bananas, watermelon, French beans, maize and beans. She also keeps dairy cows that produce ten litres of milk for both domestic and commercial purposes. She has applied for a loan of USD300, with which she intends to purchase a water tank. She is willing to repay the loan within a period of 12 months.",F,300,lender,Agriculture,1 Kenya,"Joyce Muthoni Nyoike is 37 years old. She is married with three children of whom all of them are in primary school. She is a member of Ngurueni Junior women group and a choir member of ACK church. She is a hardworking woman who is striving to ensure that she manages various domestic expenses. She owns a business that deals with the selling of variety of cereal flour. Through this business she manages to earn an income of USD30 per month. She is also a farmer and she grows beans, maize, potatoes, cabbages and kales which are both for commercial and domestic purposes. She sells her farm produce to the local community that lives around or near her homestead. What she gets is adequate to support both her businesses needs and domestic needs. However, she is experiencing some significant increase in cereal flour demand and therefore, she has applied for a loan of USD150 which will be used to purchase approximately half a bag for each cereal (maize, wheat, Soya beans, etc) that will be milled to produce flour. She is willing to repay this loan in a period of 12 months.",F,150,lender,Food,1 Kenya,"Joyce Nabukuwa Anoo was born in 1973, and is married with three children. All are in primary schools. She is a religious person and attends mass at Kawangware, and is an active member of Kawangware Hub women's group. Joyce joined WEEC early this year, and was trained in loan management. She sells cereals and ground nuts at Kawangware market. She has applied for a loan of $300, which she intends to use to buy 20 bags of cereals and groundnuts. She is willing to repay this loan within a period of 12 months.",F,300,lender,Retail,1 Kenya,"Joyce Njeri Njuguna is married with seven children. She is an active member of St. Monica women group. She is also an active of ACK Nguruweini Mother Union. She grows maize, beans, bananas, and a variety of vegetables. She is a farmer who does mainly crop farming and pig rearing. Joyce has a retail business at the local shopping centre. Her farm produce is consumed in part by her family and she sells the remainder to retailers and local consumers at a local market.
Joyce has applied a loan of USD75, with which she intends to purchase a pig. The loan committee has approved her loan. She is willing to repay this loan within 10 months.
",F,75,lender,Agriculture,1 Kenya,"Joyce Nyambura is 42 years old. She is married with six children, three of whom are still in school. She is an active member and a chairlady of Ngombe Bora Women's Group. She lives in Nyakaguma village and attends Maragwa Catholic Church.She lives at her farm where she does her farming. She grows bananas and other food crops but mainly deals with banana growing. She sells bananas in the open-air market near the police station along the highway. She has applied for a loan of USD300, with which she intends to purchase 60 bunches of bananas in order to meet the customer demands. She is willing to repay a loan within a period of 10 months",F,300,lender,Agriculture,1 Kenya,"Joyce Nyambura Muthua is a married woman, aged 61. She left school at the elementary level. When she was young there were no girls schooling in her community so she had to bear the same fate.
Her parents really wanted her to get married, so Joyce had no other option. Since she had no professional training, Joyce had to resort to farming. Luckily enough her parents were also farmers and had taught her how to do it.
Apart from farming, Joyce also relies on her daughter who is married. Joyce would like to be independent so as to allow her daughter to take good care of her own family. She would like to expand her dairy farming and is requesting for US$ 750. She is intending to use US$ 400 to buy 2 hybrid dairy cattle, US$ 100 for transport, US$ 150 to buy cattle feed, and US$100 to plant some local grass. She is sure of increasing her income and also bettering her standard of living.",F,750,lender,Agriculture,1 Kenya,"Joyce Oltinki is married with five children; four are in primary and secondary education and the last is 3 years old. Joyce is the treasurer of Namunyak women's group and an active member of Noosuyian Baptist Church. With the help of her husband, she started a business selling milk in 2002. After she got a loan of USD450 from WEEC, she bought two pregnant dairy cows and therefore she is managing to get an average of 45 litres per day which she sells to Kitengela Dairy. The profit that she gets has enabled her to send her children to secondary school and buy eleven goats. If given this loan she will be able to buy a dairy cow that will help boost her milk production.",F,900,lender,Agriculture,1 Kenya,"Joyce Seeyian is married with two children. One of her children is in primary school and the other is still at home. Her husband is a pastor at P.C.E.A Inkiito, and Joyce is also a nursery teacher at the same church for twenty-seven children. Joyce started her business in 2003 with three steers. After grazing these steers for a period of six months, Joyce sold them and bought six steers. Her profits were channeled into building a rental house at Isinya town. Presently, the number of steers has been reduced to five due to the prolonged drought. She would like to increase this number to thirteen with the help of the loan if given.",F,900,lender,Agriculture,1 Kenya,"Joyce Wanjiku Mburu is a 26 year old woman, married with two children who are both in school. Her husband is currently unemployed and she sells vegetables near her residence. The fact that she did not complete her primary school did not deter Joyce from finding a way to support her family. She has been in the business for the past year and her proceeds have enabled her to take care of her family and elderly parents. Joyce buys vegetables from the wholesale market in Nakuru and then sells them to various clients who are loyal because of her good customer service.
Being the sole breadwinner of the family is not easy; Joyce's earnings are never quite enough to care for the family, especially with the high transportation costs she incurs. She also has a very small market stall that cannot accommodate more stock and constantly encounters difficulties from the municipal council. Joyce is a strong woman and feels she can meet these challenges. She is requesting a loan of $850. Her budget is as follows:$100 to cater for transport, $50 to get a municipal license, $200 to build a more stable business premise, $500 to add stock Joyce is an ambitious woman who is ready to raise her financial status and she is confidant that she will be able to repay the loan on time.",F,850,lender,Food,1 Kenya,"JOYCE WANJIRU NDUNGU is a 41-year-old married businesswoman with three children, two of whom are in primary school. Her husband is a driver in Nakuru Town where they live together with the family. After she completed her high school education, Joyce got married, and after she realized that her husbands income was not sufficient to provide for the familys basic needs, she started a business of selling tomatoes in Nakuru. She has been in this business for over 10 years, and she has gained sufficient experience in business. She sells the tomatoes to hotels, consumers, companies and other businessmen and women. The business is profit-earning and her living standards have raised from the profit she makes. However, she would like to expand the business but lacks funds. She is therefore requesting a loan of $800, which she intends to spend as follows: $550 buy more crates of tomatoes; $150 to pay transport costs; and $100 to pay a municipal council fee. Joyce is a determined mother, and she will be able to repay the loan.
Disclaimer: Due to recent events in Kenya, the security situation in many communities remains unsettled, affecting many local businesses. Lenders to this entrepreneur should be aware that this loan may represent a higher default risk, and should be willing to accept this additional risk in making their loan.",F,800,lender,Food,1 Kenya,"Joyce Wanjiru Wambu is a 27 years old and married with two children in junior school. She lives with her husband and his aged parents in the Ngorika settlement in the rift valley. She is an active member of Wendani Self Help Group. She does maize farming on their 2 acre plot. Until recently her husband was the main breadwinner but he was retrenched (laid off) six months ago from his job. They now have to depend on Joyces farming, which has put a big strain on the already small income to meet all the basic needs. She would like to expand her farming business but lacks the capital. She requests US $700 loan. Her budgets is as follows: use US $200 to lease extra land. use US $400 to buy seed and fertilizer. use US $100 to hire casual labor She has always repaid her loan on time. The expansion will help to meet the basic needs for the family of six and pay school fees. She will be able to repay her loan.",F,700,lender,Agriculture,1 Kenya,"Joyce was born 24 years ago. After her primary education, she was not able to continue with her education due to lack of finance. She was employed temporaryily sometimes and later she got married. After she married, she was introduced to WEEC and joined immediately. She has benefited a lot from the trainings and interactions with people who are educated and skilled in different areas.
She secured a loan from the group and started a retail business where she sells food products and house hold goods in small quantities. The business has been of great help in her life that she is so empowered and determined to continue and add more stock in her shop. She is very positive towards life and believes she will make an impact to many who feel discouraged because of lack of education background. Her loan is meant to boost the business to a greater level where she will be able to serve her customers' demand without straining where to get the goods from. She is convinced her business will grow and will have a lot of customers after restocking.",F,300,lender,Retail,1 Kenya,"Joyce was born 25 years ago. After her primary education, she was not able to continue with her education due to lack of finances. She was employed temporarily at times and later she got married. She has benefited a lot from trainings and interactions with people who are educated and skilled in different areas.
She secured a loan from the group and started a retail business where she sells food products and house-hold goods in a small quantity. The business has been so much of a great help in her life that she is so empowered and determined to continue and add more stock to her shop. She is very positive towards life and believes she will have an impact on many who feel discouraged because of their educational background. Her loan is meant to boost the business to a greater level, where she will be able to serve her customer's demand without straining about where to get the goods from. She is convinced her business will grow and will have a lot of customers after restocking. She will repay her loan in monthly installments.",F,900,lender,Retail,1 Kenya,Joyce was born 60 years ago and is an active member of Gituya Kamukia Women Group. Her main occupation is farming. She has a dairy cow and 3 dairy goats that gives her an income every month. She bought the goats with small group loan. The cow does not produce a lot of milk but she been feeling contented because she is able to meet her needs from the little money. The client said I have no crying baby on my laps. This mentality was challenged by her from women at her age and she was told to think as an entrepreneur. This has made her think of boosting her cow with dairy feeds which will lead to increased milk production and income.,F,125,lender,Agriculture,1 Kenya,"Joyce was born in 1963 in Kiambu, Kenya. She is married with four children. All of them are in primary and secondary school. When she was growing up, her father could not afford to educate his children as he wished as he was unemployed and his only source of income was farming. During school holidays, Joyce and her brothers and sisters used to pick coffee to earn money for school fees and a school uniform. Though Joyce dropped out of primary school, she can read and write. Today she is a happy woman who has changed the whole situation. She has really empowered her children and she has transformed her family life. Joyce practices farming where she grows cereals, vegetables and rears dairy cows. Joyce has benefitted a lot from WEEC program through trainings. She has tried her best to utilize her skills on her farm.",F,750,lender,Agriculture,1 Kenya,"Joyce was born in 1965.She is single and a mother of 4 and 1 grandchild. She is a born again Christian. Since she got saved, she has found a joy in studying the bible. She is a strong member of women of faith group. WEEC improved her life by training the group members on how to start small businesses of their own and to be self reliant with their families. If she can access some little capital from the fund, she will be able to buy more beauty products for her small business and she will lead an honest life. Joyce has received three small loans of USD 20.She started buying new materials and beauty products and hawk them in the estate .Joyce is very happy for her small business and says..``This is my business .I own it and I will work hard for its growth. Today she is capable of taking USD 75 for business expansion .she says. `WEEC has trained me to be a good business person; I do plan for any business move i make. She sees her business expanding in the near future and she will be able to stock most of the beauty materials.",F,75,lender,Retail,1 Kenya,"Joyce was born in 1970 in Kiambu, Kenya. She is married with two children who are both in secondary school. She is a committed Catholic Christian. Joyce started doing business in 2000 after getting married. Together with her husband she started selling hardware in an open market. She joined WEEC in 2002, and was able to access a loan that enabled her to move from the market into an enclosed room.
After moving locations, Joyce was able to tap into many more customers. She now pays her childrens school fees, even though at times it is challenging. With a loan of USD 300, Joyce will be able to stock more hardware to meet her customers needs. The income from hardware sales will help her pay for her childrens education. Joyce believes in hard work and alleviating poverty through her work. She is willing to repay her loan on monthly basis.",F,300,lender,Retail,1 Kenya,"Joyceline Wangui is 38 years old. She is married with 3 children. She is a very active member of Kaganda Magdalene Women's Group. She lives in her farm in Kaganda. Two of her children are in university and one is still in high school. She is a member of the Catholic Church Kaganda.
She has tea in her farm as a cash crop as well as a dairy cow. She sells 5 litres of milk a day after getting enough for her family. She now has a poultry project and currently has 300 layers. She wants a loan of USD 600 because she wants to increase the number of chicks to 500. She contributes very well to the group's revolving fund and has good market for her eggs.",F,600,lender,Agriculture,1 Kenya,"Judith Cherotich is a 23-year-old, married entrepreneur. She has one child and lives in Nakuru with her husband. Judith's husband works in a local bookstore. He is the main bread-winner, as Judith brings in only a meager income from her small business selling liquid detergents and disinfectant. Judith and her husband would like to start saving for their childrens education and improve their living conditions, but their income is only barely enough to get by.
Judith has got an order to supply a local hospital with disinfectant, but they insist on good packaging. Judith has now decided to start packaging both disinfectant and detergent for all her customers and also increase her stock to give her business a cutting edge, but unfortunately she lacks capital. She is requesting a loan of US$ 1000. US$ 200 will be used to buy plastic packaging bottles, US$ 600 to purchase more stock of detergents and disinfectant, US$ 100 to make labels, and US$100 for transport. Judith is focused and will repay the loan.",F,1000,lender,Retail,1 Kenya,"Judith Achieng is a 26 year-old entrepreneur and mother of three school-aged children. She lives with her husband in Kisumu, Kenya. She began her current business of dress making in the year 2000 in Rongo, Kenya. In 2006, she moved her business to Kisumu where her husband is employed. She specializes in both womens and mens clothings.
The business location, coupled with her friendly interaction with customers, has enabled her to establish a good clientele base. She owes her success to hard work, perseverance, and two previous microfinance loans she has received from KMET. She has also established a training site for girls who have dropped out of school (currently has 10 students) who are trained in dressmaking. To keep up with her customers' demand she has employed a full-time tailor.
Judith plans to move to a more spacious site with her next loan of US $625. She will use it to purchase more stock of sewing materials and to pay a month's rent at the new site.",F,625,partner,Services,0 Kenya,"Judith Achieng is a 27-year-old mother of three children. Judith and her husband live in Kisumu, Kenya. Judith has received three microfinance loans from KMET. She began her tailoring business in the year 2000 in Rongo, Kenya. In 2006 she moved her business location to Kisumu to join her husband who works in Kisumu. Since then she has successfully built a business due to the added advantage of access to loan capital from KMET/KIVA, hard work and perseverance. She specializes in both men's and women's dresses.
The central location of her shop and her many years of doing good business within the community have gained her a good reputation and a wide customer base. Her business has done quite well due to the added advantage of access to loan funds; she has combined the additional money with hard work and perseverance in order to increase her stock and materials and build a successful income-generating business.
Judith is proud of her accomplishments and that she is now able to contribute to paying household expenses. To further expand her business she has applied for US $700 to enable her to purchase a variety of clothes-making materials and also purchase other stock and tailoring supplies to keep up with the growing demand.
Disclaimer: Due to recent events in Kenya, the security situation in many communities remains unsettled, affecting many local businesses. Lenders to this entrepreneur should be aware that this loan may represent a higher default risk, and should be willing to accept this additional risk in making their loan.",F,700,partner,Clothing,0 Kenya,"Judith Akinyi Martime is a 41-year-old woman, married with three children. She runs a food kiosk in Pondamali slums, Nakuru, Kenya. Her husband is currently pursuing boxing training and the whole burden of feeding and educating their three children who are all in school falls on her.
Judith's food kiosk is located at a central point and is doing well, but unfortunately, it's very small and there is no additional space to expand it. Since she has a big client base she would like to expand her business by starting another food kiosk but she lacks funds. Having this extra kiosk will generate more income, which she intends to use for her childrens' education : two are currently in high school where the tuition fee is quite high, one of them will finish high school this year and this will be a big challenge for Judith when she enters college. Judith is focused on building up her savings for her childrens' education .
Judith is requesting a loan of US$ 800 to be used in the following way:
US$ 200 for set up costs; US$ 400 to buy food stocks; US$ 100 for transport and other costs. US$ 50 to pay for a council license. US$ 50 for family use.
Judith is an industrious lady and will repay the loan.",F,800,lender,Food,1 Kenya,"Judith Akinyi Mumbo is 39 years old, and is living with HIV. She lives in the Kibera slums of Nairobi. Judith separated from her husband who had infected her with the HIV virus and later died of related complications. Judith has three children and five other dependants whose parents also died of HIV/AIDS. Two of her dependants are also HIV positive. Lea Toto, an organization within Kibera that takes care of HIV positive children, trained Judith on candle making, and she has worked with them for five years as their trainer in candle making. She is however paid on commission basis; therefore her proceeds are quite low. Though Judith has the skills in candle making and many people request her to make candles for them, she is not able to do her own business to make candles for sale because she does not have her own machine to do this. She has so far not managed to access any credit to enable her to do this. Judith requests a loan of $ 175, which will be given in kind, in the form of a candle-making machine. The repayment period for this loan will be 10 16 months. Given this loan, Judith will have an increased income through which she will manage to support her dependants. She will also be in a position to make and sell candles at affordable rates to Kibera residents because Lea toto has allowed her to make the candles at their place, her overhead needs will be minimal. The retailers involved in the sale of these candles will also have an added benefit since they can buy candles at a cheaper rate, hence they will be able to meet the existing need within Kibera slums.",F,175,lender,Retail,1 Kenya,"Judith is a widow with 2 children who are in primary school. Her husband passed away in 2001. She has some basic training in the area of health care and operates a small chemist (pharmacy) in her rural village. She intends to use the loan of US$300 from PEMCI to stock her chemist and to boost her businesss profitability. This being the only health care facility in her village, Judith is playing a very key role in supporting the well-being of her community. She is also distributing free Malaria drugs under a Government program.",F,300,partner,Health,0 Kenya,"Judith is a widow with two children in primary school. With training in pharmacy, Judy was able to open up the only drug shop in her home area. With the first loan from PEMCI, she was able to stock her shop, and she repaid her loan successfully. She now looks forward to getting another loan so she can improve her service, which is vital to her customers in the area.",F,375,partner,Health,0 Kenya,"Judith Oloo is a widow aged 24 years who has seven children. Three are her biological children, while the other four are from her late husbands previous marriage. Six are in primary school while one is too young to start schooling.
Judith is a business lady, operating a tailoring shop at Kariobangi Market. She also sells fabric to other tailors in the same market. The business was founded by her late husband in 1990. The monthly income for her business is 30,000 Kenyan shillings ($375 U.S.)
With this loan Judith wants to open another fabric shop and hopes that the profit generated will enable her to comfortably feed and educate her children.
About KADET:
The Kenya Agency for the Development of Enterprise and Technology (KADET) is committed to economically empowering its clients by providing financial services to rural communities in order to relieve suffering and improve living conditions within those communities.",F,675,partner,Retail,0 Kenya,"Judith Wathithi Mikori is 37 years old and married with seven children. Two of her children have completed college, three are in high school, and two are in junior school.
She sells secondhand clothes (mainly trousers) in the open-air market. She would like to diversify her business and sell skirts together with the trousers. She is therefore requesting a loan of US$500 which she budgets as follows: US $400 to buy two bales of skirts and one bale of trousers, US $50 for transport and US $50 for other expenses. The additional stock of clothes will help her generate more income to cater to her familys needs. In particular, she will be able to send her two children to college. She is capable of paying the loan.",F,500,lender,Clothing,1 Kenya,"Judy is 39 years old. She is married and has 3 children. She is a member of the ACK church in Gakoigo. Judy is a strong member of Maragwa Ushuhuda women's group.
Her main economic activity is agricultural farming. She grows bananas, maize and beans. Her plan is to further diversify her activities through incorporating dairy farming. With the revival of the Kenya Cooperative Creameries, Judy wants to take advantage of the good price offered by the Cooperative for the milk.
She has applied for a loan of USD 300 to enable her to purchase a high quality dairy cow. The loans committee has approved her loan. Judys repayment period will be 12 months.",F,300,lender,Agriculture,1 Kenya,Judy is 44 years old. She is a widow and has 4 grown up children. Judy is a member of PCEA church in Kandisi. She is a God fearing woman whose prayer was to have her children grow up to fear and respect God. She has been involved in counseling the youth especially the young girls and always advises them to be involved in church activities. Her three daughters are in the church choir and the grown up daughter is now doing a course in early child care. Judy has brought up a family that is greatly respected by her neighbors. In 2006 when there was famine in our country Judy assisted many families with food - especially those with young children. She could share the food that she had in her home to ensure that children do not sleep hungry. To show their gratitude the mothers who benefit from Judys generosity always come back to assist her in her farm. Her main economic activity is farming. She grows Kale and Spinach and sells them in Soko Mjinga. She also rears a dairy cow and sells milk to her neighbors. Judy is a member of Kware One women\'s group. The aim of joining the group was to enable her save and borrow loans to enable her educate her children through secondary school. Her last born child will be joining secondary school this year. Judy requires USD $300 to enable her pay for the childs secondary education. She will repay the loan from the income she generates after selling vegetables.,F,300,lender,Agriculture,1 Kenya,"Judy is single with no children. She is the secretary of Naserian Womens Group and a choir member of the Rivet Baptist Church. She started her business of selling second hand clothes two years ago after joining the group. Her initial capital was little so she could not afford to rent a stall. She has worked hard and now she has a stall. Her main customers are Kitengela residents. She buys second hand clothes from Gikomba market where they are supplied in bales and cheaper. She makes a profit of around USD 150 monthly. Given a loan of USD 450, she intends to increase her stock to cater to the increasing demand within the neighboring town centre. She has made a real difference in her area. She is young and determined to change her life. She is promising to repay her loan on a monthly basis.",F,450,lender,Clothing,1 Kenya,"Judy Nyambura is aged 31 years. She is married with two children (both boys aged 14 and 16 years). Judy is the sole breadwinner in her family. She took up the responsibility after her husband was retrenched. He remains jobless to date. To make her living, Judy began a fruit-selling business in Gikomba market within Nairobi. She has been in the business for the last three years and has acquired good experience in the business and possesses excellent management skills. There is high demand for the fruits which she is selling. She requests a loan of $800: $200 to purchase green avocados; $200 to purchase sweet bananas; $100 to renovate her business structure; $100 to renew her annual license; and $200 to purchase two wheelbarrows, which will help her ferrying her fruits, therefore reducing her transport cost. Judy is hardworking and has the potential to pay back the loan.",F,800,lender,Food,1 Kenya,Julia is 27 years old married mother with 2 children who are in primary school. She is an active member of St Juliet women group and a religious person. She leads a congregation of young mothers in her place of worship. She joined the group due to an influence from a friend. All her friends lives were changed by the loans they were getting from the group. She has benefited a lot from the business and livestock management trainings. She was empowered that she applied for her first loan and started with a small retail shop of household goods. She has been able to buy a dairy cow from the retail shop income and now she no longer buys milk for her family. Her life has really improved and she has decided to buy add stock in her shop. She is planning to buy more daily after improving her shop. She is willing to repay her loan in monthly basis,F,150,lender,Retail,1 Kenya,"Julia is 62 years old. She is Catholic and a strong member of St. Marys Catholic Church in Ongata Rongai. Julia is a widow. She had two daughters who passed away, leaving three children under her care. Losing her loved ones could have left Julia in a very devastated situation, but her faith and strength in the Lord has worked miracles in her life. Julia has worked hard to make the community around her better as well. In doing so, she has set a good community development record that few can surpass. It started when Kibera slum residents moved in large numbers to the Kware area of Ongata Rongai due to insecurity. These newcomers could only afford to put up small mud houses. To assist this community, Julia put up iron sheet rooms that she rented at a price the new residents could afford. The newcomers appreciated the rooms since they had better living conditions. To date Julia has 20 iron sheet rental rooms that she rents at USD 7 each per month. With the introduction of the Community Development Fund (CDF) by the government, Julia was selected as the treasurer. The committee upgraded the roads in the Kware slum area. This move was appreciated by all the residents. When interviewed by WEEC visitors and asked how she managed such a sensitive activity that necessitated moving some families to other locations to pave way for the roads, she said, prayers, prayers and prayers work...my Fridays are always dedicated to prayers and I go to church for this every Friday. Julia has been empowering and mobilizing women to form groups to enable them fight poverty. She is the chairlady of Chabumba women group a group whose members have done well in improving the welfare of their families. Julia takes the education of her grandson very seriously. She is hoping to get a loan of USD 300, which will pay for the childs school fees for a whole year. She will repay the loan from the rental money that she receives every month.",F,300,lender,Housing,1 Kenya,"Julia is Kenyan and is 33 years old. She is married with two children, and belongs to the choir in her local Anglican church She lives in Ikundu village and is an active member of Karaba women's group. She is the treasurer of the group, and she maintains very good records for the them. She contributes very well to groups revolving fund and other group projects. .
Julia is a farmer and has many different crops in her farm. Her income is mainly the sale of bananas and French beans. She hopes to buy a water tank to harvest rainwater when she gets the loan of USD300 through the group.",F,300,lender,Agriculture,1 Kenya,Julia Kajuju Josephat is 52 years old. She is married and a mother of five children; four have cleared school and the other is in primary school. She lives at Rongai town. Julia has been working as a caterer in a local university for the last six years until last year when she resigned and joined her husband's business dealing in milk supplies. The demand for milk in Rongai is increasing and there is inadequate capital to cater for this demand. She has applied for a loan of $300 which is intended to buy more crates of milk. She is willing to repay this loan within 12 months.,F,300,lender,Retail,1 Kenya,"Julia Kerubo Ombati is a 30-year-old single mother. She owns a small spare parts shop at the estate where she lives. Julia depends on that shop entirely and believes that that's the work she can do best. She has been in this business for the last eight years and now that her daughter wants to attend high school, she is sure if she doesnt plan well herself, she might be caught in a fix of not being in a position to pay the school fees.
Julia would really like to expand her business but lacks sufficient funds. She is requesting a loan of US$ 500. She intends to use the entire amount to add to her inventory. She is determined to repay the loan and given her projected cash inflows thanks to expansion made possible by the loan, she will be better placed to educate her daughter.",F,500,lender,Retail,1 Kenya,"Julia Ngema Waithaka is 23 years old and single. She cleared high school but did not have money to pay for her college education.
She decided to start selling secondhand jackets in the open-air market. She has been in this business for three years now. Her main aim is to save and get enough money to go to college. It has not been easy to save because she is also taking care of her other brothers in high school. She is determined to achieve her dream of being a great entrepreneur in the future. She is therefore planning to take a diploma course in business management in the future to enhance her business experience. She would like to also start selling trousers together with the jackets.
She is requesting $400 to expand her business. $300 will be used to buy the bale of clothing, $50 for transport, and $50 for storage and other expenses. She is a member of Jikaze Group within Ebony Foundation. She is capable of paying the loan.",F,400,lender,Clothing,1 Kenya,Julia Njambi Kamande is a 29-year-old married woman. She lives with her husband in one of the suburbs in Mombasa town. Her husband sells second-hand clothes whereas she sells fruits and vegetables at the market. She supplies to other retailers as well as selling to household consumers who frequent the market to buy small consumable portions daily. She has been doing this business for the last six years and her earnings have managed to provide for all her familys basic needs.
The cost of the vegetables at the market has increased because of the dry season making it quite hard to buy in large quantities. This has reduced Julia's earnings considerably .She would like to retain and increase her income out of this trade but she lacks capital.
Julia is requesting a loan of US$ 1200.Her budget is: US$ 1000 to increase her stock and US$ 200 to renovate her business premises.This will enable her uplift her lifestyle and meet her familys needs without struggling. She is responsible and will repay the loan.,F,1200,lender,Food,1 Kenya,"Juliah Wanjiru Muhuga is 45 years old, married with 3 children. She is a religious lady. She is the secretary of the Happy Millennium Women Group and contributes well in the group where she saves regularly, borrows, and repays her loan on time.
Juliah does farming as her main economic activity. She has planted her farm with beans, maize, bananas, and sweet potatoes. She produces enough to feed her family and sells the surplus in the local market.
Juliah is applying for a loan of USD150 to purchase seedlings, planting seeds and fertilizers as a way of diversifying her income. She is willing to repay this loan within a period of ten months.",F,150,lender,Agriculture,1 Kenya,"JULIANA CHEPKOSGEI TALAM is a 46-year-old business lady who is married with six children, three of whom are in school. She also takes care of her grandchild, whose mother died three years ago. To supplement her husbands farming income and support her family, she started a business selling both second-hand and new clothes at Liten market in Kericho District. The business is strategically located in a busy street and she has been able to build a sound client base. Her major challenge is that she is not able to meet the rising needs of her customers. To meet this demand she needs to increase her capital, so she is requesting a loan of US$1000, which she intends to spend as follows: US$800 to purchase varied stock of clothes and shoes, and US$200 to pay the annual municipal council fee. Juliana is a hard-working lady and she will be able to repay the loan.",F,1000,lender,Clothing,1 Kenya,"Juliana is a widow and mother of four children. Two of them will be seating for their primary certificate exams this year and the other two are in class six and seven respectively. She had been given a loan by PEMCI which she effectively used to increase her business. Juliana is located at Myanga market where she trades in both new and used clothes and on the side she sells dry corn, which when ground, makes the common Kenyan meal called, Ugali, and other foods. With her first loan, she was able to increase her stock and purchase molded bricks from the proceeds which will be used to build a temporary beautiful home for her family. She approximates her current stock to be worth KES 10,000/=. Given a second loan by PEMCI, Juliana plans to increase her stock further. She intends to buy a bale of used clothes and buy about seven bags of corn..",F,175,lender,Clothing,1 Kenya,"Juliana is married with five children who have all finished schooling. She is a trained mid-wife and is employed at the local community dispensary. Apart from her job, Juliana is involved in business: she buys cereals during harvesting time, stores them, and sells them later at a higher price. She also operates a clothes store at the local trading centre.
With her business, Juliana has been able to educate all her children. She wishes to expand her clothes shop and open a store if given the loan of $75 by PEMCI. Juliana is a hard-working woman who needs to be supported.",F,75,partner,Food,0 Kenya,"Juliana is married with four children; she had ten but six are deceased. She has not undertaken any training. Her husband is insane. She started her business in 1974, and has specialized in selling onions. She gets them in bulk from the town stores and sometimes from the farmers during harvest season and sells them retail. With a loan from PEMCI, she intends to increase her stock. Her business has enabled her to educate all of her children and give medical care to her sick husband. She has also been able to develop her farm where she plants maize for her domestic use.",F,75,partner,Food,0 Kenya,"Julieta Njeri is a 44 year old woman, married and with three children. Of the three, two have already completed schooling, and one is still is school. Despite having her own children to take care of, she has another seven, all of whom depend on her absolutely. Julieta did not get sufficient education; even completing the elementary part was a big problem due to lack of school fees. Also, her parents did not treasure educating a girl as it was viewed as a waste of money. Julieta ended up getting married at a young age, and with no experience at all in business she decided to start horticulture farming. Since then, she has been farming just to provide for the family's basic needs and has saved little. Julieta would like to send all of her school going dependants to a good school but does not have sufficient money. She is therefore requesting a loan of US$850. With this loan she will use US$400 to buy seeds, US$150 to buy fertilizers, and US$300 to lease two more acres of land. This will increase her cash flow, putting her in a better position to provide for the family's needs. Julieta has already received business training from Ebony Foundation and will be able to repay the loan.",F,850,lender,Agriculture,1 Kenya,"Julita is a 41-year-old single mother of three children but also cares for her sister's two orphaned children. She and her husband separated several years ago. Two of these five children are currently enrolled in school. Currently, they all live in a one-room, semi-permanent rented structure not far from the Kongowea Market of Mombasa, a large coastal city in Kenya.
Julita works in this Kongowea Market, a massive outdoor open-air market in which everything from fruits and vegetables to clothing are sold. Currently, Julita sells lemons and limes in the market. She earns enough to just barely cover her monthly costs, which include food, rent, school fees, etc., but does not see any potential for future growth or increased income.
Therefore, she would like to diversify her stock of products. She would like to sell charcoal and paraffin which are in high demand because of their cooking and heating uses. She is requesting a loan of US $350 which will be used to buy the new products. This will be Julitas first loan with Eb-F but she is hardworking and determined to repay it within the stated loan term duration.
",F,350,lender,Retail,1 Kenya,"Julius' business involves repairing bicycles which are the main mode of transport in his community. He started in 1991, when he realized there was an unmet demand for the service. He also sells repair parts for bicycles. He has not undertaken any formal training concerning this but he learnt through observation. His customers are mainly people from his community.Through his business, Julius has been able to open a canteen, where he sells manufactured goods retail. With a loan from PEMCI, he wishes to purchase more bicycle repair parts and also increase the stock of his canteen.
Julius' businesses have enabled him to educate his seven children. He has developed his farm and most of all he has been of much help in the transport sector by bringing bicycle repair services to the local community.",M,125,partner,Services,0 Kenya,"Julius Kipkurui Lasoi is 35 years old, married with two children. His children are all in private schools. He is a member of the Anglican men's association. He is trained in I.T. up to diploma level. Though he graduated with distinction, he was unable to secure formal employment because of the current economic situation in Kenya.
He opened up a computer repair and sales shop. His clientele is mostly comprised of institutions and collages in the area where he operates. Recently he acquired a contract for repairing, upgrading, installing software and purchasing additional computers for government schools in the area where he operates. This will mean that he has to add more computer spare parts and hire more assistants to help him with the contract and to boost his capacity. He is requesting a loan amount of US$ 1200. With this he will buy computer parts and accessories worth US$ 800, he will hire three assistants for the contract with US$ 200, and use US$ 200 for the deposit needed to establish a credit line with the computer distributor.",M,1200,lender,Services,1 Kenya,"Julius Kiptonui Langat is 30 years old. He is married with two children. One of his children is in school while the other one is underage. He lives in the outskirts of Kericho town together with his family. He operates a kiosk and his wife is a house wife.
Taking care of his family and his elderly parents has not been easy for him because the money he earns has never been sufficient. He has been operating the kiosk for two years now, and thus he has plenty of experience in the business. Some of the products he sells include: sugar, tea leaves, flour, and salt.
However, business has not been good for him; a of lack of funds means sometimes he doesnt supply the products according to the demand. There are also disturbances from the municipal council to pay for the license and high family demands for the basic needs -- thus all he earns goes to the family needs.
Julius wants to expand his business and that is why he came to Ebony Foundation for help. At the moment his business premise has closed because he is not able to afford municipal license fees. He is confident that with some financial help he will be able to pay for the license. Because he closes the business during the day and only opens very early in the morning and late in the evening, he only stocks non-perishable goods. He is requesting for a loan of US$900, and intends to use US$600 to add more stock, US$100 for transport and US$200 to pay for an annual license. Julius is a self-driven individual who has a lot of business ambitions and he will be able to repay the loan in time.",M,900,lender,Retail,1 Kenya,"Julius Koech is 37 years old; he is married with seven children. Five of his children are in school. The other two are too young to attend school. He has been doing dairy farming for 10 years now.
Julius says the biggest challenge he is facing at the moment is that he lacks sufficient water for his cows, so he needs a water storage tank to be able to store rain water which he taps. Julius also lacks the storage tanks needed to store the milk he supplies to the milk processor.
Julius is requesting a loan of US$ 600. He will purchase a good water storage tank with US$ 200, hygienic milk storage tanks worth US$ 200, and use the remaining US$ 200 to purchase high nutritional cow feed.",M,600,lender,Agriculture,1 Kenya,"JULIUS MUTIMBA NELSON is a 43 year old. He is married and has two children who are all in school. His wife is a sales agent, which lessens the burden to provide basic family necessities. Julius lives in the langa langa estate in Nakuru town. After the completion of his 'O' level education, Julius started a small business selling motor spare parts like bolts, nuts, filters, batteries, and brake pads among others. Julius has been in this business for six years and he has gained a lot of experience in motor auto spare parts. He has also employed two people who assist him in the fixing/replacing of spare parts in his customers' vehicles. Julius purchases his products from suppliers in Nairobi and incurs significant transport costs. However the path has not been smooth for Julius because sometimes he lacks funds. In order to tackle this problems, Julius is requesting a loan of US$1000, which he intends to spend as follows: US$700 to purchase more stock, US$200 to cater for transport, and US$100 to pay the municipal council fee. Julius is a hardworking man and he will be able to repay the loan.
Disclaimer: Due to recent events in Kenya, the security situation in many communities remains unsettled, affecting many local businesses. Lenders to this entrepreneur should be aware that this loan may represent a higher default risk, and should be willing to accept this additional risk in making their loan.",M,1000,lender,Services,1 Kenya,"Julius Mutiso is a 43-year-old man, who is a practicing doctor. He is married and has three adult children. He lives in Kayole, an informal settlement within Nairobi, where he also runs his medical clinic. Apart from his family, he takes care of two children orphaned by HIV/AIDS.
Dr. Mutiso began a clinic back in his rural home in 1996 using some of his own savings amounting to about Ksh. 70,000 (USD 1000), that he had put aside when he was still employed by the Kenyan government. By 1998, the clinic's business had grown tremendously, so that he had moved locations thrice, in order to accommodate the immense need for medical services.
Unfortunately in 1998, he encountered several difficulties when the landlord where his business was located increased the rent to four times higher; the rent shot from about US$ 570 to US$ 1715. He therefore found that due to this steep increase in overhead, he could no longer manage to pay the workers he had employed, let alone continue with the operations of the clinic. Apart from this, his clinic also suffered tremendously due to non-payment of medical bills, i.e., many patients he had admitted failed to remit payments. To further compound the problem, many of these patients were either relatives or neighbours from his home area, making it more difficult for him to reclaim payments, since culturally, it would seem very insensitive of him. By the year 2001, he had incurred a working loss of Ksh. 1.5 million, (US$ 21,430). This amount has not been paid to date.
In addition to these problems, he encountered another issue when he traveled to attend a seminar and was away for three months. Upon his return, he found that his staff had stolen and sold off most of the medical equipment he had acquired, and the clinic had actually been run down. This was a very difficult experience for him, therefore he decided to close what was remaining of the clinic, and he carried away the little furniture that was left. It is with this furniture that he decided to start off a small clinic within Kayole, an informal settlement within Nairobi.
The Exodus clinic is located in the Kayole area of Nairobi, in the middle of a low-income group of residents. The clinic is formally registered with the Ministry of Health in Kenya. Most of the patients that Dr. Mutiso attends to are mothers and children, together with HIV/AIDS patients. His aim of setting up the clinic was to reach the less privileged in Kenyan society, by providing medical service that is affordable for them.
Dr. Mutiso now intends to set apart a child welfare clinic within his premises, from where he will be in a better position to provide services related to the growth and well-being of children ages five years and below, from the Kayole area. From here he intends to provide vaccinations and health education for the parents, and he will also include family planning services. As an extension, he intends to provide home-based care, that is, door-to-door vaccination services, and generally attempt to raise the awareness of the community concerning the importance of vaccination for children.
Dr. Mutiso is therefore requesting a loan amounting to US$ 950 with which he will be able to partition off a part of the treatment room, in order to create space for the child welfare clinic. The loan will also enable him to purchase furniture for his clinic, acquire an assortment of medical drugs, a scale for babies, surgical forceps and scissors. He will also purchase a small television set that will keep the children busy as they wait to receive treatment. He intends to repay the loan within a period of 12 months.",M,950,partner,Health,0 Kenya,"Julius Mwololo is a 33-year-old man, married, with one child. Julius lives at Mlolongo, an informal settlement along the Nairobi Mombassa highway. Apart from caring for his young family, Julius has the burden of taking care of his brothers and sisters after losing both of his parents.
Julius started his restaurant business in the year 2006. This was after he and the other employees he worked with were sent home after the chain of supermarkets they were working for came under receivership. Since Julius had experience in dealing with customers while at the Uchumi supermarket, his former workplace, he decided not to waste his skills. He therefore ventured into the restaurant industry, where he felt that he could make use of his skills while at the same time earning some money for the upkeep of his family and siblings.
In order to finance the start-up of his business, Julius sold one of his cows for a total of Ksh 18,000 (US$ 300) and put this amount in, together with his personal savings of Ksh 40,000.00 (US$ 670), which he had put aside while still in employment. With this, he opened his business in the year 2006. The business has since been doing very well, and Julius now feels that he wants to improve the business by adding on some kitchen equipment. This will include a cooker, a refrigerator, a French fries warmer, a juice extractor, a blender, and some cooking fat. These will enable him to give his clients quicker and better service.
The population within the Mololongo area is rapidly growing and Julius wants his business to grow with the rising number of potential customers. For this reason he is kindly requesting a loan of US$ 1000 so that he can fully equip his restaurant.
Given this loan, Julius feels that he will be able to give his customers the very best service. He will also be able to employ 2 young men to assist him in running the business, thereby benefiting the community by creating employment. The repayment period for this loan will be 8 months.",M,1000,partner,Food,0 Kenya,"Julius started selling second hand shoes at Myanga and Masielo trading centers during market days. He started the business in 2004 with proceeds from the sale of his farm produce. He first started hawking sweets with capital of Ksh 250 which is equivalent to US$4. He has, through time, graduated to selling second hand shoes starting with a single pair to his present capital of Ksh 8,000 approx. $90. He buys the shoes in bulk from neighboring markets where prices are low and resells them for a profit. His existing stock can be estimated at Ksh14,000. On a good market day his profit ranges between Ksh 500-800. Julius is married and is a father of two children one boy and one girl. His wife is a farmer. Although he dropped out of school due to lack of fees, through his business, he has been able to educate his children, meet basic needs and also develop a small farm. In his business, Julius encounters challenges. During the slow season, like January , he sells beans (dry) instead of shoes. With the loan of $150, Julius plans to increase his stock of shoes and also buy beans during the current harvest season. He will store part of the beans and sell them in January 2008 when prices are at their highest. Julius is well worth the support from Kiva and partners.",M,150,lender,Agriculture,1 Kenya,"Juma Morega Motatiro is a 34-year-old married man. He has 6 children whom he has to take care of. In addition, four of his siblings are in school and he has to ensure that he pays their fees.
He has been in the business of bicycle taxi (transportation) for the last 3 years. This work requires him to wake up by 4:00 in the morning and to go to sleep very late at night. He wants to open for a food kiosk for his wife to operate so that he does not have to strain so much, especially by working during odd hours.
He is requesting a loan of US$800 of which US$300 will be used to buy cooking and seating facilities and utensils, US$100 to lease a premises, US$350 to buy food stuffs and US$50 to put electricity in the business. He is an active member of Eb-F and believes that by starting the food kiosk for his wife it will help supplement their income, making their livelihood better. He is a hard worker and able to pay the loan.",M,800,lender,Food,1 Kenya,"Juma Nyae lives in the small coastal town of Shanzu, just north of Mombasa. He is a 41 year old married father of four. He owns a workshop that he has been working in for the last 12 years. Juma also owns a passenger service motorbike and sells clothes to supplement his workshop income. This will be his first loan from KADET and he is very excited about it. With the 30,000 Kenyan shilling loan, Juma plans to purchase timber, service his carpentry tools, and increase his clothes stock. In the future he hopes to fully furnish his workshop with various machines through subsequent loans from KADET, in order to satisfy and win more orders from his many clients. About KADET: The Kenya Agency for the Development of Enterprise and Technology (KADET) is committed to economically empowering its clients by providing financial services to rural communities in order to relieve suffering and improve living conditions within those communities.",M,400,partner,Manufacturing,0 Kenya,"Justin is 30 years old, a young mother of two young children. Justin joined women of Faith group in 2006 when she got saved. Justin benefits spiritually from the group, though young the other older members encourage her very much. To earn a living, she sells second hand clothes. With no income to establish a small shop for stocking, she uses living room as the business store. She buys second hand clothes from Gikomba then takes them home for cleaning and pressing. She hawks her goods in the estate and among the group members. She wishes to put up a small shop to enable her carry out her work from specific and fixed point. This would assist her to plan on how to expand her business in the near future.",F,75,lender,Clothing,1 Kenya,"Justus has been married for seven years. He has three children, (two girls and one boy) who are all in Primary school. He operates his business hand in hand with his wife from Myanga, Chwele, Mayanja markets which he attends on Tuesday, Wednesday, Monday and Friday, respectively. For six years Justus has been in the business of selling cereals like Maize, Beans, Millet and Ground nuts, which he normally gets from Malaba and other market places Like Myanga. Through his business he has been able to support his family and provide for the welfare and education of his children who are in private school. He faces many challenges like high transport cost which has gone up to $8. He gets up to $12 per day in profit. With the loan from Pemci he hopes to increase on his stock and be able to buy himself a bicycle to improve on transportation. He dreams of expanding his business in order to supply a variety of product like cereals and retail goods in the whole Bungoma district.",M,175,partner,Food,0 Kenya,"Justus is a 34-year-old, new client at PEMCI. He is married man with three children, and his wife is a teacher at Webuye Primary School about forty-five kilometers from Malaba town. He runs a bar, restaurant, and lodging, mainly targeting truck drivers who need refreshment and temporary accommodation.
With his business, Justus has been able to offer this important rejuvenation service to truck drivers who get really tired after driving for long distances. He has also provided simple employment to about ten people from Malaba. They work with him as cleaners, waiters and waitresses; cashier and security men.
With a loan from PEMCI, Justus intends to refurbish the beds for the guests and seats for the bar.",M,500,lender,Services,1 Kenya,Kaanu Kirisiet is married with four children. Kaanu is an active member of the Nasinya Womens Group. She has never been to school to get an education but her children are now going to school. She wants to start a cereal shop business in her local residential area. She thought of this idea when she realised how far her local residents travel in search for cereal. This discourages her local residents from buying cereal food because they need to go far away to do so. Through this business venture she will be able to earn an income to help her cater for her childrens school fees. She has applied for a loan of USD 450 to set up a cereal business shop. She is willing to repay this loan in a period of 12 months.,F,450,lender,Food,1 Kenya,"Kaindi is a 35-year-old mother of two children. She operates a grocery business in Nairobi, and has requested her first loan of 20,000 KES in order to start the same business in another location. She plans to purchase a pick-up truck in two years for transporting and supplying onions and tomatoes. Kaindi hopes to educate her children and have a good and comfortable life. She describes herself as faithful, obedient, polite and loving.
About Faulu Kenya
Faulu Kenya aims to empower Kenyans by providing access to financial opportunities. Faulu is a sustainable and profitable microfinance institution that offers savings and credit services to over 225,000 Kenyans. Faulu recently became the first MFI in Kenya to be licensed as a Deposit-Taking Micro-Finance Company, which will enable Faulu to better serve its clients.",F,275,partner,Food,0
Kenya,"Kakenyua, 49 years old, is a married woman and has four children. She is a dedicated group member of Osotua Women Group, a community-based group. She keeps her savings with the group and all members of the group are encouraged to save as a means of accumulating capital. She has successfully repaid 95% of her first Kiva loan and her life has taken a different path. She is aiming higher and has big dreams for her business. Her shop income helps her to pay her children's school fees and provide basic needs for her family. She is willing to repay her loan on monthly basis.",F,600,lender,Retail,1
Kenya,"Kakuu is a member of Osotua women group that encourages women to start up income generating activities. The group has a revolving fund and a bank account where members keep their savings.
She is 42 years old, married and they have five children. She has been in business since 1984 and has been selling milk in Isinya Town for years. Since then, she is ever on the move finding opportunities to improve her life. She started raising steers in 2002 and the business was doing very well until 2005 there was a prolonged drought period that left most of the families livestock dead. The climate since March this year favors farmers and life is back to normal in Maasai land.
Kakuu now has three steers in different age groups and she will sell one at a time. She wants to buy six more steers. After six months two will be ready for sale and this will give her good income to pay school fees for her children and to cover other household necessities.",F,450,lender,Agriculture,1 Kenya,"Kamasek is such a hardworking lady who has come a long way from selling ghee made from milk cream to raising and selling steers. She is 50 years old and has 6 children, two of them are married and others are in school.
At present, she has 5 steers and these will be sold as they mature because they are of different age and size. The bigger the steers, the higher the price and so are the profits. Besides the steers business, Kamasek makes necklaces, belts and bracelets out of beads. She sells them to Emily, another member of her group who sells them to Nairobi markets and Wetlands. Also, she sells milk and this gives her daily income that covers the day to day expenses at home. Kamasek believes in venturing into more than one activity in order to generate more income.
She has applied for a loan of USD 450 to enable her to buy 8 small steers. She will rear the steers for 8 months and sell them at the local Isinya market. Kamasek will repay the loan on a monthly basis.",F,450,lender,Agriculture,1 Kenya,"Kamau is a young newly married man and the sole provider for his younger sister and brother who stay with him. He has never had any formal employment and started his pay phone business in the year 2005 with a loan of U.S $ 280 from Eb-F. He used the loan amount to hire small premises in town, to stock 6 community payphones and cell phones accessories. The venture proved successful and Kamau has since been able to repay his loan in full. He uses the income from the business to provide for himself and his younger siblings who are now able to attend school. Because of his superior marketing skills he has been contracted to supply pay phones to rural women groups. The women groups will use the pay phones as income generation activities. In Kenyan rural areas communication is limited by lack of telephone hand sets. The women will place the pay phones at strategic points in rural centers where the general public can make and receive calls at a fee. Kamau will provide the groups with after sale maintenance services. Kamau is requesting for a loan of U.S $ 450.He Will use the amount to purchase 10 community pay phones and 5 repair kits. This will in turn enable him to be supplying 5 pay phones per month earning him enough income to see his brother and sister through high school. He is able to handle the loan and repay without a problem.",M,450,partner,Retail,0 Kenya,"Karangi is 29 years old, married and with two children. He lost his job when the company he was working for closed down. His wife Jane is unemployed and they decided to venture into a zero grazing business. This is a kind of business where because of the small size of land, dairy cows are reared in a shade. The farmer supplies the cows with pasture and water and takes care of veterinary needs. He then milks the cows two or three times each day and sells the milk. Karangi and Jane have one dairy cow which produces an average of 15 litters of Milk per day. Dairy cows do not produce milk through out as the milk dries up when the Cow is in-calf (Pregnant) and one has to wait until it calfs(Gives birth).During such moments, the farmer has no means of income and is unable to provide for his family. Karangi is requesting for a loan of US $ 900 to enable him purchase a second dairy cow. The second cow will enable him increase the milk produced to 40 litters per day and will provide income security to the family when one of the cows is in-calf. The income will enable Karangi and Jane provide for their family, take good care of their cows and supply their neighbors with quality milk. The couple is very enterprising and will be able to repay the loan well.",M,900,lender,Agriculture,1 Kenya,"Karanja is fourty three years old and married with four children. Two of his children are in high school and the other two are in primary school. Karanja started his hawking business in 2000 in Malaba town. When many other people entered the business, he felt his client base schrinking. He decided to go to Tororo, Uganda, which is about fifteen kilometres from Malaba. He operated there for a few years but felt the same problems there. He then decided to move to Mbale, which is about fifty kilometres from Malaba. His family is based in Mbale. Karanja enjoyed the market there, but only for a short period of time before he experienced the same issues. He then moved to Soroti, which is about 120 kilometres from Malaba.
Karanja trades in general wares such as simple electronics, household utencils and goods. With a second loan from PEMCI, he plans to increase the variety and volume of goods he trades in.",M,825,lender,Retail,1 Kenya,"Karen Chepngeno Rotich is 26 years old and married with three children, who are all school going. Her husband is jobless and this leaves Karen as the sole breadwinner of the family. She has two other dependants, her elderly parents that she takes care of. Karen had to drop out of school at the high school level because her parents could not afford school fees. She is a very young focused woman who has always wanted to change her family status and thats why she started a retail shop on the outskirts of Kericho. She has been operating the shop for the past five months and sells a wide variety of products. Being the one who provides for the family has made it hard for her to expand the business since the profit she gets is used to take care of the family. Lack of sufficient capital is one of the setbacks she faces in her business. She lives in a very rural area, which makes transportation costs high because of the distance from where she buys the products. She wants to expand the business but she doesnt have the money and that is why she has requested a loan of US$1000. She intends to utilize the loan as follows; US$600 to buy more stock, US$200 to cater for transport, US$100 to get a license and US$100 to expand her business premise. Karen is a hardworking and energetic young lady and she will be able to repay the loan in time.",F,1000,lender,Retail,1 Kenya,"Ken Wafula is a pastor of a local church at Kayole, an informal settlement area of Nairobi. Besides his work as a pastor, he does carpentry too. He is 43 years old and married with five children. In his care are his mother in-law, who is sick with tuberculosis that affects the spinal cord and therefore she needs 24 hour attention; and three children that belong to his sister-in-law whose husband died while she sells changaa, a local brew enjoyed by many informal settlement dwellers. She neglected her children, not offering any kind of support to them, so Ken decided to take on that responsibility.
Ken hails from a humble background. His father died while he was 9 years of age then his mother followed a year later after the death of his father. He obtained a CPE - primary school certificate - through the support of a certain schools principal in his home area of western Kenya, who happened to be his fathers close friend. Ken says that carpentry is an activity enjoyed by most of his family members. He would join his brothers at their late fathers workshop in making a wide range of furniture. He carried on the spirit later on by first going through training with the help of a friend through apprenticeship, then working in several places to improve on his skills as he prepared to start his own workshop.
In 1989, Ken started his own workshop from the savings he had from his previous employment at a construction site. Although he has had difficult times, as is the nature of businesses, Ken has not given up. He usually gets orders to make furniture but his clients pay very little deposit to enable him start the job. Another limitation is that they take too long to collect their finished products, hence Ken does not get paid in time. This is because his clients are people of low income.
Ken now wants to engage in the sale of ready-made furniture, which sells faster within his community, besides working with orders from clients in order to increase his income. Right now he is targeting to make chairs and desks for schools within his community as they prepare to reopen school for the second term. Ken is therefore requesting for a loan of USD 600, which will be granted in kind, to enable him purchase the materials. He intends to pay back the loan within a period of 15 18 months.",M,600,lender,Construction,1 Kenya,"Kennedy is fifty five years old. He started his bicycle repair business in 1989. He repairs bicycles at the Myanga Trading Centre and sells the bicycle parts to his customers. He is married and has 12 children. His wife is a farmer in Mayanja Village. To start his business, he saved money by selling charcoal. The nature of his work is more service oriented than sales and therefore his stock of spare parts is averaged at about KES 5,000 ($80 USD). With his work, Kenneth says he is able to take home at least KES 150 ($2.50 USD) per day.
In his business, bicycle theft is a challenge. Sometimes his clients leave bicycles for repair and they are stolen. When this happens, he is compelled to pay for the stolen goods. Though it seldom happens, he says that it usually affects his business plans.
Given a loan by PEMCI, he plans to buy spare parts for his business. Kennedy dreams to educate his children. He is a school drop out due to his parents inability to pay school fees. He is the first born in a family of three.",M,175,lender,Services,1 Kenya,"Kennedy Karuri is a 38-year-old married father of two. He has been offering computer services in his shop in Shanzu for the last five years. He does printing, typesetting and CD-writing, and also acts as a computer consultant. Kennedy also sells and lends out entertainment videos and books in the same shop. He has many customers from the small but populated beach town of Shanzu who enjoy the various services he offers. Kennedy has previously borrowed from another source to finance his business, but this will be his first loan from Kiva partner, KADET. With his 20,000 Kenyan shilling loan, Kennedy plans to upgrade his computer and also purchase some new parts and accessories for it. In the future, he hopes to own a computer training school, to be able to serve and empower the residents of Shanzu. About KADET The Kenya Agency for the Development of Enterprise and Technology (KADET) is committed to economically empowering its clients by providing financial services to rural communities in order to relieve suffering and improve living conditions within those communities.",M,275,partner,Services,0 Kenya,"Kennedy Mukunga Macharia is a soft-spoken, 27-year-old single gentleman. He lives with his parents and two siblings at the Garden estate on Thika Road, Nairobi. Kennedy operates a cyber caf, at the Kenyatta Market, Golf Course Centre. He offers Internet services, photocopying, word processing and printing services and even telephone and document-binding services. He has often provided support services to the Action Now Kenya office, as well as to many other companies in the area.
Kennedy went to the Kenya School of Professional Studies where he took courses in IT (Information Technology) from 2001 to 2003. After his studies he got a job at a Video Library located at the Garden estate where he worked for two years. In the year 2005, he was employed at a hardware shop located at Donholm estate, East of Nairobi. He was inspired by his father to set up a cyber caf, and with his father's assistance together with the little savings he had put aside, Kennedy set up the cyber caf in April 2006. This has helped him a great deal because it has uplifted his life since then, and unlike many youths of his age in Kenya, he does not have to depend on his parents for his personal expenses.
Kennedy now wishes to expand his business in order to be able to do colour printing, which currently he is not able to do. He is therefore requesting a loan of US$ 250, which will enable him to purchase the colour printer. This will go a long way toward giving his clients quality services which will translate into higher income. Kennedy intends to repay the loan within 6 months.",M,250,partner,Services,0 Kenya,"Kennedy Odhiambo Okelo is a 38 year old married entrepreneur. He has three children who are all in school in Mombasa, the Kenyan coastal town. He sells tomatoes at the vast Kongowea market, the biggest market in East Africa. He is a wholesaler and has been doing this for the last 13 years.
Kennedy first came to Mombasa after finishing his college education as a tour guide. Unfortunately this was during a time when tourism was going through a recession here in Kenya and therefore he could not get a job. He decided to try self employment. He started very small as a retailer buying from wholesalers to sell to consumers.
As a family man, the daily needs as well as the unpredictable price fluctuations have made it impossible to continue building his business. However, he is confident of making a profit if he sells more goods at cheaper prices to get through the high supply season. He therefore would like to stock more.
His family lives in a single room and he would like to improve their living conditions, but he lacks the necessary funds. He is therefore requesting a loan of US$600. This will be used to buy extra crates of tomatoes. He is hardworking and will repay his loan.
Disclaimer: Due to recent events in Kenya, the security situation in many communities remains unsettled, affecting many local businesses. Lenders to this entrepreneur should be aware that this loan may represent a higher default risk, and should be willing to accept this additional risk in making their loan.",M,600,lender,Food,1 Kenya,"Kennedy started his business in 2004. He is a retailer and his shop is located at the local community center. Although he is a qualified driver, he has chosen to go into business. This has enabled him to support his familys basic needs. His wife is a housewife and sometimes she assists him in running the shop. Kennedy is also a photographer. With a loan from PEMCI, Kennedy plans to increase the stock of his shop and improve the profits he gets. Through his business, he has been able to bring services near to the community.",M,150,partner,Retail,0 Kenya,"Kennedys business entails buying molasses in bulk and retailing the same for profit. He came up with this idea after realizing that molasses was readily available due to availability of a sugar industry in his area and he could make use of this opportunity to create a molasses business for a living to support his family. He is the sole provider for his family and this business is the one that has supported his family for over 5 years now. He is married with 4 children. His business location is in a suburb town within Kisumu city called Muhoroni. There is a sugar factory called Muhoroni Sugar Factory from which he gets his molasses. His business is unique in that there are few people in the area who thought of establishing a business like his. The interruptions that occurred to his business due to the post-election violence slightly affected his supply and necessitated a refinancing. This is the basis for the current loan that he is seeking. In his group he has a leadership role as the group Chairman. His leadership style is unique in that in addition to being a strong leader, he has devoted part of his time to counseling the group members affected by the post-election violence as a way of ensuring that the group business activities pick up faster. This has endeared him to his group members who view him as a servant leader who is both concerned about their businesses and their social needs. His group leadership qualities have thus ensured that his group is among the most united in the region. Another unique feature of the group that has led to their current cohesion is his highly participative type of leadership which has encouraged members to voice their opinions openly without fear of victimization. Disclaimer: Kiva is working with OI-WEDCO to refinance businesses disrupted by Kenya's post-election violence. The group above has received loans from OI-WEDCO in the past and is now working to rebuild their businesses and to get back on their feet.Due to recent events in Kenya, the security situation in many communities remains unsettled, affecting many local businesses. Lenders to this entrepreneur should be aware that this loan may represent a higher default risk, and should be willing to accept this additional risk in making their loan.",M,1675,partner,Retail,0 Kenya,"Kenneth is 32 years old, married with four young children, three boys and a girl. He trades mainly in maize, buying at Myanga and selling within the local area.
Kenneth has participated in several local seminars on business education. With the proposed loan of US$150 from PEMCI, he plans to expand his business which would enable him to buy in larger quantities, cutting down on travel time and cost. Due to competition, Kenneth is forced to travel a long way to buy maize where it is cheaper in order to improve his profitability. He has a small store where he is able to keep the maize and offload it slowly. The loan will help stabilize his business. This project is recommended for funding.",M,150,partner,Food,0 Kenya,"Kenneth is a prominent business man in Malakisi where he has been running his business for the last ten years. He started his business by selling clothes. Then he changed to kerosene distribution. Finally he started to sell animals at the local Malakisi, Malaba and Angurai Markets. He sells animal such as goats, cattle and chickens which he gets from the Kocholia, Mayanja, and Malakisi Markets. He has completed his second loan successfully with Pemci. It has greatly improved his capital base, and he been able to diversify his business in selling different animal varieties. Kenneth bought himself a bicycle to improve his transportation. Through his business he has been able to build his house to support his family needs and be able to supply his customers through out with chicken and quality meat. Although he faces many challenges in his business, Kenneth has been able to keep his head high by diversifying his business and giving quality products to his customers. Kenneth is the father of four children. One child is in nursery school and the others are still at home. With the third loan from Pemci he plans to increase his stock business and strengthen his recently opened butchery business which will greatly improve his business expansion and improve his income. He dreams in the future of owning more butcheries in different locations in the Teso and Bungoma Districts.",M,325,partner,Agriculture,0 Kenya,"Kesilai is 45 years old. She is married and has 7 children. She is a trained counselor and she has helped her community to resist and abolish female genital mutilation (FMG) practices. Through various trainings, she has been able to gather a lot of knowledge and she shares it with her group members, especially the dangers of this practice and HIV-AIDS.
Kiselai is a member of Inkiramat Women group, which operates in Isinya as a self-help group. Through the trainings she has learned the importance of savings and she greatly appreciates this. The group runs a group revolving fund; Kiselai accessed a small loan of USD 200 in 2005 and bought two local cows. She started selling milk after some time and up to today, the business is growing. She has five cows which are second-class cross breeds. She repaid her loan promptly and this encouraged her to apply for another loan.
In addition to selling milk, she sells items made of beads at Isinya town. Along with dairy cows, she rears steers for sale. She fattens them and after 6 months, they are sold at Isinya market. She has been able to educate her children; her first-born has finished college whereas others are still in secondary school. Her major concern is to get school fees for her children and give them the education which she did not receive. She would also like to buy 6 more medium-sized steers at a cost of USD700 to increase her business sales, especially now that the Kenya Meat Commission was reopened by the Kenya Government.",F,700,lender,Agriculture,1
Kenya,"Keteo is a window with 5 children, 2 children are married and others are in high school. She is the treasurer of Ewanganya Women Group. She is a religious person and has been a ring leader in many women organizations in her community. She has been against Female Genital Mutilation in her community and has empowered many girls to enroll in school. She gets her income from steers which she has been rearing for 2 years. They have helped her to pay fees for her daughters who are in high school. She wants to sell the stock she has, top up with the loan and buy 10 young steers. She believes in hard work and feels she hasnt yet achieved all her life goals. She is willing to repay the loan win installments.",F,450,lender,Agriculture,1
Kenya,"Kevin is a 19 year old orphan who has lost his parents to HIV\AIDS. He is the first-born and has 3 siblings to care for. He is educated up to O level and hopes to apply this education to the small maize farm his parents left them to diversify into animal feed, domestic fuel, and manure. He also hopes to educate his siblings and further his own education and better his skills.",M,200,lender,Food,1
Kenya,"Keziah is 29 years old married woman with 3 children. Keziah is a nursery school teacher. She is very committed to her work. Keziah lives in the family plot and through the Maragwa Ushuhuda Women Group, she has been able to cultivate her plot of land. She grows bananas, maize, and beans in her farm. Although the food is mainly used at home, she sells the bananas to the fruit vendors who sell ripe bananas in the nearby Maragwa market.
Keziah hopes to buy a dairy cow that will help her family earn more income. She has split her plan into 2 phases. The first phase is to buy a water tank that will store enough water for the family and the dairy cow. During this time, she will also prepare a plot of land to grow napier grass for the cow. She intends to repay the loan over a 12 month period. The second phase of her plan is to buy a good quality dairy cow. She has applied for a loan of USD 300. This is the same amount that has been approved by the Group Secretariat for phase one of her plan. She promises to repay her loan on monthly basis.",F,300,lender,Agriculture,1
Kenya,"Keziah is 29 years old. She is married with 3 children. Keziah is a nursery school teacher. She reports early to work to await the children who report to school early. Keziah lives on the family plot and through Maragwa Ushuhuda Women
s Group, she has been able to develop her plot of land. She grows bananas, maize and beans on her farm. The food is mainly used at home, however, she sells the bananas to the fruit vendors who sell ripe bananas in the nearby Maragwa market. Keziah has a plan of buying a dairy cow that will assist her family to realize more income. She has put her plan in 2 phases. The first phase is to buy a water tank that will store enough water for family use and also for the dairy cow. During this time she will also prepare a plot of land for growing nappier grass for her cow. She intends to repay the loan in 12 months. The second phase will be to buy a good-quality dairy cow. The loan she has applied for is USD300. The same amount has been approved by the Group Secretariat for phase one of her loan.",F,300,lender,Agriculture,1
Kenya,"Keziah Muthoni is a single woman aged 20 years old. She is a young entrepreneur who earns a living by selling herbal products like soaps, medicinal roots, nutritional products and ointments. She gets the products from herbal clinics and pharmacies in Nairobi, Kenyas capital. Her products have a huge demand especially, nutritional supplements which are used by chronically ill people and the elderly. Recently she received an order to supply products to a local hospital. The order was good for her business although she had problems with servicing it because she did not have the financial resources needed to fulfil the order. The same hospital has requested another order and she is planning to increase her inventory levels. She is requesting a loan of US$ 900 to be able to the above. She will purchase herbal products with US$ 800 and with US$ 100 she will transport the products from Nairobi to the town where she operates out of.",F,900,lender,Health,1
Kenya,"Keziah Waithira Irungu is 50 years old. She is married and has eight children. One of her children is in college and Keziah works very hard to ensure that he will complete the college level of education. Keziah is a committed member of St. Emmanuel ACK church in Weithaga where she fellowships and participates in other church contributions. Keziahs main occupation is farming. On her farm, she plants maize, beans, bananas and coffee. She also rears a dairy cow. Keziah has a large family; therefore, she reserves most of her farm produce for home consumption. Her monthly income from the farm is USD $75. Keziah joined Weithaga star womens group to benefit from the revolving fund that is managed by the women. Being an elderly woman, she commands respect and acts as an advisor to the younger members of the group. Her borrowing and prompt repayments has made other members respect her deeply. She has applied for a loan of USD $150 that will be used to develop her farm. She will repay the loan within a period of 10 months. The loan committee has approved her loan as per the loan graduation policy.",F,150,lender,Agriculture,1
Kenya,"Kimanzi Musyoka is 44 years old. He earns a living selling green maize at Kongowea market in Mombasa. He has seven children; five are in school and two are not yet old enough to attend. His wife lives in the rural area with the children because its more expensive to maintain his large family in town. She runs a general merchandise shop in their tiny village and also does a bit of farming to supplement her husbands meager income. He began this business 3 years ago after he was retrenched from his job as a security guard. All of his earnings are spent taking care of their basic needs such as shelter and food. He also takes care of his aging parents. Kimanzi's income has not increased but his family needs do increase. He would like to grow his business into a larger outfit so that he can reap optimal gains. However, his greatest challenge has been to raise the capital to buy the green maize in bulk since they are in great demand (this being a popular staple food for the locals). Kimanzi is requesting for a loan of $650 to expand his business. The additional income will enable him to repay the loan as well as meet the familys needs comfortably and he is committed to repaying the loan.",M,650,lender,Food,1
Kenya,"Kiparki is married with 4 children, by next year all of them will be in high school. She is a religious person, very active and the chairlady of the Inkishumu women\'s group. She is also in a community movement which empowers girls to seek an education and fight against early marriages. Her main source of income is a steers business which she started with the help of small loans through WEEC. The project has transformed her entire family life and she looks back with gratitude to whoever made it happen. She has been able to pay fees and provide for basic needs for her children through the business. Her two youngest children are joining secondary school next year and she would like to add steers to ease the burden of fees. She already has an established market for her steers where she sells them after three months. She is promising to repay her loan on monthly basis.",F,450,lender,Agriculture,1
Kenya,"Kipchirchir Turmet is a single man, 26 years old. He lives with his ailing mum whom he takes care of. He is a dairy farmer and has been doing this for the last two years. He resorted to dairy farming as a career because he lacked the tuition fees to enroll in a higher education institution after he completed high school.
So far Kipchirchir has two healthy cows; he supplies the milk from the cows to a government milk processing company which was recently privatized. The milk he supplies is in small quantities therefore he is unable to cater for his family needs and expand the business at the same time. He needs to increase his herd by adding another cow.
Kipchirchir is requesting a loan of US$ 1000. He will purchase two cows with US$ 750, purchase a vaccination and de-worming package with US$ 70 and use US$ 180 to buy nutritious feeds and salts for the cows. Kipchirchir is a young ambitious entrepreneur and he will succeed.",M,1000,lender,Agriculture,1 Kenya,"Kipeen Maradu is married with five children; two are in secondary school and three are in primary school. She is an active member of the Naserian Womens Group. Kipeen Maradu is also a member of the Kisaju Baptist Church. She started a hotel business two years ago at Kipero Shopping Centre and her main customers are workers from a local flower growing company nearby. Due to the increase in customer demand and the different varieties in taste among customers, she is compelled to buy a greater variety of food and 15 more chairs for her hotel. She has made this decision in order to prevent disappointment that may arise from the customers. She has applied this loan of USD 450 to accomplish the above goal. She is willing to repay this loan in a span of 12 months.",F,450,lender,Food,1 Kenya,"Kiraido is an active member of PEMCI and is applying for his second loan, having completed his first one successfully. The previous loan enabled him to expand his livestock business to include cattle, goats, sheep and chicken. Before that he was only able to sell cattle. Right now his stock can be estimated at 37,000 Kenya shillings. He operates his business at different trading centers during market days and makes a profit of between Ksh1500 and 2000 Kenya shillings depending on the season He makes good money during school opening days when most parents sell their farm animals to get school fees. With the proposed loan of $450, he plans to buy additional stocks of livestock in anticipation of the busy harvest period and Christmas months when meat consumption will have gone up. If he buys now he will be able to make a good return on his investment. Through his business he has been able to meet his family 's basic needs and also support his ageing parents. Livestock trading is a good business and PEMCI has funded a number of clients who are engaged in it. Most of them are in their third and even fourth cycles. We strongly believe that Kiraido will successfully service his loan just as he did with the first one.",M,450,lender,Agriculture,1 Kenya,"Kiraido is an active member of PEMCI and this is his second loan, having completed his first successfully. He used his first loan to expand his livestock business to include cattle, goats, sheep and chicken (he only sold cattle before that). The worth of his stock is currently estimated at about 37,000 Kenyan shillings (US$450).
Kiraido operates his business in different trading centers during market days, making a profit of about 1,500- 2,000 shillings (US$22-30) depending on the season He also earns well on school opening days when most parents sell their farm animals to get school fees.
With the proposed loan of $475, he plans to buy additional stocks of livestock in anticipation of the busy harvest and Christmas months when meat consumption goes up. If he buys now he will be able to make a good return on his investment. Through his business he has been able to meet his family's basic needs as well as support his ageing parents. Livestock trading is a good business and PEMCI has funded a number of clients who are engaged in it. Most of them are in their third and even fourth cycles. We believe that Kiraido has the ability to service the loan.",M,475,lender,Agriculture,1 Kenya,"Kirisia Nkosheshe Kardasi is married with five children. She is an active member of Namunyak women group and a member of Nsosuyian Baptist church. She started her businesses three years ago and has two businesses. One is of steers whereby she started with three steers after grazing period. Kiritisa sold them and bought five other small steers. Fortunately, after one year her business grew to twelve steers. She is now targeting Kenya Meat Commission Company to sell her steers when officially open. The business enabled her to send her children to school and start her second business of a retail shop. Most of her customers are usually her neighbours and recently they have increased in number and her inventory has been reduced as a result of this demand. She has applied a loan of USD450 to purchase one more steer and household goods for her retail shop.",F,450,lender,Retail,1 Kenya,"Kivon is forty three years old and married with three children. He is a pharmacist by profession and a businessman. He operates a pharmacy at Malaba town, which is located on the great North road. The road serves as the gateway for transportation of goods into East and Central Africa. Kivon also partners with his wife in running the mini supermarket business next door.
Kivon usually prescribes and administers drugs to his patients in town. The local populace serves as his clientele. Kivon says the majority of his patients are single women and commercial sex workers who have relationships with truckers. He says that these drivers always leave their women with different sexually transmitted infections and diseases, which Kivon treats most frequently. He says as more trucks come, he gets more clients. He believes that his business would shut down if the trucks changed their routes.
With his first loan from PEMCI, Mr. Kivon plans to restock his pharmacy.",M,1200,lender,Health,1 Kenya,"Koli Manga is 49 years old. She has six children, two of whom still attend school. She lives in a slum settlement in Mombasa city. She earns a living selling dry cereals at a busy market within the city. The cereals include maize, beans and a variety of peas. She has been operating the business for the last ten years.
All her earnings from the business go into taking care of her large family and there is hardly anything left to plough back towards the growth of the business. There is great demand for the dry grains since they are the commonly eaten foods and furthermore, their low price makes them more appealing to the low income earners in the slum neighborhood. Koli would like to increase her earnings so that she can adequately provide the basic needs for her large family. She intends to do this by offering more of her cereals for sale. She is requesting for a loan of US $600 to purchase more cereals for sale. She is capable of repaying the loan.
Disclaimer: Due to recent events in Kenya, the security situation in many communities remains unsettled, affecting many local businesses. Lenders to this entrepreneur should be aware that this loan may represent a higher default risk, and should be willing to accept this additional risk in making their loan.",F,600,lender,Food,1 Kenya,"Konene Konchella, 43,is married with five children. She has never gone to school but she has made sure that all of her children are in school. She is an active member of Naeku women's group and an active member of PCEA Olmerui. She started her beadwork business two years ago. This business has helped her to buy six goats and send her children to school. She now wants to expand her geographical coverage to Nairobi where she believes there are many additional customers. She has applied a loan of $300, which she will purchase beads in bulk in order to support her increased customer base. She is willing to repay this loan within 12 months.",F,300,lender,Arts,1 Kenya,"Kukuya is a famous lady in Empuyiankat because of being hard working and desiring to bring change in her area. In 2004, she convinced their chair person to start up an adult education class, and to date, all members know how to read and write their names. She is a jovial lady aged 52 years, married with 9 children. Although she did not receive formal education, she is at the forefront of making sure that all school-going age boys and girls in Empuyiankat go to school. Primary education in Kenya is free and she cannot see why other parents refuse to send their children to school. She is working very hard to make sure her children finish at least college-level education.
Because of this, she joined Inkiramat women's group in order to access credit which would support her business when it needs more funding. She sells milk, steers and decorations made out of beads in Kitengela town. Kukuya works with her husband and have been in this business for over 20 years. They plan their business in such a way that they are in a position to sell between 5-8 fattened steers at a go. From this sale, they buy other medium-size steers, and the balance is kept for other activities. This has helped her family to maintain an average standard of living and to encourage others to do business and send their children to school.
Due to the favorable climatic conditions and ready market after the reopening of the Kenya Meat Commission by the Kenya Government, Kukuya wants to increase their number of steers to at least 20 in a period of seven months. She is almost finalising her Kiva loan of USD 450 and she would like to buy 6 more medium-sized steers at a cost of USD700. The fattened steers will be sold after 4 months and the proceeds will be used to purchase more steers. This will form a good capital base and will put the family in a better financial position.",F,700,lender,Agriculture,1 Kenya,"Kune Rukia Wako is 30 years old, and married with three children, aged 12, 7 and 5. All are in school. Rukia reached grade 12 but never continued with her education due to lack of school fees. She earns a living with a payphone services business, and she supports her family from the business returns. She would like to start selling safaricom and celtel scratch cards so as to improve her profit margin. This will also help her reach out to the clients who already have mobile phones. To make this happen she is requesting a loan amount of US $ 850: US $ 400 to purchase safaricom air time units, US $400 to purchase celtel units and US $50 to pay for the municipal fee. She is a jovial woman and people like her because of her excellent customer relations. She will repay the loan.",F,850,lender,Services,1 Kenya,Lasai ene Nakeeh is 39 years old. She is married with four children. Two of her children are in secondary school and two are in primary school. She never went to school but now she is attending adult education at the Multi-Purpose Centre in Isinya. She attends the Noosuyian Baptist Church and she is in the church choir. Lasai is an active member of the Amani Womens Group. She started her beadwork business two years ago and the little profit she has made has enabled her to provide her children with their basic needs. She is hoping to get a loan to supplement the small profit she has saved to boost her stock. If she is able to buy more beads she has the potential to attract new customers and explore new markets. She has demonstrated a good repayment record from the previous loans and she is committed to paying the loan back. She is willing to repay her loan on monthly basis.,F,450,lender,Arts,1 Kenya,"Latoi is married with two children. Latoi is an active member of the Inkishumu Women\'s Group. She has two businesses, one for beadwork started a year ago and a steers project. She sells her beadwork at Maasai Market in Nairobi and at the Kitengela Market. Her steers project is doing quite well. She bought two steers which will be ready for sale in February next year. Despite the fact that her businesses are still young, they are doing well. She would like to concentrate with her steers project because there is a ready market in the country. She is very hardworking and she has influenced and acted as a mentor to many women in her group. She is a real entrepreneur and she is very committed to her businesses. She would like to add the number of steers in her stock to maximize her income. Her mission is to alleviate poverty through her industriousness.",F,450,lender,Agriculture,1 Kenya,"Laura Wambui Muriethi is married with six children. She is an active member of St. Ruth women group and of Gaichanjiru High School. She is a farmer and grows beans, maize and vegetables to sell to the local residents. Her main source of income is farming. Lately, she has been experiencing problems with the water supply in her farm. Laura intends to buy a water tank for storing rain-water both for farming and domestic use. She has applied a loan of USD300 to meet this goal. She is willing to repay the loan within 12 months.",F,300,lender,Agriculture,1 Kenya,"Lawrence is 27 years old, married with one child, and lives in Kitengela. He also takes care of his niece and nephew, whose mother died of malaria while she was pregnant in 1998. He supports them from his rural home in Thika. Lawrence was employed at a shop in Karen and, from this employment, he got the idea to open a milk bar. He started the milk bar in November 2006 from the little savings he had from doing casual jobs at construction sites. He had saved $176, which he used to rent a room and buy 3 liters of milk for Ksh 20 (USD 29 cents) each. He then sold each liter for Ksh 30. It reached a point where he could sell 50 liters of milk each day. He then bought a used freezer at a cost of Ksh 14,500 (USD $213) from the small savings he had remaining. He then started selling groceries including eggs, flour, sugar, rice, and other things. Lawrence also sells kerosene, which is sold and measured by the use of bottles. Lawrence is requesting a loan of $1,100 to purchase a kerosene pump. If he gets the pump, he will get more customers since he gets a lot of them, even now when he does not have a pump (most people in his area are dependent on kerosene because they do not have electricity). With this loan, Lawrence believes that he will be able to support his family and dependants very well without any difficulties whatsoever. The total cost for the pump is Ksh 70,000. Lawrence expects to repay this loan in 12 months.",M,1100,partner,Retail,1 Kenya,Lawrence is married with two children. He started his business making and selling bicycle parts three years ago after failing to find work. He raised the initial capital from the sale of farm produce on his family land. With the first loan from PEMCI he was able to boost his business and to buy himself a small piece of land. Life has greatly improved for him and his family. With this second loan of US$150 he plans to diversify his stock of bicycle parts to include larger components. Bicycle transportation is the major mode of transportation in this part of the country and demand for spare parts for repair and maintenance is high. This is a much needed service to the local community and the economy at large.,M,150,partner,Services,0 Kenya,"Lawrence Kariuki Nyabaro is 25 and married with two children. He earns his living by operating a retail shop in which he sells things like maize flour, rice, beans, and green grams. All of his children are in school. Kariuki himself did not further his studies but he wants his children to study. The family lives in a one room rented house. He is hardworking client and would like to expand his shop business but lack of capital is his major set back. What Lawrence makes is barely enough to cater for the family comfortably and he knows by expanding his business, he will make the extra profit he needs to support his family. He is therefore requesting a loan of US$ 400: US$300 to purchase several sacks of maize and sugar, US$50 to be used to purchase additional food items for his shop and US$50 to pay for the municipal license. He is determined and and capable of paying back the loan within 18 months.",M,400,lender,Retail,1 Kenya,"Lawrence Ochieng Ausa is a 30-year-old businessman who is married with three children. All of the children are going to junior school. He stays in Nakuru and he operates a salon and a barbershop business. His wife sells groceries at their residential area, and the business has been their main source of income. He has been able to take care of his family and his extended family. His other siblings are in school, and it is he who has been paying their fees, thus it has been a burden to him. He has been in the business for five years now and he has gained a lot of experience. Lawrence faces many challenges though--one is that what he earns is not enough to cater for his family, pay his employees, and pay the rent. Second is that sometimes he gets less clients because of the season, thus less profit made. And lastly he lacks the money to buy new modern equipment that will attract more customers. Lawrence wants to expand his business and thus he is requesting $1200. His budget is as follows: $800 to buy the modern equipments and other salon accessories; $100 to pay rent; $100 to get a license; and $200 to pay his workers. Lawrence is a very hardworking and ambitious man, and he will be able to repay the loan in time.
Disclaimer: Due to recent events in Kenya, the security situation in many communities remains unsettled, affecting many local businesses. Lenders to this entrepreneur should be aware that this loan may represent a higher default risk, and should be willing to accept this additional risk in making their loan.",M,1200,lender,Services,1 Kenya,"Lawrence Wamugi is a 41-year-old man; he is married and has 3 children. He is also taking care of his niece whose mother passed away and of his brother who was crippled by polio. He helps the Saidia Furaha Childrens home and teaches them tailoring skills. After finishing secondary school, Lawrence enrolled at Kiti Nakuru training center in the Rift Valley Province of Kenya where he took a Diploma course in clothing and textiles for 4 years. After completion of this course, he went back to his rural home to do farming due to lack of money and other employment opportunities. He worked very hard at his parents farm, but later decided to move back to Nairobi in search of other work. He managed to land a job in a tailoring shop at Kitengela, a town in the outskirts of Nairobi, where he worked for one year. He was later employed at the Saidia Furaha Childrens home as an instructor of tailoring. From the salary he was getting he managed to save Ksh 20,000.00 (US$330) and to start his own textile shop while still working at the childrens home. Lawrence has a loving heart and decided to voluntarily work for the childrens home, which he still does today. Lawrence needs a loan of US$700 to expand his business. The loan will enable him to purchase a stock of cloth materials, lining and binding materials, zips, buttons, etc. for his textiles shop. He will also employ people from his community, thus creating employment. Lawrence will also be able to help fund the childrens home and serve his customers more efficiently. The repayment period for this loan will be 12 months.",M,700,partner,Services,0 Kenya,"Leah Anya is married with four children, all in primary school. She is a hard-working lady and has cleared her first loan. She has not undertaken any formal training and hopes to educate her children to college level.
She has been in the fish business for thirteen years now. She gets her stock of fish directly form the fishermen and sells from her Angurai area at retail prices. With a second loan form KIVA through PEMCI, Leah wishes to increase her stock and maybe start supplying to other fish traders. This will only be possible if she increases her working capital. Through her business, she has been able to uplift the welfare of her family, buy herself a piece of land and also a dairy cow.",F,275,lender,Food,1 Kenya,"Leah C. Mafura is a retired teacher and a member of the Amka Women Group which is with PEMCI. She is a widow and a mother of eight children, six are married and two are still in school. With her first loan, she says she was able to increase her stock and educate her children who are still in Secondary school. She also says that her salesincreased and was able to clear her first loan with PEMCI. She sells new clothes and shoes at the Netima market in the Bungoma District. She started her business some time back with an initial capital of KES 2,000/= and slowly has grown it to KES 15,000/=. The challenge she meets in her business is competition from other traders and higher transportation costs, especially in the rainy seasons when the feeder roads become impassable. When customers become scarce, she together with her other business counterparts, walk from door to door. Leah says when given a second loan from PEMCI, she will increase her stock, and meet her family expenses as a widow. She also wants to educate her children to higher levels i.e. colleges, because school fees have been a problem.",F,250,lender,Clothing,1 Kenya,"Leah is 22 years old. Unfortunately Leah did not finish her education. Her family sold her off and she was married at the tender age of 18 years. She has two children. One of her daughters is in class four and she is determined that her daughter must finish her education before she can even think of getting married. She is a treasurer of Nadupa Women's Group. She started her business one year ago so that she can educate her children and also earn an income for herself and her family. The purpose of the loan is to expand her stock at her shop and become a wholesaler. Through her profits, she will be able to repay her loan, pay school fees, and save some money on a monthly basis for emergencies.",F,450,lender,Retail,1 Kenya,"Leah is 26 years old. She is married but does not have any children. She is a member of the Mihuti ACK Church. After getting married Leah was given a plot of land by her husband that she has been using to generate income. She rears a cow and grows maize on her piece of land. The income that she generates from the farm enabled her to register as a member of Mathioya Womens Group. This is a group that has assisted members to regularly save USD 3 per month. The group has been able to set a strong revolving fund for the members who in turn benefit by taking loans to invest in their small agro businesses or to pay school fees for their children. However with the media publicity about the floating of share plus the trainings that the group members receive from WEEC officers, she feels the need to diversify her investments. The group passed a new rule to approve new loans for their members who wish to invest in shares. Leah listens to the media and is interested in buying shares with the Kenya Reinsurance Company. In her loan application she stated that she will repay the money from the proceeds she gets by selling milk to the Kenya Co-operative Creameries.",F,150,lender,Agriculture,1 Kenya,"Leah is 32 yrs old, married, with 3 children. She is an active member of Canaan Women Group. She is a determined farmer who grows vegetables, cereals and fruits. She is able to sell some of her products which earns her $15 dollars on monthly basis. She has been able to meet her family\'s basic needs out of sales she makes from her farm. She is very determined to improve the fertility of her land by buying fertilizers and pesticides to maximize her income. She has a mission to utilize her small plot of land to its maximum. Her repayments will be done on monthly basis.",F,100,lender,Agriculture,1 Kenya,"Leah is a widowed mother of eight. All of her children have been schooled and the youngest is in form one. She started her business in 2004 in order to support her familys basic needs. She gets her stock from Nairobi where she goes once per week. She is also a farmer. With a loan from PEMCI, she intends to increase her stock and reduce the number of times she has to go to Nairobi, thus reducing the cost of her operations. Through her business, she has been able to educate her children and develop her farm.",F,75,partner,Clothing,0 Kenya,"Leah is married with 5 children, who are in school. She is currently involved in the serious business of farming. She uses her income to service the small loans she borrows from her Mathioya Womens Group. She is very ambitious and works extra hard to add value in her life. She is interested in buying shares being sold by one of Kenyan Banks (Barclays Bank of Kenya) and is therefore applying for USD 150 to enable her get at least 250 shares. This is one of the sweatfree businesses left for aging women like me, says Leah.",F,150,lender,Agriculture,1 Kenya,"Leah is married with four children all in primary school. She has not undertaken any formal training. She has been in the business for thirteen years, and gets her stock of fish directly from the fishermen. With a loan from PEMCI, Leah wishes to increase her stock, which had gone down, in order to meet the demands of her customers. Through her business, she has been able to uplift the welfare of her family, and buy herself a piece of land and a dairy cow.",F,50,partner,Food,0 Kenya,Leah is married with two children. She is a college graduate. She is the secretary of her group and worships at A.I.C church. She is also a member of Nasane Entoyie group which helped to cease female genital mutilation among Maasai girls. She started her business three years ago with four steers through a group loan. Her business is doing well and has been able to enroll all her children in boarding schools. She has also been able to open a household retail shop. She has managed to increase the number of steers to five. She sells her steers in the local market but she intends to shift to the Kenya Meat Commission. This will only be realistic if she is granted a loan of USD 450 to boost her stock and buy 3 other steers to make good sales after six months. She promises to make the payments in monthly installments.,F,450,lender,Agriculture,1 Kenya,Leah Njambi Wanjama is 32 years old. She is married and has three children. She is a member of St. Peters ACK Church Gatangara. She is a choir mistress in the same church. She is the treasurer of Gatangara Venus Women Group. She earns her living through farming. She grows French beans and vegetables as her main income-generating activity. She also grows maize and beans for the family consumption. Leah has applied for a loan of $75. The amount will assist her to buy the seeds and seedlings for planting. She will repay the loan within a period of 12 months.,F,75,lender,Agriculture,1 Kenya,"Leah Waithaka Nganga is a 27 year old mother of four. She has two boys and two girls. For the last 7 years Leah has been in the business of selling groceries. Leah is not able to fully pay for the children's school fees. Leah started working immediately after schooling because her parents were not well off and they had insufficient money for both their family expenditure and her education. She therefore decided to venture into this business. Leah has a problem because the money is insufficient for family expenditure as well as educating her children. She wants to move to a new premise and add on the stock she is sure that this will increase the cash inflows and also the profit margin.
Leah is requesting US$800 out of which she will use US$ 200 to expand her shop, US$100 to hire an employee, US$300 to add on her stock and US$200 for all her transport cost. Leah is a very hardworking woman who has the potential to pay back the loan and make good use out of it.",F,800,lender,Retail,1 Kenya,"Leah Wanjiku Nyakibera Muroki was born in 1978. She is married with one child. She is an active member of Karura Hope women's group, where she is the assistant secretary and assists in updating the passbook. After completing her secondary education, she started a business of selling second-hand clothes. Two years later, she got married and started a chicken-rearing business. Currently, she has 50 chickens, and she intends to add another 300 chickens and buy chicken feed. She has applied for a loan of $600 to do this. She is willing to repay this loan within a period of 12 months.",F,600,lender,Agriculture,1 Kenya,"Leah Wanjiru Muthee is a 28-year-old mother of one and is married to a salesman. They reside in Nakurus Racecourse Estate. She runs a cereal supply shop, working as an intermediary between farmers and cereal sellers. She buys cereals from farmers in different regions of Kenya and operates her business on orders. Therefore, she travels to the farms only when her customers give her orders. She has decided to start a cereal shop in Nakuru town, where she intends to maintain stock in the shop while she awaits orders from her clients. She also plans to sell at retail prices, thus increasing her client base and her income.
Leah is requesting a loan of US$700 to help her realize her potential. She plans to use $200 to acquire a shop to sell her cereals, $300 to purchase cereals to stock in her shop, $60 to transport the cereals from the sellers to her shop, $50 to pay for the license to operate the business, and $90 to hire an assistant to help her in the shop. Leah is hardworking and very determined to achieve her goals. With the opportunities the business has, she will be able to pay back the loan.",F,700,lender,Food,1 Kenya,"Leah was born 28 years ago; got married and now she has one bouncing baby boy. She is the assistant secretary in her Karura Hope Group. She is an organized lady who is admired by many of her group members. After finishing high school she ventured in to secondhand clothes business until when she got married and changed her business line. After attending training on poultry and livestock management, she got the drive and started a poultry project which has been the only source of income she has. Despite the financial limitation, she is confident to handle other 300 chicks plus the 200 she has at the moment. She has the best dreams of her child and she wants to accomplish this through the education she will offer to him. She makes eggs sales of USD450 gross profit monthly. She is willing to pay the loan with installments.",F,150,lender,Agriculture,1 Kenya,"Leah was born in 1965 in Kiambu Kenya. She is married with four children, one is in college, two are in high school, and the other one is in primary school. She is a committed catholic christian. Leah is a farmer and she specializes in dairy framing and growing of vegetables. She has two d airy cows from which she is able to get 20 litres of milk dairy .She sells her milk to Kiambaa. Leah joined WEEC in the year 2003 and she says that she has benefited a lot from her membership through trainings and small loans. She has been able to educate her children from milk sales although sometimes they are sent home. Its a challenge but she is ready to face it by adding another dairy cow. This will enhance her milk supply rate maximizing her income rate. She is willing to repay the loan on monthly basis.",F,300,lender,Agriculture,1 Kenya,"Leah was born in 1965 in Kiambu, Kenya. She is married with four children; one is in college, two are in high school, and the other one is in primary school. Leah is a farmer and she specializes in dairy framing and growing of vegetables. She has two dairy cows from which she is able to get 20 litres of milk daily at USD 0.28 per litre. She sells her milk to a local dairy cooperative.
Leah joined WEEC in the year 2003 and she says that she has benefited a lot from her membership through trainings and small loans. She has been able to educate her children from milk sales. Her previous loan is 95% repaid. She is willing to add another dairy cow. This will enhance her milk supply rate, maximizing her income rate. She is willing to repay the loan on a monthly basis.",F,600,lender,Agriculture,1 Kenya,"Leonard is 57 years old, married, and has 3 children. He lives in Ruai town, in the outskirts of Nairobi, Kenya. Leonard started his hardware shop in 2003 when he retired. He had previously worked as a salesman with three of the top food and other manufacturing companies in Kenya, namely East African Industries, Warner Company, and Proctar and Allan. While in employment, Leonard was saving money with one of the Sacco Societies in Kenya called Jitegemee Saving and Credit. After retiring, he pulled together his resources and started a hardware shop with a capital of Ksh 200,000 (US$2,860). His wife who works with Kenya Polytechnic, a technical institute in Kenya, lent him a part of this capital. Leonard started out by renting a small stall by the roadside of the main Ruai Kangundo road. Unfortunately, the Ministry of Works demolished his shop along with other structures located near the road. This significantly affected his business, but he did not lose hope. Within three months, Leonard was able to rent another shop that has been operating ever since. In the recent past, Leonard has been having difficulties in fulfilling his customers demands that are increasing day by day because of his fair pricing of goods. By making purchases from his shop, his customers save a lot of time, since, otherwise, they would have to go all the way to Nairobi in order to purchase the same goods. Leornard is therefore asking for a loan of US$350 which he will use to purchase more stock for his hardware shop, including items like jikos (traditional cooking stoves), plastic basins, sufurias (cooking pots), spades, etc. These are items that are in very high demand; therefore, their acquisition will make a big difference for the community that Leonard is supplying. The loan will also help improve the condition for Leonard's children, his aging mother and mother in law who depend on him. He plans to employ two helpers from the community to assist in day-to-day running of the shop. The repayment period for his loan will be 8 -14 months.",M,350,partner,Retail,0 Kenya,Leonida is twenty-four years old with one child. She is the vice chairlady of her women's group and she always carries out her duties in the group diligently. She was given a loan of USd 150 by her group and she repaid well . She used the money to start her business and it's doing well even though she feels it needs more finances to increase the stock. Joyce learnt about KIVA from a friend who had accessed a loan. She immediately approached the WEEC officer who trained her and right now she has a lot of faith in the KIVA program. Her business has been doing very well but she cant meet increasing consumer demands due to inadequate funds. She is applying for a loan of USD 300 to buy more household goods.,F,300,lender,Retail,1 Kenya,"Leonida Rabach Akaka is 60 years old. She is single and has six children. Five of the children are of school going age. One of her sons is HIV positive he is married with three children. The responsibility of caring for her grandchildren lies with her. She is also responsible for providing for her ailing son with HIV/AIDS medication and special nutrition. She does commercial weaving for her upkeep and that of her dependants. She weaves items such as mats, baskets, sisal ropes and hats. Her main customers are mobile retailers in Kenyas capital Nairobi. The income she gets from her products is inadequate to allow her provide a better livelihood for her dependants and at the same time, buy her son ARVs and dietary requirements . She is requesting for a loan of US$ 600 in order to expand her business which intern will raise her financial status; she has experience in weaving since she has done this for several years now. Below is her business break down on the expenditure of the loan: Wool-US$270, Threads-US$110, Chemicals- US$120 and dye- US$100.",F,600,lender,Arts,1 Kenya,"Leonora is a mother of eight children, some in primary and others in secondary school. She started her business in 2003 in order to supplement her husbands income. Apart from fish, Leonora also sells maize and green vegetables. These she gets from the local farmers wholesale and sells them retail. She has gained quite a bit of experience in the business and she hopes to open a store in future.
Through her business, Leonora has been able to support her husband in educating their children and developing their farm, and she has brought services near to the community. With a loan from PEMCI, she plans to increase her fish and maize stocks and also be able to stock beans for sale.",F,150,partner,Food,0 Kenya,"Leonora is a mother of eight children; some in primary and others in secondary schools. She started her business in 2003 in order to supplement her husbands income. Apart from fish, she also sells maize and green vegetables. These she gets from the local farmers at wholesale and sells at retail.
She has gained quite a lot of experience in the business and she hopes to open a store in the future. Through her business, she has been able to support her husband in educating their children and developing their farm, and she has brought services nearer to the community. With a loan from PEMCI, she plans to increase on her fish stock, maize stock and also be able to include beans in her stock.",F,150,lender,Food,1 Kenya,Levy is married with two children who have not yet entered school. He dropped out of school at an early age due to lack of fees. He does not have any formal training. His wife is a housewife.
This young couple operates a shop at Moding Shopping Center. This is their second loan with PEMCI. The first loan of $150 enabled them to increase the stock in their shop and to provide those items that they had not stocked before. This has increased his client base and he plans to use the second loan of $375 to expand his existing stock further. This young couple warrants our support to empower them and their community economically.,M,375,partner,Retail,0 Kenya,"Lidya Gesare Orenge is 32 years old she is married with three children all of whom are in school. She lives in a two roomed house with her family. Her husband is a self-employed mechanic who hardly earns enough to support the whole family, so to supplement his income she is engaged in the green grocery business. She has a stall where sells vegetables and fruits in along a busy roadside in middle class estate. Her clients prefer her products because they are always clean and of high quality (the best produce in the market).she feels that she has inadequate stock levels at the moment. She would want to add more varieties of the fruits and vegetables in order to satisfy her market needs. She lacks the funds to do so therefore she is requesting for a loan of US$ 600 in order to do so. With this amounts she is planning to acquire a vendors license of US$ 70, she will buy the stocks with US$ 400 and she will reinforce her stall with US$ 130. Lidya is a hardworking lady, she aims on improving her familys welfare, and the loan will help her do that.",F,600,lender,Food,1 Kenya,"Lilian is a young mother who was married off at the age of 15. At 23 with 4 children, she has had to grow up early and is seeking to stabilise herself. With this loan she will be able to set up a cafe to provide a stable income, thus securing her children's education.",F,175,lender,Food,1 Kenya,"Lilian Wanjiru Wathome is 49 years old. She is married with ten children, all of whom are married. She is an active member and the treasurer of St. Monica women group. She is also an active member of ACK Church. She grows maize, beans, bananas, and a variety of vegetables. She is a farmer who does mainly crop farming and pig rearing. She has a green grocery business at the local shopping centre. Her farm produce is consumed in part by the family and Lilian sells the remainder to retailers and local consumers at a local market.
She has applied a loan of USD75, with which she intends to purchase a pig. The loan committee has approved her loan. She is willing to repay this loan within 10 months.
",F,75,lender,Agriculture,1 Kenya,"Lilian was born 24 years ago; she is married with one child who is in pre-unit. She is an active member of Karura Mwangaza Women Lending Group. She joined the group 3 years ago. She borrowed her first loan of USD70 and she has already repaid it. This loan helped her to start a salon. She has benefited from WEEC programmes for the training of business management skills she acquired when she joined.Her salon has been doing well but she believes if something done in terms of finance it would be better and she wants to buy more materials to enable her to meet the needs of her customers. Soon she is planning to offer services which are rare in the area like pedicure and manicure and she will be able to enhance her income. Also she wants to buy all types of hair chemicals which are available in the market due to demand from her clients. After the loan, she will be able to increase her monthly income and repaying the loan with installments wont be a big hassle.",F,300,lender,Services,1 Kenya,"Lillian Achieng is 25 years old and married with two children. She also cares for her aging father, her two brothers and one sister. Lillian, who lost her mother in 2005, lives within the Kibera slums of Nairobi and operates a pharmacy cum dispensary in Kibera. Lillian started the pharmacy in early 2005 after finishing her medical training at Shirati Medical Training College from 1998 to 1999. Lillian worked in various clinics within Kibera and then worked for Amky Clinic in Mathare North, another slum area within Nairobi from 2001-2003, Grace Clinic in Huruma, an informal settlement within the city between 2003-2004 and finally at Panama Chemist in Kibera in 2005. After seeing the suffering of her neighbors in Kibera who sometimes died during the night due to scarcity of medicine and hospitals around, Lillian opened her pharmacy cum clinic in the year 2005, using money that she had set aside as savings, while working in the above mentioned clinics. She also managed to get an additional loan of Ksh 15,000.00 (USD 230) from a family self-help group. Her motive in doing all this was purely to save peoples lives. She has since been able to settle the loan. For Lillian, all was well until her mother became ill in 2005, and died in the same year. Since she is the first born in her family, she had to cater for all her mothers funeral expenses with little assistance from her father. This difficulty compounded when a number of her clients whom she had given some medicine on credit, failed to pay her and she was unable to buy more stock. Lillian is requesting a loan of USD 475, to be paid off within 8 months. The loan will enable Lillian to purchase a variety of prescription drugs, which are very essential to her pharmacy and to the residents of Kibera. Through this loan, Lillian will manage to increase her income through which she will manage to support her dependents and she will also manage to serve her patients better, and hence save lives.",F,475,lender,Health,1 Kenya,"Lillian Adhiambo Oure is 27 years old. She is married with two children. Lillians daughter is handicapped and needs a lot of special care in terms of Medical care and special education. Lillian sells fruits in Kongowea, the vibrant retail market in Mombasa at the Kenyan coast. In this market you get all different kind of products ranging from fresh farm products to clothes, cutlery, etc. Her husband runs a small tailoring stall.
Lillian buys fruits from wholesalers at the market in bulk and then resells them to consumers within the same market. She arranges the fruits in small piles that are convenient for customer because of their moderate prices. She mainly sells oranges, mangoes and passion fruits, depending on the season. She has a large customer base given the number of years she has been engaged in business in this market.
Most of her earnings are used to meet the family expenses. Sometimes she cannot meet her customers needs and they buy from her neighbors who are well stocked. She would like to exploit the ready market but unfortunately she lacks funds. She is requesting a US $600 loan that will be used to buy assorted fruit. Lillian is determined and will repay the loan.",F,600,lender,Food,1 Kenya,"Lillian is 35 years old. She is married and has 3 school-going children. She is a born again Christian and a member of ACK St. Phillips church in Maragwa. She loves activities involving the community and is happy in her work. To supplement her salary as a nursery school teacher, Lillian is also engaged in farming. She hires farm help to do the farm work when she is in school. In her farm, she grows French beans, bananas, maize and beans. She also rears a cow, which gives enough milk for her family to use. She sells the French beans and the bananas, and, at times, sells green maize from her farm. Lillian is a member of Karaba Umoja women's group. She is actively involved in the group activities and has benefited by saving USD 3 with her group and taking credits to develop her farm. She has applied for a loan of USD 300 that will enable her to buy a water tank. The tank will assist her to harvest enough rainwater for her family and for her dairy cow. It will also reduce the time used to fetch water from the river during the dry period. The group has approved the loan. The repayment period is scheduled to be 12 months.",F,300,lender,Agriculture,1 Kenya,Lillian is married with 1 child. She is the secretary of Ewangan women Group. She is a religious lady where she demonstrates this by leading a youth group at her Methodist church. She is very responsible and active in her work. She operates a business of selling steers and she started this business by the help of her husband. It has been a good business for she has generated an activity which has helped her to meet family basic needs. Her life has been transformed and she is very determined to make ends meet in her life. She is planning to add 3 steers and feed them for six months and sell double the buying price. She wants it to be a project that will see all financial needs,F,450,lender,Agriculture,1 Kenya,"Lillian Wangari is 31 years old and single with one child. Lillian supports her aging mother, because she is the last born in the family. She lives in Kitengela, a town on the outskirts of Nairobi, but she operates her shop at Kamukunji. Lillian started her shop in 1999. This was after selling scrap metals for almost three years, through which she managed to save Ksh 100,000 to use as the initial capital for her current business. With this amount, she rented a shop and bought stock. Of late, her customers have been asking her if she can stock cereals and grains, since they dont like hopping from her shop to another. The only problem is that she does not have the cash to stock her shop with cereals and grains. She is kindly requesting a loan of Ksh 25,000 which will enable her to purchase sacks of maize, beans, green grams, and imported and local rice. With this stock Lillian will be able to give her customers a variety of grains and cereals and build her income. The repayment period is 12 months.",F,350,lender,Food,1 Kenya,"Lillian was born 24 years ago; she is married with one child who is in pre-unit. She is an active member of Karura Mwangaza Women Group. She joined the group 3 years ago. She borrowed her first loan of USD300 and she is completing it in this quarter. This loan has helped her to expand her salon. She has benefited from WEEC programs with the training of business management skills that she acquired when she joined. Her salon has been doing well, but she believes it is better if something is done in terms of finance, and she wants to buy more materials to enable her to meet the needs of her customers. After the loan, she will be able to increase her monthly income and repay the loan in monthly installments.",F,600,lender,Services,1 Kenya,"Linet Ajema is a dedicated community health worker (CHW). She lives in Bware Migori, Kenya, with her husband and four school-going children. She was trained by KMET in home-based HIV/AIDS care. Through her own initiative and hard work, she opened a community pharmacy at Achuth market in Bware, the only one serving the surrounding community. Linet has managed to expand her business and build a successful community pharmacy. As there is no chemist in her area, people come from quite a distance to buy drugs from her pharmacy. She moved her business to this more prominent and spacious location (pictured) four years ago in order to meet the growing demand. To boost her profits, Linet requires an additional US $600 to increase her stock of drugs, which are in high demand.",F,600,partner,Health,0 Kenya,"Linet Bosibori Charani is a 23-year-old married woman with one child. She operates both a green grocery and a small caf in the same premises. Her husband on the other hand operates a bodaboda (bicycle taxi). Her husband pays for fees whereas Linet meets the daily family expenses. Linet feels that hers is a very viable business and now wants to expand. They encounter some problems when it comes to paying fees and this is one of the reasons why she feels she needs to expand her business.
Linet has a good heart and probably that is one of the reasons why she has so many customers. She is requesting a loan of US$ 400 of which US$150 will be used to buy utensils for the caf, US$ 200 to buy more fruits, vegetables and drinks and the remaining US$ 50 to renovate the place. Linet will be very grateful for the help, as she is sure of improving her family's living standards due to expansion that will be made possible by this loan.",F,400,lender,Food,1 Kenya,"Linet is a 34 year-old married woman with four children. She has three boys and one girl all in primary school. Apart from her family, she also takes care of her four-year-old niece from her brother who stays in the rural area. Linet decided to take the girl because she has no mother and life in the rural area is tough. The father couldnt stay with her because of financial problems though Linet also struggles to provide for all her dependents.
Linet started her business in the year 2003, after she joined a merry-go-round group and received her savings of Ksh 4,000. A merry-go-round is a popular form of savings, especially for women in Kenya. Typically, a group of women meet once a month, and they all bring a certain amount of money. The collected money is then given to one woman for that month, with the beneficiary of the money rotating each month. Linet wanted to spend her merry-go-round money wisely. Being a woman who always wants to make her ends meet, she started saving additional money. She also took money from what her husband used to leave her for buying food. For example, she would try to save Ksh 10 20 on any given day, depending on what was left to her. She managed to save Ksh 2,000, approximately USD 30, and with her merry-go-round funds, she had Ksh 6,000 (USD 90) at hand.
By bad luck, in the year 2004, even before she decided on what to do with her savings, her husband was retrenched from where he was working and is now working as a day laborer (Jua Kali). Linet has a friend who sells exhibition clothes so she went to her and they talked about the business. The next time her friend went to purchase more clothes, Linet joined her. Linet felt that this was the most immediate business that could bring income to her family, and since her husband was retrenched, she needed to find a way to put food on the table. Because she is now running out of stock and her clothes are on high demand from her customers, Linet is requesting a loan of Ksh 7,000 so that she can purchase more stock. The ability to have a greater inventory of clothes will allow her to make more profits, thus helping her to better manage her household. She will provide food for the family, pay rent and also take the small child to school.
The repayment period for her loan will be 8 months.
Disclaimer: Due to recent events in Kenya, the security situation in many communities remains unsettled, affecting many local businesses. Lenders to this entrepreneur should be aware that this loan may represent a higher default risk, and should be willing to accept this additional risk in making their loan.",F,125,partner,Clothing,1 Kenya,"Linet is a dedicated 38-year old community health worker (CHW). She is a widow and lives in Rongo town with her three children. Through her own initiative and hard work and aided by one previous KMET microfinance loan, Linet managed to expand her business and build a successful community pharmacy. She moved her business to a more prominent and spacious location (pictured) three years ago in order to meet growing demands. Her friendly demeanor and approach to her clients and customers has earned her respect and a good reputation. The community likes her work and has grown accustomed to her, thus ensuring the successful continuity of her business. Linet requires US $800 in order to further expand her pharmacy, purchase drugs in bulk in order to boost her profits; and partly pay school fees for her childrens continuing education.",F,800,partner,Health,0 Kenya,"Linet Moraa is a thirty-two-year-old lady who is married with two children. She runs a wholesale and retail shop in Manyatta, a low-cost residential area in the outskirts of Kisumu City. Linet has been running this business for seven years. She sells mainly foodstuffs and household goods. Linet had been accessing small loans from an informal women's group, which disintegrated during the post-election violence in early 2008 and she was left with no other source of capital. She learned about KADET through a friend. She hopes to use the money from this loan to purchase more stock and include cereals in her shop to serve her customers better. In the long run, Linet hopes to build a permanent house on a plot of land which she has purchased and to move the business there, so that she would not have to pay rent and other related charges. About KADET: The Kenya Agency for the Development of Enterprise and Technology (KADET) is committed to economically empowering its clients by providing financial services to rural communities in order to relieve suffering and improve living conditions within those communities.",F,650,partner,Retail,0 Kenya,"Linet Omollo is a 38 year-old woman living in Bware village in the Rongo District of Kenya. She is married to a local man who works in the armed forces. They have 5 children, all of whom are attending school. Linet Omollo sells cereals in Bware which she has done since 2006. She buys the stock from local farms, but when this is not enough she travels across the nearby border to Tanzania to purchase more. Linet says that it is due to her business that she is able to feed and educate her children, as well as pay for miscellaneous household expenses. Linet has applied for a loan of $300 in order to boost her business by purchasing maize. She plans to buy 20 bags of maize with the loan money, as now the price is low, and sell them when the price goes back up so that she can maximize her profit.",F,300,partner,Food,0 Kenya,"Linus Kipchumba is 36-years old, married and has one child. Linus has no secondary school certificate, but when he came to Nairobi, he decided not to be idle. He first worked as a casual laborer for several construction firms. While working he managed to save Ksh 2,000.00 ($29), which he used to buy a shaving machine and some combs. Unfortunately he was dismissed from his casual duties after the construction firm closed its doors. He was then employed as a guard at Ayany estate, the up-market part of Kibera, where he saved Ksh 3,000.00 ($42). With this, he was able to rent a small room where he operates a barbershop. At night he works as a guard, and during the day he operates his barbershop. From the barbershop profits, he started a water-selling point (place to buy water). In 2005, Linus added two more water selling points. The Government of Kenya's vision is that by the year 2030, every Kenyan will have access to clean water. Linus' water-selling projects help provide clean and safe water to the residents of Kibera, which decreases water borne diseases by a big margin. Being a very hard working and determined person with a vision of business expansion, Linus wants to start selling clean water ice cubes. These are rectangular-shaped ice blocks used mostly by shopkeepers and fishmongers as a cooling agent since they do not own refrigerators. Linus has the water and now needs the refrigeration to make the ice blocks. Linus kindly requests a loan of $325, which will have a repayment period of 8 15 months. He will use this loan to purchase a deep freezer, sealing machine, and a cooler box to help him attain his vision. This will also enable him to employ more people to help him sell the ice, and create employment opportunities around his community.",M,325,partner,Services,0 Kenya,"Linus Kithinji Kanyaaru is 35 years old. He is married with six children who are all in school. He sells tomatoes in Kongowea market, a huge complex where you get everything ranging from fresh products such as fruits and vegetables, to cereals, clothes, etc. He sells to wholesalers who will in turn sell to retailers. His wife lives in the rural area farming on their farm, the children stay there as well, to reduce the expenses of living in town. Linus supports his parents as well since they are in their old age. His income goes towards educating his already large family as well as supplying their basic needs.
Linus would like to start saving since he wants to build a house for his family on their farm. His challenge is to make that extra income to be put aside as savings. He wants to increase his circulation stock. With more sales he will get additional income that will enable him to start saving but he lacks funds. He requests a US $500 loan. US $450 will be used to buy more crates of tomatoes and US $50 for transport. Linus is responsible and will repay the loan.",M,500,lender,Food,1 Kenya,"Lizzie Muthoni Mwirikia is 25 years old. She is married with one child. After completing her secondary education seven years ago, she started a beauty salon business in Wangige market. Early this year, her sister-in-law joined WEEC and KIVA and how they have improved women lives and their businesses. Therefore, she became interested and together with ten other women from Wangige formed Mother Joy women's group, which is registered under WEEC. She has applied for a loan of USD300, which she intends to purchase a hair dryer and some chemicals. She is willing to repay this loan within 12 months",F,300,lender,Services,1 Kenya,"Loice Akinyi is 52 years old, married with seven children. She didnt manage to go to school due to lack of school fees. She married young to counter the frustration of not going to school. She didnt know how demanding a family can be without a regular source of income.
Loice's husband empowered her by giving her some capital to start a business. Hardworking and determined, she has been selling fish and sardines. She has been buying from suppliers who get a margin which she could avoid if she bought her stock herself from the fishermen.
Loice requires a capital input of US$ 900 to start buying her products from the source. She is determined to be a great entrepreneur and she is planning to do this by getting her customers the quality products they need.
Loice can only achieve her goal if she gets fresh fish from the lake and brings it to the market in a timely fashion. All this comes with costs which she cannot meet without loan capital.
Loice is certain that her business will do well: by being her own supplier, she will be the best. She believes that the business will generate a lot of income to cater for her familys financial needs.",F,900,lender,Food,1 Kenya,"Loice is an elderly woman. She operates a Pharmacy at Mukwa trading centre, and also a maize store at the same place. She started her business in 2004. She gets her stock of maize from farmers within her locality during harvesting season. When the price for maize is low, she stores it, and then sells when the price is high during low supply.
Loice is a mother of 12. Two are deceased and 10 are alive. They are all educated. Her husband is a farmer. Through her business, Loice has been able to meet her familys basic needs, brought services closer to the community, and developed her farm by buying a dairy cow.
Given a loan by PEMCI, Loice plans to increase her stock of maize by 12 sacks during this harvesting season.",F,150,lender,Agriculture,1 Kenya,"Loice Njoki Chege is a 35-year-old single mother. She has two children, both of whom are girls. One of the girls has one year to go to complete her elementary level whereas the other one is in a local high school. Loice cannot send the children to a better school because she earns very little. She makes home made washing gel and soap and sells it from place to place around her neighborhood. This earns her a maximum of US$20 per day and leaves her extremely exhausted.
Loice fears that she might develop problems with her legs as a result of walking long distances. She would like to station herself at a given place now that she has more potential customers. She is requesting a loan of US$ 400 which she is intending to use as follows: US$ 100 to lease a premise, US$ 205 to buy more chemicals used in making the gel, US$ 70 to buy bottles used for packing, and US $ 25 to pay for local licences. Loice is a member of Jitegemee Group within Ebony Foundation. She is hard working and will repay the loan.",F,400,lender,Manufacturing,1
Kenya,"LOISE GATHONI is a 46 yr old married farmer with 4 children, three of whom are in school and one is still too young. Loise and her husband are dairy farmers and members of the Suma group in the Subukia settlement in the Rift valley. They have received several loans from Eb-f to expand their farming and have bought three extra cows in addition to the three they already had. They sell their milk to the local dairy at very low market prices They would now like to add its value by processing and packaging their milk, yogurt, fermented milk and other dairy products to increase their return but lack capital. They request for a US $ 1200 loan.
This is their budget:
US $1000 buys a milk cooler
US $200 buys a milk mixer.
Loise is focused and will repay the loan. This will create employment for three and educate their children.",F,1200,lender,Food,1
Kenya,"Loise is 34 years oled and married with four children. Unfortunately due to culture she never went to school. She is a member of the Umoja women group, which she joined so she can receive small loans to buy steers and pay school fees for her children. She wants her children to go to school. The good news is that Loise has enrolled in an adult learning education at a multi-purpose centre at Isinya. She started a steers business one year ago and needs a loan of USD 450 so she can buy four more steers and sell them to the Kenya Meat Commission. The business will enable pay school fees for her children, feed the family, pay her loan and save on a monthly basis.",F,450,lender,Agriculture,1
Kenya,Loise is 54 years old married with a family of 5 children. She is the group and Anglican Church Treasurer as well as the Mothers Union Chairlady. She also works for Kenya Generation Company. She is committed in leadership and Empowering women in her area. She supplements her salary by selling eggs from her Poultry business. She collects and sells 5 trays of eggs per day at $3 per tray. She also has a cow which gives her milk for sale and home consumption. She sells between 17 20 litres of milk per day giving her about USD225 every monthly. This business has helped her in educating her children and maintaining the family. Rearing more chicken will increase her earnings and this will make her live a comfortable life.,F,900,partner,Food,0
Kenya,"Loise is 56 years old and was in Kiambu, Kenya. She is married with 6 children. She is an active and dedicated member of Kihara Victory women group. She is a Catholic by faith and participates in various church activities.
Loise is a dairy farmer and she rears 3 dairy cows. These cows have been the pillar in her family and she owes it all to WEEC. The small group loans through WEEC have allowed her to improve the productivity of her animals. 2 of her children will be starting college in the middle of the year, and she feels that if she can buy 2 additional dairy cows she will be able to meet the costs of their course. She promises to make her repayments on monthly basis.",F,1200,lender,Agriculture,1
Kenya,"Loise Mary Muthoni is a member of Karunge Faith Star where she has served as the group secretary for the last two years. She is 33 years old and has 4 children. Two of her children are in secondary school while one is training in Nairobi, aspiring to become a welder. The last-born is in Karunge Primary School. Loise is an industrious, hardworking woman who runs her tailoring business at home and her farming activities in the afternoons. Her husband has a welding business which enables them to meet their family needs. She needs a loan of USD750 to buy welding tools and metal for her husband in order to increase their income and have enough to educate her children.",F,750,lender,Manufacturing,1
Kenya,"Loise Nyambura is 53 years. She is single mother of three boys and is separated from her husband. All her children are in school and she is required to pay school fees despite her small income. They all insist they want to get to the highest level of education. Her income is not enough to cater for all the family needs. Loise decided to sell shoes in the open air market of Gikomba. She has been in this business for five years now. There is a high demand for shoes in Nairobi town. To take advantage of this demand she requires some capital to buy more shoes and meet the demand. She is often out of stock due to lack of capital to buy a variety of shoe designs when the suppliers bring them to the market. She is requesting a loan of US$650 to expand her business. Her budget is as follows: US$300 to buy a variety of high heeled shoes which are in high demand, US$300 to purchase other types of shoes and US$50 for transport to get the wares to her business stall. She believes that with additional capital she will be able to generate more income. She will utilize the money to repay the loan and cover her family requirements, especially giving her children the best education. She is hardworking and capable of repaying the loan.",F,650,lender,Retail,1
Kenya,"Loise Waithera Mwaniki is 48 years old. She is married with three children. She is an active member of the Virtuous Women Group. She is a business person and works tirelessly to ensure that her children get a proper education.
She accessed a loan of USD700, which she used to build three low-income houses and has completed repaying her loan. She has applied for a loan of USD1200, with which she intends to build five more low-income rental houses. The income generated assists her in educating her three children whom she sponsors to receive higher level education in order to achieve their dreams. She is willing to repay this loan within a period of 12 months.",F,1200,lender,Housing,1 Kenya,"Lona operates a small drugs shop in her local community trading centre. She has a certificate in pharmacy. Finding herself out of a job, she opted to open a business to raise her living standards and provide for her family. She started her business in 2005. Since her chemist is located near Malakisi health centre, she has access to customers from the health centre as well as the locals. Through her business, she has brought services closer to the community. Having successfully completed her first loan, Lona wishes to get a second loan which she plans to use to increase her stock further and to purchase more drugs to meet the demands of her clients.",F,225,partner,Health,0 Kenya,"Louise Kanini is a 45-year-old woman who is married with three children. Louise is a pastor, and she stays with the unemployed people from her church. She lives in the outskirts of Nairobi in a district called Kayole. In August 2006, Louise started taking care of orphans, the destitute, and vulnerable children. She gives them food twice per week and also offers clothing to them. Taking care of all these people, she saw that she needed to increase her income to be able to provide for all their needs.
Being a woman with a good heart, and also giving in good faith, she decided to think of something that would help her financially. She thought of her friends who were in business selling chickens, and she decided to give it a try. She took the money that she received from a savings group that she had back home with her sisters-in-law. From this savings of about US $74, Louise purchased her first chicks and made them a small chicken house.
Louise is now requesting a loan of US $800, with which she would like to purchase feeders, drinkers, food, medicine, and heaters. She would also like to increase her stock of chickens. Louise believes that this loan will allow her to run her business more comfortably. She will be able to treat the chicks, thus preventing them from dying. She also plans to feed them more, knowing that larger chickens bring in more profits. She hopes that a larger inventory of chicks will allow for faster turnover, thus increasing her profit and also allowing her prices to be more competitive. Ultimately, her business will grow and she will be able to provide for her family and the numerous orphans she cares for. Louise intends to repay this loan in nine months.",F,800,lender,Agriculture,1 Kenya,"Louise Njambi Ndungu is 39 years old. She is married with four children. Louise lives in South C Estate, Nairobi, where she operates a small shop. Apart from her family, Louise takes care of an aged parent who lives in the rural area of Kikuyu town. On a sad note, Louises brother and his wife passed away last year and left behind three children, whom Louise is now taking care of. The children are aged 15, 12, and 8. Because of this big responsibility, Louise has to work twice as hard so that her dependents have enough for their upkeep.
Louise opened her shop in 1980 after saving about US $147, and her husband gave her an additional $75 to help her with the initial capital. She has since repaid the loan from her husband. The business has been doing well, but the price of commodities has increased, and Louise would also like to add stock so that she can provide her customers a greater variety of goods.
Louise is therefore requesting a loan of US $800. With this loan, Louise will be able to purchase flour (maize and wheat), rice, sugar, snacks, sodas, detergents, cooking oil, and more. This will boost her income, since more customers will be flocking to her shop. The repayment period for this loan is 10 months. She thanks Kiva lenders in advance.",F,800,partner,Retail,0 Kenya,"Lucia is a 33-year old mother with three children. She lives with her husband in Kisumu, Kenya, where she opened her retail shop in 1998. She sells cereals such as maize, beans, millet, groundnuts and green grams in small quantities to her customers. She also sells other essentials such as bread, rice, flour, sugar and cooking oil. Her hard work, perseverance, good reputation and experience, plus a well-established clientele base, ensure that her business will continue to grow despite stiff competition. She has applied for a loan of $800 to buy additional stocks of cereals in bulk. She will also save a portion of the loan for use in case unforeseen circumstances.
Disclaimer: Due to recent events in Kenya, the security situation in many communities remains unsettled, affecting many local businesses. Lenders to this entrepreneur should be aware that this loan may represent a higher default risk, and should be willing to accept this additional risk in making their loan.",F,800,partner,Food,0 Kenya,"LUCIA MUTHONI KARANJA is a mother of three children and the Chairlady of a women group which works to promote women economic empowerment by pooling their resources together to assist each other. Lucia is also a women leader at her local church and a role model to may young women in Nyandarwa District. She arrived in Nyandarwa in year 2000 and worked as a farm laborer for a local family. She was never given a monitory salary and instead she got food and accommodation. She worked for her boss for 8 hours from 8 am to 4 p.m daily. She would then take manual jobs at other farms from 4.30 p.m to 7 p.m to earn some money. Lucia joined Eb-F and began making savings and by year 2005 she had saved enough to purchase a one acre piece of land and to build a small house for her family. She received a loan of US $ 900 from Eb-F and used the amount to purchase a dairy cow which earns the family some US $ 30 a week. Lucia also cultivates potatoes which she sells at a local market Lucia has since repaid the loan and now wants to expand the dairy farming business by purchasing two more dairy cows. She is requesting a loan of US $ 2000.Her budget is US $ 1.650 to purchase two dairy cows, US $ 200 to purchase a stock of animal feeds and US $ 150 to improve and fence her cow shade. This will increase her family income to US $ 96 per week. She plans to utilize the income to keep her children in school, to support two HIV orphans and to expand her potatoes farming. She is capable of repaying the loan.",F,2000,lender,Agriculture,1 Kenya,"Lucia Mwihaki Ngugi is 36 years old and married with three children who are not in school. She lives in Nakuru town with her family. Lucia is an entrepreneur and sells cosmetics and runs a hair salon. She has been in this business for the last three years and is the sole breadwinner for her family since her husband is currently jobless. December is always very profitable and she would like to take advantage of this. However, Lucia faces various challenges like lack of capital to increase her stock to meet demands and is therefore requesting a loan of US$ 400 which she intends to use as follows: US$ 350 to buy an assortment of cosmetics and hair products and US$50 to cater for transport expenses. Lucia is a committed woman and is confident that she will be able to repay the loan.",F,400,lender,Services,1 Kenya,"LUCY WANJIRA WAMBUGO is 27 years old and single. She has no children of her own but supports her mother and her younger brother who is in primary school. Lucy is a college graduate in food processing. She graduated in year 2004 and did not want to waste time looking for employment which is hard to find. Lucy decided to utilize her food processing technology and started a business of making peanut butter. She buys peanuts from local market in Nakuru City then does the processing and packaging of the peanut butter from her home. She sells the butter to shopkeepers and many people buy directly from her home. Lucy makes an average of US $ 220 per month from the business. Lucys butter is made from quality peanuts and she adds no chemicals and as a result her butter has become very popular. A local super market chain has expressed interest in purchasing bulk quantities of Lucys Butter. This is a very big market opportunity for Lucy. She is requesting a loan of US $ 1,800 to expand her business to supply the supermarket. Her budget is: US $ 200 to purchase a roasting machine, US $ 400 to purchase a packaging machine, US $ 200 to purchase natural preservatives, US $ 200 to purchase packaging materials, US $ 400 purchase more peanut stock, US $ 250 to rent and improve a business premises enabling Lucy move the production activities from her house and US $ 150 to acquire the required licenses to operate the business. This will transform Lucy into an emerging manufacturer enabling her provide for her self, and her parents. She will employ one other young person to help in marketing. This expansion will increase Lucys income to about US $ 700 per month and she plans to utilize the income to expand further and supply other supermarkets and hotels.",F,1800,lender,Food,1 Kenya,"Lucy Chebet Orenge is 27 years old and a hair dresser. She lives with her family of four in Nakurus Freehold estate. She is married to a truck driver. From her salon business she tries to pay the family expenses while her husband pays the childrens school fees. All the same, she has been having problems meeting the family needs due to lack of enough funds. As a result they have been forced to rent a room in a two roomed house where she lives with her family. Also, the children are sometimes forced to walk to school which is quite a distance from home. She is requesting a loan of US $500 to improve her hair dressing shop with the funds to be used as follows: Use US$300 to buy two blow dryers and one hair dryer US$ 100 to buy a variety of hair treatment products US$ 100 to renovate and add more seats to the salon. Lucy is a hardworking woman and is capable of meeting the loan repayment.",F,500,lender,Services,1 Kenya,"LUCY HABEL is a 40 year old married farmer. She lives in Wanyororo village, Nakuru, where she is a member of a group with a rotational savings and credit programme. They all save money and lend it to three members of the group; the balance is banked for future lending to other members. By accessing small amounts from this group, Lucy has started rearing a few chickens. Lucy pays school fees for her four children; one of them, a girl, is disabled and is always sickly, especially during cold seasons. This uses up all of Lucy's income and she is barely able to make ends meet. She would like to expand her poultry business in order to cater for the needs of her family in a satisfactory way, but she lacks the necessary funds. She is requesting a loan of US$ 900 for the following: US$ 500 to buy more broiler chicks; US$ 200 to buy chicken feed; and US $ 200 to expand the poultry housing unit and equipment. Lucy is focused and will repay the loan.",F,900,lender,Agriculture,1 Kenya,"Lucy Irene Njeri is 38 years old with a son and daughter aged 10 and 16 years old respectively. She is married and her children are in school, for which they require school fees. Lucy's income is not enough to cater for all the family needs, so she decided to start selling tomatoes in an open air market because there is a high demand for tomatoes in Nairobi city. She has been in this business for over five years now.
To take advantage of the high demand for tomatoes, she requires some capital to buy more crates of tomatoes to meet her clients' demand. She is often out of stock due to a lack of capital to buy fresh tomatoes when the suppliers bring them to the market.
Therefore, Lucy is requesting a loan of $600 -- she will spend $550 to purchase several crates of tomatoes and $50 on transport. She believes that with additional capital she will be able to generate more income. She will use this additional income to meet her family's requirements. She is hardworking and capable of repaying the loan.",F,600,lender,Food,1 Kenya,"Lucy is a young hardworking woman who is married with three chidren. Her family is young, her first two children are in primary school. She plans to invest the money she is borrowing for the future education of her children. Through the buying and selling of shares, she hopes to build a portfolio and increase her assets. She runs a business of selling foodstuffs in Nyakahura with her husband as her partner. When she is not working in the shop she is looking after their children and supervising the farm. She grows maize and beans and sell some at their shop. She work as a team with her husband to raise the children. She promises to repay her loan on a monthly basis.",F,225,lender,Retail,1 Kenya,"Lucy is 32 years old. She is married with 2 children. She is a member of PCEA Macedonia church in Ongata Rongai. Lucy is a new member of the church having moved to Rongai recently. She loves working with the church congregation and is involved in visiting the sick, the elderly and the ones who have lost their loved ones. Lucy believes in showing love to the needy in the society. Lucy was introduced to Kandisi women group by a group member. She was impressed by the activities that the WEEC members are involved in. She visited the WEEC office and was able to learn about the organization history and the way it runs the Women Programme in assisting to alleviate poverty through businesses. Lucy registered as a member of Kandisi Wisdom and the group invited the WEEC officer to appraise Lucys business. Lucy has a cement business which is situated at Laiser Hill Estate. It is a small cement depot but has many customers since it is situated in a strategic place that is able to serve Millennium, Nkoroi and Exciting estates. With such an extensive area of coverage Lucys stock is cleared within a week after receiving the cement. There are times she stays with no stock for a day or two before her stock is delivered from the factory due to money limitation. Lucy requires capital to enable her buy more stock. A loan of USD $750 will enable her to buy 125 bags of cement. This will raise her stock level to comfortably cover her orders.",F,750,lender,Construction,1 Kenya,"Lucy is 42 years old. She is married with 4 children. Lucy is a Sunday school teacher at Gakoigo ACK Church. She has about 40 Sunday school children under her care. Lucy trains the young children on the importance of christianity. Her Sunday school class is good in songs of praise and ranks top at location competitions. Lucy has a Salon at Maragwa town. She has employed 2 girls who assist in plaiting and hair styling. The two girls are well trained and they do a good job. Lucy gets many customers, especially the young girls, who at one time attended her Sunday school lessons. The popularity of her salon has brought the need for expansion. She has applied for a loan of USD 300 to enable her buy more beauty products, Hair beads and braids and hair chemicals. The loans committee has approved her loan. She will repay it within a period of 12 months.",F,300,lender,Services,1 Kenya,"Lucy is 43 years old single and has 2 grown up children. She joined the group after seeing how her friends were benefiting from the services offered to them. Lucy was working in a college as an office assistant until year 2004 when she was retrenched. Though she had managed to take some of her children to secondary school, she was not able to take them to college. The same year Lucy joined WEEC programme. She attended several trainings on business management. After the training, she decided to take a loan of USD 150 and bought 5 sacks of rice at Gikomba Market. She used to sell the rice in the neighboring area to where she stays. She now buys her rice at Mwea where rice is a bit cheaper compared to where she used to get before. However she would like to increase her capital to be able to buy rice in large quantities, and this will minimize transport cost leading to increment in income. Lucys future plans are to have a stable business that will enable her take her children to college and become self reliant. She is determined to repay the loan because she cant regret the first loan. She encourages other women who are not group members to join without hesitation for she has reaped the fruits.",F,300,lender,Food,1 Kenya,"Lucy is 49 years old, single with 5 children and 2 grand children. She is a member of PCEA-Dandora.Lucy educated her children up to high school and due to lack of jobs, they involved themselves in an income generating activity of collecting garbage in Dandora. Many young people are involved in garbage collection in various estates. Lucy has set a small food kiosk in Dandora where most of the garbage collectors go for breakfast and lunch. She sells chapattis tea and Githeri.Her business has grown as the number of garbage collectors grow. Lucy has managed to employ one lady who assists her in cooking and serving the customers. Lucy is happy that her sons have something to do so they are able to cater for their daily needs. Her utmost prayer is to be able to educate her 2 grandchildren so that they can have a better life. She would wish improve her serving facilities to her customers. Her loan would go to improve the food kiosk and also buy fruits to make salads for her customers. She requires USD 75 to meet the needs of her customers.",F,75,lender,Food,1 Kenya,"Lucy is 53 years old. She is married and has 6 children. She is an active member of St. Emmanuel ACK church in Weithaga. Lucys main economic activity is farming. She grows maize, beans and bananas and coffee. She practices dairy farming and has kept two dairy cows and one bull. The bull will be sold at the market when it matures. She sells the milk from her cows to the local dairy. The income she generates from the farm enables her to save $3 per month with Weithaga Star Womens group. She is able to keep a good loan repayment record at group level. She has applied for a loan of $150. The loan will assist her to buy dairy feeds and animal supplements to enable her to improve the milk yield from her dairy cows. The loan committee has approved the loan. The loan repayment period will be 10 months.",F,150,lender,Agriculture,1 Kenya,"Lucy is 54 years old. She is married and has 3 children. She is a member of the PCEA church and is in the Women Guild. Lucy is a member of Kandara Moonlight women group. She has accessed several loans from the revolving fund that enabled her to have enough capital for her hotel operations. Her hotel goes by the name Shakes Hotel. Lucy has to expand the business due to the increase of the clientele base. With the growth of the revolving fund groups, Lucy receives many group members as her clients. Still there has been a positive sign on business activities in many small towns. This is due to the fact that several key industries such as the milk industry have stated to perform. Lucy on her part wants to take advantage of the better economic conditions. She plans to expand the hotel capacity by buying more seats, Utensils and increase the capital for the foods and drinks. She has applied for a loan of USD 450 to enable her to undertake the said task. Lucys loan has been approved by the loans committee and she will repay the loan within a period of 12 months.",F,450,lender,Food,1 Kenya,"Lucy is 55 years old. She is married and has 8 grown up children. Lucy is the former Chairlady of Queen Esther w g. After her 2-year term was over, she was voted back on the same post; however she requested to be in the committee that oversees the workings of the secretariat. As per their group constitution, every member is to be given a chance to enable all the women develop their leadership skills. This is a rule Lucy insists that her group must put into effect. This has enabled many women to be involved in the activities of the group. Lucy rents Quarrying sites at Rimpa area of Kiserian. Its an area, which is developing very fast, and she supplies construction materials to the construction sites. Its a seasonal work because when it rains, roads are not accessible thus she spends that time to develop her own plot. She has taken several loans through her group that has enabled her to put up some semi permanent rooms. For now is planning to build 3 semi permanent rooms. She has already put concrete and stones to the site she wants to construct. She requires a loan of USD 750 to buy timber, Iron sheets, nails, metal doors and cement. She will repay the loan using the income she gets from the rental rooms.",F,750,lender,Construction,1 Kenya,"Lucy is a married mother of 3 children. She is a committed member of Canaan women group and a responsible member in the group. She is a good example to other women and has mentored many from her group. Lucy is a farmer who grows cereals and tea, and rears dairy animals. Her cows are the main source of income and she concentrates on their performance a lot. Due to our weather challenge, Lucy would like to buy feed for animals to maintain their production rate. She started the project of dairy farming with a small group loan and she has been supported a lot by the small loans. She is able to sell 150 litres of milk daily at USD$0.30 per litre. She promises to meet her repayments on monthly installments.",F,150,lender,Agriculture,1 Kenya,"Lucy is a widow with one grown up son and several grand children. She is an active member of Queen Esther Group and has benefited a lot from the group through loans she has been getting. Her first loan from KIVA of USD 300 enabled her to install electricity in her rental rooms. This lead to increment of monthly charges from USD 7 to USD10. She was also able to install power in her house which made a significant change in her life. Her family was touched by the loan because since she got married she had not seen electricity in her house. The whole family was touched by the loan and their living standard changed abit. Her grandchildren work as a team and they grow varieties of vegetables for sale and they help her in loan repayment. She supports the children with the income she get from rental rooms and she has housed them. She believes knowledge is power, thus its her responsibility to pay fees for her grandchildren as their father is not bothered. She finished paying her last loan payments in the last group meeting and she feels the next loan will not strain her much.This will enable her grand daughter to report to school on the opening date rather than staying for 2 weeks waiting for the tenants to make their monthly repayments. After paying the school fees for one year Lucy makes her monthly loan installments through Queen Esther women group. Lucy finds these arrangements very convenient for her family, her tenants and the school where her daughter studies from.",F,300,lender,Housing,0 Kenya,"Lucy is among the good business ladies of Malaba town with her business located exactly opposite the PEMCI Malaba office. She is single with one adopted daughter, who married with children. Njoki has two types of business, a guest house which usually takes up her time (evenings and nights). Her other business is a hardware store. Here, she specializes in selling building materials such as: cement, paint, paint brushes, nails and many others. Njoki is a new client with PEMCI and has been in businesses for over ten years now. Most of her clients are truck drivers and travelers on transit to and from Uganda. With the hardware store, Njoki sells basic building materials to the people of Malaba. She usually sources her stock from Bungoma, the next town after Malaba (about 35 kilometres from Malaba). As a new client, Njoki intends to get a loan from KIVA through PEMCI so as to improve on her hardware store.",F,1200,lender,Construction,1 Kenya,"Lucy Kimani is 59 years old with five children. She is also taking care of three other children. Her husband is a casual laborer and is not paid very much. His income is not enough to cater for all the family needs. All her children are in school and they require school fees. They all hope to get to the highest level of education. Lucy decided to sell handbags in an open air market near a busy footpath to earn extra money for her family. She has been into this business for five years now. To take full advantage of this demand she requires capital to buy more stocks of used handbags. She is often out of stock due to lack of capital to buy the used handbags stocks when the suppliers bring them to the market. As a result she has been losing customers.
She is requesting for US$ 500 to expand her business by adding more stock. She believes that with additional capital she will be able to generate more income. She will utilize the money to repay the loan and meet her family's requirements. She is hardworking and capable of repaying the loan.",F,500,lender,Clothing,1 Kenya,"Lucy Magiri Mwangi is 50 years old. She is married with six children. She is a member of Gakoigo women group. She is an artist who does the work of pottery. She started this business eight years ago with a capital of USD60. She has applied for a loan of USD300 to enable her to buy 1 tonne of clay, ochre and employee 7 more workers which will assist her with the daily chaos in her business. She sells these pots to women in Nyahururu. She is willing to repay the loan in 10 months time.",F,300,lender,Arts,1 Kenya,Lucy Muthoni Karabi is 38 years old. She is married with two children who are both in school. Lucy earns her living by selling vegetables and fruits. Her children are in school and they require school fees despite her income. They insist they want to get to attain the highest level of education. Her income is not enough to cater to all of the family's needs. Lucy sells her products in the open air market. She has been in this business for five years now. To take advantage of the demand she requires some capital to buy more stock and meet the demand. She is often out of stock due to lack of capital to buy the different vegetables when the suppliers bring them to the market. She is requesting a loan of US $1000 to expand her business by adding more stock. This includes buying a variety of fruits and vegetables to meet the customers needs. She believes that with additional capital she will be able to generate more income. She will utilize the money to repay the loan and meet the family requirements. She is hardworking and capable of repaying the loan.,F,1000,lender,Food,1 Kenya,"LUCY NJERI MWIMUTO is 56 years old, married and a mother of four children. Only one child is in school. Her dream is to have all her children in school. Her husband is not very healthy leaving Lucy the sole breadwinner for the family. She is a maize farmer and the income she gets is never sufficient to provide for the family through out the year and to keep the children in school. Her Younger sister some times sends her little money. Dairy farming is a very profitable activity in her Nyandarwa District but she lacks the capital to purchase good dairy cows to start the business. Lucy is requesting for a loan of US $ 1,700 to enable her start the dairy farming business. Her budget is: US $ 1,500 to purchase two dairy cows, US $ 100 to improve her cow shade and US $ 100 to stock feeds and access veterinary services. The income she will get from the business will enable her take all her children to school. She is a hard working woman and she will be able to repay the loan.",F,1700,lender,Agriculture,1 Kenya,"Lucy Njeri. She is a member of a sisters group which is meant to empower women. She is a business lady dealing with second hand shoes. She has been into this business for a long time and it is a major source of income for her family. The group has discovered buying the shoe bales from the source, it can reduce costs. They have a good plan and they would like to implement it as soon as possible. The only barrier is lack of capital. She requires a total of US$ 750 to accomplish her plan. She intends to buy the bales with US$ 500, US$ 200 on transport and US$ 50 on other expenses.",F,750,lender,Retail,1 Kenya,"LUCY NJOKI is 42 years old and a single parent of 3 children. One child is attending high school while the other two are in primary school. Njoki in addition takes care of her both parents and two of her younger brothers who are in college. Njoki is a distributor of Mangoes and Water Melon fruits to traders at Wakulima Market in Nairobi City. She buys the fruits from farmers in rural Kenya, Uganda and Tanzania. Njoki started this business in year 2001 with US $ 150 that she borrowed from Friends. She distributes two lorry loads of fruits per week earning an average of US $ 350. Through Eb-Fs Farm Gate Marketing programme, Njoki has now been contracted by two Hotels in Nairobi to supply them with fruits three times a week. To exploit this market, Njoki has to increase her trips from the current two to four lorry trips per week. The hotels will be making payments to Njoki on Monthly basis meaning that she requires additional working capital to keep her business going. Njoki is requesting a loan of US $ 1,800 to enable her purchase enough fruits to supply to the hotels. This will increase her income to an average of US $ 850 and she plans to utilize the income to continue providing for her family and to expand the business to supply more hotels. Njoki plans to adopt a HIV/AIDS orphan as her contribution in helping HIV victims. She is an aggressive entrepreneur and will be able to repay the loan.",F,1800,lender,Food,1 Kenya,"LUCY NJOKI is a 49 year old married farmer. Lucy has six children. She is a member of Suma group in Subukia settlement in the Rift Valley. Her husband is a pastor in their local church. They have been farming on a four acre plot growing maize for the last 20 yrs. Their children are grown-ups who have finished school except two who are in senior school. Through the years all their income has gone towards education and they have had very little to survive on. Their farm is now exhausted and their agricultural officer has advised them to plant tomatoes for two years instead of maize to improve their soil since they have been farming maize all along. The tomatoes require more money input than maize and they lack capital. Lucy requests a US $ 800 loan. US $ 200 buys tomatoes seed US $ 400 buys fertilizer, herbicides and insecticides US $ 100 for labor US $ 100 for transport. This would give them a good tomato harvest while giving back fertility to the soil for their future farming. They are responsible and will repay the loan.",F,800,lender,Agriculture,1 Kenya,"Lucy Nyambura Mwangi is 35 years old, married with three children. Her husband is employed as a casual laborer. She lives in a rented one-room house with her children. Lucy cannot depend on her husband to provide for her basic needs since he has turned away from his responsibility and drinks a lot of alcohol. She has been forced to take care of their children alone.
Lucy sells fruit in the open air market. This is her only source of income. She is requesting a loan to expand her business so that she will be able to generate more income and cater for her childrens needs, especially their educational needs.
Lucy needs $ 400 to expand her business. $300 will be used to buy more stock of fruits, $50 for transport ,and $50 for local council payments, storage, and other expenses. Lucy is the chairlady of Muungano Group. This loan will help her boost her income, and she is capable of repaying the loan in a timely fashion.",F,400,lender,Food,1 Kenya,"Lucy Wachira is married, has three children and also lives with her younger brother. She decided to live with him to enable him search for a job since this is not easy in the rural areas. She is 36 years of age and lives in Kayole, an informal settlement area of Nairobi. Lucy and her husband are living positively with HIV. Her husband is a soldier while she sells second-hand shoes at Gikomba market. This is an open-air second-hand clothes and accessories market.
In the year 2000, Lucy was given Ksh 10,000.00 (USD140) by her husband to enable her start the second-hand shoe business. She used the money to buy a bale of second-hand shoes and also to apply for a location to do her business, and was given a card that permits her to trade in that particular location. She previously used to sell with a friend for a period of one year and according to Lucy, this was a good exposure for her to master the skills required in the trade.
Lucy buys one bale of second-hand shoes and this can last her one week before she can buy another one, though sometimes the stock does not last as long and so she is left with nothing to sell. Unlike her friends who buy two or three bales that can keep their businesses in operation before another container of bales is dispatched, her business is affected and records minimal sales. By buying two bales, Lucy will not run out of stock for at least for two weeks before she can be sure to buy another bale, hence striving to maintain her customers. The increased stock will also enable her to supplement the household needs. Lucy is therefore requesting a loan of USD150 to enable her purchase stock for her business, which she intends to pay back within 6 12 months.",F,150,partner,Retail,0 Kenya,"Lucy Wagaturi is a widow who has been raising her two children through farming. She grows beans, maize, vegetables, aloe vera and sells milk. Life has been quite challenging but at least she is able to count her blessings this far. She is St. Consolatas treasurer and has excellent leadership skills. She is also an active member of the Catholic Church and is in the womens fellowship union. Lucy is an informed lady and discussed the need for women to start investing their money to her group. It was shocking to hear her explain how a woman can let her money to work for her. This is the first time she wants to buy shares since her children are about to get through with high school. She has been postponing this noble business for a season because of the fees. She is very willing to repay her loan on a monthly basis.",F,225,lender,Agriculture,1 Kenya,Lucy Wairimu is 30 years old. She is married with four children. She is an active member of Gitiiri Catholic Church and a leader of the Catholic Women Association. She is an active member of St. Teresa women's group in Kahuro and she is the treasurer for the group. She has a business selling battery charges and spare parts at Kahuro bus station. The profit she makes has enabled her to pay school fees for her children. She wants a loan of $450 to expand her business by buying a variety of automobile spare parts. She is willing to pay back her loan in 12 months.,F,450,lender,Retail,1 Kenya,"Lucy Wairimu Nguru is 35 years old. She is married with 3 children. She is a member of ACK church in Kenya Njeru and is also a member of the Mothers' Union association. She is a farmer who cultivates beans, maize, sweet potatoes, arrowroots, kales and other vegetables. She is a treasurer of St. Juliet women's group.
Lucy manages to saves USD 3 per month. Her son has qualified for an education loan. She has applied for USD 50 to enable her to pay school fees for her son in Kiairathe secondary school. She is willing to repay the loan in a period of 10 months.",F,50,lender,Agriculture,1 Kenya,"Lucy Wairimu Omondi is a 51-year-old mother of eight children. She is a widow and is responsible for the well being of her large family. She resides in a slum settlement adjacent to the market where she works. Her business involves the retail sale of green maize to customers. Her major clients include small hotel owners as well as individual customers who are buying for home consumption. Green maize is a popular food in this area so she is assured of plenty of regular customers. Lucy started this business 20 years ago and her earnings provide sustenance for her family. This type of business is seasonal and the average green maize sales per day depend on the season. In high season, a vendor can sell large volumes of maize per day earning them good profit. Lucy would like to take advantage of this trend and increase her income. She is requesting for a loan of US $500 to enable her to buy more of the green maize for sale. The earnings will be useful in paying the school fees for her two youngest children.",F,500,lender,Food,1 Kenya,"Lucy Wambui Gitau is 41 years old. She is married to M. Thomas Gitau and a happy mother of four children; two are in college while the others are in primary and secondary school. She is a religious person who attends Kaspat Catholic Church. She joined Kazi Bora Women's Group in 2002 and registered with WEEC the same year. She actively participates in all group activities.
Lucy grows vegetables, which include cabbages, carrots, and kale in her plot. She supplies her farm produce to the local Kanunga High School. She has been in that business for the last 10 years. She is also a dairy farmer and sells the milk produced to Kiambu Dairy Farmers Co-operative Society Ltd at USD0.3 per litre. She has applied for a loan of USD1000, with which to buy another two dairy cows. She is willing to repay this loan within a period of 12 months.",F,1000,lender,Agriculture,1 Kenya,"Lucy Wambui Kimani is 55 years old she isa mother to three children. Her husband is a bus conductor and barely makes enough income to support the family. To complement his earnings, Lucy decided to start selling used handbags.
The handbags Lucy sells are carefully selected and fashionable. This has allowed her to have many customers in the town where she lives and beyond.
Lucy lacks the capacity to supply all of her customers' wants. She wishes to increase her stocks to cater for the increased demand. She is requesting a loan of US$ 900 to implement this plan. She will purchase more used handbags with US$ 700 and use US$ 200 for transportation costs. Lucy is a clever entrepreneur with excellent business skills and she will be able to repay the loan.",F,900,lender,Clothing,1 Kenya,"Lucy Wambui Ndungu is 32 years old. She is a single mother with one child in primary school. Lucy is an active member of St. Monica women group. She is a choirmaster of the local Catholic Church. She grows maize, beans and variety of vegetables. She is a farmer who does mainly crop farming and pig rearing. She has one pig. Her farm produce is consumed in part by her family and she sells the remainder to retailers and consumers at a local market.
She has applied for a loan of USD75, with which she intends to purchase a pig. The loan committee has approved her loan. She is willing to repay this loan within 10 months.
",F,75,lender,Agriculture,1 Kenya,"Lucy Wambui Ndungu was born thirty years ago and has one child in primary school. She is in St. Monicah Ngurueni Women's Group. She has business selling groceries at Ngurueini Shopping Center. She grows vegetables, fruits, cereals and coffee. She gets her products to sell from her own farm. She would like venture in to pig rearing because the market has really improved. She promises to repay her loan on a monthly basis. She is hoping to get a loan of USD75. She is willing to repay this loan within a period of 10 months.",F,75,lender,Agriculture,1 Kenya,"Lucy Wangari Kihara is a 36-year-old married businesswoman with one child attending primary school. Her husband is a cameraman in Nakuru town where they live together with the family. Lucy didnt further her studies after her primary level education because her parents could not afford to pay for her school fees. After she got married, she didnt relax and rely on her husbands small income, and thus she involved herself in the business of selling tomatoes in Nakuru market. She has been in this business for seven years, and she has gained a lot of experience. The business has been able to make profit, and she has been able to cater for her family expenses. But she faces challenges such as lack of funds and the transport cost is high because she gets her products from the farm. She is therefore requesting a loan of $1000, which she intends to utilize as follows: $750 buy more crates of tomatoes; $150 to pay the transport costs; and $100 to pay a municipal council fee. Lucy is hardworking and she will be able to repay the loan.Disclaimer: Due to recent events in Kenya, the security situation in many communities remains unsettled, affecting many local businesses. Lenders to this entrepreneur should be aware that this loan may represent a higher default risk, and should be willing to accept this additional risk in making their loan.",F,1000,lender,Food,1 Kenya,"Lucy Wangari Ngunjiri is 44 years old and a single mother of two. She is also taking care of a relative who is an orphan. She is a professional photographer and she covers company functions, weddings, birthdays and funerals. In Kenya, cameras are expensive to buy and not many people can afford them, so they opt to hire the services of a photographer who is cheap. She has been doing this for the last twenty one years. At the moment she is using the old model cameras and video camera which are inefficient and are labor intensive. She wants to incorporate new advanced equipment into her operations. She is requesting a loan of $1200. With this amount she will buy a digital camera worth about $435 and a digital camera recorder worth about $765. With this equipment she will be able to offer more quality service, increase her capacity and generate more income.",F,1200,lender,Services,1 Kenya,"Lucy Wangeshi is 29 years old. She is married with two children, and assists her husband with the family expenses. She is responsible for meeting the daily needs of the home, while her husband takes care of the educational needs. At the moment they are not able to save enough for the future. This is because her husband is paid at a low level, i.e. only US$100 per month. Lucy supplements the income through her business of selling potatoes. She has been doing this business for a long time, and sells the potatoes in an open air market. She is planning to expand her business by buying more stock of potatoes to cater for the orders made by the hotels and institutions around the area. She is requesting a loan of US$600. She will use US$450 to buy stock, US$100 to pay for transportation, and US$50 for storage expenses. She believes additional stock will boost her income, to cover other needs and save for her childrens education.",F,600,lender,Food,1 Kenya,"Lucy Wanjiku Chege is a 38-year-old married entrepreneur. She has two children who are both in school. Lucy lives in a one-room house with her husband and children.
Lucy is a member of Ponda Mali group; this group believes in improving their families. She runs a milk bar in Ponda Mali slum while her husband has a small business. They work hard but despite this their income is barely enough to allow them more than basic needs.
Lucy would like to expand her business but lacks the funds. She is requesting a loan of US$ 450 to be used as follows: US$ 300 to add to her milk stock; US$ 100 to get storage equipment for the additional liters; US$ 50 to pay for her council license. This will increase Lucy's income and enable her to move to a bigger house to accommodate the whole family. She is determined and will repay the loan.",F,450,lender,Food,1 Kenya,"Lucy Wanjiku Mbugua is a 33 year old itinerant trader. Her husband is employed in a private company. They have two children; one who attends junior school while the other will join in two years time. She supplements her husbands income with proceeds from her business. Her trade involves moving around town on foot selling an assortment of items. These include small electrical appliances, mobile phone accessories, and other small household items. Her stock varies season to season and she sells only items that are currently popular as they are bound to fetch her higher returns. However, in this business she experiences a lot of problems. First, it is very tiresome. Second, she is forced to pay very high business operating license fees to the council authorities on a daily basis. She is requesting a loan of US $850: US $200 to buy electrical appliances, US$200 to buy phone accessories, US$200 to buy household items to sell, US$200 to pay rent and US$50 to pay for the license. Lucy is capable of repaying the loan.",F,850,lender,Retail,1 Kenya,"Lucy Wanjiku Mbugua is a 33-year-old itinerant trader. Her husband is employed in a private company. They have two children; one attends junior school while the other will start school in two years time.
Lucy supplements her husbands income with proceeds from her business. Her trade involves moving around town on foot selling an assortment of items including small electrical appliances, mobile phone accessories, and other small household stuff. Her stock varies season to season and she sells only items that are all the rage as they are bound to fetch her higher returns.
However, in this business she experiences a number of problems. First, it is very tiring. Second, she is forced to pay very high business operating license fees to the council authorities on a daily basis. This forces her business to perform poorly giving her insufficient funds to cater for her personal needs. She is therefore requesting a loan of US$600 to assist her in revamping her business. The funds will be used to purchase more items for sale and also rent her a stall from where she will be do business.
Disclaimer: Due to recent events in Kenya, the security situation in many communities remains unsettled, affecting many local businesses. Lenders to this entrepreneur should be aware that this loan may represent a higher default risk, and should be willing to accept this additional risk in making their loan.",F,600,lender,Retail,1 Kenya,"Lucy Wanjiru is 42 years of age and married with twelve children. Two are independent, one is in college, three in secondary school and four in primary school and the rest are still too young for school. She loves her family and works very hard to provide the basic needs to her children despite so many challenges.
She is among the pioneers of Ngondo Rahab womens group and she has managed to pay back 3 loans already. She sells bananas to the neighboring schools and hospital. Besides this business, she grows vegetables, potatoes and maize on a small piece of land.
Her husband is an office messenger at one of the schools in that village. He is supportive, though his salary is very small. He assists her to look after the planted crops and marketing of the produce. Lucy got a small tender to supply two schools with bananas and this requires more money which she does not have right now. She is getting bananas on credit to clear when she is paid but the prices are inflated because of buying on credit. She believes when she gets the loan, her business will enable her to pay school fees without much struggle.",F,225,partner,Agriculture,0 Kenya,"Lucy Wanjiru Kimani also known as mama ken(kens mother in Swahili) is a 42 years old mother of three children. She is married to a farmer. Her husband barely makes enough to support their four children (one of whom is in collage pursuing a diploma in computer science, while the rest are in elementary school). She sells used baby clothes along a busy roadside to compliment her husbands income. She sells the clothes to low income earners. She restocks every Monday, but of late she has been having financial constrains, prompting her not to restock every week but after two weeks. This is due to her increased family expenses. She is planning to add more stocks which will intern increase her returns. She is humbly requesting for a loan amount of US$ 450. Her budget includes buying clothes stocks of US$ 400 and transporting them with US$ 50. She wants to see her bright children attain the highest level of education and this motivates her to work hard every day.",F,450,lender,Clothing,1 Kenya,"Lucy Wanjiru Muthama is 37 years old. She is married with four children. The eldest is a senior in high school. Two are in junior school and one is still a toddler. Lucy lives in Nairobis Kibera slums with her family. Her husband does casual work in the industries surrounding the slums. Lucy, on the other hand, is engaged in the business of spinning and weaving. She spins and weaves items such as ladies hair bands, dolls, wall mats, car seat rags, tablemats and scarves. Her business is performing well and her products are in high demand. However she does not generate enough income to offer a substantive financial contribution to the family income because she operates on a small scale. She is expecting her son to qualify in his final exams and enter university next year. Before this happens, she is planning to have saved enough money to pay for his first-year tuition. She wants to expand her business in order to generate sufficient returns, with which she will be able to cater for her sons educational needs. She is requesting a loan of US $725. With this money she will purchase a spinning machine worth US $350, wool stock worth US $300 and looms worth US $75. Her projections show that she will be able to repay the loan.",F,725,lender,Clothing,1 Kenya,"Lucy Wanjiru Ndungu is 53 years old, married and has two daughters and three sons. She has sold pumpkins in a local market for more than eight years, ever since she got the idea from her mother, who sold pumpkins many years ago. Lucy's customers want pumpkins from different regions of the country because they like the variety in taste.
Lucy's income is not sufficient to meet her family's needs, especially since three of her children are in secondary school. She would like to expand her business because this would improve her family's life and allow her set aside money for her children's education. She is requesting a loan of $900, $600 to buy different types of pumpkins, $150 for transportation, $50 to pay municipal fees and $100 to lease storage space.
Lucy is a dedicated, hard-working woman and we are confident that she will repay the loan.",F,900,lender,Food,1 Kenya,"Lucy Wanjiru Waweru is a 26-year-old business lady. She plies her trade at the sprawling Kongowea market in Mombasa. Her residence is located in a slum neighboring the market.
Lucy deals in vegetables, mainly cabbages. She started this business three years ago after failing to find formal employment once she completed her studies in Sales and Marketing. Most of her earnings are spent on her personal basic needs and to take care of her elderly parents back at her rural home. This leaves her with nothing to invest towards the growth of her business. This has forced her to operate on a scarcely sustainable level with all revenue being spent on non-business matters.
She plans to expand her operations to other smaller markets in towns neighboring Mombasa where there are prospects of her making higher returns. Lucy is requesting a loan of US$600 to assist her in achieving her goals. US$550 will be used to purchase more cabbages for sale and US$50 will be used for transportation. She will be able to offer employment to her unemployed niece. She is a very hardworking lady and will use the funds for her business growth plans and will be able to repay the loan.",F,600,lender,Food,1 Kenya,"Lucy was born 27 years ago; she is single with 2 children who are in primary school. She is an active member of gatangara Pluto. She is very religious and practices morals in her life. Lucy is a business woman who sells cereals, fruits and vegetables at Kibutha market. She has been able to meet her family needs through the income she generates from her business. Her business is unique in her area and she has only been limited by money. She is very hardworking and she makes sure she gets her vegetables from distant farmers who cant afford to deliver them to the nearby market. She is planning to buy more varieties of vegetables to boost her kiosk and to tap many customers. She is able to fetch USD$150 on monthly basis from her sales. She promises to meet her repayments on monthly basis.",F,125,lender,Food,1 Kenya,"Lucy was born 42 years ago, is married with four children, with only one in high school. She is a primary school teacher and earns a very small salary that made her decide to join Gituya Women Group for loan purposes. She has invested most of her loans in milk production by buying cows. Of late her two cows are producing an average of 26 litres per day. This is still not able to meet the great demand of milk in her community and as a result Lucy wants to buy another cow which will enable her attain 50 litres per day. The higher the litres, the more her income will be, i.e. USD$450 per month. This opportunity she feels she should not let pass.",F,475,lender,Agriculture,1 Kenya,"Lucy was born in 1962, single mother of 3 daughters. 2 of them are single mothers too and leave away from home. She lives with her last born daughter who is in class eight. She is a born again Christian and always joins the other women group members every Wednesday for their weekly bible reading and prayers. For her daily living, she sells charcoal and potatoes .Currently she is able to stock 3 bags of charcoal and 3 bags of potatoes. With the loan of USD 75, she would add a further 10 bags of charcoal. Currently she is able to save USD 0.7 per week with women of faith group. If i add more stock, i would be able to double my savings to 1.4 USD per week. This would assist me in paying high school fees for my last born daughter. She also promise to work extra hard so as to pay her loan in time.",F,75,lender,Retail,1 Kenya,"Lucy was born in 1965 in Tinganga, Kiambu. She is married with five children. Two are out of school and in college while the other three are still in primary and secondary school. Lucy is an active member of Kaspat Catholic Church. Her colleagues formed a group in 2002 and registered with WEEC the same year. She has been the group discipline mistress since its formation. Lucy has been a farmer since her youth. She is a role model to many young women. When she was young, she used to look after her fathers cow after school. Today Lucy keeps dairy cattle. She is also a poultry farmer. Currently she has 300 chicks. At her farm, she also grows maize and beans for home consumption. Last season, she harvested enough for her family and sold five bags of maize and and three bags of beans to local residents. She also practices pig farming. Currently she has three pigs. Given a loan of USD 450, Lucy intends to buy another dairy cow.",F,450,lender,Agriculture,0 Kenya,"Luke Mule is 27 years old. He is newly married, having tied the knot to his high school sweetheart this year. He lives in Mlolongo town along the Nairobi-Mombasa highway.
Luke Mule is a trained welder. He was trained by Mutuku from Masil town in Eastern Province. After the training, Luke came to Mlolongo Town and was employed by a man named Harrison Mutunga for two years.
While employed, he managed to save Ksh 170,000. Now he had both the skills and capital necessary to start his own business. He bought welding tools that included grinders and two welding machines. He then rented part of a shop where he is operating to this date.
As a goodwill gesture to the community, Luke identifies orphans from his rural home of Makueni and trains them free of charge. He trains them so they can be self-reliant, and so they do not feel like they are left out by society. He is currently training two orphans who are nearing the completion of their training, after which they will be employed.
His tools are experiencing some wear and tear due to extended use. Mule wants to buy new tools so that he can serve his customers efficiently. He is requesting Kiva lenders to loan him Ksh 80,000 ($1100.00). With this loan he says he will be able to purchase welding materials like plain sheets, angle lines, flat bars, and square bars. Mule thanks Kiva lenders in advance and promises to repay his loan. The repayment period for this loan is 14 months.",M,1100,partner,Manufacturing,1 Kenya,"Lydia is 27 years old and a mother of one child. She is a high school graduate and a holder of a certificate in computer applications. She graduated from college in year 2002 but was unable to find any employment until 2004 when she got a loan of US $ 650 from Eb-F to start a business of selling used clothes imported from Europe. She used to hawk the clothes from house to house and from office to office. In a good day she would earn about US $ 10. She repaid her loan in full. Lydia lives in Ponda Mali a low income residential area where 99% of the resident are poor and can not afford to cook using electricity or gas. They use charcoal and kerosene and the demand of kerosene in this area is very high. As an aggressive entrepreneur, Lydia wants to exploit this economic opportunity by starting a business of selling kerosene. She saved money from her clothing business and she has already bought and installed a kerosene pump. What she needs now is to buy bulk kerosene from local distributors, to install a storage tank and to get a license from the local government. Lydia requests a loan of US $ 1,500.She will use US $ 800 to purchase 1,244 liters of kerosene, US $ 400 to install a 1,300 litter kerosene tank, US $ 200 to reinforce the security of the pump and tank and US $ 100 to pay for a local government license. Lydia will continue with her clothing business which she will locate next to the pump. She will employ one person to help her out.",F,1500,lender,Retail,1 Kenya,"Lydia is 37 years old and married with 3 children. Two of her children are in secondary and the last born is in primary school. She is the secretary in her group and an active member in her local church. She is one of the founding members of the group thus setting a good example to others by adhering to rules and regulations of the group.
Lydia is an excellent tailor and business woman, specializing on school uniforms, lady garments, and textiles. On average, she gets USD140 monthly where she is able to pay for her children's school fees and provide for the basic needs of the family. She is looking forward to securing a loan to buy different types of textile materials for the preparation of festive season.
School uniforms and casual clothes being her main target, she struggles to meet the demand in the local market and she believes that by getting a loan she will manage to satisfy all her customer's needs. She is willing to repay the loan in monthly installments.",F,225,partner,Services,0 Kenya,"Lydia is 39 years old. She is married with 2 children. She is a Catholic by faith and a member of the Catholic Women's Association. Lydia is a member of St. Jude women's group. She is a strong group secretary who takes care of the group records.
Lydia is a farmer. She grows maize, beans, peas and vegetables. She has applied for a loan of USD 150 to buy a dairy cow. She will repay the loan within a period of 12 months.",F,150,lender,Agriculture,1 Kenya,"Lydia is 45 years old. She is married with 4 children. She is a member of ACK church and an official in the mothers' committee. She is an active contributor to the Revelation women's group.
Lydia is a poultry farmer. She keeps laying hens and sells the eggs to the market in Thika town. At the moment, she has 600 laying hens, and yet she is not able to supply to all the orders that she receives.
Lydiah's main challenge is that her many family demands do not leave her with enough money to expand the business. She is requesting US$1000 to expand the business. Her budget is: US$200 for transport, US$100 to get a license for the whole year, and US$700 to add stock. Lydiah is a self-driven, business-oriented woman and she will be able to repay the loan in time.",F,1000,lender,Retail,1
Kenya,"Maari is married with 6 children. Maari has been greatly empowered through her active participation in various development activities. She is the coordinator of her village focal group. WEEC organized a training on Modern methods of livestock management, and she was among the participants. Magdaline has been selling fish for the last three years. She sells her fish in the development where she lives, Rhonda estate in the town of Nakuru. Magdaline gets her fish from the main market and sometimes travels to Lake Victoria in Kisumu to get fish. Her biggest challenge is storage of her fish. Magdaline is hard-working and determined to send her children to school so they can have a better life. She is therefore requesting a loan of US$ 700 to be able to get a cooler to store her fish. Below is how she intends to use the loan:
US$ 250 to purchase a cooler for storing fish
US$ 100 for transportation of the fish
US$ 100 to rent a shop to sell the fish
US$ 100 to pay for a municipal council license for the shop, and
US$ 150 to purchase enough stock to be able to meet her clients' needs.",F,700,lender,Food,1
Kenya,"MAGDALINE WANJIKU KAMAU is a 34-year-old businesswoman, married with two children, all in school. Her husband is a hawker of utensils in Nakuru town where they also live together with his family. In order to supplement her husbands small income, Magdalene ventured into the business of selling tomatoes in Nakuru town market. She gets her products from the farms in order to avoid exploitation of middlemen. She has been into this business for over 5 years and she is conversant in the business world. The business has been their source of income, and thus Magdalene has been so hardworking. Though the business has positive outcomes, she incurs challenges such as lack of funds and much transport expense. In order to solve this, she is requesting a loan of $800, which she intends to spend as follows: $500 to buy more crates of tomatoes; $200 to pay for transport expenses; and $100 pay a municipal council fee. She is determined and she will be able to repay the loan.
Disclaimer: Due to recent events in Kenya, the security situation in many communities remains unsettled, affecting many local businesses. Lenders to this entrepreneur should be aware that this loan may represent a higher default risk, and should be willing to accept this additional risk in making their loan.",F,800,lender,Food,1
Kenya,"Mahmud Osman is aged 34 years, married with one child. He is barber and hair stylist. He has been generating income and would like to expand his business due to the high demand in the market. Mahmud is professional in his work, so that he market comprises of a good number of working-class customers and school-age children. He wants to expand to accommodate the growing number of clients. He requested a loan amount of US $ 900 as he budgets:
US $ 300 to purchase a sterilizing machine
US $ 250 to purchase mirrors
US $ 150 to purchase a professional sink
US $ 50 to purchase standard after-shave liquids
US $ 50 to purchase a smoothing machines
US $ 50 to purchase neck and body covers
US $ 50 to purchase towels, toiletries
Osman's business is viable, because of his professionalism and customer care. Therefore he deserves to expand the business to meet the customer demand and save for his sons future educational needs.",M,900,lender,Services,1
Kenya,"Manjore Njeri Karau is currently 46 years old. She is married with three children. All of her children are out of school. She never finished her primary education due to lack of school fees. She started doing business at an early age of 18 years. She is now an experienced businessperson where she does dairy, poultry and horticultural farming. She is also an active member of the Kugema Women Group. She joined this group in 2000 with her colleagues. She says that she has nothing to regret, since she has greatly benefited from the eight loans she has received.
Currently she has five dairy cows and practices zero grazing. She sells an average of 50 litres per day at the rate of USD 0.3 to Limuru Dairy Farmers Co-operative society. She also sells her produce to Kirangari High School. She intends to buy a dairy cow and animal feeds to maintain the flow of milk supply to the school and to the co-operative society, upon receiving a loan of USD 1200. She is willing to repay this loan within a period of 12 months.",F,1200,lender,Agriculture,1
Kenya,"Marble was born 27 years ago in Nyanza Province, Kenya. She is married with two children. One is in a boarding primary school in Nairobi while the other one is 2 years old. She is a religious person and a choir member at Kawangare Catholic church. She is also a member of Catholic Women Association (CWA) at Kawamgare Catholic Church.
Marble joined WEEC March 2007 after being told by her colleague, Catherine Ndigai, a Torch Women's group member, how WEEC and KIVA have boosted many businesses in the area. She was elected the chairlady of the group. Marble operates a joint salon in Valley Arcade. With a loan of USD 750, she intends to add three more driers and chemicals to expand the business. She is willing to repay the loan within a period of 12 months.",F,750,lender,Services,1
Kenya,"Marceline is a trained tailor married to a metal fabricator operating a workshop in Malaba town. They have one child who is eleven years old and in primary school. Marceline operates a tailoring workshop in the Kodedema area in Teso district where she makes vitenge (local clothes for both men and women) and school uniforms for nearby primary school children. On the side, she also operates a small snack bar in a room next to her tailoring workshop where she sells sodas and snacks. She has an assistant to help her with the daily operation in the snack bar. With her daily income of approximately 500 KES (Kenya shillings, approximately $7.50USD), Marceline and her husband have been able to support her child in school, put up their house, and buy some domesticated animals to keep in their homestead.
With two years of experience, Marceline has been faced with challenges like seasonal food shortage which affects food variety in the snack bar sometimes. With the nature of her business, it has been also hard for her to find somebody to trust at the counter. She acknowledges that running two businesses at once is very engaging in terms of time and energy.
Marceline plans to get KIVA loan through PEMCI to boost her snack bar business which is doing fairly well but does not have a lot of capital.",M,300,lender,Food,1
Kenya,"Margaret Adhiambo is a 50-year-old widow who supports six children in her household. She specializes in selling ready-made womens dresses. Despite the stiff competition in her area, Margaret has always been able to attract old and new customers. Her hard work, years of experience, good location of her business and well-established clientele base ensure that her business will continue to grow. She plans to use her next loan of US $600 to purchase more clothing to meet the high demand of her customers.",F,600,partner,Clothing,0
Kenya,"Margaret Adhiambo is a 50-year-old widow who supports six children in her household. She specializes in selling ready-made womens dresses. Despite the stiff competition in her area, Margaret has always been able to attract old and new customers. Her hard work, years of experience, the prime location of her business and well-established client base ensure that her business will continue to grow. She plans to use half of her next loan of USD 800 to purchase stock of ready made clothes.",F,800,partner,Clothing,0
Kenya,"Margaret Chepngeno Kenik is a 42 year old lady. She is married and has six children, two of which are school going and the other four have completed their secondary education. Margaret is a standard eight drop out and she couldnt go on with high school education because her culture was against girl child education at the time. Her husband is a farmer, but his small income could not meet the family need. Therefore Margaret involved herself in the business of running a food kiosk. She started this business after she saw the need of providing food to the casual laborers who work on the tea farms. She has been in this business for a long time and she has gained much experience.
However she faces problems like perishable products, which go bad because she doesnt have a refrigerator, small business premises and interruptions from the municipal council. She would also like to purchase her products directly from the farmers. She is therefore requesting a loan of US$1200, which she intends to utilize as follows; US$500 to purchase a refrigerator, US$200 to pay municipal council fees; US$200 to expand her business premise, US$200 to buy cooking ingredients and US$100 to pay transport fees. She is determined and her business is viable. She will be able to repay the loan.",F,1200,lender,Food,1
Kenya,"Margaret is 31 years old. She is married with 4 children. She is a member of the ACK St. Phillips Church in Maragwa. She lives in Ikinu Village in Maragwa. Margaret is an active member of Karaba Umoja women's group. She is the 2nd Secretary and records the group cashbook. She is an honest official who carries out her group duties with great dedication and commitment. She adheres to the rules and reminds the members of the governing rules by regularly reading to them the group constitution. She keeps the records of the group very well.
Margaret earns her living through farming. On her farm, she plants bananas, maize and beans. She also has a cow and is able to provide her family with enough milk. Her main income comes from the sale of bananas from her farm. She is able to save with her group USD3 and repay her group loans from the income she generates from her farm. She has applied for a loan of USD150 to enable her to increase her farm yield. She will use organic manure and fertilizer in her farming activities. The group has approved the loan and her commitment is to repay it within a period of 12 months.",F,150,lender,Agriculture,1
Kenya,"Margaret is 35 years old. She is married and has 4 children. Margaret is a member of ACK Church and a member of the Mothers Union. She is also a member of Rainbow Mothers Womens Group. Margaret takes her group work very seriously.
She believes her group is like her bank. With no collateral to enable her to secure loans, Margaret feels it is paramount for them to run their revolving fund well. She acts as an intercessor at the Full Gospel Church. She is also a farmer who is dedicated to ensuring that what she has planted is benefitting her. Therefore, she has planted vegetables and cereal crops like beans and maize. She has applied for a loan of USD 125 which she believes will significantly help her in purchasing high-quality seedlings and organic manure which will act as catalysts to increased farm produce. She is willing to repay this loan in a period of 10 months.",F,125,lender,Agriculture,1
Kenya,Margaret is 37 years old and married with four children. She never attended school and now she's attending adult education classes at a multi-purpose centre in Isinya. Margaret is an active member of the Nadupa Women's Group and she attends P.C.E.A church. Her business is in beadwork. She intends to boost her business by buying more beads to produce more bead products with a $450 loan. The income generated will help to pay school fees for her children and improve her living. She will repay her loan in monthly installments.,F,450,lender,Arts,1
Kenya,"Margaret is 40 years old, and is the mother of one child. She started her business in 2002 by selling both green and dry maize. She gets her stock of dry maize at a fair price from Kitale, where it is grown. She gets the green maize from Myanga, which is in her area. Maize is the main food crop in the area.
Margaret takes her dry produce to Mumias town, where the demand is much greater than the supply, and Lukolis, her home area. The lack of supply is a result of the local farmers in that particular area focusing on sugar cane plantations to provide the Mumias sugar factory with cane. This is done at the expense of planting food crops.
Margaret's inventory of maize is worth approximately five thousand Kenya shillings for dry maize and three hundred shillings for green maize. (One USD is equal to about sixty-seven shillings.) Her daily income ranges from four hundred fifty to six hundred shillings.
With the proceeds from her business, Margaret has been able to expand her farm by purchasing a number of goats and pigs. She also purchased two bicycles; one for her personal use and another one for operating Boda boda (local bicycle transport). Margaret encounters a number of business challenges such as competition from traders of similar products, and the transportation of her goods, especially getting the maize from Kitale and from Myanga.
With a second loan from PEMCI, Margaret plans to increase her stock in order to meet the growing demands of her customers.",F,225,lender,Food,1
Kenya,"Margaret is 40 years old, single, and has two children who are both in school. She works as a subordinate staff member in a Government office where she earns about US $ 100 per month.
Margaret is a focused mother and over time she was able to save enough money to purchase a small piece of land in Nyahururu (a rural town in Central Kenya) where she lives with her children. This was before the children joined school. Now that she has to keep them in school, she is finding it increasingly difficult to fully provide for her family and she has decided to start a dairy farming business to supplement her salary income.
Margaret has sufficient space to accommodate four dairy cows but she wants to start with two then increase the numbers with time. Margaret is now asking for a loan of US $ 1,800 to start the dairy farming business. Her budget is US $ 1,600 to purchase two dairy cows, US $ 100 to construct a cow shade and US $100 to purchase cow feeds and mineral supplements. The two cows will provide an average of 30 litters of milk per day and this will give the family an extra US $ 230 per month enabling Margaret to fully provide for her family and keep the children healthy and in school. Margaret is skilled in dairy farming having learned from her mother who is a dairy farmer. She has also been attending Eb-Fs business skills improvement courses and she is capable of looking after the business well and to repay the loan.",F,1800,lender,Agriculture,1
Kenya,"Margaret is 41 years old, married and has 4 children. Margarets family lives on their farm at Roimen area. She joined Queen Esther Women group in year 2003. She is very active in the group and a beneficiary of small loans and trainings from the group. She has put an impact in her group with information and skills she has attained from trainings and now they realize the power of information. She rears dairy cows and few laying birds. She sells 20 litres of milk per day and supply eggs weekly to the area residents. Her birds feed on greens and grains reducing the cost of buying feeds. She stated the project with 2 birds and they have hatched and now they are 16. She incubates them in a traditional way and they have been doing well. Her plan was to use the 16 for hatching but after she was trained on poultry rearing and management, she got the information required and she is determined to add birds. She also wants to buy the incubator to be hatching many chicks at a time than to be waiting for 21 days. She is approximating the incubator to be holding 50 chicks at ago. She requires USD 225 to buy the hens, a small incubator and the local feeds. She is willing to repay the loan with the monthly dues of milk she accumulates",F,225,lender,Agriculture,1
Kenya,"Margaret is 42 years old. She is married with 4 children. She is a member of Gakoigo United Women's group.
Margaret's main economic activity is buying bananas from the surrounding farms. She stores them in her barn and sells the ripe bananas to the fruit vendors in Maragwa town and in Gakoigo market. Margaret buys about 50 bunches of bananas per week. With more fruit vendors from Mukuyu market and the Karokocho market going to buy the bananas in Gakoigo, Margaret intends to expand her banana business to include selling of unripe bananas. She has applied for a loan of USD 300 to enable her buy 50 more bunches of bananas. This will enable her pay for the bananas and then collect them from the farms on a weekly basis. The loans committee has approved her loan as per the loans graduation policy. Margaret will repay the loan within a period of 12 months.",F,300,lender,Food,1
Kenya,"Margaret is 45 years old. She is married and has 7 children. She is a member of Gaichanjiru Catholic Church and is in the Catholic Women's Association. Margarets main calling is to assist the needy, especially with food. She visits the elderly women and donates food to them.
Her main economic activity is growing of maize and beans. Margaret joined St. Agnes Women's Group to assist her develop a small cereals business. She has applied for a loan of USD100. Her plan is to buy maize and beans from the surrounding farms during the harvesting time and sell during the planting period. The loans committee has approved the loan and the repayment period will be 8 months.",F,100,lender,Agriculture,1
Kenya,"Margaret is 47 years old and is a widow with 3 children. She is a Catholic whose calling is to help the sick and the elderly by providing them with food and helping them with their daily chores, especially on Sunday afternoons. She believes in reading the word of God and sharing with her neighbors. That is why she joined the Women of Faith group. The groups wish to undertake revolving fund activities was another blessing for her. She has received several small loans of between USD 9 and USD 17. The loans have boosted her vegetable business. The group has approved a loan of USD 75 to assist Margaret in buying other items such as bananas, pawpaw, and avocados. She will buy her stock from the two group members (Mary Gathuka and Margaret Wambui) who operate sizeable fruit businesses in the Karokocho market. She is a committed member and has influenced many women in her group. She is promising to make her repayments on time.",F,75,lender,Food,1
Kenya,"Margaret is 48 years of age, married with four children. One child is in primary school, two in secondary and one in college. She is a member of the St Jude women's group, which is based in Githunguri area. She is a member of the Catholic church and is involved in the Catholic Women's Association (CWA).
Margaret is a farmer by occupation. She rears one dairy cow, which produces an average of 6 litres per day. This adds up to 180 litres per month, and is sold at US 30 cents per litre. Besides dairy farming, she plants maize beans, which earns her an average of USD 90 per month.
Margaret has applied for a loan amounting to USD 150. She intends to buy high breed dairy cow which produces milk in large quanties.",F,150,lender,Agriculture,1
Kenya,"Margaret is 48 years old, married with four 4 children. She a strong member of Githeri Faithful Mothers and has influence a good number of women by her hard work. She practices farming as a way of generating income. She grows coffee, maize, beans, vegetables and rears poultry, cows and goats. For her income she concentrates much on poultry and dairy cow project which she started with her first loan from the group. She has been able to educate her children up to secondary level although very challenging. 2 of her sons have are joining university next year and she wants to beat the challenge of fees with milk sales. She is very hard working and she is sure that after feeding the dairy cow she will be able to add the milk supply. Saving the whole amount of money its a bit tricky to her but she believes if she gets the loan, she will be able to repay in installments.",F,600,lender,Agriculture,1
Kenya,"Margaret is 50 years old. She is an active member of Gatangara group. She is a religious person and she has lived a life of purity and good morals. She is among the founders of their group and she has benefited a lot. She has been boosted by group loans to educate all her children and she owes her gratitude to the group. Margaret is a farmer who grows beans and maize for consumption, coffee as a cash crop (although not reliable) and raises dairy cows. She is able to fetch USD 85 on a monthly basis from her farm sales. She is planning to add a bull in her dairy cattle project to increase the rate of organic manure production for her land. She is very focused to make her life even better than when she had young children. She is promising to meet her repayments within a span of 1 year.",F,150,lender,Agriculture,1
Kenya,"Margaret is 52 years old. She lives in
Githambo and belongs to Mukumu Helen Women's Group. She is married and has 4 children. Margaret is a teacher and also runs the private school Rima Academy on her farm, which she plans to run full-time when she retires from the ministry in two years' time. She also has a lot of tea on her farm. She wishes to buy a high-breed cow to increase milk production when she gets a loan of USD 575 through the group. She contributes to the groups revolving fund very well, and she is the secretary of the group.",F,575,lender,Agriculture,1
Kenya,"Margaret is 54 years old. She is married, with 5 children, of whom four are self-reliant and one is in secondary school. She is a member of A C. K. church at Gacharaigu. Her economic occupation is mixed farming. She has stocked cows and goats besides planting coffee, beans, Napier grass, and maize in her farm. She participates actively in Home Promoters women's group, where she saves, borrows, and repays on time. She also acts as the group treasurer. She is applying for a loan of 600 dollars to purchase a productive dairy cow.",F,600,lender,Agriculture,1
Kenya,"Margaret is 55 years aold and is blessed with 6 children, who are in school. Margaret isa religious person and she leads women in their place of worship. Over the years, her main source of income has been business. She has traveled to theEast and Central Africa with a business mission of cereals, electronics, used clothes, as well as exporting curios. She also rears animals daily in her home. Due to her efforts, she has been able to raise, educate her children and also bought a plot of land and built 7 rental houses. She has been getting loans from the WEEC for and has a great history of repayment. Last year she received a loan of USD 1200 from KIVA. She was able to buy cotton wool from Tanzania and then sold it to the Ginnery Company in Kenya. She has successfully repaid her loan and is now in need of another USD 1200 to renovate and build more rental houses in her plot. She intends to repay her loan in monthly installments.",F,1200,lender,Housing,1
Kenya,"Margaret is 56 years old, and a widow with four children. One is attending college while others are in high school. She is an active member of Gituya Kiamukia Women Group. She is much respected member in the community because of her principles and being hard working. She has been able to achieve what many couples have achieved and she has earned herself leadership position in her church council. She says that God has been good to her and attributes everything to HIM. Her source of income is from rental houses in Thika town (near Nairobi town) and sells milk, coffee and vegetables for consumption. Her earnings have enabled her to keep her children in school and provide for their basic needs. She has plans to increase her milk production as from next year by borrowing aloan and top up with her savings to buy an upgrade dairy cow. She believes through her hard work, repaying of her loan will not be a hassle.",F,300,lender,Food,1
Kenya,"Margaret is 60 years old. She is a member of Karaba women's group. She contributes very well to the groups revolving fund. She lives at Gitumbi village in Maragwa district and is a farmer. She lives at the farm with her grandchildren and is a very active elder of the local ACK church.
Margaret plants mainly bananas and keeps dairy cows. She also has other sustenance crops in her farm. Margaret sells 12 liters of milk a day and also makes money from selling her bananas. She hopes to buy a large water tank at her home when she gets a loan of USD 300 through the group.",F,300,lender,Agriculture,1
Kenya,"Margaret is 60 years old. She is a widow and has 5 grown up children. Margaret lives in her farm in Ikinu village with two of her grandchildren. She is a member of St. Phillip ACK church. Margaret is a small-scale farmer. She grows French beans, bananas and keeps a dairy cow. She also grows maize and beans. She gets her income mainly from the sale of French beans, bananas and milk. She is also able to pay for her grandchildrens education and to have enough food in the homestead. She is a member of the Karaba Umoja women group. She has benefited greatly from the revolving fund that has enabled her to save USD 3 on a monthly basis. She is also able to access credits from the group. Margaret says this about the groups revolving fund: The revolving fund has enabled me to do wonderful things. I am able to save every month and this is a must as is the rule. I am able to take small loans and buy schoolbooks for my grandchildren. I am even able to plan on how I will develop my farm and my household. I am happy to work with the other women and pray for all who make our work look good. Margaret plans to take a loan of USD300 to buy a water tank. She has applied for the loan; based on her previous repayments, her loan has been approved. She is scheduled to repay the loan within a period of 12 months.",F,300,lender,Agriculture,1
Kenya,"Margaret is a 35-year-old entrepreneur who lives in Kisumu, Kenya with her husband. She started her fruit and vegetable stand in 1999. Her hard work, determination and outstanding people skills explain her success, and the fact that her profits now pay her household expenses. Margaret plans to use the funds from her latest loan to increase her income by expanding her grocery business and buying cereals in bulk .
Disclaimer: Due to recent events in Kenya, the security situation in many communities remains unsettled, affecting many local businesses. Lenders to this entrepreneur should be aware that this loan may represent a higher default risk, and should be willing to accept this additional risk in making their loan.",F,800,partner,Food,0
Kenya,"Margaret is a 37 years old woman, married with 3 children that all attend school. Her primary income source is farming. She grows bananas, maize and beans. She also rears a dairy cow. The cow produces 11 liters of milk per day of which she sells 10 liters. Her family uses the remaining litre each day. Margaret earns additional income by selling bananas at the local market. To increase income, Margaret plans to buy another dairy cow. Margaret intends to purchase the dairy cow from the farmers that have quality hybrid cows. She has applied for a loan of USD $300. The loan has been approved by the group and the loan repayment will occur in 12 equal installments.",F,300,lender,Agriculture,1
Kenya,"Margaret is a 48-year-old married mother of five children. She lives at Ahono with her husband, who is a school teacher. She spent one year learning the art of dressmaking and has been offering her tailoring services within her community in Siaya, Kenya, since 1995. She specializes in making both womens dresses and mens shirts. Due to her hard work, many years of experience, well-established clientele base and financial assistance from KMET, Margaret has seen her business grow. She plans to use half of her $700 loan to purchase new patterns and materials, and half for a new sewing machine so as to cope with the growing demand.
Disclaimer: Due to recent events in Kenya, the security situation in many communities remains unsettled, affecting many local businesses. Lenders to this entrepreneur should be aware that this loan may represent a higher default risk, and should be willing to accept this additional risk in making their loan.",F,700,partner,Clothing,0
Kenya,"Margaret is a 56-year-old married mother of six children. She lives with her husband in Rongo, Kenya. She started her cereal business in 2002. She purchases cereal, such as maize, beans, millet, ground nuts, and green grams, in bulk during harvest season when prices are low and sells to the consumers when prices go up.
Her hard work, perseverance, good reputation, and many years in business coupled with a well-established customer base ensure that her business will continue to grow despite stiff competition. She has applied for a loan of US $ 1000 to purchase in more cereal in bulk to add to her inventory, and save some to use in case of unforeseen circumstances.",F,1000,partner,Food,0
Kenya,"Margaret is a hardworking lady with business skills but limited by capital. She received training in computers and secretarial but did not managed to secure a job. She started a small business of selling milk with the help of small loan from Rurii Shinning women group. She buys milk from the farmers and then supplies to hotels at a different price allowing her to get a small profit. She has plans of increasing the amount of milk as her customers number grows. She has been able to sell 50 liters per day and she would like to add up to 100 liters. The loan she is applying will be for this purpose. Her income on the other hand will double. She hopes in the near future she will manage to buy a small vehicle, which she will be using for milk collection and transportation.",F,150,lender,Food,1
Kenya,"Margaret is a mother of three children, two boys and a girl. She started her business in 1993 with a capital of five thousand shillings obtained from her husband. Her business includes buying new clothes in bulk and selling them retail. She also buys and sells kerosene. Her clients are mainly people from the neighbouring country of Uganda as her business is situated right at the border, within Malaba township. With the loan applied for, she plans to increase her stocks of kerosene to meet the ever growing demand from Uganda. (Kerosene prices are lower in Kenya than in Uganda.) Margaret is an enterprising young woman and worthy of support from Kiva. Note that within the larger East African Community, cross border trade is encouraged as a way of supporting regional trade and growth.",F,300,partner,Retail,0
Kenya,"Margaret is a single mother of 4 young children. She lost her husband 2 years ago from HIV/Aids related complications. She trades in vegetables and fish products moving from one market center to another within her locality. With the profits from her small business she is able to support her children and also her elderly parents. Agness case is typical of that faced by numerous women who have to fend for their young families in the absence of their husbands. With the loan of $150 she will be able to increase her stock and improve on her profitability. Hers is a worthwhile cause to support, as it will be impacting positively on a chain of dependents and the community at large.",F,150,partner,Food,0
Kenya,"Margaret is a widow and has five children, all boys. After her husbands death, she had to think of how she could raise her children and thats when she started the business. Through the money she got from selling her farm produce, she began buying cereals from markets nearby her and selling them to the people from her village. Through the business, she has been able to sustain her family for the last ten years. With a loan of US$150 from PEMCI, she intends to multiply her stock and reach out for people from other villages near her community.",F,150,partner,Food,0
Kenya,"Margaret is married and has 4 children. She is a member of ACK church at Ngutu. Margaret operates a retail shop. The shop has been of great assistance to her family as it has been a steady source of income. With the revival of the Kenya Cooperative Creameries, the community of Ngutu has taken Dairy Farming as a serious form of income generation. Margaret plans to buy a high quality dairy cow for milking. Her group has approved the purchase of Dairy cows for their members. Margaret will also attend the Livestock Management Training that will be organized by WEEC for the members who are rearing or intend to rear quality dairy cows. The Dairy cow Must be in calf to facilitate the repayments of the loan after a short while. The good news for the members who are selling the mil to the Kenya Cooperative Creameries is that the plant is buying milk from farmers in the morning and in the evening therefore farmers are almost doubling the quantity they are selling. The price for a litre of milk is USD 0.3 which is quite good.",F,600,lender,Agriculture,1
Kenya,Margaret is married with 3 children in primary school. She started her business with assistance from her husband in 2005. With the loan of $150 from PEMCI she plans to expand her business in order to improve her income base. Through her cereals trading business she is ensuring food security for the local community especially during those times when there is drought and soon after the planting season when food availability is low.,F,125,partner,Food,0
Kenya,"Margaret is married with four children, three in primary and one in nursery school. She is a secretary by profession. She started her business in 1996, with capital from her monthly savings, to supplement her salary. Her business includes buying fresh fruits from local farmers and selling them in the nearest town at a higher price. With the help of a loan from PEMCI, she plans to open a store and increase her stock. With the income generated, she is able to contribute to the wellbeing of her family and community.",F,150,partner,Food,0
Kenya,"Margaret is married with one child. She went up to secondary school. She is the secretary of Umoja women group and actively participates in training members on group issues especially the running of the revolving fund. Margaret (pictured with the children) is a proprietor of Westland Academy, initially started in 1998 as a nursery school with 40 children. Since then, the school has grown to 156 children. The school takes children from nursery level to primary level (now in class 6). Out of the 156 children, 63 are orphans, some of whom Margaret has taken into her home. Owing to increased enrollment in her school, Margaret requires US $ 1200 to renovate classrooms that are in poor shape.",F,1200,partner,Services,0
Kenya,"Margaret Juma lives and works in Rongo Town in Kenya. She is 55 years old and married to a retired schoolteacher who currently is involved in farming. Margaret and her husband have 6 children, only one of whom is still in school.
Margaret is the proprietor of Westlands Academy in Rongo Town. The school has 102 pupils, from pre-primary to class 8. There are 11 teachers employed by the school, as well as 2 other employees. Margaret started Westlands Academy in 2001.
Wanting to give the school a facelift, Margaret has applied for a loan of KSH 52,500 (USD 700) in order to perform renovations on the building.",F,700,partner,Education,0
Kenya,"Margaret Koki Kitheka is 48 years old. She is single with a 19 year old son. Margaret resides in the town of Komarock, on the outskirts of Nairobi city. Apart from her son, Margaret takes care of her three nephews and their father, who is Margaret's younger brother. Her brother is jobless and cant support his family financially. She also has to make sure that her father, who unfortunately suffered a stroke last year, gets his daily dose of medication.
Margaret started her business in 2005, after being retrenched by her employer. She had been employed as a business education teacher by a privately-owned school in Nairobi, but the school closed down when the owner decided to go into another line of business. With the initial capital of Ksh 80,000 (USD $1,176), and with a knowledge of IT business, Margaret decided to open a cyber caf. She rented a shop along a busy road known as Jogoo road. She purchased three second hand computers and an old photocopier, and then applied to be connected to the internet. After one month, she was connected to the internet and was in business.
The business continues to grow, but due to the frequent breakdown of her photocopier, Margaret is losing a lot of clients. Therefore, Margaret is kindly requesting a loan of $950. Given this loan, she will be able to purchase a computer and a printer. This will improve her services to her clients, and translate into more income.
The repayment period for this loan is 10 months.",F,950,partner,Services,1
Kenya,"Margaret Mangeli is 37 years old and married with a five-year-old child. She also cares for her younger sister who attends a local college. Margaret's interest in sewing started in 1999 when she made the choice not to move to the rural areas to work in the farms; instead, she got her husband to take her to a sewing school. After gaining sewing skills she worked with a woman known as Mama Brian who helped her refine her skills. With time, however, payments from Mama Brian decreased and work became sparse, so she decided to set out on her own.
With her savings she bought herself a sewing machine and placed herself at a corner in the streets where she would be able to attract customers. In time she established a solid customer base and with the help of one such customer she learned of a room that was for rent. She has been there since April 2000. Her main challenge that Margaret faces is the lack of variety in her materials, which causes some customers to seek elsewhere. She is therefore requesting a loan to purchase materials such linings and buttons, which will enable her to better cater to her customers. She thanks her lenders in advance for their help.",F,425,partner,Services,1
Kenya,"Margaret Mukami Njoroge is married with three children. She is an active member of St. Ruth women group. She is also a member of Gaichanjiru High School. She is a farmer and grows beans, maize and vegetables to the local residents. Farming is her main source of income. She has been experiencing problems with the water supply in her farm. She intends to buy a water tank for storing rain-water both for farming and domestic use. She has applied a loan of USD300 to meet this goal. She is willing to repay the loan within 12 months.",F,300,lender,Agriculture,1
Kenya,Margaret Ngendo Kagundo is 59 years old. She is married with five children. She is an active member of the Maua women group. She is a religious person and participates in church activities where she is the secretary. Margaret joined the Maua women group in 2003 and since then she has serviced more than six loans. Margaret is a business person in Kanunga. She has rental houses in Kanunga. She keeps pigs and dairy cows in her plot. She also has a paraffin selling business in the Kanunga shopping centre. She has applied for a loan of USD1200 with which she intends to buy paraffin for resale and paints for painting her rental houses. She is willing to repay this loan within 12 months.,F,1200,lender,Housing,1
Kenya,"Margaret Ngonyo Mihari is 35 years old. She is married with three children; who are in primary school. Margaret is an active member of Wendani Sisters. She is also an active member of St. Lukes ACK Church where she attends prayer services and participates in the church activities. She is a committee member of the mothers union. She earns her living through tea, dairy and vegetables farming. She also grows arrow roots, beans, maize and green vegetables. She also owns one dairy cow, which provides her with five litres of milk daily. She sells her farm produce locally to the local residents at the local market. She saves, borrows and repays promptly. She intends to borrow a loan of USD 300 to buy 10 young sheep for rearing then sell later. Her application for a loan has been approved by the loan committee. She is willing to repay within a period of 12 months.",F,300,lender,Agriculture,1
Kenya,"Margaret Njeri Ngaruiya is 60 years old. She is married with ten children, eight of whom are married while the remaining one is single. Margaret is an active member of St. Monica women group. She grows maize, beans, bananas, variety of vegetables and coffee. She is a farmer who does mainly crop farming and pig rearing. Her farm produce is consumed in part by her family and she sells the remainder to retailers and local consumers at a local market. She has applied a loan of USD75, wtih which she intends to purchase a pig. The loan committee has approved her loan. She is willing to repay this loan within 10 months. Margarets plan is to raise her income level to be able to provide for her children's education in high school. She intends to do this by increasing her number of dairy cows, which will enable her to sell more milk to the KENYA COOPERATIVE CREAMERIES. Margaret has applied for a loan of USD 300 that has been approved by the group loans committee as per the group policy. She intends to repay the loan within a period of 12 months.",F,300,lender,Agriculture,1
Kenya,"Margaret Njoki Njuguna is 46 years old and married with three baby girls. She lives with her aged parents. She is the family breadwinner and supports the family through her meager income selling oranges in an open-air market.
Margaret wants to expand her business to support the family and her aging parents by increasing her stock and targeting her customers within her area. She requests a loan of US $650 which she plans to use as follows: US$200 to purchase packing bags and renovate and expand her stall; US$400 to purchase sacks of assorted oranges and lemon fruits; US$50 to pay municipal license fee.
She is a committed group member and will repay the loan.",F,650,lender,Food,1
Kenya,"Margaret Nyabuto is 41 years old and she is married with four children. Apart from her family, Margaret takes care of six orphans from her brother-in-law who, together with his wife, passed away in the year 1996. Wanjiku also adopted a boy who was abandoned as an infant. He is now nine years old.
Margaret Nyabuto started the Tender Feet Children's Center in the year 1993 with only 23 children, in a small rented house. She targeted and supported children that were mostly orphaned, or their parents were prison convicts and they were being supported by neighbours or guardians, while many other were from very poor backgrounds. She would offer basic education to the children from the ages of 5 to 7 and would try to fit them all by grouping them in different corners of the room. Due to the popularity of the center with parents and guardians in the neighborhood over the years, Wanjiku can now boast of a population of 180 pupils with their own school (not the rented one) since Wanjiku bought a plot and built two classes. She now has pupils beginning from nursery to standard three. This is a remarkable change for Wanjiku who in the year 1993 used to knit and sell pullovers so as to earn her daily bread.
Tender Feet Children's Center has expanded rapidly and Wanjiku is in dire need of furniture since the children are squeezed due to lack of places to sit, and the rats are having a field day tearing up the childrens booksand destroying them, since she lacks proper storage place. Wanjiku is therefore requesting for a loan of US$ 825, which will be given in kind. Given this loan, Margaret will purchase 50 chairs, 10 tables and a big cupboard for storage of the books. This loan will be repaid over a period of 12 months.",F,825,lender,Services,1
Kenya,"MARGARET NYAKINYUA MWANGI is 46 years old married and a mother of six. Five of her children are in school. Margaret is a maize farmer in Nyandarwa district of Central Kenya. She grows the maize for domestic consumption because she is only able to cultivate 2 out of her 4 acre farm. She sells the little maize that remains after milling enough maize flour to take her family through the year.
Margaret takes manual jobs at a local school in order to supplement her familys income.
She earns about US $ 7 per week. She finds it difficult to provide for her family and keep the children in school with this level of income.
She wants to cultivate more maize and potatoes which she can sell to improve her income.
She is requesting a loan US $ 1,000.Her budget is: US $ 400 to purchase farming inputs,
US $ 200 to plough the land, US $ 200 to expand her granary and fence the farm and US $ 200 to meet labor costs. She is a hard working woman and will be able to repay the loan.",F,1000,lender,Agriculture,1
Kenya,"Margaret Ogamo Adhiambo is 45 years old. She is widowed with five children and only one of them has finished school. She is a teacher and also does business on the side running a stall selling used clothes in the vast Kongowea market. The combined income from her two jobs barely covers her family needs. Margaret has to pay a lot in terms of school fees for her children: one in university, one in college while another is waiting to join college. Her daughter is training in hair and beauty therapy.
Margaret's main challenge is to increase her clothes sales since she already has a big client base. She would like to stock more but she lacks funds. She is requesting a US$600 loan which she will use to buy extra bales of shirts. This should bring in more sales, more profit and ease the school fees financial strain on Margaret. She is focused and will repay the loan. Disclaimer: Due to recent events in Kenya, the security situation in many communities remains unsettled, affecting many local businesses. Lenders to this entrepreneur should be aware that this loan may represent a higher default risk, and should be willing to accept this additional risk in making their loan.",F,600,lender,Clothing,1
Kenya,"Margaret Owino is a 49-year-old entrepreneur and mother of six school-aged children.
She lives with her husband in Kisumu, Kenya. She began her current business of selling second-hand clothes in the year 2000. She specializes in selling women's dresses, mosquito nets, towels, mens shirts, casual wear and bed sheets. She periodically travels to Nairobi, where she is able to purchase a good variety at wholesale prices. The prime location of her business on a busy street, her many years in business and her friendly interaction with customers has enabled her to establish a good client base. Margaret plans to expand her business with her next loan of US $800.",F,800,partner,Clothing,0
Kenya,"Margaret Owino Okello is a 28 year-old married woman. Her husband works as a casual laborer at the docks. She lives with her unemployed sister in a slum residence in the town of Mombasa.
To earn a living, she runs a small kiosk selling fruits and vegetables to the residents of her area. She has been doing this business for the last four years and her earnings have managed to provide for all her familys basic needs. The items sold are popular among the slum dwellers since they are sold in small, convenient quantities that are affordable to the residents of this low-income neighbourhood.
Recently, the business has been performing poorly. This has been caused by increasing costs of the vegetables at the market, forcing her to purchase only a few items, which makes her earn very little, which is barely enough to sustain her family.
She would like to increase her income so that she can make more gains from this trade and be able to operate at a profitable level. Margaret is requesting for a loan of $350 to enable her to increase her stock of vegetables and fruits. The proceeds from here will enable her to uplift her lifestyle and afford better housing.",F,350,lender,Food,1
Kenya,"Margaret Rangi is a hard working single mother with four children. The eldest child is married, the second born is in form three and the third and fourth born are in primary grades four and five, respectively. Ms. Rangi came to Malaba as a housekeeper after parting with her husband. She worked for sometime and earned the capital to start her business through the meager pay that she received from her employer. After saving enough to start her business, she quit her job and started selling Irish potatoes and other vegetables. She purchased these vegetables from Chwele Market, which is about forty kilometers from Malaba. She sold to customers in Malaba. As her capital grew, she tried different businesses and finally landed on selling new clothes, which she continues now.
Ms. Rangi usually purchases her inventory from Nairobi once a week. She sometimes goes to Webuye town when her schedule is tight (Webuye is an hour drive from Malaba). She deals in both children's and adult clothes. Ms. Rangi usually sells her goods both wholesale and retail to her customers.
With an estimated stock value of about KES 50,000 ($800 USD), Ms. Rangi moves daily to different markets near Malaba. Three days of the week she spends traveling and two days, Wednesday and Saturday, she spends in Malaba. She spends Sunday resting.
Given a loan by PEMCI she plans to increase her stock. She intends to spend KES 10,000 ($150 USD) to add new clothes and the remaining KES 10,000 ($150 USD) to purchase children's shoes.",F,325,lender,Clothing,1
Kenya,"Margaret sells clothes for a living. She has been doing it for some time and has perfected her business. She learned the business from her friend and later started her own business. She specializes in ladies' and children's wares. Apparently she does not have a shop, but rather moves from market to market on different days of the week except on Sundays when she goes to church.
Margaret is a single mother of four children and takes care of her grandson. She has two girls and two boys. Her first daughter dropped out of school because of her early pregnancy, and her second daughter is in her final year in high school. The boys are still in primary school. Margies business was doing fine; her sales were going well, and she had an increasing stock over time. However, things took a different turn during the post-election violence. Her stock was stolen from the place where she and other similar traders store their wares; what she had left was the little savings she had made. With this, she says she is unable to meet her needs such as school fees for the children, rent for her house, and food for them. As a result, she is requesting a loan so that she can resuscitate her business by increasing her working capital.
Disclaimer: Due to recent events in Kenya, the security situation in many communities remains unsettled, affecting many local businesses. Lenders to this entrepreneur should be aware that this loan may represent a higher default risk, and should be willing to accept this additional risk in making their loan.",F,325,lender,Clothing,1
Kenya,"Margaret Wairimu Kinyua is a 39 year old business woman married with two children who are still at a tender age. She lives in Nakuru town together with her husband, who is a businessman. She is a business entrepreneur involved in selling fruits (mangoes) at a whole sale price at the main market. She has been in the business for almost five years now and her good customer relations have earned her a lot of customers. Through the business she has been able to support her husband in raising their family and also to provide basic needs to her extended family that depend on her. The profit she gets from the sales is used to cater for the family and therefore she is not able to increase her capital. She also faces other challenges like less supply than demand due to scarcity of fruit during the off season and because of high transportation costs. She desires to expand her business and that is why she is requesting a loan of US$600. Her budget is as follows: US$400 to add more stock, US$100 to cater for transport, and US$100 to renew her municipal council license.
She is a focused woman and she will repay the loan.
Disclaimer: Due to recent events in Kenya, the security situation in many communities remains unsettled, affecting many local businesses. Lenders to this entrepreneur should be aware that this loan may represent a higher default risk, and should be willing to accept this additional risk in making their loan.",F,600,lender,Food,1
Kenya,"Margaret Wairimu Njenga is 42 years old. She is single with four children. She lives together with her two sons and two daughters who are in school. To support her family she runs a mini caf. Her clients favorite dishes include; peas stew, chapatti (a common delicacy made out of flattened wheat dough which is moderately pan fried, and tasty of course), rice stew and beef stew. She sells this at a range of 90cents and US$ 2. Her clients are low income earners in the town where she operates; they include construction workers, mobile merchants, bus drivers and conductors, shop attendants e.t.c.. She has one assistant, who helps her make door to door deliveries to clients who are too busy to come to the caf. Her marketing strategies and business skills have helped her business grow fast. She feels that she must take her business to the next level by employing more employees, adding more varieties of food in her menu and renovating her cafe. She is requesting fa loan of US$ 700. With this she will buy food stocks worth US$ 300, more utensils with US$ 100 and she will employ two assistants with US$ 150. She will also renovate the caf with US$ 100 and obtain the necessary trading licenses required by the local government with US$ 50. Her initial assessments show that business will be more profitable after the boost.",F,700,lender,Food,1
Kenya,"Margaret Wamaitha is 40 years old. She is married with 4 children. She is a member of ACK Church Gitumbi and also a member of Karaba Umoja women's group. As a result of inadequate supply of water in her residential location, she has concluded that she needs to buy a water tank for storage of water. During the dry season, she fetches water from the bore holes; most times, the water is dirty. She has applied for a loan of USD 300 to enable her to buy water tank to harvest rain water. She is willing to repay this loan in 12 months.",F,300,lender,Agriculture,1
Kenya,"Margaret Wambui Mwangi is 37 years old. She is married with 3 children where all of them are in primary school. She is a member of Gakoigo women group. She is a member ACK Church and also a choir member. She is businesswoman who owns a green grocer shop. She is also a farmer and cultivates cabbages, kales, maize and beans along the river. She has applied for this loan to enable her develop her farm by purchasing organic manure and high quality seeds for maize and beans. She is willing to repay the loan in 10 months time.",F,150,lender,Agriculture,1
Kenya,"Margaret Wangechi is 43 years old and has three children. Her husband is a small-scale farmer. She also lives with her two orphaned grandchildren she took in after her daughter succumbed to an HIV/AIDS related illness. The entire responsibility of taking care of these five children falls on her. Only two children are of school-going age and are in junior grades three and six.
She earns a living selling used clothes in the open-air market in the town center. Her items are mainly babies clothes. Business is doing well and she has a lot of regular customers who are mostly young mothers. There is great demand for her merchandise. All of her earnings from this business go into caring for her family but are still insufficient to provide her family with all the basic needs and leave her with enough to save for the childrens future.
Also, she would like to take the young children to daycare centers instead of having them hang around her at her business premises. She wants to increase her income so that she can cater for her familys growing needs. To achieve this she plans to increase the stock of clothes available to her customers.
Margaret is requesting a loan of US $800 to help her expand her business. She intends to use US $200 to set up the proper premises and US $600 to buy more stock of babies clothes. Her hardworking nature and her determination to succeed will assist her in making this venture profitable. She will be able to repay the loan.",F,800,lender,Clothing,1
Kenya,"Margaret Wangui is happily married with children who are in school. She is an active member of Canaan women group and a Christian who practices values. She is a social worker and has been empowering women to fight poverty with small businesses. She has made an impact on many women through her farming project. She grows vegetables, tea, and rears dairy cows. The cows have been the pillar in her family through milk sales, which has enabled her to educate her children. She would like to buy an upgrade cow which has a high milk production rate. She would like to repay the loan on monthly basis.",F,600,lender,Agriculture,1
Kenya,"Margaret Wanja Thiongo is 45 years old. She is married with three children; the first-born is in college, the second-born in secondary school and the third-born is in primary school. She is an active member of the Gatangara Venus Womens Group and St. Emmanuel ACK church. She is a farmer and relies mainly on farming to meet her daily needs. She grows vegetables, like kale and cabbage, and cereal crops, such as maize and beans. She sells her farm produce to local residents and at a local market near her home. She manages to save USD3 per month. She has applied a loan of USD75, with which she intends to purchase high quality vegetable seeds. She is willing to repay the loan within a span of 10 months.",F,75,lender,Agriculture,1
Kenya,"Margaret Wanjiku Kimani is a 38 year old married entrepreneur with four kids. The eldest is in senior school one; the second is in grade eight, the third is in grade six and the youngest is in kindergarten. Her husband works in the transportation business as a driver. Margaret started a beadwork business two years ago to help her husband with some of the family responsibilities. She makes necklaces, bracelets, belts, rings and earrings. She introduced fabric beadwork on shirts and skirts with a traditional African look. This has become very popular. A church choir has asked her to supply their 60 member choir with shirts, but she lacks the capital. She requests a loan of US $800. Her budget is: US $500 buy fabric and US $300 to buy beads. She is focused and will repay the loan.",F,800,lender,Arts,1
Kenya,"Margaret Wanjiku Kuguru is a 32-year-old business entrepreneur who is married with three children, two of whom are in school while one is still under age. Her husband is a farmer and Margaret runs a cosmetics shop and sells new clothes at one of the estates within Nakuru town. She dropped out of school due to poverty and decided to start up the business, which has been doing well. The business has been of great help to her since Margaret now helps her husband pay fees for the children and provide their other basic needs.
Margaret mainly buys her cosmetics and clothes from Nairobi, approximately 250 kilometers from Nakuru town. The high transportation cost is a big challenge to her. She sells the cosmetics and the clothes to the people around her residential area. The current profit is barely enough to expand the business and care for the family. Margaret is requesting a loan of US$1,200 to expand the business. Her budget is: US$200 for transport, US$100 to renew her license, and US$900 to add stock. Margaret is a hard-working woman who will repay the loan in time.",F,1200,lender,Retail,1
Kenya,"Margaret Wanjiru Githinji is 48 years old and married with five children. Her children have completed high school but are not currently working.
Its very difficult to gain employment in Kenya, especially in the rural areas. Margaret lives on her farm in Kahuro where she keeps traditional cows and engages in subsistence farming. She opened a small shop at the Kahuro market to sell green groceries. She would like a loan of USD 150 to enable her to buy additional stock to sustain and expand her business. From her profits, she will be able to repay her loan in 12 months and save on a monthly basis.",F,150,lender,Food,1
Kenya,Margaret Wanjiru is 35 years old. She is married with two children. She is a member of Gatangara ACK Church. She is a member of Gatangara Venus Women Group. Margaret had a business idea of starting a small business of selling new clothes. She did not have the capital to start the business. She joined Gatangara Venus Women Group and with the other members started the revolving fund. Margaret saves $3 every month. Margaret started her small business in Gakira market. Her plan is to expand her business by buying more clothes for resale. She has applied for a loan of $150. The loans committee has approved the loan. Margaret will repay the loan within a period of 12 months.,F,150,lender,Clothing,1
Kenya,"Margaret Wanjiru Murigi is 36 years old. She is married with six children; one is in secondary school, four are in primary school, and one is in nursery school. She is an active member of St. Monica Women's Group and the Catholic Women Association. She grows maize, beans and variety of vegetables. She is a farmer who does mainly crop farming and pig rearing. Additionally, Margaret is a tailor at Nguruweini shopping centre. Some of her farm produce is consumed by her family, and some is sold to retailers and consumers at a local market. She has been approved for a loan of USD 75, which she will use to purchase a pig. She is willing to repay this loan within 10 months.",F,75,lender,Agriculture,1
Kenya,"Margaret Wanjiru Njenga is 50 years old. She is married with five children; three children are still in secondary school, one is in primary school and the other is at university. She is the vice-secretary of her group, an active member of the Catholic Womens Association (CWA), and also a member of St. Samuel Small Christian Community. Last year she benefitted from Kiva loans of USD 300 and USD 150 to pay school fees for her daughter. She also serviced another loan of USD 150 that she used to boost her business. She has applied for a loan of USD 1200 to enable her to purchase a water pump so as to get enough water to water her mushroom farming business. She was trained at Kenyatta University on farming techniques.",F,1200,lender,Agriculture,1
Kenya,"Margaret was born 29 years ago in Lower Kabete Kiambu. she is married with two children. One is in Lower Kabete Public School. The other is still a toddler. She is a committed member of Kikuyu Catholic Church and a choir member. After completing her secondary school education, she got married and entered into business the same year.
Together with her husband they run a green grocery shop in Wangige Market which is one of the biggest markets in Kenya. Margaret joined Mother of Joy women's group sometime back and has really benefited from training and small loans from WEEC which have boosted her business. She is hoping to get a loan to buy varieties of vegetable for her grocery shop. She is willing to meet her repayments within a span of 12 months.",F,150,lender,Food,1
Kenya,"Margaret was born 40 years ago in NyathunaKiambu. She is married with four children. Two of her children are college while the other two are in boarding secondary school in Kiambu. She is a religious person and a member of Catholic Women Association (CWA) Kirangari, Nairobi archdiocese. She was among the first women in Kiambu to join WEEC in 2000. Due to her commitment, she was elected the discipline mistress of the group, the position she holds since the group formation. For the last 20 years, Margaret has been seriously involved with dairy cow farming and poultry in her area. Currently she has dairy cows and about 300 chickens. Her cows produce about 40 litres of milk per day which she sells to the Farmers Co-operative Society, Ltd. at 0.3 USD. Margaret is the main supplier of eggs to the Nairobi hotels; she sells them at USD 2 per tray. She is a hardworking businesswoman who is determined to change her life and educate her children where necessary. She wants to supply milk to other farmers' co-operative societies too and she can only do this by giving the required feeds to the animals to enable them to produce more milk and produce more eggs. She would like to be given a loan of USD 1200 with which she intends to buy animal feeds for her dairy cows and chicken. She intends to pay within a period of 12 months on a monthly basis.",F,1200,lender,Agriculture,1
Kenya,"Margaret was born 53 years ago. She is married and has children. Margaret is very hard working and this has enabled her to get various ways of educating her children. She is a member of Mothers Union affiliated to Anglican Church of Kenya. This association helps members in solving various problems that affect them and the community they live. Margaret runs a small Retail business in Muhuti, Kangema Kenya. She sells gallons and house hold products. She is currently making a profit of about $71 per month and this is what she survives on. Once she gets this loan, she is planning to be selling in other market centre of Kangema and Kiriaini. This will increase her sales volume and profits too.",F,225,partner,Retail,0
Kenya,"Margaret was born 55 years ago and she is blessed with 6 children,3 of whom are schooling in Kenya and three are schooling in Europe.Margret has been a religious person and she leads women in their place of worship. Over the years, her main source of income has been business. She has travelled East and Central Africa with a business mission of cereals, electronics, used clothes as well as exporting curios. She also rear daily animals in her home. Due to her efforts, she has been able to raise, educate her children and also she bought a plot of land and built 7 rental houses. She has been getting loans from WEEC for quite sometimes and she has a good history of repayment. When her children were admitted to international colleges, she had to sell four of her dairy cattle for their school fees and air ticket. After she gets the loan, she is planning to buy cotton wool from neighbouring country and a dairy cattle.she is willing to repay the loan in instalments.",F,1200,lender,Housing,1
Kenya,"Margaret was born in 1949 in Muranga Kenya. She is married with four children. All are out of school and have families. Margaret retired as a primary school teacher three years ago. She is a religious person and a member of Karura Anglican Church of Kenya (ACK). She joined WEEC in early 2002 and was among the first women in the area to join. Upon retirement from teaching, Margaret joined the business world, though she had already had dairy cattle. She opened a retail shop at Karura trading centre. Her shelves used to be almost empty but after taking several WEEC loans, she fully stocked the shop. She was also trained by WEEC on how to run a small business. Today she runs her general shop in an excellent way, keeping her records well. Given a loan of USD 450, Margaret intends to stock her general shop with cereals to meet her customers' needs.",F,450,lender,Retail,1
Kenya,"Margaret was born in 1949 in Muranga, Kenya. She is married with four children. Two are in school while the others have finished. Margaret is a religious person and a member of Karura Anglican Church of Kenya (ACK). She joined WEEC in early 2002 and was among the first women to join in the area.
When she retired as a teacher, Margaret joined the business world though she had a dairy project. She opened a household retail shop at Karura Trading Centre. Her shelves used to be almost empty due to lack of enough capital and inexperience in business, but after taking several WEEC loans, she fully stocked the shop. She was also trained by WEEC on how to run a small business. Today she runs her general shop in an excellent way and she keeps her records well. Given a loan of USD450, Margaret intends to stock her general shop to meet her customers' needs.",F,450,lender,Retail,1
Kenya,"Margaret was born in 1962 in lower Kabete, Kiambu, Kenya. She is married with 5 children. Two of them are still in secondary school while two are in college. The first born is working. Margaret is always active and she has been the group discipline mistress since the group was formed in 2001. She has very good leadership skills and has always assisted the group treasurer in keeping financial records. She joined WEEC in 2001 and has benefited from several loans. Her previous loan of USD 300, she bought 3 dairy cows with which she sells milk. This has helped her to raise and educate her children. Currently she has three dairy cows which produce an average of 20 litres daily. She sells her milk to Kiambu Dairy Cooperative society Limited at USD 0.30 per litre. She believes after buying feeds for her animals they will increase milk production rate. Given a loan of USD 150, she will be able to buy animal feeds for her dairy cattle from Unga Dairy Farms leading to increment of sales. This will lead to good living standards of her family.",F,150,lender,Agriculture,1
Kenya,"Margaret was born in 1966 in lower Kabete, Kiambu. She is married with four children. Two are out of school. The other two boys are in college in Nairobi. She is a committed member of the Catholic Church and is a choir member. Margaret joined the Torch Women Group in 2002 and registered with WEEC the same year. She entered into business 20 years ago. She has a motor vehicle spare parts shop at Ngara market in Nairobi. Apart from spare parts shop, she also keeps dairy cows and grows vegetables. Together with her husband, they has have worked as a team to raise and educate their children from the income from their businesses. They sell spare parts to most vehicles which operate in town routes. They are hoping to get USD 750 and buy spare parts for all types of vehicles to meet their customers needs.",F,750,lender,Construction,1
Kenya,"Margaret was born in Limuru , Kenya. She is married with 5 children . All are out of school some yet to join colleges . Margaret is a devoted Christian . She joined WEEC few years ago and she has no regrets. She rears dairy cows which produces an average of 40 litres daily . she sells her milk to Kiambaa Dairy Cooperative Society Ltd.at Usd 0.7per litre.Margaret also grows vegetables and sells to local residents. This has helped vher alot to pay school fees for her children, and she is hoping to add dairy cows to be able to meet the challenging cost of college fees from the income she will generate. Given a loan of USD 450 she will buy another dairy cow.",F,450,lender,Agriculture,1
Kenya,"Margaret was born in Limuru, Kenya. She is married with 5 children. All are out of school. Margaret is a devoted Christian. She joined WEEC in September 2003. She keeps dairy cows, which produce an average of 40 litres daily. She sells her milk to Dairy Cooperative Society Ltd at USD0.28 per litre. She also grows vegetables and sells them to local residents.
The previous loan that she was given has helped her raise her living standard and also educate her children. She is due to complete her loan in this quarter. Given a loan of USD600, she will buy another dairy cow. She will make loan repayments on a monthly basis.",F,600,lender,Agriculture,1
Kenya,"Margaret was born years ago, married and has six children. She is the chairperson of Kioneki Kieru women group. She is committed in leading and offering advice to her group members. She is also a member of young parents in her Karunge Anglican Church of Kenya. This is a ministry in her church that deals with evangelism and singing in the church choir, it is composed of those members that are still raising young families.
Her main source of income is dairy farming supported by her husband who is a carpenter. She has specialized in dairy cows and bull husbandry. The cows give her 10 litres of milk per day, while the bulls are sold once they are 1 year old. Currently she has sold the bulls she had reared and is planning to buy more through the loan she will receive. Her future plan is to raise enough money through this bull business and buy a land plot.",F,150,lender,Agriculture,1
Kenya,"Margrate is 40 years old, a single mother of three children .She is a strong member of women of faith group.Margret is determined to educate her children so as to future grounds. Her first born is in college, second in secondary and the third is in primary school.With school fees and the childrens upkeep on her shoulders she works extra hard to meet their needs .She buys fruits from farmers in Muranga around Saba Saba and Maragua, rural areasand sells them to fruit vendors at Korokoco market .She has many custormers who are fruit vendors which makes her business performance good at times.Currently her capital is USD 225.Though she has taken USD 43 from the groups revolving fund, she needs a further USD 75 to increase her purchases for supply and she belives with thatwill be able to deliver more fruits and reduce cost and save time.",F,75,lender,Agriculture,0
Kenya,"Margrate is a mother of 6 children and a widow. She is a retired teacher who is now a business woman. She is very determined and committed with her work. She has been running a shop but closed it down when her husband got ill. She dedicated her time in nursing him until his death this year. While nursing her husband she has been doing a lot of farming in terms of tendering her coffee plantation, maize, beans, Napier grass and dairy farming. Her dairy cows are the key source of income and would want to buy an extra cow (Friesian breed) since there is ready market for milk in her residential area.",F,600,lender,Agriculture,1
Kenya,"Margrate is a widow with 6 children some are married and self reliant. She did not managed to acquire formal education thus relied on casual labour in her life before getting married. When she got married, she started a green grocer business at the market to where she is married. She raised and educated her children with the income generated from the green grocer business. She has been securing loans from her group and is very responsible when it comes to repayments. 5 years back, she joined WEEC program and she has benefited a lot with the knowledge she have gathered from the programe.Until early this year when she couldnt continue with the business due to eyes problem which lowered her business performance. Due to her activeness, she was unable to relax and abscond her duties but she insisted on utilizing the short sight with what she can. She had saved some income and bought a dairy cow which she now sells milk to the dairy cooperative in the country. She sells 6 litres dairy and they are paid their dues on monthly basis making her very responsible with her needs without relying on her children. Being a rainy season, she has decided to buy iron sheets to prevent her cow from rain and buy commercial feeds to boost its production rate. She is willing to repay her loan from monthly income she gets from milk sales.",F,150,lender,Agriculture,1
Kenya,"Margret Muthoni Mumbi is 44 years old. She is a single mother of five children. Three of her children are in junior school, while the other two are in high school. She started her own business when her husband died six years ago. The business involves spinning wool and weaving items such as souvenir tablecloths, shawls, flags, wall hangings with messages etc. She is experienced in the skill, which demands creativity and accuracy. Her goods are in high demand by tourists who frequent the open air market where she sells her wares. Currently, she cannot satisfy big orders which come, especially those from overseas. She is requesting a loan of US $725. From this money, she will add another spinning wheel, which costs US $300. She will also buy a stock of wool worth US $350 and spinning equipment worth US $75. All of these purchases will enable her to boost her production. She is an apt learner and initial assessments show that she will be able to pay back the loan.",F,725,lender,Arts,1
Kenya,"MARGRET MUTHONI is 35 years old, married and has two children who are all in school. She comes from a family of five and her parents are peasant farmers. Margaret is the sole breadwinner for the family. She started a business of selling onions at Wakulima Market in Nairobi City. She is a retailer and buys the onions from wholesalers at the same market. She sells most of the onions to small hotels in Nairobi earning her an average of US $ 70 per week.
She has recently managed to get more hotels to be buying her onions. She wants to begin buying the onions directly from Farmers. This will give her a better profit margin.
Margaret is requesting a loan of US$ 1,200.This will enable her to be purchasing a truck load of onions from farmers each week for resell to the hotels and will increase her earnings to an average of US $ 210 per week. She plans to utilize this income to provide for her family and parents and to expand her business. She is a focused woman and will be able to repay the loan.",F,1200,lender,Food,1
Kenya,"MARGRET WAMBUI NDUNGU is a 32 yr old married farmer with five children. Her children are all in school except the youngest who is too young. She does maize and potato farming with her husband in Ngorika settlement. She is an active member of Wendani self help group. Through the group she had several loans from Eb-f, and she repaid them without delay. She has been building up her potato farming for two years but unfortunately she was late in planting during the January-March season. Her crop was still not ready for harvest when fog and mist started (this normally scorches the potato plant) affecting the crop drastically. They only got potato seed. She requests for a US $ 600 loan.
This is her budget:
US $ 400 to buy fertilizer
US $ 200 to buy herbicides and insecticides.
This loan will help the family to recoup what they lost and to pay school fees.",F,600,lender,Agriculture,1
Kenya,"Maria Nyambura is 37 years old and is a single mother of 3 children. Her children are all in school. She is a member of Wendani Self Help Group. She lives in the Ngorika settlement in the Rift valley. Maria does maize farming on her farm and also sells second hand clothes to supplement her income. Maria is an aspiring business woman and has realized that the higher the quantity, the more profit is made. She has also found that instead of selling through a middle man you can supply directly to the factories who only buy large quantities. This has prompted her to expand her farming but she lacks capital. She requests a US $800 loan. Her budget is as follows:
US $300 to lease more land and
US $500 to buy seeds and fertilizer.
This will enable Maria to build savings for her childrens higher education. She is focused and will repay the loan.",F,800,lender,Agriculture,1
Kenya,"MARIA WANJERI is 35 years old and a parent of 2 who are all attending school. She lives in a two roomed rented house with her children, her mother and her jobless younger brother. Maria is the sole breadwinner for the family. She is a high school graduate and took a certificate course in entrepreneurship. In year 2003 she took a loan of US $ 650 from Eb-F and started a business of selling used clothes in wholesale (Bulk selling).She buys bales of assorted used clothes and sells them to retailers at a profit. She makes an average of US $ 75 per week and this helps her in providing for the family.
Maria would like to expand her business by taking her goods to the various rural markets within Nakuru District.
She is requesting a loan of US $ 1,600 to enable her purchase 8 bales of assorted used clothes and shoes. She will employ two other people to assist her. This will increase her family income from the current US 75 per week to US $ 130 per week. This income will help her keep her children in school, meet her mothers medical bills and take his brother to college. She plans to adopt one HIV/AIDS orphan as a way of giving back to the community. She is capable of paying back the loan.",F,1600,lender,Clothing,1
Kenya,"Maria Wanjiku Ramato is married with three children. Maria is an active member of Nashipae Women Group and an active member of Osotua Youth group, a group that fights female genital mutilation. She has two children who are in primary school. Maria started her business 2 years ago with the help of her husband. Her business is growing slowly due to the lack of enough stock. Her business generates income which is inadequate to pay her shop rent, pay her children's school fees, and other household needs as well as her business stocks, hence the need for a loan of USD 450 to increase her stocks of cereals and household goods.",F,450,lender,Retail,1
Kenya,"Mariam Odundo is a 40-year-old widow with five children. She lives in Soweto village within the Kibera slums. Mariam also takes care of her aging mother and father back in her rural home in Western Kenya.
Mariam started her business in the year 1999. She gained her tailoring skills from helping other tailors at the Makina market that is situated within Kibera. Besides making buttonholes on clothes for free for different tailors, she would also practice mending clothes from the same tailors and as the years progressed she learnt through practice, by using her friends sewing machine, how to make clothes. Mariam believes that luck was on her side since in 1999, her husband saw her determination in dressmaking and bought her a sewing machine, and also rented out a stall for her at the Makina market. This is the place that she has been operating since then.
Mariam has recently received a huge order to make wedding gowns for bridesmaids for a wedding this coming December. However she finds that she may not be able to meet this order, since she doesnt have enough capital. She is therefore requesting a loan of US$ 150, which she will use to purchase the required materials for the upcoming wedding gowns.
Due to this order in addition to her other normal orders, Mariam finds that she now has many customers, and hence she intends to employ two young ladies to assist her to meet the needs of her customers. She is happy that she will be creating employment opportunities around her village. The repayment period for her loan will be 12 months.",F,150,lender,Services,1
Kenya,"Marianne Mukami Omondi is a 33-year-old single mother of 3 school-going children. She is a self-employed entrepreneur. Her business involves selling green maize at the vast Kongowea Market in Mombasa. She has been operating this business for the last 4 years. Over time, she has created a wide customer base comprising both individual consumers and some small hotel owners. Her business is advantageously located in this populous market, where she is guaranteed many customers on any given day. Green maize is a commonly eaten food and is well liked by the residents of this area, since it is not only cheap but nutritious as well. Also, it can be prepared alongside many other popular indigenous Kenyan meals; as such, it is in high demand. However, since Marianne operates at a very low level, her income is still insufficient to adequately cater to her familys daily needs. She would like to expand her business and take full advantage of the demand for green maize, so that she can increase her income base. She is therefore requesting a loan of $600 to assist her in purchasing more stock of the green maize for sale. She is able to repay the loan. Disclaimer: Due to recent events in Kenya, the security situation in many communities remains unsettled, affecting many local businesses. Lenders to this entrepreneur should be aware that this loan may represent a higher default risk, and should be willing to accept this additional risk in making their loan.",F,600,lender,Food,1
Kenya,"Marion Wambui Gitau is married with four children. She is an active member of St. Ruth women group. She is also a member of Gaichanjiru High School. She is a farmer and grows beans, maize and vegetables. which she sells to the local residents. Faming is her main source of income. Marion has been experiencing problems with the water supply in her farm. She intends to buy a water tank for storing rain-water both for farming and domestic use. She has applied a loan of USD300 to meet this goal. She is willing to repay the loan within 12 months.",F,300,lender,Agriculture,1
Kenya,"Marisiano Kamoma is 32 years old and lives in Gari Village in the Rongo District of Kenya. She runs a food kiosk in the town of Migori, a business she initiated in 2008. Before starting the food kiosk, Marisiano had a vegetable stall for many years.
Currently, Marisiano sells tea, mandazi (fried dough eaten for breakfast), chapatti (a flat bread made with wheat flour similar to a tortilla in shape and size), ugali (a staple carbohydrate made of flour and water), and beef stew, among other items.
The best days for the business are market days, Mondays and Fridays, when people are passing by on their way to and from the local market. On average, Marisiano is able to make a profit of KSH 100 (approximately USD 1.33) a day. She says that she is able to make enough money to pay the household expenses of her family. Marisiano is married to a computer technician and together they have 4 children, all of whom are in school.
Marisiano is applying for a loan of KSH 11,250 (USD 150) in order to purchase food so that she may add more selections to her menu. She would like to be able to cook some dishes that are frequently requested by customers that she is currently unable to make due to lack of ingredients.",F,150,partner,Food,0
Kenya,"Mark Agwonah is 30 years old, single, and lives with two dependants, a boy and a girl, who are members of his extended family. One of the dependants parents died due to HIVAIDS and the other was abandoned during the 1992 land clashes in the Transmara region of Kenya. He lives with them within Kayole, Kenya.
In 2004 Mark ventured into the business sector by doing tailoring and dressmaking, which he did for 3 years. The business capital was provided by Kenya Agency of Development and Entrepreneurial Technology (KADET), a World Vision micro-finance wing. A loan of Ksh 56,000.00 (USD 800) enabled him to buy sewing machines and clothing materials and he was later able to settle the loan. A golden opportunity from the World Vision emerged and got him a tender to make school uniforms for four schools within Kayole.
In 2005, as a form of business expansion, Mark started a mobile phone repair shop and sale of mobile phone accessories. He employed 3 orphans who had gone through technical skills training sponsored by World Vision. Besides offering mobile phone charging services, the number of clients seeking phone repairs has greatly increased. He is currently not able to serve his customers effectively since he lacks computers and power flashers that enable detection of a problem in the phone software hence he incurs extra costs in having to seek that kind of service in the city centre, 20 kilometers from his business location.
Mark is requesting for a loan of (USD 650) to enable him purchase a computer and power flashers. This will enable him to detect the problem in the phone software and to do repairs. This will help improve the profit margins by cutting down on costs of transportation and consultation services from other dealers and also bring flashing services closer to other technicians operating within Kayole. The business will also create employment for the people of Kayole. The loan is repayable within 12 18 months.",M,650,partner,Services,0
Kenya,"Mark is married but as yet has no children. His business includes selling herbal medicines which he gets from all over the country. He has been in the business for three years and says the business is booming. With a loan from PEMCI, Mark wishes to increase his stock.",M,150,partner,Health,0
Kenya,"Martha is 27 years old. She is married and has one child. Martha was among the first clients to be funded by Kiva. Partnering with Joan, a member from Golden Crown, she started a salon business with the loan. Since then, their life was transformed. As an organization, they have been making their repayments on time and their business has been performing well. She thanks Kiva for providing her with this opportunity to be in touch with active women who are limited by capital. Martha is also very happy in her marriage.
Apart from the salon, her husband left his malimali business to her. The salon that she runs with Joan is also used as their malimali business office, where people can place orders. The latest order that has come in is for large quantities of padlocks, metal boxes, shoes and schoolbags to supply to smaller businesses in Narok town. Martha intends to supply the order between January and February. This is a good period since schools will be opening and those joining secondary school will do so in February after the selections are done. The repayments will be made from the malimali business since much of the money will go to the new orders for the business. Martha is very happy because she can handle two businesses. She is willing to meet her repayments on monthly basis.",F,450,lender,Retail,1
Kenya,"Martha is a mother of four who started her business in 2002. It includes buying cereals, especially maize, from the farmers during harvest seasons and selling in retail at the local trading centre. She is a trained tailor and dress maker. At first she used to make dresses to sell at the trading centre, but quit when she saw there was stiff competition and turned to selling cereals. She says the business is doing well. She also molds bricks and sells them at construction sites. Through her businesses, she has been able to educate her children and support her family. With a loan from PEMCI, she plans to increase on her cereals stock and also purchase some more brick molding tools.",F,150,partner,Food,0
Kenya,"Martha is a mother of four. She started her business in 2002. It includes buying cereals especially maize from the farmers during harvest seasons and selling them retail at the local trading centre. Martha is a trained tailor and dress maker. At first she used to make dresses and sell at the trading centre, but she quit when she saw there was stiff competition from second-hand clothes. She turned to selling cereals. Martha says her business is doing well. She also moulds bricks and sells them at construction sites. Through her businesses, she has been able to educate her children and support her family. With a loan of $150 from PEMCI, Martha plans to increase her cereals stock and also purchase some more brick-molding tools.",F,150,partner,Food,0
Kenya,"Martha Kerubo is an average young Kenyan, married with 4 children of her own and 1 orphan child of her late sister.
Martha started her tailoring business two years ago after completing her tailoring course in Kisii town.
Before venturing into the tailoring business, Martha used to sell cereals in the Kisii market, a business that she did for five years. She used the profits from her cereals business and savings from various women's groups to start her tailoring business. She initially started with one sewing machine, but she has worked hard to expand her business and she currently has three sewing machines.
With the little profits that Martha gets from her business, she is still able to provide food, clothing and shelter for her children. But most importantly, she says she is glad that she can pay for all her children's school fees. Her greatest joy would be to see her children go to secondary school and higher education if possible.
With the help of her loan, Martha will be able to purchase more clothing materials for her business. Her long-term business vision is to own a buttonholer and an overlock machine.
Disclaimer: Due to recent events in Kenya, the security situation in many communities remains unsettled, affecting many local businesses. Lenders to this entrepreneur should be aware that this loan may represent a higher default risk, and should be willing to accept this additional risk in making their loan.",M,1575,lender,Services,0
Kenya,"Martha Mwihaki is 32 years old and married with two boys ages one and four years. She lives in Nairobi at a place called Umoja along Outering road. Apart from her family Martha has no other dependents. In April last year Martha was introduced to the business of selling shoes by her best friend who is in that line of work. Martha started off by purchasing two bales of shoes worth 30,000 KSH (420 USD), some of which she had saved, the rest borrowed from her husband which she will finish repaying soon. There was a vacant stall just next to her friend where she displayed her own shoes.
Business was booming and within two weeks both bales were completely sold out. She was now in a position to rent her own stall for 2000 KSH per month. Unfortunately, Martha hasn't made much profit and so believes she should purchase three bales instead of two. To that end, she is requesting this loan so she can purchase shoes that are in high demand for her customers. She believes that with this loan her business will expand and she will continue making more profit. She will also be able to expand her income by opening another business.",F,500,partner,Retail,1
Kenya,"Martha Oyando is a 36-year-old woman living in the Stella B area of the Rongo District in Kenya. She has been married since 1988 to a driver who works with the local Superfoam Mattress Company. Together, Martha and her husband have 7 children, all of whom are currently enrolled in school.
Martha has one business selling fresh milk and a second business selling new clothes. Martha buys the fresh milk in bulk from the locally owned Oyami farm and she sells the milk to the community. For her second business, Martha purchases mainly childrens clothing from the towns of Migori and Kisii, and sells the items in the nearest market.
Martha started her milk business in 2004, using her own savings as start-up capital. The new clothes enterprise was started with a boost from her husband and from a K-MET loan.
With the benefits from her previous K-MET loan and her two businesses, Martha makes enough profit to pay the school fees for her seven children, meet her household expenses, and pay for any necessary medical expenses.
Martha is requesting a loan of KSH 15,000 ($200 USD ) to purchase more clothing for her clothing business. She would like to increase her stock so she has more items for the new year.",F,200,partner,Clothing,0
Kenya,"Martha Wanjiku is 37 years old, and a single mother of two. She has one child in college, and the other is in primary school. Martha is a strong member of the ACK St. Monica Church in Dandora. She owns a kiosk where she sells chips to schoolchildren during thier breaks. For her chip business, Martha uses a bag of potatoes every 2 to 3 days. Her business has been the key to her childrens education, and to the provision of basic needs for her family. Martha would like to sell potatoes in large quantity but is limited by finance. She is hoping to get a loan to buy 2 sacks of potatoes so she can improve her family and her life.",F,75,lender,Food,1
Kenya,"Martha Wanjugu Gatu is 34 years old and married with 2 children in school. Her husband is unemployed; therefore the whole family depends on her business for survival, upkeep and all daily expenses. She sells second hand clothes and shoes. She is currently in need of shoes since it has been raining and will be cold in the future months. Therefore she wants to capture the opportunity at hand by stocking up on shoes and pullovers for the upcoming season.
The business is located within the city centre with lots of people around due to other nearby services. Therefore the chances of getting customers is very high.
She requires a total of US $ 800 to purchase goods as follows:
Shoes for (men and ladies leather): US $400
Second Hand Pullovers (unisex cardigans, pullovers): US $300
Transport: US $100 ",F,800,lender,Clothing,1
Kenya,"Martin is an active member of PEMCI. He has finished his first loan successfully. The first loan enabled him to purchase equipment for his video shop. He started his business two years ago. He is not married and he has not had any formal training. With the proposed second loan from PEMCI Martin wishes to open another video shop. Through his business, Martin has been able to pay school fees for his siblings and attend to his personal needs. He has brought entertainment services and the world closer to his community through his video shows.",M,300,partner,Retail,0
Kenya,"Martin Kaai Kiambi is 21 years of age and married with one son who is still young to go to school. His educational background is up to O level, while his professional background is as an electrician.
He ekes out his living as a businessman and an electrician at Kawangware market. For Martin, repairing mobile phones and selling mobile accessories are a source of income for his family. For now he wants to invest in his child's education and support his family by expanding his services. From experience, he says it is an opportunity that he wouldnt like to miss.
Martin is sure of succeeding because he will introduce new products into the market, therefore boosting his income. He requests a loan of US $1,200 to expand his business, with the following budget: US $100 to purchase bags of phone accessories, US $1000 to purchase new mobile phones from different companies and brands, and US $100 to modify the premises. The business is potentially viable and has promising returns.",M,1200,lender,Retail,1
Kenya,"Martin Kangethe Ndirangu is 28 years old and married with a baby boy. His family depends completely on him because he is its sole breadwinner. Martin wants to expand his pineapple business from retail to wholesale supply due to high customer demand. The additional income will help Martin support his family comfortably. He has requested a loan of US $ 650 which he plans to spend in the following ways:
US $ 200 to purchase blender for crashing pineapple
US $ 300 to purchase ripe sack of pineapples
US $ 150 to pay municipal license . Martin is a dedicated group member and will repay his loan.",M,650,lender,Food,1
Kenya,"Martin Nderi Nganga is 39 years old. He is married and has one child. Martin started his business in the year 2003. This was after selling out his fruit-selling stall in Githurai town, in the outskirts of Nairobi. Martin made the decision to sell his fruit stall due to the huge losses he had because fruit is perishable. Martin decided to venture into the furniture business because he had skills in this area after training in carpentry in the year 2002 at Christian Industrial Training Centre in Nairobi; hence he had confidence that he had all the skills needed. In the year 2003 Martin purchased a second-hand plainer machine worth Ksh 28,000 (US$ 430). This machine was to help him with cutting and shaping the wood. He has been using the machine ever since, though it is prone to breaking down often, due to wear and tear, and this slows down his work.
Recently Martin got a contract to supply furniture to one of the major hotels in the city by the name of Kikwetu Hotel. This was due to the fact that Martin had earlier supplied the hotel with some beds, which were of high quality and had a one-year warranty. The contract he got recently is to supply the hotel with high quality chairs, beds, and tables. Though Martin is happy he got the contract, he is a very worried man because he may not be able to beat the deadline to supply said furniture, due to the persistent breakdown of his plainer machine. Martin is therefore requesting a loan of US$ 1,200.
With this loan Martin will be able to purchase a new plainer machine and a portable tent, which will truly help him beat the deadline of the awarded contract. This will translate into more income and he will be able to employ two people full time who are currently working for him on casual basis, therefore creating employment for the two. The repayment period for this loan will be 10 months.",M,1200,partner,Construction,0
Kenya,"Mary A .Sewe is a 34-year-old single entrepreneur. She has one child who is in junior grade eight and who aspires to attend high school next year. She also supports her niece whose mother died; the niece is also in junior grade eight. Mary also supports her mother back in their rural home as well as paying school fees from her meager earnings.
Mary makes a living selling tea and bread to other market vendors. She gets up at 3 am since the market opens to vendors at 4 am by which time she has tea ready for them. This has given her business an edge. But despite the popularity of her tea business, her earnings are not enough for the girls education.
Mary has decided to create another income source by selling airtime and lines from mobile phone operators, Safaricom and Celtel, alongside her tea business. This will help her save to send her two girls (her daughter and her orphan niece) to high school next year. Regardless, at this time, she lacks funds to finance this sideline. Mary is requesting a loan of US$ 900. She is focused and will repay her loan. Her budget is: US$ 400 to purchase Safaricom airtime, US$ 300 to purchase Celtel airtime, and US$ 200 to purchase mobile phone lines for re-sale.",F,900,lender,Retail,1
Kenya,"Mary Achieng is a 37-year old entrepreneur. She lives in Kisumu, Kenya, with her husband and three children. She is known in her community as an expert in making such local favorites as chapattis (fried flat bread) and mandazzis (fried sweet dough). However, the sale of these goods provides her an income of only Kshs 800 a day (approximately US$ 11.50). The cost of raw materials and local competition has forced her to consider starting a different income-generating activity. She will use the loan to invest in this small corner shop (pictured) adjacent to her home, where she will sell daily necessities like bread, flour, cooking oil and soap.",F,425,partner,Food,0
Kenya,"Mary Akeyo Onyango is 44 years old. She is married with five children. Four children are in elementary school. She ekes out her living by operating a small kiosk. Mary's kiosk operation involves selling of edibles, fruits, vegetables, tomatoes, and kale. It is her wish to see her business expand and grow to the next level so that she can earn more income and be able to provide her family with a good education. Mary has requested a loan in the amount of US$ 650 to assist her to expand her business. Her proposed budget:
US $ 300 to purchase a bag of fruits
US $ 150 to purchase bags of green peas
US $ 100 to purchase fresh green vegetables.
US $ 50 to repair her structure
US $ 50 for transportation services
Mary Akeyo is a hard-working mother and businesswoman; she is a member of Maono group and will be able to repay the loan.",F,650,lender,Food,1
Kenya,"Mary Akinyi is a young Kenyan mother, aged 30, with 2 children. She lives with 1 orphan child of her late sister who perished 2 years ago. Mary started her business 3 years ago after accumulating savings from her former work place. She currently deals in ladies' second-hand shoes but would like to diversify to children's and mens collection as well. Being the bread winner for the family, it would enable her to support her children and her husband, who does not have a job. During the low business season, Mary is at times forced to sell fruit juice, which she makes in her house and sells to her regular customers, mostly women.
With the little profit that she gets from the business, Mary still struggles to pay the house rent and to feed, clothe and educate her children. But with the help of her loan, Mary will be able to increase her stock of shoes and increase her monthly sales. Marys long term business vision is to diversify her business and sell new shoes to her customers.
Disclaimer: Due to recent events in Kenya, the security situation in many communities remains unsettled, affecting many local businesses. Lenders to this entrepreneur should be aware that this loan may represent a higher default risk, and should be willing to accept this additional risk in making their loan.",F,2250,lender,Retail,0
Kenya,"Mary Akinyi Omamo is a 37-year-old married lady and has three children. She lives within the Kibera slums in Nairobi and has a hairdressing business. Her husband is not very supportive when it comes to providing for the children, so she entirely depends on her business to educate and feed her children. Mary has been employed as a hairdresser for over 10 years and therefore has gained adequate experience. According to Mary, it had been a struggle before she finally decided to start her own salon. The difficulty she experienced was mainly because she had limited finances, since she had to solely provide for her children. Nonetheless, one thing that she is happy about is that she never lost contact with her clients when she moved from one place of employment to another. Her clients were happy when she started her own salon in 2006. This was made possible with cooperation from her cousin, with whom she agreed to pool her savings. With the savings Mary rented a small room and purchased a few pieces of equipment, such as a wall mirror, a bench for her clients to sit on as they wait to be served, and a few combs. Since she lacked the appropriate equipment, she would take her customers to a friends nearby salon when they needed their hair straightened. This brought about a lot of strained relations since she had to pay for those services. It is for this reason that Mary seeks a loan, in order to purchase her own hair dryer and blow dryer. These will cost her $200, and with these, her business will be revolutionized. If Mary is granted the loan to purchase the equipment, she will better serve her clients and she will even attract more. She will also manage to restore her relationship with her friend who has been helping her in straightening her clients hair. With time, Mary will also be able to hire one or two people to help her at the salon, as the number of her clientele grows. This will be a positive move, in her view, due to the high rate of unemployment within her community. Her family will also greatly benefit from the increased income from her business.",F,200,lender,Services,1
Kenya,"Mary Atieno Otieno is a 44 year-old widowed mother of four children. She assumed all the family responsibilities upon the demise of her husband. The children had to stop schooling at junior grade levels due to lack of funds. To support her family, she sells second-hand childrens clothes. She buys the clothes at Kongowea market in Mombasa and then re-makes them and sells them to retailers who later sell the garments in different markets in the rural outskirts of the town. She began this business four years ago after her husband died to create an income to meet her familys needs. The transformation has not been easy but she is a natural entrepreneur and has already established a large customer base. She is determined to see her youngest get high school education as well as college education unlike her older children. She wants to expand her operation to increase her income so the she be able to pay the school fees regularly. However she cannot raise the funds to achieve this. Mary is requesting a loan of US $ 1,200 to purchase 10 bales of used clothing to expand her business. She is responsible and will repay the loan.",F,1200,lender,Clothing,1
Kenya,"Mary Auma is a 33-year-old entrepreneur. She lives in Kisumu, Kenya, with her husband and five children. She specializes in making the local favorites, chapattis (fried flat bread) and mandazzis (fried sweet dough). She has been in this business for the last fourteen years. The location of her business and her many years of doing good business within the community has gained her a good reputation and a wide customer base. Her business has done quite well due to the added advantage of access to KMET loan funds; she has combined the additional money with hard work and perseverance in order to increase her stock and materials and build a successful income-generating business. She has applied for US $500 to further expand her business.
Disclaimer: Due to recent events in Kenya, the security situation in many communities remains unsettled, affecting many local businesses. Lenders to this entrepreneur should be aware that this loan may represent a higher default risk, and should be willing to accept this additional risk in making their loan.",F,500,partner,Food,0
Kenya,"Mary Beatrice Ngolobe is 41 years old and she is married with five children. Two of her children are now in college, while three are still in high school. She is determined to give them the best education that they can ever have. Mary Beatrice has been a fishmonger for the last five years. She sells fish and fish fillets in her stall which is in a busy market. Her monthly income though is around US$ 320 and is not enough to cater for her childrens educational needs and at the same time expand her business to go to the next level. She wishes to expand her business: and would like to add more to her stock of fresh fish and fish fillet. She is requesting a loan of US$1200. With these monies she will purchase inventory worth US$ 800; US$ 200 will be used for transport and US$ 200 will be used to reinforce her stall. Mary Beatrice is a determined entrepreneur and her business should succeed.",F,1200,lender,Food,1
Kenya,"Mary Cherono is a 34-year-old married woman with no children. She runs a retail shop and a salon while her husband is a businessman. Mary did not go to college but has been doing business for the last ten years. She has attended various business-related courses organized by Ebony Foundation, which has improved her business skills a great deal.
Since she has no nuclear family to support, most of her income is pumped back into business. The demand for her services has grown tremendously over the years that she is unable to meet her clients requests. December is a festive season, and as such the demand for salon services is quite high. She would like to cash in on the festivities now but her major challenge is insufficient funds to meet the costs. Mary is therefore requesting a loan of US$1200 to buy a variety of goods for her retail shop and salon goods.",F,1200,lender,Services,1
Kenya,"MARY GATHONI GATHUO is 56 years of age, married and with three children. She lives with her daughters two children because the daughter is jobless and is unable to provide for the children. Her first born Son is a butcher at the local market while the second born daughter is married and lives with her family in Nyahururu Town. None of Marys children attended school but Mary is determined to ensure that her grand children attend school.
Marys husband is old and not strong enough to work leaving her to provide for the family.
Mary and her husband started maize farming on their three acre piece of land in year 1990.
Maize farming is not a very profitable business venture and most families like Marys grow Maize because they lack the capital required in undertaking more profitable farming like dairy farming and horticulture farming.
Mary wants to start growing organic vegetables with the help of her daughter. They were introduced to organic farming during an Eb-F organized rural trade fare in June 2006.
She has been linked to a viable market for the organically grown vegetables through Eb-Fs Farm Gate Marketing Programme.
She is now requesting a loan of US $ 1200 to enable her start the organic farming business.
Her budget is: US $ 150 for the land preparation, US $ 200 to purchase seedlings, US $ 150 to purchase natural manure from farmers, US $ 200 for natural pest control, US $ 100 to purchase a water pump, US $ 70 to purchase a water storage tank, US $ 50 to purchase water pipes, US $ 150 for hiring casual laborers, US $ 100 for packing cartons and US $ 30 to transport the cut flowers.
Mary plans to use the income from her business to take her grand children to school, provide for the family and save enough to purchase a dairy cow in future. Mary is a hardworking woman and will be able to pay the loan promptly.",M,1200,lender,Agriculture,1
Kenya,"Mary Goret is married with two children who are both in primary school. Though she is a trained hair dresser, she does it as part-time job. She started her fish business in 1994, when she saw there was an unmet demand for the services in her community. She has specialized in selling smoked dried fish at the local trading center. She also moves from one market place to another during market days.
Through her business, she has been able to provide food to the community, support her husband in educating their children, and also improve her living standards. With the loan of $100 from PEMCI, she plans to increase her fish stock and be able to meet the increasing demand from her customers.",F,100,lender,Food,1
Kenya,"Mary Goretty Akoth is 38 years old and is a mother of seven children. All her children are in school; two are in senior school while the rest attend junior school. She earns her living through selling used clothes, mainly ladies garments at the expansive Kongowea market in Mombasa. Her husband is a technician at a manufacturing company. She got involved in this business fifteen years ago. Income generated here has assisted the family in acquiring basic needs. The clothes she sells are quite popular with women since they are fashionable and of good quality. Their prices are low, enabling her to make large volumes of sales. She sees a potential for making more sales only if she can stock more garments for sale. This will enable her to cater adequately for her family needs. However, she has been unable to raise enough capital to do this. She is therefore requesting a loan of US $ 450: US$ 400 to enable her to buy more clothes for sale and US$ 50 for transport. Mary has a high business acumen that will aid her in realizing her targeted goals, making it possible for her to repay the loan.",F,450,lender,Clothing,1
Kenya,"Mary hails from Weithaga village. She is married with 5 children, one of whom is in college, one in secondary school and three are in primary (elementary) school. She is the secretary of Weithaga Star Women lending group and an outstanding religious person. Her main source of income has been farming. On her farm, she has been rearing 3 dairy cows and grows maize, beans and bananas. From the cows, she is able to sell the milk to a dairy cooperative society where they are paid monthly. She also sells her crop produce to the market. On average, she gets sales of about USD150 net profit. Her dairy farming has been successful due to loans she has been securing from the group. She is planning to get the loan to build a big shelter to accommodate more dairy cows and to grow other vegetables-horticulture in her farm.",F,300,lender,Agriculture,1
Kenya,"Mary is 22 years old. She is married and has one child. She is a member of the Gaicanjiru Catholic church and is active in the Christian Womens Association activities. Being a member of St. Agnes Womens group, Mary has grown both spiritually and socially. She has learned the importance of relating with positive minded people for family development. Marys economic activity is farming. She grows cereals on her farm. She also buys kale from the farmers who grow vegetables in small plots along the river. She sells the kale at the local Kagunduini market. She saves USD $3 with her group every month from the profits she gets from her kale business. Mary has applied for a loan of USD $150 to enable her to buy quality seeds, manure and add some more vegetables to her kale business. The loans committee has approved the loan. She will repay the loan within a period of 10 months.",F,150,lender,Agriculture,1
Kenya,Mary is 23 years old married with 2 children. Mary is a member of Kiret Baptist Church in Olkinos area in Kajiado District. Mary is the Chairlady of Kiret Naboisho w g a group whose revolving fund has assisted the members with small loans for buying beads for their work. All the members of Kiret Naboisho make bead ornaments and sell them at Isinya market. Sometimes they get orders from Maasai Rural Training Centre- MRTC which is an institution that has markets art and craft work inthe commiity.Mary decided to suppliment her income by starting a small steers project. She therefore invested the beadwork proceeds in the project by buying 3 small steers. This year Mary attended a course in Livestock Management. She now uses some modern methods in managing her steers. Mary wants to buy 2 more medium size steers. She intends to sell all the steers at double of the buying price. This will enable her buy 10 small steers and graze them at a time when there is enough pasture before the setting in of the drought period and sell them to a meat commission in the country.,F,300,lender,Agriculture,1
Kenya,"Mary is 24 years old, married and has 2 children. She is an active member of Oserian Group and a strong member of Presbytery church. She has been an asset in her group due to her responsibility in counseling young mothers. Her source of income is a saloon which she has been operating for sometimes. She was supported by her husband to purchase 2 chairs and a table for her salon. Her business has been performing well until when she supported her husband project of steers rearing although it had no modern equipments. She is able to get USD75 gross profit monthly. Steers rearing has the only source of income in the familys there before and Mary respects it. She has now decided to use the small amount of money she has already saved, top up with the loan she is hoping to get and make her salon modernized by the end of this year. She is talented in plaiting and its wonderful. She is willing to pay her loan on monthly basis.",F,450,lender,Services,1
Kenya,"Mary is 26 years old. She is married with one child. She is a member of AIC Church in Ongata Rongai, Kenya. She is a active choir member and participates in most of the youth activities on Sundays. Mary is a member of Kandisi Wisdom Women Group and is committed to all group activities. Mary has attended training classes on policies and procedures, the revolving fund, and the importance of a savings and credit group. She has also read the group constitution and accepted the rules and regulations of the group.
Over the years, the business has been growing and it has contributed greatly to providing school fees for her siblings as well as providing the basic needs at home. She requires a loan of USD500 to increase her stock and income. She will be repaying her loan in monthly installments for 12 months.",F,500,lender,Clothing,1
Kenya,"Mary is 34 years old, married with 2 children. She is an active member of St. Jude women group located at Githunguri in Thika Unit. She is a Christian by faith and a member of Presbyterian Church of East Africa. She is a teacher in a local school and also practices farming. She rears dairy cattle and grows vegetables on her farm. She earns a total of usd80 per month from her teaching job and farming.
She has a plan to make sure her children get a good education and to provide the best a mother can give. Her biggest challenge is finances and feels if she can improve her farming methods, she will be in a better position.
With a usd150 loan she would like to buy organic manures and soil supplements to increase production of her farm. She is willing to make repayments on monthly basis.",F,150,lender,Agriculture,1
Kenya,"Mary is 35 years old, married with three children. She is a farmer in Githembe Saba Saba area. She is an active member of Kahumbu Anglican Church. She grows coffee, bananas, maize and beans. She also rears goats and a few chickens. She gets her meagre income from the milk and bananas sales. Her coffee harvest earns her money seasonally, so she does not rely on it. She hopes the Government of Kenya will fulfill its promise to revive the coffee industry. Meanwhile, she has the desire to buy a high grade dairy cow in order to increase her income. The dairy industry is doing well since the revival of K.C.C. The farmers are able to receive a monthly income from milk sales. This is the main reason Mary wants to buy a cow and tap into this ready market. She has applied for a loan of USD325, which she is willing to repay within a period of 12 months.",F,325,lender,Agriculture,1
Kenya,"Mary is 37 years old. She is married and has 2 children. Mary is the Chairlady of the Queen Esther Womens Group, a strong group that took the second position in this years WEEC Thanksgiving Day celebrations that was held on 22nd December 2006. Within the year Mary has worked hard on her farm by growing kale and spinach and selling it in the nearby Ngong Market. She has been able to repay the school fees loan and the group has approved another loan of USD 300 that will cover her daughters fee for the year 2007. Marys school fees loan recovery rate was 97% and she has promised to improve it to the 100% mark that the group stipulates in their rules and regulations.",F,300,lender,Agriculture,1
Kenya,"Mary is 38 years of age. She is married to Mr. Maina, and they have been blessed with 3 children who are still young and at primary school level. Mary is an active member of Wathenge Stepping Stone. She is also an active member of St. Paul ACK church Gathukeini, where she serves as church elder and the Secretary to the Mothers' Union group. She is a teacher by profession and a Deputy Head Mistress at Kiambugi secondary school. She is able to lead the group diligently with a lot of humbleness and wisdom because of her career experience.
Through the loan she acquired from the group, she was able to put up a small shop in Wathenge shopping center. Her husband operates matatu business; he owns 2 matatu that give a total income of USD 75 daily. Mary also has 2 dairy cows which she sells 15 litres of milk and the rest is used at home.
Mary wants a loan of USD 1200 to enable her to improve her business premises and also add stock to her business to generate more income. Fortunately, the loan committee has already approved her loan.",F,1200,lender,Retail,1
Kenya,"Mary is 40 years old. She is married with 5 children. She is an active member of the St. Emmanuel ACK church choir. She is actively involved in other church activities and takes weekly fellowships very seriously. Marys main economic activity is farming. She has 4 dairy cows Mary sells the milk to the local dairy. The income she generates from her farm has enabled her to make her monthly saving of $3 per month to the Weithaga Star Womens Group. She accesses loans to develop her farm and repays her loans promptly. Being the secretary of the group, she has kept a good repayment record and this has made her command deep respect from the group members. She has applied for a loan of $150 for the development of her farm. The loans committee has approved the said loan and her repayment period will be 10 months.",F,150,lender,Agriculture,1
Kenya,"Mary is 42 year old and married with 4 children. She is a member of Gaitheri ACK Church where she serves as a youth counselor. Mary works as a nurse at Kiriaini Dispensary. She serves the local community with a lot of dedication. She visits the sick that are not able to get to the local dispensary and gives them medical attention. She is a dedicated person in the community and willingly works at night when she is needed to attend to the sick. She is a member of Jehovah Jireh women group. For her to attend a larger community she has opened a small dispensary at the rural Gaitheri area. Mary has applied for a loan of USD 300 for the purchase of a water tank. The group had approved a previous loan to buy a water tank, which she repaid within a period of 10 months. Mary wants to add another tank to provide her harvest with more water. Though the water she currently stores may be enough, she assists her neighbors who have not been in a position of buying tanks with water especially during the dry season. The loans committee has approved the loan and she will repay it within a period of 10 months.",F,300,lender,Agriculture,1
Kenya,"Mary is 42 years old. She is a widow with two children who are in high school. She lives in Kabuta on her own plot of land. She is a member of Mothers Union of ACK Church Kabuta. Mary is an active member of Good Shepherd women's group and she contributes a lot to the group. Due to her determination, she has a tailoring shop where she is able to train students. She wants a loan of $300 to buy more machines and materials so that she will be able to teach more students. Mary intends to pay back the loan in 12 months.",F,300,lender,Services,1
Kenya,"Mary is 43 years old and a single mother of two children. Mary unfortunately never went to school due to cultural barriers. But the good news is that she does not want her children to go through what she has, and she is educating her children through her business. She started a retail business in Inkiito three years ago. From her business she has managed to pay school fees for her children, bought a piece of land and built a permanent house for her family. She wants a loan so that she can increase her stock. The profits will enable her to continue paying school fees for the children, repay her loan and save on a monthly basis.",F,450,lender,Retail,1
Kenya,"Mary is 43 years old, married with 5 children. Mary is a strong believer. Her calling is for help the less privileged members of the society. Currently Mary is a teacher in a primary school that is situated in Kibera slum area. Most of her pupils are orphans owing to the fact that HIV/ Aids is prevalent in the slums. Mary believes that the children who have been affected need to be under people who care and understand the turmoil they are going through. To do her work effectively Mary has attended various seminars and workshops about Hiv /Aids. Mary has this to say. .. This training has enabled me to work well with the pupils. I am able to discuss the topics with them without hurting one. Mary also volunteers to train for the organizations that deal with HIV / Aids awareness campaigns.She has a busness 2nd hand furniture business where she has employed one of her son. Due to education fees challenge, the business has not been perfoming. She would like to buy more furniture to meet the fees for her 2 sons who will join college next year.",F,1400,lender,Retail,1
Kenya,"Mary is 45 years old and married with five children: two are in secondary school and three are in primary school. She specialises mainly in farming, assisted by her husband, and also in her cake business. She sells her cakes in the supermarkets. The income that she earns helps her to meet school fees and other expenses. She needs a loan of $650 to expand her cake business to distribute more in the supermarkets. The increased income will enable her to repay the loan and meet school fees. She will repay her loan in monthly instalments.",F,650,lender,Food,1
Kenya,"Mary is 45 years old, married with 4 children who are college. She is an active member of St Consolata group. She is a stunt catholic and leads a women organization in her church. She has set a good example of responsibility in her group. Her main source of income is a small pharmacy. She has been able to educate her children through the income from her small pharmacy. It has never grown much since her children went to high schools where she was paying school fees through the income generated. She has already planned to add stock at the beginning of next year since she has only one child in high school. She has a good record of repaying and very determined to achieve her dream. She will be able to pay university fees for her children if her chemist will have enough stock maximizing her income.",F,450,lender,Health,1
Kenya,"Mary is 48 years old and lives in Kianda village within the Kibera slums in Nairobi. She has been married to Simon for 26 years now and together they have six children, the last-born being 12 years od. They take care of two other children, Monica and Aaron. Monicas dad succumbed to diabetes before her birth and she is now 20 years old. Aarons dad passed on when he was 3 years, and the mother had passed on earlier due to HIV.
Mary prepares porridge and sells it in jericans (plastic containers used for storage of liquids) in measures of mugs. She sells one mug of porridge at Ksh.10.00 (less than a dollar). She also sells ""githeri"" (a mixture of beans and maize). A serving of ""githeri"" sells at Ksh.10.00. Her main customers are people at construction sites and in hospitals. Mary started her business eight years ago. Her husband was then working with a national bus service company and gave her the initial capital. She is a member of a merry-go-round women's group where they contribute ksh. 50.00 (slightly less that a dollar) every week. It is from this women's group that Mary got a boost to expand her business. She found it convenient because she could get small sums of money like Ksh.1000 (USD 15) without going through the bureaucracies of the formal commercial banks. She has always endeavored to expand her business. Her husband is a big motivation to her work. He has been very supportive. Since he has retired from the bus company he is very willing to help in the family business to see their children complete their formal education, the youngest being in class six.
Given a loan of USD 175 in kind, which is repayable within 10 -16 months, she will buy several items to improve her business including two sufurias with lids, one big kettle, one pressure lamp, two big jikos, two trays and two thermos flasks. Mary believes that these items will do wonders in her business. Firstly she will be able to run the business together with her husband, therefore expanding her market as well as income. On the other hand, buying thermos flasks will ensure that she does not have to warm the porridge all the time.",F,175,lender,Food,1
Kenya,"Mary is 48 years old, married with 6 children. 4 of them are in high school while the 2 are in primary school. She assists chairperson in her group and has proved this through her leading skills. She is a beneficial of those lives which have been changed by loans. Her source of income is farming in her small portion of land. She utilizes the little materials she has, to stand the pressure of school fees even though straining. She has been able to save USD130 on monthly basis which is divided between family consumption and school fees. She would like to pay fees at once and left struggling with basic needs. She is very honest from the group records and she has demonstrated it among the group members.",F,300,lender,Agriculture,1
Kenya,"Mary is 48 years old, married with 7 children. She is very active in her group and has been a mentor to many women. She has been able to pay off the previous loans she has been getting from the group. She has a small piece of land where she rears a dairy cow and grows crops. She bought the dairy cow with her first loan and she says that her family life has been transformed through the sales and the fact that she no longer buys milk for consumption. She sells milk and some vegetables to meet the cost of living in her family. She has been paying her children school fees through group loans and she repays the loans with the monthly income from her sales. She is a lady with a dream, ready to face challenges in her children education life but she is sure that they will be self reliant one day. Her family life has really been changed by the small loans and she is willing to work even harder to make it better. She would like to pay school fees for her 3 children who are in high school.",F,300,lender,Agriculture,1
Kenya,"Mary is 49 years old, married with 3 grown up children. Mary is a member of the Salvation Army Congregation and the Women Chairlady in the church. Mary lives in Kware a slum area in Ongata Rongai. Being a good leader and having enhanced her leadership skills through the trainings done at group level, she has been able to influence many women to take responsibility and work hard for the benefit of their families. She is very passionate in empowering women and inspiring them to outdo those who believe men must be present for things to happen. She started a quarry business in year 2000 after closing down her retail shop. Quarrying is looked at as more of a mans job but she was brave and started by renting one quarrying site. She had to hire an extra hand, and pay the labour with small loans she got from the group revolving fund .She has been able to utilize her income and for now she has two quarrying sites, where she has even accommodated her husband who was jobless before. Mary would like to build 3 permanent rooms to rent out as business premises. She has started to lay the foundation with concrete and the other materials is a hassle to buy them at once. She requires USD 450 to buy timber, Iron sheets, cement, nails, windows and doors. This will enable her to increase her income which will finally assist her to construct her own permanent house.",F,450,lender,Construction,1
Kenya,"Mary is 49 years old. She is a single mother of 3 and has adopted a boy from a disadvantaged family. Marys children are grown up and hold casual jobs in the industrial area. Mary is a member of the Women of Faith group; a group that meets every Wednesday at St. Monica ACK Church for Bible study. Mary says this about the group, this is one group that has helped its members grow strong in their faith and also economically. It has made us realize that we have such great potential that we had not realized before. Mary specializes in selling sweet bananas. She buys bananas from farms in Central province and transports them to her store in the market, where she stores them until they are ready for the market. Mary wakes up early to sell her fruits to the road side sellers who come from the Dandora, Korokocho and Huruma areas. During the day, she keeps the stall open to sell to the area residents who come to buy food at the market. Sweet bananas require a person who is able to make fast sales. We interviewed her on how she manages bananas when they get ripe at the same time, whether she makes heavy losses or what happens. She said, with so many children around you, you dont have to throw away food while there are people going hungry all around you. With the USD 300 that her group has approved, Mary will be able to include pawpaws, avocados, and pumpkins to her stock. She will buy from the same area in Central province. Some of her group members are her main customers. She is very determined to repay her loan on time.",F,300,lender,Food,1
Kenya,"Mary is 54 years old, feeling young enough to face life with its challenges. All her children are grown up and self reliant. She is an active member of Wihande Wega group where she is among the founders. She has a strong faith and believes in a divine power. She demonstrates this by leading mothers union in her place of worship. She has benefited a lot from the group, by loans and trainings. Her main source of income is rental room where she bought the plot with her first loan. She got the second loan and she was able to construct two semi-permanent rental rooms which have changed her life completely through the income she gets. She charges USD22 every month per room. She is a dedicated lady who is responsible in loan repayment and she has set a good example to other group members. She would like to add 3 rental rooms where she will be able to accumulate enough money to support an orphan child she adopted from her neighborhood. She lives not to regret and she desires to aspire young mothers to acquire loans to divert the direction of their lives. She is willing to repay the loan with the monthly charges of her 2 rental rooms.",F,1000,lender,Construction,1
Kenya,"Mary is 60 years old. She is married with 5 grown-up children. Marys daughter passed away and left her with 2 grandchildren. Her grandchildren are now in secondary school. Mary is an active member of St. Peter's ACK church in Gaitheri. She retired this year as a church official after many years to pave the way for the young members of the church to take more responsibilities in the church.
Mary is also a committee member in the Mothers' Union. Mary is the treasurer of Gaitheri Challenger II women's group. This is a strong group in the Gaitheri area and challenges the other Gaitheri groups in their pursuit of strengthening the groups' revolving funds.
Mary is good in business. She explains, ""I love buying things and selling them to make some profit. My work is more or less like hawking because I normally buy items that are moving. If I visit Gikomba market, I will buy shoes, dresses, bags, baskets, and hardware items. I buy goods in large quantities so as to make a better profit. I know how to select good things and my customers appreciate what I bring for them.""
Mary has applied for a loan of USD 1200 to increase her stock. She will buy more hardware items since more people in her area are building houses using iron sheets. There is a high demand for nails, iron sheets, and timber. The loans committee and the WEEC officers have appraised her work, and her application has been approved. She will repay the loan within a period of 12 months.",F,1200,lender,Retail,1
Kenya,"Mary is 62 years old. She is a window with 5 grown up children. Mary was amongst the first people who settled in Kware, Rongai. A staunch Catholic, Mary and a few Catholic faithful rented a room in Kware where they were holding their prayers and Sunday service.
For many years has been actively involved in preaching the word of God. Mary has seen the congregation of St Marys Catholic Church grow from very few faithful members to the large congregation to date. Mary is a serious and hard working lady. She started by growing and selling maize, beans, potatoes, peas and vegetables. From this small business, she saved and bought a small plot of land in Kandisi. As years went by, she specialized in growing maize and beans which are seasonal, and vegetables for her daily income.
Mary decided to move her family to Kandisi, a residential area near Rongai after she had built a semi-permanent house. She then built 6 semi-permanent rooms in Kware in a plot she had bought when she was staying there and rented them out at USD 4 per month. The income from these rooms enabled her to buy a cow. The reason she decided to buy a cow was that many people wanted milk but it was little in the area and expensive. She now has three dairy cows and at least she gets 40 litres per day. She sells 37 litres and lives 3 litres for her family. She gets USD 15 per day from the sale of milk and USD 5 from vegetables.
Recently the Olkejuado County Council demarcated Kware plots and gave title deeds to the old residents. Mary was lucky to have been allocated one. Mary plans to start by upgrading 4 rooms and to have the construction done within one month. After renovation, she will rent them at USD 15. Marys future plan is to install electricity and water to make life easy for her tenants.",F,300,partner,Housing,0
Kenya,"Mary is 65 years of age, married with six children. All her children are married and self-reliant. She is a member of St Jude group at Githunguri in Thika district.
Mary is earns her income as a dairy farmer. She needs a USD 150 loan to help her buy another small high breed dairy calf, which she will raise to maturity.
She plans to meet her repayments on monthly basis.",F,150,lender,Agriculture,1
Kenya,"Mary is a 33-year-old mother, married with five children; two in secondary school and three in primary school. She dropped out of primary school when her parents became unable to support her secondary school education due to lack of school fees. She is married to a small-scale farmer. She started her fish monger business in the year 2000 and later expanded her business to include maize. She gets her stock of fish from Mumias town and maize from wholesalers during market days at Myanga trading centre, and sells them village-to-village. She has customers who have been buying her products since the days she started her business, hence they are always buying from her. She been able to educate her children and generally meet the familys basic needs.
She faces a challenge of transporting her produce from the source to the market. She uses a bodaboda (bicycle taxi) to transport her produce, hence taking a longer time on the road. She is unable to meet her customers demands on time.
Mary plans to open a store at Myanga trading centre if give a loan by PEMCI. This will make it easier for her to work from home and during market days she can sell at the open air market. She also plans to purchase fish in bulk and sell at both wholesale and retail. She dreams of opening up stores in different markets in the future.",F,150,lender,Food,1
Kenya,"Mary is a 50 year old grandmother. Her children are all grown up but she takes care of 3 grandchildren and ensures that they have food every school day. She believes that it is very important for the children to have enough food to maintain good health.
The group has assisted Mary to plan. Before she joined the group, Mary was not able to save regularly. After joining the revolving fund, she saves USD3 every month. She has also benefited in accessing credit that has enabled her to pay her childrens school fee. She is able to repay her loan installments with the income she gets from her farming activities.
Mary has applied for a school fees loan of USD150. The loans committee has approved the application. She will repay the loan within a period of 10 months.",F,150,lender,Agriculture,1
Kenya,"Mary is a window with 5 children. She is a member of Gaitheri Baptist church and an active member of Gaitheri Merciful Mothers where she has been a member since the group started two years ago. Mary is also a church elder in her church. She joined the livestock programme in WEEC and since she has benefited from trainings. She had acquired a loan of USD600 to purchase a dairy cow. She has repaid up to 97% to date. Mary wants to purchase another cow to add to her milk production that is in high demand in her area. She has been paying her children's school fees from the milk sales.
Due to a water shortage in her area, Mary would like to buy a water tank for preservation for her animals. Her dairy cow gave birth last year and she is very determined to feed the calf until it matures for milking. She really wastes a lot of time fetching water for her cows during the day and she wants to use the time with planting Napier grass in her farm. She is willing to repay her loan on a monthly basis.",F,750,lender,Agriculture,1
Kenya,"Mary is a young mother with two children. Born in 1975, Mary joined WEEC in 2002 after being encouraged by her friend. She is a religious person and actively participates in all church and group activities.
After completing secondary education in late 1990s, she could not continue with college due to a lack of money. She then opted to turn to business and in 2002 she started selling second hand clothes in an open air market in Banana Town. Mary believes she is a blessed woman since her business has never suffered. She started with a stock of USD 75 and now it has increased to USD 300. She sells womens trousers and baby wear. From her business income, she is able to educate and feed her children. She is in need of USD 300 to boost her business. She also intends to move from an open air kiosk to a rental shop.",F,300,lender,Clothing,1
Kenya,"Mary is forty years old, single and a mother of three children. Two of her children are in high school while the other one is still in primary school. Mary is the secretary to Nyakahura Catholic Women Action. She is also an active member of St.Consolata women group. She is a committed member in the group and her contributions have been great; she is an asset to the group. She is a farmer specializing in the growing of maize, beans, potatoes and vegetables. She also rears a dairy cow. Mary is a good payer at the group level, servicing her loans on time. Mary asserts that the best investment one can make in the recent times is giving your children a quality education. She therefore feels that by investing in the stock market will be a key step to her realizing this lifetime dream. A loan of USD 225 will facilitate this.",F,225,lender,Agriculture,1
Kenya,"Mary is Kenyan and 42 years old. She is married and has 4 children. She lives in Gitumbi village of Maragwa district. Mary is a very active member of her church, St. Philip ACK, and the coordinator of the women's activities at the church.
She has a very large farm of bananas and also keeps dairy cows. There are other mixed crops in her farm. Her main source of income is the sale of bananas, French beans and milk. She sells over 10 liters of milk a day. Her main challenge is water during the dry season, especially for the cows, and she hopes to buy a large water tank to store rainwater. This will be done when she gets the loan of USD 300. She contributes very well to the group's revolving fund.",F,300,lender,Agriculture,1
Kenya,"Mary is married with 5 children. She is a Christian and a cofounding member of the Karura Hope women group. She is very active with group activities and is very responsible. Mary grows crops and rears goats, sheeps, ducks, a dairy cow, and a few chickens. She has brought up her children and educated them through the income she has been receiving from her farm and loans from groups and friends. She wants to buy a dairy cow to increase her production since the minerals she bought has improved the animals health. The cows produce 20 litres and sell at USD 0.28 per litre. This has enabled her to pay school fees for her children through her income. She has applied for this loan and she will repay it back with the income she accumulates from her farm in monthly installments.",F,600,lender,Agriculture,1
Kenya,"Mary is married with 5 grown children. She is an active member and a founder of the Karura Hope Women group. She has benefited from the trainings and a loan from the group. She is very religious and a leader of a church women choir. She is very hard working and encourages women in her group to eradicate poverty through farming or businesses. She rears 2 dairy cows, which she bought from animal feeds with her first loan of USD 150 and will clear her first loan in this first quarter. She used to sell milk to the area residents, but today she sells her milk to the Kenya Cooperative Creamery due to increased production. She has been able to supply 50 litres of milk consistently every day at USD 0.3 per litres. She believes this will be about-turn for her animals and will increase their milk production ,leading to income increment. Mary is willing to apply for a loan of USD 750 to buy another dairy cattle and buy more animal feed. She is willing to repay a loan in monthly installments.",F,750,lender,Agriculture,1
Kenya,"Mary is married with 5 grown up children. She is an active member and a founder of Karura Hope Women group. She has benefited a lot from the training offered by the group, as well as a loan. She is very religious and a leader of women choir in her place of worship. She is very hard working and encourages women in her group to eradicate poverty through farming or businesses. She rears 2 dairy cows and sells milk to the area residents. She has been able to supply 5 liters of milk consistently every day to restaurants around where she stays. She bought her dairy cows with her first loan and she had already cleared repayments. Due to lack of commercial feeds, her cows milk production has been affected. She also plans to build a permanent cow shed to prevent them from bad weather. She believes this will improve the health her animals and they will increase their milk production leading to income increment. Mary is wiling to repay the loan in installments.",F,150,lender,Agriculture,1
Kenya,Mary is married with four children all of which are still in primary school. Mary was educated up to primary school level. She is an active Treasurer of her group. With help from her husband she started her business with 2 steers which she later sold after six months. Out of the profit she was able to send her two sons to a boarding school and bought two extra steers for the business. She intends to start selling her animals to Kenya Meat Commission as they have a better deal. She is very hardworking and has shown her committement to the group through good meeting performance and participation in group activities. She is hoping to get the loan and buy 3 steers for her stock. She is willing to make repayments on monthly basis.,F,450,lender,Agriculture,1
Kenya,Mary is married with grown up children. She is a Christian and is a member of the Mihuti ACK Church. Mary is a member of the Mathioya Womens Group. Her economic activity is mainly the farming of maize and grazing a dairy cow. The group has assisted her in starting a small tailoring training business at the Mihuti shopping centre through the loans she has accessed. She has been able to buy a sewing machine and materials for clothes. She mainly specializes in making uniforms since there are a number of primary schools around and the large schools carry a capacity of 600 pupils per school. She has a good market for her uniforms. Mary has also applied for a loan of USD 150 to invest in shares. She is planning to buy shares from Kenya Reinsurance Company that will be floated in January 2007. Mary thanks WEEC as an organization for enlightening her on economic trends and prays for the organization and their partners to continue in their work of helping the needy.,F,150,lender,Services,1
Kenya,"Mary is married with grown up children. She is a member of the ACK Church in Mihuti. She is a member of the Mathioya Womens Group, a group that has assisted her in educating her children. Marys main economic activity is farming. She has a small plot of land where she grows napier grass and coffee. She also keeps a dairy cow and high grade goats. Mary gets her income by selling the milk from her dairy cow and by selling the goats when they are of age. The new rule passed by the group of assisting members in diversifying their income generating activities was a blessing to Mary. She has been farming for many years and at times she feels that the income she gets, especially from the coffee, is so meager compared to the efforts she puts in. She has applied for a loan of USD 150 that was approved by the group. She will invest in the Safaricom shares and repay the loan within a period of one year.",F,150,lender,Agriculture,1
Kenya,"Mary is married with three children and an active member of the group and her church. She is aged 30 years.
Mary has been a member of Gondo Rehab Women group since 2003. She has been using small loans from the group and repaid all the 4 loans she borrowed. These small loans have been assisting her to pay school fees for her children. Mary sells used and new shoes (both men's and women's shoes) in a business she started in 2002.
It has been progressing ever since it was started and its the main income generating activity that she has. In one month, she makes an average of about $100 per month and this supports the whole family. But she would like to increase her supply to meet the demand of her customers.",F,250,partner,Retail,0
Kenya,"Mary is the Vice Chairlady of Konguini Jisaidie women group. She is a member of Muranga District Agricultural Board in charge of Muranga town area. She is a strong and honest woman when it comes to repaying the loans in her group. She has repaid 3 loans of $300, 500 and 700, and this contributed in approving an additional loan of $900.
Besides Mary being a poultry farmer, she also grows maize and beans. After harvesting, she supplies beans and maize to neighboring schools as well as neighbors. She harvests about 20 bags of maize corn and beans. She rears 200 broilers at a time and each crop takes 40 days to mature. She sells a 90kg bag of maize at $70 and a 90kg of beans $40 to her customers. Also she sells broilers at $2.80 cents to traders and neighbors. She also rears Milk goats which provide the family with milk and children like it very much. On average she is able to make a profit of about $328 per season.
She has been an active member, thus being able to repay the past loans on time and acts now as a mentor to other group members. She intends to renovate the poultry house with $147; $22 to buy dairy goats, $515 to buy 500 chicks, $158 to buy 4 bags of starter feeds and drugs.",F,900,partner,Agriculture,0
Kenya,Mary Juma Nekesa is 33 years old and married with four children. Two of them are in school while the rest have completed high school and are now waiting to join college. Her husband is a hawker in another town while she deals tomatoes in the open-air market.. They do not earn enough to expand the business. Mary has an opportunity to buy tomatoes from the farmers in rural areas. They sell cheaper from these areas and the margin is good. She has not enough money to take advantage of this opportunity. She is therefore requesting a loan of US $300. US$250 will be used to buy the stock and US$ 50 to cater for transport and other expenses. They are doing this as a group due to high transport costs. They have a viable plan that can change their lives.,F,300,partner,Food,0
Kenya,"Mary Kabura is married with six children. Marys children are in secondary and primary school. She is an active member and chairlady of Nasinya Womens Group. Mary started her business of planting maize and distributing this maize to schools via orders.
Through her business, she is managing to pay school fees for her children. She took a loan of USD 450 from WEEC which she used to buy maize from her neighbors to meet the orders requested by the schools.
She has applied for a loan of USD 450 to enable her to meet the orders by buying 20 bags of maize. This will help her avoid disappointing the schools that made the order. She is willing to repay this loan in a span of 12 months.",F,450,lender,Food,1
Kenya,"Mary Kanyi is married with five children, all of whom have attended both primary and secondary school. Mary herself managed to go up to the college level and realizes the importance of educating her children. She is a member of the Nasaru Intoyie Group which aims for all girls to go school and also fights against female genital mutilation among the Maasai community. She started her business of selling steers seven years ago. Her children got their education through the earnings of this business. She took a loan of USD 450 from WEEC to buy five more steers for her business. She has applied a loan of USD 450, with which she intends to purchase eight more steers. She is willing to repay this loan in a period of 10 months.",F,450,lender,Agriculture,1
Kenya,"Mary Lamet is 47 years old. She is married with seven children; all of her children have completed their secondary school but two are in college. She never went to school; however, this did not hinder her from pursuing her daily duties.
Mary started her business last year of making bead products and selling them. She started with USD30 where she managed to setup the beadwork business. Her business is still young but she hopes that it will improve.
She has applied a loan of USD450, which will enable her to purchase the beads so that to produce more bead products. She is willing to repay this loan within a period a period of 12 months.",F,450,lender,Arts,1
Kenya,"Mary Maante,34, is married with three children. Mary only managed to complete her primary level education, but she is determined that her children complete their education. Two of her children are in primary school, and the other is still too young to attend school. Mary started her business of buying and selling steers with the help of her husband in 2003. She started with two steers, and she currently has eight steers. The income generated from the business has enabled her to build a concrete tank to store water for her family during the dry season. In addition to raising cattle, she also grows maize, beans, tomatoes and potatoes and sells the farm produce at Isinya Shopping Centre. Mary has applied for a loan of $450 to enable her to purchase four more steers so that she can target the Kenya Meat Commission (KMC) factory. She is willing to repay this loan within a period of 12 months.",F,450,lender,Agriculture,1
Kenya,"Mary Mumbi is 64 years old. She is a mother of nine children. All her children have completed their studies, except for one who is in a local polytechnic. Mary was unable to study when she was young because her parents were peasant farmers and could not afford to enroll her in school.
Furthermore, during her youth, educating girls was not considered important. Last year, she did her zero level exam at a literacy centre in the slums where she lives. With the knowledge she gained from school, she has started a used clothing business.
Unlike other vendors in the slum area where she lives and works, she keeps records and studies the market. She is always looking for new market prospects. Lately there is a boom for used childrens toys from overseas.
These are items which families sell after their children have grown up and they dont need them anymore. They are usually cheap and affordable to the slum dwellers who have a low income. She wants to exploit this market. She is therefore asking for a loan of US $700. Out of this amount, she will buy stock worth US $550 and rent a permanent and safe premise for US $150.",F,700,lender,Clothing,1
Kenya,"Mary Murugi is a member of a sisters group meant to empower women. She is a business lady dealing with second hand shoes. She has been into this business for a long time. It is a major source of income for her family. The group wants to buy shoe bales from the source. This way they will be able to save on costs and get quality shoes to sell to their customers. The only barrier is lack of capital. She requires a total of US$ 750 to accomplish her plan. She intends to buy the bales with US$ 500, US$ 200 on transport and US$ 50 on other expenses.",F,750,lender,Retail,1
Kenya,"Mary Muthoni is 49 years. She is married with five children who are all self reliant.
She is a member of Gituya Women Group and a founder member. She is also an active member of Anglican Church and leads mothers union.
Mary rears dairy cows, sheep and also practices subsistent farming. The crops she grows are for domestic consumption. Her main source of income is a dairy farm project. Her cow produces 18 liters per day. This translates into $150 per month. She has plans to buy another cow of $300 in order to maximize her income. Due to the animal feeds challenge, she intends to use the rest of the money in buying animal feeds such as bran, dairy meal, fish meal, soy meal and some minerals. She will meet her repayments on a monthly basis.",F,450,lender,Agriculture,1
Kenya,"Mary Muthoni is married and a mother of 4 children. She is an active member of Rurii Shining Women Group. She grows corn, beans, vegetables and fruits for family consumption and sells a small portion. She earns approximately $125 per month. She would want to buy fertilizers, pesticides from her monthly income for her land. To add fertility on her land, she wants to buy a bull for manure production as she wants to start organic farming. Mary has been spending so much money on manure because she has been buying from her fellow farmers. She is prepared to make her repayments on a monthly basis.",F,150,lender,Agriculture,1
Kenya,Mary Muthoni Jasan is 38 years old. She is married with three children. She is a member of Gathukiini ACK Church. She is also the secretary of Kaweru Coffee Factory. Mary is a member of Wathenge Stepping Stone. This group is in its third stage of group development. Mary has been very instrumental in the growth of this group. Her main economic activity is dairy farming and coffee farming. She sells the milk at Gathukiini dairy cooperative society. Mary has applied for a loan of $750. The loan will go into buying another dairy cow. She wants to take advantage of the good market of dairy products that is prevailing in her country. The loans committee has approved the said loan. She is willing to repay this loan within a period of 12 months.,F,750,lender,Agriculture,1
Kenya,"Mary Muthoni Kamuiru is 55 years old. She is a dried corn wholeseller. She is married with five children who have all completed their studies. She lives together with her retired husband and three grandchildren. She started her maize selling business as a small venture and it has since grown to a self sustaining business. She recently acquired a contract to supply three maize millers in the town where she lives thrice a month. She is enthusiastic to see her business grow, and she knows the orders will help her business to go to the next level. She lacks the necessary capital boost to enable her to add more stocks needed to service the orders. She is requesting a loan worth US$600. She has planned to buy stocks worth US $520 and transport the stocks with US$ 80. She will be able to pay the loan with the returns she will get from the expansion and cater for her grandchildren's needs.",F,600,lender,Food,1
Kenya,"Mary Muthoni Kuria is a 47-year-old single business lady. She has two children who have both finished college education. She lives in a single room and sells second-hand clothes, specializing in ladies' dresses, in Kongowea market in Mombasa, Kenyas coastal town. Marys husband died last year. Before he died he had lost his job for five years when the children had just entered high school (normally high school education is more expensive as opposed to junior school). She took all her savings and took over all the familys responsibilities; i.e. paying school fees and bringing up the children. Over the years earnings from her small business has been the only source of income for her family. Mary has been in this business for 14 years but has been unable to improve or expand since the earnings she got were hardly enough to meet family needs. She would like to expand each stock variety (i.e. dresses and cardigans/sweaters) so as to increase her profits. This will enable her to save for old age and to buy her own properties now that the children have finished school. She requests a US $650 loan. This is her budget: US$ 300 to buy ladies dresses, US$200 to buy cardigans/sweaters, US$ 50 to pay for transport and US$ 100 to expand stall. She is focused and will repay the loan.",F,650,lender,Clothing,1
Kenya,"Mary Njeri Hannah is a 38 year old married woman with seven children. She did not have the privilege of pursuing further studies. When she got married, she didnt know how demanding a family could be without a regular source of income. However, she soon learned, and started a business selling fresh tomatoes. She currently buys from suppliers, but they charge high prices to secure a large profit margin for themselves. She thinks if she buys the stock directly from farmers, it will be cheaper and will increase her profits.
Mary is determined to be a great entrepreneur and she plans to do this by getting her clients quality products . She can only achieve this by getting fresh tomatoes from the farms and bringing them to the market on time. All these requirements come with costs which she cannot meet without a loan.
Therefore, she is requesting a loan of $700: About $500 to purchase fresh green tomatoes, approximately $50 to purchase plastic crates and $100 to pay municipal fees for half a year. She believes that the business will generate enough income to cater for her familys financial needs. She is hardworking, determined and capable of repaying the loan.",F,700,lender,Food,1
Kenya,"Mary Njeri is 35 years old. She is married with five children, four of whom are in primary school and the other one is in secondary school. Mary is an active member of St. Monica women group. She is the assistant secretary of this group. She is a member of Catholic Women Association (CWA). She grows maize, beans, bananas, variety of vegetables and coffee. She is a farmer who does mainly crop farming and pig rearing. She has three pigs, one cow, and one bull. She produces a daily milk surplus of two litres, which she sells to the local residents. Mary's farm produce is consumed in part by her family, and she sells the remainder to retailers and local consumers at a local market. She has applied for a loan of USD75, with which she intends to purchase a pig. The loan committee has approved her loan. She is willing to repay this loan within 10 months. Mary also does farming. She has planted enough beans, maize and produce to feed her family. She would like to increase the farm produce so as to increase her business stocks. Mary is applying for a loan of USD 150 to purchase seedlings, planting seeds, and fertilizers as a way of diversifying her income. She is willing to repay this loan within a period of ten months.",F,150,lender,Agriculture,1
Kenya,"Mary Njoki Kamau is 36 years old. She is married with five children and has five additional children who depend on her. Most of these dependants are her relatives children whose parents are unable to afford their school fees. Therefore, she supports them by paying their tuition fees and general expenses.
Among her children and dependents, seven are in school and three have completed their studies. Mary has been successfully practicing mixed crop and commercial dairy farming for ten years. The two types of farming compliment each other. For example, she gets organic manure from the dairy cows and the cows feed from the farm crops.
In the area where she lives, farmers have successfully formed a cooperative society. The main aim of the society is to eliminate middlemen exploitation. It links farmers and markets directly and arranges for the transportation of their produce to the market. With this arrangement they are able to reap more profits than before. She wants to take advantage of this opportunity by expanding her business to be able to earn more profit. She has one cow and wants to add two more. She is requesting to be funded for US $850 to enable her to buy two more cows for her commercial dairy cow business. She is hardworking and her initial projections show that she will make more profit to reinvest in her business. This will allow her to be able to continue assisting her family.",F,850,lender,Agriculture,1
Kenya,"Mary Njoki Kiriro is 27 years old a single mother of four. Three of her children are in school in junior grades. She does maize farming in Ngorika settlement in the Rift valley. She works hard to save for her childrens higher education in the future and still pay for their current education and upkeep. Mary has been selling 35 bags annually to the cereals board of Kenya at US $15. That works out to the average minimum wage. She would like to improve her earnings but lacks the capital to expand. She requests a US $700 loan. Her budget is:
US $200 to lease more land,
US $400 to buy seeds and fertilizer, and
US $100 to contract casual labor.
She is an organized young farmer and will repay the loan.",F,700,lender,Agriculture,1
Kenya,"Mary Njoki Mwenja is 36 years old and a single mother of three children. Her firstborn child is in high school and the other two are in junior high school. In Kenya, high school education is usually expensive. Apart from tuition fees, parents are required to buy school books and lab equipment for their children. Their fees are normally in arrears (overdue debt) and the dropout rate is usually high. So, most of what Mary earns from her used clothes and shoes selling business, goes to her eldest daughter's education. She does not want to see her daughter drop out of high school. She sells mostly adult shoes like boots and sneakers. The business performs well, mostly in peak season, like the festive season and during the major holidays. Mary wishes to diversify her business so she can transport her goods to the rural areas where the market is more lucrative and it is all year round. This way she will be able to provide for her childrens fees comfortably so she can keep her eldest daughter in school as well as send her younger two. She is requesting a loan of $950. With this amount she will purchase more used shoes worth $700 and transport her goods with $250. Her initial assessments show that the business is viable.",F,950,lender,Clothing,1
Kenya,"Mary Njoki Nganga is forty-four years old. She is a single mother of four children. She sells food in a shop in town to the public. Three of her children are unable to continue with their high school education because she does not make enough money to pay for their fees. Her family lives in a two-room rented house. Her children help her in running the food shop. Her customers are mostly casual workers who earn little and thus she can not charge high prices. She wishes to expand her business by renovating her shop, adding more cutlery and employing one person to help her. She is therefore requesting a loan of US$300. Below is her budget on the loan: US$170 for the renovations and expansion of the shop to accommodate more customers US$ 20 will be used to purchase cutlery US$ 50 to add more food stuffs to increase her food varieties US$ 30 to employ one person to help her in the shop and the remaining US$ 30 to pay for the license of the shop. As a hard-working lady she is determined to give her children a better life. She is capable of repaying the loan.",F,300,lender,Food,1
Kenya,"Mary Njoki Watiri is 41 years old. She is married with 5 children; three are in primary school and the other two are in secondary school. She is a member of Gakoigo United women group. She is a businesswoman who owns a grocery shop. She buys vegetables like kales, cabbages, tomatoes, etc from farmers at a wholesale price since she buys in bulk. She managed to save up to USD60 which was a boost to her capital. She used this extra capital to purchase one sack of potatoes, cabbages, onions and one sack of kales. She has also managed to pay for business expenses with less difficulty. Therefore, she intends to purchase 7 bags of maize and beans. She has applied for a loan of USD300 which she is willing to repay this loan for a period of 10 months.",F,150,lender,Food,1
Kenya,"Mary Nyambura Gaitho is thirty years old and a single mother. She is currently in the business of retailing cereals (beans and grains). She buys most of her cereals from local traders. This minimizes her profit and if she could manage to buy directly from the farmers, her business would be more profitable. Mary's business has a lot of potential since she is the only person with that kind of business in her area. She really wants to take advantage of this and buy all the cereals directly from the farmers in rural areas. She is requesting a loan of US$ 350 of which US$ 120 will be used to buy different types of beans, US$ 70 to buy one sack of groundnuts (peanuts), US$ 50 to buy maize (corn), US$ 60 to buy green grams (lentils) and US$ 50 to buy packing papers.",F,350,lender,Food,1
Kenya,"Mary Nyambura Irungu is 44 years old and married with five children. She started a business of selling dry cereal at Mukuyu Market in the Central Province of Kenya.
She started her business so that she can educate her children to the secondary school level, which allow them to compete in the challenges of life. She would like to expand her business of selling dry cereal by buying more variety to add to her stock.That is why she seeks a loan of US $450. With the loan she can start selling her cereal at wholesale instead of retail. Mary will be able to repay her loan in 12 months and save on a monthly basis for any emergencies within the family (i.e. hospital bills, wedding etc.)",F,450,lender,Retail,1
Kenya,"Mary Nyambura is 58 years old. She is married with six children. She is an active member of Maragwa Ushuhuda women group. She practises farming and has planted bananas, mangoes, beans and vegetables. She also has a dairy cow which produces 4 litres of milk daily. She earns an average of USD90 from the farm produce that she sells to the local residents and also to business people at a local market. She is planning on buying a water tank for storage of rain water if given this loan. She is willing to repay this loan in a span of one year and on a monthly basis.",F,300,lender,Agriculture,1
Kenya,"Mary Nyambura Kimindoi was born 27 years ago. She is married and a mother of one child. She attends the church service at a local AIC church in Rongai and she is an active participant in this church's choir. She is an active member of Kandisi Wisdom women's group. Mary owns an electronics business in Rongai, which is managed by her husband, David. She sells new and used television sets, iron boxes and provides battery charging services. Mary was given a loan of $300 last year, which she used to expand her battery charging business and she repaid the loan. She has now applied for a loan of $750, which she intends to use to purchase a battery charger. She is willing to repay this loan within a period of 12 months.",F,750,lender,Retail,1
Kenya,"Mary Nyanchama Nderitu is 30 years old and is single with three children. Her children are all in school and she supports her aged mother in-law. Her husband died of an HIV/AIDS related illness 2 years ago, leaving her as the sole breadwinner. She joined the Wendani Self Help Group and got funding from Eb-f. She started dairy farming which provided milk for the family. She would sell the surplus, making some money. She repaid back her loan on time. She has built a good customer base and some have requested for more milk but she cannot meet the demand. She would like to exploit this opportunity but lacks capital. She requests a US $800 loan. Her budget is;
to use US $700 to buy a dairy cow
to use US $100 to transport the cow to her farm.
She is responsible and will repay the loan. The extra money that she will make will help to pay the much needed school fees and supply her familys daily needs.",F,800,lender,Agriculture,1
Kenya,"Mary Nyokabi is a form three drop-out. She was unable to continue with schooling due to fees. She started her business in 2002. She is a mother of four - all girls. The first two are in college, one is in secondary school and the last born is in class seven. Her husband is a trained primary school teacher. Mary started her business when she realized that her husbands earnings alone could not meet all of their needs. She got her first capital from the sale of their agricultural produce. The proposed loan of $1200 is the second loan with PEMCI, but the first with Kiva. She used the first loan of $450 from PEMCI to increase her stock of new clothes and shoes. She has fully repaid the loan. Her shop is located at Ambich trading centre on the major highway to Kitale town. Her major clients are teachers and farmers. She gets most of her stock from the capital city of Nairobi. Due to limited capital she is obliged to make at least 2 trips to Nairobi every week. This raises her costs tremendously due to the high cost of transportation. With the proposed loan she hopes to increase her stock and be able to make a single trip to Nairobi instead of two. She also plans to diversify her stock to better meet the growing needs of her clients. Through her business she has been able to give her husband support in educating their children and developing their small maize farm.",F,1200,lender,Clothing,1
Kenya,"Mary Siaji is 32 years old, married, with 4 children, all of whom are in school. She lives with her family in the Rongo District of Kenya.
Mary sells kerosene and second hand childrens and mens clothes in the Achutti Market. She has had a stall there since 2006. Mary purchases her stock in Kisii and Awendo and sells to her local community in the market.
The business has allowed Mary to send both her children and herself to school. With her profits, Mary was able to attend college and she is also able to pay for her childrens school fees.
She has applied for a loan of KSH 11,250 (approximately USD $150) in order to purchase more kerosene and used clothing. Mary wishes to expand the range of clothing items that she sells using the loan money.",F,150,partner,Clothing,0
Kenya,"Mary Wacheke is 49 years old. She is the single mother of two daughters. One girl is in school but the other one is not in school due to financial constraints. She earns her living through selling second hand clothes. Mary never managed to go to school due to lack of school fees. She opted for early marriage to counter the frustration she got for not going to school but she is now separated from her husband. Owing to the financial stress, her first born daughter is also not at school. This motivated her to approach Ebony Foundation to help her to regulate her business and to have a regular source of income in order to support her childrens education and meet the family needs. She requires a loan of US$650. US$400 will be used to buy children and ladies clothes from the main suppliers, US$50 for transport from the suppliers store to her stall, US$50 to pay for the license to operate the business and US$150 to pay for rent for the business stall. She is determined to be a great entrepreneur and is planning to do this by getting the market quality products which her customers need. She is certain that the business will do well since there is that weakness with suppliers and by taking advantage of this she will be the best. She believes that the business will generate a lot to cater for her familys financial needs. She is hardworking and determined and is therefore capable of paying back the loan.",F,650,lender,Clothing,1
Kenya,"Mary Waiharo is married and lives in Ole Roimen. She is the secretary of Queen Esther Women Group. She is operating a business of rental houses. Currently, she has three rental rooms. However, this income is not enough to sustain her domestic needs and affairs together with her children's needs. She would like to increase her income by building another six low-income rental houses. She has applied for a loan of USD1200, with which she intends to do the above. She is willing to repay this loan within a period of 12 months.",F,1200,lender,Housing,1
Kenya,"Mary Wairimu Gachuhi is 30 years, single with one child. Her child will be enrolling in junior school next year, 2008. Mary sells avocados in the open air market. She also gets orders from educational institutions to supply them with fruit at least twice a week. This has greatly improved her source of income. Mary got some orders to supply avocados to the schools of several other institutions, but she cannot fill these orders due to lack of capital. She is requesting a loan of $ 350 to finance the orders. Mary has been in this business for some time and she believes that the increase in capital will let her generate more income since the institutions are ready to pay the amount. Mary will use $ 300 to buy the stock of avocados and $50 for transport. She is a member of Muungano Group. She is capable of repaying the loan as she has excellent marketing skills.",F,350,lender,Food,1
Kenya,"Mary Wairimu is a young woman in her late thirties with four children. All her children are in high school and primary school. She practices farming in order to feed her family. Her husband takes the burden of paying school fees though she assists when the need arises. She grows coffee, vegetables, potatoes, maize, beans (on small scale) and keeps a dairy cow. She has had a desire to start a business which will not require her to leave home. The stock market has offered a business venue from which she can operate from home and with her stockbroker. She is grateful to be in the WEEC group because she would have found it difficult to access loans from local big banks.",F,150,lender,Agriculture,1
Kenya,"Mary Wairimu Kinuthia is 42 years old, married, and has children who have finished their schooling and are all employed. She makes her living by operating a cafe. In addition, she has employed 2 people as staff.The business has been successful because of the location in Nairobi town, where there are many tenants and the demand for traditional food is very high. She has been doing well for the past three years and now wants to expand her cafe. The high demand has made her business premises small, and she would like to expand so that she can serve many customers at one time, instead of having people wait to be served. She is requesting a loan amount of US$ 1,100 with a budget of: US $ 700 to purchase more seats, tables and utensils and US $ 400 to purchase more cooking ingredients. She is hardworking, good at customer relations and able to repay the loan.",F,1100,lender,Food,1
Kenya,"Mary Wairimu Muigai is 40 years old and she is married with seven children. She is an active member of Gitui Smart Women's Group. She is a member of ACK Church Gitui. Her main occupation is farming. She grows nappier grass, macadamia nut trees, beans and coffee. She has three cows and the milk produced is sold to the local residents. She also sells the coffee to a local coffee factory and the income generated plays a great role in educating her children and taking care of the family needs. She has applied a loan of USD600, which she intends to purchase another dairy cow. She is willing to repay this loan within 12 months.",F,600,lender,Agriculture,1
Kenya,"Mary Wairimu Mwangi is a 45-year-old widow. She has three children and one other dependent. Two of her children are of school-going age. She owns a small food caf in Kipanga Way (a slum in Nakuru town). Her major target clients are people at various construction sites. She prepares a variety of foods and if her clients are far from her premises, she delivers the food to their place of work. Mary is the bread winner for her family and all family expenses are paid by her. She has been experiencing difficulties meeting all expenses appropriately. She is requesting a loan of US$ 300 to boost her business: $100 to buy more utensils, $100 to buy food stuffs, and $100 to buy containers that can be used to transport food to the people far from her little caf. Mary is committed and will repay the loan.",F,300,lender,Food,1
Kenya,"Mary Wairimu Ndungu is 71 years old. She is married and has 10 children, all of whom are adults. She lives in the sprawling town of Nakuru and despite her old age, Mary is very hard working. She owns a shop in Nakuru town that has been of great help to her family. She also sells charcoal. All her children are grown up and Mary has been supporting her family for all these years. She has been used to working all her adult life and wants to expand her business but lack of funds is her greatest challenge. She is requesting a loan of US$ 400: US$300 to buy more stock, US$50 for transport expenses and US$50 to pay for the municipal license. Mary is hard working and confident that she will be able to repay the loan.",F,400,lender,Retail,1
Kenya,"Mary Wairimu was born 45 years ago. She is married and has four children. She is a dedicated member of the Catholic Church. She is a farmer and grows tea, vegetables, beans, maize, coffee and she has dairy cows. Every month she is able to sell her farm produce of about USD125 from sale of milk, vegetables and tea leaves. Her income is not enough to meet all her family needs, therefore, she is would like to take a loan to supplement her current earnings. She wants to buy chicken and goat manure to increase land productivity. Also she will be able to maintain her animals by buying Dairy feeds to possibly increase milk production. She believes the loan will increase out put and this will lead to improved earnings and later change the standard of living.",F,300,partner,Agriculture,0
Kenya,"Mary Waithera Wanjiku is aged 29 years. Shes married and has two children and is expecting another soon. One of the children is in pre-unit class and the other one in standard one. She joined Mother of Joy Women's Group in January 2007 after being told by her member colleagues how KIVA/WEEC loans have boosted their business in Kiambu.
She is currently a farmer and her farm is located in Wangige. She has two cows that produce an average of 40 litres and she sells this milk to a local Kabete Co-operative Society at the rate of 0.3USD per litre. She also practices crop farming where she plants kale, carrots and other vegetables which she sells at a local Wangige market. If given this loan she will be able to buy fertilizer for her farm in order to increase her produce, hence meeting the rising demand and also increasing her income.",F,150,lender,Agriculture,1
Kenya,"Mary Wamaitha is 29 years old. She is married and has two children aged 10 and 6. Mary has a hair salon business. She started braiding her sisters' hair when she was young and believes that she was born with this talent.
In 2005, Mary started her business by braiding her customers' hair in their own homes, while others would come over to her house for the service. With time, her customer base grew, and Mary needed to settle in one place from where she would provide the service to the customers.
When she started out, she only had one small mirror and one chair, both of which she bought with proceeds from her hair-braiding work. These cost her Ksh. 650 (US$10). In December 2006, Mary joined a small co-operative that was giving small loans to the youth in her area. She was able to obtain a loan of Ksh. 6,500 (US$100) which she used to buy four plastic chairs, one large mirror, some towels, and an assortment of combs. She has managed to repay the loan. However, the co-operative is unable to give Mary more funds -the maximum amount she could access was Ksh. 10,000 (US$155). Mary still needs financial help, since, with the equipment that she has, she is not able to wash and straighten hair. She wishes to provide a complete service to her customers, also in order to help them save the time that they use by going to another salon that is far away.
Mary is asking for a loan Of US$550 which will be repayable within a period of 12 18 months. With this loan Mary will be able to acquire some equipment for her salon, including a hair drier, a steamer, a blow drier, and hair chemicals.",F,550,partner,Services,0
Kenya,"MARY WAMBUI is 32 years old. She is a single parent of one girl. She lives with her daughter and her two younger sisters in her rented two roomed house in Kayole Estate in Nairobi City. Her daughter is attending Kindergarten while her two sisters are in high school. Mary pays schools fees for her daughter and her sisters and also supports her aging parents back home in the rural area.
Mary is a high school graduate but did not attend college for lack of school fees. When she failed to get formal employment, she decided to start a business of selling water melons fruits at Nairobis Wakulima Market. She gets the fruits from her rural area where they grow in plenty. Mary buys and sells about 1,000 kilograms of the fruit per week. This earns her an average of US $ 120 per week. She utilizes the income to provide for her family and parents and to pay school fees for her sisters.
Mary wants to increase her sales to 2,000 kilograms of water melon fruits per week and she wants to open premises at a second City Market. She is requesting a loan of US $ 1,500 to expand the business. Her budget is: US $ 800 to increase her stock of water melons, US $ 400 to acquire and improve the second premises and US $ 300 to expand the storage facility at the Market to accommodate the increased stock.
This will increase her earnings to an average of US $ 230 per week. She plans to utilize the income to keep her daughter and sisters in school and to expand her business to other City Markets. Mary is hard working and will be able to repay the loan.",F,1500,lender,Food,1
Kenya,"MARY WAMBUI is a 34 yr old single entrepreneur with three children. Her eldest child is in junior school, grade 7. Her second is in junior school, grade 5 and the youngest in junior school, grade 2. Mary is the sole breadwinner selling new clothes and shoes. She exhausted most of her savings paying school fees for the three when school reopened. Fortunately she got an order to solely sell school uniforms for a local girls school in Nakuru city. Basically the parents are informed on the particular shop to buy from and she has to have a ready stock to sell to them. She would like to exploit this opportunity but lacks the capital. She requests a US $ 800 loan. This will all be used to stock the school uniforms.
This will help educate her children.
She is focused and will repay the loan.",F,800,lender,Clothing,1
Kenya,"Mary Wambui Kariithi is 55 years old and is married with four children. She also has four other dependents. There are six who are of school-going age and are all relying on her for school fees. Mary never attended school; she has been farming all her life and has almost 35 years of experience. She has particularly specialized in dairy farming and chicken rearing. Mary is requesting a loan of US$ 600 to assist her in adding more chickens. She intends to use US$ 100 to expand the current chicken shed, US$ 200 to buy chicken feed, and US$ 300 to buy chicks. Having been in the business for a considerable time, Mary feels sure she will succeed.",F,600,lender,Agriculture,1
Kenya,"Mary Wambui Muchoki is 49 years old. She is married with 5 children. She is a member of the ACK church and also a member of St. Jude women's group. She believes in active tithing and attending weekly fellowship. She is a treasurer of St. Jude women's group.
Mary is a farmer who plants bananas, nippier grass for the cattle, maize and beans. She has two dairy cows. She has applied for a loan of USD 150 to buy fertilizer and quality seeds. She is willing to repay this loan in a span of 12 months.",F,150,lender,Agriculture,1
Kenya,"Mary Wambui Mworia is 45 years old. She is married with three children; two in secondary school and the other in primary school.
She received a loan of USD300 in October 2006 that she used to travel to Tanzania, where she bought several bales of materials. However, the business suffered some hitches because of new government policies that she had not complied with. This forced her to pay a penalty of USD150. Despite all this mishap, she managed to buy all that she wanted. The penalty that she paid has really affected the flow of stock in her business and hence it is compromising customer supply and demand. Mary has applied for a loan of USD600, which she intends to use to stabilize the flow of materials from Tanzania or Uganda to her loyal clients.",F,600,lender,Clothing,1
Kenya,"Mary wambui was born 48 years ago and grew as an orphan. She did not receive the basic education because the responsibility of caring for siblings was hers. She was later married and got blessed with 10 children. In 1995 she became a widow. Despite having so many challenges in life nothing has deterred her from working hard and giving her children what she never got (education).She has tried to run several businesses ie for cereals, selling a household shop before trained by WEEC on business management basics from St Agata women group.
She stood by the shop and hasbeen able to stock some of domestic items such as sugar, salt, flour, soaps, cereals, tissue, sanitary towels.
Her son helps her sometimes to run the business when she is on her small land where she grows crops for family consumption. She grows tea leaves, keeps bulls, beans, maize and coffee.This has really helped her to raise her children and she has a positive altituted towards life.",F,450,lender,Retail,1
Kenya,"Mary Wambui Waweru was born in 1974 in Kanunga, Kiambu. She is married and has four children; all of whom are in school. She is a dedicated member of the Morning Sunshine women's group where she is the Vice Chairlady. She joined WEEC in 2003. For the past five years, she has been rearing dairy cows and pigs. She sells an average of 15 litres of milk daily to the local residents. She also sells pig meat to the local residents of Kiambu. She has applied for a loan of $900, which she intends to use to buy one dairy cow and two pigs to increase her milk and pork production, and thereby increase her income. She is willing to repay this loan within a period of 12 months.",F,900,lender,Agriculture,1
Kenya,"Mary Wangari is a 45-year-old single mother. She has been living with her parents all her life and has never gotten married. Mary was not able to finish her education; she dropped out while still in elementary school. It is after that time that one of her friends introduced her to the business of selling paint. Since then, Mary has been engaged in that business and she has actually attracted a lot of customers. Despite all this, she has never leased her own shop but stores her paint in a friends workshop. Mary's low income wont allow her to undertake the expansion she envisions, and so she is requesting a loan of US$ 1100. She intends to use $500 to add to her paint inventory, $200 to lease premises, $200 to buy packing cans, $100 to renovate the premises, and $ 100 to pay for a license. Mary is hardworking and able to repay the loan.",F,1100,lender,Agriculture,1
Kenya,"Mary Wangari Mungai is 50 years old and married with six children. Mary resides in Ruai, a town on the outskirts of Nairobi. This town is famous for its high-quality building stones. Mary is one of the lucky owners of a quarry. The building stones are used in many buildings around the country and Mary jokes with us that our offices could be in a building made with stones from her quarry.
Mary Wangari started working in a quarry in a town known as Naivasha this was in the year 2004. Mary opted to work in the quarries since she couldn't find work elsewhere. She describes herself as a pioneer of women working in the Naivasha quarries. After working in poor conditions in the Naivasha quarries, Mary saved about 30,000 KSH and relocated to Ruai. Since the money was not enough to buy a plot, Mary approached her older sister to borrow 10,000 KSH, which her sister provided. Mary then bought a quarry plot which produces building stones which are always in demand.
Mary wants to produce more quality stones and to achieve this, she has to have quality equipment. Mary is therefore requesting a loan of 70,000 KSH, with which she will purchase various equipment, including chisels, mallets, rope, etc., to enable her produce quality stone, which means more income for her company and the community members she will employ.",F,1000,partner,Construction,1
Kenya,"Mary Wangari Njau is 47 years old. She is a widow with 5 children. She also takes care of 7 grand children and lives with her daughter in a rental house in Maragwa. She is a chairlady of Independent Church and also a member of Gakoigo women group. She is a new member of her group and has started contributing USD3 per month. She has a green grocer shop which is the main source of income. She has managed to stock tomatoes, potatoes, kales, cabbages, variety of fruits and other various vegetables. She has applied for a loan of USD150 to empower her financially to purchase 3 sacks of potatoes, 1 box of tomatoes and 1 sack of kales and spinach. She is willing to repay this loan in a period of 10 months.",F,150,lender,Food,1
Kenya,"Mary Wangeshi Ndonge is 54 years old. She is a single mother of three children. She lives in the slums of Kibera, which are the biggest slums in Africa.
Two of her children have completed their studies but their admission into college is still pending due to a lack of tuition fees. Her other child is in high school. Marys husband passed away five years ago. She decided to start a second-hand business from her savings to fulfill the role which her husband used to play.
The second-hand business is lucrative in the slums, since slum dwellers have low purchasing power and cannot afford new clothes. At the moment she is not able to satisfy the demand. She wants to expand her business in order to be able to cater to this demand. She is requesting a loan of US $675. With this money, she will purchase stocks of second-hand clothes worth US $550, renovate her stall for US $50 and buy an initial stock of infant shoes to sell. She has the will to succeed in business and the loan will fuel her success.",F,675,lender,Clothing,1
Kenya,"Mary Wangui is 59 years of age, married with four children. Her children are self reliant and out of the nest now. Mary is a member of Gituya Women Group and she thanks God for it as she has been able to educate and start her business from the loans she has received since she joined. Marys business is a general store. She sells, Flour (corn and wheat), salt, sugar, cooking fat, soaps of all type, cereals, books and other household goods. She wants to increase her stock in order to have a wide range of products and thus meeting her customers demands. In addition to this she does dairy farming as a way of meeting her family needs of milk and earns some extra income from it too. The milk she sells has enabled her to repay all her loans without struggles even when her income is low.",F,250,lender,Retail,1
Kenya,"Mary Wanjiku is 43 years old. She is a mother of four children. Two of her children are in primary school and two are grown up. She is an active member of Kirimiga Purity Women Group, whose dedications are accepted by all the groups members. She is also a treasurer in ACK church Kenya Njeru. She farms a mixed crop of pumpkins, coffee, beans, maize, and passion fruit. And to add to this she has one goat and a dairy cow. She is considered credit worthy. She is applying for a loan of $600, with which she intends to purchase a dairy cow. The group loan committee has approved this loan. She is willing to repay this loan within a period of 12 months.",F,600,lender,Agriculture,1
Kenya,"MARY WANJIKU is a 36 yr old married farmer. Mary and her husband Joseph have three children, two of their own and one orphan from his deceased brother who died of H.I.V related sickness. They also live with their aged parents in the Subukia settlement. They are members of the Suma self help group. They do both dairy and maize farming on their plot of land. Despite working hard to educate the children who are all in school and meet the needs of their aged parents, most of their money went towards paying medical bills for her husband's brother who was bedridden for a whole year and depended on them. Mary got her first loan from Eb-f last year and bought an extra cow. This has helped with extra income. Mary did repay her loan on time. She would now like to start tomato farming by irrigation in dry seasons because this normally fetches the best prices. There is an all season river passing right through her plot giving her a stable water source, She has bought water pipes and sprayers but she lacks the capital to buy pumps. Mary requests a US $ 1200 loan.
This is her budget:
US $1200 buys two motor water pumps.
This will create employment for one person; the extra income will educate the children and meet the familys daily needs.
She is cooperative and will repay the loan.",F,1200,lender,Agriculture,1
Kenya,"Mary Wanjiku Muchiri, aged 38, is a widow and has 4 children. Two of them are at school, while the others have not yet attained school age.
Being a widow, she decided to be self-employed and, in addition, employ others as waiters. She has been running a refreshments business for the last five years. She sells fresh mango juice, passion fruit juice, carrot juice and beetroot juice. Mary depends on this business for her livelihood. The business is very profitable because of the lack of competitors in the surrounding area (Getwekere in Nairobi's Kibera informal settlements). Mary has experience in processing the refreshments; therefore, she does not need to hire additional staff, which reduces the production costs. She is asking for a loan of US$700:
US$400 to purchase a freezer,
US$200 to purchase ice ingredients, and
US$100 for transportation/other supplies",F,700,lender,Food,1
Kenya,"Mary Wanjira is 46 years old. She is a mother of three, 2 of whom are finishing high school and one in primary school. Mary joined Rainbow Group in 2004 and since then she has become an active member of that group.
She owns a household shop, located at Githunguri, which stocks cereals and other general household goods such as soap, foodstuff, soda, etc. This acts as her main source of income, and to boost her income she undertakes farming activities. She has two cows, three pigs and ten chickens. Because of what she does, she gets an average profit of USD115 per month. Also, currently one of the cows is producing an extra three litres of milk every day after Mary introduced high-quality animal feed. This generates an extra 0.7USD through sale of this milk. She is applying for a loan of USD125 that will enable her to add more stock to her shop to be able to cater for the rising demand in that area.",F,125,lender,Retail,1
Kenya,"Mary Wanjiru is a 51-year-old widow with three children: a boy and two girls. One of her children is in school. She sells fruits at Kawangware market, Nairobi. She had a passion and desire to start up a fruit business to help her earn a living. After primary education she started practicing farming because her parents were not able to raise school fees for her. The rewards were not sufficient for her, so she thought of another way of supplementing her income. This is when she started the fruit business with the little capital she had raised from carrying out farming practices.
She has been in business for the last ten years. She has good business relations and customer care skills. To meet the rising demand and expand her business, she is applying for a loan of $900 to use as follows: US$400 to increase stock, US$200 buy transportation facilities, US$200 to put up a modernized structure, and US$100 to renew her license. Mary is hardworking and capable of repaying the loan.",F,900,lender,Food,1
Kenya,"Mary Wanjiru Karubiu is a 28-year-old businesswoman, the married mother of one child who is not in school. Marys husband sells bananas in Nakuru market. She lives in Nakuru town together with her nuclear family. Mary dropped out of school because her parents couldnt support her studies, due to lack of money. She got married, and after she realized that her husbands small income was inadequate to cater for the family, she ventured into the business of selling bananas separately from her husband. The business earns her income, and she has been able to live a standard life. Mary has target customers, especially from businesses which blend juice. However, she faces challenges like lack of funds and high transport costs because she gets her bananas from the Kenya- Uganda border. She is therefore requesting a loan of $1000, which she will spend as follows: $600 to buy more bananas, $300 to pay transport costs and $100 to pay the municipal council fee. Mary is a determined lady, and she will be able to repay the loan.
Disclaimer: Due to recent events in Kenya, the security situation in many communities remains unsettled, affecting many local businesses. Lenders to this entrepreneur should be aware that this loan may represent a higher default risk, and should be willing to accept this additional risk in making their loan.",F,1000,lender,Food,1
Kenya,"Mary Wanjiru Kuria is 30 years old and married with one child attending school. She is a social worker by profession but has never been employed. In order to make a living, she started a clothes business. She has been in the trade for eleven years but has never got the opportunity to expand her business. Her business has barely been surviving due to financial constraints for years. So Mary approached Ebf for a loan to expand her clothes business. Her expertise and personal belief is that the returns will be high if she invests more of the resources she will get from the organization into the business. It is clear that she lacks enough capital so she wants to rebuild her business from the loan she will receive from the organization.
Therefore as an initial expansion stage she requires an amount of US $750 to purchase the following products as follows:
Clothes: US $200
Shoes: US $200
Bags: US $100
Body Oils: US $150
Transport/traveling expenses: US $100 ",F,750,lender,Clothing,1
Kenya,"Mary Wanjiru Mbogo is 38 years old and a widow with 4 children. Two out of four are in school. She has been running an inn for the past 7 years and entirely depends on her business for her and her family's livelihood. Being a widow due to her husband's demise and unemployed due to her lack of education, whenever she gets a job she is paid little, and the job is unstable.
So she decided to be self employed and also employ others as waiters. This situation has exposed her to poverty and strenuous conditions since she has had to work for many hours to sustain her family and the business. She has not been able to secure loans due to lack of collateral needed by the other financial institutions. That is why she approached Ebony for assistance to expand her business. Her business is very profitable because it is situated where there are no competitors at a location known as Kiti, Nakuru. The demand is very high and the supply is low.
She requested for a total of US $1000 to procure more stock. She has her own bottles and cases which reduces the budget cost. She has budgeted to purchase wines and beers of different variety as follows:
Beer different brands: US $600
Wine different tastes: US $300
Transport/supplies: US $100
The business has high returns that will assist Mary to grow the business and support her family.",F,1000,lender,Food,1
Kenya,"Mary Wanjiru Njenga is a 47-year-old mother of six children. She is married, and her husband earns income selling farm products. They both contribute towards the welfare of the family and currently reside in a populous slum settlement in the outskirts of Mombasa. Mary earns a living by operating a cooked food vending business in the town center. The food items she sells are rice, beans, and githeri (a mixture of beans, green maize, and chapatis made from wheat flour). Mary has been running this business for eight years, and the proceeds from food sales have been useful in catering for her family's needs, such as for covering her childrens school fees. Mary's customer base is comprised of city center workers and school children who buy food from her stall during lunchtime. Currently, Mary is operating her business from a makeshift structure, but would like to build a small hotel which would be more hygienic and attract more customers. Mary is therefore requesting a loan of US $600 to assist her in meeting her business expansion goals. The funds will be used to buy more foodstuffs for sale as well as a few utensils. Mary is a determined businesswoman and will be able to repay the loan.",F,600,lender,Food,1
Kenya,"Mary Wanjuhi Wainaina is 34 years old. She is married with three children. All of her children are in public primary school in Kikuyu under the free primary education programme that was introduced by the Kenyan government. After she completed her secondary school, her father could not raise money to send her to college. She is a religious person and a member of ACK Church. Mary joined WEEC early this year after being told by a friend of how WEEC and KIVA have boosted businesses in the area. Appraising her business of pig rearing, Mary told Kiambu MFO, Martin Ndegwa that she had feared to join Micro Finance Institutions. However, she has decided otherwise and she is optimistic that her business might grow. She sells the pigs to the Farmers Choice Company. Given a loan of USD300, she intends to purchase five more pigs for her business. She is willing to repay this loan within a period of 10 months.",F,300,lender,Agriculture,1
Kenya,"Mary Wanyoike Kiama is 41 years old. She is married and has 4 children of 14, 10, 6 and 2 years old. She is a teacher by profession with a tertiary education background. She has been a teacher for the past 16 years but has highly engaged in poultry farming as a means to support her family better than she can with the meager income she is receiving as a teacher.
The business has been successful because its profitable and all seasons for there is ready market for her products - mostly eggs. Mary employs one person who takes care of the poultry farm and now wants to hire another person. She would like to expand her business, increase her supply to enable her to pay for school fees for her children and increase her family income. She wants to add more poultry.
She request a loan of US $ 1,200 to be used as follows:
US $800 to purchase 52 bags of chicken layer mash
US $100 to purchase materials for renovation
US $300 to purchase 500 chicks ",F,1200,lender,Agriculture,1
Kenya,"Mary Wanza is a 40-year-old, very hard-working single mother of 5 children. She has twins aged 14 and the others are 19, 21, 24 years old. Mary also takes care of her aging mother and two brothers who are drug addicts. They all live in the Kibera slums of Nairobi.
Mary started her business in the year 2000 after getting lessons from her daughter, now aged 24 years, who was trained how to knit using a loom machine by a group of women in Kenya called Maendeleo ya Wanawake Organization. This group teaches women how to get into self-employment using locally available materials. Mary knitted two sets of tablecloths and took them to the offices of Maendeleo ya Wanawake Organization. Fortunately she got buyers and sold the sets of the tablecloths, and earned herself a cheque of Ksh 2000 (USD 29). Mary used this money to buy knitting wool, which she used to make 4 sets of tablecloths. Again she took them to the offices of Maendeleo ya Wanawake and all the 4 sets were bought and by the time she was leaving their offices, she had got orders from a number of people.
Marys business has continued to grow and for now she deals with tourists from Switzerland and they love her work very much such that every month she does at least 10 sets of tablecloths for them. Unfortunately, last year, Marys brother who is a drug addict took her money to buy drugs. For now Marys business is doing poorly due to a shortage of money to purchase materials for knitting.
Right now Mary has an order to make tablecloths worth Ksh 10,000 (USD 150) but what is drawing her back is the fact that she has no money to buy the materials needed. She has so far not managed to get access to any money to enable her to purchase the needed materials to accomplish her order.
Mary Wanza therefore requests for a loan of USD 150, which will be given in kind, to enable her purchase materials for knitting the tablecloths. The repayment for this loan will be 8 -14 months. Given this loan Mary will have an increased number of orders to make tablecloths which will generate more income. Mary promises to train at least three people from her community how to knit, and also employ two people to help with the increased workload.",F,150,partner,Services,0
Kenya,"Mary was born 36 years ago. She is married and has 7 children. 5 are in upper primary 1 in secondary school and 1 is independent. She is a religious person and practices good morals in the society. She is dedicated a member of St.Lukes ACK Church and a member of a Mothers Union. She is among the founder members of Wendani Sisters She has really been a positive influence on her neighbours. She and her family have greatly benefited from small loans from WEEC. Mary is a mixed farmer who grows vegetables, fruits, cereals and carrots as well as rearing dairy cows, sheep and goats. Her farming project has been the primary source of income for her family and she pays the school fees for her children. She has continued working hard and vis ery determined to add a better dairy cow breed to her farm. She sells her produce at the local market. She has been very happy for the small loans which has boosted her project and have given her an opportunity. She hopes to get a loan of USD150 and concentrate on livestock farming where market is ready. She is willing to repay her loan on monthly basis for a period of 12 months.",F,150,lender,Agriculture,1
Kenya,"Mary was born 40 years ago and is married with 4 children. Her first two children are in college, while the last two are in boarding primary school. She is an active member of the group and she is the chairperson of the group. She also holds the same position in her church where she is the one who leads other women and a Christian community based organization called St. Johns the Baptist. Her good organizational skills make her well equipped in leading others. She empowers women in various groups and enlightens them with the knowledge she gets from different areas. Mary gets her income through rearing dairy animals, an activity which she has practiced for the last ten years. She built her cow shed through the loan she secured from the group. Currently she has 3 dairy cows, which produce an average of 30 litres daily at USD 0.28 per litre, which has helped her educate her children and lead a better life. She supplies her milk to the neighboring cooperative creamery, which pays dues on a monthly basis. Due to an increased market price and a ready market for milk, she intends to buy another dairy cow to increase her income. She is willing to repay the loan in monthly installments.",F,600,lender,Agriculture,1
Kenya,"Mary was born 40 years ago in Lower Kabete in Kiambu. She is married with 3 children. Two are in a boarding secondary school while the last born boy is in a private lower primary school in Kiambu. She is a religious and a committed member of Lower Kabete Catholic Church in Kiambu. Like her colleagues in the group, Mary has really seen the power of KIVA loans through her friends dairy farming. She decided to commit herself to starting a small milk business to make ends meet for her family so she joined the group.
Mary has been selling milk in Wangige and Gathiga area for the last 3 year but still finds it hard to pay her children's school fees. She supplies her raw milk to hotels in Nairobi at usd 0.4 per litre. Since Mary started her milk business, her life has really changed. She has raised and educated her children from income earned from the business.
Given a loan of usd 150, she will buy more milk to meet her customers' needs.",F,150,lender,Food,1
Kenya,"Mary was born 40 years ago; she is married and has 4 children. Her first two children are in college, while the last two are in a boarding primary school. She is an active member of the lending group and she is the chairperson of the group. She also holds the same position in her church which runs a Christian community based organization called St. Johns the Baptist. Her organizational skills make her well equipped in leading others. She empowers women in various groups and enlightens them on issues in different areas.
Mary gets her income through rearing dairy animals, an activity which she has practiced for the last ten years. She used her first loan to build a cows shed and currently she has 3 dairy cows, which produce on average 30 litres daily. She supplies her milk to the neighboring dairy cooperative society and payments are on monthly basis. She also grows vegetables on small piece of land for home consumption and when she has more then she sells to the neighboring community. To increase milk production, she wants to buy dairy feeds.",F,150,lender,Agriculture,1
Kenya,"Mary was born 41 years ago in Empuyiankat, Kajiado. As young girl she used to look after her fathers cattle and did not get a chance of attending school. However, her wish is to educate her five children to sail through the tabulate waters of this world. Two of her children are in college while the rest are in secondary school. She is married to a responsible man who contributes towards the development of their family. Mary is a strong member of Inkiramat women group. She sells bead items and milk to earn a living. She sells milk to hotels at Kitengela town and bead items in Isinya as well as Kiserian. Marys group is scheduled for training in livestock management towards the end of September and this aims at equipping members with new methods of livestock management to prepare them for the new business they are to start. She wants to start a business of rearing steers and selling them after some time. She wants to utilize the expanding market and the availability of pasture in the area at present. Mary plans to start with 2 small steers and later will develop the capacity to raise about 10 steers. At this level, she will be in a position to providing for her family the minimum necessities of life.",F,150,partner,Agriculture,0
Kenya,"Mary was born 41 years ago in Empuyiankat, Kajiado. As young girl she used to look after her father's cattle and did not get a chance of attending school. Mary is a strong member of Inkiramat Women's Group. However, her wish is to educate her five children to sail through the turbulent waters of this world. Two of her children have been able to go to college while the rest are almost through secondary school. She is married to a responsible man who contributes towards the development of their family.
She is very happy that she has achieved her first phase dream with her first Kiva loan. She is to finalise her loan before the first quarter. She has bigger plans of buying more steers for they have proved to her positively. Since the country's meat commission has revived the industry, Mary sees it as an opportunity to sell her steers. Marys group is scheduled for their first third training in livestock management since she joined Inkrimat, and this aims at equipping members with new methods of livestock management to prepare them to handle the animals they are to start.
She wants to start a business of rearing steers and selling them after some time. She wants to utilize the expanding market and the availability of pasture in the area at present. She has promised to repay her loan within a period of one year. She has been making her repayments on time from the loan she is about to finish.",F,600,lender,Agriculture,1
Kenya,"Mary was born 48 years ago, single with 4 children and 2 grand children. She is a religious person with strong principles about her faith. She is very active and leads in Kirangare Wendani Women Group and in welfare organization in her community. Her source of income has been cereals business and she has been growing some vegetables in small scale which has helped her to raise all of her children and pay their school fees. Her business has been boosted a lot by the group loans she has been securing and she is very proud to see what she has achieved. She buys cereals in bulk whenever she got money and supplies them to small retailers of different markets. At times its very challenging due to lack of enough funds ending up loosing some customers for sometimes. She is planning to buy stock in bulk which will sustain her business through the coming festive season and she will gather income which will enable her to pay fees for her children. She likes her work and encourages women from her group to utilize the available resources.",F,300,lender,Food,1
Kenya,"Mary was born 60years ago, married and has four dependants. These are orphan children she is taking care of as their guardian. She is in the Church Committee of Gaitheri Anglican Church of Kenya where she is involved in making pertinent decisions. She is also a member of Gaitheri faithful mothers Women group and a great mirror to women in her group. She has a clothes business which is unique in her area and she likes it very much. This group has helped her with loans she has been securing to buy different variety of clothes for the past 2 years of operation. She started with a stock of USD45 and has now grown to USD200.She is applying for USD900 to diversify and buy more clothes for the preparation of festive season which is around the corner. She believes she can achieve anything she desires through hard work and patient and sky is the limit for her.",F,900,lender,Clothing,1
Kenya,"Mary was born in 1948, married with 7 children. She is a founder member of Kirangare Women and very active in the group. She is one of the clients who have benefited a lot from the group and she has no regrets about the group. When she got married, she was much challenged because she couldnt write or read her name and her husband was very supportive. He took her to an adult education program where she learnt a lot. She was very empowered after realizing the impact of education in life. In her group, she inspires and empowers women and has set a good example to others. Since she became literate, she started operating a green grocer which has helped her a lot in raising her children. She started with kales, onions, cabbages
and tomatoes which were mostly used by her neighbours.After joining the group, she got her first loan and added stock of what she had. All her children have gone upto secondary and she made to pay fees through the income she generated from the green grocer. She is willing to take 2 of her children to university and the only way she can pay the fees is to add variety of vegetables which has become more marketable to increase her income. She has established customers who have sustained her business. She believes all her children will get the quality education to compensate what she did not get.",F,300,lender,Food,1
Kenya,"Mary was born in 1950 in Kiambu, Kenya. She is married with four children, who are all out of school. She is a devoted Christian of Restoration church where she is a choir member .Mary joined WEEC in the year 2002 and she has been the group chairlady for the last 3 years. She has been a reliable member to the group particularly in matters relating to problem solving. Together with her husband, they started a green grocer business 20 years ago. They have raised and educated their children from income earned from the business. She credits her success to the trainings given by WEEC on loan and finance management. Besides her grocery business, Mary also keeps some dairy goats which substitute her income generation. She would like to introduce dairy cow in her farm with the loan she is hoping to get.",F,300,lender,Agriculture,1
Kenya,"Mary was born in 1950 in Kiambu, Kenya. She is married with four children, who are all out of school. She is a devoted Christian of the Restoration church where she is a choir member. Mary joined WEEC in the year 2002 and she has been the group chairlady for the last 3 years. She has been a reliable member to the group, particularly in matters relating to problem-solving.
Together with her husband, they started a green grocer business 20 years ago. They have raised and educated their children from income earned from the business. She credits her success to the trainings given by WEEC on loan and finance management. Besides her grocery business, Mary also keeps some dairy goats, which supplement her income generation. The dairy cow that she earlier bought has increased her income. It produces 15 litres a day, which she sells at a local dairy cooperative at USD 0.28 per litre. She has repaid her loan 95% and would like to introduce another dairy cow in her farm with the loan she is hoping to get of USD600.",M,600,lender,Agriculture,1
Kenya,"Mary was born in 1954 in Kiambu Kenya. She is married with four children. All her children are in boarding secondary schools. Mary is an active member of her group and she participates in all group activities. She is a very hardworking woman. She joined her group in 2002 and registered with WEEC in the same year. She has a plot of land, where she has put up a maize mill. She also keeps dairy cattle and she sells her milk at Kiambu farmers Co-operative society Ltd.at USD 0.25 per litre. At her maize mill she charges USD0.08 per kilogram of maize. She has transformed her entire community by her milling services. She would like to add a dairy cow to maximize her income to easen the burden of paying school fees. She promises to meet her repayments on time.",F,600,lender,Food,1
Kenya,"Mary was born thirty-two years ago and is married with two children. These children are all in primary school. Mary is an active member of Naomi Ruth in which she contributes greatly in offering sound advice to the members, especially on social and economic developmental issues. She is a timber merchant. She purchases trees from the community, saws them and transports them to Nairobi for sale. She currently owns two power saws and due to the demand for timber, she desires to buy a third power saw, which will cost her USD750. She will be grateful for receiving this loan as it will boost her timber production.",F,750,lender,Construction,1
Kenya,"Masikas business involves repairing bicycles which are the main mode of transport in his community. This he started in 1991 when he realized there was unmet demand for the service. He also sells spare parts. He has not undertaken any formal training concerning this but he learned through observation. His customers are mainly people from his community. Through his business, he has been able to open a canteen, where he sells manufactured goods at retail.
With a loan from PEMCI, he wishes to purchase more bicycle repair parts and also increase the stock of his canteen. His businesses have enabled him to educate his seven children; he has developed his farm and most of all he has been of much help in the transport sector by bringing bicycle repair services to the locals.",M,125,lender,Services,1
Kenya,"Masompa is married with six dependants .she did not have formal education though she was able to educate her children by keeping dairy cows. She is a devoted Christian and a member of Ack church Mothers Union. She is the chairlady of the group.
She started by buying two dairy cows when given a Mifugo loan by WEEC in 2001.she later started Zero grazing. Today her Dairy cows produce enough milk to be consumed at home and twenty litres to be sold to local hotels. Her Dairy farming business enables her to educate her children.",F,900,partner,Agriculture,0
Kenya,"MATAYO KIPSIGEI is a 41 yr old farmer. He is married with nine children. Three are orphans from his late brother. His wife is a housewife and this leaves him the sole breadwinner. He has been farming for the last 20 yrs on his 5 acres piece of land growing potatoes and tomatoes in the Subukia settlement in the Rift valley where he is a member of the Suma self help group. Matayo would like to adopt new farming technology to boost his agricultural yield. He needs to be able to meet the financial responsibility of educating the nine children who are all in school and to maintain his family but he lacks the capital. He requests a US $1200 loan to be used as follows:
US $ 700 to buy motor water pumps for irrigation.
US $ 400 buys manual water sprayers and water pipes.
US $ 100 transportation.
He is responsible and will repay the loan.",M,1200,lender,Agriculture,1
Kenya,"Mateyian Anderson is married with four children, two in primary school and the other two still at home. She is an active member of Nasinya women's group. She is also a member at Inkiito Adult Education Centre. She started her business in 2000 with the help of her husband; she bought three steers for fattening. In 2001, she increased her steers number to six. Her business has made profits which have enable her children to go school and also she has been able to buy a tank to store rain water. At present, she has sixteen steers but she needs this loan to increase this number to cater for the demands from her customers.",F,900,lender,Agriculture,1
Kenya,"Mathew Odero Wangira is a 24 year-old entrepreneur. He plys his trade within a slum residence in the town of Mombasa. His activities involve delivering water to customers premises for a small fee.
This water delivery service is quite essential in this neighborhood since most houses do not have tap water, and it is also time consuming to search for places to purchase water from. These conditions make water delivery service a good business to operate, and such services are mostly used by the residents of the slum.
Over the last two years he has been operating this business, Mathew has managed to create a wide customer base that uses his services on a daily basis. He also offers credit services to his clients, making him well liked among his customers.
He plans to save so that he can buy his own wheel-cart rather than renting one, thus reducing his operational costs. However, he has been unable to do so since all his earnings go to providing for his own basic needs. Therefore, he is requesting a loan of $375 to assist him in purchasing his own wheel-cart and some more water cans.",M,375,lender,Services,1
Kenya,"Mathias Angeti is a young Kenyan father, aged 42 with 4 children. He also lives with 2 orphan children of his late sister who perished 2 years ago.
Mathias started his business 3 years ago after accumulating savings from his former work place. He currently operates a small retail cereal stall, but would like to expand his business and start operating a wholesale cereals unit. Being the primary bread winner for his family, it would enable him to support both his children and his wife, who has a low-paying job. With the little profit that he gets from the business, Mathias still struggles to feed, clothe, and educate his children and to pay his house rent. With the help of his loan, Mathias will be able to purchase more cereals to increase his business sales.
Disclaimer: Due to recent events in Kenya, the security situation in many communities remains unsettled, affecting many local businesses. Lenders to this entrepreneur should be aware that this loan may represent a higher default risk, and should be willing to accept this additional risk in making their loan.",M,2275,lender,Food,0
Kenya,"Matiko is 52 years old, married with 4 children. She is the chairlady of Oserian Group, and a lady with positive influence to the group members. She is the mentor in the group, highly accorded respect by the members due to her leading skills. She is also a leader in a charity group in the community which helps the disadvantaged children but bright in the society. They try to support them with basic needs and try to raise funds for their education from the community. She has a business of selling steers which she started with 3 steers, she fed them for 6 months and sold them double buying price. That time a young steer was going forUSD55 and now since their demand is high they are costing USD95. She bought other 4 and the chain continued until now she has 18 steers. They have enabled her to build 3 rental rooms, and have been able to pay fees for her children who are in secondary school. She would like to venture in to this project as one of the income generating activity which will help her to assist her family and the charity organization without much straining of funds. She is willing to pay the loan with the rental rooms income she generates monthly.",F,450,lender,Agriculture,1
Kenya,"Matuya is married with five children. She is an active member of Naserian Womens Group. She attends Baptist Church Kipiro centre. She started her business of selling beads at Isinya town with a stock of less than USD 70 in the year 2000. She decorates belts, mats, necklaces and shoes. After three years her business did so well which allowed her to do a lot of saving. She increased her bead stock, employed one woman to assist her, and she now sells her products at Maasai Market in Nairobi. From the business she has earned her family a better life and she is very determined to give her children the best through her business. She is willing to repay her loan on a monthly basis.",F,450,lender,Arts,1
Kenya,"Maulyne is 27 years old and married with one child. Before her current business (paper sales), she used to run a small food kiosk in the Kisumu neighbourhood.
She and her husband are on their first loan at Kadet. Her husband had tried to get a loan from a local commercial bank earlier, but could not meet the requirements. Through her fellow women friends, Maulyne got to know about Kadet and that she could access a loan much more easily. With this loan, Maulyne intends to expand her business by procuring more stock and, eventually, she intends to diversify into a cyber-cafe.",F,150,partner,Retail,0
Kenya,"Maureen Mandela is a 26 year old entrepreneur. She owns a small printing shop in town. She has four years of business experience. In those 4 years, she has managed to secure a customer base within her work area. This has enabled her to cater to her customers and pay her employees on time. Maureen has one employee who helps in printing and other services such a typesetting and photocopying. She earns about US $70 a month from her business. Despite all this she faces difficulties such as acquiring capital to expand her business. Maureen is an aspiring business woman and she would like to expand her business to cater to her already growing customer base. She is requesting a loan of US $1,500 to purchase the following items: two computers for US $800, a photocopying machine for US $400, US $200 to expand her business premises and US $100 to pay for labour costs. Maureen is able to repay the loan within the time period given.",F,1500,lender,Services,1
Kenya,"Maureen operates a second hand clothes business. She has been in this business for a period of one year and she got her initial capital from an informal rotating savings arrangment which her group used to have. This is commonly referred to as a merry go round. This is what she has been using to finance her business and ploughing back profits into her business. She is 29 years old and married with two children.
Maurice is so professional in his work that he commands a good number of current and potential clients. He wants to expand to accommodate the growing number of clients on daily basis. He is requesting a loan of US $1100: US $300 to purchase a portable blower, US $300 to purchase phone accessories, US $200 to purchase a professional kit for phone repairs, and US $300 to purchase Celtel and Safaricom airtime.
Maurices business is viable because of his marketing and communication skills. He wants to expand the business to meet the customer demand and sustain his family's needs. He is able to repay the loan.",M,1100,lender,Services,1
Kenya,"Merania is a 60 years old. All her children are grown up and out of her nest. She is a dedicated member of Ushuhuda women group and she has a positive impact among her group members. Njoki believes in hard work, and she has a role of empowering women who think that they cant make it in life. She has benefited a lot from group activities, where her life was transformed by the small loans. She is a full time farmer who grows bananas, maize, beans and rears 2 cows and 6 goats. She makes milk sales every day of USD3 on daily basis. She has been having a water problem due to water shortage in her area and she has been planning to buy a tank but always limited by the lump sum money. She is hoping to get a loan and she can pay with milk sales on monthly basis",F,300,lender,Agriculture,1
Kenya,"Mercy is 29 years old. She is married with one child. Mercy is a member of the ACK Church. She is also in the church choir. Mercy is a member of the Rainbow Women Group.
She has benefitted through the revolving fund since she is able to save USD 3 per month. She has gotten small loans from the group that has enabled her to develop her small piece of land.
Mercy grows beans, maize and kale. She sells her kale at the local market as a way of generating income. Mercy intends to undertake a course in tailoring. She will take her course at the local town centre. She will be attending the course in the morning. Mercy has applied for a loan of USD 75 to enable her buy the training materials. After she completes her course she intends to start a tailoring business at the market centre. The loans committee has approved her loan and the repayment period of 10 months.",F,75,lender,Agriculture,1
Kenya,"Mercy is 32 years old. She is married with 3 children who are all in primary school. She is a choir member of the ACK church. Mercy joined Rainbow Women Group when it was formed in 2005. Mercy has been trained on the importance of the savings and credit scheme.
She now saves USD 3 per month. Mercy has also received loans from the groups revolving fund and has repaid the loans as the group loan policy stipulates. Her plan is to develop her plot mostly for horticultural farming.
She has applied for a loan of USD 75 to buy
good- quality seeds and a watering can. She will also buy fertilizer to prepare for the long rains. The group has approved the loan. Mercy will repay the loan within a period of 10 months.",F,75,lender,Agriculture,1
Kenya,"Mercy is 33 years old and married with 4 children. All of her children are in primary school. She is an active member of the Catholic Church and a Sunday school teacher in the same church. She specializes in farming. She grows vegetables like tomatoes, kales, spinach godgets and cereals. She sells them in her local market where she earns USD110 monthly.
She has been fetching water from the river to apply and irrigate on her farm and its a long distance. Water has been a challenge in her farming so that she has been dreaming of having her own tank or source one day, but due to insufficient income she has never been able to get a tank.
The area has a shortage of water and she believes after getting a tank she will manage to irrigate her garden in dry seasons leading to regular and consistent supply of the vegetables throughout the year. Her income will be sustained thus stabilizing her life.",F,225,partner,Agriculture,0
Kenya,"Mercy is 35 years old and a mother of two boys. She has worked as a Government employee for the last 10 years but resigned in January 2006 to set up a hair dressing business. In February 2006 she enrolled for a hair dressing course and graduated with a diploma in hair Dressing and Beauty Therapy in October 2006.
She has also attended Eb-Fs Business Start up Training and she has many friends who are willing to patronize her Salon as Customers.
She now requests a loan of US $ 1,500 to set up the business. Her budget is: US $ 431 for 2 blow driers, US $ 556 for 2 steam driers, and US $ 208 for assorted materials, US $ 278 for furniture and fittings and US $ 28 for initial premises rent.
She is outgoing and should be able to repay the loan well.",F,1500,lender,Services,1
Kenya,"Mercy is 38 years old. She is married and has 6 children. Mercy is a member of St. James ACK Church in Kiganjo. She is a committee member and the choir mistress in the church. She is the Secretary of the Mothers' Union Association. Mercy is also the treasurer of Kangema Free Wonderful Mothers. The group is two years old. Its members are very active in their group work. The group is now qualified for the education loan product since most of the trainings have been done.
Mercy has applied for a school fees loan of USD 150 to cover part of the secondary school fees for her two children. The group loans committee has approved the loan. Mercy will repay the loan from the income she gets from her farm. She mainly sells yam, arrowroots, sweet potatoes, sweet bananas, sugarcane, and eggs. She has a good market because not many people grow and sell these products. She will repay her loan within a period of 10 months.",F,150,lender,Agriculture,1
Kenya,"Mercy is 38 years old. She is married with one child. She is a member of the Pentecostal church and is an intercessor in the church. Mercy is a member of St. Jude women's group. Her meeting attendance has been excellent. She is amongst the members who have greatly benefited from the trainings done on a monthly basis during the group meetings.
Mercys economic activity is farming. She grows maize for home consumption and for the market, beans mainly for home consumption, and vegetables for her weekly income. Mercy plans to increase the acreage under vegetable cultivation. She has applied for a loan of USD 150 to enable her buy fertilizer, high-quality seeds, and watering cans. The loans committee has approved her loan. She will repay the loan within a period of 12 months.",F,150,lender,Agriculture,1
Kenya,Mercy is a businesswoman and also runs tailoring lessons for rural girls who have failed to get school fees for their secondary and college education. Mercy does this at a cheaper fee and this has attracted many village girls to enroll in her enterprise. The loan of $200 from PEMCI will be used to procure fabrics and materials to enable her meet such orders. The income from her sales is supporting the training of these girls and some of her peers who will one day be able to support themselves and contribute to the community development at large. She teaches her peers on means of sustainining themselves and income generation techniques to nenable them fight the burden of poverty which is a common scourge in the society. PEMCI is proud to be associated with the work that Marcy is doing and thus we are always ready to give mercy a hand whenever she needs our help.,F,200,partner,Services,0
Kenya,"Mercy is a young mother of 34 years old. She is married with 4 children 3 of whom are in secondary school. She is a religious lady who believes in good morals. Mercy is an active member of Konguini thayu women group and very responsible with group activities. Mercy is a farmer who grows vegetables, bananas, mangoes and cereals. She has been able to raise her children and educate them with the small income she generates from her farm. Mercy has a plan of specializing with horticultural crops which are a bit expensive to facilitate. She is hoping to get a loan and buy seedlings of godgets, green pepper, cucumber, maize corns and lettuce. She is very determined to improve the life of her family and make it better. She is limited by capital due to school fees but she believes the loan will change her present situation.",F,450,lender,Agriculture,1
Kenya,"Mercy is married with 4 children of whom two are in primary and the others in secondary school. She is a committed member of the lending group and she is the group treasurer. Her main source of income is farming where she rears dairy cows, grows coffee, maize, beans and vegetables. Most of her harvests are for family consumption making it hard for her to sell in bulk. Anyway, she sells milk and vegetables where she is able to fetch USD60 on monthly basis. Due to struggles she is undergoing in her life, she attended business skills Training which was conducted by WEEC and the main topics were how to start your own business. She got the drive to start a business at her local market centre. Mercy is a risk taker and very active even in social circles. She believes her living standard will improve after she gets a loan and start the business.",F,275,lender,Agriculture,1
Kenya,"Mercy Mugoiri is 25 years old. She is married. Mercy was orphaned at an early age and so she started working and fending for herself at an early age. She applied to join Kandisi Women Group to be able to access capital to start a business in Rongai. Mercy has been accepted by the other group members and has registered with the group. She has started her monthly savings of $3 and has received training on the savings and credit scheme.
Mercy has applied for a loan of $300. Her business plan is to start a small business of selling beauty items, lessos, sandals, blouses and tops. She will buy the items from the women who buy in large quantities, either in Uganda, Tanzania and Mombassa. Her other group members have connected her to women who are in other groups but are doing the same business. Mercy is excited with her new group and is ready to work with the other members. The WEEC officers have reviewed her business plan under the business appraisal policy and the loan has been approved. Mercy will repay her loan in monthly installments.",F,300,lender,Clothing,1
Kenya,"MERCY NGIMA is 35 years old. She is married with three children. One of her daughters was recently involved in a road accident, so she is in and out of the hospital. She is a fashion designer by profession and owns a tailoring shop in the town where she operates. Mercys designs are known to many as being unique, trendy and fashionable. Her clientele portfolio involves professional working ladies and men. Mercy has been able to excel in her business because she gives credit line to most of her customers. This ensures that they have ample time to make their payment and therefore dont strain to purchase her products. She would want to increase her stocks of clothing materials; this will enable her to come up with more stocks of ready made clothes as demanded by her clients. She is making a humble request of a loan worth US$ 1000. A big percentage of it which is US$ 700 will go to the purchase of stocks of uncut cloth and US$ 300 will go to the labor costs. With this business expansion she assures us that she will comfortably pay for her daughters medical fees and service the family needs with the additional income she will receive. She is hard working and she will definitely pay the loan.",F,1000,lender,Services,1
Kenya,"MERCY WAIRIMU NJOGU is 42 years old. She is a single parent of two children who are both in senior school. She separated from her husband due to constant domestic violence and abuse.
Mercy lives in Ngorika a settlement in the Rift valley part of Kenya. She is an active member and the treasurer for Wendani Self Help Group. She runs a nursery school on her one acre piece of land. She has 50 children in her school at the moment and has employed one teacher. She requests a loan of US $ 1000:
Use US $ 500 to build another class room
Use US $ 250 furnish the new class room with desks and chairs
Use US $ 100 to buy books and writing materials
Use US $ 150 to publicize in her locality and neighboring villages
This will enable Mercy's net income to increase and enable her to be able to provide a promising future for her children who will be attending university in the near future.",F,1000,lender,Services,1
Kenya,"Mercy Wangechi Kariuki is 34 years old. She is married with five children, one of whom is young baby, two of whom are in primary school, and two of whom are in secondary. Mercy is an active member of Gitui Smart women group. She is a member of ACK Church, Karinga. Her main occupation is farming. She grows beans, maize, kales and cabbages. Mercy has one cow, three goats, and twenty chickens. She sells some of the milk produced by the cow to the local residents and keeps some to be consumed by her family. Mercy also sells the coffee to a local coffee factory. She has applied for a loan of USD600, with which she intends to purchase another dairy cow. She is willing to repay this loan within 12 months. She would like to expand her business to generate more income. She would like to buy a welding machine to enhance the services she can provide to her customers. She is requesting a loan of $300 to buy the machine. $250 will be used to buy the machine, and $50 will cover the cost of transport and other expenses. The machine is vital to provide services and this will help her generate more income to cater for her familys needs. She is a member of sunrise group within Eb-F. She is hardworking and capable of paying the loan.",F,300,lender,Services,1
Kenya,"Merina is an active member of PEMCI who has finished her third loan successfully, and intends to get a fourth one. Her previous loans have enabled her to engage in more profitable businesses, and she has also gained quite an experience. She is now a hawker and a farmer as well. With her fourth loan, she intends to invest in her farm and improve on her rice scheme for a higher production.",F,75,partner,Agriculture,0
Kenya,"Meroni is married with six children who are all in primary school. She is a religious lady with spiritual morals dedicated to serving the community. She is an active member of the Olkenkei Women's Group. She has influenced many young women at her group. As a group they have been running projects which are beneficial to all. This loan is being applied through the group community project. As a member of women of Olkenkei, Meroni will nurture the calves they purchase for six months, and then resell them on the market for appreciated prices. They will use the sales proceeds to repay their loan in lump sum- they will repay the entire principal 6 months from loan initiation.",F,375,lender,Agriculture,1
Kenya,"Metrine is married with two children who are both in primary school. She is a trained hair dresser. She started her business in 2004 in order to supplement her earnings. Through her business, she has been able to support her family financially. Her husband is not employed. She is an active member of the communitys HIV/AIDS education group. With the loan of $150 from PEMCI, Metrine wishes to increase her stock of cereals and groceries to enable her to earn higher profits. Through her business, she has been able to provide for her family and also the community as a whole through her contributions in the HIV group.",F,150,partner,Food,0
Kenya,"Micah Njuguna is a 34years old father of three. He has two daughters who entirely depend on him. The problem is that he can't afford to pay both their school fees at the same time. They have therefore been taking turns in school. This means that if one goes to school this year, the other will get to attend school next year. Micah loves her daughters so much but he cant stand the shame of not being able to educate them well. Micah decided to start the job of selling video & radio cassettes and vcds so as to provide for his familys the basic needs.
Njuguna would like to expand his business in order to best cater for his family needs. He is requesting a loan of US$700. His budget is: US$300 to increase his stock, US $100 for transport, US$200 to move to a better premise and US$100 to pay for the school fees. He has a potential to pay the loan and he is sure of a steady income.",M,700,lender,Retail,1
Kenya,"Michael Gaturi is a 30-year-old young man who is still single. He resides on the outskirts of Nairobi in an area known as Ruai. Apart from being independent, he has three dependants who are his cousin aged 32, his 50-year-old mother, and a one-and-a-half-month-old baby from a children's home in Ruai where he lives.
Michael began rearing pigs last year, in 2007. This was when he was given a piglet to start him off in his pig-rearing business. He was no stranger to pig rearing as he had had the experience of keeping pigs in his earlier life. His home also had a ready-made sty that was used in the past when pigs were kept there.
Currently, he has 5 pigs that he is rearing, but due to the current demand for milk in the area and also the fact that there seems to be a shortage of milk since not many people are rearing cows, he now wants to purchase a cow at Ksh 30,000 and 10,000 worth of cow feed and medicine. He believes that with the cow he will be able to deal with the demand and he will increase his income from the sale of milk to local residents who are his target customers.
Michael believes he will be able to improve the health of people as he will be selling fresh milk to them and also reduce for them the necessity of spending too much on buying packaged milk, as he will be selling his milk at a relatively lower price. With the profits he will be able to expand further and buy more cows, and this in return will improve his living standards and also those of his dependants.
He thanks Kiva lenders in advance and commits to repay the loan in 8 months. ",M,600,partner,Agriculture,1
Kenya,"Michael is a trained mason. He started his business in 1994. He builds houses and also sells gravel stones. He is also an active member of his communitys VCT Centre where he does guiding and counseling. Through his business, he has brought skills to the community. He has also been able to educate his three children, who are all in primary school. His wife is a housewife. He has gained experience throughout the years he has been in business and this has in turn enabled him to get more customers. With a loan from PEMCI, he plans to purchase construction tools, and also purchase a bicycle to enable him to improve his transportation business.",M,150,partner,Construction,0
Kenya,"Michael is married with five children, all of whom are in primary school. Michael runs a small shop and a video entertainment facility at the back of his shop where he shows movies, etc. This is his second loan with PEMCI but his first with Kiva. His first loan enabled him to stock his video library thus improving his business. With the proposed second loan of $225, he intends to register his business with DSTV, a cable TV provider in the region. This will enable him provide quality films and games to his customers, especially during soccer seasons. His wife is also a small-scale business lady. As this is the only video shop in his neighbourhood, his business has good potential for growth.",M,225,partner,Services,0
Kenya,"Michael Kiptanui Tuei is a 28-year-old single entrepreneur. To support his parents, he runs a clothing business to contribute to the family income. His stall is located at the popular Litein municipal market on the outskirts of Kericho. His stall is strategically positioned to display clothes to the large number of passersby on a daily basis, thus guaranteeing him a definite sale each day.
Michael stocks a wide variety of new clothes for all ages and both sexes. These items are in great demand as they are cheap and also of good quality. He plans to eventually expand his business such that he would be able to supply these clothes to other retailers, thus earning a higher profit. However, he cannot raise the required capital to manage such a business venture since most of his earnings go toward helping his parents. Michael is therefore requesting for a loan of US$1000 to assist him in achieving his plans. The funds will be used to buy an assortment of clothing in bulk so that he will be able to supply the retail shops around town.",M,1000,lender,Clothing,1
Kenya,"Michael Ndirangu Ndiritu, aged 41 years, is married with 3 children, all of them in school through the universal primary education. Michael left school in form four and is self-employed. He earns his living through farming, specifically planting maize and French beans. He seeks room for expanding the business and creating an opportunity for his market especially during the times he is waiting to harvest. He needs an alternative that can help him save for his children's higher education. He requests a US $700 loan.
This is his budget:
US $200 to hire extra acres;
US $200 to plow the land;
US $300 to buy French bean seeds.",M,700,lender,Agriculture,1
Kenya,"Michael Njoroge is a man aged 33. He has a wife and two children. In addition to his family he also has a burden of providing both his and his wifes parents their basic necessities. All of them depend on the money from the grocery business. He is required to pay for his diabetic fathers medication. It has been very hard for him to save enough money for all those needs. Most of the times they would eat meals which are cheap and poor in nutrition, in order to have money for school fees. He is also planning to start a dairy cow business for his wife who is unemployed, with the business she will not only supplement his income but she will improve their nutrition.
Njoroge requests to be funded with US$800 of which he will use US$300 to increase the grocery stock, US$180 to move to a better building, US$370 to but dairy cattle and US$150 for the cattle feed. With this he is quite sure of serving all his clients well and better provide for his family.",M,800,lender,Food,1
Kenya,"Mike is a 25 year old graduate of Agriculture. He has elderly parents and a small piece of land in his hometown. With the knowledge and skills he has, he hopes that with this loan he will move from subsistence to large-scale farming of market produce and thereby supply income to support his siblings and secure his expectant child's future.",M,200,lender,Food,1
Kenya,"Mildred Akinyi is an average 40-year-old Kenyan woman who is married with four children. Also living with her are two orphaned children, left by her late sister.
Mildred started operating her business six years ago because the income of her husband, who is a small-scale farmer, was too little to support all their family's needs. Mildred is now able to purchase at least three bales of secondhand bags every week to sell to her regular customers. With the little profit that she gets from this small-scale business, Mildred is able to feed, clothe, and educate her children. With the help of her loan, Mildred hopes to purchase more bales of secondhand bags to enable her to increase her monthly sales. In the future, Mildred would like to open a shop in her hometown, Bungoma, in the Western part of Kenya.",F,3000,lender,Retail,0
Kenya,"Mildred Atieno is a 20-year-old entrepreneur who lives in Kisumu, Kenya, with her husband and two children. Mildred set up a fruit and vegetable stall near her home in 2007. Her hard work, determination and excellent people skills have led to her success. She manages her stall during the day and sells second-hand clothes to her well-established client base in the evenings. Her profits pay the household daily expenses. She plans to use the funds from her loan of US $500 to purchase more vegetables and also to supplement her current business by selling cereals.
Disclaimer: Due to recent events in Kenya, the security situation in many communities remains unsettled, affecting many local businesses. Lenders to this entrepreneur should be aware that this loan may represent a higher default risk, and should be willing to accept this additional risk in making their loan.",F,500,partner,Food,0
Kenya,"Milicent Apondi is a 31-year-old entrepreneur. She lives in the Manyatta slum in Kisumu, Kenya with her husband and three school-age children. She used the funds from her first two loans to invest in this small shop (pictured) adjacent to her home, where she sells the daily necessities like bread, flour, cooking oil and soap. Over the past two years she has increased her daily income by 100% and managed to save a bit of her profits. She plans to supplement her business with the sale of cereals, especially beans and rice, which are in high demand. With loan of US $600, she will purchase additional stock and obtain supplies that are in high demand within her community.",F,600,partner,Food,0
Kenya,"Milka Akinyi Abingo is 29 years old, and is a single mother with two children. One of them is in the fourth year of high school while the other one is in junior school. She is a business lady and thats where she gets the income to pay her childrens school fees. She sells car paints to the nearby garages. This is a booming business, since she is strategically placed in the market. She would like to buy and sell a variety of paints to suit the demands of the customers. She has been in this business for a while, and she projects that if she adds more stock it will move. This will generate enough income for her to repay the loan and save for her childs university fees next year. She is requesting a loan of US$550. US$450 will be used to buy more paint, US$50 will be used to add more shelves, and US$50 will be used for transport. She is hard working and capable of repaying the loan.",F,550,lender,Retail,1
Kenya,"Milka is 29 years of age and a single mother of two children. She is a member of Karunge Catholic Church and an active member of Karunge Faith Star Women Group. She is the group prefect - a post she has held with a lot of dedication. Milka lives in Gaciiro village on her parent's farm. She earns her living as a farm-hand, mostly on the neighbouring farms. The money she earns enables her to pay her monthly savings of USD3 and to repay her revolving fund loans. The loans from her group have enabled her to start a small vegetable business at Gaciiriro market. She sells the fresh vegetables to the local community mostly in the evenings. Milka has applied for a loan of USD150 to be able to expand her business to include the purchase of onions, tomatoes and potatoes for sale. The loans committee has approved her loan. She will repay the loan on a monthly basis.",F,150,lender,Food,1
Kenya,"Milka is 30 years old and married with two children. Both children are in primary school. She is an active member of the Catholic Church, and she is among the women leaders of the church.
She lives near the market centre, where she operates a business of knitting and sewing. Her business is unique and it is growing with time. But in the area, water has been a big problem so she ends up using what little income she gets from her business to buy water for her family. The only solution is to secure a loan and buy a tank and she will be able to harvest rain water. Her expenses will be reduced and she will save some money and this will help her to pay school fees for her children. She is willing to repay the loan by installments as agreed.",F,225,partner,Services,0
Kenya,"Milka is a 40-year old married mother of five living children. She lives with her husband who is also a small-scale businessman in Nyamasaria in Kisumu, Kenya. She operates her cereal business along the Kisumu-Nairobi highway. She started her business in 2000. She normally buys and sells dry maize (corn) to her customers. Over the years, she has been able to generate enough income, especially during the dry season when selling prices are high. Her hard work, perseverance, good reputation, and seven years in business along with a well-established client base ensure that her business will continue to grow. She has applied for a loan of US $600, which she plans to use to purchase an additional stock of cereals in bulk.",F,600,partner,Food,0
Kenya,"Milkah is 30 years old, married and a mother of one child. She is an active member of Kware one women group. She joined the group after being introduced by a friend and being impressed by what KIVA has done for her.
Milka is a tailor and the money she makes helps supplement the earnings of her husband who is a mechanical engineer in jua kali industry.
She owns a tailoring shop and would like expand her business to improve her living standards. Milka is asking for a loan of USD 300 to buy more textile materials for her business. She is willing to repay her loan on monthly basis.",F,300,lender,Services,1
Kenya,"Milkah Mugure is a 41 year-old married woman with two children ages 18 and 13. Apart from her family, she has no other dependents. She lives on the outskirts of Nairobi in a place called Ruai. In October 2006, she received a loan from a merrygo-round womens savings and lending group. Milkah had planned on starting a chicken-raising business, but she never had access to the proper funds, until she received the money from the womens group. After receiving this loan, she bought chicken feed and medicine for the chicks. With the help of neighbors who also raise chickens, Milkah has become an expert in the chicken-raising business. But now, Milkah understands that her growing business needs a boost: She needs to purchase more chickens, chicken feed, medicine and charcoal for keeping the chickens warm. She is confident that with these things, her business will grow in scale and popularity. After upgrading her business, Milkah will be able to better serve her customers and satisfy them with her product, which she raises as naturally as possible. Finally, with increased income, Milkah will be able to live a more comfortable life and continue taking care of her family and educating her children. She will repay her loan within a term of 12 months.
Disclaimer: Due to recent events in Kenya, the security situation in many communities remains unsettled, affecting many local businesses. Lenders to this entrepreneur should be aware that this loan may represent a higher default risk, and should be willing to accept this additional risk in making their loan.",F,1000,partner,Agriculture,1
Kenya,"MILKAH NJOKI WAHINDI is a 42-year-old single lady with two children, one in school. After she completed her high school education, she was employed in a supermarket where she acquired the business skills, capital and experience, and she started her own mini shop in Nakuru. Being the sole breadwinner, Milkah has had to put more effort forth in order to meet her familys necessities. The area is densely populated, thus she has many customers to attend to. However, Milkah faces challenges like lack of funds and high transport cost. In order to handle this, she is requesting a loan of $700, which she intends to spend as follows: $500 to buy more stock for the business and $200 to pay for transport costs. Milkah is a hardworking and determined lady, and she will be able to repay the loan.
Disclaimer: Due to recent events in Kenya, the security situation in many communities remains unsettled, affecting many local businesses. Lenders to this entrepreneur should be aware that this loan may represent a higher default risk, and should be willing to accept this additional risk in making their loan.",F,700,lender,Retail,1
Kenya,"Millicent Adhiambo is a 25-year old entrepreneur who lives in Kisumu, Kenya with her husband. She has also trained as a community health worker to provide home-based care to people living with HIV/AIDS in her area. Milicent runs this small business of selling bananas adjacent to her home. She has been in this business for the last 4 years .She attributes her success due to hard work, determination, and two previous KMET loans. Her business income is able to pay for household expenses. Millicent is requesting a loan of $600 to purchase additional stock of raw bananas in bulk and also to buy ripe bananas in small quantities.",F,600,partner,Food,0
Kenya,"Millicent Apondi is a 31-year-old entrepreneur. She lives in Manyatta Kisumu, Kenya with her husband and three school-going children. She used the funds from her first two loans to invest in this small shop (pictured) adjacent to her home, where she sells daily necessities, like bread, flour, cooking oil and soap. Over the past 2 years she has increased her daily income by 100% and managed to save a bit of her profits. Millicent plans to supplement her business with small sale of cereals, especially beans and rice which are in high demand She would like a loan of $600 to purchase additional stock and obtain supplies that are in high demand within her community.",F,600,partner,Food,0
Kenya,"Millicent is 52 years old, single and has 2 children. 1 girl is married and the boy is in final year in high school. She has set a good example to her group and she has influenced many women to quit alcoholism. Her main source of income is a retail shop where she sells flour, sugar, salt, maize, beans, soaps and breads. She has been disrupted from her business for a period of 4 months by sickness and she took a rest. Her daughter has been of great help in the business and she was responsible when her mum was not feeling well. After recovering, she is back in the business, but the stock is very low and she does not have money to boost her business. She is planning to get the loan and she will be able to buy sacks of maize, sugar, packs of soaps, salt and breads. She believes all her customers will be back after she restocks her business.",F,75,lender,Retail,1
Kenya,"Mineh Muthoni Gitahi is 31 years old. She is married with four children, all of whom are in primary school. She is a religious person and a member of Kaspat Catholic Church choir. She is also a member of Baraka Women's Group. She joined WEEC and Baraka women group in 2003.
She did not go to college after completing her secondary school education. She started her business of retailing a variety of animal feeds. She is targeting farmers who have opted for dairy farming after the revival of Kenya Co-operative Creameries by the government. She also keeps dairy cows and sells the milk produced to Kiambu Dairy Farmers Co-operative Society Ltd at USD0.3 per litre. She has applied for a loan of USD1200 to buy another dairy cow and household goods for her retail shop. She is willing to repay this loan within a period of 12 months.",F,1200,lender,Food,1
Kenya,"MINIPHER NYAMBUNE OMAMBIA is 24 years old, married with two children. She is a business lady selling charcoal while her husband is an auto mechanic. They live in a two-roomed house in Nakuru and also support their extended family with the little that they earn. Being a young woman who did not finish her studies due to lack of fees, Minipher had to find herself a source of income. Lack of enough capital made her venture into the business of selling charcoal to the local inhabitants. She has been in this business for almost seven years now and thus she has good experience in the business. Minipher wants to expand her business so that she can be able to provide for her family and ensure that her children get good education so that they can raise their living standards. However, she has no capital to expand the business and thus she is requesting a loan of US$1000. She plans to spend the money as follows: US$ 200 to get a place for selling the charcoal; US$ 600 to buy the charcoal; US$ 100 for transport, and US$ 100 to get a license. Minipher is an energetic, determined and hard-working young lady and thus she will be able to repay the loan.",F,1000,lender,Retail,1
Kenya,"Minneh Wamaitha Maina is currently 48 years old. She is married with three children; all of whom are in college. She is an active member of Kugema Women Group. She joined the group in 2000, and has since then serviced seven loans. Minneh strongly believes somebody can prosper from loans since she has done so. She is religious and an active member of Kirangari African Church. She is also a member of the Mothers Union in her church, where she is the secretary.
For the last 20 years, she has been rearing dairy cows and poultry farming. She sells her milk to Limuru Dairy Farmers Co-operative Society Ltd, where she is a committee member. Currently she has three dairy cows which produce an average of 30 litres. She sells the milk at USD 0.3 per litre. She has educated all her children through income earned from farming. If she were given a loan of USD1200, she plans to buy a dairy cow and expand her poultry farming. She is willing to repay her loan within 12 months.",F,1200,lender,Agriculture,1
Kenya,"Mirriam Muthoni is a single mother of two young girls. Like many young women in Kenya and in Africa at large, she is a primary school dropout due to lack of money to pay for her fees. She started her business in the year 2001 with initial capital of four dollars from her husband. They have since divorced.
With the requested loan of $300, she plans to increase her stock of assorted household items. Mirriam's business even takes her to the neighbouring country of Uganda. She sells household goods such as blankets, cooking pans, detergents, etc. at reasonable prices from Kenya.
Miriam depends on her business for her livelihood and to educate her daughters and pay for their general living expenses. She is an optimist and believes in what she is doing. She looks forward to opening a shop in Mbale, Uganda one day.
Mirriam's hard work is an inspiration for others in her community. It's amazing the amount of goods she and other vendors are able to carry and the long distances they travel. One can only admire their determination to fight on and overcome poverty. One can only be humbled by their sheer determination. Truly worth support by Kiva Partners.",F,300,partner,Retail,0
Kenya,"MIRRIAM WAMUCII is a 30 year old, single farmer with four children. Miriam lives in Ngorika settlement where her four children go a local junior school.
She is a member of Wendani self help group. Her husband died one year ago leaving her the sole bread winner. Mirriam does maize farming on two acres of land. She is very active and requests a loan of US $ 800. She plans to use it as follows;
Use US $ 700 to purchase a dairy cow
Use US $ 100 to build a cow shade and to buy fodder, minerals and salts for the cow.
With a cow Mirriam will be able to supplement her farming and be able to provide for her young family.",F,800,lender,Agriculture,1
Kenya,"Mkana Karato is married with six children. All of her children are secondary school and primary school. Mkana is an active member of Naropil women group and a member of PEFA Lipeto. With the help of her brother, Mkana started her business of steers. After grazing these steers, she sold them and bought five other young steers.
Currently, she has eight steers and wants to target Kenya Meat Commission factory after the Kenyan government revived it. Because of this, she would like to buy four steers when given this loan of USD450 to improve the business income. She is willing to repay this loan within a period of 12 months.",F,450,lender,Agriculture,1
Kenya,"Modeste Cimpaye is a 48 year-old single mother of 5 children. Modeste is a Burundian refugee who came to Kenya in 1998, fleeing the war that ravaged her country and life at that time. She has lived in Kenya for the last 10 years with her family of four in Komarock, and Nairobi neighborhood. Of her 4 children, two are married to Kenyans, and she takes care of her other 3 children, 2 of whom are in college while the other is in secondary school. In addition to her three children, she also takes care of her granddaughter. Fortunately, her life in Kenya has stabilized after being displaced by the war in native Burundi.
Modeste used to be a teacher in Burundi, but once she came to Kenya she found that she had to find another profession since school syllabi in Kenya are in English and she was trained in the French-speaking education system of Burundi. Therefore in 2002, she joined with 39 other women at her local parish, the Kayole Divine Word Parish, where they taught each other the various skills that they had. She decided to learn how to sew, and with this training she began her own business in 2006.
Modeste gradually built up savings and used what she had accumulated over time to buy materials for her sewing business. Eventually she acquired an old sewing machine as well, and she began making bed covers and bags.
Now that her business is picking up, she feels that she needs to expand so as to increase her clientele base. She also plans on offering permanent employment to the two workers who have been on a casual basis until now. She is therefore requesting from Kiva lenders a loan of Ksh 50,000 to purchase 2 high-quality sewing machines at Ksh 20,000 and additional materials and sewing equipment like buttons, zippers, lining and 2 iron boxes.
Modeste is confident that this worthwhile investment will enable her to better provide for her family and to offer stable employment to the two other workers she has contracted casually until now. She also looks forward to serving as an example to the women of her local community that with diligence, vision and access to initial credit, all things are possible. She thanks Kiva lenders in advance and will repay her loan in 12- 14 months.",F,750,partner,Clothing,1
Kenya,"Mohamed started his business of selling jaggery (locally made brown sugar sold by the piece) in the year 2000. He operates a jaggery store at Myanga trading centre and gets his stock from millers at in Webuye town. He buys a piece at 20 Kenya shillings and sells at 23 shillings, making a profit of 3 Kenya shillings (about 4 US cents) per piece. In a week he buys jaggery worth 50,000 Kenya shillings (about US$ 750). He sells it all within a week if business is good, and within two weeks when business is not so good. His current stock can be estimated as being worth 30,000/= shillings (about US$ 450).
Mohamed is married and father of four children, three girls and one boy, all in primary school. His wife is not employed but helps him in managing their jaggery business. Mohamed is a primary school drop-out due to lack of school fees. He trained as a welder but opted to go into business in order to support his family. His main customers are shopkeepers within his locality.
Through his business, Mohamed has been able to meet his familys basic needs, buy a piece of land, and even build a house. His main challenge has been lack of capital and this he plans to overcome if given a loan through PEMCI. He plans to increase his stocks of jaggery and meet the demand of his customers. With this, he says, he will get good profits. He dreams of opening other jaggery stores at various marketplaces.",M,150,lender,Agriculture,1
Kenya,"Monica Atieno is 46 years. She is married, and has five children. Having never gone to school, she is illiterate. Monica started her business of selling boiled maize in 2004. She boils and sells the maize at a garage near the Kiambiu slums, where she and her family resides.
Initially, she did casual labour where she would do laundry for people in the surrounding estates near the slums. It is with income from this laundry work that she saved up some capital to start over her business. Monica is now a member of the Vumilia Women Group of Action Now Kenya, and so far, she has received a loan of $57, which she used to revive her maize boiling business through purchase of stock, and has successfully repaid. She has also has received a loan of $ 85 that she used to pay school fees for her children. She is still making repayments for this loan.
Monica has been experiencing some difficulties in her business, since she only has a small sufuria (cooking pot), which she uses to boil maize. The small sufuria forces her to boil the maize in two or three batches, in order to satisfy her customers. Many times however, she runs out of time while trying to boil the second or third round of maize, when the customers are out on a brief lunch break. She therefore asks them to wait till the next batch is ready. Because they have a short lunch brunch, many customers are forced to get food from other places, or to go back to work hungry if they cant afford food that is more costly. This means therefore that often times, Monica only manages to sell the first batch of maize that is ready on time, and is left with the second batch of cooked maize that she is forced to carry back home. This ends up as a loss to her small business.
Given a loan of $75, which she will receive in kind, Monica will purchase a big sufuria (cooking pot) and a jiko (cooking stove). The new additions to her business will enable her to boil more maize on the go, hence manage to sell all the stock for the day. This will also ensure that her customers get enough maize over their brief lunch break, hence they dont have to spend more money for lunch, or go back to work while still hungry. In return, Monica will now get a higher income that will enable her to support her family, and take her children to school. The repayment period for her loan will be between 8 15 months.",F,75,partner,Food,0
Kenya,"Monica Gakii is 43 years old. She is married and has three children and lives in the Kibera slums. Monica also takes care of her nephew from Meru since the harsh conditions back in the rural part of the country he is from do not allow him to get a stable job.
Monicas motivation to involve herself in the business of spinning wool was influenced by her mother who was an expert in that trade. Monica then decided to learn more and went through two months of training from her neighbor whom her mother had employed. Her mother could not train her since she was always busy delivering orders from clients.
Having been equipped with the necessary skills, Monica decided to start her own business in the year 1993. This was after she got married and the business helped in sustaining her family since at this time, she was living with her mother-in law, who also helped her to buy a spinning machine for her business. She struggled to bring up her business until she was able to save Ksh 3,000.00 (USD 45) with which she added an electric machine to her business, to help with the spinning, since it could do the work faster. Gakii goes to Nakuru once every month, and buys wool weighing 150-200kgs. She has so far been able to employ three workers who help in combing the wool after which Monica spins it into thread ready for sale. She sells the thread in different areas because she has customers as far as Ongata Rongai, Kikuyu and Limuru (regions within the country). She usually combs about 7kgs of wool per week. Her mother-in-law is now very grateful because Monica is able to supporting her.
Monica is requesting for a loan of USD 325 to enable her to purchase a large stock of wool. The loan will help raise the capital for her business hence the business will expand. This will in the long run raise her family income thus will be able to meet all the family needs. The loan repayment period is 12 months.",F,325,lender,Arts,0
Kenya,"Monica is 28 years old and a mother of 2. She is married to a soldier who works in Nairobi. She has relied on her husbands salary for a long time. She was introduced to WEEC by her group chairlady. After training by the WEEC Officer, she became delighted upon learning more about KIVAs loans that change lives. Monica has now applied for a loan of USD 300 to start a small shop for selling fruits and vegetables. She asserts that this is the only way she can become self reliant other than relying on her husband's salary. She is willing to repay this loan within 12 months.",F,300,lender,Food,1
Kenya,"Monica is 30 years old and is married with 4 children. Monica also takes care of her brother and sister, aged 14 and 16 years respectively, since her parents are not in a position to support them because of their old age. They live within the Kibera slums of Nairobi.
Monica used to braid ladies hair at different salons where she was be paid on commission. She operated in this manner for six months, after which she was luckily employed at a particular salon after having done exemplary work on several occasions. Having gained experience for two years, Monica decided to start her own business in 2000 after saving Ksh 3,000.00 ($43) through a village merry-go-round group for women. The determination to open a salon led her to purchase a blowdryer and some chairs. In 2003, Monica bought a second hand hairdryer and over the years her clients have doubled, as has the demand.
Monica is therefore kindly asking for a loan of $175 so that she can purchase a new hairdryer and blowdryer. She intends to pay back the loan within a period of 8 14 months. The additional equipment will enable her to offer quick and efficient service to her royal customers. They will also enhance the expansion for her business. She will need assistance and thereby create job opportunities by employing additional staff to help her cope with the growing demand.
At the same time, Monica has been approached by the village elders to offer training to a growing number of teenage mothers who are interested in hairdressing and beauty courses. They, in turn, can gain a form of employment in the future through their skills. Her vision is for the future to look brighter for the slum dwellers of Kibera.",F,175,partner,Services,0
Kenya,"Monica is 39 years old. She is married and has 4 children. Monica is the choirmistress at Gichugu Catholic Church in Gakoigo. Monicas main economic activity is farming. She grows maize and beans for sale. During the harvesting period, Monica prepares her crop and stores until the cereals prices are good. She sells to business people who stocks cereals at Maragwa town. Monica also buys more cereals from the local farmers. When the cereals are in plenty, the prices go down. She then waits to sell her stock when the prices go up. Monica plans to start buying cereals from farms in Muranga and Sabasaba for stocking. She requires more capital to enable her to buy more stock. She has applied for a loan from the groups revolving fund of USD 300. Her previous loan repayments are good. The loans committee has approved her loan as per the group loan graduation policy. She will repay the loan within a period of 12 months.",F,300,lender,Food,1
Kenya,Monica is a married mother of three children. She is the main bread earner in her family and owns a cyber cafe. She will use the loan to diversify and expand her business in order to better provide for her family's needs.,F,800,lender,Services,1
Kenya,"Monica Keruro Ochori is aged 47 years. She is married with two children. All attending to school aged 14, and 18 years old respectively. Monica passed her grade 12 exams but never continued with her education. She ventured into business to supplement her family income by doing a grocery business. For the past 26 years she has been in the business and now wants to enlarge her business by selling precooked vegetables like roasted potatoes, banana, sweet potatoes, smoked fish, sun dried fish and dried kales, in order to improve her family livelihood. She requires a loan amount of US $ 575 as her budget is:
US $ 75 to purchase three sacks of Potatoes
US $ 100 to purchase fresh kales
US $ 100 to purchase a bunch of green banana
US $ 100 to purchase fresh tilapia fish
US $ 100 to purchase pressure cooker.",F,575,lender,Food,1
Kenya,"Monica Musosi is 43 years of age and is married to a church pastor. She has four children, and , together with her younger sister, also takes care of her aging mother.
She also has two grandchildren whom she supports, since her daughter, their mother, does not have any means to earn an income. Monica lives in the Kayole area of Nairobi, which is an informal settlement where many poor people reside. Since she is the Pastor's wife, she also assists her husband to take care of some of the church members who are in dire need.
Monica has been doing salon work including hair and beauty for about 20 years. She started off her small salon and training business in 2004, with money that she received through a merry go round group that she was involved in. She used the money to buy a hair drier, a few seats, a mirror, and some hair chemicals.
Since 2006, Monica has been receiving short contracts to train students in need coming from the Kayole area, who are sponsored to learn vocational skills by the World Vision Organization. However, Monica has been experiencing problems. First, she only has seven seats and 15 students. Second, she only has one hair drier and the students have to wait for long periods. She sometimes even loses clients to other salons because they have to wait for very long periods.
Monica is a member of the Kisima group of Action Now Kenya within the Kayole area, and she has so far received a loan of $57, which she used to purchase required chemicals and beauty products for her business.
Monica now seeks a loan of $500, whose repayment period will be between 12 - 18 months. Monica would purchase 10 seats, 2 blow driers, one hair drier and one training dummy. This support would go a long way in enabling her to provide faster services to her clients hence save much of their time, and her students would also have a more comfortable learning atmosphere. She also hopes that once she completes this loan repayment, she can receive an additional loan that she will use to buy other additional equipment that her business requires.",F,500,partner,Services,0
Kenya,"Monica Onyango is a very active 40-year old member of her community. She has lived in one of the slums of Kisumu, Kenya for the past fifteen years. She is married and heads a household of five school-aged children.
In 1997 she received training from KMET for home-based HIV/AIDS care, TB ambassadorship and community-based distribution of oral contraceptives. Monica is very well-known within her community for her compassionate work.
Her main business and source of income is selling fish which she started doing in 1993. Given her reputation and the location of her business along the shores of Lake Victoria her business has flourished. Monica credits her success on hard work and the assistance she has received from KMET through two previous micro-finance loans. She plans to use the funds from her next loan of US $600 to expand her business.",F,600,partner,Food,0
Kenya,"Monica Waitherero is 27 years old and single. She lives in Nakuru town with her two younger sisters who have completed senior school. They all depend on her to provide for their daily needs. Monica has professional training in hairdressing and currently runs her own hair salon. The income she gets is insufficient to pay for her sisters' college education and to re-invest in the expansion of her business. This small salon has been in operation for the last nine years; it offers hairdressing services, as well a wide range of beauty products. It has attracted a large number of regular clients. Monica would like to raise her income - she plans to achieve this by expand the scope of her business, so that she can serve more clients. She needs to recruit more competent employees and add more equipment. Monica projects that thereby her income will double, and she will even be able to create employment for other youths interested in hairdressing. Most importantly, she will finally have enough funds to pay her siblings college fees. She is requesting a loan of US$1200: US$100 to rent a bigger premise, US$300 to buy furniture and fittings, US$300 to employ two assistants, and US$600 to buy more equipment. Monica is ambitious and focused, and has the ability to make the business profitable.",F,1200,lender,Services,1
Kenya,"Monica Wanja Mwangi is 47 years old and married with five children, all of whom are in school. She supports herself and her family by selling tomatoes from a stall in the main market of the town where she lives. Her customers come from all over to buy her produce because her prices are low and she maintains high standards of cleanliness.
Monica would like to expand her business by building a shop where she could store a large number of tomatoes and keep them fresh and safe. To do this, she is requesting for a loan of $1,000. She will use half of it to purchase a variety of tomatoes, $300 to build her store, $100 for transport and $100 for a municipal license.
We are very confident that Monica will repay the loan because she is hard working and a good businesswoman.",F,1000,lender,Food,1
Kenya,"Monicah Adhiambo is an average Kenyan woman aged 48 and married with 4 children.
Monicah has been running her business for a period of 4 years, and she got her initial capital by accumulating savings from her former work place. Currently Monicah deals in ladies' clothes, but she would like to diversify to a men's and children's collection in the near future. She purchases her bales of clothes every month from various shops in Nairobi, the capital city of Kenya, and sells to her customers in Busia town. With the little profit she gets from her business, Monicah is still able to clothe, feed, and educate her children. With the help of her loan, Monicah will be able to purchase more bales of clothes to boost her business sales.
Disclaimer: Due to recent events in Kenya, the security situation in many communities remains unsettled, affecting many local businesses. Lenders to this entrepreneur should be aware that this loan may represent a higher default risk, and should be willing to accept this additional risk in making their loan.",F,3400,lender,Clothing,0
Kenya,"Monicah Wangui Kamau is a married woman aged 25. She has two children of her own and another one related to her whom she has to take care of. Monicah did a course in pharmacy but due to the recent competition in that field, she was unable to secure a job. She was under a lot of pressure to start her own business and her mother, having sufficient experience in poultry farming, advised her on starting the same thing. Monicah did quite well and her business has really picked up. The business is now operating on a small scale, but she would like to expand it. She does not have enough money to expand the business so she is requesting a loan of US$ 600. She will use US$ 300 to buy more poultry, US$ 120 to prepare a place to keep the chickens, and US$ 180 to buy poultry feed. She is certain that this will work well for her",F,600,lender,Agriculture,1
Kenya,"Morrison Ngugi Njunguna is a 60 year old married entrepreneur. He has four children, two boys and two girls. The eldest is pursuing a masters degree in education while the other three are all in university. One is in his fourth year and two are in their first year. He is the sole breadwinner and has put a lot of effort towards educating his children. He has been running a second-hand clothing business for the last twenty years, selling and supplying to other retailers. Two of his children have just joined university at the same time and this has used up his savings and business capital. He now lacks sufficient capital to supply to retailers. He requests a US $1,200 loan. His budget is: US $1,000 to buy clothes and US $200 for transportion expenses. He will be able to repay the loan.",M,1200,lender,Clothing,1
Kenya,"Moses Alkana is a 32 year-old married man with two children, aged 1 and 3 years old. He lives in Tena Estate in the outskirts of Nairobi town. Apart from his immediate family, he also has his sister-in-law who depends on him. Moses started doing business in 2003 while working with a company called Sanganyi Investment, where he was an accountant. After quitting his job, he used his savings of Ksh. 90,000 and the skills he had to purchase a computer accessories shop (Warsan Shop) for Ksh. 50,000. Because he used some stock he had to purchase the shop, he was in a position to start running the business immediately. But now business is not running smoothly because he doesn't have some of the machines his business needs.
Moses says that his business needs a binding and laminating machine and additional stock. The machines would cost Ksh 107,500. He now requests Kiva lenders to assist him with a loan of Ksh 70,000 ($700.00), so that he can boost his business. He believes that with this equipment he will be more able to satisfy his customers' needs. He also says that most of his customers who come to photocopy their documents also need them bound. Because he lacks a binding machine, he only offers photocopying services and sends his customers to another shop to complete their work. If Moses had this machine, he would be able to generate additional income. The same case applies to lamination because the laminating machine he bought from the shop owner was old and has since broken. He also believes that if he gets this equipment his customers will have their services catered to without any inconveniences. He is willing to repay back his loan within a term of 12 months.",M,700,partner,Services,1
Kenya,"Moses Chege is a 24-year-old trader. He resides in a slum area just outside Mombasa. He started the business six years ago because he was unable to raise funds to pay for senior school expenses. The trade involves moving around the city center on foot, selling an assortment of electronic appliances and clothes. He also has a small stall where he operates. The merchandise he sells is cheap and the electronics are of the latest technology, hence appealing to the customers who buy from him. His earnings are however barely sufficient to cater for his basic needs, since he is required to pay for license fees on a daily basis, thus reducing his income. Also, during the rainy season his movement is restricted, thus he cannot make good sales. He would like to increase his income base so that he can uplift his lifestyle as well as advance his business towards growth. He is therefore requesting a loan of US$600 to assist him in boosting his business. His budget is US$300 to purchase more electronic goods and US$300 to purchase clothes for sale. Moses is an industrious businessman and is quite experienced in his line of trade, hence he is certain to make good gains out of it, enabling him to repay the loan.",M,600,lender,Retail,1
Kenya,"Moses has been in business for the last three years in Kolanya trading center He gets His Materials from Uganda and Bungoma in Kenya. He makes new design of Kitenge, Uniforms and Kaunda suits for the community. This is his second business loan with Pemci having complete first loan Successfully without any default. His first loan enabled him to purchase more materials for his business and sowing treads, this has boosted his capital base and profit margin. He was able to improving on his customer base by getting connection to different school to make uniforms for primary school children. From the earning of the business he has been able to support his family welfare. He has one Child who is yet to join school and his wife sell food stuff at the local market in Chamasiri and Malakisi.Through his business Moses is mainly faced with a lot of challenges in dealing with competition from other tailors in the area. With second loan from Pemci he plans to add new materials and thread so as to support all his customers demands. With the high demand of clothes in the community he plans in future to expand on his trading by training and employing worker to help him in his business to support all the customers.",M,300,partner,Services,0
Kenya,"Moses is 35 years old married and with four children. Being the first child in a family of 10 children, he went to school up to class seven and was not able to continue for lack of school fees. To his parents, secondary school education was irrelevant since there were other children in primary school to look after.
Moses was therefore forced to start working at an early age of 15 years. He was employed as a loader for a lorry that was transporting milk to the factories on behalf of farmers.
He did this job for 7 years and got married to one of the track owners daughter. Because of his good work he was trained as a lorry driver and then promoted to a driver.
He joined Eb-F at one of the out reach promotions in their rural area and started saving his income. He got his 1st loan of US $ 550 from Eb-F and used the money to purchase a dairy cow for his wife. He repaid the loan from his salary while his wife saved the income she got from selling milk.
His wife then took a loan of US $ 600 from Eb-F and they used the money to start a milk buying business. They buy the milk from farmers then transport it to the factories at a profit. They bought 10 milk cans and contracted a pickup vehicle to transport the milk.
Moses then got the blessing of his father in law/employer to leave employment and join his wife in managing their young business.
Due to his honesty, timely payments and cleanliness in handling farmers milk, he is doing well and majority of the farmers want to sell their milk to him. He wants to increase the amount of milk he is buying and to contract a bigger track.
Moses is requesting a loan of US $ 1,200.His budget is: US $ 690 to purchase an additional 10 milk cans, US $ 400 to be buying an additional 2000 litters of milk and use US $ 110 to roof their cow shade to protect their cows from rain.
Moses is a promising business man and will pay his loan promptly.",M,1200,lender,Food,1
Kenya,"Moses is married with 5 children, 2 in secondary school. He has received some basic training in entrepreneurship from World Vision. He started his motorbike transportation business 2 years ago after raising some funds from tobacco sales. He now wishes to buy a second motorbike. He has been able to raise some funds from the business toward the purchase, and the loan of US$450 from PEMCI is to make up for the shortfall. With the two motorbikes operational he will be able to repay the loan without fail. Motorbike transportation (known as Boda Boda) is emerging as a quicker alternative to bicycle transportation. The motorbikes are used to ferry passengers long distances that the bicycles cannot reach. This emerging alternative will have a very positive impact on the economy and the communities in the area.",M,450,partner,Transportation,0
Kenya,"Moses is married with nine children who are all in primary school. He has not undertaken any formal training and he is a member of the local community AIDS awareness group. He started his business in 1984 in order to support his family.
With a first loan from PEMCI, he wishes to uplift his business and be able to buy charcoal in bulk from the burners and sell it at different market places. Through his business, he has been able to build himself a house, buy a piece of land and also provide services to the community. He has also been able to engage himself in cattle trading in which hes doing well.",M,150,lender,Retail,1
Kenya,"Moses is married with nine children who are all in primary school. He has not undertaken any formal training, but he is a member of the communitys AIDS awareness group. Moses started his business in 1984 in order to support his family. With this $150 loan from Pemci, he wishes to expand his business and be able to buy charcoal in bulk and sell it at different marketplaces. Through his business, Moses has been able to build himself a house, buy a piece of land, and also provide a needed service to the community. He has also been able to engage in cattle trading where hes doing well. An enterprising gentleman who is battling to improve the well-being of his large family. Support from Kiva partners will give him a big boost.",M,150,partner,Retail,0
Kenya,"Moses Kapkatich Kiptanui is 32 years old. He is married and father of two children. One of the children is too young to go to school while the other is in school. He is in the business of selling cereals. He buys the cereals from farmers in rural Kenyan towns and sells them to traders in the urban areas. He says he chose the business because it is marketable throughout the year. Moses wants to increase his stock levels in order to realize the full potential of his business . He is requesting a loan of US$ 1000. With this amount he will add more stock, using a portion of the money to offset transport costs. He will be able to earn more income and save for his lovely childrens future.",M,1000,lender,Food,1
Kenya,"Moses Kathanaika Chabari is 33 yrs old. Moses is married with one child who is still too young to go to school. Moses sells tomatoes in Kongowea market in Mombasa, the Kenyan coastal town. He lives in a one-room house with his family. He joined a nursing college after high school but unfortunately he dropped out due to lack of school fees. He worked as a nurse aid casual worker for a dispensary for some time until the job ended. He also worked as a volunteer. While looking for a job he decided to go into self-employment. He gets tomatoes in bulk from farmers after paying half deposit then pays the balance after sales. Unfortunately, this cuts out some of his profits. He would like to pay for the tomatoes up front and have all the profit. Moses plans to go back and finish his nursing course. He requests a US $550 loan: US $500 will be used to buy tomatoes and US $50 for transport. He is determined and will repay the loan.",M,550,lender,Food,1
Kenya,"Moses Kinyanjui Njoroge is 35 years old and a father of 3 children. All of his children are of school-going age. His wife is unemployed but assists her husband in running their dairy business. They have four dairy cows. Moses's income comes from the sale of dairy products which include fresh milk and yogurt. To supplement this income, he also runs a car wash business at Ngecha in Limuru. The dairy business has a lot of potential for growth given the fact that Ngecha is 15 km from Nairobi where he supplies the dairy products, and there is very high demand for the products. Moses wants to take advantage of the high demand and expand his business. Moses is requesting a loan of $1000 which he intends to use as follows: buy an extra dairy cow at $650 and purchase a chuff cutter at $350. He is a very dedicated farmer and has received several loans from Eb-F, all of which he has repaid on time. He is committed and has potential for growth.",M,1000,lender,Agriculture,1
Kenya,"Moses Kwamba is a 34 year old entrepreneur who is married with two kids. The first born is in grade one and the second born is in kindergarten. His wife is a mobile food vendor selling food from one construction site to another. She earns US $5 in a week. She assists her husband in meeting minor necessities. Moses meets most of the basic needs of his family and he pays school fees for his two children in school. He owns a tailoring shop located in the Nakuru city suburbs where he specializes in menswear. Moses supplies the local supermarket with menswear. Fortunately he got another order to supply a different local supermarket with menswear too. Due to the size of his workshop, limited number of sewing machines and machine operators, he is unable to meet the demand from the supermarkets. He requests a loan of US $2,000 to purchase two sewing machine at US $800 and to purchase materials at US $1,200. This project will create employment for machine operators and provide funds to Moses and his employees to improve their family lives and educate their children.",M,2000,lender,Services,1
Kenya,Moses Maina Ndungu is aged 25 years. He is single with no dependents. He ekes out his living through selling second-hand clothes. He specializes in trendy fashions. His clients are mostly the youth and middle-aged who are fashion conscious. Moses is determined to expand his business and support his aging father. He is a beneficiary of Ebony Foundations training programme. He showed a great deal of practicality and case studies learning from the experience he has been having with his business. Currently he would like buy more stock and to have a market niche during the festive season of Christmas. He is requesting for a loan of US $400; US $350 to add bale of clothes and US $50 to pay for the municipal license. Moses is an initiator with self-drive and he will be able to repay the loan.,M,400,lender,Clothing,1
Kenya,"Moses Mbogo Kaigwa is 66 years old he is married with nine children. Three have completed school, they are now in collage. Two are in high school, while four are in primary school. All of them work hard in school and he says that they perform well.
Moses is a black smith; he acquired metal work skills from working for metal works company for ten years. He has his own shop now, where he makes farm tools such as hoes, shears, axes, machetes and knives. He sells his wares to farmers and agricultural shops all over Kenya.
Although the business is profitable, it is not profitable enough to enable him support his children needs at a satisfactory level. This evident in the fact that his children are constantly asking for bursaries and grants to pay for their school fees.
He wants to increase his production levels in order to get more profits. He lacks the resources to do so, he is therefore asking for a loan of US$ 1150. With this amounts he will buy metal stocks and metal sheets worth US$1000 and hire an assistant with US$ 150. With the planned business expansion he will be able to earn more income and fill his children educational needs.",M,1150,lender,Manufacturing,1
Kenya,"Moses Ojwang Andal is 58 years old, married, and has 5 children. He is also looking after his nephew whose parents died of HIV/AIDS. Moses is a retired military officer and a registered clinical officer. He lives in the Kibera slums where he has been operating a medical clinic since 1998.
Two years before his retirement in year 2000, Moses obtained a loan of Ksh 100,000.00 (US$1,540) from a local bank to purchase the basic equipment and instruments for the clinic and was able to repay the loan within 8 months. Moses offers services such as curative, family planning, laboratory, referral, and delivery, and also deals with emergencies. In late 1998, fire broke out in the neighborhood, and his clinic was not spared. Yet, this did not destroy his ambition of continuing with the medical profession. Moses used part of his employment benefits of Ksh 150,000.00 (US$2,200) to revive the clinic by buying the most necessary items such as a stethoscope, biceps, gloves, drugs, a weighing machine, etc. The clinic progressed well and has been employing 6 staff members from the community.
Moses has approached Action Now Kenya to help him replace some of the equipment in his clinic that is now worn out. He needs a new glucometer, a blood pressure machine, two trays and drugs, all of which will cost US$250. He believes that having these machines in good condition will help in better diagnosing illnesses of his patients, and allow to give them the right treatment. Moses shall repay the loan over a period of 10 months.",M,250,lender,Health,1
Kenya,"Moses started his business in 1990 with capital from sales of his farm produce. His business includes buying cattle from the nearest markets and selling them at a higher price to farmers or at Slaughter houses. Through his business, he has been able to educate his twelve children up to secondary school levels. With a second loan from PEMCI, he will increase his stock and improve his market base by selling in a variety of markets. This will bring him more customers.",M,300,partner,Agriculture,0
Kenya,Mosompa is an active member of Naretoi womens' group. She has really benefited a lot from group loans and especially her KIVA loan. She was able to achieve part of her dream and she was very happy. Mosompa has further contributed to her family and she can now provide her family with basic needs without much hustling. She has paid 98% of her first loan and for now she has big dreams and plans to give her children a quality education from her steers business. She has 10 steers and she wants to add 3 to increase the herds she grazes at her farm. She is targeting to sell the steers in the November/December festive season. The continuous seasonal rains are favoring the steers business in Maasailand. Mosompas repayment record has been good. She will repay the loan on a monthly basis.,F,600,lender,Agriculture,1
Kenya,"Mpato is 42 years old. She is married with four children, two in secondary and two in primary school. Mpato never went to school due to cultural limitations. She has put in a lot of effort to educate all her children with the help of her husband. Mpato is an active member of Namunyak Women's Group and has benefited a lot. She has been empowered by WEEC through trainings, loans and life skills.
Mpato's family has been relying on her milk business, which has been the only source of income. After joining Namunyak Women's Group, she was trained in business and loan management and was able to start a steer business. Her business has enabled her to pay school fees for her children. She normally buys young steer and feeds them for a period of six months, then sells them at a good price. She is very determined to expand her steer business and to give her children a quality education for their lives. She is very determined to make a difference in her family life. She would like to buy more steer and fatten them for a few months and sell them at a good price.",F,450,lender,Agriculture,1
Kenya,"Mr Mulei is a pastor of a local church and wishes to start a poultry raising and selling business (broilers) to supplement his income. He has requested a PEMCI loan of US$450, which will enable him buy 500 young chicks and the accompanying feed and medication. His wife and son will work with him on the project. The calculated return on the investment is good, and he should be able to repay the loan within the six months and also grow the business. Mr Mulei is a very well known and respected member of his community and PEMCI is confident of his ability and determination to repay the loan. With income from the poultry business he will able to support his family and to meet the needs of his young church. His objective is to employ some of the youth in his church on the project. He also intends to use this project as a demonstration to encourage others in the community to venture into the business. We find this to be a worthwhile venture to support.",M,450,partner,Agriculture,0
Kenya,"Mr Owande is married with five children, 4 in secondary school. He owns a pick-up truck, with which he harvests sand from a nearby river and sells it to construction sites to support his family. He also works as a farmer to meet his family food requirements, makes building bricks for sale, and transports goods for market traders to supplement his income. He employs several young men who work with him in these projects. He needs the loan from PEMCI of US$725 to buy some essential spare parts to service his vehicle. The building industry is a key sector of the economy here, and sand and building bricks are its essential components. Mr Owande is making an important contribution to the larger economy and the local community by creating employment and income.",M,725,partner,Construction,0
Kenya,"Mr. Aggrey is married with eight children, all in primary school. He serves God and his local community as a pastor. He is a hardworking businessman in the Angurai and Malakisi area. He has operated his business for over five years now. He sells foodstuffs such as beans, maize, millet, sorghum and cow peas.
He operates a store in Malaba town and Angurai centre. He buys his stock from the local farmers from Angurai, Malakisi, Kimilili and Kitale in the drier season at a little lower price and sells to customers in the area markets at a small profit. On average, Aggrey gets about $ 6 in daily sales.
Aggrey has finished his second loan successfully. From his proceeds, he was able to buy two more bicycles which he employs other people to ferry his goods with. With another loan from PEMCI, he hopes to increase his stock of produce at this harvest season when the prices of produce go down because of a bumper harvest. This is actually the right time for this kind of trader to buy and hoard his stocks. He hopes in future to dominate the western part of Kenya in terms of supplying foodstuffs to shops and schools.",M,225,lender,Food,1
Kenya,"Mr. Kimani does double duty as a businessman and an elder at a local church. A teacher by profession, he is married with 5 children. He started as a clothing vendor and slowly developed his business to the wholesale level. He now buys in bulk and sells to small-scale vendors. He plans to use the loan from PEMCI to expand the shoe sale side of the business. He is a respected and active member of the local community through his church and also in his personal capacity. He has mentored a number of young people in his church who are actively engaged in similar businesses. We believe that supporting him will have an indirect impact on the local community through his interactions.",M,1200,partner,Clothing,0
Kenya,"Mr. Kimani is a maize farmer and a transporter. He is married with grown children. A large part of agricultural farming in Kenya is rain fed. Hence most farmers grow, harvest and sell their produce at the same time. Prices are low during such periods and the return to the farmers is poor. Mr Nganga has taken 3 previous loans with us of $715, each of which he repaid successfully. The current loan of US$1200 will enable him to prepare his shamba (small farm) for the planting season. The loan will be repaid from the sale of his existing stock of maize. Rather than sell his maize at this time when there is excess on the market and prices are low, the loan will bridge the gap, enabling him to get the best price from his produce later. In view of the important role that agriculture plays in the lives of the local community, PEMCI is considering providing such loans, commonly known as inventory credit, again in the future. This will enable the farmers to regain control of their finances and sell their produce when the market is at its best. This is the first of this type of loan and we have confidence in Mr Kimanis ability to repay the loan with the least amount of difficulty.",M,1200,partner,Agriculture,0
Kenya,"Mr. Lagat is 69 years old, married, and the father of six children. He has been in the brick-moulding business for the past three years.
He intends to utilize this loan to assist him in hiring additional workers, to pay for water, and to buy firewood and grass for the preparation of bricks. These items will enable him to increase his current output and thus improve his income level.
About KADET:
The Kenya Agency for the Development of Enterprise and Technology (KADET) is committed to economically empowering its clients by providing financial services to rural communities in order to relieve suffering and improve living conditions within those communities.",M,250,partner,Construction,0
Kenya,"Mr. Lawrence is 24 years old and married with two children, one in a nursery school and the second-born still young at home.
He started his bicycle parts business three years ago. He sells bicycle parts such as rims and spokes. He also sells frames, cushions, and household utensils such as pans, troughs, plates, cutlery and many more at the Myanga open-air market. He stores his merchandise at home; a distance from the market. He hires local bicycle transport called bodaboda to transport his merchandise to and from the market. His customers are mainly people from within the area. He sells his products on the two market days (Wednesdays and Saturdays).
With his first loan from Kiva through PEMCI, he was able to boost his business to a higher level. He has successfully increased his stock but now faces the challenge of ferrying the goods from home. He says that he now hires at least two bodaboda to carry the goods.
To curb this, Lawrence wants another loan from Kiva through PEMCI so that he can increase his stock further and hire one of the rooms surrounding the market place so that he will operate his store from there. He says that this will be an achievement to him since he will have moved from the open air to a more stable place.
We wish him all the best.",M,450,lender,Retail,1
Kenya,"Mr. Lihanda is married with three children. His first son is in college. Mr Lihanda first came to PEMCI with a request of a $429 loan to enable him purchase a new power saw for his business. He successfully repaid the loan and requested a 2nd loan of $714 to stock up his business with raw timber. Kiva funded the second loan which he has been able to clear from the bulk sale of his remaining timber stocks.
He has now requested a loan of US$1200 which will enable him to expand his furniture making business. So far PEMCI has had a very successful relationship with Mr Lihanda and we are proud to be associated with his business growth. He is a determined businessman and is well respected in the community for his honesty and hard work. He is a role model for other upcoming businesses and we need more like him. Through his activities he is able to employ a number of workers and to mentor younger people entering the furniture business. Mr Lihanda is worth the support of Kiva partners in his contribution to alleviating poverty and unemployment in this part of the country.",M,1200,partner,Manufacturing,0
Kenya,"Mr. Lihanda is married with three children. His first son was recently admitted to college, which has strained his business. He first came to us with a request of a $429 loan to enable him purchase a new power saw for his business. He successfully repaid the loan and requested for a 2nd loan of $725 With tis loan, he intends to buy more timber plus other items that he requires in his furniture business. He is a well-respected person in the community known for his honesty and hard work. He is employing 4 other persons in his business, which is contributing to employment and general well-being of the community.",M,725,partner,Retail,0
Kenya,"Mr. Makhanu is 67 years old and in his second loan with PEMCI, but his first with Kiva. Robert is married with sixteen children. Some children are in school, and others are even married.
He is trained in business management and tailoring services by the promise land in Kakamega. His first loan of $150 was used to buy fabrics for his tailoring business. He has been in business since 1968 and has solely depended on his business for sustaining his family.
With the proposed loan from PEMCI of $300, he plans to increase his fabric stock and buy an additional sewing machine. Mr Makhanu is full of life. Even at his age, he looks forward to opening up a local youth training centre in business and tailoring skills.
A staunch Catholic, Mr Makhanu is an active member of his local church and the community. As a senior member of his community he has a lot to share with the young generation. He is worthy of the support of Kiva partners.",F,300,partner,Services,0
Kenya,"Mr. Mwigai is fifty years old, married with three girls and a boy. Three of the children go to school while the last one is still at home. His wife sells used clothes in Malaba town. Mr Joseph has been a transit truck driver for thirteen solid years and quit four months ago. He recalls transporting cargo from Mambasa port down at the coast of Kenya to different destinations of East and Central Africa such as Nairobi (Kenya), Kampala (Uganda), Kigali (Rwanda), and several towns in Congo and Burundi. He says that things were never good then but he had to do the job since he hardly qualified for any job due to lack of education since he dropped out of primary school. As a challenge of his job, he had very little time to spend with his family since he was always on the road. He also says that the pay was so meager that it never allowed him to make substantial savings.
With little room for self advancement, Joseph decided to quit his job four months ago and instead become self-employed. With part of the savings he made while employed and the vast experience he got from truck driving, he has decided to buy a used truck from one of his friends so that he can start his own transport company on the Malaba border. He plans to transport building materials like sand, gravel, stones, murram and timber within Teso district. He says that this will give him enough time to spend with his family and also support them. With his loan from PEMCI through KIVA, Joseph intends to top up what he has so as to acquire the truck.",M,1200,lender,Transportation,1
Kenya,Mr. Namu is a highly respected man because of his excellent stitchery techniques. He is a 40 year old father of 4 who wishes to take his great skills to even greater heights. He hopes that this loan will enable him to expand his business and provide both men and women with 'garments stitched to excellence!',M,200,lender,Services,1
Kenya,"Mr. Nzioka is 43 years old and happily married with two children. He resides in Mlolongo town, an informal settlement on the outskirts of Nairobi, along the Nairobi-Mombasa highway. In addition to taking care of his immediate family, Nzioka has dependents who among them is his brother. Unfortunately his brother is unemployed and an illicit alcohol addict, known as ""kangara"" in local dialect. The effects of alcohol have incapacitated his brother, leaving Nzioka with the responsibility of raising his brother's three children. Nzioka is also responsible for five other members of his extended family, which includes two of his cousins' children.
Henry is, however, thankful to God for enabling him to sustain his extended family members' needs by driving an old diesel car, which he operates as a taxi. He bought this car in the year 2005 with savings. The car cost Ksh 200,000. He had saved this amount while being employed as a driver at a company called Ebenengi Enterprise in Nairobi city. After the company closed its doors, Henry bought the old car and has been using it since then. Due to the high cost involved in the maintenance of the old car, it has been hard for him to successfully meet his family's needs. He therefore thought it was wise to dispose of it at the cost of 160,000, so that he can buy a newer car that will cost Ksh 230,000. The new car he intends to buy will be a newer model and therefore more efficient.
Henry is passionately requesting a loan of Ksh 70,000 ($950.00) from Kiva lenders. With the loan and the proceeds from the old car he will double his income. As a result, he will spend less on maintenance and have more income for his family and extended family members.
The repayment period for this loan is 14 months.",M,950,partner,Transportation,1
Kenya,"Mr. Odato is a social worker by profession, married to a primary school teacher, and has five children; a boy and four girls. His children go to a nearby primary school. He used to work with a local contracting company KEFINCO, which deals with fixing of bore holes in strategic areas so as to provide clean drinking water to the people in a particular area. He quit in the year 2004 to open up his own business which he later registered with a business name.
With experience from KEFINCO, he gets contracts for fixing wells and currently he has one from the local Constituency Development Fund (CDF). When explaining well development, he says that in the first phase of development, a hole is manually dug to the water table, which is a depth of between forty to sixty feet, and culverts (made from concrete) are fixed in the well to align it. After that they then fix the pump which they get from Nairobi.
To assist him with work, Odato employs four men: two well diggers, a mason, and one artisan who do most of the finishing. With a KIVA loan through PEMCI, Mr. Odato plans to finish up the Rwatama project where he needs to buy one more pump and fix it. In the photo, Mr. Odato poses next to a pump he is working on in Malaba.",M,450,lender,Construction,1
Kenya,"Mr.Shaban is a retired teacher, married with 22 children, 18 of them depend on him.From his retirement benefits, Shaban started a cattle selling and butchery business which keep him busy moving around markets in the Teso, Bungoma and Mt Elgon Districts. He has been in business for the last ten years. His current wife is also a business lady. The first loans of $575 funded through Kiva were used to open up two butcheries to enable him meet the demand for meat from his customers. He has fully repaid the loan. The income from his business enabled him to open and support adult education in the community where he is the principal of the Alemuna Adult school in Malakisi. Shaban is an active member of the Pemci family and is in his fifth loan cycle. With the proposed loan of $600, he plans to supply orders that he has been given by other butcheries in the area. He also plans to continue expanding his cattle business by buying from far off places where cattle are cheap and selling where the returns are good. He is the chairman of his self-help group and has done a commendable job in maintaining discipline and a good repayment record within the group. His training as a leader has helped the group a lot. During the recent visit to PEMCI by Kiva representatives, they were able to visit Mr Shaban and to conduct extensive interviews on his work and community activities. We are proud to be associated with the good work that Shaban is doing and we recommend him for continued support by Kiva partners.",M,600,lender,Agriculture,1
Kenya,"Mr.Shaban is a retired teacher, married with 3 Children. From his retirement benefits, Shaban started a cattle selling and butchery business which kept him busy by moving around markets in Teso, Bungoma and Mt Elgon Districts. The loan of $575 from PEMCI will be used to open up two butcheries to enable him meet his wide customers demand. The income coming from these sales enabled him to open and support adult education in the community where he is the principal of the school- Alemuna Adult school in Malakis.From he has also been able to bring a variety of quality meat nearer to the community . We are proud to be associated with the good work that Shaban is doing out of our initiative of PEMCI.",M,575,partner,Food,0
Kenya,"Mrs. Alungata is married and has a daughter in junior school. She started her business selling cereal in 2003. The business is located at Adungos along Malaba-Busia road. She sells rice, beans, millet, cassava, sorghum, and maize. She started her business in order to improve her living standards and supplement her husbands income. Her husband also helps her operate the kiosk.
Her capital is now estimated at five thousand Kenya shillings. Her daily income ranges between five hundred and seven hundred Kenya shillings.
Mrs. Alungata encounters business challenges, especially during the slow season. Through the profits from her business, she has been able to improve her self worth. She bought a piece of a land and a few cattle and goats.
With her second loan from PEMCI, Mrs. Alungata intends to increase her business further, and continue to provide for her childs education.",F,200,lender,Food,1
Kenya,"Ms Grace Wagoro is a single mother of 4. She runs a hotel business, and also sells clothing and household fabrics to supplement her income and help her meet the education needs of her children. The $450 loan will enable her to increase the stock of bed sheets, bed covers, etc. which she sells to customers who come from as far away as the neighboring country of Uganda. She anticipates a good profit margin from this cross-border trade in clothing and fabrics. Her vision is to open a large warehouse shop in the near future so that she can buy things in bulk for sale.",F,450,partner,Retail,0
Kenya,"Ms Lilian Kahaki is a designer by profession and operates a clothing shop where she also sells crafts made by local artisans from local materials. The plants used in weaving these local baskets, chairs, and trays are unique to this area. The loan of US$450 will enable Ms Lilian to increase her stock of these items, hence promoting this local industry. She plans to promote the sale of these items outside the local area and even for the export market. Because the plants are harvested from along the rivers at no cost, the weaving industry would constitute a very viable source of income for the local community. PEMCI is very keen to support this type of innovative project, which would benefit the local community, enabling them to overcome poverty.",F,450,partner,Arts,0
Kenya,Ms Ndungu is a single mother of 4 children. The eldest daughter is marries while the other 3 are still in school. She deals in new clothes moving from one market to another over the week. She has been doing this kind of business for over 20 years. Hence she is well experienced in it. This is the first time she has taken a loan to boost her business. The loan of US$528/450 will be used to boost her stock which has been eroded with the payments of school fees in the month of January. She will also be able to sustain her stock longer as she is now forced to keep on traveling to the city to restock. Ms Ndungu is supporting the local economy through her business.,F,450,partner,Services,0
Kenya,"Mueni Mati is a 23 year old entrepreneur. She has her own business that she started three years ago. Her business involves selling new clothes along a busy street in the town of Mombasa. She has prior training as a tailor and has experience in the clothing industry. Therefore, she is well versed with the current fashion designs that are most appealing to her customers.
Currently, her earnings are barely enough to satisfy her basic needs and to keep her business running. It does not allow her to re-invest in the business. Since she operates from a rented stall, the rent payment consumes much of her earnings. At times she is forced to close her business when she cannot match the clothing manufacturers price since the prices usually fluctuate. She would like to expand her business, have a bigger stall and be able to stock more clothes. This would be a good investment since it will help her attract more customers.
Mueni is requesting a loan of US $700: US $500 to purchase more clothing to sell and US $200 to rent a larger stall and pay the municipal license. She is able to repay the loan.",F,700,lender,Clothing,1
Kenya,"Mukana Korio Salaton is married with six children. Mukanas two daughters are married and the other children are in secondary and primary school. She is an active member of Nasinya women's group. She is also a member of P.C.E.A Inkiito Church. She started her beadwork business with stock worth about USD75. Her main customers are Kajiado residents; she also sells in Nairobi at Maasai market. In 2004, she got a loan from WEEC of USD450 to buy materials for her beadwork including beads, wires, strings, leather, etc. She managed to pay school fees for her children and also buy sixteen goats. Mukana will buy more materials for her beadwork if given this loan.",F,300,lender,Retail,1
Kenya,"Munira Hassan Mohamed is 26 years old, single, and has no dependants. She was unable to complete her primary school education due to the inability to pay the school fees. She lives with her parents. Due to her parents' weak financial position, she has sought financial help from her elder sister who owns a salon, and has started a small food vending business where she prepares bread and cakes and distributes them to the local kiosks. This has enabled Munira to meet her needs and not to depend on her parents for support. Her business is located in the densely populated Kongowea market in the northern part of Mombasa. Munira has faced a lot of difficulties in the business, for example, her customers buying on credit and failing to pay, and occasional increases in the prices of cooking oil, flour, and sugar. She hopes that, with the income from her business, she will eventually be able to rent her own appartment and settle down. Munira believes that her future is bright and that she will be able to take care of her parents as her business grows with time. She is requesting a loan of US$600: US$150 to buy a bale of baking flour, US$100 to buy 20 litres of cooking oil, US$150 to purchase sugar, US$150 to buy wrapping papers and other supplies, and US$50 to pay for transport. Munira is ambitious and hard-working, and will be able to repay the loan.",F,600,lender,Food,1
Kenya,"Munyenye Ntusero is a widow with six children. Four of her children are married and the remaining two are still in primary school. She is an active member of the Nasaru Womens Group. She attends the Presbyterian Church of East Africa. She campaigns for girls education and the eradication of female genital mutilation in another community based organization. She is the treasurer of that group. She started her beadwork business three years ago after joining the Nasaru Group. The business has really changed her life and she feels very empowered. Her beadwork is of high-quality and she has esteemed customers. However, she is limited by the amount of stock she has. Munyenyes business generates profit, which helps her build her home and pay school fees for her children. She has applied for a loan of USD 450, with which she intends to buy different varieties of bead materials. She is willing to repay this loan within a period of 12 months.",F,450,lender,Arts,1
Kenya,"Muthini Ndunda is a 39-year-old mother of three children who all attend junior school. Her husband works as a driver for a state corporation. She supplements her husbands income with earnings from her shoe stall in the town center. The stall is suitably located at a very busy market where Muthini has many customers. She stocks a wide variety of new shoes ranging from ladies to childrens footwear. Her items are trendy and priced low to encourage her steady supply of clients. She would like to operate at a larger scale and offer more items for sale to take full advantage of the steady demand for her merchandise. This would ensure her higher levels of profit, which she intends to save for her childrens future educational expenses, at a costly senior school. Muthini is requesting a loan of $700 to purchase more shoes for resale. She is a very industrious businesswoman and will indeed make good of this investment to enable her to make a profit from her business.",F,700,lender,Retail,1
Kenya,"Muthoni is a single mother of two young girls. She dropped out of primary school because her family did not have the money for her fees. She started her hawking business in 2001 with an initial capital of four dollars given to her by her husband. Now that she is more business experienced, she requests a loan of $300 from PEMCI and KIVA. This will enable her to increase her stock sufficiently to supply areas of the neighboring country with household goods such as blankets, cooking pans, detergents, etc. at reasonable Kenya prices. Miriam depends on her business to pay for her childrens school fees and their general upkeep. She is optimist who looks forward to opening up a shop in Mbale Uganda.",F,300,partner,Retail,0
Kenya,"Muumo is 25 years old and the second born in a family of eight. He stays alone but helps his father and elder brother in providing for the family and in particular in paying school fees for his younger brothers and sisters.
Muumo is a high school graduate and took a certificate course in computer applications.
He started his printing business in year 2004 with a US $ 300 loan from his friend. He leased a photo copier and used the loan money to pay the premises rent and to buy printing papers and other stationary.
The business picked up well and by December 2005, Muumo had bought his own photocopier from the business income and continued to supplement the family income.
Muumo wants to expand his business to include printing of examination papers for local schools and he is requesting a loan of US $ 800.
His budget is: US $ 570 to purchase 2 used computers, US $ 85 to purchase a printer, and US $ 145 to purchase additional stationary. He is capable of repaying the loan well.",M,800,lender,Services,1
Kenya,"Mwanajuma Hassan Mohamed is 40 years old, is married, and has 2 children. Her first born is working, while her second born is waiting to take his final exams at school. Her husband works as a welder on a contract basis. Mwanajuma was not able to finish her primary school education due to an inability to pay her school fees. About 17 years ago, she decided to start her own business. She raised capital together with several other women, who later all formed a group to help each other. Mwanajuma opened a small food canteen, where she sells cooked fish. Her business is located in the Kongowea Market, and her clientele is mainly composed of street vendors and manual workers, since her food is cheap. Mwanajuma faces tough competition from other food vendors, but she has been able to prove herself through her excellent cooking and the cleanliness of the canteen that she operates. As her son waits to join high school next year, Mwanajuma is working harder than ever and saving all of her income to ensure that her son's education is paid for. Thus, she is left with very little money to expand her business and to take care of her family's other needs. Mwanajuma is therefore requesting a loan of $800, which will be used as follows: $200 to buy an extra table and a chair for the customers, $100 to buy cooking oil, $200 to buy a cooler box, $200 to buy various types of fish, $50 to pay for transport, and $50 to pay for the municipal permit for operating a business. Mwanajuma is a motivated entrepreneur and will be able to repay the loan on time. Disclaimer: Due to recent events in Kenya, the security situation in many communities remains unsettled, affecting many local businesses. Lenders to this entrepreneur should be aware that this loan may represent a higher default risk, and should be willing to accept this additional risk in making their loan.",F,800,lender,Food,1
Kenya,"Mwangi is 27 years old and a high school graduate. He stays with his mother and his two brothers and one sister. He is the eldest child and the only one working. His two brothers are still in school while his sister helps their mother in cultivating their one acre piece of land.
The family grows maize which takes a whole year to mature. They sell the maize and use the money to meet their basic needs. The money is never enough to take care of the family through out the year and his mother and sister take manual jobs from other people in order to supplement the income from the maize.
Mwangi has always harbored a passion to start a business that would reduce the financial pressure on his aging mother. He joined college and took a certificate course in Agriculture. He graduated in year 2003 and was employed as a shop assistant in a veterinary shop. He worked at the shop up to June 2005 when he received a loan of US $ 650 from Eb-F to start his own business. Because he had gained considerable experience, Mwangi decided to start a shop to supply agricultural and veterinary products to farmers in his rural village. The business has been doing well and he has since repaid the loan.
Mwangi uses the income from the business to supplement the family income from maize farming. His mother no longer does manual jobs in other farms and her health has improved a lot. His sister helps him out at the shop and is paid an allowance. His two brothers are to join high school in year 2008 and Mwangi is planning to marry and start his own family.
The Government of Kenya has greatly improved the Countrys agriculture sector. People are beginning to carry out a lot of agricultural activities and this has created a lot of demand for the agricultural and veterinary products that Mwangi sells.
Mwangi wants to take advantage of this by increasing his business stock and he is requesting a loan of US $ 1,500.His Budget is: US $ 500 to purchase 46 bags of cow feeds, US $ 400 to purchase 38 bags of chicken feed and US $ 600 to purchase assorted veterinary drugs. Mwangi is capable of repaying the loan",M,1500,lender,Agriculture,1
Kenya,"Mwaura Karanja is 82 years old married with 9 children. They have finished their schooling and are all employed. He has supported his family throughout by getting income from rental houses, plots and shops that he owns; for houses and plots, he charges tenants rental fee every month. He has employed 10 staffs as follows: 4 caretakers, 2 night guards, 2 shop attendant, 1 accountant and 01 manager. The business has been more successful because of the locality in Nakuru, Kenya known as a free area where there are many tenants and few houses - thus the demand for houses is very high.
He has succeeded for the past 50 years, and now wants to open up a hotel for the residents and the tenants of his area. He wants to transform one of his shops to serve this purpose but lacks the resources to do so.
He is requesting for a loan amount of US$ 1100 which he will use as follows: US $ 400 he will purchase utensils, cutlery, cooking pots and pans. he will purchase furniture worth US$ 450, he will get the necessary licenses with US$ 100, he will renovate the shop with US$ 100 and hire an assistant with US$50. Mr. Karanja is an experienced businessman and this new venture will definitely succeed.",M,1100,lender,Food,1
Kenya,"Mwema is a 45 year old father of 9 whose mission is to revive the home sector of the textile industry. Through hard work and intense passion he managed to buy a cotton farm and hopes that this loan will help him to start up a small processing plant which he will manage up to ""somethin' BIG!""",M,225,lender,Arts,1
Kenya,"Naiyare Nongepa is a 50-year-old Maasai entrepreneur with 5 dependents. The 1st born, Koleje, is 30 years old and unemployed. The three middle children have finished college and are unemployed as well. The last born is in secondary school. Naiyare married young but unfortunately her husband passed away 10 years ago,leaving her the sole bread winner for her family. She earns her income by selling cows to the local butchery. Additionally she earns extra income from her group which is involved in the making and selling of curios at the gates to Maasai Mara national reserve, one of Kenyas largest domestic and foreign tourist attractions. Naiyare's biggest challenge is raising capital to expand her already existing herd from 5 cows to 10 cows. She is requesting a loan of US$1,000: $800 will enable her to purchase 5 cows (at $160 each), $150 to buy feed to fatten the cows, and $50 pay for the inspection of the cows by the local health inspector. Naiyare is a hardworking lady; she will be able to repay the loan on time.",F,1000,lender,Agriculture,1
Kenya,"Nalokiti Lenjer is a 20-year-old mother of two. She was born and raised in the Maasai culture which does not advocate educating female children. Lejer was therefore forced by her parents to get married at the age of fifteen. Unfortunately her husband died soon after their marriage. Nalokiti was regarded as an outcast and no one was willing to assist her and her children. She therefore resorted to selling Maasai ornaments and kangas (shawls/clothing). This has helped her cater for part of the familys expenses. She would like to improve her living standards by expanding this business and is therefore requesting a loan of US $750 to be used as follows: $200 to buy beads, $100 to buy thread, $250 to buy a special kind of animal hide to make belts, and $200 to increase her stock of kangas. With this she is sure of generating more income and will be able to afford her childrens school fees.",F,750,lender,Arts,1
Kenya,"Namba Ntunguyio is married with four children; three of her children are primary school while the other is in secondary school. Namba is a strong and active member of Naropil women group and an active member of PEFA Kipeto.
Namba has a milk selling business that she started eight months ago and since then there is an increase in demand for milk. Her customers are located from different locations, she has a problem with transporting the milk to her customer, and there is a risk of contamination the milk leading to loss of revenue.
Therefore, she realizes she needs cylinders for milk storage during transportation to her customers dropping point. In addition, she intends to broaden her operation area to Kitengela and Kajiado towns. She has applied a loan of USD150, which she intends to buy three milk storage cylinders.",F,150,lender,Retail,1
Kenya,"Nancy Gathoni is 44 years old. She is married with four children; two are in primary school and two are in secondary school. She is an active member of the Gatangara Venus Womens Group. She is also the secretary of her group. She is a Christian and attends to her spiritual needs at St. Emmanuel ACK Church. Her main economic activity is farming. She grows maize, beans and other vegetables like kale, tomatoes, cabbage and carrots. She intends to plant maize in a large scale on her five-acre plot of land in anticipation of the long rains in April and May. Therefore, she has applied a loan of USD75 to purchase high quality maize seeds. She is willing to repay this loan within a period of 10 months.",F,75,lender,Agriculture,1
Kenya,"Nancy is 31 years old, she is married, and has four children, including a niece she takes care of. Her parents, who live in their rural home, also look to her for support. Nancy lives in Kariobangi South, an informal settlement in the outskirts of Nairobi, where she runs a tailoring business that specializes in dressmaking.
Due to financial hardships, Nancy didn't manage to go to college. Therefore she had no option but to train for a trade in a friend's kiosk. After her training, she approached her husband with the idea of starting up a business. He gave her starting capital of Ksh. 7000, which she used to purchase cloth and other tailoring accessories. She started her business in 2000, which she conducted at home. After accumulating some funds from the business, she rented a stall in 2003. She bought her own sewing machine with some savings, but now she does not have enough money to purchase cloth and other tailoring accessories. She is requesting Kiva lenders to loan her Ksh. 20000 ($275.00) to help her expand her business to better serve her many customers. Nancy has learned to obtain and retain customers and wants to expand her mostly female customer base. The December holidays are around the corner, which is when she does a lot of business. Nancy hopes that the Kiva lenders will provide her the opportunity to achieve her dream. She intends to pay the loan within 12 months.",F,275,partner,Services,1
Kenya,"Nancy is 33 years old, single with 1 child. She also takes care of 6 orphans of her sisters. 1 is in college, 1 does casual labor, 1 is married, 1 stays at home and 3 are in primary school. She has been able to meet some of their basic needs through her detergents making business. She was trained by WEEC on the skills of business management and soap detergents processing. She put what she learned in to practice and she has benefited a lot from the skills. The project has been doing well despite financial constrain which has limited her from supplying to all of her clients. She is planning to buy more materials to make soaps and she will be in a point of making soap in large quantity. Out of the income she will get, she wants to buy a sewing machine for one of the orphans who is in college. She believes someday all of them will be self reliant and it will be her joy.",F,75,lender,Services,1
Kenya,"Nancy is 33 years old. She is married and they have three children including twin girls born in June 2006.Nancy and her family live on a quarter acre piece of land where she undertakes organic vegetable farming. She sells the vegetables to her neighbors and sometimes to traders at the local market. She uses her income to supplement her husbands salary in providing for the family. She in addition supports one orphan at a local HIV orphans Home. Her eldest child will be joining primary school from January 2007 and Nancy wants to improve her income in order to see her son through school.
Nancy wants to buy a good quality dairy cow that would give her milk which she will sell to her neighbors to earn an income.
Her parents kept dairy cows and this gave her practical skills in rearing dairy cows.
She has attended dairy farming training sessions conducted by the local chapter of
Land O Lakes (an American NGO) and also business skills training conducted by Eb-F.
Nancy is requesting a loan of US $ 1,200. She will use US $ 800 to purchase the cow,
US $ 200 to purchase feeds and access veterinary services and US $ 200 to improve the cow shade.
She has identified a good Cow that has a capacity to produce 15 litters of milk per day.
This will give her an income of US $ 4 per day. She will utilize about US $ 1.5 to take care of the cow leaving her with an income of US $ 2.5 per day. This income will supplement her organic farming income and will enable her keep her son in school and provide for her twin girls. Her husbands income will then be used to support their old parents and their younger sisters and brother who are still in school.
She is capable of repaying the loan well.",F,1200,lender,Agriculture,1
Kenya,"Nancy is 34 years old, single and a mother of 1 boy. She is the first born in her family and takes care of her late sisters' orphans. She educates them and provides them with their basic needs. She has been able to meet all these needs by selling multi purpose washing detergent and ice cream. She was trained by WEEC on business management skills, which she has practiced. Nancy accessed a KIVA loan of USD 75 late last year. She used the money to increase her stock. Her business has done well and she plans to buy her late sisters' daughter a sewing machine so as to be more self reliant. She has now applied for another loan of USD 150 to buy more soap making detergent.",F,150,lender,Retail,1
Kenya,Nancy is 34 years old. She is married and has 3 children. She is a Catholic and a member of the Christian Women Associations as well as a member of Kandara Moonlight women group. She is able to save with the group USD 3 per month. Nancy has graduated from USD 60 to the current USD 450. Her repayment has been as per the group loan graduation. The group loan graduation is not automatic. Members are disqualified from accessing higher loans if they do not adhere to the repayment policy. Nancy states that she has succeeded in accessing higher loans.,F,650,lender,Agriculture,1
Kenya,"Nancy is 38 years old and a single mother of three children. Two are in primary school and the first born has been admitted to a teachers college. She has been very active in the group meetings and has been able to clear previous loans she received from the group.
She is a regular customer because she has borrowed a loan for four rounds and is very diligent about servicing the loans in good time. She is trusted by her group members. Nancy is a hardworking lady and has been able to meet her family needs through farming. She grows tea leaves and Napier grass which are her main source of income. She also grows food for domestic use. Nancy is employed in a local hotel where the earnings she receives have enabled her to rent a plot of land and plant tea to substitute the family income.
With the hope of securing a loan, her son will be able to join the college, thus relieving the burden from her shoulders. She believes that educating her children is an investment. Repaying of the loan in installments will enable her to maintain other activities focused on her family.",F,300,partner,Food,0
Kenya,"Nancy is 39 years old and has 6 children. She is a Lay leader in her church, St. Micheal's. Nancy coordinates the womens activities in assisting the needy. Nancy also assists 5 children of her brother-in-law who died. She pays the school fees for them.
Nancy owns a plot at the Kware Slum area. She has put up 13 rental rooms and the income per room is USD 12. She completed 7 rooms and her business is doing well. Due to high demand of rental houses in her area, Nancy wants to put up 10 more rooms. She had bought 60 iron sheets, but due to financial constraints, she could not buy the other building materials. Completion of the 10 rental rooms would help Nancy realize more rental income. Therefore paying school fees for all the children will be easier and they will be able to get other necessities at school.
To supplement the rental income, Nancy sells charcoal; she sells 15 sacks in a week. The income from the charcoal is used for buying food and other household items. Nancy has been able to pay her loan promptly and she is about to complete it. She realizes a loan of USD 450 will sort her out and she is willing to repay within a period of 10 months.",F,450,lender,Housing,1
Kenya,"Nancy is 43 years old and married with 3 children. She is a secondary teacher by profession. She is a very hardworking and a committed group member who has been able to get 5 loans previously and repaid them all very well.
She has a medium wholesale\Retail shop and her current stock is about USD 2200. She has stocked all sorts of food stuff and household utilities. She makes monthly sales of about USD 440 by selling sugar, rice, cooking fat, cooking oil, various kinds of detergents, wheat flour and soft drinks. Maintaining the right stock keeps the business running properly and profits will be realized. This brings more customers because they will be satisfied with the services and will tell others.",F,750,partner,Food,0
Kenya,"Nancy is 45 years old. She is married and has 5 children. Nancy had benefited from Kiva by receiving a loan of USD 300 that enabled her to buy a dairy cow to improve her family income level. Nancy has also been voted in as the new treasurer of Queen Esther women group. The group elected its new official as per the group constitution. Nancy is one of the strong members in the group. Before the closure of the year, the group approved a loan of USD 300 for Nancy to enable her pay her sons secondary school fees. The son is sitting for the final secondary school exam in 2007 and repayment of the school fees will enable him to concentrate in his studies without interruptions. The child is a bright student and Nancy wants to give him all the necessary support to enable him perform well. Nancy will repay his loan from the proceeds she gets from her farming activities. Nancy is aware of the group rules and regulations on repayments of all the loans given to the members. She will abide by the rules.",F,300,lender,Food,0
Kenya,"Nancy is 45 years old. She is married and has 5 children. Nancy had benefited from Kiva by receiving a loan of USD 300 that enabled her to buy a dairy cow to improve her family income level. She repaid the loan in nine months. Nancy has also been voted in as the new treasurer of Queen Esther women's group. The group elected its new official as per the group constitution. Nancy is one of the strong members of the group. Before the end of the year, the group approved a loan of USD 300 for Nancy to enable her pay her sons secondary school fees. The son is sitting for the final secondary school exam in 2007 and repayment of the school fees will enable him to concentrate in his studies without interruptions. The child is a bright student and Nancy wants to give him all the necessary support to enable him perform well. Nancy has started repaying that loan. She has every praise for KIVA. Nancy would now like to receive another loan of Usd 300 to buy more farm fertilizers.",F,300,lender,Agriculture,1
Kenya,"Nancy is 50 years old. She hails from Ikinu Village of Maragwa district. She is an active member of ACK St. Phillips church in Maragwa. She is in the Mothers Union Committee in the same church. Nancy is a farmer. She practices mixed farming. She grows bananas, maize, and beans. These are crops that do well especially when there is enough rainfall. Her income is mainly from the sale of bananas. However, she intends to diversify her activities to include dairy farming. She intends to first buy a water tank to enable her store enough water for her use and for the cow that she plans to keep. She has applied for a loan of USD 300 to buy the water tank. Her record both on monthly savings and credit repayments qualifies her to take the loan. The group has approved the loan on a repayment period of 12 months.",F,300,lender,Agriculture,1
Kenya,"Nancy is 50 years old. She is married and has 7 children. Her children have grown up, five are working while two are in college. She is a member of Anglican Church of Kenya. She is the secretary of the mothers union in her church. Nancy is a member of Kenyanjeru starlight women group. She has been a member of this group since its formation and has attended many trainings. Nancys main economic activity is farming. She has a small plot of land where she grows maize, beans and tea. One portion is paddocked for grazing her dairy cow. Nancy receives some monthly income from the sale Tea and milk. The rest of the land is used to grow Nippier grass for her cow and food crops for her family. She intercrops maize, beans, potatoes and vegetables because of shortage of land. On every market day Nancy sells Kales and green maize at the local Gakira market.
Nancy wants to start growing Fruits, Georgettes and pepper. She wants to prepare a portion of her plot for growing of the new crops. She intends to use organic fertilizer in this project enhance its productivity. She will also buy quality seeds from well known dealers. She is targeting to sell much of her products at the Ngara market in Nairobi because the demand for these products is high in Nairobi city. After the take off of this project, Nancy will be able to increase her income and this will push her at the foot steps of the income ladder. This will enable her to cater for her household expenses and pay up her loan without much strain.",F,150,partner,Agriculture,0
Kenya,"Nancy is 52 years old. She is married and her children are all grown up. Nancy is a member of the ACK St. Philips Church in Maragwa. Nancy believes that the Lord is the one who gives us the strength to work. To thank him for what he provides she dedicates part of her time to his work by participating in church activities.
She lives and works at her farm at Gitumbi in Maragwa where she plants a lot of bananas, maize and beans. She also keeps dairy cows. Her main income is from the sale of bananas. She also sells 5 liters of milk per day to the area residents. To increase her income, she intends to buy dairy feed and other supplements for her cows. Her target is to increase the milk the cows give from 5 liters to 8 liters. She has applied for a loan of USD150 that has been approved by the group. She will repay the loan within a period of 12 months.",F,150,lender,Agriculture,1
Kenya,"Nancy is 52 years old. She lives in Ikindu village of Maragwa district. All of her 4 children are grown up. She is a member of ACK St. Phillips Church. Her main activity is farming; however, she also buys bananas from the neighboring farms, stores them for ripening, and sells them at the busy Maragwa market during the market days. She is a member of Karaba Umoja women group. She has benefited from the group, as she is able to save USD 3 per month on a monthly basis. She loves attending the group meetings, as she is able to learn from other group members and from the WEEC officers who train the women every month. She is happy that her loan of USD 300 for the purchase of a water tank was approved. She is focused on repaying the loan within a period of 12 months. Nancy sees an end to a problem that has been persistent in her homestead for a long time.",F,300,lender,Agriculture,1
Kenya,"Nancy is a business woman in Kangema and has been selling household goods for the last five years. She is married and has two children, one in primary school and the other in high school. She is an active member of Kirimiga Purity Mothers. She has done much of her investment in buying assets but has realized that many of these properties are not productive. Her business is performing relatively well so she is able to pay school fees and service her loans.
She has confidence that in the near future her money will be working for her and she will not always be sweating too hard to make money. In addition to her business she practices subsistence farming for family consumption and earns at least USD 150 per month. She believes that her family life will be transformed through her hard work assisted by the loan she is hoping to get.",F,150,lender,Clothing,1
Kenya,"Nancy is a young mother of 3 children. Two are in upper primary and the other one is not yet in school. She is a religious person and practices good morals. She has really made a positive impact to her neighbours. She joined WEEC in 2003 and she has really benefited from small loans. Nancy is a mixed farmer growing vegetables, fruits, cereals and rearing dairy cows. Her farming project has been the main source of income with which she pays the school fees for her children. She has continued working hard and very determined to add an upgraded dairy breed. She sells her produce at the local market. She has been very happy for the small loans which has boosted her project and have given her an opportunity. She hopes to get a loan and concentrates on dairy farming where a market is ready. She is willing to repay her loan on a monthly basis",F,1200,lender,Agriculture,1
Kenya,"Nancy Kamene is 24 years old, is married, and has one child, and she is a devoted church member. She also takes care of her mother-in-law, and two of her sister-in-laws children, whose mother is separated from her husband. She also supports her two brothers, who live with her. Apart from these, she also educates two of her brothers children.
Nancys husband supplies bread, and it is from his savings of about USD420 that he helped her to set up the family business in 2002, which started off as a retail shop. She later expanded this in 2004, when she added the wholesale wing. She sells household grocery items including sugar, cooking fat, milk, bread, flour, etc. Apart from selling these items to individuals for household use, she also sells to other retailers, who in turn sell to their customers. Nancy has employed two people to assist her to do the delivery from the wholesale point to the retailers. Nancy recently lost some money through one of her employees, and it has taken her some time to recover it. This has made her shop decline, and due to the many dependents she has, it has been a difficult time for her.
Nancy seeks a loan of USD725 which she will use to restock her wholesale shop with various grocery items in order to meet the needs of her customers. With this support, she will also be able to retain her two employees and will be able to meet her extensive family needs. She intends to repay the loan within 9 15 months.",F,725,lender,Retail,1
Kenya,"Nancy Mukai is 24 years old. She is married with one child. Nancy lives in Mlolongo town along the Mombasa-Nairobi highway. Though young, Nancy takes care of her younger brother who is in standard eight, and looks after three of her nieces after their mother died as a result of HIV/AIDS .
Nancy started her business in 2006 after being retrenched from the company she was working for. With her retrenchment money of Ksh 100,000.00 (USD 1540), Nancy immediately rented a shop and opened the salon and cosmetic shop. The business has been doing very well up to now and Nancy has been able to generate a good income from it. She now wants to increase the stock in her shop, which will enable her customers to have a better variety of cosmetics to choose from, and they will be able to get any products they require at her shop. She also hopes to get additional help in order to manage her shop better, and therefore intends to employ two orphaned girls who are currently being trained at her salon.
Nancy is therefore requesting a loan of USD 1175 which Nancy will use to purchase much-needed products like shampoo, chemicals, braids and petroleum jelly for her shop. The repayment period for her loan will be 12 months.",F,1175,partner,Retail,0
Kenya,"Nancy Muthoni is 35 years old. She is married with two children. One is in primary school and the other is in secondary school. She is an active member of Maragwa Ushuhuda women group. She is businesswoman who deals in buying and selling bananas at a profit. She lives in Maragwa and operates her business in Nairobi. She also has a dairy cow which produces 4 litres of milk daily. Her income from the banana business is usually used to meet her domestic expenses and her transportaation from Maragwa to Nairobi and vice versa. Therefore, for her to increase her milk production, she intends to buy another dairy cow. Through WEEC, she hopes to benefit from the loan if given. This will help her to increase her monthly income. She is willing to repay this loan in a span of one year and on a monthly basis.",F,300,lender,Retail,1
Kenya,"Nancy Muthoni Mwangi is 52 years old. She is married with five children; four have completed their secondary education while the last is still in secondary school. She is the chairlady of Gatangara Venus Womens Group. She believes that being a leader is a gift from God, where God provides wisdom and knowledge of how to lead other people and the leader acts a roadmap to the destination. Her passion to work has enabled her to educate her children. She practices farming. She grows bananas, vegetables, (like spinach, kale, tomatoes, etc.) and cereal crops like maize and beans. She has applied for a loan of USD75, with which she intends to purchase high quality maize, spinach, carrot and bean seeds in preparation for the long rains. She is willing to repay within a period of 12 months.",F,75,lender,Agriculture,1
Kenya,"Nancy Njeri Kamau is a 23-year-old single parent with one son who is in school. Being a parent and not having attained a high level of education, she opted for a tailoring course in order to meet her family needs. She passed the course and started her own business. Since then Nancy has established good customer relations, which has made her excel in a small way.
Nancy is known for her good service to her clients, politeness, good character and trustworthyness. In addition, she has fair prices for her customers. Currently she wants to meet all her clients' demands and raise enough profits to enable her business grow and fully meet her family needs. She is requesting for a loan of US $400 to purchase more materials and accessories, and for transportation.",F,400,lender,Services,1
Kenya,"Nancy Nyambura Mwangi is a 44-year-old mother of three. Her husband is a business man and they live in Nakurus Freehold estate. All their children are of school-going age with one in high school. Nancy is a shopkeeper and all the profits from her shop are used to cater for the house expenses. Her husbands income provides for their childrens school fees whereas all their other expenses are met by Nancy's business profits. Nancy is requesting a loan to add inventory to her shop so that she can improve her familys living standards. She is asking for a loan of US$ 300: $100 to buy bales of flour, $100 to buy a bag of sugar, and $100 for other assorted products. Nancy has operated a shop for the last five years and is experienced. She will pay back the loan.",F,300,lender,Retail,1
Kenya,"Nancy Nzisa is 38 and is a single mother of one. She owns a clothing boutique that has been in operation for 5 years. Nancy learned about KADET from a friend and decided to join us. This will be her first loan to boost her business.
With the 80,000 Kenyan shilling loan Nancy plans to purchase more clothes, tailoring garments and sewing threads for her boutique. She also sells soft drinks and beverages in her shop to supplement her income. Her main customers are residents of Shanzu. In the future Nancy hopes to expand her boutique business and also to start making school uniforms.
About KADET:
The Kenya Agency for the Development of Enterprise and Technology (KADET) is committed to economically empowering its clients by providing financial services to rural communities in order to relieve suffering and improve living conditions within those communities.",F,1050,partner,Clothing,0
Kenya,"Nancy Wamurore is 48 years old and married with four children. Her children are all currently in school. Nancy runs a tailoring business (shop) in the Kahuro area of Muranga in the Central province of Kenya. She trains students in tailoring, especially girls who have dropped out of school due to a lack of school fees or pregnancy. She would like a loan of USD 300 to buy equipment including sewing machines, materials, a cutting table, paper etc., to expand her training school to accommodate more students. With more students, she will be able to repay her loan in 12 months and save on a monthly basis for future business expansion.",F,300,lender,Services,1
Kenya,"Nancy Wangui is 33 years old. She is married with 3 children. She is a member of ACK Church Gitumbi and a member of Karaba Umoja women's group. As a result of inadequate supply of water in her residential location, she has concluded that she needs to buy a water tank for storage of water. During the dry season, she fetches water from the bore holes; most times, the water is dirty. She has applied for a loan of USD 300 to enable her to buy a water tank to harvest rain water. She is willing to repay this loan in 12 months.",F,300,lender,Agriculture,1
Kenya,"Nancy Wangui is 48 years old. She is married with 4 children. She is a member of ACK Church Gitumbi and also a member of Karaba Umoja women's group. As a result of inadequate supply of water in her residential location, she has concluded that she needs to buy a water tank for storage of water. During the dry season, she fetches water from the bore holes; most times, the water is dirty. She has applied for a loan of USD 300 to enable her to buy a water tank to harvest rain water. She is willing to repay this loan in 12 months.",F,300,lender,Agriculture,1
Kenya,"NANCY WANGUI NGIGE is a 42-year-old married lady; she has five children, two being in school. Nancys husband developed kidney problems a year ago and she is the sole breadwinner of the entire family. She also takes care of her elderly mother, who is diabetic. Nancy trained as a nurse, but quit after practising for six years. She started a bar and restaurant business 10 years ago. Her husband's and her mother's hospital bills have adversely affected the business. To revamp the business and be able to continue supporting her family, Nancy is requesting a loan of US$1000, which she intends to use as follows: US$500 to increase her stock, and US$500 to purchase a deep freezer for her restaurant. Nancy is a very committed business woman and she will definitely repay the loan.",F,1000,lender,Food,1
Kenya,"Nancy Wanja Mburu is 50 years old and married with three girls and four boys. One of the girls and all four boys attend school. Nancy is her family's sole breadwinner. She has recently been inspired to start supplying onions wholesale to stores instead of her current practise of selling to retailers in the sprawling Gikomba market. At the moment, it is difficult for her to support her family fully but she is determined to meet her childrens basic needs and educate them. Therefore, she has requested a loan of US $ 650 to expand her onion business. She plans to spend the loan in the following way:
US $ 200 to purchase red onion bags
US $ 300 to purchase white onion sack
US $ 150 to pay insurance and license",F,650,lender,Food,1
Kenya,"Nancy Wanjiku Gitau is a forty-one-year-old mother of five, four of whom are in school. She is married to a painter; Nancy sells both secondhand bedding and new clothes. At the moment she concentrates more on clothes rather than bedding because she has insufficient capital. Nancy has a stall in town for selling new clothes, but since her stock is very small she prefers to sell them door to door. She has to struggle to meet her familys needs. She is constantly harassed by the landlady for late payment of the house rent, and according to her this problem wont end unless she finds a more income-generating work. She believes if she can manage to buy more stock and take advantage of her dormant stall, she will increase her sales and hence her income. She is therefore requesting a loan of $1000. With this she will buy additional stock worth $500, renovate the place with $200 and buy secondhand bedding with $300. Nancy finds this to be the only way to improve her living standard and she will be so grateful if you support her.",F,1000,lender,Clothing,1
Kenya,"Nancy Wanjiru Muruithia is 52 years old. She is married with four children, one of whom is in primary school, one of whom is in secondary school, and all four are self reliant. Nancy is an active member of Gitui Smart women group. She is a member of ACK Church Ithikui. Her main occupation is farming. She grows bananas, sweet potatoes, avocado, macadamia nuts, beans and maize. Nancy has only one cow, and sells the milk produced from it to the local residents. She has applied a loan of USD600, with which she intends to purchase another dairy cow. She is willing to repay this loan within 12 months.
Naomi started her business in 2005. She bought three steers and after the grazing period she sold them and bought six more. Naomi continued with her business until 2005 when the demand increased and she was under pressure due to lack of capital. She managed to get a small loan from group and added 3 steers. She later sold those steers at double the price she paid for them.
She is very hardworking and very determined to make a difference in her family life with her steers business. She promises to repay her loan on monthly basis.",F,900,lender,Agriculture,1
Kenya,"Naomi is 45 years of age, married, and mother of 4 children. She is a committed member of Bethsaida women group. She has demonstrated her commitment in the group through her good repayment records for previous small group loans. She is a farmer by occupation, and rears cattle which produce 6 litres of milk which she sells at usd$0.30 per litre, adding up to an average of usd$40 per month. She also has a tea farm which gives her about usd$75 per month totalling her income to 7500sh per month. She is applying a loan of usd$150 to buy a dairy calf and feed it.",F,150,lender,Agriculture,1
Kenya,"Naomi is 45 years old, and was born in Kiambu. She is married, and has three children. Of these three children, two have completed their college education, while the other one is in secondary school. Naomi is a hardworking woman who ants to provide a bright future for her children.
She currently has 3 dairy cows which produce an average of 30 litres of milk daily. She sells this milk to the local people. She has been practicing dairy farming for the last 15 years. She joined WEEC in 2000 and through her hard work was elected as vice secretary of the group, a position she currently holds. WEEC loans have enabled her to educate her children and provide for their daily needs. WEEC has empowered Naomi, and from her group training, she realizes the importance of saving money, which helps her make her repayments promptly.
From her earnings now, she feels that the current income is not enough for her as she wants to increase her milk production by buying proper feeds for the animals and adding a dairy cow if a loan of USD 1200 is given to her. She intends to pay within a period of 12 months.",F,1200,lender,Agriculture,1
Kenya,"Naomi is a mother of 6. She is a strong Christian who believes in advising the youth in our society. Naomi empowers young generation through seminars and trainings at her place of spiritual welfare. She is a real farmer on her land and rears animals. To subsitute her income flows she has a small agrovet shop. She started the business with loans that she got from her group SACRED MOTHERS. Naomi wants to take advantage of the good market that is prevailing due to many farmers engaging in livestock rearing. The loan that she applied for will go to buy agrovet items like Animal salts, Vitamins,Amimal feeds and also high quality seeds for the farmers. The sales this year was good and she is looking forward to a better year 2007. Most of her customers are from the women groups in her area.",F,875,lender,Agriculture,1
Kenya,"Naomi Njoki is a 25 year old single woman with no dependents. She joined the Eb-f Business Startup Program where she received business training skills for one and a half months. At the end of the program she wrote a business proposal to sell second-hand clothing. She secured a space at the local open-air market in Nakuru. She requests a loan of US $1,000. Her budget is: US $800 to buy bales of second-hand clothes and US $200 to acquire a license. She is a promising young entrepreneur and will be able to repay the loan.",F,1000,lender,Clothing,1
Kenya,"Naomi Nungari Nganga is a single mother of five children. She is an active member in her community. She is the coordinator of the Umoja road village. She is also a leader of the Nambala women group that has a grinding mill project. She took a short business skills course when she joined her group.
She benefited from the course and she was able to raise capital to build six semi-permanent houses. Two were completed with the help of a Kiva loan of USD300 in 2006. She has repaid 95% of her loan and is preparing for her next loan of USD750 that will assist her in building two other rental rooms and install electricity to all the rooms. The loan has been approved. She will repay the loan within a period of 12 months.",F,750,lender,Housing,1
Kenya,"Naomi Nyambura Macharia is a mother of four children; one of them is in school, while the others have finished high school. She is a member of the St. Ruth's Women's Group and a member of the Gaichanjiru Catholic Church. She has been experiencing problems with the water supply in her area. She intends to buy a water tank, which will help her to store rain water. She has applied a loan of USD 250 to enable her achieve this goal.",F,250,lender,Agriculture,1
Kenya,"Naomi Waitherero Macharia is a 49-year-old married woman. She has seven children. She earns her living by operating a retail shop where she sells things like: sweets, bread, milk, sugar, maize flour, snacks. Three of her children are in school, and the other four have finished their secondary education but cannot go on with their studies due to lack of finances. Naomi herself did not further her studies for the same reason. The family lives in a one-room rented house. Naomi is a hardworking woman and would like to expand her shop business, but lack of capital is her major set back. What Naomi makes is barely enough to care for the family comfortably, and she feels that by expanding her business, she will make extra and be able to support her family. She is therefore requesting a loan of US$ 800 to help her be able to fulfill her dream of providing to her family the best way. Her budget is as follows: US $300 to purchase several sacks of maize and sugar, US$ 250 to be used to purchase additional stock for her shop, US$ 50 to be used to pay for the municipal license and US$ 200 to be used in renovating her shop, which is currently leaking when it rains. She is determined, and from her determination, Naomi will be able to pay back the loan.",F,800,lender,Retail,1
Kenya,"Naomi Wambui Kamau is 58 years and is married with six children. Other than her children she has her daughters child who also relies on her help. She practices small-scale crop farming. Other than meeting her childrens financial needs, Naomi also has to constantly buy medicine since she suffers from asthma.The money she earns from farming is not enough to meet all her needs. She now wants to expand her farming by buying some broiler chickens.
Naomi is requesting a loan of US$ 700 to add to her little savings and start broiler chicken farming. She needs US$ 200 to build a shed for the chickens, US$ 200 to buy chicken feed, and US$ 300 to buy chicks. Naomi has over 40 years farming experience and is very hard working.",F,700,lender,Agriculture,1
Kenya,"Naomi Wangui is 31 years old and mother of an eight-year-old child. She lives in the Koma-Rock area on the outskirts of Nairobi. In 2006, she opened a hardware store on the busy Nairobi-Kangundo road and quickly gained the experience needed to succeed this field.
Since she didnt have enough money to re-start the business, Naomi asked her maternal aunt for a loan of Ksh 90,000 ($1,380). Since her aunt knows how hardworking Naomi is, she did not hesitate to give her the loan, which was due in 12 months. Naomi used this loan to buy hardware and items such as cement, nails, paints and wood.
So far, business has been good, since many buildings are being build in this area due to growing population. Demand for houses is especially high. Lately Naomi is finding it difficult to meet the demands of her customers, since some of her materials were looted in December, when Kenya experienced unrest after general elections. She is therefore requesting for a loan of Ksh 70,000 ($1,150) to restock to her hardware store. This money will go a long way to support her business and greatly improve her ability to serve her customers.
She will repay the loan in 14 months.
Disclaimer: Due to recent events in Kenya, the security situation in many communities remains unsettled, affecting many local businesses. Lenders to this entrepreneur should be aware that this loan may represent a higher default risk, and should be willing to accept this additional risk in making their loan.",F,1150,partner,Retail,1
Kenya,"Naomi Wanja Mwiruri is a 46-year-old widow with 3 children. Her first born has completed high school but has been unable to continue education due to Naomi's inability to pay the college fees. Her other 2 children are still in school. Naomi lives in one of the highly populated slums on the northern coast of Mombasa. She earns a living operating a tea vending business in the Kongowea Market. Naomi's work is challenging, since she has to wake up at 3:00 AM to ensure that everything is ready so that she can be able to serve those customers who are in the market early. Naomi's goal is to expand her business, establish a permanent vending space in the market, and move from just making tea to preparing various food items for sale. Her dream is to ensure that her childrens future and education are secured. Naomi is therefore requesting a loan of $700 to be able to fulfill her business expansion plan. The funds will be used to rent a vending space in the Kongowea Market, as well as to buy a bench, a table, and utensils. She is a hard-working entrepreneur and will be able to repay the loan on time. Disclaimer: Due to recent events in Kenya, the security situation in many communities remains unsettled, affecting many local businesses. Lenders to this entrepreneur should be aware that this loan may represent a higher default risk, and should be willing to accept this additional risk in making their loan.",F,700,lender,Food,1
Kenya,"Naomi Wanjiku is 35 years old. She is married with three children; one is in secondary school and the other two are in Kibubuti primary school. She is a Christian, a member of Kaspat Catholic Church choir, and secretary of St. Ann, a small Christian community. After she completed her secondary education, Naomi attended a secretarial college in Nairobi for two years. She later got a job in Nairobi but resigned after getting married. In 2002, she was among the first women in Kiambu to join WEEC. Since then she has repaid more than eight loans. Naomi runs a retail shop at Kanunga trading centre. She also keeps dairy cattle in zero grazing. Currently, she has three dairy cows, which produce an average of 60 litres of milk, sold to Kiambu Dairy Farmers Co-operatives Ltd. Besides running a retail shop and dairy farming, Naomi also grows vegetables on a small scale for home consumption and commercial purposes. She has applied for a loan of USD1200, with which she intends to purchase a dairy cow and household goods for her shop. She is willing to repay this loan within a period of 12 months.",F,1200,lender,Agriculture,1
Kenya,"Naomi Wanjiku Kimotho was born 40 years ago in Nakuru district. She is married with four children; three of them are still in school. Naomi didnt manage to complete her secondary school education. She started her business of selling vegetables ten years ago. She has a plot where she has planted varieties of vegetables including kale, cabbages, onions, etc. She uses piped water to irrigate her farm in Gikumi. Before Naomi received a loan of $450 from KIVA last year, she used to sell her products to Nairobi residents. Currently, she supplies her farm produce to supermarkets, local retailers and local residents. She has employed two men to assist her in picking, transporting and distributing these vegetables to her clients. Naomi has applied for a loan of $900, with which she intends to plant more vegetables so as meet her customers needs. She is willing to repay this loan within a period of 12 months.",F,900,lender,Food,1
Kenya,"NAOMI WANJIRU KAGWE is a 40 year old, separated entrepreneur. She has 3 children. The eldest is in senior school, the second is in junior school Grade 7 and the youngest is in junior school Grade 6. Naomi is separated from her husband and lives with her three children. Her husband used to be the sole breadwinner but now Naomi has to provide for her family. She started poultry farming broiler chickens and selling the meat to a small hotel in Nakuru town. She now has a bigger order to supply a medium hotel with chicken meat for a year. She faces a challenge for this hotel will only give monthly cash advances when they receive their supply. She lacks capital but has a ready market. She requests for a US $ 500 loan and budgets as follows:
US $ 200 buys broilers chicks
US $ 300 buys chick feed i.e. chick mash
She is responsible and will repay the loan.",F,500,lender,Agriculture,1
Kenya,"Naomi Waruinu Kamau is 35 years old, and a single parent supporting one child who is in school. Naomi trained as a business manager and, when she had difficulty finding a job in a company, started her own business selling new shoes and hand bags in the central business district of Mombasa. She has been in this business for the last 8 years and used her business management skills to establish a good customer base. To meet her customers increasing needs she is requesting a loan of US$1000--$700 to increase her current stock and $300 to pay annual local government fees.",F,1000,lender,Retail,1
Kenya,"Naomi Waruinu Kamau is a 35-year old divorced mother with one child who is in junior school. After separating from her husband 3 years ago, Naomi has single-handedly met all of her childs needs and expenses. She completed a business management course, but couldnt secure a job in the formal sector. This didnt stop her from pursuing her dreams of one day owning a business. She took advantage of her education and started a small vending business where she sells shoes and handbags at the Central Business District in Mombasa. She has been in this business for 6 years and is ready to expand. She is requesting a loan of US$850 and her budget as follows: US$500 to purchase more shoes and handbags, US$200 to expand her current stand, US$50 for transport, and US$100 pay the city council for a vending license. She is a determined, highly active business woman with the ability to repay the loan.",F,850,lender,Retail,1
Kenya,"Naomi was born 36 years ago in Nyeri District of Kenya. She is married with two children. Both are in primary school in Nairobi. After completing her secondary school education, she joined Nyeri Medical Training College and studied nursing. Naomi is a religious person and a choir members in her church. She is among the first person to join WEEC in the Kiambu area.
Nashipae`s main activity before joining Umoja women group was bead work and looking after her husband`s cows. When she joined Umoja women group, and was trained on modern livestock management, she decide to start a small steers project. She took a loan of USD 118 and bought 2 steers. After 4 months she sold them at Isinya market and got USD 225. This encouraged her and now aims at keeping 8 steers at a go and selling them as they mature to enable her generate income throughout the year. She intends to market at Isinya and Kitengela township. This will assist her take care of her dependant and also her children in future.
To sustain his big family Nathan operates a shop in the Adanya area in the Angurai Division of the Teso District. His shop is estimated to be worth KES 10,000 ($159 USD). Nathan sells necessities such as salt, sugar, flour and much more. To supliment his income, Nathan is a small scale farmer as well. He plants corn and beans. When harvested, he usually sells them to pay his children's school fees. He keeps a portion of what he grows to feed his family.
Nathan has successfully repaid his first loan. He wishes to get another loan so he can increase his sales and profit and take advantage of the December festive season.",M,325,lender,Retail,1
Kenya,"Nayioma is a single mother of 4 and she is 32 years old. She is the chairlady of Inkiramat women's group. Nayioma attends the groups monthly meetings and takes group work very seriously. She encourages other members to work hard, save, and prepare for their childrens education. She is a time-conscious lady and lateness during monthly group meetings is penalized. She sells milk and steers at Isinya town and to two hotels in Kitengela town. Currently she has only 12 cows and she gets 30 litres of milk per day. This gives her $10 per day. Being a single mother, she has to work hard to increase her income and this why she wants to start selling steers in order to increase her income flow. She successfully repaid her kiva loan of USD 300 and she would like to buy 4 more medium-sized steers at a cost of USD500. The fattened steers will be sold after 4 months and the proceeds will be used to purchase more steers. This is the only way she will be able to educate her children and maintain a good standard of living. To Nayioma and her group members, the revival of the Kenya Meat Commission was a blessing because its providing ready market for cattle in the whole area. They will be selling their cattle at realistic prices, unlike previously where the market was limited and the buyers determining what to offer. With this in mind, Nayioma wants to increase her steers to a point where in future she will be able to rear 26 steers at a time. However, like a river which starts small and then flows, she would like to start with 6 at a cost of USD 700, and then reach 20 or more.",F,700,lender,Agriculture,1
Kenya,Nchose is 45 years old and is married with 5 children. She is an active chairlady of the Naserian women group and is a committee member of the Kisaju baptist church. She started her beadwork business in 2005 with a little stock of USD 30. She manages to sell her beads to the Isinya and Kajiado towns. She decided she will be selling them in Nairobi and Mombasa to the tourists. She has applied for a loan of USD450 to increase her stock and intends to pay the loan back in 12 months. She is very determined to educate her children.,F,450,lender,Arts,1
Kenya,Ndanine Monirei is married with six children; three of her children are in secondary school and the others have finished secondary school and are waiting to go to college. She is an active member of the Nasinya Womens Group and also an active Christian. She started her business of selling steers six years ago with the help of her husband. She added three more steers after getting a loan of USD 300 from WEEC. It is through this business that she has managed to educate her children. She wants to buy eight more steers if given this loan. She is willing to repay this loan in a span of 12 months.,F,450,lender,Agriculture,1
Kenya,"Ndumi Mutua is a 43-year-old lady, and married with three children. She lives in Kitengela township near Athi - River one of the peri-urban towns of Nairobi. Ndumi also takes care of her younger sister aged 30 years who is HIV positive and is on anti-retroviral treatment. Ndumi also takes care of another sister who is asthmatic, and therefore cannot work effectively. Ndumi is also responsible for the upkeep of her sisters children. True to her Christian calling, Ndumi devotes some of her free time visiting people who are HIV positive and the disadvantaged people in Kitengela Township. During such visits, she takes to them foodstuff and clothes.
Ndumi started her tailoring business in the year 1997. This was after she finished her tailoring course, which was conducted by the Singer company. Before that, she used to sell vegetables while at the same time making mandazi (a doughnut-like bun). Her mandazis were well sought after because they were delicious and she cooked them in a clean environment. Through the sale of mandazi and vegetables she managed to raise Ksh 32,000 (USD 490).
With this money Ndumi bought a sewing machine and various types of tailoring materials. She then rented a stall in Kitengela where she is operating today. Due to the growing number of school-going children as a result of the governments offer of free P]primary education, Ndumi is always busy trying to keep up with the high demand of school uniforms.
Ndumi is therefore kindly requesting for a loan of USD 775. Given this loan in kind in the form of cloth materials for her tailoring stall, Ndumi will be able to add on to her stock of school uniforms, sweaters, ties, socks, and badges of different primary schools that have given her a two year contract to supply school uniforms. Ndumi intends to repay the loan within 8-12 months.",F,775,partner,Services,0
Kenya,"Ndung'u Ng'ang'a is a married businessman with two children. He owns a carpentry shop at the Kangemi Shopping Center in a middle- and low-income estate on the outskirts of the city of Nairobi. He has been running the business for the past seven years and now makes a monthly profit of about 7,500 Kenyan shillings (about $95).
Ndung'u plans to use this loan as working capital to buy raw materials for his workshop. He learned about KADET through his friends who are also members of his borrowing group at KADET. Ndung'u hopes to grow his business and to eventually be able to buy more of his own tools, such as a circular saw.
About KADET:
The Kenya Agency for the Development of Enterprise and Technology (KADET) is committed to economically empowering its clients by providing financial services to rural communities in order to relieve suffering and improve living conditions within those communities.",M,275,partner,Manufacturing,0
Kenya,"Neddy Musotsi is a 33 year-old single mother of three children aged 13, 11, and 9, respectively. Neddy and her youngest son are both HIV positive and on anti-retroviral medication. Neddy and her family live in Lindi, an area in the Kibera slums in Nairobi. Despite the fact that Neddy is HIV positive, she has a big burden of taking care of her younger sister who is 29 years old (and a widow), her sisters two children aged 8 and 6 years old, and her elderly parents. When Neddy is weak due to a low CD count, she is forced to rest for 2 to 3 days. However, due to her determination, shes always on her feet as soon as she can so that she can put bread on the table for her children and other dependents. Sometimes when she cant get out of bed, the children only take black tea - which is not enough, especially for her young son.
Neddy sells second-hand clothing to support her family. To better care for her family, Neddy wants to expand her business by adding more stock. She is therefore requesting a loan of Ksh 50,000 from Kiva lenders. With this loan, Neddy will be able to purchase 5 bales of second-hand clothes, which will truly uplift her business and the living standards of her family. She will also be able to better care for her HIV positive son by buying him food with enough nutrients to keep going.
Disclaimer: Due to recent events in Kenya, the security situation in many communities remains unsettled, affecting many local businesses. Lenders to this entrepreneur should be aware that this loan may represent a higher default risk, and should be willing to accept this additional risk in making their loan.",F,825,partner,Clothing,1
Kenya,"Neliah Nyamboke Thomas is a 26-year-old married entrepreneur. She has two children who are in junior school grades three and four. She lives with her family in Kibera slums, Nairobi city, and is a member of the Chabumba self-help group. This group, in partnership with Ebony Foundation, Kenya, has helped her gain good business skills. With this training, Neliah learned to operate a small home factory making liquid detergent. It began when she gave her friend her home-made detergent as a gift. The friend came back for more and more, and soon word spread around. She now has a big market. She recently got an order from a tourist hotel in Nairobi. Unfortunately she does not have enough capital to produce her detergent in bulk, which would greatly increase her profits. Nor does she have the space to venture into other detergent categories (cleansers for hands, floors, sinks and toilets). She would like to save money to buy a piece of land and move to a better neighborhood, but she lacks the capital to grow her business. She is requesting a loan for $1000: $600 to purchase raw materials to make other varieties of detergents, $300 to purchase plastic cans for packaging, $100 for transport. She is hardworking and determined to realize her dream.",F,1000,lender,Retail,1
Kenya,"Nelius is a single lady who has the spirit of entrepreneurship in her soul. She likes doing business despite financial limitation which has been a challenge. She is a business administrator by profession and after completing her studies she couldnt secure a job. She first worked in her mothers business and saved some capital to start her own business. As she was thinking which business to start, she gave a salon a thought and she had to go back to college to have an idea of what it takes. After studying the hairdressing and beauty therapy course, she got the drive to start a salon business. She purchased most of the modern equipments the one she could afford. Her salon is situated at town centre where she is able to fetch good customers, and she has employed 2 ladies to help her. Her salon has enabled her to buy a plot of land and she is in the process of developing it. She has planned to start with constructing 3 permanent rental rooms, and then build the others with the income she will generate from the first ones. She believes in achieving the best in life and she is able to change challenges into opportunities. She is a dedicated lady who loves what she is does and she is committed to repay the loan with her monthly income.",F,1200,lender,Services,1
Kenya,"Nelius is forever greatful to WEEC, which has educated her children and offers her a chance to start building on assets that are less costly in terms of management. She is now in her early fifties and wants to use this opportunity to become a shareholder with Kenya Reinsurance Company, which is making its initial public offer in January. Nelius is subsistence farmer growing maize, beans, vegetables, potatoes, peas, and arrowroots. She also keeps dairy cows that produce enough milk for consumption and sale (eight liters per day.) The income that she earns will be used to service the loan that she will receive.",F,150,lender,Agriculture,1
Kenya,"Nelius Wanja Kiragu is 46 years old. She is married with four children; one is in primary school and three are self reliant. She is an active member of Gitui Smart Women's Group. She is a member of ACK Church Ithikui. Her main occupation is farming and she grows nappier grass, beans, maize and coffee. She has one cow and the milk produced is sold to the local residents. She also sells the coffee to a local coffee factory. She has applied a loan of USD600, which she intends to purchase another dairy cow. She is willing to repay this loan within 12 months.",F,600,lender,Agriculture,1
Kenya,"Nelly Akongo Okello is 35 years old and married with two children. The husband is a camera man while she sells tomatoes and onions in the open-air market. She would like her children to go to better schools in the future and she is determined to achieve this. She would like to be supplying the hotels in towns with tomatoes and onions but she has not enough money to buy the stock. She is therefore requesting for a loan of US$ 400 of which she plans to use US $ 200 for tomato sacks, US $ 150 for onion sacks and US $ 50 for transport. With several clients in the hotels she will be able to cater for her family needs and save. She is hardworking and determined and therefore capable of repaying the loan.",F,400,lender,Food,1
Kenya,"Nelly is married with 4 children. One is in college and the other three are out of school. She is an active member of the group and very religious. She leads a women's movement and empowers women in her area. Nelly works with her district county council where she has been working since she got married. She joined WEEC 3 years ago after seeing how those who were already in the group benefited from the services offered. They were trained in business management skills and dairy farming skills. She was influenced by the way her colleagues were improving their businesses and how they were rearing their animals. Since she joined the group, she has been responsible in the group and she borrowed her first loan and bought a dairy cow. This has changed her life completely and she wants to add another dairy cow to increase her income. She has 3 dairy cows, which produce an average of 30 litres per day at USD 0.28 per day. She sells her milk to a Dairy Sacco cooperative where they pay on a monthly basis. She is willing to repay her loan in installments.",F,600,lender,Agriculture,1
Kenya,"Nelly is married with 5 dependants. She takes care of the whole family, the husband has a poor paying job.
She lives on her farm at Maragwa where she practices her farming. She grows mainly vegetables, bananas, and other food crops. She operates a green grocer business at the bus stage to augment her income. She hopes to improve her business by purchasing extra bananas bunches, potatoes, carrots and other vegetables when she gets a loan of USD300 through the group. She is willing to repay the loan in a period of 12 months.",F,300,lender,Food,1
Kenya,"Nelly wants to buy a dairy cow.
Nelly is married with 4 children. One is in college and the other three
are out of school. She is an active member of the lending group and very religious. She leads a women movement and empowers women in her area. Nelly works with her district county council where she has been working since she got married.
She joined WEEC 3 years ago and it was after seeing how those who were already in the group benefiting from the services offered. They were trained on business management skills and dairy farming skills. She was influenced by the way her colleagues were improving their businesses and how they were rearing their animals. After she joined the group, she has been responsible in the group and she borrowed her first loan and bought dairy cows. They have changed her life completely and she is able to earn extra income each month. She has 3 dairy cows which produces an average of 30 litres per day. She sells her milk to a Dairy Sacco cooperative where they are paid on monthly basis. She is willing to repay her loan in installments.",F,300,lender,Agriculture,1
Kenya,"Nelly was born 46 years ago, and she is married with 5 children who are in school. She is an active member in her group and a religious person. She has set a good example in her group through her responsibility in attending group meetings. She has already cleared the loans she has secured the previous months. She used her loans to buy dairy cows which have transformed her family life. She is ever grateful to Kiva and believes she will do her best to achieve her dream. She would want to buy another cow to maximize her income. Her income will boost her in paying school fees for her children. She is willing to repay her loan through installment.",F,300,lender,Agriculture,1
Kenya,"Nelly was born 54 years ago, got married and has 4 children. She is a committed secretary of Kirangari Women group. She is very religious in her place of worship and a secretary to a women movement. Her main source of income is daily cows which she has been rearing for the last 3 years. She bought the cows through the loans she once secured from her group. She started by buying one dairy cow and up to date she has three 3 cows where she sells milk to a farmers cooperative. She is able to supply 70 litres of milk daily and this has enabled her to educate all her children through secondary school and now they are in college. Its a challenge to meet their college fees and a burden but she believes after adding another dairy cow, she will be able to make enough money to meet the fees. She is determined to provide them with quality education which is the roots of their lives.",F,750,lender,Agriculture,1
Kenya,"Nelson Kipyegon Bii is a 27 year old single with two dependants. About one year ago he started a small business of vending milk and stopped depending on his parents who were already struggling to take care of him and his siblings. Through the help of his parents he bought milk from a nearby dairy to resell to other consumers. He sells milk door to door both in the villages and in the surrounding town. It has been difficult for him since most of the people living around him own cows hence they have no need to buy milk. He bought a bicycle which enables him to travel long distances to sell his milk, but with the poor road network it has added the extra cost of maintaining his bicycle. Despite all these difficulties, he has been able to help his parents in meeting family needs. He is the sole breadwinner for his family, which has put a strain on his business leaving him with little capital to expand his business. He faces another challenge of milk going bad because of the long distances he has to cover and having no storage facilities. He would also like to buy milk directly from the farmers at a cheaper price but lacks the capacity to do so. He is requesting a loan of US$1050: US$500 to buy a cooler, US$200 to buy containers and storage containers, US$300 to buy more milk and US$50 to repair his bicycle. He is a young, energetic entrepreneur and he will be able to repay the loan in good time.",M,1050,lender,Food,1
Kenya,"Nelson Salano Omuyoma is a 26-year-old single man. He lives in Nakuru town together with his siblings. Since the parents are not working he is the sole breadwinner. He did not complete his studies due to lack of school fees and thus he wants all his siblings to finish their studies so that in future they can provide for themselves. Nelson is well known in his community for shaving using the old manual razor. But when a member of a local church group asked him to shave a large number of them, Nelson who supports his family did not have the equipment necessary to fill such a large order. So with the demand, he has decided to purchase accessories to make it possible for him to fill large orders. He has been involved in the business of operating a barber shop for a very long time thus he gets a lot of customers. However, attending to his customers has not been easy since his premises is very small and also he has no employee due to lack of fees. He therefore wants to expand the business by getting a bigger business premises, employing two workers and adding machines. He has requested US $400 and his budget is as follows; US $50 to lease his business premises, US $300 to buy machines, US $50 to buy chairs. He is a hardworking young man and he will repay the loan on time.",M,400,lender,Services,1
Kenya,"Nereah Adero is a 58-year old widow. She lives in Migori, Kenya, with her seven children and four grandchildren. She is a leader of Buchwa women's group, a community initiative that provides home-based care services to people living with HIV/AIDS. She also runs a food kiosk at Achuth market in Bware, specializing in selling the local favorites, chapattis (fried flat bread) and mandazzis (fried sweet dough) served with tea. She supplements her food kiosk business by buying and selling dry maize and also has local dairy cattle breeds which produce milk for sale. Her daily income has increased by 100%, and she has managed to save a bit of her profits. She requires US $600 to enable her to move her business to a larger space and a more lucrative location.",F,600,partner,Food,0
Kenya,"Nereah Atieno is a 55 year old widow. She lives with seven of her own children and four grandchildren at Dunga in Kisumu Kenya. She dropped her original business of selling fish due to competition from other traders. In 2007 she started making traditional mats which are locally used by the community. She plans to boost her current business and also supplement it with cereal sales, currently in high demand, using the US $600 she has applied for.",F,600,partner,Arts,0
Kenya,"Nicholas is 29 years old, married and has one child. He lives within the Kibera slums with his other two siblings since his parents are now old and reside in the Western Province of Kenya. Nicholas supports his siblings mainly by paying for their school fees. Nicholas has a standard eight education (Primary Level) but is keen to see his siblings get quality education, something he was not able to get because his parents could not afford the school fees.
The poor conditions from his home area in Western Province drove Nicholas to come to the city of Nairobi and live with his uncle in Kibera at an early age of 14 years. It was during that period that Nicholas went through vocational training in shoe making at the Makina market within Kibera slums through support from his uncle. His uncle paid $ 65 over a period of eight months where he was attached to a shoemaker and was learning through apprenticeship. He continued to get the shoe making skills for two years (1992 to 1994) without a pay even after the eight months period of learning had elapsed.
Nicholas has now been involved in the business of mending shoes for now 12 years, and he is proud of his work. This is because he is making a difference in someones life. Through his business, he has received tenders from the Meridian Hotel, a hotel in Nairobi, to make shoes for their staff. He also gets tenders from sponsored Primary Schools within Kibera.
Given the loan of $50, which is repayable over a period of 6 12 months, Nicholas plans to purchase a sewing machine through which he can be doing all the stitching individually. Nicholas cuts leather, makes designs, and mends shoes. Since he does not have a sewing machine to do the stitches, he usually takes the shoes he has designed to be stitched to the machine of a friend. This has proved costly since he pays slightly less than a dollar for every pair that needs to be stitched. In a week he is able to make six pairs of shoes, while during peak seasons, he makes 10 pairs. His customers usually have to wait for two to three days for their shoes to be ready. This has contributed to having his customers looking for other places where the services are faster. Nicholas seeks to change this to be able to retain his customers.",M,100,partner,Services,0
Kenya,"Nicholas is 30 years old, married and has one child. He lives within the Kibera slums with his two other siblings since his parents are now old and reside in the Western Province of Kenya. Nicholas supports his siblings mainly by paying their school fees. He is educated up to the level of standard eight (Primary Level Education) but he is keen to see his siblings get quality education, something he was not able to get because his parents could not afford the school fees.
Nicholas completed vocational training, including an apprenticeship, in shoe making at the Makina market within the Kibera slums through support from his uncle. He has been involved in mending shoes for twelve and a half years now and he is proud of his work. This is because he is making a difference in someones life. Through his business, he has received tenders from the Meridian Hotel in Nairobi to make shoes for their staff. He also gets tenders from sponsored Primary Schools within Kibera.
Nicholas got his first loan from Kiva lenders for USD $100 in May 2007. With this loan, Nicholas bought a sewing machine and 25 pairs of soles for his shoe stall. This made his work much easier because now, as a proud owner of a sewing machine, he doesnt have to rent his neighbors machine. Nicholas income has improved and Action Now: Kenya can bear witness to his having a good loan repayment record. He paid his loan on the specified dates and he never defaulted.
Nicholas now looks forward to getting an additional loan to renovate his stall since its not protected against rainy and windy days when the stall suffers a lot. He also intends to add stock due to a high demand for shoes during the upcoming festive season of December and in January when school opens. He therefore requests a loan of Ksh 15,000. With this loan Nicholas will be able to renovate his stall and purchase additional stock. The repayment period for this loan is 10 months.",M,250,lender,Retail,1
Kenya,"Nicholas Kariuki Githii is a 20-year-old man. He dropped out of school at junior eight and since then he has worked as a shopkeeper in Nakuru. He worked for a long period before finally setting up his own vegetable stand. He is not married and does not have a lot of expenses to pay. He does help care for his aging parents, though. Nicholas has operated his own vegetable stand for a half a year now and he wants to boost his business and make it a grocery shop. He is requesting a loan of US$ 300: $100 to buy building materials, $100 to buy a bag of potatoes, and $100 to buy assorted vegetables. NIcholas is doing well and deserves a boost. He will repay the loan.",M,300,lender,Food,1
Kenya,"Nicholas Marwa is a 20 year old single and lives within the Kibera slums. His highest level of education is primary school, standard eight. Nicholas moved from his mothers small house where he and his six siblings lived to live on his own due to the small space they all shared.
During school holidays, Nicholas would assist his mother in making various snacks, ranging from popcorns, peanuts, crisps to chevras, (a spicy mixture of broken crisps and peanuts). This started as early as the year 2001 and his major task was that of selling the products after all the preparation. He would move from place to place selling the products since that was what would pay for his school fees. He would also target major events in the country where he made great sales, such as the Kenya Agricultural and Trade exhibitions. This did not stop even after Nicholas moved from his mothers house. He saved $ 7 with which he bought ingredients to prepare the snacks using his mothers cooking equipments and that is how he was surviving till the year 2004.
In the year 2004, he met a friend who was also preparing and selling snacks and they decided to be working in partnership. Currently Nicholass impediment is the lack of a machine used to prepare crisps which makes the greatest sales from the snacks they sell. He hires that machine and over the years it has proved to be expensive. His request is a loan that will enable him to purchase the machine for making crisps. This will increase his income and he will also have some money to give to his mother to support his siblings, since this is expected of him, being the first born in his family. The cost of the machine is USD 225 and the loan is repayable within 12 - 18 months.",M,225,lender,Food,1
Kenya,"Nicholas Matata Mukosi is 39 years old. He is married with 4 children and six other dependents. Only three of the children are in school. Nicholas is a grade 12 drop-out with a specialty and interest in rural farming, but he has been engaged in shop-keeping as a means to eke out his livelihood. Nicholas has a hard time supporting his large family because of the meager returns he gets from the business. Nicholas is requesting a loan to stock his shop, in order to better support his family, send the children to school, and give them medical care. He would like to receive a loan amount of US $ 900, with his budget as follows:
US $ 300 to purchase a bale of maize flour
US $ 200 to purchase wheat flour
US $ 100 to purchase sugar
US $ 100 to purchase rice
US $ 100 to purchase cooking fat, and
US $ 100 to pay for a municipal license and fees.
Nicholas is a member of the Mwitethiya group, a group-lending methodology whereby members of the group pledge repayment for each other. Nicholas is a dedicated member and chairperson who is spearheading this group. He is a committed businessman, ready to repay the loan and support his family.",M,900,lender,Food,1
Kenya,"Njeri is married with grown up children. She is an active member of Kahumbu Kwirera women's group. She resides in Githembe Saba Saba on her farm. She keeps dairy cows, goats and grows bananas which provide her with daily income. Njeri is a committed member of Kahumbu Anglican Church, where she receives her spiritual nourishment. She is in need of USD325 to buy a high breed dairy cow that she has been eyeing for a long time due to limited income. Buying this cow will mean a lot to Njeri because it will increase her income. She is willing to repay this loan within a period of 12 months.",F,325,lender,Agriculture,1
Kenya,"Njuguna is a father of nine but only resides with two of his children and his wife. After buying a piece of land in Ikapolok, he decided to abandon his 20 year barber business for one of vending tea leaves. The clients to the prior business usually came in between 7 pm and 10 pm making it difficult for him to connect home in the late hours. The first loan of US$143 guaranteed by his pastor enabled him to increase his stock of tea leaves for resale. Although profit margins were small he was able to repay the loan timely and to apply for another one. With the second loan of $225 he intends to purchase tea directly from the factory avoiding brokers. This will greatly improve his income by raising margins per 50Kg bag from $ 14 - $21. We have seen a great change in his life and a turnaround in the family situation. He is able to support his family better and pay three laborers to help his wife in the farm. He looks forward to being able to sell tea as a wholesaler.",M,225,partner,Services,0
Kenya,"Nkaanka Ene Meeli is married with seven children. She has five daughters and two sons. Nkaanka has never gone to school but she is very determined to educate all of her children. Two of her daughters are married as are two of her sons. One of her daughters is at Nairobi University and the last two children are in form three. She started her business twelve years ago when she started with two steers. Her business has enabled her to cater to all of her childrens needs. Her business has also helped her to build 3 rental rooms. Nkaanka took two loans from WEEC and she was able to repay them. To date, Nkaanka has twenty steers. Due to the reviving of the Kenya Meat Commission, Nkaanka wants to increase the number of steers she has. This is why she is asking for a loan of USD 750. She is very determined to be a successful business person. She is promising to make her repayments on monthly basis.",F,750,lender,Agriculture,1
Kenya,"Nkayieyio is 56 years old. She is married and has 6 children. She is a member of Kiret Baptist Church in Olkinos area of Kajiado District. She is a co - founder of the local Nasaru group that assists children from the very poor families. Through the group Nkayieyio has been able to talk to the young girls on the dangers of FGM and early marriages. Nkaiyieyio has set a good example. Her daughter has not undergone the FGM and she is continuing with her education. Nkayieyio is a member of Kiret Naiboisho w g. She has accessed several loans that have enabled her to pay school fees and to buy books for her daughter. She pays back the loan after selling bead ornaments. Though her daughter is in primary level, her plan is to see her through secondary and college. To increase her income Nkayieyio has looked for market outside the country. Last year she was able to sell her wares in South Africa and Tanzania. This year she has arranged to sell in UAE. Nkaiyiayio requires more capital to enable her make more ornaments for sale. She requires USD 300 to buy the beads, thread; leather .She will also buy cloth materials to decorate.",F,300,lender,Arts,1
Kenya,"Nobert is 37 years old. He is married, and has four children. He also takes care of two of his brothers children after their parents died of HIV.
He does carpentry work, making all kinds of furniture. Nobert has been doing carpentry work since he was 13 years old. He lost his father when he was only two years old, and his mother is blind, so it was very difficult for her to educate him and his siblings. He therefore only attended primary school up to grade 3.
At 13, while living with his brother in Nakuru, he identified a workshop dealing with furniture, and decided wanted to go in and help out, instead of idling around in the village. This is where he learnt his skills in carpentry work.
Norbert started a small carpentry business in Kibera, and since 1993, he has been receiving small contracts from the police in Langata. Since he proved to be faithful, they have continued to give him contracts to either repair or make furniture especially beds.
Since 2005, Nobert has been receiving support and training in small business management, and through facilitation by ANK, has received loans of $57 and $85 from his group, which he has successfully repaid.
Nobert has recently been awarded a contract to make 50 beds for new police recruits. However, because the contract is of such a big magnitude, he doesnt have all the funds required to buy all the materials he needs.
Given a loan of $150, he will be in a position to make the first batch of beds, and after the delivery those, he will be able to repay the loan and proceed to make the next batch for delivery. The loan repayment period will be between 4 8 months.",M,150,partner,Construction,0
Kenya,"Nolari Ngongoni is a 40-year-old married Maasai lady. She would have loved to be educated but her father chose to marry her off at the age of 10 years against her will. Life was difficult trying to adjust to early motherhood while she herself was barely out of her adolescence. Nolari has five children - one is currently is high school while three are in junior grades. The eldest has completed high school but is still at home since she is unable to pay her college fees. Nolari is determined to see all her children get educated, especially her daughters so that they may escape their mothers life. Nolari joined a womens group where they sell Maasai curios and kangas (shawls & belts) to supplement their meager income from the family cows. Despite these efforts she is still unable to pay the school fees. She would like to buy cows and fatten them for sale; there is a ready market as there are cattle auctions quite often. She is requesting a loan of US$ 800 to purchase 5 cows. The profit she will get will be used to enroll her daughter in college. Nolari is determined and will repay the loan.",F,800,lender,Agriculture,1
Kenya,"Norah Moraa is a 50-year-old woman who is separated from her husband and has four grown children, ages 32, 29, 28 and 21. She lives within the Kibera slums of Nairobi. Apart from her family she also takes care of her two granddaughters from her second-born daughter.
In 2002 Norah started her own business of selling vegetables. She started saving a little money until she managed to build fifteen rooms, which she rents to tenants. Norah gave one room to her first son and another to her third-born daughter. She felt that she needed to operate a much bigger business, so she decided to open a cereals shop. She bought cereals with the rent she collected from the tenants.
Because she was not spared during the post-election violence that occurred early this year, looters managed to clean out her shop and the stock that she had together, including the scale for weighing cereals. Now that things have started getting back to normal, Norah wants to continue with her business, but she feels she is unable to do that without support. She is now requesting a loan of Ksh 25,000 so that she can purchase another scale and also buy stock of cereals. She believes that this stock will play a major part in her business income. She also says that customers normally flock to her shop, especially during weekends and holidays. She will repay her loan within a term of twelve months",F,350,lender,Food,1
Kenya,"Normis Eyeki Pesi is a 27-year-old Maasai lady ,married with three children. She was born and raised in Maasai land. She is one of the highly respected ladies in her area because of her outstanding capabilities and work ethic. Normis got married at the age of 16 due to pressure from her parents and extended family members. Despite not being in school at that particular time, she was against the idea of getting married so young. However, since her parents saw her as a burden, she had no choice but to oblige. Normis has been struggling to provide for her family she sells Maasai shangas (ornaments) and kangas (shawls). Her husband buys and sells cows at a profit. The money they earn is not sufficient to cater for their family expenses especially because they have to buy all the beads and fabric for her business locally. Normis is sure that if she can buy these things directly from the distributors in bulk quantities, she will be in a position to minimize costs and improve her cash flow. She would like a loan of US $800. She is intending to lease a premise with $200, to buy beads with $200, to buy Maasai shukas (fabrics) with $250, and buy beading accessories (needles and thread) with $150. She is hard-working and will repay the loan.",F,800,lender,Arts,1
Kenya,"Ntise Parpoika is married with five children. All of her children are in primary school. She has never gone to school. However, she is blessed with the ability to lead others. Therefore, she was appointed the chairlady of the Osim Womens Group. She started her business in 2002. She started with two steers and after six months she sold them and bought three steers. She added two more steers after getting a loan of USD 150 from WEEC and after six months of grazing period she sold them and bought six steers. Her business has help her build an iron sheet house and purchase more goats. Her customers are the local residents in Isinya. She has applied for a loan of USD 450 that will enable her to buy three more steers. She is willing to repay this loan in a period of 10 months.",F,450,lender,Agriculture,1
Kenya,"Ntupeiyo Saisoo is 36 years old. She is married with five children. Unfortunately, due to her culture, she never went to school, but she has said that her children must attend school. She joined Umoja Women's Group so that she would be able to access small loans to start buying and selling steers, in order to send her children to school. This was three years ago.
Due to the opening up of the market for steers she wants to expand her stock, so that she can get good profits when she sells them in bulk to the Kenya Meat Commission. A loan of $450 will enable her to buy four steers at once. After selling them, she will be able to make a profit of 100%. She will be able to pay her loan on a monthly basis, save, pay school fees and feed her children well at least three times a day.",F,450,lender,Agriculture,1
Kenya,"Nyambura is a single mother of two. She dropped out of school when she got pregnant and became a mother. For her to survive, she had to get some sort of source of income. She operates a vegetable stand outside her mothers house where she also lives with her two children. She got her first loan from PEMCI and started the food vending business. With the second loan of $150 she plans to boost her business further and to improve on her income. This will enable her provide for her children and educate them.",F,150,partner,Food,0
Kenya,"Nzembi Munguti is 32 years old. She has three children who are all in school. Nzembi separated from her husband 1 year ago and is now the sole breadwinner. She lives in a one room semi-permanent house in one of the low cost suburbs in Mombasa. She sells fruits in the extensive Kongowea market. She goes to the market very early to buy fruits from the middlemen and arranges them to later resell to consumers in small quantities. Her type of business is popular in this market since buyers come every morning to buy in small quantities as opposed to buying in bulk and she therefore never lacks customers. On a good day she leaves the market at 10:00 am, having finished selling her fruit stock for the day. Since separation from her husband, her business stock has reduced because of the financial responsibility for her family. This has reduced her income, making it difficult to take care of her family. She would like to increase her stock but lacks funds. She requests a US $700 loan. With this she intends to buy assorted fruits. She is focused and will repay the loan.",F,700,lender,Food,1
Kenya,"Obadiah Githinji Njeru is 29 years old. He is single and left school in Grade 8. He was unable to continue with his education due to family problems and decided to go to Nairobi Kawangware estate in search of a job. Obadia is a tentmaker by profession with one year of experience. Currently, he ekes out a living by selling clothes and wants to expand his business to support himself and pursue studies in leatherwork and tent making repairs. For this, he has requested a $800 loan which he plans to use in the following ways:
US $ 300 to purchase three bales of female clothing
US $ 300 to purchase a bale of female pullovers
US $ 200 to pay for a municipal license and transportation.
Obadiah is also a member of Water Group Kawangware and is a business-minded person. He would like to expand his business to as far as Wangige in order to meet his clients' needs and be able to support himself.",M,800,lender,Clothing,1
Kenya,"Obadiah Ndolo Nduva is a 32-year-old, married businessman. Ndolo lives with his wife Domiana in a one-room house in the suburbs of Mombasa town with their two children. The elder of their children is in junior grade two while the other is just a baby. Though well educated (he studied electrical engineering), Ndolo could not get a job and decided to create his own business. He started to sell fruit in Kongowea market, which serves Mombasa and its environs. He is the sole breadwinner for his family since his wife does not work. This is sometimes difficult, which has prompted him to seek additional income. Ndolo would like to expand his business by increasing his current stock, which will enable him to make the much-needed extra income, but unfortunately, he lacks funds for expansion. He is requesting a loan of US$ 500 to be used as follows:
US$250 to buy pineapple
US$250 to buy watermelon.
Ndolo is resourceful and will repay the loan",M,500,lender,Food,1
Kenya,"Olive Wanjiru is 37 years old. She is the mother of five children and a guardian to two children. All are in school. Olive is a business lady at gikomba, a sprawling market in Nairobi. She earns her living by selling tomatoes both wholesale and retail. She has been in the tomato selling business for over three years now. Olive has been experiencing a rise in demand for her tomatoes and customers are asking her to start selling onions too. To meet the high demand she is applying for a loan of US$1100 to increase her stock and offer a variety by buying onions to sell along with the tomatoes. She possesses good business skills and good customer relations. Her budget is $500 to buy tomatoes, $300 to buy onions, $100 to rent storage facilities and $200 to buy transporting facilities (wheel barrow and a pulling kart). She is committed and is able to repay the loan.",F,1100,lender,Food,1
Kenya,"Ombati is 28 years old and a Widower after his wife died of HIV/AIDS 12 months ago.
He lives in a rented rural house with his two children and his sick mother.
His two children dropped out of school after the death of his wife because he was not earning enough to provide food and shelter to the family. After receiving a loan of
U.S $ 200 from Eb-F, he started a poultry business. He buys one day old poultry chicks and brings them up. The birds produce eggs which he sells to earn a profit. Currently he has 200 birds that give him an average of 300 eggs for sale per week. He has since been able to take his children back to school but the business is still small and he is still not able to meet the healthcare needs of his children especially one of them who is HIV positive.
Through Eb-Fs Farm gate marketing programme, Ombati has been contracted to supply eggs to three schools in Nakuru Kenya.
He is requesting a loan of U.S $ 800 to purchase an additional 400 birds, 20 bags of chicken feed and to expand his chicken shade to accommodate the additional birds.
The additional birds will enable him supply the schools and make sufficient income to care for his sick child and mother and to improve the livelihood of his family. He will also be able to supply some of the eggs to his neighbors.
Ombati is focused, hardworking and pays his loans promptly.",M,800,lender,Agriculture,1
Kenya,"Orodi is an HIV+ widow with two children. She underwent tailoring training but because of less capital to purchase machines, she opted for a clothing business after getting a loan of $112 from PEMCI. If given the 2nd loan, she will be able to purchase a sewing machine and start to make clothes and sell them. She looks forward to the day when she will have more machines and will even offer tailoring lessons to HIV+ widows and orphans in her community.",F,225,partner,Clothing,0
Kenya,"Oscar is 55 years old and lives with his four children and his two unemployed brothers. He lost both his parents from HIV/AIDS. His wife Judith is a nursery school teacher in a nearby school earning some US $ 40 per month. This income was not sufficient to meet the cost of renting a small house, feeding and taking his children and brothers to school. Oscar wanted to start his own business to supplement Judiths income but they could not raise required capital. He got some manual work in a construction site where he was worked for 12 months and managed to save some US $ 170 which he used to take two of his children to school and to start a small business of selling cell phone accessories. This business has enabled the family earn an extra US $ 55 per month and enabled their third child attend school. Oscars business is doing well and he has many customers however due to lack of capital his is unable to expand the business and to meet the customers demand. His business is located along the street and it can not therefore be licensed by the Local Government.
Oscar wants to move his business into a rented room so that he can be licensed to expand it.
Oscar now requests a loan of US $ 850. His budget is: US $ 150 for 3 months premises rent, US $ 200 to furnish and improve the premises and US $ 500 to purchase assorted cell phone accessories. The business will generate sufficient income to keep all his children in school and to provide most of the family needs. He plans to take his two brothers to college and his vision is to expand the business into a cell phone handset shop.
Oscar has attended Eb-F business skills improvement courses and he is very ambitious and hard working. He will be able to repay the loan well.",M,850,lender,Retail,1
Kenya,"Oscar is a 31-year-old trained clinical officer. He is married, and lives with his wife and 1 child in Chuka Kenya. Oscar, who qualified for clinical work in the year in 2000, worked with Consolata Cottage Clinic, in Chuka, three and half years. On the first of September 2005 he opened his own clinic, Chuka Medical clinic. His clinic is located in the middle of town and offers a range of health services including general curative, family planning, maternal and child health services and also has pharmacy, and a laboratory. The clients appreciate the quality of services provided at his facility. Oscar, who has received one previous loan from KMET, requires US $1200 to further expand his clinic.",M,1200,partner,Health,0
Kenya,Oscar is a married man and a father of two children. He is the main bread earner in the family and own a cyber cafe. He will use the loan to diversify and expand his business in order to provide for his family.,M,900,lender,Services,1
Kenya,"Oscar Owino is an average-aged man who is married with a wife and six children.
He owns a small retail shop which he started ten years ago, after accumulating savings from the little money he earned while working as a shelf attendant for a supermarket. Oscars small retail shop sells household goods that his customers can use on a daily basis. The shop mostly stocks food and toiletries.
Oscar is a hardworking man. From the little profits that he gets from his business, he is still able to feed, clothe, and educate his children. With the help of the loan, Oscar will be able to add more stock for his business, which he hopes will generate more income. His long-term business vision is to open up a wholesale unit in the future.
Disclaimer: Due to recent events in Kenya, the security situation in many communities remains unsettled, affecting many local businesses. Lenders to this entrepreneur should be aware that this loan may represent a higher default risk, and should be willing to accept this additional risk in making their loan.",M,1275,lender,Retail,0
Kenya,"OTIENO OPIYO is a 23 year old young man. He is not married and came to Nakuru City in year 2004 after completing his high school education. His parents could not afford to take him to college and he hoped to get a job in Nakuru and finance his college education.
In Nakuru he was accommodated by Odhiambo who hails from the same rural village of Siaya. For six months Otieno looked for a job in Nakuru City without success and because Odhiambo was finding it expensive to feed and provide for Otieno, he advised Otieno to try his hand on a business. Odhiambo earns his living by transporting people on his bicycle (Bicycle Taxi) and utilizes the little income to take care of himself and his sick parents back in the rural area. He leased a bicycle from a fellow trader and introduced Otieno to the business of Bicycle Taxi.
Otieno mastered the business very fast and was soon earning an average of US $ 30 per week after paying for the bicycle leasing. This income supplemented Odhiambos income and the two young men began sharing their cost of living and saving same money to help their parents in rural home. Otieno liked the bicycle taxi business and stopped looking for a job. He decided to concentrate on this business but still enrolled for a computer application course to improve his knowledge.
In year 2005 Otieno received a loan of US $ 100 from Eb-F and utilized the money to purchase his own bicycle. He used the equivalent of the money he was paying to lease a bicycle to service his loan and by March 2006, he had paid his loan on full. This increased his income to US $ 60 per week and has enabled him pay school fees for his younger sister.
Otieno does an average of 16 five kilometers trips per day and at the close of the day he is very exhausted.
Otieno wants to improve his business from Bicycle Taxi to Motor cycle Taxi. This will increase the daily trips to 28 and at the same time reduce exhaustion. He has identified a motor cycle that is selling at US $ 2,375 and he has saved some US $ 375 for the project. He is requesting for a loan of US $ 2,000 to convert to Motor Cycle Taxi. His budget is US $ 2,261 to purchase the motor cycle and pay for insurance and US $ 114 to acquire a riding gear. This will increase his income to an average of US $ 90 per week. Apart from helping his younger siblings attend school, Otieno plans to save the income to purchase another motor cycle. He will lease out his bicycle to improve his income. Otieno is a focused young entrepreneur and will repay the loan.",M,2000,lender,Transportation,1
Kenya,"Otui is married with 5 children who are in school. She is an active member of the Inkishumu Women\'s Group and she has demonstrated this with her commitment to the group meetings. She is a religious person who derives her spiritual nourishment from the Olepolosh Methodist Church. She joined the group after realizing how her friends lives have been transformed. She started her steers project with a small loan from the group. She started with 2 steers and she fed them and sold the first lot and as of now she has 6 steers. Her children have been in school without being sent home to collect fees. She opened a small retail shop for household goods where she sells sugar, flour, cereals, and laundry detergent with the income she generated from the sale of steers. Her steers business has been performing and she is hoping to expand her shop business with income from the steers. She is very determined to give her children a quality education and a good life through her hard work. She would like to add the number of steers to maximize her income. She is willing to meet her repayments on monthly basis.",F,450,lender,Agriculture,1
Kenya,"Pais is married with four children. She is an active member of Osiligi Women Group. She is also the treasurer of women guild P.C.E.A church in Oloyiankalani. She started her steers business in the year 2002 with two steers at a cost of Usd 80 each with a small group loan. She sold the steers after one year at usd 150 each. She bought four more steers at a cost of Usd 75 each which she later sold at usd 150 each making a profit of usd 300. At the moment she has eight steers for fattening as working capital.
With the money from her business she has managed to send her children to be educated in private schools. She has also built herself a good house and her family no longer sleeps hungry.
She now needs a loan of Usd 900 to buy 6 steers before the dry season strikes. She promises to repay her loan on monthly basis.",F,600,lender,Agriculture,1
Kenya,"Pamainus Mwaniki is a 35-year-old father of two. He lives in the Nakuru town in Kenya with his family. His wife is unemployed and stays at home. He also takes care of his old ailing parents. The children are in junior school in grades five and eight. Pamainus owns a small business that he runs alone. He sells school uniforms, and has employed four tailors to assist in making the uniforms. He is a very industrious businessman and has created a large customer base among the several schools in his area. He earns a modest income which is not enough to satisfy the basic needs of his family. Pamainus would like to increase his income, so that he can afford proper medication for his sick parents. He plans to accomplish this by opening a second branch of his business to access customers who live outside the town. He also plans to make uniforms for other non-school institutions. However, Pamainus would need a second premise and employ more tailors. His wife, too, could become employed and help in running the second shop. He is therefore requesting a loan of US$1200: US$200 to build the business premise, US$400 to hire trained tailors, and US$600 to buy more fabric and tailoring equipment.
He is a hardworking and determined businessman and has the ability to manage this venture well. He will be able to repay the loan.",M,1200,lender,Services,1
Kenya,"Pamela Akeyo Obiero is 34 years old. She is married and has four children. They live within the Kibera slums of Nairobi. She also takes care of six orphans left behind by her brother who passed away in 2000 due to HIV/AIDS.
Initially, Pamela was employed at a salon where she was paid by commission for the work done. However, the pay was little. She persevered because she had a large family looking up to her. Pamela saved some money from the two years she was employed, which she used to buy a second-hand blowdryer and dryer. Afterwards, through a village merry-go-round group for women, Pamela received Ksh 2,000 (USD 28) which she used to purchase combs, towels and a sink.
In 2003, Pamela started her own salon. Due to her skill in hairdressing, including braiding, weaving, perming (chemical application for hair straightening) and styling, the demand for her services has increased. She is therefore requesting a loan of USD 100 to enable her buy an additional blowdryer, four big chairs and two small chairs for the children.
Because her clientele has increased, she wants them to be comfortable while waiting to be served. This means her clients who used to go to the neighboring salons because they got tired of waiting will now be served quickly. The outcome of this will be higher income.
Through this, Pamela will be able to better support her family. The repayment period for her loan is between 8 and 15 months.",F,100,partner,Services,0
Kenya,"Pamela Akeyo Obiero is 40 years old and lives in the Kibera slums in Nairobi with her husband and four children. All of their children are in junior school (classes 1, 3, 4 and 7). Pamela's husband is a temporary worker, while she has been running a hair salon within the slum for the past seven years. Their combined monthly earnings are not enough to afford decent housing and to cater adequately for their familys basic needs.
She plans to expand her salon business and buy modern equipment, which will give her an edge over other hair salon operators in the area, and help to attract and maintain a larger client base. Her long experience in salon work will enable her to run this business efficiently. This will result in higher earnings, thus improving the livelihood of her family.
Pamela is requesting a loan of US$825 to expand her salon business: US$150 for the expansion and decoration of premises, US$300 for the purchase of a hair drier, US$175 for 2 blow-driers, US$200 for salon oils and chemicals. Pamela is very hardworking and, according to preliminary assessments, will be able to repay the loan.",F,825,lender,Services,1
Kenya,"Pamela Akinyi is a 31-year old mother of four children and is expecting her fifth child. Pamela and her husband live in Kisumu, Kenya. Pamela has taken and successfully repaid two microfinance loans from KMET. She began selling clothing door-to-door in 1999 and has since expanded her business. She currently rents the shop seen in this picture in which she sells clothes-making materials, shoes, purses, ties and other clothing items. She also employs a full-time tailor to meet her customers demands. Pamela also volunteers her time as a community-health worker trained in home-based care. She is thus well-known within her community. In addition, the central location of her shop and her many years of doing good business within the community have gained her a good reputation and a wide customer base. Her business has done quite well due to the added advantage of access to loan funds; she intends to use the loan to increase her stock and materials and build a waiting bay for her clients.",F,425,partner,Clothing,0
Kenya,"Pamela Akinyi is a 32-year-old mother of five children. Pamela and her husband live in Kisumu, Kenya. Pamela has taken and successfully repaid three microfinance loans from KMET.
She began selling clothing door-to-door in 1999 and has since expanded her business. She currently rents the shop seen in this picture in which she sells clothes-making materials, shoes, purses, ties and other clothing items. She also employs a full-time tailor to meet her customers demands. Pamela is a community health worker trained in home-based care by KMET. She is, thus, well-known within her community for her health-care work. In addition, the central location of her shop and her many years of doing good business within the community has gained her a good reputation and a wide customer base.
Her business has done quite well due to the added advantage of access to loan funds; she has combined the additional money with hard work and perseverance in order to increase her stock and materials and build a successful income-generating business. Pamela is proud of her accomplishments and that she is now able to contribute to paying household expenses. She requires US $800 to increase her stock of ready-made supplies to keep up with the growing demand.
Disclaimer: Due to recent events in Kenya, the security situation in many communities remains unsettled, affecting many local businesses. Lenders to this entrepreneur should be aware that this loan may represent a higher default risk, and should be willing to accept this additional risk in making their loan.",F,800,partner,Clothing,0
Kenya,"Pamela Akoth Wandhawa is a 35-year-old mother of four children. She lives with her husband in low-income housing area within Mombasa town. All her children attend junior school. To help support her family, she runs a small clothing stall in the extensive Kongowea market. She mainly deals in ladies clothes. These garments are in great demand since they are cheap and trendy. Over the last eight years that she has been running the business, she has established many regular clients who frequently buy from her stall. Earnings from this venture go into her familys expenses. She would like to increase her earnings so that she can afford better housing and save for her childrens education as well. To achieve this, she plans to increase the volume of garments she stocks at her stall so as to capture more revenue. She has, however, been unable to raise the required funds to meet her desired plans. Therefore, she is requesting a loan of US$500: US$450 to assist her in buying more quantities of clothes for sale and US$50 for transport. Pamela is a hardworking business lady and will certainly make a profit from this venture. Thus she will be able to improve her lifestyle and repay the loan as well.",F,500,lender,Clothing,1
Kenya,"Pamela is 35 years old, is married, and lives with her husband and three school-aged children in Rongo, Kenya.
Pamela has successfully repaid two microfinance loans from K-MET. She used the funds from her first loan to open her own beauty salon in 1998, and it has expanded since then. She currently rents the shop seen in this picture. She also sells shoes, purses, ties, and other clothing items.
The central location of her shop and her many years of doing good business within the community has earned her a good reputation and a wide customer base. Her business has done quite well due to the added advantage of access to loan funds; she has combined the additional money with hard work and perseverance in order to increase her stock and materials and build a successful income-generating business.
Pamela is proud of her accomplishments and proud that she is now able to contribute to paying household expenses. Pamela requests a loan of US $ 1000 to further expand her business.",F,1000,partner,Services,0
Kenya,Pamela is 38 years old married with 4 children. Her family moved to Roimen area in Kajiado district in year 2004. Queen Esther w g members meet in a house that is next to Pamelas residence. She requested one of the members to introduce her to the group. She joined the group in 2005 and has benefited both socially and financially. She says this the group members took me as one of their own and though I was new person in the area they made me feels that I belong. Pamela has adhered to the rules as stipulated in the group constitution. So far she has saved USD 45 and has received small loans of up to USD 85 that has enabled her to build a poultry house. As per her repayment record the group is now ready to guarantee her a loan to start a small poultry project. Pamela requires USD 150 to buy 50 broiler birds and all the feeds. Pamela wants to take advantage of the good poultry market that is prevailing in the country. She intends to sell her broilers at Kiserian market. Pamela is so excited now that she has passed the group test and can now access better loans. She intends to work very hard to better the standard of living of her family.,F,150,lender,Agriculture,1
Kenya,"Pamela is 43 years old. She is married and has 4 children. Pamela is a member of St Stephen ACK church in Thika. She is the treasurer of the churchs mothers' committee - a position she carries out with a lot of diligence.
Pamela is a member of Revelation women's group. This is a pioneer group in the area of Thika. She is the group prefect. And being a primary school teacher, she handles her position with a lot of seriousness and professionalism. With her outstanding performance, she has assisted the executive office to carry out their work with ease.
Pamela also carries out farming and has engaged an extra farmhand to assist her. She has two dairy cows and rears 200 broiler chickens. She sells her farm produce to the residents of Thika town.
The income she generates enables her to repay the loans she gets from her group for her children's school fees. She is also able to make her monthly savings of USD 3 through the group.
The loans committee has approved her loan of USD 300 and she will repay her loan within a period of 10 months.",F,300,lender,Agriculture,1
Kenya,"Pamela is 43 years old. She is married and has 4 children. Pamela is a member of St. Stephen ACK church in Thika. She is the treasurer of the churchs mothers' committee, a position she carries out with a lot of diligence. Pamela is a member of the Revelation women group. This is the pioneer group in the landless area of Thika. She is the group prefect. Being a primary school teacher she handles her position with a lot of seriousness and professionalism. With her outstanding performance, she has assisted the executive office to carry out their work with ease.
Pamela also farms and has engaged a farm-hand to assist her. She has two dairy cows and rears 200 broilers. She sells her farm produce to the residents of Thika town, mainly to hotels in Thika. The income she generates enables her to pay the school fees and loans she gets from her group and also to make her monthly savings of USD3 to the group.
Pamela has applied for an Enterprise loan of USD750 that will be invested into her farm projects. She intends to increase her poultry from 200 broilers to 500. The attractive market for both eggs and chicken made her decision to set out this plan. She is booked for more chicks since she sold off her stock during the Easter season. The loans committee sat and approved her current loan application. She will repay her loan on a monthly basis.",F,750,lender,Agriculture,1
Kenya,"Pamela is a 43-year-old widow. She lives with her three children (2 in school) in Nyamasaria Kisumu Kenya. She lost her husband due to HIV-related illness. Pamela, who is living positively, is a symbol of hope to many. With support from KMET, Pamela was able to acquire a popcorn fryer. She uses this to make popcorn, which she sells to the community, schools and also during events. Due to high demand, especially in schools, she plans to purchase another fryer with US $700 she has applied for.",F,700,partner,Food,0
Kenya,"Pamela is thirty-eight years old, married, and mother of three. Her colleagues in the group view her as an asset for the meaningful contributions she always makes during their meetings. She has previously benefited from KIVA by getting a loan of USd 150 which she used to expand her business and right now it's doing well. She has also been given loans at the group level and she always repays well. She now requires Usd 225 to pay for her daughter's school fees because she has just been admitted to secondary school.",F,225,lender,Retail,1
Kenya,"Pamela Mugita is 35 years old and lives in the Rongo District of Kenya. She is married to a local community leader and has 5 children who are currently all enrolled in school.
Pamelas business is a retail shop where she sells soap, kerosene, sugar, tealeaves, bread, and milk. She has been running the shop since 2006. The profits from Pamelas shop enable her to pay the household expenses and the school fees for her children.
Wishing to expand her business, Pamela has applied for a loan of $150. She will use the loan money to buy additional stock for the shop.",F,150,partner,Retail,0
Kenya,"Pamela Olulo is a 45-year-old businesswoman. She earns a living selling second-hand clothes at Kongowea market in Mombasa. Her husband works as a driver for a security company. She has 5 children. Two are in college, one is in senior school, and the others are still in junior school. She has been doing this business for 15 years. Initially, Pamela began operating a small stall, which over the years has grown to a larger enterprise. Her items are mainly ladies clothes. The earnings go into providing for her familys expenses, i.e. food, education, and health care. Recent growing needs have forced her to look for income to cover her childrens college expenses. She would like to expand her current business operations so as to earn the extra cash. She is requesting a loan of $650 to assist her in purchasing more items for sale. Her hardworking nature will greatly help in making this a fruitful venture. Disclaimer: Due to recent events in Kenya, the security situation in many communities remains unsettled, affecting many local businesses. Lenders to this entrepreneur should be aware that this loan may represent a higher default risk, and should be willing to accept this additional risk in making their loan.",F,650,lender,Clothing,1
Kenya,"Partrick karugia Ngahu is 29 years old married with one child. His wife is a small-scale farmer. He did not manage to get to the highest level of education due to lack of school fees. He therefore decided to take a technical course in bicycle repair and maintenance. He has been in that business for the last five years. He has discovered a new opportunity in the industry of bicycle assembly and he would like to take advantage of this. He is therefore requesting a loan of US$ 900. He will use this amount for assorted bicycle parts at US$ 700, and US$ 100 for other general expenses, and US$ 100 for farming, where his wife has a specialty. He is hard working and capable of repaying the loan.",M,900,lender,Services,1
Kenya,"Paskaria Kerubo is a 28-year-old single mother. She has four dependants; one of them is her own child. All these children are in junior school (grade one, three, four and seven). They all live in a small room in the large Kibera slums. She runs a small business outside her home selling vegetables and fuel charcoal. Though she operates in small scale, she manages to make enough for her family. She has been doing this kind of work for five years, and she sees an opportunity to make more income by increasing the scale of her business. Vegetables and fuel charcoal are in great demand in the slum environs. She also plans to begin selling cleaner and more energy efficient fuel like: coffee husks, recycled cow dung, coal, and brickettes. Her knowledge of what her customers will buy and her determination will help her succeed and so she will be able to provide decent shelter and a more comfortable, healthier lifestyle for her dependents. Paskaria is requesting for a loan of $800: $600 for additional inventory and $200 for building larger premises and storage space. Paskaria is a caring mother and tenacious entrepreneur. She works hard for the betterment of her family, and will work equally hard and pay back the loan.",F,800,lender,Retail,1
Kenya,"Pastor Kamunge is a pastor of a local church, a shopkeeper as well as a builder. This is the 2nd loan that he has taken from PEMCI. The first loan of $715, also used to stock his shop, was repaid successfully. He is married with grown children, with his youngest daughter at the University. This loan of $1075 will be used to stock his retail shop, which is managed by his wife who also appears in the photo. As a pastor, Mr. Kamunge has many social obligations. This requires him to also engage in other income-generating activities. The level of development among his congregation would not be enough to support him as a full-time pastor. In fact, with income from these other businesses, he is able to send his children to school and also meet the needs of his congregation. He is an important and active member of the local community, contributing through his pastoral work to its well-being. He is worthy of PEMCI's support.",M,1075,partner,Retail,0
Kenya,"Patricia (seated serving client) is 48 years old. She is married and lives with her husband and five children in Kisumu, Kenya. She began her salon business in 1984. Besides her salon, Patricia sells ready-made clothes, shoes, purses, ties and other clothing items. The location of her shop and her many years of doing good business within the community have gained her a good reputation and a wide customer base. Her business has done quite well due to the added advantage of access to loan funds; she has combined the additional money with hard work and perseverance in order to increase her stock and build a successful income-generating business. Patricia is proud of her accomplishments and that she is now able to contribute to paying household expenses. She requires US $500 to further expand her businesses.
Disclaimer: Due to recent events in Kenya, the security situation in many communities remains unsettled, affecting many local businesses. Lenders to this entrepreneur should be aware that this loan may represent a higher default risk, and should be willing to accept this additional risk in making their loan.",F,500,partner,Services,0
Kenya,"Patricia is an O Level dropout, married with 4 children. She started a kiosk (temporary shop) with the first loan of $85 that she took from PEMCI. With a loan of US $300 Patricia hopes to open a bigger permanent shop to boost sales and service the growing demand for clothing in her Adumai village. She also deals in school uniforms especially at the beginning of each school term. She is an active member of her community by the work she does. The community members now dont have to travel far to satisfy their clothing needs. The nearest shop is 5 Km away.",F,300,partner,Services,0
Kenya,"Patricia is very hard working and focused. She bought 5 steers which were fattened and sold in three months' time. She supplements the feeds with fodder crops. Being a Maasai, she has fought against all odds to educate her girl. (Early marriage that is part of the Maasai Culture has been a hindrance to educating the girl child.) Her plan is to buy small steers for fattening. She will sell the ready steers to the Kenya Meat Commission. She needs a loan of USD 600 to add three more steers in order to boost her income to pay school fees and repay her loan. She will pay her loan in monthly installments.",F,600,lender,Agriculture,0
Kenya,"Patricia Njeri is 38 years old. She is married with two children. She is an active member of Kihuro ACK church and a member of the Mothers' Union. She is also the Secretary to the Archdeaconry Committee of the Mt. Kenya South Dioceses. Patricia is a very active member of Gaitheri Graceful Mothers where she actively contributes towards the group's revolving fund and monthly savings. This allows her to acquire a loan from her group. She carries out intensive farming on her two-acre farm where she grows passion fruits that she sells at the local market. She also grows maize for sale and has also grown coffee on one part of her land.
Patricia has started a small business of selling milk to the local residents at the Mununga shopping center. She has a dairy cow that gives her 8 liters of milk that she sells at her shop. She also buys milk from some local residents. Her plan is to buy a hybrid dairy cow to enable her to increase the milk production. She has applied for a loan of USD 600 from the group. The loan committee has approved the loan, and the repayment period is 12 months.",F,600,lender,Agriculture,1
Kenya,"Patricia Wanjiku is 47 years old and is married with three children. She sells second hand shoes in the open air market. She is a member of a sisters group and they are united to enable them carry out business and get empowered. They have been in business for a long time before they have discovered that together they can get quality shoe bales at a cheaper price. She is requesting for a loan amounting to US$ 750. She intends to buy the bales with US$ 500, US$ 200 on transport and US$ 50 on other expenses.",F,750,lender,Retail,1
Kenya,"Patricia Wanjiru is 34 years old. She is married with two children; one in primary school while the other is yet to enter school. She is a secretary of Golden Crown Women's Group and she has met her duties diligently.
Patricia owns a business of screen-printing, which involves making paintings for decoration and/or advertisement. She sells her paintings to Kenya National Museum, tourists and local clients. She has been doing this for the last 10 years and works together with her husband who does most of the painting. She is mainly involved in marketing and promotion of their products.
She has serviced three loans so far by WEEC and she believes with their continued support, her business will move to higher levels. In fact, she says that those loans have uplifted her life greatly. She intends to start an embroidery and sewing business to boost her monthly income. She has already bought an embroidery machine but does not have adequate capital to purchase materials needed to operate this business. She has applied for this loan of USD600 in order to purchase cloth, sewing threads and other tools needed to make this business a success.",F,300,lender,Arts,1
Kenya,"Patrick is 45 years old married and with four children. He is the sole bread winner and runs a barber shop in Nakuru City.He started the business with the pension from his previous employment after being retrenched.He has been in this business for the last 5 years and has been able to take all his four children. He joined Eb-F three years ago and has benefited from both the training and loan products. He requests for a loan of US $ 850 and plans to spend the money in purchasing new and modern shaving equipment, a chair and an electric sterilizer. This will improve the quality of his work resulting to more customers. Patrick will utilize the income to start a vegetable/fruits stall for his wife.This will increase the family income leading to better livelihood.",M,850,lender,Services,1
Kenya,"Patrick is a father of four children who are all in primary school. He started his canteen in 1994 where he sells manufactured goods in retail. His business in located in the local trading centre. In order to supplement his business, he also sells solidified molasses, which is consumed as a sweet, and also used in brewing local beverages. In the photo, he is pictured with his bicycle carrying the molasses. He has not undertaken any formal training pertaining to the kind of business hes doing, instead he learned through practice. Through his business, he has been able to sustain his family, educate his children and bring services near to the community. With a loan from Kiva, he intends to improve on the stock of his canteen and be able to provide a variety of goods to his customers.",M,75,partner,Retail,0
Kenya,Patrick is married with 8 children. He has some elementary training in bicycle repair work. He has a bicycle repair shop in Jairos village established in 2000. Western Kenya is well known for its favorite bicycles known as Boda Boda. His first loan of US$ 91.50 from PEMCI enabled him to start stocking some fast moving spare parts needed for bicycle repair. This proved very successful and he was able to fully repay the loan timely. The second loan of US$ 275 will be used to buy spare parts for his shop in view of increased demand for his services. Bicycle transport plays a very major economic role of transporting people and goods in this part of the country. Driving through Western Kenya one is surprised by the large number of Boda Boda bicycles that decorate the country side. Patrick is playing a very important role of servicing this sector of our economy,M,275,partner,Services,0
Kenya,"Patrick is married with four children, three in primary school and one still at home. He started his business early this year. The business is located at Malaba Town along the Uganda road. He sells manufactured retail goods and cereals. Patrick operates the kiosk hand-in-hand with his wife. He is a pastor at his church (Victory Churches International). He started his business in order to raise his living standard. His capital right now can be estimated at three hundred US dollars in stock. He gets his stock from nearby wholesalers and cereals from the farmers. With a loan of $250 from PEMCI, Patrick intends to increase the stock and cereals for his kiosk and hence improve the returns from his business. Through his business, Patrick has been able to provide for his family, educate his children, and also keep his wife busy. Recommended for support by Kiva partners.",M,250,partner,Food,0
Kenya,"Patrick is married with seven children. His wife is a small-scale farmer. Patrick finished his secondary school and then went to a training institute. After starting his business four years ago, he is able to support his family through his business. With a loan of US$100 from PEMCI, he will be able to boost his stock in order to improve his income and broaden his capital base in the business. His business is now sufficient enough to accommodate customers needs.",M,100,partner,Retail,0
Kenya,"Patrick Kimanzi Richard is 30 years old. He earns a living selling shoes and clothes along a busy street in the town of Mombasa. His merchandise includes a variety of both mens and ladies' clothing and footwear. He displays his wares in a small stall along the sidewalk. The items are trendy and fashionable and are thus well liked by the customers.
His business has been operational for nine years and his earnings have been useful in providing for his basic needs. His type of business experiences a great demand during the holidays and festive seasons. His major problem has been in developing his business into a larger entity since most of his income goes towards his basic needs. Furthermore, he incurs high costs for the space.
He is requesting a loan of US $700 to invest towards the growth of his business. His budget is: US $300 to purchase more clothes and US $400 to purchase shoes. Patrick is an astute businessman and is bound to make a success out of this venture.",M,700,lender,Retail,1
Kenya,"Patrick Lumumba is a nursing officer managing his own private facility in Muumandu, Machakos District, in Kenya's Eastern Province. He is 45 years old and lives with his wife and two children, aged 12 and 1 year.
He has run his facility for the last seven years since graduating from college in this remotest part of Kenya. He focused his efforts on building a larger out-patient facility at this location. Besides general curative services and an observation ward, his facility offers a pharmacy, a laboratory, and maternal and child health services. He also offers mobile outreach clinics to the community.
Patrick attributes his success to hard work, winning the community's confidence, the active involvement of the community, and assistance from KMET. He has been able to expand his facility, increase the number of services he offers and improve the quality of care he provides. He plans to further expand his facility and has applied for a loan of Kshs 200,000 (approximately US $2857).",M,1200,partner,Health,0
Kenya,Patrick Machoni Mutuka is a 43-year-old married entrepreneur with four children. He lives in a one-room house with his wife and children. Patrick runs a bodaboda (bicycle transport) business ferrying people and/or luggage across the suburbs. His income is about two dollars per day which is not enough for his already large family. Patrick would like to start retailing vegetables in the market but he lacks the funds. He says the supply is good and there is a ready market as veggies are the basic food used by most families. His wife will be running the stall while Patrick continues with the bodaboda business. This extra income will help improve their living standards. He requests a startup loan of US$380. US$300 will be used to buy the initial vegetable stock and US$80 as setup expenses. The family is keen and hardworking and will repay the loan.,M,400,lender,Food,1
Kenya,"Patrick Ochieng is a 35-year old father of three school-aged children. He lives in one of the slums of Kisumu, Kenya, and runs the longest- standing community pharmacy in his area. He received his pharmacy certificate after finishing secondary school in 1993, and, for 13 years now, has been working in the same area (pictured). As a result of the long years of his work, the community knows Patrick personally. The next closest dispensary in the area is far away; therefore, people prefer to go to him for advice and drugs. Patrick has also been trained as a community health worker, and has been providing home-based care for people living with HIV/AIDS for the past three years. He sells drugs at lower prices than his competitors, and often gives free drugs to his clients or those in need. His best-selling products are painkillers, anti-malaria and family planning drugs, allergy medications, ulcer, worms and skin infection treatment, and various syrups for children suffering from malaria and upper respiratory infections. His vast knowledge and experience, as well as the positive attitude and kindness, have earned him a good reputation within his community. His well-established business has been quite successful due to his loyal and numerous clients. Patrick has applied for a loan of Kshs 40,000 (approximately US$ 575), and intends to use it to further expand his community pharmacy.",M,575,partner,Health,0
Kenya,"Patrick Ochieng is a 36-year-old husband and father of three school-aged children. He lives in one of the slums of Kisumu, Kenya, and runs the longest-standing community pharmacy in his area. He received his certificate for the pharmacy training after finishing secondary school in 1993 and has since been working from this location. Considering his 14 years of good work, the community knows him personally. Patrick has also trained as a community health worker and has been providing home-based care services for people living with HIV/AIDS for the past four years. He sells his drugs at affordable prices due to financial status of the community he serves. His highest selling products are painkillers, antimalarials, family planning drugs, allergy medications, those treating ulcers, worms, and skin infections, and various syrups for children treating malaria and upper respiratory infections. His vast knowledge and experience, positive attitude, and kindness have earned him a good reputation within his community. His well-established business has been quite successful due to his loyal and wide client base. Patrick requires an additional US $700 to further expand his community pharmacy, purchase drug stocks in bulk and also pay for rent.
Disclaimer: Due to recent events in Kenya, the security situation in many communities remains unsettled, affecting many local businesses. Lenders to this entrepreneur should be aware that this loan may represent a higher default risk, and should be willing to accept this additional risk in making their loan.",M,700,partner,Health,0
Kenya,"Patrick Sakwa is a young Kenyan father aged 39 with 3 children. He also lives with 1 orphan child of his late sister who perished 2 years ago.
Patrick started his business 2 years ago, after accumulating savings from his former work place in a local petrol station in the Bungoma district. He currently deals in the sale of electronic spare parts for TVs and radios, but he would also like to diversify into selling computer accessories in the near future.
As Patrick is the bread winner for the family; the business enables him to feed, clothe, and educate his wife and children. With the help of his loan, Patrick will be able to purchase more electronic spare parts to enable him to increase his monthly sales.
Disclaimer: Due to recent events in Kenya, the security situation in many communities remains unsettled, affecting many local businesses. Lenders to this entrepreneur should be aware that this loan may represent a higher default risk, and should be willing to accept this additional risk in making their loan.",M,3550,lender,Retail,0
Kenya,"Patrick Waithaka Thiongo is 39 years old, married, with one daughter aged three. His wife is a housewife. He runs a grocery shop just a few meters from where he lives although it is on rented premises. Patrick is the first child in his family and his parents are peasant farmers who are unable to take care of the other children's schooling. It is therefore Patricks responsibility to educate his four siblings and also care for his aged parents.
Patrick is an active member of one of Ebony Foundation's groups and has received several loans which he has been able to repay on time. He is now requesting a loan of US $ 850 to enable him to add more stock to his shop and also start a small vegetable kiosk for his dear wife. With this, Patrick believes he will be in a position to supplement his current income and be better able to take care of his family and his siblings' needs. He is a committed and hard-working person who will repay the loan.",M,850,lender,Retail,1
Kenya,"Patrisia Oluoch Owor is 55 years old. Her husband works as a tailor. She earns her livelihood by operating a small vegetable kiosk in a slum residence in the outskirts of the town of Mombasa. This kiosk has been operating for the last five years. Previously, she had been selling vegetables at the more vibrant Kongowea market but old age has forced her to operate the business closer to home.
She has twenty years of experience in this type of trade and her earnings have seen all five of her children through school. The vegetables she sells are well liked by the residents of the slum due to their low cost and convenient quantities that are pocket-friendly.
However, the business has been running at a barely profitable level due to the high prices of the vegetables at the main market, as well as the increasing costs of personal needs.
She is requesting a loan of $300 to enable her to revamp her business. These funds would be used to purchase more stock of fruits and vegetables so that she will be able to make higher gains. These gains will be useful in assisting her in old age.",F,300,lender,Food,1
Kenya,"Paul is a 38-year-old trained driver. He is married with five children; the eldest is in secondary school and the other four are in private primary school. He operates a retail supplies store selling household utensils and simple farm tools while his wife takes care of other chores at home. He has been in business for the last ten years supplying retail goods to different retailers in Malaba, Amagoro, and other surrounding trading centers and in turn reducing logistical costs and time for other retail shop keepers.
He gets his supplies from Kitale and Nairobi, the capital of the country, and the goods are delivered to his shop in Malaba by the manufacturers and other major wholesalers. Through his business he is able to make about 800 KES (Kenya shillings, about $12USD) in a day, and he uses part of it to support his family. He has also been able to buy a piece of land from his proceeds and build a home for his family and a small piece where he prepared a vegetable garden.
Paul is challenged by unpredictable prices by his suppliers which affect his plans.
With his first Kiva loan through PEMCI, Paul plans to increase his stock and boost his capital base to support a bigger number of customers.
About the future? Mr. Paul looks forward to expanding and opening up a supermarket someday in Malaba town and even open up other general retail stores in different localities of the region.
Inset the picture, he has opened the store at 8a.m. ready to meet the day's tasks.",F,1050,lender,Retail,1
Kenya,"Paul is a nurse/midwife managing his own private facility in Vihiga in the western part of Kenya. He is 40 years old and lives with his wife and two children in Kakamega. His wife who is also a trained nurse and works at Kakamega Provincial General Hospital. Paul trained as a nurse/midwife in 1990 and has since operated his own private clinic at Stend Kisa in Vihiga. He offers a wide range of clinical services including general curative, family planning, maternal and child health services, and also runs a pharmacy and a laboratory. Paul attributes his success to hard work, perseverance and the good reputation he has built with the locals. He requires US $1200 to enable him to purchase an additional stock of drugs and to integrate other services.",M,1200,partner,Health,0
Kenya,"Paul is a single young man who has undergone training as a mechanic at the Siaya Polytechnic. He has been in business since 2002 after leaving college. Presently he runs a workshop in conjunction with other mechanics. Paul took the first loan of $150, which he repaid in a timely way. With the proposed loan, he intends to buy tools and spare parts to open his own workshop. Through his business he has been able to support his parents and siblings and also to be an inspiration to other younger people. In view of the high unemployment situation in the country, the youth are being encouraged to start their own businesses as Paul has done. Paul is worth supporting in the spirit of empowering the youth of this country as a way of fighting poverty.",M,300,partner,Services,0
Kenya,"Paul is a young man in his early twenties. He is an active member with one of the PEMCI groups. He is married and a father of three children, two girls and a boy. The first born is in primary school grade one, the second born is in nursery school and the youngest child is still at home.
Paul operates a barber shop at Mayanja Center in the Bungoma District. Paul dropped out of primary school because his family could not pay his school fees. He is the youngest in a family of seven.
With Paul's first loan, he was able to set up a salon next to his barbershop. His current business is estimated to be worth KES 32,000 ($510 USD). With his income, he was also able to buy a dairy cow for his wife. Given a second loan with PEMCI, he plans to divide the loan to help increase business at both the barbershop and the salon. He dreams that one day he will go back to school to finish his schooling.",M,500,lender,Services,1
Kenya,"Paul is married with three children who are all in primary school. He started his business in 1999 in order to sustain his family. He hasnt undertaken any training. He is an active member of his churchs self help group that deals with poverty eradication. With a loan from PEMCI, he intends to equip his barber shop and be able to provide employment to one or two people. Through his business, he has been able to care for his family and make contributions to the self help group. In view of the unemployment shortage prevailing, such endeavors should be encouraged, especially for the youth. Paul is well worth the support.",M,150,partner,Services,0
Kenya,"Paul Kamau is a 41 year old who is married with four children. The children are all in school. The first is in grade 8, the second is in grade 7, the third is in grade 5 and the last is in grade 2. Paul is a mason and his wife does not work. Paul is the sole breadwinner and supports his elderly parents as well. A local construction company had employed Paul when they got a contract from a friend to build his house. After this he landed a one and a half year contract to build a kindergarten in the suburbs of Nakuru city. Unfortunately he does not have enough equipment to take on assistants to help build these classrooms. He requests a US $1200 loan. US $1200 would buy raw materials (i.e. shovels, trowels, spades, concrete drills, and flat smoothers.) Paul will be able to create employment for five extra people to work with him. He is a responsible entrepreneur and will repay the loan.",M,1200,lender,Construction,1
Kenya,"PAUL KARANJA NDAMWA is a 22-year-old entrepreneur who is married with two kids. None of his children go to school because they can't afford the school fees. He is the sole breadwinner. Paul is a high school dropout. His parents could not afford to pay for his high school education.
About a year ago he joined Ebony Foundation for a youth training clinic where he was educated regarding various business management tactics to enable him to establish and sustain his own business. After finishing the six-week program, he was given a start-up loan. He started a small street vending business where he sells ladies' shoes. His business has helped him provide basic needs - no matter how little it might be - for his family.
He hopes to expand his business. Because of his limited capital, Paul is requesting a loan of US$650 to expand and increase his stock. Here is his budget: US$450 to purchase 4 bales of different designs of shoes, US$100 to pay for transport costs and US$100 to pay for a vendors license. Paul is a young entrepreneur with the potential to achieve big things. He will be able to repay the loan on time.",M,650,lender,Retail,1
Kenya,"Paul Kipkorir Mitei is 57 years old and married with four children, two who are in high school, one in primary school, and the other one is still young. His wife is a housewife while he sells milk at Litein market. He lives in Litein together with his extended family.
Paul started this business two years ago and it has been of great help to him since its the money he gets from the business that enables him to provide for his family. Despite the fact that he did not go to college he has always strived to ensure that his children complete their education and become independent. He gets the milk directly from the dairy farmers and supplies them to schools, homes, customers at his local market and local offices, thus has a ready market for the milk. Although the business is profitable Paul has to deal with poor infrastructure on a daily basis leading to high transportation costs, high costs of bicycle repair, scarcity of milk during the dry season and at times unable to meet the high demands of milk, which leaves him frustrated.
He has insufficient capital to expand the business because what he earns goes to meet family demands. He wants to expand his business during this festive season because the demand is high so that he can get enough profit to sustain his family and the business. For that reason he is requesting a loan of US$1150 and his budget is as follows: US$200 to buy a new bicycle, US$150 to cater for transportation costs, US$100 to cater for the license, US$400 to buy the milk from farmers and US$300 to buy containers and crates. He is an ambitious man who wants to prosper with his business and he will be able to repay the loan in time.",M,1150,lender,Food,1
Kenya,"Paul Muchiri Mbuthia is 27 years old and is married with one son. He has three dependants who are all of school age. He also has an ailing mother who has to attend clinical checkups monthly. He is supposed to meet those costs. He has been having difficulties raising money to cater for all those needs and has now decided to expand his business of watches and general electronics sales so that he can earn more.
Paul is requesting a loan of US$ 1000 for expansion. He wants to hire more people to sell for him at different points in town. US$ 600 will be used to buy stock, US$200 to buy bicycles for carrying stock to the points of sale, and US$ 200 to rent a shop where he will be conducting his business. Paul will pay his employees on commision. He has a lot of experience in door-to-door sales and given the required resources he can be able to rise to greater heights.",M,1000,lender,Retail,1
Kenya,"Paul Ndulo Chalo is 24 years old, married, and has five children. Three of his children are in school, while the other two are still too young. Paul's wife works at a non-governmental organization. The family resides in one of the most highly populated slums on the outskirts of Mombasa. Paul was not able to complete primary school due to lack of funding. He now works as a ""hawker,"" moving from one area to another selling used clothes, including jeans, t-shirts, and blouses. All of his income goes toward catering for his family's welfare. The business has not always been successful, due to harassment from the municipal council and due to the extreme heat during the day which prevents Paul from moving around and makes him wait until later in the day to start his work. Paul would like to rent a premise where he can display and sell his second-hand clothes. He is therefore requesting a loan of US$700 to fulfill this business expansion plan. Paul is a hard-working entrepreneur and will be able to repay the loan.",M,700,lender,Clothing,1
Kenya,"Paul Nganga Ndungu is a 29-year-old entrepreneur. He resides in Mombasa city and runs a clothing stall within the city center. His stock consists of an assortment of new mens clothes. He began the business six years ago and it has given him enough earnings to provide for his personal basic needs.
Paul's stall is aptly located at a busy street where he is assured of plenty of customers. He buys the garments directly from the manufacturers and sells them retail to his clients. The business is performing well due to the current high demand for his clothes, which are cheap and durable and hence attractive to many of the residents who are largely low-income earners. However, he faces great difficulty sustaining a steady growth level in his business since he is at times forced to spend some of the running capital on non-business related personal matters. This is mostly due to the high cost of living in the city. This has caused him to lose many potential clients since he sells only a limited variety of clothes.
Paul is therefore requesting a loan of US$650 to enable him to buy more clothes so he can make the best possible gains in his trade. Disclaimer: Due to recent events in Kenya, the security situation in many communities remains unsettled, affecting many local businesses. Lenders to this entrepreneur should be aware that this loan may represent a higher default risk, and should be willing to accept this additional risk in making their loan.",M,650,lender,Clothing,1
Kenya,"PAUL OBWAKA is 38 years old, married and a father of two. He lives with his family and his two brothers in a rented two roomed house in Kwa Rhonda Slum in Nakuru City. His first born child is in school while the last born will be joining school in January 2007.
Paul and his wife operate a cereals business where they buy and sell various types of cereals including dry maize, beans, green grams, peas, maize floor, millet, sorghum and other local cereals. Paul concentrates on marketing the goods while his wife does most of the sourcing. They started the business in year 2004 and they earn about US $ 40 per week.
They operate the business in an open air premises. This reduces the number of customers buying their goods and keeps them in a constant conflict with the local Government which does not support open air street trading.
Paul wants to move the business from the open air premises to a makeshift kiosk where he can attract more customers and avoid conflicts with the local government.
He has identified a site and he is now requesting a loan of US $ 900 to move and expands the business. His budget is: US $ 300 to construct the premises, US $ 500 to stock a variety of cereals products which will take his business through the coming dry period, US $100 to purchase packing materials and US $ 100 to acquire the necessary license. Paul will be able to repay the loan.",M,1000,lender,Food,1
Kenya,"Paul Otieno is a trained nurse/midwife, who manages his own private facility in Manyatta Kisumu, Kenya. He is 48 years old and lives with his wife and three children. He worked with a government facility until 2002, when he opened his own clinic in Manyatta, where most of his clients live. He offers a wide range of services, including general curative services, family planning, maternal and child health services. The clinic also has a pharmacy and a laboratory.
Paul attributes his success to hard work, perseverance, and the financial assistance he received from K-MET. He is requesting a loan of US $1200 to purchase more drugs and integrate other services in the facility.",M,1200,partner,Health,0
Kenya,"Paul Thuku Mbugua is 28 years old and married with one child. He and his wife own a small tent near their local market where they sell foodstuffs to people who come to that market. They have been in business for the last two years and it is their only source of income. Paul prepares the food while his wife serves the food to customers. Paul experiences a lot of difficulties when the rainy season approaches because water seeps through the sacks and also makes the tent very muddy.
He would like to improve the tent so that it can help him take better care of his family and also attract more customers. He is requesting $600 which he intends to use in the following ways:
$200 to replace the sacks with wooden walls
$100 to install iron sheet roofs
$100 to cement the floor
$200 to buy better utensils.
Paul is determined to make something good out of this small business and he is sure that he has the potential to see this project through as well as to repay the loan.",M,600,lender,Food,1
Kenya,"Pauline Adhiambo Otieno is 27 years old and is married to a casual manual laborer. They have 2 school-going children who have just joined junior school. Her husbands jobs are hard to come by, so she has to assist in earning their livelihood. She does this by running a clothes stall. Her clothes are mainly second-hand ladies items including dresses, skirts, and blouses. Pauline has been in this business for 5 years and has created a good relationship with the clients who shop regularly at her stall. Furthermore, she also has clients who purchase in bulk to sell in other areas. The gains from this venture all go into catering to her familys basic needs such as food and shelter. This leaves her with very little to save for her young childrens future educational expenses. Pauline intends to raise her current earnings by operating a larger stall that has a variety of clothes, including mens clothing items. Her main obstacle has been raising the required capital to do so. She is requesting a loan of $700 to assist her in the expansion of her business. Disclaimer: Due to recent events in Kenya, the security situation in many communities remains unsettled, affecting many local businesses. Lenders to this entrepreneur should be aware that this loan may represent a higher default risk, and should be willing to accept this additional risk in making their loan.",F,700,lender,Clothing,1
Kenya,"Pauline Chebich Rotich is a 46 year old woman. She has four children, two boys and two girls. Pauline is in the business of selling herbal medicines. She is very experienced with the business because she was introduced to it by her parents. It has been a family business. Despite being in the business for quite a long time, Pauline does not have a place for herself. She sells the herbs outside other peoples shops. Most of the times she is harassed by the shop owners who ask her to look for a place for her own. It has been so hard for her especially now that her husband is getting old and can no longer work.
She is requesting to be funded withUS$750 of whichUS$200 will be for securing a nice shop, US$400 to add more stock and US$150 for transport. She has a big share of the market and with a loan she will be in a better position to assist her many clients.",F,750,lender,Health,1
Kenya,"Pauline is 30 years, married and with a family of 3.She is an active member of the group. Her main source of income is a family business of woodwork. She has been acquiring loans from the group to boost the business which she operates with her husband. The first loan she acquired, she was able to buy timber and nails and they made a significant difference. She gets her furniture orders from her group members and community based institutions like schools, churches and hospitals. From that time, they have been able to cater for their family even though challenges are there. At times, Pauline has to walk door to door to get orders and her husband remains in the business.
The work load is a lot and sometimes is difficult to finish certain work at a specific given time because he operates most of the time alone. They need an extra hand to help them in making their goods on time to avoid loosing custormers.Sometimes,getting materials is also a challenge and their work may be delayed due to lack of enough stock. All in all, they work as a team and they are very determined to beat the demand, for they make furniture of high quality. They also intend to employ one carpenter who will be assisting in making furniture for their curstormers.Pauline before she joined the group, had no income generating activity, for the business was not big to accommodate her and her husband. She has no regrets to loan that saves life that now she is busy doing something beneficial to her family.",F,300,lender,Manufacturing,1
Kenya,"Pauline is mother of 3 children and is 32 years old. Pauline was one of the women who attended an outreach scheduled by the WEEC officer at Gaichanjiru Mission centre. She resolved to join a revolving fund group to solve her school fees problem. Her son was attending secondary school and the school fee was a problem every term. Pauline got the idea of making regular savings to the revolving fund and accessing credits to solve problems positively. Pauline and 15 other members formed St. Agnes women's group. She has been a good member who pays her monthly saving from her farming business as she sells vegetables, green peas, and potatoes. Pauline has now applied for an education loan of USD100 per the Elimu loan policy. The loans committee has approved her application. She intends to repay the loan within a period of 7 months.",F,100,lender,Agriculture,1
Kenya,"Pauline N. Ngugi is a 35-year-old single lady with no kids. She decided to remain single due to her mothers predicaments. To support her mother and herself, she ekes out her living through tailoring. She sells her clothes in Nakuru town in order to raise funds for her aged ailing mother. She is the sole breadwinner in her family since her other siblings have not yet secured a stable means of raising income. She has a passion and desire is to expand her business. Pauline wants to take advantage of the festive season to stock different fabrics. She is confident she can attain this due to her good clientele but lacks the finances to do it. She is requesting a loan of $400 to enable her achieve her goals. She intends to use the loan as follows: US $275 to purchase fabric US $75 to buy more thread and other accessories and US$50 for transport. Due to her determination and hard work she will be able to re-pay the loan.",F,400,lender,Services,1
Kenya,"Pauline Wambui Gatheru is married with two children. She is an active member of St. Ruth women group. She is also a member Gaichanjiru Catholic church where she is a choir member. She is a business person; she operates a green grocery business where she sells vegetables and cereal foods. She is also a farmer and grows vegetables. She intends to buy a water tank for storing rain-water because her area has had water shortage for a long time. She has applied a loan of USD250, to make this a reality. She is willing to repay this loan within a period of 12 months",F,250,lender,Agriculture,1
Kenya,"Paulo Opiyo Ojwang is a 43-year-old father of four. His four children are all of school-going age. His wife sells charcoal and green grocery (vegetables and fruit) in their estate where she has a good customer base. From her proceeds, she is able to cater comfortably for all of their family's needs. They have rented a two-room house. Paulo repairs bicycles. He has
not gone through any training and he acquired his bicycle repair skills from his father who had also been doing the same but from their rural home. There has been an increased demand for bicycle taxis in Nakuru town. With their continued operation, there are always mechanical problems happening here and there. This has created a good market for Paulo. He has set up his business at one of the bicycle taxi stops. All operators of bicycle taxis are familiar with him and when they develop a mechanical problem they always go to see him. Paulo often has problems, however, since he does not have enough tools. He has to borrow equipment from other people doing the same work in order to cater for his clients effectively. The market is there but Paulo's problem is that he is not satisfying his customers' needs as well as he might. Paulo is requesting a loan of US$ 300 to enable him serve his customers well.
He intends to use the loan to buy a new tool box for $100, use $50 to employ an assistant, and $150 to build a shed so that he can stop working under the hot sun. Paulo has 10 years' experience and his clients say that he is the best bicycle repairman they know. He is hardworking and capable of making returns to meet his expenses and pay back the loan.",M,300,lender,Services,1
Kenya,"Peninah Gor is 43 years old. She is single. She is a faithful member of Seventh Day Adventist Church. She believes in being a prayerful person. People who visit her home always give testimony of her sincerity in her prayers and her love for people. Peninah puts a lot of effort in assisting the less fortunate. She has lived for 4 years with her nephews, whose parents died. Peninah also takes care of her aged mother. When there is green maize in the fields, Peninah wakes up very early, prepares boiled maize and sells the maize around Kware and the Soko Mjinga Market. Normally she runs the maize business together with her poultry keeping project. The two businesses keep her occupied most of the time. Peninah has grown her poultry business from rearing 100 chicks and 200 chicks. She has been trained on the best techniques to rear poultry. Targeting the December season, she completed the sale of the 200 chicks that she reared. In January 2007 she is targeting to keep 400 chicks. Her running capital is USD 450. She has applied for another USD 450 to enable her to increase the stock and buy enough feed and medicine for the 400 chicks. Though she started by selling to the local Midika residents, she has now established more markets in hotels around Kware and Rongai.",F,450,lender,Agriculture,1
Kenya,"Peninah is 35 years old. She is married with 4 children. Peninah is a preacher in her local ACK church in Gatangara. She mainly targets the youth. She is an active member of Gatangara Pluto and the training she has received during the groups monthly meetings have enlightened her on the importance of saving on a regular basis. She saves USD 3 every month with her group. Peninahs economic activity is farming. She grows maize and beans for her household consumption; however she also keeps a dairy cow that produces 8 liters of milk per day, which she sells to the KENYA COOPERATIVE CREAMERIES. She keeps 3 high-quality goats - one of the goats produces enough milk for her household use. Peninah also rears indigenous chicken. She sells the eggs that the hens produce in the local retail shops. To Peninah the hen project is very easy to manage since the indigenous hens are more resistant to diseases. Her business plan is to expand the indigenous hen project. She has applied for a loan of USD 150 to buy more hens and to add the stock of feed. Peninah aims at increasing her income by selling more eggs.",F,150,lender,Agriculture,1
Kenya,"Peninah is 60 years old, fresh and energetic enough to run any kind of business and achieve the best. She is a retired teacher with 3 children. She is the group secretary since its formation and has benefited a lot from the training offered at the group level. She bears a witness of lives that have been changed by loans given by Kiva and she aspire women to do something fruitful with their precious lives for the benefit of their families. Peninah has 3 dairy cows which has been her source of income since she retired. There before, it was a nightmare to her if you were to mention livestock and she thought she doesnt have what it takes to handle the animals. After attending training based on livestock and business management, she got the inspiration and now she has managed to keep records of her dairy business. She sells milk to a cooperative Sacco which pays farmers on monthly basis. She is able to make sales of 30 litres per day costing USD0.4 per litre. Feeds are a challenge to her, for she doesnt have enough area to plant Napier grass so most of the time she relies on commercial feeds and buying Napier. She would like to buy feeds in large quantity and store them, in order to maintain the productivity of her cows during the month of January which most of the times its dry and avoid being affected by the high cost feeds.",F,250,lender,Agriculture,1
Kenya,"Peninah is a young lady aged 21 years, married with one child. She is a strong member of Inkiramat women's group. Peninah loves learning new things and makes sure that she attends all trainings normally organized by WEEC. Peninah is hard working and focused. Her business is buying and selling steers and milk to residents of Isinya and Kitengela Town. She sells 35 litres of milk per day and this brings in daily income so paying back will not be a problem. Peninah has a manageable family and the surplus income she is making is being saved to build rental rooms. Her Kiva loan of USD 450 was used to put up rental houses at her Kitengela plot. She is currently receiving income from her rental houses. She successfully repaid her Kiva loan of USD 450. The favorable climatic conditions and ready market after to the reopening of the Kenya Meat Commission by the Kenya Government has made Peninah have the need to buy 6 more medium-sized steers at a cost of USD700. Peninah wants to increase their number of steers to at least 20. The fattened steers will be sold after 4 months and the proceeds will be used to purchase more steers. This will form a good capital base and will put the family in a better financial position.",F,700,lender,Agriculture,1
Kenya,"Peninah Kimilu is a 36-year-old woman who is married to a pastor and is blessed with six children. She lives in Mlolongo town, situated along the Nairobi-Mombasa Highway. Peninah started selling secondhand clothes in 1996 in a town known as Rongai in Kajiado District, but then her husband moved to Mlolongo town so she also had to move. She then settled in Mlolongo town where she has been operating her business ever since. Peninah started her business with an initial capital of Ksh 3,000 (USD 45), which was a loan from her husband. Fortunately, she was able to settle the loan in good time from the high sales she made from her business. Due to the growing population within this town, the demand for her clothes is at the peak during the cold-weather season, when people buy warm clothing. Being a pastors wife, Peninah also cares about the less fortunate members of her Gospel Tabernacle church, and she assists them in paying their rent and also gives them the clothes that are left over after her sales. This act is of great significance to her. Peninahs clothes are always in demand because they are very reasonably priced; hence even people who earn less than $3 per day can afford to buy from her. Due to the increased demand, Peninah is requesting a loan of $725. Peninah plans to increase the stock in her stall by purchasing 6 bales of secondhand clothes. Peninah also intends to employ two more people to assist her in the business.",F,725,partner,Clothing,0
Kenya,"Peninah Kurende Lepulei is married with six children who have completed their secondary school. She is an active member of Namelok Women's Group. Peninah attends her church service at PCEA church, where she is also the church elder.
She started her beadwork business in 2002 with the little savings she had. At that time, she had stock worth USD90. Her main customers are the local residents and sometimes she goes to Maasai market in Nairobi. She has also started a milk selling business and sells this milk at USD0.3 per litre. She has applied for a loan of USD300 with which she intends to purchase beads and more tools to make this work a success. She is willing to repay this loan within a period of 12 months.",F,300,lender,Arts,1
Kenya,"Peninah Makena is 28 yrs old, married, and has two children, who are all in school. She and her husband own a pharmacy business. Peninah runs the pharmacy while her husband is employed elswhere. Her business is located along a busy street, giving customers quick access, which has made the pharmacy to do very well. She would like to expand her business by opening a second pharmacy in her rural area but lacks the capital to do so. She comes from a rural area where there is no pharmacy and people walk a long distance to get medicine for both humans and livestock. Peninah would like to change this. Her request of a US $1,200 loan is to enable her to stock the new pharmacy in her rural home. Her budget is: US $500 to stock the new pharmacy, US $400 to purchase a refrigerator, US $100 to install water and electricity at the new pharmacy, US $100 to decorate and furnish the premises and US $100 to acquire a license. She is focused and will be able to repay the loan.",F,1200,lender,Health,1
Kenya,"Peninah was born 35 years ago in Kangema Muranga. She is married with 3 children who are all in school at Weithaga Primary School. She is an active member of Catholic church and a choir member. Peninah is a peasant farmer who grows maize, beans and vegetables for home consumption and for sale. Peninah also keeps a dairy cow and 3 dairy goats. Her cow produces an average of 8 litres of milk daily which she sells to Kenya Cooperative Creamery in Kangema at USD 0.25 cents per litre. Her goat milk is used for home consumption. Peninah also raises chickens. She gets US$1 every day from sale of eggs. She is in need of US$150 to buy more chicks. She is now well equipped with the knowledge she got from poultry management training from WEEC. She has a good repayment record and is promising to pay within one year.",F,150,lender,Agriculture,1
Kenya,"Peninah was born 38 years ago in kiambu, Kenya. She is married with 4 children. All are in Lower primary school in Lower Kabete Primary school in Kiambu. She is a religious person and role model to many young women. She inspires them to be self reliant. She works very hard to make sure her children get a good education. She joined WEEC after being told by a friend of how WEEC and KIVA has boosted many businesses in the area.
Peninah has a business raising dairy cows which she started with a help of small group loan. Currently, she has three dairy cows which produces an average of 60 litres of milk daily. She sells her milk to Kabete dairy Farmers cooperative society ltd at usd 0.3 per litre.
Given a loan of usd 150 she intends to buy another dairy cow.",F,150,lender,Agriculture,1
Kenya,"Penninah Wanjiru Munene was born in 1946 in Kiambu. She is married with three children. She is the secretary of Karura Hope women's group, and an active member of ACK Church. She has been practicing dairy farming for the last ten years. Currently, she has three dairy cows, which produce an average 30 litres of milk daily. She sells this milk to Kiambaa Dairy Farmers Co-operative Society Ltd. at $0.26 per litre. Penninah joined WEEC in 2002, and confesses that WEEC has really changed her life. WEEC trained her on how to run a business and this has enabled her to keep records for her dairy farming business. She has applied for a loan of $600, which she intends to use to buy a dairy cow. She is willing to repay this loan within a period of 12 months.",F,600,lender,Agriculture,1
Kenya,"Penny, who is HIV+, is a 36 year old widowed mother of 7. After her breadwinning's husband death she has the task of educating and maintaining her children's upkeep. As she is highly knowledgeable in fish processing, she hopes that this loan will help her to purchase the much needed materials to jump start her business.",F,175,lender,Food,1
Kenya,"Penty is 29 years old. He is married with three children. He is a tailor in Uthiru, Nairobi. His business is located in a busy market center in a one-room rented house. Penty has been in the business for five years and feels that he needs to expand. With this loan, he hopes to buy a buttonhole sewing machine, more fabric, and other sewing materials.
He has walk-in clients and regulars. He wants to expand his business to include selling clothing materials to other tailors, and he wants to open other branches of his business in other market centers.
About KADET:
The Kenya Agency for the Development of Enterprise and Technology (KADET) is committed to economically empowering its clients by providing financial services to rural communities in order to relieve suffering and improve living conditions within those communities.",M,275,partner,Services,0
Kenya,"Peris is a 45 year old woman. She is married and has 5 children. She is a Christian and is a follower of the Harvesters Church in Weithaga. Her main occupation is farming. She grows maize, beans, avocados, macadamias and bananas. She owns a dairy cow that yields 4 litres of milk per day. She sells some of the milk to her neighbors and reserves some for home consumption. As an active member of the Weithaga star women group, Peris has been saving USD $3 per month. She has been borrowing and repaying the group loans on time. Her attendance at the group meetings has been regular. Peris has applied for a loan of USD $150 to start a milk selling business. She will be buying from the farmers and selling to her neighbors. The loans committee has approved her loan. She will repay the loan within a period of 10 months.",F,150,lender,Agriculture,1
Kenya,"Peris is married with three children. She attends Isinya Methodist Church. She is also the treasurer of Naserian Womens Group. She started her business in the year 2004 with the help of a small group loan. Her business is at the moment doing well and she has eight steers, up from two steers at the start. From her business she has managed to build and furnish her own house, as well as build two rental houses. She can also now afford to educate her children in private schools without financial constraints because of her business. Given a loan of USD 300, Peris intends to buy extra three steers, which will enable her to sell her products at the Kenya Meat Commission. She has a good record of repayments and is very committed at the group level. She promises to make payments in monthly installments.",F,300,lender,Agriculture,1
Kenya,"Peris Njeri is 49 years old. She is married with six children. One of her children is still in secondary school, while the others have completed their secondary school education. She is a member of Ngombe Bora Women Group. She is a dedicated choir mistress of Full Gospel Church in Karunge. She practices farming, which is her main source of income. She grows coffee, beans, maize and vegetables like cabbage and kale. She also has a dairy cow for milk production. She has applied for a loan of $600 to enable her to purchase another dairy cow. She is willing to repay this loan within a period of 12 months.",F,600,lender,Agriculture,1
Kenya,"Peris Nyaguthii Wahome is 29 years old. She is married and has two children. She has been in business for the last three years selling secondhand clothes. She recently started supplying maize flour to retail shops, in order to expand her sources of income. She has been in the flour supply business for only two months, supplying the flour on order, and in that time she has already established a good number of clients. She gets at least three orders each week. Her secondhand clothes business is also doing well. When she has flour orders to meet, she opens her secondhand business at ten in the morning, and on other days, she opens the shop at eight in the morning. Her husband works as a policeman and has also supported her greatly in her business.
Peris is requesting a loan of US$600. She intends to use $300 to purchase a bale of secondhand bed linens, $200 to purchase an order from her supplier so that she is not faced with shortages at any time, and $100 to transport the bales of clothes. She is a very hardworking woman with great potential to grow and is capable of paying the loan.",F,600,lender,Clothing,1
Kenya,Perris is 40 years married with 5 children. She has been the group chairlady for the last two years. She has leaded the group strongly and for real she has become like an asset to the group welfare. She benefited from Kiva loan of USD 300 which enabled her to invest in dairy farming. Her life took a different direction after she started supplying milk from her own dairy cows. She supplies her milk to Kiserian market and she uses the earnings to repay her loans and pay school fees. Her daughter joined university and she requires USD 825 to pay college fees. Perris is planning to overpay her first loan this month and get another one to pay college fees for her daughter. She promises to repay the loan using milk sales from her dairy cows.,F,875,lender,Agriculture,1
Kenya,"Perris is 50 years old. She has two grown up children. Perris is a strong person in her faith. For many years she has worked in the church as an usher, making tea for the church visitors, and has been in charge of the evening fellowships. Perris is very good in embroidery work. She says this about her talent.God has gave me the talent freely and to show my gratitude, she has trained two ladies from needy families how to do it voluntarily. She feels great when she sees those ladies practicing what she trained them. Perris makes covers for seats, bed covers, and table clothes for sale. She gets many orders from the churches and individuals. Due to her many activities in the church, she has been able to market her work to new people she interacts with. She has developed a wide range of customers who are willing to buy despite financial limitations. She would also like to change the location of her business to station it near church. She has already gotten a new site and she is hoping to move by next month. This is a busy street and there are many churches situated there targeting the members. Perris intends to make many table clothes, Seat covers for the new orders she has received. She feels that after getting the loan her business will improve and she can make to train other two ladies from needy families by middle next year God willing. Her loan will be repaid in 12 months.",F,750,lender,Arts,1
Kenya,"Perris is 64 years old. She is a widow and has 8 grown up children. Perris is a born again Christian and an elder in the Maridadi Chapel Anglican church. Perris operates a retail shop in Shauri Moyo Estate where she has lived for many years. Most of her customers are the young people who always refer to her as Mother. She is an upright lady who has been empowering young and old on life matters. She encourages good morals in the entire community. She has been offering a hand to those children who have been affected by the scourge of Aids in her area.
Perris is a hard working person. She opens her shop at 6.00 am and closes at 10.00 pm. She challenges the youth who are idle from lack of employment. She has made many take up manual work e.g. washing cars and they thank her for it. From 1990 when Perris took over the operation of her retail shop after the death of her husband she has worked hard and is now able to stock many consumer goods in large quantity. Perris intends to transform her shop to a Wholesale shop. She will be supplying to small kiosks in Shauri Moyo; however she intends to have a retail outlet, which will still cater for her customers who buy goods in small quantities.",F,1200,lender,Retail,1
Kenya,"Perris Njeri is a member of Kioneki Kieru for the last four years. She is a married, mother of six children. One is in high school while others are self reliant. She is a dedicated member of Full Gospel Church of Kenya. She believes in righteousness and humbleness in this life and she demonstrates this by cleaning her place of worship every week. This gives her a lot of satisfactory when she sees people go to worship in a clean sactuary.She is very hard working especially in her farm. She grows beans, maize, potatoes and vegetables for consumption. In addition to this she has coffee plantation where income is unreliable. On the other hand she keeps dairy cows and goat but constantly affected by feed due to small portion of land where they can grow Napier grass. The cow and goat are currently producing 3 and 1 litre as they have calved down. She has benefited from WEEC loans because they enabled her meet both her family and business needs. She is hoping to get a loan of USD 250 to buy another dairy goat and feeds for all animals she rears. The dairy goat will cost USD 150 while the USD 100 will be spent in buying animal feeds.",F,250,lender,Agriculture,1
Kenya,"Personal Data: Jane is 49 years, single with 4 children. She is a responsible member of Women of faith group. After joining the group, she was trained by WEEC on business management skills and she felt the need to change her life and start a positive business. She was so empowered that she started her business by requesting donation from her church members. She bought plastic household materials and a table to sell them on. At first it was difficult for her because of the patience needed by the business but with time she adapted and loved what she was doing. All her expenses are met from the business income making it difficult to grow. She would like to add more materials which will help her to accumulate enough income and pay school fees for her children. She believes education is power.",F,75,lender,Retail,1
Kenya,"Personal Data: Joyce is a young, energetic 27 year old woman and married with 3 kids. She is a Christian and a member of the Christian movement in her local church. She has a tailoring business at the market centre where she specializes in making ladies clothes. The business has been stable but due to change of fashions, she has been lacking money to purchase different types of garments for her customers.
After she acquires the loan, she will be able to meet the demand of her customers which will only help to increase the number of clients. Besides tailoring, she practices sustinence farming which supplements food in the family, reducing the cost of buying. She gets low sales from the farm but in the future she will still focus on farming. She accumulates a net income of USD120 monthly. She believes after the loan, she will make a total cross over in her business.",F,225,partner,Services,0
Kenya,"Personal Data: Esther is 44 years old, single with 6 children, who are in primary and secondary school. She is an active member of the group and very responsible with group issues. Living in informal settlements, she has faced a real challenge bringing up her kids alone and she has tried almost all sorts of businesses like saloonist, house cataker, stationary attendant, electrical sales lady, and bar maid. Her life has been a nightmare until when she got saved and joined Women of Faith group. In her place of worship, there was a volunteer who offered some money to the entire group and urged them to start small businesses to boost their faith and lives. He gave them USD3 each and showed them the place to buy goods in small quantity. To Esther, she was very serious and she bought potatoes and since then her way of life changed. Her main limitation is lack of enough money to buy potatoes in large quantity for steady supply to her customers. She is very determined to work for the benefit of her children and she is ready to turn challenges in to opportunity.",F,75,lender,Food,1
Kenya,"Peshut is 52 years old. She is married with 6 children.. Peshut is an active member of Nooshuyian Baptist Church where she is the church treasurer. Though her 2 daughters got married at an early age, she is determined to educate her other children up to college level. Peshut has also enrolled for Adult Literacy lessons at Multi Purpose Training Centre in Isinya town. Peshut is a member of Namunyak women group. This is a revolving fund group that is under WEEC that assists women to carry out savings and credit on a monthly basis. Through the group, the organization is able to disseminate relevant development information to the Maasai women. Peshut has been able to save USD3 per month and to access credit to develop her steers project. Peshut started the steers project 3 years ago by buying 3 steers from the local Isinya market with the loan she received from Namunyak women group. After grazing the steers for a period of 6 months she sold them and bought 4 small steers and 2 goats. Her project has continued throughout the years though the drought has been a draw back to its expansion. The steers project has enabled her to make good repayments at group level and be in a position to pay for her childrens education. Peshut has applied for a loan of USD 450.",F,450,lender,Agriculture,1
Kenya,"Peter Chege Njoroge is a married man aged 45 years. He has three children of his own and another two dependants. Njoroge is a businessman selling groceries and has been in that business for the last four years. He ended up in this business after schooling up to grade four. Since then, Peter has been surviving with the little he earns from it. He had to compromise a lot, in order to care for his dependants, especially when it comes to providing a balanced diet for his family.
Peter and his family live on carbohydrates, which are the cheapest but less healthy when consumed in large quantities. He would like to improve his living standards and is requesting a loan of US$900. He will apportion this as follows: use US$400 to add stock; US$300 to lease a better store; and US$200 for transport. He is a good man who is ready to face the challenges of life and has the potential to pay back the loan.",M,900,lender,Food,1
Kenya,"Peter Gikonyo is one of PEMCIs model clients. He has been able to successfully repay four loans and has now applied for yet a fifth one.
Peter is a family man, married with four children, ages 18 through 10 years. Three are currently in secondary school, with one in primary. Even with business turbulences such as a robbery that he experienced some time back, Gikonyo has been able to re-collect himself and finish repaying his loans on time.
Heading towards the festive season, Gikonyo is applying for another loan with the intention of restocking his shop so as to meet the diversified needs of his clients.
With his clothing store, Gikonyo has been able to provide the basic necessities for his family. The business has also helped him pay for his childrens secondary education with relative ease. His ultimate aspiration for his family is that all four children will be able to attend university , which is a common, yet mostly unattainable hope among the people of Teso district in western Kenya. Over the past 9 years, Peter has been able to grow his business and provide better and better for his family. It looks promising that he will achieve his high aims.",M,1200,lender,Clothing,1
Kenya,Peter is a 30 year old widowed father of 3 who is living positively with HIV. Since the death of his wife he hopes to buy this land and also train his children in the skills of fruit growing and marketing. His greatest fear is to leave his children without a secure future and that is why he is working very hard to ensure that this never happens.,M,225,lender,Agriculture,1
Kenya,"Peter is a thirty-year-old father of two young children, ages one and a half and 4. He has had his business selling bicycle parts for two years. Operating out of Lupida, a small town in western Kenya, Peter sells all types of parts, including tires, rims, brakes, spokes, and pedals.
Currently, the biggest obstacle Peter faces is a lack of capital. There is high demand for bicycle parts in the area because bicycles are the central form of transportation. It is the main way that people move from town to town, from the farm to home, etc, and bicycles are even used as an integral form of commercial transportation. Young men put pads onto the back of their bikes called Boda bodas and give people rides for about 10 Kenya Schillings (1 USD is about 67 Ksh).
As it is, Peter gets from 10 to 20 customers per day and is able to collect a daily profit of about 150-200 Ksh (around US$ 2.75). He hopes to receive a Kiva loan so that he can increase his supply of bicycle parts. He believes that with a loan, he can increase, in fact double, his profits to 300-400 Ksh per day.
Peters business helps him provide for his two young children. He is able to give them the basic necessities, but in the near future he will have to start paying school fees. While primary education is provided by the government in Kenya, families still face minor costs for uniforms and books. Moreover, when his children reach secondary school, Peter will have to pay much more substantial sums in order to educate them. Peter has ambition to grow his business to meet future challenges and hopes that a Kiva loan will help get him there.",M,150,lender,Retail,1
Kenya,"Peter is an O level school leaver, who started his business in 2003. He trades in seasonal vegetables, most especially sukuma wiki (kale and tomatoes). He got his initial capital from wages that he had earned at several farms in the area. He gets his stock directly from farmers and supplies it to markets/trading centres and boarding schools in his area. His current stock can be estimated at 15,000 Kenya shillings. His daily profits range between one hundred Kenya shillings and six hundred Kenya shillings depending on the day and season. Peter is married and a father of one child, a girl who has yet to join school. His wife is also a green grocer. His main challenge in business is when the demand is high, he is unable to meet it due to lack of capital. He plans to increase his capital if granted a loan by PEMCI.",M,150,lender,Food,1
Kenya,"Peter is married and a father of six children who are all in primary school. He started his business in 1997 when he realized there was unmet demand in his home village. He operates a retail shop. His wife is a farmer. He has not undertaken any formal training concerning his business. Because there are very few shops in his village, Peter has access to customers from all-over the place. He gets his stock from Malaba town centre where he goes once or twice per week according to the needs and demands of his customers. Through his business, Peter has been able to support his wife in farming by buying fertilizer and also hiring manual workers who work hand in hand with her. He has also been able to educate his children and provide for the whole family in general. If granted the loan of $150 from PEMCI, Peter wishes to increase his shops stock.",M,150,partner,Retail,0
Kenya,"Peter is married and a father of six children. His wife trades in cereals at Masielo market centre. With a start-up capital of about 9,000 Kenya Shillings in 1997, Peter says that his shop value is now at around KES 70,000. He says that patience is what has always kept him going. Having learned his business very well through being an apprentice, Peter says that he never expected his shop to bring him such a large return. With fewer shops at Masielo, Peter has been able to enjoy an element of monopoly and this continues to give him some good profits from his shop. It is also through this business that Peter has been able to educate his children and also provide basic needs for them. With another loan from PEMCI through KIVA, Peter plans to increase his business further, since it is his only source of income and survival.",M,325,lender,Retail,1
Kenya,"Peter is married with seven children who are in both primary and secondary schools. He grew up as an orphan and dropped out of school at the primary level, because he had to become a casual laborer to survive. He started a shop in 1996, but it went under due to family problems. He then restarted it in 1999, and with the help of PEMCI last year, he has been able to stabilize his business. He is requesting another Loan from PEMCI and KIVA. He will use this money to add more stock and diversify by including tobacco sales in his business, which he will sell to B.A.T. Peter is now supporting his family and educating his children.",M,300,partner,Retail,0
Kenya,"Peter is married with three young children in primary school. He has no formal training, having left school at an early age because his family could not pay the fees. He comes from a humble peasant family from the central part of Kenya. He started a small business selling new clothes at the border (Malaba) and has been able to slowly grow. He received his first loan from PEMCI to expand his retail shop and he successfully repaid the loan.
With this second loan he plans to expand his shop into both a retail and wholesale outlet. He also intends to diversify by offering cosmetic products. With continuously increasing capital, he plans to purchase stock directly from the factory. This will reduce his expense and he will be able to become a supplier in the area.
With his business, Peter is able to provide clothing to the community at an affordable price. He has also been able to bring products closer to other small business people. This enables them to save on transportation costs of having to go to the city for restocking. Mr. Gikonyo supports an orphanage with over 60 children in his home community in Central province. Within Malaba he is an active member of his church, supporting various church activities in the community.
He is a very hard working gentlemen who has repaid his loan with PEMCI timely. He is worth supporting.",M,1200,partner,Clothing,0
Kenya,"Peter is married with two children. Before starting his business four years ago, he was just a laborer for a timber cutter. He continued saving while gaining experience on how to operate and maintain a power saw. In 2000, he bought his own power saw and now he splits his own timber and supplies the nearby centers. With the loan of US$150 from PEMCI he intends to stock his own timber for resale to furniture makers and builders.",M,150,partner,Construction,0
Kenya,"Peter K Muchiri is 40 years old. He is married with one child who is in school. His wife is currently unemployed, and he is the sole bread winner of his family. Peter would like to see his son reach high academically. He is therefore working hard to ensure that he saves enough money to afford his son's educational expenses. He has been doing carpentry for the last 17 years, and is famous for his neat, well-constructed work. This has led to a high demand for his products and services. Though he has tried to meet his family's needs, he is not yet satisfied with his current income. He plans to expand the business by buying more materials, and recruiting and training more staff. He has an urge to help the youths in his area who refer to him as a role model in carpentry. This has led him to start an apprentice program in his carpentry workshop to help these youths. He is requesting a loan of $1000: $200 for raw materials and $800 for carpentry machines. He is a skillful craftsman who works hard and he is capable of paying the loan in the promised time.",M,1000,lender,Manufacturing,1
Kenya,"PETER KAMAU THUKU is a 51 yr old married entrepreneur. He has four children and one extra dependent. He lives with his wife and children who are all in school and the other is a 16 yr old girl whose parents were unable to educate her. Peter took over her education. He sells second hand clothes as a wholesaler. It was one year ago that he met with one of Eb-F credit officers who was on his monthly visit to Peter's neighbor who still is an active Eb-F client. The neighbor introduced Peter to Eb-F. He was able to save little by little and raised enough and was able to build his business. He would like to expand it and move to bigger premises and add more stock to provide for education of the five dependents and his daily family maintenance. He has been getting loans from Eb-F and his current request of U.S $1200 is to enable him move to bigger premises with more space and also to add more bales of clothes.
Peter intends to use the net profits in helping pay school fees. He is consistent and will repay the loan.",M,1200,lender,Clothing,1
Kenya,"Peter Karanja Kamunge is 25 years old. He is married and has two sons who are of school going age. He is a member of the Mali-Mali group which is engaged in sales of household products and crockery on a small scale. He owns a shop where he operates from. He has been experiencing financial difficulties paying his childrens fees and he feels his shop would provide sufficient income for his family had it been well stocked.
He is requesting a loan of US$700 to increase inventory levels in his shop. He shall use US$200 to buy crockery, US$300 to buy cutlery and US$200 to buy cooking pots. He is a young entrepreneur who has tremendous potential to be sucessful in the competitive business world.",M,700,lender,Retail,1
Kenya,"PETER KARIUKI is 45 years old married and with ten children. Four of his children are already married, one is in a local college, another one is expected to join a local university early next year, one is in secondary school and three are attending primary school. Peter and his wife have practiced zero grazing for the last sixteen years. In 1990s milk was fetching very poor prices in Kenya due to the collapse of the main milk processing factory. Farmers had a lot of cash flow problems because they were not paid on time. Peter had 6 dairy cows then but due to school fees pressure he sold four of the cows to keep his children in school.
The remaining 2 dairy cows gives them an average of 30 liters of milk per day which they sell to earn an income that enable them meet the familys basic needs including education; healthcare and food. This in come is not able to provide fully for Peters family and now because milk is attracting very good payments, Peter wants to purchase more dairy cows.
His is requesting for a loan of US $ 1850.His budget is US $ 1600 to purchase two dairy cows, US $ 150 to grow oats and other pasture for the cows and US $ 100 to improve the animals holding shade.
This will increase the quantity and quantity of the milk and in return the familys income will be high enabling Peter to keep his children in school and provide for the family.
Peter will be able to repay the loan comfortably.",M,1850,lender,Agriculture,1
Kenya,"PETER KARIUKI KIHUMBA is aged 54 years. He is married and has 6 children.
The elder son is a primary school teacher, one of her daughters is currently studying at a local University, two are in high school and the other two children are attending primary school.
Peter and his wife are both Dairy Farmers and have practiced dairy farming for the last twenty years in Nyandarwa District of Central Kenya.
Around 1992 Peters family had 10 dairy cows that were earning the family some US $ 230 per week. However the factory that was buying the milk used to pay the farmers at the end of the month. In 1993, the factory begun experiencing financial problems and would take as long as six months before paying the farmers. Peter like other small scale farmers had difficulties providing for his family and when his son was admitted to the University, Peter was unable to pay the college fee because he was not being paid for his milk. He was forced to sell 6 of his cows in order to take his son to the university and keep the other children in School.
Without any payments for the milk Peter was unable to take care of the remaining 4 cows and ended up selling them to avoid losing them all together.
In year 2002 the new Kenyan Government began reviving the agriculture sector. Farmers began receiving prompt monthly payments for all their produce including milk.
In 2004 Peter approached Eb-F for a loan of US $ 900 which he used to purchase two calfs. The calfs are now mature dairy cows that give the family about 27 liters of milk daily. They take the milk to Kenya Creameries Co-operative Society and earn an average of US $ 50 per week. Peter has since repaid the loan. He uses the income to pay school and college fees for his children and to provide for the family. Apart from helping Peter in the dairy farming business, his wife sells vegetables at a local the market to supplement the family income.
Peter would like to purchase two more cows to improve his family income. He is requesting a loan of US $ 1,600 which he will use to purchase two dairy cows. This will increase his family income by US $ 60 per week and will enable Peter provide for his family.He is a focused person and will be able to repay the loan.",M,1600,lender,Agriculture,1
Kenya,"Peter kingoo mweleli is aged 36 years, married with 2 children aged 5 years and, 7years old. He has four other dependents. Of this four, only one goes to school. The entrepreneur educated up to O level. He is a professional tailor. And has 16 years experience in the profession. It is his only means of livelihood. He makes men suits and ladies dresses. The business has been successful because of Peters hard work and commitment into the business. He has built customer loyalty and now wants to meet their tastes and preferences in adding more variety of clothes and stocks. He also needs an electric sawing machine to enable him to carry out his work efficiently. He is requesting a loan amount of US $ 1075 to implement his expansion plan. His budget is:
US $ 790 to purchase Electrical Sewing Machine
US $ 215 to purchase knitting needles and knitting equipment.
US $ 10 to purchase 10 boxes of crochet hooks 1 piece of aluminum crochet hooks.
US $ 60 to purchase 10 bottles of Sewing Machine Oil of 85 ml.",M,1075,lender,Retail,1
Kenya,"PETER KIPKEMOI YEGON is 27 years old, married, with one child who is in school. He also takes care of his elderly parents. Peter didnt further his education due to lack of school fees, but fortunately he got a job as a clerk with the municipal council of Kericho. After working for two years he opted to start his own business, a retail shop, which he has been running with his wife. The demand for his products has continued to increase and he plans to stop limiting himself to retail but also do wholesaling. To realize this he is requesting a loan of US$1000, which he intends to spend as follows: US$700 to purchase more stock in bulk, and US$300 to pay municipal council fees. Peter is a hardworking person and has the ability to repay the loan.",M,1000,lender,Retail,1
Kenya,"Peter Kipkirui Tanui is 59 years old. He is married with 14 children, ten of whom are in school, while four are yet to go to school. He lives in the outskirts of Kericho town.
Both Peter and his wife are tea farmers. He has worked really hard to ensure the education of their children is secured so that they can have a bright future. However, life has not been easy as taking care of 14 children has been a burden for him. What he and his wife make from farming is not enough to cater to the needs of his family. He faces various challenges like lack of funds to expand his business and tea getting spoiled before it reaches the market because of poor infrastructure leading to a big loss.
However he has the desire to expand his business. Peter is requesting for a loan of US$1200, which he intends to use as follows: US$550 to buy seedlings and fertilizer, US$100 to pay for transportation costs, US$450 to lease more land, and US$100 to pay casual laborers. He is a committed gentleman and he will be able to repay the loan.",M,1200,lender,Agriculture,1
Kenya,"Peter Kipkongei is 25 years old. He is a young butcher, who earns his living slaughtering livestock and selling meat. He acquired the skills to carry out the job from his uncle immediately after he dropped out of school due to lack of school fees. With the income he gets from the business, Peter supports his ailing mother, who needs constant medication. He says he picked the business also because there are few people who are doing the same thing as he is doing. He has been experiencing problems due to the recent outbreak of disease that prompted the authorities to ban selling and consumption of meat. During that time he disposed of all his stock. The ban has since been lifted and he has been able to engage in his trade once more. He is requesting a loan of US$ 1000 in order to revamp his business by adding more stocks.",M,1000,lender,Food,1
Kenya,"Peter Maina is 36 years old. He is married with two children. One of the children is in school, grade 3, and the other one is too young to be in school. Peter and his wife Ann have completed their senior grade 4 and are currently engaged in farming. The family is taken care of by Peter as the breadwinner. He works hard to provide for the family and his ailing mother. Peter and his family live on a six acre piece of land that he inherited from his father. He practices both mixed farming and dairy farming. He gets income from the sale of cabbages, tomatoes and maize. He uses the money to take care of their domestic needs. Some of the money is used to buy medicine for his sick mother who goes to clinics every other month. Peter anticipates expanding his dairy farming. Currently milk is fetching good money in the milk processing company and there is a ready market for dairy products. He is therefore requesting a loan of US$900 to purchase two dairy cows and build a cow shed. Peter is industrious and can be able to pay the loan.",M,900,lender,Agriculture,1
Kenya,"Peter Maina Mwangi is aged 29 years. He is married with three children, the last-born aged twenty months. He is a grade 12 drop-out and has been in the clothing business for the last 5 years to take care of his family. He has been dealing with skirts and pantaloons for kids. He has many customers and there is room for expansion. Currently he wants to add a stock of clothes, children's clothing, handbags and skirt suits to meet his customers requests. He is requesting a loan of US $700: US $200 to purchase children's suits; US $200 to purchase gowns, gloves and pullovers; US $100 to purchase ladies' handbags and US $200 for transport services and license fees.",M,700,lender,Clothing,1
Kenya,"Peter Manzi Silu is 27 years old. He resides in a slum in Mombasa adjacent to the extensive Kongowea market. He earns a living by selling various items at his stall which is aptly situated at the markets entrance with the display attracting plenty of customers. His merchandise includes bags, suitcases, and a wide variety of clothing. He also works as a volunteer in charitable community projects.
Initially, he worked in a similar kind of stall owned by his brother. With the experience he gained there, he decided to set up his own stall. His business stand has been operational for four months and is slowly gaining momentum as more clients purchase from him. There is great potential in this particular business as there is a great demand for his wares especially during the holidays and festive seasons. He would like to capture benefits from this large demand by stocking more items for sale. However, he has been unable to do so since his business is still young, and he cannot raise the required capital. Hes therefore requesting a loan of US$700 to enable him to purchase more items for sale. The funds will be used to buy more bags and clothes for sale. He is able to repay the loan.",M,700,lender,Clothing,1
Kenya,"Peter Munyua Muchiri 34 years old, he is married with three children. Two are in school while one is too young to be in school. Peter and his wife practice both dairy farming and crop husbandry in their two acre farm. His core business is in dairy farming. He produces milk by products like cheese, yoghurt and flavored milk. He feels that he is not fully utilizing his resources i.e the land and stalks from the crops(which are cow feeds), in addition he wants to take advantage of the recently reconstructed government milk processing industry which is buying milk from the farmers directly. Therefore he wants to buy one more high milk yielding dairy cow, this will enable him to fully utilize his land, produce more milk,earn more income and he can therefore save for his childrens education. He is requesting for US$450 funding in order to buy the cow. Peter determination to succeed in what he does is inspiring and the funds would go along way to help him attain his dreams.",M,450,lender,Agriculture,1
Kenya,"Peter Munyua Muchiri is 34 years old. He is married with 3 children. Two of them are in school while one is not yet of school-going age.
Peter and his wife both practice dairy farming and crop husbandry on their two acre farm. His core business is dairy farming. He feels that he is not fully utilizing his resources (i.e. the unused land and animal feeds from the crops.) In addition, he wants to take advantage of the recently reconstructed government milk processing industry which is buying milk from farmers directly at fair prices. Therefore, he wants to buy one more high milk yielding dairy cow. This will enable him to fully utilize his resources and earn more income. This will allow him to save for his childrens education. He is requesting US $450 in funding in order to buy the cow. Peters determination to succeed in what he does is inspiring and the funds will go a long way in helping him attain his dreams.",M,450,lender,Agriculture,1
Kenya,"Peter Mureithi is a 32-year-old man. He is married, and has one child of three years. He also lives with and takes care of his younger sister. He is originally from Kirinyaga district of Kenya, but now lives in the Ngong town area, and operates his business from the Kenyatta market area.
Peter enrolled into Kigali Teachers College where he studied for one year. He then went through a very difficult period after his mother passed away after his first year in college. Unfortunately his father could not support him, since he now had another family. Due to this difficulty, he dropped out of college. He then went out and started off a small business selling groceries, but his working capital was small, and since he was still quite young, he was unable to manage the business properly and it collapsed. He then went to one of the slum areas called Kawangware, where he was employed to manage a beer pub. After about six months he was laid off.
Peter then approached his uncle for help and fortunately his uncle took him in. His uncle then introduced him to selling second hand jeans at the Kenyatta market area. He started off here by working as a broker, whereby he would sell trousers on behalf of his uncle, and would then be given a small commission. With time, in the year 2001, he managed to put aside a little money from the commissions i.e. Ksh. 500 (USD 8), which he used as his initial capital to purchase four pairs of jeans trousers. He sold them and was able to buy more jeans. One of his distant relatives suggested that he should consider selling stretch jeans since they would soon be coming into fashion, and he took the advice. For about seven years now he has specialized in the sale of stretch jeans, and he is glad he took the advice, since stretch jeans have become a favourite for many women who now form the bulk of his customers.
Peter finds that the only reason he has not been able to expand his business is lack of capital, since he doesnt have collateral that would enable him to borrow from formal banks. He has so far managed to attract a regular flow of customers, and would like to increase his stock, so as to provide a better variety for them. Peter is therefore requesting a loan of USD75, with which he will buy additional jeans trousers in order to boost his stock. He intends to repay the loan over a period of 5 months.",M,75,partner,Clothing,0
Kenya,"Peter Ngari Njiru is 32 years old. He is married to an unemployed housewife and they have two children. They reside in a densely populated slum settlement in the outskirts of Mombasa. Being the sole breadwinner for his family, he is responsible for all the household expenditures as well as other financial family requirements. He earns a living by offering food-vending services in the city center. The business began five years ago. It involves preparing food in a small makeshift kitchen, and then serving it to customers on wooden benches in this open-air food kiosk. He also has delivery services where he takes food to the clients premises. His customers include office workers and school children. The income from this business has been adequate to cater for his family needs. However, the family expenditures deny him funds to reinvest towards the growth of the food vending business. He is therefore requesting for a loan of US $1050 to assist him in his business expansion plans. US$500 will be used to set up a more hygienic food kiosk, US$300 to buy more foodstuff and US$200 to buy utensils and US$50 to pay for the license. He is capable of repaying the loan.",M,1050,lender,Food,1
Kenya,"PETER TOO is 25 years old. He is married with one child. To earn his living and educate his child, Peter has a farm, growing tea. He started a retail shop business in the Liten market from savings accumulated from his farming. Peter has been jointly running the retail shop with his wife for the last four years to boost the income the family makes from farming. The business has grown from a small outfit to a reputable enterprise. This has been enhanced by business training he received from EBONY FOUNDATION. He plans to expand his operations and stock a wider variety of products to attract more customers and increase his profit margin. To realize this, Peter is requesting a loan of US $1200, which he intends to spend as follows:
US $900 to increase stock
US $300 to put up extra shelves in his shop.
Peter is determined, despite all odds, and he has the ability to repay the loan.",M,1200,lender,Retail,1
Kenya,"Phanice is married with seven children. She has one daughter in secondary school, three boys in primary, while the others have finished school. She received some training from Kakamega Polytechnic in1982, and then moved to Malaba. Her business involves supplying cloth material to different tailors. She gets the merchandise from Kisumu and Busia. The bundles cost up to ksh.4000 and the cost per trip goes up to Ksh.1000. Through her business, she has been able to buy a sewing machine and now does tailoring as a part time job at home. With her first loan from PEMCI, Phanice plans to increase her stock of material and general sales.",F,150,lender,Services,1
Kenya,"Phanis has been in business since 2006. She is a green grocer and gets her stock direct from the local farmers. She also sells cereals. She hasnt undertaken any formal training and learned her business through doing. She sells the cereals and shifts from one type of cereal to another according to the cereal in season. Her business is really booming and through it she has been able to purchase a dairy cow. She has also been able to support her husband in providing for the familys needs. With a loan from PEMCI, She intents to increase her cereal stock and be able to purchase in bulk.",F,75,partner,Food,0
Kenya,"Phanis Mboone is a 33-year-old married entrepreneur. She has two children who are both in school. She lives in a two-room house with her family. Phanis husband sells bread while she sells fruit. Despite the two incomes the family cannot afford better housing or a better diet. Phanis would like to improve their living standards by introducing a variety of other fruits and increasing her stock. She has to keep her prices low while selling a lot to make substantial returns since she is based in a slum where all customers are low-income earners. Phanis is presently not able to increase her stock as she lacks funds. She is requesting a loan of US$ 350: US$ 300 to buy different varieties of fruit and US$ 50 to pay for a council license.
Phanis has a clear vision and will repay her loan.",F,350,lender,Food,1
Kenya,"Phelisters Atolwa Musonye is 36 years old and married to a pastor. Their children attend school and the couple also cares for an orphaned relative of theirs. Phelisters owns a small private school in the slum dwelling where she resides in Mombasa town. She also offers private tuition to children from other schools during holidays. Prior to this, she worked as a junior schoolteacher for six years after completing her teaching course studies.
She is currently involved in the schools administrative duties as well as in teaching a few classes. The school is made up of nursery classes up to grade three. Such a school is essential to the low-income residents who live there, since it is very cheap and offers high quality education. Her school is sought after by most parents since most government schools are located far away and are over-crowded.
The major problem she faces in her school is lack of adequate furniture to keep up with the high enrolment rate. She is requesting a loan of $750 to assist her in the expansion of her school. The funds will be used to buy more furniture for the school so that the children can learn comfortably. She is capable of repaying the loan.",F,750,lender,Education,1
Kenya,"Pheobe (in the middle of the photograph) is a trained nurse/midwife who manages her own private facility in Siaya, Kenya. She is a 65-year-old widow and a mother of 9 children. She trained as a nurse in 1967 and worked for the government for 25 years, until 1992, when she retired and opened her own private clinic. Pheobe's clinic offers a wide range of health services, including general curative, family planning, and maternal and child health services. Pheobe attributes her success to hard work, perseverance, and three previous microfinance loans from KMET. She now needs a loan of US$1,200 to be able to renovate her clinic.",F,1200,partner,Health,0
Kenya,"Pherisnah Njekehu Mugo is 67 years old from Kabati Estate Naivasha, Kenya. She is a widow with four children; one girl and three boys; and 6 dependents aged 16 years, 13 years, 10 years and 9 years. She is the family breadwinner and they all depend on her. She has a large family due to the HIV/AIDS scourge, which took away her sister. Pherisnah has been in the business of basketry and weaving commonly known as ciondo. She has been doing this for the last 48 years despite not attending any school throughout her life. She learned the skill from her late mother who was also in the same business. Pherisnah recently stopped doing the weaving and basketry due to lack of capital to expand her profitable business. She has been using all the returns to deal with the expenses of her large family. Young at heart, Pherisnah wants to revive and expand her business and has requested a loan amount of $900 as her budget amount.
$300 will be used to buy raw sisal; $300 to purchase ready-made sisal; $200 for knitting threads and accessories; and $100 to advertise her goods. Pherisnah is a member of the Fountain of Hope Women Group and she is happy that through the group she will receive a loan that will be a source of employment to her and a means to support all of her dependents.",F,900,lender,Arts,1
Kenya,"Philis Moraa Ongeri is a 30-year-old single mother of one child. She lives in the expansive Kibera Slums with her five siblings who rely on her for their basic needs. There are only two children of school-going age and they are in junior classes three and five. She is a trained pharmacist and nurse's aid. She owns a small pharmacy where she sells drugs and medicines. Philiss core business is supplying Anti-retroviral drugs to health centers, community-based groups and HIV/AIDS patients in the slum and its environs. The business was doing well for the past five years, but the big pharmaceutical companies sell their drugs to retailers like Phylis for very high prices, and she can't meet the high demand of her customers. Her business expansion plan will uplift her familys living status while helping the community have more access to these necessary medicines. Her training as a pharmacist and her experience in operating a pharmacy gives her the knowledge she needs to take her business to the next level. She also plans to convert from selling generic drugs to selling name brand drugs, which are more trusted and more sought after. Phillis is requesting a loan of $1200: $200 for acquiring new premises, $1000 for purchasing name brand drugs. This loan will help Phylis be better able to assist those sick people in need of medicines in her area.",F,1200,lender,Health,1
Kenya,"Philista Anyango is a 48-year-old dedicated community health worker (CHW). She lives in Sagam Siaya, Kenya, with her husband and four of her children, and she also supports nine orphans. She was trained in 2001 by KMET in home-based HIV/AIDS care. Through her own initiative and hard work, she opened a community pharmacy at Midhine market in Sagam, the only one serving the surrounding community. Philista has managed to expand her business and build a successful enterprise. People come from from far away to buy drugs from her pharmacy, as it is the only one in the area. She requires an additional $700 in order to purchase more stock of drugs, which are fast moving and in high demand, in order to boost her income.
Disclaimer: Due to recent events in Kenya, the security situation in many communities remains unsettled, affecting many local businesses. Lenders to this entrepreneur should be aware that this loan may represent a higher default risk, and should be willing to accept this additional risk in making their loan.",F,700,partner,Health,0
Kenya,"Philister Anyango Odiyo is a single mother of three children. She is the sole bread winner for her family. She sells fish in the open air market, and it is the only source of income for her family. She would like to expand her business by buying more fish and supplying them to different people in different centers. She has been doing this business for a long time and she therefore understands well how to maximize the returns from this business. In the future, she is planning to start getting the fish from the source in bulk instead of buying them from the brokers or middle men. First, she wants to get customers from these centers who will be her future customers. She is determined to do this business to get more income now that most of her children are demanding more money for education. She is requesting a loan of US$500 to expand her business. She intends to use the US$500 to purchase fish and packing papers. She is capable of repaying the loan.",F,500,lender,Food,1
Kenya,"Phillip Ndungu Kagiri is a 35 year-old married farmer. He has three children who are all in school, junior level. Phillip is semi-illiterate, having gained only a basic education. Phillip has to make an extra effort to educate his children and meet his familys daily needs.
Having no profession, he had to create his own employment. He started farming as a business to earn an income and support his family. He grows potatoes, which he supplies to their local market. This is a ready market, potatoes being a staple food in the locality.
He would now like to expand his farming but lacks capital. He requests a US $900 loan:
Rent 2 extra acres, US $150
Buy fertilizer, hybrid maize seeds and bean seeds, US $400
Plow and plant, US $ 250
Labor US $ 100
He is focused and will repay the loan.",M,900,lender,Agriculture,1
Kenya,"Phoebe Abanga is a community based Nurse/Midwife who offers preventive and maternity services in a rural health facility in Siaya District, Western Kenya. She has applied for the loan to improve her stock of drugs at the facility to ensure that all clients leave the facility with drugs. At the moment she gives them a prescription to buy drugs at a commercial pharmacy in town but many don\'t buy the right dosage resulting into re- infection or drug resistance.",F,2000,partner,Health,0
Kenya,"Phoebe is 32 years old married and with 2 daughters who will be joining kindergarten in January 2007.Her husband works with a motor vehicle selling company as a sells representative and doesnt earn enough to meet all his family needs. Sometimes they go without food and Phoebe wants to help out by starting a business.
Phoebe has four years experience in food service industry. She has worked as a cook/waitress for a food kiosk previously and now wants to start her food kiosk. She has already identified the premises and requests for a loan of US $ 650 to enable her start the business. Her budget is: US $ 200 to purchase seats and tables, US $ 120 decorate the kiosk US $ 180 to buy cooking and storage appliances and US $ 150 to purchase cooking ingredients and soft drinks. The income she will make will go along way in supplementing her husbands salary. She is hard working and will be able to repay the loan.",F,650,lender,Food,1
Kenya,"Phoebe is a mother of five, some in secondary and others in primary school. She an active member of her communitys self-help group which deals with poverty eradication. Phoebe started her business in 1998 in order to support her family. Her husband is not employed. She operates a food kiosk and outside her kiosk she sells green vegetables. She has successfully reimbursed her first loan with PEMCI, which enabled her to improve her stock. With this second loan of $200 from PEMCI, Phoebe intends to further increase her stock with a greater variety of products for her customers. Phoebe is very diligent and committed to her work. She is an active member of her community and one whom many other women can copy. Supporting her business is a worthwhile cause.",F,200,partner,Food,0
Kenya,"Phoebe is a mother of five, some in secondary and others in primary schools. She is an active member of her communitys self help group, which deals with poverty eradication. She started her store business in 1998 in order to support her family. Her husband is not employed and does some field labor. She operates a kiosk and outside her kiosk she sells green vegetables. She has completed her first loan successfully with PEMCI, which enabled her to improve her stock.
With a second loan from PEMCI, she intends to increase her stock further and stock a variety of products for her customers.",F,200,lender,Food,1
Kenya,"Phylis Anyango runs a boutique that sells dresses and shoes. The items are purchased in Uganda and sold at Phylis boutique stall here in Kisumu, Kenya. Business was booming until post-election violence occurred in the city during the early spring of 2008. Her stall was robbed and business has been difficult for Phylis ever since.
Phylis would like to make her business as successful as it was in earlier times and even improve it. Her goal is to move from a stall into a more permanent place. Having discovered a suitable location in downtown Kisumu, Phylis is requesting a loan of 250 USD in order to pay rent and purchase dresses and shoes. This will be Phylis first loan with K-MET and she will be making monthly repayments over a 12-month period.
Phylis uses the profits from her boutique to take care of her family and all of their needs. Her husband died in 2005 and his second wife (of a polygamous marriage) passed away shortly after. Phylis provides for her child and the two children of the second wife and would like to see her business grow in order to better care for them.",F,250,partner,Clothing,0
Kenya,"Phyllis is 45 years old. She is single with 3 grown-up children. She lives on her 1 acre plot of land in Gathukiini village. She has been a member of Wathenge Stepping Stone women's group for the last 3 years. Through her monthly savings in the group, she has managed to acquire loans that have helped her to educate her children & cater for the basic needs of her family. She also works as a cateress at St. Ann boarding primary school, a job she has held for many years. This job has helped her repay her group loan and make contributions to the revolving fund. She is a member of ACK Gathukiini church. Her social work as a Sunday school teacher is highly appreciated.
She needs a loan of USD 150 through the group to buy a young bull and sell it later to generate income. She also has two dairy cows that give 10 liters of milk per day, which she sells at local dairies. This enables her to repay her loan. The loan committee has approved the loan, and the repayment period is 10 months.",F,150,lender,Agriculture,1
Kenya,"Phyllis is 59 years old. She lives in Gitahambo. Phyllis is married with grown-up children, and the last two are still in university. She belongs to the Mukumu Helen Women's Group. She also belongs to the ACK Mukumu church and is a lay leader in the church and a member of the Mothers' Union.
Phyllis is a farmer. In her farm, she grows tea and plants many food crops (e.g. maize and beans). She has a cow that produces only a little milk for her home use. She hopes to purchase a high-breed cow when she gets a loan of USD 575 through the group to be able to have enough milk for sale. She contributes very well to the group's revolving fund.",F,575,lender,Agriculture,1
Kenya,"Phyllis is a married 43 years old woman with 6 children. She is a devout Christian and is an active member of Queen Esther Women group. She has held the position of treasurer in the group for the past two years. She is grateful to Kiva and to WEEC for having assisted her to change the life of her family. Phyllis received a loan from Kiva that has assisted Phyllis in her welding business. She also purchased a dairy cow that will give birth to a calf approximately next month in February.
She operates three businesses jointly with her husband; one is selling paraffin, the other is a water supply business, and the last is a welding business. She manages the welding and water supply businesses. Phylliss challenge is that she cannot supply the water throughout the week since the water supply is normally available only 2 days in a week. She plans to buy water storage tanks to assist her in storing enough water to sell when the supply is low. She also plans to buy a grinding machine for her welding work. She has applied for a loan of USD1200 and is willing to repay this loan within a period of 12 months.",F,1200,lender,Retail,1
Kenya,"Phyllis Wanjiku Kimani is a twenty-eight-year-old mother of three, two of whom are of school-going age. She sells vegetables in Nakurus Freehold estate where she owns a small grocery stand. She is not married and her children depend solely on her for all their needs. Not having attended any training college, Phyllis can only do unskilled labor. She has realized that people buy vegetables only at certain times of the day. She now wants to start selling clothes at times when the grocery business is low. She has studied the market and has realized that there is an established client base. Phyllis is requesting a loan of US$ 300 to buy inventory. She intends to use $ 50 to buy handkerchiefs, $100 to buy petticoats, $50 to buy socks, and $100 to buy mens boxer shorts. When she manages to start this business, she is sure of getting high returns.",F,300,lender,Clothing,1
Kenya,"Phythias Mutinda Kamosu is 31 years old. He is married with one child and resides in the town of Mlolongo along the Nairobi-Mombasa Highway. Apart from his family, Mutinda also assists his elderly father by paying school fees for his twin brothers, who are 16 years old and in secondary school. He has also taken in his 10 year old nephew after his sister - his nephew's mother - passed away in the year 2000.
After finishing his secondary school education in the year 1994, and not being able to find employment, Mutinda decided to engage into brick making. Since this work did not require any capital to begin, all he needed to do was learn the skills of brick making. After learning the basic skills, Mutinda made 5,000 pieces of bricks, which he sold for Ksh 5 per piece. He earned a total of Ksh 25,000 (USD $368). From this, he gave his wife Ksh 5,000 for household use, and the rest he saved. He then made another 5,000 pieces of bricks, which again he sold for Ksh 25,000. He saved all of this, totaling savings of Ksh 45,000 (USD $662). With this as his initial capital, Mutinda bought an assortment of goods like spoons, shoes, pencils, books, small transistor radios, shoe polish, plastic plates, sufurias, etc. He was using a bicycle to sell his wares.
Then, in the year 1996, Mutinda rented a stall in the town of Kitengela, on the outskirts of Nairobi. The business was doing well, but due to stiff competition from neighbors, he opted to leave Kitengela and decided to try his luck in a neighboring, upcoming town by the name of Mlolongo. Luck was on his side and he rented a stall, expanding his business by adding TVs, DVDs, and radios. The business is doing well and Mutinda is still operating from this stall.
Due to the increasing population in Mlolongo, Mutinda wants to add to his inventory so that he can meet the demands of his customers. He approached one leading micro-finance bank for a loan, but due to the high interest he opted not to take the loan. Since then, he heard about Action Now Kenya partnering with Kiva, and also saw some of the clients who have benefited from Kiva loans. Their businesses are flourishing, so Mutinda decided to come to Action Now Kenya to try his luck.
Mutinda, therefore, requests a loan of $1,175. With this loan, Mutinda will be able to purchase TVs, radios, dvds, vcd players, vcd discs, and cassettes. This will greatly improve his business, translating into more income. Mutinda plans to employ a helper to assist him in the day-to-day operations of the business, and intends to repay the loan within 10 months.",M,1175,partner,Retail,0
Kenya,"Poline Atieno Ayieye is a 25-year-old single mother with 1 child. Her son is in primary school. After finishing her high school education, Poline was unable to attend college due to a lack of money for her school fees, and at the same time she was pregnant with her first child. She later did a tailoring course at the local polytechnic school. She is the sole breadwinner. Poline lives in one of the highly populated slums in the outskirts of Mombasa. She earns a living operating a food vending business and a cosmetics business within the slum she resides in. The food items she prepares include fried potatoes, yam crisps, and potato crisps. She has been doing this business for the past 4 years. Her customers include neighbors, passersby, school children who love her sweet treats, and young ladies. Her proceeds go towards her childs educational expenditures. Currently Poline is operating in a make-shift structure. Inflation has meant that the proceeds she earns from her business will go toward meeting her family's welfare rather than expanding her business. She is requesting a loan of $600 to assist her in her business expansion plan. The funds will be used to add stock and renovate her make-shift structure. Poline is an ambitious woman and will be able to repay the loan on time. Disclaimer: Due to recent events in Kenya, the security situation in many communities remains unsettled, affecting many local businesses. Lenders to this entrepreneur should be aware that this loan may represent a higher default risk, and should be willing to accept this additional risk in making their loan.",F,600,lender,Food,1
Kenya,"Praxides is married with four children who are all in primary school. She is a trained tailor. She also operates a small shop to supplement her tailoring business. From both her businesses she is able to meet her familys basic needs. In addition to carrying out her businesses, Praxides is also employed in a local clothing shop where she trains students in clothes design and tailoring. Given the loan of $75 from PEMCI, Praxides intends to expand her tailoring shop and also to start her own training facility. She is a lady who is trying her best to empower herself financially and to support her young family.",F,75,partner,Services,0
Kenya,"Prisca is 61 years old. She is married with four children. She attends PCEA church and is an active member of the Gaicharaigu Promoters Women's Group. Her occupation is farming in Gaicharaigu village. She plants maize, beans, Napier grass and avocado trees. She also practices dairy farming. The group has helped her to advance her business; borrowing has helped her to increase her income and buy more seeds for planting. Her income comes mainly from the sales of her farm produce and milk. Prisca is a remarkable and hardworking woman who would like to see change in her family life. She believes hard work bears fruit. Prisca would like to increase her income by adding a dairy cow and she has applied for a loan of USD600. She intends to repay the loan on a monthly basis.",F,600,lender,Agriculture,1
Kenya,"Prisca is a 48-year-old entrepreneur. She is a widow and lives in Kisumu, Kenya, with her eleven children. She is well-known in her community as an expert in making one of the local favorites, mandazis (fried sweet dough). Her net current income is limited to Kshs 1000 compared to her initial net income of initial Kshs 1500. This is due to the rise in cost of raw materials and local competition. Prisca supplements her current business with her small corner shop where she sells the daily necessities, like bread, flour, cooking oil and soap. She has managed to increase her daily income by 150% and saved a bit of her profits. To increase her stock and to obtain supplies that are in high demand within her community, Prisca has applied for a loan of US $600.
Disclaimer: Due to recent events in Kenya, the security situation in many communities remains unsettled, affecting many local businesses. Lenders to this entrepreneur should be aware that this loan may represent a higher default risk, and should be willing to accept this additional risk in making their loan.",F,600,partner,Food,0
Kenya,"Priscilla Abwao is a 48-year-old mother of five. She lives with her husband in Bware Migori, Kenya, where she is well known as a japur (or farmer) because she owns a large plot of land where she grows sugarcane. She also raises cattle that produce between 8 to 10 liters of milk a day, which she sells to the people of her community for $0.45 a liter. Priscilla has come to us for a loan of $800 to buy enough new cattle to increase her output of milk to 15 liters a day.",F,800,partner,Agriculture,0
Kenya,"Priscilla Chepkosgei Rotich is 37 years old. She is a single mother of four children who are all in school. She also takes care of her elderly parents who depend on her for their necessities. After she completed her O levels, Priscilla engaged herself in the business of selling milk in Kericho. Her business is viable and promising, and she is able to provide to her familys basic needs and also pay for her children's school fees. She understands the importance of education and is determined to see all her children get the best education.
Priscilla faces problems such as lack of enough capital to buy milk in large quantities from the farmers, transport costs, and the milk going bad. She is therefore requesting a loan of US$1200 which she intends to use as follows: US$300 to buy more milk, US$500 to purchase a freezer, US$100 to pay for transport, US$250 to make a decent structure, and US$50 to pay municipal council fees. Priscilla is a determined lady, and she will be able to repay the loan.",F,1200,lender,Food,1
Kenya,Priscilla is a very commited woman in St. Consolata Women Group. She is the Chairlady and has been empowering and training her group members to start investing for future purposes. She has grown up children but has orphan children from her son who died with his wife some years ago due to the deadly HIV/AIDS virus. She teaches youths in her church and community importance of abstinence. She is a member of Catholic church in Nyakahura church. She runs a household stuffs business which enables her to meet her family needs and service her loans at group level. Her desire is to make an impact through the training she has been offering to her colleagues women in St. Consolata. She is very determined to give the orphans the best education she can. She is planning to buy stock to maximize her income sources. She is hoping to get a loan and she is comfortable paying back on monthly basis.,F,225,lender,Retail,1
Kenya,"Priscillah is married with 4 children who are in high school. She is an active member of Kabuta Ladies women group. She is a responsible lady who has influenced many women in her group by the work of her hands. She has been growing maize, beans, bananas, and coffee. This has been the only source of income in her family. She has been able to pay school fees for her children although stressing at times. Since her children went to secondary school, it has been difficult for her to save enough and buy a dairy cow. The income she accumulates from her farm end up being school fees and for basic needs in the family. Buying milk has been a great challenge and she would like to turn it to be an opportunity where she will be feeding the cow with the vegetables from her farm. She is willing to repay the loan with installment.",F,600,lender,Agriculture,1
Kenya,"Priscillah is married with 5 children. She is an active member of the Namelok women group. She is a religious woman that attends African Inland Church. Priscillah feels that she has benefited a great deal from WEEC by being a part of the group. She has absolutely no regrets on joining the group.
Her main occupation is farming where she grows beans, maize, potatoes and other vegetables like kales, spinach, tomatoes, etc. She also has one dairy cow and two goats. She gets 4 litres of milk daily from the cow. She sells her farm produce to the local community and also at a local market. She manages to earn an average income of USD75 per month as a result of the sale of her farm produce. She has applied for a loan of USD150, with which she intends to buy four piglets in order to boost her monthly income. She is willing to pay to this loan in a period of 10 months.",F,150,lender,Agriculture,1
Kenya,"Protus is married with 2 children, who are still in primary school. He has been operating his shop for four years, selling manufactured retail goods which he buys from Khatia and Sheriffs Wholesales in Bungoma. He operates the shop from Masielo Trading Center. Through his business he has been able to afford to send his children to school, take care of his family needs and support the community wellbeing. Although he has many challenges, Protus's concern is lack of capital which is limiting his expansion of services, which he alone provides in the area. With the help of the loan of $75 from PEMCI, he plans to increase his stock and introduce new demanded commodities in the shop, which in the long run will increase his client base and earnings. He plans to build his own bigger shop in the near future at the local trading center.",M,75,partner,Retail,0
Kenya,"Protus is married with three children. One is in primary school the others are still at home. He started his chicken business in 1996 in which he gets his stock from his local Myanga market then sells at Kandui trading center. Through his business, Protus has been able to develop his farm by adding cattle and goats, and to open up a small hotel in the Mayanja business centre to diversify his business this year. Most of the challenges he faces in his chicken business is when he purchases sick chickens without knowing it, and the transportation costs, which are very high in the area due to his movement to selling areas. He makes about $15 in profit from each chicken that he sells. With the combined businesses, he is able to support his family's basic needs and other necessities. With the loan of $125 from PEMCI, he plans to expand his chicken business, which is now booming. With this kind of business he hopes to increase on his earnings in the long run and be able to provide better for his children's education",M,125,partner,Agriculture,0
Kenya,"Pualine Wanjiru Chege is 31 years. She is married with four beautiful children who are all in school. She has a cereal shop where she sells a variety of dried grains. This includes; beans, green grams, dried peas, rice, maize and cowpeas. She has been in the business for four years now and has gained the relevant experience needed to run it. Due to capital constraints, she has limited stock levels. This prompts her to go every now and then to the market to get more stock in order to satisfy her clients' demand. She believes this to be a bottleneck in her business and a setback to her success. She is planning to add more stock in her business. Instead of the usual 5 kilograms to 10 kilograms stock of each variety of cereal, she would like to have 40 kilograms to 90 kilograms of each variety of cereal. In order to do this, she needs a loan of US$ 1000. She will purchase stocks of cereals with US$ 950 and she will use US$ 50 for transportation. This will enable her to tap a wider market; generate more revenue to be able to satisfy her family needs satisfactorily. She will be able to boost her business and be able to repay the loan.",F,1000,lender,Food,1
Kenya,"Purity is 23 years and married with two children. Unfortunately Purity never went to school because as a Maasai her father sold her off at a tender age. The good news is that her husband is a pastor of the Presbyterian Church of East Africa (PCEA) in Kipteto. She is a very active member of that church. This is why she joined Nadupa Women's Group. She also joined to empower herself financially.
She started a milk business two years ago and sells ten liters a day at 28 cents per liter. She wants a loan of $600 so that she can buy good dairy cows which can produce 20 litres a day. This will enable her to sell more milk and leave some for her family. Through the profits she makes she will pay her loan on a monthly basis, save money and pay school fees for her children.",F,600,lender,Agriculture,1
Kenya,"Purity is 28 years old, married with 2 children who are in school. She is a religious person and she practices good morals in the society. She is an active member of Konguini thayu women group. Purity is a responsible member in the group and has benefited a lot from the small group loans.
She grows vegetables, maize, beans, and fruits. She is a full time farmer and the bread winner for her family and she works very hard to support them. Purity is very committed and has tried to utilize the knowledge she acquired from the group in her farm operation.
She has big dreams of giving her children a quality education using the earnings from her farm. She would like to buy a water pump and vegetable seedlings, and pesticides for effective farming. She is willing to repay her loan with the profit she will make within a span of one year.",F,450,lender,Agriculture,1
Kenya,"Purity Ngeeta Marini is 31 years old. She is a single lady with one child who goes to school. Being a single lady, life has not been easy for her because she has to take care of her child and her old parents. She is in the business of selling mangoes at the main market in Nakuru town. Purity had to drop out of school due to a lack of school fees. Her determination to improve her living standards made her venture into the fruit selling business. The business has been a great help to her since she has been able to educate her son and also provide basic needs to her extended family. She has been in the business for a long time now and has gained a lot of experience. She however has to face many challenges like the fluctuation of prices thus she is making less profit and lacks funds. She would like to buy the mangoes directly from the farmers but lacks the funds to do so. She is requesting a loan of US$600: US$450 to buy more mangoes, US$50 to buy sacks for packing the mangoes, and US$100 for transport. Purity is capable of repaying the loan.
Disclaimer: Due to recent events in Kenya, the security situation in many communities remains unsettled, affecting many local businesses. Lenders to this entrepreneur should be aware that this loan may represent a higher default risk, and should be willing to accept this additional risk in making their loan.",F,600,lender,Food,1
Kenya,"Purity Wairimu Gicheru is 34 years old and married and with two children. Purity sells shoes and materials in a stall in Nakuru town. One of her children is in preschool and the other has not yet attained school-going age. Her husband works as a driver for a public vehicle company to transport people to different destinations. The family lives in a rented semi-permanent house which has two rooms.
Purity is a hard working lady who is determined to improve her familys lifestyle by trying to earn more to boost what her husband makes. That is why she decided to try her hand at her own business. She wants to expand her business by adding more stock so as to meet her customers needs. She is therefore requesting a loan of $400 to be used in the following way:
$150 to increase her stock of shoes
$200 to buy more materials to meet the rising demand from her clients
$50 to pay rent for her stall and the family's house.
This will enable her family to meet their needs more comfortably without straining. Purity is hardworking and will be able to repay the loan.",F,400,lender,Clothing,1
Kenya,"PURITY WAIRIMU NYABURA is 32 years old. She is a single parent of one child who is in school. Purity attended high school but dropped out due to lack of school fees. She left their rural home in Subukia Nakuru District and went to Nakuru City where she assisted her mother in her grocery shop business. It is at this grocery shop that Purity cultivated her entrepreneurship. She joined Eb-F and in year 2003, she received a loan of US $ 800 to set up a pub. The business has been doing well and earns her an average of US $ 55 per week. It has enabled her take her child to school and support the education of her younger siblings back in rural area. She has since repaid the loan.
Her business is housed in a single room that accommodates only 12 patrons. She wants to expand into a second room that will enable her accommodate 15 more patrons.
She is requesting a loan of US $ 1,500 to expand the business. Her budget is: US $ 200 to decorate the room, US $ 400 to purchase chairs and tables, US $ 400 to increase stock, US $ 100 to purchase utensils and US $ 400 to purchase a Television and Music system to entertaining her customers. This will increase her income by US $ 65 per week and will enable her provide for her family and support the education of her younger brothers and sisters. She plans to save enough to expand the business to include a restaurant in future. Purity will be able to repay the loan.",F,1500,lender,Food,1
Kenya,"Purity Wangari Munene is a 33 year old mother of two children who both attend junior school. She is not married and is solely responsible for the well-being of her family. She earns her living by running a clothes boutique at the city center. The boutique is suitably located at a very busy street where she receives plenty of clients who are attracted by her tempting display of garments. She stocks a wide variety of new ladies clothes in various sizes. Her items are fashionable and come at low prices, hence guaranteeing her a steady supply of clients.
Purity began this business two years ago after failing to get formal employment in the secretarial field in which she has trained. It started as a small business, which has eventually grown to a bigger shop that has plenty of regular customers. However, she lacks adequate capital to maintain the steady growth her business has been experiencing - at times her stock gets depleted and she cannot replenish it in good time.
She is therefore requesting a loan of US$600 to assist her in running the business at a level where the business will expand while giving her a steady income stream. She is capable of repaying the loan. Disclaimer: Due to recent events in Kenya, the security situation in many communities remains unsettled, affecting many local businesses. Lenders to this entrepreneur should be aware that this loan may represent a higher default risk, and should be willing to accept this additional risk in making their loan.",F,600,lender,Clothing,1
Kenya,Rachael is a mother of 2 children who are in primary school. She is a religious person and a lady with influence to many. She joined Sacred Mothers women group the group after attending a training which was organized by WEEC. She was so empowered that she took a step and applied for a small group loan after saving for sometimes. She utilized the skills of business management by starting a tailoring business. Her life took a different dimension and she feels great when running the clothe business. She has ventured in to business area and she wants to prove to herself she can alleviate poverty thrugh the available resources. She is willing to repay her loan on monthly basis.,F,1200,lender,Services,1
Kenya,"Racheal Wairimu is married with two children. Racheals first child is in primary school while the second is in secondary school. She is an assistant secretary of the Nasinya Womens Group. She started her hair dressing business two years ago at the Isinya Shopping Sentre. She has applied for a loan of USD 300, with which she intends to buy a blow dryer and hair dryer in order to improve the efficiency of her business operations. She is willing to repay this loan in a period of 12 months.",F,300,lender,Services,1
Kenya,"Rachel Achieng is 32 years old and married with two children. She lives in Umoja estate, one of the many estates in the eastern part of Nairobi city.
Rachel operates a tailoring stall at a market known as the Umoja Market situated within the estate where she lives. Rachel started her business in the year 2002 and at this time, she operated her business from her house. She used to make tablecloths which she sold in the town of Meru, in the Eastern Province of Kenya. Rachel continued selling her tablecloths in Meru town until the year 2004 when she decided to introduce a new line into her business, by selling ladies suits after two ladies in Meru town commissioned her to make them suits. She made six additional suits to test the market and to her surprise, all the six were sold very quickly. From then on, Rachel decided to become a full time tailor specializing in ladies clothes.
Rachael has managed to employ several orphaned young women who help her with the tailoring work. Rachel now intends to expand her business by stocking tailoring materials and accessories so that her tailoring colleagues and customers do not have to travel all the way to the city center to buy these items. Rachel is therefore requesting a loan of USD750 that she intends to repay within 12 months. With this loan, Rachael will be able to boost her income by supplying tailoring materials and accessories such as lining, buttons, rings, canvas, thread biers and laces. These additions will greatly boost her income.",F,750,partner,Services,0
Kenya,"Rachel is a 35-year old business woman. She is married to a businessman and they have two children, a boy who is in primary school, and a girl still at home. Rachel started her general store in 2000 with a start-up capital from her husband, who is a hawker, of KES 100,000. She sells a variety of goods ranging from detergent to foodstuffs; she sells them both retail and wholesale. Her shop is next to the border with Uganda. In fact, Rachel says that most of her customers are Ugandans and they all buy goods to take back to Uganda. They say that Kenyan products are cheaper and of better quality compared to their own back at home. She now estimates the value of her shop to be at KES 170,000. With a loan from PEMCI, Rachel intends to increase the variety of products in her shop so as to attract and retain more customers. She also intends to increase the amount of sugar that she stocks.",F,800,lender,Retail,1
Kenya,"Rachel is a business lady. She operates a posho mill and also sells cereals outside her posho mill premises. She has not undertaken any formal training. She is a mother of five, one independent and the rest still in school. She has been in business for the last four years. She gets her stock of maize directly from the farmers around her and sometimes at the marketplace. Through her business she has been able to assist her husband in sustaining their family. With a loan from PEMCI, she plans to increase her stock of cereals in order to meet her customers demands.",F,450,partner,Food,0
Kenya,"Rachel Muthoni is 23 years old and married with no children. She lives within the Kibera slums in Nairobi. Her two younger brothers, who have finished school but have no jobs, are dependent on her, as is her aging mother.
Rachel began her business in 2006, using a Ksh 50,000 (USD 735) loan from her husband, which she has already repaid. She is requesting a loan of Ksh 45,000 (USD 700) to buy a deep freezer that will allow her to expand her business. She will use the freezer to increase her stock of chicken, which will translate into higher income. Also, she will be able to sell her chicken cheaply because a deep freezer will allow her to reduce her transportation costs.
Rachel will repay her loan in 12 months.",F,700,lender,Food,1
Kenya,"Rachel Wahito Kungu is 30 years old and is a single mother of two children. The two children are in school. She supports her family through selling new shoes and clothes. She spends her time targeting customers who will buy her products. She does not make much in income, but she is not ready to give up for her childrens sake. She lives in a single-room, rented house. She purchases her products from the main market in downtown Nakuru. She wishes to rent a shop so that she can sell from there since this will attract more customers. With an ideally located shop, she would also earn more and be able to cater for her children more comfortably. Therefore, she is requesting a loan of US$ 900 to enable her to meet her goals. The following is her budget for the loan:
US$ 250 to rent a shop for her business US$ 100 to pay for municipal council license for the shop US$ 500 to buy enough stock for both shoes and clothes US$ 50 for transporting her goods to the shop. She is hardworking and determined to give her children the best education. With her enthusiasm, she will be able to pay back the loan.
She is requesting for a loan of US$ 550. US$200 will be for transport, US$ 100 for refrigeration and the rest will buy more stock. She believes that with increase in stock she will earn more income since there is a ready market for these products. This will help her earn more income to educate her child and raise their living standards.",F,550,lender,Food,1
Kenya,"Rahab is 43 years old. She is married with 3 children. She is a member of ACK church in the landless area. A born-again Christian, she has been a stronghold in the running of the group activities. Due to the honesty and discipline in running the group activities, the groups revolving fund has shown a growth trend and has enabled the group to move into the third stage of group development with ease.
Rahab is a primary school teacher. She has employed a farm-hand to assist her in starting a dairy project. She has applied for a loan of USD750 to purchase a dairy cow. The loans committee has approved this loan. Rahab will repay the loan on a monthly basis.",F,750,lender,Agriculture,1
Kenya,"Rahab is 65 years old. She belongs to Mukumu Helen Women's Group. She lives in Gitahambo Muranga. She is widowed with 5 grown-up children. She is a member of Mukumu ACK church and is an active member of the Mothers Union.
Rahab is a farmer. In her farm, she has a lot of tea bushes and also keeps dairy cows. She sells 4 litres of milk a day. She hopes to buy a high-breed cow, which would produce more milk for sale, when she gets a loan of USD 575 through the group. She contributes very well to the revolving fund.",F,575,lender,Agriculture,1
Kenya,"Rahab Ngonyo Njoroge is 39 years old. Her hardworking husband is a bus fare attendant. They live together with their two children in a rented two room house which is in a middle class area. Their children are in public schools at the moment and she would like to send them to good private schools. She sells used shoes in a busy bus stop (where her husband operates). She gets her goods from the capital, Nairobi. She transports them to the town where her business is located. Her business is doing well; at the time when we visited her business she was busy with clients who were selecting her wares. She is requesting a loan of US$ 700 to boost her business by adding more stocks. She will purchase used shoes stock of US $650 and will use US $50 to pay the local government fees.",F,700,lender,Retail,1
Kenya,"Rahab Waithera of Kabati, Naivasha, Kenya is 30 years old and a widow with two children. Rahab is a single mother and the breadwinner to her children. Rahab was introduced to the prostitution profession by her peers. She has been undergoing rehabilitation from prostitution and she is now a peer educator. During her rehabilitation, she was introduced to Ebony Foundation. Rahab believes this loan opportunity to be a good idea since she is interested in business and has no money for all that she needs. Rahab wants to get into the grocery business. She is sure of a steady market and is sure of increased profitability so she has requested a loan of $900. She will use the loan amount as follows: $200 to purchase assorted household products; $500 to purchase greens like cabbages, kale, potatoes, carrots, onions, bananas, etc.; $100 for transportation; and $100 for minor repairs of her stand.
Rahab has been attending the Ebony Foundation's Business Skills training workshop and is a member of the Fountain of Hope Women Group. She is hopeful that she will be able to take care of her two children and get out of prostitution. Through the group she will receive a loan that will be a source of employment to her and a means to support all of her dependents.",F,900,lender,Food,1
Kenya,"Ramadham started his business after discontinuing primary education following the death of both his parents. He has been in business since 1998, at first trying out different things to simply make a living. He has no formal training but used his natural skills to fend for himself and younger siblings. Ramadhan is now a father of five children, four in primary school and one still at home, 2 boys and 3 girls. His wife is a housewife. Ramadan deals in Jaggery sugar (or brown sugar) which is used to make drinks. He buys the sugar from cane grinders where he buys in bulk and sells retail at market centers. He moves from one market to the other according to local market days. Right now his stock can be estimated as being worth 13,000 Kenya shilling (about US$ 200).His daily income ranges from 700 to1000 Kenya shillings ($12-$15/day). Due to limited capital, Ramadham is forced to restock frequently which adds to his overhead due to high transportation costs. His main challenge in the business is lack of enough capital to meet the demands of his customers. At times he is forced to hide from them when he is not able to deliver their orders. With the proposed loan of $325, Ramadham hopes to increase his stocks and be able to meet the demand for Jaggery sugar. Through his business he has been able to purchase a small piece of land where he hopes to build a small home for his family and maybe own some dairy cows. Ramadhan hopes that in future he will be able to purchase his own grinding machine, thus making his business more profitable.",M,325,lender,Food,1
Kenya,"Rampei is married with five children. She is an active member of Naserian Women Group. She started a small kiosk in 1999 in Kipiro centre Kajiado with the help of small savings at the group level. She started with selling mandazi and tea to employees of a flower company in the neighbourhood. Out of the income, she was able to expand her food kiosk to a small shop at Kipiro centre, where she stocks maize flour, sugar, tea leaves, rice and green vegetables. Up until now she has been able to send her children to school and has also bought two cows and eight goats. Her business is doing well despite that she can no longer save due to school fees. Her plan is to build some rental houses once her business improves. This will materialize if she is granted a loan of USD 450 which will boost her shop stock.",F,450,lender,Retail,1
Kenya,"Raphael Gitundu Gathuru is 23 years old, and is single. He operates his own business of selling household items. Raphael is based in Ponda Mali open air market, where his stock of a variety of plates has limited his clients and his income as well. He plans to expand by adding more varied items, i.e., cups, cutlery, thermos flasks, to his stall to fulfill his customers' demands, but he lacks the funds. He would also like to improve the condition of his stall, and add space to be able to hold more stock. He requests a loan of US$600, which will be used to expand his stall and add stock. He will use US$450 to buy stock, US$100 to expand his stall, and US$50 to pay for a government license fee. He is focused and will repay the loan.",M,600,lender,Retail,1
Kenya,Raphael is a carpenter by profession and is married with 5 children. He has received some basic training in carpentry. He started his business with his first loan of $100 from PEMCI. The loan was successfully repaid. An enhanced second loan of $300 will enable him to increase workshop material so as to meet the demand of furniture in Jairos village. Part of the money will be used to buy timber directly from the sawmill cutting down on his cost and improving his margins. He is an active member of his community and vibrant business man. He employs three other persons this creating employment in the community. He has potential for growth and we are proud to be associated with him.,M,300,partner,Construction,0
Kenya,"Rashid is married with seven children, some in college and others in university. He has not undertaken any formal training. He is a dedicated Muslim leader at the local mosque. He owns three estates and the fourth one is under construction. He manages his business on a personal basis. Through his business, he has been able to educate his children and improve his living standards. He has also brought services to the community. With a loan from PEMCI, he plans to pay for his university childrens tuition fees and also complete his fourth building.",M,600,partner,Housing,0
Kenya,"Rashid Munyekenye has successfully finished repaying his first loan. He is married with seven children; two boys and a girl are in colleges and in university respectively. He has not undertaken any formal training. He used to clear and forward trucks crossing to Uganda but quit due to age; the job requires strong and energetic young blood. He is a dedicated Muslim leader at the local mosque. He owns three estates and the fourth one is still under construction. He manages his business on personal basis. Through his business, he has been able to educate his children and improve his living standard. He has also brought services to the community. With a second loan from KIVA through PEMCI, he plans to clear one of his son's fees so that he can be accepted to do his end-of-semester exams. Rashid says that having many children derails him from building his projects since eighty percent of his earnings go to school fees. But now he is able to set aside a small portion to repaying his loan monthly.",M,375,lender,Housing,1
Kenya,"Rebecca is 34 years old. She is married with five children. She has been educated to the O level. She is a member of PCEA church Olturoto (Lema) and her husband is a pastor in the church. Rebecca is a chairlady of Nashipae Women's Group. She is a hard working woman who saw the need to be independent. She started her business three years ago with the help of a WEEC loan. She knows how to deal with customers well, which increases her sales and thus, she earns more profit. With the help in group training she got, she has been able to save, meet her daily needs and send her children to school. Since the population in her area is increasing she wants to increase her stock. She requests a loan of $1200 to buy ten goats and two cows. She believes as time goes by and her business grows, she will be able to buy goats and cows to be sold to Kenya Meat Commission.",F,1200,lender,Agriculture,1
Kenya,"Rebecca is 37 years old. She is a single mother of two teenage girls. She is a member of Gakoigo ACK church, and one of the founding members of Maragwa Ushuhuda women group.
Being a single mother, she has to work hard to support her children and to develop her homestead. Because of this, she is a strong member of the group.
Rebecca has two main ways of generating income. Firstly, she carries out dairy farming. She is able to sell 4 litres of milk per day. She also runs a small retail shop at Gakoigo.
Being a member of Maragwa Ushuhuda, Rebecca is able to access credit from the groups revolving fund to fund her two projects. She has applied for a loan of USD 300 to enable her buy a new water tank. She intends to solve the water shortage problems that have been persistent during the dry period.
""During the dry period,"" says Rebecca, ""I have to go to the Maragwa River, which is far from my home. I cannot allocate the task to my children because they have to go to school. I find I spend many hours going to fetch water.
""If I can acquire a water tank with a carrying capacity of 3,200 litres, I will be able to harvest the rain water during the rainy season for use when the dry season sets in. This will leave me with more time to do my other duties.
Her application has been approved by the Maragwa Ushuhada loans committee and her repayment period will be 12 months.",F,300,lender,Agriculture,1
Kenya,"Rebecca is a married 34 years old woman with 2 children. She is a member of the Deliverance Church in Ongata Rongai, Kenya. She is an Usher her Church. Rebecca is an active member of the Church Road Women group. She always reminds the group of the need to follow the rules and regulations.
Regina's first loan was repaid earlier than programmed. She used the second loan of $429 to boost her second-hand clothing business during the festive seasons in December 2006. Although Regina is still repaying the earlier loan, she has approached us with a proposal to venture into New Clothes and Ladies Shoes, which we have agreed to fund in the amount of US$500. We believe that the combined income from the previous loan and this additional one will uplift her standards and business to a higher level.",F,500,partner,Clothing,0
Kenya,Regina is married woman with two children. She is a hawker in new clothes and keeps moving from market to market in Teso district. With the loan of US$450 she intends to increase her stock to meet the demand of her growing clients base. With the loan from PEMCI she plans to expand her services to other neighboring districts especially Bungoma and Busia districts. Regina is an active and progressive member of the local community and can be instrumental in bringing about some positive changes. Pemci uses such clients as role models and to mentor others wishing to start their own businesses.,F,450,partner,Clothing,0
Kenya,"Regina Kagwe is 40 years old and married with five kids. The first born is in grade five, the second born in grade 3, the third born is in kindergarten while the remaining two are too young to enter school. Her husband is unemployed and she is the sole bread winner. She caters for all her family s needs. Regina works hard to keep her children in school. She owns a food kiosk within the town centre in Nakuru city. She has a good customer base that consists of bus touts, taxi drivers and street vendors. Quite often she closes early having sold out the food in her kiosk. She would like to expand her business to meet this demand but lacks the capital to do so. She is requesting for a loan of US $700.
Her budget is: US $250 to purchase a fridge, US $300 to buy food and US $150 to decorate her business premises. She will be able to repay the loan.",F,700,lender,Food,1
Kenya,"Regina Kemunto Nyakundi is 37 years old and is married. She has two daughters who are all in school. Her husband is a construction worker who earns a meager salary which is not enough to service all the family needs. To supplement her income Regina sells fresh tomatoes in an open air market in town. Competition is stiff in the market, so she has to do what it takes to be on top. She gets to work earlier than the other vendors, in order to get the first fresh and the best supplies of tomatoes which come to the market from the rural areas. At times her efforts do not show results as she has limited capital to buy adequate tomatoes stocks. Of late she has been disappointing her loyal customers because she has limited stock. She needs to buy more stock and expand her business. She lacks the funds to carry out this expansion and is asking for US$ 600. She will buy tomatoes stocks worth US$ 550 and use US$ 50 to pay for the necessary license she needs from the local government.",F,600,lender,Food,1
Kenya,"Regina was born 35 years ago in Kiambu, Kenya. She is married with three children. All are in a public primary school in Lower Kabete in Kiambu. Regina is well educated and so she was elected the secretary of the group. She is a quick learner since she could fill books and do all calculations without much help from Micro Finance Officer. Like her colleagues in the group, Regina also heard how women have benefited from WEEC and KIVA loans from her friend. She was encouraged and joined WEEC.
Regina rears dairy cows. Currently she has two dairy cows which produce an average of 30 litres of milk daily. Her milk is sold to Limuru Dairy Farmers Cooperative society limited at usd 0.3 per litre.
Given a loan of USD 150, Regina intends to buy another dairy cow to increase milk production.",F,150,lender,Agriculture,1
Kenya,"Reginata is a mother of eight. She is a cereal seller who specializes in selling maize. She started her business in 1971 when she realized that there was an unmet demand for the product. Although she has not undertaken any training pertaining to the business she does, she has learnt from doing. She gets her stock from farmers during harvest season when the product is abundant, and stores the excess to sell later when supply is low. Through her business, she has acquired experience. Five of her chidren have finished schooling while the rest are still in school. With a loan from PEMCI, Reginata wishes to increase her cereal stock to meet the mounting demands of her customers.",F,75,partner,Food,0
Kenya,"Rehema Mwaka Kyalo is 25 years old. She is married and has two children. Apart from her children, she also takes care of her aged mother and three of her sisters children, since her sister is ailing. Rehema lives in Mlolongo town near the Mombasa-Nairobi highway.
Rehemas story is that of a woman with pure determination to succeed. After getting married she did not like idling around waiting for her husband to put food on her table. Therefore Rehema started off by saving Ksh 20 (about US$0.3) from every coin that her husband gave her to buy food for the day. She did it for 2 years until she managed to save Ksh 10,000 (US$150). With this money, Rehema rented a stall at Mlolongo for Ksh 1,000 a month. She then began to travel to rural areas where cereals are sold cheaply. She bought her first stock of cereals and started her sales business in year 2000. The business has been doing well, and now Rehema wants to expand it. She sees that the town is growing at a rapid rate, and therefore her supply may no longer be enough.
Rehema is asking for a loan of US$350, so that she can purchase a weighing machine and a variety of cereals. These additions will help Rehema earn more income and enable her to better support her dependants as well as the community at large. She intends to repay the loan within a period of 8 months.",F,350,partner,Food,0
Kenya,"Rehema Nekesa Heyi is 34 years old, married with two children, and expecting a third child this year. She lives within the Kayole area of Nairobi. Rehema is the sole breadwinner for her family since her husband was retrenched from Kenya Airways. Rehema also takes care of her aging mother.
Rehema began selling kales in 1993 after receiving Ksh 700 (USD 10) from her husband. From her proceeds of selling kales, she began to save for almost eight months. Then, she bought several second-hand dresses from the Gikomba market, where her business is currently located. She began her business when she managed to acquire three bales of clothing and, with time, it expanded to almost five bales as the days went by. Unfortunately in 2003 Rehema went through a series of tragedies when a huge fire broke out in her area, and it consumed the entire Gikomba market. She lost her business. Shortly after this, her husband was retrenched from Kenya Airways Company where he was working. They were both left without a means to earn a living. However, Rehema decided to fight on, and she began to pick up her business slowly. It still continues to date, though she finds that she keeps running out of stock since her operating capital is low.
Rehema is now requesting a loan in order to increase the stock in her business, and she desires to buy five bales of second-hand clothing. Most residents in Nairobi rely on second-hand clothing as their main source of clothing since it is cheaper; hence, the majority of the people can afford it. A loan of US$800 will allow Rehema to expand her business and will help her to further establish good relationships with her clients. It will also allow her to employ more people to help her. It is her vision that after she has acquired more savings from the additional bales of clothing she will get through this loan, she will be able import a container of second-hand clothes and increase her income.
Rehema expects to repay this loan in 12 months.",F,800,partner,Clothing,1
Kenya,"Renne Atieno Yogo is 26, married and the mother of three children. Renee runs a pharmacy shop which she took over from her husband after he got employed. The business is situated in Miwani Juakali, which is in the outskirts of Kisumu City, Western Kenya. Most of her clients come from Juakali center and Miwani Sugar factory and its environs.
Renne got introduced to KADET by a neighbor who was already a member. She joined and took her first loan of 10,000 Kenyan shillings. She plans to diversify her business with this loan. She therefore intends to expand her other business of selling window curtains. Her future hope is to expand her businesses and become a wholesaler.
About KADET
The Kenya Agency for the Development of Enterprise and Technology (KADET) is committed to economically empowering its clients by providing financial services to rural communities in order to relieve suffering and improve living conditions within those communities.",F,150,partner,Health,0
Kenya,"Reuben is a married man with ten children - three boys and seven girls. The first five are all in lower class, four are in upper class, and the last one is still at home. Reuben started his businness selling second hand clothes; he got his first capital from selling agriculture produce. He is also a farmer who grows vegetables. He operates from his own premises, where he started selling new clothes. He gets his stock from Kisumu, and his existing stock can be estimated at 20,000 kenya shillings (1USD is equivalent to sixty-seven Kenya shillings). His weekly profits range between 300 to 4500 Kenya shillings. His main challenges are during low demand. This is between January and March as people get busy with school fees and preparing their farm. He is able to meet the increased demand during harvesting and holidays. Through his business he has been able to take care of his children's school fees, take care of their farm, and also bring services closer to the community. His shop is located at Likolis trading center near Busia town. Reuben was educated to standard eight but he had to drop out due to lack of school fees. This is his third loan from PEMCI.",M,375,lender,Clothing,1
Kenya,"Reuben Wangombe Kihuma is 44 years old, and is married with four children. He is the sole bread winner for his family. He is an old client of Ebony Foundation and has received several loans, all of which he has repaid in full. Reuben sells second hand clothes in the open air market. This is the only source of income for his family. He is planning to expand his business by adding more stock of clothes to his business. He is projecting an increase in income and hence an improvement of his family's standard of living. He is requesting a loan of US$550 to purchase four (4) bales of second hand clothes to add to his current stock and expand his business. He is well organized and ready to work. He is planning to involve his wife in the business after babysitting their young baby. He believes that this will change his life completely. He is hard working and capable of repaying the loan.",M,550,lender,Clothing,1
Kenya,"Rhoda is married and a mother of four: 3 boys and a girl. She is a widow, having lost her husband 10 years ago. Rhoda is a fishmonger and has taken out loans in the past in order to help her fish business.
This is her second loan with PEMCI but first with Kiva. Her first loan of $150 was used to boost her fish stocks. Similarly, she plans to use this second loan of $300 to boost her stocks further. Her plan is to be able to buy bulk stocks of dried fish and to sell them to retailers in the various markets she travels to. She normally buys her fish from places as far as Uganda (one of countries neighbouring Kenya) and her outlet is located in her local trading centre of Duka Moja in Kenya.
Her current stocks are valued at about 13,000 Kenyan Shillings (US$195). Through her business, Rhoda has been able to educate her children and to develop her small farm from which they get their food.
Like many other single mothers who are a common phenomenon in her community, Rhoda is struggling to bring up her young family single-handedly. We greatly encourage the empowerment of women like Rhoda as a way of enabling them to break away from the scourge of poverty. This is a project worthy of Kiva's support and that of our partners. Highly recommended.",F,300,lender,Food,1
Kenya,Rhoda is married with six children. She is the chairlady of Naserian Womens Group. She attends Baptist Church Rivet. She started her business with three steers with the help of her husband and a group loan three years ago. At the moment her stock has ten steers which is up from initial three. The steers will be ready for market in early March. Her main customers are at Isinya town though she now wants to start selling at the Kenya Meat Commission where the prices are better. She wants to add three young steers after she sells the stock she has now. She is a hardworking lady who has the best dreams for her family. She is willing to repay her loan on a monthly basis.,F,450,lender,Agriculture,1
Kenya,"Rhoda is married with six children. Two of her children are married and the others are still in school. Rhoda is the chairlady of Namunyak women's group and also an active member at Noosuyian Baptist Church. She started her retail business in 1999 with a stock of USD180. Rhoda's customers are usually Enkingiri residents. After two years, Rhoda had increased her stock to USD370 and managed to buy a plot in Isinya from the profits that she made. She also built a rental house from which she earns USD180 per month. Rhoda took a loan from WEEC worth USD450 which she used to purchase dairy goats; she sells the goats' milk to local Isinya residents. Once given this loan she will be able to increase the stock in her retail shop as she has increased demand.",F,750,lender,Retail,1
Kenya,"Rhoda is married with two children. Both have finished schooling. She has undertaken training in Hotel Management but now she is a retired hotel manager. She is a caretaker of Chamasiri orphanage center and a member of the local women's church group where they deal with women empowerment. Rhoda started her business in 2002 to support her family. With the help of a loan of $150 from PEMCI, she hopes to expand her business. Through her business she will be able to support her family, the orphanage and the activities of the church.",F,150,partner,Food,0
Kenya,"Rhoda is the lady in a blue skirt holding a bunch of bananas. This photograph was taken during one of the PEMCI group meetings held at her place. Rhoda has just completed her 2nd Loan with PEMCI and 1st with Kiva. Rhoda has great leadership skills. She is the coordinator of several PEMCI community groups in her local area of Chemasiri. These include Chamasiri Jua Kali womens group of 13 members, Akikodo Group of 12 members and Aberukore womens group of 13 members. The members are all involved in different enterprises, such as bicycle repairs and sales, honey farms, cereal trade, and groceries. Rhoda operates a fruit stand at Chamisiri market. She sells eggs, peanuts, pawpaw, bananas, pineapple, avocado, and other seasonal fruits. The stall stands in front of an empty storeroom where the PEMCI Group meetings are conducted. Rhoda hopes that with future loans this storeroom will be filled with goods to sell. Rhoda is a big motivator for local women in her community. With the requested loan of $375 Rhoda plans to diversify her business to improve her income. This includes the buying of dried cereals which she can then sell when demand is high and supply low. This would bring her substantial income while the fruit business would provide for her day to day expenses. Through her business activities Rhoda has been able to support her husband in meeting the needs of their family. As role models in their community, they are well respected.",F,375,lender,Food,1
Kenya,"Rhoda was born 42 years ago; she is married and has three children. She is an active member of sacred mothers women group. She has benefited a lot from trainings she has received through WEEC. She is employed in a Farmers Sacco as a clerk and she runs a milk business in her local market. She is not able to raise all the fees for her children. She is hoping to top up her income with the loan she will get and clear the fees for next term. From this, her milk business because she will not drain all the savings she has made and it will grow. Paying school fees is her first priority and she believes in giving her children quality education. Servicing her loan will not be cumbersome because she will be using monthly income from her milk sales.",F,300,lender,Food,1
Kenya,"Richard Kiprono Kitur, aged 41 years, is married with 5 children, all in school except one. He buys and sells farm products as a business. He lives with his ailing, aged parents.
His business does well but despite this, between meeting medical expenses and paying for education, there is hardly any money left. Therefore he wants to expand his business to increase his income by increasing acreage to have more farm products to sell. He has broad experience in farming and trading in the same products. He has the ability to manage the business but lacks the funds. He requests funding of US $800:
US $400 for purchase of farm inputs;
US $200 to hire a land for farming;
US $200 for plowing.",M,800,lender,Agriculture,1
Kenya,"Richard Marere is 56 years old. He has a family of six children. He also takes care of one of his brothers children. The brother died two years ago from some heart complications and the mother (sister in-law) stays upcountry because she was not working and could not afford the high cost of living in the urban centre.
Due to his disadvantaged background, Marere did not go through much of the formal system of education, something that he was not very proud to discuss. He has worked in various ""juakali"" (informal sector) casual jobs. It is in his endeavor to look for a better job that he got a chance to work with Kenya Airways. This exposed him to various skills at work. While working there, he got some training and experience in mechanical engineering. This motivated him to start up his own garage from the benefits he received after working with the Kenya airways. He owns Fort Auto Garage located at Fort Jesus in the middle of the Kibera slums. He has been able to run the garage for the last nine years.
In his effort to expand the business, he applied for a loan of $ 235 from Kenya Commercial Bank, which he used to buy a welding machine. He managed to repay the loan. He is now asking us to offer him a loan of $ 225 in kind to help him buy a vehicle spray-painting machine, a tool that is very vital in his garage. This will help him diversify his business. He will also get a helping hand to be able to serve the increased clients. Already he has a few people in the garage whom he trains as they work together. He pays them some small wages to help them meet the very basic needs. If the work increases and he gets more earnings, Marere is willing to consider paying them better wages and to offer semi-permanent employment. The repayment period for the loan is 12 18 months.",M,225,lender,Services,1
Kenya,"Richard Ondieki Oruta is a 36-year-old married entrepreneur with three children who are all in school. Richard dropped out of school in senior grade two, for lack of school fees. He worked with his parents for 5 years and raised enough capital to fund a small business selling charcoal and vegetables. He later opened a blacksmith workshop, leaving his wife to run the green-grocer and charcoal business. He makes farm tools like axes and hoes. He has a good market but he is unable to maximize his market sometimes he hasnt got enough tools for sale for lack of raw materials. Richard and his wife still struggle to make enough to educate their children and meet the day-to-day needs of their family. He would like to increase his income by fully supplying his business market but lacks capital.
He requests a US $1200 loan:
To buy metal, US $600
To buy a bigger working table, US $300
To buy a bigger welding machine, US $ 300
This will enable him to save for his childrens higher education and improve their current living standard. He is focused and will repay the loan.",M,1200,lender,Manufacturing,1
Kenya,"Rispa Wanjiku Njau is 40 years old. She is a single mother with two children and they are still in school. Her husband is a teacher in a nearby school. She is an active member of Ngombe Bora Women's Group and he contributes to the revolving fund.
She lives at her farm in Nyakaguma, Maragwa. She runs an Agro-Chemical shop in Maragwa town and she confesses that its doing well and does well during rainy season since its a farming community. She sells animal feed and other products. The business is strategically located near the bus stage of Maragwa. She hopes to acquire a loan of USD575 to boost her business by buying 10 bags of animal feed and chemicals through the group. She is willing to repay within a period of 12 months.",F,600,lender,Agriculture,1
Kenya,"Rita is a 43 year old mother of 10 who sells tomatoes, onions, and fish at a roadside stand in Myanga, Bungoma Distrcit. Her small business has been operating since 1986, the predominant activity being buying tomatoes in bulk from Chwele and then reselling them to vendors and individual families in Myanga. On a market day, which occurs twice a week, Rita sells about 4 crates of tomatoes at a profit of 300 Kenya Schillings each (about 4.6 US Dollars). Vendors place their orders beforehand, and then Rita buys from her supplier accordingly. On non-market days Rita sells mostly retail, and can make a profit of about 100 Kenya Schillings from all of her products. One challenge that her business currently faces is that on market days, she has no tomatoes left over after selling to vendors. Consequently, she cannot meet the demand from individual families who wish to make purchases in smaller quantities. Rita hopes to address this obstacle with a Kiva loan, which she would invest in increasing her stock of tomatoes, as well as onions and fish. Rita is confident that there would be demand to meet the increased stock from her loan. Her increased capacity would grow her profits, and help her face the challenge of raising 10 children. Her husband is retired from his job as a water engineer, so much of the burden falls on her. Of her 10 children, 5 are currently in primary school, and the other 5 dropped out from secondary school because of a lack of resources to pay for school fees. While primary education is supposedly free in Kenya, there are still many other expenses that families face, including uniforms, books, tests, school upkeep, etc. Moreover, the steep costs of high school education must be completely paid by familieswhich makes secondary education a product of tremendous sacrifice, and in some cases an impossibility. Rita hopes that the 5 children currently in primary school will be able to achieve the level of education her other children could not.",F,150,partner,Food,0
Kenya,"Robert is a 25-year-old single, hardworking man who is paying school fees for his two younger sisters, who are now his responsibility. One is doing her O level exams this year and the other is enrolled at a college in Nairobi known as K.C.C.T. Apart from his two sisters, his aging diabetic mother also depends on him in taking care of her medical needs.
Robert started saving money when he was still employed as a clerk at the Metropolitan Hospital in the city of Nairobi. This was in the year 2005; through hard work, sacrifice, and determination, Robert managed to save Ksh 200,000 (USD 3075). With this money he bought two computers, a printer and a scanner; with the remaining money, he rented a stall in the heart of the town centre. He then started operating his computer bureau business in the year 2006, where he provides services in processing documents. Robert is always busy due to the location of his business, and he has managed to attract a large clientele.
In recent times, he has had an increase in the number of customers who need to get photocopies of documents. Unfortunately, Robert has been unable to fulfill their needs, since he lacks a photocopying machine. Robert is therefore kindly requesting a loan of USD 775 so that he can purchase a photocopier. This will greatly boost his business since he will be able to provide photocopying services to his clients who are in great need of this service. Robert intends to repay the loan within a period of 12 months.",M,775,partner,Services,0
Kenya,"Robert is a 51-year-old man. He is married with five children. He dropped out of school and has not undertaken any formal training, so he buys and sells livestock. He specializes in cattle, goats, and sheep. His stock is currently valued at around 15,000/= Kenya Shillings (US$ 235). Robert usually roams the Angurai, Malakisi, Myanga, and Mayanja markets to transact his business. He says that he usually buys and sells at the same market. He basically works for small differences at each sale.
Robert has successfully completed one loan. He argues that with a bigger loan, he will be able to buy more animals and if he succeeds in selling them on that same day, then he is able to go home with bigger profits.
With another loan from PEMCI through KIVA, Robert plans to invest more in his business.",M,500,lender,Agriculture,1
Kenya,"Robert is a repeat client and an active member in one of PEMCIs groups. He is requesting a third loan after successfully repaying the second one. He is a livestock trader based at Malakisi Trading Centre. He buys and sells goats and cattle from different market places and has been in the business for the last fifteen years. His main customers are butchers and livestock farmers. On a good day, he sells three to four goats. With the previous loans, Robert has been able to increase on the number of heads that he trades.
He is married and a father of eight children, one of whom is independent. The rest are still in school. With the loan from PEMCI, he plans to increase his herd of cattle for trade and, if possible, open up his own butchery. This, he says, will increase his turnover. He plans to see his children go through higher education and be able to get good jobs unlike himself.
Disclaimer: Due to recent events in Kenya, the security situation in many communities remains unsettled, affecting many local businesses. Lenders to this entrepreneur should be aware that this loan may represent a higher default risk, and should be willing to accept this additional risk in making their loan.",M,325,lender,Agriculture,1
Kenya,"Robert is an active longtime member with PEMCI and is requesting his third loan having completed the second one successfully. He is a physically challenged elderly man and a tailor at Malakisi Trading Centre. In the same premises he operates a shop, which he runs in partnership with his wife. The previous loans enabled Robert to expand his business. With the profits, he was able to build a house for his son, pay for his childrens school fees, and develop his farm. He bought a dairy cow and some goats to keep. Though Robert is disabled, he is a very busy person, always on duty every day and a devoted Christian. He is an active member of his local Catholic church.
Robert is a trained tailor, specialized in dressmaking. He gets his materials from Bungoma town and Nairobi city. In addition, for the shop, he gets stock from wholesalers at Malakisi and sometimes Bungoma. His daily profit ranges between KES 400 and KES 500. He is a father of twelve children and a husband to three wives. With the loan from PEMCI, Robert plans to increase the stock of his materials. He also plans to increase the stock of the shop.
Disclaimer: Due to recent events in Kenya, the security situation in many communities remains unsettled, affecting many local businesses. Lenders to this entrepreneur should be aware that this loan may represent a higher default risk, and should be willing to accept this additional risk in making their loan.",M,325,lender,Services,1
Kenya,"Robert Kamau is a 34-year-old married man. He lives in Malindi with his wife and two children. The children attend junior school and are in grades one and three. His aging parents also depend on him. To support his family, Robert operates a bicycle taxi service. This service is commonly used by the local population since it cheap and offers door-to-door transportation. He wants to increase his income base so that he can save for his childrens education as well as his growing family demands.
To achieve this, he plans to upgrade his bicycle and fit it with a motor engine using new mechanical technology. With this new bicycle he will be able to carry his passengers with ease and also cover longer distances. Thus he will be able to make more money.
He is requesting for a loan of US $ 600 to enable him to buy this bicycle and US$ 200 to pay for the necessary license fees. Roberts desire to improve his familys lifestyle will drive him to achieve maximum gains out of this venture.",M,800,lender,Retail,1
Kenya,"Robert Kiriangi Mugambi is a 26-year-old, married businessman. Robert sells miraa, a popular Kenyan stimulant. Miraa is a plant; it harvests its tender new shoots of 6-7 inch in length. Robert's wife, Agnes, sells potatoes in the sprawling Kongowea market.
Robert's life has always been very difficult. He dropped out of school in grade four. He later went to the northern part of Kenya -- Wajir -- where he started a business selling miraa. There, he was only to be prevented from continuing this business when the area became unstable and cattle raiders started to invade the town. Robert has been running this business for several years as a middleman; he markets the miraa and gets a percentage on every bunch sold. Recently, Robert started buying his own small stock wholesale and then retailing it at the market in the morning as well as from a small roadside shack in the afternoons. He has managed to build up a good clientle, but despite this, his family's living conditions are still quite poor. Robert would like to stock more miraa so as to increase his sales and thus increase his earnings as well. However, he lacks capital. He is requesting a loan of US$ 450. This is his budget : US$ 400 to buy miraa and US$ 50 for transport. Robert is determined and will repay the loan. Rodah has been involved in tea farming for a long time and thus she has gained lots of experience. She supplies the tea to one of the biggest tea factories in Kenya. However, she faces many challenges, including poor roads due to rainy seasons and thus high transportation costs. She also has insufficient capital to expand the business since the money that she gets goes to family needs.
She has always had the desire to expand her farm so that she can have more income and thats why she has requested for a loan of US$1200, which she plans to use as follows: US$600 to purchase a piece of land, US$400 to buy seedlings and fertilizers, US$100 to pay laborers to till the land, and US$100 for transportation. Rodah is a very hardworking woman and she will be able to repay the loan in time.",F,1200,lender,Agriculture,1
Kenya,"Rodah Munini Mweleli is a 30-years old. She is married and has a seven-year-old child in junior school, grade one. She lives with her husband in Kibera slums. She is a member of Amua, a woman's self-help group. Though her husband earns minimum wage, he has to support his parents who live in the rural areas and still meet his family's daily needs. Rodah and her husband started a small grocery which sells tomatoes, onions, kales, cabbages, potatoes, and other foodstuffs to try and raise their living standards. But due to the insecure situation of living in the slums, the grocery shop has been a target of break-ins, during which all her stock is stolen and she is forced to re-stock from scratch. These break-ins have convinced her of the need to relocate her business to a safer area. She is requesting a loan of $825: $500 to buy more stock and $325 to rent in a safer area. Despite the challenges facing her, Rodah is determined to prosper in her business.",F,825,lender,Food,1
Kenya,"Rosa Bartason is a 34year-old lady, a business entrepreneur who is single with two children, all in junior schools. She stays at Greens Estate in Nakuru town and she owns a pub at the town. She dropped out of school at the high school level, and despite that, her desire to prosper made her to start a pub. The pub has greatly expanded and now Rosa is a very happy woman. From the returns she gets from the business, she is able to pay school fees for her two children and provide basic necessities for her elderly parents. Her good customer relationships have made her to have a wide range of clients, and thus she makes a lot of profit. Rosa is a very business-oriented woman, and now she has plans of starting another business of selling charcoal. She will employ one person to run the business. She has already identified where she will be purchasing the charcoal, that is from Marigat, approximately 100 kilometers from Nakuru town. She also has the clients she will be supplying the charcoal to. However, she does not have enough capital to start the business since what she earns is barely enough to cater for her family and her business. She has thus requested $900, and she has planned for it as follows: $150 will cater for transport; $100 to get the municipal license; $100 to lease a permanent business premise; $550 to buy the charcoal. Rosa is a self-driven, ambitious woman who will repay the loan in time.
Disclaimer: Due to recent events in Kenya, the security situation in many communities remains unsettled, affecting many local businesses. Lenders to this entrepreneur should be aware that this loan may represent a higher default risk, and should be willing to accept this additional risk in making their loan.",F,900,lender,Food,1
Kenya,"Rosalid is married with three children who are in college. She is an active member of Gaitheri Faithful Mothers and has benefited a lot from group loans and trainings. She has been able to pay fees for her children through her teaching profession substituting it with her farm output. She has also built rental rooms in her farm to top up other sources of income. To her, diversifying to many businesses has been great and has enabled her to be strong and responsible. From all this businesses, dairy farming is exception and has proved to very manageable despite having a low quality breed. She is planning to buy a higher grade breed to maximize her milk supply leading to good income inflow. She is very determined to educate her children with the income accumulated from her sources.",F,600,lender,Agriculture,1
Kenya,"Rosalind was born 50 years ago in Kiambu Kenya. She is married with 5 children. Her husband lost his job three years ago. At that time three of her children were still in college. Rosalind did not give up and she had to think outside the box. Together with her husband, they joined hands and worked very hard to make sure all their children have completed college by working their small plot of land. Rosalind is a God fearing person.
Like her fellow colleagues, she joined WEEC after being told by a friend on how KIVA loans have boosted many businesses in the area. Rosalind rears dairy cattle without grazing. Rosalind is serious about her business since dairy farming is her family's only source of income. Currently she has four dairy cows. She sells her milk to Limuru Dairy Farmers Cooperative Society Limited at usd 0.3 per litre.
Given a loan of USD 150, she will be able to buy another dairy cow.",F,150,lender,Agriculture,1
Kenya,"Rosalinda Macharia is a 32-year-old widow. She has four adopted children aged 12, 16, 18, and 22, who lost their parents to the HIV/AIDS scourge. One of them, Louise Kinyua, who is 12, is physically handicapped. Rosalinda also takes care of her ageing grandmother. Both Louise and the grandmother require constant medical treatment and frequent check-up. To support her family, the orphans and her grandmother, Rosalinda operates a transport business and sells general merchandise like baby outfits, ladies' wear, jeans and jackets. Rosalinda wants to expand her business so that she can better provide for her family. She has requested a loan of US$1,200: US$800 to purchase assorted clothing, and US$400 to service the vehicle and improve the transport business. She is a hard-working woman and believes that she will be able to repay the loan.",F,1200,lender,Clothing,1
Kenya,"Rose (shown standing attending to a client) is the proprietor of Beverly Hills Salon based in the Nyalenda slums in Kisumu, Kenya. She started her salon in 1997 from her small savings. The salon is located in a densely populated area on the way to Dunga beach. Rose lives with her husband and one school-going child.
Rose has applied for US $500 to enable her to renovate the salon which is in bad shape and also to purchase cosmetics and a hair drier.",F,500,partner,Services,0
Kenya,"Rose Achieng Atieno sells assorted cereals in Kisumu, Kenya. Her market stand carries maize, beans, and rice among other varieties. Wholesale cereal sellers are located in Busia town, which is located on the Kenya-Uganda border. Rose cannot afford the cost of travel in order to buy directly from Busia town, so she purchases her cereals from middle men in Kibuye market (a large open air market in Kisumu).
Rose is requesting her first loan of $250 USD so that she can travel to Busia town directly. There she can purchase cereals from the wholesaler herself, without buying through middlemen. She has calculated that the discounted wholesale price will pay for the cost of travel and also provide her with extra profits.
Rose is 35 years old and married with seven children. She and her husband have three girls and four boys. Two of the children are in secondary school, while the rest are still in primary school. Rose will be using profits from her cereal sales to pay for school fees for her children.",F,250,partner,Food,0
Kenya,"Rose Achieng Okwaro is 34 years old. She is married and has five children who all attend junior school. Two of them will join senior school next year. Her husband works as a technician at a manufacturing company while she sells second-hand ladies clothes at Kongowea market in Mombasa. She has been in this business for ten years now and her earnings have assisted in catering for her familys needs. However, due to the growing household demands, their combined incomes are not enough to cater adequately for their needs. Thus she plans to increase her earnings by selling larger volumes of clothes and in different varieties, such as babies' and mens clothes. Given the high number of clients that regularly buy at this market, she is certain that she will increase her daily earnings once she has more items for sale. She is requesting a loan of US$650: US$300 to increase her stock, US$ 300 to buy used babies' clothes and US$ 50 for transport. Rose is a skilled businesswoman and will certainly meet her desired sales targets and generate revenue that will help her business grow as well as repay her loan.",F,650,lender,Clothing,1
Kenya,"Rose Achieng Orunga is 52 years old and separated from her husband. She has 4 children. She lives within Kibera in Nairobi.
From 1986 - 1997 Rose worked at Image Salon in Nairobi. She decided to leave Image Salon and start her own business because of her poor salary (Ksh 3000, USD 44 per month), which was not enough to sustain herself and her family. With the initial capital of Ksh 10,000 (USD 147), which she got from a merry-go-round group, she rented a stall for Ksh 700 (USD 10). With the the rest of the capital she bought a second-hand blow dryer, two chairs, and chemicals.
Rose's business has continued to grow and Rose recognizes that the demand for her services is stronger than she can provide as a single business owner (customers flock to her stall because of her expertise in applying chemicals and also plaiting). Rose wants to retain her clients, and therefore asks for a loan of Ksh 7500 (USD 125). With this loan she will be able to purchase 5 chairs and a blow dryer. This will greatly improve her service to her clients since the current equipment is prone to breaking down. Also, the purchase of chairs will allow her clients to sit while they wait, which will match the customer-friendly atmosphere she wants to create. Rose is looking forward to creating a salon that allows her clients to be comfortable as they wait for her popular services.
The repayment period for this loan is 10 months.",F,125,lender,Services,1
Kenya,"Rose Akinyi Odhiambo, 38, is married with two children. Her primary business activity is a nursery school and a home care center. She started off with less than 10 children in 1998 and has since expanded to 60 children. She says that her main reason for starting the nursery/baby care was because of her love for children and desire to see them grow and also for profit to take care of her family's needs.
They would like to buy more stock of bananas to ensure that there are no stock-outs as it has happened before. They would also like to buy these bananas directly from the farmers because this will increase their margins and they will have less hassle with the brokers. Other business people buy from these brokers due to lack of enough capital to get the stock from the source. They will profit more by buying from the source. She is requesting a loan of $650. $570 will be used to buy the stock of bananas and $80 to cater for transport costs. She believes that this will raise their income. They are a united couple and capable of paying the loan.,F,650,lender,Food,1
Kenya,"Rose Auma Awuor, 36, is married with three children aged 6, 8, and 16 respectively; all are enrolled in school. Rose is the breadwinner for her family with an educational background of only Grade 2. She didnt manage to go to school longer due to lack of school fees. She ekes out a living selling fish and fingerlings. Rose has been buying from a supplier who gets an exorbitant profit margin, in her opinion. She believes that if she bought from the fishermen directly she would make more profit so as to support her family easily. As she talked to the Ebony Foundation loan officer, Rose described her vision of buying direct from the source. She is determined to be a successful entrepreneur and she plans to do this by getting to the market quality products. She can only achieve this by buying fish fresh from the lake and bringing them to market quickly. All these dreams come with costs which Rose can not meet without loan capital. She is certain that her business will do well if she can avoid purchasing from her present suppliers. By purchasing direct, she will be the best. Rose believes that if she is able to make her vision a reality, her business will generate a lot of income to cater for her familys financial needs. She requires a capital input of US$ 800 and her budget is as follows: $100 to transport fish from Kisumu, $300 to purchase fresh fingerlings to be dried, $300 to purchase fresh tilapia for cooking, and $100 to purchase cooking oil. Rose is hardworking and determined to achieve her vision for her micro-enterprise.",F,800,lender,Food,1
Kenya,"Rose is 32 years old and a single parent of 2 children who are in primary school. She lives in a two roomed house and has divided one of the rooms into two converting one side to a business premises. She specializes in sewing school uniforms and has employed one person who markets the products to various markets during market days. The business earns her an average of US $ 35 per week. She utilizes the income to provide for her family and to support her aging parents.
Rose has recently been contracted by two local schools to supply Pullovers and School uniforms. She is requests for a loan of US $ 1,500 to expand her business and supply the school contract. Her budget is: US $ 400 to purchase assorted sewing yarns, US $ 500 assorted school uniform fabric, and US $ 500 to purchase an over locks sewing machine and US $ 100 to purchase elastics, pins, buttons, zips and stiffening gum. This will increase her income to US 80 per week enabling her improve her familys livelihood.
She also plans to employ another person to assist her. It is from the profits that she intends to rent a premise for her business and also move to a 3 roomed house to give more room to her adolescent boy and girl. She is a business focused lady and she will be able to repay the loan.",F,1500,lender,Services,1
Kenya,"Rose is 32 years old and married with four children. Her first born is in primary school grade six, the second born is in primary school grade four and her two smallest children are still at home. Rose's husband works with the local government.
Rose started her business three years ago. She sells shoes and clothes, which she gets from Kampala town in Uganda. She sells them in Malaba town. Her current inventory is estimated at KES 20,000 ($320 USD). Through this business Rose has been able to sustain her family and meet their basic needs. High competition and sometimes higher transport costs pose major challenges to her business endeavors, especially in the December festive season where transport costs nearly double. Given a loan by PEMCI, Rose plans to increase her inventory.
Rose is a born again Christian and an active member of the Pentecostal Church.",F,175,lender,Retail,1
Kenya,"Rose is 42 years old. She is married with 4 children who are all in school. Rose is a member of Deliverance Church. She believes in living a humble life and in putting God first in whatever she does. She has contributed a lot to the unification of Karaba Umoja women's group through her bible teachings. She is a strong member of this group and always makes her contributions according to the group rules.
To earn a living Rose practices mixed farming. She grows mainly bananas and maize. She also keeps dairy cattle. She generates her income from the sale of bananas and milk. She is able to sell 10 liters of milk per day. Rose is a good example to other dairy farmers in her group. She is able to provide her family with enough milk and get enough to sell. Her plan is to keep the yield from her dairy cows high. She has applied for a loan of USD150 to enable her buy enough dairy feeds and other dairy supplements to be able to practice good livestock management. The group has approved her loan and the repayment period will be 12 months.",F,150,lender,Agriculture,1
Kenya,"Rose is a trained nurse/midwife who manages her own private facility in Nakuru, Kenya. She is 49 years old and a mother of 5 children, two of whom are still in school. After finishing training as a nurse/midwife in 1985, Rose initially worked with the Ministry of Health. After 9 years, she resigned from the government job and joined Mariostopes International, where she worked until 2001, when she opened her own private clinic in one of the slums of Nakuru where most of her clients come from. Rose offers a wide range of health services, including general curative , family planning, and maternal and child health. In addition, she also runs a pharmacy, a laboratory, and a theatre. Rose attributes her success to hard work, perseverance, and financial assistance from KMET. She currently needs a loan of US$1,200 to be able to expand the clinic and to purchase an additional stock of drugs.",F,1200,partner,Health,0
Kenya,"Rose is a widow. She has five children, three in secondary and two in primary schools. She is a trained primary school teacher and she teaches at a nearby school. She started her business last year in order to supplement her salary. She gets her stock from the farmers during harvest seasons and sells them when the supply is low. This is her second loan with PEMCI. The first loan enabled her to expand her business, so she was able to pay school fees for her children in secondary school, and she was also able to develop her farm. With a second loan from PEMCI, she intends to increase her stock further.",F,300,partner,Food,0
Kenya,"Rose is married but has no children. Her business includes clothing making and designing. She has been in the business since 1990. This is her second loan from PEMCI, but 1st applied for with Kiva. The 1st Loan of $150 was repaid successfully. With the help of the first loan, Rose was able to enlarge her business and as a result she needs a second loan so as to meet the increased demand. She also distributes school uniforms to the local schools in her community. With the help of a second loan from PEMCI, Rose intends to increase her stock and make more profits to enable her open a tailoring school as there is none in her home area. Rose is providing an important service in meeting the clothing and uniform needs of her local community. By buying from her instead of traveling to the nearby towns, the schools and the community are able to save on time and money. Well worth the support of Kiva.",F,450,partner,Clothing,0
Kenya,"Rose is married with 3 children. She is an active member of Njumbi Cathy Women group. She has benefited alot from WEEC trainings in her group and she feels the need to empower other women who feels money is a limitation. Her main source of income is fruits and vegetables business which she started with her first loan from the group. She feels good after seeing she shas made to pay some of fees for her children. SDhe is planning to diversify her business with Githeri. This food is the staple food thus meant for many residents. The client feels by starting this business her income will increase as her her customers might not only buy the Kitheri but vegetables and fruits from her other products.
In addition to the Kitheri she will stock her business with cereals such as maize, beans, green grams, black peas in near future.
She also rear a dairy cow which gives her USD 40 on monthly basis. Sales from her business and milk fetches her income which she feels if utilized appropriately will set the new business plan.the income has helped her to build a permanent house for her family. She is very determined to put impact in many young women lives by her hard work.",F,300,lender,Agriculture,1
Kenya,Rose is married with 3 grown children. She is a dedicated member of the Mathioya Womens Group and is very committed to group activities. She is a religious person who has a mission of helping disadvantaged children. She works very hard to improve her living standards by practicing farming on her land. She grows tea as a cash crop and cereals for both sale and consumption. She has a desire to venture in the stock market after attending a WEEC business management seminar on the stock market. She is willing to implement her skills and join the stockbrokers after accessing a loan. She has a good repayment record from her past small loans. She is promising to make her repayments with monthly tea sales.,F,150,lender,Food,1
Kenya,"Rose is married with four children, two of them in primary school. She started her shop business two years ago after selling her tobacco harvest. She started the shop so as to compliment/support her husbands income. The shop is doing well and with the loan of US$150 from PEMCI she intends to build up her stock and improve profitability. She intends to quit the tobacco growing business due to its health hazards.",F,150,partner,Retail,0
Kenya,"Rose is married with three children. She is a tailor by profession and married to a police officer. Her business includes clothes making and designing. She has been in the business since 1990 and is a repeat client of PEMCI. Rose successfully completed her first loan.
With the loans from PEMCI she has been able to diversify her tailor shop and open a barber shop. She bought two shaving machines, redecorated the shop and bought a car battery to supply the energy for shaving; she has no electricity. She also bought a few mirrors for use in the shop. These additions have enabled her to increase her daily income.
With another loan from PEMCI Rose intends to buy rolls of materials for her tailor shop in preparation for the festive season. She also intends to buy materials with colors affiliated with the political parties so that she makes tops that will easily sell in her area.",F,325,lender,Services,1
Kenya,"Rose is married with three children who are all in primary school. She has not undergone any training. She started her business in 2002 and through her business she provides for her family. Her business involves buying cereals from the local farmers and selling them at the nearest market. With a loan from PEMCI, she intends to increase her stock to be able to meet the demands of her customers which she has been unable to due to lack of enough capital. Through her business she has inspired many community women to enroll together and start up small scale businesses that enable them to raise their social status and provide basic necessities.",F,150,partner,Food,0
Kenya,"Rose Kamene is a 35 year old married woman with four children. Kamene also takes care of her niece from her elder sister who passed away in 2001. She lives in the Kiambiu slums in the city of Nairobi. Rose got married at a tender age to escape from the harsh realities of poverty. This was like jumping from the frying pan to the fire, as explained by Rose. She found herself with 4 children and living in the slums, something she had never thought would ever happen to her.
In the year 2001, armed with Ksh 120 (less than 2 dollars) from few savings, Rose started selling potato chips (fries) as a way of combating poverty. Her business improved and in the year 2006, Rose together with other women formed a womens group and registered with Action Now Kenya where she has been able to access a loan of Ksh 4,000 (USD 57). With this loan she was able to rent a small stall and also add to her stock of potatoes and cooking oil.
Rose now needs to expand her business because of the growing number of customers. She is therefore kindly asking for a loan of USD 250 to enable her purchase a jiko, a box like container for storing the potato chips and a chips cutting machine. This will make her work efficient and effective hence her customers will not have to wait while she cuts the potatoes manually. She hopes for increased number of customers hence translating to more income. The repayment period of the loan is 8 - 14 months.",F,250,lender,Food,1
Kenya,"Rose Kesabo is 36 years old and lives in the town of Bware in the Rongo District of Kenya. She is married to a local schoolteacher and has 6 children, all of whom are in school.
Rose has run a grocery stall in Bware since 2002. She grows the vegetables herself on her small farm and also sells fresh milk to the local community and at Achutti Market. With the profits from her business, Rose pays the school fees for her children and is able to meet her household expenses.
Rose would like to expand her business and begin selling cereals and maize. She has applied for a loan of $150 which she will use to purchase the stock of cereal and maize.",F,150,partner,Food,0
Kenya,"Rose Lepatei Sironka is married with six children, all of which have already completed their secondary education. She is the chairlady of the Naeku women's group, which campaigns for children's rights and fighting against early marriage. She attends P.C.E.A Olmerui. Rose started her beadwork business two years ago, and it is doing very well. She sells beads at Isinya and Kitengela. the income from her business has enabled her to send her children to school. She has applied for a loan of $300 to enable her to buy beads in bulk for her business. She is willing to repay this loan within 12 months",F,300,lender,Arts,1
Kenya,Rose Mali Kavale is a 25-year-old young entrepreneur. She sells second-hand clothes in Kongowea market in Mombasa at the Kenyan coast. Rose lives in a one-room house near the market. Rose has no professional qualification since her parents could not afford to educate her. She stayed at home helping them until two years ago when she got some money to start her business. She specializes in ladies' blouses; basically she opens a bale gives her customers who are also retailers the first chance to buy from her so that they can resell to consumers. She will then sell to consumers as well. She makes a little profit and after two days she opens another bale after selling the first bale. Her main challenge is to make her business grow since her profit is always sent back home to assist her parents and normally she has nothing left to inject back to the business. She requests a US $600 loan. The loan shall all be used to buy more bales of clothes. This will increase her turnover and improve her livelihood. She is determined and will repay the loan.,F,600,lender,Clothing,1
Kenya,"Rose married with five children all girls. The eldest is in class two. Two are still at home, yet to join school. Rose dropped out in standard six due to the inability of her family to support her education. Her husband is not employed but does odd jobs like cane cutting. Rose started her business three years ago in order to sustain her family. She received her initial capital from her husband. She operated her business at Myanga trading center, which is close to her home. She sells dried fish especially Omena (sardines) which she buys in wholesalers at the same place. On normal market day she is able to sell between 10-20 tins (locally known as Gorogoro) at the price of Ksh50/= each. During other days she operates from home, where her customers are mainly her neighbors. Apart from selling dried fish Rose also sells kerosene. She buys about 60 liters of kerosene from Mumias town, filling station and sells the same at her home place. She sells each 300 mls bottle at 20 shillings and makes a profit of 400 shillings per 60 liters. She usually sells this over 2-3 days. Through her business, Rose has been able to contribute to her family needs. She states her main challenge as lack of enough capital to meet the increasing demands of her customers. With the proposed loan of $100 from PEMCI, she plans to increase her stock of Omenas and kerosene by 60 more liters. With a total stock of about 120 liters of kerosene, this will take her 4-6 days to sell hence cutting down on transportation cost. She hopes to open a store one day. Rose is also a member of a self-help group in her local community know as Jembe Jembe Self-Help. Through this community organization they are able to support each other in promoting their welfare individually and collectively.",F,100,lender,Retail,1
Kenya,"Rose Misanya Wakwaubi is 39 years old. She is married and has three children. Rose and her husband work together selling vegetables such as cabbage, kale, tomatoes, carrots, and peppers. The family lives in a rented semi-permanent house in the town of Nakuru. All three of their children are in school, although Rose and her husband hardly make enough to meet the familys needs. Rose gets her vegetables from the main market in Nakuru and then transports them to her shed in the estate. She spends most of the profit she makes for transportation of the vegetables and paying for the municipal license; this pulls her down though she is hardworking and very determined to make life better for her family. She is therefore requesting a loan of US$ 600 to enable her to expand her grocery shop to be able to further meet her customers needs. This will earn her more income so that she is better able to support her family more comfortably. Below is how she plans to use the loan:
US$ 250 to expand the shop to allow for storage of more vegetables
US$ 200 to buy more vegetables to stock the shop
US$ 100 to pay for the municipal council license, and
US$ 50 for transportation of the vegetables from the market area to her shop.",F,600,lender,Food,1
Kenya,"Rose Murugi Macharia was born in 1965 in Kanunga, Kiambu. She is married with four children; two are in college while the other two are in secondary school. She is a religious person and a member of Kaspat Catholic church choir. Rose joined WEEC five years ago and since then serviced 6 loans and her last loan being USD1000. For the last 15 years, she has been rearing dairy cows through zero grazing. Currently, she has two dairy cows, which produces an average of 40 litres of milk daily. She sells the milk to the local co-operative society at the rate of $0.29. She also sells second-hand clothes at Banana Trading Centre. She sells in wholesale and retail. It is through the help of WEEC, that she has been able to raise and educate her children with ease. She has applied a loan of $1200, which she intends to buy another dairy cow and two bales of second hand clothes. She is willing to repay this loan within a span of one year.",F,1200,lender,Agriculture,1
Kenya,"Rose Ngendo Maara is a 51-year-old single mother of two children. She also takes care of two other children who still attend school. She earns her living by running a food vending service. The food she sells includes porridge and chapati (made from wheat flour), which is a popular meal for the market vendors especially for breakfast. The business is aptly located at the populous Kongowea market in Mombasa where she is assured plenty of customers, given the large number of sellers and buyers who engage in trade at the market. Rose is hardworking and has been in this business for 20 years, and her income has been enough to sustain her family. However, lately the business has been performing poorly as such she since has been forced by harsh economic circumstances to use some of the operating capital for personal reasons She would like to procure more finances to help build up her business. Rose is requesting a loan of US$600 to purchase more stock for her business, including utensils and cooking ingredients.",F,600,lender,Food,1
Kenya,"Rose Njeri is 42 years old. She is married with three children, all of whom are still in school. She is an active member of Kaganda Magdalene Women's Group and attends to her spiritual needs at Kaganda ACK Church.
She is a farmer. She has planted coffee, tea and other food crops. She also runs a cereals business at a local shopping centre, where she has a store. She hopes to get a loan of USD575, with which she intends to purchase 20 bags of cereals to meet the customer demands and maximize her profit. She is willing to repay this loan within a period of 12 months",F,575,lender,Food,1
Kenya,"Rose Njeri Maina is 41 years old. She is married with four children. She also has four grandchildren who she is taking care of. She practices both cattle rearing and maize farming. Two years ago, Rose was assisted by a local church organization in starting a bio-gas project. She processes fuel gas from cow dung harvested from the dairy cattle shed. She uses the fuel to power her cooking stove and a commercial oven which she uses to bake cakes and cookies that she sells. Rose feels that she is not reaching her full potential in both the dairy farming and the bio gas project. She wants to add two more cows to her herd to boost her milk production, bakery and bio gas production. She is therefore requesting US $750 to buy two more dairy cows. This will also go a long way in satisfying her familys budgetary needs.",F,750,lender,Agriculture,1
Kenya,"Rose Odumo is a 65-year old mother of three living children (she has lost four children due to HIV-related illness). Rose and her husband live in one of slums in Kisumu, Kenya. She has taken out and successfully repaid three previous microfinance loans from KMET. Rose began selling clothes door-to-door in 1995 and has since expanded her business. She used the funds from her first loan to open her own store and currently rents the shop (pictured) where she sells second-hand clothes. She also employs one person to help her run the shop and meet customer demands. Rose is also a community-health worker trained in home-based care by KMET in 2002. She is well-known within her community for her health-care work. Rose is requesting a loan of $500 to purchase more second-hand clothes for her shop.",F,500,partner,Services,0
Kenya,"Rose Okoth is 46 years old, married and has four children. For the last two years, she has operated a grocery stall in the Rongo market. She specializes in selling popular items that are widely used in her community, such as sukuma wiki (kale), onions and tomatoes. She also sells cereals to generate additional income. Hard work, perseverance and a good reputation have allowed her business to grow despite competition. Rose has applied for a loan of $600, $450 of which she will use to buy additional cereals and vegetables to sell. She will set the remaining $150 aside as savings to use in case of unforeseen circumstances.",F,600,partner,Food,0
Kenya,"Rose Otieno is a nurse/midwife who runs a private clinic in Nakuru town Rift Valley. Her facility that serves a slum community was voted as one of the best in the town. She has applied for US $ 2,778 loan to enable her to renovate, create and equip two more rooms to create more space for her clients towards quality improvement.",F,2000,partner,Health,0
Kenya,"Rose Paul is a 46 year old widow who lives with her three children in Rongo, Kenya. Rose trained as a nurse in the year 1986. After her training she worked with the government for 8 years. She opened her own clinic in 1994 in Rongo town .She offers general curative services, family planning, counseling, and maternal and child health care services, and also has integrated a pharmacy and laboratory. Rose attributes her success to hard work, perseverance and assistance from KMETs microfinance loan. She has been able to renovate her facility, purchase stock of drugs and improves the quality of care she provides. Rose plans to purchase stock drugs for her pharmacy, move the facility to a more spacious place with the US $1200 she is applying for.",F,1200,partner,Health,0
Kenya,"Rose Waithira Itibi was born in 1975 in Ndumberi, Kiambu. She is married with three children, all of whom are in the Ndumberi primary school. She is a dedicated Christian. After completing her secondary education, she got married and started a business together with her husband. They opened a motor vehicle spare parts business in the year 2003.
Esther joined WEEC and received her first loan of $75. She later received second, third and fourth loans, which helped her to open a motor vehicle garage and up to now they have employed four mechanics. She has applied a loan of $900, which she intends to buy motor vehicle spare parts for the garage. She is willing to repay this loan within a period of 12 months.",F,900,lender,Services,1
Kenya,"Rose Wangui Kagia is 46 years old. She is a single mother with three children; two are in college, while the last-born is in Kanunga Secondary school. She is an active member of Kanunga Catholic Church, where she is a choir member. She is a member of Kazi Bora Women's Group. She joined Kazi Bora Women's Group and WEEC in 2002. She was among the first women in Kiambu to join WEEC. In the group, she is a member of the loan committee and assists in appraising business. Since she joined the group, she has serviced several loans. In January 2007, she finished paying a loan USD500.
Rose entered into dairy farming and horticultural farming 20 years ago. She has educated her children from the income that she gets through farming. Currently, she has two cows that produce 40 litres and sells the milk produced to Kiambu Dairy Farmers Co-operative Society Ltd at USD0.3 per litre. Given a loan of USD1000, she will buy another dairy cow and animal feed. She is willing to repay this loan within a period of 12 months.",F,1000,lender,Agriculture,1
Kenya,"Rose Wangui Muchiri is 40 years old. She is married with two children; one has completed high school studies and the other is still in school. She lives in Nyakaguma village in Maragwa. She is an active member of Maragwa ACK Church and contributes to the group revolving fund.
She is a farmer and on her farm plants bananas and other food crops. She also sells bananas and other food crops at a local open-air market near a police station along the highway. She hopes to purchase a water tank for her home to conserve rainwater. Therefore, she has applied for a loan of USD300 to improve her living standards. She is willing to repay this loan within a period of 10 months.",F,300,lender,Agriculture,1
Kenya,"Rose Wangui Mwangi is 52 years old. She is married with five children; two have completed college studies, one is in college and the other two are in primary and secondary school. She is a religious person and an active vice-chairlady of the Baraka Women's Group. She joined WEEC in 2002 and since then she has serviced several loans. Rose believes that it is possible to get out of poverty just as she managed to do it.
She also confesses that if it were not for WEEC she could not have acquired a dairy cow. Currently, she has two dairy cows that produce an average 40 litres of milk. She sells this milk to the Kiambu Dairy Co-operative Society at the rate of USD0.3 per litre. It is the income generated by farming that has enabled her to educate her children up to now. She has applied for a loan of USD600, with which she intends to purchase a diary cow. She is willing to repay this loan within a period of 12 months.",F,600,lender,Agriculture,1
Kenya,"Rose Wanjiru Mungai is 38 years old. She is married with four children; three are primary school and the other is in secondary school. She is an active member of the St. Monica women's group and ACK Church. She is a farmer who does mainly crop farming and pig rearing. She grows maize, beans and variety of vegetables. She has three pigs, one cow and one calf. Some of her farm produce is consumed by the family, and some is sold to retailers and local consumers at a local market. She has applied for a loan of USD 75, with which she intends to purchase a pig. The loan committee has approved her loan. She plans to repay this loan within 10 months.",F,75,lender,Agriculture,1
Kenya,"Rose Wanjiru was born thirty eight years ago is married and has four children, one in high school and the rest in primary school. She is an active member of St. Monica Women's Group. She is a farmer who raises beans, maize and rears two cows from which she sells five litres of milk daily. She needs USD100 to buy a bull. She is willing to repay this loan within a period of 10 months.",F,100,lender,Agriculture,1
Kenya,"Rose was born 29 years ago in Muranga, Kenya. She is single with no children. After completing secondary school in 1998, she joined her sisters in the urban centre. She got her first job in the industrial area in Nairobi. After working for two years, she resigned and entered into thw business of selling second hand shoes at Gikomba market. Later she was introduced by a friend to join the Dawamu Group where she has developed economically. She is very active and hard working. She started her business with USD 70 given by the group. She started her business with half a bale of second hand shoes. Today, she manages to sell an average of two to three bales daily. One bale costs her USD 200 depending on the type of shoes. From that bale she gets USD 70 as a profit. She is ready to repay the loan using her profits.",F,450,lender,Retail,1
Kenya,"Rose was born 50 years ago in Kiambaa Kiambu. She is married with three children. All her children have completed their education. She is a member of Kanunga ACK church and a choirmaster. Rose joined her group and WEEC in 2002. She is an active member of Mchanganyiko women's group, where she is the chairlady of the group. She assisted a lot in mobilising Kiambu women in 2002 and 2003 to joining WEEC. She is seen as the role model to many young women and an activist in the poverty eradication campaign. For the last 20 years, she has been practicing dairy farming. She sells the milk produced to Kiambu Dairy Farmers Co-operative society Ltd at USD 0.3 per litre. Currently, the dairy cows produce an average of 50 litres daily. She has applied for a loan of USD1200, which she intends to buy another two dairy cows. She is willing to repay this loan within 12 months.",F,1200,lender,Agriculture,1
Kenya,"Rose was born in 1947 in Kiambu Kenya . She is happily married with 5 children which are all out of school. She is a Catholic Action Member and a devoted Christian . Rose joined WEEC and she has reaped alot interms of knowledge and financial grounds. WEEC has realy transformed her life through the small loans she has ever acquired. She has bought all her four dairy cows with loans given by WEEC. In her small plot of land ,she grows kales ,cabbages, callots and varieties of holticulture prducts. She sells to Kanunga High School and local residents.She has been able to meet her family needs through the income generated from her farm. She is planning to add another daily cow to be able to meet her daighter college fees.",F,450,lender,Agriculture,1
Kenya,"Rose was born in 1947 in Kiambu, Kenya. She is married with 5 children who are all out of school. She is a Catholic Action Member and a devoted Christian. Rose joined WEEC in 2003 and to her, WEEC has really improved her life. The previous loan she borrowed for buying a dairy cow has enabled her to increase her milk supply to 50 litres per day, which she sells at USD0.28 per litre. She has bought all her four dairy cows with loans given by WEEC. She has paid 95% of the loans.
In her small plot of land she grows kales, cabbages, carrots and many varieties of horticulture products. She sells these to Kanunga High School and local residents. Now she needs another loan to buy another dairy cow to enable her to pay college fees through the income. She intends to repay her loan in monthly installments.",F,600,lender,Agriculture,1
Kenya,"Rose was born in 1967 in Kanunga Kiambu. She is single mother with 2 children. The first born is in secondary school at Kanunga high school while 2nd born is in Mungai Chengecha primary school. She is the treasurer of the group. She started her business of dress making in 1995 and added stock with a loan from the group after she joined. She has been making ladies dresses and school uniforms. Her business has been the pillar in her family and its the only source of income. She is very determined to give her children the best education through the business. Due to her religious factor, she has started getting orders from her church and she is overwhelmed because of stock limitation. She has applied for the loan to buy more different clothe materials in order to beat the demand from her new customers. She also wants to make school uniforms in large quantity for the coming season. She is willing to repay her loan on monthly basis.",F,300,lender,Clothing,1
Kenya,"Roselyne is married with nine children, three independent and six still in school. Her husband is a village elder. She started her business in 1982 in order to supplement her husbands income. She has not undertaken any formal training. With a loan from PEMCI, she intends to increase her stock, and improve her earnings. Through her business, she has been able to support her husband in educating their children, developing their farm and also buying some animals to keep.",F,100,partner,Food,0
Kenya,"Roselyne Kabucha is married and is a middle-aged mother of two children. She also houses two other children, whom she has to feed, educate, and clothe. Roselyne is the breadwinner for her family, as her husband is currently a temporary worker in a local hotel and hence has little money to support the family.
Roselynes business is fish vending, which she started four years ago. She mainly concentrates on tilapia and omena (fingerlings), which she sells to her regular customers in the neighborhood. With the help of her loan, Roselyne will be able to expand her fish business to increase her monthly sales.",M,2650,lender,Food,0
Kenya,"Rosemary Achieng is 43 years old and married with three children. Her two children are in junior school while the other one has completed junior school but can not proceed to high school due to lack of school fees. She is a tailor and specializes in making women's suits and dresses, while the husband is a driver. The income they get together is not enough to cater for rent, food and high school fees for her children. She has not been able to expand her business due to lack of funds. She would like to expand her business by adding more fabrics in different colours. She believes that this will boost her income. She requires a loan of US$450, which she plans to use as below: use US $ 300 to buy the fabrics, use US $100 to renovate her stall and $50 to cater for transport and other costs. She has ambition and she is therefore capable of repaying the loan.",F,450,lender,Services,1
Kenya,"Rosemary Anyango is 51 years old single mother of two children. She is therefore the only breadwinner and has to work hard for to support her family. She says it has not been easy for her. She sells fish in the open air market to support her family. She has not been able to expand her business due to lack of finances.
She is therefore requesting a loan to expand her business by buying more stock of fish. The expansion requires US$ 600. This will enable her meet her customers demand all the time. There has been an increase in demand for fish in the area and she would like to take advantage of this opportunity. She is hardworking, focused and capable of paying back the loan.",F,600,lender,Food,1
Kenya,"Rosemary Awour Okonya is a 41-year-old widow with three children, two who are older while one is in high school. She is a business entrepreneur and operates a kiosk at Nakuru town. She resides in the sprawling slums of Mwariki in Nakuru. Being a single woman, life has not been easy for Rose, since catering for her children has been difficult. Her husband died thirteen years ago, and she has had to take care of her children on her own. She dropped out of school at high school level due to poverty and thus decided to put up a small retail shop so that she could earn a living. She sells cigarettes, tissue paper, soap and charcoal, and with the profit she gets she is able to provide for her family and her elderly parents. She purchases her stock from supermarkets in Nakuru and then sells them to her customers. However, what she gets from the business is barely enough to cater for her family and expand her business. Besides, she lacks the money to make her business grow bigger, and that leaves her a very frustrated woman. She has the passion to see her business grow, and that is why she has requested $800. She intends to increase her stock by adding basic items like vegetables, sugar, flour, rice and fruits. Her budget is as follows: $500 to add more stock; $150 to lease a bigger business premise; $100 to get a municipal license; $50 to cater for transport. She is a business-oriented woman, and she will repay the loan on time.
Disclaimer: Due to recent events in Kenya, the security situation in many communities remains unsettled, affecting many local businesses. Lenders to this entrepreneur should be aware that this loan may represent a higher default risk, and should be willing to accept this additional risk in making their loan.",F,800,lender,Food,1
Kenya,"Rosemary bwari Ondawa is aged 25 years; she is married with two children and six other dependents. Of these children, five are in school and the rest are not in school because they lack school fees. She makes her living through selling used clothes. She has been in this business for the last 5 years. She wants to expand her business in order to sustain the family and educate all the children who are out of school. For now she requires a loan amount of US $ 900. Her budget is:
US $ 200 to purchase a stock of ladies' blouses;
US $ 200 to purchase a stock of fashionable ladies' trousers;
US $ 100 to pay for transport services;
US$ 400 to reinforce her stall.
She has vast experience for the last 5 years. She is selling a basic need, which is clothing. Therefore she has good chances for sales and high profit margins.",F,900,lender,Clothing,1
Kenya,"Rosemary Ibasang is an average woman aged 30 with 3 children. She also lives with 1 orphan child of her late brother who perished 2 years ago.
Rosemary started her business 3 years ago after accumulating savings from her former work place in a local hospital located in Busia town. She currently deals in ladies' shoes but would like to diversify to include children's and mens collections as well. Being the bread winner for her family, it would enable her to support both her children and her husband, who has a low-paying job. With the little profit that she gets from the business, Rosemary still struggles to pay her house rent and to feed and clothe her children. But with the help of her loan, Rosemary will be able to add more stock of second-hand shoes and increase her monthly sales.
Disclaimer: Due to recent events in Kenya, the security situation in many communities remains unsettled, affecting many local businesses. Lenders to this entrepreneur should be aware that this loan may represent a higher default risk, and should be willing to accept this additional risk in making their loan.",M,2875,lender,Retail,0
Kenya,Rosemary is 25 years old and single. She joined the program in 2006. She started her porridge business in 2005. Rosemary is a hard working lady who is determined to educate her sisters and see them sail through. She sells her porridge and food stuff at Rongai shopping centre. She would like to be given a loan of $300 to buy more utensils for her business and to settle in a kiosk. She intends to enroll for accounting and computer lessons in the evening and she is determined to work hard to change her status.,F,300,lender,Food,1
Kenya,"Rosemary is 39 years old. She is married with three children who are in school. She is a leader in Kiboi Catholic Church. Rosemary is a very dedicated secretary at St. Teresa Kahuro. Due to her effort, she manages to grow beans, maize, arrowroots, sugarcane and sweet potatoes. She has a dairy cow, which produces only a little milk & she wants to replace it with a better cow that will produce more milk. She would like a loan of $450 to buy another cow and intends to repay the loan in 12 months.",F,450,lender,Agriculture,1
Kenya,"Rosemary is 45 years old and is a mother of 5 grown children. She is the treasurer of the Karunge Faith Star and an active member of Karunge Catholic Church. She has a small business which she runs in her home and wants to boost with a loan of USD300. She will restock sugar, maize flour, wheat flour, salt, soaps, and start selling dairy meal for diversification purposes. Her other sources of income are from farming maize and beans and selling milk from her dairy. Her monthly income from the milk is between USD20 and USD30 per month. Coupled with the income from the small business she is able to service her loans, save USD2 and meet her family needs.",F,300,lender,Retail,1
Kenya,"Rosemary is 46 years old. She is married with 3 grown-up children. Rosemary is a Catholic by faith. Her main calling is to visit the old, especially those who live in the homes for old people. She loves visiting and spending time with them. Rosemary was introduced to Church road women's group by the group secretary and has greatly benefited from the trainings and the open discussions the group holds once a month. Rosemary had a problem of paying College fees for her two children who are undertaking Information Technology course at the University. She had to think beyond how to get school fees. She ventured into the business world selling foods, beauty products, lessos, curios, and decorations depending on what items are in demand. She mainly sells her products to area residents and takes foods products to Mombassa and sells to retailers in the Kongowea market. When she takes food products outside town, she normally buys khangas and lessos in bulk because they are cheap in Mombassa and then she sells them to her local area residents. On the next trip she buys curios and decorations to sell at the coast. She has learned to handle the businesses in a special way that she is always on the way selling something. Her main challenge is to have enough capital that will enable her buy enough stock. Her savings and credit group has approved her application of USD 750 as loan. The money will be used to boost the variety of food products because she operates another business under it. The business will assist her to pay the course fees for her children.",F,750,lender,Food,1
Kenya,"Rosemary is 50 years old, single, and has 6 children and 1 grandchild. She joined the group with an aim of improving her living standards. She has taken on the task of bringing up her kids alone. Living in slums, she has been able to get her income through casual jobs of many kinds. She has been paying fees for her children where she has 2 girls in high school,1 1 in college sponsored and 4 in primary school. She got a donation from one of her church member and started eggs business. She used to buy one tray at USD2 and sells it at USD2.4 but today demand is high and she is selling it at USD3.The business has been good and she no longer relies on casual jobs. She has a challenge of supplying eggs due to financial constrain. She believes she can handle the large quantity of eggs to supply often to her customers. She has a different perspective of life and she is very determined to work hard and educate her children.",F,75,lender,Food,1
Kenya,Rosemary is 57 years old. She is married with 6 children. She is an active member of St. Emmanuel ACK Church in Weithaga and actively participates in the church fellowship. She is the chairlady of the Weithaga Star Womens Group. This group has members who have developed their households with the revolving fund. The Chairlady has steered her group to the settling stage of in-group development. She is a respected person for portraying good leadership qualities. Rosemary practices farming as a means of income generation. She has been able to develop her dairy-farming project and has six dairy cows. She sells the milk from her cows to the local dairy. She pays her savings and her loan installments every month. She has applied for a loan of $150 to enable her to buy the dairy feeds and other animal supplements. The loan committee has approved the loan. Her loan repayment period will be 10 months.,F,150,lender,Agriculture,1
Kenya,"Rosemary is a 32-year-old widow. She lives in Sagam, Siaya Kenya. She used the funds from her first two loans to invest in this small corner shop (pictured) adjacent to her home, where she sells the daily necessities like bread, flour, cooking oil and soap and fresh milk. She has since increased her daily income by 90% and managed to save a bit of her profits. She plans to move her business into a larger space and a more lucrative location with US $600 she has applied for. She will use this money to pay rent for a larger shop, to increase her stock and to obtain supplies that are in high demand within her community.",F,700,partner,Retail,0
Kenya,"Rosemary is married with children, and all are in primary school. She is a primary school dropout. She started her business in 2002 and has not undertaken any training. She is an optimistic lady who inspires local women in her communitys self-help group dealing with poverty eradication projects.
Rosemary completed her first loan successfully. The fish she sells compliment other foods with protein in the local community area. She has been in the business for over six years and has gained enough experience. With the help of a second loan of $150 through Kiva, she intends to increase her stock so she can sell both retail and as a supplier to other fishmongers.",F,150,partner,Food,0
Kenya,"Rosemary Owuor is a 27-year-old married mother of 2 children. She has spent two years learning the art of dressmaking/embroidery and has offered her tailoring services within her community in Kisumu, Kenya since 2002. She specializes in making womens dresses, mens shirts and also embroidery. Despite the stiff competition in her area, Rosemary has always been able to attract old and new customers. She constantly updates her materials to keep up with the current fashions, offers a wide selection of patterns and maintains a good stock to meet her customers demands. Her hard work, years of experience and well-established client base ensure that her business will continue to succeed. She plans to use three quarters of her next loan of US $ 800 to buy new patterns and materials, and save the remaining amount into her account to use in case of unforeseen circumstances.",F,800,partner,Services,0
Kenya,"Roseta is 38 years old. She is married with four children, two who have done mechanic courses and two who are in secondary school. She is a leader of Catholic Church Kahatia. She is an active member and regular attendee of St. Teresa women's group Kahuro. Her business is selling second-hand clothes in Kahuro. She manages to get $150 out of her sales, thus enabling her to pay school fees for her children. She wants a loan of $300 to buy five bales of clothing and improve her business's premises. Roseta is willing to pay back the loan in 10 months.",F,300,lender,Clothing,1
Kenya,"Roshel is married with four children all in primary school. She is a primary school drop out and hasnt undergone any formal training. She started her business in 1990 in order to sustain her family as her husband is not employed. First she started in a small canteen and with time it developed into a shop. This is her second loan with PEMCI; the first loan enabled her to increase her stock and also enabled her to start a food store next to her shop. With a second loan from PEMCI, she intends to increase her food store stock. Through her business, she has been able to support her family and educate her children.",F,225,partner,Retail,0
Kenya,"Rozann Rose Wambui is 40 years old. She has been separated from her husband for the last five years. Rozann has three children aged 16, 11 and 9 years respectably. Apart from her children, Rozann takes care of her parents aged 66 and 58. She also has to take care of her elder brother and his wife, together with three of their children. Rozann lives in the Ongata Rongai area, and runs a hair and beauty salon in the Nairobi city center.
Rozann started her business in the year 2004. This was after going through the ordeal of separation from her husband who was also the sole bread winner. Afterward, Rozann approached a bank by the name of K-Rep Bank which is one of the leading Micro- Finance banks in Kenya. Unfortunately, the bank flatly refused to lend her the much-needed amount of Ksh 100,000.00 (US$ 1,540). The bank insisted that she should join nine other members to make a group of ten and then she could apply for a loan through the group. At the time, this proved to be a very difficult situation, since all her friends had deserted her after learning of her separation from her husband and nobody wanted to be associated with her. During these trying times, Rozann became a born-again Christian and while worshipping with her fellow Christians, Rozann came to accept her fate and in the year 2004 she approached her pastor with a proposal to loan her Ksh 100,000 (US$ 1,540) which was to be repaid within a year .The pastor agreed to loan to her because she was a very dedicated member of the congregation.
Rozann purchased 4 executive chairs, mirrors, two ceiling-mounted dryers, chemicals, towels, trolleys, and rollers. She repaid the loan as per the agreement and the pastor was very happy and he blessed her. Rozann thanks God for the way her business is growing and that the number of clients is increasing every day. She now wants to continue giving her customers the best service around, therefore she is kindly requesting a loan of US$ 1,175, which will be repaid over a period of 12 months.
With this loan Rozann will be able to purchase two modern sinks and seats, a bench for the waiting room and a portable bathroom for her Beauty section. This will enable her to provide better service to her customers who come for massage and other beauty routines like waxing and masking. The equipment will also greatly help her to retain her loyal customers whom she is worried that she will lose to her business competitors, since she is still using old-fashioned equipment. Rozann prays that the lenders will hear her outcry and give a loan to her, so that she can keep her customers and also take care of her aged parents and her other dependants.
Note: The Kiva staff asked our field partner to clarify why 2 names were listed for this business, and here was the response: ""Her full name is Rozann Rose Wambui Kariuki, but on the Kiva website, there is only provision for two names, so sometimes we try to incorporate their other names within the story. In this side of the world, most people have three names, and in some cases, quite many as well, some people have two baptism names of which they use both, hence the many names that Rozann has.""",F,1175,partner,Services,1
Kenya,"Rubi Amayi Makhanu is a client who is requesting her second loan from PEMCI. She started her business in 1997 with the equivalent of $600 in the town of Malakisi. Her husband is a tailor and is a member of a group who also works with PEMCI.
She is married and has three children - one boy and two girls. All three are out of the home and married. In addition to running a shop, she also sells new materials and maize in the open air market. She happily explains that the proceeds from her first loan enabled her to buy two goats and assisted her in starting to sell clothes and materials. With a second loan from KIVA through PEMCI, Rubi plans to increase her stock of new materials and maize, which are in high demand in the Malakisi market. Her business is sometimes challenging during times of hunger, such as from January to March. However, she tries to overcome this by increasing the amount of maize she has on stock.",F,250,lender,Food,1
Kenya,Ruby is a married mother of five. She is married in a polygamous family and thus takes care of the large extended family. Ruby is an illiterate she cannot read and write but she can count money so well. She operates a Shop and her shop is well stocked. Her loan of $150 from PEMCI will be used to add more stock to her shop and thus Rubys business is doing so well. She will be able to meet her customers demands. Ruby is so happy to have gotten a loan from PEMCI and she hopes to open another shop in future when she will be able to get a larger loan.,F,150,partner,Retail,0
Kenya,"Rukia is 29 years old and married with 3 children, a boy and 2 girls. Her husband is a farmer. Rukia is in her second loan cycle with PEMCI having completed the first loan successfully.
Rukia sells maize cereals and operates a food kiosk in her local town centre of Myanga. Rukia and her colleagues from the Njaa Marufuku Self-Help Group travel inland to maize farms where they purchase maize cereals at low prices. They then resell the maize at retail price at the local markets. Maize is a major part of the staple diet in these parts so maize is a big part of the daily diet of the local people. A constant supply of the product is therefore critical to ensuring the food security of the area. Rukia and others like her provide the important service of ensuring that food supplies remain constant and prices remain competitive.
Since joining PEMCI Rukia and 2 business partners have been able to purchase 2 bulls which they hire out to farmers who use the bulls to plough their farms. This has diversified her income and reduced her dependency on the maize trade. It is a positive development and worthy of our support.
With the second loan of $200, Rulia plans to increase her maize stocks. By buying during this harvest season she will be able to buy the maize cheap and sell later when prices are higher, thus earning her a good profit. With the income her business has brought in, Rukia has been able to support her husband in raising their 3 children and improving the welfare of the family.",F,200,lender,Food,1
Kenya,"Ruth Achieng is a married lady and is blessed with two children. She lives within the Kibera slums in the Soweto village of Nairobi. In 2004, Ruth, at her own initiative, decided to go out to learn embroidery skills through an apprenticeship at the Makina Market in Kibera. She did this for four months. Upon completion, Ruth was employed by her trainer and was able to save some money from her wages. She then decided to buy a secondhand embroidery machine at the cost of Ksh 7,000 (USD 103). Since she had not opened her own embroidery stall, she requested to share a stall with her friend who had previously trained her in embroidery skills. From there, she started off training people in the same skills, and she was able to train four people. However, she had to train them in turns, since she had only one machine. Beginners would pay Ksh 1,000 (about USD 15), and as they progressed they paid Ksh 800 (USD 12). Some of her trainees have already managed to get employment. Her vision is to be able to expand her business and to sell her embroidery products far and wide. Ruth is therefore requesting a loan of $275, which will enable her to purchase a new embroidery machine. This will save her the cost of repairs that she often has to do on her existing machine, due to wear and tear. She also hopes to train more people, in order to transfer the skills.",F,275,lender,Arts,1
Kenya,"Ruth Chepkorir Bunnei is a 43 year old single woman with three children. One is in school while the remaining siblings are at home due to lack of school fees. Since she is single she has assumed all the family responsibilities. To support her family she sells new clothes. She sells an assortment of clothes for different ages. She began this business six years ago through the help of her family and friends. The transformation has not been easy but she is a natural entrepreneur and she is determined to see all her childrens education secured.
She wants to expand her business and earn a high income for her to meet her family needs and cater for the school fees for the remaining siblings. She is not able to do that at the moment since most of her earnings go towards meeting the family financial needs. The festive season has started and she would like to take advantage of it but lacks the required funds. It is in this regard that she is requesting a loan of US$1000 to buy more clothes to sell to meet her growing customer base. She is a motivated business woman and she will be able to repay the loan in good time.",F,1000,lender,Clothing,1
Kenya,"Ruth is 33 years old, married and has 3 children. Ruth is a member of Gikuni Catholic Church. She participates in many church activities through the catholic women association. She got her education up to secondary level but did not get a formal job. She later got married in Gikuni location of Kiambu district. This is an area with very high population. Many families in this area own very small plots of land. Ruth started by developing the small plot of land that her husband owned. She started growing varieties of vegetables like Cabbages, Carrots, Kales, Spinach and bananas. She sells her produce at Wakulima market in the city centre. Through Kirangari Wendani, Ruth has accessed several small loans. This has enabled her to buy the farm manure and a water pump. To utilize her plot through out the year, she has irrigated her land. Ruths main challenge is the purchase of the farm inputs due to their high prices. To counter the challenge she plans to buy organic fertilizers, quality seeds, plastic crates for delivering her produce to the market in large quantities without stressing of hiring. She believes in hard work and she assures herself that one day she will be a big farmer in the country. She has passaion in farming and she has influenced many who thinks a small plot cant be farmed.",F,150,lender,Agriculture,1
Kenya,"Ruth is 47 years old. She is married with 3 children. Two children are in college, and one is still in high school. She is the Treasurer of the Mukumu Helen Women's Group. She lives in Githambo. Ruth grows tea as her cash crop and does mixed farming of food crops. She is a member of the ACK Muthaiti church and belongs to the Mothers' Union. Her major income is currently from tea, and she now wants to buy a high-breed cow when she gets a loan of USD575 through the group. She contributes very well to the revolving fund. The new cow will produce over 10 liters of milk a day and boost Ruth's monthly income.",F,575,lender,Agriculture,1
Kenya,"Ruth is 48 years old. She is married and has 5 children. She is a member of ACK church in Gatangara and an active member of Gatangara Pluto women group. Ruth is a farmer. She tends coffee and grows maize and beans for her household use. For income Ruth grows French beans and sells to the middlemen who sell to the French bean company in the town of Muranga. Ruth also keeps a healthy bull that earns her some income. When neighbors take their cows to the bull for seeding she charges USD 3 for each cow. With the revival of the KENYA COOPERATIVE CREAMERIES, which buys milk at USD 0.30 per liter, Ruth plans to buy a dairy cow. She has applied for a loan of USD 150 to enable her buy a medium-sized cow. She plans to rear the cow for 6 months before giving it to the bull for seeding. For the period when the cow will not be producing milk for sale she will be paying the group loan from the sale of the French beans. The loans committee has approved the loan that will be re-paid within a period of 10 months.",F,150,lender,Agriculture,1
Kenya,"Ruth is 50 years old, married with 6 children. Two of her children are in school and the others have finished high school. She is an active member of Konguini thayu women group and she has really benefited from the group.
Ruth is a farmer and she has a cereal shop. Although challenging, she has been able to raise her children with income from her business. She has dedicated all her time to managing her farm and shop.
Ruth plans to buy more varieties of beans and wheat which she cant grow in her farm. She has a good repayment record and she has been very responsible. She is willing to repay her loan on monthly basis.",F,450,lender,Agriculture,1
Kenya,"Ruth is 65 years of age, married, and all her children are independent. She is an active member of the Bethsaida women group. She is a member of the Anglican Church where she is actively involved in Mothers Union. She is a farmer who rears dairy cows and also has a tea plot. On average she is able to fetch USD $75 from her farm. Her land performance has been affected a lot by soil fertility and she is challenged by limited income to buy the inputs. She has tried mulching and applying organic manure form her cows. This has been somewhat effective at times but she would like to buy fertilizer to supplement the organic. She also plans to buy a dairy calf, which will add to the organic manure as it matures to be a dairy cow. She intends to buy fertilizers for her tea plot and to buy a grade calf and she believes even her tea sale will double after applying fertilizer.",F,150,lender,Agriculture,1
Kenya,"Ruth is a good member of Kahumbu Kwirera Mothers and she has been a member since the group started in January 2005. She is married with three children who are still in primary school.
Since 2005, Ruth has been receiving some support and training on various issues, such as how to deal with HIV, and how to run a profitable small enterprise. In addition, through facilitation by ANK, Ruth has already received and repaid two levels of loans from her group, of $57 and $85.
For quite some time now, Ruth has wanted to buy a freezer, to enable her to expand her business by making and selling ice and yoghurt within the slums. Her main target for this business will be children, since Ruth has noted a big gap in this area. There is only one trader who makes and sells ice to children in the community. However, this trader has a wholesale enterprise, so the shop tends to ignore the children who go there to buy ice that is only worth one Kenyan shilling.
She therefore intends to expand her grocery business by making and selling ice and yogurt for the children at very affordable prices. Ruth says that the yoghurt she will sell will increase the nutritional intake of the children, and the ice will provide a long-awaited opportunity for children in the slums to enjoy ice during the hot seasons. Since she is already serving children by selling them affordable fruits, it will be easy to combine the sale of the fruits with the new products.
Ruth therefore requires support to purchase a freezer that will cost about $150 to enable her to make and sell the ice and yoghurt.
She has already received moral support from her brother, who has even gone ahead to find a trainer for her. The trainer is currently training her on how to make different types and flavours of yoghurt.
If Ruth is loaned $150, ANK will disburse the loan in kind by purchasing and delivering the freezer to her. Ruth will be in a position to start using it immediately, and will repay the loan over a period of 12 18 months.",F,150,lender,Food,1
Kenya,"Ruth is a woman of substance. She was born 55 years ago, married and is blessed with 5 children. She has served in the church since she was a young girl. She is now in her tenth year in the church committee (Muringa Anglican Church of Kenya) making crucial decisions that are geared to the growth of the church.She earns her living through farming. She keeps dairy cows which earns her USD 150 per month, coffee which is not reliable (as its market was affected by poor management of cooperative society) and rears bulls for manual production which she in turn sells after three months earning USD 300.
Ruth is making arrangements of how to raise school fees for her two children for the next year to avoid inconveniences. Her earnings will not be enough so she is borrowing USD 525 to top to her savings and she will meet the fees. She has confidence to pay the loan extended to her because the cows are producing enough milk, and her next manual harvest will be in February 2007, so she will make sales.",F,525,lender,Agriculture,1
Kenya,"Ruth is forty-two years old, married and a mother of four. Two of her children will enter college late in the year while the other two are still in primary school. Her husband is a game ranger with Kenya Wildlife Service (K.W.S) holding the rank of a senior sergeant. Ruth asserts that he has been very supportive. Ruth is a committed member of N.P.C Karen Way. She is an active member in her group and in fact she has volunteered to assist the credit officer in recruiting more members in the programme. The group chairlady had this to say about Ruth: I see her as an asset and somebody to relay on. Ruth owns a general shop at Rongai Shopping Centre. She uses income from this shop to meet her family's daily needs. She intends to expand her business so that she can increase her income and pay for her children's college. Ruth leaned about WEEC and KIVA from her friend and she was delighted with the whole idea. She is hoping to get a loan of USD450 to buy more stock for her general shop.",F,450,lender,Retail,1
Kenya,"Ruth is married and has 4 children who are in school. She is an active member and chairlady of Kandisi Wisdom women group. She benefited a lot from KIVA loans. We pray for it and the people they work with all the time and have a special prayer for them every month when they hold the group monthly meetings. The lives of women in her group have really been transformed by Kiva loans and they have been able to meet their family basic needs. Her main concentration this year was printing cards & T-Shirts for church activities. This business has been boosted by the business management and leadership skills she has attained from WEEC. In organization level, they have been empowered to take leading positions in the community to utilize and share what they have been trained with their residents and she has already been appointed to lead a community based poverty eradication movement. She is targeting to market her products to people she meeting in the new grounds and she feels she has gotten the opportunity to explore. She has gotten orders from a nearby community institution but she only feels capital is limited. After she gets the loan she will be able to meet her sons school fees which has been a challenge for a long time.",F,200,lender,Services,1
Kenya,"Ruth is married with eight children all in primary school. She has not undertaken any formal training. She started her business in 2002, which includes selling clothes at different marketplaces. With a loan from PEMCI, Ruth intends to increase her stock of clothes. Through her business, she has been able to bring affordable clothes to the locals, support her family, and improve their general welfare.",F,50,partner,Clothing,0
Kenya,"Ruth is the Chairlady of Kandisi Wisdom Womens Group. She is married with 4 children.
She normally sells the fruits that are in season which she reckons are cheaper. She is requesting a loan of US$900: US$400 to buy more fruits, US$200 to put up a structure where she will be operating, US$200 to buy storage and transportation facilities, and US$100 to renew the license. Ruth is capable of repaying the loan.",F,900,lender,Food,1
Kenya,"Ruth Mueni is a forty-four-year-old married mother of two, Irene and Mathew. She runs a clothes boutique in the busy market of Kongowea in Mombasa. She has been in the boutique business in Mombasa for three years.
This will be Ruth's first time to borrow from KADET, and with the Kenyan shilling 50,000 loan she plans to purchase women's clothes and to refurbish her business premises in order to attract more clients.
In the future Ruth hopes to establish wholesale stores and to become a major supplier of clothes to retailers in Mombasa.
About KADET:
The Kenya Agency for the Development of Enterprise and Technology (KADET) is committed to economically empowering its clients by providing financial services to rural communities in order to relieve suffering and improve living conditions within those communities.",F,675,partner,Clothing,0
Kenya,"Ruth Odum is a 35-year-old entrepreneur and mother of six school-aged children.
She lives in Rongo, Kenya. She began her current business of selling second-hand clothes ten years ago. She specializes in womens clothing: skirts, dresses, casual clothes, and bed sheets. She periodically travels to Nairobi, where she is able to purchase a good variety at wholesale price.
The prime location of her business on a busy street, her ten years of experience, and her friendly interaction with customers has enabled her to establish a good customer base. Ruth plans to expand her business with her next loan of US $800.",F,800,partner,Clothing,0
Kenya,"Ruth Wambui Kibe is 60, married with 9 children. She is a grade 12 drop-out and has been engaged in selling clothing for the last 23 years to provide for herself and her family. Unfortunately, her business returns are not really sufficient to cater for all her family's needs. Ruth has been selling skirts and blouses for children. She has many customers and there is room for expansion. Currently, she wants to add to her inventory of children's clothing, etc. to satisfy her customers demands. She is requesting a loan of US$ 500, budgeted as follows:
US $100 to purchase children's outfits; US $100 to purchase gowns, gloves and pullovers;
US $100 to purchase
ladies' handbags, and
US $ 200 for transport services and license fees.
Ruth is a member of the Ushindi Group.The members of Ushindi Group are beneficiaries of group-lending methodology, also known as solidarity lending. This is a mechanism that allows a group of individuals to provide collateral or guarantee a loan through a group-repayment pledge. The incentive to repay is based on peer pressure: if one person in the group defaults, the other group members make up the amount owed.",F,500,lender,Clothing,1
Kenya,"RUTH WANJIRU GACHIHI is 40, married with two children. She is involved in the business of cooking food for the people in her residential area while her husband is a plumber. The business has helped her to pay school fees for her two children, one of whom is at the secondary level while the other one is in college, and also to provide for other basic needs. Being in this business for 5 years now, Ruth has had to deal with waking up early to go to the local market to buy the food stuffs such as maize, beans, potatoes, and onions among other things that she cooks. She faces various challenges such as poor transportation and thus foodstuffs get spoiled before reaching her destination, lack of enough cash to buy the foodstuffs, fluctuations of food prices, cooking her food in the open-air among others. Ruth has the desire to expand her business by opening up her own little cafe so that she can accommodate more customers and thus earn enough money to sustain her business and also be able to provide basic necessities for the family. She is requesting a loan of US$ 1000 and her budget includes: US$ 150 to pay rent for the premises; US$ 400 to buy the various food varieties; US$ 50 to get a license for running the business; US$ 100 to cater for transport; US$ 200 to buy equipment and pay her worker, while US$ 100 is to buy more chairs and tables. Being in this business for more than five years, Ruth has gained a lot of experience in cooking and thus she believes it will make a lot of profit for her and she will be able to repay the loan on time.",F,1000,lender,Food,1
Kenya,"Ruth Wanjiru Kamau is 45 years old. She is married with three children; who are in college and secondary school. Ruth is an active member of Wendani Sisters. She is also an active member of St. Lukes ACK Church where she attends prayer services and participates in the church activities. She is a committee member of the mothers union. She earns her living through tea and dairy farming. She also grows sweet potatoes, arrow roots, beans, maize. She also owns one dairy cow, which provides her with five litres of milk daily. She sells her farm produce to residents at the local market. She saves, borrows and repays promptly. She intends to borrow a loan of USD150 to buy food for the cow. Her application for a loan has been approved by the loan committee. She is willing to repay within a period of 12 months.",F,150,lender,Agriculture,1
Kenya,"Ruth was born 43 years ago in Kiambu. She is married with four children. Two are in College in Nairobi while the other two are still in secondary school. She is the secretary of Kihara women Group since its formation. She helps her group members to keep good records. She is a religious person and a member of Kihara catholic choir. Ruth is a role model to many young women in her area. She mobilizes women to join groups.
She joined Kihara Women Group and registered with WEEC in 2001. She was among pioneers to join MFI groups in Kiambu.Ruth entered into business 3 years ago. She started by selling a retail shop in Gacii. Five month ago, Ruth opened a mobile phones and accessories in Ngara Nairobi due to financial pressure. Ruth and her husband's business is doing well but they still find it hard to pay school fees. From a very poor background, they are now able to feed and educate their four children but it is still a struggle.
Given a loan of USD 1200, they will stock their business. She promises to repay her loan on monthly basis.",F,1200,lender,Retail,1
Kenya,Saami is 24 years old. She is married and has 2 children. She is very religiuou together wither her family. Saami did her primary education up to class 6. She married before completing her primary level of education due to cultural limitations.Saami is the treasurer of Kiret Naboisho w g. She has attended various leadership training sessions that are organized by WEEC. The trainings assist the women in running their group activities. Saami had 25 steers however 20 of them died during the drought period. The death of almost the whole stock affected her family income generating activity. Saami plans to build the stock once again. She intends to buy 2 steers at USD 150 each. She will sell the steers after 3 months and reinvest the proceeds in the steers business. Saami intends to attend the livestock management course scheduled in December. Saami feels that it is very important to train on the modern methods of managing the livestock. She is also listed to train on the basic business management skills.,F,300,lender,Arts,1
Kenya,"Sabella is a married and a shopkeeper at Angurai her rural village. With the loan of $225 she plans to buy cereals from the neighboring country of Uganda for resale at her shop. She hopes in future to qualify for a bigger loan to enable her start a posho mill to serve her local community. PEMCI is proud to be associated with the work that Sabella is doing.
`",F,225,partner,Services,0
Kenya,"Sabella Ncece Mirambu was born in 1951 in Meru district. She is a widow and all of her children have finished school. She is an active member of Hardypiont women's group. Despite being a widow, she is a hardworking lady who is determined to make ends meet especially for her family. She is also a farmer and practises farming at her rural home. Currently, she has ten rental houses in Rongai town. She has applied for a loan of $300, which she intends to use to renovate her rental houses so that they look more attractive. She is willing to repay this loan within a period of 12 months.",F,300,lender,Housing,1
Kenya,"Sabena is 52 years old. She is married with 3 grown up children. She is an active member of St. Phillips Church in Maragwa district and a member of the Mothers Union in the same Church. She hails from Ikindu village. Sabena practices mixed farming as a way of earning a living. In her farm, she grows bananas, maize, beans and mangoes. She earns her income from the sale of bananas and mangoes both from her farm and also from buying from other farms. She sells at the local Maragwa market mostly to the travelers. Sabena is a member of Karaba Umoja women group. This is a solidarity group that analyzes the problems of their village and has vowed to solve them through the group's revolving fund. To start with they named the group UMOJA, meaning ""together."" They then bought a uniform, which they use when going to the group meetings. During the monthly group meeting, the group members are able to save USD 3 as theyre saving for onward credits. The members have also agreed to save USD 0.30 per day, which they bring to the group meeting for the purchase of household items such as flasks, blankets, and cups. These are items that some of the members could not afford. WEEC officer assists the group to monitor this welfare for the members as she monitors the revolving fund records. From the group records, Sabena has qualified for a loan of USD 300. She wants to buy a water tank.",F,300,lender,Agriculture,1
Kenya,"Sabina is 43 years old. She is a single mother of 7 children. Sabina has lived in Kware for many years and has tried her hand at various small businesses to be able to support her family. She joined the WEEC Programme in 2003 when it was started in Rongai. Sabina appreciates the training that WEEC provides. She is able to run her small business and to keep records. Her main financial challenge used to be keeping up with the cost of books and school fees for her children. She is happy that the Government is now providing free primary education which includes text books and exercise books. All her children are now attending a public school. Sabina sells indigenous foods - mainly cassava, arrow roots, yams, green maize and peas - that she buys from farmers in Kandisi and Kiserian. Sabina wants to take advantage of the new Government policy of abolishing the use of polythene bags. She will start selling traditional ciondos (bags). She will buy the bags from Ukambani and the straps for the customers. She has bought the straps and is selling to her customers who already have the bags. Sabina is a very good sales lady. Though she has not yet stocked the bags, she has already started teaching her customers about the need to use the traditional bags. She requires a loan of USD 150 to enable her to purchase the bags. Her plan is to buy 150 bags. Her loan will be repaid in 10 months.",F,150,lender,Food,1
Kenya,"Sadan Wanjiku Ireri is a 28 year old, single lady with one child. She lives on the outskirts of Nairobi in a town called Ngong. In the years 1997-1998, she trained as a salonist in a salon called Winique Salon, situated at River road in Nairobi. After her training, she started working as a hair dresser in the town where she lives. In the year 2003, she took money from her savings and opened her own salon in a place called Zambia, in the centre of the town.
Because she does not have the many types of equipment that her saloon requires, Sadan is now requesting for a loan of $775. With this money, she will buy a dryer, a blow dryer, a pair of tongs, a flat iron, a foot massager and also some chemicals for the salon. Wanjiku says that if she has these requirements, it will make work easier for both her and her clients. She will be able to make more money because, right now, the demand for her services is high. She also wont have to go to the city to buy things because she will have enough stock. She will also attract some more customers from her neighboring salons, which are not providing the services that she will be able to provide. The business will also be giving her more profits, thus giving her more money to feed and educate her child.
The repayment Period of the loan will be 8 Months.",F,775,partner,Services,0
Kenya,"Salaton Kario Mokena is married with five children who are all in primary school. She joined WEEC four years ago and has since then taken and repaid several small loans. Salaton started her bead work business five years ago. Her startup capital was given by her son and boosted by WEEC. She was able to increase her stock from USD 75 to USD 500. She sells to tourists in Mombassa City and Isinya town. Her business has enabled her to build a gall sheet house. She was also able to send her two children to a private school. Given a loan of USD 300, she will be able to add stock to her business to meet the increased demand for her products. Her bead work is high quality and she has valued customers. She is willing to repay her loan on a monthly basis.",F,300,lender,Arts,1
Kenya,"Salima Khatioli is an average Kenyan woman aged 30 and married with 4 children. Salima has been in this business for a period of 4 years, and she got her initial capital by accumulating savings from her former work place. Currently Salima deals in ladies wear, but she would like to diversify to mens and childrens wear as well. Salima purchases her bales of clothes every month from various shops in Nairobi, the capital city of Kenya. With the little profit she gets from her business, Salima is able to clothe, feed, and educate her children. With the help of her loan, Salima will be able to purchase clothes in bulk to enable her to increase her monthly sales. Her long term vision is to open up a boutique.
Disclaimer: Due to recent events in Kenya, the security situation in many communities remains unsettled, affecting many local businesses. Lenders to this entrepreneur should be aware that this loan may represent a higher default risk, and should be willing to accept this additional risk in making their loan.",F,3625,lender,Clothing,0
Kenya,"Salivia is a committed member of the St. Consolata Womens Group and Anglican Church of Kenya. She is married and has four children. Salivia is entrepreneur-minded, she has a kiosk in Nyakahura. Her husband has a bigger business in Nairobi Kangemi estate. She was working with the husband in their shop in Nairobi but saw a market niche in Nyakahura and started another shop. She sells household stuffs such as flour, sugar, salt, soap detergent, tissue paper and sanitary towels. In addition to this business, she practices subsistence farming from which she reaps almost five sacks of beans and twenty sacks of maize. With her income she is able to service her loans comfortably. Being an ambitious businesswoman Salivia wants to invest in the stock market and see her assets grow.",F,225,lender,Retail,1
Kenya,"Salome Amondi belongs to a group of 25 widows who supply fertilized eggs to a hatching project in Ugunja. Salome has repaid her first loan of 25 USD. She would like to apply for a second loan of 145 USD that will enable her to become an independent egg supplier, as well as apply the skills she has acquired from the women's group.",F,500,lender,Agriculture,1
Kenya,"Salome is 42 years old, single and a mother of 3 children. Salome studied up to high school level but due to a lack of fees, didnt proceed with studies. Salome joined WEEC in 2006 after learning about KIVA loans. She owns some rental houses in Kiserian Shopping centre. She accessed her first loan of USD 300 late last year. She used it to renovate her rental rooms to make them more marketable and attractive. From this income she was able to service her loan on time. Salomes son is doing his higher education in Makerere University Uganda and she has applied for a loan of USD 300 to pay the next semester's fees.",F,300,lender,Housing,1
Kenya,"Salome is 43 years married with 6 six children. She has been very active member of Queen Esther Women Group. She is founder and has benefited a lot from the trainings and interactions from the group members. She got her first loan of USD700 and she was able to renovate her rental rooms. The income she got from the rooms, she started a business of selling paraffin in small scale. Her income increased that she was able to pay medication for her mother in-law who was ailing, paid fees for a brother in law and bought 3 dairy cows. She has been selling milk to neighbors and some for family consumption reducing the expenses. Loans that changes life drastically changed her life, and she has influenced many of her colleagues. Her first loan changed her life and she is confident with what she has achieved up-to-date. She intends to continue with the construction of rental rooms after getting the loan. Paying her loan with installments wont stretch her much because she has a monthly income flow from the sales of milk, rental fees, and small units of paraffin business.",F,1200,lender,Housing,1
Kenya,Salome is married with 3 children. She is an active member of Joan caretakers women group. Salome is a dedicated Christian and a very hardworking woman. She has been struggling to make end meets for her family. She rears dairy cows which gives her income which is sufficient for basic needs. She is planning to buy upgraded dairy cow to increase milk production to enable her give the children quality education. The cow she has at present gives her only 5 litres of milk daily where she sells 3 litres and leaves the other for consumption. She sells her milk at 0.2usd per litre and her target is to sell 25 litres a day. She is very committed in her repayments from the previous small group loan and she is willing to repay in instalments.,F,300,lender,Agriculture,1
Kenya,"Salome was born in 1962,a single mother of 3 children. 2 of her children are grown up and have casual jobs. Salome is member of ACK church St Monica. She is a member of women of faith group- a group for single mothers who have joined the church and have decided to live a positive life. Her main source of income is selling plastic kitchen wares. Salome has been benefited from the savings contributions knowledge trained by WEEC and has put this in to parctice that she believes she can now make to borrow a loan and buy more plastic bowls for her business. she has been able to access 3 small loans from the group. She can be able to plan on when to increase the stock as per the demand. Salome needs to increase her stock and requires USD 75 dollars",F,75,lender,Retail,1
Kenya,"Salome was born in 1964 in Kiserian, Kenya.she is single with two children. The last born finished form four this year, while the first born is schooling in Makerere University in Uganda. Salome is a member of Hosanna Worship Church in Kiserian. Salome joined WEEC in 2004 and has actively demonstrated her commitment in group activities. She has benefited a lot from the trainings and small loans form WEEC programme. Being a hardworking woman , Salome was given responsibility by her mother to take care of family business of rental rooms in Kiserian town. She got her first loan and opened a pool table game business in one of the rooms due to school fees pressure. She utilized her skills and was able to raise school fees for her son. Her other son will be joining college next year and she feels that if she can clear fees for next year semester for her first born she can be able to struggle with the other one peacefully. She is planning to repay her loan on monthly basis.",F,300,lender,Housing,1
Kenya,"Sammy is a father of two and started his business in 2004. He initially traded in chicken and has gradually graduated to goats and cattle trade. He has been doing this business over the past 10 years. This is first time that an opportunity for a loan has availed itself to him. With the loan of US$150 from PEMCI, Sammy sees good prospects for his business. He will use the loan proceeds to grow his business and increase profits.",M,150,partner,Agriculture,0
Kenya,"Sammy Said is a general practitioner who manages his own private facility in Kisumu, Kenya. He is 46 years old and lives with his wife and two school-aged children. He was employed by Mario-stopes Kenya after completing his nursing course.
In 2002, he established Gods Will Medical Centre, which serves the community in the Manyatta slums. He has focused his efforts on building a larger out-patient facility at this location. Besides general curative services, his facility offers a pharmacy, a laboratory, and maternal and child health services.
Sammy has established a very good reputation from his many years of good work in Kisumu. He attributes his success to hard work, perseverance, and the assistance he has received from K-MET. He has been able to expand his facility, increase the number of services he offers, and improve the quality of care he provides. His practice continues to grow as he attracts more clients. He plans to further expand his facility, so he has applied for a loan of US $1200 to finance this expansion.",M,1200,partner,Health,0
Kenya,"Sampa is married with 3 children. She is the assistant chairperson of Ewanganya women group. She gets her spiritual nourishment from Methodist church. Sampa has a business of rearing steers where she started her business 1 year ago. She started with 2 steers and after feeding them for 6 months she doubled the buying price. From the income, she was able to start a small shop of household items which has been a backbone to her family. She sells flour, cereals, detergents soft drinks, vegetables and fruits and her business has been doing well for being the only kind in the area. She is planning to buy more of the stock and she will be able to meet all the needs for her customers. She likes what she does and she believes sky is the limit. She is planning to repay back her loan on monthly basis.",F,1150,lender,Retail,1
Kenya,"Samson (standing serving a client) is a 24-year-old married man with one child. He lives with his family at Nyamasaria in Kisumu, Kenya. He is the proprietor of a barber shop located along the Kisumu - Nairobi road. He initiated his current business in 2002. His business has done quite well due to its location and his access to loan funds. Samson is proud of his accomplishments and that he is now able to contribute to paying household expenses. He requires US $500 to further expand his business.
Disclaimer: Due to recent events in Kenya, the security situation in many communities remains unsettled, affecting many local businesses. Lenders to this entrepreneur should be aware that this loan may represent a higher default risk, and should be willing to accept this additional risk in making their loan.",M,500,partner,Services,0
Kenya,"Samson Gitaka Kamoko is 39 years old and married with three girls and a boy. Two of the girls are in school while the other children are still too young to attend school. Samson wants to expand his garlic-selling business to support his family. He has requested a loan of US $ 650 to expand his business and has budgeted his spending as follows:
US $ 200 to purchase white garlic
US $ 300 to purchase red garlic
US $ 150 to pay for insurance, packing, polythene bags and a license. Samson is a dedicated group member who will repay the loan on time.",M,650,lender,Food,1
Kenya,"Samson is a young married man with two children.
He is a trained mechanic from Sangalo Institute of Science and Technology. He was working in a local garage in his area but quit in 2005 and started his business of selling new clothes.
With the support of the $150 loan through PEMCI, he plans to increase the stock of his business. He is continuously garnering experience in the business and inspiring the youth in the area to go into business as a way of breaking out of the poverty trap. Samson is worth supporting.",M,150,partner,Clothing,0
Kenya,"Samson Langat is aged 42 years. He is married with four children, all in school. He also takes care of his elderly mother. Samson is a grade twelve graduate with 10 years experience in the transport business. His wife works as a civil servant and her income is meagre. Samson learned his strengths when he attended the entrepreneurship training conducted by Ebony Foundation. He is now able to effectively market his services. However, his vehicle has started developing mechanical problems. To fix the problem and continue supporting his family he is requesting a loan of US $1,200 which he intends to spend as follows: US $800 to purchase a refurbished engine, US $400 to purchase new tires and pay for labour. Samsons cab is very popular and he will be able to repay the loan.",M,1200,lender,Transportation,1
Kenya,"Samson Mutuka is 33 years old and married with one child who is still too young to go to school. Samson runs a bicycle transport business (bodaboda) while his wife stays at home. He has been receiving loans from Eb-f as member of Angaza group. He lives in a one-room house with his family in Nakuru, Kenya. He is the sole breadwinner in his family but would like to change this by starting a market stall business selling farm produce, especially vegetables, for his wife to create an extra income. This will help them save for their childs education and improve their current living standards. He requests a US $ 600 loan to be used as follows; US$ 400 to buy stock, US$ 150 build the stall and US $50 to pay for a council license. He is very committed and will repay the loan.",M,600,lender,Food,1
Kenya,"Samuel and Dorcus Nganga are a married couple who have three beautiful daughters. This couple is among PEMCIs best performing clients and PEMCI is proud to be associated with them. With their previous loan, they were able to meet the fashion trends that people, especially women in Malaba, wanted. From the profits from their business, the couple was able to not only pay their childrens school fees but also provided a decent livelihood for their family.
With the successful completion of their previous loan, the couple would now like to obtain another loan so they can stock their shop further.",M,1200,lender,Clothing,1
Kenya,"SAMUEL GAKUNYI IKENYE is 37 years old and a father of 3 children who are all in school. Samuel also takes care of his aging parents and two of his nephews. He grows maize on his 4 acre piece of land with the help of his wife. The variety of maize grown in his region takes almost one year to mature and Samuel is forced to take manual jobs in other peoples farms to supplement the family income.
Samuel wants to improve his family income by turning to potatoes farming which is more profitable. He is requesting a loan of US $500. His budget is: US $150 to purchase seedlings, US $150 to purchase organic fertilizer, US $100 pest control and US $100 for top dressing. This will increase his family income to US $45 per week. He will use the income to provide for his family and to expand his farming business.",M,500,lender,Agriculture,1
Kenya,"Samuel Gathiga Muhoro is 31 years old. He is married and has one child. He earns his living from shoe selling. To support his child and spouse comfortably, Samuel, would like expand his business. The income he makes is little which is hardly enough to support his business and his family. His challenge is lack of capital which means that he does not have enough shoes in stock to meet the rising demand from his clients. He is requesting a loan of US$600. US$ 500 will be used to purchase used shoes, US$ 50 to pay for the municipal fee and US$ 50 for transportation of the shoes.
With his determination, he will be able to pay back the loan.",M,600,lender,Retail,1
Kenya,"Samuel Gatonye Gichiki is a 43 year old man, married, with four children. His wife is sickly so she is unable to provide for the family. Samuel has been a pastor for the last fifteen years. Three of the children are of school age and still in school, but often cannot attend due to lack of school fees. Hed really like to see his children get the best in life. However, his monthly pastoring allowance of about US$36 does not allow him to meet all of his family needs, and he sees no chance of his children attending college/university.
He would therefore like to start farming, especially since where he lives is very productive, and he is certain that this will help him earn enough for the family. However, he has no capital and is requesting funding of US$900 to start farming. He will use US$500 to buy seeds, US$100 for transportation, US$200 to lease three acres of land, and US$100 to pay for fees. The sale of the farm's produce will help him improve his standard of living.",M,900,lender,Agriculture,1
Kenya,"Samuel is 54 years old and is married with eight children. He lives in the Kasarani part of Nairobi in an area called Mwiki. Samuel has no other dependents.
Samuel deals with livestock farming, raising both dairy and beef cattle. He started his business in 1997 when he purchased 2 dairy cattle. Samuel learned livestock raising skills in 1993 when he lived in the North Rift Valley of Kenya and purchased a small farm. He later shifted his market to a co-operative distributor in Nairobi. Unfortunately, this venture collapsed and left Samuel and other farmers without a ready market for their product. In 1997, Samuel bought land in Nairobi and took up farming, since he could not bring his cattle with him. Shortly thereafter, he sold his farm for Ksh 38,000 and purchased 2 cows at a cost of Ksh 15,000 each. With the remaining money he bought dairy feed for the animals and was able to start his new life and educate his children. Since he channels all of his revenue into his family and childrens education, Samuel has been unable to increase the number of cows he can raise.
The time has now come to expand his business and increase his profit potential. Samuel is therefore asking Kiva lenders to grant him a loan of Ksh 70,000 with which he will be able to construct a good shed for his livestock and purchase 2 additional cows at a cost of Ksh 25,000 each. This will help him expand his market as the demand for milk is very high in Mwiki. By scaling up his business, Samuel will raise his familys standard of living and better provide for the education of his children. The repayment period of Samuels loan will be 12 months.
Disclaimer: Due to recent events in Kenya, the security situation in many communities remains unsettled, affecting many local businesses. Lenders to this entrepreneur should be aware that this loan may represent a higher default risk, and should be willing to accept this additional risk in making their loan.",M,1075,partner,Food,1
Kenya,"SAMUEL KAGOTHO is a 27 yr old single entrepreneur. He owns a cybercaf providing Internet services in town. He has a business experience of 2yrs. He has managed to secure a customer base within his work area situated in the town centre. This has enabled him to cater to his customers and pay his employee on time.
Samuel has two employees who help in printing and other services such a typesetting and Internet browsing. All of his customers have to look elsewhere for photocopying services because he cannot provide this service as well as long distance calls and trunk calls. He faces difficulties such as acquiring capital to expand his business and exploit this avenue as well.
Samuel is an aspiring business man and he would like to expand his business to cater to his already growing customer base. He is requesting for a loan of US $ 1,200 to purchase the following items:
US $600 to buy a photocopying machine
US $300 Buy and install the long distance calling chip
US$ 200 to expand his business premises
US$ 100 for labor costs.
Samuel is able to repay the loan within the time period given.",M,1200,lender,Services,1
Kenya,"SAMUEL KARANJA is 48 years old and married with two children. He lives with his deceased sister's three children, as well as his aged parents. His sister was not married and, being the oldest in the family, he bears the responsibility of catering for her childrens education and upkeep. The eldest of all five children is in the third year of senior school, the second oldest is in the second year,and the third oldest is in the first year. His own children are the youngest, and are in the sixth and fourth years of junior school respectively. He also takes care of his aged parents. He farms tomatoes on a two-acre plot in Subukia, a peasant settlement in Rift valley. Tomato farming is more profitable during the dry season, but he needs to irrigate to get a good crop. He would like to exploit this opportunity but he has no water pump even though there is a river running through the southern end of his plot. He is requesting a loan of $800. $700 buys a water pump and $100 buys water pipes. He is focused and will repay the loan. This will help educate the five children.",M,700,lender,Agriculture,1
Kenya,"Samuel Kihiu is 31 years old, married, and has a child. He lives on the outskirts of Nairobi in a place known as Ruai. Samuel has no other dependents apart from his family.
Samuel started working at a construction site and was able to save Ksh 5000 (US$77). He used the money to purchase scratch cards, then bought a mobile phone to offer calling services to people. After generating additional income, he later expanded his business by adding sales of mobile accessories, including phone cases and chargers. Finally, he bought a community phone which was more effective for use by the public.
Samuel's business has been doing well, enabling him to support his family and to pay the bills, such as the council fees (US$15), accrued in his business premises. However, Samuel would like to expand his business further by buying a photocopier with which he would be able to generate more income and provide a much-needed service offered by no one else within the area. He believes that he will thus be able to serve his community better.
Samuel needs a loan of Ksh 50,000.00 to be able to purchase the photocopy machine, and he intends to pay the loan back within a period of 10 months. Samuel is thankful to all Kiva lenders for support.",M,725,partner,Retail,1
Kenya,"SAMUEL MBUKI is 32 years old. He is a father of two children who are all in school.
Samuel in addition lives with and cares for his parents who are old and can not work.
He is a high school graduate and opted to start a farming business instead of loitering in cities looking for jobs that are hard to find. He begun his farming business by leasing land from other people in year 2000. He would plant potatoes and sell them at a market in Nakuru City.
He planted three times per year and earned an average of US $ 60 per month. Samuel used the income to provide for his family but saved as much as he could.
In year 2004 he bought a one acre piece of land and continued growing potatoes. In year 2005 he bought one dairy cow that gives the family an average of 28 litter of milk daily. He sells 25 litters and leaves the rest for. This together with the potatoes earns the family an average of US $ 60 per week.
Samuel wants to increase the family income in order to be able to meet his childrens high school fees and to meet the health care cost of his parents. He wants to purchase an additional two dairy cows and he is requesting a loan of US $ 1,900. His Budget is US $ 1,700 to purchase two dairy cows, US $ 100 to improve the cow shade and US $ 100 to grow fodder for the cows. This will increase the family income to an average of US $ 120 per week.
Samuel is a hard working young man and will be able to repay the loan.",M,1900,lender,Agriculture,1
Kenya,"Samuel Mose Mongera is 30 years old. He is a photo journalist by profession. He was working with a standard newspaper (a local daily newspaper in East Africa), but was terminated in the 2000 because of an accident that caused back injury that affected his ability to work. His accident was reported in the standard newspapers on 17th Feb. 2000. Being unemployed inspired him to open his own business in marketing and advertising. He designs business cards, brochures, helps with event organization and other marketing activities that utilize his talent, creativity, and past experience in photography. Currently his business is picking up and he is getting offers from different institutions and companies in the town where he operates. Samuel has recently acquired a lucrative contract to print a community-based magazine on youth empowerment. He sees this as a noble job, and he wouldn't want to disappoint his community, but finances are impeding his progress. He needs funding to enable him to purchase crucial equipment to fulfill this contract. He is requesting a loan of $1,050: $950 for a fully equipped, reconditioned printing press and $100 to hire an assistant to aid him in his work.",M,1050,lender,Services,1
Kenya,"Samuel Mwangi Kariuki is a 25-year-old married father of two children, a boy and a girl. One of the children is in school while the other is still young. Samuel is the breadwinner; he ekes out his living through selling second-hand clothes within the suburban market of Nakuru. Operationally, Samuel purchases a bale of clothes, sorts them, refurbishes them and clusters them in different categories, then sells them to his demanding clients. Samuel has been a beneficiary of the non-financial services of Ebony Foundation Business Development Services department throughout the second quarter of the year; he has been a regular attendee and he is now able to practically keep his simple records and project his cash flow for the coming seasons. He requests a loan amount of US $400t: US $300 to purchase a bale of assorted second-hand clothing; US $50 to pay for transport; US $50 to pay for the municipal fee. Samuel is hardworking and will repay the loan.",M,400,lender,Clothing,1
Kenya,"Samuel Mwangi Kirima is a 35-year-old married farmer/entrepreneur. He has one child who is too young to be in school. Samuel is a high school graduate with no professional training, but he is a born entrepreneur. He started farming and retailing his own farm products, after which he expanded and diversified to buying more farm products from other farmers selling them at their local market. He would like to expand the retail line but lacks capital. He requests a US $ 900 loan:
To buy vegetables, US $ 200
To buy potatoes and maize, US $ 300
To buy dry cereals, US $ 200
Labor, US $ 200
Samuel is hard working and will repay the loan.",M,900,lender,Food,1
Kenya,"Samuel Mwangi Kiururi is aged 30 years. He is married with one child, age 3. His wife is jobless. Samuel runs a barber shop; he has been doing this for more than 7 years with savoir faire in different styles such as Mandela cuts, Afro style, and Jordan. From his business savings, he pursued a business management course in Kawangware. Currently, Samuel is interested in expanding his business, so as to better support his young family. He would even like to employ more staff to assist him in meeting the clients' demands. Samuel is requesting a loan of US$ 750, with the following budget:
US $ 200 to purchase a new set of armchairs
US $ 150 to purchase American-made electric razors
US $ 100 to purchase a front mirror
US $ 100 to pay his municipal license, and
US $ 200 to renovate and expand his premises.
Samuel is a member of the Mwitethiya group, a group lending methodology whereby members of the group pledge repayment for each other. This businessman is a committed member and ready to repay the loan and do all he can to support his family.",M,750,lender,Services,1
Kenya,Samuel Mwathi is 30 years old. He is married with one child aged 2 years. He earns his living through selling clothes in an open air market. His business has great potential for growth given the fact that he has a good client base and the demand for his products has greatly increased. He has ten years experience in the business. He wishes to expand his business by increasing his stock to meet his clients needs. His greatest challenge is lack of capital. He is therefore requesting a loan of US$900 which he intends to use as follows: $500 to purchase more clothes to sell; $300 to put up a shade on his stall; and $100 for transportation. He is hardworking and will be able to repay the loan.,M,900,lender,Clothing,1
Kenya,"Samuel Nganga is married and a father of 3 daughters in primary school. He runs a clothing shop with his wife Dorcas, and they have been good supporters of PEMCI right from inception. This is his fourth loan with PEMCI. His first two loans of US$715 and the third of US$1450 were paid in a timely manner. He has moved from vending clothes to being a wholesaler. This fourth loan of US$1450 will be used to grow his business further. His wife would also like to sell ladies shoes in line with the clothing business. We are proud of what this couple has achieved in a very short time with us, and we have no doubt that they will go a long way with PEMCI. Their ambition is to establish a good foundation for the education of their 3 daughters.",F,1200,partner,Clothing,0
Kenya,"Samuel Thumbi Kibe, aged 24 years, is a youth and a butcher by experience, having worked in the family business since he was young. He approached Eb-F to come to his rescue for he wants to start his own business. He went through business start-up skills training and made a proposal to start a fruit juice bar. He requests a US $600 loan to be used as follows:
US $100 buys a juice blender;
US $300 buys fruit;
US $200 for expansion and decoration.
This will give Samuel an income and a future.",M,600,lender,Food,1
Kenya,"Sarah Akello Apem is 35 years old. She is married and has five children who all attend junior school. Her husband is a photographer. To supplement his earnings, she operates an open-air food vending business just outside her home in a slum residence in Mombasa. The food items are fried fish and fried chicken pieces. She alternates selling these two items depending on the season and the prices set by the suppliers.
She has been doing this business for the last six months and she is gradually building up her customer base. These customers regularly buy during lunch and dinnertime since this ready food is convenient because it spares them the hassle of food preparation. The earnings from here all go into meeting her familys basic needs.
She would like to increase her income due to the recent rising demands for her family such as school fees, expenses and medical care. She intends to do this by expanding her scope of operations and selling more food. Eventually, she plans on setting up another food outlet. To acheive these plans, Sarah is requesting a loan of $500. She plans to use $200 to renovate her stall, $100 to purchase more cooking and serving utensils, and
$200 to purchase additional raw foods. She is a committed lady who will repay the loan.",F,500,lender,Agriculture,1
Kenya,"Sarah Chepkirui Mesa is aged 34 years. She is married with two children who are both in school. Her husband is a peasant farmer. Sarah also takes care of her elderly parents. After realizing that her husbands farming income could not meet all the needs of her family, she ventured into the business of selling cereals three years ago.
Sarah has effectively employed sound business management skills that she acquired from a training facilitated by Ebony Foundation. Her business has now grown, and she has established a business niche for herself. To cater for the rising demand for her products, she plans to start buying her cereals in bulk from the farmers and do away with middlemen. This will not only increase her profit margin but also reduce costs associated with retail purchasing.
To achieve this, she is requesting a loan of US$1000, and she has the following budget: US$600 to buy 40 bags of dry maize, US$300 to buy 15 bags of beans and US$100 for transportation. With this kind of stock, Sarah will make good profits and continue educating her children. She is business-minded and will be able to repay the loan.",F,1000,lender,Food,1
Kenya,"Sarah is 27 years of age and married. She is an active member of the lending group named Future Fruits. Her source of income is through a retail shop which she operates daily. She operates her business far from where she stays because of targeting different customers. She has been in the business for some time as it has been the only source of income in the family. She sells salt, sugar, maize-wheat-porridge flour, soaps, cooking fat, beverages and cereals. She intends to buy more stock for her business for her to meet the demand in the community. She is willing to put effort in her business to see it grow and be a wholesale shop where she will be supplying goods to other retailers.",F,150,lender,Retail,1
Kenya,"Sarah is 28 years old , married and a mother of 1. She is member of Future Fruits Women Group. She earns her daily bread from the sales of her retail shop. She sells maize, beans, flour, green grams, soap, and cooking fat, among others. Her business has grown to a large scale since she received a USD 150 loan last year. She is due to complete paying the loan in July 2007. Sarah has been a good payer and her group colleagues have guaranteed her for a loan. She has now applied for a loan of USD 750 to build her own residential house. She feels that if this materializes, she will save a lot from the money she is currently using to pay rent.",F,750,lender,Retail,1
Kenya,"Sarah is 28 years old and married with three children. Sarah is a committed member of her church in Nkoroi. They hold meetings for the young single mothers - the meetings have made the young mothers dedicate their lives to God and to starting income generating activities.
Sarah also assists her two younger brothers who were left by their mother when she passed away. The two are in primary school at the moment and she provides them with books and uniforms.
Sarah has attended several trainings under the WEEC program. Graces group runs a revolving fund and it was started in 2003. She has been the group treasurer for the last 3 years. Sarahs husband was at the time employed as a matatu driver. She asked her husband to save part of his salary and after two years she took a loan, added it to the husbands savings and they bought a reconditioned matatu. The husband has been operating the matatu for two years.
The income from the matatu has enabled the family to purchase a small plot of land where they have built their home. Though the matatu is still making some money, Sarah would like to sell off the matatu, add more money to the proceeds and purchase a better one. Sarahs basic management course has enabled her to keep a good track of their matatu business.",F,1200,lender,Transportation,1
Kenya,"Sarah is 33 years old. She is married and has 2 children. Sarahs husband started a small business of making Kikoi materials. The business stalled due to lack of capital. Sarah could not let family business go under. She knew that her husband was good in his work and wanted to see the family business doing well. Sarah decided to join a savings and credit group. She attended an outreach training that was organized by the WEEC officers and in 2003 she joined Comfort w g. From the group revolving fund Sarah was able to access loans that enabled her to buy threads for making Kikoi attires. Since she is good at marketing, she assists her husband to sell and the same time being trained on how to make them. This enables them to repay the loan. To reduce the cost of production Sarah would like to buy the required thread in large quantities to increase her sales. Sarah is planning to carry out an intensive marketing of the ready-made materials both in the local and international market. Sarah wishes to do the marketing through WEEC because she can network with potential customers. She plans to sell her materials to all the visitors who come to see the members businesses. Sarah requires USD 450 to buy the thread and other accessories.",F,450,lender,Arts,1
Kenya,"Sarah is 40 years old. She is married and has 4 children. Sarah is a born again Christian and is very strong in her faith. She is a member of ACK St. Phillips Church and an official in the Mothers Union association. Sarah hails from Gitumbi Village of Maragwa district. She earns her living through farming. The main crops she grows are French beans and bananas (mainly as source of income). She also keeps dairy cows and sells milk to her neighbors, and grows maize and beans as food for her family. When she harvests a lot of maize, she sells at Maragwa market and buys other household requirements from the income she generates. Sarah was very happy when the group approved the loans for the purchase of water tanks. For a long time, she had a big problem of water shortage. She has applied for the water tank loan of USD 300 and says this about her group It is a plus to be a member of Karaba Women's group. Now I will not have to rush to the river even when it is hot. I will only need to harvest enough water and control its usage at home. I will save time that will be used in my French beans garden. Sarah will repay her loan in 12 months.",F,300,lender,Agriculture,1
Kenya,"Sarah is a new member with PEMCI. She is forty five years old and married with ten children. Two of her children have completed high school, two are in secondary school, five are still in primary school and one child is at home. Her husband is a teacher at Changara Primary School.
Sarah started her business two years ago. She sells cereals at Changara market. She gets her stock from Cheptais Centre and Lwakhakha. She sells it on retail, measured in tins of two kilogremmes called goro goro at KES 30 ($0.50 USD) each. In a day she can sell forty goro goros. She usually makes an average profit of KES 200 ($3 USD). The challenge she meets is transport. She uses a motorbike to transport her goods and she is charged depending on the number of trips and the distance.
She says if given a loan by PEMCI, she plans to increase her business. Sarah did not complete primary school because her family could not afford the school fees. She is the sixth born in a family of nine.",F,100,lender,Food,1
Kenya,"Sarah is an elderly widow born in 1950. She has a daughter and two sons who have given her nine grandchildren, as well as a younger son who is in secondary school in the nearby city of Kakamega. Sarah started her business in 2002, which includes selling cereals, fruits and vegetables. She does her business in the communitys local trading center on the market days of Sunday and Thursday and out of her home the rest of the time. She is an active member of PEMCI and she has completed her first loan successfully. This first loan enabled her to increase her stock so that whereas she was selling cereals only, now she has been able to include fruits and vegetables in her stock. She was able to pay her loan promptly and she wishes to get a second loan from PEMCI. With the proposed loan, Sarah plans to not only increase her stock of cereals during this coming harvesting season, but to possibly open and cook for a small food stall on a busy junction road. One day she hopes to even build small houses to rent. She has been able to bring services to the community through her business, and hopes to be able to make a greater profit to help her pay school fees for her youngest son and grandchildren.",F,150,partner,Food,0
Kenya,"Sarah is thirty-seven years old, married and has four children (three girls and a boy). The youngest is seven months old. She is a secretary by profession and lives in Malaba, which is a border town on the Great North road. She used to work with a clearing firm from 1993 to 1998, but she stopped when she got married and her husband requested her to quit employment and stay at home.
Two years ago, Sarah felt very bored staying at home and solely depending on her husband for each and every thing at home. She suggested to her husband that she open up a business, and he agreed. She solicited for an initial capital of Kshs. 10,000/- and started up a business selling second-hand clothes. Since then, she has been collecting the bales of children clothes from Kimilili, Eldoret, and sometimes from Nairobi. For adult clothes, she buys the best quality from the people who cut the bales; they locally call them camera. She now has an existing stock valued about Kshs. 25,000/-(Kshs.67/- is equivalent to 1/-). Office working people, truck drivers and toddlers form her client base. She opens up her shop every day of the week; she selects high quality clothes and takes the others for disposal in the market every Wednesday and Saturday.
She faces a number of challenges in her business. She says that the wholesalers have unreasonable prices and hardly accept bargains. Purchasing of bales of clothes is very tricky because of the nature of packaging: one never knows the quality of clothes inside the bale. Sometimes a buyer may open the bale only to find rags inside. She also says that she tends to lend a lot, and her customers sometimes take a longer time to pay off their debts. Finally, she says that having a very young child impairs her movement because she really has to take care of her by not exposing her to the hot sun in the open air market. She says that the four children are enough, and she has to think of how to develop her business.
With a PEMCI loan through KIVA, Sarah plans to increase the number of bales that she sells. She hopes to become a wholesaler of bales sometime in the future.",F,1200,lender,Clothing,1
Kenya,"Sarah Makonjio is 26 years old and single. She makes her living as a maid. She is a grade 8 dropout with professional experience in bakery. Sarah does not have a job, and has settled to start a baking business. She will be selling cakes and pastries to nearby food stalls and schools. Sarah has undergone business management training which will help her develop new products and expand her market. She plans to sell the baked goods to 82 different retail outlets within Kibera. She projects a profit of nearly US$5000 per year, most of which she will re-invest in the business with the goal of expanding the business, employing more young people, and improving their living conditions. She needs a loan of US$1,200: US$200 for an energy-saving charcoal oven, US$300 for a Spiral Mobile mixer, US$300 for a mould, and US$400 for pans and trays.",F,1200,lender,Food,1
Kenya,"Sarah Muthoni Karega is 45 years of age. She is married with three children aged 27, 16, and 13 years. One is in school, and the rest have cleared their school but lack school fees to pursue their college dreams. She ekes her living through clothes sales.
Sarah has been in this business for the last 5 years dealing mainly with the basic needs of her customers. She wants to expand her business in order to sustain the family and educate all the children. She requires a loan of US $1100. In her budget, she will use US $400 to purchase a bale of blouses, US $500 to purchase a bale of assorted skirt suits, US $100 to pay for transport services and US $100 to pay for municipal fees.
Sarah has vast experience from the last 5 years. She has a good idea of her clients' demand for clothing; hence, increased chances of sale and profit margins that will help her support her family and improve their livelihood.",F,1100,lender,Clothing,1
Kenya,"Sarah Wanjiru Mburu is a 32-year-old businesswoman with a clothing stall at a busy market situated in Mombasa town. She sells new clothes such as babys clothes and ladies lingerie. Her garments are inexpensive and fashionable and are well liked by many repeat customers. Sarah has been in this business for the 6 years. Recently, the business has been experiencing an increased demand for her merchendise. However, her major obstacle has been raising the necessary funds to buy more inventory to capture this increasing demand and make an extra income. She would like to expand her business and employ sale assistants. She is therefore requesting a loan of $600 to help her achieve this goal. The funds will be used to buy more clothing for sale. Sarah is a hardworking woman and is determined to be successful in her expansion venture with this loan.",F,600,lender,Clothing,1
Kenya,"Sarah Wanza is 50 years old, married and has 4 daughters. She has been an active member of Virtuous Women Group and she has benefited a lot from the loans that save life. She received USD 150 as school fees loan and paid full year fees, for the first time since her children joined secondary school, she managed to pay fees for a whole year. The loan has changed her family life and she is proud when she looks back her achievement. Sarahs loan is always repaid promptly. Her main source of income is children day care business which has been affected by low enrolment; this is because most parents prefer taking their children to government schools which offer free education. Sarah wants to change her centre to start taking very young children whose parents are working during the day. She will therefore move to a better and more enclosed area. She has found rooms to rent and they not far from the bus stop hence parents will not be walking for long when dropping and picking their children. She plans to employ a lady who will not only benefit financially but also will acquire knowledge on how to bring up the young kids. In future Sarah intends take a child or two from the poor families and gives them free nursery education so as to prepare them for the primary education which is offered free by the government. She has been a teacher for a long time, equipping her with the best skills to handle the business",F,450,lender,Services,1
Kenya,"Sarah was born 42 years ago in Nyathutho, Kiambu. She is married with 4 children. Out of the four children, one has completed college, two are in college while the last-born is in Kirangari High School. Sarah is a dedicated member of Kirangari Catholic Church and a Catholic Women's Association (CWA) member of the Nairobi archdiocese. She leads many local groups and is a role model to many young women. Since 1995 Sarah has been engaged in dairy farming, poultry and horticulture. Currently she has 3 grade cows, 300 chicken layers and a plot of horticulture farming. Sarah joined Kugema Women's Group seven years ago and was made the secretary of the group due to her good leadership model; she is excellent at keeping her financial records. So far she has used 8 loans. Her previous loan was USD1000 used to buy a dairy cow. She has raised and educated all her children from the income she earns from her farming business. According to Sarah her business has been doing well, enabling her to cater for daily needs. Sarah wants to increase her stock of eggs by buying more chicken and another dairy cow. She feels with time, her life is going to change completely and she will be able to educate her children without struggle. Sarah would like to be given a loan of USD 1200. She intends to pay within a period of 12 months.",F,1000,lender,Agriculture,1
Kenya,"Sarah was born 61 years ago in Kanunga Kiambu. She is married with four children. Three are out of school with families; the youngest is pursuing a bachelor's degree at Nairobi University. Her husband is a retired civil servant. She is a dedicated member of ACK church Kanunga and a mothers union member. Sarah joined WEEC five years ago. Since then she has really benefitted from WEEC Loans. She says she is truly a changed person: has moved from nowhere to somewhere. She runs her business in a excellent way as she has been trained by WEEC on how to run a business. She has educated all her children from dairy farming and a part of her husband's salary. Currently she has four dairy cows which produce an average of 60 litres daily. Given a loan of USD 600, Sarah intends to buy another dairy cow.",F,600,lender,Agriculture,1
Kenya,"Sarah was born fifty years ago in Nyahururu, Kenya. She is married with five children. Three of them are out of school and the two last born boys are in college in Nairobi. Sarah is an active member of Gikuni Catholic Church. She is the treasurer of a women group in the church. She joined WEEC in 2002 and to her WEEC loans have truly changed her life. She runs her horticulture farming in an excellent way as she is well trained by WEEC on business management and agriculture skills. She started with a loan of $60 a farming project of growing vegetables and fruits which has transformed her family life. Now she supplies her vegetables to Uchumi hypermarkets.",F,450,lender,Agriculture,1
Kenya,"Sarah was born in 1962. She is a widow with 4 children. When her husband died two of her children were in secondary school while the last two boys were in primary school. Sarah worked very hard and today all her children have finished college. Sarah is very hard working and a religious person. She also actively participates in church activities. Like her colleagues, Sarah joined WEEC last January.
Sarah has been a dairy farmer for more than 5 years now. She has raised and educated her children from income earned from dairy farming and small school fees from her local group.
She is optimistic that given a loan of USD 150, she would be able ot buy another dairy cow and increase her business.",F,150,lender,Agriculture,1
Kenya,"Seima is a young man aged 20, following his dream of being self-employed. He lives with his parents within the Kiambiu slums of Nairobi.
Seima operates a barbershop by the name of Lunimart Barber Shop in the Kiambiu slums. Seima acquired his barbering skills after being employed in a barber shop named Kimsa, where he worked for 2 years before opting to start his own shop. He had saved Ksh 1,000 (USD 15) while working and he borrowed Ksh 4,000.00 (US$ 60) from his mother as his initial start up capital. With a total of Ksh 5,000.00 (USD 75), Seima bought a new electric razor and second-hand mirrors and chairs, which he has been using up to date. His business has continued to pull in more and more people due to his expertise in shaving clients hair. During weekdays, Seima shaves about 30 heads a day and on weekends, when the demand for shaving is high, he shaves up to 60 heads. Due to the increased number of customers, Seima wants to increase the number of tools.
Seima has previously approached a number of banks for financial assistance, but all of them have turned down his request, due to lack of collateral. Seima is therefore requesting a loan of US$ 200. With the loan, he plans to purchase 2 electric razors, 2 chairs and 3 mirrors. This will help him expand his business and also give his customers an efficient shave. The tools will enable him to employ two young men to assist in his business, ensuring that his clients will not have to wait too long. Seima believes that this loan will even help to increase his clientele and will boost his income. He may become a beacon for fellow young men who want to follow in his footsteps.",M,200,lender,Services,1
Kenya,"Sera Ambigo Matukho is 30 years old. She is married with three children and lives in the town of Mlolongo that sits along the Mombasa -Nairobi highway.
Sera graduated from one of the largest referral hospitals in East Africa, Kenyatta Medical Training Center, in 1999 and started operating her clinic and pharmacy shop in 2006. She began the clinic with initial capital from savings she made while employed at the Kenyatta National Hospital as a doctor (USD $1470).
Equipped with her savings and her technical skills, Sera approached her husband, who is also a qualified doctor, and together they started the clinic and pharmacy shop. They decided to start their business in Mlolongo because it is a very fast-growing town. The couple rented two houses to host the clinic and hospital. The business continues to grow as many patients seek their services. The town is located along the only highway connecting Mombasa and Nairobi where many medical emergencies occur. Also, Sera is able to perform labor deliveries, sending any complicated cases to Kenyatta Hospital in Nairobi.
The clinic and pharmacy have saved so many lives that Sera cannot recall the number and she wants to continue with this trend for many years to come. She wants to add more stock of drugs to her clinic and pharmacy in order to cope with the increasing demand for medicine. She, therefore, is requesting a loan of $1,175. With this loan, Sera will be able to purchase drugs and supplies like syrups, tablets, injectables, and bandages. This will greatly improve the services she is providing, save lives, and also increase her income.
The repayment period is 10 months.",F,1175,partner,Health,0
Kenya,"Sera Hawega is 27 years old, and is single. Sera has three orphaned relatives aged 18, 12, and 6 years respectively, who she takes care of because there is no one else left in her family to take care of them. She has lived with them since they were toddlers. Sera lives in Kabete town, where she intends to operate her stall from. Sera was introduced to Action Now Kenya by her employer who saw her great potential in day care, after caring for her child as a nanny.
Sera intends to open a stall in Kabete town on the outskirts of Nairobi where she will be selling children clothes and also she will have the opportunity of advertising her day care services, while selling the clothes. She intends to open a day care business in the future, once she is well settled in business. Using her business, she will also use the opportunity to educate women on nutrition and the best way to feed their children. Sera is therefore kindly requesting a loan for Ksh 20,000. With this loan, Sera will be able to purchase a bale of second-hand clothes, hangers and stationeries, and she will also put up a notice board from which she will receive some income out of every advertisement put up by her clients. The repayment period for her loan will be 10 months.",F,325,partner,Clothing,0
Kenya,"Serah Mwongeli Muindi is 31, married, and a mother of three children. Her husband is unemployed. They live the Kibera slums of Nairobi together with an orphaned nephew. The children attend junior school and are in grades one, two, four and six. Serah is the sole breadwinner for her family. She owns a small store in a nearby market. The store, selling fruits and vegetables, has been in operation for five years now. Serah sells most of her produce to several restaurants within the market. The remaining demand for her goods comes from the dense population surrounding the market. This provides Serah with a steady flow of income; however, these earnings are still insufficient to adequately meet all of her familys basic needs. She desires to earn a higher income in the future, so that her family would have access such necessities as better shelter and clean water. To achieve her goal, Serah plans to expand the volume of trade at her store. Her sharp business insight and experience will help in making this business profitable, enabling her to repay the loan. Serah is requesting a loan of US$900: she intends to use US$300 to build a larger premise with good storage space, and US$600 - to purchase more fruits and vegetables.",F,900,lender,Food,1
Kenya,"Shadrack Mbugua Waweru is a 32-year-old husband and father of four. He was raised in a poor family; both his parents worked in other peoples farms in order to earn their income. Such seasonal occupation often left them without money. As a student, Shadrack was exceptionally gifted but his parents were unable to afford the fees to continue his schooling past the elementary level.
Shadrack sells passion fruit in the local market. He got a tender to supply the local market but has insufficient capital. He is now requesting a loan for US$900 to be used as follows:
$400 increase his stock of passion fruit
$300 move his shop to a better location
$200 buy passion fruit seeds
Shadrack is a strong and dedicated worker and will be able to repay his loan.",M,900,lender,Food,1
Kenya,"Shania is married and has five children. She was born 42 years ago in Osotua, Isinya, of Kajiado district. She operates a restaurant near Saunyi quarry in Isinya and at the same time makes bead items for sale. The bead-work business supplements her income and does not take a lot of time assembling materials to make bracelets and belts. She benefited from the Kiva loan, which boosted her business. She has been able to pay school fees for her children and increase her stock. She has a plan of employing an extra hand for support due to increased demand of her work. She has quality work and she has gathered customers but she is limited by capital. She is hoping to get a loan and buy varieties of beads in large quantities. She is almost finishing repaying her first loan.",F,750,lender,Arts,1
Kenya,"She is 50 years old, married, has 5 children, 2 of whom have completed secondary school and 1 has completed college and is looking for employment.. She is also the group secretary.
She applied for a loan of USD 150
ao buy a cow and she is almost through with the repayment. She has a business 10 litre of milk per day at USD 0.28per litre.
Due to high demand of the milk, she has applied for a loan of USD 300 to buy another cow which will produce more milk. Milk from another cow will boost her income, enabling her pay back the loan and pay school fees. She intends to pay the loan in monthly installments.",F,300,lender,Agriculture,1
Kenya,"Sheila is 35 years old, married with 2 children. She is strong in her faith and dedicates her leisure time visiting the sick and giving them food. Sheila is the chairlady of Blessed Anne women group. She is one of founder members of the group. She has benefited from trainings and small loans at group level. From her first group loan, she was able to enroll in a salon and beauty course. After the course, she was able to start her own hair salon limited by capital. She is very determined to improve her family life and give her children quality education. With the small income she generates, she is able to cater for her family needs and meet group contributions. She is planning to buy more beauty products, cosmetics and hair products. She is willing to repay her loan in installments.",F,300,lender,Services,1
Kenya,"Shelmith Njeri is 33 years old, happily married, and has two children. She lives in the Embakasi town on the outskirts of Nairobi. Apart from her family, Njeri also takes care of her aged mother and three nieces from two of her sisters who are single parents and are unemployed.
Shelmith Njeri started her business in 2005, after acquiring the necessary skills from her friend John Mureithi who decided to train her free of charge. John has not regretted this decision, and Shelmith has been able to open her own metal workshop with the help of her own Ksh 10,000 (US$145) which she had managed to save while working for a flower-exporting company, and a loan of Ksh 20,000 (US$295) from her husband.
With this initial capital, Shelmith rented a yard and bought second-hand welding equipment. Even though Shelmith now has many clients for whom she makes metal products, the machines she owns are prone to frequent break-downs and over-heating problems due to their age. This often slows down Shelmith's work, which means that time and money is wasted. Shelmith is therefore asking for a loan of Ksh 84,000 that will allow her to buy a new air-cooled welding machine, a grinder, a drill, and a battery charger. The new equipment will go a long way in helping Shelmith to be self-reliant in her work. She intends to repay the loan within a period of 10 months.",F,1200,partner,Manufacturing,1
Kenya,"Shem is a forty-four-year-old transport businessman. He is married with five children, ranging from seventeen to five years of age. He is a client with PEMCI who has set and maintained a good loan repayment record even amidst tough business moments.
Shem offers transport services to the people in Teso and its environs. To increase his income, Shem has started up a timber splitting business. As his side business, he goes out and buys logs, transports them to Malaba, and splits them from his home. He bought a power saw specifically for this venture. Shem sells lumber depending on the size of timber cut. For example, the price of a foot varies, depending on the width and thickness of the lumber.
With another loan from PEMCI through KIVA, Shem intends to buy and fell more logs, hence increasing the amount of timber he processes per trip.",M,825,lender,Transportation,1
Kenya,"Shem Olang operates a bicycle repair and shoe shining business in Kondele, Kisumu. He is married with two children. He also takes care of 3 children who were orphaned following the death of his elder brother and wife from HIV/AIDS.
He needs a USD 25 loan to add spare parts to his business and pay for a business license.
He will pay the loan in 6 installments as he struggles with basic family needs.",M,25,partner,Services,0
Kenya,"Shilliakah is 32 years of age, married, with 3 children. She is an active member of Bethsaida women group. She is a Catholic by faith and a choir member in her local church. Shilliakah has a household goods shop located at Kiarutara shopping centre. She also has a small tea plantation which has an average production. Her total net income from both the shop and the tea production is USD$75 per month. She is very hardworking and dedicated to her work. She applies every skill ever acquired from trainings on business management and she has seen an impact. She has applied for a loan amounting to USD$150 with which she intends to stock her business. This will enable her to buy cereals, laundry detergents, beverages and soft drinks in large quantity.",F,150,lender,Retail,1
Kenya,"Shilliakah is 52 years of age and married with 6 children. Five of her children are self reliant and married. Her last child is in primary school. She is among the oldest member of her group, very active in church and in the community, being in the council of elders.
She practices mixed farming where she has two dairy cows and grows vegetables in her farm. From the dairy cows, she gets 16 litres of dairy milk which is supplied to the community. Vegetables are a bit of a challenge because of the shortage of water in the area of which demand for them is a bit high. She needs the tank to enable her to do irrigation in times of dry seasons.
On average, she is able to get USD160 from milk sales and vegetables monthly. She is ready to repay the loan with installments and she will be grateful should you choose to help fund her business. She will face no more weather limitations after she gets the tank.",F,150,partner,Agriculture,0
Kenya,"Sikinanene is 48 years of age, married and has five children. She has two girls and three boys and all go to school. Her two daughters are in college and the two boys are in secondary school. Sikananene started her business 15 years ago; she has managed to educate her children up to college all by the support from the small business. She sells items made out of beads such as necklaces, belts, bags and bracelets. From the loan, she bought six steers and the income from the steers sold helps her in paying college fees for her children easily and to meet her loan repayment, which is about to complete. Her business has grown well and she feels motivated because her life is changing. She now wants to add more steers if a loan of USD 900 is given to her which she will pay on a monthly basis.",F,900,lender,Agriculture,1
Kenya,"Sikinanene is 48 years of age, married and has five children. She has two girls and three boys and all go to school. Her two daughters are in college and the two boys are in secondary school. Sikananene started her business 15 years ago; she has managed to educate her children up to college all by the support from the small business. She sells items made out of beads such as necklaces, belts, bags and bracelets. In addition to this, she sells steers but these do not have a constant cash flow this is why she supplements it with bead work.",F,450,partner,Agriculture,0
Kenya,"Silas Wachira Ndungu, aged 34 years, is married with 3 children. He has farming experience for more than 10 years with his wife. His children are about to graduate to senior school and he also lives with his aged parent. Silas would like to see his children in high school but has not got enough savings. He would like to expand his crop farming to include dairy to create more income to save for his childrens education.
He requests a US $1200 loan.
US $1000 buys a dairy cow;
US $150 buys fodder and mineral salts for the cow;
US $50 for transport.",M,1200,lender,Agriculture,1
Kenya,"Silas Were is married with three children. He runs a semi-permanent food stall in Kisumu City's industrial area and has been in this business for the past year. He has two employees who assist him in serving his clients. His clients are mostly factory employees. He feels he has not fully exhausted his business's potential due to a shortage of capital. He learned about KADET through one of his friends after attempts to access a bank loan turned futile due to his inability to meet the requirements.
He intends to use the loan to increase his daily volume of supplies to be able to meet the demand for his clientele. He hopes to expand the business and even relocate to more permanent premises.
About KADET:
The Kenya Agency for the Development of Enterprise and Technology (KADET) is committed to economically empowering its clients by providing financial services to rural communities in order to relieve suffering and improve living conditions within those communities.",M,525,partner,Food,0
Kenya,"Silau Kirisiet is married with eight children. She never managed to go to school. However, she has managed to take her children to school after the introduction of free primary education. She attends adult education in Kajiado. She started her steers business five years ago. She started with three steers and after two years she purchased seven more. Her business income has enabled her to enroll her children in primary and secondary school. Now she has eleven steers. She is targeting the revival of the Kenya Meat Commission by the Kenyan government. She wants to increase her stock to fourteen steers. She has applied for a loan of USD 450 to enable her to buy three more steers. She is willing to repay this loan in a period of 12 months.",F,450,lender,Agriculture,1
Kenya,"Silvia Njoki Njoroge is 40 years old and a single mother of 4 children. Silvia is strong in her faith. She is a member of St. Monica Anglican Church. Silvias first born dropped out of secondary school at an early age due to finance limitations. He takes odd jobs to earn his daily bread. Looking at the struggle his son goes through, she vows to have the other children complete their education. She has accessed 3 loans of USD 21 and was able to set a beauty shop in her home area. The shop requires stock to cater for custormers needs.The USD 75 applied for and approved by the group will be used to buy hair braids, weaves and wigs. She will be able to cater for the high demands in the coming this holiday season. Silvia is determined to expand her business to be able to pay for any school fees expenses in the near future.",F,75,lender,Services,1
Kenya,"Silvia Oketch is 45 years old. She lives with her husband and six school-aged children in one of the slums of Kisumu, Kenya. She received her training from KMET for home-based HIV/AIDS care and TB ambassadorship in 2004. She runs a community pharmacy as her main business and source of income while improving access to basic drugs in the community. She supplements this by rearing pigs, which she sells to nearby butcheries. She currently has a total 30 piglets. Given her reputation and the location of her pharmacy within her community, her business has flourished. The most commonly purchased drugs in her pharmacy are those to treat malaria, diarrhea, and syrups for children. Silvia credits her success to hard work and the assistance she has received from KMET through two previous microfinance loans. She plans to use the $625 loan to expand both of her businesses.",F,625,partner,Health,0
Kenya,"Silvia Wangeci is a 38-year-old married woman and has two children. She has been working as a dressmaker in the textile industry for the last twenty years. Her husband is employed as a security guard. Her two children attend senior school and are in grades one and three. Silvia has ten years of work experience in the textile industry, but is now suffering from an illness in her lower back. Still, she continues selling new clothes in the open-air market. This business earns some little income that supplements the husbands earnings. However, the familys average income is not large enough to adequately support all the basic needs and to afford the necessary medication. Silvia has managed to attract a lot of clients who buy clothing from her regularly. However, the new clothes are a little expensive, and it is problematic to find the right fit for all of her customers. Silvia thinks that her regular customers would be more satisfied if she made the clothes herself at tailored sizes. This would increase her income, enabling her to get medication for her illness. However, to achieve this she requires funding. Silvia is requesting a loan of US$1200. She is relying on her vast experience in the textile industry, help from highly-trained tailoring assistants and on her hardworking nature to make this business a success. She plans to use US$200 to set up a business premise, US$300 to buy more fabric, US$400 to buy tailoring equipment, and US$300 to hire tailoring assistants.",F,1200,lender,Services,1
Kenya,"Simiton is very good in the art of bead making. She also rears cattle. She was born 33 years ago in Isinya near the border of Kenya and Tanzania. She is married to a hard-working and enlightened man who allowed her to do business unlike others who think that women should not leave home for any activity.
She sells items made out of beads at Nairobi Maasai market and in Isinya Town. Her husband sells milk and when her business activity is low, then she helps her husband in buying and the immediate selling of milk. Working together has helped them greatly in building a strong family and in sharing responsibilities. Their children are still young; two are in primary school and the other two are still very young for school.
So far, the family can afford to have meals, medical care and send their children to school from the proceeds of their businesses. Siminton got her first loan and has demonstrated a good record of repayment. Her plan is to invest in beadwork and concentrate on making and selling the decorative beadwork. Simiton will repay her loan on a monthly basis.",F,600,lender,Arts,1
Kenya,Simon Igeria Kihara is 42 years old. He is married with seven children. Four of his children are in school while the rest have completed their studies. He did not access any education due to financial problems. He is therefore working hard to ensure that his children get the best education. He is a farmer and a carpenter. His wife assists him farming while he does carpentry. He is intending to increase his stock of ready-made quality furniture. This is because people are no longer patient to wait for him to make furniture and they want ready-made furnitures. He requires a loan capital of US$ 900 to buy the machines and the materials. The new way of doing things will help him get more customers and create employment. He is hard working and has quality products he is therefore capable of repaying the loan.,M,900,lender,Construction,1
Kenya,"Simon is enjoying his 2nd loan cycle with PEMCI. The first loan of US$210 was used to purchase a mini-generator to counter the frequent power cuts which were having a negative effect on his business. With the generator he was also able to offer a service of charging mobile phones for a fee, which others are not able to do. With the second loan of US $225, Simon will be able to buy additional tools for his barber shop business and to stock the shop with ladies shoes for sale. His wife will be running that part of the business. To supplement his income Simon is also a water vendor.",M,225,partner,Services,0
Kenya,"Simon Mwaniki is 38 years old and married. He has no children of his own but has two dependants, his aging parents whom Simon entirely supports. Simon Mwaniki lives in Ruai.
Simon was first employed in a lumber-selling business in the year 2000 and worked for three years. During that period, he managed to save Ksh 40,000 (US$ 615). The three-year experience also gave Simon enough confidence to start his own lumber business, which he still has to date, though with some struggles.
Simons business suffered a setback in the year 2006 due to his wedding preparations, which ended up causing him huge unforeseen costs relating to the culture and traditions of his tribe that he was expected to adhere to, if he was to receive their blessings to marry his bride. Through this time and due to the financial strain that Simon experienced, his business suffered and he still finds it hard to bring it back up again. Simon needs support in order to revive his business again. He is therefore requesting a loan of US$ 1000, which he will use to purchase lumber to restock his business. He will be very grateful if he can receive this support, in order to improve his business.
Simon believes that once he has additional stock, his customers will be able to purchase enough lumber to meet their needs, especially those who purchase in bulk. This will save them the inconvenience of having to travel all the way to the city center to buy lumber, at a much bigger cost to them. The loan therefore will enable him to serve his customers efficiently and effectively. He will also earn more income so as to uplift himself and his family. The loan repayment period will be 12 months.",M,1000,partner,Construction,0
Kenya,"SIMON OMOYO is 31 yr old married farmer. He has three children who are all in junior school grades four, three and kindergarten. His wife works as an office messenger in a construction company while he does dairy farming on their small plot of land. They are a hard working couple who have managed to buy their own plot but have since not been able to build a decent house to live in, the money just being enough to pay for education and their basic needs. Simon would like to expand his dairy farming to have more income but lacks the funds. He requests a US $ 1200 loan to be used as follows:
US $ 800 for buying a dairy cow.
US $ 200 to build a shade for the cow and cement it
US $ 200 buy fodder and mineral salts
He is focused and will repay the loan.",M,1200,lender,Agriculture,1
Kenya,"Simon Opondo Mwalo is a 45-year-old newspaper vendor. He is married and has two children. His wife sells vegetables in a small stand along the busy Ponda Mali road. Only one of his children attends school; the other one has already finished schooling. He owns his own house and does not have to meet any cost in paying house rent. He did not go to high school and he worked as a casual laborer in different capacities. It was then that the idea of vending newspapers clicked and he decided to go for it. Simon started selling newspapers over 10 years ago and his business has flourished over the years. He gets newspapers supplied from all the media houses and he is able to make enough returns to cater for his family needs. He is the only vendor in Ponda Mali and has to ensure that all his clients get the newspapers on time. This has however not been possible for him since they are widely distributed and he is not able to serve all of them well. Simon is now planning to buy two bicycles and hire an assistant to enable him to reach all his clients. He is requesting a loan of US$ 300. He intends to use $ 200 to buy the bicycles and modify them so that they are able to carry all varieties of newspapers and magazines, $ 30 to pay the assistant he will hire, and $ 70 to buy a variety of magazines to sell to his clients. Simon is hardworking and capable of repaying the loan.",M,300,lender,Retail,1
Kenya,"Sintoyia is married with four children. She is an active member of both A.I.C church and Naserian Womens Group. She ventured in to the business of selling beads in Isinya town two years ago. As her business improved and her savings increased after six months, she shifted her sales to Maasai market in Nairobi which has a bigger population. At the moment her business performance is not bad. She makes good profits which enables her to pay school fees for her children but leaves her with little savings. She has also bought seven goats from the business income. She is hoping to get a loan and buy a variety of beads, which will expand her stock. She is promising to meet her repayments on a monthly installments.",F,300,lender,Arts,1
Kenya,"Siprina Adoyo Mbwana is 46 years old, married, and has seven children. Three of her children are in high school, two have completed school and are doing business due to the lack of money for continuing their education up to university level.
Siprina sells tea leaves in an open-air market as well as supplies institutions. Two of her children have joined her in this business; however, the family's capital is not sufficient. Siprina is requesting a loan of US$650 to expand her business by adding more stock. She intends to utilize US$ 600 to buy more stock of tea leaves and US$ 50 for transportation. The loan will create more business and generate additional income for Siprina's family. Siprina is hard-working, determined, and capable of paying back the loan.",F,650,lender,Food,1
Kenya,"Sipros is a 37-year-old entrepreneur who lives in Sagam Siaya, Kenya, with her husband and seven children. Sipros set up a fruit and vegetable stand near her home in 2007. Her hard work, determination and excellent people-skills have led to her success within the one-year period. She has been able to generate enough income to cover her household expenses. She plans to use the funds from her loan of $500 to purchase more stock of vegetables, and also supplement her current business with the sale of cereals.
Disclaimer: Due to recent events in Kenya, the security situation in many communities remains unsettled, affecting many local businesses. Lenders to this entrepreneur should be aware that this loan may represent a higher default risk, and should be willing to accept this additional risk in making their loan.",F,500,partner,Food,0
Kenya,"Sirote is married with six children. Two of her children are married with two kids each, two of her children are in high school while the other two are in primary school. She is an active member of Osiligi Women Group. She and her family are devoted members of P.C.A at Oloyiankalani Kajiado District. Though she never went to school Sirote is determined to make sure that all her children get quality education.
Together with her husband they started a business raising steers some time back at Oloyiankalani trading centre. They commenced business with three steers which later expanded to ten steers after 3 years. Her main customers are Kajiado town residents. From her business she has been able to educate her children as well as meeting her other daily needs. At the moment she has fourteen steers and she needs a loan of Usd 600 to buy five more.",F,600,lender,Agriculture,1
Kenya,"Soiyian is 36 years old. She is married with six children, and Soiyian never went to school. Three of her children are in primary school, two are in secondary school and one is yet to start. She is an active member of Umoja Women Group and is dedicated to her work. Soiyian started her business in 2005 with 3 steers with the help of a group loan. Her customers are people from Isinya and Kitengela. Although she never went to school, Soiyian knows the importance of educating a child. This motivated her to work even harder, and from her earnings she manages to pay school fees for her two girls. So far the business is performing well, but demand for steers is very high in the country. With the revival of Kenya Meat Commission company, Soiyian wants to increase her stock by buying 3 more steers if a loan of $450 is given to her. She is willing to repay it on monthly basis.",F,450,lender,Agriculture,1
Kenya,"Solomon has been in the business of buying second-hand clothing in bulk and retailing the same. He is married with 4 children who are all school-going. He buys the clothes in bulk from Nairobi and transports them to Kisumu for retailing. He has been in this business for over 5 years now. One of his primary motivations for choosing this business is because of the readily available market due to the high poverty levels in Kisumu town.
He buys his stock every 2 weeks and sells the clothing not only in Kisumu Town but also in neighboring markets on the outskirts of Kisumu. He goes to these markets on their specific market days.
The post-election violence in Kisumu Town affected him negatively as it meant he couldnt sell his clothes for quite sometime. There was, however, an opportunity for him as well in this situation since most people now cant afford to buy new clothes and have to rely on second-hand clothes for survival. He hopes to take advantage of this opportunity by taking a refinanced loan to enable him to carry on with his earlier business. His business had been making profits before the violence enabling him to frequently restock his business and pay his loan as well. His loan repayments have been on schedule and so have been the group repayments.
He has been the secretary for his group and has done a good job particularly in ensuring that the group has its loan balances kept intact. The group has also been cohesive and with good repayment rates before the post-election violence. They see the refinancing as an opportunity to get back to their normal business state as soon as possible.
In addition to being cohesive, the group has had good repayment rates in earlier loans and have been having timely meeting on their rescheduled meeting days. Solomon, in addition to his secretarial duties, has played a huge role in energizing the group through constant faith-based encouragements during the violence period.
Disclaimer: Kiva is working with OI-WEDCO to refinance businesses disrupted by Kenya's post-election violence. The group above has received loans from OI-WEDCO in the past and is now working to rebuild their businesses and to get back on their feet. Due to recent events in Kenya, the security situation in many communities remains unsettled, affecting many local businesses. Lenders to this entrepreneur should be aware that this loan may represent a higher default risk, and should be willing to accept this additional risk in making their loan.",M,3300,partner,Retail,0
Kenya,"SOLOMON ONDERI is 34 years old, married and a father of four. Two of his children are in primary school while the other two are at home awaiting him to make enough money to take them to school. Solomon also takes care of two of his late brothers children after his brother and wife died of HIV/AIDS related complications four years ago. He was once employed as a driver with a public transport company but was fired as he spent a lot of time taking care of his sick brother before the brother died.
Solomon found it very difficulty to provide for his family and a few of his friend decided to assist him by giving him second hands clothes on credit to hawk then repay at the end of the day when he has sold the clothes. Through this arrangement Solomon was able to be making some US $ 10 per week which he used to buy food for his family.
In year 2005 he approached Eb-F and was granted a loan of US $ 400 to move his business in a makeshift stand and to buy more stock. The business picked on well and earns Solomon an average of US $ 30 per week. This has enabled Solomon pay his house rent and take two children to school. He has since repaid the loan
Solomon wants to expand this business by purchasing more stocks and he is requesting a loan US $ 900.His budget is: U.S $ 300 to purchase used children clothes, US $ 300 to purchase used female blouses, U.S $ 150 to purchase used jackets and US $ 150 to purchase used male shoes. This expansion will increase his family income from the current US $ 30 per week to about US $ 65 per week. With this level of income Solomon will be able to take all his children to school and provide for his family and his brothers children.
He is a hard working person and will be able to repay the loan.",M,900,lender,Clothing,1
Kenya,"Sonoi Parsere Selian is married with eight children, some of whom are in school, and 2 not in school. Sonoi is an active member of Nasinya Women's Group and she attends Presbyterian Church of East Africa. Sonoi also attends adults education at the Multi-purpose Centre Isinya and she is doing quite well. She is a member of Wasaru Women's Group which foresee that all girls get equal education with boys, so empowering girls.
Sonoi started her beads business 10 years ago and she has been able to raise and educate her children. She sold her beads at Kajiado market and to local people. Her business has never gotten an opportunity to grow since she always uses her profit for the basic needs of her family.
She has never accessed a loan and she was enlightened by a friend to join WEEC and start accessing funds if she wants to expand her business. She is really determined to change the face of her business and see it perform. She is hoping to get a loan and utilize it to buy more stock. She has a target where she will be supplying her beadwork. She is willing to repay her loan within a span of one year.",F,450,lender,Arts,1
Kenya,"Sophia Wangari is 34 years old. She is the sole breadwinner and has two children who both attend junior school. She lives in one of the housing developments in the suburbs in Mombasa. She sells vegetables and dry cereals in the massive Kongowea market. Sophia alternates selling these two depending on the season and the prices set by the suppliers .She has been doing this business for the last five years and she has built up her customer base. These customers regularly buy from her, especially the household consumers who cannot afford to buy in bulk but prefer small portions on a daily basis using the days earnings. The income Sophia makes here goes towards catering for her familys basic needs and their education. She would like to increase her income due to the recent rising needs of her family such as school fees and medical care. She intends to do this by expanding her scope of operations and apportioning more to wholesale (selling in bulk). This will increase her daily sales and thus increase her income. Sophia is requesting a loan of US $ 1200.These funds will be used to purchase more rice in bulk from farmers. Sophia is determined and will repay the loan.",F,1200,lender,Food,1
Kenya,"Sophia Wanjiru is fifty years of age, married, and has six children. Out of these children she has one left in school while the others are all independent. She has been able to educate them through WEEC loans. Sophias major worry ten years ago was how her children would gain a formal education. Today that is a part of her history. But her future is glaring at her with no savings or investments and only high liabilities. She has made plans to cut down on her expenses (which runs to almost USD 125 per month) so that she can increase her income generating assets. Her plan is to start investing in the stock market and hopes that in the next 5 years she will be able to buy a plot for building rental houses.",F,150,lender,Agriculture,1
Kenya,"Sophie is a 49-year-old married mother of 8 children (2 still in school). She is very well-known within her community for her compassionate work, and also as a politician. She is the womens representative for Orange Democratic Movement in Siaya District, where her principal role is to speak to women, to raise awareness, and to encourage their involvement in the political process. Her main business and source of income, however, is her dairy cattle, which she has managed for the past two years. She is able to sell no less than 21 litres of milk a day. She plans to use the funds from her next loan of US $1000 to purchase hybrid dairy cattle, construct an additional shed, buy dairy cattle feeds, and also save the remaining to use in case of any emergency situations.",F,1000,partner,Agriculture,0
Kenya,"Sospeter is 23 years old. He was raised by a single mother who later passed away. He now lives in Nairobi West where he runs a business repairing and selling mobile phone accessories. The little money his mother had saved for him was used by Sospeter to go to college where he acquired skills to repair mobile phones.
After college he started borrowing tools from some of his friends in existing phone repair businesses. His friends were generous to him. With these tools he repaired phones and saved enough money to enable him to acquire his own tools. These tools consisted of screw drivers, a soldering kit, and testers. With these tools and his skills, he started Mteto Mobile Repair. After working for awhile, he saved enough money to enable him to also start selling mobile phone accessories. The accessories include mobile phone chargers, scratch cards, and new phone lines. As a result, Sospeter changed his business name to Mteto Mobile Repair and Accessories.
Sospeter sees a great opportunity to further improve his business. He is requesting a loan of Ksh. 20,000 ($275.00) from Kiva lenders. With this loan he will be able to increase his stock of accessories. He says there is a high demand for mobile phone accessories due to the increased number of mobile phone users. He would like to take advantage of this high demand to grow his business. He is optimistic that he will be able to repay the loan within 12 months.",M,275,partner,Services,1
Kenya,"Specie is a single lady and a mother of 4. Specie immigrated from Rwanda due to the tribal clashes. She has a very hard background due to her hardships in life but she has worked hard to overcome everything. She was encouraged to join the women's group by a friend, and she has no regrets for her membership. Initially, she engaged in a small business of selling African Attires (Vitengees). She later started decorating the cloth to make her products more appealing. Due to the uniqueness of her products, the business has been doing well. She owns a sewing machine and a decorating machine. She has a long term idea of purchasing an extra machine. Specie accessed a Kiva loan of $75 late last year. She bought more vitengees, which in turn increased her sales. She has since repaid her loan in full. She has now applied for a second phase loan of $150 to buy more decorating materials.",F,150,lender,Clothing,1
Kenya,"Specie is single with 4 children. She is an immigrant due to a war in her country. She has faced the difficult part of life with her family but has been very determined to overcome the trauma. When she came to Kenya, she was welcomed by her neighbor and after sometimes she was encouraged to join the group. She cant regret the sister hood she received from the group and she feels at home. She started a business of selling African attires (vintage) and the business was favoring her. Out of the income she was accumulating, she was able to start a decoration project. She was sewing bags and decorating them using the clothes materials she was selling. Her business has been very unique and its the only source of income she has today. She has only one machine to sew bags, one to decorate them and few materials in her business. Her plan is to purchase machines and varieties of clothes materials in future to increase the income she accumulates. For now she wants first to buy different vintage materials for selling and she will save and buy machines later. She is a very hardworking lady and she is determined despite the hardships she has encountered in life.",F,75,lender,Arts,1
Kenya,"Stanley Mugo wachira is a 31-year-old single man. He lives in the tourist town of Malindi along the Kenyan coastline. Since he arrived here five years ago he has been operating a bicycle taxi service. These services are quite popular among the locals in the area. He sends most of his earnings back to his family in his rural home. This has enabled his two younger siblings to attend school. They are in senior school grades one and two. Stanley is member of Rugongo youth group, which is involved in taking care of orphans, and HIV AIDS affected families. These growing personal and social responsibilities have made him seek more ways of increasing his income so that he can be able to cater for them adequately.
To achieve this, he intends to purchase a new technology bicycle that is fitted with an engine. This bicycle will enable him carry his clients through the rough and unpaved roads with ease and definitely earn him extra income. He therefore is requesting for a loan of US $ 600 to enable him to buy the bicycle and pay for the license with $200",M,800,lender,Transportation,1
Kenya,"STANLY KURIA is 48 years old, married and a father of four children. One of the children is HIV positive. Stanly lives with his family in a rented house in Nairobi.
His wife is unemployed leaving him the only breadwinner for the family.
Stanly dropped out of high school in year 1977 due to lack of school fees. Between 1978 and 2000 Stanly made a living by cultivating maize and onions at his fathers rural farm.
He used to earn an average of US $ 35 per week from onion farming. He used to sell the onions to traders at Nairobis Wakulima (Farmers) Market. He managed to get a few orders to supply onions to small hotels in Nairobi. This increased his income from US $ 35 to US $ 55 and he began developing interest in onion trading. He finally moved to Nairobi in year 2001 and began selling onions at the Wakulima Market. He buys the onions from farmers back in the rural areas.
Stanly recently won a tender to be supplying two medium hotels in Nairobi. He makes three lorry trips to the rural area every week because he does not have enough capital to make one or two bulky trips. He has been experiencing difficulties in supplying this tender because of poor roads in the rural areas which make it difficulty to transport the onions to Nairobi. Stanly wants to increase his capital to enable him make one trip with a bigger lorry.
He is asking for a loan of US $ 1,500 to enable him purchase 30 bags of onions. This will enable him supply the hotels and his other customers by making only one trip per week.
This will enable him cut cost and increase his income to an average of US $ 95 per week. He plans to utilize the income to provide for his family, to continue taking care of his HIV positive child and to expand his business.",M,1500,lender,Food,1
Kenya,"Stella Nkerote Ndobi is 45 years old. She is single with four children. She lives in Nairobis Kibera slum, the biggest slum in Africa. Three of her children are in school while her eldest child is a soccer player. He earns a little money from games with which he helps her to service the family needs.
She is a mobile food vendor. She sells food to construction workers in the areas surrounding the slum. Her clients favorite meals are corn meal, arrowroots, vegetables, porridge and an assortment of wild fruits. The work of transporting the food to construction sites is tiresome. She often develops back problems. She has already identified a premise where she wants to open up a stand. This would ease her work burden and clients will know where to find her delicious food. She is hoping to add more meals to her menu after opening up the stand. This will boost her revenue substantively. She is requesting for a loan of US $675. With this she will purchase food stock worth US $300. She will also buy additional utensils worth US $75 and use US $90 to renovate and rent the premise. She will also hire two assistants with US $80 and purchase furniture and fittings with US $130. She is a good cook and a clever business lady. She will be able to pay back the loan and develop her business.",F,675,lender,Food,1
Kenya,"Stephen David Omondi is 24 years old and has his own small business. He had been working as a casual laborer in different places for a long time. After saving for a period of time, he managed to get enough capital to start a business. With the growing rate of mobile phone usage, he decided to venture into the mobile phone accessories business. He started off with just a few accessories and business soon picked up. He has been doing it for the last 2 years and it has enabled him to not only earn enough salary for survival but also care for his parents' and siblings' expenses. He now wants to expand the business and is requesting a loan of US$300. He says that he will use the entire amount to buy phone accessories and fully stock his shop. He knows that there is a ready market and is sure of comfortably paying the loan and still meeting his needs effectively.",M,300,lender,Retail,1
Kenya,"Stephen is 45 years and a father of 6: 3 girls, 3 boys. He started his business in1996; he gets his stock of sand from Malaba River which bordersKenya and Uganda and takes it to Eldoret and Kitale. His stock is now worth about Kenya shillings 200,000 and Kenya shillings100, 000 for transport.
The only challenge he has is transport because sometimes it is difficult to transport his sand. Stephen is a high school drop-out, this was due to a lack of school fees. He says when given a loan by PEMCI, he plans to buy seats for his matatu van - a local type of passenger vehicle - so that he can move his sand.
He dreams about educating his children to the best level and move on to another level of his life.",M,1050,lender,Transportation,1
Kenya,"Stephen is an active member of PEMCI and he has now successfully repaid his second loan. He sells different types of bananas. The previous loans enabled him expand his business. Apart from the business, Stephen is a small scale farmer, specializing in growing maize for family consumption. Stephen is a family man, married and the father of four children, all in primary school. He is a devoted Christian and an active member of the local Celiverance Church where he is an elder. During the time he has been with PEMCI, Stephen has been able to develop his farm, engage his wife in the business and easily provide for his family. He has built a house for himself, too. He has also been able to open his business in other trading centers like Angurai and Akiriamet.
Given another loan by KIVA through PEMCI, Stephen plans to increase his stock of bananas, especially for the newly opened business in Angurai. Though he is a primary-seven school dropout, Stephen has been able to sustain his business. He experiences business challenges such as transporting the bananas, given that they are delicate and easily damaged if not handled with a lot of care.",M,100,lender,Food,1
Kenya,"Stephen is an active member of PEMCI. This is his second loan. He is a fish monger specializing in distributing/suppling fish to different retailers. He gets his stock from Ugandan fishers on Lake Victoria. He has been in this business for the last four years. He supplies dried fish in Malakisi town, twenty kilometers away, and the Angurai market centre, fifteen kilometers from Moding. His current stock is estimated at Kshs 10,000.
He says that he sells between Kshs3, 000 on a good day and ksh.500 on an average day. From every sack or basket of fish that goes at Kshs 10,000, Steve is able to make a profit of about Kshs 3,000(Kshs 67 is equated to 1 USD). This takes him one week as he sells a lot during market days which are Mondays and Thursdays.
He is married with seven children, three of whom are girls and four are boys. He has a wife who stays at home looking after the children. She is a primary eight finalist and has not undertaken any formal training but learned through doing the fish monger business.
The first loan helped him increase his stock of fish so that he was able to supply fish at Angurai. This has improved his income and he has been able to pay his loan on time. He plans to use his second loan to increase his stock more. He has analyzed the market and he is confident that he will meet the demand if granted a second loan by PEMCI.",M,225,lender,Food,1
Kenya,"Stephen Kamau Maina is 30 years old, and is married with one child. His wife sells vegetables, but earns too little to support the family, so Stephen is the main provider for the family.
Stephen is a young entrepreneur who specializes in selling ladies second-hand clothes at the local municipal market in the town of Nakuru. For the past 2 years he has been supporting his family through his business despite the various challenges such as lack of capital to expand his business, competition from his fellow vendors, and rain, which forces him to close since his business is an outdoor activity. His dream is to ensure that the future of his family is secure.
Stephen is requesting a loan of $600 and his budget is as follows: $350 to purchase 3 bales of second hand clothes, which will comsist of skirts, jackets and trousers; $50 to cover transport costs from Nairobi to Nakuru; $100 to purchase timber to renovate his stall; and $100 will go towards paying for the labour and license to operate his business. Stephen is a hard working man with the ability to repay his loan in time.",M,600,lender,Clothing,1
Kenya,"Stephen Mbatha is a 28-year-old married father of one. He has a business making and selling sofas, chairs, beds and other furniture. This will be his first loan from KADET, and it is the first time he has borrowed money to fund his business.
Stephen's business is five years old and a success. He now has three locations employing three full-time workers. His employees frame, fill and upholster the furniture he sells. With this 50,000 Kenyan shilling loan, Stephen plans to buy upholstery fabric, filling material such as foam and fabric scraps, wood to make sofa frames, and to pay employee wages.
In the future, Stephen hopes to own a first-class furniture shop and open a storefront in Mombasa's central business district.
About KADET:
The Kenya Agency for the Development of Enterprise and Technology (KADET) is committed to economically empowering its clients by providing financial services to rural communities in order to relieve suffering and improve living conditions.",M,675,partner,Manufacturing,0
Kenya,"STEPHEN MWANGI is a 27 yr old single farmer. He lives with his father and two siblings who are in school. Steven supports his brothers as well as his aged father who cannot do much while his two older brothers are married but unemployed. He is a member of the Suma self help group in the Subukia settlement in the Rift valley. He would like to expand his farming to create more earnings but has no capital. He requests a US $ 800 loan.
This is his budget:
US $ 300 to rent extra land
US $ 500 to buy maize & beans seeds plus fertilizer
He is a focused young farmer and will repay the loan.
This will increase his earnings to be able to pay for his siblings'education.",M,800,lender,Agriculture,1
Kenya,"Stephen Ndegwa is 19 years old. He is a very active young man who finished secondary school last year with a grade point average of B+. After finishing school, Stephen decided not to be idle and hanging out with the wrong company. He was worried that without a job he would be influenced towards bad behavior, such as bhang smoking and drinking. Stephen says these activities are common to young men who are idle, due to lack of employment. Stephen reasoned with his mother and she was very happy that he showed interest in joining in her business.
Stephens mother has a big stall in Kitengela, where she does tailoring. She decided to partition off a section of her stall, where Stephen started selling school uniforms on her behalf. After a probationary period of eight months, his mother noticed that Stephen was a very good salesman and that he interacted with the customers well. His mother gave him a loan of Ksh 40,000 (US$ 570) so that he could purchase tailoring accessories and sell them in his section of their stall. He sold the entire inventory within one month and his mother was very impressed, especially when he immediately repaid half of the loan (Ksh 20,000). Stephens mother saw his determination and told him not to repay the outstanding balance of his loan, but rather to increase his stock for the business. This activity was all in August 2007, and since then his business has grown tremendously.
With the blessings of his mother, Ndumi Mutua, who has also benefited from a Kiva loan, Stephen would like Kiva to help him become a shining example to his fellow young men in Kitengela. He is therefore requesting a loan of US$ 750. With this loan Stephen will be able to purchase hooks, canvas, threads, materials for uniforms, buttons, and linings. These materials will greatly improve his business since customers will have access to a wide variety and they will save time and money. Normally, customers in Kitengela have to travel to Nairobi in order to buy school uniforms. Stephen intends to repay this loan within a period of 10 months. ",M,750,partner,Services,0
Kenya,"Stephen Njogu Ngahu is a 31 year old married man with three children. All of his children are in junior school, and his wife is a housewife. He operates a bicycle transport in the suburbs. Income from this business is not enough because he owns only two bicycles which give him an average of $3 per day. He has identified an area where he can invest in this business and would like to add more bicycles to operate in that area. He has been in this business for quite a long time and understands it well. He is requesting a loan of $400 to buy four more bicycles. He intends to employ four young men to operate them. He will utilize $330 to buy four bicycles and $70 to pay for license fees. Additional bicycles will help him generate more income and hence raise his living standards. He will also create more employment. He is focused and capable of repaying the loan.",M,400,lender,Transportation,1
Kenya,"Stephen Radol is 31 years old and married. He has three children and also looks after his niece who was abandoned by her mother after her mother remarried. Stephen lives within the Kibera slums and works at a garage which he jointly owns with his friends. It is from doing car repairs that he is able to feed his family.
Stephen has accumulated over ten years experience in the field of mechanics from different companies that he has worked with. The company that Stephen used to work with was shut down, and together with his colleagues (who also happened to come from Kibera) they decided to join together and open their own garage. By successfully pooling their savings they purchased the basic tools for their garage, however, the business was not as difficult to start up as they thought; Since they had maintained contact with customers from the company they previously worked with, it took them a shorter period to establish themselves.
Currently, Stephen and his colleagues pay a license fee of Ksh 7500 (USD 115) annually to the city council (local authority that governs business operations) and therefore services to their customers are never interrupted. Stephen and his colleagues, however, have one limitation; Occasionally they have to borrow a buffing machine. This sometimes causes delays to their customers.
Stephen is optimistic that once he acquires his own buffing machine he will give his customers fast and efficient services. This will translate to increased income and better still, expand his business by employing more people from his community, especially the youth. He is therefore requesting for a loan of USD 250, which will be given as a loan in kind, to enable him buy the buffing machine. The repayment period for the loan is 12 18 months.",M,250,lender,Services,1
Kenya,"Stephen W. Kioko is a 24-year-old information technology (IT) graduate. He completed his college education one year ago and graduated with a distinction in IT. He applied to several companies, but is still unemployed due to a lack of economic opportunity in Kenya. Stephens parents are not able to educate his siblings because they used all their savings to educate Stephen. They hoped he would find employment and educate the other siblings. This has weighed heavily on Stephen who has not found the income to fulfill his parents hopes. He joined the Ebony Foundation and was trained in the business skills needed to set-up and operate his own business. He wishes to open a communications bureau so he can create employment for others and earn an income. He has a good business plan but lacks the start-up capital. He requests a $1200 loan to set-up his business: $600 to buy and install two community pay phones,$200 to rent a business office, $300 to acquire initial mobile phone accessories stock, and $100 for office furnishings and supplies. Stephen is a determined and focused young man.",M,1200,lender,Retail,1
Kenya,"Stephen Waihenya Kamau is a 34 year old entrepreneur, and is married with one child. His son is in primary level at school while his wife helps around the house. He is the sole bread winner.
Stephen sells polythene bags to the local market. Most of his clients consist of vendors who are looking for materials to line the walls of their stands. Despite an increase in the construction of make shift stands, Stephen is still not able to fully take advantage of the situation since polythene bags have become too costly to buy due to the increase in taxes by the government. This has caused him to stretch his resources.
He is requesting a loan of $800. His budget is as follows: $600 to purchase 500 meters of polythene bags from Kenplatics industries; $100 for transport from Nairobi to Nakuru; and the remaining $100 to hire an assistance to help in dividing the polythene into smaller sizes.
Stephen is an ambitious businessman with the ability to overcome any challenges he faces in his business. He will be able to repay the loan in time.",M,800,lender,Retail,1
Kenya,"Steven N. Kariuki is a 45-year-old married entrepreneur. He has three children; two are in school while the other one is too young to be in school. Steven sells vegetables in Kongowea, the sprawling market complex in Mombasa. He lives in a two-room house with his family. His wife sells cereals in the food section in the same market. Between the two of them they make just enough to meet their family needs. Stevens main challenge is to start saving for his children's education, a few years to come they will be in high school but unfortunately he lacks funds. He would like to stock more and supply to retailers in bulk, which will provide more income than selling to consumers which he is doing currently. He requests a US $650 loan. US $600 will all be used to increase stock and US$ 50 for transport. He is focused and will repay the loan.",M,650,lender,Food,1
Kenya,"Suai is married with 5 children, 3 of whom are in school. She is very active in her group and she empowers members spiritually and emotionally. She is the chairperson of Ewanganya women group. She caters for her daily basic needs through a steer project which has enabled her to educate her children up to high school. She started her project with 3 steers and she has managed to maintain the stock through small loans from the group, and up to date she has 12. It has been a good business despite, fetching her profits to pay school fees and she believes it will grow once all her children finish high school. She has also constructed 2 rental rooms and bought a high grade dairy cow from the profits she has accrued from the steers project. She wants to add the number of steers with the loan she is applying. She bears witness of her own life changed by the loans she has acquired through WEEC. She is willing to repay her loan on time.",F,900,lender,Agriculture,1
Kenya,"Subrina Hassan Mohamed is 29 years old and married with 1 dependent. She was unable to complete her primary school education due to a lack of money for her school fees. Her husband works as a salesman of airtime in Kongowea. About 2 years ago she opened her own salon with the help of her husband, with just 1 blow dryer and a single empty room. After months of hard work, Subrina was able to purchase a hair dryer and later on bought 2 seats for the waiting customers. Even without a high school certificate, she never gave up the dream of attending school, so she enrolled in a training college in Mombasa, where she acquired various skills in hair dressing. Through her business she has been able to assist her husband in catering to her family's needs. After the birth of her child about 7 months ago, Subrina has not been able to fully run her salon and at the same time take care of her nursing child; this has affected her business, since she spends more time taking care of her child. She is requesting a loan of $650: $200 to purchase a hair dryer; $300 to purchase hair and skin products, chemicals, and towels; and $150 to install a water boiler. Subrina is a businesswoman who is determined to attain her dream. Her mission in life is to ensure that the future of her child is secure. She will be able to repay the loan. Disclaimer: Due to recent events in Kenya, the security situation in many communities remains unsettled, affecting many local businesses. Lenders to this entrepreneur should be aware that this loan may represent a higher default risk, and should be willing to accept this additional risk in making their loan.",F,650,lender,Services,1
Kenya,"Surunkai is 36 years old and married with two children. Surunkai is a religious person and practices good morals in the community. She is an active member of Nasinya Women's Group and she has set a good example to other young women in the group. She has benefited a lot from the group training and small loans.
She started her steer business last year with only two steers with the help of small group loan. She has been patient and very determined to succeed. Her steer are about a month from being sold and she is hoping to get a loan of USD250 to top up the steer sale and add to the number. She is targeting to sell her animals to the Kenya Meat Commission, where the price is a bit favourable. She has a good record of repaying the small loan she had. She is willing to repay her loan on a monthly basis.",F,250,lender,Agriculture,1
Kenya,"Susan Aluoch Nyambas is a 53-year-old married mother of four. She also cares for three orphans. Of the seven children, six are still enrolled in school while the eldest has completed studies. Her husband works as a casual laborer, mainly in construction. Susan works in the Kongowea Market, the biggest market in Mombasa (a city on the Kenyan coast) at which many local residents meet their shopping needs.
Susan operates a stall from which she sells re-tailored secondhand clothing. Despite being professionally trained as a secretary, Benta recognized the high demand for used clothing and decided to open her own business. Her biggest challenge in starting and maintaining her enterprise has been a lack of access to capital for expansion. She is a new member of Ebony Foundation, and this will be her first loan. She is requesting a loan of US $400 to be used entirely on expanding her stock of clothing. She is determined and will repay the loan.",F,400,lender,Clothing,1
Kenya,"Susan Atieno Adwer, aged 24 years, is a mother of one. It was during her last year at secondary school that she made a friend who introduced her to prostitution. Susan took this to be a good idea especially since her parents had no money for all that she needed. Unfortunately it did not take long before Susan was pregnant. Her mother was for an abortion but Susan wouldnt do that. Her mother threw her out of the house, and her only option was to go and live with her aunt who at that time was selling sardines. Susan helped her aunt, and her aunt was extremely impressed by Susan's work and decided to give her the job. Susan is sure of a steady market and is requesting a loan of US$ 900; she is sure of increased profitability. She will use the money as follows:
US$ 200 to lease a stall;
US$ 300 to buy sardines;
US$ 150 for transport;
US$ 70 for painting;
and US$ 180 to make the down-payment on her refrigerator.
Susan's story is moving and it will be exciting to see how she will perform in her business.",F,900,lender,Food,1
Kenya,"Susan Atieno is 33-years-old. She is a widow with 5 children. Her husband died of Tuberculosis in 2005, which put the burden of raising their five children entirely upon her and made life difficult.
Susan started her business in 2004 after her husband, the former sole breadwinner, took ill. Selling fish to feed her family was the only option she had, but since fish is her favorite dish, she also felt inspired to learn this business. She apprenticed with a friend in the business who taught Susan how to fry fish and operate a fried fish business. Susan's determination in this business made her certain her customers would always come back. Susan initially borrowed Ksh 2,000.00 ($29) from her neighbor to buy fish, a frying spoon and cooking oil for frying the fish. She repaid this debt. To date she has been using borrowed equipments, including a frying pan, jiko (cooking stove) and a table for her business.
This arrangement creates several business problems. First, she can only buy and sell small quantities of fish, because she has to ensure that she cooks all the fish she has in time to return the borrowed equipment. Second, sometimes the neighbor is not very happy to lend her the items.
Susan is requesting a loan of $50 to purchase a frying pan, table and jiko (cooking stove). This will enable her to operate her business more hours and to buy and sell more fish. The increase in income will better support her family. The repayment period for her loan will be 8 15 months.",F,50,lender,Food,1
Kenya,"Susan Awino is a 30 year old lady and is married with 4 children. She lives within the Kibera slums. Susan has extensive experience in hairdressing gained from working in several salons before she decided to start her own. She first worked in Webuye in the western part of Kenya for 3 years before relocating to Nairobi. After settling down in Nairobi, she was employed in a salon for 1 year and was admired for her excellent braiding skills. It was during this time that she managed to save some money from braiding customers and started her own salon in February 2006. Adjacent to her salon is a small candy shop which she started in order to supplement her income.
Susan lacks a blow dryer and a dryer in her salon, equipments she considers very essential. She has noticed her customers avoiding her since she does not have this equipment and go for services to other salons that have the equipment. The only customers that are now frequenting are those that need braiding but she would love to give complete services to her customers.
Susan is therefore requesting a loan of USD 200 to enable her purchase a blow dryer and a dryer. This will enable her to fulfill her customers needs and avoid them being hi-jacked by other salons that have this equipment. It will also earn her more income which she will use to maintain her customers. Susan intends to repay the loan in 12 - 18 months.",F,200,lender,Services,1
Kenya,"Susan is 30 years old, married, with 3 children. Her children are all in primary school. She is an active member of Canaan Women Group. She is a dedicated member of the group and has benefited a lot from the trainings and social interactions she has received through WEEC. She has set a good example in her village and she encourages women to join the group to benefit as she has already proved. She is a teacher by profession and has been able to supplement her career with farming. She grows vegetables, cereals and rears a dairy cow. She is able to earn an average of USD $200 on a monthly basis. She would like to focus on farming as it has been a pillar in her family.",F,125,lender,Agriculture,1
Kenya,Susan is 34 years old. She is married with 4 children. She is a Christian by faith. As a pastors wife she works hard in her local church. She arranges youth seminars. Her main calling is to assist the less fortunate especially the young people to get a better future. Susans cosmetics business has improved and her clientele base has increased. With the business loan that she received she is able to supply her customers as per their orders. Her business is able to cater to the business loan repayment and the monthly school fees for her daughter who is in St. Michaels Boarding Primary School in Kerugoya. Susans group has approved the 2007 school fees loan of USD 300. She will repay the loan in 12 monthly installments.,F,300,lender,Services,1
Kenya,"Susan is 35 years old. She is married and has 4 school-going children. She is a wife of a servant of God making her more involved in church activities. She is a good counselor, especially for the youth. Susan has always maintained the fact that, for them to be able to solve most of the problems afflicting families, women must join hands and work together. Savings and credit groups are organizations she holds dearly in her heart. She has influenced many women to join the groups. She earns her income from selling food products and curios. She was empowered to start the business through the training she has had from the group. She has esteemed customers who have helped her business performance. She has been able to transform her family life and she feels great when working in her food kiosk.",F,750,lender,Food,1
Kenya,"Susan is 37 years old and single with 1 child. She was encouraged by her friends to join the Women of Faith group. She was nervous about joining. But to her surprise, she was highly welcomed and introduced to every woman and she felt she has found the right people to associate with. She was encouraged to start a business, something she has never given a thought to before. After getting her first donation, she bought second-hand clothes and started hawking in town centre. She has changed her way of thinking and has gotten a lot of knowledge and influence from the group. She would want to buy more clothes for the coming festival season and she plans to locate a store where most of her customers are. The hawking process is very challenging and she plans to relocate to a steady place after the festival season.",F,75,lender,Arts,1
Kenya,"Susan is 48 years old married with three children. She is a dedicated member of Gondo Women Group being the Vice chairperson and a leader in her Anglican Church.
Currently all her children are in high school causing her to strain because of the associated school fees. She pays USD520 per term thus requiring that she secure a loan every year. She had a loan of USD225 and has cleared it, paying it back promptly.
She grows tea leaves, vegetables and she has dairy cows. She has been able to meet the basic needs of her family through the income she gets from her farm. She puts effort in applying manure in her farm and buying the right feeds for her animals to maintain high produce. On average, she gets USD225 per month from selling some of her farm produce.",F,200,partner,Agriculture,0
Kenya,"Susan is a 52-year-old widow with one child. She lives in the informal settlement of Soweto on the outskirts of Nairobi. She is also taking care of her aging parent and three orphans from her brother and sister.
The story of Susan is one of sheer determination because she has come very far. Susan started off living in the streets of Nairobi before she met with Action Now Kenya in 2003, where she was trained with other women who were living in the streets at that time. Because of the training, she decided to make a new life for herself. Susan began her current business in 2005 after she managed to make some savings from washing clothes door-to-door at a nearby middle class estate near the social hall where she was staying together with the rest of the street women. From this work, Susan was able to save Ksh 1,500 (USD 22) that served as her initial capital for her current small business, where she makes chips (fries) in the open air and sells to passersby, especially children.
Susan is requesting a loan of US$300 in order to expand her small business, which has now turned into an open-air cafe. She has currently started selling chapattis (one of the favorite Kenyan foods made from wheat flour) and githeri (a mixture of maize and beans) in addition to the chips, all in the open area where she started. She would now like to purchase tables, chairs, and umbrellas in order to provide a more comfortable area for her customers. She believes that if she is able to provide a seating area for her customers, she will be able to increase her customer base and hence expand her business, which in turn will sustain her family.
The repayment period for her loan is 12 months.",F,300,lender,Food,1
Kenya,"Susan is a charming 31 year old lady, has two children and is separated from her husband. She lives in the town of Ruai in the outskirts of Nairobi. By natural instinct Susan started braiding her sisters hair when they were growing up. As time went by she became an expert in plaiting and braiding hair. A close friend of hers who was operating a salon suggested she learn how to apply chemical to clients hair and also how to style hair. Her friend taught her the skills free of charge over a period of two years. Susan saved Ksh 5,000 (USD 76) while she was a member of a merry-go-round group in her village. From this money, she rented a stall for Ksh 2,000 (USD 30) in the year 2005. With the balance she bought a mirror for the stall and then started plaiting clients hair since she did not have enough money to purchase salon equipment. Her friend Catherine Wambura then gave her a blow-dryer free of charge in order to support herself. Clients flocked her stall and by the end of the year 2005, from her small savings and proceedings from her business, Susan managed to buy a dryer. Today her salon is one of the most frequently visited salons in Ruai. Due to the growing number of customers and the desire to give them first class service, Susan is requesting for a loan of USD 475 in kind, which will enable her to purchase a blow-dryer, hair dryer, steamer, and various chemicals. This will greatly help to support her business since she could not steam clients hair before due to lack of a steaming machine. This equipment will greatly boost her business. She intends to pay her loan within a period of 8-12 months.",F,475,partner,Services,0
Kenya,"Susan is a first time client of PEMCI, but has had her business for the last year. She operates a clothes store located at one of the busiest parts of Malaba, extremely close to the border. She gets her stock from Nairobi. She goes to Nairobi twice a month. Her stock right now can be estimated at two hundred thousand shillings. Her profits range between twenty-five and thirty thousand shillings per month (1 USD is approximately sixty-seven Kenya shillings). Apart from the business, she is also an employee of interfreight-Panalpina, one of the clearing and forwarding services accounts. Susan is married and a mother of 5 - 3 boys and 2 girls. Three are in school and two are working. Her main challenge in business is during low season when there is low demand. She is able to meet the demand during high season (holidays especially Christmas). Given a loan by PEMCI, Susan plans to expand her business, by increasing the stock of her clothes shop.",F,750,lender,Clothing,1
Kenya,"Susan is a Kenyan aged 42 years old. She is married with 4 children, and 2 have completed school. She lives in Ikundu village in Maragwa district and is a very active member of Karaba women's group. She attends the group meetings always and contributes to the revolving fund very well. She is a member of the ACK church and participates in many church activities.
Susan is a business lady who buys and sells bananas to the wholesale market. She also does small-scale farming. Her main source of income is her business, and she hopes to buy a water tank for her home when she gets a loan of USD 300.",F,300,lender,Agriculture,1
Kenya,"Susan is a single mother of two and she is aged 53 years. She is a retired clinical officer and an active member of Konguini Jisaidie. The group has been working with WEEC for the last four years. Since she joined the group for years ago, she has borrowed four loans and paid very well.
Susan started her business in 2003; she sells new clothes which she buys from Nairobi and some from Tanzania such as Vitenge. Currently, her business is worth USD1200 and it continues to grow. Her average sales range from USD300-500 per month. This is a season for those who sell clothes because all farmers have finished harvesting and are now selling. Also, Christmas is around the corner and some people shop early not to be over charged in December.",F,900,partner,Clothing,0
Kenya,"Susan is a woman with college education. She has training and experience in Veterinary Services and has attended 5 business training sessions organized By Eb-F. For 3 years she was employed by Pyatt Pharmacy in Nakuru where she was the senior sales girl.
As the sole provider to her family of 4 she was not earning enough to take care of her family and keep her sisters in school. She quit employment and started her own business located in her Rumuruti rural home. Rumuruti is a remote rural area famous for its beef and dairy cows and Susans business supply veterinary and general agriculture products to the pastoral farmers. She has not received any donation or loan from Eb-F and used small loans from friends and family to set up the business.
Susan is requesting a loan of U.S $ 750 to supply 20 milk cans and 25 cartons of assorted veterinary drugs.
Susan is very hand working and is able to repay the loan.",F,750,lender,Agriculture,1
Kenya,"Susan is married with 4 children who are in primary school. She is the chairlady of Gondo Rehab Women group and a woman with positive influence to many. She is very religious and a bible study leader in her place of worship. She believes in changing many lives through her work she has been getting her income through a dairy goats project for 3 years. 2 of her children have cleared primary school and they are about to join high school next year. She is willing to pay their school fees with savings she has from milk sales. She is very determined to feed her goats with nutritious feeds and put up a good shed to maximize their production rate. 6 of them have already calved down and 3 are about to calve. She believes from her sales, she will be able to meet her family needs and will pay the school fees without much hassling. She is very responsible when it comes to paying as per previous records.",F,150,lender,Agriculture,1
Kenya,"Susan is married with three children, who are in school. She is a committed member of the Anglican Church of Kenya and very active in the St. Consolata Womens Group. She is one of the many ladies who have benefited a lot from WEEC programme. She has been able to start a business with her husband in Nairobi selling second-hand clothes through small loans from the group. Her husband runs the business as she looks after their children and manages their farm. Susan is currently growing maize, beans, and vegetables. The farm and clothes business are the pillar in the family, providing for the needs of their children. With a little savings, she would like to venture in the stock exchange world and add extra income to her family. She is hoping to get a loan and implement her plans wisely. She is promising to repay her loan on a monthly basis.",F,225,lender,Agriculture,1
Kenya,"Susan is window with grown up 3 children. She joined the group when it was in its information stage. She has been a responsible member in the group and has set a good example to other new members. She is one of the foendr member of the grioup.After her husband left her with youngones; she did not have any income generating activity. She was not convinced that her children will make in school by borrowing school fees every now and then. She borrowed her first loan and started a retail business selling household goods. Her business enabled her to pay fees for her children who were by that time in primary school. She worked hard and she made sure all of them have attained secondary education. After they finished secondary level, she had to work with 2 of them and take one to college because she couldnt afford fees to take all of them at the same time. Since she started working with her children, her business has improved because she reduced transport cost. She has seen a change even in terms of income .She wants to buy more goods due to increased number of customers. She believes her children will get college education soon after increasing stock in her business. They are very determined and work as a team.",F,300,lender,Retail,1
Kenya,"Susan Kwamboka Mokua is a 31-year-old single mother living in the Kibera slums. She is the sole provider for her two children who are in junior school in grades four and seven. She also takes care of her sick brother who is HIV (+) positive. Susan owns a small restaurant that sells food to workers in the nearby factory. She uses most of this income to buy special nutrition and medication for her brother. However, sometimes her brother has to go without the medication that is so crucial to his health. The small size of Susan's restaurant cannot accommodate many customers, so she loses a lot of business to her competitors. Her income enables her to cater for some of her familys needs, but is still inadequate for providing a comfortable life. Susan intends to increase her income by expanding her restaurant which is popular for selling delicious food and always has plenty of customers. Susan knows how to maintain good customer relations and has many loyal patrons who she has retained over time. The gains from expanding the business will improve Susan's life: she will be able to afford better housing and also take better care of her sick brother. She is requesting a loan of US$1000: US$200 for renting bigger premises, US$300 for buying more furniture, US$200 for hireing and training staff, and US$300 for buying more stock and utensils.",F,1000,lender,Food,1
Kenya,"Susan Muthoni Nganga is 31 years old and single with 2 children, both in school. Susan left school in Grade 12 and has been working in sales for 7 years. Her business mainly deals with buying and selling fruit products like fruit yoghurt desserts, fruit milk, frozen, fruited yoghurt, fruit pudding and fresh fruits. From her business returns, she is able to support her family.
Currently she wants to increase her inventory, so she has requested a loan of $700 to be used in the following way:
US $ 300 to purchase a medium-sized freezer
US $ 100 to purchase sacks of fresh fruit
US $ 200 to purchase fruit containers
US $ 100 to purchase paint to decorate the business premises
Susan is optimistic that her business will grow sufficiently so that she will manage to take care of her two children, i.e., feed the whole family and educate the children in the best way possible. She is a member of Ushindi Women's Group and hopes that one day the group will be able to invest together to purchase land and houses for their families. The members of Ushindi Group are beneficiaries of group-lending methodology, also known as solidarity lending. This is a mechanism that allows a group of individuals to provide collateral or guarantee a loan through a group-repayment pledge. The incentive to repay is based on peer pressure: if one person in the group defaults, the other group members make up the amount owed.",F,700,lender,Food,1
Kenya,"Susan Njeri Ngugi of Gikomba, Nairobi is 41 years old and married with two children, both in college. The college fee is very high for Susan to manage to pay promptly from her business returns. During her group meetings, Susan learned about Ebony Foundation's program. She took this to be a good idea since she has been selling tomatoes for the last 27 years but has not enough money to meet her targets and support her children in college. Susan wants to expand her tomato business. She is sure of a steady market and with the requested loan of US $ 875, she is sure of increased profitability. She plans to use the loan amount as follows:
US $700 to purchase green tomatoes;
US $100 for transport;
US $75 for minor repairs to her stand. She is hopeful that she will be able to provide well for her two children from the business returns and profit.
Susan has been attending our Business Skills training sessions and is a member of Ushindi Women's Group. The members of Ushindi Group are beneficiaries of group-lending methodology, also known as solidarity lending. This is a mechanism that allows a group of individuals to provide collateral or guarantee a loan through a group-repayment pledge. The incentive to repay is based on peer pressure: if one person in the group defaults, the other group members make up the amount owed.",F,875,lender,Food,1
Kenya,"Susan Nyambura is 42 years old and a mother of four children and two other dependents. Her husband is unemployed. She also takes care of her aged parents. Their income comes from the sale of shoes and her Barber Shop. She lives in Kayole, an estate that is densely populated in Nairobi, Kenya. She has been in business for the last 7 years, and she has good customer relationships. Susan is requesting a loan of $775, and she intends to use it as follows: $350 to purchase a sterilizer machine and electric shaving machine for her Barber Shop, and $425 to add more shoes to her business. Despite challenges facing her, Susan is determined to prosper in business and will repay the loan.",M,775,lender,Services,1
Kenya,"Susan Nyambura is 42 years old. She is married and a mother of three children; one is in primary, one in secondary school and the other in college. She is the treasurer of Ngutu Catholic church council. She practices mixed farming on her farm. Currently, she has an indigenous dairy cow, which does not produce much milk. She wants to purchase a hybrid dairy cow to increase milk production. She has applied a loan of USD600 to purchase a dairy cow. She is willing to repay this loan within 12 months.",F,600,lender,Agriculture,1
Kenya,"Susan Nyambura Mwangi was born forty years ago and is married with three children. Two are in secondary school and her little one is in primary school. She practices farming for income and consumption. She grows beans, maize, arrowroot, potatoes, vegetables and coffee for a cash crop. Susan is a positive thinker who does not fear taking risks, instead she believes in managing risks. This attitude has enabled her step in zones that her peers have always kept off. For example she started taking her farm products to big towns such as Nairobi twenty years ago. This is one of the businesses in which women were forbidden, because it was believed they should stay at home and look after the children. She is now venturing into the stock market in order to have investments that will act as her security after she retires from manual work.",F,150,lender,Agriculture,1
Kenya,"Susan Nyaruiru Ndichu was born in 1973 at Kanunga, Kiambu. She is married with four children; two are in secondary school called Ndumberi Secondary school while the other two are still in Njunu public primary school. Susan joined WEEC on December 3rd, 2003 and has since then serviced five loans.
She confesses that she has greatly benefited from these loans, and she has been able to use the money she has earned to used to raise and educate her children. She has been practicing dairy farming for the last twenty years. Currently, she has three dairy cows. They produce an average of fifty litres daily and sell the milk to Kiambaa Diary Farmers Co-operative Limited at the rate of $0.29. She also has 500 chickens, which sells them to Kenchic Company.
She has applied for a loan of $900, which she intends to purchase a dairy cow and animal feeds. She is willing to repay this loan within a period of 12 months.",F,900,lender,Agriculture,1
Kenya,"Susan Okoth is a 50-year-old mother of eight school-aged children.
She lives with her husband, who is a retired banker, in Rongo, Kenya.
Before beginning her current business of selling second-hand bed linens and curtains in 1990, she worked as a clerk with Lake Basin Development Authority. Susan runs her business on a busy street along Rongo-Homabay Road. She specializes in selling bed sheets and curtains. She is able to purchase a good variety at wholesale prices in Nairobi. Susan plans to expand her business with her next loan of US $800.",F,800,partner,Clothing,0
Kenya,"Susan Onyango is 50 years old and living in the village of Ogwedhi in the Rongo District of Kenya with her husband who is a businessman in the area. They have 9 children, 3 of whom are in school.
Susans business is fish sales in the Ogwedhi market. She specializes in selling the popular Omena (a small sardine-like fish). She has been running her stand since 1982. Susan buys the Omena from the nearby town of Migori.
With the profits from her business, Susan pays for her childrens school fees and also for general household expenses. With this well-established business, Susan is looking for ways to increase her profits and expand. She is applying for a loan of $300 so that she can buy the Omena in bulk from Migori. This will both increase her inventory and save her money.",F,300,partner,Food,0
Kenya,"Susan Wairimu Gichu is an elderly woman of 55 years. She is a dedicated member of Anglican Church Of Kenya. She has been in the Kirimiga Purity Group since its inception. She has grown up children who are independent. She feels it is now the right time to start investing in businesses that will not need a lot of her physical energy and the only business to invest in is the stock market. Her current business is selling both second-hand and ready-made clothing to area residents. She hawks the clothes around the town and village after farming. She grows coffee as a cash crop, dairy cows for her familys consumption and for sale, vegetables, maize and beans.",F,150,lender,Clothing,1
Kenya,"Susan Wambui Maina is 29 years old, married with 1 child who is in nursery school. Susan is an active member of Wendani Sisters and also an active member of St. Lukes ACK Church where she attends prayer services and participates in the church activities. She earns her living through making new clothes for the local residents. She also grows vegetables, sweet potatoes, arrow roots, beans, maize and owns one dairy cow, which provides her with five litres of milk daily. She sells her farm produce to the local residents at the nearby market. She saves well and repays loans promptly. She intends to borrow a loan of USD75 to buy a large variety of cloth materials so as to meet the demands of her customers. Her application for a loan has been approved by the loan committee. She is willing to repay within a period of 12 months.",F,75,lender,Services,1
Kenya,"SUSAN WANGARI KAMAU is a 33-year-old business entrepreneur. She is married and has one dependent. She is involved in the business of selling maize and fresh juice at the local market in Nakuru town. Despite the fact that she is a high school dropout, Susan has engaged in this business for many years and thus she has been able to support her school-going child and provide other basic needs. In her business Susan faces challenges such as: lack of enough capital to expand her business and waking up earlier to scramble for scarce maize, oranges, mangoes, and pineapples at the market, especially during dry spells when the products are in short supply. Susan has the desire to expand her business, and thus she wants to buy the products she sells direct from the farmers, and also to buy a juice blender because she has realized that when it's hot many people want fresh juice so it will help her make enough juice to meet the demand. However Susan doesnt have the money to do this and thus she is requesting a loan of US$ 900. Her budget is as follows: US$ 500 to buy more maize and fruits direct from farmers; US$ 150 for transportation, US$ 50 for getting a license; US$ 200 to buy the juice blender. Susan is a hardworking and determined lady and thus we believe that she can repay the loan on time.",F,900,lender,Food,1
Kenya,"Susan Wangui Kimani is 37 years old. She is married with four children; three are primary school and the other is in secondary school. She is an active member of the St. Monica Women's Group and the Catholic Women Association. She is a farmer who does mainly crop farming and pig rearing. She grows maize, beans, bananas and a variety of vegetables. She has three pigs and two cows. A portion of her farm produce is consumed by her family, while another portion is sold to retailers and local consumers at a local market. She has applied and been approved for a loan of USD 75, which she will use to purchase a pig. She will repay this loan within 10 months",F,75,lender,Agriculture,1
Kenya,"Susan Wanjiku Gachoka is thirty-eight years old. She is married and has four children. She sells second-hand clothes. Her husband runs a payphone from Telkom Kenya. Three of their children are in school and one is not yet enrolled since she is too young to attend school. The family lives in a rented house. Susan does the clothes business to enable the family meet some expenses since her husbands income is not enough. She is a hardworking lady who likes working to better her familys life; that is why she started this business. She is requesting a loan of US$ 300 to expand her business. This is her budget for the loan: US$ 200 to purchase clothes to stock up her stall to meet her customers needs; US$ 50 for rent of the stall; US$ 20 to for the operating business license and US$ 30 to meet some family needs like rent and school requirements such as uniforms. With this loan she can improve her business and boost her husbands income. Being in the business long enough, she has the capability of increasing her sales returns to have surplus to repay the loan.",F,300,lender,Clothing,1
Kenya,"Susan Wanjiku Kanyitu is 40 years old. She is married with 4 children; two children are in primary school and the other two are in secondary school. She is an active member of Maragwa Ushuhuda. She lives in Gakanga where she operates her business of selling bananas. She earns an average of USD80 monthly from this business. She wowuld like a loan to increase her business and, therefore, to enable her to pay school fees for her children. She is willing to repay this loan in a span of one year and on a monthly basis.",F,300,lender,Food,1
Kenya,"Susan Wanjiku Kinuthia is 35 years old and married with five children. She lives in the town of Kitengela that sits on the outskirts of Nairobi. Apart from her family, she also takes care of two children from her sister who left them under her care along with her aging mother who is diabetic
Susan used to work as a laborer plucking tea in her rural area in Gatundu. From her earnings, she saved $441. She later moved to the outskirts of Nairobi and, after evaluating the area that she was living in, she saw that there was a need for an all purpose shop to serve the neighborhood. Through her hard work and determination, she used her savings as capital and started the business. Susan now wants to expand her business, but due to lack of funds, which has been contributed to by all the people she is taking care of, she has been unable to do this. Susan is now kindly requesting Kiva lenders to grant her a loan of $1,025. With this, Susan will be able to purchase a new TV set, footwear, batteries, scratch cards and other supplies for the store. This will enable her to expand her business, and translate into more income, which will enable her to be financially stable. She is thanking Kiva lenders in advance.
Susan expects to repay her loan in 12 months.",F,1025,partner,Retail,1
Kenya,"Susan Wanjiru Joshua is 30 years old. She is a single mother of three children who are all in school. She is a mobile food vendor and sells porridge to construction workers and company casual laborers in the town where she lives. To her customers, porridge is an affordable energy-giving food. Usually she serves them twice; early in the morning and again in mid-afternoon. The challenge she is facing at the moment is supplying the porridge to many sites at the same time. She feels by opening up a cafe she will be easily accessible to all her customers. She also wants to expand her business by opening up a mini-hotel. She is planning to open it in a busy industrial area and prepare more nutritious and affordable meals. This way she will be able to earn more income and pay for her childrens fees comfortably. She needs resources worth $700. With this amount she will rent a hotel with $300, she will purchase furniture worth $300 and buy food stocks worth $200. She is hardworking and she will definitely pay back the loan.",F,800,lender,Food,1
Kenya,"Susan Wanjiru Mwangi is 49 years old. She is a single mother of two children. All of them are in school. Susan has been operating a food kiosk for the last four years (a food kiosk is a small stall which has enough space to fit a medium sized stove, dishes and food supplies; it is smaller than a medium-sized cafeteria). Susan mostly serves her food where the client the client would like delivery. Therefore, she needs to move into a more spacious and permanent premise. She also needs to increase her menu to add further variety. She is requesting a loan of US$ 1,000. With this loan, she will be able to buy inventory worth US$ 800 and will use US$ 200 to rent and renovate the new premises which will serve as a mini cafeteria.",F,1000,lender,Food,1
Kenya,"Susan was born 34 years ago, and is widowed with five kids, which is not an easy task in this current economy. Susan is a farmer who sells bananas in Maragwa. She intends to buy a dairy cow and also expand her business by increasing her banana stock. To achieve this she needs USD300. Thanks to WEEC, she has learned business skills and how to be disciplined in money matters, especially managing her income to repay her loans, and have some savings. She is willing to repay this loan within the loan term.",F,300,lender,Agriculture,1
Kenya,"Susan was born 43 years ago in Kiambu, Kenya. She is married with four children of whom 2 are in secondary school and 2 are in college.
Susan is an active member of Nairobi Pentecostal Church (NPC). She is an employee of a City Council and a very hardworking lady with a vision. She joined WEEC in 2002 and since then she has benefited a lot from training in business management, and she has tried a lot to utilize the skills.
She runs a successful computer, photocopy services and mobile phone shop in town. She started this business with her first loan from the group and she has mentored many women in her group. She has repaid 95% of the previous loan. Susan has created jobs for 4 youths and has been able to pay fees for her children. She would like to buy a photocopier due to an increased demand in services. She is promising to make her payments on a monthly basis.",F,900,lender,Services,1
Kenya,"Susan was born 43 years ago in Kiambu, Kenya. She is married with four children, 2 are in secondary school and 2 are in college. Susan is an active member of Nairobi Pentecostal Church (NPC). She is an employee of the City Council and is a very hardworking lady with a vision. She joined WEEC in 2002. Since then she has benefitted a lot from business management training and she has tried hard to utilize the skills. She runs a successful shop in town that provides computer and photocopy services and mobile phones. She started this business with her first loan from the group and she has mentored many women in her group. Susan has created jobs for 4 youths and has been able to pay fees for her children with less hassle. She would like to buy another computer due to increased demand for services and she cant buy it at this time because of school fees. She feels great that she has empowered women who are limited by their financial grounds. She is promising to make her payments on monthly basis.",F,750,lender,Services,1
Kenya,"Susan was born in 1974 in Nakuru, Kenya. She is married with two children. One is in primary school while the other one is young. Susan is a dedicated Christian and a member of Catholic Women Association (CWA).She joined WEEC in 2002 and last month, she was elected the group discipline mistress. For the last three months, she has been selling baby clothes and also sells rings and belts to residents and in market places. She is very determined to change her family life through her hard work.
Given a loan of USD 150,susan intends to improve her business to a boutique which will have clothes and jewelleries.She wants to change the location of her business and move close to where most of her customers are. She would like to repay her loan on monthly basis.",F,150,lender,Clothing,1
Kenya,"Susan was born on 1st March, 1972. She is married with one child who is in lower primary school in a private primary school in Nairobi. Susan, like her colleagues, joined the group and registered with WEEC after hearing good news of how WEEC and KIVA have boosted many businesses in Kiambu and surroundings. She was elected the discipline mistress of the group. Susan sells second-hand clothes at Kawangware, the business she has been in for the last 10 years. She has raised and educated her only child from the income earned from her second-hand clothes business. Given a loan of USD 600, she intends to buy 4 bales of second-hand clothes. She is willing to repay this loan within 12 months.",F,600,lender,Clothing,1
Kenya,"Susan was born thirty-six years ago and is married with four children; two in primary school and one in secondary school. Susan is a farmer who raises maize and beans, three pigs, one cow and five goats. She sells five litters of milk to the local community. She has applied for a loan USD75 to buy a pig, which has been agreed upon by the group as a group project. She is willing to repay this loan within a period of 10 months.",F,75,lender,Agriculture,1
Kenya,"Sylvia Asaba is 31 years of age. She is married with two children. She ekes her living by selling VCR tapes and DVDs, and from the meager returns she cannot support her family. Among the movies she rents to clients are educational movies, action movies, West African movies, ecclesiastical movies, and traditional movies. From the business returns, she wishes to support her family. She has requested a loan amount of US $1000. Her budget is: US $200 to purchase a video machine and deck, US $200 to purchase a bag of West Africa movies, US $200 to purchase a bag of action-packed movies, US $200 to purchase a bag of ecclesiastical movies and US $200 for transport services and license fees. Sylvia is determined to make her clients happy, support her family, and be able to repay back the loan.",F,1000,lender,Retail,1
Kenya,"Sylvia is 50 years old. She is married and has 8 children. She is a committee member in her local Pentecostal church. Sylvia belongs to Gaitheri Faithful women's group. This is a strong group that has assisted its members to raise the standards of living of their families. The group has enabled the group members to buy large capacity ROTO water tanks. The women are able to harvest enough water for the family use when it rains. The members who farm vegetables along the river have also bought the small Money Maker machines that enable them to cultivate and irrigate small plots and supply vegetables to Kiriaini residents throughout the year.
Sylvia does dairy farming and sells milk to Gaitheri Cooperative Society. Her farming activities have enabled her to repay the group and to make her monthly saving of USD 3. Sylvia plans to intensify and expand the horticultural farming to include kales, French beans, and tomatoes. The WEEC officer has trained the women in Kajiado district, and they have intensified farming through the use of the diesel water pump that costs USD 300.
Sylvia plans to buy the water pump, good quality seeds, and pipes for irrigating more land. She has applied for a loan of USD 1200 for this project. The market for her products will be mainly Kiriaini and Gaitheri. The loans committee and the WEEC officers have appraised the businesses at her farm and the loans that she has received and have approved the high loan. Sylvia will repay the loan within a period of 12 months.",F,1200,lender,Agriculture,1
Kenya,"Sylvia Mwia Kithuku is a 32-year-old entrepreneur. She is married with three children. Her children are all in school. Two are in junior grade two and four; the third is too young to go to school. Her brother and sister-in-law died of AIDS, and Sylvia has taken in their children in addition to her own. She lives in Kibera slums where she is a member Amua, a woman's self-help group. Her passion for hairdressing has lead her to successfully operate her own hair salon for five years. Her hairdressing skills include braiding, plaiting corn rows, and weaving synthetic hair extensions into natural hair. She is doing very well but feels she has more potential. She wants to diversify her business to include more beauty salon services like chemical treatment, relaxing, and hair conditioning. She lacks the necessary equipment for this expansion, and is losing income because she can't compete with other salons who offer these services. She would like to change this and gain equitable market share, but lacks the capital to do so. She is requesting for a $700 loan: $280 for a hair dryer, $70 for additional chairs, $100 for hair tongs, $50 for hair rollers, $200 to buy assorted chemicals, hair oils, shampoos, conditioners and hair dyes.",F,700,lender,Services,1
Kenya,"Syprose Chebet is 36 years old. She is a mother of four and married. Three of her children go to junior school, and one is still underage. Her husband is a lorry driver. She lives on the outskirts of Kericho town. She has been operating a retail shop for a long period of time now and thus she has gained enough experience. Syprose is a young woman who has a lot of ambitions for her family. The money that she and her husband earn is too little to cater for all the basic needs of the family, but they always ensure that the children are kept in school to avoid poor performance.
The shop is small and under-stocked; thus, the customer demands become higher than the supply. She would like to buy more goods but lacks the required capital. There is demand for some of the goods that she does not have. Because of the ready market, she would like to stock up and meet the demand. She is requesting a loan of US$950. Her budget is as follows: US$600 to buy more stock, US$200 to lease a bigger premise, US$100 to pay for transport, and US$50 to renew her license. She is a young, energetic woman. Through her hard work, she will be able to repay the loan.",F,950,lender,Retail,1
Kenya,"Syvanus Ooko Odhiambo is married and has four children, two of whom are of school age. He is a carpenter living in Ponda Mali slums in Nakuru, Kenya. His wife sells fruit in an open-air market. Syvanus' family is large and he is unable to meet all their needs. Syvanus makes and sells furniture like tables, beds and chairs. He would like to make a higher income to sustain his family. He has a good customer base but his furniture stock remains low since all his profit is used to cater for his young family. He would like to add his furniture stock to increase his revenue but he lacks funds. He is requesting a loan of US $ 500 to be used in this way: US$ 300 to buy more timber stock , US $ 100 to purchase other raw materials like wood glue and fabric and US $ 100 to expand his stall.",M,500,lender,Manufacturing,1
Kenya,"Tabitha Lukobo Miyia is 40 years old. She is married with four children. Two of the children are in junior school while the other two completed junior school but were not able to continue with high school due to financial difficulties. Tabitha is in the business of selling charcoal in Pondamali, a densely populated area in Nakuru town. Her husband, Peter is a ""jua kali"" artisan. Tabitha has been a charcoal vender for some time now but all her earnings are taken up by her familys needs so she has not been able to expand her business. There is a great demand for charcoal in the area since it is inhabited by low income earners. She would really like to invest more money in the business, but as she lacks capital, she is requesting a loan of US$ 600.The following is her budget:
$400 to be used to buy sacks of charcoal, $ 100 to pay for a storage facility, and $ 100 for transportation.
Tabitha is a hard working lady and has the potential to do well. She is capable of repaying the loan.",F,600,lender,Retail,1
Kenya,"Tabitha is 31 years old and single. She is an active member in Maona Mapya Women Group. She was influenced by one of her schoolmates to join the group. After attending several meetings she joined and was given a leading position. She is very interactive and social despite her education level. Having done business administration and management in college, she has managed to share the skills with her group members. She also leads a group of young professionals in her area where she empowers girls and young ladies to be goal getters. Due to lack of employment, she opted to start a boutique business specializing with ladies clothes. Most of her customers are members of her group. She has been facing financial constraint where her customers are pending with demands. She feels very challenged by this, and she is ready to fill the gap with the loan by buying a good stock, which will help her through the festive season. She is determined to make a difference in her community and to prove wrong those who believe one has to be employed. She is very active and an asset in her group that they all wish she could remain in the group forever.",F,750,lender,Clothing,1
Kenya,Tabitha is 51 years old. She is married and has 5 children. She is a member of St. Emmanuel ACK church and is actively involved in activities involving the church and community development. Tabitha counsels the youthful mothers to work towards generating and creating work for themselves and for the other members of the society. She sets a good example in her village by keeping and managing 6 dairy cows and 5 goats. She has setup a milk shop where she sells the milk from her farm to the local people. She has also employed 2 farm hands. Her determination has enabled her to learn a lot from the trainings offered on modern livestock management. Tabitha makes her saving of $3 per month without fail. She repays her loans promptly. She has applied for a loan of $150 to enable her buy animal feeds and other dairy supplements. The loans committee has approved her loan and her repayment period scheduled for 10 months.,F,150,lender,Agriculture,1
Kenya,"Tabitha Karanja is 28 years old and a mother of two children, who are both in school. Her husband was retrenched 3 years ago leaving Tabitha the sole bread winner. She started her business of selling clothes in 2003 by hawking second-hand clothing. In 2005 she obtained a loan of US $400 from Eb-F and she opened a small shop that sells new imported clothes, shoes and handbags from Kampala, Uganda. She is hard working and has always repaid all the loans she has been receiving from Eb-F. Tabitha requests a loan of U.S $850 to assist her in adding more stock to her shop. She intends to use U.S $400 on female and childrens clothes, U.S $300 on shoes and U.S $150 on handbags and wallets. She is capable of repaying the loan.",F,850,lender,Clothing,1
Kenya,"Tabitha Kasiku Mulee is a 35-year-old married entrepreneur. She has four children who are all in school. Tabitha and her husband run a business selling scrap metal for recycling, fruit, and re-tailored second-hand clothes. Tabitha deals with the clothing part of the business; she buys the second-hand refurbished clothes (girls' dresses) and sells them to rural folks outside Mombasa town. Tabitha finished her high school education but could not attend college because she lacked the fees. As the eldest, she supports her siblings and her mother, who is sickly and needs constant medical care. She and her husband must also educate their four children and meet the family's daily needs. This is quite a challenge but Tabitha is a natural entrepreneur; she has not allowed these challenges to dampen her spirit. She has gained popularity with her growing client base and would like to increase stock to meet the rising demand but unfortunately lacks the funds to do this. She requests a loan of $550. With the loan, Tabitha wants to buy more dresses for resale. Tabitha is determined and will repay the loan.",F,550,lender,Clothing,1
Kenya,"Tabitha Mogina Siteki is a 51-year-old widow. She lives in Kibera Slums with her six children. Only three are in school. Two are in senior school grades three and four, and one in junior school grade eight. She is trained as an office secretary and has five years working experience in the hospitality industry. She now owns a bar and restaurant business. Upon the demise of her husband she has assumed the responsibility of being the breadwinner. To increase her familys monthly income, she plans to expand her current business to accommodate more customers and offer a greater variety of services. She banks on her vast experience in the hospitality industry and the large population in her area to be able to make sufficient gains in her business. Her strategy is to build a more appealing premise and employ customer-friendly personnel. Then she will be able to take better care of her family and provide proper shelter. She is requesting a loan of $1000: $300 to build better premises and get new furniture, $500 to buy more stock, and $200 to hire additional staff. Tabitha is respected by many people because sells quality and certified liqueur products at reasonable prices unlike other unethical pub owners the area where she operates.
.",F,1000,lender,Food,1
Kenya,"Tabitha Mwathimba is married and has 5 children. She lives in Kariobangi South, an area characterized by informal settlements located within the Eastern part of Nairobi. Here, she sells vegetables and cereals to help provide for her family. She is a born-again Christian and a very committed member of her local church located within her neighborhood. She is the chairlady of the women fellowship in her local church where, besides giving spiritual nourishment, they empower women in the church economically. Her husband is involved in casual jobs from which he gets little wages.
In order to supplement the family income, Tabitha started her business by selling vegetables in small quantities way back in 1997. Previously, she would knit cardigans and sell them at Ksh 500 and this is how she was able to make savings to start off her vegetable and cereal business. With time, she made considerable progress and moved from selling the vegetables from the ground where she arranged them, to constructing a kiosk, from where she now sells her products. Apart from the vegetables that she sold, Tabitha also introduced a range of cereals. However, due to the limited capital she has, she only manages to buy in measures of quarter sacks, and these only last for about two days, after which she has to buy additional stock.
Tabitha now wants to take her business a notch higher and therefore wants to purchase the cereals in full sacks. This will increase her profit and will enable her to retain her customers who sometimes come to buy cereals but find them out of stock. She is requesting for a loan of USD 400, which will be given in kind, to purchase the stock of cereals, including beans, peas and rice. The loan repayment period will be 12 months.",F,400,partner,Food,0
Kenya,"Tabitha Wairimu Gathiga is a 30 year old mother of three. She is married to a water engineer and they live in a rented house. Tabitha owns a green grocery and at the same time sells charcoal at both retail and wholesale prices. She wants to be an independent woman so that she can comfortably meet her needs especially while her husband is working in the interior rural areas. She is requesting a loan of US$ 700. With US $600 she intends to buy trees, cut them to logs and burn them to produce charcoal which she will then transport to town for sale. She will use US $100 to increase the vegetables and fruits to her green grocer stall.She knows that with that she can be able to be fully independent.",F,700,lender,Food,1
Kenya,"Tabitha Wairimu Kamau is 22 years old and married with two baby girls. Both of her daughters are in school. She makes a living selling green and red pepper in the Gikomba market. The peppers she sells are in high demand among the neighbourhood's Asian communities. Therefore, she would like to capitalise on this advantage and be a leading supplier of fresh green, red and black pepper. She has requested a loan of US $ 750 to support her business and confirms that from her increased income she will be in a better position to take care of her family. She plans to use the loan in the following ways:
US $ 200 to purchase sacks of fresh green pepper
US $ 300 to purchase sacks of fresh red and black pepper
US $ 150 to pay for insurance, a license and storage costs.
US $ 100 to purchase protective clothing for handling pepper and also renovate her stall.",F,750,lender,Food,1
Kenya,Tabitha Wanjiku is 36 years old. She is married with two children. One is in primary school and the other is in secondary school. She is an active member of Maragwa Ushuhuda women group. She operates a business of selling bananas in Nairobi and in Ongata Rongai. She manages to earn an estimated value of USD100 monthly. She would like to have this loan to supplement her savings to buy a water tank for her farm located in Ongata Rongai. She is willing to repay this loan in a span of one year and on a monthly basis.,F,300,lender,Retail,1
Kenya,"Tabitha who is a trained nurse is a very active 52-year old member of her community. She is married and lives with her husband and five of their children in Rongo, Kenya. Tabitha is very well-known within her community for her compassionate work. Her main business and source of income, however, is the clinic and community pharmacy, which she has managed for the past 15 years years. Given her reputation and the location of her clinic/pharmacy, her business has flourished. The most commonly purchased drugs in are those to treat malaria, diarrhea, asthma and upper respiratory infections. Tabitha credits her success to hard work and the assistance she has received from KMET through three previous microfinance loans. She plans to use the funds from her next loan of US $1000 to expand both her businesses.",F,1000,partner,Health,0
Kenya,"Taiyo is 32 years old and married with 5 children. All of her children are in primary school. She is an active member of Nasinya Women's Group where she has demonstrated commitment at the group level. Her main source of income is from a bead business which she started some time back. She has been very faithful to her business. She has mentored many young women in her community with her hard work. She is very focused on bettering the lives of her children.
Her bead work is high-quality and she has gained confidence from many customers of different markets where she hawks her beads. She has been able to buy a small commercial plot from the profit generated. She is hoping to get a loan and increase her bead materials to accumulate enough profit to enable her to build rental rooms later. She wants to do this before her children start secondary school, where the fee is a bit high. She is hoping to get a loan and repay within a span of one year.",F,850,lender,Arts,1
Kenya,"Tarasila is 53 years old. She is married and has 6 children. She is an active member of St. Emmanuel ACK Church in Weithaga. She is actively involved in the weekly church fellowship. Tarasilas main occupation is farming. She rears 2 dairy cows and sells the milk to the local dairy plant. She is a member of Weithaga Star Womens group and has always participated in the group issues. With the income she generates from her farm, she has been able to make her monthly savings and to keep a good loan repayment record. She attends the group meetings and records the group attendance register. She has applied for a loan of $150. She will buy dairy feeds and animal supplements for her dairy cows. She will also buy the farm inputs such as fertilizer and hybrid seeds of the long rains. The loan committee has approved the loan and the repayment period will be 10 months.",F,150,lender,Agriculture,1
Kenya,"Tarasilla Wangari Irungu is 56 years old. She is married with six children, three of whom she is struggling to educate, in primary, secondary school and college respectively. The rest are young dependants and are not in school. Tarasilla is an active member of Weithaga Star Ladies group. She is also an active member of Weithaga ACK Church where she attends prayer services and participates in the church activities. Tarasilla earns her living through farming. She grows sweet potatoes, arrow roots, beans, maize and coffee. She also owns two dairy cows, which provide her with ten litres of milk daily. She sells her farm produce to the local residents at the market. Tarasilla saves, borrows and repays promptly. She intends to borrow USD125 to educate her daughter who is training at Kenya Water Institute. Her application for a loan has been approved by the loan committee. She is willing to repay within a period of 10 months.",F,125,lender,Agriculture,1
Kenya,Ted is a 32 single father of four. He has a diploma in electronics engineering. He has a big heart as he is also supporting his 3 orphaned nephews. He will use this loan to expand his business to create income-generating projects that will enable him to support his large household.,M,200,lender,Services,1
Kenya,"Teleyio Turere is married with four children. She has never gone to school. She is struggling to educate her children. One of her daughters is in secondary school and the rest are in primary school. She is an active member of the Amani Womens Group and attends the Seventh Day Adventist Church. Teleyio has two businesses, she sells both beads and milk at the Isinya Market. She gets milk orders from hotels in Isinya where she sells a litre of milk at USD 0.3. Her second business, which she started four years ago, is selling beads at the Maasai Market in Nairobi.
Her first loan from WEEC enabled her to start her beadwork business. The bead business has helped her to educate her children and provide for their basic needs. Now she wants to concentrate on the beads business and put all her efforts into it. She has already looked for orders from various vendors and is sure that after she gets the loan she will manage to buy enough beads to stock her business. She is willing to repay her loan on monthly basis.",F,750,lender,Arts,1
Kenya,"Temina Oloo is 63 years old and married with 6 children, all of whom have completed their schooling. Temina has owned a retail kiosk in Bware, Kenya since 2002. She sells items like kerosene, soap, sugar, tealeaves, bread, and milk.
The stock for the kiosk comes from the nearby town of Migori. Temina sells between 500 to 800 KSH worth of goods on a daily basis. She says that the benefits of having a business are that she has been able to pay school fees for her children and that she is able to meet domestic expenses.
Temina is applying for a loan of KSH 22,500 (USD 300). She plans to use the money to improve her business by adding an additional stock of consumables to her inventory in the kiosk.",F,300,partner,Retail,0
Kenya,"Teresa Akinyi Magare is an average Kenyan woman aged 38 and married with 2 children. She also lives with the 2 orphan children of her late sister. Teresa started her second-hand clothing business 4 years ago after retiring from her teaching profession which she had done for over 10 years.
Teresa deals in ladies and childrens wear. She purchases her bales of clothes every Sunday from Kibuye market which is well-known for its wholesale clothing business. With the little profit that she gets from her business, Teresa is still able to clothe, feed, and educate her children and relatives with the help of her husband who works as a technician in Kisumu town.
With the help of her loan, Teresa would like to diversify her business and bring in more mens wear, and she would also like to capitalize on the January school season and bring in school uniforms to boost her sales.
Teresas long-term business vision is to expand her business into a boutique, and she would also like to open up a nursery school in the future.",F,3425,lender,Clothing,0
Kenya,"Teresa Anyanga is an average Kenyan housewife, kept busy by the demands of caring for three children of her own, three young relatives, and one child orphaned by HIV/AIDS. To help her husband out with the costs of daily life, she started a fruit stand in 2000. Seasonal fruit prices meant it was difficult for her to regularly stock her fruit stand, and she had to give up on the business. Her husband gave her the start up capital to begin another small business, this time selling charcoal.
Most people in the rural parts of Kenya buy charcoal or kerosene on a regular basis as they have no access to electricity. Teresa now sells ten large bags of charcoal per day, each one with a retail value of about ten US dollars. The profits from her charcoal business have enabled her to start selling kerosene, which she buys in bulk from the oil companies and sells in small quantities to rural households. The capital from her loan will enable her to buy larger quantities of kerosene from the oil companies, which gives her a reduced price per liter. Currently she purchases 40 liters for one week of sales. With the help of her loan, she will be able to purchase 160 liters per week.",F,4725,lender,Retail,0
Kenya,"Teresa is 65 years old. She is married with grown children and lives with 3 grandchildren. She lives in Gitumbi village, Maragwa. She runs the business of buying and selling bananas and also does mixed farming at her shamba. She is also an active member of the ACK Church, Maragwa. She participates in all the groups activities of Karaba Umoja and contributes well to the groups revolving fund. She intends to boost her business when she gets a loan of USD150.",F,150,lender,Agriculture,1
Kenya,"Teresa Oloo is a 43 year-old entrepreneur. She lives in the Nyamasaria slums in Kisumu, Kenya with her husband and three children. She started her business in 1995 and deals in assorted commodities such as grains and daily necessities like bread, flour, cooking oil, and soap. She also sells charcoal in small quantities. The picture was taken while Teresa was selling charcoal to her customers. She used the funds from her first two loans to set up a small kiosk adjacent to the local market. She plans to use the loan, if awarded, to move her business into a larger space and a more lucrative location.",F,425,partner,Services,0
Kenya,"Teresa was born in 1944 in Kiambu. She is a single and jovial mother of six children, who have completed their college education. Teresa, a member of the Catholic church and a catechist, started singing and playing guitar in the 1970s and teaches children bible stories, too. She is also a very active chairlady of Kazi Bora Women Group, which is the most cohesive and strongest group in Kiambu District. She was among the first women in the area to join and register with WEEC in 2002. With the help of WEEC, Teresa managed to pay the $300 fee for her training at Kenyatta University last year. Teresa is a businessperson who practices dairy farming, bee keeping and also grows mushrooms and sells them in Nairobi hotels. She sells her honey after its harvest to honey-processing companies in Nairobi. Since she has seen the fruit of the $1000 loan, which was given to her, she intends to improve her dairy-farming business further by buying two more dairy cows, if a loan of $1200 is given to her.",F,1200,lender,Agriculture,1
Kenya,"Teresia Gakuo is years old. She is married with six children. She is an active Treasurer of Ole Roimen women group. She has a furniture store business at Kiserian shopping centre.
Due to the quality products that she sells, she has received many orders from schools and local residents. Teresia used a loan of USD1100 to buy wood curving machine for the business. She has just completed repaying her loan. Her furniture store is doing well and has entrusted her son to manage the business.
She is a farmer and has specialized in the growing of vegetables and dairy farming mainly to supplement domestic needs. She has applied a loan of USD1200, which she intends to provide proper water supply in the farm by buying water pipes and its fittings. She is willing to repay this loan within a period of 12 months.",F,1200,lender,Agriculture,1
Kenya,"Teresia is 27 years old and is married with 2 children. Her two children are at Ereteti Primary School. She is also a member of the Ereteti Womens Group. Teresia Owns a Mitumba shop at Birika town. She started this business two years ago. Her main customers are people from Birika and Kisaja. Teresias business is doing well and could make a profit of $700 per month.
With the group training she received, she was able to save up, and she is sure she will be able to make her repayments in time. Her husband was impressed with her hard work, and he contributed money. With this, they purchased two dairy cows together. Teresia saw the high demand of milk in Birika, and now she sells milk there. Since her Mitumba business is doing well she now wants to increase her sales if a loan USD300 is given to her.",F,300,lender,Clothing,1
Kenya,"Teresia is 48 years of age. She is a widow and has 4 children. She is a member of Muringa ACK church and the treasurer of the churchs mother union group.
Teresia calling is caring for the needy children in her community by advocating for their rights. As an empowered woman in her community, she has helped other widowed women to know their rights through organizing seminars for them in her local church.
Teresia believes in women's groups as a way of eradicating poverty at village level. She took the initial step of mobilizing the Jehovah Jireh women's group in her Muringa village. She was voted in as chairlady of the group and has run this group with a lot of dedication. Teresia has assisted the WEEC organization by organizing for training seminars for other women.
Teresas main economic activity is farming. She owns 2 dairy cows and sells 5 litres of milk per day to the Gaitheri Dairy Farmers society. She also grows food for her family and sells some of her vegetables at Gakurwe market.
The money she gets from her farm produce assists her to repay her group loan and to make her monthly saving of US $3. Teresa has applied for a loan of US $225 for the purchase of a water tank.
This will assist her to harvest rainwater for use during the dry season. The loan has been approved at group level and she will repay the loan within a period of 10 months.",F,225,lender,Agriculture,1
Kenya,"Teresia is 60 years old. She belongs to Mukumu Helen Women's Group. She lives in Githambo Muranga. She is a widow with grown-up children, but one son is still a dependent. She adopted the boy from a needy family and has taken the boy to school. He is now in standard 2.
Teresia has a lot of tea bushes and also practices mixed farming. She also keeps a dairy cow which produces five liters a day. She feels it will be good to purchase a high-breed cow which produces at least over 10 liters of milk a day. She will do this when she gets the loan of USD 575 through the group. She contributes very well to the revolving fund.",F,575,lender,Agriculture,1
Kenya,"Teresia is a Kenyan aged 51. She is married and has 5 grown up children and lives in Ikundu village of Maragwa district. She is a very active leader of the Mothers Union of her local Anglican church and belongs to the Karaba women's group.
Teresia is a farmer and has a large farm of bananas and other crops. She has 2 dairy cows and sells seven liters of milk a day. Her other income is from the sale of bananas and French beans.
She hopes to buy a water tank when she gets the loan of USD 300 through the group. She contributes very well to the group's revolving fund.",F,300,lender,Agriculture,1
Kenya,"Teresia is married with 6 dependants. She is a very active lady and a treasurer of Ole Roimen Women Group.
Teresia is active in a community improvement project that has come to us for a loan of $375 to purchase two calves. She will work with the other members of this project to raise and nurture the calves for six months, and then sell them for a profit. They will use the proceeds to repay their loan in one lump sum, and devote the balance of what they have earned to their work of community education and improvement.",F,375,lender,Agriculture,1
Kenya,"Teresia Muthoni is aged 49 years. She is a mother of one child. She is an active member of Rainbow Group.
She owns a plot that is located in Kanyiri-ini, where she has planted French beans. She also has livestock consisting of three cows. Her net income per month is USD75, which is generated from milk (USD30) and French beans (USD45). She is hoping to get a loan of USD150 that will enable her to purchase fertilisers and maize jam to improve the farm productivity. She is willing to repay this loan within a period of 12 months.",F,150,lender,Agriculture,1
Kenya,"Teresia Muthoni Njoroge is 35 years old. She is married with three children, two of whom are in primary school. The other one is still at a young age, and so is not ready to join school for the next 4-5 years. Teresia is an active member of St. Monica women group. She is also an active of St. Peter Catholic Church. She grows maize, beans, bananas, and variety of vegetables. She is a farmer who does mainly crop farming but now intends to begin pig rearing. Her farm produce is consumed by her family, and Teresia sells the remainder to retailers and local consumers at a local market. She has applied for a loan of USD75, with which she intends to purchase a pig. The loan committee has approved her loan. She is willing to repay this loan within 10 months. She has applied for a loan of USD75, with which she intends to purchase a pig. The loan committee has approved her loan. She is willing to repay this loan within 10 months.
Teresia started a soap-making business which she relies on as her main source of income. She joined WEEC 3 years ago and accessed a loan of $300 from the group. She completed repaying that loan in February of this year. Teresia supplies her products to schools, hotels and to the local residents of Kiserian. Due to the increased demand for soap products, she intends to buy more chemical ingredients for making her soaps. She has therefore applied for a loan of $300. She is willing to repay this loan within a period of 12 months.",F,300,lender,Retail,1
Kenya,"Teresia Wahithe Kamau is 54 years old. She is married with five children; all of which have completed their secondary school education. She is the treasurer of the Gatangara Venus Womens Group. She is also a member of choir at St. Emmanuel ACK Church. She farms in order to meet her daily expenses. She grows food crops like maize, beans and a variety of vegetables. She sells her farm produces to a local market and sometimes to local residents. She earns an average income of USD30 per month and manages to save about USD15 per month. She has applied for a loan of USD75, with which she intends to purchase high quality maize seeds as the long rains are around the corner. She is willing to repay this loan within a period of 12 months.",F,75,lender,Agriculture,1
Kenya,Teresia Waithira Muiruri is 46 years old. She is married with four children; two are self reliant and the other are in college. She is a religious person and a member of Kanunga Catholic Church where she is the choir member. She joined WEEC in 2002 and since then she has benefited a lot from the organization loans. She has a shop for selling iron sheets and other building materials. She has applied a loan of USD1200 to buy more iron sheets for resale. She is willing to repay this loan within a period of 12 months.,F,1200,lender,Construction,1
Kenya,"Teresia Wambui Mutura is 48 years old. She is married with four children; two are out of school and the other are still in secondary school. She has been the group chairlady since its formation in 2002. She is a member of Kaspat Catholic church and the Catholic Women's Association. Teresia assisted WEEC in forming other groups in the area.
She grows maize, beans and other varieties of cereals for home consumption and for commercial purposes. She practices zero grazing for her animals. Currently, she has two dairy cows, which produce 40 litres of milk daily, which is sold to Kiambu Dairy Farmers Co-operative Society Ltd at USD0.3 per litre. She has applied for a loan of USD1200 to buy another dairy cow and renovate the cow shed. She is willing to repay this loan within a period of 12 months.",F,1000,lender,Agriculture,1
Kenya,"Teresia Wangui Lesit is 30 years old. She is married with two children in primary school. She managed only to complete secondary school. She is an active member of Nasinya Women's Group and is assistant secretary of this group. Teresia is also a secretary of Christian Union in their PCEA Church Kipeto.
She started a retail shop business with stock worth USD450 in 2004 at Kipeto Shopping Centre. Because of the rising population in her area, the customer demand has also risen. She has applied for a loan of USD750 with which to expand her business premises and purchase about five bags of cereals and other household goods. She is willing to repay this loan within a period of 12 months.",F,750,lender,Retail,1
Kenya,"Teresia Wanjiku Kamau is 45 years old, married with six children, with three of them still in secondary school. She is a member, and vice chairlady, of Karura Hope women's group. She coordinates the group's activities. She joined WEEC in 2002. Since then she has received several loans which have enabled her to improve her dairy farming and educate her children. She has five dairy cows, which produce an average 45 litres of milk daily. She sells this milk to Kiambaa Dairy Farmers Co-operative Society Ltd. and to local residents at $0.26 per litre. She has applied for a loan of $600, which she intends to use to buy a dairy cow. She is willing to repay this loan within a period of 12 months.",F,600,lender,Agriculture,1
Kenya,"Teresia Wanjiku Mathu is 48 years old. She is married and has three children aged 9, 7 and 5 years old. She takes care of three orphans aged 12, 15, and 17 years old who were abandoned by their parents. Teresia and her sisters had to scavenge through garbage just to find rotting food to eat. Many are the days they slept hungry. Sadly, all her sisters passed away and she was left alone. Luckily, she has a husband who is very supportive, but he has not been able to find a stable job. She provides for the family by selling milk to the communities within Kibera Slums in Nairobi. From this meager income Teresia has been supporting her dependents, but she wishes to increase her earnings by offering new foodstuff products in high demand in her area in order to generate more income. She will produce these new products herself. She requests a loan of $800: $300 to purchase storage cans, $100 to purchase ingredients, $400 to purchase a big freezer and electrical equipment.",F,800,lender,Food,1
Kenya,"Teresia Wanjiku was born 38 years ago in the town of Kiambu. She is married with four children; her first born is working in a hotel in Nairobi, two are in college, and the fourth is still in primary school. She is a dedicated Christian who worships at the Kanunga Catholic Church and is a member of the Catholic Women Association (CWA). Teresia's obvious leadership skills have made her a role model to many other young women.
In the 18 years since their marriage, she and her husband have run a tailoring shop at a local shopping center. When she is not working there, she is a dairy farmer and also raises pigs.
Earlier this year, a friend told Teresia about the many ways in which the Women's Economic Empowerment Consort and Kiva are working to boost businesses in Kiambu. She became interested in these projects and immediately joined the women's group.
Now she has come to us for a loan of $600, which she will use to boost her tailoring business by buying more clothing and materials that she can use to make dresses. She intends to repay this loan within 12 months.",F,600,lender,Services,1
Kenya,"Teresiah Wairimu Wanjiru is a 29-year old single mother with one child. She dropped out of high school due to lack of funding for school fees. Later, a well wisher paid for her diploma course to train as a hair dresser. After her course, she found employment, but her meager income couldnt provide the basic needs for her and her child. She decided to approach Ebony Foundation where she undertook a 3-week business-training course. She received a start-up loan and opened her own saloon. Her good bookkeeping and her ability to save enabled her to start a small food-vending business to earn extra income. She prepares the food at home and then transports it to the city where she sells mostly to casual laborers working at construction sites. Teresiah is determined to open a fast-food caf in Mombasa, because there is a demand for high quality food and fast service. She is requesting a loan of US$1200. Her budget is as follows:US$200 to rent premises within the city and pay for the license, US$800 buy furniture, utensils and cooking ingredients, and US$200 to hire two assistants. Teresiah is a hardworking lady with the desire to excel. She will be able to repay the loan on time.",F,1200,lender,Food,1
Kenya,"Teresiah Wanjiku is 42 years old. She is a single mother with four children. She lives in Gaciriro village with her mother. She is a member of Ngutu Catholic Church. She is a member of S. Victoria Ngutu Women Group. She practises dairy farming, where she gets milk. Dairy farming is her main source of income. She has a small farm, where she grows vegetables such as kale, spinach, and cabbage. She sells the vegetables at Gaciriro shopping centre. The group has assisted her in educating her children through the credits she gets. Currently her plan is to buy one cow that will assist her to increase the amount of milk production, which she sells to Gatango Dairy Co-operative Society. She has applied for a loan of $600. The loans committee has approved her loan. She will repay the loan within a period of 12 months.",F,600,lender,Agriculture,1
Kenya,"TERESIAH WANJIRU GITHIGA is 54 years of age with three dependants including one of her daughters children. Teresiah is a widow and self employed for the last ten years.
Teresiah plants maize on her 5 acre farm and sells to earn a living and to provide for her family. The type of Maize planted within her rural area takes an average of 10 to 12 months to mature. A bag of 90 kilogram of the maize sales at US $ 20. The production cost is almost 60% leaving Teresiah with about US $ 8 per bag. She wants to improve this income by planting Potatoes which take only three months to mature and which would earn her 100% more than maize. Many of the farmers around her plant both maize and potatoes and they are able to generate reasonable income through out the year.
Teresiah is requesting a loan of US $ 750 to start the potatoes farming business. Her budget is: US $ 100 to plough and prepare the land, US $ 50 to purchase seedlings, US $ 70 to purchase a sprayer, US $ 100 to purchase a manual water pump, US $ 35 to fence the land to keep away animals, US $ 200 to purchase assorted inputs including fertilizer and natural pesticides, US $ 100 to meet labor costs and US $ 95 to meet packaging and transport costs.
This investment will provide the family with an income of about US $ 1,400 per quarter and will enable Teresiah provide for her family, repair the family house and cultivate more land. She plans to buy a dairy cow in future. She is a focused woman who is capable of repaying the loan.",F,750,lender,Agriculture,1
Kenya,"Teresiah was born 44 years ago, got married and she is blessed with 4 children. 3 of them are still in secondary school. She is the vice chair person of Karura Hope group and most of the times she coordinates the group activities. She joined WEEC 3 years ago, and she is a beneficial of loans and trainings. She received her first loan and was able to start her dairy farming which has helped her to raise her children school fees up to now through the income she has been getting. She has been able to rear 5 dairy cows which changed her living standards. She sells 50 litres of milk daily to a farmers cooperative Sacco which pay them on monthly basis. She sells 1 litre, at USD0.3 making it possible for her to get some school fees for her children. Her cows have been rained on for sometimes and she wants to construct a cemented shed and cover it with new iron sheets. Also she wants to buy feeds in large quantity to prevent their productivity to be affected during the dry season.",F,300,lender,Agriculture,1
Kenya,"Terry is mother of 3 children who are grownup. She has been a source of information to the group members and a counselor. She joined the group after realizing the need to share ideas and trainings from the group. She operates a second-hand clothing business at Gikomba market in the country. She has raised her children through the clothe business and she has no regrets in it. Her business was affected by fire tragedy which burnt down everything and left no stock. She was given donations from well wishers and started again from the scratch. She has new customers and she is set to restock it back to the way it was before. She is planning to buy sweaters, trousers, shirts, blouses and skirts in small quantity with the small loan. She believes in 3 months time God willing, she will
have accumulated enough income to start buying in bales.",F,75,lender,Clothing,1
Kenya,"The Chanuka support group was formed on 1st May 2005 with six founder members: Janet O. Achola, Samuel O. Nyagilo, Selline J. Opiyo, Hyrene A. Ochido, Lucas A. Odera, and Clarice O. Oluoch. The founding members came together to address issues that were affecting their lives.
They came together with the aim of assisting each other and also contributing money to pay for the group members' transportation to attend clinical services at Chulaimbo Rural Health Centre.
With time, more members joined the group. The group currently has 45 registered members although only 40 are active. The members have also been trained by K-MET in Nutrition Support, Home Based Care services, and IGA (income generating activity) Management. The group is run by the Executive which is comprised of the Chairperson, Secretary, Assistant Secretary, Organizing Secretary, and the Treasurer. Those who are willing to join the group are required to meet certain conditions including paying a registration fee. Members are involved in well-established income generating activities such as poultry keeping, dairy farming, cereal businesses, vegetable sales, and community pharmacies. Since HIV/Aids is a concern in this area and nutrition supplements have played a role in HIV/Aids management, the group has applied for US $4000 from K-MET to enable them to buy Nutriflour in bulk and sell it to the community.
Disclaimer: Due to recent events in Kenya, the security situation in many communities remains unsettled, affecting many local businesses. Lenders to this entrepreneur should be aware that this loan may represent a higher default risk, and should be willing to accept this additional risk in making their loan.",F,4000,partner,Food,0
Kenya,"The first loan of $ 450 Danson received through Kiva enabled him to make a quantifiable impact on his business. Danson invested the money in the farmers he partners with in order to increase production. The farmers used it to pay for medicine for sick cows, as well as increase their feed. Operating in a facility with a capacity to process 1200 liters, Danson had previously only been able to collect 500 liters of milk per day. With the help of his loan, his farmers have been able to produce about 600 liters in low season and 1000 liters in peak season. Not only does this mean that Danson can sell more milk to restaurants in Malaba, but the higher production also increases his profit on each liter. Because Danson has to hire a truck every day to transport the milk, he pays a fixed cost of 2000 Kenya Schillings per day (1 USD is about 65 Ksh). The price of 2000 Ksh. is the same no matter how many liters he transports, so he pays 2000 to carry 1 liter, and 2000 to carry 1000 liters. Now, he can end each day with 800 Ksh profit. Due to growth in his client base, the demand for his milk has grown and Danson finds himself unable to fully supply the necessary milk with the capital he has at hand.
Danson has now applied for an additional $400 so that he can expand his milk stocks to better serve his clients. PEMCI through its partners is happy to be associated with the progress in Danson's business. Danson is very happy with the improvements in his business, and he is channeling the proceeds into supporting his family of four children. His eldest child is in his last year of secondary school, and the increased profits have helped to pay school fees. Danson's vision for the future of his business includes possibly producing yogurt, and also buying his own truck so that he doesnt have to pay 2000 Ksh a day for transport.",M,400,lender,Agriculture,1
Kenya,The group members will use their loans to expand their businesses by increasing and diversifying their merchandise. One member will improve the premises by adding an ablution block (indoor toilets) to make the business area more friendly to customers.,F,525,partner,Retail,0
Kenya,"This is Everlyne M. Kimongoi's second loan with PEMCI. She started her business with 2000/=, after selling her maize and now her stock is worth 6000/=. She is married with a husband and 10 children, 4 have finished O level, 2 are in colleges and the remaining are still in school. Her husband is a retired verdinary officer.
The first loan helped her to increase her stock but still she wants to increase it even more. She wants to stock more maize from the Chwele market, where it is sold at a cheaper price compared to where she sells at the Netima village.
The challenges she faces are during hunger times she needs to buy many sacks of maize so that, you can get a bigger interest. Because you can buy a sack at a price 1200/= and sell it 1300/= an interest of 100/= only. Everlyne says if given a second loan with PEMCI she wants to increase the number of sacks so that she can gain a bigger profit and be able to repay the loan and educate her children. Also says she bring services in Netima village by bringing surplus maize for her customers.",F,175,lender,Food,1
Kenya,"This is Everlyne Nangulwas second loan application with PEMCI, She started her clothing business in 2003 with start up capital of KES 1,000/= after selling her millet grain harvest. Her stock is estimated at KES 20,000/= at the moment.
She is married with five children with the eldest seating for her class eight final exams this December. Another child is in class six, two are in five and the last born is in class two. Her husband is a peasant farmer. Evelyn says that the first loan helped her increase her stock of clothes, gave her floats for her hands and the ability to move her larger stock from one market to another with ease.
The challenges she meets is competition but she relies on her loyal customers for her sales.
With a second loan from PEMCI, she plans to stock her business further in preparation for the December festive season.",F,150,lender,Clothing,1
Kenya,"This is Finikes second loan request with PEMCI after having completed her first loan successfully. She sells dry fish at the Chamasiri market after buying them from Malaba and /or Tororo (Uganda) when the season is low.
Her first loan enabled her to expand her business and purchase a dairy cow. Finike is married and is a mother of two who are both in school. Her husband is a farmer. Through her business she has been able to sustain her family, develop her farm and also brought services to the community.
She says if given another loan by PEMCI, she plans to increase the stock of her fish. She plans to open a big shop where she can sell both dry fish and cereals.",F,325,lender,Food,1
Kenya,"This is Mohameds second loan with PEMCI, having completed his first loan successfully. He repairs bicycles at Mayanja trading centre. Bicycles are the major mode of transport in the area. Apart from repairing, he also sells bicycle spare parts, though his stock is quite small. The proceeds from his business enabled him to increase his stock and repay his loan, as well as provide for and sustain his family. He gets the spare parts from Bungoma town. He operates from a shop at Mayanja trading centre. Mohamed is a father of four children - 3 boys and a girl. Three are in primary school and the last born has yet to join school. His wife operates a home kiosk. He is a standard eight drop out due to lack of school fees. Given a loan by PEMCI, he plans to increase the stock of spare parts, which he has been unable to do because of a lack of capital. He dreams of expanding his business to a point where he can even include motorbike spare parts.",M,225,lender,Services,1
Kenya,"This is Mohammeds second loan with PEMCI, having completed his first loan successfully. He sells jaggery (unrefined sugar) at Myanga trading centre, where he has a jaggery store. He gets the jaggery directly from cane millers and sometimes at Webuye town. He is a family man, married, and a father of 5, all in primary school. His wife is a housewife, but sometimes she gives a hand in running the business. With the first loan, he was able to increase the stock of jaggery. His wife then became involved fully in the business, and she operates the store while he trades in other trading centers. With the profits, he was able to pay his loan on time, and develop his farm by purchasing a piece of land. Apart from selling jaggery, he also makes bricks which he supplies to building sites on order. Through his business, Mohammed has been able to sustain his family. He has been an inspiration to the youth and community as a whole. Given another loan by PEMCI, he plans to increase his stock further, and if possible purchase his own milling machine. This will lower the costs of operating, as he has to hire a milling machine or buy the already milled jaggery, which results in lower profits compared to if he had his own machine.",M,325,lender,Wholesale,1
Kenya,"This is Ms. Ndungus second loan with Kiva. She has fully repaid her first loan of US$450 with Kiva, and is requesting an enhanced amount of US$750 to purchase some fashionable clothing items to supply the seasonal needs of her Market. She believes that with a larger stock she will be able to cater better to the needs of her growing client base and capture a larger market segment. Ms. Ndungu is a single mother of 4 children. She deals in new clothes, moving from one market to another throughout the week. She has been doing this kind of business for over 20 years. Ms. Ndungu is a very enterprising lady and well experienced in this kind of business. The business has been a source of support for the education of her children and livelihood of her immediate and extended family. Her goal is to grow her business to wholesale level, which would give her better stability and improve her income generation capacity. Women like Ms. Ndungu are a big inspiration to others in Africa and deserve our support. By empowering them, we are empowering the communities of Africa in view of the key role that they play. Well worth our support.",F,750,partner,Clothing,0
Kenya,"This is Pius second loan with PEMCI, having completed the first one successfully. He sells maize at Myanga trading centre. He gets his stock of maize from Kitale town. His current stock can be estimated at 10,000 shillings in maize. He makes two trips per week to Kitale, where he buys a sack at 1000 shillings. After selling, he makes a profit of between 200 and 250 shillings. The first loan enabled him to expand his stock, and he was able to develop his farm with the profits. He is married and a father of three. His wife is also a cereals seller. Given the loan, he plans to increase his stock of maize during this harvesting season.",M,250,lender,Food,1
Kenya,"This is Raymond Otieno, a new member with PEMCI. He started his business in the year 2007. Raymond is not yet married and left school after form four. He says that apart from running a shop he also has mobile charging and adobe.
Raymond says that if given a loan with PEMCI he can have enough stock of different products for each variety, because sometimes he loses customers frequently due to small stocks of varieties.
He says the challenge he meets is lack of enough stock and if given a loan he will meet his customers tastes and preferences.",M,300,lender,Retail,1
Kenya,"This is Rhodas second loan with PEMCI, but her first loan with Kiva. She completed her first loan successfully. Rhoda is a widow and a mother of four children, three boys and one girl who are all in primary school. Her husband died of HIV/Aids related illnesses. Rhoda is living positively and trying to support her children on her own. As we were not able to take Rhoda's picture at her place of work due to distance, we took one of her at the weekly group meetings. Rhoda is seated front row far left.
Rhoda is a fishmonger specializing in selling smoked/dried fish. She gets her supplies of fish from Lukhakha town in Uganda, and sells at her local trading centre known as Duka Moja. She buys in bulk and sells in retail. She restocks twice a week. Her existing stock right now can be estimated as 10,000 shillings ($150). She is able to make a daily profit of between Ksh300 and 500 shillings each day. Through her business, she has been able to provide for her children and educate them. She has also been able to develop a small farm where they grow their food.
With the first loan from PEMCI Rhoda was able to expand her business by increasing the stock of fish. With the proposed loan of $325, Rhoda plans to increase her stock further and meet the demands of her customers which are increasing each day. The business is entering its peak season when most farmers have harvested and sold their produce. The loan will enable her to position herself to benefit from the season which continues up to December. Rhoda dreams of opening a fish store at Duka Moja trading centre and selling fish both wholesale and retail. We believe that with continued support from Kiva and PEMCI, Rhoda will be able to support her children adequately and realize her dream of owning a fish shop one day.",F,325,lender,Food,1
Kenya,"This is Richard Pambas second loan with PEMCI. He completed the first loan successfully. He started his business in 1998 with KES 10,000 ($160 USD) as starting capital. He received this money from his farming stock, which is currently worth KES 30,000 ($480 USD).
The first loan enabled Richard to increase the number of cattle he owns at one time to three, instead of one animal. This has helped his business because he is able to sell his animals in different markets. He usually buys his stock of animals from the Angurai, Malakisi and Kocholia markets.
Richard says if given a second loan by PEMCI he plans to increase the number of animals from three to five. He says when he has a bigger number he can sell two or three animals per market. This will enable him to meet his family's needs.
Richard is a class seven drop out from school. He is married with seven children. The first five of his children are married and two are in primary school. His wife is a farmer.",M,325,lender,Agriculture,1
Kenya,"Thomas Olpher Okoyo is a 36-year-old married man with three children. All three children are of school-going age and in school. Thomas operates a bicycle taxi whereas his wife is a nursery school teacher. Despite their children being really good students, Thomas has not been in a position to send them to a better school. He has tried to obtain scholarships for them but in vain. Thomas has now decided to expand his business and is sure that with the daily inflows from this expansion, he can save enough to send the children to a better school. His problem though is insufficient funds so he is requesting a loan of US$ 300. He is intending to buy three additional bicycles worth US$ 85 each. He plans to use the remaining US$ 45 to make some minor adjustments on the bicycles. He will then employ three people with those bicycles and this expansion will help him achieve his dreams.",M,300,lender,Transportation,1
Kenya,"Thomas Otieno is 36 years old and is married with six children. The first-born is in grade eight, the second is in grade seven, the third is in grade six, the fourth is in grade four, the fifth is in grade two and the youngest is in kindergarten. Thomass wife Rose sells green vegetables in the local market while he is a freelance painter. Sometimes he has no work and this affects the children because they lack school fees for their education and sometimes have to stay at home. He used his savings to start a bicycle repair business, which he has been running for one year now and it is doing well. He always has to buy bicycle spare parts when he does his repairs, which dips into his profit. He would like to expand his business but lacks the capital. He requests a US $1,000 loan: US $800 to buy bicycle spare parts and US $200 for expansion. This will help Thomas make more money and cater to his childrens school fees. He will be able to repay the loan.",M,1000,lender,Services,1
Kenya,"Timothy is a 24-year-old single man who lives in Mlolongo, a growing town just outside of Nairobi that is situated on the busy Nairobi-Mombasa highway. Besides supporting himself, Timothy also supports his 18-year-old brother.
Timothy started his timber business in November 2006, after his older brother gave him a small loan to buy timber. Previously, Timothy had been selling roasted maize (a popular snack in Kenya) on the street. He began selling maize directly after finishing secondary school and receiving his diploma. His older brother also helped him get started in this first micro-business.
Timothy started his timber business because, while he was selling maize, he noticed that people were bringing timber to Mlolongo from the forests outside Nairobi. With the small savings he had saved from his maize business, Timothy decided to go to the forests to cut wood and bring it to Mlolongo. Since he was successful at the first trial, he decided to open up a timber shop. His shop is very successful, as there are few timber shops in Mlolongo. However, Timothy still has to make frequent trips to the forests near Eldoret (about a five-hour drive from Nairobi) to split wood and bring it back to his shop. Timothy is therefore requesting a Kiva loan of US $1,175 in order to increase his inventory of timber, which would to allow him to remain at his shop without having to make too many frequent trips up-country to gather wood. He is expecting to repay the loan within nine months.",M,1175,partner,Construction,0
Kenya,"Timothy Njau Mathu is 45 years old, married with six children. Four of them are still in school while the rest are seeking to be self-employed. He is a horticultural (fruits, vegetable and flower farming) farmer and a businessman. He sells his farm produce in the open air market and to middlemen. During the dry spell he buys from other areas and sells to the same market. He has foreseen a greater opportunity in future and as a matter of preparation he is requesting for a loan capital of US$ 900 to help him expand his activities, that is both farming and trading. The money will be utilized equally for both activities.",M,900,lender,Food,1
Kenya,"Tirente Mokira Oloyionte, 53, is married with seven children. She never went to school but she has made sure that all of her children have gone to school. Three of her daughters and two of her sons are married, and the other two sons are still in school. She is an active member of Naeku women's group and an active member of the Kisuga Baptist church. Tirente started her business five years ago. she has used the profits generated from the business to educate her children and to buy a piece of land. She intends to export her bead products to areas outside Kenya. She has applied for a loan of $450 from WEEC/KIVA loans in order to enable her to buy beads in bulk so that she can make more bead products. She is willing to repay the loan within 12 months.",F,450,lender,Arts,1
Kenya,"Titus is 29 years old, a father of two, one boy and one girl. His wife is a house wife. Titus started his business in 1999. He gets his stock from Myanga town and hawks it at Malaba town. He has a shed were he operates, selling onions and tomatoes.
In his business he encounters problems like transportation and a small stock, which makes it impossible to meet customers' demands. His existing stock right now can be estimated as 3000 shilings. His daily income per trip is 500 to 1000 on a good market day.
Through his business, Titus has been able to provide for his family's needs. Given a loan with PEMCI, he plans to expand his business with larger stock so that he can meet the demands of his customer. He hopes to grow his business.",M,200,lender,Food,1
Kenya,"Titus is married with two children who have not yet joined school. Though he has finished his secondary school, he has not undertaken any job training. He started his business in 2000 in order to uplift his living standard. He operates a small kiosk at the center of a main market, and he also frequents other markets to increase his customer base. With a loan from PEMCI, he will increase his food stock and be able to buy in bulk (wholesale) and earn more profit on his retail sales. Through his business he has been able to support his family's needs and bring fresh foodstuffs nearer to the community center from local farms.",M,75,partner,Food,0
Kenya,"Tiwany is married, mother of 2 children. She is the secretary of Ewanganya women group. She is very responsible and determined to eradicate poverty among women in her community. She is a pastors wife making her very active and set a good example in her community. Due to her organizational skills, she is still a leader in a youth movement which empowers youth to create job. Her main source of income is dairy project which she started as a steers project. After selling the first stock she had, she bought a dairy cow. In her area everyone is involved in steers project leaving the need of milk outside. She has been selling milk to the local residents. She has a unique business and she wants to expand the shelter and buy 3 dairy. She has proved her responsibility through social work she has involved herself in.",F,450,lender,Agriculture,1
Kenya,"Tom Odhiambo is a 38 year old entrepreneur and is married with three kids. The first born is in grade six, the second born is in grade four while the last born is in grade one. He is the sole bread winner and the family depends on him to provide everything from basic needs to the paying of school fees for the children. He has a tailoring shop located in the Nakuru City suburbs where he makes made-to-measure clothes for both ladies and gentlemen. He also mends clothes. Despite working hard, life is not easy for Tom being the all-around provider. He is unable to pay school fees and he always has outstanding balances for school fees. Hence his children are always sent back home for school fees. He lacks capital to expand his base though his business has the potential to grow bigger. This is because most of his income goes towards catering for the family needs and pending school fees arrears. He is requesting a loan of US $1,800 to purchase fabrics at US $900, to purchase a sewing machine at US $700, and US $200 for expansion and decoration of the premises. This business expansion will ensure a steady flow of capital to cater for his family and pay schools fees.
Tom is responsible and will be able to repay the loan on time.",M,1800,lender,Services,1
Kenya,"Tom Otieno is a 24 year old young entrepreneur with no dependents. He trained as a mason two years ago in the construction of houses and concrete tanks. He did freelance work building water tanks and making home renovations until six months ago. He has an entrepreneurs mind and started his business of making concrete house finishing products.
He would like to expand his business but lacks the capital. He requests a US $1,200 loan.
His budget is: US $500 to purchase a concrete mixer, US $600 to purchase cement and sand and US $100 to improve his business premises. This will create two more jobs. He is a promising young entrepreneur and will repay the loan.",M,1200,lender,Construction,1
Kenya,Tony is a 20 year old orphan. He is the second-born in a family of 3. After the death of his parents he took up apprenticeship at a barber shop. He is now confident of his skills though he hopes to further his knowledge by enrolling in a training college. He hopes that this loan will help him to achieve this.,M,200,lender,Services,1
Kenya,Tony is a 38 year old married father of 5 who seeks to expand his business. He is passionate about sales and will use this loan to stock up his shop and use the income generated to support his family.,M,200,lender,Retail,1
Kenya,"Topesiah Konchellah is 41 years old. She is married with 4 children. She is an active member of the Naserian Womens Group and a member of the Kisaju Baptist church. She started her business in 2005 with a capital of USD75. The profit she earns enables her to pay the school fees for her children. Due to the high demand of her customers, she decided to apply for a loan of USD 450 to add more stock to meet demand. She intends to pay the loan in 12 months.",F,1200,lender,Retail,1
Kenya,"Truphena Anyango is a 29-year-old married mother of one. She lives with her husband Michael and daughter Marion in Mikindani, Mombasa, where she runs a pharmacy and also sells cosmetics. She has been in that business for the last three years. She also offers counseling services to her clients in the area.
This will be Truphena's first loan from KADET, and her first from any source to finance her business. With the money, she plans to purchase more cosmetics and sanitary products in order to meet the demands of her customers. Truphena says the satisfaction her customers get from her services motivates her to grow her business more.
About KADET:
The Kenya Agency for the Development of Enterprise and Technology (KADET) is committed to economically empowering its clients by providing financial services to rural communities in order to relieve suffering and improve living conditions within those communities.",F,650,partner,Retail,0
Kenya,"Tryphosa is a member of a group with PEMCI. She sells cereals, rice, beans, maize and ground nuts which she buys from the Malaba border on the Uganda side and Kitale when the supply becomes scarce at Malaba. She sells from the Chamasiri open air market. With an approximated stock of about KES 4,000/=, Tryphosa sells in both retail and wholesale.
With her first loan from PEMCI, she was able to expand her business and purchase a dairy cow.
She is married and a mother of three girls and one boy. Her husband is a farmer.
With another loan form PEMCI, she plans to increase her cereal stock for sale.",F,175,lender,Food,1
Kenya,"Tumpeiya is married with two children, both are in primary school. Her husband is a pastor at Kisaju P.C.E.A Kisaju. She is an active member of the Amani Womens Group. She has a steers business which she started two years ago after joining te Amani Group. She has since then benefitted from trainings offered by WEEC and she has no regrets. Her business has been the only source of income in her family and she has made an impact that is felt by her family. She is about to sell the 4 steers she has at the moment. She wishes to receive a loan to buy more steers. She has a plan of venturing into the beadwork business after her steers business does well. She plans to leave the steers business to her husband who doesnt work. She needs a loan of USD 450. She is willing to pay her loan within a span of one year.",F,450,lender,Agriculture,1
Kenya,"Tureto is a member of Inkiramat women's group which is located in Empuyiankat, Kajiado District. She is 53 years old and a mother of four. She is an inquisitive person, eager to learn and try out new ideas as she gets them. Turetos main challenge is raising school fees for her three children who are in secondary school. She sells steers and she has been in this business for the last twenty years. She has been able to build seven semi-permanent rental rooms in Olturoto town. She gets USD 50 per month from the 7 rooms and this helps her to pay school fees and other household needs. Tureto would like to add 4 more rooms because the trading centre is growing and so is the price of rental rooms. The additional rooms will almost double her income and this will mark the beginning of the end of her financial problems. She successfully repaid her Kiva loan of USD 300. Tureto has applied for a loan of USD500 to add to her savings so that she can add 4 more rental rooms. The rental income will be used to raise school fees for her children. This will form a good capital base and will put the family in a better financial position.",F,500,lender,Housing,1
Kenya,"Tutra is married with 6 children, 4 of whom are in high school and 2 are in primary school. She is the treasurer of Inkishumu Women\'s Group. She is also in a movement which empowers girls and protects them from female genital mutilation. In the movement, they enlighten the entire community on the benefits of education for female children. She has a steer business which she started with help from her husband. The business has been the only source of income in her family. She was boosted by small loans from her group to buy another steer which made a difference in educating her children. After making her first sales, she was able to buy 4 young steers which will be sold 3 months from now. She is very determined to add 3 additional steer and feed them for six months before selling them. She is very determined to improve her living standards. She is willing to make her repayments on monthly basis.",F,450,lender,Agriculture,1
Kenya,"Uni Akinyi is a 27-year-old entrepreneur who lives in Kisumu, Kenya. She is a widow with one child. Her business was doing quite well until about a year ago when her husband died and she became the sole income earner in her household. The rent and upkeep of her shop became too costly, so Uni decided to scale down and move to this tiny kiosk pictured here. Her hard work, determination, and perseverance have led Uni to her success. She manages her stall during the day and sells second-hand clothes to her well-established clientele in the evenings. Her profits pay the household expenses as well as school fees for her child. Uni plans to use the funds from her loan of US $600 to move to a bigger space She will invest part of the loan in buying cereals (grains) to supplement her current business, increase her stock of groceries, and save the remaining amount for emergencies.",F,600,partner,Food,0
Kenya,"Valentine is a father of two. He operates a shop at the village market. He completed his primary education, but his parents were unable to provide school fees for his secondary education. He has not undertaken any training pertaining to this business, but learned through doing. He started his business in 2005 when he realized there was an unmet demand for this service in the community. Through his business he has been able to build himself a semi-permanent house, support his family, and his parents basic needs. With a loan from PEMCI, he wishes to increase his shops stock and stock more items which he has not been able to due to lack of finances.",M,100,partner,Retail,0
Kenya,"Veronica is 47 years old. She is married and has 9 children . All her children are grown up and four of them are in college. Her biological children are 5 and 4 are adopted after their parents passed. She is a religious person and very active her group. Her main income was from rental rooms until when she joined the group and secured her first loan. She was able to start a boutique where up to now sells new clothes and school uniforms, making her substitute income she used to get. However she raised the fees for her children although very difficult and challenging at times due to provision of their daily basic needs. Her husband is retired but very supportive.Veronicah has been the bread winner for the entire family from the business. She is evergarteful to the WEEC and group members for moral and financial support she got when she joined the group. She wants to get a second loan to add more stock of clothes due to the holiday season which is around the corner and. She believes all her children will finish their education and she will concentrate on her business. She is willing to repay the loan with installments.",F,300,lender,Services,1
Kenya,"Veronica is 48 years old. She is married and has 5 children. She is an active member of St. Emmanuel ACK Church in Weithaga. Veronicas 2 children are undertaking higher levels of education that require higher fee levels. To meet the high fee demands, she joined Weithaga Star Womens group. She is able to access credits to develop her farm and to pay her childrens school fees. Her current loan application is for $150. This will be used to develop her dairy farming project. Her target is to increase the milk yield from her dairy cows. With the good milk prices prevailing in the market, she will be able to generate more income. The loans committee has approved the application. She will repay the loan within a period of 10 months",F,150,lender,Agriculture,1
Kenya,Veronica is married with 5 children. All of her children are not at school and two are married. She has been securing loans from her lending group and she has proven to be very capable when it comes to repayment. She will spend the loan on buying animal feed which made a dramatic change. Her dairy animals responded positively to the feed and she was able to get higher income due to their good performance. Before introducing new feeds they increased the milk production. Water to feed the animals is not much available at her place so she is forced to employ somebody to deliver the water with wheelbarrow and also to get the feeds from the shop. She wants most of all to purchase a donkey and a cart to be carrying water and feeds and she will be able to reduce the operating costs leading to higher income. She is willing to repay the loan in installments and believes she will be able to repay all of it.,F,300,lender,Agriculture,1
Kenya,"Veronica is married with five grown up children. She is a lady full of knowledge and she has raised her children from her hard work in her farm. She is a farmer by profession, improving her skills from the group and government trainings. She wants to invest in the stock market and work with her broker on the stock market developments. She is willing to buy shares and repay her loan on installments.",F,225,lender,Agriculture,1
Kenya,"Veronica Njoki is 32 years old, is a farmer and a mother of five. She is married but her husband is unemployed. Despite having five children of her own she has another seven who depend on her, therefore, Njoki has to care for twelve children. Njoki is a member of Ebony Foundation and has received several loans, but the issue of her husband not working really stressed her and she had to request business training sessions from Ebony Foundation. Ebony sent their volunteers to her place, and they gave training to both the wife and husband. The training was successful because it gave the husband, who had lost hope for life, increased morale and an interest to start a business. They have both decided to share the expenses of the children and are requesting for US$950, of which US$500 will be used to start a grocery shop for the husband to run and US$450 for her farming business which she will use to buy seeds and fertilizer.This will be a new beginning for Njoki and her family.",F,950,lender,Food,1
Kenya,"Veronica Njoki Kariuki is 30 years old. She is married with no children. She is an active member of Comfort Women's Group. She is also chairperson of the youth group in the church. She intends to set up a new business in Ongata Rongai for selling clothing and footwear. She has applied for a loan of $450, which she intends to use to buy shoes, trousers and tops. She is willing to repay within a period of 12 months.",F,450,lender,Clothing,1
Kenya,"VERONICA WAMBUI MWANGI is 56 years of age and has five (5) dependants. Only three of her children go to school. Veronica is a single parent and has practiced maize farming for the last fifteen five years.
The income from maize farming is very low and Veronica wants to start dairy farming which is more profitable.
In year 2005 Veronica began attending Eb-Fs dairy farming skills improvement workshops and she has learnt a lot about dairy farming. She has a five acre piece of land which can support 8 dairy cows but she would like to start with two cows then build up to eight dairy cows.
She is requesting a loan of US $ 1,700 to purchase the two dairy cows. Her budget is:
US $ 1,600 to purchase two cows and US $ 100 to purchase cow feeds.
She has identified the two dairy cows and expects to receive an average of 30 litter of milk from the cows. This will earn her family an average of US $ 54 per week. This income will enable her keep her children in school, provide for her family and save enough to purchase more dairy cows. Veronica is focused and will be able to pay the loan promptly.",F,1700,lender,Agriculture,1
Kenya,"Veronica Wamuyu is single, aged 22. She lives alone in Nakuru town. The rest of her family stays in their rural home outside the town. Her parents are old and rely solely on her to provide for their daily needs. In addition, her younger sister, who is in senior school grade one, depends on Veronica to pay her school fees. Veronica owns a hair salon which she has been running for the last two years. However, income from the salon is barely enough to sustain her family. Her sister is frequently sent home for failing to pay her fees. Veronica's salon offers simple hairstyles that do not need complex equipment, and she has attracted a good number of clients who regularly come to her salon for hair-dressing services. Veronica wants to increase her personal income so that she can pay her sister's school fees. To attain this goal, she plans to open a larger salon that will have modern hair-styling equipment and beauty products. She also needs to employ two qualified hair-stylists. Veronica also intends to sell ladies clothing as a side business. She is very ambitious and will certainly be successful. Veronica is requesting a loan of US$1200: US$200 to rent a premise, US$400 to buy modern salon equipment, US$200 to buy hair-styling products, and US$400 to buy ladies clothing.",F,1200,lender,Services,1
Kenya,"Veronica Wangare is 53 years old. She is married with 6 children. She is a member of ACK Church Gitumbi and also a member of Karaba Umoja women's group. As a result of inadequate supply of water in her residential location, she has concluded that she needs to buy a water tank for storage of water. During the dry season, she fetches water from the bore holes; most times, this water is dirty. She has applied for a loan of USD 300 to enable her to buy water tank to harvest rain water. She is willing to repay this loan in 12 months.",F,300,lender,Agriculture,1
Kenya,"Veronica was born sixty years ago and is widowed. She is an active member of the Maragwa Bora women's group. She has grown up children but has grandchildren she is looking after. She is a farmer and sells dairy milk to meet her day to day needs. She earns USD75 per month from the milk. In addition to the milk, she also sells bananas. She has been planning to buy another cow, but was short of the capital needed. Thanks to WEEC, she now has access to KIVA. She needs USD300 to buy a good cow. She is willing repay this loan within the loan term.",F,300,lender,Agriculture,1
Kenya,"Veronicah is 36 years old, married, with four children. All her children are in primary school. She is a member of Canaan women\'s group situated in Kiarutara. She is a commercial farmer, concentrating most in tomatoes, cabbages and kales. This earns her an average of USD$12 per month. She also plants maize and beans for domestic use. When her vegetables are off season, she works as a casual laborer and she is able to earn USD$29 extra. Veronica is very hardworking and she makes sure she has food on the table everyday through her hard work. As her new year resolution, she would like to plant a lot of vegetables seedlings and cultivate them leading to increase in production. She has requested for a loan amounting to USD$150 which she intends to use in buying fertilizers and more seeds.",F,150,lender,Agriculture,1
Kenya,"Victor Onyango is 35 years old and a father of four. His wife stays at home and takes care of the two youngest children. The other two children attend junior school and are both in grade eight. Next year they graduate to senior school. Victor owns a retail shop selling consumer goods like bread, milk and soft drinks. The shop is located in the busy center of Nakuru and is frequented by several people each day. The business is going well and makes a good profit. Yet, the leftover income after paying wages to the shop assistants is not sufficient to cater for Victor's familys needs. Because two of his children are soon joining senior school, he needs to set aside enough funds to pay their fees. He wants to raise these funds by generating more earnings with his shop. He plans to expand the scope of his business and offer a greater quantity of goods to his customers. Victor would also need to employ more staff in the shop. Victor is a creative businessman and has the capability to profitably manage the retail shop. He is requesting a loan of US$1200 to help him fully utilize the potential that his business offers. He intends to spend US$800 to purchase more stock, US$200 to add more shelves in the store, and US$200 to hire an assistant.",M,800,lender,Retail,1
Kenya,"Vincent is a 25 year old hardworking young man who aspires to make the best of every situation. His background of extreme poverty led to his dropping out at primary school level. However, this has not stopped him from taking lessons in bookkeeping and starting a second-hand clothes shop with his friends. He wants to take a risk and venture out on his own with this loan.",M,175,lender,Clothing,1
Kenya,"VINCENT OKOCHI OPIYO is a 33-yr-old businessman, married with two children. Both of his children are too young for school. He is the sole breadwinner for his family. He was not able to attend high school due to lack of school fees. Vincent works as a bicycle repairman at the Maweni estate, which is about 20 minutes drive from Kongowea town on the northern side of Mombasa city. For the last 6 years he has been serving the people with his expertise and perfection of a skilled repairman, and these have earned him a lot of customers. As a result, he was able to rent his own single room away from his previous residence where he was sharing with his parents, and has as well been able to cater to his family's daily needs.
But not everything has been rosy with the move. It has meant his daily budget has changed since he now has to pay his own bills. In order to achieve this, Vincent has been forced to use most of his revenue, leaving very little capital for his business. He is requesting a loan of US $1100. His budget is as follows:
US $600 to purchase bicycle spares parts to sell at his shop.
US $100 to expand his premises.
US $400 to purchase five bicycles.
He is a motivated entrepreneur, who has proved he has what it takes to manage a business. His dream is to ensure that his childrens future is secured. He has the ability to repay the loan.",M,1100,lender,Services,1
Kenya,"Violet is 36 years old married and has 4 children. Violet is very religious and she leads a women choir in her place of worship. Two of her children are in secondary school and 2 in primary school. To educate her children through secondary school, she started a small dairy farming project with only one cow. She was advised by her friend to join Kirangari Wendani women group in year 2001. After attending livestock management training, she applied for a loan of USD 300 and bought another dairy cow. Violet has attended different trainings on the effective ways dairy cattle rearing. Currently she has 2 dairy cows under zero grazing. She sells 20 litres of milk per day to Kiambu Dairy Co-operative society. The society buys the milk at USD 0.30 from the previous USD 0.15. The attractive market has encouraged the dairy farmers in the area. Violet would like to buy another dairy cow that will give her good milk production. She would like to buy the cow from the farms that rear high quality breeds. She will use the skills she has learnt to expand her project and maximize the milk production. This will increase her level of income thus she will pay her children school fees without many difficulties. She will pay the loan with installments.",F,450,lender,Agriculture,1
Kenya,"Violet is married and has four children who are all in secondary school. She is a secondary school dropout and has not undertaken any formal training. She started her business in 1998 in order to support her family and to supplement her husband's income. He is a civil servant.
With the loan of $150 from PEMCI, Violet plans to restock her little shop in order to increase her earnings. With this business, she has been able to assist her husband in supporting her family and their needs, especially in meeting the cost of schooling their young children. Secondary education in Kenya is very expensive; for ordinary simple folks like these, the cost can be a big strain on the family income. Violet is therefore doing the right thing in supplementing her husband's salary. She is well-worth our support.",F,150,partner,Retail,0
Kenya,"Violet is married with two children who are both in primary school. She is a primary school dropout and has not undertaken any formal training. Her husband is not employed. She started her business in 2002 in order to support her family. She gets her stock from bigger towns adjacent to Lake Victoria, such as Sio Port and Funyula, and sells it to the locals at a higher price. With a loan from PEMCI, Violet wishes to increase her stock. Through her business, she has been able to support her family and bring services closer to the consumers.",F,50,partner,Food,0
Kenya,"Virginia Mukami Mwaniki is a 26 year old married mother of two children. Her husband engages in a small business to sustain the family. To support her husbands effort, she run a clothing business. Her clothing stall is located at a popular market within the city center. This strategic location enables her to display her merchandise to a large number of people on a daily basis. This guarantees that she makes sales everyday. She began this venture three years ago and it provides her with a good amount of income to support her family. Her stall stocks a wide variety of men and ladies undergarments, which she sells retail. These items are in great demand since they are cheap and also of good quality.
She plans to eventually grow her business so that she can supply these clothes to other retailers, thus earning her increased profit. However, she cannot raise the required capital since most of her earnings go to satisfying her familys basic needs. Virginia is therefore requesting for a loan of US $600: US$300 to buy mens undergarments and US$300 to buy ladies undergarments. She is capable of repaying the loan.",F,600,lender,Clothing,1
Kenya,"Virginia wa Thika is aged 31 years old. She is married with two children; one in nursery school and the other in primary school. She is a pioneer member of Ngurueni Junior women group and also an active church member of Gakiogo Catholic Church. She has a very supportive husband who believes in women empowerment. Her occupation is being a nursery school teacher. This job has been an inspiration to her which has enabled her to understand different kinds of children and what they could be experiencing in their life. She earns an amount of USD45 per month from the job she does. They have been working together with her group members through the revolving funds towards uplifting the members lives and she has benefited a lot from this association. She is a young farmer who has managed to keep 15 chickens. She intends to buy a Friesian calf, which she looks forward towards getting milk that will be produced by the calf when it matures. She is willing to pay this loan in a period of 12 months.",F,150,lender,Agriculture,1
Kenya,"Virginia Wanjiku is 56 years old and is a single mother of 8 children. Five of her children have left home, the other three are in senior school. Virginias husband died twelve years ago. She is the sole breadwinner and has to provide for her three childrens school fees. This challenge made her expand her farming to three acres after getting funds from Eb-f through Wendani Self Help Group, of which she is a member. Despite this she still finds she has school fees in arrears and her children are constantly sent back home for the school fee balance. She repaid the loan promptly. She would like to further expand her farming but has no funds. She requests a US $700 loan. Her budget is as follows:
Use US $300 to lease three more acres and
use US $400 to buy seeds and fertilizer.
The profits will help pay school fees and the surplus she can save for old age. She is cooperative and will repay the loan.",F,700,lender,Agriculture,1
Kenya,"Virginia Wanjiru Wamugo is a 40 year old widow with five children. Her aging parents live with her too. All her children attend school and are brilliant performers. Three are in junior school grades one, four and eight. The other two are in senior school grades one and four.
Her husband, who was the sole breadwinner, passed away one year ago. Upon his death, she had to assume his role of the income earner for her family. She earns her living selling babies clothes in an open-air market. This business has been operating for the last two years and has managed to build a solid customer base that regularly buys from her.
Whatever she earns from this business goes to personal expenses. This however is not sufficient to adequately cater for her familys needs (e.g. school fees.) To increase her income she intends to expand her current business and add mens clothing to her stock. This will generate more income since mens clothing are in demand and fetch more profit per sale. This will enable her to educate her children, who are performing well in school. To expand her business, she is requesting a loan of US $1200. Her budget plans are as follows: US $250 to build a suitable business premise, US $950 to purchase more stocks of clothes. Virginia is an enterprising young woman who will certainly make good of this loan to build her business and is capable of repaying the loan.",F,1200,lender,Clothing,1
Kenya,"Virginia was born 35 years ago, got married but is widowed with two children. She practices farming to earn her living. She grows maize, beans, bananas and dairy farming. The cow she has produces 4 litres per day. This enables her to meet her daily needs. She is applying for USD300 to buy a dairy cow in order to improve her income, and save for her children's education. She is willing to repay this loan within period of 12 months.",F,300,lender,Agriculture,1
Kenya,Vitalice Koga Oduor is married with two children. He did not manager to continue with education after finishing his grade eight exams. This was due to lack of school fees. He decided to come to town from the rural area to look for employment. The only job he got was casual and was low paying. He decided to buy a bicycle and use it for transport business. He would like to buy more bicycles and add to his business. He is therefore requesting for a loan of US$ 400. He intends to use US$ 350 to buy more bicycles and US$ 50 to pay operation licenses. He intends to employ his colleagues to operate the bicycles. He has been receiving Loans from Ebony which he has repaid all in full. He is hard working and capable of paying the loan.,M,400,lender,Transportation,1
Kenya,"Vitalis Nyangoro is married with three children, ages 11, 6 and 1. He runs a charcoal wholesale store jointly with his wife, Pamela. He has been in this business for nine years, during which he has grown from a retailer to wholesaler.
A shortage of capital has been his main problem, and if he'd had the money, he thinks he would have opened more outlets. Lack of tangible security and other regulations prevented him from accessing a bank loan, after which a neighbor who is a KADET client informed him about the products KADET offers.
He wishes to use the money from this loan to increase his stock of charcoal and consistently increase his ordering quantities, while still serving the retail market, which would increase his sales.
About KADET:
The Kenya Agency for the Development of Enterprise and Technology (KADET) is committed to economically empowering its clients by providing financial services to rural communities in order to relieve suffering and improve living conditions within those communities.",M,400,partner,Retail,0
Kenya,"Vivalyne Chepkirui is a 20 year old single woman with two children. Both her children are in school. After dropping out of school due to pregnancy, she decided to start her own business to support her children. She ventured into I.C.T. She bought a mobile handset from Safaricom (the largest mobile telephone company in Kenya); where she offers a cheaper means of communication to the people living around her. Through this she has been able to provide her children with daily necessities and also meet their education expenditure. Apart from that she started a small grocery business next to her mobile kiosk and as a result she was able to set up a make shift stall where she displays vegetables and an assortment of fruits.
She would like to improve her business further, but she is unable to do so since most of her income goes to taking care of her family and helping out her parents, leaving her with little capital to expand her business. She would like to expand her I.C.T. business by selling mobile calling cards from the three major mobile companies (safaricom, celtel and telekom). She is requesting a loan of US$1000 to purchase pre-paid mobile calling cards, add an extra handset and build a better stall for her grocery shop. She is a hard worker and she will be able to repay the loan in good time.",F,1000,lender,Retail,1
Kenya,"Wainaina Ngata is a 42-year-old man, married with four children. Apart from his children, Ngata supports his aged parents and also takes care of HIV infected and affected people in his community by providing foodstuffs to the affected homes on a weekly basis.
Wainaina started his business in March 2007, his dream come true since he had had a passion to start up a kerosene pump business. Wainaina can be described as a very hardworking man. He previously had set up a small dry cleaning business, which was financed by his benefits from a Nairobi transport provider, Kenya Bus Service Company, after he was laid off. This business was operational from 1998 to 2002. Apart from his business, Ngata is also a community worker within Kayole where he resides. He runs a small community based organization by the name of AIDS Link, and he is sometimes hired by NGOs and social work groups to assist in matters affecting his community.
Through his hard work, and from the payments he received from the transport company, Ngata managed to save up Ksh 95,000 (US$ 1440), which he used to start off his kerosene-selling business. He has undergone several business management training courses and has gained a lot of experience, both from the dry cleaning business that he used to run and also from the kerosene business that he is currently operating.
Ngata wishes to expand his business. His vision for the business is to become able to sell on a wholesale scale in his area. His only difficulty is finances necessary to stock more kerosene, which is the main fuel used for cooking within his community. He is requesting a loan of US$ 800, which will be repayable within 12 months. The loan will enable him to expand his kerosene business and attract more customers, since he will have enough kerosene to meet the needs within his community. This will also enable him to make his prices more reasonable, a great advantage to his customers. The additional stock will also require him to employ 2-3 people from his community, to assist him in serving the customers. The additional loan will enable him to increase his income, hence improve his familys lifestyle.",M,800,partner,Retail,0
Kenya,"Wangui Muita, 48 years old, is a well-known entrepreneur in Nairobis Kibera slums. She is the mother to 8 adopted orphans who are from different parts of the slum. Their parents died of various causes like HIV/AIDS, tuberculosis, malaria and birth complications. All of the 8 orphans are going to a government sponsored school, but their upkeep is entirely to Wangui. To cater for her dependents, Wangui transports and sells milk in Kibera. She supplies milk from rural areas surrounding Nairobi, since farmers do not have their own means of transportation needed to take the milk to the milk processing factory. She has made a request for a loan of US$1200 to buy a second-hand milk van. She is a kind woman who helps many underprivileged people with her income. The loan will enable her to improve her business, to increase her income, and to continue helping others.",F,1200,lender,Food,1
Kenya,Wanjira Loise is a single woman with no children. She finished her college education in 2004 and now she wants to start a business to help her mother and her two younger sisters. Wanjira went to a hairdressing college and has received a diploma in hairdressing. She wants to apply the skills that she learned in college to start a salon at Birika. At the present time most of women have to travel from Birika to Kiserian to have their hair done. Wanjira is applying for a loan of $450 to purchase equipment to start a beauty shop. She is willing to repay this loan within a period of 12 months.,F,450,lender,Services,1
Kenya,"Wanjiru was born 40 years. She is an active member of Gituya Kamukia Women Group. She is a devoted Christian of Anglican Church of Kenya and choir member. She has great interest in training the newly married ladies on family matters.
She is a trained Agriculturist. She uses her knowledge in the community especially in training on good methods of farming. She has garden which she has grown vegetables. These are supplied to her community and earns her USD 150 per month.
Her main business is milk production. She has two cows. Their milk production has lowered and her veterinary Doctor advised her to buy some supplements and feeds that will improve the milk production. She promises to repay the loan on monthly basis",F,150,lender,Agriculture,1
Kenya,"Washington Mwangi is 18 years old, and he is single. He resides in the South C area in Nairobi city. Like any other young person who wants to be independent and cater for his own needs, Washington started a business of selling fruits and making fruit juice. He acquired the idea from his stepbrother for whom he previously worked in his fruit stall for a period of three years. In the year 2005, he started his own business with a capital of Ksh 3000 (USD 45), which he got from his personal savings.
Washington enjoys his work and many people like him and support him by buying fruits from him. During lunchtime many of his customers like to pass by his stall for a glass of fresh made juice and fruit salad. His work has been going on very well but now he is lacking some funds to expand his business. His business needs a tent and chairs for his customers to sit on while enjoying the dessert. Washington is therefore requesting Kiva lenders to grant him a loan of Ksh 20,000 to use to purchase the said items. He believes that if he purchases these items he will be able to expand his business; therefore creating an increase in profits, and attracting more customers.
The repayment period for his loan will be 12 months.
Disclaimer: Due to recent events in Kenya, the security situation in many communities remains unsettled, affecting many local businesses. Lenders to this entrepreneur should be aware that this loan may represent a higher default risk, and should be willing to accept this additional risk in making their loan.",M,325,partner,Food,1
Kenya,"Wilfred is a leader and member of Menyikwa Jua Kali Self-Help Group. He is a motorcycle taxi driver and is married with two young children. Wilfred enjoys working for himself and appreciates that he doesn't have to carry stock for his business like others in his group do. He says that he makes around 600-1000 schillings per day ($9-15). His expenses include licenses, fuel, oil, and general maintenance. Wilfred is grateful for the fact that his loans have enabled him to own his home, buy food, and save for his children's future school fees.
With this loan Wilfred hopes to purchase an additional motorbike and employ a driver on commission. Eventually, he would like to have a fleet of vehicles under his ownership. Since the area of Kisii is rugged and contoured, the town has a high demand for small transportation vehicles. ",M,4575,lender,Transportation,0
Kenya,"Wilfred Njoka is a 59-year-old nurse who manages his own private facility in Chuka, in the eastern part of Kenya. He lives with his wife and five of his children at his Kathigirithini home.
He qualified as a nurse in 1976, and worked for the government for 22 years. In 1998, he retired and set up his own clinic, Sunrise Medical Clinic, in the town of Chuka. He offers a wide range of services, including general curative, family planning, maternal and child health services, and also has a pharmacy and a laboratory.
Njoka attributes his success to hard work and assistance from two previous microfinance loans from K-MET. He requests another loan of US $1200 so he can increase his stock of drugs and integrate other services in his facility.",M,1200,partner,Health,0
Kenya,"Wilfred started his second hand clothing business in 1996. He operates from his own premises. His clothing shop is located at Myanga shopping centre. His market consists of farmers from the surrounding areas. He is the father of 7 children 5 girls and 2 boys. 3 of them are in upper primary and 4 in lower primary. Wilfred started his business when he realized that his wifes earnings alone could not meet all their needs. He got his first capital from his farming activities and from the sale of agricultural produce. He specializes in growing tomatoes, onions and corn. He buys his second hand clothing stock from the nearby district of Busia. His current stock is estimated at Ksh 30,000 and his weekly profits range between Ksh 700 and 1,500. His major challenge is during low demand seasons which is January June. During this time most people use their money to carry out farming activities and spend very little on clothing. January is the beginning of the year and most people are busy with school fees. The low season, however, is offset by the peak season after harvest and during holidays. Through his business Wilfred has been able to educate his children and develop his farm. He is considered very worthy of Kiva partners support.",M,150,lender,Clothing,1
Kenya,Wilfrida (smiling in the photo) is a 43-year-old widow who lives with her 7 living children at Sinaga Siaya Kenya. Her husband died in 1999. She initiated her fish-selling business in 1996. Wilfrida buys omena (a type of fish which is the locals favorite) in bulk and sells to consumers in small quantities. The omena is normally packed in bags going at US$93.75 a bag. She has applied for US$700 to enable her to purchase more omena to sell during this dry season when the demand tends to be high.,F,700,partner,Food,0
Kenya,"Wilfrida Adhiambo Adero is a 31 year-old mother of one child. Her husband is a small-scale businessman. They live in a sprawling slum residence in the outskirts of the town of Mombasa.
She earns her livelihood by selling re-tailored second-hand clothes. The business involves buying old clothes from retailers at the clothes market and remaking them into different items. Sometimes she also makes new clothes, which she sells at her kiosk. She does all her tailoring work from her home premises. The garments she makes are popular among the residents in this low-income neighborhood since they are durable and are priced at affordable rates. She has been in this business for the last five years and her income is largely spent on meeting her familys basic needs.
She would like to expand her operations and take advantage of the high demand for her clothes to make extra earnings. However, she has been unable to raise the necessary funds to do this. Wilfrida is therefore requesting a loan of $350 to assist her in meeting the costs of her plans. The funds will be used to buy more old clothes and material for tailoring.",F,350,lender,Services,1
Kenya,"Wilfrida is a 43 year-old woman who divorced in the year 1997. She has five children: four are grown-ups, and the fifth is still in primary school and will be joining standard seven next year. Apart from her family, she also takes care of her sisters three children. Her sister passed away in 2002, after being diagnosed with HIV/AIDS. Wilfrida also takes care of her ailing mother, who is now sick and was admitted in the hospital because of throat cancer.
In the year 2004, Wilfrida borrowed money from her church and was given Ksh 1,000 (about USD 15). With the money, she decided to start a business of selling paraffin, and she was able to buy mugs, filters, funnels, and paraffin. She paid back this money to the church in a period of 12 months.
Wilfrida says that she used to depend on this business in order to feed her family, pay her house rent and also cater for her small needs. Due to the high medical costs of caring for her mother, Wilfridas business and household has really suffered. Her mothers medical costs are far higher than the income she receives from her business, so now she is living day-to-day. This is causing her business to suffer. She is losing customers because she does not have enough stock. Therefore, Wilfrida is now requesting a loan from Kiva lenders, through Action Now Kenya, so that she can build back her business; thus allowing her to continue to take her mother for check-ups and take the children who are under her care back to school.
She is requesting a loan of Ksh 3,000 (USD 50). The repayment period will be 12 months.",F,50,lender,Retail,1
Kenya,"Wilkista Agutu is an average Kenyan woman aged 46 with 3 children. She also lives with 1 orphan child of her late brother.
Wilkista started her business of selling vegetables and fruits 2 years ago after accumulating savings from her former work place in a local school in Busia district. She currently sells her vegetables and fruits at Busia Municipality market on a retail basis, but would like to expand her business and start operating on a wholesale basis to enable her to support her children and her husband, who currently has a low-paying job. With the help of her loan, Wilkista will be able to purchase more stock of different vegetables and fruits to enable her increase her business sales.
Disclaimer: Due to recent events in Kenya, the security situation in many communities remains unsettled, affecting many local businesses. Lenders to this entrepreneur should be aware that this loan may represent a higher default risk, and should be willing to accept this additional risk in making their loan.",F,2950,lender,Food,0
Kenya,"William Awande Were is aged 37 years. He is married with four children, aged 12, 16, 18, and 20 respectively. William is also taking care of five other children from a deceased relative. Being a low-income earner, at times he is not able to meet the family's financial needs. William is a businessman in Kawangware slums, Kinyanjui junction, providing telephone services, simu ya jamii. He has been in this business for three years now. He is requesting a loan to expand his business by stocking more air time and a variety of phone accessories. He has been running out of airtime units at times due to lack of capital to load enough for his customers. He is requesting US$1000 to meet his goals. William is hard-working and capable of paying back the loan. Below is his budget for the loan:
US$ 600 to buy airtime from a variety of service providers (Celtel Kenya, Safaricom and Telkom Kenya)
US$ 150 to expand his business premises to accommodate the expansion
US$ 50 to pay for a license to operate the business, and
US$ 200 to buy phone accessories.",M,1000,lender,Services,1
Kenya,"William is 35 years old married and with 3 children. Two of the children are in primary school. He lives with both his parents who are old and sickly. Williams is the sole breadwinner while his wife takes care of the children and Williams parents.
William runs a juice/snack bar where he makes and sells fruit juice and assorted cakes.
He started the business in year 2000 with money borrowed from friends and relatives.
The business has been doing well and William has employed two people to help him out.
In a good day William earns an average of US $ 8 to 15 per day. He uses the income to provide for his family and to buy drugs for his parents.
He makes his juice from fresh fruits and this has earned him many customers. Because of the small size of his business premises most customers fail to get a seating place at the premises and opt to carry the juice home or leave without buying.
William wants to solve this problem by adding 8 more seats and 4 tables. He in addition wants to increase his capacity to process and pack juice for home use as his business is located in a residential area.
He is requesting a loan of US $ 1,500. His budget is: US $ 400 to purchase furniture, US $ 450 to purchase additional juice making equipment, US $ 300 to improve his packing containers and US $ 350 to increase his stock of fruits. William is aggressive in business and will repay the loan.",M,1500,lender,Food,1
Kenya,"William Sirari is a new member of the Akimorkina-Kolanya group. He is married with four children. His first born is in primary grade two, his second born is in primary one, his third born is in nursery school and the last born is still at home.
William has two kinds of businesses. He transports people on his bicycle commonly known as boda boda. He does this usually in the Kolanya and Malakisi areas. He also moulds bricks, bakes them and then sells them to builders as far away as Malaba. Isaac started his boda boda business with initial capital of KES 3,800 ($60 USD), which he used to buy his first bicycle. He rides the bicycle by himself and goes home with KES 50 ($0.80 USD) to KES 200 ($3.20 USD) per day. With this profit Isaac says that he is only able to provide the most basic needs for his family.
Isaac cites several challenges to his business such as stiff competition from other riders, which hurts his income. The terrain of the area where he operates is also hilly with bad roads, which makes it hard for him.
With a KIVA loan through PEMCI, Isaac intends to buy another bicycle and employ a person to ride it. This will enhance his income; it will almost double what he currently gets. He also plans to put some of the money into the brick moulding business.",M,175,lender,Construction,1
Kenya,"Willie is 27 years old, married and with one child. His wife is job less and therefore Willie is the breadwinner for the family. Willie in addition pays college fee for his younger sister and brother and supports the education of two orphans from a near by HIV children Home.
Willie completed his high school education in 1999 and enrolled for a computer hardware engineering course in 2000. He graduated in 2003 and was employed as a computer instructor at Ozy Study College in year 2004. He taught at the college up to October 2005 when the college closed down for lack of enough fees paying students.
Willie now unemployed resorted to freelance computer repair and service jobs to provide for his young family. In December 2005 he joined Eb-F and was granted a loan of US $ 800 to start his computer sales shop. The shop has been doing well and has enabled him take his wife to college and keep his sister and brother in school in addition to supporting his aging parents.
Because of his efficient service, Willie has been contracted by local high schools to supply and service school computers. Having repaid the Eb-F loan well, Willie now requires a loan of US $ 2,000 to purchase a stock of computers and accessories.
His budget is US $ 1000 to purchase 5 computers, US $ 500 to purchase assorted computer accessories, US $ 400 to purchase 8 printers and US $ 100 to purchase software. He will use the income to purchase more stock to supply more schools.
Willie is hard working and will be able to repay the loan.",M,2000,lender,Services,1
Kenya,"Willie Sainah Biwot is 58 years old, married with four children. Two children are in a private high school while two are in local universities; all of them depend on him to pay their fees. Willie is an administrator by profession while his wife manages the farm. They have been doing dairy farming for the last ten years. This has helped them generate income to educate their children but it has been difficult to expand the business due to the financial commitment in paying university fees for the two children. Biwot intends to expand the farming business. It has been his wifes desire to utilize the land which they have not been using by building a cattle shed and adding two more cows. This will enable him to produce more milk and generate more income to cater for his needs. He requests to be loaned US$ 1000. He will use US$300 to build structures required by the additional livestock, which will cost him US$ 700. His current income proves the ability to repay the loan. Moreover, he is due to retire this year he will be able to effectively run the farm.",M,1000,lender,Agriculture,1
Kenya,"Willington Ochieng Jismah is 22-years old. He is married with two children. He lives with his family in his parents house in a Kibera slums. His parents were unable to pay his school fees, and he was forced to drop out of senior school. Since then he has been dependent on his parents and helped them operate a small retail business. But this does no create enough income to properly support both families. This work has taught him about marketing and keeping good business records. Most of the residents in his area live on low income and can only afford to buy small quantities of the basic products they need to live. Many of the residents in his area are infected with HIV/AIDS, and require good nutrition to stay healthy as long as possible. Good fish is a nutrition necessity for these people, but it is expensive. Willington wishes to start his own business, and his business plan involves selling fish cut into small portions that his target market can afford. He will be able to partner with community-based groups who will buy the fish to supply to the HIV/AIDS victims at subsidized prices. This business will enable him to support his family independently. He is requesting a $775 loan: $300 to purchase a refrigerator, $225 to purchase fish, $100 to rent a space, $100 to purchase tables and shelves, $20 to for a sign, and $30 for transport. Willington's business proposal is noble and designed to assist those who need help while generating income to sustain his family.",M,775,lender,Food,1
Kenya,"Wilson is a 38-year old business and family man with nine children, all in school. Wilson invests most of his time in running three of his butcheries separately located at Malaba town. He specializes in beef, which is a delicacy to all the people in the area. He sells one kilogram of meat at KES 140 to those customers who take away. For those who want ready-to-eat meat, he also prepares boiled or grilled meat locally known as choma. This is usually served with maize bread (Ugali). Wilson started this business over seven years ago with a single butchery. After a while, he opened the second butchery and hired someone to help him with sales. When the second one picked up, he again started another one. When starting this business, he says he used to slaughter one cow or bull every three or four days, but now he has to slaughter three cattle every two days during the normal days. But in the festive season, such as this Christmas, he slaughters three cattle in one day. With this increasing demand, Wilson is greatly challenged to maintain the supply of cattle for slaughter. He used to initially source the cattle from the local market, then crossed a few miles from the border into eastern parts of Uganda. Wilson says that he now goes to western Uganda for cattle. This is far from Malaba and hence requires him to buy many head of cattle, probably one whole truck, so as to cut the overall cost of transporting them to Malaba. This means he has to buy at least twenty cattle. With a loan from PEMCI through KIVA, Wilson intends to increase the number of cattle that he buys each time.",M,975,lender,Food,1
Kenya,"WILSON KAMAU is 31 yr old married farmer with four children who are all in school. Wilson is a single father. Unfortunately he lost his job last year when the company he worked for downsized its operations. He now lives with his parents. He bought one dairy cow with all his benefits and joined the Suma self help group. He has a big responsibility to educate his children and care for them since he does not have house help. He has received entrepreneurship lessons with Eb-f and would like to buy extra dairy cows. Dairy farming is flexible enough to allow time to provide for his family and have an income as opposed to cereals farming which needs more hours input. He requests a US $ 1200 loan.
This will be used to buy two dairy cows.
This will make a big difference to the lives of his children for he will be available at all times and the extra income will provide for their education.
He is focused and will repay the loan.",M,1200,lender,Agriculture,1
Kenya,"Wilson Kamau Mwangi is 34 years old married with four children. His wife is not employed currently. Three of his children are in junior school and one is in senior school. Wilsons major aim is to see his four children get the best education in life. He is an electrician and his income is not enough to cater for his family needs. He has been operating a barber shop to compliment his electrical services. He is planning to expand his barber shop to include a unisex hair salon, which his wife will be running thus providing her with meaningful employment. This will diversify his risk such that when the barber shop is not doing well, the salon will complement it and vice versa. It will provide him with more income to cater for his familys needs and especially the educational needs. Currently the barber shop is doing well and according to his survey the salon will also do as well. He is requesting for a loan of US$ 650. This will enable him purchase two hair dryers worth US$ 410, US$ 60 for two pairs of tongs, an arm chair costing US$ 50, blow dryers worth US$ 70 and US$ 30 for renovating his barbershop to accommodate the salon. Mr. Mwangi is a hardworking and diligent businessman who is capable of paying the loan.",M,650,lender,Services,1
Kenya,"Wilson Wamusosi is 54 years old, is married and has 5 children. He also takes care of his two grandchildren, the children of his daughter. He decided to take up the responsibility of his grandchildren together with their mother (his daughter) since she had the two children out of wedlock. Rather than send his daughter away, he encouraged and cautioned her to take care of herself not to get another child until she is ready to take care of them. They live in Kayole, an informal settlement area within Nairobi. In addition, Mr. Wamusosi is a church pastor, and he also supports some of his church members.
Wilson has been a carpenter now for a period of four years and apart from that, he also does welding. He started by doing small contracts from schools within his community. It was not an easy start but he was driven by determination since he wanted to be involved in another activity besides being a pastor. He borrowed Ksh 20,000.00 (USD 285) from a friend and bought the basic items he needed in the carpentry workshop together with timber. He has been able to settle this loan with time and although he has had many difficulties, he has seen his business expanding through the many contracts he is getting. His major setback is the ability to deal with the growing number of contracts since his customers pay a minimal deposit, barely enough to enable him to make purchases for the requirements. He is now intending to make a set of desks and chairs for two schools within his community before schools reopen for the second term.
A loan of USD 900 is Wilsons plea to enable him purchase a drilling machine, timber, block board, and the backs and seats for the chairs. These will go a long way in enabling him to make a wide range of quality furniture for his customers in order to attract additional customers, and to retain the existing ones, especially from the nearby schools. This will also enable him to gain additional income that will help him to support both his family and members of his church better. The repayment period of the loan is 15 18 months.",M,900,partner,Construction,0
Kenya,"Winfred Nzuki is 32 years old and she is married with one child. She lives in Kitengela Township on the outskirts of the city of Nairobi. Besides offering computer services, Winfred does voluntary work within her community by visiting institutions that care for orphaned and vulnerable children, especially those that have been affected by HIV/IADS.
Winfred went through training in typing at the Salvation Army, a church sponsored institution that offers technical skills. Winfred had saved Ksh 20,000 USD 294 from her previous employment and together with Ksh 10,000 (USD 150), which her husband added Winfred was able to set up her business in 2003.
Winfred offers a wide range of computer services such as typing and scanning. She also offers photocopying services. Winfred wants to expand her business by offering Internet services. She is therefore requesting for a loan of USD 1075, which will be given in kind, to enable her to purchase four computers and a wireless telephone set. This will result in better services for her clients whom she believe are going to increase in number. Her ultimate intention is to open a school where she can create employment becahse the EPZ, an exporting company that offered employment on a casual basis, has closed down and many young people who were employed there now have nowhere to go. She also intends to start a cheap computer college. Winfred hopes to repay the loan within 12 months.",F,1075,partner,Services,0
Kenya,"Winifred Kavutha Mitau is a 33-year-old mother of three children. Her husband works as a private tour guide at the coastal beaches of Mombasa town. The children attend junior school. To supplement her husbands income, she operates a cereals store within the Maweni slum where she resides.
She began this shop one year ago and has seen it grow to a larger entity that serves many people in this heavily-populated slum. The cereals are mainly dry grains such as rice, maize and beans, which are the most commonly-eaten foods in this region. Apart from the cereals, she also sells a range of merchandise for household use such as cooking fat, milk and flour.
She would like to capture the high demand for these cereals and offer more of such grains for sale. By doing so, she will be able to increase her earnings hence improving her familys livelihood. However, she has been unable to do so since she cannot raise the required capital. Therefore, she is requesting a loan of US$800 to assist her in the expansion of her business. Her budget is as follows: US$250 to purchase beans, US$250 to purchase rice, US$200 for maize and US$100 for transport. Winifred is capable of repaying the loan.",F,800,lender,Food,1
Kenya,"Winnie Anyango Osewe is 27 years old. She is married and has three children who all attend junior school. Her husband is a small-scale businessman. To supplement his earnings, she operates a food vending business just outside her home in a slum residence in Mombasa. The food items she sells include cooked peas, buns, wheat flour wraps and fried chicken pieces. She began this business five years ago and has created a large customer base. These customers mostly buy during breakfast and dinnertime since this ready food is convenient and spares them the hassle of food preparation. The earnings from here all go into catering to her familys basic needs.
Winnie would like to increase her income due to the recent rising demands from her family such as school fees expenses and medical care. She plans to cater to these needs by expanding her scope of operations and selling more food. Eventually, she plans on setting up a small hotel. To attain these plans, Winnie is requesting for a loan of US$500.These funds will be used to buy more food items for sale, such as more flour, peas, raw chicken and a few utensils. She will be able to repay the loan.",F,500,lender,Food,1
Kenya,"Winnie is a Kenyan aged 55. She is married and has 5 children. She is a very active member of her local Anglican church and participates in very many church activities.
She lives in Ikundu village of Maragwa district and is a farmer. She grows a lot of banana plants in her farm and also French beans, maize and other crops. She belongs to Karaba women's group and hopes to buy a water tank to harvest rainwater when she gets the loan of USD300 through the group. She attends group meetings very well and contributes well to the revolving fund.",F,300,lender,Agriculture,1
Kenya,"Winnie Wanjira Njoroge is 32 years old. She is married with two children, where one is in primary school and the other is in secondary school. She is an active member of Maragwa Ushuhuda women group. She is farmer and also a businesswoman; she operates a banana business in Maragwa that earns an average of USD80 monthly. She has a dairy cow which produces 3 litres daily and earns her USD0.6 daily after selling this milk to the local residents. She is planning on buying a water tank for storage of rain water if given this loan. She is willing to repay this loan in a span of one year and on a monthly basis.",F,300,lender,Retail,1
Kenya,"Winnie was born 40 years ago. She is single with 3 children 2 of whom are in school. Winnie joined WEEC after seeing how her friends lives were transformed. She was very determined to follow group rules and regulations. She was enrolled and after sometimes, she was appointed as a group discipline mistress. She started a retail shop of house hold good with her first loan at group level. This shop transformed her life and she is now able to pay her children school fees without much struggle. Due to fees deductions, it has been difficult to her restocking her shop. She hopes to get a loan and buy more goods in large quantity since her son finished high school last year. She feels that her business performance will increase due to enough stock that will attract many customers. From the income she will get, she will make to take her son to college after few months. She plans to repay the loan on monthly basis",F,300,lender,Retail,0
Kenya,"Winnie was born 40 years ago. She is single with 3 children, 2 of whom are in school. Winnie joined WEEC after seeing how her friends' lives were transformed. She started a retail shop of household good, with her first loan at group level. She has since repaid her loan tremendously. This shop transformed her life and she is now able to pay her childrens' school fees.
She needs another loan of USD450 to buy more goods in large quantity. Her business performance has since increased due to enough stock that attracts many customers. She plans to repay the loan on a monthly basis.",F,450,lender,Retail,1
Kenya,"Winnie was born in 1954 in Kiambu, Kenya. She is married with four children. Three of them have graduated while the last born boy is in college. Winnie is a religious person and a member of Tt Peter ACK church Karura. She also actively participates in village rounds where she is a leader to most of them.
Winnie started her business of dairy farming 17 years ago. She has educated her children from income earned from her business. In addition, she grows vegetables in her plot in Kihara. Currently Winnie has three dairy cows. She sells her milk to Kiambaa Dairy Farmers Cooperative Society limited at 0.3 per litre of milk. She sells an average of 30 litres daily.
Given a loan of usd 1200, Winnie intends to buy another dairy cow to increase milk production.",F,1200,lender,Agriculture,1
Kenya,"Woke Pulei is married with four children; three are in primary school and the other is still at home. She is an active member of Nasinya women's group and a member of P.C.E.A Inkiito Church. Woke also attends adult education at the Multi-purpose centre in Isinya. Woke started her beadwork business two years ago and had stock worth USD75. She operates her business in Isinya open-air market. She sells her products to the Kajiado residents and sometimes in Nairobi and Mombasa. Her business is still young but she would like to buy more materials for her beadwork including beads, wires, strings, leather, etc. If given this loan it will assist her very much.",F,300,lender,Arts,1
Kenya,"Wycliffe is a father of 5 children, all of whom are in school. He started his business in 2007. He sells maize and operates a jaggery store at Mukwa [jaggery contains the solid content of suger-cane juice and can be used to make liquor]. His current stock is estimated to be worth KES 4,000 ($65 USD). He sells both in wholesale and retail.
Wycliffe's wife is a farmer. She sometimes helps him to sell maize. Wycliffe is a school drop out because his family could not afford school fees.
This will be Wycliff'es first loan with PEMCI. He plans to increase his business and with the profit he plans to develop his farm by purchasing a dairy cow. He dreams of diversifying his business even further. He plans to buy a motorbike for local travel known as boda-boda.",M,100,lender,Food,1
Kenya,"Wycliffe Tunduka is 38 years old and is married with two children, ages 13 and 5 years. His late sister's children (ages 18 and 22 years) are also under his care. Wycliffe lives in the Kayole section of Nairobi in an area called Kona Mbaya (meaning ""Bar Corner"").
Wycliffe started learning the trade of carpentry after training in a village polytechnic facility in his rural home of Kakamega. Upon finishing his training, he took up small contracts, through which he managed to save 3000 KSH and open up his own workshop. Currently, he wants to expand his business and purchase a circular saw for 35,000 KSH and a timber planning machine for 45,000 KSH. Once he purchases the machines, he plans to save his income and increase his stock of timber. Wycliffe also hopes that these improvements will require him to acquire more space for his bureoning business, and employ others and offer them training. This loan will therefore enable him to improve his capacity to provide not only for his family and dependants, but also his community.",M,1000,partner,Construction,1
Kenya,"Wycliffee Zedekia Oseya is 35 years old. He is married and has two young children who are not yet attending school. His wife is a nursery school teacher. He lives with his family in Ponda Mali estate, where he has rented a single room. His wife caters for their daily expenses on food while he caters for their house rent and other basic needs for the family. Wycliffee is a barber by profession. He trained in a school of cosmetology and has worked as a barber for four years. Having been an employee in different places, he decided to open his own barber shop one year ago. The business picked up and he has been able to establish a very large client base. He always has customers and he does not have the capacity to seat all of them. He now wants to expand his barber shop so that he is better able to satisfy his clients' needs.
Simon is requesting a loan of US$ 300.He intends to use US$ 100 to buy a set of electric clippers, $ 50 to buy disinfectants and aftershaves, $ 50 to employ an assistant, and $ 100 to furnish his barber shop. With these improvements, he knows that he shall be able to not only atract a lot of customers but also satisfy their needs accordingly. Simon is hardworking and has the potential to pay back the loan.",M,300,lender,Services,1
Kenya,"Yasmin is a 26 year old single lady with no children. She lives with her two siblings - they are orphans - within the Kibera slums. Her parents were killed in a tragic road accident in the year 1999. As an orphan with a family to take care of , Yasmin decided to look for a job in order to make ends meet. In the year 2004 she was employed as a housekeeper in a town called Kahawa West. She didnt work there for long because her employer wasnt treating her fairly. After six months she decided to quit the job. Through ups and downs she took Ksh 2500 (USD38) from her savings and used Ksh 1000 (USD 15) to pay for her hair dressing school. When she completed her schooling after eight months, she started her own business in the year 2005.
Using the money that remained from her savings, she bought a wall mirror and a blow dryer. Now she has many clients, but because she lacks a hair dryer and the necessary chemicals she cant assist them. Therefore, Yasmin is asking in good faith for a loan of Ksh 10500 (USD 175) so that she can buy a hair dryer worth Ksh8000 (USD 123) and a blow dryer worth Ksh 2500 (USD38). With this equipment she will be able to gain back the customers she could not service earlier. Yasmin believes that her current customers will refer her business, which will help her to increase her profits further. She will then be in a better position to support her siblings. (The repayment period for her loan will be 6 months.)",F,175,lender,Services,1
Kenya,"Yuanita Hongo is a 45-year-old practitioner who runs her own private facility at Ahero Kisumu, Kenya. The image shows her examining a patient.
Yuanita Hongo, a widow, lives with her five children, who all attend school and college. Since she trained and qualified in clinical medicine in 1990, she has worked at a government hospital.
She also runs a private clinic in the middle of a market. The clinic serves the mostly very poor community in the area. She is also an HIV AIDS coordinator in the Nyando district in Kenya. Her facility offers a wide range of services, including family planning, curative and preventive medicine, counseling, and includes a laboratory and pharmacy. The clinic also links paediatric ARVs to health facilities.
The community appreciates her work, which she can provide with the financial support she receives from K-MET. To further expand her clinic, she requests a loan of US $1200.",F,1200,partner,Health,0
Kenya,"Yucabeth Akinyi Ochieng was born in Ringa, Kenya, and moved to Kisumu in 1998. She lives in Kisumu with her husband and their 4 children, 1 boy and 3 girls who are all in primary school.
Yucabeth runs a vegetable stand in Dunga, which is a small village on the outskirts of Kisumu, located on the edge of Lake Victoria. She purchases the vegetables in small quantities from Sondu, a town to the southeast of Kisumu.
This will be Yucabeths first loan, and she is requesting $125 in order to expand her range of produce. Now Yucabeth sells mainly potatoes, yams, and bananas, and she would like to offer her customers more choices, including pumpkins.",F,125,partner,Food,0
Kenya,"Yukabeth Akoth Obonyo is 45 years old. She has 6 dependents who are all in school. She lives with her husband and children in Mombasa, the Kenyan coastal town. She sells secondhand clothes in Kongowea Market, a sprawling set-up where you get everything from dry food and fruits to clothes.
Yukabeth sells shirts, though she used to sell diverse products until her husband, who was an hotelier, fell sick and became bedridden for the last two years. This placed a great strain on the family financially since Yukabeth became the sole breadwinner. She gradually stopped selling women's dresses as well as girls dresses due to a shortage of funds. Her husband has recovered, though not fully. Yukabeth would like to expand her business. She hopes the extra stock will increase sales and hence her income. She would like to complete their family house, which is halfway finished since the husband fell sick. Despite her plans, she lacks funds and requests a US $500 loan. US $400 will be used to purchase more bales of clothes both for ladies and men, US$50 will be used for transport and US$50 to pay for the municipal license. She is determined and very hard working. She is capable of repaying the loan.",F,500,lender,Clothing,1
Kenya,"Yuma Karanja is 52 years old. She is married with three children; one is in college and the other has just completed college studies. She lives in Iregi village on her farm. She is the group secretary of the Gakiogo women group. She is a business person who deals with the selling of clothes and also farming where she cultivates horticulture crops which include tomatoes, water melons, peanut and kales. She is a member of a revolving fund in her local PCEA Iregi Church. She is a secretary of the Guild which focuses on contribution of school fees to the orphans. Currently they have two orphans that they have sponsored; one in Muranga College of Technology and the other in Irigiro Girls Training Centre. She has applied for a loan of USD300 to purchase high quality seeds and fertilizers. She is willing to repay this loan in a period of 10 months.",F,300,lender,Agriculture,1
Kenya,"Yvonne received an equivalent to $7 from her father in 1995 to start a business following the death of her husband. Yvonne is primary school dropout and has no formal training. She has one child and is also supporting her younger sisters, one in primary school and the other in secondary school. With the loan of $150 she intends to boost her stock in order to improve her income and service to her local community.",F,150,partner,Retail,0
Kenya,"Zablon Siboyi Obutaywa is a 27-year old married man with one child, a daughter too young to attend school. He is the sole bread winner for his family. Zablon is a street vendor specializing in the selling of ladies second-hand clothes such as t-shirts and jeans. His business is located at the bus terminal and has seen a dramatic increase in customers, because many young ladies ride the buses. Despite the increase in customers, he is unable to meet the demand for clothes due to insufficient capital. His vision is to see that all his family needs are met and ensure that the future of his child is secure. He is requesting a loan of US$750: US$500 to purchase 4 bales of assorted ladies clothes, US$100 for transport, and US$150 buy a metal stand to display his products. Zablon is a determined young entrepreneur with the ability to repay the loan on time.",M,750,lender,Clothing,1
Kenya,"Zacharia Kuruma Katuhi is a 34-year-old married man with three kids. Two children are in junior grades one and three and the youngest is not old enough to be in school. They live in a semi-permanent two-room house. Zacharias wife stays at home taking care of the family; this leaves him as the sole breadwinner for the family. This makes him work long hours to try to bring in as much as possible and this is taking its toll on him as he gets older. He would like to start a grocery shop where he can work together with his wife. He will do the supply while his wife does the selling to maximize their profit. He requests a loan of US$700 loan to be used as follows: US$550 to buy stock, US$50 to pay for a license, US$100 to lease and install shelves. This is less taxing and has higher returns than his current employment. It will improve this young familys life. He is dedicated and will repay the loan.",M,700,lender,Food,1
Kenya,"Zachariah is fifty-five years old, married with seven children, six girls and one boy. Three of the girls are in high school and the others are still in primary school. He is involved in a blacksmith business where he partners with his wife, making kitchen utensils using melted aluminium. The business is done from their home and Zachariah's wife spends most of her time with the workers. With their business, the family has a great advantage in that custumers look them up from all parts of Kenya. As a side business, Zachariah also does money-changing and has been doing this for the last seven years. He started the business while in Sudan, then moved to Kampala, and finally settled in Malaba. In Malaba, Zachariah has trained almost everyone who is interested and the business is booming. With the requested loan of US$ 1,050, his second loan through PEMCI, Zachariah intends to increase his aluminum (raw material for his smithy) so as to enable him to make more utensils. He also has plans for opening a mini-factory in the future. Through his business, Zachariah has been able to employ ten people and educate his children. He has also brought skills to the people of Malaba.",M,1050,lender,Manufacturing,1
Kenya,"Zachariah is married with seven children, all of whom are in school. He started his business seven years ago. He makes kitchen utensils using melted aluminium. He started the business while in Sudan, then moved to Kampala, and finally settled in Malaba. In Malaba, he has trained almost everyone who is interested, and the business is booming. With a loan from PEMCI, he plans to increase his stocks of raw materials to enable him to expand his production of utensils and other household goods. His long term plan is to grow into a mini factory producing an assorted range of aluminum goods. Through his business, he has been able to employ ten people, and educate his children. His wife is also engaged in the business. He has also brought the aluminum smelting skills to the people of Malaba. Through him, many have opened similar facilities. He is, therefore, a role model and a reference point in the business.",M,1025,partner,Manufacturing,0
Kenya,"Zachariah Mathenge is a repeat client of PEMCI. Amidst all the post-election skirmishes, Mathenge was still able to repay his loan. Mathenge and his family make and sell smelted aluminum pots, pans and pot leads. With this pot business, Mathenge is able to employ an average of seven laborers daily. They usually get the raw materials from mostly broken-down vehicle engines and body parts from Uganda. Additionally, Mathenge does local money changing at the Malaba border as a way to supplement his income. With this business, Mathenge is able to send six children to school.
With a loan from PEMCI, Mathenge plans to buy raw materials in bulk so as to increase his production. To meet the demand, he plans to produce as many pots as possible; this will increase his turnover and profit margins.
Disclaimer: Due to recent events in Kenya, the security situation in many communities remains unsettled, affecting many local businesses. Lenders to this entrepreneur should be aware that this loan may represent a higher default risk, and should be willing to accept this additional risk in making their loan.",M,1200,lender,Manufacturing,1
Kenya,"Zachariah Ojukwu is aged 41 years and is a widower. He is the father of two: Amon and Cynthia. He has also adopted two other children: Edwin and Winnie.
Zachariah owns a general store where he sells different building materials and electrical goods, and he has been in that business for three years. He also offers printing and photocopying services to supplement his store's income.
This KADET loan marks his first from any lending organization to finance his business. He plans to buy bicycle parts, and other basic building materials in order to tap the ready market available as many people are putting up buildings in his neighborhood. In future Zachariah hopes to diversify his business by venturing into the freight transportation sector.
About KADET:
The Kenya Agency for the Development of Enterprise and Technology (KADET) is committed to economically empowering its clients by providing financial services to rural communities in order to relieve suffering and improve living conditions within those communities.",M,1050,partner,Retail,0
Kenya,"Zachary Mwaniki Macharia is 24 years old. He is married. To support his family, he ekes out his living by supplying milk within Nairobi . Zacharys greatest challenge is lack of capital to stock enough milk to be able to meet his clients' increasing demand. His wife is a businesswoman. Zachary wants to make enough to be able to provide for his family once they have children. His biggest desire is to be able to meet his clients' demand and even supply more to other potential clients. He wants to buy several facilities that will help him in his business. He mainly gets his products from Daima milk products, which pay him a small commission. To work towards his dream, he is requesting a loan of US$ 750 as his budget: US $ 300 to purchase a bicycle for himself, US$ 50 to pay for the municipal council fee, US$200 to buy storage containers for storing milk and US$ 200 to expand his shop to be able to accommodate more milk. Zachary is a hardworking man who is determined to give the best to his family. He is capable of paying back the loan.",M,750,lender,Food,1
Kenya,"Zachary Turubo Matunda is a 23 years old and married with one kid who is still too young to go to school. He dropped out of school for lack of school fees and started a bicycle transport taxi business. This job is so taxing and he barely spends time with his family. The income is little and cannot meet his young familys financial needs. He would like to start a general store where he and his wife can both work. This will increase his income and allow him quality time with his family. He requests a US$ 750 loan:
US$ 600 to buy stock, US$ 100 to pay for his premises, and US $ 50 to pay for council license.
He is the treasurer of Angaza group. He is committed and will repay the loan.",M,750,lender,Food,1
Kenya,"Zainabu Hamidi is a 53 years old widow with five children and five other dependants. She lives in Nairobis Kibera slums. Two of the children are in junior school while the other three are in high school. One of her daughters is HIV+. Her own sister too is also infected with the virus and has two children; they all depend on her for their daily bread. She does small business of selling home made snacks to supermarkets and retail outlets around the slums. The able bodied members of the family help her in producing the snacks like lollies, potatoes chips, popcorn, cookies and muffins. With the little she gets from her sales she tries to meet her familys needs which is proving hard to do considering she has to buy ARVs and special nutrition for her daughter and sick sister. She is a hard working lady who is determined to improve her familys living conditions and that of her dependants. She is requesting for a loan of US$ 600, with this she will expand her business so as to enable her earn more from her business. Below is a break down on how the loan will be used:
Basic ingredients-US$522 Transport US$ 88.",F,600,lender,Food,1
Kenya,"Zainabu K. Mithani is a 37-year-old mother of four children who all attend school. She is separated from her husband who was the main breadwinner for the family. To support her children, she earns a living selling new clothes. Her customers are mainly small retailers who purchase from her in bulk to sell to individual customers. She began this business four years ago. It involves purchasing the clothes in bulk from manufacturers and selling them to her clients. She supplies a variety of clothes ranging from childrens clothes to ladies' and mens clothing. Zainabu sees a great potential in this business, whereby if she had more clothes to sell, she would be making higher gains. This is because of the current great demand for her clothes. She however has not been able to reap from this demand since she cannot raise the necessary capital to buy larger quantities of the clothes. Therefore, she is requesting for a loan of US $700 to enable her to expand the scope of her operations. The funds will be used to purchase more stock for sale. Zainabu is capable of repaying the loan.
Disclaimer: Due to recent events in Kenya, the security situation in many communities remains unsettled, affecting many local businesses. Lenders to this entrepreneur should be aware that this loan may represent a higher default risk, and should be willing to accept this additional risk in making their loan.",F,700,lender,Clothing,1
Kenya,"Zeruya is a single mother of six. She struggles a lot because much as she takes care of her children, she also has to take care of her aging parents, since she lives with them. Zeruya hopes that one day she will be able to start a new cloth business in order to be able to meet her customers demands. She is able to service her community by bringing these goods to her customers. We are proud to be associated with Zeruya as part of our PEMCI family.",F,150,partner,Clothing,0
Kenya,"Zeruya is an active member with one of PEMCI's groups. She has successfully completed her first loan and has a number of achievements to date. She is a primary school teacher still awaiting posting by the Government to a school. In the meantime, she decided to start a used clothes business in order to provide some basic needs for herself and her family. She is married with two children.
Zeruya sells second hand clothes at Kolanya market. She gets her stock from Kimili Town, but when their inventory is low she goes to Nairobi. Her current inventory is estimated at KES 4,000 ($65 USD). The first loan enabled her to increase her stock and expand her business. With the profits she was able to buy a goat and pigs.
Zeruya is married and blessed with two children. Her first born is in grade four and the second born is in grade one. Her husband is a teacher at Amagoro Primary School. Zeruya is the second born in a family of ten. She hopes to be a teacher in Bungoma town. Given a second loan with PEMCI she plans to increase her inventory.",F,175,lender,Clothing,1
Kenya,"Ziporah is married with 3 children, who are in school. She is a member of Mihuti ACK Church. Ziporah is a member of Mathioya Womens Group and her main income generating activity is farming. She grows maize, coffee, tea and has a dairy cow. She has benefitted from the revolving fund by getting loans to buy animal feed for her dairy cow and she was also able to pay for veterinary services for the cow. The dairy cow is her main source of income though she gets regular income of USD 28 from tea. The group, through the new rule of assisting members to diversify their investments and maximize their income, has approved a loan of USD 150 to enable Ziporah to buy shares from Kenya Reinsurance Company. Ziporah will repay the loan within a period of 12 months.",F,150,lender,Agriculture,1
Kenya,"Ziporah Wanjiku Kamau is 30 years old, and she is married with three children. Ziporah also supports her aged mother-in-law, who is a diabetic.
Ziporah started her tailoring business in 2004. She managed this after selling her favorite cow for about US $265. Together with her husband, she searched for and rented a stall at the Kitengela Township. Ziporah Wanjikus stall is always a beehive of activity, since customers come to buy clothes at her stall instead of having to travel all the way to the city for the clothes. The location of her tailoring stall has saved her customers a lot of money and time.
Ziporah now wants to buy an assortment of materials for sewing. In addition, due to the high demand, she also wants to buy ready-made clothes to sell, to meet the needs of her customers. A loan of US $950 will allow Ziporah to stock her stall, thereby attracting more customers, and translating into more income for her. The repayment period for her loan will be 12 months.",F,950,partner,Clothing,1
Kenya,"Zipporah is married with nine children, all in school. She completed her first loan of $159 with PEMCI successfully. She is the secretary and a very active member of Tumaini self-help group which is a member of Pemci. She has done a lot to build her team by bringing cohesiveness to the group. Zipporah ensures that members repay their loans in a timely fashion in order not to jeopardize the group's position. Her business mainly involves selling fish in the local community market. She has been in the business for a number of years and through it, she has been able to help her husband by paying school fees for their 9 children. With the help of this 2nd loan from PEMCI (1st with Kiva) Zipporah intents to increase her fish stock and to act as a distributor to other small traders. She has been an inspiration to the women in her community through her hard work and determination.",F,375,partner,Food,0
Kenya,"Zipporah Kamau is 25 years old and married with two kids. One is in grade one while the younger child is still a baby. Her husband is a businessman while Zipporah runs a small salon near their home in Zakayo Estate in Nakuru city. They are a young hardworking family that has managed to buy a small plot of land where they have built a house. Her salon is located near a school and this has increased her customer base. Sometimes she is unable to serve all her clients due to the size of the salon and the number of employees. She would like to expand her business and she is requesting a loan of US $1,000.
Her budget is as follows: to buy hairdryers at US $560, to buy a blowdryer at US $100, to buy a water boiler at US $120 and US $220 to decorate the premises.
She will employ one additional person, thus creating employment. She is focused and will be able to repay the loan.",F,1000,lender,Services,1
Kenya,"Zipporah Muthoni Murira is a 42 year old single mother of two boys. They are all in school. She is a used shoes vendor, she sell mens shoes along a busy roadside. Her clients consist of middle class working class men. She has been engaged in the business for five years now. The moment when we visited her business she had limited stocks. She attributed this to the fact that she had paid her sons school fees. Therefore she was short on capital to restock more shoes. She is requesting for a loan of US$ 450. She will purchase used shoes stock worth US$ 400 and transport the goods with US$ 50. She is a hardworking single mother. She will be trained on how to save for her future needs, plan her finances efficiently and the initial asessments show that she will definitely pay the loan",F,450,lender,Retail,1
Kenya,"Zipporah Ngima Wangai is a 24-year-old single mother. She lives together with her mother and her two children in their two-roomed house. Zipporah did well on her high school exams, but her mother was not in a position to pay her college fees. It was during that period that Zipporah got pregnant with her first child. It was not long before she had her second child. This really stressed her mother, and she decided to give Zipporah capital to start up a business selling used clothes. Zipporah has managed to attract more customers and would like to start selling new clothes while continuing with her business of selling old clothes. She has found premises adjacent to the market place and would like to lease them. She knows that the business is profitable and is requesting a loan of US$ 800. Zipporah intends to buy new clothes worth $400, add $200 worth of used clothes to her present inventory, lease the premises with $100 and renovate the place with $100. Zipporah is able to repay the loan.",F,800,lender,Clothing,1
Kenya,"ZIPPORAH NJERI is 46 years old and married. She is a mother of six and two children are still in school. Zipporah is a maize farmer in Nyandarwa District of Kenya. She grows the maize for domestic consumption and meets other family needs by taking manual jobs in the surrounding farms. She earns an average of US $ 17 per week. She utilizes the income to provide for the family but the income is not sufficient to keep the children in school.
Her husband is old and sickly and therefore Zipporah is the breadwinner for the family.
She too is growing old and is increasingly unable to take in a lot of manual work.
She wants to start a dairy a farming business which will give her family better income and reduce the amount of manual work she does.
She is asking for a loan of US $ 1,900 to enable her start the dairy farming business. Her budget is: US $ 1,600 to purchase two dairy cows, US $ 150 to purchase cow feed and mineral supplements and US $ 150 to construct a cow shade.
Zipporah is focused and will be able to repay the loan.",F,1900,lender,Agriculture,1
Kenya,"Zipporah Nyanjao Maina is a 33-year-old single mother of one child. Apart from taking care of her child, she is faced with the responsibility of taking care of her aged parents. She is a tailor by profession. At present she her clientele includes women customers only. She would like to expand but lacks the financial capacity to do so. Due to her increased customer demands she now has to cater to men as well. Her advantage is that she can also tailor clients garments since she posses excellent tailoring skills, but is disadvantaged because she has not enough capital to expand her business. She is therefore requesting a loan of US$380 that she intends to use as follows: US $300 to purchase more materials and accessories and US $80 for tailoring designs, photo magazines and relevant literature.",F,400,lender,Services,1
Kenya,"ZIPPORAH WAHETO is 56 years old, married and a mother of four. Her husband is a driver with a public transport service company. They lived as squatters (Landless) people in Nyandarwa District where she made a living by doing manual jobs for other people until year 2003 when they were evicted.
Zipporah then joined her husband in the City of Nairobi and because of the high cost of living in Nairobi she had to work to supplement her husbands income. In year 2004 she decided to start a small business of hawking used clothes. They could not raise the required capital to purchase the stock for sale. She therefore began by taking second hands clothes on credit from friends. They would agree on a sale price per item, and then she would add a few shillings on top of it to earn her self some profit. She would then move from house to house hawking all day and return the items unsold and the cash for the sold items in the evening to the owners. She was earning an average of US $ 30 per week.
This went on until June 2005 when she joined Eb-F and was advanced a loan of US $ 500 to purchase her own stock. This increased her earnings to US $ 60 per week. She has since repaid the loan.
Zipporah is elderly and she is not able to keep walking as required by her hawking business. She wants to increase her stock and to open premises from where she can sale the clothes. She requests a loan of U.S $ 1,000 to enable her purchase 3 bales of used clothes. This will increase her income to an average of US $ 120 per week. She plans to utilize the income to provide for her family and to expand her business.",F,1000,lender,Clothing,1
Kenya,"Zipporah Wangari Kihika is a 22-year-old married lady. Her husband sells potatoes at wholesale price at a market adjacent to their home in a slum neighborhood within Mombasa. She contributes to the family income by running her own business in the city center. The business involves selling eggs, both retail and wholesale. She also has a delivery services for her clients, mostly those who buy wholesale. The business is currently performing well enough to cater for their daily needs. She has been in this business for the last two years and has deep knowledge of the undertakings of this type of business. Furthermore, she has a wide customer base that regularly purchase from her, including hotel owners, retail sellers and individual consumers. This assists her in making good proceeds. She would like to take advantage of the high demand for her products to increase the volume of eggs she handles per day. She is therefore requesting a loan of US$500 to assist her in purchasing more crates of eggs for sale. Her budget is US$475 to buy more eggs and US$25 to buy more crates. This will guarantee higher income streams, enabling her to uplift her lifestyle as well as repay the loan.",F,500,lender,Food,1
Kenya,"Zipporah Wanjiku Wambu is 34 years old and a mother of four. She is married to a driver. Two of her children are of school-going age and the other two are younger. She operates a small shop in Shabab estate in Nakuru town, where she also rents a three-bedroom house. She has operated the shop for the last six years, and it has been of great help to her family. The income generated by the shop covers her family's expenses, while her husband's income pays for the children's school fees. He also helps with the family expenses when business at the shop is not booming.
Zipporah has wanted to expand her shop for a long time but has not been able to do this because of limited funds. She intends to start a grocery stand in front of her shop so that she can satisfy more of the needs of her customers, who now have to buy vegetables elsewhere after she sells them general household products. She is requesting a loan of US$550. She intends to use $200 to construct a vegetable stand and buy vegetables, $50 to buy five bags of sugar, $100 to buy five bales of flour, $100 to buy five cartons of 10-kilogram fat, and $100 to buy other general shop products. With these she is sure of meeting her clients needs more effectively, and thus she will gain an edge in the market. With this potential to do well in business, Zipporah will comfortably pay back the loan.",F,550,lender,Food,1
Kenya,Zirah Ateso Achara is 38 years old she is married with two children who are both in school. She is a fishmonger in the main market in the town where she operates. She has a stall where she sells the main fish varieties in Kenya. Her customers come form all over town because her products are cheap and she maintains high standards of cleanliness. Zirah at the moment has a refrigeration problem. She cannot deal with a high quantity of fish. She wants to buy a fridge and increase her stocks. The fridge will ensure that her stocks are fresh and can keep for a long time without going stale. She is requesting a loan of US$ 1000; out of this amounts she will purchase a used fridge with US$ 500 and use US$ 500 to purchase more stocks of fish. She is hard working and she will pay the loan.,F,1000,lender,Food,1
Kenya,"Zuleah Amoit is a member in one of the active groups of PEMCI. She has just repaid her third loan from PEMCI. With her previous loans, she has been able to supply the nearby high school with maize and beans, which they strongly rely on for the students diet. Traditionally, Zuleya depended on business people from Kitale, Eldoret, Kitale, Chwele and Mumias to buy her stock.
Zuleah started her business in 1989 with KES 1,000 ($15 USD) given to her by her husband. She is married with nine children. Her first born has just finished form four and works at a simple job. The remaining children are still in school. Her husband is a retired primary teacher and a member of one of the groups with PEMCI.
With previous loans, Zuleya has been able to help her husband with school fees for their children. However, she has always invested the bigger part of the loans into her business, which has continued to improve with time. She sells corn measured in containers of two kilogrammes. With the school as a customer now, she sells to them in sacks of 90 kilogrammes each. Zuleah gets her stock of cereals locally during harvesting time. When the supply is low she buys from Mt. Elgon and Kitale. She buys one sack of maize at a price of KES 1,200 ($20 USD) and sells them at KES 1,550 ($25 USD), making a profit of KES 350 ($5 USD) per sack. With another loan from PEMCI, Zuleah intends to increase her stock further.",F,325,lender,Retail,1
Kenya,"Zuleya is an active member of PEMCI. She has successfully finished her first loan. Her first loan enabled her to increase and expand her retail shop. She has also started another business of selling cereals. All her businesses are located at the communitys trading centre. She is a member of the local mosques women's group, which deals with enlightening women on their rights. She has been in business since 1988, thus she has gained quite an experience. With another loan from PEMCI, Zuleya wishes to increase her businesses stock further in order to meet her customers' demand. Through her business, she has been able to support her husband who is also a businessman, and meet their familys needs. She has also been able to bring services closer to the community and also contribute fully to her communitys women group. She has been an inspiration to other women in the community.",F,450,partner,Retail,0
Kenya,"Zuleya is Married with Nine Children she started her business in 1989. She will receive an equivalent of $147 as her first loan in order to organize her business well.. With the second loan of $375 from PEMCI, she has used to boost her stock in order to improve her income and service to her local community.",F,375,partner,Retail,0
Lydia hopes to buy a higher grade cow which will increase milk production. She wants to take advantage of the opportunity in Kenya where the government has revived the milk industry. Lydia has calculated and realized that she can make almost USD 150 per month if she can buy a higher grade cow. She feels that this additional income will improve her life greatly. She has been getting small loans at the group level to boost her farm. She would like to pay her loan on monthly basis.
Lydia: Thanks to KIVA partners who enable women like us realize their dream.",F,625,lender,Agriculture,1
Kenya,"Lydia is a hardworking lady who has done business for the last six years. She sells flour, sugar, cereals, beverages, salt, laundry detergents, sanitary towel and other household goods. She has been able to improve her business through the loans she receives from her Rurii Shining Women Group. Her life since she joined WEEC six years ago has been transformed. She thinks in terms of making profit in whatever project she engages. She wants to diversify her business by stocking it with hardware products, such as bicycle tubes, peddles because she has studied the market and she has noticed an opportunity. Her main goal of stocking such items is to tap the big market of the people with bicycles who goes almost 10km to buy the same products in her area. She believes in the near future her business will give her enough income to enable her children access quality education.",F,150,lender,Retail,1
Kenya,"Lydia Mugure Kihiko is a 32 year old married farmer. She and her husband have five children. Three of the children are in senior school and two are in junior grades. Lydia is a member of Wendani Self Help Group in Ngorika settlement in the Rift Valley. Lydia and her husband are maize farmers, which is the main economic occupation in the area. They now spend US $400 every four months on school fees and will be paying more when the two youngest are promoted to senior school. They face a challenge to make more money for education and would like to expand their farming. She requests a US $1200 loan. Her budget is:
US $400 to lease four more acres of land,
US $650 to buy maize seeds and fertilizers, and
US $150 to contract casual labor.
They are dedicated to educating their children and will repay the loan.",F,1200,lender,Agriculture,1
Kenya,"Lydia Muthoni Maina is a 31-year old, married woman with one child, who is in junior school. After completing her O level education, she enrolled for a secretarial course. She successfully completed those studies, but couldnt secure a job in the formal sector. Her husband works as a casual labourer at the Mombasa industrial area, and the work is not stable enough to support his family and educate their child. To increase her familys income, Lydia opened a small electronic accessories shop in Mombasa City. The business has picked up and her products are becoming increasingly popular. She wants to convert it into a hawkers bazaar to cater to the hawkers. She is requesting for a loan of US$ 1100 which she has budgeted as follows: US$800 to increase her stock, US$200 to rent a more spacious premise, and US$100 to transport the goods. Lydia is a very hardworking lady with the ability to repay the loan on time.",F,1100,lender,Retail,1
Kenya,"Lydia was born 45 years ago in Kiambu, Kenya. She is married with four children. Two of them are in college while the other two are in secondary school. Lydia is a committed Christian and an active assistant chairperson of Vision Women Group. She joined WEEC in 2002 and has actively participated in all group activities.
Lydia knows that it is possible to alleviate poverty because she has done it through the small loans she got from the group. She has also supplemented loans with knowledge she has acquired from WEEC. From very humble beginnings as a petty charcoal trader, Lydia has a series of businesses which were born by this business. The income she accumulated enabled her to start a shop which grew to a wholesale shop, bought five dairy cows and started a horticulture farming. She is very hardworking and has mentored many women in her group. Today, Lydia gets enough money for family upkeep and for fees from income earned from her businesses. She would like to make her shop a wholesale store after getting the loan. She is very empowered and feels repaying her loan on monthly basis wont strain her much.",F,300,lender,Retail,1
Kenya,"Lydia was born in 1959 in Kanunga Kiambu. She is married with six children. Two are in college, three in secondary school, and the youngest is in upper primary school in a public school in Kiambu. Lydia is a religious person and a member of Catholic Women's Association (CWA) Nairobi Archdiocese. She actively participates in women's group activities in the area. Lydia was among the first women to join WEEC in Kiambu. Lydia keeps dairy cattle. She also grows cabbages, kale, gargets, watermelon and various vegetables in her plot. Just next to her water tank, Lydia grows sugar cane for home consumption. She sells her farm products to Kanunga residents, hawkers, and retailers. Granted a loan of USD 600, Lydia intends to buy a dairy cow.",F,600,lender,Agriculture,1
Kenya,"Lydiah Wanjia Ndungu is 46 years old and married with three children, all of whom attend school. Her husband is a business man and she owns a retail shop. Lydiah lives in a Nakuru town together with her husband. She did not complete her high school education due to lack of school fees and thus, to raise the standards of her family, she decided to venture into the shop business five years ago. The business is her main source of income since she does not have any other means of earning a living. The business has made Lydiah a very proud woman because she has educated her children in very good schools and now they are in high school. She is hoping that they will join university and be able to live a better life than hers.
Mary appreciates the savings component of the revolving fund and makes her regular savings of USD 3 per month. After appraising Marys business during her loan application, the group approved a loan of USD $300 to be lent to Mary. She will use the enterprise loan to buy additional stock for her electronic shop. She also wants to expand her battery charging business since she has many customers who bring their batteries for charging. She plans to repay her loan on monthly basis.",F,300,lender,Retail,1
Kenya,"Mary is 28years, single with a baby boy schooling at a local primary school. She is the secretary in her lending group despite being the youngest member. She takes all the responsibilities and mobilizes women to join hands and develop in all spheres of life. She is very religious and participates in women choir. She owns a salon, which is at the area where she resides. Her salon has been unique due to loans she has acquired previously. She has a good record of repaying her loans and she has benefited a lot from the loans. Most of her clients are church members and local people whom as she says enjoy the services she offers. She wants to buy more equipment to enable her to cater for the large number of customers. She has a strong believe that she will get clients after purchasing all the equipments needed for a salon leading to an increase in her income. Out of the income, she will be able to support her child, repay the loan and pay the group contributions without much difficulty. She has a very positive attitude and believes she will lead in terms of offering good services to her clients.",F,300,lender,Services,1
Kenya,"Mary is 30 years old. She is married with three children and is an active member of the group and her church. She has been selling handicrafts for one year and milk for two years. She sells 6.5 litres of milk every day, earning 28 cents per litre. She needs a loan of $600 to buy another dairy cow since the sector has a ready market with the dairy cooperative society. Buying another dairy cow will increase her income and it will enable her to pay back the loan. She will repay her loan in monthly instalments.",F,600,lender,Agriculture,1
Kenya,"Mary is 34 years old and has one child. She started her business in 2003 by selling foodstuffs. As the business grew, she started buying ""vitenge"" (African attire) from Tanzania and selling it in Nairobi.
Mary is a farmer and owns a plot of land in Maragwa. Her primary income source is dairy farming. She also grows bananas, maize, and beans. The food she grows is mainly used for family consumption. To generate enough income, Mary rears 3 dairy cows. She generates 20 liters of milk per day and sells 18 liters. The remaining 2 liters are used at home.
When Mary had one cow, it wasnt much work to get water for the cow. Now that she has 3 cows, it has become difficult for her to draw water for the cows. Her plan is to buy a water tank to enable her to store water at her homestead. This will also enable her to relieve her grandchildren from some of their tedious work load and give them enough time to complete their school homework.
Margaret has applied for a loan of USD 300. Her application is among those approved by the Women Group Secretariat (WGS) in her Ushuhuda women group. The repayment will be in 12 equal installments.",F,300,lender,Agriculture,1
Kenya,Mary is a business lady who runs a retail shop that she has put up on her own plot of land. She is a widow with 3 school-age children under her care. Mary first took a loan from the group and put up the shop. Her aim was to avoid paying rent for her business when she established a retail shop. After she completed repaying the loan she took another one and bought stock for her retail shop. Mary runs the shop on her own and is able to feed her children and buy them clothes and books. Mary realizes that she has to expand her business to a level that would be able to meet expenses such as secondary school fees. Her plan is to increase her stock and reinvest part of the profits back into the business. Mary has applied for a loan of USD300 to enable her to increase her stock level. The business appraisal has been done and the Women Group Secretariat has approved the loan. Mary will repay the loan within a period of 12 months.,F,300,lender,Retail,1
Kenya,"Mary is a business woman who runs a retail shop that she built on her own plot of land. She is a widow who cares for her 3 children who all attend school. Mary first took a loan from the group and put up a room and started a kiosk. Her aim was to avoid paying rent for her business. After she completed repaying the loan for the building, she took another loan and bought stock for her kiosk. Mary runs the shop by herself and is able to feed her children and buy clothes and books for them. Mary realizes that she has to work extra hard to expand her business to a level that will enable her to pay for secondary school fees. Her plan is to increase her stock and reinvest part of the profits back into the business. Mary has applied for a loan of USD 300. The business appraisal has been done and the Women Group Secretariat has approved the loan. Mary will repay the loan within a period of 12 months.",F,300,lender,Retail,1
Kenya,"Mary is a hardworking entrepreneur with a household stuffs shop. She is married with six children. She sells laundry detergent, cereal, sugar, salt, cooking oil, lotion, and other household goods. In addition to her business she practices farming, which is very productive. She grows maize, beans and other cereals such as sorghum. Her children are all grown up and independent and therefore needing very little of her income. She wants to start buying shares with some of her savings. This will help guarantee that she will enjoy her old age from the dividends and profits she will be making. She has promised to repay her loan in monthly installments.",F,225,lender,Retail,1
Kenya,"Mary is a married mother of six children who makes sure she provides the best she can for her family. She meets the basic needs with farming her land, which is in the Nyakahura area. She grows beans, maize and rears dairy cows. Her husband has a small business in the town center selling ready-made clothes. She is a member of St. Consolata Womens Group. Much of what she has been able to achieve is from the support of the group. Of late the group was trained on the importance of investment and especially in the Nairobi Stock Exchange Market. This training was an eye opener. Immediately she was able to make a decision to buy the forthcoming Safaricom Shares. After all an early bird catches the fattest worm. She is willing to repay her loan on a monthly basis.",F,225,lender,Agriculture,1
Kenya,Mary is a member of St. Marys Catholic Church in Ongata Rongai. Mary has been a strong and faithful Christian and she lives her faith in her day-to-day life. She deals with the young people with a lot of respect and always has a word of advice for them. This has made the youth turn to her for advice. Mary believes in striving hard to assist the needy live a better life. She has a plot in Kware and her plan is to put up nice rental rooms for the area residents and to rent each out at a fair price. She received a loan from Kiva of $300 that allowed her to begin the construction. She put up two semi-permanent rooms. She has completed 95% of the loan and is preparing for her second loan of $750 to continue with her project. Mary repays her loan promptly. Her new loan was thus approved. She intends to continue paying back her new loan on monthly basis.,F,750,lender,Housing,1
Kenya,"Mary is a middle-aged Kenyan mother who is married with 2 children. She also lives with 3 orphan children whom she has to feed, clothe, and educate. Mary is the bread winner for her family as her husband is currently not employed.
Marys primary business is selling fish which she started 7 years ago. She first started by selling fish in Kisii for a friend for a small commission fee, from which she accumulated savings to start her own business. She mainly concentrates on Omena (fingerlings), but occasionally also goes to the beach to purchase tilapia fish which she says gives her a higher profit margin.
Marys day-to-day activities are quite challenging. Her day starts at 4 am every morning when she goes to purchase her Omena (fingerlings) from the fish wholesalers. She then has to rush back home to prepare her children, who have to walk as far as 8 km away, for school.
Mary mostly sells her fish on a retail basis to her regular customers, but with her loan, she will be able to buy more tilapia to increase her sales and eventually expand to wholesale business. Marys long-term business vision is to purchase a lorry and to transport fish for further processing and export abroad.
Disclaimer: Due to recent events in Kenya, the security situation in many communities remains unsettled, affecting many local businesses. Lenders to this entrepreneur should be aware that this loan may represent a higher default risk, and should be willing to accept this additional risk in making their loan.",M,1500,lender,Food,0
Kenya,"Mary is a mother of four children. One of the children is in secondary school while the other is in a tertiary college. The burden lies is providing fees to these two children. Mary is not able to raise the lump sum fees required with her farming activities. She thus joined St. Agnes Women's Group.
Her business location is in a place called Maseno in the Kisumu district. Her business is near a university (Maseno University) and most of her clients are from the university community. She hopes to use the loan to increase her business stock so that she can carry more clothes in inventory of several varieties more consistently. This has been necessitated by the growing market due to increased dependence of the increasing student population on nearby clothes. Her clothes are preferred since they are cheaper than new clothes. She also intends to diversify into selling juice after having established and learned that it is a fast-paying business in the locality.
Maureen uses the proceeds from her business to supplement her family's income as her husband's income is small. Her husband is employed in junior ranks and hence has little money to support the business. She saves part of the income for her children and ploughs back the rest to the business. This is her first loan both for her and for the group. She is a sub group leader and has displayed good leadership skills.
Though this is the first time the group is taking a loan, they have displayed a high degree of cohesiveness during group preparation and training. All members of the group come on time and have shown commitment to follow group policies and procedures.
The location of Maureen's business is very strategic as it is close to the university student community who are most of her customers. Most students and the community around can't afford to buy new clothes and hence her business has a high chance of growth.",F,4700,lender,Clothing,0
Kenya,"Maurice Okota Abuonji is 27 years old and a father of one. His wife is a housewife. He quit schooling while in high school due to fee problems. It was later that he trained as a mechanic, and has worked as one for the last six years. He also owns an auto-spare shop. His child is too young and has not yet started going to school. He also takes care of his aged parents back in his rural home. He has been wondering how he could expand his shop, and then he learned of Ebony Foundation's loan scheme from his friends. He is requesting a loan of US$400. He intends to use US$200 to buy more stock of auto spares and US$200 to buy a welding machine to use for car and house repairs. He is hardworking and his business has the potential to grow.",M,400,lender,Retail,1
Kenya,"Maurice Otunga Nyangweso is 32 years of age and married with two children and three dependents. He has been an electrician and mobile phone repairer for over 8 years. He has been generating income and would like to expand his business due to high demand in the market.
Given a loan of USD 1200, Nancy intends to buy another dairy cow and animal feeds for her cattle. She promises to make repayments on monthly basis.",F,1200,lender,Agriculture,1
Kenya,"Nancy was born in 1972 in Muranga District. She is married with with one child who is in lower Primary school in a private school. She is an active member of a Catholic Church in Githurai 44. Nancy joined the group in 2004. During last year, the group registered with WEEC. She has serviced small loans at the group level. Nancy entered into the business world back in 1995 after completing secondary school education. She sells second hand clothes and shoes in Gikomba Market which is the biggest market in Kenya. She sells at least four boxes of shoes and clothes daily. She is a hard working and dedicated to her work. She wakes up as early as 4am and by 11 am she joins her husband in their retail shop where she resides in Githurai.Given a loan of USD 750, she will improve her business by adding more variety of clothes to her business.",F,750,lender,Clothing,1
Kenya,"Naomi Mutunkei is married with two children. Naomi never went to school as a child but she enrolled in adult learning. Naomi is an active member of Osiligi Women group and also an active member at P.C.E.A Oloyrankalani. Naomi`s children are in Primary school and one of her child is in private school and the rest are in public school.
Apart from being employed as a civil servant, Naomi is a serious business person. She keeps dairy cows and poultry. She also practices horticulture farming on a small scale. In any given period, Naomi keeps 300 chicks. She buys one day old chicks and sells to Ken Chick Company which provides her medicine and chicken feed. She has had management training for the poultry rearing business given by WEEC. She now believes that she can handle a larger number of chickens. She promises to repay her loan on monthly basis.",F,1200,lender,Agriculture,1
Kenya,"Naomi was born 40 years ago in Nakuru district. She is married and has 4 children. She is very active in group work and a discipline mistress in the group. She has benefited a lot from the group since it started. WEEC programme trained her in farm management and business management where she felt she is well equipped with the required skills. Since then she got the drive to grow horticultural crops, but the challenge was water because the crops had to be irrigated throughout the year. She secured her first loan and bought a water pump to irrigate her land. Due to the irrigation she did to her crops, she fetched a lot of harvest that she thought of opening a vegetable kiosk where she was selling products from her farm. Her business expanded rapidly because she did not have many costs incurred. She was able to pay school fees and group contributions without struggling much. She wants to buy water sprinklers, pipes to reduce labour, organic manure and spraying chemicals which will help in crop production. In near future, Naomi is planning to start a farming project where she will show fellow women on simple farming methods which she has been using. She has encouraged many upcoming farmers and believes she will be the one to change women in her group. She is ready to eradicate poverty through agriculture in women society.",F,450,lender,Agriculture,1
Kenya,"Narumu Adison is married with five children. Two of Narumus children are in college, one is in secondary school and two are in primary school. She is the chairlady of the Amani Womens Group. She started her milk business two years ago but wants to shift to the beadwork business because the milk business does not provide sufficient income for her and her family. Also, competition is very high in the milk market. She intends to start a beadwork business. Narumu is targeting tourists on the coast of Mombasa and Nairobi. She has USD 75 in savings but needs USD 525 worth of stock. Therefore, she has applied for a loan of USD 450 which will enable her to purchase more beads and other related items to make this business a success. She is willing to repay this loan within a period of 12 months.",F,450,lender,Arts,1
Kenya,"Nashipae is 23 years old, married have no child but takes care of one girl of a relative and she is in primary school.
Nelly sells used clothes and her stock is USD 100.She does not have a permanent stall as it is expensive to own one for the time being.
Her business is not enough to cater for her family basic needs and education.",F,300,partner,Clothing,0
Kenya,"Nelly Wambui Kamita is 39 years old. She is a widow with three children. She is an active member and a secretary of Ngombe Bora Women's Group. She contributes to the revolving fund in her group. She attends Maragwa Catholic Church.
Phyllis has also managed to take her children to secondary school by taking school fees loans through her group. She repaid her fees loan in November 06 and applied for a loan of USD 300 to cover her sons third year fees. Her repayment rate for previous loans was 100% and on this basis the group has approved her application for an additional loan. She will repay her loan within a period of 10 months.",F,300,lender,Manufacturing,1
Kenya,"Phyllis is a young lady aged 23 years, single with no children.She has been in this business for four years and on average making a profit of about USD 75 per month. She washes them, irons such that they look flashier and modifies some to be fashionable. She wants to purchase a sowing machine to avoid expenses of going to the tailor.",F,275,partner,Services,0
Kenya,"Phyllis Mugure is a very hardworking woman. She is married and has five children. She is the assistant secretary of a women group.
Her primary source of income is a bead business which she started sometimes back. The business has enabled her to raise and educate her children up to college level. She has also been able to help her husband start a steer rearing business from her bead business income. Her quality work is admired by many. All her beads are very unique and she normally sells them in open air markets. Priscillah seeks a loan to buy additional varieties of beads to expand her business. She plans to repay the loan back on monthly basis.",F,450,lender,Arts,1
Kenya,"Priscillah Wairimu Ngugi is 40 years old. She is married with seven children; three children are self-reliant while the other four are in secondary school and primary school. She is a member of Catholic Women Association (CWA) at a local Catholic Church, a member of Ngurueni Junior women group and also a chairlady of her local Christian community.
Rebecca has a business of selling cereals that primarily consist of rice ingredients. She started this business with the help of a WEEC loan. The business has been a great pillar in her familys foundation and it has transformed her familys living standards. She works very hard and treats her work with respect. Although her business is growing, she is constrained by limted access to additional capital to purchase stock in higher quantity. She hopes to use the loan to buy additional stock. She will repay the loan with the additional income she will earn.",F,300,lender,Food,1
Kenya,"Rebecca Kalunda is 42-year-old entrepreneur. She is married and has one daughter who is in the sixth grade. Her husband is employed by the ministry of public works. Rebecca sells used clothes in Kongowea market, in Mombasa. Her family lives in a single room in one of the suburbs. Her husband supports his extended family and this leaves his own family with little beyond their basic needs. Rebecca started her clothing business to supplement her husbands income and improve their living standards and their nutrition. She sells ladies blouses, which is a popular item in the huge Kongowea market. She sells to a few small traders who in turn sell to consumers. Despite her efforts, she cannot expand to meet the demands of her growing clientele since all her profits go toward family expenses rather than reinvesting in her business. She requests a $600 loan to buy more second-hand ladies blouses. Rebecca is focused and will repay the loan.",F,600,lender,Clothing,1
Kenya,"Rebecca Njeri Wachira is 50 years old and is married with eight children and three dependents. She is married to a diabetic man who is also blind and can not do anything for himself. She also has a developed a back problem and can no longer do farming. Their source of income is their posho mill which is operated by their son. (Posho is similar to polenta or grits). They rely on the local mill to mill the maize for a fee. Rebecca now wants to buy maize, mill it then sell flour to shops, individuals and hotels. She will also store some of the flour in the posho mill so that people who cant wait to have theirs milled can just buy from her. She is requesting a loan of US$800.She will use US$500 to buy 30 bags of maize, US$ 200 to buy polythene bags to pack the flour and US$100 to pay for milling and packing labour.The income her posho mill is making will enable her repay the loan.She is a member of Kiyo group. Despite her back problem, she is able to manage the posho mill with the help of her son as the manager.",F,800,lender,Food,1
Kenya,"Regina is 43 years old. She is married with 5 children. Regina is a member of PCEA church in Ongata Rongai. Regina started serving in the church when she was 14 years old and she accepted the Lord as her savior since then. She was brought up by her mother who was casual labour in the coffee plantations in Kiambu. Due to lack of school fee Regina dropped out of school and she did not finish her primary level. She was forced by circumstances to work as a house help instead of being in class due to her poor background. She is an outstanding counselor and an influential lady who always leaves an impact to people of different ages and backgrounds. She extends her kindness by visiting the sick supporting them morally and spiritually. She is like a jack of all trades where she tried many businesses. At first, she started by baking dough nuts, cooking porridge tea and selling them at the road side. After joined Esther K w g, she was trained on business management and she understood why her business was performing poorly. S he change her line and started selling fruits after getting her first loan. Out of the income she had accumulated for sometimes, she applied for another loan and started hardware business where she is operating even now. Regina stocked nails, iron sheets, ply boards, putty. Most of her customers are people she has ever socialized with in the community. Her business is full of promises and she believes she will make a significant difference in the entire community and in her family life. She is planning to rent a bigger store and add stock for her to beat the demand from her custormers. Her plan is to take a loan of USD 1500 and buy cement, Iron rolls, timber nails waterpipes,paints and bricks.",F,1500,lender,Retail,1
Kenya,"Regina is a very active member of the PEMCI family. She is married with 3 school age children. This is her third loan with us.
Rose started off with a capital base of Ksh 5000/= and has gradually ploughed back profits into her business over the years to allow her to reach to where she currently is. Her main challenge is lack of capital to cater to the increasing children seeking admission. This deficit is mainly in the learning facilities and feeding programme for the children. She thus intends to use the loan capital for this purpose while also using the profits from the business to help in meeting her family's needs.
Rose is the Chairman of the group she belongs to and she hopes to use her leadership skills acquired while managing the school to similarly ensure that the group remains cohesive to enable her to benefit from other loans in future. She has so far exhibited these leadership skills in marshalling the group together during the training sessions. Her business is in area called Muhoroni, almost 80 kilometres away from Kisumu town. This is the first loan she is taking with the Faida self help group but the training records from the loan officer indicate good attendance and participation by the group during group training sessions.",F,3900,lender,Education,0
Kenya,"Rose Atemo is 40 years old and she is married with five children. Two have completed school and three are still in school. To earn a living she operates a grocery shop. In her grocery shop she sells vegetables, fruits and other foodstuffs. Currently she does not generate enough income to be able to cater to all of her family's needs. She would like to move to a bigger shop which would hold more stock and serve more clients. She is requesting a loan amount of $800 to purchase more stock supplies worth $600 and rent a more permanent location with $200. With the income she will generate she will be able to settle her childrens educational needs and repay the loan.",F,800,lender,Food,1
Kenya,Rose Atiena Oruka is married with two children. They work together with her husband in the open-air market selling green and ripe bananas. Their children are all in junior school and will soon be joining senior school. They would like to save for this early enough.
She is in the business of screen printing with the husband.
They have been able to buy a plot of land on which their permanent house is and can afford to send their children to school.
Currently, her business is housed in her residence and intends to rent a shop in the town centre to increase her clientele.",F,300,partner,Services,0
Kenya,"Ruth is the sixth born in a family of twelve children. She is a member of one of PEMCIs groups called Amka women group which means wake up in Swahili. She is married with eight children two of whom are girls and the remaining being boys. Ruth sells new clothes at the Netima market located in the Bungoma district. She usually gets her stock from Webuye town and Kimilili markets which are the biggest markets in the western region and sells them at a retail price. Her stock value is now at KES 10,000/=. Having completed her first loan successfully, Ruth happily confirms that the proceeds enabled her to expand her business to some extent. With the profits earned, she was able to buy a number of sheep. With the help of her husband who is a peasant farmer, Ruth is able to educate their children.
If given another loan, Ruth plans to increase her stock further in preparation for the festive season when everybody will want to have something new in their wardrobes or for their beloved ones.",F,175,lender,Clothing,1
Kenya,"Ruth Kanyi Njeri is a 46-year-old married woman with three children. She has two boys and a girl aged 25, 16, and 15 years respectively. Two of the children are in school (one boy and one girl). Ruth sells fruits at Kawangware market, Nairobi. She started the business ten years ago after doing some research and finding out that there was a scarcity of fruits and vegetables in the area. She thus started the fruits business to meet the demand from the little capital she had raised from her own personal savings.
Teresia is the sole supplier of Furniture in her locality. She gets orders from the schools and residents since she does quality work. Though she is not able to meet the demand of her clients on time due to limited capital and lack of wood curving machine.
In addition to the furniture business, she sells vegetables and milk from her zero grazed cows. Her income from farming is steady throughout the year.",F,1100,partner,Manufacturing,0
Kenya,"Teresia John is married with one child and an active member of the Olkenkei Women's Group. She also serves as secretary of the local Redeemed Gospel Church, where she writes reports for seminars about helping orphans. She is a strong advocate of childrens education.